Laundry treating appliance with a rotating container having one or more lifters provided with an article holder device

A laundry treating appliance comprising:

• a container rotatable about a rotation axis and comprising a side wall, wherein the side wall extends around the rotation axis and comprises an inner surface defining a laundry receiving space;
• and
• at least one lifter comprising a base portion resting on the inner surface, wherein the lifter extends from the inner surface of the side wall towards the rotation axis and comprises a clamp device comprising
• (i) a clamp region, wherein the clamp region comprises a first gripping surface and a second gripping surface;
• (ii) at least one movable part comprising the first gripping surface, wherein the at least one movable part is movable relative to the container between a closed clamp position and an open clamp position and configured to slidingly move along a sliding axis between the closed clamp position and the open clamp position;
• and
• (iii) an actuating device operable to move the at least one movable part between the closed clamp position and the open clamp position.

A laundry treating appliance comprising:

• a container rotatable about a rotation axis and comprising a side wall, wherein the side wall extends around the rotation axis and comprises an inner surface defining a laundry receiving space;
• and
• at least one lifter extending from the inner surface of the side wall towards the rotation axis and comprising a clamp device comprising
• (i) a clamp region, wherein the clamp region comprises a first gripping surface and a second gripping surface;
• (ii) at least one movable part comprising the first gripping surface, wherein the at least one movable part is configured to slidingly move along a sliding axis between a closed clamp position and an open clamp position;
• and
• (iii) an actuating device operable to move the at least one movable part between the closed and open clamp positions.

A method for treating laundry comprising:

• providing a laundry treatment appliance comprising:
• a container rotatable about a rotation axis and comprising a side wall, wherein the side wall extends around the rotation axis and comprises an inner surface defining a laundry receiving space;
• and
• at least one lifter comprising a base portion resting on the inner surface, wherein the lifter extends from the inner surface of the side wall towards the rotation axis and comprises a clamp device comprising
• (i) a clamp region, wherein the clamp region comprises a first gripping surface and a second gripping surface;
• (ii) at least one movable part comprising the first gripping surface, wherein the at least one movable part is movable relative to the container between a closed clamp position and an open clamp position and configured to slidingly move along a sliding axis between the closed clamp position and an open clamp position;
• and
• (iii) an actuating device operable to move the at least one movable part between the closed clamp position towards the open clamp position;
• operating the actuating device to move the at least one movable part from the closed clamp position towards the open clamp position along a sliding axis;
• positioning a treatment article in the clamp region and operating the actuating device to drive the at least one movable part towards the closed clamp position to hold the treatment article;
• loading laundry in the laundry receiving space;
• and
• starting a laundry treating course.