Patent Description:
In general, the laundry treating apparatus has a concept of an apparatus for washing or drying laundry, such as clothes, or an apparatus for performing both washing and drying the laundry.

The laundry treating apparatus may include a cabinet having a laundry opening, a tub in the cabinet for holding washing water, a drum rotatably provided in the tub, a water supply unit for supplying the washing water to the tub, and a detergent supply unit for supplying detergent to the tub through the washing water being provided from the water supply unit.

<CIT> presents a washing machine to enable a user to open and shut a door easily by putting a door handle on the upper part of the washing machine. The washing ma-chine comprises: a main body including an opening on one side; a door which opens and closes the opening; a door handle on the door; a door locking unit which is operated according to an operation of the door handle and locks and unlocks the door. A central part of the door handle is characterized by being located on the upper part of the door locking unit.

<CIT> presents a washing machine, a control panel assembly of which has an improved structure to minimize problems caused by a shaking of a rotary knob and the interference of the rotary knob with other surrounding parts. The control panel assembly of the washing machine includes a control panel; a knob guide installed on the control panel; and a rotary knob rotatably mounted on the knob guide and including a boss passing through the knob guide. The knob guide includes a boss insertion part restricting the boss to prevent the rotary knob from shaking. The boss insertion part includes an extension extended from the bottom surface of the knob guide and forming a boss insertion hole, into which the boss is inserted, therein.

<CIT> presents loading door for a laundry treatment machine with a door frame and with a decorative ring, which by means of corresponding door frame side and decorative ring-side connecting elements with the door frame is detachably connectable. The connecting elements by a rotational movement of the decoration ring relative to the door frame come into connecting engagement, another rotational movement of the decoration ring relative to the door frame the connecting elements disengages again and at least one releasable fixing element, if necessary, the further rotational movement prevented.

<CIT> relates to reinforcement for the top plate of a drum washing machine.

<CIT> presents a drum-type washing machine that includes left and right side plates defining side surfaces of an outer case. A plurality of concave portions are formed on the left and right side plates, and the concave portion closer to a front surface of the outer case as a door side has an arc shape with a larger curvature. Thus, rigidity of the side plates in the up and down direction and the left and right direction is increased, so that vibration at the time of spin-drying is reduced.

<CIT> presents a removal device having a structure for achieving easy removal of lint and a drying device incorporating the removal device.

<CIT> relates to a washing and drying machine having an openable/closable lid provided on the front side of the rotary drum.

<CIT> relates to a method of manufacturing a laundry appliance.

<CIT> describes a metal cover covering a front side and a side surfaces of a plastic housing, the cover having a hole for mounting a display. Operating keys on the metal cover are operated by touch on the metal surface.

An object of the present invention is to provide a laundry treating apparatus which enables high utilization of an inside space, to take easy notice of information, and easy operation.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a laundry treating apparatus which can improve degrees of freedom of fabrication of a control panel.

The invention is set out by the features of the independent claim.

To achieve the objects of the present invention, a laundry treating apparatus includes a cabinet having a laundry opening formed therein, a door mounted to the cabinet for opening/closing the laundry opening, and a control panel arranged at the cabinet, wherein the control panel includes a control panel body projected forward from a front plate, and a front side of the control panel body is sloped to face upward.

The control panel body may further include an upper side, a lower side and two opposite sides exposed to an outside of the laundry treating apparatus.

The control panel body may have a front/rear direction width of the lower side larger than a front/rear direction width of the upper side.

The control panel body may have a vertical direction height smaller than a vertical direction height of the front plate.

The control panel body may include a front body portion projected forward from the front plate, and a window arranged at the front body portion to have the front side sloped to face upward.

The control panel body may further include a deco which surrounds a circumference of the front body portion and a circumference of the window, altogether.

The front body portion may have a space formed therein, and the control panel may further include a PCB assembly having at least a portion thereof inserted in the space.

The control panel may include a PCB assembly arranged to pass through an opening formed in the front plate, and the control panel body may include a window arranged at the PCB assembly to have a front side sloped to face upward, and a deco which surrounds a circumference of the PCB assembly and a circumference of the window, altogether.

The door has a portion facing a lower side of the control panel body in a vertical direction.

A gap between the control panel body and the door is smaller than a height of the control panel body.

The door has an outer frame which forms an exterior appearance of the door, wherein the outer frame is positioned such that at least a portion of the outer frame is projected to an outside of the cabinet when the door is closed.

The outer frame has an outside circumferential surface having a hand grip formed thereon.

The hand grip includes a recess formed in the outside circumferential surface of the outer frame.

The outer frame has a hand grip formed thereon facing the lower side of the control panel body in a vertical direction of the door.

When the door is closed, the door may have a largest projected width in a front/rear direction larger than a largest projected width in a front/rear direction of the control panel body.

When the door is closed, the control panel body may have a largest projected width in a front/rear direction the same with a largest projected width in a front/rear direction of the door, substantially.

The laundry treating apparatus further includes a drawer panel arranged at the control panel, wherein the drawer panel has a sloped side positioned on the same plane with the front side of the control panel body, substantially.

The drawer panel may include a drawer hand grip having the sloped side.

The drawer panel may have a hand grip space having an opened lower side in rear of the drawer hand grip, wherein the hand grip space may face a portion of an outside circumferential surface of the door when the door is closed.

The laundry treating apparatus further includes a drawer panel arranged at the control panel, wherein the drawer panel may include a drawer body portion projected forward, and a drawer cover arranged at the drawer body portion to have a sloped side positioned on the same plane with the front side of the control panel body, substantially.

The drawer panel may further include a drawer deco surrounding an upper side, a left side and a right side of the front body portion and a circumference of the drawer cover, altogether.

In another aspect of the present invention, a laundry treating apparatus includes a cabinet which forms an exterior appearance of the laundry treating apparatus, and a display positioned on an upper side of the cabinet in front of a front side of the cabinet to have a front side sloped to face upward.

The laundry treating apparatus further includes a drawer panel having a sloped side positioned on the same plane with the front side of the display.

The sloped side may be positioned on a side of the front side of the display.

The laundry treating apparatus may further includes a door mounted to the cabinet, wherein the door may have a projected width the same with the display, substantially.

The display, the door and the drawer panel are projected forward from the cabinet.

The laundry treating apparatus of the present invention has the following advantages.

The outward projection of the control panel body can enhance degrees of freedom of fabrication of the control panel.

And, the projection of the outer frame of the door to the outside of the cabinet can enhance degrees of freedom of fabrication and a shape of the door.

And, utilization of the inside of the cabinet can be enhanced.

And, a distance between a lower side of a front side of the control panel body and eyes of the user can be minimized, enabling the user to notice information which the control panel displays more easily.

And, the availability of handling of the control panel body in a sloped direction enables the user, standing in front of the laundry treating apparatus, to handle the control panel conveniently and easily without giving overstrain to a wrist of the user.

In what follows, a laundry treating apparatus according to preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the appended drawings.

The laundry treating apparatus in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention may be applicable both to a top loading type laundry treating apparatus having a laundry opening provided in a top side of a cabinet, and a front loading type laundry treating apparatus having the laundry opening provided in a front side (or, a side) of the cabinet. The specification will be described taking the front loading type laundry treating apparatus as an example.

And, the laundry treating apparatus includes all apparatuses which treats the laundry. In detail, the laundry treating apparatus includes a washing machine for removing contamination from the laundry by using washing water, a dryer for removing moisture from the laundry, and washer-dryer having a drying function.

And, the dryer may include a drum type dryer for supplying heated air to a rotatable drum to dry the laundry, and a cabinet type dryer (Refresher) for supplying the heated air to a clothes placing space in which the clothes are placed.

Though the embodiments of the present invention will be described taking the front loading type washing machine with a rotatable drum to which the laundry is introduced through the front side of the cabinet as an example, the embodiments of the present invention do not exclude various types of laundry treating apparatuses described before.

A laundry treating apparatus <NUM> in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described, with reference to <FIG>.

The laundry treating apparatus <NUM> in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a cabinet <NUM> which forms an exterior appearance thereof. And, the laundry treating apparatus <NUM> includes a control panel <NUM> for receiving control information from a user.

The laundry treating apparatus <NUM> has a laundry opening <NUM> (See <FIG>) formed in the cabinet <NUM>. The laundry opening <NUM> may be formed in a front side of the cabinet <NUM>. The laundry treating apparatus <NUM> includes a door <NUM> mounted to the cabinet <NUM> for opening/closing the laundry opening <NUM>.

The cabinet <NUM> has a laundry holding space provided therein. The cabinet <NUM> may have a rotatable drum <NUM> provided therein. In this case, the laundry may be held in the drum <NUM>. The present invention does not exclude a cabinet type dryer. In this case, the laundry treating apparatus <NUM> may not have the drum <NUM> provided thereto.

The cabinet <NUM> may include a front cover <NUM> arranged on the front side of the laundry treating apparatus <NUM>. And, the cabinet <NUM> may include a rear cover <NUM> positioned opposite to the front cover <NUM>. The cabinet <NUM> may include a top plate <NUM> provided to top edges of the front cover <NUM> and the rear cover <NUM>, and a base (not shown) provided to a bottom side. And, the cabinet <NUM> may further include side covers <NUM> between the front cover <NUM> and the rear cover <NUM>. As the front cover <NUM>, the rear cover <NUM>, the top plate <NUM> and the side covers <NUM> are coupled together, a space is formed for holding the laundry and housing elements of the laundry treating apparatus <NUM> therein.

The front cover <NUM> may construe a front side of the cabinet <NUM>, and the front cover <NUM> may have the laundry opening <NUM> formed therein for introduction of the laundry (See <FIG>). The laundry opening <NUM> may be an opening, for introduction of the laundry to the drum <NUM>, or taking out the laundry from the drum <NUM> through the laundry opening <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the cabinet <NUM> may have the drum <NUM> provided therein. The drum <NUM> is rotatably provided, for holding the laundry therein. The user may introduce the laundry intended to treat to an inside of the drum <NUM>. If the laundry treating apparatus is a washing machine which removes contaminant from the laundry by using washing water, the laundry treating apparatus may further include a tub <NUM>. The tub <NUM> is provided to an outside of the drum <NUM> for holding the washing water.

On the front side of the cabinet <NUM>, i.e., the front cover <NUM> may have a detergent supply unit <NUM> provided thereto for holding detergent therein. Along with this, the detergent supply unit <NUM> may be provided in a drawer panel type, and may be provided with a drawer hand grip <NUM> for assisting pushing in/pulling out of the detergent supply unit <NUM>.

The front cover <NUM> of the laundry treating apparatus in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail, with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>.

The front cover <NUM> may construe the front side of the cabinet <NUM>, and is provided to a front side of the laundry treating apparatus. The front cover <NUM> may include a front plate <NUM>. The front cover <NUM> may further include a top flange 100a extended from a top edge of the front plate <NUM> toward an inside of the cabinet <NUM>. The front cover <NUM> may further include side flanges 100b extended from both side edges of the front plate <NUM> toward the inside of the cabinet <NUM>. The front cover <NUM> may further include a lower flange (Not shown) extended from a lower edge of the front plate <NUM> toward the inside of the cabinet <NUM>.

In this specification, the front side of the front cover <NUM> may mean the front plate <NUM>, or a front side of the front plate <NUM>.

The control panel <NUM> is arranged at the cabinet <NUM>. One of the front side of the front cover <NUM> or the rear side of the control panel <NUM> may have a projected portion <NUM> provided thereto, and the other one may have a recess <NUM> provided thereto for inserting and housing the projected portion <NUM> therein.

If the projected portion <NUM> is provided to the front cover <NUM>, the rear side of the control panel <NUM> may have the recess <NUM> provided thereto for inserting the projected portion <NUM> of the front cover <NUM> therein. Opposite to this, if the projected portion <NUM> is provided to the rear side of the control panel <NUM>, the recess <NUM> may be provided in the front cover <NUM> for inserting the projected portion <NUM> of the control panel <NUM> therein.

Hereinafter, a case will be described as an example, in which the projected portion <NUM> is formed on the rear side of the control panel <NUM>, and the recess <NUM> is formed in the front cover <NUM>. However, an example in which positions of the projected portion <NUM> and the recess <NUM> are interchanged will not be excluded. Since it is apparent to persons skilled in this field of art, the example of interchange of the mounting positions of the projected portion <NUM> and the recess <NUM> will not be described, separately.

The front cover <NUM> has the recess <NUM> provided thereto for coupling to the control panel <NUM>. The recess <NUM> may be provided to the front plate <NUM>, and the projected portion <NUM> provided to the rear side of the control panel <NUM> may be inserted in the recess <NUM>.

The recess <NUM> may include a flange <NUM> extended from the front side of the front plate <NUM> toward the inside of the cabinet <NUM> along a closed loop L. The recess <NUM> may further include a closing portion <NUM> extended from the flange <NUM> to close the inside space of the loop L.

The recess <NUM> may have a predetermined width W1 (See <FIG>) by the flange <NUM>. The recess <NUM> may have an opened front side, and a closed rear side of the closing portion <NUM>. The projected portion <NUM> of the control panel <NUM> may be inserted in the recess <NUM> through the opened front side of the recess <NUM>.

In the meantime, the recess <NUM> may have a connection terminal <NUM> provided thereto to be coupled to a jack <NUM> (See <FIG>) formed on the projected portion <NUM> of the control panel <NUM>, electrically. The connection terminal <NUM> may be provided to the closing portion <NUM> of the recess <NUM>. The connection terminal <NUM>, electrically connected to the jack <NUM>, serves as a window for supplying power to the control panel <NUM> and exchanging electric signal information with the control panel <NUM>.

It is preferable that the recess <NUM> is positioned on an upper side of the front plate <NUM>. It is preferable that the recess <NUM> is positioned at a central portion of the upper side of the front plate <NUM>.

The recess <NUM> may be positioned spaced a predetermined distance from the top side edge of the front plate <NUM>. Between the top side edge of the recess <NUM> and the top side edge of the front plate <NUM>, there is a portion of the front side of the front plate <NUM> provided thereto. A surface positioned between the top side edge of the recess <NUM> and the top side edge of the front plate <NUM> may be positioned on the same plane with the front side of the front plate <NUM> having no recess <NUM> provided thereto.

In the meantime, the laundry opening <NUM> may be provided to a central portion of the front plate <NUM>. The laundry opening <NUM>, being an opened space, may be formed circular. The laundry may be introduced to the drum <NUM> or taken out of the drum <NUM> through the laundry opening <NUM>.

Provided to an outside of the laundry opening <NUM>, there may be a seating portion <NUM> provided thereto for seating a door frame of the door <NUM> thereon. The seating portion <NUM>, a portion on which an inner frame <NUM> of the door frame is to be seated, is formed recessed toward an inside of the cabinet <NUM> from the front side of the front plate <NUM>.

Along with this, the seating portion <NUM> may have hook hole <NUM> formed therein for coupling with a hook <NUM> of the door <NUM>. The seating portion <NUM> may have a hinge inserting hole <NUM> formed therein for inserting a hinge arm <NUM> of the door <NUM> therein. The seating portion <NUM> may have a bracket coupling recess <NUM> formed therein for coupling of the bracket <NUM> of the door <NUM> thereto. The seating portion <NUM> and a configuration in which the door <NUM> is coupled to the seating portion <NUM> will be described in detail, later.

On one side of the front plate <NUM>, there may be a mounting portion <NUM> provided thereto for providing the detergent supply unit <NUM> thereto. The mounting portion <NUM>, being an opened space, may have the detergent supply unit <NUM> coupled thereto. In the meantime, on a front side of the detergent supply unit <NUM>, there may be a hook hole (Not shown) formed therein for coupling to the drawer hand grip <NUM>, to be described later.

The control panel <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the control panel <NUM> includes a control panel body <NUM> having a predetermined width W3. And, the control panel <NUM> may include the projected portion <NUM> provided to a rear side <NUM> of the control panel body <NUM>. The projected portion <NUM> may be formed as one unit with the control panel body <NUM>.

The control panel body <NUM> is an element for receiving washing information from the user or displaying the washing information thereon, may have a front side <NUM> provided with at least one of an input unit for receiving the washing information and a display (an output unit) for displaying the washing information thereon, and, preferably, provided both with the input unit and the display (the output unit).

The control panel body <NUM> may include the front side <NUM> having a predetermined width W3 exposed to an outside thereof. The control panel body <NUM> may include the rear side <NUM> facing the front side of the front cover <NUM>. In this case, the control panel body <NUM> has the front side <NUM> sloped to face upward. The control panel body <NUM> further includes an upper side <NUM>, a lower side <NUM> and two opposite sides <NUM>. The opposite sides having a trapezoidal form with a lower base larger than an upper base.

The laundry treating apparatus may be installed at a position lower than eyes of the user. In this case, the control panel <NUM> may be positioned at a position lower than the eyes of the user. In order to enhance visibility of the input unit and the display on the control panel <NUM>, it is preferable that the front side <NUM> of the control panel body <NUM> is sloped in a direction of the user's eyes.

Therefore, if the rear side <NUM> of the control panel body <NUM> is vertical, a side of the control panel body <NUM> may have a trapezoidal shape.

The rear side <NUM> of the control panel body <NUM> may have the projected portion <NUM> provided thereto. The projected portion <NUM> may be projected from the rear side <NUM> of the control panel body <NUM> toward an inside of the cabinet <NUM>. The projected portion <NUM> may be inserted in the recess <NUM> formed in the front plate <NUM> for making the control panel <NUM> to be coupled, and fixedly secured, to the front plate <NUM>.

The projected portion <NUM> may have a predetermined width W2, and may include a front side <NUM> and a rear side <NUM>. The front side <NUM> of the projected portion <NUM> may couple to the rear side <NUM> of the control panel body <NUM>, and the rear side <NUM> of the projected portion <NUM> may seat on the closing portion <NUM> of the recess <NUM>.

Provided to the rear side <NUM> of the projected portion <NUM>, there may be the jack <NUM> to be coupled to the connection terminal <NUM> of the recess <NUM> electrically. Provided to an inside of the projected portion <NUM>, there may be at least one of a microcomputer and a power source unit of the control panel <NUM>, and preferably, electric elements for driving the control panel <NUM>.

It is preferable that the projected portion <NUM> has a cross sectional area smaller than the rear side <NUM> of the control panel body <NUM>. It is preferable that the rear side <NUM> of the projected portion <NUM> coupled to the rear side <NUM> of the control panel body <NUM> has an area smaller than an area of the rear side <NUM> of the control panel body <NUM>.

The projected portion <NUM> may be inserted in the recess <NUM> formed in the front plate <NUM>.

The control panel body <NUM> is projected forward from a front side of the front plate <NUM>. The control panel body <NUM> may be mounted projected from the front side of the front plate <NUM>. The front side <NUM> of the control panel body <NUM> may be sloped to face upward.

The control panel body <NUM> may have a rectangular shape having ratios of short sides to long sides are not the same. That is, the control panel body <NUM> may have a rectangular bar shape. The control panel body <NUM> may have the long side extended in a transverse direction of the front cover <NUM>.

If the control panel body <NUM> has the rectangular shape, an area of the projected portion <NUM> may occupy <NUM>/<NUM> to <NUM>/<NUM> of an area of the rear side <NUM> of the control panel body <NUM>. Preferably, the area of the projected portion <NUM> may be <NUM>/<NUM> to <NUM>/<NUM> of the area of the rear side <NUM> of the control panel body <NUM>.

The projected portion <NUM> may be provided to deviate to one of a left side and a right side of the rear side <NUM> of the control panel body <NUM>. The projected portion <NUM> may be provided to deviate to one of the left side or the right side in a length direction of the rear side <NUM> of the control panel body <NUM>.

The recess <NUM> may be positioned at the central portion of the upper side of the front plate <NUM>. If the projected portion <NUM> is positioned at a central portion of the rear side <NUM> of the control panel body <NUM>, the control panel body <NUM> may interfere with the mounting portion <NUM>.

Therefore, it is preferable that the projected portion <NUM> is provided deviated to one side from the central portion of the control panel body <NUM>. It is preferable that the projected portion <NUM> is provided deviated in a direction the mounting portion <NUM> is positioned.

Referring to <FIG>, coupling of the control panel <NUM> to the front cover <NUM> will be described in detail.

The projected portion <NUM> of the control panel <NUM> may be inserted in the recess <NUM> formed in the front plate <NUM>. It is preferable that the recess <NUM> has a shape in conformity with an outside shape of the projected portion <NUM>.

The projected portion <NUM> is inserted in the recess <NUM> through an opened front side of the recess <NUM>. In this case, the closing portion <NUM> of the recess <NUM> and the rear side <NUM> of the projected portion <NUM> are coupled closely. In this case, the connection terminal <NUM> provided to the closing portion <NUM> and the jack <NUM> provided to the rear side <NUM> of the projected portion <NUM> may be coupled, electrically.

The projected portion <NUM> may have an upper side <NUM>, a lower side <NUM>, and sides coupled to the flange <NUM> of the recess <NUM> to be in contact thereto. If the projected portion <NUM> is inserted in the recess <NUM>, the flange <NUM> and the upper side <NUM>, the lower side <NUM>, and the sides may couple to be in close contact with each other.

At least one of the upper side <NUM>, the lower side <NUM>, and the sides of the projected portion <NUM> may be provided sloped toward the central portion of the projected portion <NUM>. Since the flange <NUM> and the closing portion <NUM> of the recess <NUM> are in conformity with the outside shape of the projected portion <NUM>, the flange <NUM> may be formed sloped outward from the central portion of the recess <NUM>. By forming the sides of the projected portion <NUM> and the recess <NUM> to have slopes, alignment of the projected portion <NUM> with the recess <NUM> may be easy when the projected portion <NUM> is inserted in the recess <NUM>.

The front side <NUM> of the projected portion <NUM> may be projected to an outside of the front plate <NUM>. The width W2 of the projected portion <NUM> may be formed larger than the width W1 of the recess <NUM>. However, it is preferable that the width W2 of the projected portion <NUM> is the same with the width W1 of the recess <NUM>. In this case, the width W1 of the recess <NUM> means a depth of a space the recess <NUM> forms. That is, the width W1 does not include a thickness of the closing portion <NUM>. Therefore, the front side <NUM> of the projected portion <NUM> may be positioned on the same plane with the front side of the front plate <NUM>.

Since the projected portion <NUM> is provided to be projected from the rear side <NUM> of the control panel body <NUM>, if the projected portion <NUM> is inserted in, and coupled to, the recess <NUM>, the control panel body <NUM> may be projected to an outside of the front plate <NUM>. In other words, the control panel body <NUM> may be provided to be projected forward from the front cover <NUM> (The front plate <NUM>).

In this case, the forward may mean an outside direction of the cabinet <NUM>, and if the projected portion <NUM> is inserted in the recess <NUM>, the projected portion <NUM> is coupled to the recess <NUM> such that the rear side <NUM> of the control panel body <NUM> abuts the front side of the front plate <NUM>. And, an upper side, a lower side and the front side <NUM> of the control panel body <NUM> are projected to an outside of the front plate <NUM>. Along with this, the rear side <NUM> of the control panel body <NUM> may be in close contact with the front side of the front plate <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the detergent supply unit <NUM> includes a drawer panel <NUM> which enables the detergent supply unit <NUM> to be pushed in/pulled out of the cabinet <NUM>. And, the detergent supply unit <NUM> may include a drawer hand grip <NUM> provided to the front side of the drawer panel <NUM> for the user's hand to hold thereon for pushing in/pulling out the drawer panel <NUM>.

The drawer panel <NUM> may have a space for holding the detergent therein. If the drawer panel <NUM> is pushed in the cabinet <NUM>, the front side of the drawer panel <NUM> is positioned on the same plane with the front side of the front cover <NUM>.

The drawer hand grip <NUM> is provided to the front side of the drawer panel <NUM>. The user may hold the drawer hand grip <NUM> and push or pull the drawer panel <NUM> in/out of the cabinet <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the drawer hand grip <NUM> has an underside <NUM> and a rear side <NUM> with a cut-away portion <NUM> formed recessed in portions thereof.

The cut-away portion <NUM> is not formed in the front side of the drawer hand grip <NUM>, and the user may put a hand therein to hold the drawer hand grip <NUM>. That is, if the user puts in user's fingers in the cut-away portion <NUM> and pushes or pulls the front side <NUM> of the drawer hand grip <NUM>, the drawer panel <NUM> may be pushed in or pulled out.

The drawer hand grip <NUM> may be formed to have the same shape with the control panel body <NUM>. That is, if provided to the front side of the drawer panel <NUM>, the drawer hand grip <NUM> may be fabricated to give a sense of unity with the control panel body <NUM>.

The drawer hand grip <NUM> has a width the same with the width W3 of the control panel body <NUM>, and a height H of the front side <NUM> thereof the same with the height <NUM> of the control panel body <NUM>.

Along with this, the front side <NUM> of the drawer hand grip <NUM> may be formed sloped to face upward the same with the front side <NUM> of the control panel body <NUM>. Therefore, if the drawer panel <NUM> is pushed in, the front side <NUM> of the drawer hand grip <NUM> may be positioned on the same plane with the front side <NUM> of the control panel body <NUM>.

The rear side <NUM> of the drawer hand grip <NUM> may have a coupling member <NUM> provided thereto for coupling the drawer hand grip <NUM> to the drawer panel <NUM>.

The coupling member <NUM> may be a hook having a holding step. The hook <NUM> may be inserted in a hook hole (Not shown) formed in the front side of the drawer panel <NUM> to couple the drawer hand grip <NUM> to the drawer panel <NUM>.

The door <NUM> will be described in detail with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the door <NUM> may include the inner frame <NUM> seated on the seating portion <NUM> formed on the front cover <NUM>. And, the door <NUM> includes an outer frame <NUM> coupled to the inner frame <NUM>. The door <NUM> may further include a door glass <NUM> coupled between the inner frame <NUM> and the outer frame <NUM>.

The inner frame <NUM> and the outer frame <NUM> may be detachably coupled and separably provided.

The inner frame <NUM> is fabricated in a shape in conformity with a shape of the seating portion <NUM>. The seating portion <NUM> may be formed circular, and the inner frame <NUM> may also be formed circular. The inner frame <NUM> may be provided in an annular shape for providing the door glass <NUM> on an inside of the inner frame <NUM>.

The outer frame <NUM> is coupled to an outside of the inner frame <NUM>, and is provided to be projected to an outside of the cabinet <NUM>. The outer frame <NUM> may be provided to have an inside in close contact with the front side of the front cover <NUM>, or positioned in an outside direction of the cabinet <NUM> by a predetermined distance from the front side of the front cover <NUM>. There may be the door glass <NUM> coupled between the inside of the outer frame <NUM> and the inner frame <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the outer frame <NUM> is provided to be projected to an outside of the front cover <NUM>, and the outer frame <NUM> is provided to be projected to the outside direction of the cabinet <NUM> when the door <NUM> is closed.

The seating portion <NUM> is recessed to an inside of the cabinet <NUM> for receiving the inner frame <NUM>. Opposite to this, the outer frame <NUM> is coupled to be projected to the outside direction of the cabinet <NUM>. It may be said that the outer frame <NUM> is coupled projected from the front side of the front cover <NUM> to the outside direction of the cabinet <NUM>. Though the outer frame <NUM> may have a portion with a predetermined width received in the seating portion <NUM>, it is preferable that the outer frame <NUM> may be coupled without being received in the seating portion <NUM> such that the whole outer frame <NUM> is projected to the outside direction of the cabinet <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the door <NUM> include a bracket <NUM> coupled to the seating portion <NUM>. And, the door <NUM> may include a hinge arm <NUM> projected forward from the bracket <NUM>. The bracket <NUM> is fastened to a bracket coupling recess <NUM> (See <FIG>) formed in the seating portion <NUM>. The hinge arm <NUM> may be extended to an inside of the cabinet <NUM> passed through the hinge arm inserting hole <NUM> formed in the seating portion <NUM>.

The hinge arm <NUM> has one end provided between the inner frame <NUM> and the outer frame <NUM>.

The one end of the hinge arm <NUM> may have a hinge shaft (Not shown) provided thereto, and the hinge shaft is rotatably coupled between the inner frame <NUM> and the outer frame <NUM>.

The inner frame <NUM> may have a hinge arm inserting hole <NUM> formed therein for pass through of the hinge arm <NUM>.

The inner frame <NUM> may have one side provided with a hook <NUM>, and the hook <NUM> may be coupled to a hook hole <NUM> formed in the seating portion <NUM>. The hook <NUM> may be coupled to a locking switch provided to the hook hole <NUM>.

Since the outer frame <NUM> is detachably provided to the inner frame <NUM> and projected from the front side of the front cover <NUM>, the outer frame <NUM> may be fabricated in a variety of shapes regardless of shapes of the seating portion <NUM> and the inner frame <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the outer frame <NUM> may be formed circular identical to the inner frame <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the outer frame <NUM> may be formed in a square shape. As described before, since the outer frame <NUM> is provided projected to the outside from the front side of the front cover <NUM>, the outer frame <NUM> may be fabricated not in conformity with the shape of the inner frame <NUM> and the seating portion <NUM>. Accordingly, degrees of freedom of fabrication of the outer frame <NUM> may be enhanced.

In the meantime, referring to <FIG>, since the control panel body <NUM> of the control panel <NUM> may be formed to have a short length, and, since the control panel body <NUM> is provided to be projected from the front side of the front cover <NUM>, the control panel body <NUM> may be fabricated in a variety of shapes and sizes within a range the shapes and the sizes do not interfere with the door <NUM> or the detergent supply portion <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, if the control panel body <NUM> has a relatively small aspect ratio, the hand grip may be formed in the drawer panel <NUM> of the detergent supply unit <NUM> in the shape of the recess <NUM>.

According to demands of users, the laundry treating apparatus has a variety of shapes of products with price ranges different from one another launched. In order to fabricate the variety of products, it is required to provide production lines fit to the variety of products.

However, if individual production lines are provided for each of the products, there are disadvantages in that a large space is required for installation of equipment for the production lines meeting each of the products, and a high production cost is required due to difference of the equipment for the production lines.

As has been described, the present invention has an advantage of enhancing the degrees of freedom of fabrication of the control panel by projecting the control panel body <NUM> to the outside of the front cover. That is, the present invention has an advantage of applying the same front cover to laundry treating apparatuses of different price ranges.

In detail, by applying a front cover having the same standard of the recess to all products and making a size of the control panel to be coupled to the recess different, the products may become different. By standardizing the front cover and the recess formed therein for application to the variety of production lines, one front cover may be applicable to the variety of production lines. In this case, since functions and configurations of the products are different from one another, sizes and functions for controlling the products may be different, too.

In this case, the present invention standardizes the projected portion to be inserted in the recess, and makes the body to be coupled to the projected portion projected to the outside of the front cover, for enabling to enhance the degrees of freedom of the body. That is, the control panel having the input unit and the display provided thereto may be fabricated in a variety of shapes according to the products, and by fabricating the control panel bodies fit to the variety of product groups and coupling the control panel bodies fabricated thus to the standardized front covers, the same front cover may be used regardless of the variation of the sizes and the shapes of the control panel.

Eventually, since the individual production lines of the front cover are not required for the variety of product groups, the production cost can be saved, and the space required for the equipment of the production lines can be reduced, at the end.

And, by projecting the outer frame of the door to the outside of the front cover, degrees of freedom of fabrication, and shapes, of the door can be enhanced.

Since the user's aesthetics on the products are different according to the shapes of the outer frame exposed to an outside, the users may recognize the variety of products different from one another.

In this case, as described before, if the shapes of the front covers are varied with the shapes of the outer frames, it is required to construct the variety of production lines. However, the present invention has an advantage of enabling to change the shape of the outer frame regardless of the shape of the front cover by coupling the outer frame projected to the outside of the front cover.

A laundry treating apparatus in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to <FIG>.

In the embodiment, a control panel <NUM>' may include a control panel body <NUM>' and a PCB assembly <NUM>.

The control panel <NUM>' may include a front plate <NUM>'. The front plate <NUM>' of the control panel <NUM>' may form an exterior appearance of a portion of a front side of the laundry treating apparatus. The front plate <NUM>' of the control panel <NUM>' may be positioned on an upper side of the front plate <NUM> of the front cover <NUM> described in the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The control panel <NUM>' may include an upper flange 100a' formed on the front plate <NUM>'. The control panel <NUM>' may further include a side flange 100b' formed on a side of the front plate <NUM>'. The control panel <NUM>' may have one pair of the side flanges 100b' formed opposite to each other. The control panel <NUM>' may further include a lower flange 100c' formed on a lower side of the front plate <NUM>'. The control panel <NUM>' may be mounted to be positioned on an upper side of the front plate <NUM> of the front cover <NUM>.

The control panel <NUM>' may have a rear space S1 formed among the front plate <NUM>', the upper flange 100a', the side flange 100b' and the lower flange 100c' for housing at least a portion of the PCB assembly <NUM>.

The control panel <NUM>' may have a mounting portion <NUM>' formed therein for mounting a drawer panel <NUM>' thereon. The mounting portion <NUM>' may be positioned on a side of the side flange 100b'. The mounting portion <NUM>' may be formed as one unit with the side flange 100b'.

The PCB assembly <NUM> may include a PCB <NUM> provided with an operation unit and a display. The PCB assembly <NUM> may further include a PCB cover <NUM> having a PCB <NUM> mounted thereto. The PCB assembly <NUM> may have the PCB <NUM> mounted to at least one of the front plate <NUM>', the side flange 100b', the upper flange 100a', and the lower flange 100c' with a fastening member, such as a screw.

The PCB <NUM> may have at least one display, and at least one switch mounted thereto. The display, for displaying information on the laundry treating apparatus, may include various electric components, such as LED or LCD. The switch, for operating the laundry treating apparatus, may include various electric components, such as a push button switch or a touch switch.

The PCB assembly <NUM> may further include a light guide (Not shown) for guiding a light of the display, and the light guide may be mounted to the PCB <NUM>. The light guide may be mounted to face the window <NUM> to be described, later.

The control panel body <NUM>' includes a display <NUM> positioned on the upper side of the cabinet <NUM> in front of the front side of the cabinet <NUM> to have a front side <NUM> sloped to face upward. The control panel body <NUM>' may be arranged to be projected forward from the front plate <NUM>'. The front side <NUM> of the control panel body <NUM>' is sloped to face upward. The control panel body <NUM>' may further include an upper side <NUM>, a lower side <NUM> and two opposite sides <NUM> exposed to an outside of the laundry treating apparatus. The control panel body <NUM>' may have a front/rear direction width L1 of the lower side <NUM> larger than a front/rear direction width L2 of the upper side <NUM>. The control panel body <NUM>' may have an up/down direction width H1 thereof smaller than an up/down direction width H2 of the front side of the front plate <NUM>'. In this case, the up/down direction width H1 of the control panel body <NUM>' may be a height of the control panel body <NUM>'.

That is, the control panel body <NUM>' may have a shape projected forward from the front plate <NUM>' three dimensionally, and the front side <NUM> of the control panel body <NUM>' may be positioned sloped to face upward by a predetermined angle at a front most position of a portion arranged to be projected forward from the front plate <NUM>'.

If the control panel body <NUM>' is not projected forward from the front plate <NUM>', but if the front side <NUM> of the control panel body <NUM>' is positioned at a vertical plane the same with the front side of the front plate <NUM>', the front side <NUM> of the control panel body <NUM>' may face only a forward direction of the laundry treating apparatus in a front/rear direction of the laundry treating apparatus. In this case, a whole front side of the control panel body <NUM>' may be poorly visible from an upper side of the front of the laundry treating apparatus, and even handling of the control panel body <NUM>' may not be easy.

However, if the control panel body <NUM>' is projected forward from the front plate <NUM>', and the front side <NUM> of the control panel body <NUM>' projected thus is sloped by a predetermined angle to face an upper side of the front of the laundry treating apparatus, when the user looks at the front side <NUM> of the control panel body <NUM>' from the upper side of the front of the laundry treating apparatus, the user can look at the whole front side <NUM> of the control panel body <NUM>' in a slope direction well, and can input an operation order on the laundry treating apparatus through the front side <NUM> of the control panel body <NUM>', conveniently.

In the meantime, if the control panel body <NUM>' is, not formed projected forward from the front plate <NUM>', but formed in a shape in which a portion of the upper side of the control panel <NUM>' is recessed sloped by a predetermined angle, as described before, the recessed portion of the control panel <NUM>' may be visible from the upper side of the front of the laundry treating apparatus well, and the operation thereof may be convenient. However, a sloped structure of the portion of the upper side of the control panel <NUM>' is liable to reduce an inside space of the laundry treating apparatus, making utilization of the inside space of the laundry treating apparatus poor.

That is, if the control panel body <NUM>' is projected forward from the front plate <NUM>' as well as the front side <NUM> of the control panel body <NUM>' is sloped by the predetermined angle to face the upper side of the front of the laundry treating apparatus, the utilization of the inside space of the laundry treating apparatus may be enhanced, as well as the front side <NUM> of the control panel body <NUM>' is visible well, and the operation order on the laundry treating apparatus may be inputted easily through the front side <NUM> of the control panel body <NUM>'.

Alike the first embodiment of the present invention, the door <NUM> has the outer frame <NUM> which forms an exterior appearance thereof, and, when the door <NUM> is closed, the outer frame <NUM> at least a portion thereof is positioned to be projected to the outside of the cabinet <NUM>. The door <NUM> may have a configuration and operation identical to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, and detailed description of the configuration and the operation identical to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention will be omitted.

The door <NUM>, the drawer panel <NUM>' and the display <NUM> are projected forward from the cabinet <NUM>. The door <NUM> may have the same projected width with the display unit <NUM>, substantially.

The door <NUM> has a portion facing the lower side <NUM> of the control panel body <NUM>' in a vertical direction. Formed between the door <NUM> and the control panel body <NUM>', there is a gap G smaller than the height H1 of the control panel body <NUM>'. The gap G between the door <NUM> and the control panel body <NUM>' may be an empty space for the user to hold the outer frame <NUM> projected to the outside of the cabinet <NUM> with one hand. The user may hold the door <NUM> easily with means other than the hand grip.

In the meantime, it is preferable that the gap G between the door <NUM> and the control panel body <NUM>' has a smallest height for the user's finger to be inserted, and it is also preferable that the gap G between the door <NUM> and the control panel body <NUM>' has a largest height that can make the door <NUM> and the control panel body <NUM>' to provide a sense of unity on the whole.

If the that the gap G between the door <NUM> and the control panel body <NUM>' is lower than the height H1 of the control panel body <NUM>', according to the present invention, the door <NUM> and the control panel body <NUM>' can provide the sense of unity on the whole together with the front cover <NUM>.

The outer frame <NUM> has a hand grip 220C formed at an outside circumference 220B thereof. The hand grip includes a recess formed at an outside circumferential surface thereof.

The hand grip 220C is formed at the outer frame <NUM> to face the lower side <NUM> of the control panel body <NUM>' in the vertical direction.

When closed, the door <NUM> has at least a portion projected forward of the front plate <NUM> of the front cover <NUM>, and a largest projection width L3 in a front/rear direction of the door <NUM> may be the same with the largest front/rear direction projection width L2 of the control panel body <NUM>' substantially, or larger than the largest front/rear direction projection width L2 of the control panel body <NUM>'. In this case, the largest front/rear direction projection width L2 of the control panel body <NUM>' may be the same with the front/rear direction width of the lower side <NUM> of the control panel body <NUM>'.

The drawer panel <NUM>' is arranged at the control panel <NUM>'. The drawer panel <NUM>' may have a configuration and operation identical to the first embodiment of the present invention, and detailed description of the configuration and operation identical to the first embodiment of the present invention will be omitted.

The drawer panel <NUM>' has a sloped surface 61A positioned on the same plane with the front side <NUM> of the control panel body <NUM>', substantially. The drawer panel <NUM>' has the sloped surface 61A positioned on the same plane with the front side <NUM> of the display <NUM>. The sloped surface 61A may be positioned on a side of the front side <NUM> of the display <NUM>.

The drawer panel <NUM>' may include a drawer hand grip <NUM> having the sloped surface 61A. The drawer panel <NUM>' may form a hand grip space S4 having opened lower side in rear of the drawer hand grip <NUM>. The hand grip space S4 formed in the drawer panel <NUM>' may be formed by the cut-away portion <NUM> the same with the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. When the door <NUM> is closed, the hand grip space S4 may face a portion of the outside circumferential surface 220B of the door <NUM>.

The control panel body <NUM>' will be described with reference to <FIG> in more detail.

The control panel body <NUM>' may include a front body portion <NUM> projected forward from the front plate <NUM>', and a window <NUM> arranged at the front body portion <NUM> to have a front side <NUM> sloped to face upward. The control panel body <NUM>' may further include a deco <NUM> which surrounds circumferences of the front body portion <NUM> and the window <NUM>, altogether.

The front body portion <NUM> may form a space S2 therein. The space S2 formed in the front body portion <NUM> may be a front space S2 formed in front of the rear space S1, and the front space S2 may have a size smaller than the rear space S1.

The front body portion <NUM> may include an upper side <NUM>, a lower side <NUM>, and sides <NUM> which are projected forward from the front plate <NUM>' of the control panel body <NUM>' as one unit thereof. The upper side <NUM> of the front body portion <NUM> and the lower side <NUM> of the front body portion <NUM> may be formed parallel to each other, and each of which may be extended in a length direction of the control panel body <NUM>'. The lower side <NUM> of the front body portion <NUM> may have a front/rear direction width larger than a front/rear direction width of the upper side <NUM> of the front body portion <NUM>.

The side <NUM> of the front body portion <NUM> may be formed to connect the upper side <NUM> of the front body portion <NUM> to the lower side <NUM> of the front body portion <NUM>, and may be projected forward from the front plate <NUM>' as one unit. The front body portion <NUM> may include one pair of sides <NUM> facing each other in a lateral direction.

Formed among the upper side <NUM>, the lower side <NUM> and the sides <NUM> of the front body portion <NUM>, there may be a front space S2 for inserting at least a portion of the PCB assembly <NUM> therein. The front space S2 of the front body portion <NUM> may have a portion of the light guide of the PCB assembly <NUM> positioned therein.

The front side of the front body portion <NUM> may further include a front plate <NUM> sloped to face upward forwardly. The front plate <NUM> of the front body portion <NUM> may have a window seating surface for seating the window <NUM> thereon. The front plate <NUM> of the front body portion <NUM> may be formed to be sloped by a predetermined angle to face upward forwardly. If the front body portion <NUM> includes the front plate <NUM>, the front plate <NUM> of the front body portion <NUM> may have an opening <NUM> for making electric components mounted to the PCB <NUM>, particularly, a portion of the touch switch to be positioned in contact with the window <NUM>.

The laundry treating apparatus may have the front plate <NUM> sloped at an acute angle from a horizontal plane. The smaller the angle from a horizontal plane, the more the front side <NUM> of the control panel body <NUM>' sloped to face upward to the maximum, the larger the angle from a horizontal plane, the more the front side <NUM> of the control panel body <NUM>' sloped to face forward to the maximum.

If the deco <NUM> is not included, the control panel body <NUM>' may have the upper side, the lower side and the sides of the front body portion <NUM> exposed to an outside. In this case, the upper side of the front body portion <NUM> may be the upper side <NUM> of the control panel body <NUM>', the lower side of the front body portion <NUM> may be the lower side <NUM> of the control panel body <NUM>', and the sides of the front body portion <NUM> may be the sides <NUM> of the control panel body <NUM>'.

The window <NUM> may be formed in a plate shape. The window <NUM> may be the display for displaying information the laundry treating apparatus displays to the outside. The display may be positioned on the upper side of the cabinet <NUM> in front of the front side of the cabinet <NUM> with a front side <NUM> thereof sloped to face upward. A light emitted from the display may be incident on the window <NUM> for the user to watch the window <NUM> to notice information on the laundry treating apparatus.

The window <NUM> may be an operation panel for the user to touch or apply a pressure thereto for operation of the laundry treating apparatus. The window <NUM> may further include a touch screen. The user may touch or apply the pressure to the window <NUM>, and may handle the switch on the PCB assembly <NUM>. The window <NUM> may be positioned in front of the front body portion <NUM>. Of course, the window <NUM> may be fastened to at least one of the front body portion <NUM>, the PCB assembly <NUM>, and the deco <NUM> with fastening members, such as screws, fastened with hooking means, such as hook or the like, or attached with an adhesive member, such as two-sided tape.

The front side of the window <NUM> may be the front side <NUM> of the control panel body <NUM>'.

The deco <NUM> may include at least one of an upper side <NUM>, a lower side <NUM>, and a side <NUM>. It is possible to arrange the deco <NUM> to surround the upper side, the lower side, the left side, and the right side of the front body portion <NUM>. The deco <NUM> may include one pair of opposite sides <NUM>, the upper side <NUM>, the lower side <NUM>, and the one pair of the sides <NUM> may surround the upper side, the lower side, the left side, and the right side of the front body portion <NUM>, and the upper side <NUM>, the lower side <NUM>, and the one pair of the sides <NUM> may surround the upper side, the lower side, the left side, and the right side of the window <NUM>.

The deco <NUM> may have a space S3 formed among the upper side <NUM>, the lower side <NUM>, and the sides <NUM>. The deco <NUM> may have a hook portion for holding the window <NUM> for preventing the window <NUM> from falling off the deco <NUM> in a front direction of the deco <NUM>. The hook portion may be projected from the deco <NUM> toward a space S3. The deco <NUM> may function as a window holder for securing the window <NUM>. It is preferable that the deco <NUM> includes all of the upper side <NUM>, the lower side <NUM>, and the sides <NUM>. The deco <NUM> may have a metal layer coated to an outside surface thereof. The deco <NUM> may have the outside surface coated with chromium for improving ornamental beauty of the laundry treating apparatus.

If the deco <NUM> surrounds the upper side, the lower side, the left side, and the right side of the front body portion <NUM>, the upper side of the deco <NUM> may be the upper side <NUM> of the control panel body <NUM>', the lower side of the deco <NUM> may be the lower side <NUM> of the control panel body <NUM>', and the sides of the deco <NUM> may be the sides <NUM> of the control panel body <NUM>'.

The PCB assembly <NUM> may have at least a portion thereof placed in the space S2 of the front body portion <NUM>. The PCB assembly <NUM> may be mounted to position the light guide between the PCB <NUM> and the window <NUM>, at least a portion of the light guide may be positioned between the front space S2 of the front body portion <NUM>, and at least a portion of the PCB cover <NUM> may be positioned in the rear space S1.

The drawer panel <NUM>' will be described in more detail with reference to <FIG>.

The drawer panel <NUM>' may include the detergent box <NUM> for holding detergent. The drawer panel <NUM>' may include an outer body <NUM> exposed to an outside.

The detergent box <NUM> may have a detergent holding space formed therein for holding the detergent. The detergent box <NUM> may be formed as one unit with the outer body <NUM>, or may be fastened to the outer body <NUM> with a fastening member, such as a screw.

The outer body <NUM> may include a front plate <NUM>". The front plate <NUM>" of the outer body <NUM> may form an exterior appearance of a portion of the front side of the laundry treating apparatus. The outer body <NUM> may include an upper flange 100a" formed on an upper side of the front plate <NUM>". The outer body <NUM> may further include side flanges 100b" formed at sides of the front plate <NUM>". The outer body <NUM> may have one pair of the side flanges 100b" formed to face each other. The control panel <NUM>' may be mounted to be positioned on an upper side of the front plate <NUM> of the front cover <NUM>.

The drawer panel <NUM>' may include a drawer body portion <NUM> projected forward, and a drawer cover <NUM> having a sloped side 61A arranged at the drawer body portion <NUM> to be positioned on a plane the same with the front side <NUM> of the control panel body <NUM>', substantially. The drawer panel <NUM>' may further include a drawer deco <NUM> which surrounds an upper side, a left side, a right side, and a circumference of the drawer cover <NUM>, altogether.

The drawer body portion <NUM> may be projected forward from the front plate <NUM>" of the drawer panel <NUM>'. The outer body <NUM> may have a hand grip identical to the hand grip in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention formed thereon. The drawer body portion <NUM> may function as a hand grip together with the drawer cover <NUM>. The drawer body portion <NUM> may be projected from the front plate <NUM>" of the drawer panel <NUM>' three dimensionally.

The drawer body portion <NUM> may be positioned on a side of the front body portion <NUM> of the control panel body <NUM>' shown in <FIG>, and may have a left/right direction width smaller than the front body portion <NUM> of the control panel body <NUM>'.

The drawer body portion <NUM> may include an upper side <NUM>, and sides <NUM> projected forward from the front plate <NUM>" of the drawer panel <NUM>' as one unit therewith. The upper side <NUM> of the drawer body portion <NUM> may be extended in a left/right direction on an upper side of the front plate <NUM>".

The side <NUM> of the drawer body portion <NUM> may be projected forward from the front plate <NUM>" of the outer body <NUM> as one unit therewith. The drawer body portion <NUM> may include one pair of the sides <NUM> in a left/right direction to face each other.

The drawer body portion <NUM> may have a front side with a front plate <NUM> sloped to face upward forwardly. The front plate <NUM> of the drawer body portion <NUM> may have a cover seating surface for the drawer cover <NUM> to be seated thereon. The front plate <NUM> of the drawer body portion <NUM> may be formed sloped to face upward at a predetermined angle forwardly. The front plate <NUM> of the drawer body portion <NUM> may be sloped at an angle the same with the front plate <NUM> of the front body portion <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

The drawer body portion <NUM> may have a shape of an opened lower side, and the drawer body portion <NUM> may have a hand grip space S4 formed among the upper side <NUM>, the sides <NUM>, and the front plate <NUM>.

The drawer cover <NUM> may be formed in a plate shape. The drawer cover <NUM> may be positioned forward of the front side of the cabinet <NUM> on the upper side of the cabinet <NUM> to have the front side 61A sloped to face upward. The front side 61A of the drawer cover <NUM> may be a sloped surface. The drawer cover <NUM> may be arranged in front of the drawer body portion <NUM>. The drawer cover <NUM> may have a height the same with a height of the window <NUM>, and may be positioned on a side of the window <NUM> shown in <FIG>. As the drawer cover <NUM> is positioned on the side of the window <NUM> shown in <FIG>, the drawer cover <NUM> can provide a sense of unity with the window <NUM>, thereby making the upper side of the laundry treating apparatus to appear luxurious.

Of course, it is possible to fasten the drawer cover <NUM> to at least one of the drawer body portion <NUM> and the drawer deco <NUM> with a fastening member, such as screw, or with hooking means, such as hook, or attached with an adhesive member, such as a two-sided tape.

The drawer deco <NUM> may include at least one of an upper side <NUM>, a lower side <NUM>, and a side <NUM>. It is possible that the drawer deco <NUM> may be arranged to surround the upper side, the left side and the right side of the drawer body portion <NUM>. The drawer deco <NUM> may include one pair of opposite sides <NUM>, and the upper side <NUM>, the lower side <NUM> and one pair of the sides <NUM> may surround the upper side, the left side and the right side of the drawer body portion <NUM>.

The drawer deco <NUM> may have a space S5 formed among the upper side <NUM>, the lower side <NUM>, and the sides <NUM>. The drawer deco <NUM> may have a hook portion formed thereon for holding the drawer cover <NUM> not to fall off in a front direction. The hook portion may be projected from the drawer deco <NUM> toward the space S5. The drawer deco <NUM> may function as a cover holder for securing the drawer cover <NUM> thereto. It is preferable that the drawer deco <NUM> includes all of the upper side <NUM>, the lower side <NUM>, and the sides <NUM>. The upper side <NUM>, the lower side <NUM>, and the sides <NUM> of the drawer deco <NUM> may surround the circumference of the drawer cover <NUM>.

The drawer deco <NUM> may have a metal layer coated to an outside surface thereof. The drawer deco <NUM> may have chromium coated to the outside surface, which can improve ornamental beauty of the laundry treating apparatus.

In the meantime, the PCB assembly <NUM> may have at least a portion thereof inserted in the space S2 of the front body portion <NUM>. The PCB assembly <NUM> may have the light guide mounted to be positioned between the PCB <NUM> and the window <NUM>, at least a portion of the light guide may be positioned in the front space S2 of the front body portion <NUM>, and at least a portion of the PCB cover <NUM> may be positioned in the rear space S1.

The smaller a portion of the PCB assembly <NUM> positioned in the rear space S1 and the larger a portion of the PCB assembly <NUM> positioned in the front space S2, the laundry treating apparatus can secure the more empty space in the laundry treating apparatus, and therefore, it is preferable that the portion of the PCB assembly <NUM> is inserted in the front space S2 of the front body portion <NUM> as much as possible.

A laundry treating apparatus in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the laundry treating apparatus may include a PCB assembly <NUM>" having a control panel <NUM>" arranged to pass through an opening 105A formed in the front plate <NUM>". And, the control panel body <NUM>" may include a window <NUM>" arranged at the PCB assembly <NUM>" to have a front side slope to face upward. The control panel body <NUM>" may further include a deco <NUM>" surrounding a circumference of the PCB assembly <NUM>" and a circumference of the window <NUM>", altogether.

Since a configuration and operation of the laundry treating apparatus of the embodiment is identical or similar to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention except the control panel <NUM>", detailed description of the configuration and operation of the laundry treating apparatus of the embodiment will be omitted.

The PCB assembly <NUM>" may have a front portion positioned in front of the opening 105A, and a rear portion positioned in rear of the opening 105A. The PCB assembly <NUM>" may have a front side <NUM> sloped by a predetermined angle in a direction to face upward forwardly.

Since the PCB assembly <NUM>" may have a configuration and operation identical or similar to the PCB assembly <NUM> in the second preferred embodiment of the present invention except that the PCB assembly <NUM>" is arranged to pass through the opening 105A formed in the front plate <NUM>", detailed description of the configuration and operation will be omitted.

The window <NUM>" may be arranged in front of the PCB assembly <NUM>" having a front portion projected forward, and, more specifically, in front of the front side <NUM> of the PCB assembly <NUM>". Since a configuration and operation of the window <NUM>" are identical or similar to the window <NUM> in the second preferred embodiment of the present invention except that the window <NUM>" is arranged in front of the front side <NUM> of the PCB assembly <NUM>", detailed description of the configuration and operation will be omitted.

Claim 1:
A laundry treating apparatus (<NUM>) comprising:
a cabinet (<NUM>) having a laundry opening (<NUM>) formed therein;
a control panel (<NUM>, <NUM>') arranged at the cabinet (<NUM>), the control panel (<NUM>, <NUM>') includes a control panel body (<NUM>, <NUM>') projected forward from a front plate (<NUM>, <NUM>') of the cabinet (<NUM>), and the control panel body (<NUM>, <NUM>') includes a display (<NUM>) positioned on an upper side of the cabinet (<NUM>) to have a front side (<NUM>) sloped to face upward;
a drawer panel (<NUM>, <NUM>') arranged at the control panel (<NUM>, <NUM>'), the drawer panel (<NUM>, <NUM>') having a sloped side positioned on the same plane with the front side (<NUM>) of the control panel body (<NUM>, <NUM><NUM>'); and
a door (<NUM>) mounted to the cabinet (<NUM>) for opening/closing the laundry opening (<NUM>), wherein the door (<NUM>) has an outer frame (<NUM>) which forms an exterior appearance of the door (<NUM>),
characterized in that:
the outer frame (<NUM>) is positioned such that at least a portion of the outer frame (<NUM>) is projected to an outside of the cabinet (<NUM>) when the door (<NUM>) is closed, and
the door (<NUM>) has a portion facing a lower side of the control panel body (<NUM>, <NUM>') in a vertical direction and a gap (G) smaller than a height of the control panel body (<NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>") is formed between the door (<NUM>) and the control panel body (<NUM>, <NUM>'); and
wherein the outer frame (<NUM>) comprises a hand grip (220C) formed at an outside circumference (220B) of the outer frame (<NUM>), and wherein the hand grip (220C) comprises a recess at the outside circumferential surface thereof, wherein the hand grip (220C) faces the lower side of the control panel body (<NUM>, <NUM>') in the vertical direction.