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:
Aug. 19, 2008
Filed:
Jul. 14, 2006
Allen James Guinibert, Auckland, NZ;
Russell Joseph Jackson, Auckland, NZ;
Hugh Griffith Johnson, Auckland, NZ;
Bruce Reginald Frank Mcgregor, Auckland, NZ;
Daryl Leonard Hirst, Auckland, NZ;
Allen James Guinibert, Auckland, NZ;
Russell Joseph Jackson, Auckland, NZ;
Hugh Griffith Johnson, Auckland, NZ;
Bruce Reginald Frank McGregor, Auckland, NZ;
Daryl Leonard Hirst, Auckland, NZ;
Fisher & Paykel Appliances Limited, Auckland, NL;
Abstract
A laundry machine includes a cabinet and a laundry holding drum rotatably supported therewithin. The drum includes a wall and a drum hatch comprising a section of the wall. A motor is connected to rotate the drum. A controller is configured to operate the motor to drive the drum through a closing operation. The closing operation includes rotating the drum in a direction to bring the drum opening toward the drum hatch to re-close the opening with the drum hatch and to detect stopping of the drum rotation. The controller may provide user feedback that a closure disruption has occurred. The drum hatch is configured to close circumferentially, with a leading edge of the drum hatch approaching a leading edge of the remaining wall. The leading edges are shaped such that interposition of fabric between the leading edges during closure stops the drum hatch reaching a fully closed position.