Laundry treatment apparatus

Abstract

The laundry treatment apparatus includes a cabinet having a receiving space for reception of laundry, a feeder configured to feed at least one of air or moisture into the receiving space, a support structure placed in the receiving space, the support structure providing a support space to allow a surface of the laundry to be supported by the support space, a guide affixed in the receiving space, the guide being configured to set a movement range of the laundry to prevent the laundry from deviating from the support space, and a press structure separably coupled to the support structure, the press structure being configured to apply pressure to the laundry positioned in the support space.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A laundry treatment apparatus comprising:
 a cabinet having a space configured to receive laundry;   a door rotatably coupled to the cabinet to open or close the space;   a feeder configured to feed at least one of air or moisture into the space; and   a press to flatten the laundry, wherein the press includes:
 a support having an area to support a surface of the laundry; 
 a guide configured to limit a movement range of the laundry from deviating from the support area; and 
 a plate structure separably coupled to the support, the plate structure being configured to apply pressure to the surface of the laundry positioned in the support area, wherein the guide restricts the laundry's movement in a direction parallel to a bottom of the cabinet. 
   
     
     
       2. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further including a clamp to fix a position of the laundry supported in the support area. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the support and the guide are affixed to an inner circumferential surface of the receiving space, and the plate structure and the clamp are rotatably coupled to the inner circumferential surface of the receiving space. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the support and the guide are affixed to an inner surface of the door facing the receiving space, and the plate structure and the clamp are rotatably coupled to the inner surface of the door. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the inner surface of the door is provided with a recess, and wherein the support, the plate structure, the clamp and the guide are positioned in the recess. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the support structure includes a support body providing the support area, and the plate structure includes a press body separably coupled to the support body to apply pressure to the laundry, the press body being rotatably coupled to the inner surface of the door, and a body through-hole perforated in the press body. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the support body is configured to form a plane parallel to the inner surface of the door. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the press body or the support body has a groove configured to define a space for non-application of pressure to the laundry. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the support further includes a support body groove formed in a height direction of the door, the support body groove being recessed to cause a surface of the support body to be further away from the receiving space. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the plate structure further includes a press body groove recessed in a surface of the press body, the, press body groove being aligned with the support body groove to define a space for non-application of pressure to the laundry. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the clamp is located under the support body, and the plate structure further includes a fixing member receiving groove formed in the press body for covering the clamp. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the guide is located under the clamp for non-interfere with rotation of the press body. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the guide includes:
 a first guide configured to receive one end of the laundry parallel to a height direction of the door, and   a second guide configured to receive the other end of the laundry parallel to the height direction of the door.   
     
     
       14. The apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein
 the first guide includes a first fixing plate protruding from the inner surface of the door, and a first extension plate extending from the first fixing plate toward the second guide to define a space for reception of one end of the laundry, and   the second guide includes a second fixing plate protruding from the inner surface of the door, and a second extension plate extending from the second fixing plate toward the first guide to define a space for reception of the other end of the laundry.   
     
     
       15. The apparatus according to  claim 4 , further comprising a laundry support member or hook affixed to the inner surface of the door at a position above the press, one end of the laundry being secured to the laundry support member or the hook. 
     
     
       16. A laundry treatment apparatus comprising:
 a cabinet having a space to receive laundry;   a door rotatably coupled to the cabinet to open or close the space;   a feeder configured to feed at least one of air or moisture into the space; and   a laundry press provided on an inner side of the door to press the laundry, wherein the laundry press includes:   a support that supports a surface of the laundry;   a guide configured to receive the laundry supported by the support and to restrict a movement of the laundry supported by the support in a direction parallel to a bottom of the cabinet, the guide includes a fixing plate protruding from the inner side of the door and an extension plate extending in a width direction of the door from a free end of the fixing plate; and   a plate provided to be movable relative to the support, the plate being configured to apply pressure to the surface of the laundry positioned on the support.   
     
     
       17. The laundry treatment apparatus of claim 16, wherein the extension plate extends in the width direction of the door so as to face the laundry. 
     
     
       18. The laundry treatment apparatus of claim 17, wherein the guide includes a plurality of guides, and the plurality of guides include a first guide and a second guide, the first guide and the second guide being provided a prescribed distance from each other. 
     
     
       19. The laundry treatment apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first guide is positioned at a first side of the inner side of the door, and the second guide is positioned at a second side of the inner side of the door, the first side and the second side being opposite lateral sides. 
     
     
       20. The laundry treatment apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first guide has a first extension plate that extends laterally from the first side towards the second side and the second guide has a second extension plate that extends laterally from the second side towards the first side. 
     
     
       21. The laundry treatment apparatus of claim 20, wherein the first extension plate and the second extension plate have a prescribed length that extends partially across the inner side of the door. 
     
     
       22. The laundry treatment apparatus of claim 21, wherein the first extension plate and the second extension plate are spaced from each other in a width direction of the support to accommodate the laundry to be inserted between the first extension plate and the second extension plate. 
     
     
       23. The laundry treatment apparatus of claim 20, wherein the first extension plate and the second extension plate are provided below a bottom end of the support, and
 wherein a distance between a top end of the first extension plate and the bottom end of the support is substantially equal to a distance between a top end of the second extension plate and the bottom end of the support.   
     
     
       24. The laundry treatment apparatus of claim 20, wherein the first extension plate and the second extension plate are provided at a prescribed distance relative to the support in a direction perpendicular to the door. 
     
     
       25. The laundry treatment apparatus of claim 20, wherein inner surfaces of the first extension plate and the second extension plate are configured to contact the laundry to restrict the movement of the laundry relative to the support. 
     
     
       26. The laundry treatment apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a fixing member movable in a direction perpendicular to the door to hold a portion of the laundry. 
     
     
       27. The laundry treatment apparatus of claim 26, wherein the fixing member is provided a prescribed distance below a bottom end of the support, and
 wherein a length of the plate is greater than a length of the support such that when the plate is in a closed position on the support, the plate covers the fixing member so that the fixing member is not visible.   
     
     
       28. The laundry treatment apparatus of claim 16, wherein the laundry is pants, and the guide is configured to hold lateral ends of the pants to form a crease, the crease being held on the support to be pressed by the plate. 
     
     
       29. The laundry treatment apparatus of claim 16, wherein the plate extends below the support. 
     
     
       30. A laundry treatment apparatus comprising:
 a cabinet having a space to receive laundry;   a door rotatably coupled to the cabinet to open or close the space;   a feeder configured to feed at least one of air or moisture into the space; and   a laundry press provided on an inner side of the door to press the laundry, wherein the laundry press includes:   a support that supports a surface of the laundry;   a guide that is provided on the inner side of the door and below the support, the guide being configured to receive the laundry supported by the support and to restrict the laundry's movement in a direction parallel to a bottom of the cabinet; and   a plate provided to be movable relative to the support, the plate being configured to apply pressure to the surface of the laundry positioned on the support,   wherein the guide is configured to receive lateral ends of the laundry.   
     
     
       31. The laundry treatment apparatus of claim 30, wherein the guide includes a first guide and a second guide, wherein the first guide and the second guide are separated a prescribed distance from each other, and
 wherein the first guide is configured to receive one of lateral ends of the laundry and the second guide is configured to receive another of the lateral ends of the laundry.   
     
     
       32. The laundry treatment apparatus of claim 31, wherein the first guide is positioned at a first side of the inner side of the door and the second guide is positioned at a second side of the inner side of the door, the first side and the second side being opposite lateral sides. 
     
     
       33. The laundry treatment apparatus of claim 32, wherein the first guide has a first plate that extends laterally from the first side towards the second side, and the second guide has a second plate that extends laterally from the second side towards the first side. 
     
     
       34. The laundry treatment apparatus of claim 33, wherein the first plate and the second plate have a prescribed length that extends partially across the inner side of the door to accommodate the laundry to be inserted between the first plate and the second plate,
 wherein the first plate and the second plate are provided below a bottom end of the support,   wherein a distance between a top end of the first plate and the bottom end of the support is substantially equal to a distance between a top end of the second plate and the bottom end of the support, and   wherein the first plate and the second plate are provided at a prescribed distance relative to the support in a direction perpendicular to the door.   
     
     
       35. The laundry treatment apparatus of claim 33, wherein inner surfaces of the first plate and the second plate are configured to contact the laundry to restrict the movement of the laundry relative to the support. 
     
     
       36. The laundry treatment apparatus of claim 30, wherein the plate extends below the support.