And Supporting, Driving, Sealing, Or Bearing Means For Drum Patents (Class 34/601)
  • Patent number: 11396724
    Abstract: A bearing assembly capable of supporting a shaft of a drum and a clothes dryer having the same. The bearing assembly includes a bearing configured to rotatably support the shaft, and a centering guide formed in an annular shape and in which the bearing is installed, and the bearing assembly having a centering function may be simply manufactured using a bearing that is generally used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seung Wan Yoo, Sam Young Jang, Han Kyu Choi
  • Patent number: 11359330
    Abstract: A method of controlling the clothes dryer includes offering one or more preset dryness levels that may be selected using a programmable dryness level selector to establish a drying cycle. Each of the preset dryness levels may correspond to a stored remaining moisture content. The method additionally includes sensing a remaining moisture content of a load of fabric in the clothes dryer and displaying the remaining moisture content of the load of fabric to a user. The method further includes automatically stopping the clothes dryer using a controller configured to determine when the remaining moisture content of the load of fabric reaches the selected preset dryness level. The one or more preset dryness levels may be customizable by saving a target remaining moisture content for each preset dryness level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Adkins, Alexander Halbleib
  • Patent number: 10988893
    Abstract: A dryer appliance including a slide bearing assembly mounted to a top bearing for supporting a rotating drum and including a wear indication device is provided. The slide bearing assembly includes a contact circuit including two electrical leads positioned on a top bearing of the dryer appliance. A slide bearing is positioned over the contact circuit for supporting a drum during rotation and maintaining an open circuit between the two electrical leads. A controller monitors the resistance across the two electrical leads, determines that a slide bearing failure has occurred when the resistance drops (e.g., due to worn slide bearings), and notifies the user accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexis Christina Taylor, Brad Herschler
  • Patent number: 10858773
    Abstract: Washing machine (1) for the washing of laundry such as clothes and textiles, which washing machine comprises a housing (1a), wherein the housing (1a) comprises: an inlet (4), for supplying washing water, an outlet (5), for disposal of washing water, a pump (6), for pumping the washing water, wherein the housing (1a) comprises one, or a plurality of washing drawers (2), each washing drawer (2) having a pair of conduits (4a, 5a) for fluid tight connection of a respective flexible washing compartment (10) for washing laundry and arranged in the washing drawer (2)), wherein each drawer (2) of the housing (1a) is arranged to lead water from the inlet (4) of the housing (1a) via conduit (4a) to the respective washing compartment (10) arranged therein and, by means of the pump (6) and conduit (5a), to pump air and water out from the respective flexible washing compartment (10) in order to create a pressure difference inside the washing compartment (10) with respect to the surrounding pressure and by that emptying th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Roderinno AB
    Inventor: Fredrik Magnusson
  • Patent number: 10480117
    Abstract: A fluid flow system for a laundry appliance includes a blower that delivers process air along an airflow path having a heat exchanger. A drain channel receives condensate from the heat exchanger and fluid spray from a spray nozzle for directing lint particles to the drain channel and on to a sump for collecting fluid, including the condensate. A pump seat and a fluid outlet are integrally formed in a sump cover. A pump directs the fluid from the sump to the fluid outlet. A fluid level sensor detects at least minimum and maximum capacities of the fluid in the sump. When the fluid is below the minimum capacity, the pump defines an idle state. When the fluid reaches the minimum capacity, the pump defines an active state. When the fluid exceeds the maximum capacity, the pump directs the fluid to the fluid outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Gianluca Bocchino, Roy E. Masters, Arun Rajendran
  • Patent number: 10301758
    Abstract: A wall-mounted drum-type washing machine includes a rear panel mounted on a wall surface; a tub containing wash water, supported by the rear panel; a front panel on the tub; a box unit on the rear panel, surrounding the tub and having a connection hole in a front side thereof; a cover unit in the connection hole; and an elastic assembly unit connecting the box unit and the rear panel, generating an elastic force between the cover unit and the box unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: DONGBU DAEWOO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ui Kun Hwang
  • Patent number: 10066336
    Abstract: An apparatus for sealing the drum of a clothes dryer comprising an attachment with a recess sized to receive the lip of a dryer drum to mount the seal about the lip and a seal element abutting a corresponding front or rear bulkhead wherein the length of the seal is such that when in place there remains an intervening gap in which a spacer capable of changing shape is located allowing the seal to expand and contract with thermal variations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel A. Schurr
  • Patent number: 9777420
    Abstract: A washing machine appliance including a cabinet, a tub positioned within the cabinet, and a basket rotatably mounted within the tub is provided. The cabinet defines an opening at a top end to allow a user to access the basket. A lid assembly is positioned over the opening of the cabinet and includes a perimeter frame, a pair of hinge brackets positioned at least partially in the perimeter frame, and a transparent panel attached directly to the hinge brackets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Ian Nash, Sukalay Muniraj
  • Patent number: 9359715
    Abstract: A control method of a laundry treatment apparatus, the control method including a drying operation with a circulation process for resupplying air discharged from a tub back into the tub, an exhaust process for discharging some of the air supplied into the tub, a suction process for supplying air outside of the tub into air circulated via the circulation process, and a heating process for heating the air to be supplied into the tub. Furthermore, the control method may include a motion execution operation for rotating a drum based on first motion during implementation of the drying operation, the drum being rotatably mounted in the tub and storing laundry therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: LG ELECTORNICS INC.
    Inventors: Taewan Kim, Gilnam Lee, Sanghee Yoo, Kwanghyun Kim
  • Patent number: 9316440
    Abstract: A laundry treatment apparatus includes a drum rotatably supported within a cabinet and configured to receive laundry therein, a connection duct into which air inside the drum is discharged, and a discharge duct that extends in a longitudinal direction of the drum and that is connected to the connection duct. The laundry treatment apparatus also includes a filter assembly including a filter unit located in the discharge duct to filter air and an impurity remover unit configured to remove and compress impurities remaining on the filter unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jeongyun Kim, Sangik Lee
  • Patent number: 9133575
    Abstract: A washing machine and a control method therefore are disclosed. The washing machine includes a cabinet (10); a tub (100) fixed to the cabinet (10); a drum (300) rotatably provided in the tub (100); a dry duct (20) which heats air exhausted from the tub (100) a predetermined temperature, to re-supply the heated air to the tub (100); condensation unit (170) which condenses moisture on at least a predetermined area of an inner circumferential surface of the tub (100) by heat-exchanging external air of the cabinet (10) with at least predetermined area of an outer circumferential surface of the tub (100); and sensing unit (410) which senses the amount of condensate generated in the tub (100). A washing machine and a control method thereof are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Sangwook Hong
  • Patent number: 8984767
    Abstract: A laundry drying unit includes a process air circuit and a component arranged in the process air circuit. Provided above the component is a washing tank for dispensing a cleaning fluid, with a flow of cleaning fluid dispensed from the washing tank to the component being controlled by a controllable valve. The valve can be controlled on the basis of an amount of cleaning fluid in the washing tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Grunert, Guido Sattler
  • Patent number: 8973286
    Abstract: Dryers and methods of using dryers are described herein. The dryer includes a housing, a drying chamber disposed within the housing, and a heating element. The dryer further includes an intake configured to supply intake air to the drying chamber. The dryer includes an exhaust configured to vent exhaust air out of the drying chamber. The dryer includes a pump coupled to the housing. The dryer further includes an energy recovery system coupled to the housing. The pump is configured to reduce the air pressure within the drying chamber. The energy recovery system includes a heat transfer fluid and is configured to use the heat transfer fluid to transfer thermal energy from the exhaust air to the drying chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Elwha LLC
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Thomas A. Weaver, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8936330
    Abstract: A laundry treating apparatus is provided that includes a cabinet configured to define a profile thereof, the cabinet including a laundry introduction opening formed therein, a door configured to open and close the laundry introduction opening, a hinge including a first pivot to rotate the door along a first rotational direction and a second pivot to rotate the door along a second rotational direction that is different from the first rotational direction, a guide part installed in the cabinet having a guide groove recessed a predetermined depth therein, and a connection part installed in the door, the connection part including a guide projection received in the guide groove of which a moving path is guided, and an opening angle of the opening being variable based on positions of the guide projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Kihyuk Kim, Seunghyun Song, Minjung You, Yongcheol Jin, Eunyoung Jee, Hongjun Cho, Sanghun Bae, Donghyun Kim
  • Publication number: 20140250719
    Abstract: A dryer appliance is provided. The dryer appliance includes a cabinet and a drum mounted therein. The dryer appliance also includes a heating assembly. A duct extends between the heating assembly and an opening defined by a back wall of the drum. A seal is positioned at the opening of the back wall and extends between the duct and the back wall of the drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Ionelia Silvia Prajescu, Richard Dustin Henderson, Phillip John Duckworth
  • Patent number: 8800165
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a laundry machine having a drying function for drying an object to be dried, especially clothes. In the laundry machine according to one embodiment of the present invention, lint and the like that may be contained in the hot air are removed by the filter, whereby the lint and the like can be prevented from being piled on the duct. Also, the filter is placed in a way that it is exposed into the tub, whereby the filter can be cleaned automatically while it is being driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Ig Geun Kwon, Sangwook Hong, Youngsuk Kim, Hyunseok Seo
  • Patent number: 8776394
    Abstract: A blower for supplying and exiting the air to and from a treating chamber of a clothes dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Catauro, Mark J. Christensen, Steven P. Lentz, Roy E. Masters
  • Patent number: 8756829
    Abstract: A roller assembly for a laundry treating appliance, such as a clothes dryer, may have an axle, a wheel having a hub defining an axle opening, a tire coupled with the wheel and having an outer surface in contact with the drum, and a lubricant reservoir configured to communicate with the axle opening such that lubricant in the reservoir may lubricate the axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Joli A. Lorion-Fytczyk, Dengke Shen
  • Patent number: 8732979
    Abstract: A laundry treating appliance and a method for operating the appliance to supply air into a treating chamber through an air inlet and controlling the supplied air by varying the effective area of the air inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Farhad Ashrafzadeh, Michael T. Dalton, Layne E. Heilman
  • Patent number: 8667702
    Abstract: A domestic appliance includes an open air duct and a flow cross-section adjuster in the air duct for adjusting a flow cross-section of the air duct. The flow cross-section adjuster includes rotatably mounted blades for noise dampening purpose. The air duct and the flow cross-section adjuster are in a cooling air inflow region relative to a heat exchanger or a compressor of the domestic appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerate GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Ediger, Thomas Nawrot, Werner Nühse
  • Patent number: 8667705
    Abstract: A clothes dryer having a lint cleaning device to collect and store lint generated during drying through a simple structure. The lint cleaning device, including a filter, a rectilinear blade performing a rectilinear motion to collect lint, and a rotary blade performing a rotary motion interlocking with the rectilinear motion of the rectilinear blade to collect lint, collects lint at a spot and stores the collected lint in a compressed state. The lint cleaning device is used for a long time without replacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang Bong Shin, Sung Jin Park, Jin Wook Yoon
  • Patent number: 8627580
    Abstract: A dryer is provided. The dryer may include a main body having an inner space formed therein, a fixed drum provided in the inner space of the main body, and a tumbling device coupled to the drum. The fixed drum may have a non-circular cross-section as it is rotated. The tumbling device may tumble laundry items received in the fixed drum as it slides along an inner circumferential surface of the fixed drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sungmin Kim, Jongseok Kim, Daeyun Park, Sogkie Hong
  • Patent number: 8615897
    Abstract: A drying device has been developed having a single electric motor configured to drive a drum and directly drive an air blower. The single electric motor is a non-line frequency electric motor. The drum is coupled to a support frame to enable rotation of the drum relative the support frame. The drum has an interior space for holding a load of articles, such as clothing. The motor includes a controller configured to increase gradually the angular velocity of the drum to provide a “soft start” for the dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Robert E. Wehrheim, Keith I. Hoemann, Gregory A. Peterson, L. Ranney Dohogne, Marshall J. Huggins, Gregory M. Levine
  • Patent number: 8572865
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a mechanical refrigeration cycle arrangement having a working fluid and an evaporator, a condenser, a compressor, and an expansion device, cooperatively interconnected and containing the working fluid. The apparatus also includes a sensor located to sense at least one parameter, a controller coupled to said sensor and said compressor, a drum to receive clothes to be dried, wherein a rear portion of the drum is equipped with multiple perforations, and a perimeter portion of the drum is equipped with multiple perforations, and a duct and fan arrangement configured to pass air over said condenser and through said drum, wherein the duct and fan arrangement is configured to facilitate airflow through the perforations on the rear portion of the drum into the drum, and out of the drum through the perforations on the perimeter portion of the drum to enable an increased airflow without an increased power input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Beers, Nicholas Okruch, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8567090
    Abstract: Humid waste air is produced in heated laundry machines. This humid waste air has a still relatively high temperature. In order for the energy contained in the humid waste air to be recovered, at least in part, the humid waste air is directed through a heat exchanger (12). Condensate is produced in the heat exchanger (12), and it has proven difficult, in the case of known heat exchangers (12), for this condensate to be directed away. Moreover, the humid waste air contains accompanying substances, for example fluff from the treated laundry. These accompanying substances are deposited in known heat exchangers (12), which adversely affect the efficiency of the heat exchanger (12) over time. The invention makes provision for the heat exchanger (12) to be equipped with upright heat-exchanger plates (13), from which the condensate can run off. The condensate can then be discharged in a specific manner out of the heat exchanger (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Herbert Kannegiesser GmbH
    Inventors: Wilhelm Bringewatt, Engelbert Heinz
  • Patent number: 8555681
    Abstract: A door of a washer and/or a dryer, the door including a frame to hinge the door to a machine housing of the washer and/or dryer, an inspection glass, and a cover for the inspection glass, wherein the cover has two essentially opposite main sides and an outer circumferential zone. Smooth conical surfaces of the cover and of the frame are in contact with one another to hold the cover in the frame, and the circumferential zone tapers in an area of a contact surface towards the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Angel Caudevilla De sola, Elena Cortes Perez, Carlos Lopez Palacios, Alberto Romeo Carnicero
  • Patent number: 8544188
    Abstract: A dryer is provided. The dryer may include a main body having an inner space formed therein, a support body arranged in the main body so as to form a frame of the main body, a flexible drum rotatably installed on the support body so as to have a non-circular cross-section as it is rotated, and rotation guides arranged between the support body and the flexible drum so as to guide rotation of the flexible drum. A distance from a center of rotation of an inscribed circle contacting the inner circumferential surface of the flexible drum to one random point on the inner circumferential surface of the flexible drum is greater than a distance from the center of rotation of the inscribed circle to another point on the inscribed circle such that the drum maintains a non-circular cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sungmin Kim, Jongseok Kim, Daeyun Park, Sogkie Hong
  • Patent number: 8528231
    Abstract: A dryer is provided. The dryer may include a main body having an inner space formed therein, a support body arranged in the main body so as to form a frame of the main body, a flexible drum rotatably installed on the support body so as to have a non-circular cross-section as it is rotated, and rotation guides arranged between the support body and the flexible drum so as to guide rotation of the flexible drum. A distance from a center of rotation of an inscribed circle contacting the inner circumferential surface of the flexible drum to one random point on the inner circumferential surface of the flexible drum is greater than a distance from the center of rotation of the inscribed circle to another point on the inscribed circle such that the drum maintains a non-circular cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sungmin Kim, Jongseok Kim, Daeyun Park, Sogkie Hong
  • Patent number: 8528223
    Abstract: A laundry deflector apparatus is provided for a household appliance for handling items of laundry and the laundry deflector apparatus includes a deflector element that is wedge-shaped and has a flat edge in the direction of a first end on the side opposite a base side and a steep edge in the direction of a second end opposite the first end, on the side opposite the base side. The laundry deflector apparatus is undercut in sections on the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Alisch, Jaime Andia Laborda, Bernhard Heym, Rainer Jurmann
  • Patent number: 8516716
    Abstract: A circular sealing gasket can be interposed between a rear rim of a laundry dryer drum tubular body and a rear wall of the dryer casing. The laundry dryer may also comprise a substantially circular, basin-shaped lid or cover fixed to the rear wall, substantially coaxial to the tubular body, so as to form a cavity on the rear wall that communicates with a hot-air generator. A circular gasket-supporting collar may have a nominal diameter greater than that of the tubular body rear rim. The collar may be fixed to the periphery of the basin-shaped lid or cover and/or to the rear wall, coaxial to the tubular body. The circular sealing gasket can be force fitted into the gasket-supporting collar so as to come in abutment against a periphery of the basin-shaped lid or cover around the perimeter thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corporation, N.V.
    Inventors: Diego Dal Ben, Alessandro Vian
  • Patent number: 8484861
    Abstract: A clothes treating apparatus is disclosed. The clothes treating apparatus includes a cabinet defining a accommodating space for receiving clothes, an air supplying device for drying air circulating into the accommodating space, and a guide unit for guiding dry air generated by the air supplying device to be uniformly dispersed into the accommodating space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hye Yong Park, Jung Wook Moon, Seung Gyu Ryu, Chang Gyu Choi, Kwang Hee Lee
  • Patent number: 8468718
    Abstract: A home laundry drier (1) comprising an outer box casing (2) and, inside the casing, a laundry drying container (3) for housing the laundry to be dried, a hot-air generator (7) for circulating a stream of hot air inside said laundry drying container (3), and a steam generator (20) for feeding steam into said laundry drying container (3); the steam generator (20) comprising a steam-generating boiler (21) designed to receive water and convert it into a stream of low-pressure steam whose pressure is higher than external pressure, a steam injection nozzle (22) structured for projecting jets of low-pressure steam directly inside the laundry drying container (3), and a steam exhaust manifold (23) connecting the outlet of the steam-generating boiler (21) to the steam injection nozzle (22) for feeding the low-pressure steam produced by the steam-generating boiler (21) directly to said steam injection nozzle (22); the steam injection nozzle (22) being located over the steam-generating boiler (21), and said steam exhaus
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V.
    Inventors: Ugo Favret, Flavio Noviello
  • Patent number: 8418378
    Abstract: A condensation dryer is provided which has a heat pump in which a coolant circulates; a compressor; a temperature sensor to measure a temperature of the coolant; and a controller. The controller has a first comparator to compare the temperature of the coolant with an upper limiting temperature of the coolant; a switch to switch the compressor off if the temperature of the coolant is greater than or equal to the upper limiting temperature and to switch the compressor on after each compressor disconnection. A counter ascertains the number of occurrences at which the compressor is switched off. The counter is incremented by 1 each time the compressor is switched off. A second comparator compares the number of occurrences with a prespecified limiting number and evaluates the difference between the number of occurrences and the prespecified limiting number with respect to the presence of an impermissible operating state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Nawrot, Ulrich Nehring
  • Patent number: 8375596
    Abstract: A domestic appliance for drying laundry having a component around which process air flows. The component has a substrate made of metal and the substrate has a surface facing the process air. The surface carries a coating that prevents adhesion of foreign particles and the coating has a surface energy of no more than 40 mN/m. The surface has a section that is directly impinged by the process air and that is essentially completely covered by the coating. The component has edges in the section covered by the coating and each of the edges is essentially completely covered by the coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Grunert, Werner Nühse, Günter Steffens, Andreas Ziemann
  • Patent number: 8336227
    Abstract: A drum rotatably disposed within a cabinet, a door coupled to a front of the cabinet, a front supporter to support a side of the drum, and a fragrance storage and supply assembly disposed on the front supporter and comprising a receiving part that is rotatably installed within the cabinet. A cabinet defining an outer appearance of the laundry dryer, a drum rotatably installed in the cabinet, a door to open and close a laundry passage formed by an opening in the cabinet that is configured for passage of laundry into and out of the drum, a fragrance storage and supply assembly comprising a receiving assembly to receive liquid fragrance, a storage chamber, remote from the receiving part, to store the liquid fragrance, a mount fixed to the cabinet, a hinge, rotatably joining the mount and the receiving part, wherein the receiving part rotates about the hinge from a space within an interior of the laundry dryer to a space exterior to the laundry dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sang-Hun Bae, Min-Ji Kim, Ye-Ji Um, Myung-Shik Kim, Young-Soo Ha
  • Patent number: 8307567
    Abstract: A laundry machine includes a cabinet and a partition wall dividing an inner space of the cabinet into a first space for main laundry treatment and a second space for auxiliary laundry treatment. An air supply unit is provided outside of the second space and supplies a downward airflow into the second space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Dong Joo Han, Young Bok Son, Jae Yoen Lim, Ki Chul Cho
  • Patent number: 8296967
    Abstract: A present invention relates to a fabric treating apparatus including an inside cabinet which forms a treating chamber which the fabrics treated in, and a heating unit for supplying any one between hot wind and steam to the treating chamber, and a hanger rack disposed in the treating chamber, and a driving unit for generating rotary power outside the treating chamber and is disposed upper part of the inside cabinet, and a transmission unit for reciprocating the hanger rack by transmitting the rotary power of the driving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sung Min Kim, Sog Kie Hong, Dong Won Kim, Jong Seok Kim, Dae Yun Park, Hea Kyung Yoo
  • Patent number: 8276293
    Abstract: A laundry dryer includes a rotatable drum and an air delivery system. The air delivery system can include a reversible blower that provides air at a first flow rate when operated in a first direction and provides air at a second lower flow rate when operated in an opposite second direction. The drum can be a reversibly rotatable drum that is rotatable in a first and an opposite second direction, and the dryer can include a drive motor that both rotates the drum and operates the blower. Drum and blower reversal may be controlled to optimize drying efficiency and also reduce stress on the drive system. A moisture delivery system can provide moisture (e.g., water mist or steam) into the drum while air is being provided at the lower second flow rate, and during drum rotation (tumbling).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Paul Ricklefs, Brian Douglas Ripley, Brian James Kierzek, Ian Tomas Fitzgerald
  • Patent number: 8272145
    Abstract: A drying machine in which a rotary drum is stably supported is disclosed. The drying machine includes a cabinet; a drum rotatably installed in the cabinet for containing laundry to be dried; a first housing connected to the drum; a second housing connected to the first housing; first and second bearings respectively provided in the first and second housings; and a shaft supported by the first and second bearings, and rotatably connected to the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Myoung Kee Yoon
  • Patent number: 8266824
    Abstract: A condensation dryer is provided that includes a drying chamber for items to be dried, a process air circuit via which fan driven process air can be conducted across the items to be dried, and a heat pump circuit for alternately heating and cooling the process air. A secondary fluid circuit is provided between the process air circuit and the heat pump circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventor: Dietmar Steiner
  • Patent number: 8266816
    Abstract: Disclosed are a clothes dryer and a door thereof. The door includes a glass assembly provided with a door glass; and a door cover connected to the glass assembly. The door cover has a vertically symmetrical structure, and is rotated against the glass assembly and then connected to the glass assembly, when the opening and closing direction of the door is changed. Thereby, when the opening and closing direction of the door is changed, only the door cover is rotated, and thus the opening and closing direction of the door is easily changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyung Sub Lim
  • Patent number: 8261467
    Abstract: Disclosed are a liquid storage container and a clothes dryer having the same. The clothes dryer comprises: a body; a front supporter which forms a part of a front surface of the body, and configured to fix the drum; a door installed at the front supporter; a liquid storage container comprising a reservoir configured to store liquid therein, and an inlet unit through which liquid is introduced into the reservoir; and a remaining amount indicator configured to indicate a remaining amount of the liquid stored in the reservoir, wherein the remaining amount indicator is installed on a rear surface of the front supporter, and is exposed to the front surface of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Sang-Hun Bae, Min-Ji Kim, Ye-Ji Um, Myung-Shik Kim, Young-Soo Ha
  • Patent number: 8261466
    Abstract: An automatic clothes dryer having separately driven drum and blower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas A. Latack, James P. Carow, Christopher A. Jones, William L. Frantz
  • Patent number: 8256137
    Abstract: A home laundry drier (1) having a revolving drum (5) for housing the laundry to be dried, a hot-air generator (7) for circulating a stream of hot air inside the drum (5), and a steam generator (17) for feeding steam into the drum (5); the steam generator (17) having an electric boiler (18) designed to receive a given quantity of water and immediately convert it into a stream of low-pressure steam to be fed into the drum (5), a demineralized-water reservoir (20) located over and communicating with the electric boiler (18), and a lint filter (23) located upstream from the water reservoir (20); the water reservoir (20) receiving distilled water from the water canister (12) of the heat exchanger (10) of the hot-air generator (7) via a water drain circuit (13); and the laundry drier (1) also having a liquid level sensor (26) for determining when the water in the water reservoir (20) is below a given minimum level, and a central control unit (24) for determining whether the water reservoir (20) is in a given low-wa
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V.
    Inventors: Flavio Noviello, Gennaro Napolitano, Mirko Cenedese, Roberto Ragogna
  • Patent number: 8250777
    Abstract: A water supply device for a drying machine and a method for controlling the same are disclosed. The water supply device includes a common hose having one end connected to at least one water supply source, a drying machine water supply hose having one end connected to the common hose and the other end connected to a steam generator of the drying machine, and a washing machine water supply hose having one end connected to the common hose and the other end connected to a washing machine. With the provision of the water supply device, the drying machine has the effects of preventing wrinkles, creases, or the like from being generated in an object to be dried, such as clothes, and the like, or eliminating wrinkles, creases, or the like in clothes, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Young Soo Kim, Dae Bong Yang, Chul Jin Choi, Jung Yoo, Jae Hyuk Wi
  • Patent number: 8250778
    Abstract: A clothes dryer air intake system including a conduit having an outlet opening for connection to a clothes dryer and being positioned remote from the attic of a building. The conduit also has an inlet opening positioned within the attic of a building. A heater is connected to the conduit between the outlet opening and the inlet opening for warming air passing through the conduit. A thermostat detects the temperature of the air flowing through the conduit and energizes the heater in the event that the detected temperature is lower than a preset minimum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Inventor: Timothy M. Hodges
  • Patent number: 8245414
    Abstract: A dryer drawer system is provided comprising a generally multisided drying chamber having opposed side walls, a rear wall, and at least one access door, wherein the door is sealable to the chamber. The dryer drawer further comprises a heater for heating air circulating in the chamber and at least one fan for circulating air in the chamber. The multisided drying chamber includes an air inlet and an air outlet, a sensor for sensing the temperature of the air in the chamber, a first damper for selectively opening and closing the air inlet, a second damper for selectively opening and closing the air outlet, and a controller for controlling operation of the fan, the heater and the dampers. The controller is operative in a first operational mode to open the air inlet and the air outlet to provide air flow through the chamber and in a second operational mode to close the air inlet and the air outlet to provide a recirculating air flow within the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Eric K. Watson, Derek Lee Watkins, John K. Besore, Subhash Viswanathan Kollengode, Yogesh Kumar Allimalli, Sarah Lynn Kirchoff, Kyle Eden, David Scott Dunn, David D. Warmuth
  • Patent number: 8209880
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a dryer having a function of spraying steam onto laundry. The dryer includes a cabinet, a drum rotatably disposed inside the cabinet, an exhaust part communicating with the drum and provided with a ventilation fan, a drive unit rotating the drum and the ventilation fan; and a drive force transmission unit selectively transmitting a drive force from the drive unit to the ventilation fan. A method of controlling the dryer is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Chang Hoo Kim
  • Patent number: 8166669
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a laundry machine and a method for operating the same for removing wrinkles or the like from laundry by using high temperature and high humidity air instead of steam. The method for operating a laundry machine includes the steps of a course selecting step for selecting an operating course, and a high temperature and high humidity air supply step for supplying high temperature high humidity air to a drum from an air supply unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Seog Kyu Park, Kwang Cheol Park
  • Patent number: 8146265
    Abstract: A display device of a dryer, which can achieve the reliability of a function to display a clogging degree in the dryer, is disclosed. The display device includes a display unit for displaying a clogging degree of an air passage through at least one level indicator, and a controller for controlling the display unit when power is supplied, such that the level indicator flickers for a predetermined time, and then displays the clogging degree of the air passage. The display for the clogging degree of the air passage is executed, following the display of a normal operation state of the display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Chang Hun Oh, Seon Il Heo, Yang Hwan Kim, Yeong Sik Choi, Seog Ho Ko, Ju Han Yoon