Patent Description:
Automatic laundry treatment machines are commonly employed to perform laundry treatment processes that can include cleaning and or imparting another benefit to the laundry being treated. Most automatic laundry treatment machines employ similar features and processes to accomplish the task of treating laundry. Laundry is placed in a cylindrical fluid pervious drum within a tub, which is at least partially filled with water or a laundry treatment liquor before, during, or after the laundry is placed in the drum.

Automatic laundry treatment machines are most commonly available as one of a top loading machine having a drum mounted on a vertical axis and a front loading machine having a drum mounted on a horizontal axis. Users typically carry a basket or bag of laundry to the machine to clean the laundry. In absence of a table or adjacent appliance having a flat top surface, the user typically, and inconveniently, places the basket or bag of soiled laundry on the floor in front of the machine before transferring the soiled laundry from the basket or bag into the machine.

In the case of a top loading machine, the user typically bends over to grasp one or more articles of laundry, stands up while holding the articles, and drops the articles into the drum. The user may be required inconveniently to bend over and stand up multiple times to transfer a full load of laundry from the basket or bag into the drum. If the top loading machine is in a crowded environment, there may only be room to place the basket or bag of soiled laundry directly in front of the machine. This can require the user to position his or her feet an appreciable distance away from the machine, which may require the user to reach out to place the soiled laundry into the drum. Once the load of laundry has been treated, the user opens the top and typically reaches deeply into the drum to grasp the laundered articles to remove them from the drum. For machines having a deep drum, it may be inconvenient for slightly built users to reach all the way to the bottom of the drum. Furthermore, many users do multiple loads of laundry back to back to one another. When one load is completed, the next load may be in a basket or bag in front of the machine. This can further inconvenience the user by possibly requiring the user to reach out over the next load of laundry to reach deeply into the drum to retrieve the laundered articles.

The aforesaid complications with respect to top loading machines are magnified for front loading machines. A laundry basket or bag placed in front of the machine can obstruct opening of the door of the machine and the user may be required to bend over to transfer laundry from the basket or bag into the drum and be required to reach deeply into the drum to retrieve laundered articles.

Notwithstanding the ergonomic and functional limitations of top loading and front loading machines, there is a global trend towards urbanization, which for many people means living in small living spaces. Small living spaces such as apartments often do not have a separate laundry room, since space is at a premium. People who need an automatic laundry treatment machine often must store and use the machine in areas of their apartment including the kitchen, living room, and bedroom. This makes traditional top loading and front loading machines functionally undesirable since so much space is required for the user to use and store the machine.

<CIT> discloses a top loading washing machine with a horizontal drum axis, comprising a lid on a chamfered edge of a housing, wherein a rotating drum of the washing machine is connected to a fitting member that stops the rotating drum after aligning the positions of the access opening of the rotating drum and the access opening of the housing.

<CIT> discloses a top loading washing machine with a horizontal drum axis, comprising a lid covering a chamfered edge and a part of the top side of a housing, wherein the washing machine comprises a tub and a drum, provided with a respective access opening, wherein the two openings congruently correspond to each other, wherein the opening angle of said laundry opening β is <NUM>°.

<CIT> discloses a washing machine with a horizontal drum axis, comprising a drum and a tub having respective access openings on their cylindrical surfaces, wherein the access opening on a housing is disposed on the top of a front side of the housing.

With these limitations in mind, there is a continuing unaddressed need for a laundry treatment machine that enables a user to store and conveniently and ergonomically use the machine in a small living space.

The technical problem underlying the present invention is to provide the ergonomic improvement regarding the drum access of the laundry treatment machine in a small living space.

The invention is defined by the featured of independent claim. The preferred embodiments are set out in the dependent claims.

Automatic laundry treatment machines are commonly employed to treat laundry. Laundry treatment machines are most commonly used for cleaning laundry and are often referred to as laundry washing machines. Laundry treatment machines can also be used for more than just cleaning. For instance, laundry treatment machines are often employed to soften laundry. Other treatments imparted to laundry via laundry treatment processes are targeted to providing anti-wrinkle benefits, anti-static benefits, scent benefits, malodor benefits, anti-microbial benefits, color rejuvenation, color stabilization, stain removal or treatment benefits, stain resistance benefits, color enhancement benefits, insect repellant benefits, and the like. Automatic laundry treatment machines are machines that once initiated by the user automatically carry out processes for treating laundry and are powered by electricity.

The automatic laundry treatment machines can dispense laundry treatment active compositions for treating the laundry during the process for treating laundry. Laundry treatment active compositions can refer to any one or more compositions for treating laundry including but not limited to surfactants (nonionic, anionic, zwitterionic, amphoteric, and cationic), detergents, cleaning agents, chelants, perfumes, hueing dyes, enzymes, bleaching agents, oxidizing agents, builders, soil release polymers, deposition aids, anti-deposition agents, fabric enhancing agents, softening agents including but not limited to silicones, cationic surfactants and cationic polymers. The laundry treatment active compositions can be formulated laundry treatment active compositions comprising multiple components or can be provided or added to the stationary treatment chamber or tub or used in the process as a single active composition added to the stationary treatment chamber or tub or process or added in a sequence of one or more active compositions or formulated compositions added during any of one or more sub-cycles of laundry treatment process, or in any combination thereof. The laundry treatment active compositions can include formulating aids, solvents, stabilizing aids, or other materials to aid in formulation, stability, manufacture, processing, or delivery of the composition. The automatic laundry treatment machines and processes can also use suds suppressors.

An automatic laundry treatment machine <NUM> is shown in <FIG>. The automatic laundry treatment machine <NUM> shown in <FIG> provides for what can be referred to as a top corner loading automatic laundry treatment machine <NUM>, in contrast to top loading and front loading machines. The automatic laundry treatment machine <NUM> can be suitable for treating laundry <NUM> with a laundry treatment liquor. The laundry treatment machine <NUM> can comprise a cabinet <NUM>, a tub <NUM> within the cabinet <NUM>, and a horizontal axis fluid pervious drum <NUM> within the tub <NUM>.

A circumferential entry section <NUM> into the tub <NUM> can be provided. The user of the automatic laundry treatment machine <NUM> can place articles of laundry <NUM> into and remove such articles from the drum <NUM> through the circumferential entry section <NUM>. Considering that the drum <NUM> of the laundry treatment machine <NUM> is cylindrically shaped, in principle not withstanding local features such as fins, apertures, and other irregular interior surface contours, access to the drum <NUM> is through an opening in the circumferential wall of the drum <NUM>, as opposed to one of the circular surfaces through which the horizontal axis H passes. Similarly, access to the tub <NUM> is provided in a direction into the circumferential wall of the drum <NUM>.

The laundry treatment machine <NUM> comprises a door <NUM> in the cabinet <NUM>. The door <NUM> is sealingly engaged with the entry section <NUM>. The door <NUM> can be opened to present the circumferential entry section <NUM> to the user so that articles of laundry <NUM> can be placed into or removed from the drum <NUM> through the circumferential entry section <NUM>. Before initiating a laundry treatment cycle, the user can close the door <NUM> to be sealingly engaged with the circumferential entry section <NUM>. Sealing engagement can be provided for by a gasket around the periphery of the door <NUM> and or a gasket around the circumferential entry section <NUM>. A bellows gasket can be practical for providing such sealing. The door <NUM> can be opened to interrupt the laundry treatment cycle or upon completion of the laundry treatment cycle.

The drum <NUM> is mounted on a horizontal axis H, as shown in <FIG>. In <FIG>, a cross sectional view of the drum <NUM> and tub <NUM> are shown and are viewed from the right side of the laundry treatment machine <NUM> of <FIG>. In <FIG>, the door <NUM> is closed. The door <NUM> has an interior facing surface. When the door <NUM> is closed, the interior facing surface of the door <NUM> closes the tub <NUM>. The horizontal axis H in <FIG> spans into and out of the surface upon which <FIG> is viewed. The circumferential entry section <NUM> into the tub <NUM> is bounded within a front position of more than <NUM> degrees above and rotationally about the horizontal axis H and a top position less than <NUM> degrees above and rotationally about the horizontal axis H. Such a circumferential entry section <NUM> provides for corner entry.

The circumferential entry section <NUM> in the tub <NUM> spans at least across an intermediate range <NUM> from <NUM> degrees to <NUM> degrees above and rotationally about the horizontal axis H. Providing the circumferential entry section <NUM> across such minimum range provides for a large enough circumferential entry section <NUM> to make it convenient for the user to place into and remove from the drum <NUM> articles of laundry <NUM>. Further, such minimum range and having the circumferential entry section <NUM> located within such range provides for a circumferential entry section <NUM> that conveniently connects the top <NUM> of the laundry treatment machine <NUM> to the front <NUM> of the laundry treatment machine.

The front <NUM> of the laundry treatment machine <NUM> is in line with the horizontal axis H and upright relative to the surface upon which the laundry treatment machine <NUM> rests. The top <NUM> of the laundry treatment machine <NUM> is also in line with the horizontal axis H and the horizontal axis H is between the top <NUM> and the surface upon which the laundry treatment machine <NUM> rests.

In use, the laundry treatment machine <NUM> will rest upon a horizontal or substantially horizontal floor. In describing the radial positions of features of the laundry treatment machine it is convenient to consider positions relative to the horizontal axis H so that positions rotationally about the horizontal axis H are as set forth and described. The datum for establishing positions of elements at angles about the horizontal axis H is a horizontal plane P parallel to the surface upon which the laundry treatment machine <NUM> rests and passing through the horizontal axis H. The horizontal plane P is rendered in <FIG> as a dotted line passing through the horizontal axis H since the horizontal plane P is viewed in profile.

Bounding the position of the circumferential entry section <NUM> to be within a front position of more than <NUM> degrees above and rotationally about the horizontal axis H and a top position less than <NUM> degrees above and rotationally about the horizontal axis H can provide for convenient access to the tub <NUM> and drum <NUM>. A position of more than <NUM> degrees above and rotationally about the horizontal axis H positions the lowest location of the circumferential entry section <NUM> proximal or above the mid-height of the laundry treatment machine <NUM> so that the user does not have stoop over excessively to access the interior of the laundry treatment machine <NUM>. A top position less than <NUM> degrees above and rotationally about the horizontal axis H can provide for a construction in which a door <NUM> hinged to the top <NUM> of the laundry treatment machine <NUM> will not extend beyond the top <NUM> of the laundry treatment machine <NUM> when the door <NUM> is in an open position. Further, by way of this arrangement, the circumferential entry section <NUM> is proximal the corner area between the top <NUM> and the front <NUM> so that the interior of the laundry treatment machine <NUM> can be conveniently accessed by a person standing at the front <NUM> or a side of the laundry treatment machine <NUM>.

The drum <NUM> has a diameter D, the diameter D being the outside diameter, and an average width in line with the horizontal axis H. The ratio of diameter D to average width can be from <NUM>:<NUM> to <NUM>:<NUM>. Such a ratio provides for a laundry treatment machine <NUM> that has a slim profile that can conveniently fit snuggly against a wall of a room or into a corner of a room. Such a ratio also can provide for laundry treatment machine that can be conveniently fit into bathroom, for example between a sink or sink vanity cabinet and toilet, or between a toilet and a wall, or between a toilet and a shower or bathtub.

Average width of the drum <NUM> is characterized in line with the horizontal axis H. The drum <NUM> may have various indentions, protrusions, and other features forming part of the side panels <NUM> (<FIG>). For instance, there may be an indentation near the horizontal axis H to accommodate the motor that drives the drum. The average width W of the drum <NUM> is the average distance between the side panels <NUM> measured parallel with horizontal axis H. To characterize the average width W, individual measurements between the side panels <NUM> are measured at a center to center spacing of <NUM>. The average width W is the sum of the individual widths measured dived by the number of measurements.

The drum <NUM> can have a volume from about <NUM> to about <NUM><NUM>. The drum <NUM> can have a volume from about <NUM> to about <NUM><NUM>. A volume of drum <NUM> in these ranges can provide for sufficient volume to treat, for example by way of washing and/or drying, a small volume of laundry more quickly than a larger laundry treatment machine <NUM> having a larger volume of drum <NUM> and require less water during a treatment cycle.

The drum <NUM> has a circumferential opening <NUM>, by way of nonlimiting example as shown in <FIG>. The circumferential opening <NUM> is in the circumferential wall <NUM> of the drum <NUM>. The circumferential opening <NUM> spans an angle of β from <NUM> degrees to <NUM> degrees rotationally about the horizontal axis H, which means that the circumferential opening <NUM> is as small as <NUM> degrees up to as large as <NUM> degrees rotationally about the horizontal axis H. As such <NUM>/<NUM> to <NUM>/<NUM> of the circumference of the drum <NUM> comprises the circumferential opening <NUM>. Such a range in size of the circumferential opening <NUM> can provide for ample radial room for the user to access the interior of the drum <NUM> but not be so large as to be inconvenient to open and close the circumferential opening <NUM>. A closure <NUM> can be operably engaged with the circumferential wall <NUM> so that the circumferential opening <NUM> can be opened and closed. The closure <NUM> can be hinged closure. Optionally, the closure <NUM> can be a sliding closure <NUM> that is slidingly engaged with the circumferential wall <NUM> so that the circumferential opening <NUM> can be opened or closed.

Also shown in <FIG> is the averaged width W of the drum. For the drum <NUM> shown in <FIG>, the side panels <NUM> are parallel to one another. In this arrangement, the average width W is the same as any particular width measured.

The drum <NUM> can have a plurality of apertures <NUM>. The apertures <NUM> permit the laundry treatment liquor to pass into and out of the drum <NUM> so that there is fluid communication between the interior of the tub <NUM> and the interior of the drum <NUM>. The drum <NUM> can be metal, plastic, coated metal, coated plastic, or other material suitable for long-term use in a wet environment that does not cause significant or any damage to the laundry <NUM> treated within the drum <NUM>.

The drum <NUM> can comprise a circumferential wall <NUM> and a pair of circular side panels <NUM>, together which define the drum <NUM>. The drum <NUM> distinguishes the interior of the drum <NUM> from the exterior of the drum <NUM>, the drum <NUM> being between the interior of the drum <NUM> and the tub <NUM>. The drum <NUM> can comprise one or more lifters at, on, or forming the interior of the circumferential wall <NUM>. The lifters can lift the laundry <NUM> as the drum <NUM> is rotated and when the lifter approaches the apex of its rotational movement the laundry <NUM> can tumble away from the interior surface of the circumferential wall <NUM>, which provides mechanical energy to the laundry treatment process.

The cabinet <NUM> can comprise a base <NUM>, optionally a base panel if the base <NUM> is finished, beneath the drum <NUM>, a top panel <NUM> above the drum <NUM>, a front panel <NUM> and an opposing rear panel <NUM> extending between the base <NUM> and the top panel <NUM>, and a pair of side panels <NUM> extending between the base <NUM> and the top panel <NUM> and between the front panel <NUM> and the rear panel <NUM>, by way of nonlimiting example as shown in <FIG>. The cabinet <NUM>, and components thereof, can be fabricated from metal or plastic. The horizontal axis H of the drum <NUM> extends partially between the side panels <NUM>. The cabinet <NUM> has a cabinet height CH between the extents of the base <NUM> and the top panel <NUM>, the cabinet height CH being the maximum distance between the outwardly facing surfaces of the base <NUM> and the top panel <NUM>. The cabinet height CH can be from about <NUM> to about <NUM>, optionally about <NUM> to about <NUM>. A cabinet <NUM> having such a cabinet height CH can conveniently fit under a table or countertop.

The front panel <NUM> can have a front panel width FPW between the side panels <NUM>. The front panel height FPH can be from <NUM> times greater to <NUM> times greater than the front panel width FPW. Arranged as such, the front panel <NUM> of the laundry treatment machine <NUM> has a slim profile. The volume of the tub <NUM> and drum <NUM> therein is accommodated by the breadth of the side panels <NUM> between the front panel <NUM> and the rear panel <NUM>. The front panel width FPW can be from about <NUM> to about <NUM>, optionally about <NUM> to about <NUM>, optionally about <NUM>.

The side panels <NUM> can have a side panel width SPW between the front panel <NUM> and the rear panel <NUM>. The side panel width SPW can be from <NUM> to <NUM> times greater than the front panel width FPW. This can similarly provide for a laundry treatment machine <NUM> having a slim front panel <NUM> as compared to the side panels <NUM>. The side panel width can be from about <NUM> to about <NUM>, optionally about <NUM>. Such a side panel width SPW can be small enough not to take up an inordinate amount of space in a user's residence and accommodate the tub <NUM> and drum <NUM> as described herein.

An attribute to the laundry treatment machine <NUM> disclosed herein is that the device can fit within a room in more than one orientation and still be practical for the user to use. Traditional top loading laundry treatment machines typically have a hinged door that opens from the front of the machine and swings towards the rear of the laundry treatment machine. A user interface system can be provided at the rearward portion of the top of the laundry treatment machine or optionally on the door <NUM>, or at another position that can be conveniently accessed by the user. The rear of the laundry treatment machine is typically positioned to be facing a wall so that the connection to the water lines and electrical outlet are hidden from view and so that the user interface system is facing the user when the user interacts with the laundry treatment machine. Similarly, traditional front loading laundry treatment machines have a hinged door that opens from one side of the laundry treatment machine and swings toward the other side of the laundry treatment machine. The user interface system for front loading laundry treatment machines is typically near the top of the front of the laundry treatment machine <NUM>.

The laundry treatment machine <NUM> disclosed herein can be arranged in a room such that a side panel <NUM> can be placed against a wall of a room or the rear panel <NUM> can be placed against a wall of a room. In either arrangement, the door <NUM> will be readily accessible by a user. A practical arrangement for small living space might be to place the laundry treatment machine in a corner of the room with a side panel <NUM> against one wall of a corner and the rear panel <NUM> against the other wall of the corner. Optionally, the laundry treatment machine <NUM> can be arranged in a room such that a side panel <NUM> is against a wall of the room and the front panel <NUM> and rear panel <NUM> extend orthogonally away from the wall. The aforesaid arrangements make efficient use of the user's household space and leave the front panel <NUM> readily accessible to the user.

The drum <NUM> has a bottom position <NUM> that is beneath the horizontal axis H, for example as shown in <FIG>. The door <NUM> has an interior facing surface <NUM> oriented towards the drum <NUM>. The interior facing surface <NUM> and the bottom position <NUM> are separated by a reach distance RD less than the diameter D. The reach distance RD is the minimum distance between the interior facing surface <NUM> of the door <NUM> and the bottom position <NUM>. The bottom position <NUM> extends across the interior surface of the drum <NUM> and is beneath the horizontal axis H and parallel to the horizontal axis H. Such a reach distance RD can make it practical for the user to easily retrieve laundry <NUM> from the bottom position <NUM> of the drum <NUM> after a laundry treatment cycle is completed, particularly as compared to top loading horizontal axis laundry treatment machines. The circumferential entry section <NUM> positioned as described herein can be thought of as being in a corner position of the cabinet <NUM> since the circumferential entry section <NUM> is not completely aligned with the top panel <NUM> or front panel <NUM>. Locating the circumferential entry section <NUM> and the door <NUM> that closes the circumferential entry section <NUM> as such provides for an arrangement in which the user does not have to reach through the entire diameter D of the drum <NUM> to access articles of laundry at the bottom position <NUM> of the drum <NUM>.

The door <NUM> can be hingedly engaged with the top panel <NUM>, for example as shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>. Optionally, the door <NUM> can be a sliding door <NUM>.

The laundry treatment machine <NUM> described herein can be an automatic laundry treatment machine <NUM>. The laundry treatment machine <NUM> can include a motor operably engaged with the drum <NUM> to rotate the drum <NUM>. The motor <NUM> can be mounted external to the tub <NUM> and the drive shaft for the drum <NUM> can pass through the tub <NUM>, with an adequate sealing structure provided between the drive shaft and the tub <NUM>. The motor <NUM> can directly or indirectly drive movement of the drum <NUM>. Direct drive can be provided by directly connecting the drive shaft of the motor <NUM> to the drum <NUM> without any intermediate gears or belts. Indirect drive can be provided by connecting the drive shaft of the motor to one or more gears and or belts to transmit rotational movement of the drive shaft into rotational movement of the drum <NUM>. The drive shaft of the motor <NUM> can pass through the wall of the tub <NUM>. Bearings can be provided to rotatably support the drive shaft so that the drum <NUM> can be maintained in its desired position. And a sealing structure can be provided to seal the tub <NUM> to drive shaft.

The laundry treatment machine <NUM> can comprise a liquid inlet <NUM> into the tub <NUM>. The liquid inlet <NUM> can be connectable to a water source. Water can be supplied to the tub <NUM> via the liquid inlet <NUM>. At or downstream of the liquid inlet <NUM> a liquid control valve <NUM> can regulate entry of water into the tub <NUM>. The liquid inlet <NUM> can be above the horizontal axis H or even above the tub <NUM>. A water supply conduit <NUM> can convey water from the liquid control valve <NUM> to a laundry treatment active composition supply compartment <NUM>. Water, supplied through the water supply conduit <NUM>, can be supplied to the tub <NUM> together with a laundry treatment active composition.

The laundry treatment machine <NUM> can comprise a liquid outlet <NUM>. The liquid outlet <NUM> can drain liquid from the tub <NUM> at various stages of a laundry treatment cycle. A liquid control valve <NUM> can regulate exit of the laundry treatment liquor from the tub <NUM>. Optionally, a pump <NUM> can be provided to provide energy to transport the laundry treatment liquor from the tub <NUM> to a household drain.

A typical laundry treatment process includes a step of providing water from a water source. Laundry treatment composition is mixed with the water to form a laundry treatment liquor. The laundry treatment liquid is contacted to the laundry <NUM>. The drum <NUM> rotates periodically one or more times in one direction or another for some period of time. The periodic movement of the drum <NUM> raises and drops the laundry <NUM> so that mechanical energy is applied to the laundry <NUM> to help treat the laundry <NUM>. Laundry treatment liquor is drained from the drum <NUM>. Water is added to the drum <NUM> to rinse the laundry treatment liquor from the laundry <NUM>. The drum <NUM> is rotated at high speed in one direction to drive laundry treatment liquor and rinse water from the laundry <NUM>. The rinse liquid is drained from the laundry treatment machine <NUM>. Multiple rinses may be applied to the laundry <NUM>. After the last rinse, the drum <NUM> can be rotated at high speeds to remove as much water and or residual laundry treatment liquor from the laundry <NUM> as is practical.

Optionally, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the laundry treatment machine <NUM> can further comprise a closed drying air circuit <NUM> in fluid communication with the tub <NUM>. The closed drying air circuit <NUM> can comprise a fan <NUM> and a heater <NUM>. The closed drying air circuit <NUM> can further comprise a condenser <NUM> to collect water from within the closed drying air circuit <NUM>.

Providing a laundry treatment machine <NUM> that includes a closed drying air circuit <NUM> can be practical for optimizing use of a small living space by a user. A laundry treatment machine <NUM> that combines the ability to wash and dry laundry <NUM> can take up less space than two machines, one of which treats laundry <NUM> and one of which dries laundry <NUM>.

The closed drying air circuit <NUM> can comprise a heater <NUM> that heats air circulated in the closed drying air circuit <NUM>. The closed drying air circuit <NUM> further comprises a fan <NUM> within the closed drying air circuit <NUM> that drives air through the closed drying air circuit <NUM>. The closed drying air circuit <NUM> passes into, through, and out of tub <NUM> so that the tub <NUM> is an element within the closed drying air circuit <NUM>. A condenser <NUM> is within the closed drying air circuit <NUM>, downstream of the tub <NUM>. The condenser <NUM> condenses air exhausted from the tub <NUM>. The condenser <NUM> can comprise a thermoelectric module having a heat adsorption side and a heat dissipation side which absorbs and dissipates heat at a junction between two dissimilar metals depending on a direction of electric current flow through the junction. The condenser <NUM> is positioned so that air exhausted from the tub <NUM> passes by the heat absorption side of the thermoelectric module.

The laundry treatment machine <NUM> can be provided with a controller for executing steps of a laundry treatment cycle. The steps of a laundry treatment cycle can include a laundry treatment sub-cycle, a rinse sub-cycle, and optionally a drying cycle. The controller can open and close valves to provide for the ingress and egress of various liquids, and optionally heated air, to and from the tub <NUM>. Water and or laundry treatment compositions can be delivered to the tub <NUM> at selected times and for selected durations. The controller can also control the motor <NUM> that drives movement of the drum <NUM>.

The controller can also execute steps required to dry the laundry <NUM>. The controller can control the volumetric air flow rate through closed drying air circuit <NUM>, the temperature of the air driven through the tub <NUM>, removal of water from the air by the condenser <NUM>, and movement of the drum <NUM> by the motor <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A laundry treatment machine (<NUM>) comprising:
a cabinet (<NUM>);
a tub (<NUM>) within said cabinet;
a horizontal axis fluid pervious drum (<NUM>) within said tub rotatable about a horizontal axis (H), wherein said drum has a diameter (D) orthogonal to said horizontal axis and an average width (W) in line with said horizontal axis and a ratio of diameter to average width from <NUM>:<NUM> to <NUM>:<NUM>;
a circumferential entry section (<NUM>) into said tub that spans at least across an intermediate range of from <NUM> degrees to <NUM> degrees above and rotationally about said horizontal axis and is bounded within a front position of more than <NUM> degrees above and rotationally about said horizontal axis and a top position less than <NUM> degrees above and rotationally about said horizontal axis; and
a door (<NUM>) in said cabinet, said door (<NUM>) sealingly engaged with said entry section (<NUM>);
characterised in that said drum (<NUM>) has a circumferential opening (<NUM>) spanning from <NUM> degrees to <NUM> degrees rotationally about said horizontal axis and having a circumferential opening area rotationally about said horizontal axis; and
wherein said circumferential entry section (<NUM>) has a circumferential entry section area greater than said circumferential opening area.