US3013424A - Clothes retainer - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 19, 1961 H. B. SOPHIEA 3,013,424

CLOTHES RETAINER Filed Sept. 24, 1958 INVENTOR.

United States Patent Ofiiice 3,013,424 Patented Dec. 19, 1961 3,013,424 IJLOTHES RETAINER Helen B. Sophiea, 2514 Lothrop Ave, Detroit, Mich. Filed Sept. 24, 1958, Ser. No. 763,034 1 Ciairn. ll. 6S--23) My invention relates to washing machines and in particular to a clothes retainer than can be used with washers of a known type to prevent clothes from getting caught between the drum and the casing.

On certain types of washing machines there is a clearance between the drum and the casing. often clothes escape from the drum and lodge in thisopening or pass through it and are caught between the drum and the casing. Inasmuch as it is expensive to have this condition rectified by a repairman, it is most desirable that means be found to prevent it from occurring both in existing Washers as well as in those to be manufactured in the future.

In view of this, my invention comprises a simple flexible closure-type retainer or trap that can be mounted on the drum of washers subject to the above defect. It acts to close the top of the drum and therefore prevent the escape of clothes to the space between the drum and the casing. Nevertheless, it is of such construction that it does not interfere with the normal usage of the washing machine.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which FIGURE 1 is a vertical section, partly broken away, and with parts removed, of a washing machine embodying the invention. FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of structure embodying the invention. FIG- URE 3 is a section along the line 33 of FIGURE 1 and shows the invention in plan. FIGURE 4 is a section along the line 44 of FIGURE 3.

The washing machine 1 which is illustrated in the drawings typifies a known make which has been sold in large quantities. It comprises a casing 3 which has an opening 5 through which clothes are inserted and removed. The opening 5 is closed by a lid 6.

Inside the casing 3 is a rotatable drum 7 which is suitably mounted upon and driven by a spindle 9 through means not shown herein. There is an opening 11 at the top of the drum 7, and it will be observed that this opening and the top of the drum are spaced below the bottom of the opening 5. It is through this space that clothes can pass from the inside of the drum 7 to the chamber 13 surrounding the drum.

In order to prevent clothes from moving into the space just mentioned, I employ a closure or trap device 15. This is preferably constructed entirely of wire. In my preferred form there are three concentric wire circles 17, 19, and 21, respectively. The circle 17 is preferably of the same diameter as the opening 11. The circle 19 is preferably of the same diameter as the opening 5. The circle 21 is less in diameter than the drum 7. Angle shaped wire pieces 23 are rigid with the circles and hold them in their spaced, concentric positions, preferably being attached to the bottoms of the Wires by welding or the equivalent. The outer ends of the pieces 23 are bent at right angles to extend perpendicularly to the plane of the circles and thus form a series of legs. H0les26 are drilled in the top of the drum'7 and the legs 25 ex- Surprisingly with the drum because of the connection afforded by the legs 25.

In washing machines of the type shown it is common for the top of the spindle 9 to carry a pan shaped lint catcher 27. A series of semi-circularly shaped wire pieces 29 are pivotally attached at their ends to the inner circle 17 and are of such size that they extend inwardly to about the outer diameter of the member 27 as can be seen in FIGURE 3. It is important that the ends of the Wire loops 29 be bent upwardly from the bottom around the outside and top of the circle 17 so that the wires can be pivoted upwardly rather easily but tend in lowered position to remain in a fairly flat position as shown in FIGURE 1 rather than pivot downwardly. As can be seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, adjacent legs of the loops 29 overlap and are alternately on top and beneath the adjacent loops 29. Thus, the entire group of loops 29 fold upwardly and outwardly when one of them is grasped tend loosely in them, the device 15 simply resting loosely on top of the drum 7. The device obviously will rotate and pulled upwardly. In such position they will extend within the opening 5 and provide an opening into the drum 7 that is substantially the same size as the drum opening 11. Furthermore, the loops will tend to remain in the upward position until forced back down to the flat, horizontal position shown in the drawings.

In operation of the washing machine the device 15 will rotate with it and because the loops 29 overlie the space between the device 27 and the opening 11 clothes can not escape to become lodged between the top of the drum and the casing.

It is clear that this device can be applied as an accessory to washing machines already in the field, as well as be built into future production.

While I have illustrated the preferred form of my invention it will be apparent that the principles thereof may be embodied in other construction without departing from the spirit and scope of the following claim.

I claim: In washing machines of the type described, which washing machines have a casing and a drum inside the casing, said casing having an opening and said drum having a smaller opening in alignment with said casing opening but spaced from the casing opening, a clothes retainer comprising a support frame mounted on the drum in the space between the drum opening and the closure opening, said support frame having overlapping wire loops hinged thereon and forming flexible members extending inwardly over and closing the outer portion of the drum opening, said flexible members being movable transversely to the drum into the casing opening.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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