Refresher and Machine for Washing or Drying with the Same

Abstract

An apparatus for clothes, more particularly, a new clothes refresher for de-wrinkling and sterilizing clothes is disclosed. The clothes refresher includes a body ( 400 ) configured to receive clothes therein, and a stem supply device ( 200 ) to supply steam into the body ( 400 ) in order to supply the steam to the clothes.

1 . A clothes refresher comprising:
 a body configured to receive clothes therein; and   a steam supply device to supply steam into the body in order to supply the steam to the clothes.   
   
   
       2 . A clothes refresher comprising:
 a base having a water storage space;   a body configured to receive clothes therein; and   a steam generator to heat water stored in the base to generate steam, in order to supply the steam to the clothes received in the body.   
   
   
       3 . The refresher as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the body is foldable, and a cover is provided at an upper side of the body to cover the base. 
   
   
       4 . The refresher as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the base has an inlet opening to be supplied with water from an external source into the water storage space, and a passage extending from the inlet opening to the water storage space. 
   
   
       5 . The refresher as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the inlet opening is provided with an door for opening and closing thereof. 
   
   
       6 . The refresher as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the steam generator includes:
 a heater mounted in the water storage space of the base; and   a controller to control the heater.   
   
   
       7 . The refresher as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the cover is provided with a holder bar for hanging clothes thereon. 
   
   
       8 . The refresher as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the cover has an outlet opening to discharge air or steam. 
   
   
       9 . The refresher as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the body has a zipper for putting the clothes into the body and taking out the clothes from the body. 
   
   
       10 . The refresher as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the base is provided with a lattice partition placed above the water storage space. 
   
   
       11 . The refresher as set forth in  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a steam supply pipe provided between the water storage space and the cover,   wherein the steam supply pipe extendible and contractible in length and adapted to transfer the steam generated in the water storage space to the clothes received in the body.   
   
   
       12 . The refresher as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the base is provided with a partition, which is placed above the water storage space and provided with a plurality of injection nozzles. 
   
   
       13 . The refresher as set forth in  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a blowing device for circulating air.   
   
   
       14 . The refresher as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the blowing device is mounted in the base. 
   
   
       15 . The refresher as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the blowing device includes an axial flow fan to suck and discharge air in an axial direction. 
   
   
       16 . The refresher as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the blowing device includes a centrifugal fan to suck air in an axial direction and to discharge the air in a radial direction. 
   
   
       17 . The refresher as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein the blowing device is mounted such that an air discharge direction thereof faces the water storage space of the base. 
   
   
       18 . The refresher as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the cover is formed with an outlet opening to discharge air or steam, and the blowing device is mounted at the outlet opening. 
   
   
       19 . The refresher as set forth in  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a steam injection device to inject the steam generated by the steam generator into an inner space of the body.   
   
   
       20 . The refresher as set forth in  claim 3 , further comprising:
 an upper steam injection device to inject the steam generated by the steam generator into an upper space of the body.   
   
   
       21 . The refresher as set forth in  claim 20 , wherein the upper steam injection device includes:
 a steam injection pipe provided to the cover and having a steam injector; and   a steam supply pipe having one end communicating with the steam injection pipe and the other end communicating with the water storage space of the base, the steam supply pipe being extendible and contractible in length.   
   
   
       22 . The refresher as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein the steam supply pipe is detachably connected to at least the steam injection pipe. 
   
   
       23 . The refresher as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein the steam injection pipe takes the form of a holder bar for hanging the clothes thereon. 
   
   
       24 . The refresher as set forth in  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a lower steam injection device to inject the steam generated by the steam generator into a lower space of the body.   
   
   
       25 . The refresher as set forth in  claim 24 , further comprising:
 a partition to separate the water storage space of the base from an inner space of the body,   wherein the lower steam injection device is mounted on the partition and has a steam injection pipe having a steam injector.   
   
   
       26 . The refresher as set forth in  claim 24 , further comprising:
 a partition to separate the water storage space of the base from an inner space of the body,   wherein the lower steam injection device has an elongated slot formed in the partition.   
   
   
       27 . The refresher as set forth in  claim 24 , further comprising:
 a partition to separate the water storage space of the base from an inner space of the body,   wherein the lower steam injection device includes a steam injection arm having a plurality of steam injection holes and placed longitudinally above the partition by a long length.   
   
   
       28 . The refresher as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the refresher is provided with a connection opening for the connection of a steam flow pipe, to receive steam supplied from an external source through the steam flow pipe. 
   
   
       29 . The refresher as set forth in  claim 28 , wherein the connection opening is formed in the base or the cover. 
   
   
       30 . The refresher as set forth in  claim 28 , wherein the connection opening is provided with a sensor for sensing the connection or separation of the steam flow pipe. 
   
   
       31 . A machine for washing or drying clothes comprising:
 a receiving unit having a receiving space; and   a clothes refresher mounted in the receiving unit.   
   
   
       32 . The machine as set forth in  claim 31 , wherein the clothes refresher includes:
 a base having a water storage space;   a body foldable and configured to receive clothes therein in an unfolded state; and   a steam generator to heat water stored in the base to generate steam, in order to supply the steam to the clothes received in the body.   
   
   
       33 . The refresher as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the base includes a water container for storing water therein, the water container being detachably mounted in the water storage space. 
   
   
       34 . The refresher as set forth in  claim 33 , wherein the steam generator includes:
 an electric heating coil to heat the water container to thereby generate steam; and   a controller to control the electric heating coil.   
   
   
       35 . The refresher as set forth in  claim 33 , wherein the base has a closable mounting opening to put or take out the water container into or from the base. 
   
   
       36 . The refresher as set forth in  claim 34 , wherein the electric heating coil is provided to the water container, and
 wherein the water container or the base is provided with a connection terminal for electrically connecting the electric heating coil to the controller.   
   
   
       37 . The refresher as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the body is made of a flexible material, and is provided with a supporter to support and keep the body in an unfolded state. 
   
   
       38 . The refresher as set forth in  claim 38 , wherein the supporter has a link structure or telescopic structure.