Laundry treating apparatus

Abstract

A laundry treating apparatus is disclosed. The laundry treating apparatus includes an outer case defining an appearance of the laundry treating apparatus, a washing tub arranged in the outer case, to receive laundry, a top lid mounted to a top of the outer case such that the top lid is openable and closeable, and an air flow assembly defining a passage communicating an interior of the outer case and an exterior of the outer case. The laundry treating apparatus can prevent moisture from staying in the interior of the laundry treating apparatus for a prolonged period of time, thereby preventing a failure of the laundry treating apparatus, generation of an offensive odor and propagation of bacteria in the interior of the laundry treating apparatus.

1 . A laundry treating apparatus comprising:
 an outer case defining an appearance of the laundry treating apparatus;   a washing tub arranged in the outer case, to receive laundry;   a top lid mounted to a top of the outer case such that the top lid is openable and closeable; and   an air flow assembly defining a passage communicating an interior of the outer case and an exterior of the outer case.   
   
   
       2 . The laundry treating apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the air flow assembly is arranged at a position deviated to one side of the top lid, to allow ambient air to enter and leave the air flow assembly during rotation of the washing tub. 
   
   
       3 . The laundry treating apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the air flow assembly comprises a ventilating member for allowing ambient air to enter and leave the air flow assembly, a filter unit separably installed over the ventilating member, and a cover member installed over the ventilating member, to define an appearance of the air flow assembly. 
   
   
       4 . The laundry treating apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the filter unit comprises a filter for removing foreign matter from the ambient air introduced into the outer case, and a housing for holding the filter. 
   
   
       5 . The laundry treating apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the housing is insert-molded in a state, in which the filter is held in the housing, such that the housing is integrally formed with the filter. 
   
   
       6 . The laundry treating apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the housing comprises upper and lower housings separably coupled to each other. 
   
   
       7 . The laundry treating apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the filter is interposed between the upper and lower housings. 
   
   
       8 . The laundry treating apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the ventilating member comprises bosses respectively provided at opposite sides of the ventilating member, to couple the filter unit to the ventilating member. 
   
   
       9 . The laundry treating apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the housing comprises cap-shaped boss guides respectively provided at opposite sides of the ventilating member such that the boss guides can receive the bosses, respectively. 
   
   
       10 . The laundry treating apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein each boss guide is upwardly protruded to a height corresponding to the cover member, to support a portion of the cover member. 
   
   
       11 . The laundry treating apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the filter unit is installed such that the filter unit is spaced apart from the ventilating member by a predetermined distance, to allow air to easily enter and leave the filter unit. 
   
   
       12 . The laundry treating apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the filter unit further comprises a rib downwardly protruded from the housing along a peripheral edge of the housing. 
   
   
       13 . The laundry treating apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the housing is provided with a grasping rib protruded from an upper surface of the housing, to allow the user to grasp the grasping rib when it is desired to separate the housing. 
   
   
       14 . The laundry treating apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the cover member comprises a decoration member coupled to an upper surface of the top lid, and formed with an opening, and a door mounted to the decoration member, to open and close the opening. 
   
   
       15 . The laundry treating apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the door is installed to be opened in an outward direction of the washing tub. 
   
   
       16 . The laundry treating apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the door is pivotally coupled to the decoration member by a hinge. 
   
   
       17 . The laundry treating apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the door is installed such that an opening inclination of the door can be selectively adjusted.