Laundry treating apparatus

Abstract

A laundry treating apparatus includes a cabinet, a tub disposed inside the cabinet and containing water therein, a first storage at least partially exposed to the outside of the cabinet and containing first detergent therein, and a second storage disposed inside the cabinet and containing second detergent therein. The second storage is in communication with the tub. The second storage includes a first chamber containing the second detergent therein and in communication with the tub, and a second chamber protruding from the first chamber, wherein the first detergent is introduced into the second chamber. The first detergent in the second chamber is discharged into the tub via the first chamber.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A laundry treating apparatus comprising:
 a cabinet:   a tub disposed inside the cabinet and containing water therein:   a first storage at least partially exposed to the outside of the cabinet and containing first detergent therein: and   a second storage disposed inside the cabinet and containing second detergent therein, wherein the second storage is in communication with the tub,   wherein the second storage includes:
 a first chamber containing the second detergent therein and in communication with the tub; and 
 a second chamber protruding from the first chamber, wherein the first detergent is introduced into the second chamber, 
   wherein the first detergent in the second chamber is discharged into the tub via the first chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein one surface of the first chamber is open to be in communication with the tub, and a portion of an opposite surface thereof is open to be in communication with the second chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the portion of the opposite surface of the first chamber is spaced upwardly apart from a bottom surface of the first chamber, and the first detergent introduced from the second chamber flows toward the bottom surface of the first chamber along the opposite surface. 
     
     
         4 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the second storage includes:
 a receiving casing including the first chamber and the second chamber; and   a drawer containing the second detergent therein and retractable into the first chamber,   wherein the second chamber extends in a direction away from the drawer, and the first detergent introduced into the second chamber flows to a bottom surface of the first chamber via a space between the opposite surface of the first chamber and the drawer.   
     
     
         5 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cabinet includes a top cover having a laundry inlet defined therein,
 wherein the tub has a tub inlet defined therein facing the laundry inlet.   
     
     
         6 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first chamber includes a first space defined therein for containing the second detergent therein,
 wherein the second chamber includes a second space defined therein extending in a direction away from the first space, wherein the first detergent is introduced into the second space.   
     
     
         7 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second storage includes a detergent detector disposed on a flow path of the first detergent introduced via the second chamber and configured to sense the first detergent. 
     
     
         8 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the second storage further includes a step forming portion forming a portion of the flow path of the first detergent, formed to be stepped such that a vertical level thereof with respect to the ground is lowered, and having the detergent detector. 
     
     
         9 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the flow path of the first detergent includes:
 a bottom surface of the second chamber allowing the first detergent to flow toward the first chamber therethrough:   the step forming portion extending from the bottom surface of the second chamber toward the ground and allowing the first detergent to flow down therethrough; and   a bottom surface of the first chamber connected to the step forming portion at a vertical level lower than a vertical level of the bottom surface of the second chamber, wherein the first detergent flows toward the tub through the bottom surface of the first chamber.   
     
     
         10 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein one surface of the first chamber is open to be in communication with the tub to discharge the first detergent and the second detergent therethrough, and an opposite surface of the first chamber is connected to the second chamber to allow the first detergent to be introduced from the second chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the one surface and the opposite surface of the first chamber are positioned to be opposite to each other. 
     
     
         12 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein a bottom surface of the second chamber is located at a vertical level higher than a vertical level of a bottom surface of the first chamber,
 wherein the detergent detector is disposed beneath the second chamber on the opposite surface of the first chamber.   
     
     
         13 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the detergent detector includes a pair of electrodes extending through the opposite surface of the first chamber, and a dividing rib is formed to protrude between the pair of electrodes. 
     
     
         14 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second storage includes:
 a receiving casing including the first chamber and the second chamber, wherein a casing open surface in communication with the tub is defined at a front surface of the receiving casing: and   a drawer containing the second detergent therein, wherein the drawer is retracted into the first chamber via the casing open surface.   
     
     
         15 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the receiving casing includes a rear wall located on an opposite side of the casing open surface, and the second chamber protrudes rearward from the rear wall. 
     
     
         16 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the drawer is spaced apart from the rear wall,
 wherein the first detergent in the second chamber flows between the drawer and the rear wall to a bottom surface of the first chamber.   
     
     
         17 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the drawer is spaced apart from the bottom surface of the first chamber to define a detergent discharge area,
 wherein the first detergent and the second detergent flow through the detergent discharge area and are discharged from the receiving casing.   
     
     
         18 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second chamber has a detergent discharge hole defined therein connected to a detergent pipe configured to guide the first detergent, and the detergent discharge hole has an area size smaller than an area size of a flow path of the detergent pipe. 
     
     
         19 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the second chamber includes a shielding portion blocking a portion of the flow path of the detergent pipe. 
     
     
         20 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first storage includes a storage body exposed to the outside of the cabinet, attachable to and detachable from the cabinet, and storing the first detergent therein. 
     
     
         21 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a water supply pipe configured to guide water supplied from a water supply source is connected to the first chamber,
 wherein the second storage further includes a water diffuser configured to guide water supplied to the first chamber to the second chamber.   
     
     
         22 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the water diffuser includes:
 a first diffuser located inside the first chamber; and   a second diffuser extending from the first diffuser and located inside the second chamber.   
     
     
         23 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the water diffuser further includes an inclination forming portion located between the first diffuser and the second diffuser and inclined to guide water from the first diffuser to the second diffuser. 
     
     
         24 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the second diffuser includes a guide rib extending in a direction away from the first diffuser and guiding water. 
     
     
         25 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein a detergent discharge hole discharging the first detergent therethrough is defined in a top surface of surface of the second chamber,
 wherein the second diffuser has a portion corresponding to the detergent discharge hole open to allow the first detergent to pass therethrough.   
     
     
         26 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the first chamber contains the second detergent therein at a location under the first diffuser,
 wherein the first diffuser includes a plurality of water discharge holes allowing water to be discharged downward therethrough.