Specific Housing Structure Patents (Class 34/603)
  • Patent number: 6892476
    Abstract: A clothes dryer has a rear panel and an exhaust vent passing through the rear panel. The exhaust vent is adapted to be connected with a flexible venting hose. The spacer is pivotally mounted to the rear panel of the clothes dryer for movement between an upright shipping position extending adjacent the dryer rear panel and a lowered position extending out and away from the dryer rear panel for maintaining a predetermined distance between the rear panel of the dryer and a room wall adjacent to which the clothes dryer is adapted to be positioned. The spacer has a cover member which is adapted to at least partially cover the exhaust vent when the spacer is in the upright position to prevent connection of a flexible venting hose to the dryer exhaust vent. The spacer of the present invention insures that a predetermine distance is maintained between the rear panel of the dryer and a room wall adjacent to which the dryer is positioned so as to prevent kinking of the flexible heating hose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Camco Inc.
    Inventors: Francis Forget, Michael Piplakis
  • Patent number: 6874248
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a drying machine. The drying machine comprises supporting members mounted on a base, and motor fixing brackets each including an insert part, through which a motor is inserted, and first and second supporting legs extending downwardly from the opposite ends of the insert part, the first and second supporting legs being engaged with the supporting members, whereby any vibration of the motor is prevented and attachment/detachment of the motor is easy and convenient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Kyung Seop Hong, Young Hwan Park, Mu Yong Choi, Dae Yun Park
  • Patent number: 6832441
    Abstract: Method for controlling a drying process of a washing and drying machine including a preheating step for tightly closing and heating an inner tub for preparing an environment favorable for vaporization of water by elevating a temperature of the inner tub within a short time period, and a drying step for supplying heated air to the inner tub, to make heat exchange between the heated air and laundry, for drying the laundry, whereby improving a drying performance and reducing occurrence of environmental problem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: In Chul Jeong, Kyung Chul Woo, Kyeong Hwan Kim, Choon Myun Chung, Mu Yong Choi
  • Patent number: 6829845
    Abstract: An apparatus for preventing a gap between a blower housing and a connection duct is provided in laundry drier including a base forming a bottom of a body, a front cabinet forming a front side of the body, a pair of opposing lateral cabinet sides, a back cover forming a rear side of the body, a top cover installed on an upper part of the body, a filter cover installed in rear of the front cabinet, a connection duct having an entrance side connected to the filter cover, and a blower installed to be connected to an exit side of the connection duct, which blocks an ancillary air flow to prevent a degradation in drying efficiency and drier performance. The apparatus includes a pressing member provided between the front cabinet and the connection duct to push the connection duct toward the blower to make the connection duct adhere closely to the blower housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: In Hee Han, Ju Han Yoon
  • Publication number: 20040221478
    Abstract: A structure for shielding an exposed part of core wire of a terminal block in a clothes dryer is disclosed. The structure of the terminal block in the clothes dryer is improved to cover a connector connecting the terminal with the core wire for preventing accidents caused by contacting the exposed part of core wire of the terminal block during service, the clothes dryer including a base 1 forming a floor, a front cabinet 2 forming a front of the clothes dryer, a side cabinet 3 forming a side of the clothes dryer, a back cover 4 forming a back side of the clothes dryer, a top cover 5 provided on a top surface of the front cabinet 2, the side cabinet 3 and the back cover 4, a control panel 6 provided on a rear of the top cover 5, and a terminal block provided on an inside of the control panel 6, and having a wall 800 in upper and lower front surfaces thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Soon Jo Lee, Ju Han Yoon
  • Publication number: 20040221479
    Abstract: A structure of a top cover of a clothes dryer for effectively preventing water flown through a prefabricated hole at a control panel on the top cover from being flowed to electric accessories is disclosed. The clothes dryer includes a base forming a floor of a body, a front cabinet forming a front of the body, a side cabinet forming a side of the body, a back cover forming a back side of the body, a top cover forming a top of the body, and the control panel 6 provided on a rear of the top cover 5. The top cover includes predetermined curvature in all direction along the body B, a groove provided along the body B at a rear side thereof, a prefabricated hook provided on a front surface of the control panel and inserted to the groove, and a fire wall made of metal and provided at a lower part thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Soon Jo Lee, Seong Hai Jeong
  • Patent number: 6807748
    Abstract: A centrifugal dryer (10) for removing surface moisture from pellets of resin material having a diameter generally ranging between approximately 0.015 to approximately 0.25 inches received from an underwater pelletizer. In one embodiment of the present invention, the dryer is constructed with smaller dimensions enabling it to effectively operate at low volume rates and be easily assembled and disassembled to facilitate cleaning and replacement or interchange of components with its overall size enabling it to be effectively used in small applications. In other embodiments of the present invention, the dryer is constructed with larger dimensions enabling it to effectively operate at high volume rates for use in commercial applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Gala Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Bryan, Carl M. Dudding
  • Patent number: 6807751
    Abstract: An assembly between a front cabinet panel and a front support piece in a laundry drier is stably achieved, to improve work efficiency and productivity in a laundry drier fabrication process. The laundry drier has an internally mounted drum and includes a base forming a bottom of a body, a front cabinet panel forming a front side of the body, a pair of side cabinet panels forming opposing lateral sides of the body, a back cover forming a rear side of the body, a top cover covering an upper part of the body, a control panel installed on a rearward end of the top cover, and a front support piece installed behind the front cabinet panel to support a front side of the drier drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: In Hee Han, Ju Han Yoon, Soo Won Park
  • Publication number: 20040194339
    Abstract: A combination tumble and cabinet dryer appliance includes a housing with a tumble dryer and a cabinet dryer therein. The tumble dryer and cabinet dryer are operable independently of one another. Separate sources of hot air are provided to each of the tumble and cabinet dryers. The cabinet dryer extends over and along one side of the tumble dryer. A portion of the cabinet dryer extends substantially along the height of the housing so as to receive long hanging clothes, such as a dress. Removable shelves are provided in the cabinet dryer for drying sweaters and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Applicant: Maytag Corp.
    Inventors: Troy A. Johnson, Lee R. Birch, Michael C. Roberts, Kevin W. Shipley, Julie M. Bundy, Frank S. Nekic, Stephen D. Schober, Curtis J. Tremel
  • Publication number: 20040163276
    Abstract: An apparatus for preventing a gap between a blower housing and a connection duct is provided in laundry drier including a base forming a bottom of a body, a front cabinet forming a front side of the body, a pair of opposing lateral cabinet sides, a back cover forming a rear side of the body, a top cover installed on an upper part of the body, a filter cover installed in rear of the front cabinet, a connection duct having an entrance side connected to the filter cover, and a blower installed to be connected to an exit side of the connection duct, which blocks an ancillary air flow to prevent a degradation in drying efficiency and drier performance. The apparatus includes a pressing member provided between the front cabinet and the connection duct to push the connection duct toward the blower to make the connection duct adhere closely to the blower housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Inventors: In Hee Han, Ju Han Yoon
  • Patent number: 6766596
    Abstract: A door/lid for an appliance, such as a washer or dryer, includes a tempered glass panel upon an inner surface of which is applied one or two screen printed borders of fusible ceramic printing medium defining a substantially opaque peripheral border bounding a central viewing area through which clothing associated with a washer or dryer can be viewed when the door/lid is closed. An injection molded narrow encapsulation, border or rim surrounds an edge of the tempered glass panel and effects a water-tight seal therewith. Third ceramic printing means in the form of instructions or safety rules in applied to the first or second printing medium but is indiscernible from the outside when the door/lid is closed. When the door/lid is open, the instructions/safety rules are totally divisible, upright and readable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Gemtron Corporation
    Inventors: Craig Bienick, Howard Daley
  • Publication number: 20040134092
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a drying machine. The drying machine comprises supporting members mounted on a base, and motor fixing brackets each including an insert part, through which a motor is inserted, and first and second supporting legs extending downwardly from the opposite ends of the insert part, the first and second supporting legs being engaged with the supporting members, whereby any vibration of the motor is prevented and attachment/detachment of the motor is easy and convenient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Inventors: Kyung Seop Hong, Young Hwan Park, Mu Yong Choi, Dae Yun Park
  • Patent number: 6761049
    Abstract: A sealing sleeve seals joints in household appliances, especially the joints between the suds container and the front wall of the housing or the upper part of the suds container and the top frame in washing machines, and can be secured to the appliance by a substantially annular clamping element. The clamping element can be molded into the interior of the section (which can be a beading) of the sealing sleeve to be secured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerate GmbH
    Inventors: Kai Nitschmann, Wolfgang Proppe
  • Patent number: 6622531
    Abstract: A drum washing machine with a draw-out inner spin basket is disclosed. The inner spin basket is spigotted movably on a driving shaft through a driving hole in the back plate of the inner spin basket. An axle of the spin basket is provided at a front plate of the inner spin basket. An end of the axle is inserted in a bearing. A cover is disposed in front of a front plate of the inner spin basket. The inner spin basket is rotatably attached to the cover through the axle of the spin basket and the bearing. A slide connection is disposed in a housing in a manner so that the inner spin basket can be drawn into or out of the housing. Since the inner spin basket can be drawn out of the housing in the drum washing machine, the laundry can be put or taken in outside of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignees: Haier Group Corporation, Haier Merloni (Qingdao) Washing Machine Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fuyu Ren, Da li Sun
  • Patent number: 6108940
    Abstract: An electric clothes dryer has an irregular polygonal shaped rear wall where the apexes in the polygon align readily with the center of the heater housing to define positions where the electrical insulators are mounted to the heater housing rear wall. Raised land pads are formed from the rear wall of the heater housing at these locations and on which the insulators are mounted. The raised land pads further have radial slots that permit airflow from beneath the pad into the heater housing and across the insulator and the heating element. The apexes further provide an increased air gap for increased airflow radially across the electrical insulators. The heater housing has an air gap with the rear end head of the dryer drum which air gap is smaller adjacent the upper portions of the heater housing so as to reduce the chimney effect associated with the air heated in the heater housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Camco Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Maurice St. Louis
  • Patent number: 6105533
    Abstract: A drum for holding, moving and treating a particulate material is rotatable about its axis and has a metallic wall enclosing the axis and provided with perforation holes. A wire fabric has wires sintered to one another, rests essentially with its entire outer surface against the inner surface of the wall, is sintered essentially over its entire outer surface to the wall and separates the perforation holes thereof from the free interior space of the drum. Since the wire fabric rests essentially with its entire outer surface against the wall, no particulate material can enter between the wall and the wire fabric. The wire fabric is durable and can be cleaned rapidly and readily together with the rest of the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Glatt Maschinen- und Apparatebau AG
    Inventor: Gunther Boos
  • Patent number: 6082022
    Abstract: A clothes dryer having a rear end head with axially spaced apart apertures through which air may enter into the dryer drum through a diffuser wall mounted to the inside of the drum end head. The apertures in the end head have an air flow deflection shield integrally formed therewith. The air flow deflection shield extends radially across the apertures in the end head, is recessed from the rear end head and is spaced from the diffuser wall. Advantage is found with the use of such an air flow deflection shield because it permits for the apertures in the rear head to be of sufficient size to permit satisfactory air flow into the dryer drum while deflecting the air away from potential warm spots generated through and on the surface of the diffuser wall that would otherwise be in direct immediate air flow impingement with the apertures in the end head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Camco Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Maurice St. Louis
  • Patent number: 6067730
    Abstract: A textile drying system is presented which draws in a quantity of air from an external space substantially equal to a quantity of air exhausted to the external space. The textile drying system includes one or more textile drying appliances (i.e., dryers) and a single air handling unit. Each dryer has an air input port and an air output port. During use, the single air handling unit provides a first quantity of air from a space outside a room in which the one or more dryers are located to the air input port of each dryer. A second quantity of air is exhausted through the air output port of each dryer to the space outside the room, wherein the second quantity of air is substantially equal to the first quantity of air. As a result, the textile drying system does not draw air from, or provide air to, the room in which the textile drying system is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert L. Woods
  • Patent number: 5992039
    Abstract: A portable clothes dryer for drying clothing while on vacation or camping. The portable clothes dryer includes a dryer housing with first and second ends, a sidewall extending horizontally between the ends, and an interior that is defined by the sidewall and ends. The first end of the dryer housing has a door for inserting clothing into the interior of the dryer housing. The dryer housing has an inlet aperture extending through it for receiving a blower that has a heating element and a fan coupled to a fan motor. A basket drum is rotatably disposed in the interior of the dryer housing for tumbling clothing. A basket motor is mounted to the dryer housing for rotating the basket drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Inventors: Kelly C. Bunch, Eddie L. Bunch
  • Patent number: 5953831
    Abstract: The present invention is categorized into the technical field of structural design of a clothes dryer, especially relating to the improvement of heating component in the clothes dryer. The present invention includes a stationary housing, a rotatable drum, and components of heating, ventilation transmission, and control installed within said housing. The heating system is formed by several special infrared lamps installed on the interior wall of said drum. The present invention optimizes the structure of a clothes dryer so that the clothes dryer has the advantages of lower power consumption, timesaving, adjustability of temperature, and lower temperature within said drum, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Regentech Limited
    Inventor: Shinan Yu
  • Patent number: 5881576
    Abstract: An improved laundry appliance is provided wherein the door is mounted to a shroud, separate from the front and top panels of the cabinet. Therefore, during manufacturing assembly or repair work, the door can be shut and the operation of the appliance tested with the front and top panels removed from the appliance. After the operational testing is completed, the front and top panels can be installed to the remaining cabinet panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventor: Lonnie O. Davies, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5806207
    Abstract: A heat salvaging device for a household laundry drier. The device may serve both as a stand for the drier and a device for salvaging waste heat from the drying process. The heat salvaging operation is controlled by controlling a single vent in the stand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Inventor: Melcena K. Merrigan
  • Patent number: 5771604
    Abstract: An air inlet arrangement is provided in a laundry dryer for enhanced drying efficiency and rate. The dryer includes a drum with a rotating sidewall and a stationary rear bulkhead sealingly engaging the sidewall. A heater is provided on the outside of the rear bulkhead. The rear bulkhead includes a generally horizontally disposed air inlet in its lower half for introducing heated air into the drum. The heated air stream includes a hot inner core and a cool outer envelope so as to minimize the surface temperatures of the bulkhead and the sidewall and thereby prevent heat damage to clothing and laundry in the drum. The rear bulkhead includes a spirally ramped forward surface along which the air travels to impart a spiral airflow through the drum, thereby enhancing heat transfer between the air and the laundry in the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel F. Wunderlich, Kirk M. Dunsbergen
  • Patent number: 5724750
    Abstract: A rotatable drum forms an airtight seal with a door. A vacuum line connects the interior of the drum to a vacuum pump. A shutoff valve closes the vacuum line to the pump. A pressure equalization valve connects the drum to the outside atmosphere. A bearing supports the drum, in combination with the vacuum line. Infrared lamps heat clothes placed inside the drum. The vacuum pump reduces the air pressure in the drum below atmospheric pressure, reducing the evaporation temperature of the water in the clothes. A heat sensor measures the temperature of the air leaving the drum. Solenoid-driven purge valves allow air to enter the drum in short bursts, thus aiding the drying of the clothes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Inventor: Vergel F. Burress
  • Patent number: 5713139
    Abstract: An improved industrial dryer adapted for more efficient, quieter and safer operation. The dryer blower has a relatively large size blower wheel adapted for generating high volume air flows at substantially reduced noise levels so as not to disrupt the work environment nor necessitate that workers wear ear protection. The blower is mounted on a pivotal door of the housing for easy access and an adjacent air feed cone is mounted for selective adjustable positioning into axial relation with the blower wheel for efficient air distribution. The dryer includes a burner adapted for generating a multi-leg, relatively short length discharge flame for enhancing fuel combustion and maximizing surface area over which air passes and is heated as it is drawn to the tumbler of the dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Ellis Corporation
    Inventor: David L. Briggs
  • Patent number: 5661914
    Abstract: An improved access laundry appliance is provided for a cabinet defining an enclosed compartment. A cylindrical drum is rotatably mounted within the compartment and forms a fabric enclosure for containing laundry therein. The drum has an uncovered drum access opening through which laundry may be placed into and removed from the fabric enclosure. The cabinet has exterior front and top cabinet surfaces formed by cabinet front and top walls and includes a cabinet access opening therein adjacent the drum access opening providing direct communication through the cabinet and the drum access opening into the fabric enclosure. The cabinet access opening is formed at least partially in the cabinet front wall and at least partially in the cabinet top wall and has a perimeter extending therearound. The perimeter extends between first and second substantially vertical planes which are spaced apart from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventor: J. Christopher Millet
  • Patent number: 5555647
    Abstract: An electric fan motor of a domestic clothes dryer is directly secured to an associated plastic blower housing by a locking member which is snap-fit to the blower housing. The blower housing includes an arcuate support member which supports a hub of the motor. The locking member includes an arcuate securing portion which overlies the hub and cooperates with the support member to define a socket which secures the hub to the blower housing. The blower housing has an open side which is covered by a metal blower cover. The blower cover is snap-fit to the blower housing, and has a thermostat mounted thereto. The thermostat is electrically connected to ground via the blower cover and a fastener inserted into a base of the clothes dryer cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: White Consolidated Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Torborg, Victor E. Jelinek
  • Patent number: 5548908
    Abstract: An improved clothes dryer construction including a metal dryer drum, front and rear bulkheads, front and rear wear rings, and a plurality of wear pins. The dryer drum is generally cylindrical and provides front and rear annular lips over which the wear rings are mounted and which coaxially nests over a support ring provided by each of the bulkheads. The wear rings, which seal the space between the lips and the support rings, have a series of openings which align with apertures in the annular lips. The wear pins extend through the openings in the wear rings and are snap-fit into the apertures to secure the wear rings to the annular lips. The wear pins serve as a supplemental bearing to support the dryer drum should the wear rings wear out over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: White Consolidated Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Torborg, Victor E. Jelinek
  • Patent number: 5483756
    Abstract: A clothes dryer includes a housing, a back wall being joined to the housing, an at least approximately horizontally rotatably supported laundry drum having at least one bottom, and a bearing journal supporting the at least one bottom on the back wall. The bearing journal has a spherical bearing-relevant surface being secured to the back wall. The drum bottom has at least one bearing shell tightly embracing the spherical surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: Bosch-Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventor: Reinhard Heyder
  • Patent number: 5388344
    Abstract: A miniature clothes dryer is adapted to operate in combination with a portable hair dryer that includes a heating element, an air blower for passing air across the heating element and a hot air outlet nozzle. The clothes dryer comprises a dryer housing having an inlet opening to receive and retain the outlet nozzle of the portable hair dryer. The housing also has an outlet opening for discharging air and a door for the insertion and removal of items of clothing. Mounted for rotation within the housing is a clothes drying drum having walls for supporting and tumbling the clothes which are inserted through the housing door. Drive means with an electric motor are provided for rotating the drum. The drum walls have a plurality of openings for the passage of air and the housing has a plurality of baffles for directing hot air from the nozzle of a hair dryer at the inlet opening to the inside of the drum, and from the inside of the drum to the outlet opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Inventor: Beth K. Wallach
  • Patent number: 5363569
    Abstract: A bearing and seal assembly for rotatably supporting an open front end of a clothes dryer drum includes a ring of felt-like material positioned between the circular open front end of the drum and a circular support flange of smaller diameter coaxially nested within the end of the drum. The felt-like material is fixed to the flange and substantially fills an annular space between the drum and the flange to preclude air leakage therebetween. The upper or outer surface of the felt seal, which is in engagement with the circular open front end of the drum, is powder coated with a wear-resistant material such as polytetrafluoroethylene. The powder-coated surface is slidably engaged by the drum and bears the weight of the end of the drum. The felt-like material acts as a sound dampener and shock absorber between the rotating drum and the fixed flange to preclude transmission or generation of undesirable noise caused by rotation of the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignee: White Consolidated Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Pratish R. Kadakia
  • Patent number: 5317816
    Abstract: A method for simultaneously mechanically bonding an air duct to a clothes dryer cabinet and sealing the spaces between the duct and cabinet to prevent the escape of air therefrom, and for a clothes dryer incorporating the bonded and sealed air duct and cabinet. The clothes dryer cabinet includes a series of vertical side panels and a front panel, the front panel defining an access opening through which access to an interior of a rotatable drum can be gained. An inner surface of the front panel includes an annular flange which generally surrounds the access opening and coaxially nests with and supports the rotatable drum. The annular flange defines an air-communication opening through which, in cooperation with the air duct, air flows from the interior of the drum to a blower unit. During assembly the air duct is located by means of engagement of a locating flange provided by the front panel with a series of positioning tabs on the air duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1994
    Assignee: White Consolidated Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Pratish Kadakia