Front load washing machine appliance equipped with door reversing locking and latching features

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10815609-B2
Application number	US-201816030899-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 10, 2018
Priority date	Jul 10, 2018
Publication date	Oct 27, 2020
Grant date	Oct 27, 2020

Abstract

A washing machine appliance equipped with door reversing locking and latching features is provided. Particularly, the washing machine appliance includes latching assembly that is movable between various mounting positions and is configured to hold the door in a closed position. A hinge assembly rotatably couples the door with a cabinet of the washing machine appliance and is movable between various mounting positions so that the door swing direction may be reversed. The washing machine appliance also includes a locking assembly for locking the door in the closed position, e.g., during operation of the washing machine appliance. The locking assembly is separate and distinct from the latching assembly and need not be moved when reversing the swing direction of the door.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A front load appliance defining a vertical direction and a lateral direction, the front load appliance comprising:
a cabinet comprising a front panel defining a loading opening, wherein the front panel defines a door recess extending annularly about the loading opening, and wherein the door recess extends between a top and a bottom along the vertical direction and between a first side and a second side along the lateral direction;
a tub disposed within the cabinet;
a drum rotatably mounted within the tub, the drum defining a chamber for receipt of articles for washing;
a door rotatably coupled with the front panel at one of a first mounting position and a second mounting position and movable between an open position and a closed position for selectively providing access to the chamber at the loading opening;
a latching assembly comprising a latch and a striker; and
a locking assembly spaced from the latching assembly when the door is in the closed position and comprising a lock and a locking feature, wherein the lock is centered between the first side and the second side of the door recess along the lateral direction and at or proximate the top of the door recess along the vertical direction;
wherein when the door is in the closed position, the striker engages the latch to secure the door to the front panel and the lock engages the locking feature for locking the door during operation of the front load appliance.

2. The front load appliance of claim 1 , wherein the lock is connected to the front panel and the locking feature is defined by the door.

3. The front load appliance of claim 1 , wherein the lock comprises a locking member movable between a retracted position in which the door is unlocked and a withdrawn position in which the door is locked, and wherein the locking feature defined by the door is a recess sized to receive the locking member.

4. The front load appliance of claim 1 , wherein the latch is removably mounted to the front panel and the striker is removably mounted to the door.

5. The front load appliance of claim 1 , wherein the front load appliance defines a horizontal axis about which the drum rotates, and wherein the front load appliance further defines a circumferential direction extending about the horizontal axis, and wherein the latching assembly is spaced from the locking assembly about ninety degrees (90°) along the circumferential direction when the door is in the closed position.

6. The front load appliance of claim 5 , further comprising:
a movable hinge assembly for rotatably mounting the door at one of the first mounting position and the second mounting position;
wherein the hinge assembly is spaced from the latching assembly about one hundred eighty degrees (180°) along the circumferential direction when the door is in the closed position.

7. The front load appliance of claim 1 , wherein the front load appliance is a washing machine appliance.

8. A horizontal axis washing machine appliance, comprising:
a cabinet comprising a front panel defining a loading opening;
a tub disposed within the cabinet;
a basket rotatably mounted within the tub, the basket defining a wash chamber for receipt of articles for washing;
a lock connected to the front panel;
a latch removably mounted to the front panel and spaced from the lock;
a door rotatably coupled with the front panel at one of a first mounting position and a second mounting position and movable between an open position and a closed position for selectively providing access to the loading opening, wherein the door defines a locking feature; and
a striker removably mounted to the door for engaging the latch when the door is in the closed position, the striker spaced from the locking feature;
wherein the locking feature and the lock engage to lock the door in the closed position during operation of the horizontal axis washing machine appliance; and
wherein the door extends between a top and a bottom along a vertical direction and a first side and a second side along a lateral direction, and wherein the locking feature is centered between the first side and the second side and is positioned at or proximate the top of the door.

9. The horizontal axis washing machine appliance of claim 8 , wherein the first mounting position and the second mounting position are disposed on opposite sides of the loading opening defined by the front panel.

10. The horizontal axis washing machine appliance of claim 8 , wherein the horizontal axis washing machine appliance defines a horizontal axis about which the basket rotates, and wherein the first mounting position is disposed about ninety degrees (90°) from the lock with respect to the horizontal axis and the second mounting position is disposed about ninety degrees (90°) from the lock with respect to the horizontal axis.

11. The horizontal axis washing machine appliance of claim 8 , wherein the door is rotatably coupled with the front panel by a removable hinge assembly.

12. The horizontal axis washing machine appliance of claim 8 , wherein the hinge assembly, the locking assembly, and the latching assembly are spaced about ninety degrees (90°) from one another when door is in the closed position.

13. The horizontal axis washing machine appliance of claim 8 , wherein the lock comprises a locking member that is movable between a retracted position and a withdrawn position, and wherein when the door is in the closed position and the horizontal axis washing machine appliance is in operation, the locking member is in the withdrawn position and when the door is in the open position, the locking member is in the retracted position.

14. The horizontal axis washing machine appliance of claim 13 , wherein the locking feature is a recess sized to accommodate at least a portion of the locking member when the locking member is in the withdrawn position.

15. The horizontal axis washing machine appliance of claim 8 , wherein the front panel defines a door recess extending annularly about the loading opening, and wherein the door recess extends between a top and a bottom along the vertical direction and between a first side and a second side along the lateral direction, and wherein the lock is centered between the first side and the second side and is positioned at or proximate the top of the door recess, and wherein a hinge body of a hinge assembly is mounted to the door recess at one of the first side and the second side, and wherein the latch is mounted to the door recess opposite the hinge body at one of the first side and the second side.

16. A horizontal axis washing machine appliance, comprising:
a cabinet comprising a front panel defining a loading opening;
a tub disposed within the cabinet; a basket rotatably mounted within the tub, the basket defining a wash chamber for receipt of articles for washing;
a locking bolt coupled to the front panel and movable between a retracted position and a withdrawn position;
a latch removably mounted to the front panel and spaced from the locking bolt; a door rotatably coupled with the front panel at one of a first mounting position and a second mounting position and movable between an open position and a closed position for selectively providing access to the loading opening, wherein the door defines a recess, and wherein the door extends between a top and a bottom along a vertical direction and a first side and a second side along a lateral direction, and wherein the recess is centered between the first side and the second side and is positioned at or proximate the top of the door; a striker removably mounted to the door

Assignees

• Haier Us Appliance Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Renz Daniel Stephen
• Islas Erick Flores

Classifications

• D06F39/14 Primary

  Doors or covers; Securing means therefor · CPC title

• E05B65/001

  for gas- or watertight wings · CPC title

• E05B59/00

  Locks with latches separate from the lock-bolts or with a plurality of latches or lock-bolts · CPC title

• E05B65/06

  for swing doors {or windows, i.e. opening inwards and outwards} · CPC title