Maytag Corporation

The Maytag Company

Daniel F Wunderlich

Kirk M Dunsbergen

James R Braunschweig

Jeffrey L Sears

Michael D Lafrenz

Jordan S Bruntz

Nedra A Herr

John Ellwood Thomas

John Francis Broker

Ted L Hansen

Keith E Kropf

Brian D Clark

Dennis L Purtilo

James F Crawford

Thomas C Magilton

Donald N Shannon

Luann E Langel

L Dean Kuhn

An approved washing machine and method of washing laundry is provided wherein a user can select an amount of an additive, such as detergent, to be automatically supplied from a bulk additive reservoir to the washing machine tub during the appropriate time in the wash cycle. The selected amount of additive corresponds to the amount of payment deposited by the user in the machine. The payment may be made by coin, currency, or debit card.

Washing machine with pay activated bulk detergent dispenser

A washing appliance includes a spinner basket having a curved labyrinth ring around its outer surface. The labyrinth ring blocks water from leaving the spinner basket during the washing cycle wherein the basket spins in a first direction. The labyrinth ring permits water to exit the spinner basket when it is rotating in the opposite direction during its spinning cycle.

Spinner basket having labyrinth ring and method for using same

An improved laundry washing machine is provided with multiple fluid storage tanks for fluid detergent, bleach, and/or fabric softener. An air pump pressurizes the tanks when the door of the washing machine is opened. Each tank is in fluid communication with an associated fluid compartment. A user can push a control button to open a valve to selectively deposit a desired amount of fluid from a tank into the associated compartment for a wash cycle.

Air pump bulk dispenser

A fluid balancing ring includes a plurality of partitions forming a circular array of sub-chambers around its circumference. A valve is associated with each of the partitions and is movable in response to the centrifugal force of the rotating balance ring from a closed position preventing fluid communication through the partitions to an open position permitting fluid communication through the partitions. A spring urges the valve to its closed position.

Fluid balancing ring and method for using same

A washing machine lid includes a fluid chamber on its lower surface. The fluid chamber has a fill opening and a dispensing opening. A removable valve is within the dispensing opening. The lid includes a lid frame and a housing detachably mounted to one another.

Washer lid having fluid dispenser and method for using same

A washing machine lid having a lid frame is provided with the lid frame including a forward edge, a rear edge, at least first and second opposite side edges, and upper surface and a lower surface. A housing is detachably mounted to the lid frame by a bracket assembly. The bracket assembly retentively engages the lid frame. At least one isecuring member retentively engages the housing and also retentively engages the bracket assembly for attaching the housing to the lid frame.

Washing machine assembly

A washing machine includes a cabinet with an opening. A wash basket is mounted within the cabinet for rotation about a wash basket axis, and includes an access opening through which clothes may be loaded and unloaded. At least one agitator is mounted within the basket for rotation about an agitator axis which is at an angle different from the angle of the wash basket axis. A drive mechanism bathed by washing fluid interconnects a drive motor, the wash basket, and the agitator for rotating the agitator about its rotational axis.

Drive system for clothes washer

A washing machine lid having a lid frame is provided with the lid frame including a forward edge, a rear edge, at least first and second opposite side edges, and upper surface and a lower surface. A housing is detachably mounted to the lid frame by a bracket assembly. The bracket assembly retentively engages the lid frame. At least one securing member retentively engages the housing and also retentively engages the bracket assembly for attaching the housing to the lid frame.

Apparatus for assembling washing machine lid assembly

An improved installation system for a stacked washer and dryer appliance assembly having an exhaust vent and a gas system is provided. The exhaust vent system includes an exhaust bracket extending upwardly from the back of the washer. The exhaust bracket is adapted to be connected to a household exhaust duct, with the exhaust pipe of the dryer being automatically sealingly engaged with the exhaust bracket upon positioning of the dryer on the washer. The gas system includes a gas pipe in the washer, and having a rearward end extending out of the back of the washer for connection to a gas source. The forward end of the gas pipe has a shutoff valve, which is adapted to be connected to a gas line operatively mounted in the dryer. All of the connections for the power, water, exhaust, and gas for the stacked appliances can be quickly and easily made, without having to stand behind the appliance assembly after the dryer is mounted on the washer.

Installation system for stacked appliances

A stacked appliance assembly includes a lower unit, such as a clothes washing machine, and an upper unit, such as a clothes dryer. A support member is secured on top of the lower unit within the perimeter thereof. A base member is secured to the bottom of the upper unit within the perimeter thereof. The base member of the upper unit is adapted to slide upon the support member of the lower unit and to be secured thereto without the use of external mounting brackets. The support member and base member mounting arrangement provides automatic self-centered alignment of the upper unit on the lower unit. A plurality of tabs on the support member of the lower unit are received within slots on the base member of the upper unit so as to interlock the units together.

Mounting arrangement for stacked appliances

An improved washing machine is provided with a rotatable wash basket having rotatable agitators mounted therein. The agitators have the shape of a spherical segment so as to nest adjacent the interior surface of the wash basket. The agitators include a spur gear which meshes with a ring gear extending around the wash basket so as to impart rotation to the agitators as the wash basket rotates within the ring gear. The agitators include ribs or baffles to impart tumbling or mixing action to the laundry in the wash or rinse water in the wash basket.

Top loading clothes washer

An air inlet arrangement is provided in a laundry dryer for enhanced drying efficiency and rate. The dryer includes a drum with a rotating sidewall and a stationary rear bulkhead sealingly engaging the sidewall. A heater is provided on the outside of the rear bulkhead. The rear bulkhead includes a generally horizontally disposed air inlet in its lower half for introducing heated air into the drum. The heated air stream includes a hot inner core and a cool outer envelope so as to minimize the surface temperatures of the bulkhead and the sidewall and thereby prevent heat damage to clothing and laundry in the drum. The rear bulkhead includes a spirally ramped forward surface along which the air travels to impart a spiral airflow through the drum, thereby enhancing heat transfer between the air and the laundry in the drum.

Clothes dryer air inlet arrangement

A timer mechanism for an appliance such as a clothes dryer includes a pulser cam and a timer cam. The timer cam has a notch along its perimeter while the pulser cam has a step formed in its perimeter. The cams rotate in opposite directions with a cam follower biased against the cams. A clapper is connected to the cam follower and is adapted to strike a chime if the cam follower is aligned with the notch in the timer cam and the cam follower drops off the step in the pulser cam as the pulser cam rotates past the cam follower. The pulser cam is connected to the timer motor and continuously rotates at a first speed throughout a cycle while the timer cam is connected to the timer motor and the timer dial of the appliance and rotates in the opposite direction at a second slower speed.

Mechanical timer including cam operated clapper and chimes

A display is provided for indicating changes between first and second operating conditions in an appliance such as a clothes dryer. A sensing circuit senses changes in operating conditions within the appliance. The sensing circuit creates an intermittent sensing signal which is sent to a light. The light blinks at a frequency corresponding to the frequency of the sensor signal. A second light remains lit continuously during the operation of the appliance.

Growing community of inventors

Newton, IA, United States of America

Daniel F Wunderlich