Abstract: A laundry treating appliance having a cabinet, a rotatable drum, and at least one foot extending from and supporting the cabinet, with the foot being configured to dampen the vibrations of the laundry treating appliance.

Abstract: An automatic washing machine having a foreign object trap located in a portion of a wash basket defines a foreign object passageway for retaining foreign objects.

Abstract: A load adaptive brake system is provided for an appliance which includes a motor, a drive wheel driven by the motor and a rotatable vessel. A brake surface is fixed relative to a non-movable portion of the appliance and at least one brake shoe carried by the vessel to rotate with the vessel. A biasing mechanism is engageable with the brake shoe to press the brake shoe into engagement with the brake surface. A cam is carried on the vessel, but is rotatable with respect thereto, and engageable with a portion of the brake shoe to overcome a bias of the biasing mechanism when the cam is rotated relative to the vessel in a first direction to disengage the brake shoe from the brake surface.

Abstract: A load adaptive brake system is provided for an appliance which includes a motor, a drive wheel driven by the motor and a rotatable vessel. A brake surface is fixed relative to a non-movable portion of the appliance and at least one brake shoe carried by the vessel to rotate with the vessel. A biasing mechanism is engageable with the brake shoe to press the brake shoe into engagement with the brake surface. A cam is carried on the vessel, but is rotatable with respect thereto, and engageable with a portion of the brake shoe to overcome a bias of the biasing mechanism when the cam is rotated relative to the vessel in a first direction to disengage the brake shoe from the brake surface.

Abstract: A suspension rod assembly for a resiliently supporting a moving system of a washing machine. The suspension rod assembly includes a rod having an upper end engaging a stationary support structure and a lower end. An end cap including a washer and an annular retainer is mounted to the lower end of the rod. A friction tube is disposed about the lower portion of the rod and has a flanged bottom edge captured between the annular retainer and the washer. The friction tube extends upwardly from the end cap about the rod and a tubular cup is provided about the friction tube. The cup includes a cylindrical wall forming an elongated annular cavity between the friction tube and the cylindrical wall. A compressible friction member is disposed within the elongated annular cavity and is radially compressed between the cylindrical wall and friction tube for frictionally engaging the friction tube.

Abstract: The invention is an appliance, such as an automatic washer, having a tub in which a wash basket is mounted. The tub comprises an upper and a lower tub member, which are connected by an interference connection. The interference connection is formed by one of the tub members being provided with a peripheral channel and the other tub member being provided with a flange adapted to be received within the channel. Multiple protrusions can extend from one or both of the flange or channel side walls to abut and deflect the flange to form the interference connection.

Abstract: An automatic washer having an enclosure surrounding an imperforate tub including an access opening and a perforate wash basket rotatably disposed within the tub about a horizontal axis wherein the tub access opening is provided with a flexible tub door for selectively closing the tub access opening. The flexible tub door is slidably supported by the tub for selectively closing the access opening wherein the tub door is positionable in a closed position and an open position. A spring is interconnected with the tub door for biasing the tub door toward an open position. A door catch is provided for engaging the tub door in a fully closed position against the biasing force of the spring and means are provided for selectively actuating the door catch such that the tub door may be selectively engaged in the closed position or released for movement to a fully open position. During the tub door closing operation, the rotatable wash basket is coupled to the tub door.

Abstract: A system for automatically opening basket doors of an automatic washer. The automatic washer includes an enclosure having an opening provided with a lid hingedly connected to the enclosure for selectively covering the enclosure opening. An imperforate tub disposed within the enclosure surrounds a rotatable perforate wash basket having an opening for accessing the interior of the basket. A first door flap having an engagement opening and a second door flap having a catch portion extending therefrom are provided being hingedly mounted on opposite rims of the basket opening and being biased toward their open position and further being adapted to partially overlap one another in a closed position such that the catch portion engages the engagement opening for locking the first door flap and the second door flap in a closed position. A tab extends from the second door flap generally opposite the main portion of the second door flap beyond the hinged connection with the basket.

Abstract: A top-loading horizontal axis automatic washer with improved accessibility to the wash basket interior and improved operating convenience of the basket doors. The washer cabinet is provided with an access opening extending partially along the front surface and top surface of the washer cabinet, providing the operator with improved access to the basket interior through an aligned tub opening and basket opening. A lid is provided on the cabinet top for selectively opening and closing the access opening. First and second door flaps are provided on the back and front edges, respectively, of the basket opening, serving as doors for selectively opening or closing the basket opening. The second door flap has an arc length approximately one-third the size of the first door flap. Both flaps are arranged so that, when opened, they are out of the path of loading and unloading clothes items from the basket.

Abstract: A pulley system for an automatic washer wherein the automatic washer includes a wash basket rotatably disposed within a tub and a motor having a motor shaft for selectively rotating the wash basket about a horizontal axis. The pulley system is disposed between the motor and the basket for drivingly connecting the motor with the basket and includes a drive hub disposed external of the tub drivingly interconnected with the wash basket. A pulley having an inner surface slidably disposed about the outer diameter of the drive hub is provided such that the pulley may rotate a predetermined angular distance about the hub before drivingly engaging the drive hub for co-rotation. A trip arm is interconnected with the drive hub and the pulley and is adapted for selective partial extension beyond the outer periphery of the pulley in response to the direction of wash basket rotation. A belt is drivingly disposed about the motor shaft and the pulley for drivingly interconnecting the motor with the pulley.

Abstract: An automatic washing machine having a imperforate stationery tub and further having a rotatable plastic wash basket, for receiving a clothes load, disposed within the stationary tub. The rotatable plastic wash basket further includes a cylindrical outer wall having an upper end open for receiving the clothes load. A base integral with the cylindrical outer wall is provided for forming a bottom of the rotatable basket. An annular core member is disposed within the base of the plastic wash basket such that the base encapsules and interlocks with the annular core member. In addition, a hub member is disposed centrally in the annular core member and is drivingly connectable with a drive shaft for drivingly rotating said rotatable wash basket. The annular core member has a substantially triangular radial cross-section such that the base is optimally configured to form a solid triangular radial cross-section for providing strength and rigidity to the wash basket.

Abstract: In an automatic washer drive system, a planetary gear arrangement is provided including an input drive shaft being drivingly connected to a motor at one end and having a sun gear interconnected with a second end. A plurality of cylindrical plastic planet gears are disposed around and engage the sun gear. A plastic unitary carrier member rotatably supports the planet gears and further interconnects with an output drive shaft for causing rotation of an agitator. A gear housing surrounds the cylindrical planetary gears which engage an internal ring gear disposed on an inner peripheral surface of the gear housing. The plastic unitary carrier member is configured to include a plate portion which extends outwardly in the radial direction with respect to the output drive shaft. A plurality of the cylindrical pin portions extend from the plate portion in the longitudinal direction with respect to the output drive shaft. These cylindrical pin portions provide the rotatable support of the cylindrical planet gears.

Abstract: A dynamic balancer for a laundry apparatus having a rotatable drum for receiving a clothes load. The rotatable drum has a horizontal geometric axis and is rotatably supported to rotate about its horizontal geometric axis. The rotatable drum includes a generally cylindrical outer wall defining the horizontal geometric axis, a first disk and a second disk. The first disk is provided for forming a first end wall of the drum and includes a balancing means including a plurality of concentric annular chambers. The second disk is provided for forming a second end wall of the drum, opposite the first end wall, and also includes a balancing means including a plurality of concentric annular chambers. The annular concentric chambers are partially filled with fluid for balancing the rotatable drum. In operation, the rotatable drum is subject to an out-of-balance mass as a result of uneven distribution of the clothes load within the drum.

Abstract: A brake band retainer mechanism for an automatic washer is provided which ensures that the brake band will be held away from the brake drum when the brake is in the relaxed position, yet will be held close to the drum for ready engagement. A support frame for the brake assembly has four legs, one of the legs pivotally carrying a bracket to which the band is attached, two opposite legs have a flange thereon providing radial and vertical support for the band in its relaxed position, and a fourth, intermediate leg carrying a resilient member which presses against an outer surface of the band to bias the band against the support flange surfaces when the band is relaxed. The resilient member is held on the fourth leg without additional fasteners.

Abstract: An automatic washing machine having a imperforate stationery tub and further having a rotatable plastic wash basket, for receiving a clothes load, disposed within the tub. The rotatable plastic wash basket includes a cylindrical outer wall defining a vertical axis and having an upper end open for receiving the clothes load. A base integral with the cylindrical outerwall is provided for forming a bottom of the rotatable basket. A hub member is positioned centrally in the base and is drivingly connectable with a drive shaft for rotating said rotatable wash basket. The base further includes an annular cavity, formed within the base, surrounding the hub member. The annular cavity has a substantially triangular radial cross-section such that the base comprises walls which define the annular cavity and form a triangular truss optimally configured for providing strength and rigidity to the wash basket base.

Abstract: A clutch mechanism for the drive system of an automatic washer having a concentrically mounted wash basket, and a motor drivingly connected to the agitator to drive the basket. The clutch mechanism includes a first clutch member drivingly connected to the motor, and a second clutch member drivingly connected to the wash basket and selectively axially actuable for driving engagement with the first clutch member. Opposing engagement surfaces of the clutch members are provided with alternating radially extending splines and grooves having a generally sawtooth profile. The splines of one of the clutch members are provided with squared tips, and the grooves of the other clutch member are provided with squared recesses, so that the shape of the corresponding splines and recesses provide an easily achieved yet secure connection when the clutch members are drivingly engaged.

Abstract: An improved lower suspension ball or collet for a washing machine hung suspension system, the collet providing an axial channel for receiving a hung suspension rod therethrough, the collet supporting a portion of a floating base which holds the vibration inducing components, such as rotating washing machine components, the suspension rod attached at its top end to a frame such as a washing machine cabinet, the collet resiliently supported off of a bottom end of the suspension rod, the collet channel fashioned to act as a friction bushing in a spring-mass-damper arrangement. The collet comprises a tube portion having the axial channel which grips the rod to act as the friction bushing. The channel has an inside diameter smaller than an outside diameter of the rod. The tube portion provides two axially arranged slots cut therethrough offset by 90.degree.. The slots being at opposite axial ends of the tube portion and terminate shy of the respective opposite axial end of the tube portion.