Laundry treating apparatus

Abstract

A laundry treating apparatus is provided which can be manufactured easily. The laundry treating apparatus includes a cabinet, a drum rotatably disposed in the cabinet configured to hold laundry therein, a front cover including a door opening to load the laundry in the drum, and at least one panel opening configured to receive a control panel therein.

1 . A front panel for a laundry treating apparatus, comprising:
 a continuous front surface having at least two openings, including an opening for a door and an opening for a control panel; and   a plurality of side surfaces that extend continuously from the front surface, wherein the front panel is formed with at least one seamless corner where the front surface and two of the plurality of side surfaces meet.   
   
   
       2 . The front panel of  claim 1 , wherein the front panel is formed by a drawing process so as to form the at least one seamless corner where the front surface and the two of the plurality of side surfaces meet. 
   
   
       3 . The front panel of  claim 1 , wherein the front panel is formed of stainless steel. 
   
   
       4 . The front panel of  claim 1 , wherein the stainless steel comprises STS 304J1. 
   
   
       5 . The front panel of  claim 1 , wherein the opening for the control panel is disposed above the opening for the door. 
   
   
       6 . The front panel of  claim 1 , wherein the opening for the door is recessed relative to surrounding portions of the front panel. 
   
   
       7 . The front panel of  claim 6 , wherein the recessed opening for the door is formed by the drawing process. 
   
   
       8 . The front panel of  claim 1 , further comprising an opening for a detergent box. 
   
   
       9 . The front panel of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one service opening. 
   
   
       10 . The front panel of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of flanges extending from the plurality of side surfaces. 
   
   
       11 . The front panel of  claim 10 , wherein the opening for the control panel is configured to receive the control panel from a rear surface thereof with the control panel secured to at least one of the plurality of flanges. 
   
   
       12 . The front panel of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of flanges is configured to allow the control panel to be secured thereto by at least one fastener. 
   
   
       13 . The front panel of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of flanges do not connect to one another. 
   
   
       14 . The front panel of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of side surfaces comprise top, bottom, left, and right side surfaces. 
   
   
       15 . The front panel of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one seamless corner is not formed by a joining process. 
   
   
       16 . The front panel of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one seamless corner is not formed by welding. 
   
   
       17 . The front panel of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one seamless corner comprises at least two seamless corners. 
   
   
       18 . The front panel of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one seamless corner comprises a seamless corner formed at each corner where the front surface and two of the plurality of side surfaces meet. 
   
   
       19 . A laundry treating apparatus comprising the front panel of  claim 1 . 
   
   
       20 . A front panel for a laundry treating apparatus, comprising:
 a continuous front surface including an opening for a door and an opening for a control panel, wherein the front panel comprises stainless steel; and   a plurality of side surfaces that extend continuously from the front surface at an angle relative to the front surface, wherein at least one corner of the front panel comprises three continuously formed surfaces that are oriented substantially perpendicular to one another.