Patent ID: 7493783

Claim:
A magnetic lid sensor for a washing machine lid supporting a magnet, the sensor comprising: a sensor housing mountable on the washing machine within a metallic housing of the washing machine; a magnet sensor held within the sensor housing adapted to be displaced from a point of rest of the magnet when the washing machine lid is closed and the sensor housing is mounted on the washing machine such that the magnet sensor within the magnet sensor housing is displaced from the metallic housing of the washing machine; and at least one ferromagnetic flux director fixed against movement with respect to the sensor housing and held by the sensor housing such that the flux director extends into or through at least one of the sensor housing and metallic housing to position a first end near the point of rest of the magnet and a second end held near the magnetic sensor within the metallic housing of the washing machine to conduct flux between the magnet and magnet sensor when the sensor housing is mounted on the washing machine; wherein the ferromagnetic flux director is substantially unmagnetized.