# US 11,299,845 B2 · Washing machine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,299,845 B2 - Document ID: US11299845B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/845,040 - Filed: 2017-12-18 - Published: 2018-06-28 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2016-12-23 - Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Do Yun Lee; Jong-Hun Sung; Seung Youp Lee - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11299845B2 ## CPC - D06F 39/083: {Liquid discharge or recirculation arrangements} - D06F 23/02: and rotating or oscillating about a horizontal axis - D06F 23/04: and rotating or oscillating about a vertical axis - D06F 31/00: Washing installations comprising an assembly of several washing machines or washing units, e.g. continuous flow assemblies - D06F 39/085: {Arrangements or adaptations of pumps} - D06F 29/00: Combinations of a washing machine with other separate apparatus in a common frame or the like, e.g. with rinsing apparatus - D06F: LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES ## Abstract Disclosed is a washing machine including a first housing in which a first tub is disposed and a second housing in which a second tub is disposed. In the washing machine, a drain pump of the second tub may be disposed at the first housing to efficiently utilize internal spaces of the first housing and the second housing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A washing machine comprising: a first housing in which a first tub is disposed, the first housing having an open top and an opening formed in the first housing; a second housing in which a second tub is disposed, the second housing having an open bottom, and the second housing mounted on an upper portion of the first housing; a water supply positioned in the second housing and configured to supply water to the first tub and the second tub; a fixing bracket configured to couple the first housing to the second housing; a first drain pump disposed in the first housing, the first drain pump being configured to drain water from the first tub; a second drain pump disposed in the upper portion of the first housing and positioned in a space between the first tub and the second tub, the second drain pump configured to drain water from the second tub through a connecting hose, the connecting hose connecting the second tub to the second drain pump and the second drain pump being accessible through the opening; and a pump bracket configured to mount the second drain pump in the first housing, wherein the pump bracket includes a housing coupler coupleable to the first housing and positioned between the first housing and the second housing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the second drain pump comprises an inlet pipe connectable to the connecting hose, and wherein through the opening the connecting hose and the inlet pipe are accessible from an outside of the first housing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The washing machine of claim 2, wherein the first housing further comprises a cover configured to open and close the opening of the first housing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the pump bracket comprises a pump coupler to which the second drain pump is coupleable. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The washing machine of claim 4, wherein the first housing comprises a side panel which forms a side surface of the first housing and a rear panel which forms a rear surface of the first housing, and wherein the housing coupler of the pump bracket is connectable to a top end of a corner to which the side panel and the rear panel of the first housing are connected. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The washing machine of claim 5, wherein the first housing further comprises a coupling flange provided at a top end of the side panel or the rear panel, and wherein the pump bracket further comprises a flange through hole provided at the housing coupler and through which the coupling flange passes. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The washing machine of claim 4, wherein the pump bracket further comprises a vibration elimination member mounted on the housing coupler, and wherein the vibration elimination member is disposed between the housing coupler and the first housing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The washing machine of claim 7, wherein the vibration elimination member comprises an elastic material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The washing machine of claim 1, further comprising a drain hose which guides water pumped by the second drain pump to an outside of the washing machine, wherein the second drain pump further comprises an outlet pipe connectable to the drain hose, and wherein the first housing comprises a drain bracket passing through the first housing and connectable to the drain hose. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the first tub comprises a first opening for inserting laundry, at a front thereof, and wherein the second tub comprises a second opening for inserting laundry, at a top thereof. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The washing machine of claim 1, wherein an internal space of the washing machine includes the first tub in the first housing that is separated from the second tub in the second housing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the washing machine operates as a front-loading washing machine using the first tub and operates as a top-loading washing machine using the second tub. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the fixing bracket is coupled to a front of the first housing and a front of the second housing. ### Claim 14 A washing machine comprising: a lower area comparted by a first housing, the first housing having a first tub disposed therein and an opening formed in the first housing; an upper area comparted by a second housing, the second housing having a second tub disposed therein, and the second housing mounted on an upper portion of the first housing; a water supply positioned in the second housing and configured to supply water to the first tub and the second tub; a fixing bracket configured to couple the first housing to the second housing; a first drain pump disposed in the lower area, the first drain pump being configured to drain water from the first tub disposed in the lower area; a second drain pump disposed in the lower area and positioned in a space between the first tub and the second tub, the second drain pump being configured to drain water from the second tub disposed in the upper area through a connecting hose, the connecting hose connecting the second tub to the second drain pump and the second drain pump being accessible through the opening; and a pump bracket configured to mount the second drain pump in the first housing, wherein the pump bracket includes a housing coupler coupleable to the first housing and positioned between the first housing and the second housing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The washing machine of claim 14, wherein the first housing comprises a side panel which forms a side surface of the first housing and a rear panel which forms a rear surface of the first housing, wherein the second drain pump is mounted at a top of the side panel or rear panel, and wherein the side panel or the rear panel of the first housing comprises the opening formed at a position at which the second drain pump is disposed, to allow the second drain pump to be accessed from the outside of the first housing. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The washing machine of claim 15, wherein the first housing further comprises a cover configured to open and close the opening and a cover coupler to which the cover is coupleable, and wherein the cover comprises a latch configured to be inserted into the cover coupler. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The washing machine of claim 15, wherein the first housing further comprises a drain bracket disposed at the side panel or the rear panel and to which a drain hose, which guides water pumped by the second drain pump to the outside of the washing machine, is connectable. ### Claim 18 A washing machine comprising: a first housing in which a first tub is disposed, the first housing having an open top and an opening formed in the first housing; a second housing in which a second tub is disposed, the second housing having an open bottom, and the second housing mounted on an upper portion of the first housing; a water supply positioned in the second housing and configured to supply water to the first tub and the second tub; a fixing bracket configured to couple the first housing to the second housing; a drain pump positioned in a space between the first tub and the second tub and configured to drain water stored in the second tub to an outside of the second housing though a connecting hose, the connecting hose connecting the second tub to the drain pump and the drain pump accessible through an opening formed in the first housing; and a pump bracket configured to connect the drain pump to the first housing or the second housing, wherein the pump bracket includes a housing coupler coupleable to the first housing and positioned between the first housing and the second housing.