Patent Publication Number: US-11035069-B2

Title: Laundry treating apparatus

Description:
This application claims the benefit of the Korean Patent Application No. 10-2017-0091522, filed on Jul. 19, 2017, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a laundry treating apparatus. 
     Discussion of the Related Art 
     Generally, a laundry treating apparatus includes an apparatus for washing laundry (laundry for washing or laundry for drying), an apparatus for drying laundry, and an apparatus for performing both washing and drying laundry. 
     The laundry treating apparatus of the related art, which can wash laundry, includes a tub in which water is stored, a drum rotatably provided inside the tub to store laundry therein, and a detergent supply unit for supplying a detergent to the tub. 
     The laundry treating apparatus of the related art includes a storage body for providing a space where a detergent is stored, a storage unit water supply pipe for supplying water to the storage body, and a detergent supply unit that includes a siphon formation portion for moving the detergent and water to a tub by causing siphon if a water level inside the storage body exceeds a preset water level. 
     However, the detergent supply unit having the aforementioned structure has a problem in that a mixture of the detergent and water is not supplied to the tub if an outlet provided in the siphon formation portion is blocked or the siphon formation portion is damaged. 
     Also, the laundry treating apparatus which includes the aforementioned detergent supply unit is provided to further include a valve for opening or closing the storage unit water supply pipe. In this case, if the valve for opening or closing the storage unit water supply pipe is out of order, since water supplied from a water supply source is immediately supplied to the storage body, a problem may occur in that the detergent is supplied to the tub at an unwanted timing. 
     Also, the laundry treating apparatus of the related art needs a means for easily controlling water supply of the tub and water supply of the detergent supply unit. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a laundry treating apparatus that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a laundry treating apparatus that may supply a detergent stored in a detergent supply unit to a tub even in the case that a means for causing siphon is damaged. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a laundry treating apparatus that may supply a detergent stored in a detergent supply unit to a tub at a desired timing even in the case that a valve for controlling water supply to the detergent supply unit. 
     Other object of the present invention is to provide a laundry treating apparatus that prevents water stored in a tub from flowing backward to a detergent supply unit through a path that connects the tub with the detergent supply unit. 
     Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings. 
     To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a laundry treating apparatus comprises a tub for providing a space where water is stored; a drum rotatably provided inside the tub, for storing laundry therein; a cover provided with a detergent inlet; a storage body arranged below the cover, providing a space where a detergent is stored; a barrier provided in the storage body, for partitioning the inside of the storage body into a first space where the detergent entering through the detergent inlet is stored, and a second space detached from the second space; a storage unit water supply inlet allowing water to enter the first space; a first body through hole provided to pass through a bottom of the storage body, communicating the first space with the tub; a first discharge pipe protruded toward the cover from the first body through hole; a second discharge pipe provided on a bottom of the storage body, communicating the second space with the tub; a siphon formation pipe provided to surround the first discharge pipe, moving a liquid inside the first space to the first body through hole if a water level inside the first space is higher than a height of the first discharge pipe; and a space communication unit for moving the liquid inside the first space to the second space if the liquid is not discharged to the outside of the first space through the first body through hole. 
     The space communication unit may include a barrier through hole provided to pass through the barrier and provided to be higher than the first discharge pipe and lower than the detergent inlet. 
     The barrier may be provided to be protruded toward the cover from the bottom of the storage body, and the space communication unit is a space formed by a free end of the barrier, which is formed to be higher than that of the first discharge pipe and lower than the detergent inlet. 
     The storage unit water supply inlet may be provided to pass through one surface of the storage body for forming the second space together with the barrier, among the space provided by the storage body, and may be provided to be higher than the free end of the barrier and lower than the detergent inlet. 
     The laundry treating apparatus of the present invention may further comprise a cabinet having an outlet on a front surface; a drawer body provided to be ejected from the inside of the cabinet to the outside of the cabinet through the outlet, providing a space where the tub is received; a drawer cover forming an upper surface of the drawer body; a tub inlet provided to pass through an upper surface of the tub; a through hole provided to pass through an upper surface of the drawer cover and arranged above the tub inlet; and a fitting hole provided to pass through the drawer cover, providing a space where the cover is provided. 
     The laundry treating apparatus of the present invention may further comprise a tub water supply pipe for connecting a water supply source with the tub; a storage unit water supply pipe forked from the tub water supply pipe and connected to the storage unit water supply inlet; a first valve for opening or closing the tub water supply pipe; and a second valve for opening or closing the storage unit water supply pipe. 
     The cover may be coupled to the drawer cover through the fitting hole, and the storage body is fixed to the drawer cover and arranged below the fitting hole. 
     The cover may include a cover bottom arranged above the storage body; a cover side fixed to the cover bottom to form storage spaces together with the cover bottom and detachably coupled to the fitting hole; and a communication hole provided to pass through the cover bottom or the cover side, discharging the detergent supplied through the detergent inlet inside the storage spaces to the first space. 
     The laundry treating apparatus of the present invention may further comprise a cover water supply inlet provided to pass through the cover side, allowing the water discharged from the storage unit water supply inlet to partially enter the storage spaces. 
     The laundry treating apparatus of the present invention may further comprise a guide extended toward the inside of the first space from an edge of the fitting hole to support the cover side, wherein a free end of the guide is arranged between the cover side and the barrier to attenuate a flow velocity of the water discharged from the storage unit water supply inlet. 
     The laundry treating apparatus of the present invention may further comprise a cabinet providing a space where the tub is received; an inlet provided to pass through the upper surface of the tub; a cabinet inlet provided to pass through the upper surface of the cabinet and arranged above the inlet; and a fitting hole provided to the upper surface of the cabinet, providing a space where the cover is provided. 
     The laundry treating apparatus of the present invention may further comprise a detergent inlet provided to pass through the tub; a connection pipe for connecting the detergent inlet with the second discharge pipe; a first backward flow preventer provided in the second discharge pipe to prevent the water inside the tub from entering the storage body; and a second backward flow preventer provided in the detergent inlet to prevent the water inside the tub from entering the storage body, wherein the first body through hole may be provided to discharge the liquid inside the first space to the second discharge pipe. 
     The first body through hole may be provided to discharge the liquid inside the first space to the second discharge pipe. 
     The laundry treating apparatus of the present invention may further comprise a detergent inlet provided to pass through the tub; a connection pipe for connecting the detergent inlet with the second discharge pipe; a first backward flow preventer provided in the second discharge pipe to prevent the water inside the tub from entering the storage body; and a second backward flow preventer provided in the detergent inlet to prevent the water inside the tub from entering the storage body. 
     The first backward flow preventer may include a first communication pipe inserted to the second discharge pipe; a first communication pipe inlet for allowing the liquid to enter the first communication pipe; a first communication pipe discharge outlet for discharging the liquid inside the first communication pipe to the connection pipe; a ball reciprocating inside the first communication pipe and closing the first communication pipe if the water inside the tub enters the first communication pipe discharge outlet; a support unit provided in the first communication pipe to allow the ball to be mounted thereon; and a path formation portion protruded toward the ball from an inner circumferential surface of the first communication pipe to form a path between the inner circumferential surface of the first communication pipe and an outer circumferential surface of the ball. 
     The second backward flow preventer may include a second communication pipe inserted to the detergent inlet pipe; a second communication pipe inlet for allowing the liquid to enter the second communication pipe; a second communication pipe discharge outlet for discharging the liquid inside the second communication pipe to the detergent inlet pipe; a blocking board rotatably provided inside the second communication pipe to block entrance of the liquid inside the tub to the connection pipe and allow the liquid inside the connection pipe to enter the tub. 
     According to the present invention, a laundry treating apparatus may be provided, which may supply a detergent stored in a detergent supply unit to a tub even in the case that a means for causing siphon is damaged. 
     Also, according to the present invention, a laundry treating apparatus may be provided, which may supply a detergent stored in a detergent supply unit to a tub at a desired timing even in the case that a valve for controlling water supply to the detergent supply unit. 
     Also, according to the present invention, a laundry treating apparatus may be provided, which prevents water stored in a tub from flowing backward to a detergent supply unit through a path that connects the tub with the detergent supply unit. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an example of a laundry treating apparatus according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an example of a first treating apparatus provided in the present invention; 
         FIGS. 3 to 6  illustrate an example of a detergent supply unit provided in the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates an example of a first backward flow preventer provided in the present invention; and 
         FIG. 8  illustrates another example of a laundry treating apparatus according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Meanwhile, elements or control method of apparatuses which will be described below are only intended to describe the embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to restrict the scope of the present invention. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a laundry treating apparatus  100  according to the present invention may include a first treating apparatus A for washing laundry, and a second treating apparatus B arranged on the first treating apparatus to wash or dry laundry. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the first treating apparatus A may include a cabinet  1 , a drawer  2  that may be ejected from the cabinet, a tub  4  provided inside the drawer, for storing water therein, and a drum  6  rotatably provided inside the tub, for storing laundry therein. 
     The cabinet  1  may be provided as a means for forming an external appearance of the first treating apparatus A, or may be provided as a space (space formed at a wall, etc.) for simply receiving the drawer  2 . In any case, it is preferable that an outlet  11  to which the drawer  2  may be inserted is provided on a front surface of the cabinet  1 . 
     The cabinet  1  may be provided to have a width direction (Y-axis direction) of which length is longer than a length of a height direction (Z-axis direction) (A width length of the drawer may be provided to be longer than a length of a height direction). 
     The drawer  2  may include a drawer body  21  inserted into the cabinet  1  through the outlet  11 , a drawer panel  23  fixed to a front surface of the drawer body  21 , opening or closing the outlet  11 , and a drawer cover  25  for forming an upper surface of the drawer body  21 . 
     If the drawer body  21  is inserted into the cabinet  1 , the drawer panel  23  will close the outlet  11 , and if the drawer body  21  is ejected from the cabinet  1 , the drawer panel  23  will open the outlet  11 . 
     The drawer panel  23  may include a control panel  231  (see  FIG. 1 ) for inputting a control command related to an operation of the laundry treating apparatus  100  and displaying a message related to the operation of the laundry treating apparatus to a user. 
     The drawer body  21  may be inserted to the cabinet  1  through the inlet  11 , and may be provided in all shapes that may provide a space for receiving the tub  4 .  FIG. 2  illustrates an example of a hexahedral shaped hollow drawer body  21 . 
     The drawer cover  25  includes a first through hole  251  and a second through hole  253  that communicate the inside of the drawer body  21  with the outside thereof. The first through hole  251  should be provided for insertion and ejection of laundry, and the second through hole  253  should be provided for supply of water required for washing of laundry. A detailed description of the first and second through holes  251  and  253  will be given later. 
     The tub  4  includes a tub body  41  arranged inside the drawer body  21 , in which water is stored, and a tub cover  43  forming an upper surface of the tub body  41 . 
     The tub body  41  may be provided in a hollow cylindrical shape. The tub cover  43  may include a tub inlet  431  for communicating the inside of the tub body  41  with the outside of the tub body  41 , and a water supply pipe connector  433  for flowing water into the tub body  41 . 
     The tub inlet  431  may be provided below the first through hole  251  provided in the drawer cover, and the water supply pipe connector  433  may be provided below the second through hole  253  of the drawer cover. 
     The tub inlet  431  is a means for inserting laundry into the tub body  41  or ejecting the laundry inside the tub body  41  to the outside of the tub body, and may be opened or closed by a door  45  rotatably coupled to the tub cover  43 . 
     The tub  4  having the aforementioned structure may be fixed to the drawer body  21  through a tub support unit  47 . The tub support unit  47  may be provided as a means for attenuating vibration generated in the tub body  41 . 
     The drum  6  provided inside the tub  4  may include a cylindrical shaped drum body  61  provided with a drum inlet  63  provided on an upper surface. Since the drum inlet  63  is arranged below the tub inlet  431 , laundry supplied from the outside of the tub through the tub inlet  431  may be supplied to the drum body  61  through the drum inlet  63 . 
     A plurality of drum through holes  65  for communicating the inside of the drum body  61  with the tub body  41  may be provided on a bottom and a circumferential surface of the drum body  61 . 
     The drum body  61  is rotated inside the tub body  41  by a driving unit  67 . The driving unit  67  may include a stator  671  fixed to a bottom of the tub body and arranged outside the tub body  41 , a rotor  673  rotated by a rotating field provided by the stator, and a rotary shaft  675  provided to pass through the bottom of the tub body  41 , connecting the bottom of the drum body with the rotor. 
     In this case, the rotary shaft  675  may be provided to be orthogonal to the bottom of the tub body  41 , and the drum inlet  63  may be provided to be parallel with the ground. The expression that the rotary shaft  675  is to be orthogonal to the bottom of the tub body  41  means that an angle between the rotary shaft and the bottom of the tub body is 90° within an error range (tolerance required during design or assembly). 
     The first treating apparatus A having the aforementioned structure supplies water to the tub  4  through a first water supply unit and discharges the water stored in the tub  4  to the outside of the cabinet  1  through a drainage unit. 
     The first water supply unit may include a tub water supply pipe  481  for connecting the water supply source arranged outside the cabinet with the water supply pipe connector  433 , and a first valve  483  for controlling opening or closing of the tub water supply pipe  481 . The tub water supply pipe  481  may be provided as a corrugated pipe (pipe provided as an elastic material along a length direction or elastic pipe in a length direction). The tub water supply pipe  481  is opened or closed by the first valve  483 . The water supplied from the water supply source will be supplied to the tub when a controller (not shown) opens the tub water supply pipe  481  through the first valve  483 . 
     The drainage unit may include a drainage pump  493  fixed to the drawer body  21 , a first tub drainage pipe  491  for guiding the water inside the tub body  41  to the drainage pump  493 , and a second tub drainage pipe  495  for guiding the water discharged from the drainage pump  493  to the outside of the cabinet  1 . In this case, the second tub drainage pipe  495  may be provided as a corrugated pipe. 
     The first treating apparatus A further includes a detergent supply unit  8  for supplying a detergent to the tub body  41 . The detergent supply unit  8  may be provided in the drawer body  21  or the drawer panel  23 .  FIG. 2  illustrates that the detergent supply unit is provided in the drawer cover  25  as an example. If the detergent supply unit  8  is provided in the drawer panel  23 , it is preferable that the detergent supply unit  8  is provided on an upper surface of the drawer panel provided with the control panel among the space provided by the drawer panel  23  in consideration of user access. 
     The detergent supplied to the tub body through the detergent supply unit includes a washing detergent supplied to laundry during a washing course to remove particles from the laundry, a rinsing detergent supplied to the laundry during a rinsing course of the laundry to soften the laundry, and a material, such as a bleaching agent, supplied to the laundry to make the laundry white. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the detergent supply unit may be fixed to the drawer  2  through a fitting hole  255  provided to pass through the drawer cover  25 . That is, the detergent supply unit may include a storage unit  81  fixed to the drawer cover  25  to be arranged below the fitting hole  255 , a cover  84  arranged above the storage unit  81  by being supported in the fitting hole  255  or fixed to the storage unit  81  by being inserted to the fitting hole  255 , and a connection pipe  87  for connecting the storage unit  81  with the tub body  41 . 
     The storage unit  81  may be provided as a storage body  811  for providing a space where a detergent is stored. The storage body  811  may be provided in all shapes that may provide a space for storing the detergent. In  FIG. 3 , the storage body  811  may include a body upper surface  812  provided with an opened surface, a body bottom  813  arranged below the fitting hole  255 , and a body side  814  provided along an edge of the body bottom, forming a space for storing the detergent, together with the body bottom  813 . 
     The body upper surface  812  may surround an edge of the fitting hole  255 , and may be provided in all shapes that may communicate the inside of the storage body  811  with the outside of the drawer cover through the fitting hole  255 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the storage unit  81  may further include a barrier  815  for partitioning an inner space of the storage body  811  into a first space S 1  where the detergent is stored, and a second space S 2  detached from the first space, forming a path. The barrier  815  may be provided as a board extended from the body bottom  813  to the cover  84 . 
     The first space S 1  may be provided to be communicated with the tub body  41  through a first body through hole  813   a  passing through the body bottom  813 , and the second space S 2  may be provided to be communicated with the tub body  41  through a second body through hole  813   b  passing through the body bottom  813 . 
     A first discharge pipe  817  is connected to the first body through hole  813   a , and a second discharge pipe  816  is connected to the second body through hole  813   b . The first discharge pipe  817  is a pipe protruded toward the body upper surface from the body bottom  813 , and a liquid inside the first space S 1  moves to the first body through hole  813   a  through the first discharge pipe  817 . 
     One end of the connection pipe  87  may be fixed to the second discharge pipe  816 . In this case, the first body through hole  813   a  may be provided to communicate the first space S 1  with the second discharge pipe  816 . 
     Although not shown, the first body through hole  813   a  may be provided to directly supply the liquid (mixture of detergent and water), which is discharged from the first space S 1 , to the connection pipe  87  without passing through the second discharge pipe  816 . 
     The first space S 1  is supplied with water through a storage unit water supply inlet  818  provided to pass through the body side  814 , wherein the storage unit water supply inlet  818  is connected to the water supply source through the second water supply unit. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the second water supply unit may include a storage unit water supply pipe  485  forked from the tub water supply pipe  481  and connected to the storage unit water supply inlet  818 , and a second valve  487  for opening or closing the storage unit water supply pipe. If the second valve  487  opens the storage unit water supply pipe  485  in accordance with a control signal of the controller in a state that the first valve  483  opens the tub water supply pipe  481 , a part of the water supplied from the water supply source will be supplied to the tub body  41  through the tub water supply pipe  481 , and the other part of the water will be supplied to the first space S 1  through the storage unit water supply pipe  485  and the storage unit water supply inlet  818 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the cover  84  may be provided as a cover body  841  inserted to the fitting hole  255 . The cover body  841  includes a cover bottom  843  arranged above the storage body  811 , a cover side  844  fixed to the cover bottom, forming storage spaces  843  and  844  together with the cover bottom, and a detergent inlet  842  provided on the cover body, allowing the detergent to enter the storage spaces  843  and  844 . 
     The fitting hole  255  may further include a guide  257  to allow the cover body  741  to be easily coupled to the fitting hole  255 . The guide  257  may be provided as a board extended toward the inside of the first space S 1  from the edge of the fitting hole  255 . In this case, the cover side  844  may be provided in a shape that may be mounted on the guide  257 . That is, the cover side  844  may be supported in the guide  257  and detachably be coupled to the fitting hole  255 . 
     The guide  257  may be provided as an inclined surface protruded toward the center of the fitting hole  255  from the edge of the fitting hole  255  and downwardly inclined toward the center of the fitting hole  255 . 
     The storage spaces formed by the cover bottom  843  and the cover side  844  are communicated with the first space S 1  through a communication hole  845 . Therefore, the detergent entering the storage spaces of the cover body  841  through the detergent inlet  842  is moved to the first space S 1  through the communication hole  845 . To allow the detergent supplied to the spaces to easily enter the first space S 1 , the cover bottom  843  may be provided to be downwardly inclined toward the communication hole  845 . 
     The detergent inlet  842  may be provided as an opened surface formed on an upper surface of the cover body  841 , or may be provided as a hole provided to pass through the upper surface of the cover body  841 . 
     The detergent supply unit  8  provided in the present invention further includes a siphon formation pipe  846  for forming a siphon guider together with the first discharge pipe  817  provided in the storage body  811 . The siphon formation pipe  846  is a means provided to surround the first discharge pipe  817 , moving a liquid (mixture of detergent and water) inside the first space S 1  to the first body through hole  813   a  if a water level inside the first space S 1  is higher than a height of the first discharge pipe  817 .  FIG. 5  illustrates that the siphon formation pipe  846  is provided as a pipe protruded toward the body bottom  813  from the cover bottom  843  as an example. 
     In this case, the cover bottom  843  may include a first bottom  845   a , a second bottom  843   b  provided to be higher than the first bottom, providing a space to which the siphon formation pipe  846  is fixed, and a connection surface  843   c  connecting the first bottom with the second bottom, provided with the communication hole  845 . Preferably, the first bottom  843   a  is provided to be downwardly inclined toward the communication hole  845 , and the second bottom  843   b  is provided to be downwardly inclined toward an upper end of the connection surface  843   c.    
     The storage body  811  includes a spacer  819  which is a means for maintaining an interval between an inner circumferential surface of the siphon formation pipe  846  and an outer circumferential surface of the first discharge pipe  817  and an interval between a lower end of the siphon formation pipe  846  and the body bottom  813 . 
     Meanwhile, a problem may occur in that the detergent supply unit  8  having the aforementioned structure only fails to supply the detergent stored in the first space S 1  to the tub  4  if the siphon guider is damaged (if the first body through hole is blocked, the siphon formation pipe is damaged, etc.). That is, if water is supplied to the first space S 1 , a risk occurs in that the detergent stored in the first space S 1  may leak into the cabinet  1  together with the water through the communication hole  845  and the detergent inlet  842 . 
     To solve the problem, the detergent supply unit  8  provided in the present invention include a space communication unit provided on the barrier  815 , communicating the first space S 1  with the second space S 2 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the space communication unit may be provided as a space S 3  formed as a free end of the barrier  815  is higher than that of the first discharge pipe  817  and is lower than the detergent inlet  842 . 
     If the barrier  815  is provided as a board extended toward the cover  84  from the body bottom  813  so that an upper end of the barrier  813  is in contact with the cover  84 , the space communication unit may be provided as a barrier through hole provided to pass through the barrier  815 . In this case, the barrier through hole should be provided to be higher than the free end of the first discharge pipe  817  and lower than the detergent inlet  842 . 
     It is supposed that the aforementioned space communication unit S 3  is provided in the barrier  815 . In this case, if the liquid inside the first space S 1  is not discharged to the outside of the first space S 1  through the first body through hole  813   a , the liquid inside the first space S 1  is moved to the second space S 2 , and the liquid moved to the second space S 2  will be supplied to the tub body  41  through the second body through hole  813   b  and the second discharge pipe  816 . Therefore, the detergent supply unit provided in the present invention may supply the detergent to the tub body even though the siphon guider is damaged. 
     Meanwhile, since the detergent supply unit  8  provided in the present invention has a structure that the detergent is stored in the first space S 1  by being supplied to the communication hole  845  along the cover bottom  843 , the detergent may remain in the cover bottom  843 . If the detergent remains in the cover bottom  843 , a sanitary problem may be caused. To solve the problem, the detergent supply unit  8  may further include a cover water supply inlet  848  for preventing the detergent from remaining in the cover bottom  843 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the cover water supply inlet  848  is a means provided to pass through the cover side  844 , allowing the water supplied from the storage unit water supply inlet  818  to partially enter the storage spaces formed by the cover bottom  843  and the cover side  844 . Therefore, the water supplied to the first space S 1  through the storage unit water supply inlet  818  partially enters the cover body  841  through the cover water supply inlet  848 , and the water entering the cover body  841  will be supplied to the first space S 1  through the communication hole  845  after washing the cover bottom  843 . Therefore, in the present invention, the problem that the detergent remains in the cover body may be minimized. 
     Meanwhile, a water pressure of water supplied from the water supply source may be varied depending on zones where the laundry treating apparatus is provided. If a water pressure of the zone where the laundry treating apparatus is provided is high, a pressure of water supplied to the first space S 1  through the storage unit water supply pipe  485  will be high. Therefore, a problem may occur in that the water supplied to the first space S 1  through the storage unit water supply inlet  818  may detach the cover  84  from the fitting hole  255  or discharge the detergent stored in the first space S 1  to the outside of the detergent supply unit  8 . 
     To solve the problem, a free end of the guide  257  may be provided to be arranged between the cover side  844  and the barrier  815 , thereby attenuating a flow velocity of the water supplied from the storage unit water supply inlet  818 . That is, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the guide  257  may be extended toward the first space S 1  from the fitting hole  255  to close a partial area of the storage unit water supply inlet  818  if the guider is projected in the cover side  844 . 
     The detergent supply unit  8  having the aforementioned structure supplies the detergent to the tub body  41  through the connection pipe  87  as described above, and a diameter of each bottom of the drum body  61  and the tub body  41  provided in the present invention is set to be longer than its height, whereby a problem may occur in that the water inside the tub body may backward flow toward the detergent supply unit  8  through the connection pipe  87  when the drum body  61  is rotated. To solve this problem, the present invention may further include a first backward flow preventer  88  and a second backward flow preventer  89 . 
     One end of the connection pipe  87  may be fixed to the second discharge pipe  816  and its other end may be fixed to a detergent inlet pipe  411  provided to pass through the circumferential surface of the tub body  41 . In this case, it is preferable that the first backward flow preventer  88  is fixed to the second discharge pipe  816  and the second backward flow preventer  89  is fixed to the detergent inlet pipe  411 . This facilitates assembly of the backward flow preventers  78  and  89 . 
     That is, if the backward flow preventers  88  and  89  are respectively provided in the second discharge pipe  816  and the detergent inlet pipe  411 , they may be assembled more easily than the case that at least one of the backward flow preventers is provided inside the connection pipe  87 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the first backward flow preventer  88  may include a first communication pipe  881  inserted and fixed to the second discharge pipe  816 , a sealing unit  883  for allowing the liquid (mixture of detergent and water) to enter the first communication pipe  881 , a first communication pipe discharge outlet  885  for discharging the liquid inside the first communication pipe  881  to the connection pipe  87 , a ball  887  reciprocating inside the first communication pipe  881 , and a support unit  889  provided in the first communication pipe discharge outlet  885  to allow the ball  887  to be mounted thereon. 
     The first communication pipe  881  may be provided in a cylindrical shape in which both surfaces (upper surface and lower surface) facing each other are opened. In this case, the first communication pipe discharge outlet  885  may be an opened surface of the first communication pipe  881 . 
     The sealing unit  883  may include a sealing body  883   a  coupled to the opened upper surface of the first communication pipe  881 , and a first communication pipe inlet  883   b  provided to pass through the sealing body  883   a . It is preferable that the sealing body  883   a  is provided as an elastic body such as rubber. 
     A path formation portion  888  for forming a path between the ball  887  and the inner circumferential surface of the first communication pipe  881  is provided on the inner circumferential surface of the first communication pipe  881 . 
     Therefore, if the water inside the tub body  41  enters the first communication pipe  881  through the connection pipe  87  and the first communication pipe discharge outlet  885  in accordance with rotation of the drum body  61 , the ball  887  prevents the water inside the tub body  41  from being supplied to the detergent supply unit  8  by closing the first communication pipe inlet  883   b.    
     However, if the water inside the tub body  41  does not backward flow to the first communication pipe  881  through the first communication pipe discharge outlet  885 , the ball  887  maintains the state that it is mounted on the support unit  889 , by means of self-load. If the ball  887  maintains the state that it is mounted on the support unit  889 , a path is formed between the first communication pipe  881  and the ball  887  by the path formation portion  888 . Therefore, in this state, if the water is supplied to the first space S 1 , the detergent will be supplied to the tub body  41  through the first discharge pipe  817 , the first communication pipe inlet  883   b  and the connection pipe  87 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the second backward flow preventer  89  may include a second communication pipe  891  inserted and fixed to the detergent inlet pipe  411 , a second communication pipe inlet  892  for allowing the liquid to enter the second communication pipe  891 , a second communication pipe discharge outlet  894  for discharging the liquid entering the second communication pipe  891  to the detergent inlet pipe  411 , and a blocking board  896  provided inside the second communication pipe  891  to block entrance of the liquid inside the tub body  41  to the connection pipe  87  and allowing the liquid inside the connection pipe  87  to enter the tub body  41 . 
     The second communication pipe  891  may also be provided in a cylindrical shape in which both surfaces (upper surface and lower surface) facing each other are opened. The blocking board  896  may rotatably be fixed into the second communication pipe  891  through a shaft  897 . Also, the second communication pipe  891  may include a stopper  895  for supporting the blocking board  896  to prevent the blocking board  896  from being rotated to be far away from the tub body  41 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates another example of the laundry treating apparatus  100  according to the present invention. The laundry treating apparatus provided in this embodiment is different from that provided in the embodiment of  FIG. 1  in that the first treating apparatus A is arranged above the second treating apparatus B. 
     The second treating apparatus shown in  FIG. 1  and the second treating apparatus B shown in  FIG. 8  may be provided to have the same structure, and  FIG. 8  illustrates that the second treating apparatus B is provided for washing of laundry as an example. 
     The second treating apparatus B may include a second cabinet  91  that can support the cabinet  1  of the first treating apparatus A, a second tub  92  provided inside the second cabinet, for storing water therein, and a second drum  94  rotatably provided inside the second tub. 
     A second cabinet inlet  911  opened or closed by a second door  913  is provided on a front surface of the second cabinet  91 . 
     The second tub  92  may be provided in a hollow cylindrical shape, and a second tub inlet  921  is provided on a front surface of the second tub  92 . The second cabinet inlet  911  and the second tub inlet  921  may be connected with each other through a gasket  925  to prevent water leakage from occurring. 
     The second tub  92  may be fixed into the second cabinet  91  through a second tub support unit  923 . The second tub  92  is supplied with water through a second water supply pipe  926 , and the water stored in the second tub  92  is discharged to the outside of the second cabinet  91  through a second drainage unit  927 . 
     The second drum  94  may be provided in a hollow cylindrical shape, and may be provided with a second drum inlet  941  at the front, wherein the second drum inlet  941  is communicated with the second cabinet inlet  911  and the second tub inlet  921 . 
     An inner space of the second drum  94  is communicated with an inner space of the second tub  92  through a second drum through hole  943 . The second drum  94  is rotated by a second driving unit that may include a second stator  945 , a second rotor  946 , and a second rotary shaft  947  for connecting the second drum with the second rotor by passing through a rear surface of the second tub. The second rotary shaft  947  may be provided in parallel with a bottom of the second cabinet  91 . 
     If the first treating apparatus A provided in the present invention is provided to support the bottom of the second treating apparatus B ( FIG. 1 ), the first treating apparatus A may be provided as described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 7 . 
     However, if the first treating apparatus A is provided to be mounted on the second treating apparatus B as shown in  FIG. 8 , the first treating apparatus A provided in this embodiment may include a cabinet  1 , a tub  2  provided inside the cabinet, for storing water therein, a drum  6  rotatably provided inside the tub, for storing laundry therein, and a detergent supply unit  8  for supplying a detergent to the tub. That is, if the laundry treating apparatus is configured as shown in  FIG. 8 , a drawer  2  may be omitted in the first treating apparatus A. 
     However, in the embodiment of  FIG. 8 , a cabinet inlet  13  arranged above the door  45  and a cabinet door  15  for opening or closing the cabinet inlet should be provided on an upper surface of the cabinet  1 . Moreover, the fitting hole  255  to which the detergent supply unit  8  is fixed should be provided to pass through the upper surface of the cabinet  1 . The fitting hole  255  may be provided to be opened or closed by a fitting hole door  19 . 
     Meanwhile, in the laundry treating apparatus  100  having the aforementioned structure only, a leakage may occur in that a small amount of water may enter the storage unit water supply pipe  485  when the first valve  311  opens the tub water supply pipe  481  due to a damage of the second valve  487 . If the leakage occurs in the storage unit water supply inlet, a problem may occur in that the detergent stored in the detergent storage unit  8  is not supplied to the tub  4  at a desired timing. 
     To solve the problem, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the storage unit water supply inlet  818  provided in the detergent supply unit  8  is preferably provided to pass through one surface of the storage body  811  for forming the second space S 2  together with the barrier  815  among the space provided by the storage body  811 . Also, the storage unit water supply inlet  818  is preferably provided to be higher than the free end of the barrier  815  and lower than the detergent inlet  842  so that the water supplied from the storage unit water supply inlet  818  may be supplied to the first space S 1  by passing through the free end of the barrier  815 . 
     The water supplied from the storage unit water supply inlet  818  is supplied to the first space S 1  by passing through the free end of the barrier  815  to allow the water discharged from the storage unit water supply inlet  818  to enter the second space S 2  if the pressure of the water discharged from the storage unit water supply inlet  818  is low. 
     Therefore, the detergent supply unit  8  provided in the present invention may prevent the detergent stored therein from being supplied to the tub at an unwanted timing even though the small amount of water leaks into the storage unit water supply pipe  485  due to a minor damage of the second valve  487 . 
     Moreover, the free end of the barrier  815  may be provided to be downwardly inclined toward a direction that the second body through hole  813   b  is arranged from a direction that the storage unit water supply inlet  818  is arranged. This is to prevent the water from remaining in the second space S 2 . 
     Meanwhile, if a sectional area of the tub water supply pipe  481  is greater than that of the storage unit water supply pipe  485  or energy required for operation of the first valve  483  is greater than that required for operation of the second valve  487  regardless of the sectional areas of the water supply pipes, the first valve  483  and the second valve  487  are preferably controlled as follows. That is, if water is supplied to the detergent supply unit  8 , it is preferable that the controller controls the first valve  483  to open the tub water supply pipe  481  after controlling the second valve  487  to open the storage unit water supply pipe  485 . If the sectional area of the tub water supply pipe  481  is greater than that of the storage unit water supply pipe  485  or energy required for operation of the first valve is greater than that required for operation of the second valve, and if the tub water supply pipe  481  is first opened, a problem may occur in that the second valve  487  fails to open the storage unit water supply pipe  485  due to a water pressure even though a power is supplied to the second valve  487 . On the contrary, if it is intended to block water supply to the detergent supply unit  8 , it is preferable that the controller controls the first valve  483  and the second valve  487  to first close the tub water supply pipe  481  through the first valve  483  and then close the storage unit water supply pipe  485  through the second valve  487 . 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention. Thus, the above embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention should be determined by reasonable interpretation of the appended claims and all change which comes within the equivalent scope of the invention are included in the scope of the invention.