Dryer appliance and filter apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023151536-A1
Application number	US-202117529442-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 18, 2021
Priority date	Nov 18, 2021
Publication date	May 18, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

Dryer appliances are provided herein including a cabinet having a lower panel and a drum rotatably mounted within the cabinet. The drum defines a chamber for receipt of articles for drying. A drawer is removably mounted to the cabinet and includes a front wall, a rear wall, and sidewalls extended between the front wall and the rear wall. The drawer forms a lint collection bin. A filter assembly is removably positionable within the lint collection bin. The filter assembly abuts the lower panel of the cabinet when the drawer is in a closed position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A dryer appliance, comprising:
a cabinet comprising a lower panel; a drum rotatably mounted within the cabinet, the drum defining a chamber for receipt of articles for drying; a drawer removably mounted to the cabinet, the drawer comprising a front wall, a rear wall, and sidewalls extended between the front wall and the rear wall, the drawer forming a lint collection bin; and a filter assembly removably positionable within the lint collection bin, the filter assembly abutting the lower panel of the cabinet when the drawer is in a closed position.

2 . The dryer appliance of claim 1 , the lower panel extending along a horizontal direction from the front wall to the rear wall of the drawer when in the closed position.

3 . The dryer appliance of claim 1 , the drawer comprising a track at which the filter assembly is removably positionable.

4 . The dryer appliance of claim 3 , wherein the track extends at an angle between approximately 45 degrees and up to approximately 90 degrees.

5 . The dryer appliance of claim 3 , wherein the track extends at an angle, wherein an upper portion of the filter assembly is more proximate to the front wall of the drawer than a lower portion of the filter assembly when positioned in the drawer.

6 . The dryer appliance of claim 3 , wherein the track is positioned at one or more sidewalls of the drawer.

7 . The dryer appliance of claim 3 , wherein the track is configured for the filter assembly comprising a vertical direction between approximately 12 inches and approximately 15 inches.

8 . The dryer appliance of claim 3 , wherein the track is configured for the filter assembly comprising a lateral direction between approximately 19 inches and approximately 25 inches.

9 . The dryer appliance of claim 1 , wherein the filter assembly is press fit or interference fit with the lower panel of the cabinet when in the drawer is in the closed position.

10 . The dryer appliance of claim 1 , comprising:
a spring extending between the filter assembly and the drawer, wherein the spring is configured to force the filter assembly toward a flow of air entering the lint collection bin.

11 . The dryer appliance of claim 10 , wherein the spring extends from the rear wall of the drawer to the filter assembly.

12 . The dryer appliance of claim 10 , wherein the spring extends from the front wall of the drawer to the filter assembly.

13 . The dryer appliance of claim 1 , the filter assembly comprising fiberglass, polyester, cotton, or combinations thereof.

14 . The dryer appliance of claim 1 , the drawer positioned at a bottom portion of the cabinet.

15 . The dryer appliance of claim 1 , the cabinet comprising a rail extending along a horizontal direction, wherein the drawer is slidable along the rail.

16 . A dryer appliance, comprising:
a cabinet comprising a lower panel, the cabinet housing a drum motor and a heater assembly, the cabinet comprising a rail extending along a horizontal direction; a drum rotatably mounted within the cabinet, the drum defining a chamber for receipt of articles for drying; a drawer slidable along the rail at the cabinet, the drawer comprising a front wall, a rear wall, and sidewalls extended between the front wall and the rear wall, the drawer forming a lint collection bin; a filter assembly removably positionable within the lint collection bin, the filter assembly abutting the lower panel of the cabinet when the drawer is in a closed position; and a control panel mounted on the cabinet, the control panel in communication with a controller configured to operate the drum motor and the heater assembly.

17 . The dryer appliance of claim 16 , comprising:
a position sensor positioned at the rail, the position sensor in operative communication with the control panel.

18 . The dryer appliance of claim 17 , the control panel configured to receive a signal from the position sensor indicative of whether the drawer is in an open position or a closed position.

19 . The dryer appliance of claim 17 , the position sensor comprising a lock configured to secure the drawer to a bottom portion of the cabinet.

20 . The dryer appliance of claim 16 , the drawer comprising a track at which the filter assembly is removably positionable.

Assignees

• Haier Us Appliance Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Leibman Alexander B
• Rangu Venkata Chakradhar
• Seereddy V V Anil Bhaskar Prasad
• Lindsey Bobby Lee

Classifications

• D06F2103/40

  Opening or locking status of doors · CPC title

• D06F58/22 Primary

  Lint collecting arrangements · CPC title

• D06F34/20

  Parameters relating to constructional components, e.g. door sensors · CPC title

• D06F2105/44

  Opening, closing or locking of doors · CPC title

• D06F34/28

  Arrangements for program selection, e.g. control panels therefor; Arrangements for indicating program parameters, e.g. the selected program or its progress · CPC title