Washer and Dryer System and Method of Use

Abstract

The present invention relates to a combination washing and drying appliance for laundry. The appliance is configured to automatically transfer wet clothes from the washing unit to the dryer unit for automatically drying the clothes. The appliance has either vertical or horizontal stacked washing and dryer units. The washing and dryer units have a common conduit for automatically transferring the wet laundry from the washing unit to the dryer unit after a wash cycle is completed. The dryer unit is automatically activated for drying wet clothes when the wet clothes are deposed in the dryer drum of the dryer unit. The common conduit is accessible only after completion of the wash cycle using sliding doors positioned on the washing tub of the washing unit and the dryer drum of the dryer unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A washing and drying system comprising;
 a washing unit having a washing drum contained within the washing unit;   a drying unit having a drying drum contained within the drying unit;   a movable door provided in each of the washing and drying units, wherein the movable door in the washing unit is adjacent to the movable door in the drying unit; and   a pressure creator module to move a quantity of laundry from the washing unit to the drying unit.   
     
     
         2 . The washing and drying system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the washing unit comprises a microcontroller having a weight sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The washing and drying system as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the weight sensor with the microcontroller operates the movable door of both the washer unit and the drying unit. 
     
     
         4 . The washing and drying system as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the movable doors are opened if the weight sensor detects between 0 and 16 ounces in the washer drum. 
     
     
         5 . The washing and drying system as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the movable doors are opened if the weight sensor detects between 0 and 4 ounces in the washer drum. 
     
     
         6 . The washing and drying system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the washing unit and drying unit are disposed adjacent to one another. 
     
     
         7 . The washing and drying system as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the washing unit and drying unit are disposed in a vertical alignment. 
     
     
         8 . The washing and drying system as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the washing unit and drying unit are disposed in a horizontal alignment. 
     
     
         9 . The washing and drying system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the drying unit further comprises at least one of a ultraviolet light or a steam feature. 
     
     
         10 . The washing and drying system as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the steam feature, when activated, distributes at least one of a fragrance, a bactericide, a fungicide or other germ fighting component. 
     
     
         11 . The washing and drying system as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a smartphone that monitors an operation of each of the washing and drying units. 
     
     
         12 . A washer and dryer appliance comprising:
 a washer comprised of a washing drum, a movable door and a microcontroller;   a dryer comprised of a drying drum and a movable door, wherein the washer is disposed above the dryer in a vertical alignment, and further wherein the movable door of the dryer is positioned beneath the movable door for the washer;   a pressure creator module to move a quantity of laundry from the washer drum to the dryer drum; and   a smartphone connected to the microcontroller.   
     
     
         13 . The washer and dryer appliance as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the smartphone detects an alarm signal when one of the movable doors of the washer or drier becomes jammed. 
     
     
         14 . A washer and dryer appliance as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the smartphone causes at least one of the washing drum or drying drum to move to unjam the movable doors. 
     
     
         15 . The washer and dryer appliance as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the microcontroller is in communication with a weight sensor. 
     
     
         16 . The washer and dryer appliance as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the movable doors are moved from a first position to a second position when the weight sensor detects a weight in the washing drum of between 0 and 16 ounces. 
     
     
         17 . The washer and dryer appliance as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the first position is an open position and the second position is a closed position. 
     
     
         18 . A method of using a washer and dryer system, the method comprising the steps of:
 loading a quantity of laundry into a washer, the washer having a slidable door;   initiating a laundry cycle;   sliding the slidable door of the washer upon completion of a wash cycle;   providing a dryer having a slidable door;   transferring the quantity of laundry from the washer to the dryer by a pressure module and through the slidable doors of each of the washer and the dryer; and   activating the dryer.   
     
     
         19 . The method of using a washer and dryer system as recited in  claim 18  further comprising a microcontroller in the washer that is in communication with a weight sensor and the slidable doors of the washer and the dryer. 
     
     
         20 . The method of using a washer and dryer system as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the dryer comprises at least one of an ultraviolet light and a steam unit.