Patent Publication Number: US-2022235512-A1

Title: Pet hair filter

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 63/142,815 filed Jan. 28, 2021, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference herein. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Aspects of the disclosure generally relates to removable agitators for laundry treating appliances, and in particular to removable agitators having built-in filtration capabilities. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Laundry treating appliances, such as clothes washers, clothes dryers, washing machines, refreshers, and non-aqueous systems, can have a configuration based on a container, such as a laundry basket or drum that defines a drum opening, which may or may not rotate, and that at least partially defines a treating chamber in which laundry items are placed for treating. The laundry treating appliance can have a controller that implements a number of user-selectable, pre-programmed cycles of operation having one or more operating parameters. Hot water, cold water, or a mixture thereof, along with various treating chemistries, or detergents, can be supplied to the treating chamber in accordance with the cycle of operation. 
     Laundry treating appliances typically operate to treat laundry items by placing the laundry items in contact with treating fluid such as a detergent/water mixture, sometimes referred to as wash liquor, and providing relative motion between the laundry items and the fluid. The controller can further control a motor to rotate the laundry basket or drum according to one of the pre-programmed cycles of operation. The controller can also control a clothes mover provided within the laundry basket or drum and configured to impart mechanical energy to laundry items within the treating chamber according to a selected cycle of operation. The clothes mover can include multiple components, such as a base, which can be provided as an impeller plate, and a barrel, which can be provided as an agitator post, and which can couple to the base. 
     Filters are used in laundry treating appliances to capture pet hair, lint, and other particulate from laundry loads. The captured particulate is retained inside the filter, allowing the consumer to clean the filter after a wash cycle is completed. For customers who do not use clothes drying appliances, it is especially important to trap lint during the wash cycle. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one or more illustrative examples, a removable fluid pumping and filtration apparatus for a laundry treatment machine is provided. The apparatus includes a handle section defining a grip to facilitate insertion and removal of the apparatus into the laundry treatment machine; an impeller section defining a hollow interior having a closed bottom, generally cylindrical sides, and an open top, the impeller section further defining a lower water opening to allow for passage of wash water into or out of the hollow interior of the apparatus; and a filter section, of a generally cylindrical shape and removably attachable between the handle section and the impeller section, the exterior of the filter section defining a midsection water opening to allow for the passage of water into or out of the interior of the apparatus, the filter section having a partition further defining a first, inner space open to the hollow interior of the impeller section, a second, outer space open to the midsection water opening but closed to the first space, and a filter area open to the first and second spaces configured to hold a removable filter to filter water flowing between the inner space and the outer space. 
     In one or more illustrative examples, a removable fluid pumping and filtration apparatus for a laundry treatment machine is provided. The apparatus includes a handle section defining a grip to facilitate insertion and removal of the apparatus into the laundry treatment machine, and an upper water opening into a passage in the interior of the apparatus; and a filter section of a generally cylindrical shape, removably attachable to the bottom of the handle section, the filter section defining a hollow interior having a closed bottom, generally cylindrical sides, an open top, and a lower water opening to allow for the passage of water into or out of the hollow interior of the apparatus, the filter section configured to hold filter media, wherein, when the handle section is attached to the filter section, the handle section and the filter section collectively define a water flow path for wash water in or out of the upper water opening into the interior of the filter media, through the filter media, and in or out of the lower water opening. 
     In one or more illustrative examples, a removable fluid pumping and filtration apparatus for a laundry treatment machine is provided. The apparatus includes a plurality of selectively attachable and detachable stackable sections, the sections including a handle section and one or more further sections, wherein, when attached together in stacked arrangement to form an agitator, the plurality of sections collectively define a cylindrical body, a hollow interior of the body, and first and second openings about an exterior circumference of the body to define a water flow path into and out of the hollow interior, wherein the agitator defines a filter holder within the hollow interior configured to hold a removable filter along the water flow path to capture particulate in wash water, and the handle section including an area to grip onto and rotate the removable fluid pumping and filtration apparatus to facilitate insertion and removal of the agitator with respect to the laundry treatment machine. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a simplified cross-sectional view of a laundry treating appliance including a removable filtering agitator; 
         FIG. 2  is a simplified cross-sectional view of the laundry treating appliance and the clothes mover of  FIG. 1  with the agitator shown in attached and detached configurations; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective cross-sectional view of an agitator coupling to an impeller for use with the clothes mover and laundry treating appliance of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the agitator coupling to the impeller of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the agitator coupling to the impeller of  FIG. 3  in a first position. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the agitator coupling to the impeller of  FIG. 3  in a second position. 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of a removable agitator in a first radial position about its longitudinal axis; 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of the removable agitator of  FIG. 7  in a second radial position about its longitudinal axis; 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of the removable agitator of  FIG. 7  in a third radial position about its longitudinal axis; 
         FIG. 10  is a top view of the removable agitator of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a bottom view of the removable agitator of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a side cross-sectional view of the removable agitator of  FIG. 7  in the first radial position; 
         FIG. 13  is a side cross-sectional view of the removable agitator of  FIG. 9  in the first radial position; 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the impeller section of the removable agitator of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the filter section and impeller section of the removable agitator of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 16  is a side view of an alternate removable agitator in a first radial position about its longitudinal axis; 
         FIG. 17  is a side view of the removable agitator of  FIG. 16  in a second radial position about its longitudinal axis; 
         FIG. 18  is a side view of the removable agitator of  FIG. 16  in a third radial position about its longitudinal axis; 
         FIG. 19  is a top view of the removable agitator of  FIG. 16 ; 
         FIG. 20  is a bottom view of the removable agitator of  FIG. 16 ; 
         FIG. 21  is a perspective view of the top of the lower section of the removable agitator of  FIG. 16 ; 
         FIG. 22  is a perspective view of the bottom of the lower section of the removable agitator of  FIG. 16 ; 
         FIG. 23  is a side cross-sectional view of the removable agitator of  FIG. 16  in the first radial position; and 
         FIG. 24  is a perspective view of the upper section of the removable agitator of  FIG. 16 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. 
       FIG. 1  is a simplified view of a laundry treating appliance  10  including a removable filtering agitator  150 . The laundry treating appliance  10  can be any laundry treating appliance  10  that performs a cycle of operation to clean or otherwise treat laundry items placed therein, non-limiting examples of which include a horizontal or vertical axis clothes washer; a clothes dryer; a combination washing machine and dryer; a dispensing dryer; a tumbling or stationary refreshing/revitalizing machine; an extractor; a non-aqueous washing apparatus; and a revitalizing machine. While the laundry treating appliance  10  is illustrated herein as a vertical axis, top-load laundry treating appliance  10 , the aspects of the present disclosure can have applicability in laundry treating appliances with other configurations. The laundry treating appliance  10  shares many features of a conventional automated clothes washer and/or dryer, which will not be described in detail herein except as necessary for a complete understanding of the exemplary aspects in accordance with the present disclosure. 
     Laundry treating appliances are typically categorized as either a vertical axis laundry treating appliance or a horizontal axis laundry treating appliance. As used herein, the term “horizontal axis” laundry treating appliance refers to a laundry treating appliance having a rotatable drum that rotates about a generally horizontal axis relative to a surface that supports the laundry treating appliance. The drum can rotate about the axis inclined relative to the horizontal axis, with fifteen degrees of inclination being one example of the inclination. Similar to the horizontal axis laundry treating appliance, the term “vertical axis” laundry treating appliance refers to a laundry treating appliance having a rotatable drum that rotates about a generally vertical axis relative to a surface that supports the laundry treating appliance. However, the rotational axis need not be perfectly vertical to the surface. The drum can rotate about an axis inclined relative to the vertical axis, with fifteen degrees of inclination being one example of the inclination. 
     In another aspect, the terms vertical axis and horizontal axis are often used as shorthand terms for the manner in which the appliance imparts mechanical energy to the laundry, even when the relevant rotational axis is not absolutely vertical or horizontal. As used herein, the “vertical axis” laundry treating appliance refers to a laundry treating appliance having a rotatable drum, perforate or imperforate, that holds fabric items and, optionally, a clothes mover, such as an agitator, impeller, nutator, and the like within the drum. The clothes mover can move within the drum to impart mechanical energy directly to the clothes or indirectly through wash liquid in the drum. The clothes mover can typically be moved in a reciprocating rotational movement. In some vertical axis laundry treating appliances, the drum rotates about a vertical axis generally perpendicular to a surface that supports the laundry treating appliance. However, the rotational axis need not be vertical. The drum can rotate about an axis inclined relative to the vertical axis. 
     As used herein, the “horizontal axis” laundry treating appliance refers to a laundry treating appliance having a rotatable drum, perforated or imperforate, that holds laundry items and washes and/or dries the laundry items. In some horizontal axis laundry treating appliances, the drum rotates about a horizontal axis generally parallel to a surface that supports the laundry treating appliance. However, the rotational axis need not be horizontal. The drum can rotate about an axis inclined or declined relative to the horizontal axis. In horizontal axis laundry treating appliances, the clothes are lifted by the rotating drum and then fall in response to gravity to form a tumbling action. Mechanical energy is imparted to the clothes by the tumbling action formed by the repeated lifting and dropping of the clothes. Vertical axis and horizontal axis machines are best differentiated by the manner in which they impart mechanical energy to the fabric articles. 
     Regardless of the axis of rotation, a laundry treating appliance can be top-loading or front-loading. In a top-loading laundry treating appliance, laundry items are placed into the drum through an access opening in the top of a cabinet, while in a front-loading laundry treating appliance laundry items are placed into the drum through an access opening in the front of a cabinet. If a laundry treating appliance is a top-loading horizontal axis laundry treating appliance or a front-loading vertical axis laundry treating appliance, an additional access opening is located on the drum. 
     In more detail, the laundry treating appliance  10  can include a structural support assembly comprising a cabinet  14 , which defines a housing and an interior, within which a laundry holding assembly resides. The cabinet  14  can be a housing having a chassis and/or a frame, to which decorative panels can or cannot be mounted, defining an interior, enclosing components typically found in a conventional laundry treating appliance, such as an automated clothes washer or dryer, which can include motors, pumps, fluid lines, controls, sensors, transducers, and the like. Such components will not be described further herein except as necessary for a complete understanding of the present disclosure. 
     The laundry holding assembly of the illustrated exemplary laundry treating appliance  10  can include a rotatable basket  30  having an open top  13  that can be disposed within the interior of the cabinet  14  and can at least partially define a rotatable treating chamber  32  for receiving laundry items for treatment and an access opening  15 . The access opening  15  can provide access to the treating chamber  32 . The treating chamber  32  is configured to receive a laundry load comprising laundry items for treatment, including, but not limited to, a hat, a scarf, a glove, a sweater, a blouse, a shirt, a pair of shorts, a dress, a sock, and a pair of pants, a shoe, an undergarment, and a jacket. 
     The open top  13  can be aligned with the access opening  15 . A tub  34  can also be positioned within the cabinet  14  and can define an interior  24  within which the basket  30  can be positioned. The tub  34  can also at least partially define at least a portion of the treating chamber  32 . The tub  34  can have a generally cylindrical side or tub peripheral wall  12  closed at its bottom end by a base  16  that can at least partially define a sump  60 . The tub  34  can be at least partially aligned with the access opening  15  and the open top  13 . In one example, the tub  34 , the basket  30 , along with the open top  13 , and the access opening  15 , can have central axes that are co-axial with one another, or with at least one of the other axes, such that a common central axis is formed. 
     The basket  30  can have a generally peripheral side wall  18 , which is illustrated as a cylindrical side wall, closed at the basket end by a basket base  20  to further at least partially define the treating chamber  32 . The basket  30  can be rotatably mounted within the tub  34  for rotation about a vertical basket axis of rotation and can include a plurality of perforations (not shown), such that liquid can flow between the tub  34  and the rotatable basket  30  through the perforations (not shown). While the illustrated laundry treating appliance  10  includes both the tub  34  and the basket  30 , with the basket  30  at least partially defining the treating chamber  32 , it is also within the scope of the present disclosure for the laundry holding assembly to include only one receptacle, such as the tub  34 , without the basket  30 , with the receptacle defining the laundry treating chamber  32  for receiving the load to be treated. 
     The cabinet  14  can further define a top wall or top panel  36 , which can comprise a shroud  29  or to which the shroud  29  can be coupled. The shroud  29  can define at least a portion of the access opening  15 , such that the shroud  29  can at least partially encircle the access opening  15 . The shroud  29  can curve downwards toward the treating chamber  32  to direct laundry items into the basket  30 . The shroud  29  can overlie a portion of the basket  30  such that the laundry items do not fall between the basket  30  and the tub  34 . 
     A selectively openable closure or cover, illustrated herein as comprising a lid  28 , can be movably mounted to or coupled to the cabinet  14  for selective movement between an opened position and a closed position, as shown, to selectively open and close the access opening  15 , respectively, and to selectively provide access into the laundry treating chamber  32  through the access opening  15  of the basket  30 . In one example, the lid  28  can be rotatable between the closed position and the opened position relative to the cabinet  14 . By way of non-limiting example, the lid  28  can be hingedly coupled to the cabinet  14  for movement between the opened position and the closed position. In the closed position, the lid  28  can seal against at least one of the access opening  15 , the top panel  36 , or the shroud  29  and can at least partially confront the treating chamber  32  when the lid  28  closes the access opening  15 . In the opened position, the lid  28  can be spaced apart from the access opening  15 , the top panel  36 , or the shroud  29  and can allow access to the top panel  36  and the access opening  15 . 
     A clothes mover  100  can be rotatably mounted within the basket  30  to impart mechanical agitation and energy to a load of laundry items placed in the basket  30  or the treating chamber  32  according to a cycle of operation. The clothes mover  100  can be oscillated or rotated about its vertical axis of rotation during a cycle of operation in order to produce load motion effective to wash the load contained within the treating chamber  32 . The clothes mover  100  can comprise a base or a first clothes mover, illustrated herein as an impeller  120 , and a barrel, illustrated herein as an agitator  150 . The agitator  150  as illustrated herein can comprise a vertically oriented agitator post that can be removably coupled with the impeller  120 , the agitator  150  projecting vertically from the impeller  120  within the treating chamber  32  and toward the open top  13  of the basket  30 . In this aspect of the disclosure, the clothes mover  100  can be formed by coupling an additional component, the agitator  150 , to the impeller  120  and can be thought of as forming a second clothes mover. 
     The agitator  150  can include any configuration of vanes, blades, or other structural features for imparting mechanical energy to laundry items during a cycle of operation. Generally, the vertical extent of the agitator  150 , combined with vane, blade, or other structural features, can impart the mechanical action to laundry items, which provides improved cleaning performance and can be suitable for particularly soiled loads. Other exemplary types of clothes movers include, but are not limited to, an agitator alone, a wobble plate, and a hybrid impeller/agitator. 
     The basket  30  and the clothes mover  100  can be driven, such as to rotate within the tub  34 , by a drive assembly  40  that includes a motor  41 , which can include a gear case, operably coupled with the basket  30  and clothes mover  100 . The motor  41  can be a brushless permanent magnet (BPM) motor having a stator (not shown) and a rotor (not shown). Alternately, the motor  41  can be coupled to the basket  30  through a belt and a drive shaft to rotate the basket  30 , as is known in the art. Other motors, such as an induction motor or a permanent split capacitor (PSC) motor, can also be used. The motor  41  can rotate the basket  30  at various speeds in either rotational direction about the vertical axis of rotation during a cycle of operation, including at a spin speed wherein a centrifugal force at the inner surface of the basket side wall  18  is 1 g or greater. Spin speeds are commonly known for use in extracting liquid from the laundry items in the basket  30 , such as after a wash or rinse step in a treating cycle of operation. A loss motion device or clutch (not shown) can be included in the drive assembly  40  and can selectively operably couple the motor  41  with either the basket  30  and/or the clothes mover  100 . 
     A suspension assembly  22  can dynamically hold the tub  34  within the cabinet  14 . The suspension assembly  22  can dissipate a determined degree of vibratory energy generated by the rotation of the basket  30  and/or the clothes mover  100  during a treating cycle of operation. Together, the tub  34 , the basket  30 , and any contents of the basket  30 , such as liquid and laundry items, define a suspended mass for the suspension assembly  22 . 
     The laundry treating appliance  10  can further include a liquid supply assembly to provide liquid, such as water or a combination of water and one or more wash aids, such as detergent, into the treating chamber  32  for use in treating laundry items during a cycle of operation. The liquid supply assembly can include a water supply  44  configured to supply hot or cold water. The water supply  44  can include a hot water inlet  45  and a cold water inlet  46 . A valve assembly can include a hot water valve  48 , a cold water valve  50 , and various conduits  52 ,  58  for selectively distributing the water supply  44  from the hot water and cold water inlets  45 ,  46 . The valves  48 ,  50  are selectively openable to provide water from a source of water, such as from a household water supply (not shown) to the conduit  52 . A second water conduit, illustrated as the water inlet  58 , can also be fluidly coupled with the conduit  52  such that water can be supplied directly to the treating chamber  32  through the open top of the basket  30 . The water inlet  58  can be configured to dispense water, and optionally treating chemistry, into the tub  34  in a desired pattern and under a desired amount of pressure. For example, the water inlet  58  can be configured to dispense a flow or stream of treating chemistry or water into the tub  34  by gravity, i.e., a non-pressurized stream. The valves  48 ,  50  can be opened individually or together to provide a mix of hot and cold water at a selected temperature. While the valves  48 ,  50  and conduit  52  are illustrated exteriorly of the cabinet  14 , it will be understood that these components can be internal to the cabinet  14 . 
     A treating chemistry dispenser  54  can be provided for dispensing treating chemistry to the basket  30  for use in treating the laundry items according to a cycle of operation, either directly or mixed with water from the water supply  44 . The treating chemistry dispenser  54  can be a single use dispenser, a bulk dispenser, or a combination of or an integrated single use and bulk dispenser, in non-limiting examples, and is fluidly coupled to the treating chamber  32 . While the treating chemistry dispenser  54  is illustrated herein as being provided at the top panel  36  or the shroud  29 , it will be understood that other locations for the treating chemistry dispenser  54  can be contemplated, such as at a different location within the cabinet  14 . Further, the treating chemistry dispenser  54  can be provided in a drawer configuration or as at least one reservoir fluidly coupled to the treating chamber  32 . 
     The treating chemistry dispenser  54  can include means for supplying or mixing detergent to or with water from the water supply  44 . Alternatively, water from the water supply  44  can also be supplied to the tub  34  through the treating chemistry dispenser  54  without the addition of a detergent. The treating chemistry dispenser  54  can be configured to dispense the treating chemistry or water into the tub  34  in a desired pattern and under a desired amount of pressure. For example, the treating chemistry dispenser  54  can be configured to dispense a flow or stream of treating chemistry or water into the tub  34  by gravity, i.e., a non-pressurized stream. 
     The treating chemistry dispenser  54  can include multiple chambers or reservoirs fluidly coupled to the treating chamber  32  for receiving doses of different treating chemistries. The treating chemistry dispenser  54  can be implemented as a dispensing drawer that is slidably received within the cabinet  14 , or within a separate dispenser housing which can be provided in the cabinet  14 . The treating chemistry dispenser  54  can be moveable between a fill position, where the treating chemistry dispenser  54  is exterior to the cabinet  14  and can be filled with treating chemistry, and a dispense position, where the treating chemistry dispenser  54  is interior of the cabinet  14 . 
     Non-limiting examples of treating chemistries that can be dispensed by the dispensing assembly during a cycle of operation include one or more of the following: water, detergents, surfactants, enzymes, fragrances, stiffness/sizing agents, wrinkle releasers/reducers, softeners, antistatic or electrostatic agents, stain repellents, water repellents, energy reduction/extraction aids, antibacterial agents, medicinal agents, vitamins, moisturizers, shrinkage inhibitors, and color fidelity agents, and combinations thereof. The treating chemistries can be in the form of a liquid, powder, or any other suitable phase or state of matter. 
     Additionally, the liquid supply assembly and treating chemistry dispenser  54  can differ from the configuration shown, such as by inclusion of other valves, conduits, wash aid dispensers, heaters, sensors, such as water level sensors and temperature sensors, and the like, to control the flow of treating liquid through the laundry treating appliance  10  and for the introduction of more than one type of detergent/wash aid. 
     A liquid recirculation and drain assembly can be provided with the laundry treating appliance  10  for recirculating liquid from within the laundry holding assembly and draining liquid from the laundry treating appliance  10 . Liquid supplied to the tub  34  or into the treating chamber  32  through the water inlet  58  and/or the treating chemistry dispenser  54  typically enters a space between the tub  34  and the basket  30  and can flow by gravity to the sump  60 . More specifically, the sump  60  can be located in and formed in part by the bottom of the tub  34  and the liquid recirculation assembly can be configured to recirculate treating liquid from the sump  60  onto the top of a laundry load located in the treating chamber  32 . 
     A pump  62  can be housed below the tub  34  and can have an inlet fluidly coupled with the sump  60  and an outlet configured to fluidly couple and to direct liquid to either or both a household drain  64 , which can drain the liquid from the laundry treating appliance  10 , or a recirculation conduit  66 . In this configuration, the pump  62  can be used to drain or recirculate wash water in the sump  60 . As illustrated, the recirculation conduit  66  can be fluidly coupled with the treating chamber  32  such that it supplies liquid from the recirculation conduit  66  into the open top of the basket  30 . The recirculation conduit  66  can introduce the liquid into the basket  30  in any suitable manner, such as by spraying, dripping, or providing a steady flow of liquid. In this manner, liquid provided to the tub  34 , with or without treating chemistry can be recirculated into the treating chamber  32  for treating the laundry within. The liquid recirculation and drain assembly can include other types of recirculation assemblies. 
     It is noted that the illustrated drive assembly, suspension assembly, liquid supply assembly, recirculation and drain assembly, and dispensing assembly are shown for exemplary purposes only and are not limited to the assemblies shown in the drawings and described above. For example, the liquid supply and recirculation and pump assemblies can differ from the configuration shown in  FIG. 1 , such as by inclusion of other valves, conduits, sensors (such as liquid level sensors and temperature sensors), and the like, to control the flow of liquid through the laundry treating appliance  10  and for the introduction of more than one type of treating chemistry. For example, the liquid supply assembly can be configured to supply liquid into the interior of the basket  30  or into the interior of the tub  34  not occupied by the basket  30 , such that liquid can be supplied directly to the tub  34  without having to travel through the basket  30 . In another example, the liquid supply assembly can include a single valve for controlling the flow of water from the household water source. In another example, the recirculation and pump assembly can include two separate pumps for recirculation and draining, instead of the single pump  62  as previously described. 
     The laundry treating appliance  10 , and specifically the liquid supply and/or recirculation and drain assemblies, can be provided with a heating assembly (not shown), which can include one or more devices for heating laundry and/or to heat liquid provided to the treating chamber  32  as part of a cycle of operation, such as, for example, a steam generator, which can be any suitable type of steam generator, such as a flow through steam generator or a tank-type steam generator, and/or a sump heater. Alternatively, the sump heater can be used to generate steam in place of or in addition to the steam generator. In one example, the heating assembly can include a heating element provided in the sump  60  to heat liquid that collects in the sump  60 . Alternatively, the heating assembly can include an in-line heater that heats the liquid as it flows through the liquid supply, dispensing and/or recirculation assemblies. 
     The laundry treating appliance  10  can further include a control assembly, illustrated herein as a controller  70 , for controlling the operation of the laundry treating appliance  10  and coupled with various working components of the laundry treating appliance  10  to control the operation of the working components and to implement one or more treating cycles of operation. The control assembly can include the controller  70  located within the cabinet  14  and a user interface  26  that can be operably coupled with the controller  70 . The user interface  26  can provide an input and output function for the controller  70 . 
     The user interface  26  can include one or more knobs, dials, switches, displays, touch screens and the like for communicating with the user, such as to receive input and provide output. For example, the displays can include any suitable communication technology including that of a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light-emitting diode (LED) array, or any suitable display that can convey a message to the user. The user can enter different types of information including, without limitation, cycle selection and cycle parameters, such as cycle options. Other communications paths and methods can also be included in the laundry treating appliance  10  and can allow the controller  70  to communicate with the user in a variety of ways. For example, the controller  70  can be configured to send a text message to the user, send an electronic mail to the user, or provide audio information to the user either through the laundry treating appliance  10  or utilizing another device such as a mobile phone. 
     The controller  70  can include the machine controller and any additional controllers provided for controlling any of the components of the laundry treating appliance  10 . For example, the controller  70  can include the machine controller and a motor controller. Many known types of controllers can be used for the controller  70 . It is contemplated that the controller is a microprocessor-based controller that implements control software and sends/receives one or more electrical signals to/from each of the various working components to implement the control software. As an example, proportional control (P), proportional integral control (PI), and proportional derivative control (PD), or a combination thereof, a proportional integral derivative control (PID), can be used to control the various components of the laundry treating appliance  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the laundry treating appliance  10  as described herein allows the user to customize the laundry treating appliance  10  for treating the laundry load or loads to be treated. For example, the laundry treating appliance  10  can be utilized and operated with one of at least two different configurations, each utilizing a different type of clothes mover  100 , the configurations selectable based on the user&#39;s treatment needs. Aspects of the laundry treating appliance  10  described herein allow the user to selectively assemble and disassemble the agitator  150 , which can be thought of as forming a second clothes mover, and the impeller  120 , which can be thought of as a first clothes mover, to configure the laundry treating appliance  10  into one of the two configurations. The user can customize the clothes mover  100  based on the user&#39;s personal preferences, based on the amount and/or type of mechanical action implemented by the different configurations of the clothes mover  100 , and/or based on characteristics of the laundry items to be treated, non-limiting examples of which include an amount of laundry items to be treated, a size of the laundry item(s) to be treated, soil level of the laundry items, an amount and/or type of mechanical energy to be applied to the laundry items, the type of fabric of the laundry items (e.g., whether the laundry is delicate or rugged), and a fill level of liquid during treatment. 
     The laundry treating appliance  10  can be configured in a first configuration, illustrated by way of example as a configuration A as shown, and also as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , by assembling the agitator  150  with the impeller  120  within the laundry treating appliance  10 . In the configuration A, the user can elect to use the clothes mover  100  that includes the agitator  150  for treating a laundry load. Such a configuration as configuration A can be useful if the user wishes to implement a treatment mode using agitator-based washing, such as for imparting significant or high quantities of mechanical action onto particularly soiled laundry items, or if the user wishes to perform deep water washing, or based on any other user preference for the clothes mover  100  and the agitator  150 , such as a personal preference. 
     In another example, the laundry treating appliance  10  can also be configured in a second configuration, illustrated by way of example as a configuration B as shown, by assembling only the impeller  120  within the laundry treating appliance  10  and decoupling or removing the agitator  150 . In the configuration B, the user elects to use the clothes mover  100  with the lower profile impeller  120  and that does not include the agitator  150  or any similar agitator post. Such a configuration as configuration B can be useful if the user wishes to implement a treatment mode using impeller-based washing, such as for low water washing, for gentler washing, wherein a lower mechanical action is imparted to the laundry items, or for washing bulky items such as blankets or comforters that could tangle around the agitator  150 . Larger, bulky laundry items generally do not fit well in the basket  30  when a vertical-oriented agitator-type clothes mover  100 , such as configuration A including the agitator  150 , is present. Thus, the user can selectively configure the laundry treating appliance  10  to utilize the only the impeller  120  as illustrated in the configuration B, without the agitator  150  extending upward into the treating chamber  32 , for use in treating large and/or bulky loads or to implement a low water treatment mode, for example, or based on another preference of the user, such as a personal preference. 
     The components of the laundry treating appliance  10  are configured to allow the user to configure and re-configure the laundry treating appliance  10  into either of the agitator  150  configuration A and the impeller  120  configuration B as desired. The user can select either of the configurations A or B based on personal preference of utilizing the particular type of clothes mover  100  of configuration A or B over the other, the desired cycle of operation to be implemented, and/or characteristics of the laundry items or the laundry load. 
     Turning now to the process or method of configuring or re-configuring the clothes mover  100 , to operate the laundry treating appliance  10  and to utilize configuration A in which the agitator  150  is present in the laundry treating appliance  10 , the user can assemble the agitator  150  in the laundry treating appliance  10 , such as by coupling or assembling the agitator  150  to the impeller  120  to form the clothes mover  100 . The user can then utilize the laundry treating appliance  10  to implement a cycle of operation on a load of laundry in a conventional manner. When the agitator  150  is configured to be supported at least in part by the impeller  120 , configuration A will include the impeller  120 . Optionally, if the agitator  150  does not require the impeller  120  for support, such as when the agitator  150  can be supported by the basket  30 , configuration A does not have to include the impeller  120 . In this alternative configuration A, the impeller  120  does not have to be present and the clothes mover  100  can be utilized with just the agitator  150 . 
     To operate the laundry treating appliance  10  and to utilize configuration B in which only the impeller  120  is present in the laundry treating appliance  10 , the removable agitator  150  is disassembled or uncoupled from the impeller  120  by the user and removed from the laundry treating appliance  10 , and the impeller  120  is assembled within the basket  30 . To assemble the impeller  120  within the basket  30 , the agitator  150  can be configured to separate from the impeller  120  while the impeller  120  remains coupled with the drive assembly  40  and the motor  41 . The user can then utilize the laundry treating appliance  10  to implement a cycle of operation on a load of laundry in a conventional manner. The impeller  120  is configured to operate as the clothes mover  100  of configuration B, that is different than the clothes mover  100  of configuration A and independent of the agitator  150 , during a cycle of operation. In this manner, the laundry treating appliance  10  can be selectively re-configured by the user between the first and second configurations as illustrated to utilize two different clothes movers  100 . 
     Further, to configure or re-configure the laundry treating appliance  10  from the first configuration, configuration A, to the second configuration, configuration B, the user removes or decouples the agitator  150  and sets it aside. Optionally, the laundry treating appliance  10  can be configured to facilitate storage of the removable agitator  150  when not in use. For example, the laundry treating appliance  10  can include a storage element that suspends the removable agitator  150  from the laundry treating appliance  10 , such as a hook, clamp, hanger, or suspending rod. In another example, the storage element can be in the form of a shelf, drawer, or cavity configured to support the removable agitator  150 . In another aspect of the disclosure, a companion laundry dryer or laundry module can include the storage element configured to store the removable agitator  150 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , an agitator  750  is coupled to an impeller  720  to form the clothes mover  700  using a bayonet mount-type connection. The agitator  750  includes a grip portion, illustrated herein as a handle portion  751  at an upper end of the agitator  750 . The handle portion  751  can facilitate insertion, removal, and storage of the agitator  750  by the user by giving the user a convenient handle to grip onto and to rotate the agitator  750  as needed. The agitator  750  further includes a handle pull locking post  753  provided within the interior of the agitator  750 , such that the locking post  753  is nested within the agitator  750 . The locking post  753  can include a handle pull portion  757  positioned such that the user can grip the handle portion  751  of the agitator  750  and the handle pull portion  757  of the locking post  753  at the same time. The locking post  753  further defines at least one pin  759  protruding downwardly from a lower end of the locking post  753 . The at least one pin  759  can be thought of as forming a portion of the first connector  752 . The locking post  753  can be movable within and relative to the agitator  750 , for example such that the locking post  753  is vertically slidable within and relative to the agitator  750  between a lower, locking position and a raised position. A biasing element, illustrated herein as a handle pull spring  761  that extends between the handle portion  751  and the handle pull portion  757  so as to bias the locking post  753  downwardly from the handle portion  751  when not compressed by the user. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates the second connector  722  including at least one channel  732  configured to receive at least one pin  756  carried by the first connector  752 . The at least one pin  759 , illustrated herein as a plurality of pins  759 , can protrude downwardly from the locking post  753 , and thus also from the agitator  750 , adjacent the at least one pin  756 . In one example, the pins  759  and the pins  756  can be provided in an alternating manner, such that the pins  759  are received between the pins  756 . The second connector  722  can further define at least one locking opening  737 , which can be provided in a bottom wall of the second connector  722 . The second connector  722  optionally includes a biasing element, such as at least one spring, within the socket  726  which is compressed within the socket  726  when the agitator  750  is coupled with the impeller  720 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
     To assemble the clothes mover  700 , the agitator  750  is aligned with the impeller  720  such that the at least one pin  756  is aligned with at least one opening  734  of the channels  732 . It is contemplated that the user can grip the agitator  750  by the handle portion  751  during insertion of the agitator  750  into the impeller  720 . Further, the user can also grip the handle pull portion  757  of the locking post  753  at the same time, compressing the handle pull spring  761  and holding the locking post  753  in the raised position. The agitator  750  is moved toward the impeller  720 , as illustrated by arrow  738 , to insert the first connector  752  into the second connector  722 . As the first connector  752  is inserted into the second connector  722 , the pin  756  travels into the channel  732 . The locking post  753  can be maintained in the raised position by the grip of the user against the handle pull portion  757  and the handle portion  751 . The agitator  750  is then rotated, as illustrated by arrow  740 , to move the pin  756  into a lock portion  736  of the channel  732 , as illustrated in  FIG. 20 . In one example, the at least one locking opening  737  can be positioned beneath the lock portion  736  of the channel  732 . Further, the first and second connectors  752 ,  722  can be positioned and sized such that the locking post  753  must be held in the raised position to prevent the pins  759  from protruding downwardly beyond the pins  756  and in order for the agitator  750  to be rotated as illustrated by arrow  740 . 
     In  FIG. 5 , the agitator  750  is coupled with the impeller  720 , with the pins  756  engaging the lock portion  736  of the channel  732 . The locking post  753  is still provided in the raised position, such that the pins  759  do not exceed downwardly beyond the pins  756 . When the agitator  750  is coupled with the impeller  720 , the spring (not shown), or other biasing element, biases the agitator  750  away from the impeller  720 , facilitating maintaining the pin  756  in the lock portion  736 . The spring (not shown) applies a force that presses the agitator  750 , and thus the pin  756 , upward, which presses the pin  756  upwardly against the wall forming the lock portion  736 . Biasing the pin  756  against the wall of the lock portion  736  can inhibit unintended rotation of the agitator  750  relative to the impeller  720  during a cycle of operation into a position in which the pin  756  is aligned with the channel opening  734 , which could result in unintended uncoupling of the agitator  750  from the impeller  720 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , and in order to further inhibit unintended rotation of the agitator  750  relative to the impeller  720  during a cycle of operation, once the agitator  750  has been rotated to move the pins  756  into the lock portion  736 , the pins  759  of the locking post  753  overlie and are aligned with the locking openings  737 . The user can release the handle pull portion  757  and the handle portion  751 , allowing the handle pull spring  761  to bias the locking post  753  downwardly. As the handle pull spring  761  biases the locking post  753  downwardly, the pins  759  are moved downwardly to be inserted into and received within the locking openings  737 . When the pins  759  are received within the locking openings  737 , unintended rotation of the agitator  750  relative to the impeller  720  during a cycle of operation is inhibited. Further, the engagement between the pins  756  and the lock portion  736  prevents unintended vertical movement of the agitator  750  relative to the impeller  720 . 
     To uncouple the agitator  750  from the impeller  720 , the user can again grip the agitator  750  by the handle portion  751  and can also grip the handle pull portion  757  of the locking post  753  and compress the handle pull spring  761  to hold the locking post  753  in the raised position, withdrawing the pins  759  from the locking openings  737 , to permit rotational movement of the agitator  750 . The agitator  750  can then be rotated in the opposite direction of arrow  740  of  FIG. 5  until the pins  756  are no longer aligned with the lock portion  736  and are instead aligned with the at least one opening  734  of the channels  732 . When the pins  756  are aligned with the at least one opening  734 , the agitator  750  can be withdrawn in the opposite direction of arrow  738  of  FIG. 4 . 
       FIGS. 7-15  describe an embodiment of the removable agitator  850  having internal filtration capabilities.  FIG. 7  is a side view of the removable agitator  850  in a first radial position about its longitudinal axis.  FIG. 8  is a side view of the removable agitator  150  of  FIG. 7  in a second radial position about its longitudinal axis.  FIG. 9  is a side view of the removable agitator  150  of  FIG. 7  in a third radial position about its longitudinal axis.  FIG. 10  is a top view of the removable agitator  150  of  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 11  is a bottom view of the removable agitator  150  of  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 11  is a bottom view of the removable agitator  150  of  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 12  is a side cross-sectional view of the removable agitator of  FIG. 7  in the first rotation.  FIG. 13  is a side cross-sectional view of the removable agitator of  FIG. 9  in the first rotation; 
     The agitator  850  may comprise a plurality of selectively attachable and detachable sections that, when attached together in stacked arrangement, generally form a cylindrical body. From top to bottom, these sections include a handle section  802 , a filter section  804 , and an impeller section  806 . The bottom of the handle section  802  may attach to the top of the filter section  804 , and the bottom of the filter section  804  may attach to the impeller section  806 . The bottom of the impeller section  806  may selectively couple to the impeller  120  as discussed above. As illustrated in  FIGS. 7-13 , these sections  802 ,  804 ,  806  are connected together in the attached state. 
       FIG. 14  illustrates a perspective view of the impeller section  806  of the removable agitator of  FIG. 7 . In this view, the impeller section  806  is detached from the filter section  804 .  FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the filter section  804  and impeller section  806  of the removable agitator of  FIG. 7 . In this view, the filter section  804  and impeller section  806  are attached to one another, but the handle portion  802  is detached. 
     Referring collectively to  FIGS. 7-15 , the handle section  802  may be of a generally cylindrical shape, with the handle portion  751  at its upper end. The handle portion  751  may, in some examples, taper inward, generally reducing in diameter from the lower base of the handle portion  751  to the top end of the handle portion  751 . As noted above, the handle portion  751  may facilitate the insertion and removal of the agitator  850  by giving the user a convenient handle to grip onto and to rotate the agitator  850  as needed. The agitator  850  further includes a handle pull locking post  753  provided within the interior of the agitator  850 , such that the locking post  753  is nested within the agitator  850 . The locking post  753  can include a handle pull portion  757  positioned such that the user can grip the handle portion  751  of the agitator  850  and the handle pull portion  757  of the locking post  753  at the same time. The at least one first pin  759 , illustrated herein as a plurality of first pins  759 , protrude downwardly from the locking post  753 , and thus also from the agitator  850 , adjacent the at least one second pin  756 . In one example, the first pins  759  and the second pins  756  can be provided in an alternating manner, such that the first pins  759  are received between the second pins  756 . 
     The handle section  802  further includes an upper water opening  808  extending into a passage in the interior of the agitator  850 . This upper water opening  808  may extend circumferentially around the side of the handle section  802 . The upper water opening  808  may generally allow for the passage of water into or out of the interior of the agitator  850 . A screen or other mesh may cover the upper water opening  808  to prevent the passage or catching of fabric items into the upper water opening  808 . 
     The impeller section  806  may also be of a generally cylindrical shape and may define a hollow interior. As illustrated, impeller section  806  has a closed bottom, generally cylindrical sides, and an open top. The impeller section  806  may further define a lower water opening  812  to allow for the passage of water into or out of the interior space of the agitator  850 . In an example, the lower water opening  812  may be formed as an array of evenly spaced slots extending circumferentially around a portion of the exterior of the impeller section  806 . These slots may be sized large enough provide water flow, but small enough to prevent the passage or catching of fabric items into the lower water opening  812 . 
     The impeller section  806  may further include a configuration of vanes  816  for imparting mechanical energy to laundry items during a cycle of operation. Generally, the vertical extent of the agitator  850 , combined with the vanes  816 , can impart the mechanical action to laundry items, which provides improved cleaning performance and can be suitable for particularly soiled loads. As shown, the example impeller section  806  includes three equally spaces vertical vanes  816  that extend radially outward from the cylindrical body of the impeller section  806 . However, it should be noted that other quantities or arrangements of vanes  816  may additionally or alternately be used. 
     The impeller section  806  also includes an impeller  818 . As best seen in  FIG. 14 , the impeller  818  may be vertically centered within the cylindrical interior chamber of the impeller section  806  and may fit and spin freely around the handle pull locking post  753 . The impeller  818  may define a series of vanes that extend radially outward from the center of the impeller  818 , so as to provide for agitation of the water within the impeller section  806 . In some examples, the impeller  818  may be powered to actively spin via gearing in the impeller  120  that selectively connects when the impeller section  806  is connected to the impeller  120 . 
     The filter section  804  may also be of a generally cylindrical shape. The exterior of the filter section  804  defines a midsection water opening  812  to allow for the passage of water into or out of the interior of the agitator  850 . In an example, the midsection water opening  812  may be formed as an array of evenly spaced slots extending circumferentially around a portion of the exterior of the filter section  804 . These slots may be sized large enough provide water flow, but small enough to prevent the passage or catching of fabric items into the lower water opening  812 . 
     The filter section  804  may also include a vertical partition  822  to separate the interior space of the filter section into two portions. As best seen in  FIG. 13 , a first, inner space defined within the vertical partition  822  may be open to the hollow interior of the impeller section  806 . Additionally, a second, outer space may be defined between the exterior of the vertical partition  822  and the interior wall of the filter section  804 . The midsection water opening  812  may be open to the second space but closed to the first space, as best seen in  FIG. 15 . 
     The filter section  804  may also house a removable filter drawer  809 . The removable filter drawer  809  may have a bottom, a front face, a rear face, and open exterior sides. The filter section  804  may have a corresponding opening about its exterior circumference into which the removable filter drawer  809  may be horizontally inserted. The rear face of the removable filter drawer  809  may be formed to fit the contour of the vertical partition  822 . The vertical partition  822  may also define a stop such that the removable filter drawer  809  may only be inserted to a predefined extent. The front face of the removable filter drawer  809  may be formed such that when the removable filter drawer  809  is fully inserted against the vertical partition  822 , the cylindrical front face of the filter section  804  may be flush with the exterior of the filter section  804  to generally continue the cylindrical exterior around the filter section  804 . 
     The rear face of the filter drawer  809  may include a mesh or other filter material, and the vertical partition  822  of the filter section  804  may be open to the rear face of the filter drawer  809 . This may allow for the filtered flow of water between the inner space within the vertical partition  822  and the outer space of the filter section  804 . The filter section  804  may further define a latch  820  configured to hold the removable filter drawer  809  in place within the filter section  804  during a wash cycle. During the wash cycle, as water travels through the filter material of the rear face, lint, pet hair, or other particulate in the water wash may be captured by the filter material. After the wash cycle, the latch  820  may be undone and the filter drawer  809  may be removed from the filter section  804  and cleaned and/or replaced. 
       FIGS. 16-24  describe an alternate embodiment of the removable agitator  950  having filtration capabilities with a different configuration.  FIG. 16  is a side view of an alternate removable agitator  950  in a first radial position about its longitudinal axis.  FIG. 17  is a side view of the removable agitator  950  of  FIG. 16  in a second radial position about its longitudinal axis.  FIG. 18  is a side view of the removable agitator  950  of  FIG. 16  in a third radial position about its longitudinal axis.  FIG. 19  is a top view of the removable agitator  950  of  FIG. 16 .  FIG. 20  is a bottom view of the removable agitator  950  of  FIG. 16 .  FIG. 21  is a perspective view of the top of the lower section  904  of the removable agitator  950  of  FIG. 16 .  FIG. 22  is a perspective view of the bottom of the lower section  904  of the removable agitator  950  of  FIG. 16 .  FIG. 23  is a side cross-sectional view of the removable agitator  950  of  FIG. 16  in the first rotation.  FIG. 24  is a perspective view of the upper section  902  of the removable agitator  950  of  FIG. 16 . 
     Similar to the agitator  850 , the agitator  950  may comprise a plurality of selectively attachable and detachable sections that, when attached together top to bottom in a stacked arrangement, generally form a cylindrical body. From top to bottom, these sections may include a handle section  902  and a filter section  904 . The bottom of the handle section  902  may be attached to the top of the filter section  904 , and the bottom of the filter section  904  may selectively couple to the impeller  120  as discussed above. As shown in  FIGS. 16-20 and 23 , these sections  902  and  904  are connected together in the attached state. As shown in  FIGS. 21 and 22 , the filter section  904  is alone and detached from the handle section  902 . As shown in  FIG. 23 , the handle section  902  is alone and detached from the filter section  804 . 
     Referring collectively to  FIGS. 16-24 , the upper section  902  may be of a generally cylindrical shape, with the handle portion  751  being at an upper end of the agitator  950 . As noted above, the handle portion  751  may facilitate the insertion and removal of the agitator  950  by giving the user a convenient handle to grip onto and to rotate the agitator  950  as needed. 
     However, in the agitator  950 , the locking post  753  is a two-piece post as opposed to the solid post design of the agitator  850 . An upper locking post  753 A includes the handle pull portion  757  positioned such that the user can grip the handle portion  751  of the agitator  950  and the handle pull portion  757  of the upper locking post  753 A at the same time. The upper locking post  753 A extends centrally downwards through the interior of the agitator  950  to mate with a connector of the lower locking post  753 B. For instance, the lower end of the upper locking post  753 A may include a gripping connector  908  (best shown in  FIG. 24 ) configured attach to the top end connector  910  (best shown in  FIG. 21 ) of the lower locking post  753 B. Attachment of the gripping connector  908  to the top end connector  910  may be done in various ways, such as magnetically or using a snap mechanism, as two possibilities. Similar to the agitator  950 , the plurality of pins  759  protrude downwardly from the lower locking post  753 B, and thus also from the agitator  950 , adjacent to the at least one pin  756 . Thus, when the upper locking post  753 A and the lower locking post  753 B are connected, the user can grip the handle portion  751  of the agitator  850  and the handle pull portion  757  of the locking post  753  at the same time to lift the plurality of pins  759 . 
     The handle section  902  further includes an upper water opening  906  into a passage in the interior of the agitator  950 . This upper water opening  906  may extend circumferentially around the lower end of the side of the handle section  902 . The upper water opening  906  may generally allow for the passage of water into or out of the interior of the agitator  950 . A screen or other mesh may cover the upper water opening  906  to prevent the passage or catching of fabric items into the upper water opening  906 . 
     The filter section  904  may be of a generally cylindrical shape and may define a hollow interior providing for the internal flow of wash water, the filter section  904  having a closed bottom (with the exception of the lower water opening  812 ), generally cylindrical sides, and an open top. 
     The filter section  904  may further include a configuration of vanes  816  for imparting mechanical energy to laundry items during a cycle of operation. As shown, the example filter section  904  includes three equally spaces vertical vanes  816  that extend radially outward from the cylindrical body of the filter section  904 . However, it should be noted that other quantities or arrangements of vanes  816  may additionally or alternately be used. As best seen in  FIG. 21 , and in contrast to the closed vanes  816  of the agitator  805 , the vanes  816  of the agitator  950  are hollow and open to the interior of the filter section  904 . 
     The filter section  904  may further define the lower water opening  812  to allow for the passage of water into or out of the interior space of the agitator  950 . In an example, the lower water opening  812  may be formed as an array of openings extending circumferentially around the lower portion of the exterior of the filter section  904 . These slots may be sized large enough provide water flow, but small enough to prevent the passage or catching of fabric items into the lower water opening  812 . In some examples, the lower water opening  812  may extend upward along the vanes  816 , providing for additional wash water flow between the interior of the impeller section  806  and the basket  30 . 
     The filter section  904  may be configured to hold filter media  912 . As shown, the filter media  912  may be constructed as an open-ended hollow cylinder of a narrower diameter compared to that of the interior of the agitator  950 . When the filter section  904  is in a detached state, the filter media  912  may be vertically placed into the filter section  904 , with a lower end placed in a position surrounding the lower locking post  753 B. As best seen in  FIG. 23 , the upper end of the filter media  912  may fit inside a lip  914  extending inward from the exterior of the body of the filter section  904 . The lip  914  may serve both to secure the upper end of the filter media  912 , as well as to direct the flow of water from above into the interior of the filter media  912 . 
     The handle section  902  may be attached to the top of the filter section  904 . Once installed, a water flow path may be defined from the upper water opening  906  into the interior of the filter media  912 . The lip  914  may block the flow of water from the upper water opening  906  to the exterior of the filter media  912 . The water flow may continue through the filter media  912  and out the lower water opening  812 . It should also be noted that the water flow direction may be reversed, and water may flow into the lower water opening  812 , through the filter media  912  and up and out of the upper water opening  906 . Regardless of direction, during the wash cycle, as water travels through the filter media  912 , lint, pet hair, or other particulate in the water wash may be captured by the filter media  912 . 
     The filter section  904  may also include a clear window  919 , made of a material such as a clear plastic. The window  919  may allow for a user to be able to see inside the filter section  904 . This may allow the user to visually inspect the filter media  912 , to see if the filter media  912  is in need of replacement. 
     The agitator  950  may include a locking mechanism to secure the handle section  902  and the filter section  904  together. For instance, as best shown in  FIG. 23 , the handle section  902  may include one or more hook locks  916  that, in a locked state catch against a flange  918  of the filter section  904 . The hook locks  916  may be each biased outward generally with respect to a corresponding pivot  920  to secure the filter section  904  to the handle section  902  in the attached state. The agitator  950  may further include a release mechanism  922  that, when pressed downward, pushes inward against the hook locks  916  to overcome the bias and cause the hook locks  916  to rotate inwards, releasing the handle section  902  from the filter section  904 . This may allow the user to open the agitator  950  to clean or replace the filter media  912 . 
     While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the invention.