Patent Abstract:
A method of installing a water vacuum break in a housing including the steps of providing a plurality of slots in a wall of the housing; moving a water vacuum break in a first direction; and moving the water vacuum break in a second direction. The step of moving the water vacuum break in a first direction includes moving it substantially perpendicularly with the outer wall so that a plurality of retaining protrusions extend through the plurality of slots.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/430,320, entitled “MOUNTING AND METHOD FOR MOUNTING A WATER VACUUM BREAK”, filed May 9, 2006, which is incorporated herein by reference, which was a non-provisional application based upon U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/679,527, entitled “MOUNTING METHOD FOR WATER VACUUM BREAK”, filed May 10, 2005. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a water vacuum break, and, more particularly, to a water vacuum break utilized in a washing machine. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Water inlet devices are used to provide a vacuum break in the inlet water supply that disperses water from an inlet supply hose into the tub of a washing machine. The water is directed to a load of clothes, which are located in the bottom of the tub or along the sidewall of the tub. 
         [0006]    The typical automatic clothes washer or dishwasher for home use is equipped to carry on a series of operations in sequence. The series of operation is most commonly referred to as a cycle. A typical cycle includes fill and rinse elements, each of which utilize a water inlet device, such as a vacuum break, to supply water to the washer. A washing machine includes a housing in which the mechanical operating devices are mounted. It is typical to include a motor assembly for causing motion within the washing device and water control valves for turning on the hot and cold water as necessary under the control of a controller. The water control valves may be associated with the water vacuum break 
         [0007]    The desirability of a vacuum break prevents water from re-entering the water supply source, thereby preventing the contamination of the water source. 
         [0008]    What is needed in the art is a simple cost effective way of mounting a vacuum water break for the easy installation and removal thereof. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention relates to a water vacuum break installed in a washing machine without the need for tools or separate fasteners. 
         [0010]    The invention comprises, in one form thereof, a washing machine including a water tub, a housing and a water vacuum break. The water tub is mounted in the housing. The housing includes an outer wall having a plurality of slots therein. The water vacuum break partially extends over a portion of the water tub. The vacuum break includes at least one retaining protrusion and at least one retaining snap associated with the at least one retaining protrusion. The at least one retaining protrusion extends over a portion of the outer wall and the at least one retaining snap has an edge that engages a portion of one of the plurality of slots. 
         [0011]    An advantage of the present invention is that the water vacuum break is easily installable without the use of tools. 
         [0012]    Another advantage of the present invention is that the water vacuum break can be removed by depressing retaining snaps without the use of a tool. 
         [0013]    Another advantage of the present invention is that at least one of the retaining snaps is further retained by another portion of the washing machine to prevent incidental removal of the water vacuum break. 
         [0014]    Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the water vacuum break is installed in a series of slots by approaching the slots in an orthogonal direction and then once the retaining protrusions extend therethrough moving the water vacuum break in a direction parallel with the wall having the slots therein. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a washing machine showing one embodiment of a water vacuum break of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a partial cross-sectional view of the washing machine of  FIG. 1  illustrating the water vacuum break of  FIG. 1  being inserted into a portion of the washing machine; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is another partial cross-sectional view showing the water vacuum break of  FIGS. 1 and 2  being slid into a retained position; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a view of slots in the washing machine of  FIGS. 1-3  illustrating slots in an outer wall to accommodate the water vacuum break of the present invention; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the water vacuum break of  FIGS. 1-3  showing connection features thereof. 
       
    
    
       [0021]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out herein illustrates one preferred embodiment of the invention, in one form, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]    Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a washing machine  10  including a water vacuum break assembly  12  connected to washing machine  10 . Washing machine  10  includes a housing  14  with an exterior wall of metal construct. 
         [0023]    Now, additionally referring to  FIGS. 2-5 , housing  14  has a series of slots therein including upper mounting slots  16 , lower mounting slots  18  and elongated curved openings  20 . Slots  16  and  18  interact with connection features of vacuum break assembly  12  discussed hereinafter. Elongated curved openings  20  accommodate the insertion and sliding of hose connectors that are part of water vacuum break assembly  12 . Within housing  14  there are various constraints within washing machine  10  including a top constraint  22 , which may be a top portion of washing machine  10 . Further the positioning of tub  24  serves as a constraint for the positioning of water vacuum break assembly  12 . Water vacuum break assembly  12  supplies water to tub  24  during the operation of washing machine  10 . 
         [0024]    Water vacuum break assembly  12  includes thermal sensor assembly  26 , valve assemblies  28 , upper grooved lips  30 , lower grooved lips  32 , upper retaining snaps  34 , and lower retaining snaps  36 . Thermal sensor assembly  26  is associated with water vacuum break assembly  12  to sense the temperature of the water passing through water vacuum break assembly  12  and the information from the sensor is sent to a controller that then provides control signals to valve assemblies  28  to control the volume and temperature of the water flowing through water vacuum break assembly  12 . 
         [0025]    Valve assemblies  28 , are associated with water vacuum break assembly  12  although they can be separate located. Valve assembly  28  is located at each side of  12  and is snapped into position, one for the supplying of cold water and the other for the supplying of hot water. Valve assemblies  28  include a solenoid  38  and a hose connector  40 . Solenoid  38  is electrically connected to a controller, which activates solenoid  38  at appropriate times. Hose connector  40  extends through elongated curved opening  20  when water vacuum break assembly  12  is inserted through housing  14  in direction  52  and then once inserted water vacuum break assembly  12  is moved in direction  54 . Direction  52  is substantially orthogonal with the exterior wall of housing  14  and direction  54  is substantially parallel with the exterior wall of housing  14 . 
         [0026]    Grooved lips  30  and  32  are L-shaped protrusions that extend generally outwardly and downwardly from the back portion of water vacuum break assembly  12 . Lips  30  and  32  are arranged so that they will extend through slots  16  and  18 , respectively, and then slide over an outer portion of the exterior wall of housing  14 . When grooved lips  30  and  32  are pushed into position through slots  16  and  18 , and then downwardly, retaining snaps  34  and  36  snap into position to hold water vacuum break assembly  12  in a fixed position relative to the exterior wall of housing  14 . 
         [0027]    Upper retaining snaps  34  include a flexible arm  42 , a retaining edge  44  and a retaining extension  46 . Flexible arm  42  is molded from the same material as the bulk of water vacuum break assembly  12  and is shaped and formed to take advantage of the flexible nature of a reduced cross-sectional area of the material. Retaining edge  44  is positioned relative to the bottom of grooved lip  30  so that when grooved lip  30  is fully inserted and extends over a portion of the exterior wall of housing  14  that retaining edge  44  snaps into position within an upper mounting slot  16 . Retaining extension  46  serves to not allow retaining edge  44  to extend too far through slot  16  and to additionally allow another portion of washing machine  10 , not shown, to be mounted after water vacuum break assembly  12  to thereby prevent incidental disconnection of water vacuum break assembly  12  from washing machine  10 . In a similar manner lower retaining snaps  36  include a flexible arm  48  and a retaining edge  50 . Flexible arm  48  serves a dual purpose to allow the flexing of snap  36  and also prevents retaining edge  50  from extending too far through slot  18 . As with retaining snap  34 , retaining snap  36  is shaped and positioned such that when grooved lip  32  is in position retaining edge  50  engages an edge of slot  18  to prevent the removal of vacuum break assembly  12  from the exterior wall of housing  14 . 
         [0028]    The insertion of water vacuum break assembly  12  includes moving assembly  12  in first direction  52  until grooved lips  30  and  32  extend, respectively through slots  16  and  18 . At this point in the operation snaps  34  and  36  are flexed away from their normal position until water vacuum break assembly  12  is moved in second direction  54  thereby allowing flexible arms  42  and  48  to return to their normal position thereby causing retaining edges  44  and  50  to engage upper portions of slots  16  and  18 , respectively. In this position hose connectors  40  extend through the exterior wall of housing  14  allowing the connection of the water hose to each hose connector  40 . 
         [0029]    While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 3