# US 10,865,511 B2 · Nozzle assembly for a washing machine appliance > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,865,511 B2 - Document ID: US10865511B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/813,237 - Filed: 2017-11-15 - Published: 2019-05-16 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2017-11-15 - Assignees: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. - Applicants: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. - Inventors: Peter Hans Bensel; Troy Marshall Wright - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10865511B2 ## CPC - D06F 39/088: {Liquid supply arrangements} - G08C 17/00: Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link - D06F 34/05: for wireless communication between components, e.g. for remote monitoring or control - D06F: LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES - G08C: TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS (fluid pressure transmitting systems F15B; mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member into a different variable G01D5/00; mechanical control systems G05G) ## Abstract A washing machine appliance and nozzle assembly is provided herein. The washing machine appliance may include a cabinet, a tub positioned within the cabinet, a wash basket, and a controller. The wash basket may be rotatably mounted within the tub. The wash basket may define a wash chamber for receiving articles for washing. The nozzle assembly may be mounted within the cabinet and configured to provide wash fluid to the tub. The nozzle assembly may include a nozzle housing and an extendable nozzle. The nozzle housing may define a receiving chamber within the cabinet. The extendable nozzle may be movable between a retracted position within the receiving chamber and an extended position outside of the receiving chamber. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A washing machine appliance comprising: a cabinet; a tub positioned within the cabinet; a wash basket rotatably mounted within the tub, the wash basket defining a wash chamber for receiving articles for washing; a nozzle assembly mounted within the cabinet and configured to provide wash fluid to the tub, the nozzle assembly comprising a nozzle housing defining a receiving chamber within the cabinet, an extendable nozzle movable between a retracted position within the receiving chamber and an extended position outside of the receiving chamber, and a wireless communications module mounted to the extendable nozzle; and a controller attached to the cabinet and wirelessly coupled to the nozzle assembly, wherein the nozzle assembly further comprises a positioning switch mounted to the nozzle housing, the positioning switch being engaged with the extendable nozzle in the retracted position and disengaged with the extendable nozzle in the extended position, and wherein the controller is operably coupled to the nozzle assembly at the positioning switch to determine a position of the extendable nozzle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The washing machine appliance of claim 1, wherein the wireless communications module comprises an infrared communications module. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The washing machine appliance of claim 1, wherein the wireless communications module comprises a radio frequency (RF) communications module. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The washing machine appliance of claim 1, wherein the positioning switch comprises a magnetic proximity switch, wherein a location magnet is fixed to the extendable nozzle, and wherein the magnetic proximity switch is in magnetic communication with the location magnet in the retracted position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The washing machine appliance of claim 1, wherein the nozzle assembly further comprises a nozzle battery and a battery charger, wherein the nozzle battery is mounted to the extendable nozzle to provide a direct electrical current thereto, and wherein the battery charger is operably coupled to the nozzle battery to selectively recharge the nozzle battery. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The washing machine appliance of claim 5, wherein the battery charger comprises a direct current turbine mounted along a flow path of the wash fluid to generate an electrical current in response to wash fluid flow. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The washing machine appliance of claim 5, wherein the battery charger comprises a first voltage contact and a second voltage contact, wherein the first voltage contact is fixed to the extendable nozzle, and wherein the second voltage contact is fixed within the receiving chamber. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The washing machine appliance of claim 5, wherein the battery charger comprises a first voltage induction coil and a second induction coil, wherein the first induction coil is fixed to the extendable nozzle, and wherein the second induction coil is fixed to the nozzle housing to communicate with the first induction coil in the retracted position. ### Claim 9 A washing machine appliance comprising: a cabinet; a tub positioned within the cabinet; a wash basket rotatably mounted within the tub, the wash basket defining a wash chamber for receiving articles for washing; a nozzle assembly mounted within the cabinet and configured to provide wash fluid to the tub, the nozzle assembly comprising a nozzle housing defining a receiving chamber within the cabinet, an extendable nozzle movable between a retracted position within the receiving chamber and an extended position outside of the receiving chamber, a wireless communications module mounted to the extendable nozzle, a nozzle battery mounted to the extendable nozzle to provide a direct electrical current thereto, and a battery charger operably coupled to the nozzle battery to selectively recharge the nozzle battery; and a controller attached to the cabinet and wirelessly coupled to the nozzle assembly, wherein the battery charger comprises a first voltage contact and a second voltage contact, wherein the first voltage contact is fixed to the extendable nozzle, and wherein the second voltage contact is fixed within the receiving chamber. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The washing machine appliance of claim 9, wherein the wireless communications module comprises an infrared communications module. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The washing machine appliance of claim 9, wherein the wireless communications module comprises a radio frequency (RF) communications module. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The washing machine appliance of claim 9, wherein the nozzle assembly further comprises a positioning switch mounted to the nozzle housing, the positioning switch being engaged with the extendable nozzle in the retracted position and disengaged with the extendable nozzle in the extended position, wherein the controller is operably coupled to the nozzle assembly at the positioning switch to determine a position of the extendable nozzle, wherein the positioning switch comprises a magnetic proximity switch, wherein a location magnet is fixed to the extendable nozzle, and wherein the magnetic proximity switch is in magnetic communication with the location magnet in the retracted position. ### Claim 13 A washing machine appliance comprising: a cabinet; a tub positioned within the cabinet; a wash basket rotatably mounted within the tub, the wash basket defining a wash chamber for receiving articles for washing; a nozzle assembly mounted within the cabinet and configured to provide wash fluid to the tub, the nozzle assembly comprising a nozzle housing defining a receiving chamber within the cabinet, an extendable nozzle movable between a retracted position within the receiving chamber and an extended position outside of the receiving chamber, a wireless communications module mounted to the extendable nozzle, a nozzle battery mounted to the extendable nozzle to provide a direct electrical current thereto, and a battery charger operably coupled to the nozzle battery to selectively recharge the nozzle battery; and a controller attached to the cabinet and wirelessly coupled to the nozzle assembly, wherein the battery charger comprises a first voltage induction coil and a second induction coil, wherein the first induction coil is fixed to the extendable nozzle, and wherein the second induction coil is fixed to the nozzle housing to communicate with the first induction coil in the retracted position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The washing machine appliance of claim 13, wherein the wireless communications module comprises an infrared communications module. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The washing machine appliance of claim 13, wherein the wireless communications module comprises a radio frequency (RF) communications module. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The washing machine appliance of claim 13, wherein the nozzle assembly further comprises a positioning switch mounted to the nozzle housing, the positioning switch being engaged with the extendable nozzle in the retracted position and disengaged with the extendable nozzle in the extended position, wherein the controller is operably coupled to the nozzle assembly at the positioning switch to determine a position of the extendable nozzle, wherein the positioning switch comprises a magnetic proximity switch, wherein a location magnet is fixed to the extendable nozzle, and wherein the magnetic proximity switch is in magnetic communication with the location magnet in the retracted position.