US20220341081A1 - Counterweight with fascia design of functional door - Google Patents

Counterweight with fascia design of functional door Download PDF

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Publication number
US20220341081A1
US20220341081A1 US17/240,786 US202117240786A US2022341081A1 US 20220341081 A1 US20220341081 A1 US 20220341081A1 US 202117240786 A US202117240786 A US 202117240786A US 2022341081 A1 US2022341081 A1 US 2022341081A1
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
ring assembly
counterweight
front ring
fascia
laundry
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US17/240,786
Inventor
Mohsin M. Attar
Kurt L. Masciovecchio
Roy E. Masters
Jason R. Spears
Michael Vriezema
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Whirlpool Corp
Original Assignee
Whirlpool Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Whirlpool Corp filed Critical Whirlpool Corp
Priority to US17/240,786 priority Critical patent/US20220341081A1/en
Assigned to WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION reassignment WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: MASTERS, ROY E., VRIEZEMA, Michael, Attar, Mohsin M., SPEARS, JASON R., MASCIOVECCHIO, KURT L.
Priority to CN202210445678.5A priority patent/CN115323722A/en
Publication of US20220341081A1 publication Critical patent/US20220341081A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00 
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F37/00—Details specific to washing machines covered by groups D06F21/00 - D06F25/00
    • D06F37/26—Casings; Tubs
    • D06F37/265—Counterweights mounted to the tub; Mountings therefor
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F23/00—Washing machines with receptacles, e.g. perforated, having a rotary movement, e.g. oscillatory movement, the receptacle serving both for washing and for centrifugally separating water from the laundry 
    • D06F23/02—Washing machines with receptacles, e.g. perforated, having a rotary movement, e.g. oscillatory movement, the receptacle serving both for washing and for centrifugally separating water from the laundry  and rotating or oscillating about a horizontal axis
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F37/00—Details specific to washing machines covered by groups D06F21/00 - D06F25/00
    • D06F37/20—Mountings, e.g. resilient mountings, for the rotary receptacle, motor, tub or casing; Preventing or damping vibrations
    • D06F37/22—Mountings, e.g. resilient mountings, for the rotary receptacle, motor, tub or casing; Preventing or damping vibrations in machines with a receptacle rotating or oscillating about a horizontal axis
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00 
    • D06F39/12—Casings; Tubs
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00 
    • D06F39/12—Casings; Tubs
    • D06F39/14—Doors or covers; Securing means therefor

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to a horizontal mount laundry treatment machine.
  • Laundry treatment machines such as automatic washing machines, include a tub suspended within a housing, wherein laundry placed therein is treated, e.g., washed.
  • the tub is a cylindrical structure defining a cylindrical treatment chamber.
  • the tub may be mounted horizontally within the housing (a “horizontal mount” machine), in which case the treatment chamber is accessed through an opening in a front end of the treatment chamber through a door mounted on the front side of the laundry treatment machine.
  • Washer/dryer combo machines i.e., a single machine in which a load of laundry is both washed and dried in the same treatment chamber
  • horizontal mount machines i.e., a single machine in which a load of laundry is both washed and dried in the same treatment chamber
  • Horizontal mount machines typically include counterweights to ballast the drum when the treatment chamber spins about its longitudinal axis, such as during a spin cycle.
  • Counterweights may be made from a variety of materials, such as concrete, steel, and other dense materials. It is known to attach counterweights to the top and bottom of the outer surface of the drum. Attaching counterweights to the top and bottom on the drum of a horizontal mount laundry treatment machine, while effective, requires additional space between the outer wall of the drum and the housing to account for the upper and lower counterweights.
  • the inventors hereof have identified a need, particularly in view of trends toward the demand for larger treatment chambers (and therefore drums) and the inclusion of additional components inside of the housing of laundry treatment machines, especially washer/dryer combo machines, to position counterweights at locations other than the top and bottom of the outside surface of the drum.
  • a laundry treatment machine has a housing and a cylindrical drum horizontally mounted inside of the housing.
  • the drum defines a treatment chamber and an opening through which to place laundry in the treatment chamber.
  • the laundry treatment machine further has a front ring assembly surrounding the outer periphery of the opening to the treatment chamber and at least one counterweight.
  • the at least one counterweight is mounted to the front ring assembly.
  • the at least one counterweight is positioned between a front surface of the front ring assembly and a front fascia.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a horizontal mount laundry treatment machine.
  • FIG. 2 a illustrates a side view of a known drum of a horizontal mount laundry treatment machine showing counterweights mounted on the top and bottom of the drum.
  • FIG. 2 b illustrates a top view of the drum in FIG. 2 a , showing one of the counterweights mounted to the top of the drum.
  • FIG. 2 c illustrates a bottom view of the drum in FIG. 2 c , showing one of the counterweights mounted to the bottom of the drum.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates an isolated view of the drum and door of a horizontal mount laundry treatment machine according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates an isolated view of the front ring assembly of the drum illustrated in FIG. 3 without the front fascia, showing counterweights mounted to the front ring assembly.
  • FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of the front ring assembly of FIG. 3 showing both the front ring assembly and the front fascia.
  • FIG. 6 is a magnified view of the upper and lower portions of the front ring assembly and front fascia shown in FIG. 5 .
  • FIG. 1 generally illustrates a horizontal mount laundry treatment machine 10 , such as a washer or washer/dryer combo.
  • the laundry treatment machine 10 includes a housing 12 and a drum 28 defining a treatment chamber 18 suspended within the housing 12 .
  • a front ring assembly (not visible in FIG. 1 ) surrounds the opening to the treatment chamber 18 .
  • a fascia 20 covers the front ring assembly.
  • the fascia 20 may be a unitary circular component.
  • a door 22 having a handle 24 , is connected to the front ring assembly (which is positioned behind fascia 20 ) by hinge 26 .
  • a display 34 may be disposed on the front of the housing 12 .
  • FIGS. 2 a -2 c illustrate a side view, top view and bottom view, respectively, of a drum 28 as configured in a known horizontal mount laundry treatment machine.
  • the drum includes a bottom counterweight 40 mounted to the bottom of the drum 28 and a top counterweight 42 mounted to the top of the drum 28 .
  • FIG. 3 illustrates a drum 28 and a door 22 of a laundry treatment machine according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • the drum 28 includes a front ring assembly (not visible) covered by a fascia 20 .
  • the fascia 20 may be a unitary circular component.
  • Door 22 is connected to the front ring assembly by hinge 26 .
  • FIG. 4 is a front view illustration of the front ring assembly 44 of the drum 28 shown in FIG. 3 , with the fascia 20 removed.
  • Counterweights 46 a and 46 b are mounted or fastened to the front surface of front ring assembly 44 .
  • Upper counterweights 46 a are mounted or fastened to the upper portion of the front ring assembly 44
  • lower counterweights 46 b are mounted to the lower portion of front ring assembly 44 .
  • FIG. 5 is a side view illustration of the front ring assembly 44 shown in FIG. 4 and the front fascia 20 .
  • FIG. 6 is a magnified view of the upper portion and lower portion of the front ring assembly 44 and front fascia 20 shown in FIG. 5 .
  • upper counterweights 46 a and lower counterweights 46 b are positioned between the front ring assembly 44 and the front fascia 20 .
  • Counterweights 46 a and 46 b are shown mounted or fastened to front ring assembly 44 .

Abstract

A horizontal mount laundry treatment machine having a housing and a drum inside the housing, the drum defining a treatment chamber configured to spin laundry placed therein. A front ring assembly surrounds an opening of the treatment chamber. At least one counterweight is mounted to the front ring assembly or positioned between a front surface of the front ring assembly and a fascia that substantially covers the front ring assembly.

Description

    FIELD
  • The present disclosure relates to a horizontal mount laundry treatment machine.
    • BACKGROUND
  • This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
  • Laundry treatment machines, such as automatic washing machines, include a tub suspended within a housing, wherein laundry placed therein is treated, e.g., washed. Generally, the tub is a cylindrical structure defining a cylindrical treatment chamber. The tub may be mounted horizontally within the housing (a “horizontal mount” machine), in which case the treatment chamber is accessed through an opening in a front end of the treatment chamber through a door mounted on the front side of the laundry treatment machine. Washer/dryer combo machines (i.e., a single machine in which a load of laundry is both washed and dried in the same treatment chamber) are normally configured as horizontal mount machines as described above.
  • Horizontal mount machines typically include counterweights to ballast the drum when the treatment chamber spins about its longitudinal axis, such as during a spin cycle. Counterweights may be made from a variety of materials, such as concrete, steel, and other dense materials. It is known to attach counterweights to the top and bottom of the outer surface of the drum. Attaching counterweights to the top and bottom on the drum of a horizontal mount laundry treatment machine, while effective, requires additional space between the outer wall of the drum and the housing to account for the upper and lower counterweights.
  • Therefore, the inventors hereof have identified a need, particularly in view of trends toward the demand for larger treatment chambers (and therefore drums) and the inclusion of additional components inside of the housing of laundry treatment machines, especially washer/dryer combo machines, to position counterweights at locations other than the top and bottom of the outside surface of the drum.
    • SUMMARY
  • This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.
  • A laundry treatment machine is disclosed. The laundry treatment machine has a housing and a cylindrical drum horizontally mounted inside of the housing. The drum defines a treatment chamber and an opening through which to place laundry in the treatment chamber. The laundry treatment machine further has a front ring assembly surrounding the outer periphery of the opening to the treatment chamber and at least one counterweight. In one embodiment, the at least one counterweight is mounted to the front ring assembly. In another embodiment, the at least one counterweight is positioned between a front surface of the front ring assembly and a front fascia.
    • DRAWINGS
  • The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a horizontal mount laundry treatment machine.
  • FIG. 2a illustrates a side view of a known drum of a horizontal mount laundry treatment machine showing counterweights mounted on the top and bottom of the drum.
  • FIG. 2b illustrates a top view of the drum in FIG. 2a , showing one of the counterweights mounted to the top of the drum.
  • FIG. 2c illustrates a bottom view of the drum in FIG. 2c , showing one of the counterweights mounted to the bottom of the drum.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates an isolated view of the drum and door of a horizontal mount laundry treatment machine according to an embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates an isolated view of the front ring assembly of the drum illustrated in FIG. 3 without the front fascia, showing counterweights mounted to the front ring assembly.
  • FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of the front ring assembly of FIG. 3 showing both the front ring assembly and the front fascia.
  • FIG. 6 is a magnified view of the upper and lower portions of the front ring assembly and front fascia shown in FIG. 5.
    •  DETAILED DESCRIPTION
  • Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.
  • FIG. 1 generally illustrates a horizontal mount laundry treatment machine 10, such as a washer or washer/dryer combo. The laundry treatment machine 10 includes a housing 12 and a drum 28 defining a treatment chamber 18 suspended within the housing 12. A front ring assembly (not visible in FIG. 1) surrounds the opening to the treatment chamber 18. A fascia 20 covers the front ring assembly. The fascia 20 may be a unitary circular component. A door 22, having a handle 24, is connected to the front ring assembly (which is positioned behind fascia 20) by hinge 26. A display 34 may be disposed on the front of the housing 12.
  • FIGS. 2a-2c illustrate a side view, top view and bottom view, respectively, of a drum 28 as configured in a known horizontal mount laundry treatment machine. Notably, the drum includes a bottom counterweight 40 mounted to the bottom of the drum 28 and a top counterweight 42 mounted to the top of the drum 28.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates a drum 28 and a door 22 of a laundry treatment machine according to an embodiment of the invention. The drum 28 includes a front ring assembly (not visible) covered by a fascia 20. The fascia 20 may be a unitary circular component. Door 22 is connected to the front ring assembly by hinge 26.
  • FIG. 4 is a front view illustration of the front ring assembly 44 of the drum 28 shown in FIG. 3, with the fascia 20 removed. Counterweights 46 a and 46 b are mounted or fastened to the front surface of front ring assembly 44. Upper counterweights 46 a are mounted or fastened to the upper portion of the front ring assembly 44, and lower counterweights 46 b are mounted to the lower portion of front ring assembly 44.
  • FIG. 5 is a side view illustration of the front ring assembly 44 shown in FIG. 4 and the front fascia 20. FIG. 6 is a magnified view of the upper portion and lower portion of the front ring assembly 44 and front fascia 20 shown in FIG. 5. As illustrated in both FIGS. 5 and 6, upper counterweights 46 a and lower counterweights 46 b are positioned between the front ring assembly 44 and the front fascia 20. Counterweights 46 a and 46 b are shown mounted or fastened to front ring assembly 44.
  • Though not illustrated, it is also contemplated and within the scope of this disclosure to attach the upper and lower counterweights 46 a and 46 b to the front fascia 20 (instead of the front ring assembly 44), still maintaining the same position of the counterweights between the front ring assembly 44 and the front fascia 20.
  • The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.

Claims (9)

What is claimed is:
1. A laundry treatment machine, comprising:
a housing;
a cylindrical drum horizontally mounted inside of the housing, the drum defining a treatment chamber and having an opening to the treatment chamber through which to place laundry, the cylindrical drum being configured to spin laundry placed in the treatment chamber;
a front ring assembly surrounding the outer periphery of the opening to the treatment chamber;
a front fascia substantially covering the front ring assembly; and
at least one counterweight positioned between a front surface of the front ring assembly and the front fascia.
2. The laundry treatment machine of claim 1, wherein the at least one counterweight is mounted to the front ring assembly.
3. The laundry treatment machine of claim 2, wherein the at least one counterweight comprises at least one upper counterweight mounted to an upper portion of the front ring assembly and at least one lower counterweight mounted to a lower portion of the front ring assembly.
4. The laundry treatment machine of claim 1, wherein the at least one counterweight is mounted to the fascia.
5. The laundry treatment machine of claim 4, wherein the at least one counterweight comprises at least one upper counterweight mounted to an upper portion of the fascia and at least one lower counterweight mounted to a lower portion of the fascia.
6. The laundry treatment machine of claim 1, wherein the fascia is a unity piece.
7. A laundry treatment machine, comprising:
a housing;
a cylindrical drum horizontally mounted inside of the housing, the drum defining a treatment chamber and having an opening to the treatment chamber through which to place laundry, the cylindrical drum being configured to spin laundry placed in the treatment chamber;
a front ring assembly surrounding the outer periphery of the opening to the treatment chamber; and
at least one counterweight mounted to the front ring assembly.
8. The laundry treatment machine of claim 7, wherein the at least one counterweight comprises at least one upper counterweight mounted to an upper portion of the front ring assembly and at least lower counterweight mounted to a lower portion of the front ring assembly.
9. The laundry treatment machine of claim 7, wherein the at least one counterweight is mounted to a front surface of the front ring assembly.
US17/240,786 2021-04-26 2021-04-26 Counterweight with fascia design of functional door Abandoned US20220341081A1 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US17/240,786 US20220341081A1 (en) 2021-04-26 2021-04-26 Counterweight with fascia design of functional door
CN202210445678.5A CN115323722A (en) 2021-04-26 2022-04-26 Counterweight associated with the design of a trim panel for a functional door

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US17/240,786 US20220341081A1 (en) 2021-04-26 2021-04-26 Counterweight with fascia design of functional door

Publications (1)

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US20220341081A1 true US20220341081A1 (en) 2022-10-27

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US17/240,786 Abandoned US20220341081A1 (en) 2021-04-26 2021-04-26 Counterweight with fascia design of functional door

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US (1) US20220341081A1 (en)
CN (1) CN115323722A (en)

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20180073180A1 (en) * 2015-03-20 2018-03-15 Lg Electronics Inc. Washing machine

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20180073180A1 (en) * 2015-03-20 2018-03-15 Lg Electronics Inc. Washing machine

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
KR20060114120A - machine translation (Year: 2006) *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN115323722A (en) 2022-11-11

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