Patent ID: 7562543

Claim:
A modular laundry system for performing at least one of a laundry care function and a non-laundry care function, comprising: a first laundry appliance comprising a housing having a width, an upper surface and defining an interior, a backsplash coupled to the cabinet and extending above the upper surface, and configured to at least one of wash and dry fabric items; a second laundry appliance comprising a housing having a width, an upper surface and defining an interior, a backsplash coupled to the cabinet and extending above the upper surface, and configured to at least one of wash and dry fabric items; and a vertical laundry module comprising: a housing defining an interior and having an upper surface and a width less than the width of both the first and second appliances; a backsplash coupled to the housing and extending above the upper surface; and one or more functional elements located at least one of interiorly or exteriorly of the housing, wherein any laundry-care functions are performed by functional elements located exteriorly of the housing; wherein the first and second laundry appliances and the vertical laundry module are arranged in contiguous relationship to form a coherent modular system having an effective continuous backsplash.