WO2021063102A1

WO2021063102A1 - Top panel for a laundry washing machine

Info

Publication number: WO2021063102A1
Application number: PCT/CN2020/106227
Authority: WO
Inventors: Phillip C. HOMBROEK; Dale Comenzind; Bryan T. SNOOK
Original assignee: Midea Group Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2019-09-30
Filing date: 2020-07-31
Publication date: 2021-04-08
Also published as: US20210095413A1

Abstract

A top panel (20) for a laundry washing machine (10). The top panel (20) allows for separation from the remaining portion of the laundry washing machine (10). The top panel (20) may include a door (22) to a vertically mounted wash tub (16) within a cabinet (70). The top panel (20) may include one or more apertures (21) to allow the user to access the one or more controls (18) or internal components separately mounted from the top panel (20). The separable top panel (20) may allow for ease of servicing and/or assembly of the laundry washing machine (10).

Description

TOP PANEL FOR A LAUNDRY WASHING MACHINE

FIELD

The present embodiments relate to a top panel or cover integrated into a laundry washing machine.

BACKGROUND

Typical laundry washing machines have hydraulics and/or electronics (e.g. controls, hoses, wires, and valves) mounted to the top panel of a vertical axis laundry washing machine. However, this arrangement often leads to the need to remove all wire harnesses and water tubing before the top panel may be removed. Generally, a service person must tilt the top panel at an angle while it is still connected to the hydraulics and/or electrical systems to gain access therein. However, the angled top panel reduces access by the user to other internal parts disposed within the top panel or mounted on the top panel structure. This may lead to, but is not limited to, servicing and assembly problems or difficulty. Thus, there is a need to service and/or assemble the top panel while reducing the disconnection and/or connection of hydraulics and/or electrical systems.

SUMMARY

In some embodiments of the invention, for example, a laundry washing machine may include a cabinet having a plurality of sides and/or a top flange. In various embodiments, the top flange may define an outer periphery. Moreover, in some embodiments, the laundry washing machine may include a vertically mounted wash tub positioned within the cabinet. In various embodiments, the laundry washing machine may include one or more controls positioned at least partially within the outer periphery and/or upper opening of the cabinet. In some embodiments, the laundry washing machine may include a top panel having a tub aperture defining access to the wash tub, one or more control apertures, and/or a door configurable between an open position and a closed position with the tub aperture to the wash tub. In addition, in some embodiments, the one or more control apertures of the top panel may define user access to the one or more controls when the top panel is assembled with the cabinet. In various embodiments, the one or more controls remain mounted with the cabinet when the top panel is disassembled from the cabinet.

In some embodiments, the laundry washing machine may include a frame extending from the top flange of the cabinet into the top panel when assembled. In various embodiments, the frame may extend along at least a portion of the outer periphery of the cabinet adjacent the top flange and may include a front frame, a rear frame, and/or one or more support frames connecting the front frame to the rear frame. In some embodiments, the laundry washing machine may include one or more water valves, one or more trays, and/or one or more water nozzles attached to the frame separate from the top panel. Moreover, in some embodiments, the top panel may be free from electrical connections and/or hydraulic connections allowing separation freely from the cabinet between an assembled position and a disassembled position. In various embodiments, one or more mechanical connections may releasably connect the top panel from the cabinet. In some embodiments, the one or more control apertures may be adjacent a front edge of the top panel.

In various embodiments, a laundry washing machine may include a cabinet having a plurality of sides and a top flange. In some embodiments, the top flange may define an outer periphery. In various embodiments, the laundry washing machine may include a frame attached to the cabinet adjacent the top flange and having a front frame, a rear frame, and/or at least one support frame connecting the front frame to the rear frame. In some embodiments, the laundry washing machine may include a vertically mounted wash tub positioned within the cabinet. In addition, in some embodiments, the laundry washing machine may include one or more controls mounted to the frame. Moreover, in various embodiments, the laundry washing machine may include a top panel having a tub aperture defining access towards the wash tub, one or more control apertures, and/or a door configurable between an open position and a closed position with the tub aperture to the wash tub. In various embodiments, the one or more control apertures of the top panel may define user access to the one or more controls when assembled with the cabinet. In some embodiments, when the top panel is dissembled from the cabinet and the frame, the one or more controls remain mounted with the frame.

In addition, in some embodiments, the laundry washing machine may include electrical systems and/or hydraulic systems mounted to the frame but freely separable from the top panel. In various embodiments, the frame may extend along the outer periphery and may extend upwardly into the top panel. In some embodiments, the frame may define a through opening between the wash tub and the tub aperture of the top panel. Moreover, in various embodiments, the one or more control apertures may be adjacent a front edge of the top panel outside the door in the closed position. In some embodiments, the top panel may surround an outer periphery of the frame. In various embodiments, the top panel may include one or more water supply apertures for receiving hydraulic connections therethrough.

In some embodiments, a laundry washing machine may include a cabinet having a plurality of sides and a top flange. In various embodiments, the top flange may define an outer periphery. In some embodiments, the laundry washing machine may include a frame attached to the cabinet adjacent the top flange and having a front frame, a rear frame, and at least one support frame connecting the front frame to the rear frame. In addition, in various embodiments, the laundry washing machine may include a vertically mounted wash tub positioned within the cabinet. In some embodiments, the laundry washing machine may include one or more controls mounted to the frame. In various embodiments, the laundry washing machine may include a top panel having a tub aperture defining access towards the wash tub, one or more control apertures, and/or a door configurable between an open position and a closed position with the tub aperture to the wash tub. In some embodiments, the one or more control apertures of the top panel define user access to the one or more controls in an assembled position with the cabinet. Moreover, in various embodiments, the top panel may include a connection to a remaining portion of the laundry washing machine that is free from electrical connections and hydraulic connections thereby allowing separation of the top panel from the frame, the cabinet, and the mounted one or more controls to the frame towards a disassembled position.

In addition, in some embodiments, the top panel may include the mechanical connections to the frame and/or the cabinet. In various embodiments, the frame may include a single support frame connecting the front frame to the rear frame. In some embodiments, the frame may define a through opening between the wash tub and the tub aperture of the top panel. Moreover, in some embodiments, the one or more control apertures may be adjacent a front edge of the top panel outside the door in the closed position. In various embodiments, the top panel may include one or more water supply apertures for receiving one or more hydraulic connections therethrough.

These and other advantages and features, which characterize the embodiments, are set forth in the claims annexed hereto and form a further part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the embodiments, and of the advantages and objectives attained through its use, reference should be made to the Drawings and to the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is described example embodiments. This summary is merely provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the detailed description, and is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the same parts throughout the different views. Also, the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a top panel in a laundry washing machine, with portions of the laundry washing machine broken away;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the laundry washing machine of Fig. 1 with the top panel exploded or disengaged therefrom illustrating the internal systems freely separated therefrom;

Figure 3 is an exploded view of the laundry washing of Fig. 1;

Figure 4 is a bottom perspective view of the top panel of Fig. 1 exploded from the frame and mounted internal components; and

Figure 5 is another perspective view of Fig. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Numerous variations and modifications will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, as will become apparent from the description below. Therefore, the invention is not limited to the specific implementations discussed herein.

The embodiments discussed hereinafter will focus on the implementation of the hereinafter-described techniques within a top-load residential laundry washing machine such as laundry washing machine 10, such as the type that may be used in single-family or multi-family dwellings, or in other similar applications. However, it will be appreciated that the herein-described techniques may also be used in connection with other types of laundry washing machines in some embodiments. For example, the herein-described techniques may be used in commercial applications in some embodiments. Moreover, the herein-described techniques may be used in connection with other laundry washing machine configurations. For example, a front-load laundry washing machine that includes a front-mounted door in a cabinet or housing that provides access to a horizontally-oriented wash tub housed within the cabinet or housing may be used. Implementation of the herein-described techniques within a front-load laundry washing machine would be well within the abilities of one of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the instant disclosure, so the invention is not limited to the top-load implementation discussed further herein.

Turning now to the drawings, wherein like numbers denote like parts throughout the several views, Figs. 1-5 illustrate an example laundry washing machine 10 in which the various technologies and techniques described herein may be implemented. Laundry washing machine 10 is a top-load washing machine, and as such includes a top panel or cover 20 having a top-mounted door 22 defining an opening or tub aperture 23 towards a cabinet or housing 70 that provides/defines access to a vertically oriented or mounted wash tub 16 housed within the cabinet or housing 70. Door 22 is generally hinged along a side or rear edge and is pivotable between the closed position illustrated in Fig. 1 and an opened position (not shown) . When door 22 is in the opened position, clothes and other washable items may be inserted into and removed from wash tub 16 through the tub aperture 23 in the top panel 20 of cabinet or housing 70. Control over washing machine 10 by a user is generally managed through one or more control panels 18 and implementing a user interface 19, and it will be appreciated that in different washing machine designs, control panel 18 may include various types of input and/or output devices, including various knobs, buttons, lights, switches, textual and/or graphical displays, touch screens, etc. through which a user may configure one or more settings of the laundry washing machine. For example, the control panel 18 and/or user interface 19, or portions thereof, may be accessible by the user through one or more control apertures 21 within the top panel 20. For example in the one embodiment shown, portions of the controls 18 and/or user interface 19 may be accessible through the control aperture 21 adjacent a front edge 20a of the top panel 20 and/or outside the door 22/tub aperture 23. In various embodiments, for example, the one or more control apertures 21 of the top panel 20 may be adjacent a rear edge 20b, one or more lateral sides 20c of the top panel 20, and/or within the area of the top panel 20 accessible when the door 22 may be in the open position.

As shown in the Figures, the top panel 20 of the vertical axis laundry washing machine 10 may be freely separable from the remaining portion (e.g. frame, water hoses 65, wires or wire harnesses 55, controls, and/or cabinet, etc. ) to provide access (e.g. servicing, assembly, etc. ) into the laundry washing machine 10. The top panel 20 is freely disconnected from the hydraulic systems 60 and/or electrical systems 50 when in both the engaged/assembled position with a frame 30 and/or cabinet 70 (see Fig. 1) and the disengaged/disassembled positon with the frame and/or cabinet (see Fig. 2) . The user may merely disconnect one or more mechanical connections 40 (e.g. fasteners, taps, clips, etc. ) between the top panel 20 and the remaining portion of the laundry washing machine 10 (e.g. frame 30 and/or cabinet 70) to freely disengage. With electrical and hydraulic features/systems connected to separate structure (e.g. frame 30, cabinet 70, or portions thereof) beneath or rather than the top panel 20, the user does not need to disconnect these electrical and/or hydraulic systems from the top panel 20 or manipulate the top panel 20 while the electrical and/or hydraulic systems are still attached. Another advantage may be that the controls 18 or top panel 20 may be replaced or selected from a plurality of available top panels and/or controls to create different models to create a variety of aesthetics for the laundry washing machine without changing one or more internal parts, cabinet, or portions thereof. Servicing for example, may be easier, such that the top panel or cover 20 is removed to access wire harnesses 55, water valves 61 or nozzles 62, cleaning, door/lid locks 51, conduit or hoses 65, trays (e.g. detergent tray 63, bleach tray 64, etc. ) etc. which are connected to or communicating with structure beneath/internal or separate from the top panel 20. In some operations, because the top panel 20 may be separated from the remaining portion of the laundry washing machine 10, the top panel 20 may be removed from the cabinet/frame 70 or portions thereof such that one or more series of washing, rinsing, dryings steps, or troubleshooting may occur without the engaged top panel.

In some implementations, the top panel 20 may include one or more apertures or pathways providing access beneath the top panel and into the components within the laundry washing machine when assembled. For example, one or more control apertures 21 may be included in the top panel 20 to provide user access to the one or more control panels 18 and/or user interface 19. As shown in the one embodiment, the control aperture 21 may be positioned at the front edge 20a and outside the wash tub aperture 23/door 22. Although the control aperture 21 may include a continuous outer periphery defined by the top panel it should be understood that the control aperture may be a slot (e.g. extending from the top panel outer periphery) or a portion of an opening therethrough defined by other structure of the laundry washing machine (e.g. frame or cabinet) . For example, the one or more apertures may include a discontinuous outer periphery. In some embodiments, the top panel 20 may include one or more water supply apertures 25, if used, for receiving one or more hydraulic conduits/connections therethrough in downstream communication with the external water supply. The water supply apertures 25 may be adjacent the rear edge 20b or side wall 26a-26d of the top panel 20. These hydraulic conduits may be one or more external water supply lines (e.g. hot and/or cold water conduits) to the laundry washing machine 10. The tub aperture 23 and/or one or more additional apertures may be positioned within or concealed by the door 22 and still be in communication with internal components (e.g. hydraulic systems, electrical systems, frame mounted structure, trays, lid locks, etc. ) . For example, the top panel 20 may include the one or more nozzle apertures 28 that receive or allow the nozzles 62 to pass through. Moreover, the top panel 20 may include a lid lock aperture 29 to receive the door lock 51. In addition, some implementations may include a bleach tray aperture 64a and/or detergent tray aperture 63a receiving the bleach tray 64 and detergent tray 63, respectively. The one or more apertures (e.g. control aperture, wash tub aperture, water supply apertures, tray apertures, door lock aperture, etc. ) may be a variety of positions within the top panel, quantities, shapes, sizes, and constructions and still be within the scope of the invention. The one or more apertures, if used, may be a variety of through openings to receive/access the internal structure, abut the outer/upper extent or periphery of structure, surround or outline structure at least in part, and/or center upon the devices/structure mounted from the frame. One or more internal mounted structures (e.g. electrical and/or hydraulic) , not mounted or connected to the top panel, may extend through at least a portion of the apertures. Alternatively, in various embodiments, some apertures may not receive a portion of the structure but still provide access, pathway, or communication to the structure. In use, the apertures/top panel slide, move away from, or separate from the internal hydraulic/electrical systems/structure or devices without manually/electrically disconnecting them from the top panel.

In some implementations, the top panel 20 may include an outer periphery 24 surrounding or disposed over the cabinet 70 (e.g. sides 71, top flange 72, etc. ) or frame 30. A plurality of depending side walls 26a-26d depending from a top wall 26e and/or outer periphery 24 may define an opening 26 into the bottom of the top panel 20. The outer periphery 24 of the top panel 20 may engage or may be adjacent an outer periphery 73 and/or top flange 72 of the cabinet 70. The opening 26 (e.g. bottom) and/or one or more walls or sides (e.g. internal walls/dividers, side wall 26a-d, and/or top wall 26e) may define one or more internal cavities 27 within the top panel. In some implementations, the internal cavities 27 receive the frame 30 and/or mounted structure and may define through passages with the apertures of the top panel 20.

In some embodiments, one or more mechanical connections 40 may releasably connect the top panel 20 to the remaining portion (e.g. frame 30, cabinet 70, electrical system/features 50, hydraulic system/features 60, etc. ) of the laundry washing machine 10. In the one embodiment shown, the mechanical connections 40 may be one or more fasteners 41 (e.g. screw, bolt, clip, latch, etc. ) engaging the frame 30 and/or cabinet 70. A user may merely disengage the one or more fasteners 41 allowing the top panel 20 to be removed from the electrical/hydraulic systems still connected to and operational with the cabinet 70 and/or frame 30. Moreover, the user may engage the one or more fasteners 41 or mechanical connections to assemble the top panel. The one or more fasteners 41 may secure the top panel 20 to the frame and/or cabinet without hydraulic/electrical systems being connected thereto. With only mechanical connections 40 connecting the top panel 20 to the cabinet 70 and/or frame 30, the top panel 20 is freely separable from the remaining/operational portion of the laundry washing machine 10. More specifically, separable from the hydraulic/electrical systems remaining with the cabinet 70, frame 30, beneath the top panel 20, and/or removably positioned through at least a portion of the top panel (e.g. apertures) . The mechanical connections 40 may be a variety of shapes, sizes, quantities, positions with the top panel, and constructions and still be within the scope of the invention. For example, the top panel may be hinged to the frame/cabinet in various embodiments and still be free from the electrical features/systems and/or hydraulic features/systems mounted separately from the top panel.

In some implementations, a frame 30 may be used in the laundry washing machine 10. The frame 30 may be disposed beneath the top panel 20 and maintain the components (e.g. electric system 50, hydraulic systems 60, etc., and/or portions thereof) attached thereto instead of the top panel 20. The frame 30 and the components mounted thereto may extend upwardly from the cabinet 70 (e.g. sides 71, top flange 72, etc. ) The frame 30 or portions thereof may project into the top panel 20 or cavity 27 defined by the top panel 20. The frame 30 or portions thereof may define a through opening 31 between the wash tub 16 and the tub aperture 23 of the top panel 20. A variety of electrical/hydraulic components may be mounted to the frame 30/cabinet 70 instead of top panel 20. For example, one or more electrical or wire harnesses 55, detergent trays (e.g. bleach tray 64 and/or detergent tray 63) , water valves 61, water hoses 65, water nozzles 62, controls 18 and/or user interface 19, door lock 51, and/or cameras, etc. As such, the top panel 20 may be free from electrical connections/systems 50 (e.g. wires 55, controls 18, lock 51, etc. ) and hydraulic connections/systems 60 (e.g. hoses 65, valves 61, nozzles 62, etc. ) thereby allowing separation freely from the cabinet 70/frame 30. In the one embodiment shown, the one or more controls 18 may be positioned or mounted to the frame 30 or portions thereof. As shown in the one embodiment, the one or more controls 18 may be mounted on the frame 30 (e.g. front frame 32) at least partiality within the outer periphery 73 and/or top flange 72 of the cabinet 70.

In some implementations, the frame 30, if used, may be a variety of constructions, shapes, sizes, and quantities and still be within the scope of the invention. In the one embodiment shown, the frame 30 may include a front frame 32, a rear frame 33, and/or one or more support frames 34 connecting the front frame to the rear frame. In some implementations, a single support frame 34, if used, may be used between the front frame 32 and the rear frame 33. The front frame 32, rear frame 33, and/or support frame 34 may define an outer periphery 35 surrounding at least a portion of the through opening 31 extending into the wash tub 16. The outer periphery 35 of the frame 30 or frame portions may extend along the cabinet sides 71/range 72 defining the outer periphery 73 within the cabinet 70. The front frame 32 may be positioned adjacent a front side 70a of the cabinet 70. The rear frame 33 may be positioned adjacent a rear side 70b of the cabinet 70. In some embodiments, the one or more support frames 34, ifused, may extend along or adjacent the one or more lateral sides 71 of the cabinet 70 or flange 72. In the one embodiment as shown, one or more portions of the flange 72 may extend from a top edge of the one or more sides 71 of the cabinet 70. The flange 72 may extend along the one or more sides 71 or portions thereof. The flanges 72 may include one or more portions of the mechanical connections 40 (e.g. fasteners) to attach or mount the frame 30 or portions thereof to the cabinet 70. The flange 72/cabinet 70/frame 30 may also include tabs 75 projecting outwardly therefrom (e.g. adjacent the rear side/flange of cabinet) to receive connections 40 to mount the frame and/or top panel. As is shown in the one embodiments, the cabinet 70 includes the tabs 75 receiving the fasteners 41 to engage the rear frame 33 or frame 30. When assembled or engaged as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the top panel 20 may surround the outer periphery 35 of the frame 30 and/or receive the frame and mounted components. Moreover, the controls 18 and/or user interface 19 may be at least partially surrounded, outlined, or received through the control aperture 21 of the top panel when assembled. Therefore, the user may access the user interface 19 or controls 18 through the top panel 20.

In various implementations, the cabinet 70 may include the sides 71 and/or flanges 72 to define an upper opening or edge/periphery 73. The frame 30 or portions thereof may be mounted to the cabinet 70 or portions thereof. The top panel 20 and/or outer periphery 24 may extend or be disposed over the upper opening or edge/periphery 73 of the cabinet 70/range 72. However, the top panel 20 may be disposed over a portion of the area defined by the sides 71 of the cabinet 70 in some embodiments.

While several embodiments have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the function and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the embodiments described herein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the teachings is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, embodiments may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, and/or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the scope of the present disclosure.

All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood to control over dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of the defined terms.

The indefinite articles “a” and “an, ” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should be understood to mean “at least one. ”

The phrase “and/or, ” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, should be understood to mean “either or both” of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Multiple elements listed with “and/or” should be construed in the same fashion, i.e., “one or more” of the elements so conjoined. Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified by the “and/or” clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to “A and/or B” , when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as “comprising” can refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including elements other than B) ; in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including elements other than A) ; in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other elements) ; etc.

As used herein in the specification and in the claims, “or” should be understood to have the same meaning as “and/or” as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, “or” or “and/or” shall be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at least one, but also including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and, optionally, additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary, such as “only one of” or “exactly one of, ” or, when used in the claims, “consisting of, ” will refer to the inclusion of exactly one element of a number or list of elements. In general, the term “or” as used herein shall only be interpreted as indicating exclusive alternatives (i.e. “one or the other but not both” ) when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as “either, ” “one of, ” “only one of, ” or “exactly one of. ” “Consisting essentially of, ” when used in the claims, shall have its ordinary meaning as used in the field of patent law.

As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase “at least one, ” in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed within the list of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified within the list of elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, “at least one of A and B” (or, equivalently, “at least one of A or B, ” or, equivalently “at least one of A and/or B” ) can refer, in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, with no B present (and optionally including elements other than B) ; in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including elements other than A) ; in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including more than one, B (and optionally including other elements) ; etc.

It should also be understood that, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, in any methods claimed herein that include more than one step or act, the order of the steps or acts of the method is not necessarily limited to the order in which the steps or acts of the method are recited.

In the claims, as well as in the specification above, all transitional phrases such as “comprising, ” “including, ” “carrying, ” “having, ” “containing, ” “involving, ” “holding, ” “composed of, ” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of” shall be closed or semi-closed transitional phrases, respectively, as set forth in the United States Patent Office Manual of Patent Examining Procedures, Section 2111.03.

It is to be understood that the embodiments are not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Unless limited otherwise, the terms “connected, ” “coupled, ” “in communication with, ” and “mounted, ” and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass direct and indirect connections, couplings, and mountings. In addition, the terms “connected” and “coupled” and variations thereof are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.

The foregoing description of several embodiments of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise steps and/or forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching.

Claims

A laundry washing machine comprising:

a cabinet having a plurality of sides and a top flange, wherein the top flange defines an outer periphery;

a vertically mounted wash tub positioned within the cabinet;

one or more controls positioned at least partially within the outer periphery of the cabinet; and

a top panel having a tub aperture defining access to the wash tub, one or more control apertures, and a door configurable between an open position and a closed position with the tub aperture to the wash tub, wherein the one or more control apertures of the top panel define user access to the one or more controls when the top panel is assembled with the cabinet and the one or more controls remain mounted with the cabinet when the top panel is disassembled from the cabinet.
The laundry washing machine of claim 1 further comprising a frame extending from the top flange of the cabinet into the top panel when assembled.
The laundry washing machine of claim 2, wherein the frame extends along at least a portion of the outer periphery of the cabinet adjacent the top flange and includes a front frame, a rear frame, and one or more support frames connecting the front frame to the rear frame.
The laundry washing machine of claim 2 or 3 further comprising one or more water valves, one or more trays, and one or more water nozzles attached to the frame separate from the top panel.
The laundry washing machine of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the top panel is free from electrical connections and hydraulic connections allowing separation freely from the cabinet between an assembled position and a disassembled position.
The laundry washing machine of claim 5, wherein one or more mechanical connections releasably connect the top panel from the cabinet.
The laundry washing machine of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the one or more control apertures is adjacent a front edge of the top panel.
The laundry washing machine of any one of claims 1 to 3 further comprising electrical systems and hydraulic systems mounted to the frame but freely separable from the top panel.
The laundry washing machine of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the frame extends along the outer periphery and extends upwardly into the top panel, the frame defines a through opening between the wash tub and the tub aperture of the top panel, and the top panel surrounds an outer periphery of the frame.
The laundry washing machine of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the top panel includes one or more water supply apertures for receiving hydraulic connections therethrough.