Laundry appliance having laundry accessories

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12534846-B2
Application number	US-202217723612-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 19, 2022
Priority date	May 3, 2021
Publication date	Jan 27, 2026
Grant date	Jan 27, 2026

Abstract

A laundry appliance includes a cabinet. A blower is disposed within the cabinet that delivers accessory air through an accessory airflow path. An accessory bar assembly is in fluid communication with the accessory airflow path. The accessory bar assembly is configured to suspend articles therefrom and to provide the accessory air for conditioning the articles.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A laundry appliance comprising:
a cabinet; a blower disposed within the cabinet that delivers accessory air through an accessory airflow path; and an accessory bar assembly in fluid communication with the accessory airflow path, wherein the accessory bar assembly is configured to suspend articles therefrom and to provide the accessory air for conditioning the articles, wherein the accessory bar assembly extends from a front portion of the cabinet.

2 . The laundry appliance of claim 1 , wherein the accessory bar assembly is in the form of a footwear dryer or a hanging-clothes dryer.

3 . The laundry appliance of claim 1 , wherein the accessory airflow path includes a diverter valve that selectively delivers process air to the accessory airflow path.

4 . The laundry appliance of claim 1 , wherein the blower also directs process air through a primary airflow path that includes a rotating drum.

5 . The laundry appliance of claim 1 , wherein the accessory air is directed within a processing space that is outside of the cabinet and proximate the front portion.

6 . The laundry appliance of claim 5 , wherein the accessory bar assembly includes a plurality of perforations that direct the accessory air from the accessory airflow path and into the processing space.

7 . The laundry appliance of claim 1 , wherein the accessory bar assembly includes an upper first air bar and a lower second air bar that are each connected to the accessory airflow path.

8 . The laundry appliance of claim 7 , wherein the upper first air bar directs the accessory air in a downward direction and into a processing space.

9 . The laundry appliance of claim 7 , wherein the lower second air bar directs the accessory air in an upward direction and into a processing space.

10 . The laundry appliance of claim 1 , wherein the accessory bar assembly slidably extends from a receptacle defined within the cabinet.

11 . The laundry appliance of claim 10 , wherein the receptacle is defined within an outer surface of the cabinet.

12 . The laundry appliance of claim 10 , wherein the receptacle is defined within an interior of the cabinet.

13 . A laundry appliance comprising:
a cabinet; a blower disposed within the cabinet that delivers accessory air through an accessory airflow path; and an accessory bar assembly in fluid communication with the accessory airflow path, wherein the accessory bar assembly is configured to suspend articles therefrom and to provide the accessory air for conditioning the articles, wherein the accessory bar assembly slidably extends from a receptacle defined within the cabinet.

14 . The laundry appliance of claim 13 , wherein the accessory bar assembly is in the form of a footwear dryer or a hanging-clothes dryer.

15 . The laundry appliance of claim 13 , wherein the accessory airflow path includes a diverter valve that selectively delivers process air to the accessory airflow path.

16 . The laundry appliance of claim 13 , wherein the blower also directs process air through a primary airflow path that includes a rotating drum.

17 . The laundry appliance of claim 13 , wherein the accessory bar assembly extends from a front portion of the cabinet, wherein the accessory air is directed within a processing space that is outside of the cabinet and proximate the front portion, and wherein the accessory bar assembly includes a plurality of perforations that direct the accessory air from the accessory airflow path and into the processing space.

18 . The laundry appliance of claim 13 , wherein the accessory bar assembly includes an upper first air bar and a lower second air bar that are each connected to the accessory airflow path, wherein the upper first air bar directs the accessory air in a downward direction and into a processing space, and wherein the lower second air bar directs the accessory air in an upward direction and into the processing space.

19 . The laundry appliance of claim 13 , wherein the receptacle is defined within an outer surface of the cabinet.

20 . The laundry appliance of claim 13 , wherein the receptacle is defined within an interior of the cabinet.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Bixby Seth E
• Christensen Mark Jason
• Espinosa Marco Ali Curti
• Liu Yu
• Moreno Sergio
• Murphy Sayer James
• Pugh Jonathan D
• Ramasco Bruno T
• Schooley Nicholas C
• Vandervelde Meagan Kathleen

Classifications

• D06F58/10

  Drying cabinets or drying chambers having heating or ventilating means · CPC title

• D06F58/02

  having dryer drums rotating about a horizontal axis · CPC title

• D06F57/00

  Supporting means, other than simple clothes-lines, for linen or garments to be dried or aired  (in combination with means for heating or positive air circulation D06F58/00; adapted to retain the shape of particular articles being dried D06F59/00) · CPC title

• D06F58/203 Primary

  Laundry conditioning arrangements · CPC title

• D06F57/12

  specially adapted for attachment to walls, ceilings, stoves, or other structures or objects · CPC title