Abstract:
A balance ring attachment with a spinner basket having an annular upper edge surrounding an opening therein. The spinner basket has a first cam surface adjacent the annular upper edge. A balance ring is sized to fit and register with the annular upper edge of the spinner basket. The balance ring has a second cam surface retentively engaging the first cam surface for attaching the balance ring to the annular upper edge of the spinner basket.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates generally to an attachment mechanism between a spinner basket of a washing machine and a balance ring.  
           [0002]    An objective of the present invention is to provide a spinner basket and balance ring assembly that centers the balance ring upon the basket spinner when assembled.  
           [0003]    A further objective of the present invention is to provide a locking mechanism that prevents axial movement of the balance ring relative to the spinner basket.  
           [0004]    A still further objective of the present invention is to provide a spinner basket and balance ring attachment that prevents radial movement of the balance ring relative to the spinner basket.  
           [0005]    A still further objective of the present invention is to provide a device which is easy to use and economical to manufacture.  
           [0006]    The means and method of accomplishing these and other objectives will become apparent from the following description of the invention.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The foregoing objects may be achieved by a combination comprising a spinner basket having an annular upper edge surrounding an opening therein. The spinner basket has a first cam surface adjacent the annular upper edge. A balance ring is sized to fit and register with the annular upper edge of the spinner basket. The balance ring has a second cam surface retentively engaging the first cam surface for limiting a first direction rotation of the balance ring with respect to the spinner basket. In addition, engagement of the first and second cam surfaces causes the balance ring to be centered wthin the spinner basket.  
           [0008]    The foregoing objects may also be achieved by a combination of a spinner basket having an annular upper edge surrounding an opening therein. A balance ring has an inner annular surface and an outer annular surface. The balance ring is positioned within the annular upper edge with the outer annular surface of the balance ring contacting the annular upper edge of the spinner basket and the inner annular surface of the balance ring is spaced in an inward radial direction from the annular upper edge of the spinner basket. The annular upper edge of the spinner basket has a first lock member. The outer annular surface of the balance ring has a second lock member. The first and second lock members retentively engage one another to attach the balance ring to the annular upper edge of the spinner basket and prevent relative movement of the balance ring in the second rotational direction.  
           [0009]    The foregoing objects may also be achieved by attaching a balance ring to an upper annular edge of a spinner basket. The method involves moving a balance ring adjacent the upper annular edge of the spinner basket. The balance ring has a first cam surface thereon and the spinner basket has a second cam surface thereon. The balance ring rotates relative to the upper annular edge of the spinner basket into a locked position wherein the first and second cam surface retentively engage one another. This locked position is created by the retentive engagement of the first lock member with the second lock member. The combined engagement of the cam surfaces and the lock members prevents rotation of the balance ring with respect to the spinner basket. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a washing machine showing the spinner basket and balance ring assembly of the present invention mounted within the cabinet of the washing machine.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the spinner basket and balance ring attached together.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a perspective assembly view of the device of FIG. 2 showing the cam surfaces and the lock members of the spinner basket and the balance ring, respectively, in alignment.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 2 showing the cam surfaces and the lock members of the spinner basket and the balance ring in locking engagement.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the device of FIG. 3 showing the balance ring cam surface and lock members.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the device of FIG. 3 showing the spinner basket cam surface and lock members.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the device of FIG. 4 having the outer surface of the spinner basket in dashed line and showing the cam surfaces and the lock members of the spinner basket and balance ring in locking engagement.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the device of FIG. 3 showing the balance ring cam surface and an alternate embodiment of the lock members. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0018]    With reference to the drawings a washing machine  4  includes a cabinet  6 , a control panel  8 , and a spinner basket and balance ring assembly or assembly  10 . The cabinet  6  has an opening  12  in the top thereof, with a door  14  movable between open and closed positions relative to the opening  12 . The spinner basket and balance ring assembly  10  has an opening  16  therein. A reversible drive motor  18  is mounted within the cabinet  6  and attaches to the spinner basket and balance ring assembly  10 .  
         [0019]    The above construction of the washing machine  4  is conventional and does not form a part of the present invention. The washing machine  4  may be a top loading, vertical axis washing machine. Alternatively, the washing machine  4  may be a front loading, horizontal axis washing machine.  
         [0020]    The present invention is directed towards the spinner basket and balance ring assembly  10 . Specifically, this invention relates to the spinner basket  20  and the balance ring  40  designed to be attached to one another and the method of attaching the spinner basket  20  to the balance ring  40 .  
         [0021]    The spinner basket  20  has an annular upper edge  22  surrounding the spinner basket  20  together forming an opening  16  into the assembly  10 . The balance ring  40  fits and registers with the annular upper edge  22  of the spinner basket  20 .  
         [0022]    The spinner basket  20  receives balance ring  40 . As seen in FIG. 3, there are cooperating members on the spinner basket  20  located at the annular upper edge or annular axial edge  22  that operate with cooperating members on the balance ring  40 . These cooperating members are in mating engagement when the balance ring  40  is moved adjacent the annular upper edge  22  of the spinner basket  20  and the balance ring  40  rotated to engage cooperating members. The cooperating members for the spinner basket  20  involve a first cam surface, first cam, or first cam structure  24 ; a first lock member, first tab, or vertical tab  26 ; and a third lock member, second tab, or horizontal tab  32 .  
         [0023]    The first cam surface  24  is a portion of the spinner basket with decreasing radius. Alternatively, the first cam surface  24  is a ramp structure. Alternatively, the first cam surface  24  extends inward towards a centerline of the assembly  10 . Alternatively, the first cam surface  24  may be any other structure known in the art that may engage another similarly shaped surface.  
         [0024]    The first lock member  26  is a vertical tab. The first lock member  26  has a flange  28  and an axial facing surface  30 . The first lock member  26  is formed by lancing a section of the spinner basket annular axial edge  22  and turning the lanced section inward towards the centerline of the assembly  10 . Alternatively, the first lock member  26  may be made by other means known in the art.  
         [0025]    The third lock member  32  is a horizontal tab. The third lock member  32  has a flange  34  and a proximal facing surface  36 . The third lock member  32  is formed by lancing a section of the spinner basket annular axial edge  22  and turning the lanced section inward towards the centerline of the assembly  10 . Alternatively, the third lock member  32  may be made by other means known in the art.  
         [0026]    The spinner basket  20  has a circumferal rib  38 . The circumferal rib  38  extends inwardly into the spinner basket  20 .  
         [0027]    The balance ring  40  fits within spinner basket  20 . As seen in FIG. 3, there are cooperating members on the balance ring  40  located at the annular lower edge or annular axial edge  42  that operate with cooperating members on the spinner basket  20 . These cooperating members are in mating engagement when the balance ring  40  is moved adjacent the annular upper edge  22  of the spinner basket  20  and the balance ring  40  is rotated to engage cooperating members. The cooperating members for the balance ring  40  involve a second cam surface, second cam, or second cam structure  44 ; a second lock member or toothed member  46 ; and a fourth lock member or ribbed-structure member  52 .  
         [0028]    The second cam surface  44  is a portion of the balance ring  40  with decreasing radius. Alternatively, the second cam surface  44  is a ramp structure. Alternatively, the second cam surface  44  extends inward towards a centerline of the assembly  10 . Alternatively, the second cam surface  44  may be any other structure known in the art that may engage another similarly shaped surface.  
         [0029]    Upon the balance ring annular lower edge  42  is a second lock member  46 . In this embodiment, the second lock member  46  is a toothed member. The second locked member  46 , as seen in FIG. 5, includes a flange  48  and a flange axially facing surface  50 . The flange  48  may be sized to be placed upon an extension surface  49  as seen in FIG. 5. Alternatively, the flange  48  may be structured as a parallelogram tooth member as seen in FIG. 7, and extend without the use of an extension member  49 .  
         [0030]    Upon the balance ring annular lower edge  42  is a fourth lock member  52 . In this embodiment, the fourth lock member  52  is a ribbed-structure member which has a flange  54  and a proximally facing surface  56 . The flange  54  supports the proximally facing surface  56  when in contact with the horizontal tab proximal facing surface  36 .  
         [0031]    The balance ring  40  has a bottom surface  58  that conforms to the spinner basket circumferal edge  38  of the annular upper edge  22 . The balance ring  40  has an inner annular surface  60 , and outer annular surface  62 , and an annular proximal edge or annular upper edge  64 .  
         [0032]    As seen in FIG. 3, the assembly  10  has a detached spinner basket  20  and balance ring  40 . The balance ring is adjacent the upper annular edge  22  of the spinner basket  20 . Before assembly, these corresponding surfaces on the spinner basket  20  and the balance ring  40  are put in alignment. Specifically, the first cam surface  24  is placed into offset alignment with the second cam surface  44 . First lock member  26  is placed into offset alignment with second lock member  46 . Third lock member  32  is placed into offset alignment with fourth lock member  52 . When these members are all in offset alignment the balance ring  40  fits within the spinner basket  20 . In offset alignment the spinner tub may be removed as it is in an unlocked position with the spinner basket  20 .  
         [0033]    The spinner basket  20  and the balance ring  40  may be placed in a locked position by rotating the balance ring  40  relative to the spinner basket  20 . In this embodiment, the balance ring  40  is moved counter clockwise to the spinner basket  20 . Movement of the balance ring  40  counter clockwise to the spinner basket  20  engages the first cam surface  24  against the second cam surface  44 . The engagement of first cam surface  24  and second cam surface  44  centers the balance ring  40  upon the spinner basket  20 . In this position, the engagement of the cam surface creates circumferal resistance to further counter clockwise movement of the balance ring  40  relative to the spinner basket  20 .  
         [0034]    In the locked position, the first lock member or first tab  26  engages the second lock member or toothed member  46 . In the locked position, the first tab flange  28  engages the toothed member flange  48 . The toothed member  46  is positioned such that the rotational counter clockwise movement allows for the flange  48  on the axial facing surface  50  to be moved relative to the first tab flange  28  on the first flange axial facing surface  30 . This positioning allows for resistance of the balance ring  40  to move clockwise when the balance ring  40  is attached to the spinner basket. The first lock member  26  and the second lock member  46  in this embodiment have this preferred structure because the first cam structure  24  and the second cam structure  44 , working together, provide resistance to counter clockwise movement of the balance ring  40 .  
         [0035]    In the locked position the third lock member  32  engages the fourth lock member  52 . The third lock member  32  in this embodiment is a horizontal tab. The horizontal tab  32  fits over the ribbed-structure member or fourth locked member  52 . In this embodiment, the ribbed-structure member includes a horizontal surface on the balance ring  40 . The horizontal tab  32  has a flange  34  with a second flange proximally facing surface  36  that is horizontal. When the balance ring  40  is rotated counter clockwise with respect to the spinner basket  20 , the flange  34  and proximal facing surface  56  align to resist upward axial movement of the balance ring  40  relative to the spinner basket  20 .  
         [0036]    In operation, the spinner basket circumferal rib  38  contacts the balance ring bottom surface  58 . When the balance ring  40  is rotated counter clockwise to the spinner basket  20 , the spinner basket  20  maintains contact between spinner basket circumferal rib  38  and the balance ring bottom surface  58 . This contact between the of circumferal rib  38  and the bottom surface  58  prevents downward movement of the balance ring  40  relative to the spinner basket  20 .  
         [0037]    In the drawings and specifications there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, these are used in a generic descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Changes in the form and the proportion of parts as well as in the substitution of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention in the following claims.