Abstract: A compact rinse aid dispenser that mounts on top of the agitator post and dispenses a rinse aid during the rinse cycle. The rinse aid is held in a conical-shaped cup during the wash/agitate cycle, and then is sprayed out and retained against the inner wall of the housing by centrifugal force during the spin cycle. The rinse aid then drains down through a funnel into the agitator post and out a slot therein when the spinning stops. The dispenser has a lid with a horizontal wall and a cylindrical downwardly extending barrier around the fill hole to prevent rinse aid from being sprayed back out the fill hole as a result of an out-of-balance load that causes the agitator post and dispenser to orbit about the vertical axis. Further, a labyrinth is provided around the drain hole in the funnel to prevent premature draining of rinse aid into the agitator post.

Abstract: A filter for a top loading automatic washing machine wherein a substantially horizontal filter disc is positioned such that its outer periphery seats against the underside of the clothes basket bottom which is upwardly inclined towards the middle. The disc is a unitary plastic molded part, and has a large plurality of vertically aligned holes that have downward draft. An agitator provides pumping action to circulate washing fluid out of the sidewall perforations of the basket, and back into the basket through openings in the bottom thereof. The washing fluid passes through the holes of the filter disc collecting lint on the underside face. The lint is then flushed away during the spin mode of operation.

Abstract: A laundry machine braking mechanism including a pair of spaced plates adapted to be moved axially relative to one another to frictionally compress one or more brake pads positioned therebetween. A conical spring is positioned under the bottom plate, and in normal operation, the outer periphery of the conical spring urges the bottom plate upwardly so as to exert a braking force. The conical spring acts on an integrally formed retainer that has an annular rim contacting the underside of the conical spring, and a plurality of posts that extend up and connect to the top plate thereby fixing the spacing therebetween. The braking mechanism is released by exerting an upward force on the inner periphery of the conical spring thereby deflecting the outer periphery downwardly. An annular flange integrally formed as part of the top plate extends downwardly and acts as an annular fulcrum for the deflection.

Abstract: A top loading clothes washer pivotally supported so that it can be installed underneath a stationary structure and tilted forward for loading and unloading clothes. The pivotal support is provided by a stable base which also includes apparatus such as a hook for preventing forward tilting past a predetermined loading and unloading tilt-out position. The front of the washer is truncated and the tilt axis is backward from the truncation but forward from the washer center of gravity. In the upright washing position, rear feet on the washer provide support for the washer and also engage the base to horizontally secure the washer to the base for stability during spin dynamics. A biased hinge covering the front truncation provides backward torque about the tilt axis so that the washer feet carry a significant amount of the washer weight.

Abstract: A face seal assembly mounted on a vertically oriented drive shaft is disclosed for use in connecting two members rotatable with respect to each other. The seal assembly includes a lower stationary graphite seal member which is received in one end of a rubber bellows. A spring within the bellows urges the upper surface of the graphite ring into contact with an upper rotatable second seal member, which is preferably a bronze mating ring. Liquid which seeps radially inwardly past the seal members is channeled within the rubber bellows to discharge outside the face seal assembly without contacting either the drive shaft, or the bearing member located below the bellows. The channel means includes a collar portion within the bellows extending downwardly along the drive shaft from a point adjacent the seal members. A bottom wall, contiguous with the collar encloses the bottom end of the bellows and provides support for the spring located within the bellows.

Abstract: A suspension system for a washing machine including a tub assembly having an outer stationary tub and an inner clothes receiving tub mounted for rotation on a central shaft extending downwardly through the lower wall of the stationary tub, comprises a first support cup defined in the base of the washing machine, support legs spaced about the periphery of and attached at first ends to the outer tub and at opposite ends to a second support cup shaped complementarily to the first cup. In a preferred embodiment, the shape of the support cups is a truncated hemisphere. The second support cup is received in the first cup to support the tub assembly on the base. A plurality of spring members are provided about the periphery of the outer tub, extending between the last mentioned tub and base to aid in stabilizing the tub assembly.

Abstract: An out-of-balance and safety switch arrangement for a washing machine or the like device having a movable cover to control access to the clothes receiving tub, and wherein the tub is rotated rapidly to execute a centrifugal extraction cycle, includes a microswitch having an actuator normally biased to an extended position and depressible for energizing the drive motor for the tub and a switch actuator lever arm mounted adjacent the washing machine tub access cover for pivotal movement in first and second generally perpendicular planes with the lever arm being spring biased in the first plane for movement of the first end thereof into operative alignment with the switch actuator, the opposite end of the lever arm being positioned for engagement by the access cover upon closing the latter to move the first end of the lever arm in the second plane into engagement with the actuator for depression thereof.