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 laundry treating apparatus includes a main body configured to accommodate laundry and and a cover defining an exterior of the main body. The cover includes a first through hole located at a front upper end portion of the cover. A control panel is located at an inner surface of the cover. The control panel is 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 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.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . 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; and   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 including:   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.   
     
     
         17 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the fixed UI section includes a button rod contact configured to allow a user to input an operation signal for the first control UI. 
     
     
         18 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the variable UI section includes a touch control configured to allow a user to input an operation signal for the second control UI. 
     
     
         19 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the variable display is configured to display an on/off input. 
     
     
         20 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the variable display is configured to display a variable laundry setting input. 
     
     
         21 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the control panel further 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.   
     
     
         22 . 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. 
     
     
         23 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the touch screen is located in the variable UI section. 
     
     
         24 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the first through hole is a circular opening, and
 wherein the touch screen has a height smaller than a diameter of the first through hole.   
     
     
         25 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the touch screen has a quadrilateral shape. 
     
     
         26 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein an area of the window corresponding to the first through hole has a first portion and a remaining portion, the first portion being a transmissive area, and the remaining portion being a non-transmissive area, and
 wherein the touch screen is visible through the transmissive area.   
     
     
         27 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the control panel further includes a shield layer located on the window, the shield area defining the non-transmissive area. 
     
     
         28 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 21 , 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. 
     
     
         29 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the control panel further includes a second sealing member interposed between the coating guide and the board cover. 
     
     
         30 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 28 , further comprising a panel frame configured to press a rear surface of the control panel, the panel frame being located at the inner surface of the cover. 
     
     
         31 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the panel frame includes a frame protrusion protruding from a front surface of the panel frame, the frame protrusion having a bend configured to be elastically deformed. 
     
     
         32 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the cover further includes:
 a second through hole located lower than a center of the first through hole in the front upper end portion of the cover, and   a hook protrusion protruding rearward from a circumferential edge of the second through hole, and   wherein the control panel is coupled to the hook protrusion.   
     
     
         33 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the hook protrusion includes a hook hole extending through the hook protrusion, and
 wherein the control panel further includes a hook provided at a lower end portion of the control panel, the hook being inserted into the hook hole.   
     
     
         34 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 33 , further comprising fasteners fastening an upper portion of the control panel to the inner surface of the cover. 
     
     
         35 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 32 , further comprising a control button located inside the cover, the control button being partially exposed to the exterior of the cover through the second through hole, the control button being configured to be brought into contact with the control panel when pressed by a user.