Improved access laundry appliance

Abstract: An improved access laundry appliance (10) is provided for a cabinet (12) containing a substantially horizontal rotating drum (66) therein. An access opening (34) is provided in the cabinet and extends between two vertical planes (50, 52), one of which is adjacent the front surface (28) of the cabinet and the other of which is spaced rearwardly from the front surface of the cabinet. a door (54) having a vertical portion (56) and a rearwardly angled portion (58) is movable between open and closed positions relative to the access opening (34).

Description: This invention relates to an improved access laundry appliance. Typical front loading laundry appliances provide access to an inner rotating drum or tumbler from the front of the cabinet in order to permit the insertion and removal of fabrics for washing or drying. This access, has in the past, been provided by an opening in the front wall of the appliance cabinet. The size and position of the opening available in the cabinet front wall has hindered the insertion and removal of items into the fabric container or drum. Also, vision into the drum is hindered because the operator must bend over in order to see into the drum. In these prior appliances, the operator's reach into the drum was also limited. Another prior art appliance having an inclined front door and cabinet access opening is disclosed in US-A 2,813,414. However, the cabinet access opening is spaced substantially from the drum opening, thereby making access into the drum difficult. A primary object of the present invention is the provision of an improved access laundry appliance. A further object of the present invention is to provide improved visibility into the drum. A further object of the present invention is the provision of a laundry appliance in which accessibility to the drum is provided through an opening shared by the top and front wall of the cabinet enclosure. A further object of the present invention is the provision of an improved access laundry appliance which is economical to manufacture, durable in use, and efficient in operation. According to the present invention there is provided a laundry appliance comprising: a cabinet defining an enclosed compartment; a cylindrical drum rotatably mounted within said compartment, said drum forming a fabric enclosure for containing laundry therein and having an uncovered drum access opening providing communication into said fabric enclosure, the drum including opposite axial ends, said drum access opening being in one of said opposite axial ends; said cabinet having exterior front and top cabinet surfaces formed by cabinet front and top walls , the front wall being vertically oriented; said cabinet having a cabinet access opening therein adjacent said drum access opening and providing direct communication through said cabinet and said drum access opening into said fabric enclosure; a cabinet door operable for movement from an open position to a closed position in covering relation over said cabinet access opening; whereby said cabinet access opening is formed partially in said cabinet front wall and partially in said cabinet top wall and has a perimeter extending therearound; whereby said door in the open position provides unhindered combined top and front access into said fabric enclosure. Preferably a skirt is provided extending between said cabinet and drum access openings for transitioning said cabinet access opening into said drum access opening. Also preferably, said drum access opening has a perimeter edge lying in a plane substantially parallel to that of said forward wall of said cabinet. Further preferably, said front wall includes an inclined panel having an upper edge adjacent a lower edge of said cabinet access opening and having a lower end adjacent said drum access opening. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a pictorial view of the laundry appliance of the present invention. Figure 2 is an enlarged pictorial view similar to Figure 1, but showing the front door of the appliance open. Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the appliance shown in Figure 1. Figure 4 is a front elevational view of the appliance taken generally along line 4-4 of Figure 2. Figure 5 is a partial sectional view taken generally along line 5-5 of Figure 1. Figure 6 is a sectional view taken generally along line 6-6 of Figure 4, but showing a modified wall construction. Figure 6A is a view similar to Figure 6, but showing another modified form of the wall construction. Figure 6B is another view similar to Figure 6, but showing yet another modified form of wall construction. Figure 7 is a pictorial view of a modified form of the present invention. Figure 8 is a pictorial view similar to Figure 7, but showing the front door in an open position. Figure 9 is a detailed pictorial view of the top of the appliance showing a modified form of wall construction. Figure 10 is a partial pictorial view showing yet another modified form of wall construction. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings the numeral 10 generally designates a laundry appliance. Appliance 10 includes an outer cabinet 12 having side walls 14, 16, a front wall 18, a rear wall 20, and a top wall 22. At the rear of the top wall 22 is an upwardly projecting control panel 24. At the front edge of top wall 22 is a canted or inclined surface 26. In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the cabinet front wall 18 and top wall 22 are shown to be of unitary construction. However, it is possible to vary the construction of the walls without detracting from the invention. For example, in Figures 6, 6A and 6B different wall constructions are shown. In Figure 6 the top wall 22A is integrally formed with the canted or inclined surface 26A and a seam 110 is provided between the canted or inclined surface 26A and the front wall 18A. In Figure 6A two seams 112, 114 are shown between the three wall portions 22B, 26B, and 18B. In Figure 6B, a single seam 116 is provided between the front edge of top wall 22C and the upper edge of canted surface 26C. Canted or inclined surface 26C is shown integrally formed with the front wall 18C. Referring to Figures 4 and 5, there is shown front wall 18 comprised of a vertical front panel 28. A cabinet opening 34 includes a lower generally horizontal edge 36, generally vertical side edges 38, 40 (Figure 2) and a substantially horizontal upper edge 42. The upper edge of an inclined inner surface 32 commences at the lower edge 36 of the cabinet opening 34 and progresses downwardly and inwardly therefrom. The front wall 18 is also provided with a skirt 44 which is somewhat cylindrical in shape and which extends horizontally inwardly where it transitions to support structure 46 for drum seal or gasket 47. The cabinet 12 forms a cabinet compartment 48. Within the cabinet compartment 48 is an inner drum 66 which is rotationally mounted about a substantially horizontal axis 68. Drum 66 includes a generally cylindrical wall 70 having paddles or blades 72 mounted thereon and extending radially inwardly therefrom. At the front of drum 66 is a drum access opening 74, and at the inner axial end of the drum 66 is a generally closed rear wall 76 (Figure 4). The cabinet opening 34 provides access into the inner drum 66. Although this invention is not limited to a type of laundry appliance, the particular appliance shown in the drawings is a dryer, and therefore the inclined inner surface 32 is provided with an air outlet opening 104 which is connected to an outlet duct 106 and exhaust duct (not shown) so as to permit air to be drawn into the cabinet compartment 48, through a heating apparatus (not shown) and into and through the inner drum 66 for drying fabrics. The location of the air outlet opening 104 may be varied without detracting from the invention. Although not shown, a blower and an exhaust duct are located downstream of the outlet duct 106. Cabinet opening 34 extends between two vertical planes 50, 52. The upper edge 42 is adjacent vertical plane 52 and the lower edge 36 of the opening 34 is adjacent the forward most vertical plane 50. This permits the operator to have a view from above the appliance 10 downwardly through the upper most portion of cabinet opening 34 into the inner drum 66. It also permits the operator to have direct physical access to the interior of the inner drum 66 to the extent that the operator can place his or her arm and shoulder into the inner drum 66. A door 54 is shown hinged to the cabinet 12 on the right side of opening 34 but could be hinged to swing to the left or downward. The door 54 includes a vertical double panel 56 having a canted or inclined double panel 58 at the top thereof, sized and shaped to fit the inside perimeter of cabinet opening 34. On the interior surface of door 54 is an interior panel 60 which, in this embodiment, has an upper angled surface 62 and a lower angled surface 64. These angled surfaces 62, 64 cause fabrics or clothing to be deflected inwardly into the inner drum 66 when they strike the angled surfaces 62, 64. In operation, the improved access opening 34 in the cabinet permits the operator to gain access to the interior of the drum 66 for viewing and for physical access to insert and remove fabrics and clothing. The fact that the cabinet opening 34 is accessible frontally as well as from the top permits viewing from above and permits the operator to place his or her arm and shoulder into the drum 66 for removing and inserting fabrics and clothes with less bending. Also more light is permitted to enter the drum, thereby making visual access easier and better. The air outlet opening 104 can be placed in the inclined surface 32. The thickness of the front wall provides more flexibility in arranging the air outlet opening 104. The thickness of the non-rotating frontal area which extends from the front panel 28 to the front of the inner drum 66 provides a space for clothes to tumble out of the drum access opening 74 against the surfaces 60, 62, 64 of the door 54 and also against the canted or inclined surface 32. The angular disposition of surfaces 62, 64, and 32 causes the clothes or fabrics to be deflected back into the drum 66 for recirculation and tumbling by the blades 72. Also the lower inclined surface 32 causes clothes or fabrics to be kicked away from the air outlet opening 104 so as to prevent blocking of that opening. Another advantage of the present construction is that there is a shorter effective reach to the rear wall 76 of the drum and also to the control panel 24 at the rear of the cabinet. The shorter effective reach is accomplished by virtue of the fact that the upper edge 42 of the cabinet opening 34 is spaced inwardly from the front edge or surface 28 of the front wall. Referring to Figures 7-8, a modified form of the invention is shown and is designated by the numeral 78. Corresponding parts which remain unchanged from the appliance 10 shown in Figures 1-6 retain the same numerals. The primary change in the construction shown in Figure 7 is the elimination of a canted or inclined surface 26 and instead the use of a right angle joint between the top wall 82 and the front wall 80. The door opening 86 includes a generally U-shaped vertical lower portion 87 and a generally U-shaped horizontal upper portion 89. Door opening 86 includes a bottom margin 88 and a top margin 90 which lie in two spaced apart generally vertical planes similar to the planes 50, 52 shown in Figure 5. The perimeter of the door opening 86 also includes generally vertical side margins 92 and generally horizontal side margins 94. The door 84 includes a vertical lower portion 96 and a horizontal upper portion 98 which are sized and shaped to fit within and close off the access opening 86. An angled gusset wall 100 fits between the vertical portion 96 and the horizontal portion 98 of door 84. In the design shown in Figures 7 and 8, the front and top of the cabinet is shown to be made of unitary construction, but Figure 9 illustrates that a seam 102 may be provided between the top wall 82 and the upper edges of front wall 80, and side walls 14, 16. In addition, the modification of Figure 10 (shown without a door) illustrates a construction wherein the top wall 22 does not extend forward of the side walls 14 and 16 and the front wall 18 forms both U-shaped portions 87 and 89.

Claims: A laundry appliance (10) comprising: a cabinet (12) defining an enclosed compartment (48); a cylindrical drum (66) rotatably mounted within said compartment (48), said drum (66) forming a fabric enclosure for containing laundry therein and having an uncovered drum access opening (74) providing communication into said fabric enclosure, the drum including opposite axial ends, said drum access opening being in one of said opposite axial ends; said cabinet (12) having exterior front and top cabinet surfaces formed by cabinet front (18) and top walls (22), the front wall being vertically oriented; said cabinet (12) having a cabinet access opening (34) therein adjacent said drum access opening (74) and providing direct communication through said cabinet (12) and said drum access opening (74) into said fabric enclosure; a cabinet door (54) operable for movement from an open position to a closed position in covering relation over said cabinet access opening(34); characterized by said cabinet access opening (34) being formed partially in said cabinet front wall (18) and partially in said cabinet top wall (22) and having a perimeter extending therearound; whereby said door in the open position provides unhindered combined top and front access into said fabric enclosure. A laundry appliance (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a skirt (44) is provided extending between said cabinet and drum access openings for transitioning said cabinet access opening (34) into said drum access opening (74). A laundry appliance (10) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said drum access opening (74) has a perimeter edge lying in a plane substantially parallel to that of said forward wall (18) of said cabinet (12). A laundry appliance (10) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said drum access opening (74) includes a drum access opening perimeter lying approximately in a substantially vertical plane. A laundry appliance (10) as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that said front wall (18) includes an inclined panel (32) having an upper edge adjacent a lower edge (36) of said cabinet access opening (34) and having a lower end adjacent said drum access opening (74).

Inventors: MILLET J CHRISTOPHER, MILLET, J. CHRISTOPHER
Applicants: MAYTAG CORP, MAYTAG CORPORATION
Application year: 1995
Main classification: D06F39
IPC codes: D06F39, D06F25