Modular Laundry System with Work Surface Having a Functional Element

Abstract

A modular laundry system comprises at least one laundry appliance and a worksurface provided on the at least one laundry appliance. The worksurface can optionally have one or more different features and/or functional elements, including a backsplash with a recess formed therein, a functional element extending from a side of the perimeter of the worksurface and providing a storage and/or staging function, or a hanging function element.

1 . A modular laundry system comprising:
 at least one laundry appliance comprising a housing with a closed top; and   a worksurface abutting the closed top and comprising a backsplash having a recess formed therein;   wherein the worksurface is mountable to the at least one laundry appliance to rest on the closed top and to provide a contiguous modular system with a backsplash.   
   
   
       2 . The modular laundry system according to  claim 1  and further comprising at least one staging bin received in the recess. 
   
   
       3 . The modular laundry system according to  claim 1  and further comprising at least one illumination source mounted to the backsplash. 
   
   
       4 . The modular laundry system according to  claim 1  and further comprising a shelf extendable from the front of the worksurface. 
   
   
       5 . The modular laundry system according to  claim 4 , wherein the shelf is stowable below an upper surface of the worksurface. 
   
   
       6 . The modular laundry system according to  claim 4 , wherein the shelf comprises an ironing board. 
   
   
       7 . The modular laundry system according to  claim 6 , wherein the ironing board is at least one of slidably and pivotally mounted to the worksurface. 
   
   
       8 . The modular laundry system according to  claim 1  and further comprising a power outlet located on the worksurface. 
   
   
       9 . The modular laundry system according to  claim 1  and further comprising a hanging rod extending from the worksurface. 
   
   
       10 . The modular laundry system according to  claim 9 , wherein the hanging rod is retractably mounted to the worksurface. 
   
   
       11 . The modular laundry system according to  claim 1 , wherein the worksurface further comprises a docking station for an iron. 
   
   
       12 . The modular laundry system according to  claim 1 , wherein the worksurface further comprises movement preventers defining a space that is comparable to one of a width and a depth of the at least one laundry appliance. 
   
   
       13 . The modular laundry system according to  claim 13 , wherein the movement preventers comprise flanges formed at opposite sides of the work surface. 
   
   
       14 . The modular laundry system according to  claim 1 , wherein the worksurface is formed by multiple interconnected pieces. 
   
   
       15 . The modular laundry system according to  claim 1 , wherein the worksurface further comprises a functional insert provided on an upper surface of the worksurface. 
   
   
       16 . The modular laundry system according to  claim 15 , wherein the functional insert comprises a first surface configured for performing a first function and a second surface configured for performing a second function different from the first function. 
   
   
       17 . The modular laundry system according to  claim 1  and further comprising at least one additional laundry appliance comprising a housing with a closed top, wherein the worksurface is mountable to both of the laundry appliances to rest on the closed tops. 
   
   
       18 . The modular laundry system according to  claim 17 , wherein the worksurface further comprises movement preventers defining a space that is comparable to one of a combined width of both laundry appliances and a depth of the at least one laundry appliance. 
   
   
       19 . A modular laundry system comprising:
 at least one laundry appliance comprising a housing with a closed top having a width and a depth;   a worksurface abutting the closed top and defining a perimeter comprising a front, a back, and opposite sides, a width substantially equal to the width of the closed top, and a depth substantially equal to the depth of the closed top; and   at least one functional element mounted to the worksurface and extending from a side of the perimeter, away from the at least one laundry appliance, and providing one of a storage function and a staging function;   wherein the worksurface is mountable to the at least one laundry appliance to rest on the closed top and to provide additional storage or staging to the modular system.   
   
   
       20 . The modular laundry system according to  claim 19 , wherein the at least one functional element comprises a first bin. 
   
   
       21 . The modular laundry system according to  claim 19  and further comprising a second bin arranged in a saddle-bag configuration with the first bin. 
   
   
       22 . The modular laundry system according to  claim 19 , wherein the worksurface comprises a backsplash located at the back of the perimeter. 
   
   
       23 . The modular laundry system according to  claim 22  and further comprising lighting incorporated into the backsplash. 
   
   
       24 . The modular laundry system according to  claim 19 , wherein the at least one laundry appliance comprises a backsplash provided on the top, and the worksurface further comprises an opening at the back of the perimeter that receives the backsplash. 
   
   
       25 . The modular laundry system according to  claim 19 , wherein the worksurface is formed by multiple interconnected pieces. 
   
   
       26 . The modular laundry system according to  claim 19 , wherein the worksurface further comprises a functional insert provided on the upper surface of the worksurface. 
   
   
       27 . The modular laundry system according to  claim 26 , wherein the functional insert comprises a first surface configured for performing a first function and a second surface configured for performing a second function different from the first function. 
   
   
       28 . The modular laundry system according to  claim 19 , wherein the worksurface further comprises movement preventers defining a space that is comparable to one of the width and the depth of the closed top. 
   
   
       29 . The modular laundry system according to  claim 28 , wherein the movement preventers comprise flanges formed at opposite sides of the work surface. 
   
   
       30 . The modular laundry system according to  claim 19  and further comprising at least one additional laundry appliance comprising a housing with a closed top having a width and a depth, wherein the worksurface is mountable to both of the laundry appliances to rest on the closed tops. 
   
   
       31 . The modular laundry system according to  claim 30 , wherein the worksurface further comprises movement preventers defining a space that is comparable to one of a combined width of both closed tops and the depth of the at least one closed top. 
   
   
       32 . A modular laundry system comprising:
 at least one laundry appliance comprising a housing with a closed top;   a worksurface abutting the closed top of the at least one laundry appliance and comprising a backsplash; and   a hanging functional element extending from the backsplash;   wherein the worksurface is mountable to the at least one laundry appliance to rest on the closed top and to provide a contiguous modular system with a backsplash and hanging functionality.   
   
   
       33 . The modular laundry system according to  claim 32 , wherein the hanging functional element comprises a pair of spaced vertical rods mounted to the backsplash and a U-shaped hanging rod supported by the vertical rods. 
   
   
       34 . The modular laundry system according to  claim 32 , wherein the worksurface further comprises movement preventers defining a space that is comparable to one of a width and a depth of the at least one laundry appliance. 
   
   
       35 . The modular laundry system according to  claim 34 , wherein the movement preventers comprise flanges formed at opposite sides of the work surface. 
   
   
       36 . The modular laundry system according to  claim 32 , wherein the worksurface is formed by multiple interconnected pieces. 
   
   
       37 . The modular laundry system according to  claim 32 , wherein the worksurface further comprises a functional insert provided on the upper surface of the worksurface. 
   
   
       38 . The modular laundry system according to  claim 37 , wherein the functional insert comprises a first surface configured for performing a first function and a second surface configured for performing a second function different from the first function. 
   
   
       39 . The modular laundry system according to  claim 32  and further comprising lighting mounted to the hanging functional element. 
   
   
       40 . The modular laundry system according to  claim 32  and further comprising at least one additional laundry appliance comprising a housing with a closed top, wherein the worksurface is mountable to both of the laundry appliances to rest on the closed tops. 
   
   
       41 . The modular laundry system according to  claim 40 , wherein the worksurface further comprises movement preventers defining a space that is comparable to one of a combined width of both laundry appliances and a depth of the at least one laundry appliance.