Detergent storage container and method for manufacturing the same

Abstract

A detergent storage container for a laundry treating apparatus includes a detergent storage member that defines a storage space configured to store laundry detergent, and a residual amount detecting unit disposed at the detergent storage member and configured to detect a residual amount of laundry detergent stored in the detergent storage member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A detergent supply device for a laundry treating apparatus comprising:
 a housing;   a detergent storage container configured to store laundry detergent and disposed in the housing, the detergent storage container being insertable into the housing along one direction; and   a detecting unit installed to one surface of the detergent storage container and configured to detect an amount of the laundry detergent stored in the detergent storage container, wherein the one surface of the detergent storage container to which the detecting unit is installed is a surface facing the one direction.   
     
     
         2 . The detergent supply device of  claim 1 , wherein the detecting unit penetrates the one surface of the detergent storage container in the one direction. 
     
     
         3 . The detergent supply device of  claim 1 , wherein the detecting unit defines a portion of the one surface of the detergent storage container. 
     
     
         4 . The detergent supply device of  claim 1 , wherein the detergent storage container comprises a coupling portion that is disposed at the one surface of the detergent storage container, and the detecting unit is installed at the coupling portion. 
     
     
         5 . The detergent supply device of  claim 4 , wherein the coupling portion includes a space defined at the one surface of the detergent storage container, and the detecting unit is installed at the space of the coupling portion. 
     
     
         6 . The detergent supply device of  claim 5 , wherein the space of the coupling portion penetrates the one surface of the detergent storage container in the one direction. 
     
     
         7 . The detergent supply device of  claim 1 , further comprising a connection terminal receiving member that is installed at one surface of the housing facing the one surface of the detergent storage container, and
 wherein the detecting unit is configured to be connected to the connection terminal receiving member based on the detergent storage container being inserted into the housing.   
     
     
         8 . The detergent supply device of  claim 7 , further comprising a connection terminal portion that protrudes along the one direction from the detecting unit to the connection terminal receiving member. 
     
     
         9 . The detergent supply device of  claim 1 , further comprising a storage container frame configured to be inserted to the housing in the one direction, and
 wherein the detergent storage container is mounted to the storage container frame and configured to be inserted to the housing with the storage container frame in the one direction.   
     
     
         10 . The detergent supply device of  claim 9 , further comprising a connection terminal portion that protrudes in the one direction from the one surface of the detergent storage container and that passes through a communication portion located at one wall of the storage container frame. 
     
     
         11 . The detergent supply device of  claim 1 , further comprising a pump receiving portion through which laundry detergent flows out, wherein the pump receiving portion is disposed at the one surface of the detergent storage container. 
     
     
         12 . The detergent supply device of  claim 11 , wherein the detecting unit is installed higher than the pump receiving portion. 
     
     
         13 . The detergent supply device of  claim 11 , further comprising a laundry detergent pump that is located at an outside of the housing and configured to be connected to the pump receiving portion based on the detergent storage container being inserted into the housing. 
     
     
         14 . The detergent supply device of  claim 1 , wherein the detecting unit comprises an electrode installed to the one surface of the detergent storage container and configured to contact the laundry detergent stored in the detergent storage container. 
     
     
         15 . The detergent supply device of  claim 1 , wherein the detecting unit comprises a support bracket that is coupled to the one surface of the detergent storage container and defines a portion of the one surface of the detergent storage container. 
     
     
         16 . The detergent supply device of  claim 15 , wherein the detecting unit comprises an electrode installed to the support bracket and configured to contact the laundry detergent stored in the detergent storage container. 
     
     
         17 . The detergent supply device of  claim 1 , wherein the detergent storage container is configured to be inserted into the housing in a rear direction,
 wherein the detecting unit is installed to a rear surface of the detergent storage container that faces, and   wherein the rear surface of the detergent storage container faces a rear surface of the housing.