Patent Description:
Generally, a clothes treating apparatus is an apparatus, which treats clothes into a more wearable state. The clothes treating apparatus fundamentally dries clothes and removes wrinkles, odors, bacteria, and static electricity from the clothes.

In order to perform the above functions, it is necessary to circulate air in a space, accommodating clothes. Further, in order to effectively treat the clothes, it is important to optimize the air circulation.

In case that the clothes treating apparatus treats clothes containing odors or dust, the odors or dust may be transferred to other clothes by the air circulation. Particularly, the dust or nap may be supplied to parts of the clothes treating apparatus by the air circulation, and thus cause some trouble in the parts. An example of the related prior art can be found in French patent application <CIT>, which discloses a clothes treating apparatus comprising a cabinet; an accommodating space defined in the cabinet to accommodate clothes, and maintained in a stationary state, an air supplying device generating drying air and supplying the same into the accommodating space such that it is circulated in the accommodating space, wherein the air supplying device includes an inlet such that the air in the accommodating space flows into the air supplying device through the inlet, and an air filter.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a clothes treating apparatus, which optimizes air circulation therein.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a clothes treating apparatus, which effectively removes dust or odors from circulated air.

To achieve the objects as mentioned above, the present invention provides a clothes treating apparatus according to claim <NUM>.

The inlet and the filter assembly may be provided at a rear portion of the bottom of the accommodating space.

The filter assembly may be detachably installed in the inlet, and may include filter and a case to accommodate the filter.

The filter assembly may include at least one of an antibiotic filter, a deodorant filter, and an aromatic filter, or may include all of the antibiotic filter, the deodorant filter, and the aromatic filter.

The antibiotic filter, the deodorant filter, and the aromatic filter may be sequentially disposed in the flow direction of the dry air. Further, the antibiotic filter may be disposed adjacent to an inlet part of the filter assembly, the aromatic filter may be disposed adjacent to an outlet part of the filter assembly, and the deodorant filter may be disposed between the antibiotic filter and the aromatic filter.

The air supplying device may further include outlets provided in the bottom of the accommodating space or in the rear surface of the accommodating space such that the generated dry air is discharged to the inside of the accommodating space through the outlets.

The clothes treating apparatus may further include a moisture supplying device supplying moisture into the accommodating space.

The above-described clothes treating apparatus effectively refreshes clothes due to the flow of hot and dry air, which is uniformly diffused and distributed. Further, the clothes treating apparatus effectively removes foreign substances and filth or dirt of the clothes and odors from the flow of the air.

Now, a clothes treating apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the annexed drawings.

<FIG> is a front view illustrating a clothes treating apparatus in accordance with the present invention, <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating the internal configuration of the clothes treating apparatus, and <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of air and moisture supplying devices.

First, a cabinet <NUM> forms the external appearance of the clothes treating apparatus of the present invention, and an accommodating space <NUM>, which accommodates clothes to be treated, is formed in the cabinet <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the accommodating space <NUM> is formed in an inner cabinet <NUM> separately provided in the cabinet <NUM>, actually. The inner cabinet <NUM> is fixed to the cabinet <NUM>, and thus remains stationary. Like the inner cabinet <NUM>, the accommodating space <NUM> does not move. The accommodating space <NUM> and the inner cabinet <NUM> are disposed in the upper portion of the cabinet <NUM>, and the front surface portion of the accommodating space <NUM> is opened. That is, the accommodating space <NUM> has an entrance formed at the front surface portion thereof, and a user easily puts clothes into the accommodating space <NUM> through the entrance. The accommodating space <NUM> is selectively opened and closed by a door <NUM> rotatably installed at the cabinet <NUM>. Further, various switches (not shown) to operate the clothes treating apparatus are provided on the external surface of the door <NUM> or the cabinet <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, a outfit chamber having a designated size is formed under the accommodating space <NUM>, and an air supplying device <NUM> is installed in the outfit chamber. The air supplying device <NUM> fundamentally removes moisture from air, and provides dry air to the inside of the accommodating space <NUM> to dry the clothes. Further, the air supplying device <NUM> heats the air to supply hot and dry air. Since hot air generally ascends upward, the air supplying device <NUM> is preferably installed at the lower portion of the cabinet <NUM>, i.e., below the accommodating space <NUM>, to supply hot and dry air. Further, the air supplying device <NUM> is preferably separated from the accommodating space <NUM> by a separate diaphragm, and the upper wall of the outfit chamber or the bottom wall of the inner cabinet <NUM> may serve as the diaphragm. The diaphragm prevents the clothes from being damaged by the high-temperature air supplying device <NUM>, and prevents the clothes from being wet with condensed water generated from the air supplying device <NUM>.

The air supplying device <NUM> includes a heater or a thermoelectric element generating hot air, and a dehumidifier provided separately from this heating element. Preferably, the air supplying device <NUM> uses a heat pump, which performs dehumidification and heating of air simultaneously.

Thus, the clothes treating apparatus uses a heat pump as the air supplying device <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the air supplying device <NUM> includes an evaporator <NUM>, a compressor <NUM>, a condenser <NUM>, and an expansion valve (not shown), through which a refrigerant circulates. In this case, as the refrigerant in the evaporator <NUM> is evaporated, the refrigerant absorbs latent heat of surrounding air and thus cools the air. Due the above cooling of the air, moisture in the air is removed by condensation. Further, in case that the refrigerant is compressed by the compressor <NUM> and then condensed by the condenser <NUM>, the refrigerant emits latent heat toward the surrounding air and thus heats the surrounding air. Thus, the evaporator <NUM> and the condenser <NUM> serve as heat exchangers, and air flowing into the air supplying device <NUM> is changed into dry and hot air through the evaporator <NUM> and the condenser <NUM>.

The above air, heated by the heat pump, may have a bit lower temperature than air heated by a conventional heater, but is dehumidified without using a separate dehumidifier. Thus, the air generated by the air supplying device <NUM> effectively dries the clothes in the accommodating space <NUM> such that the clothes are refreshed into a good wearable state.

As shown in <FIG>, an inlet <NUM> is provided in the accommodating space <NUM>, and the air within the accommodating space <NUM> is flown into the air supplying device <NUM> through the inlet <NUM>. The air flown into the air supplying device <NUM> is heated and dehumidified by the air supplying device <NUM>, i.e., the evaporator <NUM> and the condenser <NUM>. Further, outlets <NUM> are provided in the accommodating space <NUM>, and the dry and hot air emitted from the air supplying device <NUM> is supplied to the accommodating space <NUM> through the outlets <NUM>. Thus, the clothes treating apparatus has a circulation channel of the dry air generated by the air supplying device <NUM>, and the circulation channel is extended along the inlet <NUM>, the evaporator <NUM>, the condenser <NUM>, the outlets <NUM>, the accommodating space <NUM>, and the inlet <NUM> of the air supplying device <NUM>, as shown by the arrows in <FIG> and <FIG>.

In case that the inlet <NUM> is formed adjacent to the outlets <NUM>, a short flow path is formed between the inlet <NUM> and the outlets <NUM>. Thus, the dry air cannot be sufficiently circulated or diffused in the accommodating space <NUM> due to the short flow path. Further, the supplied dry air cannot uniformly contact the clothes, and thus the clothes cannot be properly refreshed. For this reason, in order to form a long flow path, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the inlet <NUM> is provided in the bottom of the accommodating space <NUM>. Further, in order to obtain a longer flow path, the inlet <NUM> is provided in the front portion of the bottom of the accommodating space <NUM>, i.e., in the front portion of the bottom wall of the inner cabinet <NUM> forming the accommodating space <NUM>. In this case, the inlet <NUM> is also adjacent to the door <NUM> disposed in front of the accommodating space <NUM>. Further, the outlets <NUM> are provided in the rear portion of the accommodating space <NUM>, i.e., the rear surface of the accommodating space <NUM>. More specifically, the outlets <NUM> are disposed in the rear wall of the inner cabinet <NUM> forming the accommodating space <NUM>. Due to the above disposition, the accommodating space <NUM> has a substantially long flow path of dry air, formed between the outlets <NUM> and the inlet <NUM>. More exactly, as shown by the arrows in <FIG> and <FIG>, dry air flows from the rear portion of the accommodating space <NUM> to the front portion of the bottom of the accommodating space <NUM>. Thus, the dry air entirely traverses the accommodating space <NUM> due to the above-disposed inlet <NUM> and outlets <NUM>. The dry air uniformly contacts clothes, and thereby properly dries the clothes. Further, the flow path of the dry air forms a kind of an air curtain at the entrance of the accommodating space <NUM> closed by the door <NUM>, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. Thus, although the door <NUM> is opened during the operation of the clothes treating apparatus, the temperature in the accommodating space <NUM> is not excessively lowered and dust does not enter the accommodating space <NUM>.

Further, the inlet <NUM> may be provided at the front edge of the bottom of the accommodating space <NUM>. In this case, the dry air can be discharged from the outlets <NUM> and completely traverse the accommodating space <NUM>. Further, a plurality of the outlets <NUM> may be provided at the rear portion of the accommodating space <NUM>. The outlets <NUM> are disposed at regular intervals from the upper region to the lower region of the rear portion of the accommodating space <NUM>. The dry air is substantially discharged from all the regions of the rear portion of the accommodating space <NUM> through the outlets <NUM>, and flows up to the inlet <NUM>, as shown by the arrows. Thus, the dry air entirely traverses the accommodating space <NUM> from the upper region to the lower region of the accommodating space <NUM>, and the flow of the dry air in the accommodating space <NUM> is further uniformed so as to effectively dry and refresh the clothes.

According to the invention, as shown in <FIG>, the inlet (<NUM>) is disposed in the front portion of the bottom of the accommodating space <NUM>, and an outlet <NUM> may be disposed in the rear portion of the bottom of the accommodating space <NUM>. Further, as shown in <FIG>, the outlet <NUM> disposed in the rear portion of the bottom of the accommodating space <NUM> may be used together with outlets <NUM> disposed in the rear surface of the accommodating space <NUM>. Further, according to an embodiment that does not form part of the present invention and as shown in <FIG>, an inlet <NUM> may be disposed in the rear portion of the bottom of the accommodating space <NUM>, and an outlet <NUM> may be disposed in the front portion of the bottom of the accommodating space <NUM>. In the same manner as the above-described disposition of <FIG>, the accommodating space <NUM> has a substantially long flow path of dry air, formed between the outlets <NUM> and the inlet <NUM>, due to the dispositions of <FIG> and <FIG>. More specifically, as shown by the arrows in <FIG>, the dry air ascends from the rear portion of the bottom of the accommodating space <NUM> to the upper region of the accommodating space <NUM> by a blower <NUM>. Thereafter, the dry air descends to the front portion of the bottom of the accommodating space <NUM>. Otherwise, as shown in <FIG>, the dry air ascends upward from the front portion of the bottom of the accommodating space <NUM>, and then descends to the rear portion of the bottom of the accommodating space <NUM>. Thus, the dry air entirely traverses the accommodating space <NUM> due to the above-disposed inlet <NUM> and outlets <NUM>, and uniformly contacts clothes to properly dry the clothes. Further, in the same manner as the dispositions of <FIG> and <FIG>, the flow path of the dry air forms a kind of an air curtain at the entrance of the accommodating space <NUM> closed by the door <NUM>, and thus exhibits the same effect as that of the dispositions of <FIG> and <FIG>.

More specifically, the air supplying device <NUM> includes a first duct <NUM> connected to the inlet <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. The evaporator <NUM> and the condenser <NUM> are disposed in the first duct <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. Thus, the evaporator <NUM> and the condenser <NUM> heat and dehumidify air flowing in the first duct <NUM> through the inlet <NUM>, as described above. Further, the air supplying device <NUM> includes a second duct <NUM> connected to the outlets <NUM>. The blower <NUM> is installed between the second duct <NUM> and the first duct <NUM> (i.e., the evaporator <NUM> and the condenser <NUM>). Thus, the air in the accommodating space <NUM> flows into the first duct <NUM> through the inlet <NUM>, and is heated and dehumidified in the first duct <NUM> by the evaporator <NUM> and the condenser <NUM>. Thereafter, the dry and hot air is supplied to the inside of the accommodating space <NUM> through the second duct <NUM> and the outlets <NUM> by the blower <NUM>. The first and second ducts <NUM> and <NUM> may be formed integrally. In this case, the air supplying device <NUM> includes a single duct, which connects the inlet <NUM> and the outlets <NUM> and is provided with the evaporator <NUM> and the condenser <NUM> installed therein.

Further, the clothes treating apparatus includes a moisture supplying device <NUM>, which is installed in the outfit chamber in the same manner as the air supplying device <NUM>. The moisture supplying device <NUM> generates moisture and selectively supplies the moisture to the inside of the accommodating space <NUM>. In order to supply the moisture into the accommodating space <NUM>, the moisture supplying device <NUM> may use mist consisting of fine drops of water, which is moisture in a liquid state, or steam, which is moisture in a gas state. Hereinafter, the moisture supplying device <NUM> using steam will be described. However, the moisture supplying device <NUM> using mist may be applied to the clothes treating apparatus for the same purpose.

The moisture supplying device <NUM> fundamentally includes a heater <NUM> to heat water, and a nozzle <NUM> to supply the generated steam to the inside of the accommodating space <NUM>. The moisture supplying device <NUM> further includes a hose <NUM> to connect the heater <NUM> and the nozzle <NUM>. Steam generated by the heater <NUM> passes through the hose <NUM> and the nozzle <NUM>, and is finally supplied to the accommodating space <NUM> through an outlet <NUM> connected to the nozzle <NUM>. In this case, in order prevent the lowering of the temperature of the steam or the condensation of the steam while the steam flows the hose <NUM>, the hose <NUM> preferably has a short length. Thus, in case that the moisture supplying device <NUM> is located below the accommodating space <NUM>, it is preferable that the outlet <NUM> is formed through the upper surface of the outfit chamber, i.e., the bottom of the accommodating space <NUM>. An external tap or a container, which is installed in the outfit chamber and contains a designated amount of water, is used as a water supply source of the moisture supplying device <NUM>. Preferably, the container is detachably installed, and thus a user can take the container out of the outfit chamber in order to fill the container with water. Further, a circulation fan <NUM> is provided in the outfit chamber. The circulation fan <NUM> supplies external air to the inside of the outfit chamber, and thus cools the air supplying device <NUM> and the moisture supplying device <NUM>.

Wrinkles and static electricity of clothes can be removed by steam supplied to the inside of the accommodating space <NUM>. Further, odors and bacteria of the clothes can be removed by steam of a high temperature. Thus, the moisture supplying device <NUM> refreshes the clothes into a good wearable state. A time to supply steam is properly changeable. In case that steam of a high temperature is sprayed and then dry air is supplied to the accommodating space <NUM>, the clothes in the accommodating space <NUM> can be completely dried such that any moisture is not left over in the clothes. Thus, the steam is preferably sprayed into the accommodating space <NUM> before the dry air from the air supplying device <NUM> is supplied into the accommodating space <NUM>.

The clothes accommodated in the accommodating space <NUM> may include dust or nap or be impregnated with odors. Further, air in the accommodating space <NUM> may include dust. The above foreign substances (i.e. dirt) and odors may be transferred to other clothes through air flow in the accommodating space <NUM>, and cause some trouble in components of the clothes treating apparatus. Thus, in order to remove the foreign substances and the odors, the clothes treating apparatus includes a filter assembly <NUM>.

The filter assembly <NUM> is installed in the inlet <NUM>. In case that dust and nap in the accommodating space <NUM> are supplied to the air supplying device <NUM> through the inlet <NUM>, the dust and the nap may cause mechanical troubles in the air supplying device <NUM>. Thus, if the filter assembly <NUM> is installed in the inlet <NUM>, the dust and the nap are removed by the filter assembly <NUM> before the dust and the nap enter the air supplying device <NUM>.

When a given period of time has elapsed, the performance of the filter assembly <NUM> is lowered. Thus, the state of the filter assembly <NUM> needs to be frequently checked, and thereby the filter assembly <NUM> needs to be cleaned and exchanged. In case that the filter assembly <NUM> is installed on the rear surface or the upper portion of the accommodating space <NUM> being far away from the door <NUM>, it is difficult to check the state of the filter assembly <NUM> or clean and exchange the filter assembly <NUM>. However, since the inlet <NUM> is formed through the bottom of the accommodating space <NUM>, the filter assembly <NUM> is disposed at the same position as that of the inlet <NUM>, i.e., the bottom of the accommodating space <NUM>. Therefore, when the door <NUM> is opened, a user easily accesses the filter assembly <NUM>, and thus conveniently checks the state of the filter assembly <NUM> or clean and exchange the filter assembly <NUM>. More specifically, when the inlet <NUM> is provided at the front portion of the bottom of the accommodating space <NUM>, and furthermore at the edge of the front portion of the bottom of the accommodating space <NUM>, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the filter assembly <NUM> is disposed at the front portion of the bottom of the accommodating space <NUM> so as to be substantially adjacent to the door <NUM>. Accordingly, as soon as the door <NUM> is opened, a user can access the filter assembly <NUM> and the maintenance and repair of the filter assembly <NUM> is conveniently carried out. Further, as shown in <FIG>, the filter assembly <NUM> may be disposed at the rear portion of the bottom of the accommodating space <NUM>, in the same manner as the inlet <NUM>. Even in this case, the filter assembly <NUM> is disposed also in the bottom of the accommodating space <NUM>, and thus the maintenance and repair of the filter assembly <NUM> is conveniently carried out.

In addition, the filter assembly <NUM> is detachably installed in the inlet <NUM>. Since the filter assembly <NUM> needs to be periodically cleaned and exchanged, as described above, it is preferable that the filter assembly <NUM> is detachably installed in the inlet <NUM> such that the filter assembly <NUM> can be easily cleaned and exchanged.

The filter assembly <NUM> may include a plurality of filters to remove dust and odors from air passing through the filter assembly <NUM> and provide an aroma/fragrance to the air. The above filter assembly <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>, as follows.

The filter assembly <NUM> includes a filter unit <NUM>, and a case <NUM>, which accommodates the filter unit <NUM> and is detachably installed in the inlet <NUM>. The case <NUM> includes a plurality of through holes <NUM>, by which air pass through the filter assembly <NUM>.

The filter assembly <NUM>, exactly the filter unit <NUM> includes at least one out of an antibiotic filter <NUM>, a deodorant filter <NUM>, and an aromatic filter <NUM>. The antibiotic filter <NUM> removes dust and nap from the accommodated clothes and fine dust generated during the operation of the clothes treating apparatus, and further removes bacteria contained in air. The deodorant filter <NUM> contains a solid deodorant, and removes odors out of air passing through the filter assembly <NUM> such that the odors impregnating the accommodated clothes cannot be transferred to other clothes. The aromatic filter <NUM> contains an aromatic substance, such as a vegetable resin, and emits a desired aroma to the air to give the aroma to the clothes in the accommodating space <NUM>. Therefore, the filter assembly <NUM> may include at least one out of the antibiotic filter <NUM>, the deodorant filter <NUM>, and the aromatic filter <NUM>, or include all of the antibiotic filter <NUM>, the deodorant filter <NUM>, and the aromatic filter <NUM>.

Further, the antibiotic filter <NUM>, the deodorant filter <NUM>, and the aromatic filter <NUM> are sequentially disposed along the flow direction of the air passing through the filter assembly, as shown by the arrows in <FIG>. That is, the antibiotic filter <NUM> is disposed adjacent to an inlet part of the filter assembly <NUM>, and the aromatic filter <NUM> is disposed adjacent to an outlet part of the filter assembly <NUM>. Further, the deodorant filter <NUM> is disposed between the antibiotic filter <NUM> and the aromatic filter <NUM>. Due to the above disposition, the antibiotic filter <NUM> firstly removes fine dust and nap from air passed through the inlet <NUM>, and the deodorant filter <NUM> removes odors from the air passed through the antibiotic filter <NUM>. Finally, the aromatic filter <NUM> changes the air passed through the deodorant filter <NUM> into agreeable air having a desired aroma. If the deodorant filter <NUM> is disposed next to the aromatic filter <NUM>, the deodorant filter <NUM> may remove the aroma provided by the aromatic filter <NUM> as well as odors from the air. Thus, the above-described disposition is optimal for the intended functions of the filter assembly <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A clothes treating apparatus comprising:
a cabinet (<NUM>);
an inner cabinet (<NUM>);
an accommodating space (<NUM>) defined in the inner cabinet (<NUM>) to accommodate clothes, whereby the inner cabinet (<NUM>) is fixed to the cabinet (<NUM>) and thus remains stationary;
an air supplying device (<NUM>) generating drying air and supplying the drying air into the accommodating space (<NUM>) such that the drying air is circulated in the accommodating space (<NUM>), wherein the air supplying device (<NUM>) includes an inlet (<NUM>) provided at a bottom of the accommodating space (<NUM>) such that the air in the accommodating space (<NUM>) flows into the air supplying device (<NUM>) through the inlet (<NUM>);
a door (<NUM>) installed at the cabinet to open and close an entrance formed at a front of the accommodating space (<NUM>);
a filter assembly (<NUM>) installed in the inlet (<NUM>), and filtering the air passing through the inlet (<NUM>); and
wherein the inlet (<NUM>) and the filter assembly (<NUM>) are provided on a front portion of the bottom of the accommodating space (<NUM>).