| US 7,587,917 B2 | ||
| Modular laundry system with shelf module | ||
| Kevin James Gilboe, Stevensville, Mich. (US); Lorraine L. Achterberg, St. Joseph, Mich. (US); James William Kendall, Stevensville, Mich. (US); and Ameresh Babu Viswanathan, St. Joseph, Mich. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, Mich. (US) | ||
| Filed on Dec. 30, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/323,658. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2007/0151307 A1, Jul. 05, 2007 | ||
| Int. Cl. D06F 29/00 (2006.01); D06F 39/00 (2006.01); D06F 51/00 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 68—240 [68/13 R; 134/137] | 29 Claims |
| 1. A modular laundry system comprising:
at least one front-loading laundry appliance having a front opening and a door for selectively closing the front opening;
and
a module immediately adjacent to the at least one laundry appliance and comprising:
a vertically oriented housing having a height less than or equal to a height of the laundry appliance;
a shelf assembly comprising a shelf with a support surface that is moveable from a stored position, where the support surface
is vertical and at least partially received within the housing, an intermediate position, where the support surface is vertical
and located exteriorly of the housing, and a use position, where the support surface is horizontal and located exteriorly
of the housing and below the door;
a slide that couples the shelf to the housing to slidably move the support surface between the stored and intermediate positions;
and
a pivot that couples the shelf to the slide to pivotally move the support surface between the intermediate and use positions.
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