Patent Description:
The present invention relates to a laundry treating apparatus. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an apparatus for removing wrinkles of laundry.

A laundry treating apparatus refers to an apparatus developed for washing and drying laundry and removing wrinkles generated on the laundry at home and at a laundry. Apparatuses classified as the laundry treating apparatus include a washing machine that washes the laundry, a dryer that dries the laundry, a washing machine/dryer having both a washing function and a drying function, a laundry manager that refreshes the laundry, a steamer that removes the wrinkles from the laundry, and the like.

The steamer is an apparatus that supplies steam to the laundry to remove the wrinkle generated on the laundry. Unlike a regular iron, the steamer is an apparatus that removes the wrinkles by applying heat to the laundry through convection rather than directly applying the heat to the laundry (e.g., in a scheme of contacting the laundry with a hard object).

On the other hand, the laundry manager is an apparatus that allows the laundry to be kept tidy and clean. The laundry manager may remove fine dust attached to the laundry, deodorize the laundry, dry the laundry, and add fragrance to the laundry. In addition, the laundry manager may prevent generation of static electricity, remove the wrinkles generated on the laundry using dehumidified air or steam, and sterilize the laundry.

<CIT> relates to a clothes treating apparatus capable of pressing clothes such as at least two or more pants or removing wrinkles by using steam and hot wire. According to <CIT>, the laundry treating apparatus may deodorize the laundry and remove folds at the same time by supplying hot air to a supplier located at a bottom of a cabinet or by pressurizing the laundry while the laundry is mounted in an accommodating space defined inside the cabinet.

In addition, in the laundry treating apparatus, the laundry was able to be dried and deodorized or the folds was able to be removed as the hot air or the steam is supplied to the laundry treating apparatus in a state in which the laundry is unfolded by a self load thereof at a location inside the cabinet. In addition, as a surface of the laundry is pressurized with a presser disposed on an inner surface of a door, the folds of the laundry was able to be effectively removed, creases were able to be formed on the laundry, and ironing was able to be omitted after washing or drying is completed.

In particular, the laundry treating apparatus removes the unnecessary wrinkles or folds using the steam, and has means referred to the presser or a pants press that generates predetermined creases or pleats (wrinkles intended from a clothing design step) disposed on the inner surface of the door.

However, the presser is constructed to pressurize the laundry through rotation starting from one side of the laundry. Therefore, because the presser pressurizes the laundry starting from one side of the laundry, there is no choice for the presser but to pressurize the laundry sequentially from one side to the other side thereof. In this case, a relatively high pressure is applied to a portion of the laundry close to the presser, and a relatively low pressure is applied to a portion of the pressurized portion far from the presser, so that there was a problem that the laundry was not evenly pressurized.

Further, in the process of the laundry being pressurized by the presser, there was a problem in that a fixed shape of the laundry is changed or a position thereof is changed as the laundry is pushed by the presser.

In addition, there was a problem in that the position of the laundry is not able to be prevented from being changed when the laundry is pressurized because the laundry is not able to be fixed even after being mounted. In addition, the conventional laundry treating apparatus had problems in that more wrinkles of the laundry occur or wrinkles in a direction completely different from an intended direction occur.

In addition, there was a problem that a vertical level of mounting the laundry through the door is high. In addition, there was a problem that not only the presser occupies most of the inner surface of the door, but also pressurizes only a portion of an entire length of the laundry.

In addition, there was a problem that a pivoting direction of a pressurizing portion needs to be set differently depending on whether a user is left-handed or right-handed in consideration of user's convenience.

The present disclosure is to reduce a frequency of unintentional wrinkles or folds occurring as laundry is pressurized from one side thereof.

In addition, the present disclosure is to uniformly pressurize laundry to remove folds or unintentional wrinkles of the laundry and to improve formation of predetermined intended creases.

In addition, the present disclosure is to pressurize an entire region of laundry.

In addition, the present disclosure is to allow the pivoting direction of the pressurizing portion not need to be set differently depending on whether the user is left-handed or right-handed.

In addition, the present disclosure is to further facilitate mounting of laundry to be pressurized.

In order to reduce a phenomenon in which pants are pushed that occurs in a conventional pants manager that is opened and closed in a left and right direction, the present disclosure is to implement a sliding motion on a pants manager door (or a second pressurizing plate). That is, the pants manager door may ascend by being pivoted or slid. At this time, a first pressurizing plate (or a sub-plate) and a base plate (or a rear plate) are spaced apart from each other. Conversely, when the door is pressurized to descend by being pivoted or slid, an entire region of the pants mounted on the first pressurizing plate is simultaneously pressurized, which has an effect of ameliorating the phenomenon in which the pants are pushed.

The pants manager door includes a locking device for pressing the pants. Unlocking of the locking device may be operated by a handle disposed on the door. When using the pants manager, the door and the first pressurizing plate may respectively include openings in order to facilitate penetration of steam into the pants, and may include a hinge for opening and closing the door in a vertical direction.

The sub-plate is a component for installing the pants, and the first pressurizing plate is able to pivot in a vertical direction using another hinge structure disposed opposite to a hinge structure responsible for the pivoting of the door. The movement in the vertical direction is in association with the pants manager door, so that the sub-plate automatically slides upward when the door is lifted. Thereafter, because the sub-plate has the hinge structure to pivot in one of the left and right directions, after pivoting and opening the sub-plate, the pants are installed.

In addition, the sub-plate has fixing clips that may fix a pant waist and a hem of the pants on both surfaces thereof. In addition, the sub-plate has fixing clips that may fix a pant waist and a hem of the pants on both surfaces thereof.

An installation process of the pants is as follows. When the handle installed at a lower end of the door is pulled to unlock the locking device, and the door is lifted upward and is fixed, the sub-plate on which the pants may be mounted is exposed. In order to install the pants, after pivoting the sub-plate in a downward direction, the hem of the pants is fixed by the fixing clip (or a first clip) installed on a rear surface of the sub-plate. The fixing clip has a structure that may be installed variably depending on a length of the pants. After fixing the hem of the pants, the pant waist is fixed by the fixing clip (or a second clip) installed on a front surface of the sub-plate.

After the pants installation is complete, the sub-plate is pivoted to be in an original state thereof, and the door of the pants manager is closed such that a pressure may be applied to the pants. In addition, because the sub-plate pivots only in the vertical direction, there is no need for a separate reversible structure in the door opening direction.

In addition, an elastic member disposed in a hinge portion may be constructed to push the sub-plate in a direction farther from the rear plate. When the door manager door is coupled to the rear plate, the door manager door pressurizes the sub-plate. At this time, because the sub-plate moves in a straight line toward the rear plate, it is possible to uniformly and simultaneously pressurize the pants.

One aspect of the present disclosure provides a laundry treating apparatus including a cabinet having a laundry inlet defined in one surface thereof, a first chamber positioned inside the cabinet to accommodate laundry therein through the laundry inlet, a second chamber positioned underneath the first chamber to define a space separated from a space of the first chamber, a steamer disposed inside the second chamber to generate steam and supply the generated steam to the first chamber, a door pivotably coupled to the cabinet to open and close the laundry inlet, a door inner surface facing the first chamber among both surfaces of the door, a base plate coupled to the door inner surface, a first shaft disposed parallel to a width direction of the door, a second shaft disposed parallel to the first shaft, a first pressurizing plate pivotably coupled to the door inner surface or the base plate through the first shaft and disposed to face the base plate, wherein the first pressurizing plate mounts and pressurizes pants, and a second pressurizing plate pivotably coupled to the door inner surface or the base plate through the second shaft and disposed to face the first pressurizing plate, wherein the second pressurizing plate pressurizes the pants.

In one implementation, the first shaft may be located on one of an upper end and a lower end of the base plate, and the second shaft may be located on the other of the upper end and the lower end of the base plate.

In one implementation, the first pressurizing plate may include a first clip located at a lower portion of one surface thereof facing the base plate, wherein the first clip fixes one of a hem and a pant waist of the pants.

In one implementation, the first pressurizing plate may include a second clip located at a lower portion of the other surface thereof facing the second pressurizing plate, wherein the second clip fixes the other of the hem and the pant waist of the pants.

In one implementation, the second clip may be formed as a clip of an angled shape to define a predetermined gap with the first pressurizing plate, and the second clip may fix the pants by inserting a portion of one side surface of the pants into the predetermined gap.

In one implementation, because a length of the second pressurizing plate is smaller than a length of the first pressurizing plate, the second clip may be exposed out of the first pressurizing plate when the second pressurizing plate is pivotably coupled to the first pressurizing plate.

In one implementation, the first pressurizing plate may include a first surface that is one surface facing the base plate, a second surface that is the other surface facing the second pressurizing plate, and a mounting corner in a curved shape for connecting the first surface and the second surface to each other, wherein the mounting corner mounts the pants, and the mounting corner may have a curvature of a curved surface connected to the first surface different from a curvature of a curved surface connected to the second surface.

In one implementation, the mounting corner may be connected to the first surface with the curved surface and may protrude toward the second pressurizing plate.

In one implementation, the first surface may include a first groove recessed in a longitudinal direction of the door to prevent interference with a seam formed on the pants, and the second surface may include a second groove recessed in the longitudinal direction of the door to prevent the interference with the seam formed on the pants.

In one implementation, the base plate may be spaced apart from the door inner surface by a predetermined separation distance and may be coupled to the door inner surface.

In one implementation, the base plate may include a clip accommodating portion recessed or penetrated into a shape corresponding to a shape of the first clip when the first pressurizing plate pressurizes the base plate.

In one implementation, the laundry treating apparatus may further include an elastic support positioned between the base plate and the door inner surface to support the base plate, and the pants may be pressurized between the first pressurizing plate and the base plate when the first pressurizing plate is coupled to the base plate.

In one implementation, a width of the second pressurizing plate may be greater than widths of the first pressurizing plate and the base plate.

In one implementation, the laundry treating apparatus may further include a blower disposed inside the second chamber to suck air in the first chamber, a heat pump disposed inside the second chamber to dehumidify and heat the sucked air, a first opening penetrating the first pressurizing plate, and a second opening penetrating the second pressurizing plate at a position corresponding to a position of the first opening, and the pants may be exposed to dehumidified and heated air and steam through the first opening and the second opening.

In one implementation, the second pressurizing plate may include protective side surfaces formed by being bent in a direction toward the door inner surface from both side surfaces of the second pressurizing plate, respectively, and the protective side surfaces may cover both side surfaces of the base plate and both side surfaces of the first pressurizing plate when the second pressurizing plate pressurizes the first pressurizing plate and the base plate.

In one implementation, a cover surface located on a side away from the door inner surface among both surfaces of the second pressurizing plate may further include a handle for a user to hold the second pressurizing plate to pivot the second pressurizing plate.

In one implementation, the first pressing plate may include a hinge portion including the first shaft, wherein the hinge portion is disposed beneath the first pressurizing plate to move the first pressurizing plate in a direction farther from or closer to the door inner surface.

In one implementation, the hinge portion may further include a hinge support coupled to the base plate or the door inner surface to support the first shaft, and a hinge hole penetrating the hinge support in an axial direction of the first shaft, wherein the first shaft is inserted into the hinge hole, and a length of the hinge hole measured along the direction farther from or closer to the door inner surface may be greater than a length of the hinge hole measured along a height direction of the door.

In one implementation, the hinge portion may further include an elastic member for applying an elastic force to the first pressurizing plate in the direction farther from the door inner surface, the first pressurizing plate may move toward the base plate while facing the base plate along the hinge hole when the second pressurizing plate is coupled to the first pressurizing plate or the base plate, and the first pressurizing plate may move in a direction farther from the base plate while facing the base plate by the elastic member when the second pressurizing plate pivots in a direction farther from the first pressurizing plate.

In one implementation, the hinge portion may further include a hinge connecting portion of an angled shape for connecting the first shaft and the first pressurizing plate to each other, and the hinge connecting portion may prevent the first pressurizing plate from pivoting by an angle equal to or greater than a predetermined angle when the first pressurizing plate pivots in a direction farther from the base plate.

The present disclosure may reduce the frequency of the unintentional wrinkles or folds occurring as the laundry is pressurized from said one side thereof.

In addition, the present disclosure may uniformly pressurize the laundry to remove the folds or the unintentional wrinkles of the laundry and improve the formation of the predetermined intended creases.

In addition, the present disclosure may pressurize the entire region of the laundry.

In addition, the present disclosure may not need to differently set the pivoting direction of the pressurizing portion depending on whether the user is left-handed or right-handed.

In addition, the present disclosure may further facilitate the mounting of the laundry to be pressurized.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. A configuration of an apparatus or a method for controlling the same to be described below is only for describing the embodiment of the present disclosure, not for limiting the scope of the present disclosure, and reference numbers used the same throughout the specification refer to like components.

Specific terms used in the present specification are only for convenience of description and are not used as a limitation of the illustrated embodiment.

For example, expressions such as "same" and "identical" not only indicate the strictly identical state, but also indicate a state in which a tolerance or a difference in the degree of obtaining the same function exists.

For example, expressions such as "in a certain direction", "along a certain direction", "parallel to", "vertically", "central", "concentric", or "coaxial" indicating a relative or absolute arrangement not only strictly indicate such an arrangement, but also indicate a state in which a relative displacement is carried out with a tolerance or an angle or a distance sufficient to obtain the same function.

A term 'wrinkles' used herein without being expressly stated refers to unintentional wrinkles or folds that occur after clothing is worn, or after washing or drying. In other words, the term 'wrinkles' refers to wrinkles that occur unintentionally as the clothing is wrinkled by use or during the washing or the drying, rather than pleats or creases intended for a design or a function from a design step. Therefore, the term 'wrinkles' refers to the folds that need to be removed using a method such as ironing.

(a) in <FIG> shows an example of a conventional laundry treating apparatus <NUM>. The laundry treating apparatus <NUM> includes a cabinet <NUM> including a laundry inlet <NUM> defined in one surface thereof, a first chamber <NUM> positioned inside the cabinet <NUM> and accommodating laundry through the laundry inlet <NUM>, a second chamber <NUM> positioned underneath the first chamber <NUM> and defining a space therein separated from a space defined in the first chamber <NUM>, a steamer <NUM> (see <FIG>) that is disposed in the second chamber <NUM>, generates steam, and supplies the steam to the first chamber <NUM>, and a door <NUM> that is pivotably coupled to the cabinet <NUM> to open and close the laundry inlet <NUM>. Considering usage methods of general users, preferably, the laundry inlet <NUM> will be defined in a front surface of the cabinet <NUM>.

In addition, the laundry treating apparatus <NUM> may further include a blower <NUM> (see <FIG>) located inside the second chamber <NUM> and sucking air of the first chamber <NUM>, and a heat pump unit <NUM> that dehumidifies and heats the sucked air and then discharges the air to the first chamber <NUM>.

The cabinet <NUM> may be made of a metal material, and may be made of a plastic material when strength thereof is able to be maintained. In addition, the first chamber <NUM> may be formed by plastic injection molding. The first chamber <NUM> may be coupled to the cabinet <NUM> by a frame (not shown). Alternatively, a space between the cabinet <NUM> and the first chamber <NUM> may be filled with a foamed plastic such as polyurethane.

The laundry including tops and bottoms may be placed in the first chamber <NUM>, and the laundry may be managed to be refreshed through the blower <NUM> (see <FIG>), the heat pump <NUM> (see <FIG>), and the steamer <NUM> (see <FIG>) located inside the second chamber <NUM>. That is, a function of sterilizing and deodorizing the laundry using the steam and/or heated air, and removing the folds formed by use may be performed through the blower <NUM> (see <FIG>), the heat pump <NUM> (see <FIG>), and the steamer <NUM> (see <FIG>) located inside the second chamber <NUM>.

The first chamber <NUM> may include a laundry support <NUM> for mounting the laundry at an upper portion of an interior of the first chamber <NUM>. The laundry support <NUM> may accommodate a hanger on which the laundry is hung, and may be connected to a driver (not shown) capable of reciprocating the laundry support <NUM> in a left and right direction. The movement of the laundry support <NUM> may shake the laundry, and eventually foreign matters including fine dust attached to the laundry may be separated. In addition, while shaking the laundry mounted on the laundry support <NUM>, the wrinkles of the laundry may be removed to some extent by being exposed to the steam or moisture supplied from the second chamber <NUM>.

That is, the laundry support <NUM> allows the laundry to be mounted in an unfolded state by a self load thereof at the interior of the first chamber <NUM>, thereby allowing the laundry to be uniformly exposed to the dehumidified and heated air and/or steam supplied from the second chamber <NUM>.

In general, water boils at <NUM> under atmospheric pressure. In this connection, generated water vapor may be referred to as the steam. Moisture, on the other hand, refers to a form in which water droplets of <NUM> or less are suspended in the air at room temperature. For example, the moisture is like fog. In general, because the steam generated by boiling water has a greater sterilization power than the moisture because of a higher temperature, and water molecules move more actively at high temperature, permeability of the laundry is excellent for the case of the steam, so that the steam may be utilized more than the moisture to refresh the laundry.

The first chamber <NUM> is formed by a first chamber top surface <NUM> on which the driver (not shown) of the laundry support <NUM> is located, a first chamber bottom surface <NUM> that forms a bottom of the first chamber <NUM>, first chamber left and right side surfaces <NUM> and <NUM> that connect the first chamber top surface <NUM> and the first chamber bottom surface <NUM> to each other, and a first chamber rear surface <NUM>. When said one surface in which the laundry inlet <NUM> is defined is the front surface, the rear surface of the first chamber <NUM> will be located on a side opposite to the front surface.

An air supply port <NUM> and a steam supply port <NUM> for supplying the steam generated by the steamer <NUM> and the air dehumidified and heated by the heat pump <NUM> in the second chamber <NUM> to the first chamber, and an air suction port <NUM> for sucking the air of the first chamber <NUM> by the blower <NUM> may be located on the first chamber bottom surface <NUM>.

As shown in (a) in <FIG>, the air supply port <NUM> and the steam supply port <NUM> may be disposed in a region where the first chamber bottom surface <NUM> and the first chamber rear surface <NUM> meet. In addition, the region where the first chamber bottom surface <NUM> and the first chamber rear surface <NUM> meet may have a smoothly inclined shape. The air suction port <NUM> may be located on the first chamber bottom surface <NUM> close to the laundry inlet <NUM>. Accordingly, the air inside the first chamber <NUM> will be discharged through the air supply port <NUM> and then sucked through the air suction port <NUM> to circulate. The steam will also be discharged through the steam supply port <NUM>, then condensed, then sucked through the air suction port <NUM>, and then collected in a sump (not shown) for storing condensate therein.

In order to more smoothly discharge the condensate condensed inside the first chamber <NUM> into the second chamber <NUM> through the air suction port <NUM>, the first chamber bottom surface <NUM> may be inclined downward in a direction of the laundry inlet <NUM> from the first chamber rear surface <NUM>.

As shown in (a) in <FIG>, the laundry treating apparatus <NUM> may include a water supply tank <NUM> for supplying water to the steamer <NUM> and a drain tank <NUM> for discharging and storing the condensate collected in the sump (not shown) at a front portion of the second chamber <NUM>. In addition, a tank module frame (not shown) for defining a tank installation space (not shown) in which the water supply tank <NUM> and the drain tank <NUM> are installed may be disposed to separate the tank installation space (not shown) and the second chamber <NUM> from each other. That is, the tank installation space <NUM> and the second chamber <NUM> may be located underneath the first chamber <NUM>, and the tank installation space may be located close to the door <NUM> and the second chamber <NUM> may be located at the rear of the tank installation space.

Each of the water supply tank <NUM> and the drain tank <NUM> may be constructed to be detachable from the tank module frame (not shown). However, alternatively, the water supply tank <NUM> and the drain tank <NUM> may be coupled to each other to be attached or detached at the same time.

The door <NUM> may include a rear surface of the door <NUM> or a door inner surface <NUM> directed in a direction from the door <NUM> to the first chamber <NUM> when the door <NUM> is closed. The door <NUM> will be pivotably connected to the cabinet <NUM> in a hinge scheme to open and close the laundry inlet <NUM>.

When a user closes the door <NUM>, a front surface of the water supply tank <NUM> and a front surface of the drain tank <NUM> may face the door inner surface <NUM>. When the user opens the door <NUM>, the front surface of the water supply tank <NUM> and the front surface of the drain tank <NUM> may be exposed to the outside. In addition, the water supply tank <NUM> and the drain tank <NUM> include a water supply tank window <NUM> and a drain tank window <NUM> on the front surfaces thereof, respectively, so that water levels of the water stored inside the water supply tank <NUM> and the drain tank <NUM> may be identified immediately.

A water supply tank handle <NUM> and a drain tank handle <NUM> may be disposed on the front surface of the water supply tank <NUM> and the front surface of the drain tank <NUM>, respectively. When the user pulls each of the water supply tank handle <NUM> and the drain tank handle <NUM>, each of the water supply tank <NUM> and the drain tank <NUM> may be separated from the tank module frame (not shown) by pivoting about each of a distal end of the front surface of the water supply tank and a distal end of the front surface of the drain tank. In addition, when mounting the water supply tank <NUM> and the drain tank <NUM> on the tank module frame (not shown), the water supply tank <NUM> and the drain tank <NUM> will be seated on the tank module frame (not shown) through the pivoting as well.

In the case of the conventional laundry treating apparatus <NUM>, a laundry fixing portion <NUM> for hanging a laundry hanger <NUM> after mounting pants P upside down on the laundry hanger <NUM>, and a presser <NUM> for pressurizing the pants fixed by the hanger <NUM> may be located on the door inner surface <NUM> or inside the first chamber <NUM>.

The reason for hanging the pants P upside down, that is, with a bottom hem up, is to allow the pants P to be evenly unfolded as a tensile force is applied thereto through a self load of the pants P because a weight of an upper end, that is, a pant waist of the pants P is greater than a weight of a lower end, that is, pant legs of the pants P.

The presser <NUM> may include a support plate <NUM> coupled to the door inner surface <NUM> and supporting the laundry, and a pivoting plate <NUM> pivoting toward the support plate <NUM> to pressurize the pants P. When the pivoting plate <NUM> pivots toward and is coupled to the support plate <NUM>, the pivoting plate <NUM> becomes able to pressurize the pants P. Thereafter, as the door <NUM> is closed, the fold may be removed by being exposed to the steam and the dehumidified and heated air inside the first chamber <NUM>. In this connection, the presser <NUM> may include a pivoting plate through-hole <NUM> penetrating the pivoting plate <NUM> to facilitate penetration of the steam into the pants P, and may further include a depression <NUM> defined in a surface in contact with the pants P of both surfaces of the pivoting plate in order to prevent a seam formed along a longitudinal direction of the pant legs of the pants P from being pressurized.

Referring to <FIG>, the blower <NUM> for sucking the air of the first chamber <NUM>, the steamer <NUM> for receiving water from the water supply tank <NUM>, generating the steam, and then, supplying the steam to the first chamber <NUM>, and the heat pump <NUM> for dehumidifying and heating the air sucked by the blower <NUM> and discharging the air to the first chamber <NUM> may be included inside the second chamber <NUM>. In addition, a controller (not shown) for controlling the blower <NUM>, the steamer <NUM>, and the heat pump <NUM> may be located.

Therefore, in order to supply the dehumidified and heated air to the first chamber <NUM>, the air inside the first chamber <NUM> is sucked through an inlet duct <NUM> after generating a suction force using a blower fan <NUM>. Then, the air is flowed to the heat pump <NUM>, then is subjected to heat exchange, and then, is supplied to the first chamber <NUM> again.

Referring to <FIG>, the blower <NUM> may include the blower fan <NUM> and the inlet duct <NUM>. When a side on which the laundry inlet <NUM> is located is referred to as a front side, and a side on which the rear surface of the first chamber is located is referred to as a rear side, the inlet duct <NUM> may be disposed in front of the blower fan <NUM>, and the tank module frame (not shown) may be disposed in front of the inlet duct <NUM>. Accordingly, the tank module frame may separate the tank installation space <NUM> and the second chamber <NUM> from each other.

The water supply tank <NUM> and the drain tank <NUM> seated on the tank module frame may be located closer to one of both side surfaces of the cabinet <NUM>. For example, in the tank installation space (not shown), a right side surface of the cabinet <NUM> may be located closer to the water supply tank <NUM> than a left side surface of the cabinet. Conversely, the left side surface of the cabinet <NUM> may be located closer to the drain tank <NUM> than the right side surface of the cabinet.

Inside the second chamber <NUM>, the right side surface of the cabinet <NUM> may also be located closer to the steamer <NUM> than the left side surface of the cabinet <NUM> in the same manner as the location of the water supply tank <NUM>. This is to simplify a connection flow channel through which water flows from the water supply tank <NUM> to the steamer <NUM> by disposing the steamer <NUM> at the rear of the water supply tank <NUM>.

The steamer <NUM> may heat water located inside the steamer <NUM> using a heater, and the generated steam may be in communication with the steam supply port <NUM> disposed on the first chamber bottom surface <NUM> along a steam flow channel (not shown).

When the water supply tank <NUM> is located closer to the left side surface of the cabinet <NUM> than to the right side surface of the cabinet <NUM>, the steamer may also correspondingly be located closer to the left side surface of the cabinet <NUM> than to the right side surface of the cabinet <NUM>.

In addition, the inlet duct <NUM> may include an inlet duct entrance <NUM> that communicates with the air suction port <NUM> disposed on the first chamber bottom surface <NUM> and sucks the air of the first chamber <NUM>. In addition, the inlet duct entrance <NUM> may define an inclined flow channel therein. This is to easily flow the condensate generated in the first chamber <NUM> and on the door <NUM> to a sump (not shown) disposed inside of and in a lower portion of the inlet duct <NUM> along the inclined flow channel after passing through the inlet duct entrance <NUM> in communication with the first chamber bottom surface <NUM>.

The inlet duct <NUM> may be positioned in front of the blower fan <NUM>, and the steamer <NUM> and the heat pump <NUM> may be disposed at the rear of the blower fan <NUM>. In addition, the heat pump <NUM> may be supported by a supporter <NUM>. The supporter <NUM> may be disposed on a base <NUM> forming a bottom of the second chamber <NUM>. Therefore, the supporter <NUM> may form a predetermined separation distance between the base <NUM> and the heat pump <NUM>, and define a predetermined installation space between the supporter <NUM> and the base portion <NUM>. The steamer <NUM> may be located in the installation space, and may be coupled to the supporter <NUM> in the installation space. <FIG> shows an example in which the controller <NUM> is positioned underneath the steamer <NUM> in the installation space of the supporter <NUM>, but the controller <NUM> is able to be installed anywhere inside the second chamber <NUM> such as a location at the rear of the steamer <NUM>.

The heat pump <NUM> may further include a housing <NUM> having a first heat exchanger (or an evaporator) (not shown) and a second heat exchanger (or a condenser) (not shown) therein, and an air outlet <NUM> in communication with the air supply port <NUM> disposed in the first chamber <NUM> to discharge the dehumidified and heated air from the housing <NUM> to the first chamber <NUM>. A compressor (not shown) and an expansion valve (not shown) for circulating a refrigerant may be located outward of the supporter <NUM>.

Unlike as shown in <FIG>, the blower may circulate the air of the first chamber, and the evaporator and the condenser may be disposed inside a duct for flowing the air circulated by the blower. That is, the blower may be composed of the inlet duct <NUM>, the blower fan <NUM>, a connection duct (corresponding to the housing in <FIG>) and an exhaust duct (corresponding to the air outlet in <FIG>), and the heat pump may include the evaporator and the condenser disposed inside the connection duct, and the compressor and an expansion portion disposed outside the blower.

Referring to (b) in <FIG>, the door <NUM> may include the door inner surface <NUM> directed in the direction from the door <NUM> to the first chamber <NUM>, a door gasket <NUM> disposed on the door inner surface <NUM> and in close contact with an edge of the cabinet <NUM> to form a sealing between the door <NUM> and the cabinet <NUM>, and door liners <NUM> and <NUM> disposed on the door inner surface <NUM> to guide the condensate generated in the first chamber <NUM> to the first chamber bottom surface <NUM> when the door <NUM> is closed. In some embodiments, the door <NUM> has a structure that may open and close the first chamber <NUM> and the tank installation space <NUM> at the same time. In another embodiment, a plurality of doors may be installed in the cabinet <NUM>, and independently open and close the first chamber <NUM> and the tank installation space <NUM>, respectively. The door liners <NUM> and <NUM> may be constructed to face the first chamber <NUM> when the door <NUM> is closed, and may include an upper door liner <NUM> and a lower door liner <NUM>. The door liners <NUM> and <NUM> may discharge the condensate generated on surfaces of the door liners <NUM> and <NUM> to the sump (not shown) disposed in the lower portion of the inlet duct through the air suction port <NUM> disposed on the first chamber bottom surface <NUM>.

The door gasket <NUM> may be mounted on the door inner surface <NUM> to surround the door inner surface <NUM>. The sealing between the door <NUM> and the cabinet <NUM> may be achieved by the door gasket <NUM>. In addition, the door gasket <NUM> may individually seal the first chamber <NUM> and the tank installation space <NUM>.

In addition, (b) in <FIG> shows a laundry treating apparatus <NUM>, which is an embodiment of the present disclosure, and shows an example of a pressurizing portion <NUM> different from the presser <NUM> constructed in the conventional laundry treating apparatus <NUM> to remove the wrinkles of the pants.

That is, the laundry treating apparatus <NUM> includes the cabinet <NUM> including the laundry inlet <NUM> defined in one surface thereof, the first chamber <NUM> positioned inside the cabinet <NUM> to accommodate the laundry through the laundry inlet <NUM>, the second chamber <NUM> positioned underneath the first chamber <NUM> to define the space separated from the space of the first chamber <NUM>, the steamer <NUM> (see <FIG>) disposed inside the second chamber <NUM> to generate the steam and supply the steam to the first chamber, the door <NUM> pivotably coupled to the cabinet <NUM> to open and close the laundry inlet <NUM>, the door inner surface <NUM> directed in the direction toward the first chamber <NUM> among both surfaces of the door, a base plate <NUM> coupled to the door inner surface <NUM>, a first shaft <NUM> disposed parallel to a width direction of the door <NUM>, a second shaft <NUM> disposed perpendicular to the first shaft <NUM>, a first pressurizing plate <NUM> pivotably coupled to the door inner surface <NUM> or the base plate <NUM> through the first shaft <NUM> to face the base plate <NUM>, and mounting and pressurizing the pants P, and a second pressurizing plate <NUM> pivotably coupled to the door inner surface <NUM> or the base plate <NUM> through the second shaft <NUM> to face the first pressurizing plate <NUM>.

The second pressurizing plate <NUM> may be coupled to the base plate <NUM> and/or the first pressurizing plate <NUM> to pressurize the base plate <NUM> and/or the first pressurizing plate <NUM>, but may be simply coupled to the base plate <NUM> and/or the first pressurizing plate <NUM> to protect the pants mounted on the first pressurizing plate <NUM>, or to perform only a cover role for protecting the base plate <NUM> and/or the first pressurizing plate <NUM>.

In particular, the pressurizing portion <NUM> includes the base plate <NUM> coupled to the door inner surface <NUM>, the first shaft <NUM> disposed parallel to the width direction of the door <NUM>, the second shaft <NUM> disposed parallel to the first shaft <NUM>, the first pressurizing plate <NUM> pivotably coupled to the door inner surface <NUM> or the base plate <NUM> through the first shaft <NUM> (see <FIG>) to face the base plate <NUM>, and mounting and pressurizing the pants, and the second pressurizing plate <NUM> pivotably coupled to the door inner surface <NUM> or the base plate <NUM> through the second shaft <NUM> to face the first pressurizing plate <NUM>, and pressurizing the pants.

Roughly, the pressurizing portion <NUM> may include the second pressurizing plate <NUM> that may pivot in a vertical direction of the door <NUM>, the first pressurizing plate <NUM> that may pivot in the vertical direction of the door <NUM>, and the base plate <NUM> coupled to the door inner surface. The first pressurizing plate <NUM> and the second pressurizing plate <NUM> may pivot around the first shaft <NUM> constructed along the width direction of the door, and the second shaft <NUM> constructed parallel to the first shaft <NUM>, respectively.

The first shaft <NUM> and the second shaft <NUM> may all be disposed parallel to the width direction of the door. In addition, the first shaft <NUM> and the second shaft <NUM> may be disposed at the same position. However, in consideration of user convenience, the first pressurizing plate <NUM> and the second pressurizing plate <NUM> may be opened and closed with different pivoting directions at different positions. Accordingly, in (b) in <FIG>, the first shaft <NUM> may be disposed underneath the base plate <NUM>, and the second shaft <NUM> may be disposed on top of the base plate <NUM>. Therefore, when the second pressurizing plate <NUM> is opened by pivoting upward around the second shaft <NUM>, the first pressurizing plate <NUM> may pivot downward around the first shaft <NUM>. Accordingly, interference between the first pressurizing plate <NUM> and the second pressurizing plate <NUM> may be prevented during the pivoting.

When the second pressurizing plate <NUM> pivots along a width direction of the door <NUM> - pivots around an axial direction of the second shaft -, the first pressurizing plate <NUM> capable of mounting and fixing the pants may be exposed. In this connection, the first pressurizing plate <NUM> may be pivoted by the first shaft <NUM> while maintaining a constant distance between the first pressurizing plate <NUM> and one side surface of the door <NUM>. That is, the first pressurizing plate <NUM> may pivot in the vertical direction that is perpendicular to the left and right direction, which is an opening and closing direction of the door <NUM>.

(b) in <FIG> shows an example in which the first pressurizing plate <NUM> pivots around the first shaft <NUM> disposed at a lower portion of the first pressurizing plate <NUM>, and the second pressurizing plate <NUM> pivots around the second shaft <NUM> disposed above the second pressurizing plate <NUM>, but the first shaft <NUM> may be disposed at an upper portion of the first pressurizing plate <NUM>, and the second shaft <NUM> may be disposed below the second pressurizing plate <NUM>. That is, when the first pressurizing plate <NUM> and the second pressurizing plate <NUM> pivot around axial directions thereof by the first shaft <NUM> and the second shaft <NUM>, the location of the second shaft <NUM> and which side surface the first shaft <NUM> is located on may not be important.

As above, when the first pressurizing plate <NUM> and the second pressurizing plate <NUM> pivot in the vertical direction, there is no need to set the pivoting direction differently depending on whether the user is left-handed or right-handed. A feature that the pivoting direction may be set differently based on user's selection is referred to as reversible. In the laundry treating apparatus, which is an embodiment of the present disclosure, whether to pivot the door <NUM> to the left or to the right is selectable based on the user's selection. However, because the components of the pressurizing portion <NUM> are opened and closed by being pivoted in the vertical direction, there is no need to consider this.

In this specification, pivoting in the vertical direction of the door <NUM> means pivoting around the shaft formed parallel to the width direction of the door <NUM>, and pivoting in the left and right direction of the door <NUM> means pivoting around the shaft formed parallel to the height direction of the door <NUM>. The height direction of the door <NUM> and the width direction of the door <NUM> are perpendicular to each other. Accordingly, the first shaft <NUM> and the second shaft <NUM> are perpendicular to each other.

In addition, in this specification, penetrating in the thickness direction means penetrating a top surface and a bottom surface, which are formed by horizontal sides and vertical sides of a member having a very large height (or thickness) like a plate-shaped member, in a direction from the top surface to the bottom surface or from the bottom surface to the top surface direction.

<FIG> schematically shows the presser <NUM> of the conventional laundry treating apparatus <NUM>. In particular, (a) in <FIG> shows a state in which the pivoting plate <NUM> pivots toward the support plate <NUM> on which the pants P are mounted, and (b) in <FIG> schematically shows a state in which the pivoting plate <NUM> is pivoted and coupled to the support plate <NUM> to pressurize the pants P located between the pivoting plate <NUM> and the support plate <NUM>.

The pivoting plate <NUM> pivots through a pivoting coupling portion (not shown), for example, a hinge, disposed on one of both side surfaces of the pivoting plate <NUM> to pressurize the pants P. In this connection, the pants P will be pressurized from one side surface where the pivoting coupling portion is located. That is, the pants P are pressurized from a region R2 close to the pivoting coupling portion. When the pivoting plate <NUM> is completely pivoted to face the support plate <NUM>, that is, when the other side surface of the pivoting plate <NUM> is coupled to the support plate <NUM>, the pants P will be pressurized up to a region R1.

Therefore, while the pivoting plate <NUM> pivots, a uniform pressure is not applied to the pants P. In this case, a relatively large pressure is applied to a portion (the region R1) of the pants P close to the pivoting coupling portion, and a relatively small pressure is applied to a portion (the region R2) far from the pivoting coupling portion, so that the pants P may not be evenly pressurized.

Further, in the process of the pants P being pressurized by the pivoting plate <NUM>, the pants may be pushed by the pivoting plate <NUM>, which may cause a problem that a fixed shape of the laundry is changed or a position of the laundry is changed. Therefore, in the conventional laundry treating apparatus <NUM>, as indicated by a dotted circle in (b) in <FIG>, more wrinkles of the laundry may occur or wrinkles in directions completely different from the intended direction may occur. (b) in <FIG> is exaggerated to emphasize such a case.

In addition, even when the pants P are mounted, the pants P are simply hung on a laundry mounting portion <NUM> (see (a) in <FIG>), but are not able to be fixed, so that the position of the laundry is not able to be prevented from changing during pressurization.

In addition, when the pants P are mounted on the inner surface of the door with a total length of the pants without being folded, because a vertical level of the laundry mounting portion <NUM> (see (a) in <FIG>) is high, there may be an inconvenience for the user. In addition, because the laundry mounting portion <NUM> occupies most of the door inner surface <NUM>, there is a problem in that usability of the door inner surface <NUM> may be deteriorated.

The present disclosure relates to an example of the laundry treating apparatus <NUM> including the pressurizing portion <NUM> shown in (b) in <FIG> to solve the above-described problems. Because the pressurizing portion <NUM> may fold the pants through the first pressurizing plate <NUM>, the space occupied by the pressurizing portion <NUM> or the pants P on the door inner surface <NUM> may be reduced by about half.

In one example, the pants P may be fixed through a clip or the like disposed on the first pressurizing plate <NUM>. In addition, even when the pressurizing plate <NUM> pivots along the width direction of the door perpendicular to the pivoting direction of the door <NUM>, that is, around the first shaft, the first pressurizing plate <NUM> will not immediately pressurize the pants P by being coupled to the base plate <NUM>, but will maintain a predetermined distance (L1, see <FIG>) with the base plate <NUM>. This is because an elastic force is applied in a direction in which the first pressurizing plate <NUM> moves away from the base plate <NUM> by an elastic member <NUM> (see <FIG>) disposed in the first pivoting portion <NUM> (see <FIG>) of the first pressurizing plate <NUM>.

When the second pressurizing plate <NUM> is closed to be coupled to the base plate <NUM> in order to overcome the elastic force, the first pressurizing plate <NUM> will move toward the base plate <NUM>. Therefore, the first pressurizing plate <NUM> will be uniformly in close contact with the base plate <NUM> rather than a portion of the first pressurizing plate <NUM> first contacts the base plate <NUM>. Thus, an entire region of the pants P will be pressurized uniformly at the same time. This will be described later in detail with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> sequentially shows a method of using the pressurizing portion <NUM> disposed on the door <NUM> to remove the wrinkles of the pants P. The pressurizing portion <NUM> may be disposed on the door inner surface <NUM> or the first chamber side surface <NUM>, but <FIG> shows an example in which the pressurizing portion <NUM> is disposed on the door inner surface <NUM>.

Referring to (c) in <FIG>, the pressurizing portion <NUM> includes the base plate <NUM> coupled to the door inner surface <NUM>, the first shaft <NUM> disposed parallel to the width direction of the door <NUM>, the second shaft <NUM> disposed parallel to the first shaft <NUM>, the first pressurizing plate <NUM> pivotably coupled to the door inner surface <NUM> or the base plate <NUM> through the first shaft <NUM> to face the base plate <NUM>, and mounting and pressurizing the pants, and the second pressurizing plate <NUM> pivotably coupled to the door inner surface <NUM> or the base plate <NUM> through the second shaft <NUM> to face the first pressurizing plate <NUM>. Accordingly, the pivoting direction of the pressurizing portion <NUM> is perpendicular to the pivoting direction of the door <NUM>.

Considering only the pressurizing portion <NUM>, the pressurizing portion <NUM> may include the second pressurizing plate <NUM> that may pivot in the vertical direction on the door inner surface <NUM>, the first pressurizing plate <NUM> that may pivot in the vertical direction on the door inner surface <NUM>, and the base plate <NUM> coupled to the door inner surface. The first pressurizing plate <NUM> and the second pressurizing plate <NUM> may pivot around the first shaft <NUM> constructed along the width direction of the door, and the second shaft <NUM> constructed parallel to the first shaft <NUM>, respectively.

Referring to (a) and (b) in <FIG>, when the door <NUM> is opened, the second pressurizing plate <NUM> of the pressurizing portion <NUM> may be exposed to the outside. Accordingly, the second pressurizing plate <NUM> may function as a cover for protecting the base plate <NUM> and the first pressurizing plate <NUM>. In addition, the second pressurizing plate <NUM> may also perform a function of pressurizing a portion including the pant waist when the pants P are mounted as shown in (c) in <FIG>. The second pressurizing plate <NUM> may include a pressurizing surface <NUM> facing the pants and a cover surface <NUM> located on an opposite side of the pressurizing surface. The second pressurizing plate <NUM> may further include a second opening <NUM> defined therein that penetrates the second pressurizing plate <NUM> in a thickness direction of the second pressurizing plate <NUM>, that is, in a direction from the pressurizing surface <NUM> to the cover surface <NUM>. The second opening <NUM> may facilitate the penetration of the steam into the pants P mounted in the pressurizing portion <NUM> together with a first opening <NUM>, which will be described later, penetrating the first pressurizing plate <NUM> to improve a moisture content of the laundry.

In addition, the cover surface <NUM> may include a handle <NUM> with which the user may hold the second pressurizing plate <NUM> in order to pivot the second pressurizing plate <NUM> in the vertical direction. Preferably, the handle <NUM> may be located below the cover surface <NUM>. The handle <NUM> may be a simple handle, or may also perform a function of releasing lock between a locking hook <NUM> (see (c) in <FIG>) and a locking hole <NUM> to be described later. That is, when the handle <NUM> is pulled, coupling between a catch portion (not shown) located inside the lock hole <NUM> and the locking hook <NUM> may be released.

In addition, the second pressurizing plate <NUM> may protect side surfaces of the base plate <NUM> and the first pressurizing plate <NUM> in order to perform the cover function to protect the first pressurizing plate <NUM> and the base plate <NUM>. In this case, the second pressurizing plate <NUM> may further include protective side surfaces <NUM> formed by being bent in a direction toward the door inner surface <NUM> from both side surfaces of the second pressurizing plate <NUM>, respectively. To this end, a width of the second pressurizing plate <NUM> will be greater than a width of each of the first pressurizing plate <NUM> and the base plate <NUM>.

On the door inner surface <NUM>, the second pressurizing plate <NUM> may pivot (A1) in the vertical direction of the door around the second shaft <NUM> formed in parallel along the width direction of the door. In one example, the second pressurizing plate <NUM> may also pivot in an opposite direction as shown by an arrow (e) in <FIG>.

The door inner surface <NUM> may be recessed inwardly of the door by a length corresponding to the thickness of the second pressurizing plate <NUM> to define therein a recessed space <NUM> for accommodating the second pressurizing plate <NUM> therein to minimize protrusion of the second pressurizing plate <NUM> from the door inner surface <NUM> when the second pressurizing plate <NUM> is pivoted along the width direction of the door and turned upward, that is, when the cover surface <NUM> faces the door inner surface <NUM>.

(a) in <FIG> shows that the user opens the door <NUM> and the pressurizing portion <NUM> is exposed, and (b) in <FIG> shows a state in which the second pressurizing plate <NUM> is pivoted around the second shaft <NUM> disposed along the width direction of the door and accommodated in the recessed space <NUM> in order for the user to mount the pants P. In addition, the pressurizing surface <NUM> may include a prevention groove <NUM> in a recessed form for preventing a sewing line of the pants P from being pressurized. The prevention groove <NUM> is defined in a longitudinal direction of the pressurizing surface <NUM>, which is for preventing the sewing line (or the seam) generated during sewing of a front panel and a back panel of the pants from being pressurized when the second pressurizing plate <NUM> is closed. This is because, unnecessary folds may occur around the sewing line when the sewing line is pressurized because the sewing line generally protrudes than fabric of the pants.

Referring to (b) and (c) in <FIG>, the first pressurizing plate <NUM> may be positioned between the base plate <NUM> and the second pressurizing plate <NUM>. The first pressurizing plate <NUM> may include a first surface <NUM> facing the second pressurizing plate, a second surface <NUM> facing the base plate <NUM>, and the first shaft <NUM> disposed along the height direction of the door <NUM> to pivot the first pressurizing plate <NUM> in the vertical direction. The first shaft <NUM> may pivotably couple the first pressurizing plate <NUM> to the door inner surface <NUM> or the base plate <NUM>. The first pressurizing plate <NUM> may pivot (A2) in the left and right directions by the first shaft <NUM>. <FIG> shows a case in which the first shaft <NUM> is disposed underneath the base plate <NUM> as an example. Therefore, when the second pressurizing plate <NUM> is pivoted upward by the second shaft <NUM>, the second pressurizing plate <NUM> may be pivoted downward by the first shaft <NUM>. The second pressurizing plate <NUM> may pivot to be fully tilted upward to be accommodated in the recessed space <NUM>. On the other hand, the first pressurizing plate <NUM> may not pivot more than <NUM> degrees (°) even when the first pressurizing plate <NUM> pivots downward in order to make it convenient for the user to mount the pants P. That is, when an angle between the first pressurizing plate <NUM> and the base plate <NUM> in a state in which the first pressurizing plate <NUM> is coupled to the base plate <NUM> is <NUM> degrees (°), the angle between the first pressurizing plate <NUM> and the base plate <NUM> may be <NUM> degrees (°) when the first pressurizing plate <NUM> is pivoted downward and opened. Therefore, it may be easy to fix the hem of the pants using the first clip <NUM> after mounting the pants P on the first pressurizing plate <NUM>.

In one example, the first pressurizing plate <NUM> may include a first clip <NUM> and a second clip <NUM> to fix the pants P mounted on the first pressurizing plate <NUM>. The first clip <NUM> may be positioned at a lower portion of the second surface <NUM>, and the second clip <NUM> may be positioned at a lower portion of the first surface <NUM>. The first clip <NUM> may fix a portion of the pants including a hem of the pants. Referring to (d) in <FIG>, the second clip <NUM> may fix both sides of an opposite portion of the hem of the pants, that is, the pant waist and both sides of the pant legs connected to the pant waist.

The first pressurizing plate <NUM> may further include a mounting corner <NUM>, which is a corner on which the pants P are mounted on an upper end thereof. The mounting corner <NUM> has a curved surface, so that the unnecessary wrinkles or folds may be prevented from being generated even when the pants P are mounted.

In addition, the mounting corner <NUM> may include a first curved surface <NUM> (see (b) in <FIG>) connected to the first surface <NUM>, and a second curved surface <NUM> (see (b) in <FIG>) connecting the first curved surface to the second surface <NUM>. The first curved surface <NUM> (see (b) in <FIG>) and the second curved surface <NUM> (see (b) in <FIG>) may have different curvatures and thus may have asymmetrical shapes. That is, the first curved surface <NUM> (see (b) in <FIG>) may have a shape that protrudes in a direction away from the door inner surface <NUM> than the first surface <NUM>. Accordingly, a radius of curvature of the first curved surface <NUM> (see (b) in <FIG>) may be greater than that of the second curved surface <NUM> (see (b) in <FIG>).

The first pressurizing plate <NUM> may further include the first opening <NUM> penetrating the first pressurizing plate <NUM> in the thickness direction of the first pressurizing plate <NUM>. The first opening <NUM> may be positioned in the first pressurizing plate <NUM> to correspond to a position of the second opening <NUM> defined in the second pressurizing plate <NUM>. This is to facilitate the penetration of the steam into the pants P through the second opening <NUM> when closing the second pressurizing plate <NUM>, that is, when the second pressurizing plate <NUM> pivots around the second shaft and the pressurizing surface <NUM> of the second pressurizing plate <NUM> is at a position facing the first pressurizing plate <NUM> and the pants P.

In addition, both surfaces of the first pressurizing plate <NUM>, that is, the first surface <NUM> and the second surface <NUM> may respectively include a first groove <NUM> and a second groove <NUM> recessed along the longitudinal direction of the first pressurizing plate <NUM> to prevent the sewing line of the pants P from being pressurized during the pressurization.

In one example, the first pressurizing plate <NUM> may include the first clip <NUM> and the second clip <NUM> for fixing the mounted pants P. The first clip <NUM> may be disposed on the second surface <NUM> and may have a U-shape. As long as no external force acts on the first clip <NUM>, the first clip <NUM> may be a biased member in which a force acts only in a direction of pressurizing the laundry inserted into the clip toward the first pressurizing plate <NUM>. For example, the first clip <NUM> may be the biased member made of an elastic member and using an elastic force.

The first clip <NUM> may include a clip fixing portion <NUM> for fixedly coupling the first clip <NUM> to the first pressurizing plate <NUM>, and a clip support <NUM> that is bent and extended from both ends of the clip fixing portion. When the pants P are inserted into the clip support <NUM>, the elastic force acts toward the first pressurizing plate <NUM> to fix the pants P.

The second clip <NUM> may be located at the lower portion of the first surface <NUM> facing the second pressurizing plate <NUM> to not allow the opposite portion of the pants fixed by the first clip <NUM> to move. Preferably, the first clip <NUM> may fix the hem of the pant legs, and the second clip <NUM> may fix both side surfaces of the pant waist, which are the portion opposite to the hem. The second clip <NUM> may be formed as a clip having an angled shape, like an angled bracket. The second clip <NUM> may also be made of an elastic member, and fix the pants like a clamp. However, the second clip <NUM> may be preferably formed as a pair of angled clips respectively connected in directions of both side surfaces from the lower portion of the first surface <NUM>. Accordingly, the second clip <NUM> in the angled shape may define a predetermined gap <NUM> between the second clip <NUM> and the first surface <NUM>. The predetermined gap <NUM> may always be maintained, and both side surfaces of the pants are respectively inserted into the predetermined gaps <NUM> to fix the pants P.

For the second clip <NUM> for fixing the pants using the predetermined gap <NUM>, a physical force, such as the elastic force may not act as in the first clip <NUM>. This takes into account that lengths of the pants P mounted on the first pressurizing plate <NUM> are different. That is, a length of pants for adults and a length of pants for children may be different from each other. In this connection, when the positions of the first clip <NUM> and the second clip <NUM> are fixed based on the length of the pants for the adults, there may be a problem in that the pants for the children are not able to be fixed. Therefore, when the first clip <NUM> is fixed, the position of the second clip <NUM> should be variable. However, because changing the position of the second clip <NUM> requires another component, a thickness of the first pressurizing plate <NUM> increases and the apparatus becomes complicated. To solve this simply, the second clip <NUM> may insert both side surfaces of the pants P therein and fix both side surface of the pants P at both side surfaces of the first pressurizing plate <NUM>, rather than fixing the ends of the pants P being mounted.

The base plate <NUM> may further include the locking hook <NUM> for coupling with the second pressurizing plate <NUM>. Although the locking hook <NUM> is illustrated as having an angled shape as an example, any shape may be used as long as the locking hook <NUM> is able to couple and separate the base plate <NUM> and the second pressurizing plate <NUM>. The locking hook <NUM> is inserted into the locking hole <NUM> defined in the second pressurizing plate <NUM> to maintain the locking between the base plate <NUM> and the second pressurizing plate <NUM>. The locking hole <NUM> may be located in the pressurizing surface <NUM>, and the catch portion (not shown) coupled with the locking hook <NUM> may be located inside the locking hole <NUM>.

A width of the base plate <NUM> may be greater than a width of the first pressurizing plate <NUM>. Accordingly, portions that do not contact the first pressurizing plate of the coupling surface <NUM> that directly faces the first pressurizing plate of the base plate <NUM> exist near both side surfaces of the base plate <NUM>. Because each locking hook <NUM> is located in the vicinity of each of the both side surfaces, when the base plate <NUM> and the first pressurizing plate <NUM> are coupled to each other, there will be no interference resulted from the locking hook <NUM>.

Therefore, when the second pressurizing plate <NUM> is coupled to the base plate <NUM>, the catch portion (not shown) located inside the locking hole <NUM> will come into contact with the locking hook <NUM> and be fastened thereto for the locking. In addition, for releasing the locking of the locking hook <NUM> and the catch portion, the locking hook <NUM> may come out of the locking hole <NUM> when pulling the handle <NUM>. This is one of several possible methods. The second pressurizing plate <NUM> and the base plate <NUM> may be coupled to each other using a different method.

When the second pressurizing plate <NUM> and the base plate <NUM> are coupled to each other, the first pressurizing plate <NUM> positioned between the second pressurizing plate <NUM> and the base plate <NUM> may also be pressurized by the second pressurizing plate <NUM>. Therefore, a space between the first pressurizing plate <NUM> and the base plate <NUM> may also be pressurized.

When the coupling and separation between the base plate <NUM> and the first pressurizing plate <NUM> are possible, and the coupling between the base plate <NUM> and the first pressurizing plate <NUM> may be maintained as it is, the base plate <NUM> and the first pressurizing plate <NUM> may be coupled to each other in any scheme. Alternatively, in <FIG>, the first pressurizing plate <NUM> may further include the elastic member <NUM> such as a spring for ensuring that the base plate <NUM> is pressed.

(d) in <FIG> shows a configuration in which, after mounting the pants P on the first pressurizing plate <NUM>, the first pressurizing plate <NUM> is pivoted around the first shaft <NUM> again to face the base plate <NUM>. The first pressurizing plate <NUM> may further include a coupling member for coupling with the base plate <NUM>. (e) in <FIG> shows a state in which the second pressurizing plate <NUM> is pivoted around the second shaft <NUM> and the first pressurizing plate <NUM> and the base plate <NUM> are coupled to each other. Therefore, the pants P may be pressurized by the second pressurizing plate <NUM>, the first pressurizing plate <NUM>, and the base plate <NUM> after being mounted on the first pressurizing plate <NUM>.

In addition, referring to (a) in <FIG>, the second clip <NUM> may be exposed to the outside even when the second pressurizing plate <NUM> is pivoted to face the first pressurizing plate <NUM> and closed. Because the second clip <NUM> is formed in a protruding form from the first pressurizing plate <NUM>, in consideration of the same, a length in the height direction of the second pressurizing plate <NUM> may be smaller than a length in the height direction of the first pressurizing plate <NUM>.

Although not shown in (d) in <FIG>, as will be described later, even when the pants of any thickness are mounted on the first pressurizing plate <NUM>, in order to uniformly apply the pressure to the pants, a hinge hole <NUM> (see <FIG>) may be defined such that the first shaft <NUM> for pivoting the first pressurizing plate <NUM> may not only rotate, but also move in a direction farther from or closer to the door inner surface. That is, this is because a shape of the hinge hole <NUM> (see <FIG>) is not a circular shape the same as that of the first shaft, but a shape in which semicircles are respectively coupled to both ends of a rectangle. Accordingly, the first shaft <NUM> may also rotate in the hinge hole <NUM> and move in the direction closer to or farther from the door inner surface along the hinge hole <NUM>. Such clearance structure of the hinge hole <NUM> may pressurize the mounted pants no matter how great the thickness of the pants is.

Referring to (c) in <FIG>, the base plate <NUM> may include the coupling surface <NUM> that pressurizes the pants mounted on the first pressurizing plate, and the mounting surface <NUM> positioned opposite to the coupling surface <NUM> to couple the base plate <NUM> to the door inner surface <NUM>. Instead of the base plate <NUM>, the door inner surface <NUM> may serve as the base plate <NUM>. However, preferably, the base plate <NUM> may be spaced apart from the door inner surface <NUM> by a predetermined distance, and the base plate <NUM> may be coupled to the door inner surface using a support member (not shown). The support member may be an elastic member. This is to maintain a constant pressurizing force between the base plate <NUM> and the first pressurizing plate <NUM> to closely adhere the pants P.

When in close contact with the first pressurizing plate <NUM> without the mounted pants P, in order to prevent damage to the base plate <NUM> by the first clip <NUM> protruding from the first pressurizing plate <NUM>, the base plate <NUM> may further include a clip accommodating portion <NUM> that is recessed into a shape corresponding to a shape of the first clip to accommodate the first clip <NUM> therein. The clip accommodating portion <NUM> may be in a recessed form or may be in a completely penetrated form.

Considering that the first clip <NUM> is located at the lower portion of the first pressurizing plate <NUM>, the clip accommodating portion <NUM> may also be positioned at a lower portion of the base plate <NUM>. Because the clip fixing portion <NUM> of the first clip is located at the lower portion of the first pressurizing plate, a portion of the base plate corresponding to a portion of the clip accommodating portion <NUM> corresponding to the clip fixing portion of the first clip may be shorter than another portion of the base plate <NUM>. That is, a first length P1 of the portion of the base plate corresponding to the clip fixing portion <NUM> may be smaller than a second length P2 of another portion of the base plate.

Although not shown in the drawing, in order not to pressurize the sewing line of the pants P that is pressurized between the first pressurizing plate <NUM> and the base plate <NUM>, the base plate <NUM> may also include a pressurizing prevention groove (not shown) defined therein at a position corresponding to the second groove <NUM> of the first pressurizing plate <NUM>.

(a) in <FIG> shows that the mounting corner <NUM> has an asymmetrical cross-section, and (b) in <FIG> is an enlarged view of the mounting corner <NUM>.

Referring to (a) in <FIG>, the hem of the pants P may be fixed by the first clip <NUM> located on the second surface <NUM>, and a middle portion of the pants may be mounted by a smooth curved surface of the mounting corner <NUM>. Thereafter, the rest of the pants P may be mounted on the first surface <NUM>. The rest of the pants P is longer than the first pressurizing plate <NUM>, so that a portion of the pant waist of the pants P may be located below the lower portion of the first pressurizing plate <NUM>. Therefore, the second clip <NUM> may insert both side surfaces of the pants respectively into the predetermined gaps <NUM> and fix the both side surfaces of the pants without fixing the end of the pants P.

Because the mounting corner <NUM> has the curved surface, the unnecessary wrinkles or folds may be prevented from being generated even when the pants P are mounted.

In addition, a portion of the locking hook <NUM> disposed on the base plate <NUM> may be disposed inside the base plate <NUM> through an accommodating hole <NUM>. This is because, when the locking hook <NUM> is made of a material, for example, metal, different from that of the base plate <NUM> for durability, the locking hook <NUM> should be coupled to the base plate <NUM>, and the locking hook <NUM> is able to be coupled to the mounting surface, which is the rear surface of the base plate <NUM>, or the interior of the base plate <NUM> using the fastening member for the sake of aesthetics.

Referring to (b) in <FIG>, the mounting corner <NUM> may include the first curved surface <NUM> connected to the first surface <NUM>, and the second curved surface <NUM> connecting the first curved surface <NUM> to the second surface <NUM>. The first curved surface <NUM> and the second curved surface <NUM> may have the different curvatures and thus may have the asymmetrical shapes. That is, the first curved surface <NUM> may have the shape that protrudes in the direction away from the door inner surface <NUM> than the first surface <NUM>. Therefore, when a center of the first pressurizing plate is indicated by a dashed-dotted line, a radius of curvature S1 of the first curved surface <NUM> may be greater than a radius of curvature S2 of the second curved surface <NUM> based on the dashed-dotted line. In other words, a curvature of the first curved surface <NUM> may be smaller than a curvature of the second curved surface <NUM>. The radius of curvature of the second curved surface <NUM> is similar to half the thickness of the first pressurizing plate <NUM>, but the radius of curvature of the first curved surface <NUM> may be greater than half the thickness of the first pressurizing plate <NUM>.

In one example, the total length (a length of an outer seam) of the pants P may be greater than a sum of a length of the first surface <NUM>, a length of the mounting corner <NUM>, and a length of the second surface <NUM>. In this case, the pant waist of the pants may be located lower the second clip <NUM>. From the hem of the pants P to a middle portion of the pant leg will be pressurized through the base plate <NUM> and the second surface, and the rest of the pants including the pant waist (the portion excluding the pant legs) of the pants will be mounted on the first surface <NUM> after passing through the mounting corner <NUM>. In this connection, a portion to actually remove the folds is not the pant waist, but the pant legs. In addition, a position of the sewing line the pant waist may be different from that of the pant legs. Therefore, a place where the wrinkle removal through actual pressurizing is required will be the pant legs except for the pant waist.

Therefore, by increasing the radius of curvature of the first curved surface <NUM> in order to pressurize only a desired portion of the mounted pants P, the portion of the pants located between the second surface <NUM> and the base plate <NUM> is all pressurized to remove the folds, and a tension is generated by a self load of the rest of the pants past the mounting corner <NUM>, so that the pants will be pressurized in a very straight and taut state throughout, which will make the intended wrinkles (the creases) of the pants clearer and more prominent. Such creases are also referred to as "clearly visible pants' leg creases".

Considering the radius of curvature of the first curved surface <NUM>, after passing through the first curved surface <NUM>, the pants P will be spaced apart from the first pressurizing plate <NUM> unless the second pressurizing plate <NUM> is coupled to the first pressurizing plate <NUM>. In one example, depending on a shape of the second pressurizing plate <NUM>, the portion of the pants P located between the first surface <NUM> and the second pressurizing plate <NUM> may also be pressurized.

<FIG> shows an example of a hinge portion <NUM>. The pants may be mounted between the base plate <NUM> and the first pressurizing plate <NUM>. In addition, the base plate <NUM> further includes an accommodating hole <NUM> through which the locking hook <NUM> for locking the second pressurizing plate <NUM> by being coupled to the second pressurizing plate <NUM> passes. The base plate <NUM> may not be attached to the door inner surface <NUM>, but may be spaced apart therefrom by a predetermined distance. This is to maintain a constant pressing force between the base plate <NUM> and the first pressurizing plate <NUM> to be in close contact with the pants P. In addition, this is to provide a space in which a portion of the hinge portion <NUM> may be inserted at a location between the base plate <NUM> and the door inner surface <NUM> as shown in <FIG>.

A second clip <NUM> for fixing the pant waist of the pants on both side surfaces may be disposed on the first surface <NUM> of the first pressurizing plate <NUM>. In addition, the hinge portion <NUM> may be connected to a side surface on which the second clip <NUM> is located among both side surfaces of the first pressurizing plate <NUM>. In addition, the hinge portion <NUM> may be connected to a lower end of the base plate <NUM>.

The hinge portion <NUM> may pivotably connect the first pressurizing plate <NUM> and the base plate <NUM> to each other. Because the base plate <NUM> is at a fixed position, the first pressurizing plate <NUM> will pivot. To this end, the hinge portion <NUM> may include the first shaft <NUM> for pivoting the first pressurizing plate <NUM> in the width direction of the door. Thus, the first pressurizing plate <NUM> may pivot in the vertical direction of the door.

In addition, the hinge portion <NUM> may move the first shaft <NUM> in the direction farther from or closer to the door inner surface <NUM>. When the direction farther from or closer to the door inner surface <NUM> is referred to as the thickness direction of the door, the first shaft <NUM> is movable along the thickness direction of the door. That is, the first shaft <NUM> is movable along the thickness direction of the door at the same time as the pivoting.

The hinge portion <NUM> may further include a hinge support <NUM> coupled to the base plate <NUM> or the door inner surface <NUM> to support the first shaft <NUM>, and the hinge hole <NUM> into which the first shaft <NUM> is inserted by passing through the hinge support <NUM> in an axial direction of the first shaft <NUM>. A length of the hinge hole <NUM> along the direction farther from or closer to the door inner surface <NUM> may be greater than a length of the hinge hole <NUM> measured along the height direction of the door <NUM>.

That is, because the hole into which the first shaft <NUM> is inserted is defined in a shape of a figure in which the semicircles are respectively coupled to the both sides of the rectangle (or a shape of a symbol indicating start/end in a flowchart), the length of the hinge hole <NUM> in the thickness direction of the door may be greater than a diameter of the first shaft <NUM>. Accordingly, the first shaft <NUM> inserted into the hinge hole <NUM> is movable within the hinge hole <NUM> along the thickness direction of the door <NUM>.

An example of the hinge portion <NUM> shown in <FIG> shows that the hinge portion <NUM> is pivotally coupled to the base plate <NUM> and the first pressurizing plate <NUM> at the lower end of the base plate <NUM>. The first shaft <NUM> may be formed as one shaft from one side to the other side of the first pressurizing plate <NUM> along the width direction of the door <NUM>. That is, one hinge portion <NUM> may be composed of one first shaft. However, there may be a plurality of hinge portions <NUM> underneath the base plate <NUM> as shown in (b) in <FIG> or (c) in <FIG>. Hereinafter, one of the plurality of hinge portions <NUM> will be described as an example.

The hinge support <NUM> may pivotably connect the first shaft <NUM> to the base plate <NUM>. The hinge support <NUM> may further include the hinge hole <NUM> into which the first shaft <NUM> is inserted by passing through the hinge support <NUM> in the axial direction of the first shaft <NUM>, that is, in the width direction of the door. The length of the hinge hole <NUM> along the direction farther from or closer to the door inner surface <NUM> may be greater than the length of the hinge hole <NUM> measured along the height direction of the door <NUM>.

The shape of the hinge hole may be the shape in which the semicircles are respectively connected to two short sides of the rectangle. Accordingly, the first shaft <NUM> may be movable along a long side of the rectangle. That is, the first shaft <NUM> may move in the direction farther from or closer to the door inner surface <NUM>. Thus, a space V may be defined between the base plate <NUM> and the first pressurizing plate <NUM>. A distance between the base plate <NUM> and the first pressurizing plate <NUM> in the space V may vary whenever the first shaft <NUM> moves. The first shaft <NUM> may move by a distance excluding a diameter of the first shaft <NUM> from the length of the hinge hole <NUM> indicated by K1, which means that the first pressurizing plate <NUM> may move by a distance indicated by a distance K2.

Because the length of K2 also varies based on the length of K1, it will be possible to set a length of S1 based on the thickness of the pants P that may be mounted between the first pressurizing plate <NUM> and the base plate <NUM>. <FIG> shows that the first pressurizing plate <NUM> and the base plate <NUM> are close to each other enough to be in close contact with each other, but this may vary depending on the design.

The elastic member <NUM> may be connected to the first shaft <NUM>. The elastic member <NUM> may be constructed to connect the first shaft and the hinge support to each other, and to allow the first shaft <NUM> to always receive the elastic force in the direction farther from the door inner surface <NUM>. Alternatively, the first shaft <NUM> may be constructed to receive the elastic force in the direction closer to the door inner surface <NUM> for the close contact between the first pressurizing plate <NUM> and the base plate <NUM>, but this is inconvenient in that the user has to apply a force in a direction opposite to the elastic force whenever the user pivots the first pressurizing plate <NUM>. Thus, herein, the case in which the elastic force is applied in the direction farther from the door inner surface <NUM> is shown. In this case, when the second pressurizing plate <NUM> pivots downward and is coupled to the base plate <NUM> by the locking hook <NUM> and the catch portion (not shown), the first pressurizing plate may be designed to receive a pressing force at a location between the second pressurizing plate <NUM> and the base plate <NUM>. In this connection, the elastic member <NUM> will be compressed, and, when the second pressurizing plate <NUM> is pivoted upward and opened, will push the first pressurizing plate <NUM> out to allow the first pressurizing plate <NUM> and the base plate <NUM> to be spaced apart from each other.

Therefore, when the second pressurizing plate <NUM> is closed, the first pressurizing plate <NUM> will receive a force in the direction farther from the door inner surface <NUM> by the elastic force of the elastic member <NUM>, but the second pressurizing plate <NUM> will pressurize the first pressurizing plate <NUM>. Thus, the portion of the pants P mounted between the first pressurizing plate <NUM> and the base plate <NUM> may be pressurized. In addition, because an entire surface of the first pressurizing plate <NUM>, not a specific portion thereof, comes into close contact with the pants P at the same time, the pants P may be uniformly contacted. The user may fix the pants P through the first clip <NUM> after pivoting (Rot1) the first pressurizing plate <NUM> downward. In addition, when the first pressurizing plate <NUM> is pulled while pivoting the first pressurizing plate <NUM> in the opposite direction again, the space V between the base plate <NUM> and the first pressurizing plate <NUM> will be defined. When the user gently puts the first pressurizing plate <NUM> down after the base plate <NUM> and the first pressurizing plate <NUM> face each other, as the first pressurizing plate <NUM> approaches the base plate <NUM>, the pants positioned between the first pressurizing plate <NUM> and the base plate <NUM> will be pressurized simultaneously and uniformly.

A hinge connecting portion <NUM> may connect the first shaft <NUM> and the first pressurizing plate <NUM> to each other. The hinge connecting portion <NUM> may be in an angled-shape, and an angle thereof may be close to a right angle. Specifically, the hinge connecting portion <NUM> may include a first wing 5617a fixedly coupled to the first shaft <NUM> and pivoting together, and a second wing 5617b vertically or obliquely connected to the first wing 5617a.

Accordingly, when the first shaft <NUM> rotates (Rot1) in the downward direction, the hinge connecting portion <NUM> may also pivot. Specifically, when the first shaft <NUM> rotates, the first wing 5617a may also pivot, and the second wing 5617b may also pivot. Accordingly, when the first pressurizing plate <NUM> pivots (Rot1) in the downward direction, the first wing 5617a including a portion where the first wing 5617a and the second wing 5617b meet will be in contact with the door inner surface <NUM>. Accordingly, the first pressurizing plate <NUM> will stop and no longer pivot. Roughly, the angle between the base plate <NUM> and the first pressurizing plate <NUM> may be <NUM> degrees (°).

The hinge connecting portion <NUM> may further include a third wing 5617c protruding in a region where the first wing 5617a and the second wing 5617b meet. This is because it is more efficient that the third wing 5617c comes into contact first when the hinge connecting portion <NUM> pivots and comes into contact with the door inner surface <NUM> than when an entirety of the wing contacts. In addition, the angle between the base plate <NUM> and the first pressurizing plate <NUM> will be more precisely designed.

As a result, the hinge connecting portion <NUM> in the angled form may prevent the first pressurizing plate <NUM> from pivoting exceeding a predetermined angle. Preferably, the predetermined angle may be <NUM> degrees (°).

(a) and (b) in <FIG> show positions of the first pressurizing plate based on opening and closing of the second pressurizing plate. After the second pressurizing plate <NUM> is opened, the first pressurizing plate <NUM> will pivot downward to mount and fix the pants P. Thereafter, by pivoting the first pressurizing plate <NUM> in the opposite direction, the first pressurizing plate <NUM> may be disposed to face the base plate <NUM> as shown in (a) in <FIG>. In this connection, as described above, the first shaft <NUM> of the first pressurizing plate <NUM> may move in the direction closer to or farther from the door inner surface <NUM> by the shape of the hinge hole <NUM>. (a) in <FIG> shows a case in which the first pressurizing plate <NUM> is moved maximally away from the door inner surface401 by the elastic force of the elastic member <NUM> when the second pressurizing plate <NUM> is opened. Therefore, L1 indicates a distance between the first pressurizing plate <NUM> and the base plate <NUM> when the second pressurizing plate <NUM> pivots upward through the second shaft <NUM>.

Therefore, even when the first pressurizing plate <NUM> is pivoted to face the base plate <NUM> after mounting the pants, unless an external force acts by the user, the distance of L1 will be maintained by the elastic force of the elastic member <NUM>. Only when the second pressurizing plate <NUM> is pivoted downward and coupled to the base plate <NUM>, an entirety of the first pressurizing plate <NUM> moves at the same time toward the base plate <NUM> by the second pressurizing plate <NUM> in a direction of an arrow in (b) in <FIG>, so that even pressure may be applied to the pants.

When the second pressurizing plate <NUM> is closed, the first pressurizing plate <NUM> is moved toward the base plate <NUM> by the second pressurizing plate <NUM>, the pants positioned between the first pressurizing plate <NUM> and the base plate <NUM> will be pressurized. In this connection, the elastic member <NUM> may be compressed to apply the elastic force in the opposite direction as in (b) in <FIG>. However, the second pressurizing plate <NUM> may overcome the elastic force of the elastic member <NUM> by maintaining the locking state by the locking hook <NUM> and the catch portion (not shown). In this connection, the distance between the first pressurizing plate <NUM> and the base plate <NUM> is L2, which may be variable depending on the thickness of the pants.

Claim 1:
A laundry treating apparatus (<NUM>) comprising:
a cabinet (<NUM>) having a laundry inlet (<NUM>) defined in one surface thereof;
a first chamber (<NUM>) positioned inside the cabinet (<NUM>) to accommodate laundry therein through the laundry inlet (<NUM>);
a second chamber (<NUM>) positioned underneath the first chamber (<NUM>) to define a space separated from a space of the first chamber (<NUM>);
a steamer disposed inside the second chamber (<NUM>) to generate steam and supply the generated steam to the first chamber (<NUM>);
a door (<NUM>) pivotably coupled to the cabinet (<NUM>) to open and close the laundry inlet (<NUM>); and
a door inner surface (<NUM>) facing the first chamber (<NUM>) among both surfaces of the door (<NUM>);
a base plate (<NUM>) coupled to the door inner surface (<NUM>);
characterized by further comprising:
a first shaft (<NUM>) disposed parallel to a width direction of the door (<NUM>);
a second shaft (<NUM>) disposed parallel to the first shaft (<NUM>);
a first pressurizing plate (<NUM>) pivotably coupled to the door inner surface (<NUM>) or the base plate (<NUM>) disposed to face the base plate (<NUM>), and pivotably coupled to the first shaft (<NUM>); and
a second pressurizing plate (<NUM>) pivotably coupled to the door inner surface (<NUM>) or the base plate (<NUM>) disposed to face the first pressurizing plate (<NUM>), and pivotably coupled to the second shaft (<NUM>),
wherein the first pressurizing plate (<NUM>) mounts pants, pressurizes a portion of pants located between the base plate (<NUM>) and the first pressurizing plate (<NUM>), and another portion of pants located between the first pressurizing plate (<NUM>) and the second pressurizing plate (<NUM>).