Laundry treating apparatus

Abstract

A laundry treating apparatus for performing a processing operation for laundry includes a control panel for inputting control signals for the processing operation. The apparatus includes a body configured to accommodate laundry and a cover defining an exterior of the body. The cover includes a first through hole located at a front upper end portion, and a second through hole. A control panel is located at an inner surface of the cover and is partially exposed through the first through hole. A control button is located inside the cover and is partially exposed to the exterior of the cover through the second through hole. The control button is configured to be brought into contact with the control panel when pressed by a user. The cover has a hook protrusion protruding rearward from a circumferential edge of the second through hole. The control panel is coupled to the hook protrusion.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A laundry treating apparatus for performing a processing operation for laundry, the laundry treating apparatus comprising:
 a main body configured to accommodate the laundry;   a cover defining an exterior of the main body, the cover including:   a first through hole located at a front upper end portion of the cover;   a second through hole located lower than a center of the first through hole; and   a first hook protrusion protruding rearward from a circumferential edge of the second through hole;   a control panel located at an inner surface of the cover, the control panel being partially exposed to an exterior of the cover through the first through hole to allow a user to input a control signal for the processing operation, the control panel being coupled to the hook protrusion; and   a first control button located inside the cover, the first control button being partially exposed to the exterior of the cover through the second through hole.   
     
     
         16 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the first hook protrusion incudes a hook hole extending through the hook protrusion, and
 wherein the control panel includes a hook located at a lower end portion of the control panel, the hook being configured to be inserted into the hook hole.   
     
     
         17 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising fasteners fastening an upper portion of the control panel to the inner surface of the cover. 
     
     
         18 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the cover includes a third through hole,
 wherein the second through hole and the third through hole are arranged symmetrically on opposite sides of the control panel, and   wherein the laundry treating apparatus further comprises a second control button located inside the cabinet cover, the second control button being partially exposed to the exterior of the cover through the third through hole.   
     
     
         19 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein a second hook protrusion protrudes rearward from a circumferential edge of the third through hole, and wherein the control panel is fastened to both the first hook protrusion and the second hook protrusion. 
     
     
         20 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the control panel includes:
 a window having a front surface, a portion of the front surface being bonded to the inner surface of the cover adjacent the first through hole;   a touch screen located at a rear surface of the window; and   a coating guide configured to support a rear surface of the touch screen, the coating guide being located at the inner surface of the cover.   
     
     
         21 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the control panel further includes a board cover located at a rear surface of the coating guide, the board cover including a printed circuit board (PCB) connected to the touch screen. 
     
     
         22 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising a panel frame configured to press the rear surface of the control panel, the panel frame being located at the inner surface of the cover. 
     
     
         23 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the panel frame includes a frame protrusion protruding from a front surface of the panel frame, the frame protrusion being configured to press a rear surface of the board cover. 
     
     
         24 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the control panel further includes a first sealing member interposed between the window and the coating guide. 
     
     
         25 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the control panel further includes a second sealing member interposed between the coating guide and the board cover. 
     
     
         26 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising a controller configured to input and output signals related to controlling the processing operation. 
     
     
         27 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the controller is configured to receive signals for controlling the processing operation from the touch screen through the printed circuit board. 
     
     
         28 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 26 , further comprising a wireless communicator configured to transmit and receive wireless signals to and from an outside of the laundry treating apparatus, the wireless communicator being located at the inside surface of the cover and coupled to a bottom of the control panel. 
     
     
         29 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the wireless communicator is configured to transmit and receive the wireless signals for controlling the processing operation from and to the controller. 
     
     
         30 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the control panel includes:
 a fixed UI section including a first control UI having a fixed display; and   a variable UI section including a second control UI having a variable display.   
     
     
         31 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the variable display is configured to display an on/off input. 
     
     
         32 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the variable display is configured to display a variable laundry setting input. 
     
     
         33 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the window includes an area corresponding to the first through hole, a first portion of the area being a transmissive area, a remaining portion of the area being a non-transmissive area, and
 wherein the touch screen is located at a rear surface of the window, the touch screen being visible through the transmissive area.   
     
     
         34 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the control panel further includes a shield layer located on the window, the shield layer defining the non-transmissive area.