CN115559096A - Clothes treating device - Google Patents

Abstract

A laundry treating apparatus comprising: a box body, one surface of which is provided with a throwing port; a first chamber located inside the cabinet, for accommodating the clothes in the first chamber through the input port; a second chamber located at a lower portion of the first chamber to form a space separated from the first chamber; a steam unit disposed inside the second chamber, generating steam and supplying the steam to the first chamber; a door rotatably coupled to the housing to open and close the inlet; a door inner face located on a face of the door opposite the first chamber; a base plate combined with the inner surface of the door; a first shaft disposed on the door in a direction parallel to a width direction of the door; a second shaft provided on the door in a direction parallel to the first shaft; a first pressing plate rotatably coupled to the inner surface of the door or the base plate by a first shaft and disposed opposite to the base plate to place and press the trousers; and a second pressing plate rotatably coupled to the inner surface of the door or the base plate by a second shaft and disposed opposite to the first pressing plate.

Description

Clothes treating device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a laundry treatment apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a device for removing wrinkles from laundry.

Background

The laundry treating apparatus refers to an apparatus developed to wash and dry laundry at home and laundry and remove wrinkles generated on the laundry. Apparatuses classified as laundry treatment devices include a washing machine that washes laundry, a dryer that dries laundry, a washing/drying machine having both a washing function and a drying function, a laundry management machine that cares (refresh) laundry, a steam machine (steamer) that removes wrinkles of laundry, and the like.

The steam machine is a device for supplying steam to the laundry in order to remove wrinkles generated in the laundry. Unlike a typical iron, a steamer is a device that applies heat to laundry using convection to remove wrinkles, without applying heat directly to the laundry (e.g., in a manner of contacting the laundry with a hard object).

On the other hand, a laundry management machine is a device capable of keeping laundry comfortable and clean. The clothes management machine can remove dust attached to clothes, eliminate peculiar smell, dry the clothes and add fragrance to the clothes. In addition, the generation of static electricity can be prevented, and the wrinkles on the clothes can be removed by using the dehumidified air or steam, so that the clothes can be sterilized and disinfected.

According to korean laid-open publication No. 10-2099179, the laundry treating apparatus can remove creases while deodorizing by supplying hot wind or pressing laundry using a supply part located at a lower portion of a cabinet in a state that the laundry is seated in an accommodating space inside the cabinet.

In addition, the laundry treating apparatus may dry and deodorize laundry by supplying hot wind or steam to the laundry or remove creases thereof in a state that the laundry is spread inside the cabinet due to its own weight. In addition, by pressing the surface of the laundry using a presser (presser) provided at the inner face of the door, creases of the laundry can be effectively removed, or creases (creases) can be formed in the laundry, and there is also an effect that ironing can be omitted after washing or drying is completed.

In particular, a unit called a pressurizer or a trousers press is provided inside the door, which removes unnecessary creases (wrikle) or folds (fold) using steam and holds creases (crease or plat) preset to the laundry, which have been intended from the stage of designing the laundry.

However, the pressurizer presses the laundry by rotating from one side. Therefore, since the pressing is performed from one side surface of the laundry, the pressing can be performed only from one side surface of the laundry to the other side surface in sequence. In this case, a portion of the laundry close to the pressurizer is subjected to a relatively large pressure, and a portion far from the pressurizer is subjected to a relatively small pressure, so that there is a problem in that the laundry cannot be uniformly pressurized.

Further, in the process of pressurizing the laundry by the pressurizer, there is a problem that the fixed form of the laundry is pushed by the pressurizer to be deformed or to change its position.

In addition, the laundry cannot be fixed even if it is set, so that there is a problem that the position of the laundry cannot be prevented from being changed when pressed. In addition, in the conventional laundry treating apparatus, there is a problem in that wrinkles of the laundry become more or wrinkles are generated in a direction completely different from an intended direction.

In addition, there is a problem in that the installation height of the laundry on the inner face of the door is high. In addition, there is a problem that not only most of the inner surface of the door is occupied, but also only a part of the entire length of the laundry is pressed.

In addition, in consideration of user convenience, there is a problem that the rotation direction of the pressing portion needs to be set differently according to whether the user is left-handed or right-handed.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention aims to reduce the frequency of unexpected wrinkles or creases caused by pressing clothes from one side surface.

In addition, the present invention is directed to remove creases or unintended wrinkles of laundry by uniformly pressing the laundry, and to improve the formation of predetermined intended wrinkles.

In addition, the invention aims to press the whole area of the clothes.

Further, the present invention has an object to solve the problem that it is not necessary to set the rotation direction of the pressing portion differently depending on whether it is a left-handed person or a right-handed person.

In addition, the invention aims to solve the problem that the clothes to be pressed can be more easily arranged.

In order to reduce the phenomenon that trousers are pushed in the trousers management device of the existing left and right opening and closing mode, the trousers management device door (or the second pressing plate) can slide. That is, it can be lifted upward by rotating or sliding the pants manager door. At this time, the first pressing plate (or the sub-plate) and the base plate (or the back plate) are spaced apart from each other, and on the contrary, when the door is lowered and pressed by rotating or sliding, the whole area of the trousers placed on the first pressing plate is simultaneously pressed, thereby having an effect of improving a phenomenon that the trousers are pushed.

The trousers manager door comprises a locking device for pressing the trousers, the unlocking of which can be operated with a handle provided on the door. In using the trousers organizer, the door and the first pressure applying plate may include an opening to facilitate steam to enter the trousers, and may include a hinge to open the door up and down.

The sub-panel is a component for mounting the trousers, and the first pressing panel can be rotated in the vertical direction by a hinge structure for rotating the door and another hinge structure provided at an opposite position. The up and down movement of the sub-panel will be linked with the trousers manager door, so that when the door is lifted, the sub-panel automatically slides to the upper side. Then, since the trousers have the hinge structure that enables the sub-plate to rotate in one of the left and right sides, the trousers are installed after the sub-plate is rotated and opened.

Further, fixing clips capable of fixing the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the pants are provided on both surfaces of the sub-panel.

The trousers are installed as follows. When the locking is released by pulling a handle provided at the lower end of the door side, and the trousers are lifted and fixed to the upper side, the sub-plate on which the trousers can be placed is exposed. After the sub-plate is rotated in a lower direction to mount the trousers, the lower end of the trousers is fixed to a fixing clip (or a first clip) provided on the back surface of the sub-plate. The fixing clip is a structure that can be variably attached according to the length of the trousers, and after fixing the lower end portion of the trousers, the trousers are fixed to the trousers upper end portion fixing clip (or the second clip) provided on the front surface of the sub-deck.

After the trousers are mounted, the sub-plate is rotated to the original state and the door of the trousers manager is closed, so that the pressure can be applied to the trousers. In addition, since the door is rotated only in the vertical direction, it is not necessary to additionally provide a reversible structure in the door opening direction.

In addition, the elastic member provided to the hinge portion may be configured to urge the sub-panel in a direction away from the back panel. The trousers manager door presses the sub-panel when being combined with the back panel, and at this time, the sub-panel moves linearly toward the back panel, so that the trousers can be pressed uniformly at the same time.

In order to solve the above problems, a laundry treatment apparatus is provided, including: a box body, one surface of which is provided with a throw-in port; a first chamber located inside the cabinet, and accommodating laundry therein through the input port; a second chamber located at a lower portion of the first chamber to form a space separated from the first chamber; a steam unit disposed inside the second chamber, generating steam and supplying the steam to the first chamber; a door rotatably coupled to the case to open and close the inlet; a door inner face located on a face of the door opposite the first chamber; a base plate combined with the inner surface of the door; a first shaft provided on the door in a direction parallel to a width direction of the door; a second shaft provided on the door in a direction parallel to the first shaft; a first pressing plate rotatably coupled to the inner surface of the door or the base plate by the first shaft and disposed opposite to the base plate to place and press the trousers; and a second pressing plate rotatably coupled to the inner surface of the door or the base plate by the second shaft and disposed opposite to the first pressing plate to press the pants.

The first shaft may be located at one of upper and lower sides of the base plate, and the second shaft may be located at the other of the upper and lower sides of the base plate.

The first pressing plate may include: and the first clamp is positioned at the lower part of one surface of the first pressing plate, which is opposite to the base plate, and is used for fixing one end of the bottom end and the upper end (the waist part) of the trousers.

The first pressing plate may include a second clip which is located at a lower portion of the other surface of the first pressing plate facing the second pressing plate, and fixes the other end of the bottom end and the upper end (waist portion) of the pants.

The second clip may be configured as an angled clip, a predetermined gap may be formed between the second clip and the first pressing plate, and a part of one side surface of the trousers may be inserted into the predetermined gap to fix the trousers.

The second pressing plate has a length in a height direction smaller than that of the first pressing plate, and the second clip is exposed to the outside of the first pressing plate when the second pressing plate is rotatably coupled to the first pressing plate.

The first pressing plate may include: a first surface which is one surface of the first pressing plate and is opposite to the base plate; a second surface which is the other surface of the first pressing plate facing the second pressing plate; and a set corner having a curved shape connecting the first and second faces, the trousers being set in the set corner, wherein a curvature of a curved surface connected to the first face and a curvature of a curved surface connected to the second face may be different in the set corner.

The mounting corner portion may be connected to the first surface in a curved surface and may have a shape protruding toward the second pressing plate.

The first face may include: a first groove concavely formed in a longitudinal direction of the door to prevent the first panel from interfering with a seam provided on the trousers, and the second panel may also include: a second groove concavely formed in a lengthwise direction of the door to prevent the second face from interfering with a seam provided on the trousers.

The base plate may be coupled to the door inner surface to be spaced apart from the door inner surface by a predetermined distance.

In another aspect, the base plate may include: and a clip accommodating portion through which the base plate is recessed or inserted in a shape corresponding to the first clip, wherein the first clip is accommodated in the clip accommodating portion when the first pressing plate presses the base plate.

The laundry treating apparatus of the present invention may further include: an elastic support member between the base plate and the inner face of the door, supporting the base plate, the pants being pressed between the first pressing plate and the base plate when the first pressing plate is combined with the base plate.

In another aspect, the second pressing plate may have a width greater than the widths of the first pressing plate and the base plate.

Further, the laundry treating apparatus of the present invention may further include: an air supply unit disposed inside the second chamber to circulate air in the first chamber; a heat pump unit disposed inside the second chamber, dehumidifying and heating the circulated air; a first opening penetrating the first pressing plate; and a second opening portion penetrating the second pressing plate at a position corresponding to the first opening portion, and exposing the pants to the dehumidified and heated air and steam through the first opening portion and the second opening portion.

The second pressing plate may include: and the protective side faces are formed by bending from two side faces of the second pressing plate towards the inner face of the door respectively, and shield the two side faces of the base plate and the two side faces of the first pressing plate when the second pressing plate presses the first pressing plate and the base plate.

A handle may be further provided on a cover surface located in a direction away from the inner surface of the door, of the two surfaces of the second pressing plate, so that a user can hold the second pressing plate to rotate the second pressing plate.

The first pressing plate may include: and a hinge unit including the first shaft, disposed under the first pressing plate, and moving the first pressing plate in a direction of moving away from or approaching the inner surface of the door.

The hinge portion further includes: a hinge support part coupled to the base plate or the inner surface of the door, and supporting the first shaft; and a hinge hole penetrating the hinge support portion in an axial direction of the first shaft, the first shaft being inserted into the hinge hole, and a length of the hinge hole measured in a direction of moving away from or approaching the door inner surface being longer than a length of the hinge hole measured in a height direction of the door.

The hinge part may further include: and an elastic member for applying an elastic force to the first pressing plate in a direction away from the inner surface of the door, wherein when the second pressing plate is coupled to the first pressing plate or the base plate, the first pressing plate moves toward the base plate in a state of facing the base plate along the hinge hole, and when the second pressing plate is rotated in a direction away from the first pressing plate, the first pressing plate moves in a direction away from the base plate in a state of facing the base plate by the elastic member.

The hinge part may further include: and a hinge connection part in an angled shape (angled shape) connecting the first shaft and the first pressing plate, wherein the hinge connection part prevents the first pressing plate from rotating more than a predetermined angle when the first pressing plate rotates in a direction away from the base plate.

The present invention has an effect of reducing the frequency of occurrence of unintended creases or folds due to clothes being pressed from one side surface.

In addition, the present invention can remove creases or unintended wrinkles of the laundry by uniformly pressing the laundry, and can improve the formation of preset intended wrinkles.

In addition, the present invention can press the entire area of the laundry.

In addition, the present invention can eliminate the need to differently set the rotation direction of the pressing part (or the trousers organizer) according to whether it is left-handed or right-handed.

In addition, the present invention can more easily set the laundry to be pressed.

Drawings

Fig. 1 (a) shows an example of a conventional laundry treatment apparatus and an example of a presser for removing wrinkles from laundry. Fig. 1 (b) shows a case where the second pressing plate is opened and the first pressing plate is rotated to set the laundry using the pressing part, which is a feature of the present invention.

Fig. 2 shows an example of the blowing unit, the heat pump unit, and the steam unit which are installed inside the second chamber.

Fig. 3 (a) and 3 (b) schematically illustrate problems occurring when trousers are pressed from one side in a conventional laundry treating apparatus.

Fig. 4 (a) to 4 (e) show a method of using the pressure section according to an embodiment of the present invention in order.

Fig. 5 (a) shows a case where the seating ridge of the first pressing plate has an asymmetrical cross section, and fig. 5 (b) shows the seating ridge in an enlarged manner.

Fig. 6 shows an example of the hinge portion.

Fig. 7 (a) and 7 (b) schematically show the position of the first pressing plate corresponding to the opening and closing of the second pressing plate.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following description of the configuration of the apparatus and the control method is only for illustrating the embodiments of the present invention and is not intended to limit the claims of the present invention, and the same reference numerals are used to designate the same structural elements throughout the specification.

Certain terminology is used in the description for convenience only and is not limiting of the embodiments shown.

For example, the expressions "identical" and "identical" indicate not only the exact same state but also a state having a tolerance or a difference in the degree to which the same function can be obtained.

For example, a description indicating relative or absolute arrangement such as "in one direction", "in parallel", "perpendicularly", "toward the center", "concentrically" or "coaxially" means not only a state of being strictly configured as described above but also a state of being relatively displaced in such a manner as to have a tolerance or an angle or a distance to the extent that the same function can be obtained.

In the present specification, wrinkles, which are not explicitly indicated and used, refer to unintended creases (Wrinkles) or folds (fold) generated after the laundry is worn or after washing or drying. That is, the wrinkles of the cloth generated by the use or the wrinkles not intentionally generated at the time of washing or drying are not intended wrinkles (creases or creases) added from the design stage for the purpose of design or function. Thus, it refers to a crease that needs to be removed using ironing or the like.

Fig. 1 (a) shows an example of a conventional laundry treatment apparatus 2000. The laundry treating apparatus 2000 includes: a case 150 having an inlet 120 formed on one surface thereof; a first chamber 100 located inside the cabinet 150, for accommodating laundry in the first chamber 100 through the inlet 120; a second chamber 200 located at a lower portion of the first chamber 100 to form a space separated from the first chamber 100; a steam unit 250 (refer to fig. 2) disposed inside the second chamber 200, generating steam and supplying the steam to the first chamber 100; and a door 400 rotatably coupled to the case 150 to open and close the inlet 120. In consideration of the usage of the general user, it is preferable that the input port 120 is provided at the front surface of the case 150.

In addition, the laundry treating apparatus 2000 may further include: an air blowing unit 220 (see fig. 2) located inside the second chamber 200 and sucking air in the first chamber 100; and a heat pump unit 230 dehumidifying and heating the air sucked in and discharging the air to the first chamber 100.

The case 150 may be made of a metal material, and may be made of a plastic material as long as strength can be maintained. In addition, the first chamber 100 may be formed by plastic injection molding. The first chamber 100 may be coupled to the case 150 by a frame (not shown), and unlike this, a space between the case 150 and the first chamber 100 may be filled with foamed plastic such as urethane.

Clothes including an upper garment and a lower garment may be installed in the first chamber 100, and the clothes may be cared by the air supply unit 220 (refer to fig. 2), the heat pump unit 230 (refer to fig. 2), and the steam unit 250 (refer to fig. 2) located inside the second chamber 200. That is, the functions of sterilizing, deodorizing, and removing creases formed by use of the laundry may be performed by using steam and/or heated air generated by the air blowing unit 220 (see fig. 2), the heat pump unit 230 (see fig. 2), and the steam unit 250 (see fig. 2) located inside the second chamber 200.

The first chamber 100 may include a laundry support part 190 for seating laundry at an upper portion inside the first chamber 100. The clothes support portion 190 may receive a hanger from which clothes are hung, and is connected to a driving portion (not shown) that can reciprocate the clothes support portion 190 left and right. The movement of the laundry supporting part 190 may shake the laundry, and as a result, foreign substances including fine dust attached to the laundry may be separated. In addition, wrinkles of the laundry can be removed to some extent by exposing the laundry to the steam or moisture (moisture) supplied from the second chamber 200 during shaking the laundry placed on the laundry supporting part 190.

That is, the laundry supporting part 190 can uniformly expose the laundry to the dehumidified and heated air and/or steam supplied from the second chamber 200 by placing the laundry in a spread state due to its own weight inside the first chamber 100.

Typically, water boils at 100 ℃ at atmospheric pressure, at which time the water vapor produced may be referred to as steam. In contrast, moisture is water suspended in the air as small droplets of 1mm or less at room temperature. For example, fog is similar. Generally, since steam generated by boiling water has a higher temperature than moisture, the sterilizing power of the steam is superior to that of the moisture, and since water molecules of the steam are more actively moved at a high temperature, the permeability to laundry is superior, so that the utilization rate of the steam is higher than that of the moisture in terms of caring for the laundry.

The first chamber 100 includes: a first chamber upper surface 109, on which a driving part (not shown) of the laundry supporting part 190 is positioned at an upper side of the first chamber upper surface 109; a first chamber bottom face 101 forming a bottom; and left and right side surfaces 105, 107 of the first chamber and the first chamber back surface 103, connecting the first chamber upper surface 109 and the first chamber bottom surface 101. If the side on which the inlet port 120 is formed is the front side, the first chamber rear side 103 is located in the opposite direction.

An air supply port 1011 and a steam supply port 1012 for supplying the first chamber with steam generated by the steam unit 250 inside the second chamber 200 and air dehumidified and heated by the heat pump unit 230, and an air suction port 1013 for sucking air of the first chamber 100 by the blower unit 220 may be provided on the first chamber bottom surface 101.

As shown in fig. 1 (a), the air supply port 1011 and the steam supply port 1012 may be located at a region where the first chamber bottom surface 101 and the first chamber rear surface 103 meet. In addition, the region where the first chamber bottom surface 101 and the first chamber rear surface 103 meet may be a smoothly inclined shape. The air intake port 1013 may be located in the first chamber bottom surface 101 near the inlet port 120. Therefore, the air inside the first chamber 100 is discharged through the air supply port 1011 and sucked through the air suction port 1013 to circulate. The steam is also discharged through the steam supply port 1012, condensed, and then sucked through the air suction port 1013, and collected in a sump (not shown) for storing condensed water.

In order to more smoothly discharge the condensed water condensed in the first chamber 100 to the second chamber 200 through the air suction port 1013, the first chamber bottom surface 101 may be inclined downward from the first chamber back surface 103 toward the inlet port 120.

As shown in fig. 1 (a), in the laundry treating apparatus 2000, a water supply tank 310 for supplying water to the steam unit 250 and a drain tank 330 for draining and storing condensed water collected in a sump (not shown) may be provided at a front portion of the second chamber 200. Further, a tank module frame (not shown) for forming a tank installation space (not shown) for installing the water supply tank 310 and the drain tank 330 is provided, so that the tank installation space (not shown) and the second chamber 200 can be separated. That is, a tank installation space 351, which may be located near the door 400, and a second chamber 200, which may be located at a rear side of the tank installation space, may be provided at a lower portion of the first chamber 100.

The water supply tank 310 and the drain tank 330 may be detachably provided to a tank module frame (not shown), respectively. However, the water supply tank 310 and the drain tank 330 may be integrated and may be detachably provided at the same time.

The door 400 may include: a door inner surface 401, wherein the door inner surface 401 is located on the rear surface of the door 400 or in the direction from the door 400 toward the first chamber 100 when the door 400 is closed. The door 400 is rotatably coupled to the case 150 in a hinge manner to open and close the inlet 120.

When the user closes the door 400, the front surface of the water supply tank 310 and the front surface of the drain tank 330 face the door inner surface 401, and when the user opens the door 400, the front surfaces of the water supply tank 310 and the drain tank 330 may be exposed to the outside. In addition, a water supply tank window 313 and a drain tank window 333 may be provided on the front surfaces of the water supply tank 310 and the drain tank 330, respectively, so that the water levels of the water stored in the water supply tank 310 and the drain tank 330 can be directly confirmed.

The front surface of the water service box 310 and the front surface of the drain box 330 may include a water service box handle 315 and a drain box handle 335, respectively. When a user pulls the water service box handle 315 and the drain box handle 335, respectively, the water service box 310 and the drain box 330 may be rotated and separated from the box module frame (not shown) centering on the front end of the water service box and the front end of the drain box, respectively. When the water supply tank 310 and the drain tank 330 are mounted to the tank module frame (not shown), they are also mounted to the tank module frame (not shown) by being rotated in the same manner.

In the case of the conventional laundry treating apparatus 2000, a laundry fixing part 405 and a pressurizer 50 may be provided in the door inner surface 401 or the first chamber 100, the laundry fixing part 405 hangs the hanger 403 after hanging the trousers P upside down on the hanger 403, and the pressurizer 50 presses the trousers fixed by the laundry fixing part 405 and the hanger 403.

The reason why the trousers P are hung upside down, i.e., the bottom ends (bottom hem) thereof are hung upward, is that since the weight of the waist portion of the trousers P, i.e., the upper ends (pant) of the trousers P, is greater than that of the lower ends, i.e., the leg portions (pant), of the trousers P, a tensile force is applied to the trousers P by the self weight of the trousers P to uniformly spread the trousers P.

The pressurizer 50 may include: a support plate 51 coupled to the door inner surface 401 and supporting the laundry; and a rotating plate 52 which rotates toward the support plate 51 and presses the trousers P. When the rotating plate 52 is rotated toward the support plate 51 and combined, the trousers P can be pressed. Thereafter, the creases can be removed by closing the door 400 and exposing the pants P to steam and dehumidified and heated air inside the first chamber 100. At this time, a rotation plate penetration hole 54 penetrating the rotation plate 52 may be included to allow steam to easily penetrate into the trousers P, and a depression 55 provided on a surface of both surfaces of the rotation plate contacting the trousers P may be further included to prevent a seam (seam) formed in a length direction of the legs of the trousers P from being pressed.

Referring to fig. 2, the inside of the second chamber 200 may include: an air supply unit 220 for sucking air of the first chamber 100; a steam unit 250 receiving the water of the water supply tank 310 and generating steam to supply the steam to the first chamber 100; and a heat pump unit 230 that dehumidifies and heats air drawn in by the air blowing unit 220 and discharges the air to the first chamber 100. Further, a control unit (not shown) may be provided to control the air blowing unit 220, the steam unit 250, and the heat pump unit 230.

Therefore, in order to supply the dehumidified and heated air to the first chamber 100, the air inside the first chamber 100 is sucked through the air inlet duct 221 by generating suction force by the air supply fan 226. And, the air is moved to the heat pump unit 230 and heat-exchanged, and then supplied to the first chamber 100 again.

Referring to fig. 2, the air supply unit 220 may include an air supply fan 226 and an air inlet duct 221. When the direction in which the inlet 120 is located is referred to as the front and the direction in which the rear surface of the first chamber is located is referred to as the rear, the air inlet duct 221 may be disposed in front of the blower fan 226, and a box module frame (not shown) may be disposed in front of the air inlet duct 221. Accordingly, the tank module frame may separate the tank installation space 351 and the second chamber 200.

The water supply tank 310 and the drain tank 330 mounted to the tank module frame may be positioned near one of both sides of the tank body 150. For example, in a tank installation space (not shown), a right side surface of the tank body 150 may be closer to the water supply tank 310 than a left side surface thereof, and conversely, a left side surface of the tank body 150 may be closer to the drain tank 330 than a right side surface of the tank body 150.

The right side surface of the case 150 may be closer to the steam unit 250 than the left side surface of the case 150 inside the second chamber 200, as in the position of the water supply tank 310. This is to simplify a connection flow path for water to move from the water supply tank 310 to the steam unit 250 by disposing the steam unit 250 at the rear of the water supply tank 310.

The steam unit 250 may heat water inside the steam unit 250 using a heater, and the generated steam may communicate with a steam supply port 1012 provided on the first chamber bottom surface 101 along a steam flow path (not shown).

If water supply tank 310 is located closer to the left side surface of tank 150 than the right side surface of tank 150, the position of steam unit may be correspondingly located closer to the left side surface of tank 150 than the right side surface of tank 150.

In addition, the air intake duct 221 may include an air intake duct inlet 2213 communicating with the air suction port 1013 provided on the first chamber bottom surface 101 and sucking air of the first chamber 100. In addition, the inlet 2213 may form an inclined flow path. This is to facilitate movement of condensed water generated in the first chamber 100 and the door 400 to a sump (not shown) provided at a lower portion of the inside of the inlet duct 221 along an inclined flow path via the inlet duct inlet 2213 communicating with the first chamber bottom surface 101.

The air inlet duct 221 is positioned in front of the air blowing fan 226, and a steam unit 250 and a heat pump unit 230 may be disposed behind the air blowing fan 226. In addition, the heat pump unit 230 may be supported by a support 265 (supporter). The support 265 may be provided to the seating portion 210 forming the bottom of the second chamber 200. Accordingly, the support member 265 may form a prescribed spaced distance between the base part 210 and the heat pump unit 230, and a prescribed installation space between the support member 265 and the base part 210. The steam unit 250 may be located at the installation space, and may be combined with the support 265 at the installation space. Fig. 2 shows an example in which the control unit 270 is positioned below the steam unit 250 in the installation space of the support 265, and may be disposed at any position inside the second chamber 200, such as the rear of the steam unit 250.

The heat pump unit 230 may further include: a housing 231 in which the first heat exchanger (or an evaporator, not shown) and the second heat exchanger (or a condenser, not shown) are provided; and an air outlet 2312 communicating with an air supply port 1011 provided in the first chamber 100 to discharge the air dehumidified and heated in the housing 231 to the first chamber 100. A compressor (not shown) and an expansion valve (not shown) for circulating a refrigerant may be provided at an outer side of the supporter 265.

Unlike the fig. 2, the blowing unit circulates the air of the first chamber, and the evaporator and the condenser may be disposed inside a duct through which the air circulated by the blowing unit moves. That is, the air blowing unit is constituted by an air intake duct 221, an air blowing fan 226, a connecting duct (corresponding to the casing of fig. 2), and an exhaust duct (corresponding to the air discharge port of fig. 2), and the heat pump unit may include an evaporator, a condenser, and a compressor and an expansion portion provided outside the air blowing unit, which are provided inside the connecting duct.

Referring to (b) of fig. 1, the door 400 may include: a door inner surface 401 located in a direction from the door 400 toward the first chamber 100; a door gasket 486 disposed on the door inner surface 401 and closely attached (light contact) to an edge of the cabinet 150 to seal between the door 400 and the cabinet 150; and door liners 482, 484 provided on the door inner surface 401 to guide the condensed water generated in the first chamber 100 to the first chamber bottom surface 101 when the door 400 is closed. In some embodiments, the door 400 has a structure capable of simultaneously opening and closing the first chamber 100 and the tank installation space 351. In another embodiment, a plurality of doors are provided to the cabinet 150, and the respective doors can open and close the first chamber 100 and the cabinet installation space 351. With the door 400 closed, the door liners 482, 484 are disposed opposite the first chamber 100 and may include an upper door liner 482 and a lower door liner 484. The door liners 482 and 484 allow condensed water generated on the surfaces of the door liners 482 and 484 to be discharged to a sump (not shown) provided below the intake duct via an air intake port 1013 provided on the first chamber bottom surface 101.

The door gasket 486 is attached to the door inner surface 401 so as to surround the door inner surface 401. Sealing between the door 400 and the tank 150 may be accomplished by a door gasket 486. In addition, the door gasket 486 may also seal the first chamber 100 and the tank installation space 351 separately.

Fig. 1 (b) shows a clothes treating apparatus 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and shows an example of a pressing part 500 different from the presser 50 provided in the conventional clothes treating apparatus 2000 for removing wrinkles of trousers.

Namely, the laundry treating apparatus 1000 includes: a box body 150 having an inlet 120 formed on one surface thereof; a first chamber 100 located inside the cabinet 150 and receiving laundry through the input port 120; a second chamber 200 located at a lower portion of the first chamber 100, forming a space separated from the first chamber 100; a steam unit 250 (refer to fig. 2) disposed inside the second chamber 200, generating steam and supplying the steam to the first chamber; a door 400 rotatably coupled to the housing 150 to open and close the inlet 120; a door inner face 401 in a face of the door toward the first chamber 100; a base plate 510 coupled to the door inner surface 401; a first shaft 5611 provided in parallel with the width direction of the door 400; a second shaft 5621 provided in parallel with the first shaft 5611; a first pressing plate 530 rotatably coupled to the door inner surface 401 or the base plate 510 by the first shaft 5611 and disposed opposite to the base plate 510, for placing and pressing the trousers P; and a second pressing plate 550 rotatably coupled to the door inner surface 401 or the base plate 510 by the second shaft 5621 and disposed to face the first pressing plate 530.

The second pressing plate 550 may be combined with the base plate 510 and/or the first pressing plate 530 and press the base plate 510 and/or the first pressing plate 530, but differently, may be simply combined with the base plate 510 and/or the first pressing plate 530 and protect trousers disposed on the first pressing plate 530, or may function only as a cover for protecting the base plate 510 and/or the first pressing plate 530.

In particular, the pressing part 500 includes: a base plate 510 coupled to the door inner surface 401; a first shaft 5611 provided in parallel with the width direction of the door 400; a second shaft 5621 disposed parallel to the first shaft 5611; a first pressing plate 530 rotatably coupled to the door inner surface 401 or the base plate 510 by the first shaft 5611 and disposed opposite to the base plate 510, for placing and pressing the trousers P; and a second pressing plate 550 rotatably coupled to the door inner surface 401 or the base plate 510 by the second shaft 5621 and disposed opposite to the first pressing plate 530 to press the trousers.

The pressing part 500 may generally include: a second pressing plate 550 rotatable in the vertical direction of the door 400; a first pressing plate 530 rotatable in an up-and-down direction of the door 400; and a base plate 510 coupled to an inner surface of the door. The first pressure plate 530 and the second pressure plate 550 are rotatable about a first axis 5611 provided in the width direction of the door and a second axis 5621 provided in parallel with the first axis 5611, respectively.

The first shaft 5611 and the second shaft 5621 may be disposed in parallel in a width direction of the door. The first shaft 5611 and the second shaft 5621 may be provided at the same position, but the first pressing plate 530 and the second pressing plate 550 may be opened and closed in different rotational directions at different positions from each other in consideration of user convenience. Accordingly, in fig. 1 (b), the first shaft 5611 may be disposed at a lower portion of the base plate 510, and the second shaft 5621 may be disposed at an upper portion of the base plate 510. Therefore, when the second pressure applying plate 550 is opened by rotating upward about the second axis 5621, the first pressure applying plate 530 may rotate downward about the first axis 5611. Therefore, it is possible to prevent interference from being generated when the first pressing plate 530 and the second pressing plate 550 rotate.

When the second pressing plate 550 rotates centering on the axial direction of the second shaft extending in the width direction of the door 400, the first pressing plate 530 capable of seating and fixing trousers may be exposed. At this time, the first pressure applying plate 530 may be rotated by the first shaft 5611 in a state where a distance between the first pressure applying plate 530 and one side surface of the door 400 is maintained constant. That is, the door 400 can be rotated about the first axis in the vertical direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction, which is the opening and closing direction of the door.

When the second pressing plate 550 is rotated in the width direction of the door 400 (rotated centering on the axial direction of the second shaft), the first pressing plate 530 capable of seating and fixing trousers may be exposed. At this time, the first pressure applying plate 530 may be rotated by the first shaft 5611 in a state where a distance between the first pressure applying plate 530 and one side surface of the door 400 is maintained to be constant. That is, the door 400 can be rotated about the first axis in the vertical direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction, which is the opening and closing direction of the door.

Fig. 1 (b) shows an example in which the first pressing plate 530 rotates about a first shaft 5611 provided on the lower side of the first pressing plate 530, and the second pressing plate 550 rotates about a second shaft 5621 provided on the upper side of the second pressing plate 550, but in contrast to this, the first shaft 5611 may be provided on the upper side of the first pressing plate 530, and the second shaft 5621 may be provided on the lower side of the second pressing plate 550. That is, the first pressure plate 530 and the second pressure plate 550 may be rotatable about the respective axial directions of the first shaft 5611 and the second shaft 5621, and it is not important on which side the first shaft 5611 and the second shaft 5621 are located.

As described above, when the first pressing plate 530 and the second pressing plate 550 are rotated in the up-down direction, it is not necessary to differently set the rotation direction according to whether the user turns left or right. If the rotation direction can be differently set according to the user's selection, it is called reversible. The laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may select whether to rotate the door 400 to the left or the door 400 to the right according to the user's selection. However, in the case of the pressing part 500, since it is rotated in the up-down direction and opened and closed, it is not necessary to consider this point.

In the present specification, the rotation in the vertical direction of the door 400 means the rotation around the axis formed in parallel with the width direction of the door 400, and the rotation in the horizontal direction of the door 400 means the rotation around the axis formed in parallel with the height direction of the door 400. The height direction of the door 400 and the width direction of the door 400 are perpendicular to each other. Thus, the first and second shafts 5611 and 5621 are parallel to each other.

In the present specification, the term "penetrate in the thickness direction" means that, in the case of a member having a very large height (or thickness) such as a plate-shaped member, the upper surface and the lower surface formed in the lateral direction and the longitudinal direction penetrate in the direction from the upper surface to the lower surface or in the direction from the lower surface to the upper surface.

Fig. 3 schematically illustrates a pressurizer 50 of a conventional laundry treating apparatus 2000. In particular, fig. 3 (a) shows a state in which the rotation plate 52 is rotated toward the support plate 51 in which the trousers P are seated, and fig. 3 (b) schematically shows a state in which the rotation plate 52 is rotated and combined with the support plate 51, thereby pressing the trousers P positioned between the rotation plate 52 and the support plate 51.

The rotating plate 52 rotates and presses the trousers P by a rotation coupling portion (not shown) provided on one of both side surfaces of the rotating plate 52, for example, by a hinge. At this time, the trousers P are pressed from the side where the rotation joint is located. That is, the pressing is started from the R2 region near the rotation coupling portion. When the rotating plate 52 is completely rotated to face the supporting plate 51, that is, when the other side surface of the rotating plate 52 is coupled to the supporting plate 51, the rotating plate is pressed to the R1 region.

Therefore, during the rotation of the rotating plate 52, no uniform pressure will be applied to the trousers P. In this case, a portion (R2 region) of the trousers P close to the rotation-bonded portion is relatively more compressed, and a portion (R1 region) far from the rotation-bonded portion is relatively less compressed, so that a problem that the trousers P are not uniformly compressed may occur.

In addition, in the process that the trousers P are pressed by the rotating plate 52, the clothes may be pushed by the rotating plate 52 to be dislocated in a fixed form or changed in position. Therefore, in the conventional laundry treating apparatus 2000, as shown by a dotted circle in fig. 3 (b), there may be a problem that wrinkles of the laundry become more or wrinkles having a completely different direction from an intended direction are generated. Fig. 3 (b) is exaggerated to emphasize the above-described situation.

Even if the trousers P are set, the trousers P are simply hung on the clothes setting part 56 (see fig. 1 a) and cannot be fixed, so that there is a problem that the change of the position of the clothes when pressed cannot be prevented.

Further, when the trousers P are installed on the inner face of the door in the entire length of the trousers without being folded, inconvenience may be caused to a user since the height of the clothes installation part 56 (refer to fig. 1 (a)) is high. Further, since most of the door inner surface 401 is occupied, there is a problem that usability of the door inner surface 401 is deteriorated.

The present invention relates to an example of a laundry treatment apparatus 1000 including a pressing part 500 shown in fig. 1 (b) to solve the above-described problems. The pressing part 500 may fold the trousers using the first pressing plate 530 so that the space occupied by the pressing part 500 or the trousers P at the door inner face 401 may be reduced to a half degree.

On the other hand, the trousers P may be fixed using clips or the like provided on the first pressing plate 530. In addition, when the first pressing plate 530 is rotated perpendicular to the rotation direction of the door 400 in the width direction of the door, i.e., with the first axis as a reference, the first pressing plate 530 and the base plate 510 are maintained at a predetermined distance L1 (see fig. 7), instead of the first pressing plate 530 directly coupled to the base plate 510 to press the trousers P. This is because the elastic member 5618 (see fig. 6) provided in the hinge portion 561 (see fig. 6) of the first pressing plate 530 applies an elastic force to the first pressing plate 530 in a direction away from the base plate 510.

When the second pressing plate 550 is closed and combined with the base plate 510 to overcome the elastic force, the first pressing plate 530 is moved toward the base plate 510. Therefore, the first pressing plate 530 is uniformly closely attached to the base plate 510 without first contacting a portion. Therefore, the whole area of the trousers P will be uniformly pressed at the same time. This will be described in detail later with reference to fig. 6 to 7.

Fig. 4 sequentially illustrates a method of removing wrinkles of the trousers P using the pressing part 500 provided at the door 400. The pressing part 500 may be provided on the door inner surface 401 or the first chamber side surface 105, but fig. 4 shows an example in which the pressing part 500 is provided on the door inner surface 401.

Referring to fig. 4 (c), the pressing part 500 includes: a base plate 510 coupled to the door inner surface 401; a first shaft 5611 provided in parallel with the width direction of the door 400; a second shaft 5621 provided in parallel with the first shaft 5611; a first pressing plate 530 rotatably coupled to the door inner surface 401 or the base plate 510 by the first shaft 5611 and disposed opposite to the base plate 510, for placing trousers and pressing; and a second pressing plate 550 rotatably coupled to the door inner surface 401 or the base plate 510 by the second shaft 5621 and disposed to face the first pressing plate 530. Therefore, the rotation direction of the pressing part 500 is perpendicular to the rotation direction of the door 400.

If only the pressure part 500 is considered, the pressure part 500 may include: a second pressing plate 550 which is rotatable in the vertical direction on the door inner surface 401; a first pressing plate 530 rotatable in the vertical direction on the door inner surface 401; and a base plate 510 coupled to the inner surface of the door. The first pressing plate 530 and the second pressing plate 550 are rotatable around a first axis 5611 provided in the width direction of the door and a second axis 5621 provided in parallel with the first axis 5611, respectively.

Referring to fig. 4 (a) and 4 (b), when the door 400 is opened, the second pressing plate 550 of the pressing part 500 may be exposed to the outside. Accordingly, the second pressing plate 550 may function as a cover protecting the base plate 510 and the first pressing plate 530. In addition, as shown in fig. 4 (c), when the trousers P are set, the second pressing plate 550 may also perform a function of pressing a portion including the waist portion of the trousers. The second pressure applying plate 550 may include a pressure applying surface 555 facing the pants and a cover surface 558 facing in a direction opposite the pressure applying surface. The second pressing plate 550 may further include a second opening 552 formed to penetrate in the thickness direction of the second pressing plate 550, i.e., in the direction from the pressing surface 555 toward the cover surface 558. The second opening portion 552 may allow steam to more easily permeate into the trousers P installed in the pressure part 500 together with the first opening portion 532 penetrating the first pressure plate 530, which will be described later, so that the moisture content of the laundry may be increased.

In addition, the cover surface 558 may have a handle 551 which enables a user to grip the second pressing plate 550 to rotate the second pressing plate 550 in the up and down direction. Preferably, the handle 551 may be located at a lower portion of the cover 558. The handle 551 may be a simple handle, but may perform a function of releasing the lock between a lock hook 542 (see fig. 4 c) and a lock hole 547, which will be described later, differently from the simple handle. That is, when the handle 551 is pulled, the engagement between the locking hook 542 and a catch portion (not shown) provided in the locking hole 547 can be released.

In addition, the second pressing plate 550 may also protect the side surfaces of the base plate 510 and the first pressing plate 530 to function as a cover for protecting the first pressing plate 530 and the base plate 510. In this case, the second pressing plate 550 may further include a protection side surface 559 bent from both side surfaces of the second pressing plate 550 in a direction toward the door inner surface 401. To this end, the width of the second pressing plate 550 will be greater than the width of the first pressing plate 530 and the base plate 510.

On the door inner surface 401, the second pressing plate 550 can be rotated in the door up-down direction by the second shaft 5621 formed in parallel in the width direction of the door 400 (A1). Of course, the rotation may be performed in the opposite direction as shown by the arrow in fig. 4 (e).

The door inner surface 401 may be recessed toward the inside of the door by a length corresponding to the thickness of the second pressing plate 550 to form a recessed space 402 for receiving the second pressing plate 550, thereby minimizing the protrusion of the second pressing plate 550 from the door inner surface 401 when the second pressing plate 550 is rotated and tilted upward in the width direction of the door, i.e., when the cover surface 558 faces the door inner surface 401.

Fig. 4 (a) shows a state where the user opens the door 400 to expose the pressing part 500, and fig. 4 (b) shows a state where the user rotates and receives the second pressing plate 550 into the depression space 402 using the second shaft 5621 provided in the width direction of the door 400 to set the trousers P. In addition, the pressing surface 555 may include a concave-shaped preventing groove 557 for preventing the sewing thread of the trousers P from being pressed. The preventing grooves 557 are formed along the lengthwise direction of the pressing surface 555, and prevent the sewing threads (or seams, seam) generated at the time of sewing the front panel (front panel) and the rear panel (back panel) of the trousers from being pressed when the second pressing plate 550 is closed. Since the sewing thread is generally protruded from the cloth of the trousers, unnecessary creases or folds may be generated at the periphery of the sewing thread when the sewing thread is pressed.

Referring to fig. 4 (b) and 4 (c), the first pressing plate 530 may be located between the base plate 510 and the second pressing plate 550. The first pressing plate 530 may include: a first face 535 facing the second pressure applying plate; a second face 538 facing the base plate 510; and a first shaft 5611 provided along the width direction of the door 400 to rotate the first pressure plate 530 in the vertical direction. The first shaft 5611 may rotatably couple the first pressure applying plate 530 to the door inner surface 401 or the base plate 510. The first pressure applying plate 530 may be rotated in the up-down direction (A2) by the first shaft 5611. Fig. 4 shows an example in which the first shaft 5611 is provided on the lower side of the base plate 510. Accordingly, in the case where the second pressure applying plate 550 is rotated upward by the second shaft 5621, the first pressure applying plate 530 may be rotated downward by the first shaft 5611. The second pressing plate 550 may be rotated to be completely tilted upward to be received in the concave space 402. On the other hand, even if the first pressing plate 530 is rotated downward, the first pressing plate 530 is not rotated by more than 90 degrees (°), so that the user can conveniently set the trousers P. That is, in a case where an angle between the first pressing plate 530 and the base plates 510 in a state where the first pressing plate 530 is coupled to the base plates 510 is referred to as 0 degree (°), when the first pressing plate 530 is rotated downward and is in an opened state, the angle between the first pressing plate 530 and the base plates 510 may be 90 degrees (°). Accordingly, it is possible to easily set the trousers P to the first pressing plate 530 and to fix the bottom ends of the trousers using the first clips 531.

On the other hand, the first pressing plate 530 may include a first clip 531 and a second clip 533 to fix the trousers P placed on the first pressing plate 530. The first clip 531 may be located at a lower portion of the second face 538 and the second clip 533 may be located at a lower portion of the first face 535. The first clip 531 may fix a portion of the trousers including a bottom end (hem) of the trousers. Referring to fig. 4 (d), the second clamp 533 can fix both sides of the opposite portion of the bottom end (hem) of the trousers, i.e., both sides of the waist portion and the leg portion connected to the waist portion.

The first pressure applying plate 530 may further include a mounting corner portion 539 at an upper end thereof, the mounting corner portion 539 being a corner at which the trousers P are mounted. The seating corners 539 are formed in a curved surface, and thus, even if the trousers P are seated on the seating corners 539, wrinkles or creases are prevented from being generated.

In addition, the seating corner part 539 may include: a first curved surface 5391 (see fig. 5 (b)) connected to the first surface 535; and a second curved surface 5392 (see fig. 5 (b)) connecting the first curved surface and the second surface 538. The first curved surface 5391 (refer to fig. 5 b) and the second curved surface 5392 (refer to fig. 5 b) may have curvatures different from each other so as to have asymmetrical shapes. That is, the first curved surface 5391 (see fig. 5 b) may be convex in a direction away from the door inner surface 401 compared to the first surface 535. Accordingly, the first curved surface 5391 (see fig. 5 b) may have a radius of curvature greater than that of the second curved surface 5392 (see fig. 5 b).

The first pressing plate 530 may further include a first opening 532 penetrating in a thickness direction of the first pressing plate 530. The first opening 532 may be positioned at the first pressing plate 530 corresponding to a position of the second opening 552 provided at the second pressing plate 550. This is to allow steam to easily permeate into the pants P through the second opening 552 when the second pressing plate 550 is closed, that is, when the second pressing plate 550 is rotated about the second axis such that the pressing surface 555 of the second pressing plate 550 is located at a position facing the first pressing plate 530 and the pants P.

In addition, the first and second pressing plates 530 may include first and second grooves 536 and 537, respectively, on both surfaces thereof, i.e., the first and second surfaces 535 and 538, which are recessed in a longitudinal direction of the first pressing plate 530, so as to prevent the seam of the trousers P from being pressed when pressing.

On the other hand, the first pressing plate 530 may include a first clip 531 and a second clip 533 for fixing the set trousers P. The first clip 531 may be provided on the second face 538 and have a U-shaped form. The first clip 531 may be a biasing member (biased member) that applies force only in a direction in which the laundry inserted into the clip is pressed by the first pressing plate 530 as long as external force is not applied. For example, the first clip 531 may be a biasing member made of an elastic member and using an elastic force.

The first clip 531 may include: a clip fixing portion 5311 for fixedly coupling the first clip 531 to the first pressing plate 530; and a clip support portion 5312 bent and extended at both ends of the clip fixing portion. When the trousers P are inserted into the clip support part 5312, an elastic force may act toward the first pressing plate 530, thereby enabling the trousers P to be fixed.

The second clamp 533 may be positioned at a lower portion of the first side 535 facing the second pressing plate 550, and may prevent an opposite portion of the trousers, which is fixed by the first clamp 531, from moving. Preferably, the first clip 531 can fix the bottom end (hem) of the leg portion, and the second clip 533 fixes the opposite sides of the waist portion. The second clip 533 may be configured as an angled clip, for example, an angled bracket. The second clip 533 may be made of an elastic member and fixes trousers like a clip (clamp), but preferably, the second clip 533 may be formed as a pair of angled clips connected to both side directions at a lower portion of the first surface 535, respectively. Therefore, the angled second clip 533 can form a predetermined gap 5331 between the second clip 533 and the first surface 535. The predetermined gap 5331 always maintains a certain gap, and both side surfaces of the trousers can be inserted into the predetermined gap 5331 to fix the trousers P.

The second clip 533 which fixes the trousers with the prescribed gap 5331 may not be applied with a physical force such as an elastic force like the first clip 531. This is in consideration of the difference in length of the trousers P placed on the first pressing plate 530. That is, the length of the adult pants and the child pants may be different from each other. In this case, if the positions of the first clip 531 and the second clip 533 are fixed according to the length of the adult pants, there is a possibility that the child pants cannot be fixed. Therefore, when the first clip 531 is fixed, it is necessary to make the position of the second clip 533 variable. However, since the change of the position of the second clip 533 requires additional structural elements, there are disadvantages in that the thickness of the first pressing plate 530 becomes large and the device becomes complicated. In order to simply solve such a problem, it is possible to fix the trousers P by inserting both sides of the trousers P into the second clips 533 at both sides of the first pressing plate 530, instead of fixing the end portions of the installed trousers P.

The base plate 510 may further include a locking hook 542 for coupling with the second pressing plate 550. Although the locking hook 542 is shown as an example of a corner shape (angled shape), the locking hook 542 may be configured in any shape that allows the base plate 510 and the second pressing plate 550 to be coupled to and separated from each other. The locking hooks 542 are inserted into locking holes 547 provided in the second pressing plate 550 and maintain locking between the base plate 510 and the second pressing plate 550. The locking hole 547 may be positioned on the pressing surface 555, and a locking portion (not shown) that is engaged with the locking hook 542 may be provided inside the locking hole 547.

The base plate 510 may have a width greater than that of the first pressing plate 530. Therefore, in the joining surface 511 of the base plate 510 that is opposite to the first pressing plate, the portions that are not in contact with the first pressing plate will be located near both side surfaces of the base plate 510. Since one locking hook 542 is provided near each of the two side surfaces, the base plate 510 and the first pressing plate 530 do not interfere with the locking hook 542 when they are coupled.

Therefore, when the second pressure applying plate 550 is coupled to the base plate 510, the catching portions (not shown) located inside the locking holes 547 meet the locking hooks 542 and are fastened to be locked. In addition, when the handle 551 is pulled to unlock the locking hooks 542 and the catching portions, the locking hooks 542 may escape from the locking holes 547. This is one of many available methods, and a different method may be used to join the second pressure plate 550 and the base plate 510.

The first pressing plate 530 positioned between the second pressing plate 550 and the base plate 510 may also be pressed by the second pressing plate 550 when the second pressing plate 550 and the base plate 510 are combined. Accordingly, the first pressing plate 530 and the base plate 510 may also be pressed therebetween.

The locking means may be coupled in any manner as long as coupling and separation between the base plate 510 and the first pressing plate 530 can be achieved and coupling between the base plate 510 and the first pressing plate 530 can be maintained all the time after the coupling. That is, an additional locking means may be provided between the first pressing plate 530 and the base plate 510. Alternatively, in fig. 6 to 7, an elastic member 5618 such as a spring may be further provided to ensure that the first pressing plate 530 presses the base plate 510.

Fig. 4 (d) shows an arrangement configuration (configuration) in which the first pressing plate 530 is rotated again with respect to the first axis 5611 to face the base plate 510 after the pants P are set on the first pressing plate 530. The first pressing plate 530 may further include a coupling member for coupling with the base plate 510. Fig. 4 (e) shows a state where the second pressing plate 550 rotates with reference to the second shaft 5621 and is coupled to the first pressing plate 530 and the base plate 510. Accordingly, the trousers P can be pressed by the second pressing plate 550, the first pressing plate 530, and the base plate 510 after being seated on the first pressing plate 530.

Referring to fig. 4 (a), even when the second pressing plate 550 is rotated to face the first pressing plate 530 and closed, the second clip 533 may be exposed to the outside. This is because the second clip 533 is configured to protrude from the first pressing plate 530, and therefore, in consideration of this, the length of the second pressing plate 550 in the height direction can be made smaller than the length of the first pressing plate 530 in the height direction.

Although not shown in fig. 4 d, as described later, a hinge hole 5613 (refer to fig. 6) may be provided so that the first shaft 5611 for rotating the first pressing plate 530 may not only rotate but also move in a direction away from or toward the door inner surface, whereby the same pressure may be applied to the trousers even if trousers of an arbitrary thickness are installed on the first pressing plate 530. That is, the shape of the hinge hole 5613 (see fig. 6) is a shape in which semi-circles are coupled to both ends of a rectangle, and is not a circular shape identical to the first axis. Therefore, the first shaft 5611 can rotate in the hinge hole 5613 and can move in a direction away from or toward the door inner surface along the hinge hole 5613. Such a spacing structure of the hinge holes 5613 can press the trousers even if trousers having an arbitrary thickness are installed.

Referring to fig. 4 (c), the base plate 510 may include: a combining surface 511 for pressing the pants placed on the first pressing plate; and a mounting surface 512 which is located in the opposite direction of the coupling surface 511 and couples the base plate 510 to the door inner surface 401. The door inner surface 401 may function as the base plate 510 instead of the base plate 510. However, it is preferable that the base plate 510 is spaced apart from the door inner surface 401 by a predetermined distance, and the base plate 510 is coupled to the door inner surface by a support member (not shown). The support member may be an elastic member. This is to maintain a prescribed pressing force between the base plate 510 and the first pressing plate 530 so that the trousers P are closely fitted.

The base plate 510 may further include: a clip accommodating part 513 recessed in a shape corresponding to a pattern of the first clip and capable of accommodating the first clip 531 to prevent the base plate 510 from being damaged by the first clip 531 protruding from the first pressing plate 530 when the base plate 510 and the first pressing plate 530 are closely attached to each other in a state where the pants P are not placed. The clip accommodating portion 513 may be a recess shape or a completely penetrating shape.

The clip accommodating part 513 may be positioned at a lower side of the base plate 510 in consideration of the first clip 531 positioned at a lower portion of the first pressing plate 530. Since the clip fixing part 5311 of the first clip is located at the lower side of the first pressing plate, a portion of the clip accommodating part 513 corresponding to the clip fixing part of the first clip may be shorter than the rest of the seating plate 510. That is, the first length P of the portion of the seating plate corresponding to the clip fixing part 5311 ₁ May be of a second length P than the rest of the base plate ₂ Shorter.

Although not shown, in order to prevent the sewing line of the trousers P pressed between the first pressing plate 530 and the base plate 510 from being pressed, the base plate 510 may include a pressing prevention groove (not shown) provided at a position corresponding to the second groove 537 of the first pressing plate 530.

Fig. 5 (a) shows a case where the installation ridge 539 has an asymmetrical shape, and fig. 5 (b) shows this enlarged.

Referring to fig. 5 (a), the bottom end of the trousers P is fixed by the first clamp 531 at the second face 538, and the middle portion of the trousers may be seated on the smoothly connected curved surface of the seating horn 539. Thereafter, the rest of the trousers P can be positioned on said first face 535. Since the length of the remaining portion of the pants P is longer than the length of the first pressing plate 530, a portion of the waist portion of the pants P may be positioned at a lower side than the lower side of the first pressing plate 530. Therefore, the second clips 533 can be fixed by inserting both side surfaces of the trousers P into the prescribed gaps 5331, instead of fixing the ends of the trousers P.

The seating corner part 539 is formed as a curved surface, and thus, even if the trousers P are seated on the seating corner part 539, wrinkles or creases are prevented from being generated.

In addition, a portion of the locking hook 542 provided to the base plate 510 may be provided to the inside of the base plate 510 through a receiving hole 5421. This is because, when the locking hooks 542 are made of a material (e.g., metal) different from that of the base plate 510 to improve durability, it is necessary to couple the locking hooks 542 to the base plate 510, and at this time, the locking hooks 542 may be coupled to a mounting surface, which is a rear surface of the base plate 510, or an inside of the base plate 510 using a fastening member to improve aesthetic appearance.

Referring to fig. 5 (b), the seating corner 539 may include: a first curved surface 5391 connected to the first face 535; and a second curved surface 5392 connecting the first curved surface 5391 and the second surface 538. The first curved surface 5391 and the second curved surface 5392 may have different curvatures from each other, and thus may be asymmetrical shapes. That is, the first curved surface 5391 may be convex in a direction away from the door inner surface 401 compared to the first surface 535. Accordingly, when the center of the first pressing plate is shown by a chain line, the radius of curvature S of the first curved surface 5391 is based on the chain line ₁ May be larger than the curvature radius S of the second curved surface 5392 ₂ . In other words, the curvature of the first curved surface 5391 may be smaller than the curvature of the second curved surface 5392. The second curved surface 5392 has a radius of curvature approximately half the thickness of the first pressing plate 530, and the first curved surface 5391 has a radius of curvature greater than half the thickness of the first pressing plate 530.

On the other hand, the overall length of the trousers P (the length of the outer seam) may be greater than the sum of the length of the first face 535, the length of the seating corners 539, and the length of the second face 538. In this case, the waist portion of the pants may be located at a lower side than the second clip 533. The remaining portion including the waist portion (portion other than the leg portions) of the trousers may be seated on the first face 535 through the seating corners 539 from the bottom end (hem) of the trousers P to the middle height of the leg portions by the seating plate 510 and the second face. At this time, the portion where the creases are actually removed is the leg portion, not the waist portion of the pants. In addition, the location of the seam lines of the waist portion of the pants may be different from the location of the seam lines of the legs. Thus, the portions that actually need to be pressed to remove the wrinkles will be the leg portions other than the waist portion of the pants.

Therefore, in order to press only a desired portion of the trousers P to be set, a portion of the trousers located between the second face 538 and the base plate 510 is pressed and a crease is removed by increasing the radius of curvature of the first curved face 5391, and the remaining portion of the trousers passing through the setting corners 539 generates a tensile force due to its own weight, so that the trousers as a whole are pressed in a very straight and taut state, thereby making an intended crease (crease) of the trousers more clear and prominent. Such creases are commonly referred to as "trouser lines (clear visible creases of the legs of the trousers)".

Considering the radius of curvature of the first curved surface 5391, the pants P will be spaced apart from the first pressing plate 530 unless the second pressing plate 550 is combined with the first pressing plate 530 after passing through the first curved surface 5391. Of course, a portion between the first surface 535 and the second pressing plate 550 may be pressed according to the form of the second pressing plate 550.

Fig. 6 shows an example of the hinge portion 561. Trousers may be disposed between the base plate 510 and the first pressing plate 530. In addition, the base plate 510 further includes a receiving hole 5421 through which a locking hook 542 for coupling with the second pressure applying plate 550 and locking the second pressure applying plate 550 passes. The base plate 510 may be spaced apart from the inner surface 401 by a predetermined distance without being closely attached. This is to maintain a predetermined pressing force between the base plate 510 and the first pressing plate 530 so that the trousers P are closely fitted. As shown in fig. 6, this is to provide a space into which a part of the hinge portion 561 can be inserted between the base plate 510 and the door inner surface 401.

A second clip 533 for fixing the waist portion of the trousers from both sides may be provided on the first surface 535 of the first pressing plate 530. The hinge portion 561 may be connected to a side surface of a portion of the two side surfaces of the first pressing plate 530 where the second clip 533 is located. In addition, the hinge portion 561 may be connected with a lower portion of the base plate 510.

The hinge portion 561 may rotatably connect the first pressing plate 530 and the base plate 510. Since the base plate 510 is in a fixed position, the first pressing plate 530 will rotate. To this end, the hinge portion 561 may include a first shaft 5611 rotating the first pressure applying plate 530 in a height direction of the door. Thereby, the first pressing plate 530 may be rotated in the up and down direction of the door.

The hinge portion 561 can move the first shaft 5611 in a direction away from the door inner surface 401 or in a direction toward the door inner surface 401. When a direction from the door inner surface 401 to the door inner surface 401 is referred to as a thickness direction of the door, the first shaft 5611 is movable in the thickness direction of the door. That is, the first shaft 5611 is movable in the thickness direction of the door while rotating.

The hinge part 561 further includes: a hinge support 5614 coupled to the base plate 510 or the door inner surface 401, and supporting the first shaft 5611; and a hinge hole 5613 passing through the hinge support portion 5614 in an axial direction of the first shaft 5611, wherein the first shaft 5611 is inserted into the hinge hole 5613, and a length of the hinge hole 5613 measured in a direction from the door inner surface 401 to the door inner surface 401 may be longer than a length of the hinge hole 5613 measured in a height direction of the door 400.

That is, since the hole into which the first shaft 5611 is inserted is formed in a pattern shape (or a symbol shape indicating start/end in a flowchart) in which semicircular shapes are respectively combined at both sides of a rectangle, a length of the hinge hole 5613 in the thickness direction of the door may be greater than a diameter of the first shaft 5611. Accordingly, the first shaft 5611 inserted into the hinge hole 5613 may move inside the hinge hole 5613 in a thickness direction of the door 400.

In an example of the hinge portion 561 shown in fig. 6, the hinge portion 561 is rotatably coupled to the base plate 510 and the first pressing plate 530 at a lower side of the base plate 510. The first shaft 5611 may be formed as one shaft from one side to the other side of the first pressure applying plate 530 in the width direction of the door 400. That is, one first shaft may be formed in one hinge portion 561. However, as shown in fig. 1 (b) or 4 (c), a plurality of hinge portions 561 may be provided at a lower side of the base plate 510. Hereinafter, one of the plurality of hinge portions 561 will be described as an example.

The hinge support 5614 may rotatably connect the first shaft 5611 and the base plate 510. The hinge support portion 5614 may further include a hinge hole 5613 penetrating the hinge support portion 5614 in an axial direction of the first shaft 5611, i.e., a width direction of the door, and the first shaft 5611 is inserted into the hinge hole 5613. A length of the hinge hole 5613 measured in a direction away from or toward the door inner face 401 may be longer than a length of the hinge hole 5613 measured in a height direction of the door 400.

The hinge hole may be formed in a shape in which two short sides of a rectangle are connected to semicircles. Thus, the first axis 5611 can move along the long side of the rectangle. That is, the first shaft 5611 is movable in a direction away from the door inner surface 401 or in a direction toward the door inner surface 401. Thereby, a spaced space V may be formed between the base plate 510 and the first pressing plate 530. In the space V being partitioned, the distance between the base plate 510 and the first pressing plate 530 may be changed whenever the first shaft 5611 is moved. In the length of the hinge hole 5613 indicated by K1, the first axis 5611 can move by a distance other than the diameter of the first axis 5611, which means that the first presser plate 530 can move by a distance indicated by K2.

Since the length of K2 will also vary with the length of K1, the length of K1 can be set according to the thickness of the pants P that can be placed between the base plate 510 and the first pressing plate 530. In fig. 6, the first pressing plate 530 and the base plate 510 are illustrated to the extent that they can be closely attached to each other, but this may vary depending on the design.

An elastic member 5618 may be connected to the first shaft 5611. The elastic member 5618 may be configured to connect the first shaft and the hinge support portion, and to always receive an elastic force of the first shaft 5611 in a direction away from the door inner surface 401. In contrast, the first shaft 5611 may be configured to receive an elastic force in the direction of the door inner surface 401 so that the first pressing plate 530 and the base plate 510 are closely attached to each other, but in this case, it is inconvenient that a force in the opposite direction to the elastic force is required each time the user rotates the first pressing plate 530, and thus, the case of applying the elastic force in the opposite direction is shown here. In this case, it may be designed that, when the second pressing plate 550 is rotated downward and coupled with the base plate 510 using the locking hook 542 and the catching portion (not shown), the first pressing plate may receive a force of being pressed between the second pressing plate 550 and the base plate 510. At this time, when the elastic member 5618 is compressed and the second pressing plate 550 is rotated upward to be opened, the first pressing plate 530 is pushed to be separated between the first pressing plate 530 and the base plate 510.

Therefore, when the second pressing plate 550 is closed, the first pressing plate 530 receives a force in a direction away from the door inner surface 401 by the elastic force of the elastic member 5618, but the second pressing plate 550 presses the first pressing plate 530. Thereby, a portion of the trousers P positioned between the first pressing plate 530 and the base plate 510 can be pressed. In addition, since the entire surface of the first pressing plate 530 is closely attached to the trousers P at the same time, not a specific portion of the first pressing plate 530 is closely attached to the trousers P, the trousers P can be closely attached. The user can fix the trousers P using the first clip 531 after rotating (Rot 1) the first pressing plate 530 downward. And, when the first pressing plate 530 is rotated again in the opposite direction and the first pressing plate 530 is pulled, a spaced space V may be formed between the base plate 510 and the first pressing plate 530. When the user slightly releases the first pressing plate 530 after the base plate 510 and the first pressing plate 530 face each other, the first pressing plate 530 approaches toward the base plate 510, so that the pants positioned between the first pressing plate 530 and the base plate 510 can be uniformly pressed at the same time.

The hinge coupling portion 5617 may couple the first shaft 5611 and the first pressure applying plate 530. The hinge connecting portion 5617 may be formed in an angled-shape, and the angle may be an angle close to a right angle. Specifically, the hinge connection portion 5617 may include: a first wing 5617a fixedly coupled to the first shaft 5611 and rotating together therewith; and a second wing 5617b connected perpendicularly or obliquely to the first wing 5617 a.

Therefore, when the first shaft 5611 is rotated downward (Rot 1), the hinge connecting portion 5617 may also be rotated together. Specifically, when the first shaft 5611 rotates, the first wing 5617a also rotates, and the second wing 5617b also rotates. Accordingly, when the first pressure applying plate 530 rotates downward (Rot 1), the first wing 5617a including a portion where the first wing 5617a and the second wing 5617b meet will come into contact with the door inner face 401. Thus, the first pressure applying plate 530 will stop and no longer rotate. The angle between the base plate 510 and the first pressing plate 530 may be approximately 90 degrees (°).

The hinge connection 5617 may further include a third wing 5617c protruding in a region where the first wing 5617a and the second wing 5617b meet. When the hinge coupling portion 5617 rotates and contacts the door inner surface 401, the third wing 5617c contacts the door inner surface 401 first, and thus, it is more effective than when the wings contact integrally, and the angle between the base plate 510 and the first pressing plate 530 can be more accurately formed to a designed angle.

As a result, the hinge connection portion 5617 of the angled form can prevent the first pressing plate 530 from rotating more than a predetermined angle. Preferably, the prescribed angle may be 90 degrees (°).

Fig. 7 (a) and 7 (b) show the positions of the first pressing plates corresponding to the opening and closing of the second pressing plates. After the second pressing plate 550 is opened, the first pressing plate 530 rotates downward and sets and fixes the trousers P. Thereafter, the first pressing plate 530 is rotated in the opposite direction, and as shown in fig. 7 (a), the first pressing plate 530 may be arranged to face the base plate 510. At this time, as described above, the first shaft 5611 of the first pressing plate 530 may be moved in a direction of being separated from the door inner surface 401 or approaching the door inner surface 401 by the shape of the hinge hole 5613. Fig. 7 (a) illustrates a case where the first pressure applying plate 530 is most moved by the elastic force of the elastic member 5618 when the second pressure applying plate 550 is opened. Accordingly, L1 represents the spaced distance between the first pressing plate 530 and the base plate 510 when the second pressing plate 550 is rotated upward using the second shaft 5621.

Therefore, even if the first pressing plate 530 rotates to face the base plate 510 after the trousers are set, the distance of L1 can be maintained by the elastic force of the elastic member 5618 as long as the external force from the user is not applied. Only in the case where the second pressing plate 550 is rotated downward and coupled to the base plate 510, the first pressing plate 530 is simultaneously moved in the arrow direction of (b) of fig. 7, i.e., toward the base plate 510 as a whole by the second pressing plate 550, and thus uniform pressure can be applied to the trousers.

With the second pressing plate 550 closed, the first pressing plate 530 is moved toward the base plate 510 by the second pressing plate 550, thereby pressing the trousers located between the first pressing plate 530 and the base plate 510. At this time, the elastic member 5618 may be compressed and apply an elastic force in an opposite direction, as in fig. 7 (b). However, the second pressing plate 550 is kept in a locked state by the locking hook 542 and the catch (not shown), and can overcome the elastic force of the elastic member 5618. At this time, the distance between the first pressing plate 530 and the base plate 510 is L2 and may be changed according to the thickness of the trousers.

The present invention can be modified in various forms and the scope of right is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Therefore, if the modified embodiment includes structural elements within the scope of the claims of the present invention, it should be regarded as belonging to the scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims (10)

1. A clothes treating apparatus, in which,

the method comprises the following steps:

a box body, one surface of which is provided with a throwing port;

a first chamber located inside the cabinet, and accommodating laundry in the first chamber through the input port;

a second chamber located at a lower portion of the first chamber to form a space separated from the first chamber;

a steam unit disposed inside the second chamber, generating steam and supplying the steam to the first chamber;

a door rotatably coupled to the housing to open and close the inlet;

a door inner face located on a face of the door opposite the first chamber;

a base plate combined with the door inner surface;

a first shaft provided on the door in a direction parallel to a width direction of the door;

a second shaft disposed on the door in a direction parallel to the first shaft;

a first pressing plate rotatably coupled to the inner surface of the door or the base plate by the first shaft and disposed opposite to the base plate to place and press the trousers; and

and a second pressing plate rotatably coupled to the inner surface of the door or the base plate by the second shaft and disposed opposite to the first pressing plate to press the trousers.

2. The laundry processing apparatus according to claim 1,

the first shaft is located at one of an upper side and a lower side of the base plate,

the second shaft is located on the other of the upper side and the lower side of the base plate.

3. The laundry processing apparatus according to claim 1,

the first pressure applying plate includes:

and a first clip which is positioned at the lower part of one surface of the first pressing plate, which is opposite to the base plate, and fixes one end of the bottom end of the trousers and the upper end of the waist part of the trousers.

4. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 3,

the first pressure applying plate includes:

and the second clamp is positioned at the lower part of the other surface of the first pressing plate, which is opposite to the second pressing plate, and is used for fixing the bottom end of the trousers and the other end of the upper ends of the waist parts of the trousers.

5. The laundry processing apparatus according to claim 1,

the first pressure applying plate includes:

a first surface which is one surface of the first pressing plate and is opposite to the base plate;

a second surface which is the other surface of the first pressing plate facing the second pressing plate; and

a mounting corner having a curved shape connecting the first and second faces, the trousers being mounted on the mounting corner,

in the seating corner portion, a curvature of a curved surface connected with the first face and a curvature of a curved surface connected with the second face are different.

6. The laundry processing apparatus according to claim 5,

the first face includes:

a first groove concavely formed in a longitudinal direction of the door to prevent the first face from interfering with a seam provided on the trousers,

the second face includes:

a second groove concavely formed in a lengthwise direction of the door to prevent the second face from interfering with a seam provided on the trousers.

7. The laundry processing apparatus according to claim 3,

the base plate includes:

and a clip accommodating portion through which the base plate is recessed or inserted in a shape corresponding to the first clip, wherein the first clip is accommodated in the clip accommodating portion when the first pressing plate presses the base plate.

8. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1,

further comprising:

an elastic supporting member between the base plate and the inner face of the door, supporting the base plate,

when the first pressing plate is combined with the base plate, the pants are pressed between the first pressing plate and the base plate.

9. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1,

the first pressure applying plate includes:

and a hinge unit including the first shaft, disposed under the first pressing plate, and moving the first pressing plate in a direction of moving away from or approaching the inner surface of the door.

10. The laundry processing apparatus according to claim 9,

the hinge portion further includes:

a hinge support part coupled to the base plate or the inner surface of the door, and supporting the first shaft; and

a hinge hole penetrating the hinge support portion in an axial direction of the first shaft, the first shaft being inserted into the hinge hole,

the length of the hinge hole measured in a direction away from or toward the inner door face is longer than the length of the hinge hole measured in a height direction of the door.

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