Washing machine lid

Abstract

A top loading washing machine includes a lid with a flexible seal formed on the rear edge of the lid to seal the gap between the rear edge of the lid and the top cover of the washing machine cabinet. The seal is integrally formed with the lid as an extension of the inner lid liner or an overmolded addition to the inner lid liner. The seal provides a sound and moisture barrier.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a Continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/410,966 filed Apr. 10, 2003.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Top loading washing machines generally have a cabinet with a tub mounted therein for washing clothes and other laundry. The cabinet includes a top cover with an opening to provide access to the tub. A lid is mounted to the top cover for movement between open and closed positions relative to the opening in the top cover. When the lid is in a closed position, there normally is a gap between the perimeter edge of the lid and the top cover. Various types of seals have been provided in the prior art which are mounted on the lid or the top cover to close the gap. However, problems exist with the prior art seals. For example, the gap dimension is variable between machines due to the variations in the manufacturing and assembly process. Therefore, the seals do not always extend fully between the lid and the top cover such that a space remains. If the gap is not completely closed, undesirable noise escapes through the gap. Moisture may also pass through the gap if the seal does not extend completely between the lid and top cover.

[0003] Accordingly, a primary objective of the present invention is the provision of an improved washing machine lid.

[0004] Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a washing machine lid having an integrally formed seal to close the gap between the rear edge of the lid and the top cover of the cabinet.

[0005] A further objective of the present invention is the provision of a washing machine lid having a flexible seal which will accommodate manufacturing variations to close the gap between the rear edge of the lid and the top cover of the cabinet.

[0006] Still another objective of the present invention is the provision of an improved washing machine lid having a seal which is economical to manufacture, and durable and efficient in use.

[0007] These and other objectives will become apparent from the following description of the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] An improved lid is provided for a clothes washer having a cabinet with a top cover, and with an opening to provide access to the tub in the cabinet. The washer also includes a lid pivotally connected to the top cover for movement between open and closed positions. The improvement to the lid comprises a flexible seal connected to and extending rearwardly from the rear edge of the lid so as to be adapted to engage the top cover and thereby close the gap between the lid and the top cover. The seal is integrally formed with the lid. In one embodiment, the seal is formed as an extension of the inner liner of the lid, with a hinge to flexibly connect the seal to the liner. In another embodiment, the seal is overmolded onto the inner liner so as to be integrally formed therewith.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a washing machine lid assembly.

[0010] FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the lid assembly.

[0011] FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the lid assembly.

[0012] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the inner and outer lids, the retainer brackets, and the detergent dispenser of the lid assembly.

[0013] FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the inner lid.

[0014] FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along lines 6-6 of FIG. 2.

[0015] FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along lines 7-7 of FIG. 2.

[0016] FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the detergent dispenser showing the water flow path through the dispenser.

[0017] FIG. 9 is a view of the lid assembly of the present invention mounted on a washing machine cabinet.

[0018] FIG. 10 is an enlarged partial sectional view of the detergent dispenser.

[0019] FIG. 11 is a front elevation view of one of the retainer brackets.

[0020] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a top loading washing machine with the lid in a closed position.

[0021] FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along lines 13-13 of FIG. 12.

[0022] FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of the seal of the present invention taken along line 14 of FIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The lid assembly 10 of the present invention is intended for use on a vertical axis washing machine. As seen in FIG. 9, the washing machine includes a cabinet 12 with an opening 14 providing access to the inner drum (not shown).

[0024] The lid assembly 10 includes an outer lid 18 and an inner lid 20. The outer lid 18 is preferably made of sheet metal and is porcelain coated. The inner lid 20 is preferably made of plastic and is secured to the outer lid 18 without the use of screws or other fasteners which penetrate the outer lid 18, as described below.

[0025] As best seen in FIG. 4, the outer lid 18 includes a front edge 22, a rear edge 24, and opposite side edges 26. The edges 22, 24, 26 extend substantially perpendicular to the primary surface 28 of the outer lid 18. A perimeter flange or lip 30 extends inwardly from the edges 22, 24, 26.

[0026] A pair of mounting or retainer brackets 32 reside along the side edges 26 adjacent the rear corners 34 of the outer lid 18. The brackets 32 are held in position by the perimeter flange 30 of the outer lid 18. Each bracket 32 includes a key slot 36 and a snap receiver 38. Each bracket 32 also includes a pin or post 40 which extends through a hole 42 in the side edges 26 adjacent the rear comers 34 of the outer lid 18. The pins 40 are also received in corresponding holes (not shown) in the top cover 13 adjacent the access opening 14, thereby defining a horizontal pivot axis which allows the lid assembly 10 to move between open and closed positions relative to the access opening 14.

[0027] The inner lid 20 includes a front or outer surface 44 and a rear or inner surface 46. The inner lid 20 also includes a front edge 48, a rear edge 50, and the opposite side edges 52. As seen in FIG. 5, a pair of key tabs or locking tabs 54 extend from the inner surface 46 adjacent the opposite side edges 52 of the inner lid 20. The key tabs 54 are adapted to be received in the key slots 36 of the retainer brackets 32. The key tabs 54 generally have a T-shaped structure with a head and a leg. The key slots 36 include a lower end sufficiently large to receive the head of the key tabs 54, and a narrow upper portion which receives the leg of the key tabs 54 while retaining the head thereof.

[0028] The inner lid 20 also includes a pair of snap tabs 56 adjacent the rear edge 50. The snap tabs 56 are adapted to be received in the snap receivers 38 of the retainer brackets 32. The snap tabs 56 are inserted into the snap receivers 38 after the key tabs 54 are slid upwardly into the narrow portion of the key slots 36. As the key tabs 54 are slid into the key slots 36, the front edge 48 of the inner lid 20 is received under the perimeter flange 30 adjacent the front edge 22 of the outer lid 18. Spacer tabs 58 are formed in the front edge 48 of the inner lid 20 so as to provide a snug fit in the front edge 22 of the outer lid 18.

[0029] The front surface 44 of the inner lid 20 includes a recess 60 for receiving a detergent dispenser 62. More particularly, a pair of slots 64 are provided in the inner lid 20 adjacent the rear edge 50 thereof. The slots 64 are adapted to receive mounting tabs 66, which also extend under or capture the perimeter flange 30 of the outer lid adjacent the rearward edge 24 thereof. The upper end of the detergent dispenser 62 includes a snap tab 68 which is adapted to snap fit into a shoulder 70 in the inner lid 20. A recess 72 is provided above the shoulder 70 so that a person can use his/her finger to push the resilient snap tab 68 out of engagement with the shoulder 70 to remove the detergent dispenser 62 from the inner lid 20.

[0030] The detergent dispenser 62 includes a compartment 74 to receive liquid detergent and a compartment 76 to receive powder detergent. A water inlet 78 is formed in the detergent dispenser 62 and resides adjacent the rear edge 50 of the inner lid 20. The water inlet 78 directs water into each of the compartments 74, 76, as shown by the arrows in FIG. 8, to flush the respective detergent into the drum of the washing machine during the wash cycle of the machine operation. The compartment has a ceiling wall 77 and a wedge projection 79 which is sloped to facilitate flush-out of the detergent into the drum. Water is also directed to the upper end of the detergent dispenser for exit through holes 80 to provide a pre-wet shower for laundry in the drum. The liquid compartment 74 includes a conventional stand pipe 82 so that liquid detergent is not flushed from the compartment 74 until water is introduced through the water inlet 78. The stand pipe 82 is formed as part of the detergent dispenser 62. A siphon cover (not shown) is placed over the stand pipe to create a siphon system. The stand pipe and the siphon cover 82 extends through a hole on the back of the detergent dispenser and is secured by a twist lock.

[0031] The compartment 76 is also adapted to hold a detergent tablet. The compartment has a bottom wall 73 and ribs or projections 75 which space the tablet from the bottom wall 73 so as to enhance water contact with the tablet. The ribs 75 are also sloped to facilitate discharge of the tablet into the drum.

[0032] The inner lid 20 includes a pair of water inlets 84 adjacent the rear edge 50 thereof. The water inlets 84 are formed on the front surface 44 of the inner lid 20. A pair of water channels 86 are provided on the rear surface 46 of the inner lid 20 and cooperate with the water inlets 84 to define a water flow path to water outlets 88 adjacent the front edge 48 of the inner lid. The water outlets 88 are positioned over a bleach receptacle 90 and fabric softener receptacle 92 formed in the upper wall of the cabinet 12, as shown in FIG. 9. Thus, at the proper times during the wash cycle, water can be introduced through the water inlets 84 and into the water channels 86 for dispensement through the outlets 88 into the receptacles 90, 92 so as to flush bleach or fabric softener into the drum. The water channels 86 are preferably made of plastic and welded to the rear surface 46 of the inner lid 20.

[0033] It is common in the art to utilize rubber hoses with spring steel clamps as the water distribution means to distribute water to dispensers mounted on the cabinet. The hoses are relatively expensive, and substantial installation effort is required during assembly. The water channels 86 provide an economical water distribution means.

[0034] The water channels 86 also include an internal dividing wall 87 which defines a water trap 89 in each of the channels 86. When the lid assembly 10 is raised from the closed position, any water remaining in the channels 86 will drain into the traps 89. Thereby precluding accidental spillage onto a user or into the drum.

[0035] Thus, from the foregoing it is seen that the inner lid 20 is mounted to the outer lid 18 without the use of separate fasteners and without penetrating any portion of the outer lid 18. Also, when the inner lid 20 is mounted on the outer lid 18, there are no visible fasteners or connector means.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 2, the inner lid 20 may also include sealing gaskets 94 which are overmolded onto the inner lid 20 adjacent the front edge 48 and rear edge 50. The gaskets 94 may extend partially or completely along the side edges of the inner lid 20. The sealing gaskets 94 engage portions of the cabinet adjacent the access opening 14 when the lid assembly 10 is closed to prevent escape of moisture during the wash operation.

[0037] As an alternative to the overmolded seal 94 at the rear edge 50 of the inner lid 20, the inner lid or liner 20 may be formed with a rearwardly extending lip or seal 96 which engages the top cover 13 of the cabinet 12 when the lid 10 is closed. As shown in FIG. 14, seal 96 is preferably integrally molded of the same material utilized for forming inner liner 20. As best seen in FIG. 14, the lip or seal 96 includes a reduced thickness portion defining a hinge 98 so that the seal 96 is flexible. The flexibility of the seal 96 accommodates manufacturing variances which produce gaps 100 having varying widths between the rear edge 50 of the lid assembly 10 and the top cover 13. Thus, the seal 96 will contact the top cover 13 to provide a noise and moisture barrier, despite manufacturing variances. The inner lid 20 and seal 96 are preferably made of plastic, such as a polypropylene material. The overmolded seal 94 preferably is a thermoplastic material.

[0038] The invention has been shown and described above with the preferred embodiments, and it is understood that many modifications, substitutions, and additions may be made which are within the intended spirit and scope of the invention. From the foregoing, it can be seen that the present invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.

Claims

1. An improved lid for a clothes washer having a cabinet with a top cover, an opening in the top cover for access to a washing chamber, and a lid pivotally connected to the top cover, the lid having an inner liner, the improvement comprising:

a flexible lip connected to and extending rearwardly from a rear edge of the inner liner and being adapted to engage the top cover so as to form a seal between the lid and the top cover.

2. The improved lid of claim 1 wherein the lip is integrally formed with the inner liner.

3. The improved lid of claim 1 wherein the lip is overmolded onto the inner liner.

4. The improved lid of claim 1 wherein the lip is plastic.

5. The improved lid of claim 1 wherein the lip includes a hinge flexibly connecting the lip to the liner.

6. A washing machine comprising:

a cabinet with a washing chamber therein;

a top cover on the cabinet with an opening to provide access to the washing chamber;

a lid pivotally attached to the top cover;

a gap between the top cover and a rear edge of the lid; and

a flexible seal formed on the rear edge of the lid and extending rearwardly to engage the top cover and thereby close the gap between the top cover and the rear edge of the lid.

7. The washing machine of claim 6 wherein the lid includes an outer shell and an inner liner connected to the shell.

8. The improved lid of claim 7 wherein the lip is integrally formed with the inner liner.

9. The improved lid of claim 7 wherein the lip is overmolded onto the inner liner.

10. The improved lid of claim 7 wherein the lip is plastic.

11. The improved lid of claim 7 wherein the lip includes a hinge flexibly connecting the lip to the liner.

12. A lid for a clothes washing machine having a top cover, comprising:

an outer lid portion;

an inner lid liner attached to the outer portion, and having a rearward edge;

a seal integrally formed on the inner liner and extending rearwardly so as to engage the top cover when the lid is closed; and

a hinge to permit flexing of the seal.