Customer Accessible Lint Filter

Abstract

A lint filter assembly (40) for a household appliance (10) has a housing (42) that couples with duct work (38) of the appliance (10). A lint catcher (44) is receivable in the housing (42). The lint catcher (44) collects lint as it is moved through the duct work (38). A mechanism (90) is coupled with the lint catcher (44) so that a user pushes the lint catcher (44) into the housing (42) for a first filtering position. The lint catcher (44) is positively locked in place by the mechanism (90). The lint catcher (44) is moved to a second cleanout position, releasing the positive lock, so that lint can be removed from the lint catcher (44).

Description

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to household appliances, generally those including a dryer and, more particularly, an accessible lint filter.

BACKGROUND

In household appliances, such as washers and dryers, it is desirable to remove lint during operating cycles from these machines. Particularly, in dryers, a lint screen or the like is present to catch the lint as it circulates within the drying appliance during operating cycles. Different types of lint screens have been provided by manufacturers. These types of screens are ones that are accessible upon opening the door of the dryer and those that can be removed from outside of the cabinet enabling withdrawal of the lint screen for cleaning. These types of lint screens are satisfactory for their intended purposes. However, designers strive to improve the art.

The present disclosure provides the art with a lint filter assembly that is positively held within the cabinet. The lint filter assembly provides an easily removable lint filter assembly with a positive action to maintain the lint filter assembly within the cabinet. The action may be mechanically or magnetic. The lint filter assembly provides a lid that enables easy removal of the lint from the filter. Additionally, the assembly provides a utility space for various items such as pods, dryer sheets, brushes or the like.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, it is an object of the disclosure to provide a lint filter assembly for a household appliance comprising a housing for coupling with duct work of the appliance. A filter assembly is receivable in the housing. The filter assembly collects lint as is moved through the duct work. A mechanism is coupled with the filter assembly so that a user pushes the filter assembly into the housing into a first position where the filter assembly is positively locked and retained by the mechanism. The filter assembly is moved to a second clean out position, releasing the positive lock so that lint can be removed from the lint filter assembly. The mechanism may be a push/push mechanism including a grab latch or a magnetic latch. Alternatively, the mechanism is a magnetic seal position on the filter assembly for magnetically locking the filter assembly in the first position. The filter assembly includes a cover with the magnetic seal for locking with a cabinet. The lint filter assembly includes a catch with a frame with a screen where the frame is two piece with a bowl and a cover. The bowl or cover includes a metal piece and the other includes a magnet. The bowl and cover are co-molded. Additionally, the cover or lid includes a lint peeler. The frame also includes a storage area for various items.

According to a second aspect of the disclosure, a household appliance including a dryer function and comprises a cabinet with a rotatable drum and a drying circuit. The drying circuit includes duct work that directs heating air through the drum within the cabinet. A lint filter assembly comprising a housing that couples with the duct work of the appliance. A filter assembly is receivable in the housing. The filter assembly collects lint as is moved through the duct work. A mechanism is coupled with the filter assembly so that a user pushes the filter assembly into a housing into the first position where the filter assembly is positively locked and retained by the mechanism. The filter assembly is moved to a second clean out position, releasing the positive lock so that lint can be removed from the lint filter assembly. The mechanism may be a push/push mechanism including a grab latch or a magnetic latch. Alternatively, the mechanism is a magnetic seal position on the filter assembly for magnetically locking the filter assembly in the first position. The filter assembly includes a cover with the magnetic seal for locking with a cabinet. The lint filter assembly includes a catch with a frame with a screen where the frame is two piece with a bowl and a cover. The bowl or cover includes a metal piece and the other includes a magnet. The bowl and cover are co-molded. Additionally, the cover or lid includes a lint peeler. The frame also includes a storage area for various items.

According to a third aspect of the disclosure, a household appliance including a dryer function comprises a cabinet with a rotatable drum and a drying circuit. The drying circuit includes duct work that directs heating air through the drum within the cabinet. A lint filter assembly comprising a housing that couples with the duct work of the appliance. A filter assembly is receivable in the housing. The filter assembly collects lint as is moved through the duct work. A mechanism is coupled with the filter assembly so that a user pushes the filter assembly into the housing into a first position where the filter assembly is positively locked and retained by the mechanism. The filter assembly is moved to a second clean out position, releasing the positive lock so that lint can be removed from the lint filter assembly. The mechanism may be a push/push mechanism including a grab latch or a magnetic latch. Alternatively, the mechanism is a magnetic seal position on the filter assembly for magnetically locking the filter assembly in the first position. The filter assembly includes a cover with the magnetic seal for locking with a cabinet. The lint filter assembly includes a catch with a frame with a screen where the frame is two piece with a bowl and a cover. The bowl or cover includes a metal piece and the other includes a magnet. The bowl and cover are co-molded. Additionally, the cover or lid includes a lint peeler. The frame also includes a storage area for various items.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a perspective breakaway view of a washer/dryer in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the lint catcher.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the lint catcher.

FIG. 4 is a cross-section view through FIG. 3.

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of the lint filter assembly.

FIG. 5B is a cross-section view through FIG. 5A.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a mechanical latch.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a magnetic latch.

FIG. 8A is a perspective view of an additional embodiment of the lint catcher.

FIG. 8B is a cross-section view of FIG. 8A along line 8B-8B.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the lint catcher.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Turning to the figures, a combination washer/dryer machine is illustrated and designated with the reference numeral 10. The combination washer/dryer machine 10 includes a cabinet 12 with a plurality of panels 14. The controller panel 20 is illustrated on the front panel 16 of the cabinet 12. The combination washer/dryer 10 includes a tub 30 and a drum 32 rotatably positioned inside of the tub 30. A washing circuit 34 is coupled with the tub 30. Additionally, a drying circuit 36 is illustrated coupled with the tub 30. Thus, heated air is moved into the drum 32 and exited to ambient surrounding through the desired duct work 38.

A lint filter assembly 40 is positioned into the heating duct work 38. The lint filter assembly 40 includes a housing 42 that is positioned into and coupled with the duct work 38. The housing 42 receives a lint catcher 44. The lint catcher 44 includes a frame 46 that has a two piece design with a bowl 48 and a lid or cover 50. As illustrated, the catcher 44 has an overall rectangular trapezoidal design for sliding into the housing 42. The bowl 48 includes wall 52 that surrounds a lattice work 54 that includes a screen 56. The wall 52 includes an opening 58 that abuts a portion of the duct so that the housing 42 receives heated air from the tube 30. The heated air enters into the lint catcher 44, where the lint is retained in the lint catcher 44, then exits through the housing 42 to ambient.

The lid 50 includes lattice work 62 and a screen 64. The lid 50 is hinged to the bowl 48 to enable the lid 50 to be moved away from the bowl 48 to enable access into the catcher 44 to remove the lint. Thus, the lint can be removed from the bowl 48 and lid 50.

The bowl 48 and lid 50 are manufactured from a plastic material. Preferably, a metallic strip 66 is co-molded into the lid 50. Magnets 68 are likewise co-molded into the bowl wall 52 to enable a magnetic closure between the lid 50 and the bowl 48. Thus, this retains the lid 50 onto the bowl 48 when it is positioned inside of the housing 42. Additionally, the magnets 68 and metallic strips 66 could be positioned into the other element.

A cover is 70 positioned onto a front portion of the wall 52 of the lint catcher 44. The cover 70 is accessible from outside of the cabinet 12. This enables the lint catcher 44 to be withdrawn from the housing 42. The cover 70 includes a handle 72 or opening that enables the user to grasp the cover 70 and remove the lint catcher 44 from the housing 42.

Turning to FIG. 3, the cover 70 is illustrated with a seal 80. The seal 80 includes an attachment portion 82, a bulb portion 84 and a pocket 86 to retain a magnetic strip 88. The attachment portion 82 is secured into the cover 70 via a channel in the cover 70. The bulb portion 84 provides movement of the cover 70 when the magnetic strip 88 contact the cabinet 12. The bulb portion 84 could have a different cross-section depending upon the desired fit of the seal 80 on the cover 70. The magnetic strip 88 provides a positive retention or locking force of the lint filter assembly 40 in the cabinet 12.

Turning to FIGS. 5-7, an additional mechanism 90 is illustrated to retain the lint catcher 44 within the housing 42. The mechanism 90 can be a mechanical push/push grab latch device or a magnetic push/push latching device.'

As illustrated in FIG. 6, a mechanical latching device is illustrated. Here, the base 92, attached to the housing 42, includes fingers 94 that receive a ball 96 attached to the catcher 44. As the ball 96 is pushed into the fingers 94, the fingers 94 retract in the base 92. The fingers 94 are held in the base 92 with the ball 96. Thus, the catcher 44 is retained or locked with the housing 42.

An additional push on the cover 70, in turn, pushes the ball into the base 92. This releases the fingers 94 from within the base which, in turn, releases the ball 96 from the fingers 94. Thus, this enables the catcher 44 to be withdrawn from the cabinet 12.

FIG. 7 illustrates a magnetic push-push device. The magnetic device 100 has a base 102 with a movable shaft 104. A metallic striker plate 106 would be positioned onto the catcher 44. As the lint catcher 44 is pushed into the housing 42, the shaft 104 would retract into the base 102 mounted on the housing 42. The magnet 108 would retain the striker plate 106 on the device 100. As the cover 30 is pushed in, the shaft is released from the base 100 to enable the lint catcher 44 to be withdrawn from the housing 42 and cabinet 12.

FIGS. 8 and 8A illustrate an additional catcher 44′. The catcher of FIG. 8 is substantially the same as that illustrated in FIG. 2 except for the addition of one or more lint peelers 110. The lint peelers 110 are positioned adjacent the bottom near the lattice work 54 of the bowl 48. The peelers 110 may have an overall rectangular configuration and be ring shaped or solid. The peelers 110, as illustrated in FIG. 8A, as the lid 50 is opened, moves underneath the lint 112 to lift the lint from the bowl 48 lattice work 54 and screen 56. Thus, the lint 112 is scraped from the lattice work 54 and screen 52 to provide a lifted leading edge to enable removal of the lint 112 from the bowl 48.

Turning to FIG. 9, an additional catcher 44 is illustrated. Here, a storage bin 120 is positioned between the frame 46 and the cover 70. The storage bin 120 enables detergent pods, dryer sheets, brushes or the like to be stored within the dryer in the bin 120. Upon removal of the catcher 44, the storage bin 120 would be accessible. Thus, a user would have access to the items in the bin 120. The storage bin 120 can have a box-like configuration with a cover 122 to enable access into the storage bin 120.

The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.

Claims

1. A lint filter assembly for a household appliance comprising:

a housing for coupling with duct work of the appliance;

a filter assembly receivable in the housing, the filter assembly collecting lint as it is moved through the duct work;

a mechanism coupled with the filter assembly so that a user pushes the filter assembly into the housing for retaining the filter assembly in a first lint catching position and the filter assembly is positively locked in place by the mechanism and the filter assembly is removed from the housing to a second cleanout position, releasing the positive lock, so that lint can be removed from the filter assembly.

2. The lint filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the mechanism is a push/push mechanism including a grab latch device.

3. The lint filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the mechanism is a push/push mechanism including a magnetic latch device.

4. The lint filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the mechanism is a magnetic seal positioned on the filter assembly for magnetically locking the filter assembly in the first lint catching position.

5. The lint filter assembly of claim 4, wherein the filter assembly includes a cover with the magnetic seal, the magnetic seal locking with a cabinet.

6. The lint filter assembly of claim 1, wherein the filter assembly includes a frame with a screen for catching the lint.

7. The lint filter assembly of claim 6, wherein the frame is two piece with a bowl and cover lid.

8. The lint filter assembly of claim 7, wherein in the bowl or cover lid includes a metal piece and the other includes a magnet.

9. The lint filter assembly of claim 8, wherein the bowl and cover are co-molded.

10. The lint filter assembly of claim 7, wherein the cover lid includes a lint peeler.

11. The lint filter assembly of claim 6, wherein the frame includes a storage bin.

12. A household appliance including a dryer function comprising:

a cabinet with a rotatably drum and a drying circuit, the drying circuit including duct work that directs heating air through the cabinet; and

a housing couples with the duct work;

a filter assembly receivable in the housing, the filter assembly collecting lint as it is moved through the duct work;

a mechanism coupled with the filter assembly so that a user pushes the filter assembly into the housing for retaining the filter assembly in a first lint catching position and the filter assembly is positively locked in place by the mechanism and the filter assembly is removed from the cabinet to a second cleanout position, releasing the positive lock, so that lint can be removed from the filter assembly.

13. The household appliance including a dryer function of claim 12, wherein the mechanism is a push/push mechanism including a grab latch device or a magnetic latch.

14. The household appliance including a dryer function of claim 12, wherein the mechanism is a magnetic seal positioned on the filter assembly for magnetically locking the filter assembly in the first lint catching position.

15. The household appliance including a dryer function of claim 14, wherein the filter assembly includes a cover with the magnetic seal, the magnetic seal locking with the cabinet.

16. The household appliance including a dryer function of claim 12, wherein the filter assembly includes a frame with a screen for catching the lint, the frame is two piece with a bowl and cover lid.

17. The household appliance including a dryer function of claim 16, wherein the bowl and cover are co-molded and the bowl or cover lid includes a metal piece and the other includes a magnet.

18. The household appliance including a dryer function of claim 16, wherein the cover includes a lint peeler.

19. The household appliance including a dryer function of claim 16, wherein the frame includes a storage bin.

20. A household appliance including a dryer function comprising:

a cabinet with a rotatable drum and a drying circuit, the drying circuit including duct work that directs heating air through the cabinet; and

a housing coupled with the duct work;

a filter assembly receivable in the housing, the filter assembly collecting lint as it is moved through the duct work;

a mechanism coupled with the filter assembly so that a user pushes the filter assembly into the housing for retaining the filter assembly in a first lint catching position and the filter assembly is positively locked in place by the mechanism and the filter assembly is moved to a second cleanout position, releasing the positive lock, so that lint can be removed from the filter assembly;

the filter assembly includes a frame with a screw for catching the lint.

the frame is two piece with a bowl and cover.

the bowl or cover includes a metal piece and the other includes a magnet;

the blow and cover are co-molded;

the cover includes a lint peeler; and

the frame includes a storage area.