Clothes treating apparatus

Abstract

A clothes treating apparatus is disclosed. The clothes treating apparatus includes a drum to hold laundry, a steam generating device to supply steam to the drum, a water supply source to supply water to the steam generating device, and a backflow inhibiting unit to inhibit water from flowing back from the steam generating device when the water supply source is removed. Accordingly, the clothes treating apparatus can inhibit or remove wrinkles generated at clothes, and can collect water from the steam generating device after operation of the steam generating device is terminated.

1 . A clothes treating apparatus comprising:
 a drum to hold laundry;   a steam generating device to supply steam to the drum;   a water supply source to supply water to the steam generating device; and   a backflow inhibiting unit configured to inhibit water from flowing back from the steam generating device when the water supply source is removed.   
   
   
       2 . The clothes treating apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the backflow inhibiting unit is configured as a water supply hose, the water supply hose having an end connected to a water supply port formed at an upper portion of the steam generating device. 
   
   
       3 . The clothes treating apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the water supply port is positioned above a highest water level of the steam generating device. 
   
   
       4 . The clothes treating apparatus according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a pump provided between the water supply source and the steam generating device to selectively supply or collect water through the water supply port,   wherein the water supply hose further has the other end connected to an outlet port of the pump.   
   
   
       5 . The clothes treating apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the outlet port of the pump is positioned below the water supply port of the steam generating device. 
   
   
       6 . The clothes treating apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the pump is capable of being rotated in forward and reverse directions. 
   
   
       7 . The clothes treating apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the steam generating device includes a housing formed with the water supply port, and a water pipe having a first end communicating with the water supply port and a second end positioned below the water supply port. 
   
   
       8 . The clothes treating apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the steam generating device further includes a water level sensor to sense a water level in the housing, and
 the water pipe has a lower end positioned below a lower end of the water level sensor.   
   
   
       9 . The clothes treating apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the steam generating device further includes a heater, and
 the water pipe has a lower end positioned above an upper end of the heater.   
   
   
       10 . The clothes treating apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the housing includes an upper housing formed with the water supply port, and a lower housing mounted with the heater. 
   
   
       11 . The clothes treating apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the lower housing includes a main portion mounted with the heater, and an expanded portion coupled to the upper housing, the expanded portion having a width larger than the main portion. 
   
   
       12 . The clothes treating apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the lower end of the water pipe is positioned on a left side or a right side of the heater. 
   
   
       13 . The clothes treating apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the water pipe is formed integrally with the housing. 
   
   
       14 . The clothes treating apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the water pipe is extended from the water supply port, and is bent downward. 
   
   
       15 . The clothes treating apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a water supply unit capable of supplying water from the water supply source to the steam generating device while leaving little water in the water supply source.   
   
   
       16 . The clothes treating apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the water supply unit includes a pipe member removably connected to a water path through which water is discharged from the water supply source, and a fixing member to selectively fix the pipe member. 
   
   
       17 . The clothes treating apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the pipe member includes a connecting part removably connected to the water path of the water supply source, and an extended part extended from the connecting part. 
   
   
       18 . The clothes treating apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the extended part is bent from the connecting part at a predetermined angle. 
   
   
       19 . The clothes treating apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the angle is substantially 90°. 
   
   
       20 . A clothes treating apparatus comprising:
 a drum to hold laundry;   a steam generating device including a housing having a water supply port, and a water pipe having a first end communicating with the water supply port and a second end positioned below the water supply port; and   a pump to selectively supply or collect water to/from the steam generating device through the water supply port.