CLOTHES-HANDLING APPARATUS

Abstract

 The present invention relates to a clothes-handling apparatus comprising: a cabinet having an opening; a drawer capable of being withdrawn from the cabinet through the opening; a clothes accommodating part provided inside the drawer so as to provide a space in which clothes are stored; a coupling part provided on one of the cabinet and the drawer; and a detachment part provided on one, on which the coupling part is not provided, of the cabinet or the drawer, such that the coupling part is detachably coupled thereto, wherein the detachment part is provided so as to repeat a state of being coupled to the coupling part and a state of being separable from the coupling part whenever an external force is applied to the detachment part through the coupling part.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a laundry treatment apparatus.

[Background Art]

[0002] Generally, laundry treatment apparatuses include an apparatus that washes laundry (an object to be washed or an object to be dried), an apparatus that dries laundry, and an apparatus that is capable of performing both washing and drying of laundry.

[0003] Among conventional laundry treatment apparatuses, there is one including a cabinet, a drawer removably provided in the cabinet, and a laundry accommodation unit provided in the drawer to provide a laundry treatment space for washing or drying laundry.

[0004] In the above laundry treatment apparatus, however, the drawer may vibrate in the cabinet or may escape from the cabinet while laundry is treated.

[Disclosure]

[Technical Problem]

[0005] One object of the present invention devised to solve the problem lies in a laundry treatment apparatus capable of preventing a drawer, having therein a laundry storage space, from escaping from a cabinet during the operation of the laundry treatment apparatus.

[0006] Another object of the present invention devised to solve the problem lies in a laundry treatment apparatus that facilitates removal of a drawer from a cabinet when the laundry treatment apparatus is not being operated.

[0007] Another object of the present invention devised to solve the problem lies in a laundry treatment apparatus including a second treatment device for laundry treatment, provided on a first treatment device including a drawer.

[0008] A further object of the present invention devised to solve the problem lies in a laundry treatment apparatus that facilitates removal of a drawer, provided in a first treatment device, from a cabinet even though a portion of the drawer is covered by a second treatment device.

[Technical Solution]

[0009] The present invention provides a laundry treatment apparatus including a cabinet having an entrance, a drawer provided in the cabinet so as to be removable from the cabinet through the entrance, a laundry accommodation unit provided in the drawer to provide a laundry storage space, a fastening unit provided at one of the cabinet and the drawer, and a detachment unit provided at the other of the cabinet and the drawer such that the fastening unit is detachably coupled to the detachment unit, wherein the detachment unit is configured such that, whenever external force is applied to the detachment unit via the fastening unit, the state in which the detachment unit is coupled to the fastening unit and the state in which the detachment unit is separable from the fastening unit are alternately achieved.

[0010] The drawer may include a drawer body, in which the laundry accommodation unit is provided, the drawer body being removable from the cabinet through the entrance, and a drawer panel provided at the drawer body to open and close the entrance, and the fastening unit may be provided at the drawer body while the detachment unit may be fixed to the cabinet.

[0011] The drawer may include a drawer body, in which the laundry accommodation unit is provided, the drawer body being removable from the cabinet through the entrance, and a drawer panel provided at the drawer body to open and close the entrance, and the fastening unit may protrude from the drawer panel toward the entrance while the detachment unit may be fixed to the cabinet.

[0012] The detachment unit may include a first body fixed to the cabinet, the first body having therein an insertion hole, a second body inserted into the first body through the insertion hole, the second body being able to perform reciprocating motion in the first body, a spring configured to provide elastic force to the second body, a guide including a first path provided in the first body, the first path extending from the direction in which the insertion hole is located in the direction moving away from the insertion hole, a second path extending from one end of the first path toward the insertion hole, a third path extending from the second path in the direction moving away from the insertion hole, and a fourth path extending from the third path toward the insertion hole so as to be connected to the other end of the first path, a bar rotatably provided at the second body, a protrusion provided on a free end of the bar so as to be inserted into the guide, the protrusion being movable along the guide, and a first detachment bar and a second detachment bar rotatably coupled to the second body, the first detachment bar and the second detachment bar being coupled to the fastening unit when the protrusion is located at the connection between the second path and the third path and being separated from the fastening unit when the protrusion is located at the connection between the first path and the fourth path.

[0013] The laundry treatment apparatus may further include a pushing unit provided in the cabinet to push the drawer toward the entrance.

[0014] The drawer may include a drawer body, in which the laundry accommodation unit is provided, the drawer body being removable from the cabinet through the entrance, and a drawer panel provided at the drawer body to open and close the entrance, and the pushing unit may be configured to push at least one of the rear surface of the drawer body or the side surface of the drawer body toward the entrance.

[0015] The drawer may include a drawer body, in which the laundry accommodation unit is provided, the drawer body being removable from the cabinet through the entrance, and a drawer panel provided at the drawer body to open and close the entrance, and the pushing unit may push the drawer panel in the direction moving away from the entrance.

[0016] The pushing unit may include a cylinder fixed to the cabinet, a pushing body having a first free end configured to perform reciprocating motion in the cylinder and a second free end configured to contact the drawer panel when the drawer closes the entrance, and a spring provided in the cylinder to support the first free end.

[0017] The laundry treatment apparatus may further include a slider body fixed to the drawer and a housing fixed to the cabinet to define a movement path of the slider body, wherein the fastening unit may be provided at one of the slider body and the housing while the detachment unit may be provided at the other of the slider body and the housing.

[0018] In this case, the laundry treatment apparatus may further include a pushing unit fixed to the housing to provide force necessary to move the drawer toward the entrance to the slider body.

[0019] The laundry treatment apparatus may further include a second cabinet located on the cabinet and a second laundry accommodation unit provided in the second cabinet to provide a space for washing or drying laundry, wherein the drawer may include a drawer body, in which the laundry accommodation unit is provided, the drawer body being removable from the cabinet through the entrance, and a drawer panel provided at the drawer body to open and close the entrance.

[0020] The drawer panel may include a front panel surface formed so as to be parallel to one surface of the cabinet having the entrance, a first side surface and a second side surface extending from opposite side surfaces of the front panel surface toward the cabinet, and an upper panel surface extending from the upper part of the front panel surface toward the cabinet, and at least a portion of the upper panel surface may not be exposed to the outside by the second cabinet as long as the drawer body does not escape from the cabinet.

[Advantageous Effects]

[0021] The present invention has the effect of providing a laundry treatment apparatus capable of preventing a drawer, having therein a laundry storage space, from escaping from a cabinet during the operation of the laundry treatment apparatus.

[0022] In addition, the present invention has the effect of providing a laundry treatment apparatus that facilitates removal of a drawer from a cabinet when the laundry treatment apparatus is not being operated.

[0023] In addition, the present invention has the effect of providing a laundry treatment apparatus including a second treatment device for laundry treatment, provided on a first treatment device including a drawer.

[0024] In addition, the present invention has the effect of providing a laundry treatment apparatus that facilitates removal of a drawer, provided in a first treatment device, from a cabinet even though a portion of the drawer is covered by a second treatment device.

[Description of Drawings]

[0025] 

FIG. 1 shows an example of a laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention;

FIGs. 2 and 5 show an example of a first treatment device of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows an example of a fixing unit of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 shows an example of a pushing unit of the present invention.

[Best Mode]

[0026] Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings. Meanwhile, the configuration of an apparatus or a control method thereof, which will be given below, is merely intended to explain exemplary embodiments of the present invention, rather than limiting the technical scope of the present invention. Throughout the specification, the same reference numerals denote the same constituent elements.

[0027] A laundry treatment apparatus 100 according to the present invention may include both a first treatment device L and a second treatment device T located on the first treatment device, as shown in FIG. 1, or may include only the first treatment device L. Hereinafter, the laundry treatment apparatus 100 according to the present invention will be described as including both the first treatment device L and the second treatment device T, for the convenience of description.

[0028] The first treatment device L may be a device that performs a laundry treatment function, such as washing or drying of laundry (an object to be washed or an object to be dried), and the second treatment device T may be a device detachably mounted to the first treatment device L to perform a laundry treatment function.

[0029] The second treatment device T may include a second cabinet 8, which defines the external appearance thereof, and a second laundry accommodation unit (not shown) provided in the second cabinet to provide a laundry treatment space.

[0030] The second laundry accommodation unit may include a second tub (not shown) provided in the second cabinet 8 to store water and a second drum (not shown) rotatably provided in the second tub to provide a laundry storage space.

[0031] In this case, a second water supply unit to supply water to the second tub and a second drainage unit to discharge the water stored in the second tub to the outside of the second cabinet 8 may be further included.

[0032] The second cabinet 8 is provided with a second treatment device opening (not shown), through which laundry is introduced into or removed from the second cabinet, and the second treatment device opening is opened and closed by a second treatment device door 81, which is rotatably coupled to the second cabinet 8.

[0033] The second treatment device door 81 may be provided with a window 83, through which the inside of the second drum can be checked from outside the laundry treatment apparatus 100.

[0034] The second treatment device opening communicates with the inside of the second drum through a second tub opening, provided in the second tub, and a second drum opening, provided in the second drum. Consequently, it is possible for a user to introduce laundry into the second drum or to remove the laundry in the second drum to the outside of the second cabinet by opening the second treatment device door 81.

[0035] Meanwhile, in the case in which the second treatment device T is configured to perform a laundry-drying function, a second hot air supply unit (not shown) may be further provided in the second cabinet 8 to supply hot air to the second tub.

[0036] The second hot air supply unit (not shown) may include a circulation duct configured to circulate the air in the second tub and a heat exchanger provided in the circulation duct for dehumidification and heating of the air discharged from the second tub.

[0037] Alternatively, the second hot air supply unit (not shown) may include a discharge duct, which discharges the air in the second tub to the outside of the second cabinet 8, a supply duct, which supplies the air outside the second cabinet 8 to the second tub, and a heat exchanger provided in the supply duct to heat the air introduced into the supply duct.

[0038] In the case in which the second treatment device T is configured only to dry laundry, on the other hand, the second tub may be omitted from the second treatment device T. In this case, the second treatment device T additionally requires means for rotatably supporting the drum. In addition, the second hot air supply unit is configured to supply hot air to the second drum.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 2, the first laundry treatment device L of the present invention includes a cabinet 1, a drawer 21, 23, and 25 removably provided in the cabinet 1, and a laundry accommodation unit 3 and 4 provided in the drawer to provide a laundry treatment space.

[0040] The cabinet 1 may have an entrance 11, and the drawer 2 may be removed from or inserted into the cabinet 1 through the entrance 11. The cabinet 1 may have a longer length in the width direction (X-axis direction) than in the height direction (Y-axis direction) (i.e. the drawer may have a longer length in the width direction than in the height direction).

[0041] The drawer includes a drawer body 21 having an open upper surface and a drawer cover 25 provided in the open surface of the drawer body. That is, the drawer body 21 may have a hollow hexahedral shape, and the drawer cover 25 may be fixed to the drawer body 21 so as to form the upper surface of the drawer body 21.

[0042] The drawer body 21 may be removed from or inserted into the cabinet 1 via a slider 27. The slider 27 may include a slider body 271, which is fixed to one of the cabinet 1 and the drawer body 21, and a slider housing 273, which is fixed to the other of the cabinet and the drawer body to define the movement path of the slider body 271. FIG. 2 shows the case in which the slider housing 273 is fixed to the cabinet 1 and the slider body 271 is fixed to the drawer body 21 by way of example.

[0043] A drawer panel 23 is provided on the front surface of the drawer body 21. The drawer panel 23 serves to open and close the entrance 11 in the cabinet.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 1, the drawer panel 23 may be provided with a control panel 231 to control the operation of the first treatment device L. The drawer panel 23 may include a front panel surface 23a formed so as to be parallel to one surface of the cabinet having the entrance, a first side surface 23b and a second side surface 23c extending from opposite side surfaces of the front panel surface toward the cabinet, and an upper panel surface 23d extending from the upper part of the front panel surface toward the cabinet. In this case, the control panel 231 may be provided on the upper panel surface 23d.

[0045] The control panel 231 includes means (a controller of the first treatment device) for controlling, for example, means (a water supply unit and a drainage unit) for supplying water to the laundry accommodation unit 3 and 4 and discharging the water therefrom, means (a driving unit) for rotating laundry, and means (a hot air supply unit and a moisture supply unit) for supplying steam or hot air to laundry.

[0046] In addition, the control panel 231 may include an input unit (not shown), which allows a user to input a control command to the first treatment device L, and a display unit (not shown) (means for displaying information on the operation of the first treatment device L), which allows the user to check the control command input via the input unit or which notifies the user of the process of executing the control command input by the user.

[0047] The drawer cover 25 may be provided with a first cover through-hole 251 and a second cover through-hole 253, which are formed through the drawer cover 25 for communication of the inside of the drawer body 21 with the outside.

[0048] The laundry accommodation unit 3 and 4, provided in the drawer 2, may include a tub 3, which is provided in the drawer body 21 to provide the space in which water is stored, and a drum 4, which is rotatably provided in the tub to store laundry therein. The tub 3 is fixed inside the drawer 2 via a tub support unit 31.

[0049] The tub 3 is provided in the upper surface thereof with a tub opening 33 for communication of the inside of the tub 3 with the outside of the tub. The tub opening 33 is opened and closed by a door 35.

[0050] The door 35 is rotatably provided on the upper surface of the tub 3 (and is configured to open and close a portion of the upper surface of the tub). The door 35 may be rotated to the outside of the drawer 2 through the first cover through-hole 251, which is formed in the drawer cover 25. That is, the door 35 is provided so as to be located in a region in which the first cover through-hole 251 is projected on the upper surface of the tub 3. Consequently, the user may introduce laundry into the tub 3 by opening the door 35 after removing the drawer 2 from the cabinet 1.

[0051] Meanwhile, the tub 3 is provided in the upper surface thereof with an introduction hole 37, through which water is introduced into the tub 3. The introduction hole 37 is connected to a water supply pipe 511, a description of which will follow.

[0052] The drum 4 may be configured to have a cylindrical shape. The drum 4 may be provided in the upper surface thereof with a drum opening. In the circumferential surface and the bottom surface of the drum 4 are provided drum through-holes 41, which are formed through the drum for communication between the inside of the tub and the inside of the drum.

[0053] The drum 4 may be rotated in the tub 3 by a driving unit 43 provided outside the tub 3.

[0054] The driving unit 43 may include a stator 431, which is fixed to the tub 3 and generates a rotating field, a rotor 433, which is rotated by the rotating field, and a rotary shaft 435, which extends through the tub 3 to interconnect a drum bottom surface and the rotor 433.

[0055] As shown in the figure, the rotary shaft 435 may be oriented at a right angle relative to the tub opening 33 (at a right relative to the ground).

[0056] The reason that the laundry accommodation unit is constituted by the tub 3 and the drum 4 is to enable the first treatment device L of the present invention to perform a washing function. In order to enable the first treatment device L to further perform a laundry-drying function, therefore, a hot air supply unit (not shown) may be further provided in the cabinet 1 to supply hot air to the tub 3.

[0057] The hot air supply unit (not shown), provided in the first treatment device L, may include a circulation duct configured to circulate the air in the tub 3 and a heat exchanger provided in the circulation duct for dehumidification and heating of the air discharged from the first tub.

[0058] Alternatively, the hot air supply unit (not shown), provided in the first treatment device, may include a discharge duct, which discharges the air in the tub to the outside of the cabinet 1, a supply duct, which supplies the air outside the tub to the tub 3, and a heat exchanger, which heats the air introduced into the supply duct.

[0059] In the case in which the first treatment device L is configured only to dry laundry, on the other hand, the tub 3 may be omitted from the first treatment device L. In this case, the first treatment device L additionally requires means for rotatably supporting the drum. In addition, the hot air supply unit is configured to supply hot air to the drum 4.

[0060] In the case in which the first treatment device L is configured to perform a laundry-washing function, the first treatment device L further requires a water supply unit 51 and a drainage unit 54.

[0061] The water supply unit 51 may include a water supply pipe 511, which interconnects a water source and the introduction hole 37, a water supply hole 37, and a valve 513, which opens and closes the water supply pipe 511 under the control of the controller of the first treatment device.

[0062] The water supply pipe 511 extends through the drawer cover 25 via the second cover through-hole 253. The water supply pipe may have a flexible structure, or may be formed of an elastic material in consideration of the movement range of the drawer.

[0063] The drainage unit 54 serves to discharge the water stored in the tub 3 to the outside of the cabinet 1. The drainage unit 54 may include a drainage pipe 541, which guides the water in the tub 3 to the outside of the cabinet 1, and a pump 543, which is provided in the drainage pipe 541 to discharge the water from the tub 3. The drainage pipe may have a flexible structure, or may be formed of an elastic material.

[0064] The first treatment device L having the above structure is configured to have a structure in which, when the drum 4 is rotated by the driving unit 43, vibration generated in the drum or the tub is transferred to the drawer 2.

[0065] When the vibration of the drum 4 or the tub 3 is transferred to the drawer 2, noise or vibration may be generated due to a collision between the drawer 2 and the cabinet 1. Furthermore, the drawer 2 may escape from the cabinet 1 during the rotation of the drum 4.

[0066] In order to solve the above problems, the laundry treatment apparatus 100 according to the present invention may further include a fixing unit 6 to detachably fix the drawer 2 to the cabinet 1.

[0067] As shown in FIG. 3, the fixing unit 6 of the present invention may include a fastening unit 61, provided at one of the cabinet 1 and the drawer 2, and a detachment unit 65, provided at the other of the cabinet 1 and the drawer 2 such that the fastening unit is detachably coupled to the detachment unit 65.

[0068] The detachment unit 65 is characterized in that, whenever external force is applied to the detachment unit 6 via the fastening unit 61, the state in which the detachment unit 65 is coupled to the fastening unit 61 and the state in which the detachment unit 65 is separable from the fastening unit 61 are alternately achieved. That is, the fixing unit 6 of the present invention is characterized in that additional means (e.g. a handle) for coupling or decoupling between the fastening unit 61 and the detachment unit 65 is unnecessary.

[0069] The laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention may be configured to have a structure in which means, such as a handle, is provided at the drawer panel 23 such that, when a user applies external force to the handle, the fixing unit 6 is operated. However, no means for operating the fixing unit 6 may be provided for the following reason.

[0070] As shown in FIG. 1, in the case in which the second treatment device T is located at the upper surface of the first treatment device L, at least a portion of the upper panel surface 23d is not exposed to the outside by the second cabinet 8 of the second treatment device T when the drawer body 21 is not removed from the cabinet 1. Consequently, it is difficult to provide means for operating the fixing unit 6 at the upper panel surface 23d.

[0071] Meanwhile, means for operating the fixing unit 6 may be provided at the front panel surface 23a or the first side surface 23b and the second side surface 23c of the panel, which the user can easily access. In this case, however, the aesthetic appearance of the laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention (integrity of design with the second treatment device) may be deteriorated.

[0072] Consequently, the fixing unit 6 of the present invention may be configured such that additional means (e.g. a handle) for coupling or decoupling between the fastening unit 61 and the detachment unit 65 is unnecessary.

[0073] FIG. 3 shows an example of the fixing unit 6, which realizes the above function. The fastening unit 61 may protrude from the drawer panel 23 toward the entrance 11, and the detachment unit 65 may be provided at the cabinet 1.

[0074] In this case, the fastening unit 61 may be constituted by a protrusion that protrudes from the drawer panel 23 toward the entrance 11.

[0075] The detachment unit 65 may include a first body 651 fixed to the cabinet 1 and a second body 655 provided in the first body 651 so as to perform reciprocating motion, the fastening unit 61 being detachably coupled to the second body 655.

[0076] The first body 651 includes an insertion hole 652, into which the second body 655 is inserted, a spring 653 to provide elastic force to the second body 655, and a guide 654 to control the position of the second body 655.

[0077] The spring 653 is configured to push the second body 655 toward the insertion hole 652.

[0078] As shown in FIG. 3(b), the guide 654 may include a first path 654a extending from the direction in which the insertion hole 562 is located toward the rear surface of the first body 651 (the direction moving away from the insertion hole), a second path 654b extending from one end of the first path toward the insertion hole 562, a third path 654c extending from the second path in the direction moving away from the insertion hole 652, and a fourth path 654d extending from the third path 654c toward the insertion hole 652 so as to be connected to the other end of the first path 654a.

[0079] In this case, the second body 655 may include a bar 655a rotatably coupled to the second body via a shaft 655b, a protrusion 655c provided on the bar so as to be inserted into the guide 654, and a first detachment bar 655d and a second detachment bar 655e rotatably coupled to the second body 655 and exposed outside the first body 651 through the insertion hole 652.

[0080] In the fixing unit 6 having the above structure, the fastening unit 61 moves the second body 655 toward the rear surface of the first body 651 when the drawer panel 23 closes the entrance 11.

[0081] When the second body 655 is pushed, the protrusion 655c is located at the connection (first point) between the second path 654b and the third path 654c via the first path 654a and the second path 654b, and the first detachment bar 655d and the second detachment bar 655e are rotated toward the fastening unit 61 while being interfered with by the insertion hole 652.

[0082] When the protrusion 655c, provided on the second body, is located at the first point, as shown in FIG. 3(b), the fastening unit 61 is fixed between the detachment bars 655d and 655e, whereby the drawer 2 is fixed to the cabinet 2. Consequently, it is possible to prevent the drawer from escaping from the cabinet during the rotation of the drum.

[0083] Meanwhile, when the user pushes the drawer panel 23 in the direction in which the entrance 11 is located one more time in this state, the fastening unit 61 pushes the second body 655. In this case, the protrusion 655c moves to the connection (second point) between the fourth path 654d and the first path 654a via the third path 654c and the fourth path 654d.

[0084] When the protrusion 655c, provided on the second body, is located at the second point, as shown in FIG. 3(a), the first detachment bar 655d and the second detachment bar 655e move to the outside of the first body 651 through the insertion hole 652, whereby the fastening unit 61 becomes separable from the second body 655. Consequently, the state in which the drawer 2 is fixed to the cabinet 1 is released, and therefore the user may remove the drawer to the outside of the cabinet 1.

[0085] In the above description, the fixing unit 6 is configured such that the fastening unit 61 is fixed to the drawer panel 23 while the detachment unit 65 is fixed to the cabinet 1. However, the positions of the fastening unit 61 and the detachment unit 65 may be changed.

[0086] That is, the fastening unit 61 may be fixed to the rear surface of the drawer body 21, and the detachment unit 65 may be fixed to the rear surface of the cabinet 1 such that the fastening unit 61 is detachably fixed to the detachment unit 65.

[0087] In addition, the fastening unit 61 may be fixed to at least one of the opposite side surfaces of the drawer body 21, and the detachment unit 65 may be fixed to at least one of the opposite side surfaces of the cabinet 1 such that the fastening unit 61 is detachably fixed to the detachment unit 65.

[0088] Meanwhile, in the laundry treatment apparatus 100 having the above structure, the drawer 21 may be removed from the cabinet 1 only when the user pulls the drawer panel 23. Consequently, the first treatment device L requires means for enabling the user to hold the drawer panel 23, such as a handle.

[0089] In the laundry treatment apparatus 100 configured such that the second treatment device T is located on the first treatment device L, however, the upper surface of the drawer panel 23 may not be exposed to the outside due to the second treatment device T. For this reason, the handle may be provided at the side surface or the front surface of the drawer panel. In the case in which the handle is provided at the front surface or the side surface of the drawer panel, however, the costs of manufacturing the laundry treatment apparatus are increased, and the aesthetic appearance of the laundry treatment apparatus may be deteriorated.

[0090] In order to solve the above problems, a pushing unit 7 for pushing the drawer body 31 toward the entrance 11 may be further provided. That is, the pushing unit 7 may be configured to push the drawer panel 23 in the direction moving away from the entrance 11.

[0091] As shown in FIG. 4, the pushing unit 7 may include a cylinder 71 fixed to the cabinet 1, a pushing body 73 having a first free end F1 configured to perform reciprocating motion in the cylinder 71 and a second free end F2 configured to contact the drawer panel 23 when the drawer panel 23 closes the entrance 11, and a spring 75 provided in the cylinder 71 to support the first free end F1.

[0092] The spring 75 may be configured to provide force necessary to move the second free end F2 in the direction in which the entrance 11 is located to the first free end F1. In order to prevent damage to the drawer panel 23, a damper 77, such as rubber, may be further provided at the second free end F2 of the pushing body.

[0093] Unlike the above description, the pushing unit 7 may be configured to push at least one of the rear surface of the drawer body 21 or the side surface of the drawer body 21 toward the entrance 11.

[0094] Hereinafter, the operation of the first treatment device L of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGs. 2 and 5.

[0095] When the user pushes the drawer panel 23 toward the entrance 11 in the state in which the drawer body 21 is fixed to the cabinet 1, as shown in FIG. 2, the fastening unit 61, provided at the drawer panel 23, is separated from the detachment unit 65, provided at the cabinet 1.

[0096] When the fastening unit 61 is separated from the detachment unit 65, the pushing unit 7 pushes the drawer panel 23 in the direction moving away from the entrance 11, whereby a predetermined space is formed between the drawer panel 23 and the entrance 11 in the cabinet.

[0097] The user may put his/her hand into the space formed between the drawer panel 23 and the entrance 11 in order to hold the upper surface of the drawer panel 23, and may pull the drawer panel 23 in order to remove the drawer body 21 from the cabinet 1. In the present invention, therefore, it is possible to remove the drawer body 21 from the cabinet without the provision of an additional handle at the drawer panel 23.

[0098] Meanwhile, in the case in which the drawer body 21 is removed from the cabinet 1, as shown in FIG. 5, the user may push the drawer panel 23 toward the entrance 11 in order to couple the fastening unit 61 to the detachment unit 65. As a result, the drawer body 21 is fixed to the cabinet 1. Consequently, it is possible to prevent the drawer body 23 from escaping from the cabinet 1 even though vibration is generated in the drawer 3 when the drum 4 is rotated by the driving unit.

[0099] Although not shown in the drawings, the fixing unit 6 and the pushing unit 7 may be provided at the slider 27.

[0100] In this case, the fastening unit 61 may be provided at one of the slider body 271 and the housing 273, and the detachment unit 65 may be provided at the other of the slider body 271 and the housing 273. In addition, the pushing unit 7 may be provided at the slider 27 so as to provide force necessary to move the drawer panel 23 in the direction in which the entrance is opened.

[0101] In the case in which the slider body 271 is fixed to the drawer 2 and the housing 273 is fixed to the cabinet 1, as shown in FIG. 5, the pushing unit 7 may be fixed to the housing 273 in order to provide force necessary to move the drawer toward the entrance to the slider body 271.

[0102] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A laundry treatment apparatus comprising:

a cabinet having an entrance;

a drawer provided in the cabinet so as to be removable from the cabinet through the entrance;

a laundry accommodation unit provided in the drawer to provide a laundry storage space;

a fastening unit provided at one of the cabinet and the drawer; and

a detachment unit provided at the other of the cabinet and the drawer such that the fastening unit is detachably coupled to the detachment unit, wherein

the detachment unit is configured such that, whenever external force is applied to the detachment unit via the fastening unit, a state in which the detachment unit is coupled to the fastening unit and a state in which the detachment unit is separable from the fastening unit are alternately achieved.

2. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the drawer comprises: a drawer body, in which the laundry accommodation unit is provided, the drawer body being removable from the cabinet through the entrance; and a drawer panel provided at the drawer body to open and close the entrance, and wherein
the fastening unit is provided at the drawer body while the detachment unit is fixed to the cabinet.

3. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the drawer comprises: a drawer body, in which the laundry accommodation unit is provided, the drawer body being removable from the cabinet through the entrance; and a drawer panel provided at the drawer body to open and close the entrance, and wherein
the fastening unit protrudes from the drawer panel toward the entrance while the detachment unit is fixed to the cabinet.

4. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the detachment unit comprises:

a first body fixed to the cabinet, the first body having therein an insertion hole;

a second body inserted into the first body through the insertion hole, the second body being able to perform reciprocating motion in the first body;

a spring configured to provide elastic force to the second body;

a guide comprising a first path provided in the first body, the first path extending from a direction in which the insertion hole is located in a direction moving away from the insertion hole, a second path extending from one end of the first path toward the insertion hole, a third path extending from the second path in the direction moving away from the insertion hole, and a fourth path extending from the third path toward the insertion hole so as to be connected to the other end of the first path;

a bar rotatably provided at the second body;

a protrusion provided on a free end of the bar so as to be inserted into the guide, the protrusion being movable along the guide; and

a first detachment bar and a second detachment bar rotatably coupled to the second body, the first detachment bar and the second detachment bar being coupled to the fastening unit when the protrusion is located at a connection between the second path and the third path and being separated from the fastening unit when the protrusion is located at a connection between the first path and the fourth path.

5. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a pushing unit provided in the cabinet to push the drawer toward the entrance.

6. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 5, wherein
the drawer comprises: a drawer body, in which the laundry accommodation unit is provided, the drawer body being removable from the cabinet through the entrance; and a drawer panel provided at the drawer body to open and close the entrance, and wherein
the pushing unit is configured to push at least one of a rear surface of the drawer body or a side surface of the drawer body toward the entrance.

7. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 5, wherein
the drawer comprises: a drawer body, in which the laundry accommodation unit is provided, the drawer body being removable from the cabinet through the entrance; and a drawer panel provided at the drawer body to open and close the entrance, and wherein
the pushing unit pushes the drawer panel in a direction moving away from the entrance.

8. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the pushing unit comprises:

a cylinder fixed to the cabinet;

a pushing body having a first free end configured to perform reciprocating motion in the cylinder and a second free end configured to contact the drawer panel when the drawer closes the entrance; and

a spring provided in the cylinder to support the first free end.

9. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a slider body fixed to the drawer; and

a housing fixed to the cabinet to define a movement path of the slider body, wherein

the fastening unit is provided at one of the slider body and the housing, and

the detachment unit is provided at the other of the slider body and the housing.

10. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a pushing unit fixed to the housing to provide force necessary to move the drawer toward the entrance to the slider body.

11. The laundry treatment apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising:

a second cabinet located on the cabinet; and

a second laundry accommodation unit provided in the second cabinet to provide a space for washing or drying of laundry, wherein

the drawer comprises: a drawer body, in which the laundry accommodation unit is provided, the drawer body being removable from the cabinet through the entrance; and a drawer panel provided at the drawer body to open and close the entrance.

12. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the drawer panel comprises:

a front panel surface formed so as to be parallel to one surface of the cabinet having therein the entrance;

a first side surface and a second side surface extending from opposite side surfaces of the front panel surface toward the cabinet; and

an upper panel surface extending from an upper part of the front panel surface toward the cabinet, and wherein

at least a portion of the upper panel surface is not exposed to an outside by the second cabinet when the drawer body is not removed from the cabinet.

Drawing