Patent ID: 7571506

Claim:
A method of detecting an item of clothing in a washing machine having a drum, a washing tub, a door moveable between an open and closed position for selectively closing the washing tub and having an exterior surface located exteriorly of the drum, an interior surface axially spaced inwardly from the exterior surface in the closed position, and a peripheral surface extending between the exterior and interior surfaces, an annular gasket interposed between the door and the washing tub, a zone defined by a space between the annular gasket and the peripheral surface when the door is in the closed position, and a control system, the method comprising the steps of: rotating the drum; detecting an item of laundry present in the zone by a sensing device; providing the control unit with a signal, from the sensing device, indicating the presence of the item of laundry; and taking an action in response to the control unit signal to remove the item of laundry from the zone.