Whirlpool Corporation

Whirpool Corporation

Michael R Carey

Darryl C Bodine

Eric Andrew Hill

Matthew G Czach

Giovanni Pino

Charles L Jones

Allen D Wong

Jonathan M Dalton

Ildefonso Resuello

Steven Fricke

James R Sawyer

Rick A Schneider

Phillip Edward Lindeman

Moises Norena

John H Becker

Michael S Short

Frank L Brunacci

Jean Marc Grosbuis

A side panel for a fabric care appliance is described. The side panel includes an embossed pattern for increasing a first natural frequency (or first harmonic) of the side panel. Preferably, the first natural frequency is substantially higher than any ordinary operating frequency or driving frequency of the appliance. For example, in a washing machine, the first natural frequency of the side panel is preferably at least 1.6 times greater than the maximum rotational frequency of a drum or tumbler of the machine.

Appliance panel with increased natural frequency

A laundry appliance having a cabinet enclosing a laundry treating mechanism, the cabinet having an openable door in a vertical front face thereof, is provided with a shelf recessed in the cabinet and arranged to be extendable to a horizontal position in an embodiment a predetermined distance below the door sufficient to allow a laundry basket to be placed on the shelf when extended and to allow the door to be opened and closed with the basket on the extended shelf and in an embodiment to provide a step for a user.

Growing community of inventors

Coloma, MI, United States of America

Michael R Carey