Patent ID: 6886372

Claim:
A washing machine comprising: a cabinet shell; an outer tub mounted within the cabinet shell; an inner tub, including a lower portion, rotatably mounted within the outer tub; an agitator arranged in the lower portion of the inner tub; and a tipping mechanism including: a drive member adapted to be rotated during operation of the washing machine; a pivot member extending at least partially above the lower portion of the inner tub, said pivot member including a first guide member exposed from an external surface thereof; and a tipping member pivotally mounted on the pivot member and drivingly interconnected to each of the drive member and the agitator, said tipping member including a second guide member, said first and second guide members being interengaged for relative movement along a guide path having a vertical component and a horizontal component, wherein rotation of the drive member during operation of the washing machine causes a combination rotating and tipping action to be imparted to each of the tipping member and the agitator.