Laundry treatment apparatus

Abstract

A laundry treatment apparatus may facilitate input and removal of laundry items. The laundry treatment apparatus may include a door which may selectively open and close an opening into a receiving space formed in a cabinet in which laundry items may be received for treatment. The door may serve as a laundry guide when positioned at an angle relative to the cabinet so as to guide laundry items into the receiving space, and may serve as a shelf to support laundry items thereon when positioned at another angle relative to the cabinet.

1 . A laundry treatment apparatus, comprising:
 a cabinet having an opening formed therein;   a receiving space formed within the cabinet and configured to receive laundry through the opening formed in the cabinet; and   at least two doors coupled to the cabinet to selectively open and close the opening formed in the cabinet.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of a rotating direction or a rotating angle of the at least two doors is different from one another. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the at least two doors comprises:
 a first door having a first rotating direction and a first maximum rotating angle; and   a second door having the first rotating direction and a second maximum rotating angle that is different from the first maximum rotating angle.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the first door is rotatably coupled to the cabinet, and the second door is rotatably coupled to the first door. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the at least two doors comprises:
 a first door having a first rotating direction; and   a second door having a second rotating direction that is different from the first rotating direction.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a first rotating shaft that rotatably couples the first door to the cabinet; and   a second rotating shaft that rotatably couples the second door to the first door, wherein the first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft are perpendicular to each other.   
     
     
         7 . A laundry treatment apparatus, comprising:
 a cabinet having an opening formed therein;   a receiving space provided within the cabinet and configured to receive laundry through the opening formed in the cabinet;   a first door rotatably coupled to the cabinet, the first door having a first door through hole corresponding to the opening formed in the cabinet;   a second door rotatably coupled to the first door so as to selectively open and close the first door through-hole; and   a locking mechanism including a second door holder that secures the second door to the first door such that the first and second doors rotate together during rotation of the first door.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of a rotating direction or a maximum rotating angle of the first and second doors is different. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the second door holder is coupled to the second door when the first door is rotated in a first direction toward an open position relative to the opening in the cabinet, and is moved in a direction to be separated from the second door when the first door is rotated in a second direction toward a closed position relative to the opening in the cabinet. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the locking mechanism further comprises a first door holder that secures the first door to the cabinet when the second door is rotated in a first direction toward an open position relative to the opening in the cabinet. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the first door holder includes:
 a first holder reciprocally coupled to the cabinet, wherein the first holder detachably couples the first door to the cabinet; and   a pressure piece provided at the second door, wherein the pressure piece moves the first holder in a direction to be separated from the first door when the second door is rotated in a second direction toward a closed position relative to the opening in the cabinet.   
     
     
         12 . A laundry treatment apparatus, comprising:
 a cabinet having an opening formed therein;   a receiving space provided within the cabinet and configured to receive laundry through the opening formed in the cabinet;   a first door rotatably coupled to the cabinet, the first door having a first door through-hole formed therein in communication with the opening formed in the cabinet;   a second door rotatably coupled to the first door so as to selectively open and close the first door through-hole; and   an angle adjusting mechanism that adjusts a rotating angle of the first door.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a first door hinge, comprising:
 a first door shaft provided in the first door and arranged parallel to a bottom of the cabinet; and 
 a shaft supporter having a first end secured to the cabinet and a second end secured to the first door shaft, and 
   wherein the angle adjusting mechanism comprises:
 an adjusting device provided at one of the shaft supporter or the first door shaft; and 
 a detachment device provided in the first door and detachably coupled to the adjusting device, wherein the detachment device adjusts the rotating angle of the first door. 
   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a first door hinge, comprising:
 a cabinet fixing bracket coupled to the cabinet;   a door fixing bracket coupled to the first door;   a base plate provided at the cabinet fixing bracket;   a first link rotatably coupled to the base plate;   a second link having a first end thereof rotatably coupled to the first link and a second end thereof rotatably coupled to the door fixing bracket;   a third link having a first end thereof rotatably coupled to the first link and a second end thereof rotatably coupled to the door fixing piece; and   a spring having a first end thereof coupled to the base plate and a second end thereof coupled to the second link,   wherein the angle adjusting mechanism comprises an adjusting link having a first end thereof rotatably coupled to the second link and a second end thereof rotatably coupled to the base plate, wherein the detachment device is provided at the base plate and is configured to be detachably coupled to the adjusting link.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the detachment device comprises:
 a detachable body supported by the base plate;   a first fixing protrusion provided at the detachable body, the first fixing protrusion being disc shaped; and   a second fixing protrusion provided at a surface of the first fixing protrusion, and wherein the adjusting link comprises:   a first recess configured to receive the second fixing protrusion;   a second recess spaced apart from the first recess by a predetermined distance and configured to receive the first fixing protrusion; and   a third recess spaced apart from the second recess by a predetermined distance and configured to receive the first fixing protrusion.   
     
     
         16 . A laundry treatment apparatus, comprising:
 a cabinet having an opening formed therein;   a receiving space provided within the cabinet and configured to receive laundry therein through the opening formed in the cabinet;   a first door rotatably coupled to the cabinet, the first door having a first door through-hole formed therein in communication with the opening formed in the cabinet;   a second door rotatably coupled to the first door so as to selectively open and close the first door through-hole; and   an angle adjusting mechanism that adjusts a rotating angle of the second door.   
     
     
         17 . A laundry treatment apparatus, comprising:
 a cabinet t having an opening formed therein;   a receiving space provided within the cabinet and configured to receive laundry therein through the opening formed in the cabinet;   a first door rotatably coupled to the cabinet so as to selectively open and close the opening formed in the cabinet; and   an angle adjusting mechanism that adjusts a rotating angle of the first door.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a first door hinge, comprising:
 a first door shaft provided in the first door and arranged parallel to a bottom of the cabinet; and 
 a shaft supporter having a first end thereof coupled to the cabinet and a second end thereof coupled to the first door shaft, 
   wherein the angle adjusting mechanism comprises:
 an adjusting device provided at the one of shaft supporter or the first door shaft; and 
 a detachment device configured to be detachably coupled to the adjusting device, wherein the detachment device adjusts the rotating angle of the first door. 
   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a first door hinge, wherein the first door hinge comprises:
 a cabinet fixing bracket coupled to the cabinet; 
 a door fixing bracket coupled to the first door; 
 a base plate provided at the cabinet fixing piece; 
 a first link rotatably coupled to the base plate; 
 a second link having a first end thereof rotatably coupled to the first link and a second end thereof rotatably coupled to the door fixing bracket; 
 a third link having a first end thereof rotatably coupled to the first link and a second end thereof rotatably coupled to the door fixing bracket; and 
 a spring having a first end thereof coupled to the base plate and a second end thereof coupled to the second link, 
   wherein the angle adjusting mechanism comprises:
 an adjusting link having a first end thereof rotatably coupled to the second link and a second end thereof rotatably coupled to the base plate; and 
 a detachment device provided at the base plate and configured to be detachably coupled to the adjusting link. 
   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the detachment device comprises:
 a detachable body supported by the base plate;   a first fixing protrusion provided at the detachable body, the first fixing protrusion having a disc shape; and   a second fixing protrusion provided at a surface of the first fixing protrusion, and wherein the adjusting link comprises:   a first recess configured to receive the second fixing protrusion;   a second recess spaced apart from the first recess by a predetermined distance and configured to receive the first fixing protrusion; and   a third recess spaced apart from the second recess by a predetermined distance and configured to receive the first fixing protrusion.