CLOTHES TREATMENT DEVICE

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a continuation application, claiming priority under 35 U.S.C. § 111(a), of an International application No. PCT/KR 2025/021595, filed on Dec. 12, 2025, which claims priority under 3 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean patent application No. 10-2024-0187540, filed on Dec. 16, 2024, in the Ministry of Intellectual Property, the disclosure of each of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates to a clothes treatment device, and more particularly, to a clothing treatment device including an ironing function.

BACKGROUND ART

Recently, clothes treatment devices that can remove wrinkles, dust or odors from clothes without using washing water have become widely used.

Conventional clothes treatment devices supply high-temperature steam to clothes and apply mechanical force, such as strong airflow or vibration thereto, to remove fine dust or wrinkles from clothes.

However, simply supplying high-temperature steam or strong airflow to clothes is not sufficient to effectively remove wrinkles from the clothes.

Therefore, there is a need for a clothes treatment device with an ironing function that may effectively remove wrinkles from clothes.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Technical Solution

A clothes treatment device according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure may include a cabinet including a storage space, an inner door on a front of the cabinet such that the inner door including an ironing space is configured to open and close the storage space, an outer door on the inner door and configured to open and close the ironing space, a support device on an upper surface of the inner door such that the support device including a hanger for hanging clothes is configured to move along a vertical direction, a fixing device in the ironing space and configured to fix a lower end of the clothes hung on the hanger, a linear movement device on the upper surface of the inner door and configured to move the support device linearly along the vertical direction, a load sensor configured to measure a load applied to the support device, an image sensor in the inner door and configured to capture an image of the clothes, and a processor configured to control operations of the image sensor, the load sensor, the support device, and the linear movement device such that a predetermined tension for ironing is applied to the clothes mounted between the hanger and the fixing device.

The support device may include a moving part to which the hanger is detachably mounted, a linear guide part on the upper surface of the inner door and configured to guide a vertical movement of the moving part, and a connecting plate connecting the moving part with the linear movement device.

The linear movement device may include a lifting plate to which one end of the connecting plate is fixed, a lifting part below the lifting plate and configured to move along the vertical direction, and a driving motor configured to drive the lifting part.

The fixing device may include a main body, a vertical guide in the inner door and configured to guide a vertical movement of the main body, a plurality of clothes fixing parts on the main body and configured to fix the lower end of the clothes, and a plurality of auxiliary fixing parts configured to fix one or more sleeves of the clothes to the main body.

The main body may include a housing, a pair of slides on a rear surface of the housing and movably coupled to the vertical guide, and a pair of housing fixing parts on the rear surface of the housing and configured to selectively fix the housing to the vertical guide.

The main body may further include a permanent magnet inside the housing and configured to attach to the plurality of clothes fixing parts. Each of the plurality of clothes fixing parts may include a pivot angle including a front wing and a rear wing respectively coupled to the front surface and the rear surface of the housing, and rotatably disposed on a lower surface of the housing, a front permanent magnet in the front wing of the pivot angle and configured to be attached to the permanent magnet of the main body, and a rear permanent magnet in the rear wing of the pivot angle and configured to be attached to the permanent magnet of the main body.

Each of the plurality of clothes fixing parts may include a pivot part pivotally disposed at one end of the housing and configured to press a portion of the front surface of the housing, and a pivot button configured to operate the pivot part. When the pivot button is pressed, the pivot part may pivot to press the portion of the front surface of the housing.

The plurality of auxiliary fixing parts may be disposed at ends of the pivot parts of the plurality of clothes fixing parts, and each of the plurality of auxiliary fixing parts and each of the pivot parts of the plurality of clothes fixing parts may be respectively connected by an automatic rewinding cable.

The processor may be configured to recognize a type and material of the clothes from the image captured by the image sensor, identify whether the load measured by the load sensor is a predetermined load that applies the predetermined tension to the clothes hung on the hanger. and, when the measured load is different from the predetermined load, control the linear movement device such that a tension applied to the clothes is adjusted.

The processor may further include a memory, and the processor is further configured to store data regarding the predetermined load for each type and material of the clothes in the memory.

According to one or more embodiments of the disclosure, a clothes treatment device may include a cabinet including a storage space, a door disposed on a front of the cabinet and configured to open and close the storage space, a support device on an upper surface of the cabinet such that the support device including a hanger for hanging clothes is configured to move along a vertical direction, a fixing device in the storage space and configured to fix a lower end of the clothes hung on the hanger, a linear movement device on the upper surface of the cabinet and configured to move the support device linearly along the vertical direction, a load sensor configured to measure a load applied to the support device, an image sensor in the cabinet to capture an image of the clothes, and a processor configured to control operations of the image sensor, the load sensor, the support device, and the linear movement device such that a predetermined tension for ironing is applied to the clothes mounted between the hanger and the fixing device.

The support device may include a moving part to which the hanger is detachably mounted, a linear guide part on the upper surface of the cabinet and configured to guide a vertical movement of the moving part, and a connecting plate connecting the moving part with the linear movement device.

The fixing device may include a main body, a vertical guide in the door and configured to guide a vertical movement of the main body, a plurality of clothes fixing parts on the main body and configured to fix the lower end of the clothes, and a plurality of auxiliary fixing parts configured to fix one or more sleeves of the clothes to the main body.

The processor may be configured to recognize a type and material of the clothes from the image captured by the image sensor, identify whether the load measured by the load sensor is a predetermined load that applies the predetermined tension to the clothes hung on the hanger, and, when the measured load is different from the predetermined load, control the linear movement device such that a tension applied to the clothes is adjusted.

According to one or more embodiments of the disclosure, a method for treating clothes using a clothes treatment device comprising a support device, a linear movement device, a fixing device, an image sensor, and a load sensor, the method may include hanging the clothes on a hanger disposed on the support device, capturing an image of the clothes using the image sensor, recognizing a type and material of the clothes using the image captured by the image sensor and identifying a predetermined load for ironing the clothes, securing a lower end of the clothes to the fixing device, measuring a load applied to the support device using the load sensor, identifying whether the measured load matches the predetermined load, when the measured load does not match the predetermined load, adjusting the load by controlling the linear movement device, thereby moving the support device along a vertical direction, repeating the measuring, the identifying, and the adjusting the load until the measured load matches the predetermined load, and performing ironing on the clothes when the measured load matches the predetermined load.

A clothes treatment device according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure may include a cabinet including a storage space, an inner door on a front of the cabinet such that the inner door including an ironing space is configured to open and close the storage space, an outer door on the inner door and configured to open and close the ironing space, a support device on an upper surface of the inner door and including a hanger for hanging clothes, and a fixing device in the ironing space and configured to fix a lower end of the clothes hung on the hanger. The fixing device may include a main body forming an exterior, a vertical guide in the inner door and configured to guide a movement of the main body, and a clothes fixing part on the main body and configured to fix a lower end of the clothes.

The main body may include a housing movably coupled to the vertical guide, and a plurality of permanent magnets spaced apart from each other inside the housing and provided with magnetism to allow the clothes fixing part to be detached. The clothes fixing part may include a pivot angle including a front wing detachably provided on the front surface of the housing and a rear wing extending from the front wing and detachably provided on the rear surface of the housing, a front permanent magnet in the front wing and provided with magnetism to allow attachment to and detachment from the permanent magnet, and a rear permanent magnet in the rear wing and provided with magnetism to allow attachment to and detachment from the permanent magnet.

The permanent magnet may be provided such that a front surface thereof has a first polarity and a rear surface thereof has a second polarity different from the first polarity. The front permanent magnet may be provided such that one surface facing the front surface of the permanent magnet has the second polarity, and the rear permanent magnet may be provided such that one surface facing the rear surface of the permanent magnet has the first polarity.

The fixing device may further include an auxiliary fixing part configured to fix a sleeve of the clothes to the main body. The auxiliary fixing part may be provided with magnetism so as to be detachably attached to the housing.

The auxiliary fixing part may include a clamp configured to fix the sleeve, and an auxiliary permanent magnet provided to the clamp and having magnetism.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects, features, and advantages of certain embodiments of the disclosure will be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

• • FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a clothes treatment device according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an inner door and an outer door of a clothes treatment device in an open state according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a state in which clothes are hung on a hanger in an ironing space of a clothes treatment device according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view illustrating a tension adjusting device of a clothes treatment device according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view illustrating a state in which a hanger is raised by the tension adjusting device of the clothes treatment device of FIG. 4 according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a fixing device of a clothes treatment device according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the fixing device of FIG. 6 taken along line A-A according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a clothes fixing part of the fixing device of FIG. 7 is rotated according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a state in which clothes are fixed in an ironing space of an inner door of a clothes treatment device according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a fixing device of a clothes treatment device according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a partial rear perspective view illustrating a main body of the fixing device of FIG. 10 according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the fixing device of FIG. 10 fixes a lower end of clothes according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating a fixing device of a clothes treatment device according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 14 is a partial rear perspective view illustrating a pivot part of the fixing device of FIG. 13 according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the fixing device of FIG. 13 fixes a lower end and sleeves of clothes according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view illustrating a hanger used in a clothes treatment device according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 17 is a view illustrating a state in which clothes are hung on the hanger of the clothes treatment device of FIG. 16 according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram illustrating a clothes treatment device according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating an ironing method of a clothes treatment device according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view illustrating a clothes treatment device according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Various embodiments of this document and terms used herein are not intended to limit the technical features described in this document to specific embodiments, but should be understood to include various modifications, equivalents, or alternatives of the embodiments.

In connection with the description of the drawings, similar reference numbers may be used for similar or related components.

The singular form of a noun corresponding to an item may include one or more of the above item, unless the relevant context clearly indicates otherwise.

In this document, each of phrases such as “A or B,” “at least one of A and B,” “at least one of A or B,” “A, B, or C,” “at least one of A, B, and C,” “at least one of A, B, C” may include any one of the items listed together with the corresponding phrase, or any possible combination thereof.

The term “and/or” includes any element of a plurality of related described elements or a combination of a plurality of related described elements.

Terms such as “first,” “second,” “primary,” or “secondary” may be used simply to distinguish one component from other components, and do not limit the corresponding components in other respects (e.g., importance or order).

When it is mentioned that one (e.g., first) component is “coupled” or “connected” to another (e.g., second) component with or without terms “functionally” or “communicatively”, it means that the one component can be connected to the another component directly (e.g., wired), wirelessly, or through a third component.

Terms such as “include” or “have” are intended to designate the presence of features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the embodiment, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combination thereof.

When a component is said to be “connected,” “coupled,” “supported,” or “in contact” with another component, this means not only cases where the components are directly connected, coupled, supported, or contacted, but also cases where the components are indirectly connected, coupled, supported, or contacted through a third component.

When a component is said to be located “on” other component, this includes not only cases where the component is in contact with the other component, but also cases where another component exits between the two components.

Further, the terms ‘leading end’, ‘rear end’, ‘upper side’, ‘lower side’, ‘top end’, ‘bottom end’, etc. used in the disclosure are defined with reference to the drawings. However, the shape and position of each component are not limited by the terms.

The disclosure provides a clothes treatment device that can automatically recognize the type and material of clothes hung on a hanger, automatically apply an optimal tension to the clothes to provide an ironing effect, and appropriately supply steam and air to the clothes to iron the clothes. The term ‘clothes’used in the disclosure is defined as a piece of clothing, an item of clothing, a piece of garment, or clothes (more than one piece of clothing).

Hereinafter, a clothes treatment device according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a clothes treatment device 1 according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an inner door 20 and an outer door 30 of a clothes treatment device 1 in an open state according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure. FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a state in which clothes C are hung on a hanger 43 in an ironing space 21 of a clothes treatment device 1 according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure. For reference, FIG. 3 illustrates an inner door 20 with the outer door 30 removed.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a clothes treatment device 1 according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure may include a cabinet 10, an inner door 20, and an outer door 30.

The cabinet 10 may form the exterior of the clothes treatment device 1 and may be formed in a roughly rectangular parallelepiped shape. A storage space 11 for accommodating clothes C may be provided within the cabinet 10.

An opening 12, through which clothes C are inserted into and removed from the storage space 11, may be formed on the front of the cabinet 10. A plurality of clothes C may be accommodated in the storage space 11 of the cabinet 10 such that the sleeves of the clothes C face the opening 12.

The interior of the cabinet 10 may be divided into two spaces by an intermediate plate 13. The space above the intermediate plate 13 may form the storage space 11 in which clothes C are accommodated, and the space below the intermediate plate 13 may form a machine room 15 in which a steam supply device 151, an air supply device 152, and a circulation device 153 are disposed.

The inner door 20 may be provided on the front of the cabinet 10 to allow the opening 12 to be opened and closed. The inner door 20 may be disposed to be rotatable relative to the front of the cabinet 10. The inner door 20 may be hingedly fixed to one side of the opening 12 of the cabinet 10. Therefore, the inner door 20 may be rotated relative to the cabinet 10 about the hinge. When the inner door 20 closes the opening 12, the storage space 11 of the cabinet 10 may be closed.

The inner door 20 may be formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape. An ironing space 21 capable of accommodating clothes C may be formed within the inner door 20. An opening 22, through which clothes C may be inserted and removed from the ironing space 21, may be formed on the front of the inner door 20.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, clothes C may be accommodated in the ironing space 21 with the front of the clothes C facing the opening 22. The ironing space 21 may be formed to accommodate a single piece of clothes C.

The width W1 of the inner door 20 may be formed to be substantially the same as the width W of the cabinet 10. The thickness T1 of the inner door 20 may be formed to be thinner than the thickness T of the cabinet 10. For example, the thickness T1 of the inner door 20 may be formed to be less than ⅓ of the thickness T of the cabinet 10. The thickness T1 of the inner door 20 may be defined so as to form the ironing space 21 capable of accommodating one piece of clothes C.

The inner door 20 may include a rear plate 201, an upper plate 202, a lower plate 203, and both side plates 204 and 205. The rear plate 201 of the inner door 20 may be configured to block the opening 12 of the storage space 11 of the cabinet 10. The rear plate 201, the upper plate 202, the lower plate 203, and both side plates 204 and 205 of the inner door 20 may form the ironing space 21. Accordingly, the inner surfaces of the rear plate 201, the upper plate 202, the lower plate 203, and both side plates 204 and 205 of the inner door 20 may form a rear surface, an upper surface, a lower surface, and both side surfaces of the inner door 20.

The inner door 20 may include a tension adjusting device configured to adjust a tension applied to clothes C hung on a hanger 43 in the ironing space 21. The tension adjusting device may include a support device 40 and a linear movement device 50.

The support device 40 may be disposed so as to be able to move up and down on the upper plate 202 of the inner door 20, and may include a hanger 43 for supporting clothes C. The support device 40 may be configured to vertically move the hanger 43 relative to the upper surface of the inner door 20, i.e., the upper surface of the ironing space 21. For example, the hanger 43 may be detachably disposed at the lower end of the support device 40.

The linear movement device 50 may be disposed on the upper plate 202 of the inner door 20, and may be configured to linearly move the support device 40 up and down. In other words, the linear movement device 50 may be configured to generate a driving force that moves the hanger 43 in the vertical direction. The linear movement device 50 may be disposed on one side of the support device 40.

The inner door 20 may include a load sensor 45 configured to measure the load (force) applied to the support device 40.

The inner door 20 may include a fixing device 60 that is disposed in the ironing space 21 and configured to secure the lower end of the clothes C hung on the hanger 43. The fixing device 60 may be disposed on the rear plate 201 of the inner door 20, i.e., the rear surface of the ironing space 21.

The inner door 20 may include an image sensor 95 for capturing an image of clothes C. For example, the image sensor 95 may photograph clothes C hung on the hanger 43 of the inner door 20 to form an image of the clothes C.

The ironing space 21 of the inner door 20 may be in communication with the machine room 15 of the cabinet 10. The inner door 20 may include a steam passage, an air passage, and a circulation passage connected to the steam supply device 151 (see FIG. 18), the air supply device 152 (see FIG. 18), and the circulation device 153 (see FIG. 18) of the machine room 15.

The outer door 30 may be disposed on the front of the inner door 20 so as to be rotatable relative to the inner door 20. The outer door 30 may be disposed with hinges on one side of the opening 22 of the inner door 20. The outer door 30 may be disposed to be able to open and close the opening 22 of the inner door 20. When the outer door 30 closes the opening 22 of the inner door 20, the ironing space 21 of the inner door 20 may be closed.

The outer door 30 may be hinge-disposed to rotate with respect to the cabinet 10 together with the inner door 20. The outer door 30 may be hinge-disposed to rotate with respect to the inner door 20 separately from the inner door 20.

Hereinafter, a tension adjusting device of a clothes treatment device 1 according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view illustrating a tension adjusting device of a clothes treatment device 1 according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure. FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view illustrating a state in which a hanger 43 is raised by the tension adjusting device of the clothes treatment device 1 of FIG. 4 according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a tension adjusting device according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure may include a support device 40 and a linear movement device 50.

The support device 40 may be configured to be vertically movable on the upper plate 202 of the inner door 20. The support device 40 may be configured to linearly move vertically with respect to the upper surface of the ironing space 21 of the inner door 20.

For example, the support device 40 may include a moving part 41 and a linear guide part 42. The moving part 41 may be configured to vertically move the hanger 43 relative to the upper plate 202 of the inner door 20. As an example, the moving part 41 may be configured as a block having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The hanger 43 may be disposed at the lower end of the moving part 41. As an example, the hanger 43 may be detachably mounted at the lower end of the moving part 41.

The linear guide part 42 may be disposed at the upper plate 202 of the inner door 20 and configured to guide the vertical movement of the moving part 41. For example, the linear guide part 42 may be configured to have a hollow corresponding to the cross-section of the moving part 41. Therefore, when the moving part 41 is inserted into the hollow of the linear guide part 42, the moving part 41 may move up and down linearly along the linear guide part 42.

The linear movement device 50 may be disposed on the upper plate 202 of the inner door 20. The linear movement device 50 may be disposed on one side of the support device 40. The linear movement device 50 may be configured to linearly move the support device 40 up and down, In other words, the linear movement device 50 may be configured to generate a driving force that vertically moves the support device 40.

For example, the linear movement device 50 may include a lifting plate 51, a lifting part 52, and a driving motor 53.

The lifting plate 51 may be configured to move up and down.

The lifting part 52 may be disposed below the lifting plate 51 and configured to vertically move the lifting plate 51. For example, the lifting part 52 may be configured as an X-shaped lift. The lifting part 52 may include a pair of X-shaped bars disposed on an upper surface of a base plate and a driving unit capable of linearly reciprocating the pair of X-shaped bars.

The driving motor 53 may be configured to drive the lifting part 52. For example, the driving motor 53 may operate the driving unit of the lifting part 52 to linearly reciprocate the pair of X-shaped bars in a vertical direction.

The linear movement device 50 may be connected to the support device 40 by a connecting plate 44. For example, the connecting plate 44 may be disposed to connect the upper end of the moving part 41 of the support device 40 and the lifting plate 51 of the linear movement device 50.

The load sensor 45 may be disposed on the connecting plate 44. The load sensor 45 may be configured to measure the load (force) applied to the support device 40. When clothes C is hung on the hanger 43 mounted on the lower end of the support device 40, i.e., the lower end of the moving part 41, a load may be applied to the moving part 41 of the support device 40. When the load is applied to the moving part 41 of the support device 40, the load sensor 45 disposed on the connecting plate 44 may measure the load applied to the moving part 41.

When the moving part 41 of the support device 40 is raised while the lower end of the clothes C hung on the hanger 43 is secured by the fixing device 60, the load applied to the moving part 41 may increase. Then, the tension applied to the clothes C hung on the hanger 43 may be increased by the support device 40. When the moving part 41 of the support device 40 is lowered, the load applied to the moving part 41 may decrease, thereby reducing the tension applied to the clothes C hung on the hanger 43 by the support device 40.

Hereinafter, the fixing device 60 of a clothes treatment device 1 according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3, 6, 7, and 8.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a fixing device 60 of a clothes treatment device 1 according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the fixing device 60 of FIG. 6 taken along line A-A according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a clothes fixing part 77 of the fixing device 60 of FIG. 7 is rotated according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 3, the fixing device 60 of the clothes treatment device 1 according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure may include a main body 70 and a vertical guide 80.

The fixing device 60 may be disposed in the ironing space 21 of the inner door 20. In other words, the main body 70 and the vertical guide 80 of the fixing device 60 may be disposed in the ironing space 21 of the inner door 20.

The main body 70 may be configured to fix the lower end of the clothes C. The main body 70 may be configured to linearly move up and down along the vertical guide 80.

The vertical guide 80 may be configured to guide the vertical movement of the main body 70. The vertical guide 80 may be disposed on the rear plate 201 of the inner door 20, i.e., on the rear surface of the ironing space 21.

The vertical guide 80 may include a pair of guide rails 81 and 82. The pair of guide rails 81 and 82 may be disposed perpendicular to the upper plate 202 of the inner door 20. The pair of guide rails 81 and 82 may be configured to guide the up and down movement of the main body 70.

The vertical guide 80 may include a pair of fixing bars 83 and 84. The pair fixing bars 83 and 84 may be disposed on one side of the pair of guide rails 81 and 82, respectively. For example, a left fixing bar 83 may be disposed on the left side of a left guide rail 81, and a right fixing bar 84 may be disposed on the right side of a right guide rail 82. Each of the pair of fixing bars 83 and 84 may include a plurality of fixing holes 83a and 84a. The plurality of fixing holes 83a and 84a may be formed at regular intervals along the length direction of the fixing bars 83 and 84. The plurality of fixing holes 83a and 84a may be formed so that a housing fixing part 74 of the main body 70 is fixed thereto.

An upper support bar 85 and a lower support bar 86 may be disposed between the pair of guide rails 81 and 82. The upper support bar 85 may be disposed between the upper ends of the pair of guide rails 81 and 82. The lower support bar 86 may be disposed between the lower ends of the pair of guide rails 81 and 82. The gap between the pair of guide rails 81 and 82 may be maintained by the upper support bar 85 and the lower support bar 86.

As an example, the pair of guide rails 81 and 82, the upper support bar 85, and the lower support bar 86 may form a rectangular frame shape.

Referring to FIGS. 6, 7, and 8, the main body 70 may include a housing 71, a pair of slides 72 and 73, and a pair of housing fixing parts 74.

The housing 71 may form the outer shape of the main body 70. The housing 71 may be formed in a bar shape with an approximately rectangular cross-section. In other words, the housing 71 may be formed in a narrow and long flat plate shape.

The housing 71 may be formed to have a length corresponding to the width of the ironing space 21 of the inner door 20. To secure the lower ends of clothes C of various sizes, the housing 71 may be formed as long as possible. For example, the housing 71 may be formed to have a length as long as possible while being smaller than the distance between the left and right plates 204 and 205 of the inner door 20, i.e., between the left and right surfaces of the ironing space 21.

The pair of slides 72 and 73 may be disposed on the rear surface of the housing 71. The pair of slides 72 and 73 may be configured to be movably coupled to the vertical guides 80. The pair of slides 72 and 73 may be disposed symmetrically about the center of the housing 71.

Each of the pair of slides 72 and 73 may be formed in an approximately channel shape. The pair of slides 72 and 73 may be disposed on the rear surface of the housing 71 such that the opening of the channel shape face laterally. Therefore, when the pair of slides 72 and 73 of the main body 70 are inserted into the pair of guide rails 81 and 82 of the vertical guide 80, the main body 70 may move up and down along the vertical guide 80 and may not be separated from the vertical guide 80 due to its own weight.

The pair of housing fixing parts 74 may be disposed on the rear surface of the housing 71, and configured to selectively secure the housing 71 to the vertical guide 80. The pair of housing fixing parts 74 may be disposed on one sides of the pair of slides 72 and 73, respectively. The pair of housing fixing parts 74 may be configured to be secured to the fixing holes 83a and 84a of the pair of fixing bars 83 and 84 of the vertical guide 80, respectively.

For example, the pair of housing fixing parts 74 may include a ball plunger 75. When a ball 75a of the ball plunger 75 of the housing fixing part 74 is inserted into one of the plurality of fixing holes 83a and 84a of the fixing bars 83 and 84 of the vertical guide 80, the main body 70 may be secured to the vertical guide 80. When the user applies a force in a vertical direction to the main body 70, the main body 70 may move vertically along the pair of guide rails 81 and 82.

The main body 70 may further include a plurality of clothes fixing parts 77 configured to fix the lower end of the clothes C. The plurality of clothes fixing parts 77 may be disposed on the housing 71 at regular intervals. A plurality of permanent magnets 711 may be disposed inside the housing 71 at positions corresponding to the plurality of clothes fixing parts 77. The plurality of clothes fixing parts 77 may be configured with the same structure. Therefore, only one clothes fixing part 77 will be described below.

For example, the clothes fixing part 77 may include a pivot angle 771, a front permanent magnet 772, and a rear permanent magnet 773.

The pivot angle 771 may be formed in an approximately L shape, and may be rotatably disposed on the lower surface of the housing 71. The pivot angle 771 may be disposed on the lower surface of the housing 71 to rotate about a hinge 71a. For example, the pivot angle 771 may include a front wing 771a and a rear wing 771b that are arranged at a right angle. When the pivot angle 771 rotates in one direction, the front wing 771a of the pivot angle 771 may be adjacent to the front surface of the housing 71. When the pivot angle 771 rotates in the opposite direction, the rear wing 771b of the pivot angle 771 may be adjacent to the rear surface of the housing 71.

The front permanent magnet 772 may be disposed in the front wing 771a of the pivot angle 771. The front permanent magnet 772 may be disposed to be attached to the permanent magnet 711 provided inside the housing 71. The rear permanent magnet 773 may be disposed in the rear wing 771b of the pivot angle 771. The rear permanent magnet 773 may be disposed to be attached to the permanent magnet 711 provided inside the housing 71. The front permanent magnet 772 and the rear permanent magnet 773 may be formed to have opposite magnetic poles. In addition, the permanent magnet 711 of the housing 71 may be disposed so that the magnetic poles thereof are opposite to the magnetic pole of the front permanent magnet 772 and the magnetic pole of the rear permanent magnet 773.

Accordingly, when the pivot angle 771 rotates in one direction so that the front wing 771a is adjacent to the front surface of the housing 71, the front wing 771a of the pivot angle 771 may be attached to the front surface of the housing 71 by the attractive force acting between the front permanent magnet 772 and the permanent magnet 711 of the housing 71. When the pivot angle 771 rotates in the opposite direction so that the rear wing 771b is adjacent to the rear surface of the housing 71, the rear wing 771b of the pivot angle 771 may be attached to the rear surface of the housing 71 by the attractive force acting between the rear permanent magnet 773 and the permanent magnet 711 of the housing 71.

As another example, the pivot angle 771 may be configured to include metallic materials that may be attached to the permanent magnet 711 of the housing 71 instead of the front permanent magnet 772 and the rear permanent magnet 773. Alternatively, the pivot angle 771 may be formed of a metallic material that may be attached to the permanent magnet 711 of the housing 71.

The fixing device 60 may further include a plurality of auxiliary fixing parts 76. The plurality of auxiliary fixing parts 76 may be configured to fix the sleeve S of the clothes C to the housing 71 of the main body 70. The auxiliary fixing parts 76 may be formed as a clamp 761 capable of holding the sleeve S. The auxiliary fixing part 76 may include an auxiliary permanent magnet 762, and the housing 71 of the main body 70 may include a metal plate to which the auxiliary permanent magnet 762 may be attached. The plurality of auxiliary fixing parts 76 may be formed with the same structure.

For example, the auxiliary fixing part 76 may include a clamp 761 and an auxiliary permanent magnet 762. The auxiliary permanent magnet 762 may be disposed on the rear surface of the clamp 761. Therefore, when the user holds the end of the sleeve S of the clothes C with the clamp 761, and then attaches the clamp 761 to the metal plate of the main body 70 with the auxiliary permanent magnet 762, the sleeve S of the clothes C may be fixed to the main body 70 with the auxiliary fixing part 76.

In this embodiment, two auxiliary fixing parts 76 may be used to fix two sleeves S of the clothes C.

Using the hanger 43 disposed on the support device 40 and the fixing device 60 described above, clothes C may be fixed to the ironing space 21 of the inner door 20 of the clothes treatment device 1 according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a state in which clothes C are fixed in an ironing space 21 of an inner door 20 of a clothes treatment device 1 according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, while the clothes C is hung on the hanger 43 of the inner door 20 of the clothes treatment device 1, the lower end of the clothes C may be fixed to the fixing device 60. By moving the main body 70 of the fixing device 60 up and down along the vertical guide 80, the plurality of clothes fixing parts 77 of the main body 70 may be positioned at the lower end of the clothes C. After that, the lower end of the clothes C may be fixed to the main body 70 using the plurality of clothes fixing parts 77.

For example, the housing 71 of the main body 70 may be moved up and down along the vertical guide 80 so that the housing 71 is positioned at the lower end of the clothes C. Then, when the front wings 771a of the plurality of pivot angles 771 are rotated toward the front of the housing 71, the lower end of the clothes C may be fixed by the plurality of front wings 771a and the housing 71. In this case, because the plurality of front wings 771a are provided with the front permanent magnets 772 and the housing 71 is provided with the permanent magnets 711, the lower end of the clothes C may be fixed by the attractive force between the front permanent magnets 772 and the permanent magnets 711.

The two sleeves S of the clothes C may be fixed to the housing 71 using two auxiliary fixing parts 76. For example, by holding the end of the sleeve S with the clamp 761 of the auxiliary fixing part 76 and then positioning the clamp 761 on the metal plate of the housing 71, the sleeve S of the clothes C may be fixed to the main body 70.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, when the upper portion of the clothes C is hung on the hanger 43 and the lower end of the clothes C is secured by the fixing device 60, the linear movement device 50 may be operated to move the support device 40 up and down, thereby adjusting the tension applied to the clothes C. Accordingly, the clothes treatment device 1 according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure may apply an appropriate tension for ironing to the clothes C using the linear movement device 50 and the support device 40.

The fixing device 60 for securing the lower end of the clothes C may not be limited to the above-described embodiments. As long as the fixing device 60 can secure the lower end of the clothes C, it can be configured in various structures. Hereinafter, fixing devices 60 that may be used in the clothes treatment device 1 according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 to 15.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a fixing device 60 of a clothes treatment device 1 according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure. FIG. 11 is a partial rear perspective view illustrating a main body 70 of the fixing device 60 of FIG. 10 according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure. FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the fixing device 60 of FIG. 10 fixes a lower end of clothes C according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 10, 11, and 12, a fixing device 60 according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure may include a main body 70 and a vertical guide 80.

The fixing device 60 may be disposed in the ironing space 21 of the inner door 20. In other words, the main body 70 and the vertical guide 80 of the fixing device 60 may be disposed in the ironing space 21 of the inner door 20.

The vertical guide 80 may be configured to guide the vertical movement of the main body 70. The vertical guide 80 may be disposed on the rear plate 201 of the inner door 20, i.e., on the rear surface of the ironing space 21. The vertical guide 80 may be identical or similar to the vertical guide 80 of the fixing device 60 according to the above-described embodiment, so a duplicated description is omitted.

The main body 70 may be configured to fix the lower end of the clothes C. The main body 70 may be configured to move linearly up and down along the vertical guide 80.

The main body 70 may include a housing 71, a pair of slides 72 and 73, and a pair of housing fixing parts 74.

The housing 71 may form the outer shape of the main body 70. The housing 71 may be formed in a bar shape with an approximately rectangular cross-section. In other words, the housing 71 may be formed in a narrow and long flat plate shape.

The length of the housing 71 may correspond to the width of the ironing space 21 of the inner door 20. To secure the lower ends of clothes C of various sizes, the housing 71 may be formed as long as possible. For example, the housing 71 may be formed to have a length as long as possible while being smaller than the distance between the left and right plates 204 and 205 of the inner door 20, i.e., between the left and right surfaces of the ironing space 21.

The rear surface of the housing 71 may be provided with a pair of slides 72 and 73 configured to be movably coupled to the vertical guides 80 and a pair of housing fixing parts 74 configured to selectively secure the housing 71 to the vertical guide 80.

The pair of slides 72 and 73 and the pair of housing fixing parts 74 may be identical or similar to them of the main body 70 of the fixing device 60 according to the above-described embodiment, so duplicated descriptions thereof are omitted.

The main body 70 may further include a plurality of clothes fixing parts 77 configured to fix the lower end of the clothes C. The plurality of clothes fixing parts 77 may be disposed at both ends of the housing 71. In other words, the plurality of clothes fixing parts 77 may include a left clothes fixing part 77 disposed at the left end of the housing 71 and a right clothes fixing part 77 disposed at the right end of the housing 71. The two clothes fixing parts 77 may have the same structure. Therefore, only one clothes fixing part 77 will be described below.

For example, the clothes fixing part 77 may include a pivot part 78 and a pivot button 79.

The pivot part 78 may be rotatably disposed at one end of the housing 71. The pivot part 78 may be configured to press a portion of the front surface of the housing 71, i.e., a portion near one end of the housing 71. When the pivot part 78 presses the front surface of the housing 71, the lower portion of the clothes C positioned between the pivot part 78 and the front surface of the housing 71 may be fixed.

The pivot part 78 may be configured to press the front surface of the housing 71 using an elastic member.

The pivot button 79 may be configured to actuate the pivot part 78. For example, when the pivot button 79 is pressed, the elastic member may be activated so that the pivot part 78 presses the front surface of the housing 71.

The pivot button 79 may be disposed on the rear surface of the housing 71. For example, the pivot button 79 may be disposed on the rear surface of the housing 71 so that the user can press the pivot button 79 with the remaining fingers while holding the lower end of the clothes C with the thumb and index finger. Therefore, when the user presses the pivot button 79, the pivot part 78 rotates to pressurize a portion of the front surface of the housing 71, as illustrated in FIG. 12.

When separating the clothes C, the user may rotate the pivot part 78 to position it approximately perpendicular to the housing 71, as illustrated in FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating a fixing device 60 of a clothes treatment device 1 according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure. FIG. 14 is a partial rear perspective view illustrating a pivot part 78 of the fixing device 60 of FIG. 13 according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure. FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the fixing device 60 of FIG. 13 fixes a lower end and sleeves of clothes C according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 13, 14, and 15, a fixing device 60 according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure may include a main body 70 and a vertical guide 80.

The fixing device 60 may be disposed in the ironing space 21 of the inner door 20. In other words, the main body 70 and the vertical guide 80 of the fixing device 60 may be disposed in the ironing space 21 of the inner door 20.

The vertical guide 80 may be configured to guide the vertical movement of the main body 70. The vertical guide 80 may be disposed on the rear plate 201 of the inner door 20, i.e., on the rear surface of the ironing space 21. The vertical guide 80 may be identical or similar to the vertical guide 80 of the fixing device 60 according to the above-described embodiment, so a duplicated description is omitted.

The main body 70 may be configured to fix the lower end of the clothes C. The main body 70 may be configured to move linearly up and down along the vertical guide 80.

The main body 70 may include a housing 71, a pair of slides 72 and 73, and a pair of housing fixing parts 74.

The housing 71 may form the outer shape of the main body 70. The housing 71 may be formed in a bar shape with an approximately rectangular cross-section. In other words, the housing 71 may be formed in a narrow and long flat plate shape.

The length of the housing 71 may correspond to the width of the ironing space 21 of the inner door 20. To secure the lower ends of clothes C of various sizes, the housing 71 may be formed as long as possible. For example, the housing 71 may be formed to have a length as long as possible while being smaller than the distance between the left and right plates 204 and 205 of the inner door 20, i.e., between the left and right surfaces of the ironing space 21.

The rear surface of the housing 71 may be provided with a pair of slides 72 and 73 configured to be movably coupled to the vertical guides 80 and a pair of housing fixing parts 74 configured to selectively secure the housing 71 to the vertical guide 80.

The pair of slides 72 and 73 and the pair of housing fixing parts 74 may be identical or similar to them of the main body 70 of the fixing device 60 according to the above-described embodiment, so duplicated descriptions thereof are omitted.

The main body 70 may further include a pair of clothes fixing parts 77 and a pair of auxiliary fixing parts 76.

The pair of clothes fixing parts 77 may be configured to fix the lower portion of the clothes C hung on the hanger 43. The pair of clothes fixing parts 77 may be disposed at both ends of the housing 71. In other words, the pair of clothes fixing parts 77 may include a left clothes fixing part 77 disposed at the left end of the housing 71 and a right clothes fixing part 77 disposed at the right end of the housing 71. The pair of clothes fixing parts 77 may be formed with the same structure. Therefore, only one clothes fixing part 77 will be described below.

For example, the clothes fixing part 77 may include a pivot part 78 and a pivot button 79.

The pivot part 78 may be rotatably disposed at one end of the housing 71. The pivot part 78 may be configured to press against a portion of the front surface of the housing 71, i.e., a portion near one end of the housing 71. When the pivot part 78 presses the front surface of the housing 71, the lower portion of the clothes C positioned between the pivot part 78 and the front surface of the housing 71 may be fixed.

The pivot part 78 may be configured to press the front surface of the housing 71 by an elastic member.

The pivot button 79 may be configured to actuate the pivot part 78. For example, when the pivot button 79 is pressed, the elastic member may be activated so that the pivot part 78 presses the front surface of the housing 71.

The pivot button 79 may be disposed on the rear surface of the housing 71. For example, the pivot button 79 may be disposed on the rear surface of the housing 71 so that the user can press the pivot button 79 with the remaining fingers while holding the lower end of the clothes C with the thumb and index finger. Therefore, when the user presses the pivot button 79, the pivot part 78 rotates to press the portion of the front surface of the housing 71.

The pair of auxiliary fixing parts 76 may be configured to secure the ends of the sleeves S of the clothes C. The pair of auxiliary fixing parts 76 may be disposed integrally with the pair of clothes fixing parts 77. In other words, one auxiliary fixing part 76 may be disposed on the left clothes fixing part 77, and the other auxiliary fixing part 76 may be disposed on the right clothes fixing part 77.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 14, the auxiliary fixing part 76 may be disposed at one end of the pivot part 78 rotatably disposed at one end of the housing 71. The auxiliary fixing part 76 and the pivot part 78 of the clothes fixing part 77 may be connected to each other by an automatic rewinding cable 763. As an example, the auxiliary fixing part 76 may be formed as a clamp capable of holding a sleeve S of clothes C. The clamp and the pivot part 78 may be connected by the automatic rewinding cable 763. An automatic rewinding device configured to automatically rewind the cable 763 may be disposed at either the clamp or the pivot part 78. Therefore, when the sleeve length of clothes C changes, the end of the sleeve S may be held by the clamp and fixed to the housing 71.

When the user presses the pivot button 79 to cause the pivot part 78 to press the lower portion of the clothes C and holds both sleeves S of the clothes C with the pair of auxiliary fixing parts 76, the clothes C may be fixed to the ironing space 21 as illustrated in FIG. 15.

When detaching the clothes C, the user may separate the pair of auxiliary fixing parts 76 from the sleeves S, then rotate the pair of pivot parts 78 to position them approximately perpendicular to the housing 71, as illustrated in FIG. 13.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view illustrating a hanger 43 used in a clothes treatment device 1 according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure. FIG. 17 is a view illustrating a state in which clothes C are hung on the hanger 43 of the clothes treatment device 1 of FIG. 16 according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 16 and 17, the hanger 43 of the clothes treatment device 1 according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure may include a pair of support bars 44.

The pair of support bars 44 may be disposed at both ends of the lower portion of the hanger 43. The pair of support bars 44 may be formed with the same structure. One end of the support bar 44 may be disposed to one end of the hanger 43 so as to be able to rotate at a certain angle.

The support bar 44 may be elastically supported by an elastic member. As illustrated in FIG. 17, the pair of support bars 44 may be maintained in an unfolded state by the elastic members. Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 17, when the pair of support bars 44 are inserted into both sleeves S of the clothes C hung on the hanger 43, a certain tension may be applied to the clothes C in the width direction. Accordingly, the clothes C may be maintained in an unfolded state in the width direction.

Meanwhile, referring again to FIGS. 2, 3, 6, 7, and 8, the clothes treatment device 1 according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure will be described again. Detailed descriptions of the above-described content are omitted. However, the omitted content should not be interpreted as excluding or limiting.

A clothes treatment device 1 according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure may include a cabinet 10, an inner door 20, an outer door 30, a support device 40, and a fixing device 60.

The cabinet 10 may form the exterior of the clothes treatment device 1. A storage space 11 may be formed inside the cabinet 10.

The inner door 20 may be provided on the front of the cabinet 10 to open and close the storage space 11. In addition, the inner door 20 may include an ironing space 21 within which management of clothes C is performed. The ironing space 21 may be a space where ironing of clothes C is primarily performed by applying physical force and/or steam and high-temperature air to the clothes C.

The outer door 30 may be disposed on the inner door 20 to open and close the ironing space 21. In other words, the outer door 30 may be a door of the inner door 20. The door of the clothes treatment device 1 according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure may be configured as a double door (door in door) having a dual structure of the inner door 20 and the outer door 30.

The support device 40 may be disposed on the upper surface of the ironing space 21 of the inner door 20 to support the clothes C. For example, the support device 40 may be provided as a conventional hanger 43 to support clothes C and place the clothes C in the ironing space 21. In addition, the support device 40 may be configured to move the hanger 43 up and down as described above to provide an improved ironing effect to the clothes C placed in the ironing space 21.

The fixing device 60 may be disposed in the ironing space 21 and may be provided to fix the lower end of the clothes C hung on the hanger 43. In other words, the fixing device 60 may be provided to fix the lower end of the clothes C placed on the hanger 43 and apply a tension force to the clothes C so that ironing may be performed effectively.

For example, the fixing device 60 may include a main body 70, a vertical guide 80, and clothes fixing parts 77.

The main body 70 may form the exterior of the fixing device 60. Furthermore, the main body 70 may be coupled with the vertical guide 80 to be movable up and down. The clothes fixing parts 77 may be disposed on the main body 70 to fix the lower end of the clothes C.

The vertical guide 80 may be disposed on the inner door 20 and may be provided to guide the movement of the main body 70. In other words, the vertical guide 80 may provide a path to allow the main body 70 to move stably within the ironing space 21.

The clothes fixing parts 77 may be disposed on the main body 70 and may be provided to fix the lower end of the clothes C. In other words, the clothes fixing parts 77 may fix the lower end of the clothes C placed between the main body 70 and the clothes fixing parts 77.

On the other hand, the main body 70 may include a housing 71 and a permanent magnet 711. The housing 71 may be provided to be movable by being coupled to the vertical guide 80. In other words, the housing 71 may form the exterior of the main body 70, and may be coupled to the vertical guide 80 to move up and down, thereby providing a tension force to the clothes C. For example, the housing 71 may be provided in a plate shape to effectively fix the clothes C between the clothes fixing parts 77 and the housing 71, and to facilitate the up and down movement of the housing 71.

A plurality of permanent magnets 711 may be spaced apart from each other inside the housing 71 and may be provided to have magnetism so that the clothes fixing parts 77 may be attached and detached. In other words, the permanent magnet 711 may maintain the position of the clothes fixing part 77 by magnetic force so that the lower end of the clothes C is stably fixed, and when a force greater than a predetermined level is applied, the position of the clothes fixing part 77 may be changed so that the fixation of the lower end of the clothes C is released.

On the other hand, the clothes fixing part 77 may include may include a pivot angle 771, a front permanent magnet 772, and a rear permanent magnet 773.

The pivot angle 771 may include a front wing 771a detachably provided on the front surface of the housing 71 and a rear wing 771b extending from the front wing 771a and detachably provided on the rear surface of the housing 71. In other words, the pivot angle 771 may rotate to couple the front wing 771a to the housing 71, or the rear wing 771b to the housing 71. The pivot angle 771 may have a cross-section that is approximately L-shaped.

The front permanent magnet 772 may be disposed in the front wing 771a and may be provided with magnetism to enable attachment or detachment from the permanent magnet 711. In other words, the front permanent magnet 772 may allow the front wing 771a to be coupled to the housing 71, and when a force greater than a predetermined level is applied, the front permanent magnet 772 may allow the front wing 771a to be separated from the housing 71.

The rear permanent magnet 773 may be disposed in the rear wing 771b and may be provided with magnetism to enable attachment or detachment from the permanent magnet 711. In other words, the rear permanent magnet 773 may allow the rear wing 771b to be coupled to the housing 71, and when a force greater than a predetermined level is applied, the rear permanent magnet 773 may allow the rear wing 771b to be separated from the housing 71.

When the front permanent magnet 772 and the permanent magnet 711 are coupled to each other, the rear permanent magnet 773 may be positioned to be separated from the permanent magnet 711. When the rear permanent magnet 773 and the permanent magnet 711 are coupled to each other, the front permanent magnet 772 may be positioned to be separated from the permanent magnet 711.

On the other hand, the permanent magnet 711 may be provided such that the front has a first polarity and the rear has a second polarity different from the first polarity. The first polarity may be the N pole, and the second polarity may be the S pole. However, this is not limited thereto, and the opposite may also be provided.

The front permanent magnet 772 may be provided with the second polarity on one surface facing the front of the permanent magnet 711. Accordingly, the front permanent magnet 772 may be easily magnetically coupled to the front of the permanent magnet 711.

The rear permanent magnet 773 may be provided with the first polarity on one surface facing the rear of the permanent magnet 711. Accordingly, the rear permanent magnet 773 may be easily magnetically coupled to the rear of the permanent magnet 711.

In addition, when a force is applied to separate the front permanent magnet 772 from the permanent magnet 711 while the front permanent magnet 772 is coupled to the permanent magnet 711, one surface of the rear permanent magnet 773 may approach the rear of the permanent magnet 711, and a magnetic force may be applied between them, so that the front permanent magnet 772 and the permanent magnet 711 may be easily separated.

Conversely, when a force is applied to separate the rear permanent magnet 773 from the permanent magnet 711 to fix the clothes C while the rear permanent magnet 773 is coupled to the permanent magnet 711, one surface of the front permanent magnet 772 may approach the front of the permanent magnet 711, and a magnetic force may be applied between them, so that the separation of the rear permanent magnet 773 and the permanent magnet 711 and the coupling of the front permanent magnet 772 and the permanent magnet 711 may be easily performed.

On the other hand, the fixing device 60 may include auxiliary fixing parts 76. The auxiliary fixing parts 76 may be provided to secure the sleeves S of the clothes C to the main body 70. In other words, the auxiliary fixing parts 76 may fix the positions of the sleeves S of the clothes C to improve or maximize the ironing effect of the clothes C.

In addition, the auxiliary fixing parts 76 may be provided with magnetism so that it can be detachably attached to the housing 71. Therefore, the user may easily position the auxiliary fixing parts 76 on the housing 71 while the sleeves S of clothes C are fixed to the auxiliary fixing parts 76.

For example, the auxiliary fixing parts 76 may include a clamp 761 and an auxiliary permanent magnet 762. The clamp 761 may be provided to fix the sleeve S. In other words, the clamp 761 may be provided with an elastic body, such as a spring, so that when the user applies force to the clamp 761, the sleeve S of clothes C may be positioned inside the clamp 761, and when the force is removed, the sleeve S may be stably fixed by the elastic body.

The auxiliary permanent magnet 762 may be provided in the clamp 761 and have magnetism. In other words, the auxiliary fixing part 76 may enable the user to easily fix the sleeve S of clothes C to the clamp 761 at any position regardless of the size or shape of the clothes C and to easily place the clamp 761 on the housing 71.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram illustrating a clothes treatment device 1 according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 18, the clothes treatment device 1 may include a driving motor 53, a load sensor 45, a steam supply device 151, an air supply device 152, a circulation device 153, an image sensor 95, an LED 96, a memory 92, an input device 94, a display 93, and a processor 90.

The driving motor 53 may generate a rotational force that operates the linear movement device 50. When the driving motor 53 operates, the linear movement device 50 may move in the vertical direction. When the linear movement device 50 moves, the support device 40 connected to the linear movement device 50 may move in the vertical direction. When the support device 40 moves vertically, a tension applied to the clothes C hung on the hanger 43 disposed at the lower end of the support device 40 may increase or decrease.

For example, when the driving motor 53 rotates in one direction, the linear movement device 50 may rise. When the linear movement device 50 rises, the support device 40 may rise integrally with the linear movement device 50. When the support device 40 rises, the tension applied to the clothes C hung on the hanger 43 may increase. When the driving motor 53 rotates in the opposite direction, the linear movement device 50 may descend. When the linear movement device 50 is lowered, the support device 40 may be lowered integrally with the linear movement device 50. When the support device 40 is lowered, the tension applied to the clothes C hung on the hanger 43 may be reduced.

The load sensor 45 may measure the tension applied to the hanger 43. The load sensor 45 may be configured to measure the load (force) applied by the support device 40. For example, the load may increase when the support device 40 is raised, and may decrease when the support device 40 is lowered. The load sensor 45 may transmit an electronic signal including information about the measured load to the processor 90.

For example, a load cell may be used as the load sensor 45. However, the load sensor 45 used in the clothes treatment device 1 according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure is not limited thereto. Various types of sensors capable of measuring load may be used as the load sensor 45.

The steam supply device 151 may be configured to supply steam to the clothes C accommodated in the storage space 11 and the ironing space 21. For example, the steam supply device 151 may supply high-temperature steam to the storage space 11 or the ironing space 21 to change the fabric structure of the clothes C into a flexible state.

The air supply device 152 may be configured to supply air to the clothes C accommodated in the storage space 11 and the ironing space 21. For example, the air supply device 152 may spray compressed air into the storage space 11 or the ironing space 21 to compress the clothes C, thereby smoothing out wrinkles or removing dust from the clothes C.

The circulation device 153 may be configured to circulate air within the storage space 11 and the ironing space 21. For example, the circulation device 153 may continuously circulate high-temperature air within the storage space 11 or the ironing space 21 by introducing high-temperature air into one of the storage space 11 and the ironing space 21 and re-inhaling the air introduced into the storage space 11 or the ironing space 21.

The circulation device 153 may continuously circulate high-temperature air into the storage space 11 or the ironing space 21, thereby maintaining the fabric structure of the clothes C in a flexible state and removing moisture present in the clothes C to dry the clothes C.

For example, the circulation device 153 may include a heating source (not illustrated) to generate high-temperature air. The heating source may be formed of a heater, etc.

The image sensor 95 may be configured to capture an image of the clothes C to be ironed. The image sensor 95 may be disposed in the clothes treatment device 1 to capture the image of the clothes C hung on the hanger 43 in the ironing space 21. The image sensor 95 may be configured to transmit electronic signals containing image information of the clothes C captured by the image sensor 95 to the processor 90. For example, a camera may be used as the image sensor 95.

The LED (light emitting diode) 96 may be disposed on the front of the clothes treatment device 1. The LED 96 may be configured to indicate whether the tension applied to the clothes C mounted between the hanger 43 and the fixing device 60 in the ironing space 21 is appropriate. For example, when the tension of the clothes C is inadequate, the LED 96 may glow red, and when the tension of the clothes C is appropriate, the LED 96 may glow green.

In other words, the LED 96 may be used as an indicator indicating whether the tension applied to the clothes C is appropriate. Therefore, various types of indicators capable of indicating whether the tension is appropriate may be used instead of the LED 96.

The memory 92 may store programs for processing or controlling the processor 90 and various data for the operation of the clothes treatment device 1. For example, the memory 92 may store a number of applications running on the clothes treatment device 1 and data and commands for the operation of the clothes treatment device 1.

The memory 92 may store ironing data, including data on the appropriate tension and ironing environment required to impart an ironing effect to each clothes C depending on the type and material of various clothes C.

The appropriate tension for imparting an ironing effect to each clothes C depending on the type and material of the clothes C may be applied to the clothes C by a load (force) applied to the support device 40. Therefore, the ironing data may include data on the optimal load that can impart the optimal tension for the ironing effect to the clothes C depending on the type and material of various clothes C. The optimal load may be a predetermined load that can impart a predetermined tension for providing an improved ironing effect to the clothes. The ironing environment data included in the ironing data may include the temperature and humidity of the ironing space 21 and ironing time that can provide an optimal ironing effect depending on the type and material of various clothes C. Here, the ironing effect may refer to an effect identical to or similar to that of general ironing, which smooths out wrinkles on clothes C using a general iron. Therefore, in this document, the ironing of the clothes treatment device 1 may refer to an operation that provides an ironing effect to clothes C.

The memory 92 may be accessed by the processor 90, and data may be read/recorded/modified/deleted/updated by the processor 90. The memory 92 may be implemented not only as a storage medium within the clothes treatment device 1, but also as an external storage medium, a removable disk including a USB memory, a web server via a network, or the like.

The input device 94 may be configured to receive function selections and control commands for the corresponding functions from the user. For example, the input device 94 of the clothes treatment device 1 may include a display 93, a plurality of course selection buttons for selecting a clothes treatment course, a power button, and an operation button.

The display 93 may be configured to display information necessary for the user to control the clothes treatment device 1, such as the selected clothes treatment course, the status of the clothes treatment device 1, abnormality detection alarms, and the like. For example, the display 93 may be configured as various types of displays, such as an liquid crystal display (LCD), cathode-ray tube (CRT), organic light emitting diode (OLED), or like.

The plurality of course selection buttons may include a standard button for selecting a standard course, a fine dust button for selecting a course for removing fine dust, a rapid button for selecting a course for quickly treating clothes C, a sterilization button for selecting a course for sterilizing clothes C, and a drying button for selecting a course for drying clothes C.

The plurality of course selection buttons may include an ironing button for selecting an ironing course capable of providing an ironing effect to clothes C. When the user presses the ironing button, the clothes treatment device 1 may perform the ironing course on clothes C accommodated in the ironing space 21 of the inner door 20.

In addition, when the clothes treatment device 1 is configured to perform other clothes treatment courses other than the above-described clothes treatment courses, the input device 94 may include selection buttons for selecting another clothes treatment courses.

The power button may be configured to turn the clothes treatment device 1 on and off. In other words, when the power button is pressed, power may be supplied to the clothes treatment device 1, and the user may set the operating condition of the clothes treatment device 1 using the plurality of course selection buttons. When the power button is pressed again, the power supplied to the clothes treatment device 1 may be cut off, and the clothes treatment device 1 may enter the off state.

The operation button may be configured to cause the clothes treatment device 1 to perform a clothes treatment course. In other words, when the operation button is pressed, a clothes treatment course selected by the user may be performed. When the operation button is pressed while the clothes treatment device 1 is in operation, the operation of the clothes treatment device 1 may be temporarily stopped.

The above description describes a case where the input device 94 is implemented with the plurality of buttons, but the input device 94 may not be limited thereto. The input device 94 may be implemented as a touch screen. For example, the plurality of course selection buttons, the power button, and the operation button of the input device 94 may be implemented as software buttons being displayed on the touch screen.

The processor 90 may be configured to control all components of the clothes treatment device 1. In other words, the processor 90 may be configured to control the operation of components related to a specific function. For example, the processor 90 may control the steam supply device 151 when steam needs to be supplied to the clothes C, and may control the circulation device 153 when a drying function needs to be performed.

The processor 90 may include a clothes type identification unit 91. The clothes type identification unit 91 may be configured to identify the type and material of the clothes C using an image captured by the image sensor 95. The clothes type identification unit 91 may be implemented as software within the processor 90. Alternatively, the clothes type identification unit 91 may be implemented as separate hardware and software external to the processor 90.

The processor 90 may be configured to perform ironing on clothes C accommodated in the ironing space 21 of the inner door 20. When performing the ironing course, the processor 90 may control the operations of the load sensor 45, the driving motor 53, the steam supply device 151, the air supply device 152, and the circulation device 153.

For example, when performing the ironing course, the processor 90 may control the image sensor 95 to capture an image of the clothes C and recognize the type and material of the clothes C through the clothes type identification unit 91. The processor 90 may then identify an optimal load that can apply an appropriate tension to the recognized type and material of the clothes C to perform ironing from the ironing data stored in the memory 92.

The processor 90 may recognize the tension of the clothes C through the load sensor 45. The processor 90 may control the driving motor 53 to adjust the tension of the clothes C hung on the hanger 43 in the ironing space 21. The processor 90 may control the steam supply device 151, the air supply device 152, and the circulation device 153 to perform ironing of the clothes C.

The processor 90 may be configured to include, for example, a processing circuit such as an electronic circuit board, various electronic components such as an ASIC, a ROM, a RAM, etc., and/or program modules. Because the processor 90 controls the clothes treatment device 1 to treat the clothes C is the same as or similar to the processor 90 of the clothes treatment device according to the prior art, a detailed description of the configuration of the processor 90 is omitted.

Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 19, an ironing method of a clothes treatment device 1 according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure will be described in detail.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating an ironing method of a clothes treatment device according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

First, the user may hang a clothes C in the ironing space 21 of the inner door 20 (S191). When the user opens the outer door 30 of the clothes treatment device 1, the ironing space 21 of the inner door 20 may be exposed. The user may hang the clothes C to be ironed on the hanger 43 disposed at the lower end of the support device 40.

Next, the clothes treatment device 1 may capture an image of the clothes C to be ironed (S192). For example, the processor 90 of the clothes treatment device 1 may control the image sensor 95 to photograph the clothes C accommodated in the ironing space 21 of the inner door 20 to form an image of the clothes C. For example, when the user presses the ironing button of the input device 94, the processor 90 may control the image sensor 95 to capture an image of the clothes C. The image sensor 95 may be disposed in the inner door 20 so as to capture an image of the clothes C hung on the hanger 43 in the ironing space 21 of the inner door 20.

Next, the clothes treatment device 1 may recognize the type of the clothes C and identify the optimal load (S193). For example, the processor 90 may process the image of the clothes C captured by the image sensor 95 through the clothes type identification unit 91 to identify the type and material of the clothes C. After recognizing the type and material of the clothes C, the processor 90 may identify the optimal load corresponding to the recognized clothes C from the ironing data stored in the memory 92.

Next, the user may fix the lower end of the clothes C hung on the hanger 43 (S194). The user may secure the lower end of the clothes C using the fixing device 60 disposed in the ironing space 21 of the inner door 20. For example, the user may vertically move the main body 70 of the fixing device 60 along the vertical guide 80 to position the main body 70 at the lower end of the clothes C. Then, the user may fix the lower end of the clothes C using the plurality of clothes fixing parts 77 provided on the main body 70. Next, the user may fix the sleeves S of the clothes C to the main body 70 using the two auxiliary fixing parts 76. When the lower end of the clothes C hung on the hanger 43 is fixed by the fixing device 60, a tension may be applied to the clothes C.

Next, the clothes treatment device 1 may measure the load (S195). For example, the processor 90 of the clothes treatment device 1 may measure the load applied to the support device 40 using the load sensor 45. By measuring the load applied to the support device 40, the tension applied to the clothes C mounted between the hanger 43 and the fixing device 60 may be recognized.

Next, the processor 90 may identify whether the measured load matches the optimal load (S196).

When the measured load does not match the optimal load (N), the processor 90 may control the driving motor 53 to adjust the load applied to the support device 40 (S197).

For example, when the measured load is greater than the optimal load, the processor 90 may lower the support device 40 to reduce the load applied to the support device 40. Then, the tension applied to the clothes C mounted between the hanger 43 and the fixing device 60 may be reduced. When the measured load is less than the optimal load, the processor 90 may raise the support device 40 to increase the load applied to the support device 40. Then, the tension applied to the clothes C mounted between the hanger 43 and the fixing device 60 may be increased.

In this way, the processor 90 may control the support device 40 to adjust the load applied to the support device 40 so that the measured load matches the optimal load.

When the measured load matches the optimal load (Y), the processor 90 may perform ironing (S198).

The processor 90 may control the temperature and humidity of the ironing space 21 and the ironing time based on ironing environment data that can provide the optimal ironing effect to the recognized clothes C. The processor 90 may perform ironing by controlling the steam supply device 151, the air supply device 152, and the circulation device 153 based on the ironing environment data.

The clothes treatment device 1 according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure having the above-described structure may perform ironing of clothes C simply by placing the clothes C in the ironing space 21 without the user performing a separate ironing operation. Therefore, the clothes treatment device 1 according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure may provide more convenient ironing compared to the clothes treatment device that requires a separate ironing operation according to the prior art.

In the above, the clothes C are illustrated and described using upper clothes C as an example, but the clothes C that can be ironed by the clothes treatment device 1 according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure may not be limited to the upper clothes C. The clothes treatment device 1 according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure may iron a lower clothes C. For example, the clothes treatment device 1 according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure may perform the aforementioned ironing operation on a lower clothes C mounted between the hanger 43 and the fixing device 60 in the ironing space 21.

In the above, the clothes treatment device 1 is illustrated and described as having the ironing space 21 formed in the inner door 20 separately from the storage space 11 that performs a general clothes treatment course, but the disclosure may not be limited thereto. For example, a clothes treatment device 100 may be configured so that the ironing operation according to the disclosure and the conventional clothes treatment operation can be performed in a single space. Hereinafter, a clothes treatment device 100 having such a structure will be described with reference to FIG. 20.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view illustrating a clothes treatment device 100 according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 20, a clothes treatment device 100 according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure may include a cabinet 110 and a door 120.

The cabinet 110 may form the exterior of the clothes treatment device 100 and may be formed in a roughly rectangular parallelepiped shape. A storage space 11 for accommodating clothes C may be provided within the cabinet 110.

Clothes C may be received in the storage space 11 such that the front of the clothes C faces the opening 12 of the cabinet 110. The storage space 11 may be formed to be sized to receive a single piece of clothes C.

The thickness T1 of the cabinet 110 of the clothes treatment device 100 may be formed thinner than the thickness T of the cabinet 10 of the clothes treatment device 1 according to the above-described embodiment. For example, the thickness T1 of the cabinet 110 of the clothes treatment device 100 according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 20 may be formed to be ⅓ or less of the thickness T of the cabinet 10 of the clothes treatment device 1 illustrated in FIG. 1. The thickness T1 of the cabinet 110 of the clothes treatment device 100 according to the embodiment may be defined so as to form the storage space 11 capable of receiving a single piece of clothes C. In this case, the clothes C may be received in the storage space 11 such that the front of the clothes C faces the opening 12 of the cabinet 110.

The interior of the cabinet 110 may be divided into two spaces by an intermediate plate 13. The space above the intermediate plate 13 may form the storage space 11 in which clothes C are accommodated, and the space below the intermediate plate 13 may form a machine room 15 in which a steam supply device, an air supply device, and a circulation device are disposed.

The door 120 may be provided on the front of the cabinet 110 to open and close the opening 12. The door 120 may be disposed to be rotatable relative to the front of the cabinet 110. The door 120 may be hingedly fixed to one side of the opening 12 of the cabinet 110. Therefore, the door 120 may rotate relative to the cabinet 110 about the hinge. When the door 120 closes the opening 12, the storage space 11 of the cabinet 110 may be closed.

The clothes treatment device 100 may include a tension adjusting device capable of adjusting a tension applied to clothes C hung on a hanger 43 in the storage space 11. The tension adjusting device may include a support device 40 and a linear movement device 50.

The support device 40 may be disposed on the upper surface of the cabinet 110 so as to be movable up and down, and may include a hanger 43 to support clothes C. The support device 40 may be configured to vertically move the hanger 43 relative to the upper surface of the cabinet 110. For example, the hanger 43 may be detachably disposed at the lower end of the support device 40.

The linear movement device 50 may be disposed on the upper surface of the cabinet 110, and may be configured to linearly move the support device 40 up and down. In other words, the linear movement device 50 may be configured to generate a driving force that moves the hanger 43 in the vertical direction. The linear movement device 50 may be disposed on one side of the support device 40.

The support device 40 and the linear movement device 50 may be the same as or similar to the support device 40 and the linear movement device 50 of the clothes treatment device 1 according to the above-described embodiment, so duplicated descriptions thereof are omitted.

The clothes treatment device 1 may include a load sensor 45 configured to measure the load (force) applied to the support device 40.

The clothes treatment device 1 may include a fixing device 60 disposed in the storage space 11 and configured to fix the lower end of the clothes C hung on the hanger 43. The fixing device 60 may be disposed at the rear surface of the storage space 11 of the cabinet 10.

The clothes treatment device 1 may include an image sensor 95 to capture an image of clothes C. For example, the image sensor 95 may photograph the clothes C hung on the hanger 43 in the storage space 11 to form an image of the clothes C. The image sensor 95 may be disposed in the storage space 11.

The load sensor 45, the fixing device 60, and the image sensor 95 of the clothes treatment device 100 according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure may be the same as those of the clothes treatment device 1 according to the above-described embodiment, so duplicated descriptions thereof are omitted.

In addition, the clothes treatment device 100 according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure may include a processor 90, memory 92, display 93, and input device 94 identical to or similar to those of the clothes treatment device 1 described above.

Therefore, the clothes treatment device 100 according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure may perform the ironing operation described above in the storage space 11. In addition, the clothes treatment device 100 according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure may perform various clothes treatment courses on the clothes C received in the storage space 11, similar to those performed by the clothes treatment device according to the prior art.

The clothes treatment device 100 according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 20 has a thin thickness T1, and therefore requires a smaller installation area than the clothes treatment device according to the prior art. Therefore, the clothes treatment device 100 according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure may have the advantage of being able to be used in narrow spaces.

In the foregoing, the disclosure has been shown and described with reference to various embodiments. However, it is understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.