IP Library Granted Patent US 12,630,965
Granted Patent B2
US 12,630,965 · App. 17/912,326 · Granted May 19, 2026

Clothing treatment apparatus

Inventors: Junyi Heo (Seoul, KR); Bohyun Nam (Seoul, KR); Donghwan Lee (Seoul, KR); Wonjun Lee (Seoul, KR); Seonkyu Kim (Seoul, KR)
Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
D06F58/12D06F2105/30D06F2105/40
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,630,965
App. No.
17/912,326
Granted
May 19, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a clothing treatment apparatus comprising: a cabinet having an insertion hole formed in one side thereof; a first chamber positioned inside the cabinet so as to accommodate clothing; and a dividing part for dividing the first chamber into at least one space so that the space of the first chamber may be efficiently divided and used, wherein the dividing part is movable so that the size of the plurality of spaces may be adjusted.

Claims (67)

1 . A laundry treating apparatus comprising:

a cabinet defining an inlet;

a main door configured to rotate to open and close the inlet;

a first chamber positioned inside the cabinet so as to accommodate therein laundry through the inlet;

a first chamber top surface that defines a top surface of the first chamber;

a second chamber positioned inside the cabinet at a lower portion of the cabinet and defining a space separated from the first chamber;

a dividing portion located inside the first chamber and extending in a first direction and a second direction, the dividing portion dividing the first chamber into one or more accommodation spaces, the first direction extending along a height of the cabinet, and the second direction extending along a depth of the cabinet; and

a driver configured to (i) move the dividing portion along a third direction corresponding to a width direction of the cabinet and (ii) move a hanger into or out of the first chamber based on a movement of the dividing portion.

2 . The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the dividing portion includes a dividing wall, the dividing wall including a flat plate extending in the first direction and the second direction and dividing the first chamber into the one or more accommodation spaces.

3 . The laundry treating apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the main door includes a main door inner surface located at a side of the main door that faces the inlet,

wherein the dividing portion further includes a front gasket disposed at a front surface of the dividing wall and configured to contact the main door inner surface based on the main door being closed.

4 . The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first chamber includes: a first surface and a second surface that define a bottom surface of the first chamber, and an extended surface that connects the first surface to the second surface,

wherein the first surface is vertically higher than the second surface.

5 . The laundry treating apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the second chamber is located beneath the first surface.

6 . The laundry treating apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the dividing portion is configured to move at the first surface.

7 . The laundry treating apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising:

a first bottom cover positioned at the first surface and configured to protect the first surface; and

a second bottom cover positioned at the second surface and configured to protect the second surface,

wherein the dividing portion is located between the first bottom cover and the first chamber top surface.

8 . The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a top panel that defines a top surface of the cabinet,

wherein the driver includes:

a moving motor positioned between the first chamber top surface and the top panel and configured to generate a rotational force to rotate a moving motor rotation shaft,

a moving gear connected to the moving motor rotation shaft and configured to transmit the rotational force of the moving motor,

a movement guide configured to change a rotation of the moving gear into a motion along the third direction, and

a moving member coupled to the dividing portion and configured to move the dividing portion along the third direction.

9 . The laundry treating apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising:

a hanger assembly including a plurality of hangers configured to mount the laundry accommodated in the first chamber,

wherein the first chamber top surface further includes:

a plurality of cutout holes defined through the first chamber top surface, wherein the plurality of hangers are configured to be respectively inserted into the plurality of cutout holes, and

wherein the moving member includes a plate-shaped hanger cover configured to partially cover one of the plurality of cutout holes based on the dividing portion moving and being positioned at the one of the plurality of cutout holes.

10 . The laundry treating apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising:

a first side panel and a second side panel that define opposite side surfaces of the cabinet; and

a first support frame and a second support frame that are positioned between the top panel and the first chamber top surface and extend in the third direction, the first and second support frames being coupled with the first side panel and the second side panel, respectively,

wherein the first support frame is located closer to the inlet than the second support frame, and

wherein the movement guide includes:

a first movement guide and a second movement guide that are supported by the first support frame and the second support frame, respectively, and configured to move the moving member,

a first transfer guide connected to the moving gear and the first movement guide and configured to transmit the rotational force of the moving motor, and

a second transfer guide connected to the moving gear and the second movement guide and configured to transmit the rotational force of the moving motor.

11 . The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a top panel that defines a top surface of the cabinet;

a plurality of cutout holes defined through the first chamber top surface; and

a hanger assembly including a plurality of hangers, wherein each of the plurality of hangers is configured to be inserted into each of the plurality of cutout holes and located partially inside the first chamber to thereby mount the laundry thereon.

12 . The laundry treating apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the hanger assembly further includes:

a hanger support frame located between the top panel and the first chamber top surface and coupled to the plurality of hangers,

wherein each of the plurality of hangers includes:

a hanger support body having a first end coupled to the hanger support frame, and an opposite second end corresponding to each of the plurality of cutout holes, wherein the hanger support body is positioned inside the first chamber via each of the plurality of cutout holes, and

a hanger hook located closer to the second end than the first end of the hanger support body and coupled to each of opposite side surfaces of the hanger support body to thereby accommodate therein a clothes hanger hanging the laundry thereon.

13 . The laundry treating apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising:

a hanger arranging portion positioned between the first chamber top surface and the top panel and configured to move one or more of the plurality of hangers into or out of the first chamber based on movement of the dividing portion,

wherein as the dividing portion moves, the one or more of the plurality of hangers are configured to, based on the movement of the dividing portion, move to be located above or below the first chamber top surface through respective cutout holes that receive the one or more of the plurality of hangers by the hanger arranging portion.

14 . The laundry treating apparatus of claim 4 , further comprising:

a blower unit positioned inside the second chamber and configured to circulate air in the first chamber;

a first air suction hole defined at the first surface and being in communication with the second chamber to suction air inside the first chamber;

a second air suction hole defined at the extended surface or the second surface and being in communication with the second chamber to suction air inside the first chamber;

a first air supply hole defined at the first surface and being in communication with the second chamber to suction air inside the first chamber; and

a second air supply hole defined at the extended surface or the second surface and being in communication with the second chamber to suction air inside the first chamber.

15 . The laundry treating apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising:

a steam unit located inside the second chamber and configured to generate steam and supply steam into the first chamber;

a first steam supply port located at the first surface and being in communication with the second chamber to supply steam generated from the steam unit into the first chamber; and

a second steam supply port located at the extended surface or the second surface and being in communication with the second chamber to supply steam generated from the steam unit into the first chamber.

16 . The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first chamber includes a first chamber bottom surface that defines a bottom surface of the first chamber, and

wherein the first chamber bottom surface is stepped along the third direction.

17 . The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the driver is configured to, based on the movement of the dividing portion, move the hanger out of the first chamber.

18 . The laundry treating apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the driver is configured to move the hanger into the first chamber based on the movement of the dividing portion.

19 . The laundry treating apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the hanger includes a plurality of hangers,

wherein the driver is configured to, based on the movement of the dividing portion, move at least one of the plurality of hangers out of the first chamber.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 22, 2022
From: HEO, JUNYI; NAM, BOHYUN; LEE, DONGHWAN; LEE, WONJUN; KIM, SEONKYU
To: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
Reel/Frame 061185/0302 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2021-0034678 · Mar 17, 2021 · national
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62991080 · Mar 18, 2020
Related Publication 20230145586A1 · May 11, 2023
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