Whirlpool Corporation

Aaron A Linden

Christopher A Jones

Dale E Mueller

Benjamin E Alexander

Brent M Burgess

Michele A Paustian

Brenner Martin Sharp

Sarah Galea

Michael K Cluskey

Thomas Dell Spicer

Robert C Williams

Sagar Kumar

Meredith A Wagner

Velan Kaveri

A spring-loaded hinge assembly including a hinge support bracket and a leaf that is pivotally mounted to the hinge support bracket. A coil spring is supported on a spring support member, which includes a pivot bush. The coil spring applies a biasing force to the spring support member, which operates to push the pivot bush against a cam on the leaf. A lock configured to rotate between locked and unlocked positions includes a finger that engages an engagement feature on the hinge support bracket when the lock rotates to the locked position as the leaf swings toward the open position. In the locked position, the lock holds the coil spring in a partially compressed, pre-load condition and the pivot bush at a partially retracted position relative to the cam until the lock is subsequently released by contact between the cam and the pivot bush during subsequent closure.

Spring-loaded side swing hinge with feedback elimination

A laundry treating appliance includes a rotatable basket defining a treating chamber for receiving a load of laundry items for treatment, and an annular balance rings defining an annular chamber within, coupled with the basket for rotation therewith. The basket can further comprise a pair of walls comprising a perforated inner wrapper and an outer wall defining a space therebetween. The space fluidly couples to the annular chamber, permitting liquid to flow from the treating chamber, into the space and into the annular chamber to provide a restoring force to the system. The annular balance ring can further comprise a plurality of passages, fluidly coupling the treating chamber to the annular chamber.

Laundry treating appliance

A laundry treating appliance for treating laundry according to a cycle of operation includes a rotatable basket defining a laundry treating space and having a bottom wall and a side wall. The bottom wall of the rotatable basket includes at least one drain hole. A centrifugally actuated valve comprising a weighted ball is positioned to selectively open and close the at least one drain hole as the basket rotates.

Laundry treating appliance for limiting water usage in small loads

A laundry treating appliance for treating fabric according to a cycle of operation includes a cabinet defining an interior, a wash tub within the interior and having a peripheral wall with an upper portion and a bottom end closed by a base; a wash basket located within the wash tub for movement relative thereto and defining a laundry treating chamber; and a drive motor located within the cabinet for rotating or oscillating the wash basket. Prior to installation of the wash tub in the cabinet, the wash tub is oversized relative to the interior. After installation of the wash tub in the cabinet, the upper portion of the wash tub forms a press fit with the cabinet such that the upper portion of the wash tub exerts a force on the cabinet.

Laundry treating appliance with an oversized wash tub

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Sandwich, IL, United States of America

Aaron A Linden