Whirlpool Corporation

Logan R Urbanski

Michael Jon Vriezema

Joel Matthew Sells

Arun Rajendran

A combination washer/dryer () has a cabinet () with an opening enabling access inside the cabinet (). A drum and tub assembly () is positioned within the cabinet (). A washing circuit () washes items in the drum and tub assembly (). A drying circuit () dries the items in the drum and tub assembly (). A door assembly () includes an outer door () and a floating inner door () sealing the drum and tub assembly ().

Floating inner door of a combination washer/dryer

A washer and dryer combination appliance including a housing, a drum positioned in the housing, and a dynamic, expandable seal positioned between the drum and the housing. A laundry compartment inside the drum is accessible through openings in the front of the housing and drum. The drum has a rear wall with perforations that permit air to flow into the laundry compartment. An air gap is located between the rear of the housing and the rear wall of the drum. The dynamic, expandable seal, is actuatable between a retracted position and an extended position. In the extended position, the dynamic, expandable seal extends across the air gap to direct airflow through the perforations in the rear wall of the drum. In the retracted position, the dynamic, expandable seal is spaced away from the drum and therefore does not add any drag on the drum as the drum rotates.

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St. Joseph, MI, United States of America

Logan R Urbanski