Patent Application
20100294004
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a washing machine and a dryer machine, and more particularly to a multifunctional laundry machine with integrated washbasin.
2. Description of Related Arts
Along with the changing weather with different seasons, people are putting on more or less cloth depending on the variety of weather. Generally, during the fall or winter seasons, people are usually wearing heavier or thicker cloth, so that people may totally relay on the fully automatic washing machine and the dryer machine. However, during the spring or summer, people may just wash the thinner cloth by their hands on the sink or washbasin, and then hanging the cloth for being naturally dried, so that it can save the energy and is more convenient. Therefore, most of the families, such as cities in China, commonly have the washing machine, dryer machine, and the sink for daily cleaning and doing laundry.
However, most of the existing washing machine, dryer machine, and sink are individually provided for independently placing the machines or sink unit in different areas, so as to occupy relatively lager indoor spaces. The water inlets and outlets of the washing machine and sink are also separately arranged to connect therewith respectively.
Therefore, the arrangement of the water pipes or hoses is complicated. Especially for people who's living in a smaller apartment, the separated washing machine, dryer machine, and the sink is even more inconvenient and bulky.
The disadvantages of the above mentioned separated structure of washing machine, dryer machine, and the sink also exist in the student dormitories. The students may be in the growing up stage, so that they usually have less cloth for changing due to the keep growing bodies. Therefore, when their cloth get wet by rain or their sweat, they may need to immediately or shortly wash and dry the cloth, so that they will have enough cloth to wear. However, in the student dorm, usually accommodating more then one person, has limited spaces for placing the cleaning appliances. Even the students wish to joint purchase the appliances, the bulky and separated washing machine, dryer machine, and sink can not be installed and placed in the limited space of the dormitory.
Accordingly, most of the existing laundry appliances in the market are separately provided, so that the consumers can hardly find the perfect fit appliances with relatively more compacted sizes. Therefore, combining multi-functions or multi-appliances in one single device is the trend of electronic appliances, so as to integrate the resources to achieve the concept of conservation energy or resources.
Therefore, a washing machine with integrated sink is provided as shown in the
China patent CN2832876Y, “washing machine with installed sink”, wherein this patent disclosed a sink mounted on the top opening of the spinning drum of the washing machine, wherein the sink is provided at a position adjacent to the top opening of the washing machine, so as to conveniently access the cloth therein. Another China patent, CN2464758Y “washing machine with sink”, also disclosed a front loaded washing machine with a sink mounted on the top thereof, wherein the sink and the washing machine are sharing the same water pipe for discharging the waste water to the sewer system. Apparently, those structures combined the sink and washing machine enables to efficiently utilize the spaces, so as to increase the unoccupied indoor living area.
However, those structures combined the two functions of the sink and washing machine, still have the following concerns. The first structure of combined sink and washing machine restricts each other and the water outlet pipe communicatively connected to the bottom of the sink decreases the rotational flexibility of the sink and easily damages the water outlet pipe. The second structure of the above combined skin and washing machine has a main concern that the sink is installed at a level that is too high to comfortably reach. Since the drum of the washing machine is rotating in a high rotational speed for centrifugally drying the washed wet cloth, in order to reduce the vibration from the high speed rotating drum, a shake buffering cylindrical member provided at the bottom of the washing machine and a thicken member provided at the outer drum at a position thereabove are provided for reducing the shake from the drum, so that the structure of the washing machine limits the height thereof, and the height of this type of washing machine is increasing along with the increase of the capacity of the washing machine. For example, the current smallest capacity of front loading washing machine (without drier function: XQG50-E700, with drier function: XQG50-HDB1000 having capacity of 5 kg) has a height of 850 millimeter. Most of the current sink has a depth between 130 millimeter and 180 millimeter, and the height of the water outlet at the bottom of the sink is able 60 millimeter, so that the height of the sink on the top of the washing machine is between 930 millimeter and 1030 millimeter, which is higher than the normal height of the sink for adults, 800 to 850 millimeter. The height of the sink for the non-adults or students may be even more inconvenient. Therefore, in order to overcome the over height of the sink installed at the washing machine, the manufacture may have to decrease the diameter of the drum to minimize the overall height of the washing machine. However, the decreased diameter of the drum also decreases the centrifugal force, so that it decreases the performance of washing machine. Furthermore, the front loaded washing machine is high in manufacturing cost and lower energy efficient in the same time unit compared to the wave wheel washing machine. According to the above reasons, the washing machine with the sink does not commonly exist in the current market.
In order to meet the requirement of the saving spaces, a front loaded washing machine with the high tech of combining the washing and drying functions is provided in the current market. Although this washing machine is able to reduce the required space for installing the dryer machine and washing machine, and convenient to use, the user is unable to wash and dry the cloth at the same time. Therefore, the user can not wash the cloth while drying the wet cloth at the same time. Under the same condition, it takes longer for washing and drying cloth with the front loaded washing machine with drier function. On the other hand, during the washing, dewatering, and drying processes of the front loaded washing machine with drier function for cleaning the cloth in the same cylindrical drum, the drying process for drying cloth via blowing hot air also has to remove the remaining water and non-drained water from the dewatering process, such as remaining water of the spin-drier of the dewatering process, so that each period of drying the cloth consumes relatively more time and energy, which is a main concern and disadvantage of this type of washing machine. The complicated structure of the front loaded washing machine itself with the additional drier function dramatically increases the manufacturing cost, so that the current high list price of the front loaded washing machine with the drier function higher is only affordable to the minority of the consumers.
The present invention is advantageous in that it provides an integrated multifunctional laundry cleaner machine having the advantages of small occupied area, low manufacturing cost, full functions, proper height, time saving in use, convenience, energy saving, and convenient installation, as an all-in-one cleaning apparatus.
According to the present invention, the foregoing and other objects and advantages are attained by providing integrated multifunctional laundry cleaner machine which comprises a cabinet, a washing basin supported by the cabinet, and a full automatic washing machine unit supported by the cabinet adjacent to the washing basin. The cabinet comprises a main water outlet pipe communicatively linking not only to a water drain hole and an overflow hole of the washing basin, but also to a water inlet of the washing machine unit. An enclosing frame is provided at the top portion of the cabinet, wherein a washer cover is pivotally coupled with the enclosing frame to cover a top opening of the washing machine unit. The washing machine unit further comprises a washing machine control panel provided at the enclosing frame for electrically controlling the operation of the washing machine unit, wherein a main water inlet provided at the enclosing frame for guiding water to the washing machine unit and the washing basin. A dryer machine unit is further supported by the cabinet at a position adjacent to the washing machine unit, wherein a dryer door is provided at a front side of the cabinet to cover a front opening of the dryer machine unit. The washing basin is supported by the enclosing frame at a position above the dryer machine unit.
A storage frame is further provided on top of the enclosing frame at the rear portion of the washing basin. A storage compartment (or storage drawer) is also provided at the cabinet at a location between the washing basin and the dryer machine unit. Therefore, the storage frame and the storage compartment further provide an add-on storage function of the laundry cleaner machine, such as for storing the laundry detergents or temporarily placing the washed cloth thereat.
Preferably, a water shield is further mounted at the front side of the cabinet at a position below the washing basin and above the dryer door. Therefore, the dryer machine control panel of the dryer machine unit is located at the front side of the cabinet at a location below the water shield. At least a water-sealed washing basin rim is upwardly protruded from the peripheral edge of the washing basin or provided at the enclosing frame to encircle the peripheral edge of the washing basin for preventing water draining to the dryer machine unit so as to further protect the electrical appliance or circuit of the laundry cleaner machine.
The dryer machine control panel of the dryer machine unit can be a discrete control panel for controlling the operation of the dryer machine unit. Preferably, the dryer machine control panel of the dryer machine unit is integrated with the washing machine control panel to form a main control panel for controlling the operations of the dryer machine unit and the washing machine unit.
A main water entering pipe of the cabinet is arranged for linking with the water inlet of the washing machine unit and the water inlet of the washing basin via the main water inlet, such that when the main water entering pipe is linked to a water source, both the washing machine unit and the washing basin will be automatically linked to the water source, so as to simplify the structure of the water pipeline of the laundry cleaner machine and to minimize the installation cost thereof
The washing basin can be a single integrated body by sheet forming or stamping forming of stainless sheet or by mold injecting of plastic material. Accordingly, a multi-layered basin can be formed that an outer layer of the washing basin can be made by sheet forming or stamping forming of stainless sheet or by mold injecting of plastic material. An inner layer of the washing basin can be made of stainless steel, ceramic, or glass to form a water protection layer. The inner layer is overlapped and sealed within the outer layer via sealing element and screw-nut configuration to retain the inner and outer layers in position. Preferably, the enclosing frame and the washing basin are integrally formed as a one piece integrated body by sheet forming or stamping forming of stainless sheet or by mold injecting of plastic material, so that the integrated structure of the enclosing frame and the washing basin is able to further prevent the water leak therefrom, so as to enhance the safety of the laundry cleaner machine.
The multifunctional laundry cleaner machine further comprises a water heater apparatus for supplying hot water to the washing basin and the washing machine unit, wherein a cold water inlet of the water heater apparatus is communicatively connected to the main water inlet. A water heater control panel is provided at the enclosing frame to control the operation of the water heater apparatus. Preferably, the water heater control panel is integrated with the washing machine control panel to form a main control panel for controlling both operations of the water heater apparatus and the washing machine unit. Accordingly, the water heater apparatus is preferably an electrical instant water heater, wherein the control panel is adapted to selectively control the water heater apparatus in an on-and-off manner and to selectively adjust the water temperature of the water heater apparatus. Therefore, when the tap water enters into the water heater apparatus, the water heater apparatus will instantly heat up the water at the predetermined water temperature for supplying to the washing machine unit and the washing basin.
The washing machine unit, the dryer machine unit, and the water heater apparatus are electrically connected to the power source via a single power plug to minimize the needed sockets for the multifunctional laundry cleaner machine.
Compare the present invention to the existing arts, the present invention integrated the washing machine, dryer machine, and the washing basin into one laundry cleaner machine in the regulation of the national stander for electronic appliance has the following advantages. (1) The combined washer and dryer machine minimizes the size of the machine, so that it meets the expectation of the consumer of the minimized occupation, low cost, and multi-functions. The integrated washing basin is able to meet the high usage of the washing basin. (2) Separating the washing and drying functions of the cleaner machine is able to concurrently operate both washer and dryer machines, so as to efficiently minimize the required time for doing laundry and enhance the convenience and energy saving. (3) The integrated structure simplifies the installation process of the laundry cleaner machine, and minimizes the noise from the vibration thereof due to the larger contacting area between the laundry cleaner machine and the floor, so as to cost down the transportation cost. (4) The integrated structure is able to enhance the indoor aesthetic feeling thereof.
Additional advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the description which follows, and may be realized by the following description of the instrumentalities and combinations particular pointing out in the appended claims.
Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings.
These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.
Referring to
As shown in
In order to prevent the water being accidentally sprayed onto the dryer machine unit 4 and the dryer machine control panel 42 thereof, a water shield 12 may be further mounted at the front side of the cabinet 1 at a position below the washing basin 2 and above the dryer door 41. Therefore, the dryer machine control panel 42 of the dryer machine unit 4 is located at the front side of cabinet 1 at a location below the water shield 12. A water-sealed washing basin rim 51 may be further upwardly protruded from the peripheral edge of the washing basin 2 for preventing water draining to the dryer machine unit 4 so as to further protect the electrical appliance or circuit of the laundry cleaner machine.
Preferably, the enclosing frame 5 and the washing basin 2 are integrally formed as a one piece integrated body by sheet forming or stamping forming of stainless sheet or by mold injecting of plastic material, so that the integrated structure of the enclosing frame 5 and the washing basin 2 is able to further prevent the water leak therefrom, so as to enhance the safety of the laundry cleaner machine.
Referring to
A further modification of the integrated multifunctional laundry cleaner machine is further described as following. The laundry cleaner machine further combines the above mentioned control panels of the water heater apparatus 50, washing machine unit 3, and the dryer machine control panel 42 of the dryer machine unit 4 in one single main control panel 10 preferably located at the enclosing frame 5 as shown in
Accordingly, through the integrated multifunctional laundry cleaner machine, the user is able to use the washing basin 2, washing cloth through the washing machine unit 3, and drying cloth via the dryer machine unit 4 at the same time or individually. The hot water can be easily and efficiently obtained via the water heater apparatus 50. The dryer machine unit 4 is preferably located lower than the washing machine unit 3 and the washing machine unit 3 are able to be rearranged to form variety of highs or geometries of laundry cleaner machine for geometrically fitting into variety of spaces, so as to satisfy different consumer groups, such as students or consumers from different regions, so as to enhance the flexibility and practice of the laundry cleaner machine.
One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting.
It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200810059411.2 | Jan 2008 | CN | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/CN2009/000042 | 1/12/2009 | WO | 00 | 7/19/2010 |
