Clothing treatment device

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a clothing treatment device which comprises: a cabinet; an inner case provided inside the cabinet to provide an accommodation space in which clothing is accommodated; and a space partition unit provided inside the inner case so as to be movable in a direction parallel to the bottom surface of the inner case such that the accommodation space is selectively separated or connected.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a laundry treating apparatus. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a laundry treating apparatus capable of intensively treating small laundry.[Background]

[0002] In general, a laundry treating apparatus is a concept including a washing machine that moistens laundry into wet laundry and removes foreign substances via a chemical action of a detergent and a physical action such as drum rotation, and a dryer that dries the wet laundry using hot air and steam.

[0003] However, in recent years, a laundry care apparatus that keeps the laundry fresh and clean without wetting the dry laundry in water has emerged. Such a laundry care apparatus is able to perform a refreshing cycle of deodorizing, drying, or sterilizing the laundry by supplying steam or hot air in a state in which the laundry is hung.

[0004] Such a laundry care apparatus is able to selectively add a scent to the laundry, and in recent years, it has taken up an important portion of the laundry treating apparatuses in addition to the washing machines and the dryers.

[0005] Referring to Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2020-0057545, the existing laundry treating apparatus includes a cabinet forming an outer appearance of the apparatus, and an inner casing disposed inside the cabinet and in which the laundry is hung.

[0006] The laundry treating apparatus may include, under the inner casing, a circulation duct that circulates air in the inner casing, a heat exchanger that is disposed in the circulation duct and exchanges heat with the air, and a compressor that supplies a high-temperature refrigerant to the heat exchanger. When the compressor is operated, hot air may be supplied to the inner casing, so that a temperature inside the inner casing may be increased and the laundry may be dried or sterilized.

[0007] In one example, the existing laundry treating apparatus includes a rack on which small laundry such as a doll, a hat, shoes, and the like may be mounted inside the inner casing.

[0008] Because hot air or steam is unnecessarily supplied to an upper space inside the inner casing to treat the small laundry mounted on the rack, efficiency is deteriorated.

[0009] Therefore, there is a need to provide a laundry treating apparatus capable of intensively supplying hot air or steam only to the small laundry.

[0010] To this end, there is a need to provide a laundry treating apparatus capable of separating a space in which the small laundry is mounted.[Summary][Technical Problem]

[0011] The present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus for intensively treating small laundry such as shoes and a hat mounted in a partial space in an inner casing.

[0012] The present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus for reducing a volume of a space to which hot air or steam is supplied by forming a partition in an inner casing.

[0013] The present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus for increasing energy efficiency by supplying steam or hot air only to a partial space in an inner casing.

[0014] The present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus in which a user may selectively form a partition in an inner casing.

[0015] The present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus in which a volume of a space to which hot air or steam is supplied in an inner casing may be selectively changed by a user.[Technical Solutions]

[0016] To solve the above-described problems, the present disclosure provides a laundry treating apparatus including a cabinet, an inner casing disposed in the cabinet and providing an accommodation space where laundry is accommodated, and a space partitioner disposed inside the inner casing to be movable in a direction parallel to a bottom surface of the inner casing for selective partitioning or communication of the accommodation space.

[0017] The laundry treating apparatus may further include a machine room in communication with the inner casing, wherein the machine room includes a heater that generates steam supplied to the inner casing and a compressor that generates hot air supplied to the inner casing, and a through-hole defined to extend through the inner casing so as to be in communication with the machine room, wherein the through-hole is constructed to introduce hot air and steam generated in the machine room into the inner casing, and the space partitioner may include a film membrane that is withdrawable in the direction parallel to the bottom surface of the inner casing and blocks a flow of hot air or steam discharged from the through-hole.

[0018] The film membrane may be disposed between a first space where the through-hole is defined and a second space, a remaining portion of the accommodation space excluding the first space, and block or guide the flow of hot air or steam introduced into the inner casing from the first space to the second space.

[0019] According to an embodiment, the laundry treating apparatus may further include a support rack disposed in the inner casing upward of the bottom surface of the inner casing, and the space partitioner may be withdrawable from the support rack in the direction parallel to the bottom surface of the inner casing.

[0020] The space partitioner may include a film membrane accommodated in one side of the support rack and withdrawable in the direction parallel to the bottom surface of the inner casing, and a protruding fixer coupled to the film membrane so as to protrude therefrom and fixed to the other side of the support rack.

[0021] The support rack may include a support body disposed inside the inner casing and constructed to accommodate the film membrane therein, and an expansion portion withdrawable from the support body in a direction opposite to a withdrawal direction of the film membrane, and the protruding fixer may be fixed to the withdrawn expansion portion.

[0022] The expansion portion may further include an expansion body withdrawn from the support body, and a partitioner fixer disposed on the expansion body to fix the protruding fixer.

[0023] The support body may be spaced apart from an inner surface of the inner casing, and the expansion portion may be constructed to be withdrawn from the support body and be in contact with an inner surface of the inner casing.

[0024] The laundry treating apparatus may further include a mounting rack disposed in the inner casing to be in parallel with the bottom surface of the inner casing and constructed to mount an article thereon, and the support rack may be installed to be spaced upwardly apart from the mounting rack.

[0025] The laundry treating apparatus may further include a support leg withdrawable from the support body and constructed to connect the support rack with the mounting rack.

[0026] The support leg may include a leg body connected to the support body and mountable on the mounting rack, and a leg hinge rotatably disposed at one side of the leg body to allow the support leg to be withdrawn downward from the support body.

[0027] The support leg may include a leg hook formed in a ring shape and disposed at a side opposite to said one side of the leg body, wherein the leg hook is constructed to be coupled to the mounting rack.

[0028] The laundry treating apparatus may further include a storage hanger protruding from an inner surface of the inner casing and where the support rack is seated.

[0029] According to an embodiment, the space partitioner may be withdrawable from one surface of the inner casing in the direction parallel to the bottom surface of the inner casing.

[0030] The laundry treating apparatus may further include a partitioner accommodating portion disposed on said one surface of the inner casing and constructed to accommodate the space partitioner therein.

[0031] The laundry treating apparatus may further include a first holder disposed on said one surface of the inner casing and constructed to fix the partitioner accommodating portion, and a second holder disposed to face the first holder and constructed to fix the space partitioner withdrawn from the partitioner portion accommodating portion.

[0032] The first holder may include a plurality of first holders, wherein the plurality of first holders may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other in a height direction of the inner casing to fix the partitioner accommodating portions at different vertical levels.

[0033] According to an embodiment, provided is a rack including a support body including both side surfaces, and a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface connecting respective ends of said both side surfaces to each other, wherein an article is seated on the support body, a ventilation hole defined to extend through at least a portion of the support body and allowing a fluid to pass therethrough, and a space partitioner withdrawable from one of said both side surfaces, the first surface, and the second surface to selectively shield the ventilation hole.

[0034] The space partitioner may include a film membrane withdrawn from one of said both side surfaces, the first surface, and the second surface and fixed to another of said both side surface, the first surface, and the second surface to shield the ventilation hole.

[0035] The film membrane may be withdrawn from one of said both side surfaces and fixed to the other of said both side surfaces.

[0036] The film membrane may be withdrawable from one of the first surface and the second surface and fixed to the other of the first surface and the second surface.

[0037] The rack may further include an expansion portion withdrawable from one of said both side surfaces, the first surface, and the second surface, and the withdrawn film membrane may be fixed to the withdrawn expansion portion.

[0038] The support body may include first frames forming said both side surfaces, and second frames connecting respective ends of the first frames to each other and forming the first surface and the second surface, the first frames and the second frames may form a quadrangular cross-section, and the ventilation hole may include a plurality of ventilation holes arranged inward of the first frames and the second frames so as to be spaced apart from each other.[Advantageous Effects]

[0039] The present disclosure may intensively treat the small laundry such as the shoes and the hat mounted in the partial space in the inner casing.

[0040] The present disclosure may reduce the volume of the space to which hot air or steam is supplied by forming the partition in the inner casing.

[0041] The present disclosure may increase the energy efficiency by supplying steam or hot air only to the partial space in the inner casing.

[0042] The present disclosure may enable the user to selectively form the partition in the inner casing.

[0043] The present disclosure may enable the user to selectively change the volume of the space to which hot air or steam is supplied in the inner casing.[Brief Description of the Drawings]

[0044] FIG. 1 illustrates an outer appearance of a laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure. FIG. 2 illustrates a lower portion of an inner casing of a laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure. FIG. 3 illustrates a structure of a machine room of a laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a machine room base structure of a laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure. FIG. 5 illustrates a circulation duct structure of a laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure. FIG. 6 illustrates a shape of a circulation duct of a laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the circulation duct. FIG. 8 illustrates a structure of the air outlet 323 of a laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure. FIG. 9 illustrates a structure of a base cover of a laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure. FIG. 10 illustrates a structure of an outside air duct. FIG. 11 illustrates a flow of air flowing through the circulation duct. FIG. 12 illustrates an installation structure of a steam supplier. FIG. 13 illustrates a detailed structure of the steam supplier. FIG. 14 illustrates an embodiment of a space partitioner of a laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure. FIG. 15 illustrates a structure of a support rack having a space partitioner. FIG. 16 illustrates the support rack installed on a mounting rack. FIG. 17 illustrates an installation structure of the support rack. FIG. 18 is a view illustrating the inside of an inner casing of a laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure. FIG. 19 illustrates another embodiment of a space partitioner of a laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure. FIG. 20 illustrates a structure of a storage holder of a laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure. FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view of the space partitioner and the additional rack installed inside the inner casing. [Best Mode]

[0045] Hereinafter, embodiments disclosed herein will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. In the present document, the same or similar reference numerals are assigned to the same or similar components even in different embodiments, and a description thereof is replaced with the first description. As used herein, singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Additionally, in describing the embodiments disclosed herein, when it is determined that detailed descriptions of related known technologies may obscure the gist of the embodiments disclosed herein, the detailed descriptions will be omitted. In addition, it should be noted that the attached drawings are only for easy understanding of the embodiments disclosed herein and should not be construed as limiting the technical idea disclosed herein.

[0046] FIG. 1 illustrates an outer appearance of a laundry treating apparatus 1 according to the present disclosure.

[0047] Referring to (a) in FIG. 1, the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may include a cabinet 100 forming the outer appearance of the apparatus and a door 20 pivotably coupled to the cabinet 100.

[0048] The door 20 may include a main body 21 forming a front surface of the cabinet 100, and an installation body 22 extending from one side of the main body 21 and on which a display that displays information of the laundry treating apparatus may be installed.

[0049] The installation body 22 may be constructed to form a step 23 in a rearward direction of the cabinet 100 from the main body 21.

[0050] In one example, at least a portion of the installation body 22 may be disposed at the rear of the main body 21 so as to overlap the same in a front and rear direction. Accordingly, the step 23 may function as a handle.

[0051] The installation body 22 may be made of a different material from or have a different color from the main body 21. In addition, the installation body 22 may be made of a translucent material through which light emitted from the display may be transmitted.

[0052] Referring to (b) in FIG. 1, an inner casing 200 having an accommodation space 220 for accommodating laundry may be disposed inside the cabinet 100. The inner casing 200 may have an opening 210 through which the laundry enters and exits at a front side, and the opening 210 may be shielded by the door 20.

[0053] The inner casing 200 may be made of a plastic resin material, and may be made of a reinforced plastic resin material that does not deform even when exposed to air at a temperature higher than a room temperature or heated air (hereinafter, hot air) and steam or moisture.

[0054] The inner casing 200 may have a height greater than a width. As a result, the laundry may be accommodated in the accommodation space 220 without being folded or wrinkled.

[0055] The laundry treating apparatus 1 of the present disclosure may include a mounting portion 500 capable of hanging the laundry in the accommodation space 220 of the inner casing 200.

[0056] The mounting portion 500 may include a hanger 510 disposed on a top surface of the inner casing 200 to hang the laundry thereon.

[0057] When the laundry is hung on the hanger 510, the laundry may be disposed in a state of floating in air inside the accommodation space 220.

[0058] In one example, the mounting portion 500 may further include a pressurizer assembly 520 coupled to an inner surface of the door 20 to fix the laundry.

[0059] The hanger 510 may be formed in a bar shape disposed along a width direction of the inner casing 200 and support a clothes hanger on which the laundry is hung. In addition, as illustrated, the hanger 510 may be formed in a shape of the clothes hanger such that the laundry is directly hung thereon.

[0060] The laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may further include an excitation unit that vibrates the hanger 510 to remove foreign substances such as fine dust attached to the laundry.

[0061] The mounting portion 500 may include the pressurizer assembly 520 disposed on the door 20 to press and fix the laundry. The pressurizer assembly 520 may include a support 522 that is fixed to the inner surface of the door 20 and supports one surface of the laundry, and a pressurizer 521 that pressurizes the laundry supported by the support 522.

[0062] The pressurizer 521 may move toward or away from the support 522. For example, the pressurizer 521 may be pivotable with respect to the support 522 or the inner surface of the door 20.

[0063] Therefore, the pressurizer 521 and the support 522 may pressurize both surfaces of the laundry to remove wrinkles from the laundry and create intended creases.

[0064] The laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may have a machine room 300 in which various apparatuses to supply at least one of hot air and steam to the accommodation space 220 or to purify or dehumidify outside air of the cabinet 100 are installed.

[0065] The machine room 300 may be disposed to be separated or partitioned from the inner casing 200, but may be in communication with the inner casing 200.

[0066] The machine room 300 may be disposed under the inner casing 200. Accordingly, when hot air and steam having a low specific gravity are supplied to the inner casing 200, the hot air and steam may be naturally supplied to the laundry.

[0067] The machine room 300 may include a heat supplier 340 capable of supplying hot air into the inner casing 200. The heat supplier 340 may be equipped as a heat pump system, or may be equipped as a heater that directly heats air with electric energy.

[0068] When the heat supplier 340 is equipped as the heat pump system, the heat supplier 340 may dehumidify and heat air discharged from the inner casing 200 again and supply the air to the inner casing 200. A detailed structure thereof will be described later.

[0069] In one example, a water supply tank 30 that may supply water to a steam supplier 800 and a drain tank 40 in which condensed water condensed in the heat supplier 340 is collected may be disposed in a front side of the machine room 300.

[0070] The water supply tank 30 and the drain tank 40 may be detachable from the front side of the machine room 300. Accordingly, the laundry treating apparatus 1 of the present disclosure may be freely installed without being restricted by a water supply source or a drainage source.

[0071] In one example, a drawer 50 that is extended and retracted in a front and rear direction and has a separate accommodation space may be further disposed in the front side of the machine room 300. For example, the drawer 50 may store a steam generator or an iron.

[0072] FIG. 2 illustrates a bottom surface of an inner casing of a laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure.

[0073] The machine room 300 may include the steam supplier 800 capable of supplying steam into the inner casing 200. The steam supplier 800 may be equipped to directly supply steam into the inner casing 200. A detailed structure thereof will be described later.

[0074] To this end, the inner casing 200 may include a plurality of through-holes 230 extending through one surface thereof and being in communication with the machine room 300.

[0075] Air in the accommodation space 220 may be supplied to the machine room 300 via the through-holes 230, and at least one of hot air and steam generated in the machine room 300 may be supplied to the accommodation space 220.

[0076] The through-holes 230 may include an inlet hole 231 defined to extend through a bottom surface of the inner casing 200 such that air inside the inner casing 200 is discharged or absorbed into the machine room 300 therethrough, and an exhaust hole 232 defined to extend through the bottom surface of the inner casing 200 to discharge hot air generated in the machine room 300 into the inner casing 200.

[0077] The exhaust hole 232 may be defined in the bottom surface of the inner casing 200 so as to be closer to a rear surface of the inner casing 200. For example, the exhaust hole 232 may be defined at an angle to the ground between the bottom surface and the rear surface of the inner casing 200, and face the hanger 510.

[0078] Further, the inlet hole 231 may be defined in the bottom surface of the inner casing 200 so as to be closer to the front surface of the inner casing 200. Accordingly, the inlet hole 231 may be defined to be spaced apart from the exhaust hole 232.

[0079] The through-holes 230 may further include a steam hole 233 through which steam generated by the steam supplier 800 is supplied. The steam hole 233 may be defined on one side of the exhaust hole 232.

[0080] FIG. 3 illustrates a structure of a machine room of a laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure.

[0081] (a) in FIG. 3 is a front view of the machine room 300, and (b) in FIG. 3 is a rear view of the machine room 300.

[0082] Inside the machine room 300, components to supply hot air to a laundry treatment space, circulate air inside the laundry treatment space, supply steam to the laundry treatment space, or purify air outside the cabinet may be disposed.

[0083] The machine room 300 may include a base 310 that has a space for supporting or installing various apparatuses. The base 310 may provide an area size for the installation of the various apparatuses.

[0084] The base 310 may have a circulation duct 320 installed thereon through which air introduced from the inner casing 200 or outside the cabinet 100 moves.

[0085] The circulation duct 320 may be formed in a casing shape with an open top surface, and some components of the heat supplier 340 may be installed inside the circulation duct 320.

[0086] When the heat supplier 340 is equipped as the heat pump system, a heat exchanger 341 and 342 to be described later and a compressor 342 that supplies a high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant to the heat exchanger may be included inside the circulation duct 320.

[0087] The heat exchanger 341 and 342 may be accommodated inside the circulation duct 320 and cool and dehumidify air flowing through the circulation duct 320 or heat the air to generate hot air.

[0088] When the circulation duct 320 is constructed to suck air from the outside of the cabinet 100, an outside air duct 370 that sucks outside air may be installed in front of the circulation duct 320.

[0089] The circulation duct 320 may be in communication with the outside air duct 370 and may selectively suck outside air.

[0090] The water supply tank and the drain tank may be detachably coupled to a front surface of the circulation duct 320. The water supply tank 3 and the drain tank 4 may be seated and disposed on top of the outside air duct 370.

[0091] The circulation duct 320 may be coupled to the base 310, but may be formed integrally with the base 310. For example, the base 310 and the circulation duct 320 may be manufactured by injection molding.

[0092] The machine room 300 may include a base cover 360 that allows the circulation duct 320 and the inlet hole 231 to be in communication with each other.

[0093] The base cover 360 may be coupled to an upper portion of the circulation duct 320 and guide air sucked from the inlet hole 231 into the circulation duct 320.

[0094] The base cover 360 may block air inside the circulation duct 320 from being discharged to the outside by shielding a top surface of the circulation duct 320. A lower portion of the base cover 360 and the top surface of the circulation duct 320 may form one surface of a flow channel of the circulation duct 320.

[0095] The base cover 360 may include an inlet portion 362 connecting the inlet hole 231 with the circulation duct 320. The inlet portion 362 may be formed in a duct shape to serve as an air intake duct that delivers air inside the inner casing 200 to the circulation duct 320.

[0096] The machine room 300 may have the steam supplier 800 installed therein that is connected to the water supply tank 3 to receive water, generates steam, and supplies steam to the inner casing 200. The steam supplier 800 may be seated and disposed on top of the base cover 360.

[0097] The steam supplier 800 may be disposed at the rear of the inlet portion 362.

[0098] The machine room 300 may include a fan installation portion 350 that allows the circulation duct 320 and the inner casing 200 to be in communication with each other. The fan installation portion 350 may include a blower fan 353 that provides power to move air inside the circulation duct 320 in one direction, and a fan housing 351 that accommodates the blower fan 353 therein and is coupled to or extends from the circulation duct 320.

[0099] The fan installation portion 350 may include an exhaust duct 352 that allows the circulation duct 320 and the exhaust hole 232 to be in communication with each other.

[0100] The exhaust duct 352 may have a cross-section extending from the fan housing 351 toward the exhaust hole 232 with an area size corresponding to that of the exhaust hole 232.

[0101] As a result, air inside the inner casing 200 may be introduced via the base cover 360, pass through the circulation duct 320, and then be supplied back into the inner casing 200 via the fan installation portion 350.

[0102] In one example, the base 310 may include a compressor installation portion 313 in which the compressor 342 that supplies the refrigerant to the heat exchanger 341 and 343 is installed. The compressor installation portion 313 may be disposed outside the circulation duct 320.

[0103] In addition, the base 310 may have a controller or a control panel C installed thereon that controls the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure.

[0104] The base 310 may include a controller installation portion 313 that defines a space in which the controller C may be inserted from under the circulation duct 320.

[0105] The controller C may control all electronically controlled components such as the compressor 342, the steam supplier 800, and the blower fan 353.

[0106] Because the controller C is inserted onto and supported by the base 310, vibration or impact applied to the controller C may be buffered. In addition, because the controller C is disposed close to all of the electronic components, an occurrence of control errors such as noise may be minimized.

[0107] Further, the steam supplier is disposed on the circulation duct 320 and the controller C is disposed under the circulation duct 320. Accordingly, the circulation duct 320 may be formed in a straight duct shape between the steam supplier 800 and the controller C. As a result, a flow resistance of air passing through the circulation duct 320 may be minimized.

[0108] The circulation duct 320, the outside air duct 370, the steam supplier 800, the controller C, and the heat supplier 340 may be disposed on the base 310 in a module form.

[0109] Accordingly, the base 310 may be easily installed and maintained while being extended from and retracted into the machine room 300 in the front and rear direction.

[0110] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a machine room base structure of a laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure.

[0111] (a) in FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the base 310, and (b) and (c) in FIG. 4 are rear perspective views of the base 310.

[0112] The base 310 may be installed on a base plate forming a bottom surface of the laundry treating apparatus. The base 310 itself may form the bottom surface of the laundry treating apparatus.

[0113] The base 310 may include a base bottom 311 forming a support surface. The base bottom 311 may form the bottom surface of the laundry treating apparatus. In addition, the base bottom 311 may be installed on a top surface of a bottom surface of the cabinet 100 forming the bottom surface of the laundry treating apparatus.

[0114] The base 310 may be formed integrally with the circulation duct 320 that forms at least a portion of a flow channel through which air moves. The circulation duct 320 may be formed by extending upward from the base bottom 311.

[0115] The circulation duct 320 may include a duct body 321 that extends from the base bottom 311 to form the flow channel, a heat exchanger installation portion 3212 that provides a space in which an evaporator 341 or a condenser 343 is installed inside the duct body 321, and an air outlet 323 disposed at the rear of the duct body 321 and through which air in the duct body 321 is discharged.

[0116] The air outlet 323 may be formed in a pipe shape that extends rearward from the duct body 321. A diameter of the air outlet 323 may be smaller than a width of the duct body 321.

[0117] The air outlet 323 may be connected to the fan housing 350. Air discharged from the air outlet 323 may be guided into the inner casing 200 via the fan housing 350.

[0118] The circulation duct 320 may include an outside air intake portion 322 defined to extend through a front surface of the duct body 321.

[0119] The outside air intake portion 322 may be in communication with the outside air duct 370. The outside air duct 370 may be seated and supported in front of the outside air intake portion 322.

[0120] The circulation duct 320 may include a damper that opens and closes the outside air intake portion 322. By the opening and closing of the damper, outside air may be allowed or blocked from flowing into the circulation duct 320.

[0121] The base 310 may include a compressor installation portion 312 that provides a space in which the compressor 342 is installed. The compressor installation portion 312 may be disposed on one side of the base bottom 311 and may be formed integrally with the base bottom 311.

[0122] The compressor installation portion 312 may have a protrusion formed thereon that may support the compressor 342. The compressor installation portion 312 may be disposed to be rearwardly off-centered on the base 310. The compressor installation portion 312 may be disposed to at least partially overlap the air outlet 323 in the width direction.

[0123] The compressor installation portion 312 may have a buffer member installed thereon that reduces vibration transmitted from the compressor 342. The buffer member may be fixed to the protrusion.

[0124] The base 310 may include a controller installation portion 313 in which the controller C is installed. The controller installation portion 313 may be formed between the base bottom 311 and the circulation duct 320. The controller installation portion 313 may be formed between the base bottom 311 and a bottom surface of the circulation duct 320. The controller installation portion 313 may be formed under the circulation duct 320 in a duct shape in which one of a front side and a rear side is open.

[0125] FIG. 5 illustrates a circulation duct structure of a laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure.

[0126] The circulation duct 320 may extend upward from the base bottom to form the flow channel through which air flows. The circulation duct 320 may include the heat exchanger installation portion 3212 that provides the space in which the evaporator 341 and the condenser 342 are installed. The heat exchanger installation portion 3212 may be defined inside the duct body 321.

[0127] The duct body 321 may have an open top surface. The condenser 343 and the evaporator 341 may be installed by being inserted via the opening of the duct body 321.

[0128] The opening of the duct body 321 may be shielded by the base cover 360, and the base cover 360 and the duct body 321 may form the flow channel of the circulation duct 320.

[0129] A front surface of the duct body 321 may be spaced rearwardly apart from a front end of the base bottom 311.

[0130] Accordingly, the base bottom 311 may secure a support surface 3111 on which at least one of the water supply tank 3, the drain tank 4, and the outside air duct 370 described above is installed and supported.

[0131] In one example, the heat supplier 340 may include the evaporator 341 that is installed inside the circulation duct 320 and equipped as a heat exchanger that cools and dehumidifies air introduced into the circulation duct 320, the condenser 343 that is equipped as a heat exchanger that heats air that has passed through the evaporator 341 and generates hot air, the compressor 342 that supplies the refrigerant that exchanges heat with the air to the condenser 343 and is disposed outside the circulation duct 320, and an expansion valve 344 that expands and cools the refrigerant that has passed through the condenser 343.

[0132] In one example, as the duct body 32 is integrally formed with the base 310, a greater height of the heat exchanger installation portion 3212 may be secured, and heights of the condenser 343 and the evaporator 341 may also be increased.

[0133] As a result, widths in the front and rear direction of the condenser 343 and the evaporator 341 may be reduced, so that the number of refrigerant tubes passing through the condenser and the evaporator may be reduced. Accordingly, there is an effect of reducing a flow loss of air passing through the condenser and the evaporator.

[0134] In one example, a sum of a length of the evaporator 341 and a length of the condenser 343 may be smaller than a length of the heat exchanger installation portion 3212. Accordingly, the length in the front and rear direction of the heat exchanger installation portion 3212 may be equal to or smaller than half of a length of the duct body 321.

[0135] Accordingly, because the heat exchanger installation portion 3212 may be sufficiently spaced apart from the outside air intake portion 322, sufficient space may be secured inside the circulation duct 320 for outside air and air inside the inner casing 200 to be introduced.

[0136] In one example, the inside of the duct body 321 may include an installation partition wall 3211 that partitions the heat exchanger installation portion 3212 from the outside of the heat exchanger installation portion 3212. The installation partition wall 3211 may protrude from a side surface of the duct body 321 and support a front side of the evaporator 341.

[0137] In addition, the duct body 321 may extend rearwards with a width expanded starting from the installation partition wall 3211.

[0138] As a result, a width of the heat exchanger installation portion 3212 may be greater than half a width of the base 310. Additionally, a width of the circulation duct 320 may be greater than half the width of the base 310.

[0139] A width of the condenser 343 and a width of the evaporator 341 may also be greater than half of the entire width of the base 310.

[0140] As described above, when the widths of the condenser 343 and the evaporator 341 are secured, there is an effect of sufficiently securing a heat exchange capacity.

[0141] In addition, the fan housing 350 may be disposed to overlap the condenser 343 or the evaporator 341 in the front and rear direction. Therefore, air that has passed through the evaporator 341 and the condenser 343 may be introduced into the fan housing 350 without bending of the flow channel. That is, air introduced into the circulation duct 320 has an effect of minimizing the flow loss because the flow channel is not bent during the process of moving to the fan housing.

[0142] FIG. 6 illustrates a shape of a circulation duct of a laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure.

[0143] The base bottom 310 and the circulation duct 320 of the base 310 may be integrally formed via injection molding.

[0144] A mold forming an inner surface of the duct body 321 may be withdrawn upward from the inside of the duct body 321 and removed. In this case, to facilitate the withdrawal of the mold, a wall surface of the duct body 321 may be inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to the removal direction of the mold.

[0145] A width of a bottom surface 321a of the duct body 321 may be greater than a width of a top surface 321b of the duct body 321.

[0146] Specifically, a distance between the wall surfaces of the duct body 321 facing each other may increase as a distance from the base bottom 311 increases. A distance between a left side surface and a right side surface of the circulation flow channel facing each other may be increased along the withdrawal direction of the mold. Accordingly, the removal of the mold may be facilitated.

[0147] In one example, the air outlet 323 may include an air extension tube 3231 extending from a rear side of the duct body 321 such that a diameter or a width thereof decreases, and an air discharge tube 3232 extending from the air extension tube 3231 in a pipe shape having a uniform diameter to define a hollow 3233 therein. The air extension tube 3231 may perform a function of a nozzle, thereby increasing a speed of discharged air.

[0148] In addition, a mold for molding the air outlet 323 may be removed as shown in the above drawing. After being withdrawn forward from the inside of the air outlet 323 toward the inside of the circulation duct 320, it may be removed toward the open top surface of the circulation duct 320. The air outlet 323 may be formed in a structure in which the mold is easily withdrawn in this process.

[0149] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the circulation duct.

[0150] The installation partition wall 3211 may be formed by protruding inward from the inner wall of the duct body 321 or by recessing an outer wall of the circulation duct inward.

[0151] The heat exchanger installation portion 3212 may be formed between the heat exchanger installation partition wall 3211 and the air outlet 323.

[0152] The mold forming the air outlet 323 may be withdrawn forward of the air outlet 323 and then withdrawn upward to be removed. When the mold forming the air outlet 323 is withdrawn forward from the inside of the air outlet 323, it is necessary to prevent interference with the heat exchanger installation partition wall. To this end, a design value of the air outlet 323 may be adjusted.

[0153] Specifically, when the air outlet 323 is molded, a mold for molding a front side and a mold for molding a rear side may be separately equipped based on a parting line 3233 of the air outlet 323 in the drawing. Accordingly, removal directions of the molds may be different from each other. The mold for forming the portion located in front of the parting line of the air outlet 323 may be withdrawn forward, and the mold for forming the portion located at rear of the parting line of the air outlet 323 may be withdrawn rearward.

[0154] That is, to prevent the mold withdrawn forward from interfering with the heat exchanger installation partition wall during the withdrawal process, in the drawing, a distance 1 323a may be smaller than a distance 2 321c. The distance 1 323a may mean a distance between the parting line of the air outlet 323 and a front end of the air outlet 323. In addition, the distance 1 323a may mean a distance between the parting line of the air outlet 323 and a rear opening of the circulation duct. The distance 2 321c may mean a distance between the front end of the air outlet 323 and the heat exchanger installation partition wall. In addition, the distance 2 323a may mean a distance between the rear opening of the circulation duct and the heat exchanger installation partition wall 3211.

[0155] FIG. 8 illustrates a structure of the air outlet 323 of a laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure.

[0156] The base 310 may include the air outlet 323 that discharges treated air toward the fan housing.

[0157] The air outlet 323 may allow the inside of the circulation duct 320 or the duct body 321 to be in communication with the fan housing 350. The air outlet 323 may be formed in a bell mouth shape. By being formed in the bell mouth shape, the air outlet 323 may reduce the flow loss of air and improve air circulation efficiency.

[0158] The air discharge tube 3232 of the air outlet 323 may be formed in a pipe shape, and, based on the parting line 3233, the mold disposed in front of the parting line 3233 may be withdrawn forward and the mold disposed at the rear of the parting line 3233 may be withdrawn rearward in the mold removal process.

[0159] The fan installation portion 350 may be coupled to and supported by the air discharge tube 3232. The fan housing 351 may include a coupling hole coupled to an outer circumferential surface of the air discharge tube 3232, and the blower fan 353 may be disposed in the coupling hole.

[0160] The fan housing 351 may include the exhaust duct 352 extending from an outer circumferential surface or the outside of the blower fan 353 to the exhaust hole 232.

[0161] The fan housing 351 and the exhaust duct 352 may accommodate the blower fan 353 therein and form a flow channel through which air may move.

[0162] A motor for rotating the blower fan 353 may be coupled to and supported at a location outside of the fan housing 351.

[0163] FIG. 9 illustrates a structure of a base cover of a laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure.

[0164] The base cover 360 may be coupled to the top surface of the circulation duct 320 to prevent the inside of the circulation duct 320 from being exposed.

[0165] The base cover 360 may include an inlet body 361 coupled to the top surface of the circulation duct 320 and allowing the inner casing 200 and the circulation duct 320 to be in communication with each other, and a shielding body 363 extending from the inlet body 361 and shielding the circulation duct 320.

[0166] The inlet body 361 may be formed in a duct shape and allow the inlet hole 231 of the inner casing and the inside of the circulation duct 320 to be in communication with each other. The inlet body 361 may protrude further upwardly of the shielding body 363.

[0167] The inlet body 361 may be positioned forward of the evaporator 341 so as not to face the evaporator 341 and the condenser 343, and may be positioned forward of the partition wall 3211.

[0168] The inlet body 361 may serve as an inlet duct that moves air in the inner casing 200 to the circulation duct 320.

[0169] The inlet body 361 may have the inlet portion 362 therein through which air in the inner casing 200 may pass.

[0170] Specifically, the base cover 360 may include a first rib 362a extending along a width direction of the inlet body 361, and a second rib 362b extending along the width direction of the inlet body 361 and spaced rearwardly apart from the first rib 362a.

[0171] The first rib 362a and the second rib 362b may be arranged in parallel with each other. The first rib 362a and the second rib 362b may be formed in a plate shape extending in a vertical direction, and heights thereof may correspond to a height of the inlet body 361.

[0172] A front edge of the inlet body 361 and the first rib 362a may form a first inlet 3621, the first rib 362a and the second rib 362b may form a second inlet 3623, and the second rib 362b and a rear edge of the inlet body 361 may form a third inlet 3622.

[0173] The first inlet 3621 and the third inlet 3622 may have the same area size, and the second inlet 3622 may have a smaller area size than the first inlet 3621 and the third inlet 3622.

[0174] The base cover 360 may include a damper assembly 364 that opens and closes the inlet portion 362, and a driver 365 coupled to the damper assembly 364 to control the opening and closing of the damper assembly 364.

[0175] The damper assembly 364 may include a first damper 3641 that opens and closes the first inlet 3621, and a second damper 3642 that opens and closes the third inlet 3623.

[0176] The first damper 3641 may be formed in a plate shape with an area size corresponding to that of the first inlet 3621, and may be disposed inside the first inlet 3621 and rotatably coupled to both side surfaces of the inlet body 361.

[0177] The second damper 3642 may be formed in a plate shape with an area size corresponding to that of the third inlet 3622, and may be disposed inside the third inlet 3622 and rotatably coupled to both side surfaces of the inlet body 361.

[0178] The second inlet 3623 may be equipped with a blocking filter 366 that allows air to pass therethrough, but is able to filter out foreign substances such as fine dust and lint.

[0179] The blocking filter 366 may be inserted into the second inlet 3622 and partition the first inlet 3621 and the third inlet 3623 from each other. The blocking filter 366 may be disposed in the second inlet 3622 and extend so as to be in contact with the bottom surface of the circulation duct 320.

[0180] The blocking filter 366 may be equipped as a filter capable of filtering even the moisture. For example, the blocking filter 366 may be equipped as a HEPA filter or the like.

[0181] In one example, the second inlet 3623 may further be coupled with a shielding member that shields the second inlet 3623 when the blocking filter 366 is inserted.

[0182] The driver 365 may include a motor that provides power to selectively rotate the first damper 364 and the second damper 365, and a plurality of gear members that may selectively rotate the first damper 364 and the second damper 365 while being engaged with the motor and rotating.

[0183] Because of the driver 365, the first inlet 3611 and the third inlet 3623 may be selectively opened.

[0184] Because of the driver 365, air contained inside the inner casing 200 may be introduced into the circulation duct 320 along the first inlet 3621, and may be introduced into the circulation duct 320 along the third inlet 3623.

[0185] In one example, the driver 365 may control the first damper 3641 and the second damper 3642 to open both the first inlet 3611 and the third inlet 3623, and may control the first damper 3641 and the second damper 3642 to close both the first inlet 3611 and the third inlet 3623.

[0186] The driver 365 may be formed in any structure as long as it is able to rotate the first damper 3641 and the second damper 3642. For example, the driver 365 may be equipped as a combination of the motor, a driving gear that rotates by the motor, and a driven gear that is coupled to the first damper and the second damper and rotates by the rotation of the driving gear.

[0187] The base cover 360 may include the shielding body 363 that may extend from the inlet body 361 and may shield the evaporator 341 and the condenser 343. The shielding body 363 may be formed in a plate shape.

[0188] The base cover 360 may be detachably coupled to the top surface of the circulation duct 320 via an inlet hook 3612 that extends from a bottom surface of the inlet body 361.

[0189] The circulation duct 320 may have a coupling portion that is detachably coupled to the inlet hook 3612.

[0190] FIG. 10 illustrates a structure of an outside air duct.

[0191] Referring to (a) in FIG. 10, the outside air duct 370 may be coupled to the base 310.

[0192] The outside air duct 370 may be in communication with the outside air intake portion 322.

[0193] The outside air duct 370 may include an outside air damper 373 that opens and closes the outside air intake portion 322 and an outside air driver 374 that rotates the outside air damper 373 to selectively open the outside air intake portion 322.

[0194] The outside air damper 373 may be formed in a plate shape capable of sealing the outside air intake portion 322, and may be rotatably coupled to both side surfaces of the outside air intake portion 322.

[0195] The outside air driver 374 may be equipped as an actuator coupled to the outside air duct 370 or the circulation duct 320 to rotate the outside air damper 373.

[0196] The outside air duct 370 may include an extension duct 372 extending forward from the outside air intake portion 322 at a location in front of the outside air intake portion 322, and an air intake duct 371 extending forward from the extension duct 372 and allowing outside air to be introduced thereinto.

[0197] The air intake duct 371 may extend from a lower portion of the extension duct 372, and the water supply tank 3 and the drain tank 4 may be disposed on top of the air intake duct 371. The water supply tank 3 and the drain tank 4 may be coupled to or seated on the air intake duct 371.

[0198] The air intake duct 371 may include, at one end or a free end thereof, an outside air port 3711 through which outside air is sucked and a partition rib 3712 that partitions the outside air port 3711.

[0199] The outside air port 3711 may be disposed downward of the door 20 so as not to be shielded by the door 20.

[0200] The partition rib 3712 may be constructed to partition the inside of the outside air port 3711 to block the foreign substances or a user's body from being introduced.

[0201] Referring to (b) in FIG. 10, when the outside air driver 374 opens the outside air intake portion 322 by rotating the outside air damper 373, the air intake duct 371 and the circulation duct 320 may be in communication with each other.

[0202] In this regard, when the blower fan 352 is operated, air outside the cabinet may be introduced into the circulation duct 320. When the compressor 342 is operated, the outside air may be dehumidified while passing through the circulation duct 320 and supplied into the inner casing 200.

[0203] The door 20 may further include a door outlet that discharges air inside the inner casing 200 to the outside, and a discharge damper that selectively opens and closes the door outlet. The door outlet may be disposed to face the accommodation space of the inner casing 200.

[0204] Accordingly, the dehumidified air may be discharged to the door outlet.

[0205] In addition, the outside air may be filtered while passing through the blocking filter 366 and discharged to the outside of the cabinet 100 again.

[0206] FIG. 11 illustrates a flow of air flowing through the circulation duct.

[0207] Referring to (a) in FIG. 11, the outside air damper 373 may be controlled to shield the outside air intake portion 322, the first damper 3641 may be controlled to open the first inlet 3621, and the second damper 3642 may be controlled to shield the third inlet 3622.

[0208] When the blower fan 352 is operated, air inside the inner casing 200 may be introduced into the first inlet 3621 and may be filtered while passing through the blocking filter 366.

[0209] When the compressor 342 is operated, air that has passed through the blocking filter 366 may be dehumidified and heated while passing through the evaporator 341 and the condenser 343.

[0210] Air that has also passed through the heat exchanger may pass through the fan installation portion 350 and be supplied into the inner casing 200.

[0211] This state may be a state in which steam is not supplied to the inner casing 200. This is because when steam is supplied to the inner casing 200, the moisture wets the blocking filter 366 so that a performance of the blocking filter 366 may not be guaranteed.

[0212] As a result, when steam is not supplied to the inner casing 200, before steam is supplied to the inner casing 200, or when humidity is lowered even after steam is supplied to the inner casing 200, air inside the inner casing 200 may pass through the first inlet 3641 and pass through the blocking filter 366 to filter the foreign substances such as lint.

[0213] Referring to (b) in FIG. 11, the outside air damper 373 may be controlled to shield the outside air intake portion 322, the first damper 3641 may be controlled to shield the first inlet 3621, and the second damper 3642 may be controlled to open the third inlet 3622.

[0214] When the blower fan 352 is operated, air inside the inner casing 200 may be introduced into the third inlet 3622. Because the third inlet 3622 is disposed downstream of the blocking filter 366, air introduced into the third inlet 3622 may not pass through the blocking filter 366.

[0215] When the compressor 342 is operated, air that has passed through the blocking filter 366 may be dehumidified and heated while passing through the evaporator 341 and the condenser 343.

[0216] Air that has also passed through the heat exchanger may pass through the fan installation portion 350 and be supplied into the inner casing 200.

[0217] As a result, when steam is supplied to the inner casing 200 or the humidity inside the inner casing 200 is very high, air in the inner casing 200 may be introduced into the third inlet 3622 and may be blocked from being introduced into the first inlet 3621, thereby preventing the blocking filter 366 from being exposed to moisture.

[0218] Referring to (c) in FIG. 11, the outside air damper 373 may be controlled to open the outside air intake portion 322, the first damper 3641 may be controlled to shield the first inlet 3621, and the second damper 3642 may be controlled to shield the third inlet 3622.

[0219] When the blower fan 352 is operated, air inside the inner casing 200 may be blocked from being introduced into the inlet portion 362, and only outside air of the cabinet 100 may be introduced into the circulation duct 320 and pass through the blocking filter 366. Accordingly, the foreign substances such as fine dust contained in outside air may be filtered by the blocking filter 366.

[0220] When the compressor 342 is operated, air that has passed through the blocking filter 366 may be dehumidified while passing through the evaporator 341 and the condenser 343.

[0221] Air that has also passed through the heat exchanger may pass through the fan installation portion 350 and be supplied into the inner casing 200 to supply fresh hot air to the laundry.

[0222] In this regard, when the door 20 is equipped with an apparatus that discharges air inside the inner casing 200 to the outside, air outside the cabinet may be discharged in a purified and dehumidified state while passing through the blocking filter 366 and the heat supplier 340.

[0223] As a result, in the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure, the controller C may control the outside air driver 374 and the inflow driver 365 to determine flow directions of air inside the inner casing 200 and air outside the cabinet.

[0224] FIG. 12 illustrates an installation structure of a steam supplier.

[0225] The steam supplier 800 may be seated on and supported by the base cover 360.

[0226] The steam supplier 800 may include a steam casing 810 that is seated on the base cover 360 and stores water that generates the steam.

[0227] The steam supplier 800 may further include an installation bracket 870 that may fix the steam casing 810 to the base cover 360.

[0228] The installation bracket 870 may be coupled to the base cover 360 to fix the steam casing 810.

[0229] The installation bracket 870 may include a lower panel 871 that supports a bottom surface of the steam casing 810 and a side panel 872 that supports both side surfaces of the steam casing 810 on the lower panel 871.

[0230] The installation bracket 870 may further include one or more fixing clips 873 that extend from the side panel 872 to prevent the steam casing 810 from being deviated.

[0231] The fixing clips 873 may be detachable from a top surface or a side surface of the steam casing 810.

[0232] The compressor 342 may be placed downward of the steam supplier 800.

[0233] The installation bracket 870 may block heat generated from the compressor or heat generated from the refrigerant compressed in the compressor from being transferred to the steam supplier 800.

[0234] The installation bracket 870 may also block fire from being transferred to the steam supplier 800 in the event of the fire occurring in the compressor 342.

[0235] In one example, the base cover 360 may include a fastener 3631 disposed in the shielding body 363 and detachably coupled to the steam supplier 800. The fastener 3631 may have a structure that is detachably coupled to a protrusion protruding from a lower portion of the steam casing 810.

[0236] Accordingly, even when a great amount of water is contained inside the steam casing 810, the steam casing 810 may be stably seated on the base cover 360.

[0237] In addition, because the steam casing 810 is disposed upward of the circulation duct 320 and has a smaller distance from the inner casing 200, condensation of steam generated in the steam casing 810 before reaching the inner casing 200 may be minimized.

[0238] FIG. 13 illustrates a detailed structure of the steam supplier.

[0239] Referring to (a) in FIG. 13, the steam supplier 800 may include the steam casing 810 that may receive and store water to generate steam, and a heater assembly 840 that is accommodated in the steam casing 810 and heats the water to generate steam.

[0240] The steam casing 810 may be formed in a casing shape with an open top and may accommodate the heater assembly 840 therein.

[0241] The steam supplier 800 may further include a casing cover 820 that is coupled to the steam casing 810 to prevent the heater assembly 840 from being exposed to the outside and to prevent water from leaking out.

[0242] The casing cover 820 may include, installed therein, a water level sensor 850 that senses a water level of the steam casing 810, and a steam sensor 860 that senses a temperature inside the steam casing 810 or senses whether steam is generated inside the steam casing 810.

[0243] Referring to (b) in FIG. 13, the steam casing 810 may include a casing body 811 that provides a space for storing the water and accommodating the heater assembly 840 therein.

[0244] The casing body 811 may be formed in a shape with an open top, so that various components may be easily installed inside the casing body 811.

[0245] The casing body 811 may include a heater insertion hole 8111 extending through one side thereof and through which the heater assembly 840 may be inserted or withdrawn.

[0246] The casing body 811 may include a recovery tube 814 capable of discharging water accommodated therein to the outside.

[0247] The recovery tube 814 may be maintained in a closed state by a shielding plug 8141 so as to be opened only when removing residual water inside the steam casing 810, and may include a shielding clip 8142 that maintains the shielding plug 8141 in a state coupled to the recovery tube 814 such that the shielding plug 8141 is prevented from being arbitrarily separated.

[0248] As a result, when repairing the steam casing 800 or preventing freezing or the like of the steam casing 800, water inside the steam casing 800 may be discharged via the recovery tube 814.

[0249] In one example, a heater fixer 830 capable of supporting or fixing the heater assembly 840 may be installed inside the casing body 811. The heater fixer 830 may include a fixing clip 831 that fixes the heater assembly 840, and a clip fastening member 833 that fixes the support clip 831 to the casing body 811.

[0250] The fixing clip 831 may accommodate therein or surround at least a portion of the heater assembly 840.

[0251] In one example, the steam supplier 800 may include a water supply tube 815 that receives water. The water supply tube 815 may be in communication with the water supply tank 30 to receive water.

[0252] The water supply tube 815 may be disposed on the casing cover 820 or may be disposed on an upper portion of the steam casing 810. Thereby, water may be prevented from flowing back through the water supply tube 815.

[0253] The steam supplier 800 may include a steam tube 813 that discharges steam generated by the operation of the heater assembly 840 to the outside. The steam tube 813 may also be disposed on the upper portion of the casing cover 820, so that water may be prevented from being arbitrarily discharged into the steam tube 813. The steam tube 813 may be in communication with the steam hole 233 of the inner casing 200.

[0254] The casing cover 820 may include a water level sensor hole 854 in which the water level sensor may be installed.

[0255] The water level sensor 850 may include one or more contact protrusions 852 that are inserted into the water level sensor hole 854 and immersed in water to sense the water level, and a sensor body 851 that is coupled to the water level sensor hole 854 or supported by the casing cover 820 so as to maintain the contact protrusions 852 in a floating state inside the steam casing 810.

[0256] The sensor body 851 may be coupled to the casing cover 820 via a sensor fastening member 853.

[0257] In one example, the casing cover 820 may include an insertion hole 864 in which the steam sensor 860 may be installed. The steam sensor 860 may include a sensing device 861 that is inserted into the insertion hole 864 to sense whether steam is generated inside the steam casing 810, a support member 863 that fixes the sensing device 861 to the casing cover 820, and a coupling member 862 that couples the support member 863 to the casing cover 820.

[0258] The sensing device 861 may be equipped as a humidity sensor or a temperature sensor and may sense whether steam is generated inside the steam casing 810.

[0259] In one example, the casing cover 820 may be equipped with a cover hook 821 that may extend forward and may be coupled to the base cover 860.

[0260] In addition, a fixing protrusion 822 capable of fixing a lower portion of the inner casing 200 or a separate steam discharger 900 may be disposed at a rear side of the casing cover 820.

[0261] The heater assembly 840 may be inserted into the heater insertion hole 8111 and accommodated in the steam casing 810 and may heat water by receiving power.

[0262] The heater assembly 840 may be equipped as a sheath heater or the like, and may be controlled by the controller C such that operation and stopping thereof may be repeated.

[0263] The heater assembly 840 may include a first heater 841 that receives first power and heats water and a second heater 842 that receives power smaller than the first power and heats water.

[0264] As a result, the second heater 842 may heat a smaller amount of water and generate more steam compared to the first heater 841.

[0265] The first heater 841 and the second heater 842 may consume maximum heater power allowed for the heater assembly 840 in the laundry treating apparatus in a divided manner. That is, when the first heater 841 consumes a portion of the maximum heater power, the second heater 842 may consume the remainder of the maximum heater power.

[0266] For example, when the general maximum heater power allowable for the steam heater 840 is 1500W, the first heater 841 may consume 60080W, and the second heater 842 may consume 880W. As such, the power may be less distributed by 20W in consideration of errors or the like.

[0267] In one example, the steam heater 840 may include three or more heaters. For example, the first heater 841, the second heater 842, and a third heater 843 may be included, and the first heater 841, the second heater 842, and the third heater 843 may consume the maximum heater power in a divided manner.

[0268] Hereinafter, a description will be made based on the heater assembly 840 being composed of the first heater 841 and the second heater 842.

[0269] The first heater 841 and the second heater 842 may be formed as U-shaped metal pipes.

[0270] The heater assembly 840 may include a heater sealer 843 that may fix the first heater 841 and the second heater 842 and seal a heater through-hole 8111, and may include a terminal assembly 844 that supplies current to the first heater 841 and the second heater 842.

[0271] The terminal assembly 844 may include a first terminal 844a that supplies the current to the first heater 841 and a second terminal 844b that supplies the current to the second heater 842.

[0272] The first heater 841 and the second heater 842 may be arranged at the same vertical level. Therefore, the first heater 841 and the second heater 842 may heat water at the same water level and generate steam.

[0273] Accordingly, the controller C may control an amount of steam generated and an amount of power consumed by using both or selectively the first heater 841 and the second heater 842.

[0274] FIG. 14 illustrates an embodiment of a space partitioner of a laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure.

[0275] The laundry treating apparatus 1 may include a mounting rack 600 on which small laundry such as a doll, a hat, shoes, and the like may be mounted inside the inner casing 200.

[0276] Because hot air or steam is unnecessarily supplied to an upper space inside the inner casing 200 to treat the small laundry mounted on the mounting rack 600, efficiency is deteriorated.

[0277] Accordingly, there is a need to provide a laundry treating apparatus capable of separating a space in which the small laundry is mounted so as to intensively supply hot air or steam only to the small laundry.

[0278] Referring to FIG. 14, to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present disclosure provides a laundry treating apparatus including the cabinet 100, the inner casing 200 disposed inside the cabinet 100 and providing the accommodation space 220 in which the laundry is accommodated, and a space partitioner 400 that is disposed inside the inner casing 200 so as to be movable in a direction parallel to the bottom surface 201 of the inner casing 200 for selective partitioning or communication of the accommodation space 220.

[0279] In addition, the present disclosure may further include the machine room 300 in communication with the inner casing 200 and equipped with the heater assembly 840 that generates steam supplied to the inner casing 200 and the compressor 342 that generates hot air supplied to the inner casing 200, and the through-holes 230 defined to extend through the inner casing 200 so as to be in communication with the machine room 300 and introducing hot air and steam generated in the machine room 300 into the inner casing 200.

[0280] The space partitioner 400 may include a film membrane 410 that is withdrawn in the direction parallel to the bottom surface 201 of the inner casing 200 to block the flow of the hot air or steam discharged from the through-holes 230.

[0281] The film membrane 410 may be disposed between a first space S1 in which the through-holes 230 are defined and a second space S2 that is a remaining portion of the accommodation space 220 except for the first space S1, and block or guide flowing, into the second space S2, of the hot air or steam introduced into the inner casing 200 from the through-holes 230.

[0282] As a result, by forming a partition in a height direction of the inner casing 200 via the space partitioner 400 in the inner casing 200, the small laundry such as the shoes and the hat mounted in the partial space in the inner casing 200 may be intensively treated, and a volume of the space to which the hot air or steam is supplied may be reduced, so that the steam or hot air may be supplied only to the partial space in the inner casing 200, that is, the first space S1, thereby increasing the energy efficiency.

[0283] Accordingly, the user may selectively form the partition in the height direction of the inner casing 200, and may selectively change the volume of the space to which the hot air or steam is supplied, that is, the first space S1, inside the inner casing 200.

[0284] In one example, the controller C may simultaneously blow cold air such that steam generated in the machine room 300 and introduced into the inner casing 200 via the steam hole 233 may be uniformly spread into the inner casing 200.

[0285] In this case, there is a possibility that the steam is discharged by the cold air and the steam is not properly sprayed to the laundry, and as a temperature of the steam is lowered by the cold air, a sterilization effect may be lowered.

[0286] Accordingly, when the first space S1 and the second space S2 are separated from each other by the space partitioner 400, the controller C may perform an intensive care mode in which an rpm of the blower fan 353 is set to be lower than that during a normal steam cycle. Accordingly, the steam may be intensively sprayed to the small laundry or accessories mounted on the mounting rack 600, thereby efficiently using energy.

[0287] FIG. 15 illustrates a structure of a support rack having a space partitioner.

[0288] Referring to FIG. 15, an embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a support rack 700 disposed inside the inner casing 200 upward of the bottom surface 201 of the inner casing 200, and the space partitioner 400 may be withdrawn from the support rack 700 in the direction parallel to the bottom surface 201 of the inner casing 200.

[0289] The support rack 700 may include a support body 710 including both side surfaces and one surface and the other surface connecting both ends of said both side surfaces to each other and on which an article is seated, a ventilation hole 713 defined to extend through at least a portion of the support body 710 and through which a fluid passes, and the space partitioner 400 that is withdrawable from one of said both side surfaces, said one surface, and the other surface to selectively shield the ventilation hole 713.

[0290] The support rack 700 may be used alone outside the inner casing 200, or may be used while being supported inside the inner casing 200.

[0291] The support body 710 may include first frames 7101 forming said both side surfaces, and second frames 7102 that connect both ends of the first frame 7101 to each other to form said one surface and the other surface. The first frames 7101 may be disposed in parallel with both side surfaces of the inner casing 200, and the second frames 7102 may be disposed in parallel with the rear surface of the inner casing 200 and the door 20.

[0292] In this regard, the first frames 7101 and the second frames 7102 may be formed in any shape, but may form a quadrangle having the same shape as a cross-section of the inner casing 200 in the height direction. In addition, the support body 710 may have the same cross-sectional area as the inner casing 200.

[0293] The second frame 7102 may be longer than the first frame 7101. Accordingly, the support body 710 may be longer in the width direction than in the front and rear direction.

[0294] The ventilation hole 713 may include a plurality of ventilation holes defined inward of the first frames 7101 and the second frames 7102 so as to be spaced apart from each other.

[0295] The support rack 700 may further include a supporting member 712 disposed to connect the first frames 7101 or the second frames 7102 to each other to define the ventilation hole 713. The supporting member 712 may include a plurality of supporting members arranged inward of the first frames 7101 and the second frames 7102 so as to be spaced apart from each other.

[0296] The supporting member 712 may be formed in a rod shape having the same length as the first frame 7101 or the second frame 7102. Alternatively, the supporting member 712 may be formed in a plate shape and may have the ventilation hole 713 defined through a portion thereof.

[0297] The support body 710 may further include a support handle 711 protruding from at least one of the first frame 7101 and the second frame 7102 toward the supporting member 712 and seated inside the inner casing 200. Accordingly, the support rack 700 may be spaced apart from the bottom surface 201 of the inner casing 200 and supported inside the inner casing 200.

[0298] The space partitioner 400 may be disposed at one side of the support rack 700. That is, the space partitioner 400 may be withdrawn from one side of the support body 710. One side of the support body 710 may be directed toward one of both side surfaces or the rear surface of the inner casing 200 and the door 20. That is, the space partitioner 400 may be withdrawn from any surface of the support body 710.

[0299] The space partitioner 400 may include the film membrane 410 withdrawn from one of said both side surfaces, said one surface, and the other surface and fixed to its counterpart of the both side surfaces, and said one surface and the other surface to shield the ventilation hole 713.

[0300] The film membrane 410 may be withdrawn from one of said both side surfaces and fixed to the other of said both side surfaces.

[0301] Alternatively, the film membrane 410 may be withdrawable from one of said one surface and the other surface and fixed to the other of said one surface and the other surface.

[0302] The support handle 711 may be disposed on the first frame 7101 and may be seated on both side surfaces of the inner casing 200. In this regard, it is preferable that the film membrane 410 is disposed on the second frame 7102. This is because, as the user opens the door 20 and stands in front of the inner casing 200, less force is required when gripping the film membrane 410 and withdrawing the same towards the user.

[0303] The space partitioner 400 may include the film membrane 410 accommodated in one side of the support body 710 and withdrawable, and a protruding fixer 420 coupled to the film membrane 410 to protrude and fixed to the other side of the support body 710. The other side of the support body 710 may be preferably defined as a side opposite to said one side of the support body 710, but may be defined as a portion different from said one side of the support body 710.

[0304] In one example, the support rack 700 may further include a partitioner withdrawable portion 740 disposed at one side of the support body 710 to accommodate the space partitioner 400 therein.

[0305] When the film membrane 410 is not withdrawn from the support body 710, the film membrane 410 may be accommodated in the partitioner withdrawable portion 740 disposed at one side of the support body 710, and the protruding fixer 420 may protrude outward of the partitioner withdrawable portion 740. Accordingly, when the user withdraws the film membrane 410 from the partitioner withdrawable portion 740, the protruding fixer 420 may be gripped to facilitate the withdrawal.

[0306] The partitioner withdrawable portion 740 may be formed in a cylindrical shape and accommodate the space partitioner 400 therein. The partitioner withdrawable portion 740 may be disposed at the first frame 7101 or the second frame 7102.

[0307] The film membrane 410 may be outwardly wound around a central portion (not shown) inside the partitioner withdrawable portion 740, and may be formed in a cylindrical shape. Accordingly, when the user grips the protruding fixer 420 and applies an external force outward of the support body 710, the entire film membrane 410 may be withdrawn out of the partitioner withdrawable portion 740. The protruding fixer 420 may be coupled to an outer side of the film membrane 410 and have a cylindrical shape, and may have a length smaller than a length of the film membrane 410 in the width direction.

[0308] The central portion (not shown) may have an object having an elastic force, so that when the external force is removed, the film membrane 410 withdrawn may be guided to be wound around the central portion (not shown) again.

[0309] The partitioner withdrawable portion 740 may have the same length as a length of the support body 710 in the width direction. That is, the partitioner withdrawable portion 740 may be disposed at the second frame 7102 and may have the same length as the second frame 7102.

[0310] The film membrane 410 may be made of a material that blocks the steam or hot air when the film membrane 410 is withdrawn from the partitioner withdrawable portion 740. In addition, any material that may be wound around the central portion (not shown) may be used.

[0311] The partitioner withdrawable portion 740 may include a partitioner withdrawable hole 741 defined to allow the film membrane 410 to be withdrawn. The film membrane 410 may be withdrawn to the outside of the support body 710 via the partitioner withdrawable hole 741. It is preferable that a size of the partitioner withdrawable hole 741 is smaller than a diameter of the protruding fixer 420.

[0312] The support rack 700 may include an expansion portion 720 withdrawable from the support body 710 in the direction parallel to the bottom surface of the inner casing 200.

[0313] The film membrane 410 may be withdrawn from one side of the support body 710, and the expansion portion 720 may be withdrawn from the other side of the support body 710. One side of the support body 710 may be directed toward one of said both side surfaces or the rear surface of the inner casing 200 and the door 20. That is, the film membrane 410 may be withdrawn from any surface of the support body 710.

[0314] The support body 710 may be spaced apart from the inner surface of the inner casing 200, and the expansion portion 720 may be withdrawn from the support body 710 to be in contact with the inner surface of the inner casing 200. That is, a cross-sectional area in the width direction of the support rack 700 from which the expansion portion 720 is withdrawn may be equal to a cross-sectional area of the inner casing 200. Accordingly, when the expansion portion 720 is withdrawn from the support body 710, the accommodation space 220 may be divided into the first space S1 and the second space S2 to prevent the steam or hot air from flowing into the second space S2.

[0315] When the film membrane 410 is withdrawn from one side of the support body 710, the protruding fixer 420 may be fixed to the withdrawn expansion portion 720. That is, the expansion portion 720 may be withdrawn from one of said both side surfaces, said one surface, and the other surface of the support body 710, and the withdrawn film membrane 410 may be fixed to the withdrawn expansion portion 720. The expansion portion 720 is preferably disposed on a surface opposite to one surface of the support body 710 from which the film membrane 410 is withdrawn. Accordingly, the withdrawn film membrane 410 may be fixed to the expansion portion 720 to shield the ventilation hole 713.

[0316] To this end, the expansion portion 720 may further include an expansion body 722 withdrawn from the support body 710, and a partitioner fixer 721 disposed on the expansion body 722 to fix the protruding fixer 420.

[0317] The partitioner fixer 721 may protrude from one side of the expansion body 722, and thus, the user may grip the partitioner fixer 721 and easily withdraw the expansion portion 720. In addition, the partitioner fixer 721 is preferably formed such that the protruding fixer 420 is inserted thereinto, but is in any shape as long as the protruding fixer 420 may be fixed thereto.

[0318] FIG. 16 illustrates the support rack installed on a mounting rack, and FIG. 17 illustrates an installation structure of the support rack.

[0319] The present disclosure may further include a mounting rack 600 disposed inside the inner casing 200 in parallel with the bottom surface 201 of the inner casing 200 and on which the article is mounted.

[0320] The mounting rack 600 may include a mounting body 610 disposed inside the inner casing 200 and formed in a quadrangular ring shape, a mounting handle 611 protruding inward of the mounting body 610 from one side or both sides of the mounting body 610, and a mounting stand 612 connecting portions of the mounting body 610 to each other and on which the article is mounted. The mounting stand 612 may include a plurality of mounting stands arranged to be spaced apart from each other. The mounting body 610 may have the same area size as a cross-sectional area in the height direction of the inner casing 200. Accordingly, the user may mount the small laundry such as the hat, the shoes, and the doll on the mounting rack 600.

[0321] According to an embodiment, the support rack 700 may be installed to be spaced upwardly apart from the mounting rack 600. In this regard, it is preferable that the through-holes 233 are located downward of the mounting rack 600.

[0322] The support rack 700 may further include a support leg 730 withdrawn from the support body 710 to connect the support rack 700 with the mounting rack 600.

[0323] The support leg 730 may include a leg body 731 connected to the support body 710 and seated on the mounting rack 600. In this regard, the withdrawn leg body 731 may be coupled to the mounting body 610.

[0324] In other words, the leg body 731 may be rotatable around the first frame 7101 and be accommodated in the second frame 7102. Accordingly, when the user does not use the support rack 700 by connecting the same to the mounting rack 600, the support leg 730 may not be exposed to the outside of the support rack 700.

[0325] The support leg 730 may include a leg hinge 733 rotatably disposed at one side of the leg body 731 to allow the support leg 730 to be withdrawn downward from the support body 710. That is, the leg hinge 733 may be disposed inside the first frame 7101. In this regard, one side of the leg body 731 may mean a portion closer to an upper portion of the inner casing 200.

[0326] The support leg 730 may include a leg hook 732 disposed at the other side of the leg body 731 in a ring shape and coupled to the mounting rack 600. In this regard, the other side of the leg body 731 may mean a portion closer to a lower portion of the inner casing 200. The leg hook 732 may be coupled to the mounting body 610.

[0327] Accordingly, only when the user uses the space partitioner 400 disposed at the support rack 700, the support leg 730 may be withdrawn from the support body 710 and coupled to the mounting rack 600.

[0328] In addition, because the steam or hot air does not leak above the support rack 700 by the space partitioner 400 disposed at the support rack 700, the small laundry mounted on the mounting rack 600 may be intensively treated.

[0329] In addition, the user may selectively change the volume of the space to which the hot air or steam is supplied, that is, the first space S1, in the inner casing 200.

[0330] In addition, because the volume of the first space S1 may be changed based on a length of the support leg 730 or a vertical level at which the mounting rack 600 is installed, the user may selectively change the volume of the space to which the steam or hot air is supplied.

[0331] FIG. 18 is a view illustrating the inside of an inner casing of a laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure.

[0332] In one example, the user may selectively use the space partitioner 400 by mounting or separating the same in or from the inner casing 200.

[0333] Therefore, when the user does not use the space partitioner 400, the space partitioner 400 may be separated from the inner casing 200 and stored.

[0334] To this end, a storage hanger 240 protruding from the inner surface of the inner casing 200 and on which the support rack 700 having the space partitioner 400 is seated may be further included.

[0335] Accordingly, the user may store the space partitioner 400 in the inner casing 200 without having to store the space partitioner 400 separately, thereby increasing convenience.

[0336] The storage hanger 240 may include a plurality of storage hangers to more stably seat the support rack 700.

[0337] According to an embodiment, the mounting stand 612 may be seated on the storage hanger 240.

[0338] FIG. 19 illustrates another embodiment of a space partitioner of a laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure.

[0339] According to an embodiment, the space partitioner 400 may be withdrawn from one surface of the inner casing 200 in the direction parallel to the bottom surface 201 of the inner casing 200.

[0340] Accordingly, the user may use the space partitioner 400 by withdrawing the same from one surface of the inner casing 200 only when necessary without having to mount or separate the space partitioner 400 in or from the inner casing 200, thereby increasing convenience.

[0341] One surface of the inner casing 200 may be one of both side surfaces and the rear surface of the inner casing 200. That is, the space partitioner 400 may be withdrawn from any surface of the inner casing 200. However, it is most preferable that the space partitioner 400 is disposed on the rear surface of the inner casing 200 so as to be easily withdrawn by the user.

[0342] To this end, the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may further include a first holder 252 disposed on one surface of the inner casing 200 to fix the space partitioner 400 to one surface of the inner casing 200. In other words, the space partitioner 400 may be selectively withdrawn from the first holder 252 disposed on one surface of the inner casing 200.

[0343] The first holder 252 may include a pair of first holders to fix the space partitioner 400 on both sides. The first holders 252 may be formed in a hook shape to stably fix the space partitioner 400 formed in a rod shape on both sides.

[0344] A plurality of pairs of first holders 252 may be spaced apart from each other in the height direction of the inner casing 200. Accordingly, the space partitioner 400 may be fixed to the first holders 252 by varying a vertical level thereof.

[0345] The laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may further include a storage holder 250 mounted on the storage hanger 240 and having the first holder 252. A detailed structure of the storage holder 250 will be described later.

[0346] An additional rack 270 fixed to the first holder 252 and withdrawable in the direction parallel to the bottom surface 201 of the inner casing 200 may be further included. The additional rack 270 may be formed in a cylindrical shape and may have the same structure as the space partitioner 400. The additional rack 270 may include a plurality of additional racks and be fixed to the first holders 252. Accordingly, the user may selectively withdraw the additional rack 270 in addition to the mounting rack 600 and mount the small laundry thereon.

[0347] The inner casing 200 may further include a second holder 260 facing the first holder 252 and fixing the space partitioner 400 or the additional rack 270 withdrawn from one surface of the inner casing 200.

[0348] The second holder 260 may include a pair of second holders disposed in the inner casing 200 to fix the space partitioner 400 or the additional rack 270 at both sides of the inner casing 200. The second holders 260 may be disposed on both side surfaces of the inner casing 200. Accordingly, the space partitioner 400 or the additional rack 270 may be stably fixed on both sides.

[0349] A plurality of pairs of second holders 260 may be spaced apart from each other in the height direction of the inner casing 200. Accordingly, the space partitioner 400 or the additional rack 270 may be fixed to the second holders 260 by varying a vertical level thereof. A detailed structure of the second holder 260 will be described later.

[0350] When the space partitioner 400 is withdrawn from one surface of the inner casing 200, the film membrane 410 may separate the first space S1 and the second space S2 from each other.

[0351] As a result, by forming the partition in the height direction of the inner casing 200 via the space partitioner 400 in the inner casing 200, the small laundry such as the shoes and the hat mounted in the partial space in the inner casing 200 may be intensively treated, and the volume of the space to which the hot air or steam is supplied may be reduced, so that the steam or hot air may be supplied only to the partial space in the inner casing 200, that is, the first space S1, thereby increasing the energy efficiency.

[0352] FIG. 20 illustrates a structure of a storage holder of a laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure.

[0353] The storage holder 250 may include a storage body (not shown) installed inside the inner casing 200, a hanging hook 251 formed by recessing a portion of the storage body (not shown) and seated on the storage hanger 240, and the first holder 252 formed in a hook shape to protrude from the storage body 251 and fixing the space partitioner 400 or the additional rack 270.

[0354] The first holder 252 may include the plurality of first holders spaced apart from each other in the height direction of the inner casing 200 to fix the space partitioner 400 or the additional rack 270 at different vertical levels. Accordingly, the volume of the space into which the steam or hot air is introduced may be adjusted by adjusting the vertical level of the space partitioner 400 as desired by the user.

[0355] Accordingly, the user may selectively form the partition in the height direction of the inner casing 200, and may selectively change the volume of the space into which the hot air or steam is supplied, that is, the first space S1, inside the inner casing 200.

[0356] FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view of the space partitioner and the additional rack installed inside the inner casing.

[0357] The storage holder 250 may be seated on the storage hanger 240. That is, the storage hook 251 may be seated on the storage hanger 240 so as to be fixed.

[0358] In addition, the space partitioner 400 and the additional rack 270 may be fixed to the first holder 252. FIG. 21 illustrates that three pairs of first holders 252 are spaced apart from each other in the height direction of the inner casing 200. Unlike as shown in FIG. 21, the numbers of first holders 252, space partitioners 400, and additional racks 270 may be changed.

[0359] The second holder 260 may be disposed to face the first holder 252, so that the withdrawn space partitioner 400 or additional rack 270 may be fixed. In other words, the space partitioner 400 or the additional rack 270 may be stably fixed on both sides by the first holder 252 and the second holder 260.

[0360] A structure of the space partitioner 400 is the same as the above-described content. However, the space partitioner 400 may be fixed to the first holder 252, so that the film membrane 410 may be withdrawn from one side of the inner casing 200, and the protruding fixer 420 may be coupled to the film membrane 410 so as to protrude therefrom and be fixed to the other side of the inner casing 200.

[0361] The space partitioner 400 may further include a partitioner accommodating portion 430 fixed to the first holder 252 and accommodating the film membrane 410 therein. When the film membrane 410 is not withdrawn from the partitioner accommodating portion 430, the film membrane 410 may be accommodated in the partitioner accommodating portion 430 disposed on one surface of the inner casing 200, and the protruding fixer 420 may protrude outward of the partitioner accommodating portion 430. Accordingly, when withdrawing the film membrane 410 from the partitioner accommodating portion 430, the user may grip the protruding fixer 420 and easily withdraw the same.

[0362] When the film membrane 410 is withdrawn from the partitioner accommodating portion 430, the protruding fixer 420 may be fixed to the second holder 260 disposed opposite to the first holder 252.

[0363] In one example, the additional rack 270 may support the article thereon inside the inner casing 200. The additional rack 270 may include a rack fixer 271 coupled to the additional rack 270 to protrude therefrom and fixed to the other side of the inner casing 200.

[0364] The additional rack 270 may further include a rack accommodating portion 272 fixed to the first holder 252 to accommodate the additional rack 270 therein. When the additional rack 270 is withdrawn from the rack accommodating portion 272, the rack fixer 271 may be fixed to the second holder 260 disposed opposite to the first holder 252.

[0365] Accordingly, the user may mount the small laundry such as the hat, the shoes, and the doll on the additional rack 270 as well as on the mounting rack 600.

Claims

1. A laundry treating apparatus comprising: a cabinet; an inner casing disposed in the cabinet and providing an accommodation space where laundry is accommodated; and a space partitioner disposed inside the inner casing to be movable in a direction parallel to a bottom surface of the inner casing for selective partitioning or communication of the accommodation space.

2. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a machine room in communication with the inner casing, wherein the machine room includes a heater configured to generate steam supplied to the inner casing and a compressor configured to generate hot air supplied to the inner casing; and a through-hole defined to extend through the inner casing so as to be in communication with the machine room, wherein the through-hole is constructed to introduce hot air and steam generated in the machine room into the inner casing, wherein the space partitioner includes a film membrane withdrawable in the direction parallel to the bottom surface of the inner casing and configured to block a flow of hot air or steam discharged from the through-hole.

3. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 2, wherein the film membrane is disposed between a first space where the through-hole is defined and a second space, a remaining portion of the accommodation space excluding the first space, and blocks or guides the flow of hot air or steam introduced into the inner casing from the first space to the second space.

4. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a support rack disposed in the inner casing upward of the bottom surface of the inner casing, wherein the space partitioner is withdrawable from the support rack in the direction parallel to the bottom surface of the inner casing.

5. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 4, wherein the space partitioner includes: a film membrane accommodated in one side of the support rack and withdrawable in the direction parallel to the bottom surface of the inner casing; and a protruding fixer coupled to the film membrane so as to protrude therefrom and fixed to the other side of the support rack.

6. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 5, wherein the support rack includes: a support body disposed inside the inner casing and constructed to accommodate the film membrane therein; and an expansion portion withdrawable from the support body in a direction opposite to a withdrawal direction of the film membrane, wherein the protruding fixer is fixed to the withdrawn expansion portion.

7. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 6, wherein the expansion portion further includes: an expansion body withdrawn from the support body; and a partitioner fixer disposed on the expansion body to fix the protruding fixer.

8. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 6, wherein the support body is spaced apart from an inner surface of the inner casing, wherein the expansion portion is constructed to be withdrawn from the support body and be in contact with an inner surface of the inner casing.

9. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a mounting rack disposed in the inner casing to be in parallel with the bottom surface of the inner casing and constructed to mount an article thereon, wherein the support rack is installed to be spaced upwardly apart from the mounting rack.

10. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 9, further comprising: a support body disposed in the inner casing and having the space partitioner; and a support leg withdrawable from the support body and constructed to connect the support rack with the mounting rack.

11. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 10, wherein the support leg includes: a leg body connected to the support body and mountable on the mounting rack; and a leg hinge rotatably disposed at one side of the leg body to allow the support leg to be withdrawn downward from the support body.

12. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 11, wherein the support leg includes a leg hook formed in a ring shape and disposed at a side opposite to said one side of the leg body, wherein the leg hook is constructed to be coupled to the mounting rack.

13. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a storage hanger protruding from an inner surface of the inner casing and where the support rack is seated.

14. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the space partitioner is withdrawable from one surface of the inner casing in the direction parallel to the bottom surface of the inner casing.

15. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a partitioner accommodating portion disposed on said one surface of the inner casing and constructed to accommodate the space partitioner therein.

16. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 15, further comprising: a first holder disposed on said one surface of the inner casing and constructed to fix the partitioner accommodating portion; and a second holder disposed to face the first holder and constructed to fix the space partitioner withdrawn from the partitioner portion accommodating portion.

17. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first holder includes a plurality of first holders, wherein the plurality of first holders are arranged to be spaced apart from each other in a height direction of the inner casing to fix the partitioner accommodating portions at different vertical levels.

18. A rack comprising: a support body including both side surfaces, and a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface connecting respective ends of said both side surfaces to each other, wherein an article is seated on the support body; a ventilation hole defined to extend through at least a portion of the support body and allowing a fluid to pass therethrough; and a space partitioner withdrawable from one of said both side surfaces, the first surface, and the second surface to selectively shield the ventilation hole.

19. The rack of claim 18, wherein the space partitioner includes a film membrane withdrawn from one of said both side surfaces, the first surface, and the second surface and fixed to another of said both side surface, the first surface, and the second surface to shield the ventilation hole.

20. The rack of claim 19, wherein the film membrane is withdrawn from one of said both side surfaces and fixed to the other of said both side surfaces.

21. The rack of claim 19, wherein the film membrane is withdrawable from one of the first surface and the second surface and fixed to the other of the first surface and the second surface.

22. The rack of claim 19, further comprising an expansion portion withdrawable from one of said both side surfaces, the first surface, and the second surface, wherein the withdrawn film membrane is fixed to the withdrawn expansion portion.

23. The rack of claim 18, wherein the support body includes: first frames forming said both side surfaces; and second frames connecting respective ends of the first frames to each other and forming the first surface and the second surface, wherein the first frames and the second frames form a quadrangular cross-section, wherein the ventilation hole includes a plurality of ventilation holes arranged inward of the first frames and the second frames so as to be spaced apart from each other.

Images