The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 28, 1995
Filed:
May. 02, 1994
Victor W Cuthbert, Sodus Township, MI (US);
Joseph H Zahrn, Jr, Berrien Springs, MI (US);
Vonda K Johnston, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, MI (US);
Abstract
In an automatic washer, a system of automatically positioning and holding a cylindrical basket having an opening provided with door flaps within a tub having a tub access opening such that the basket doors and tub access opening are aligned for loading and unloading clothes to and from the basket. The basket includes a stop opening disposed on the periphery wall of the basket. A motor is drivingly connected to a pulley which is drivingly connected to the wash basket such that the wash basket may be rotated about its horizontal axis. A control shaft is provided rotatably supported by the tub and having a main portion disposed adjacent the basket and an end extending external of the tub. A holding arm is supported adjacent the basket by the main portion of the control rod such that rotation of the control shaft moves the holding arm into the outer surface of the wash basket for engagement with the stop opening for rotationally positioning and holding the wash basket. A rotary positioning member or hub is rigidly attached to the externally extending end of the control shaft. A latching mechanism is disposed adjacent the hub for latching the hub in a predetermined angular position against a spring bias urging the holding arm toward the basket. A tripping mechanism is provided, associated with the pulley, for selectively engaging the latching mechanism for releasing the holding arm to rotate into the basket and engage the stop opening, thereby positioning and holding the basket in the desired position for loading and unloading clothes.