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:
Apr. 03, 2007
Filed:
May. 09, 2001
Matthew Charles Edward Wilson, Wells, GB;
Simon Paul Wells, Workingham, GB;
Geoffrey Michael Burlington, Edge, GB;
Matthew Charles Edward Wilson, Wells, GB;
Simon Paul Wells, Workingham, GB;
Geoffrey Michael Burlington, Edge, GB;
Dyson Technology Limited, Wiltshire, GB;
Abstract
An appliance having a driving mechanism is provided, the appliance () comprising two rotatable portions () which are rotatable by the driving mechanism () about an axis (). The driving mechanism () comprises a gearbox () having an input gear (), two output gears () and a locking mechanism () movable between a first position and a second position. The arrangement is such that, when the locking mechanism () is in the first position and the input gear () is driven, both output gears () rotate in the same direction and, when the locking mechanism () is in the second position and the input gear () is driven, the output gears () rotate in opposite directions. The arrangement of the axis () is horizontal or substantially horizontal. The invention is particularly suitable for use in a front-loading washing machine () having a drum () comprising two rotatable portions (). The driving mechanism () can be used to selectively cause rotation of the rotatable portions () either in the same direction or in opposite directions.