Patent Publication Number: US-2022228311-A1

Title: Washing machine lid with compound pivot axis

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present subject matter relates generally to washing machines, and more particularly to lids and fastening mechanisms therefor. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Washing machines typically include a cabinet with a wash tub defined therein. Further, a wash basket is commonly provided within the wash tub. Washing machine appliances commonly utilize wash and rinse fluids to clean clothing articles disposed within the wash baskets. The wash tub contains the fluids within the cabinet of the washing machine. However, it is necessary to access the wash basket, e.g., to add or remove articles. Thus, the cabinet typically includes an opening and a lid or door attached to the cabinet to selectively rotate between a closed position and an open position which provides such access to the wash basket. 
     Typically, the lid or door is attached to the washing machine with conventional mechanical fasteners, e.g., screws or bolts. Use of such known attachment mechanisms does not permit the force, e.g., torque, required to open the lid to be effectively damped and provides little, if any, ability to control the opening force. Additionally, the clearance between the lid and the cabinet is typically quite small, providing limited physical space in which to direct or distribute the opening force. 
     Accordingly, a washing machine with improved features for rotatably connecting a lid thereof to a cabinet of the washing machine would be useful. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be apparent from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention. 
     In a first exemplary embodiment, a washing machine appliance is provided. The washing machine appliance includes a cabinet. The cabinet defines a lateral direction, a transverse direction, and a vertical direction. The lateral, transverse, and vertical directions are mutually orthogonal. A top panel on the cabinet defines an opening. A wash chamber is defined within the cabinet below the opening of the top panel. The washing machine appliance also includes a lid which is rotatable through a plane defined by the transverse direction and the vertical direction between a closed position to sealingly enclose the wash chamber and an open position to permit access to the wash chamber. A hinge rotatably connects the lid to the top panel. The hinge defines a lid pivot axis and a hinge pivot axis offset from the lid pivot axis. The lid rotates relative to the hinge about the lid pivot axis and a portion of the hinge rotates relative to the top panel about the hinge pivot axis. 
     In a second exemplary embodiment, a washing machine appliance is provided. The washing machine appliance includes a cabinet defining a lateral direction, a transverse direction, and a vertical direction. The lateral, transverse, and vertical directions are mutually orthogonal. The washing machine appliance also includes a top panel on the cabinet that defines an opening. A wash chamber is defined within the cabinet below the opening of the top panel. The washing machine appliance also includes a lid which is rotatable through a plane defined by the transverse direction and the vertical direction between a closed position to sealingly enclose the wash chamber and an open position to permit access to the wash chamber. A hinge rotatably connects the lid to the top panel. The hinge defines a compound pivot axis. The lid rotates relative to the top panel about the compound pivot axis. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures. 
         FIG. 1  provides a perspective view of a washing machine appliance according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter with a lid of the exemplary washing machine appliance shown in a closed position. 
         FIG. 2  provides a perspective view of the exemplary washing machine appliance of  FIG. 1  with the lid shown in an open position. 
         FIG. 3  provides a section view of a portion of a hinge and lid according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter. 
         FIG. 4  provides a side view of the hinge and lid of  FIG. 3  in a partially open position. 
         FIG. 5  provides a side view of the hinge and lid of  FIG. 3  in a fully open position. 
         FIG. 6  provides a view of a hinge and a portion of a lid according to one or more additional exemplary embodiments of the present subject matter which may be incorporated into a washing machine appliance such as the exemplary washing machine appliance of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a vertical axis washing machine appliance  100 . In  FIG. 1 , a lid or door  130  (collectively referred to hereinafter as a “lid”) is shown in a closed position. In  FIG. 2 , lid  130  is shown in an open position, e.g., a partially open position wherein the lid  130  is spaced apart from the top panel  200  to permit access to the wash chamber  121  but the lid  130  has not travelled to the fullest extent of its rotational path of travel. While described in the context of a specific embodiment of vertical axis washing machine appliance  100 , it will be understood that vertical axis washing machine appliance  100  is provided by way of example only. Other washing machine appliances having different configurations, different appearances, and/or different features, e.g., horizontal axis washing machines, may also be utilized with the present subject matter as well. 
     As may be seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , washing machine appliance  100  defines a vertical direction V, a lateral direction L and a transverse direction T. The vertical direction V, lateral direction L and transverse direction T are mutually perpendicular and form an orthogonal direction system. Washing machine appliance  100  has a cabinet  102  that extends between a top portion  103  and a bottom portion  104  along the vertical direction V. Cabinet  102  also extends between a first side portion  105  and a second side portion  106 , e.g., along the lateral direction L, and a front portion  107  and a back portion  108 , e.g., along the transverse direction T. 
     A wash basket  120  is rotatably mounted within cabinet  102 , e.g., within a wash tub (not shown) disposed within cabinet  102 . A motor (not shown) is in mechanical communication with wash basket  120  in order to selectively rotate wash basket  120 , e.g., during an agitation or a rinse cycle of washing machine appliance  100 . Wash basket  120  defines a wash chamber  121  that is configured for receipt of articles for washing. An agitator or impeller (not shown) extends from wash basket  120  into wash chamber  121 . The impeller assists agitation of articles disposed within wash chamber  121  during operation of washing machine appliance  100 . Additionally, in some embodiments, the motor (not shown) may be coupled to the impeller as well as or instead of the wash basket  120  to provide relative rotation between the impeller and the wash basket  120 . 
     In some exemplary embodiments, e.g., as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , cabinet  102  of washing machine appliance  100  has a top panel  200  positioned at or adjacent top portion  103  of cabinet  102 . Top panel  200  defines an opening  202  that permits user access to wash chamber  121  of wash basket  120 . Lid  130  is rotatably mounted to top panel  200 . However, alternatively, lid  130  may be mounted to cabinet  102  or any other suitable support. Lid  130  selectively rotates between the closed position shown in  FIG. 1  and the open position shown in  FIG. 2 , and further to the fully open position as shown in  FIG. 5  and described in more detail below. In the closed position, lid  130  inhibits access to wash chamber  121 . Conversely, in the fully or partially open position, a user can access wash chamber  121 . An aperture  136  in lid  130  permits viewing of wash chamber  121  when lid  130  is in the closed position, e.g., during operation of washing machine appliance  100 . Lid  130  also includes a handle  132  that, e.g., a user may pull and/or lift when opening and closing lid  130 . 
     A control panel  110  with a plurality of input selectors  112  extends from top panel  200  at top portion  103  of cabinet  102 . Control panel  110  and input selectors  112  collectively form a user interface input for operator selection of machine cycles and features. A display  114  of control panel  110  indicates selected features, a countdown timer, and/or other items of interest to appliance users. 
     Operation of washing machine appliance  100  is controlled by a controller or processing device (not shown) that is operatively coupled to control panel  110  for user manipulation to select washing machine cycles and features. In response to user manipulation of control panel  110 , the controller operates the various components of washing machine appliance  100  to execute selected machine cycles and features. 
     Suitable controllers for use in washing machine appliance  100  may include a memory and microprocessor, such as a general or special purpose microprocessor operable to execute programming instructions or micro-control code associated with a cleaning cycle. The memory may represent random access memory such as DRAM, or read only memory such as ROM or FLASH. The processor may execute programming instructions stored in memory. The memory may be a separate component from the processor or may be included onboard within the processor. Alternatively, a suitable controller may be constructed without using a microprocessor, e.g., using a combination of discrete analog and/or digital logic circuitry (such as switches, amplifiers, integrators, comparators, flip-flops, AND gates, and the like) to perform control functionality instead of relying upon software. Control panel  110  and other components of washing machine appliance  100  may be in communication with the controller via one or more signal lines or shared communication busses. 
     In an illustrative embodiment, laundry items are loaded into wash chamber  121  through opening  202  (with lid  130  in an open position), and washing operation is initiated (after rotating lid  130  to the closed position) through operator manipulation of input selectors  112 . Wash basket  120  and/or the wash tub is filled with water and detergent to form a wash fluid. One or more valves (not shown) can be controlled by washing machine appliance  100  to provide for filling wash basket  120  to the appropriate level for the amount of articles being washed. Once wash basket  120  is properly filled with fluid, the contents of wash chamber  121  are agitated (e.g., with the impeller) for cleansing of laundry items in wash basket  120 . 
     After the agitation phase of the wash cycle is completed, wash basket  120  is drained. Laundry articles can then be rinsed by again adding fluid to wash basket  120 , and, depending on the particulars of the cleaning cycle selected by a user, the impeller may again provide agitation within wash chamber  121 . One or more spin cycles may also be used. In particular, a spin cycle may be applied after the wash cycle and/or after the rinse cycle in order to wring wash fluid from the articles being washed. During a spin cycle, wash basket  120  is rotated at relatively high speeds. Such high-speed rotation may cause vibration and/or relative movement between lid  130  and top panel  200 , as such, hinge  300  ( FIG. 3 ) must be sufficiently robust to provide a sturdy and reliable connection between lid  130  and top panel  200 . After articles disposed in wash basket  120  are cleaned and/or washed, the user can remove the articles from wash basket  120 , e.g., by rotating lid  130  to an open position using handle  132  and reaching into wash chamber  121  through opening  202 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , in some exemplary embodiments, hinge  300  includes a pin  302 , a cam  304 , and a stanchion  306 . The cam  304  may be mounted to a housing  308 . In some embodiments, the housing  308  may be hollow and a reservoir may be defined therein, such as for a damping fluid, e.g., the housing  308  may be or include a hydraulic damper to provide a soft close feature as will be generally understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. In additional embodiments, the housing  308  may include a biasing element, e.g., a spring such as a coil spring which is well understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, enclosed therein, and the cam  304  may be coupled to the biasing element, e.g., spring, enclosed within the housing  308 . The hinge  300  may thereby define a compound pivot axis  400 . For example, the compound pivot axis  400  may include a lid pivot axis  402  and a hinge pivot axis  404 . In  FIG. 3 , the axes  402  and  404  extend perpendicular to the page. The lid pivot axis  402  may be defined by the pin  302 . The hinge pivot axis  404  may be defined by the cam  304 . As may be seen, e.g., in  FIG. 3 , the hinge pivot axis  402  is offset from the lid pivot axis  404 , e.g., along the vertical direction V. As may be seen in  FIGS. 3 through 5 , as the lid  130  rotates between the closed position ( FIG. 3 ), a partially open position ( FIG. 4 ), and the fully open position ( FIG. 5 ), the lid  130  rotates relative to the top panel  200  about the lid pivot axis  402  and a portion of the hinge  300 , e.g., the cam  304  in the exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 3 through 5 , rotates relative to the top panel  200  about the hinge pivot axis  404 . The views in  FIGS. 3 through 5  are taken in a plane defined by the vertical direction V and the transverse direction T, as is the view in  FIG. 6  as well. Thus, the lid  130  rotates through a plane defined by the transverse direction T and the vertical direction V as the lid  130  travels between the closed position and the fully open position. 
     In some embodiments, e.g., as noted in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the stanchion  306  may include a bearing surface  310 . In such embodiments, the cam  304 , such as a corresponding bearing surface  312  thereof, bears against the bearing surface  310  on the stanchion  306  throughout the range of motion of the lid  130  from the closed position ( FIG. 3 ) to the fully open position ( FIG. 5 ). 
     Turning now to  FIG. 6 , in some embodiments, the hinge  300  may include a pinion gear  314  and a drive gear  316 . The drive gear  316  may be a fixed gear. In such embodiments, the lid pivot axis  402  may be defined by the pinion gear  314  and the hinge pivot axis  404  may be defined by the drive gear  316 . Thus, in such embodiments, the lid  130  rotates relative to the top panel  200  about the pinion gear  314  and the lid pivot axis  402  defined thereby, while a portion of the hinge  300 , e.g., the pinion gear  314 , rotates relative to the top panel  200  about the hinge pivot axis  404 . For example, the pinion gear  214  may engage with and revolve around the drive gear  316  as the lid  130  rotates between the closed position and the fully open position. 
     In various embodiments, the hinge  300  may include a torque transfer mechanism, e.g., hydraulic damper or spring. The structure and function of hydraulic dampers and springs are well understood by those of ordinary skill in the art and, as such, are not specifically illustrated or described in greater detail herein for the sake of brevity and clarity. The torque transfer mechanism may be positioned within the housing  308 . In embodiments where the torque transfer mechanism is or includes a spring, the spring may be a torsion spring or a compression spring. 
     In various embodiments, the range of motion of the lid  130  may encompass an angular displacement of greater than about one hundred three degrees (103°), such as about one hundred fifteen degrees (115°) or more, such as about one hundred twenty-five degrees (125°) or more, such as about one hundred forty degrees (140°), between the closed position and the fully open position. Such angular displacement may advantageously provide increased fidelity, e.g., increased tunability of the required rotational force to open the lid  130 . For example, such angular displacement may permit more precise control in designing the hinge  300  of the required opening and/or closing force of the lid  130 . 
     This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.