Washing machine appliance and lid assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9909248-B2
Application number	US-201615209812-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 14, 2016
Priority date	Jul 14, 2016
Publication date	Mar 6, 2018
Grant date	Mar 6, 2018

Abstract

A washing machine appliance and lid assembly is provided. Washing machine may include a cabinet, a basket, and a door. The cabinet may define an opening. The basket may be mounted within the cabinet. The basket may define a wash chamber beneath the opening to receive one or more clothing articles to be washed. Door may be pivotally attached to the cabinet. The door may be selectively movable between an open position permitting access to the opening and a closed position restricting access to the opening. The door may include an integral frame and a discrete panel. The integral frame may define an aperture above the wash chamber.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A washing machine, comprising:
a cabinet defining an opening;
a basket mounted within the cabinet, the basket defining a wash chamber beneath the opening to receive one or more clothing articles to be washed; and
a door pivotally attached to the cabinet, the door being selectively movable between an open position permitting access to the opening and a closed position restricting access to the opening, the door comprising
an integral frame defining an aperture above the wash chamber, the integral frame including a bottom wall, an outer wall, and a pivotable tab, a bottom surface of the bottom wall facing the cabinet in the closed position, the outer wall extending above the bottom wall in a vertical direction, the pivotable tab positioned above the bottom wall such that the pivotable tab is separated from the bottom wall along the vertical direction, the pivotable tab being further positioned between the outer wall and the aperture, wherein an internal cavity is defined between the bottom wall and the pivotable tab separated therefrom along the vertical direction, and
a discrete panel disposed on the pivotable tab in bonded parallel engagement therewith such that the pivotable tab is between the internal cavity and the discrete panel along the vertical direction, the discrete panel extending across the aperture such that the discrete panel is bounded by the outer wall of the integral frame,

wherein the integral frame further includes an inner wall extending at least partially in the vertical direction above the bottom wall, the inner wall being disposed between the outer wall and the aperture, wherein the pivotable tab includes a deformable hinge extending along a tab pivot axis, wherein the deformable hinge is formed along the inner wall such that the deformable hinge couples the pivotable tab to the inner wall, wherein the pivotable tab includes a free edge positioned opposite the deformable hinge, and wherein the outer wall defines a ridge supporting the free edge of the pivotable tab.

2. The washing machine of claim 1 , wherein the discrete panel includes a window through which the wash chamber is visible when the door is in the closed position.

3. The washing machine of claim 1 , wherein the deformable hinge defines a recessed notch between the panel and the internal cavity.

4. The washing machine of claim 1 , wherein the panel includes an upper face facing away from the wash chamber, and wherein the integral frame includes a containment rim extending from the outer wall across a portion of the upper face.

5. The washing machine of claim 1 , wherein the pivotable tab is a first pivotable tab, the integral frame further comprising a second pivotable tab, wherein the first pivotable tab and the second pivotable tab are separated by the aperture in a lateral direction.

6. The washing machine of claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive positioned on the pivotable tab between the panel and the pivotable tab outside of the internal cavity.

7. A washing machine, comprising:
a cabinet defining an opening;
a basket mounted within the cabinet, the basket defining a wash chamber, the wash chamber being accessible by the opening; and
a door pivotally attached to the cabinet, the door being selectively movable about a door pivot axis between an open position permitting access to the opening and a closed position restricting access to the opening, the door comprising
an integral frame defining an aperture above the wash chamber, the integral frame including a bottom wall, an inner wall, an outer wall, and a deck, a bottom surface of the bottom wall facing the cabinet to selectively rest thereon in the closed position, the outer wall extending above the bottom wall in a vertical direction, the deck positioned above the bottom wall such that the deck is separated from the bottom wall along the vertical direction, the deck being further positioned between the outer wall and the aperture, wherein an enclosed internal cavity is defined between the bottom wall and the deck separated therefrom along the vertical direction, and
a discrete panel disposed on the deck in bonded parallel engagement therewith such that the deck is between the internal cavity and the discrete panel along the vertical direction, the discrete panel extending across the aperture such that the discrete panel is bounded by the outer wall,

wherein the outer wall, bottom wall, inner wall, and deck enclose the internal cavity about a cavity axis, the cavity axis being parallel to a transverse direction, wherein the integral frame includes a rear end proximate the door pivot axis, and wherein the integral frame defines an opening in communication with the internal cavity at the rear end.

8. The washing machine of claim 7 , wherein the panel includes a window through which the wash chamber is visible when the door is in the closed position.

9. The washing machine of claim 7 , wherein the integral frame includes a front end positioned opposite the door pivot axis, and wherein the integral frame defines an opening in communication with the internal cavity at the front end.

10. The washing machine of claim 9 , wherein the door further includes a discrete handle attached to the integral frame at the front end, the discrete handle covering the opening.

11. The washing machine of claim 7 , wherein the panel includes an upper face facing away from the wash chamber, and wherein the integral frame includes a containment rim extending from the outer wall across a portion of the upper face.

12. The washing machine of claim 7 , wherein the deck is a first deck defining a first enclosed internal cavity between the bottom wall and the first deck, the integral frame comprising a second deck defining a second enclosed internal cavity, and wherein the first deck and the second deck are separated by the central passage in a lateral direction.

13. A washing machine, comprising:
a cabinet defining an opening;
a basket mounted within the cabinet, the basket defining a wash chamber beneath the opening to receive one or more clothing articles to be washed; and
a door pivotally attached to the cabinet, the door being selectively movable between an open position permitting access to the opening and a closed position restricting access to the opening, the door comprising
an integral frame defining an aperture above the wash chamber, the integral frame including a bottom wall, an outer wall, and a pivotable tab, a bottom surface of the bottom wall facing the cabinet in the closed position, the outer wall extending above the bottom wall in a vertical direction, the pivotable tab positioned above the bottom wall such that the pivotable tab is separated from the bottom wall along the vertical direction, the pivotable tab being further positioned between the outer wall and the aperture, wherein an internal cavity is defined between the bottom wall and the pivotable tab separated therefrom along the vertical direction, and
a discrete panel disposed on the pivotable tab in bonded parallel engagement therewith such that the pivotable tab is between the internal cavity and the discrete panel along the vertical direction, the discrete panel extending across the aperture such that the discrete panel is bounded by the outer wall of the integral frame,

wherein the integral frame further includes an inner wall extending at least partially in the vertical direction above the bottom wall, the inner wall being disposed between the outer wall and the aperture, and wherein the deformable hinge is formed along the outer wall, and wherein the pivotable tab includes a free edge positioned opposite the deformable hinge and en

Assignees

• Haier Us Appliance Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Mora Adam Raymond
• Venkatesan Thirugnannasambandham

Classifications

• B60J10/70

  specially adapted for windows or windscreens · CPC title

• A47G1/0611

  the profiles having clamping action; Elongated clips · CPC title

• D06F37/28 Primary

  Doors; Security means therefor · CPC title

• D06F39/14 Primary

  Doors or covers; Securing means therefor · CPC title

• D06F23/04

  and rotating or oscillating about a vertical axis · CPC title