CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority of Korean Patent Application Nos. 10-2018-0106542, filed on Sep. 6, 2018 and 10-2018-0106543, filed on Sep. 6, 2018, the contents of all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a laundry treatment apparatus.

In general, a laundry treatment apparatus is a home appliance configured to perform such diverse treatment processes that are related to laundry (e.g., washing, drying, deodorizing, wrinkle-removing and the like). The laundry treatment apparatus means a concept including a washing machine for washing laundry, a dryer for drying wet laundry and a refresher for deodorizing the bad smell pervaded in laundry or removing wrinkles in the laundry.

A conventional laundry treatment apparatus includes a drum for accommodating laundry; and a drive unit provided to rotate the drum; and a mechanism configured to supply air to the drum. Such a conventional laundry treatment apparatus actuates the laundry treating processes while generating a frictional power between the laundry and the drum. Accordingly, the conventional apparatus is advantageous in drying laundry but disadvantageous in preventing or removing wrinkles in the laundry.

SUMMARY

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure may address the above-noted and other problems and provide a laundry treatment apparatus which may facilitate drying, deodorizing and wrinkle-removing by providing a laundry support unit configured to fix laundry in a state of being spread.

Exemplary embodiments may also provide a laundry treatment apparatus which may allow a user to check the laundry treating process outside.

Exemplary embodiments may also provide a laundry treatment apparatus which may improve use convenience by providing a laundry support unit configured to move a hanger having laundry hung thereon towards an opening once a door is open.

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the disclosure, as embodied and discussed herein, a laundry treatment apparatus may comprise a cabinet; a laundry receiving space provided in the cabinet and providing a predetermined space for accommodating laundry; a laundry introduction opening provided in a front surface of the cabinet and formed in communication with the laundry receiving space; a supply unit configured to supply at least one of air and vapors to the laundry receiving space; a laundry support unit movably coupled to the cabinet and having a hanger hung thereon; a door body rotatably coupled to the cabinet and configured to open and close the laundry introduction opening; a window provided in a body through hole penetrating the door body and made of a transparent material; a knock sensing unit configured to sense at least one of a sound or vibration that is generated when a user is knocks or taps; and a lamp configured to emit light to the inside of the laundry receiving space when the knock sensing unit senses the sound or vibration generated when the window is knocked.

The laundry treatment apparatus may further comprise a door sensing unit configured to sense whether the door body opens the laundry introduction opening; and a conveying part configured to move the laundry support unit towards the laundry introduction opening when the door body opens the laundry introduction opening and move the laundry support unit away from the laundry introduction opening when the door body closes the laundry introduction opening.

The laundry treatment apparatus may further comprise a control unit configured to deactivate the knock sensing unit and actuate the lamp when it is sensed that the door body opens the laundry introduction opening.

The laundry treatment apparatus may further comprise a control unit configured to actuate the lamp when the knock sensing unit senses the sound or vibration generated when the window is knocked in a state of sensing that the door body closes the laundry introduction opening.

When the door opens the laundry introduction opening, a distance from the laundry introduction opening to the center of the support body may be set to be a third (⅓) of the length of the laundry receiving space that is in parallel with a moving direction of the laundry support unit, and when the door closes the laundry introduction opening, a distance from the laundry introduction opening to the center of the laundry support unit may be set to be a half (½) or more of the length of the laundry receiving space that is in parallel with the moving direction of the laundry support unit.

The laundry treatment apparatus may further comprise a first chamber provided in an upper area of the laundry receiving space and configured to communicate with the laundry receiving space via a first slit and a second slit, wherein the laundry support unit comprises a base provided in the first chamber and configured to reciprocate between a front surface of the cabinet and a rear surface; a first connecting part having one end fixed to the base and a free end inserted in the first slit to be located in the laundry receiving space; a second connecting part having one end fixed to the base and a free end inserted in the second slit to be located in the laundry receiving space; and a support bar having one end fixed to the first connecting part and the other end fixed to the second connecting part and configured to support a hanger.

The conveying part may comprise a rack provided in the base to be in parallel with the moving direction of the base; and a pinion coupled to the rack; and a pinion motor configured to rotate the pinion.

The lamp may be provided in the support bar.

The laundry treatment apparatus may further comprise a state sensing unit configured to measure humidity or temperatures of the laundry receiving space, wherein when the knock sensing unit senses the sound or vibration generated when the window is knocked in a state where the door body closes the laundry introduction opening, the lamp emits respective different color lights according to the amount of the foreign substances sensed by the state sensing unit.

The laundry treatment apparatus may further comprise a state sensing unit configured to measure the amount of the foreign substances contained in the air inside the laundry receiving space, wherein when the knock sensing unit senses the sound or vibration generated when the window is knocked in a state where the door body closes the laundry introduction opening, the lamp emits respective different color lights according to the amount of the foreign substances sensed by the state sensing unit.

The laundry treatment apparatus may further comprise a state sensing unit configured to sense the concentration of the smell particles contained in the air inside the laundry receiving space, wherein when the knock sensing unit senses the sound or vibration generated when the window is knocked in a state where the door body closes the laundry introduction opening, the lamp emits respective different color lights according to the concentration of the smell particles sensed by the state sensing unit.

The laundry treatment apparatus may further comprise a housing that is withdrawable from the laundry receiving space via the laundry introduction opening when the door body opens the laundry introduction opening; a housing chamber provided in the housing and providing a predetermined space for accommodating the laundry; a housing opening in communication with the housing chamber via the housing; a housing door rotatably coupled to the housing and configured to open and close the housing opening; a supporting part provided in the housing chamber or the housing door and having pants secured thereto; and a pants-pressing part provided in the other one of the housing chamber and the housing door and configured to press the pants towards the pants-supporting part when the housing door closes the housing opening.

The pants-supporting part may comprise a laundry securing part provided in the housing chamber and having one end of the pants detachably secured thereto; and a support body provided in the housing chamber and configured to support one surface of the pants fixed to the laundry securing part, and the pants-pressing part comprises a pressing body provided in the housing door and configured to press the pants towards the support body when the housing door closes the housing opening.

The laundry treatment may further comprise an inlet hole penetrating the housing and configured to facilitate communication between the laundry receiving space and the housing chamber; an air supply unit configured to supply heated-air to the laundry receiving space; and a moisture supply unit configured to supply unheated vapors or heated-vapors to the laundry receiving space.

The laundry treatment may further comprise a housing inlet hole penetrating the housing and configured to facilitate communication between the laundry receiving space and the housing chamber.

The supply unit may comprise an air supply unit configured to supply heated-air to the laundry receiving space; and a moisture supply unit configured to supply unheated vapors or heated-vapors to the laundry receiving space.

The laundry treatment apparatus may further comprise an avoiding groove provided in at least one of the support body and the pressing body and providing a predetermined space for accommodating a sewing line formed in the pants.

The laundry treatment apparatus may further comprise a hinge provided to rotatably couple the housing door to the housing, wherein the hinge comprises a hinge body provided in a bar shape; a first shaft provided to connect one end of the hinge body to the housing; and a second shaft provided to connect the other end of the hinge body to the housing door.

The laundry treatment apparatus may further comprise a lamp provided in the support bar and configured to emit light when the door opens the laundry introduction opening.

The laundry securing part may be a clip having one end secured to a surface of the support body and a free end pressing the pants to the surface of the support body by using elasticity.

In another aspect, a laundry treatment apparatus comprises a cabinet; a laundry receiving space provided in the cabinet and providing a predetermined space for accommodating laundry; a laundry introduction opening provided in a front surface of the cabinet and formed in communication with the laundry receiving space; a door rotatably coupled to the cabinet and configured to open and close the laundry introduction opening; a supply unit configured to supply at least one of air and vapors to the laundry receiving space; a laundry support unit movably coupled to the cabinet and having a hanger hung thereon; a housing that is withdrawable from the laundry receiving space via the laundry introduction opening when the door body opens the laundry introduction opening; a housing chamber provided in the housing and providing a predetermined space for accommodating the laundry; a housing opening in communication with the housing chamber via the housing; a housing door rotatably coupled to the housing and configured to open and close the housing opening; a pants-supporting part provided in the housing chamber or the housing door and having pants secured thereto; and a pants-pressing part provided in the other one of the housing chamber and the housing door and configured to press the pants towards the supporting part when the housing door closes the housing opening.

The pants-supporting part may comprise a laundry securing part provided in the housing chamber and having one end of the pants detachably secured thereto; and a support body provided in the housing chamber and configured to support one surface of the pants fixed to the laundry securing part, and the pants-pressing part comprises a pressing body provided in the housing door and configured to press the pants towards the support body when the housing door closes the housing opening.

The laundry treatment apparatus may further comprise a housing inlet hole penetrating the housing and configured to facilitate communication between the laundry receiving space and the housing chamber.

The supply unit may comprise an air supply unit configured to supply heated-air to the laundry receiving space; and a moisture supply unit configured to supply unheated vapors or heated-vapors to the laundry receiving space.

The laundry treatment apparatus may further comprise an avoiding groove provided in at least one of the support body and the pressing body and providing a predetermined space for accommodating a sewing line formed in the pants.

The laundry treatment apparatus may further comprise a hinge provided to rotatably couple the housing door to the housing, wherein the hinge comprises a hinge body provided in a bar shape; a first shaft provided to connect one end of the hinge body to the housing; and a second shaft provided to connect the other end of the hinge body to the housing door.

The laundry treatment apparatus may further comprise a door sensing unit configured to sense whether the door body opens the laundry introduction opening; and a conveying part configured to move the laundry support unit towards the laundry introduction opening when the door body opens the laundry introduction opening and move the laundry support unit away from the laundry introduction opening when the door body closes the laundry introduction opening.

When the door opens the laundry introduction opening, a distance from the laundry introduction opening to the center of the support body may be set to be a third (⅓) of the length of the laundry receiving space that is in parallel with a moving direction of the laundry support unit, and when the door closes the laundry introduction opening, a distance from the laundry introduction opening to the center of the laundry support unit may be set to be a half (½) or more of the length of the laundry introduction space that is in parallel with the moving direction of the laundry support unit.

The laundry treatment apparatus may further a first chamber provided in an upper area of the laundry receiving space and configured to communicate with the laundry receiving space via a first slit and a second slit, wherein the laundry support unit comprises a base provided in the first chamber and configured to reciprocate between a front surface of the cabinet and a rear surface; a first connecting part having one end fixed to the base and a free end inserted in the first slit to be located in the laundry receiving space; a second connecting part having one end fixed to the base and a free end inserted in the second slit to be located in the laundry receiving space; and a support bar having one end fixed to the first connecting part and the other end fixed to the second connecting part and configured to support a hanger.

The laundry treatment apparatus may further comprise a lamp provided in the support bar and configured to emit light when the door opens the laundry introduction opening.

The conveying part comprises a rack provided in the base to be in parallel with the moving direction of the base; and a pinion coupled to the rack; and a pinion motor configured to rotate the pinion.

As is apparent from the above description, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure may have the effect of providing a laundry treatment apparatus which may facilitate drying, deodorizing and wrinkle-removing by providing a laundry support unit configured to fix laundry in a state of being spread.

In addition, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure may have the effect of providing a laundry treatment apparatus which may allow a user to check the laundry treating process from the outside.

In addition, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure may have the effect of providing a laundry treatment apparatus which may improve use convenience by providing a laundry support unit configured to move a hanger having laundry hung thereon towards an opening once a door is open.

