Washing machine appliance and an agitator therefor

An agitation element for a washing machine appliance, the agitation element comprising:

• an impeller base defining a rotation axis, the impeller base comprising
• one or more impeller fins extending radially outward from the rotation axis, and
• a mating collar disposed radially inward from the impeller fins and extending along the rotation axis;
• an extended post removably attached to the impeller base to rotate therewith, the extended post comprising
• a base body extending along the rotation axis between a bottom end proximal to the impeller base and a top end distal to the impeller base,
• an auger fin extending radially from the base body between the bottom end and the top end,
• an overmolded bottom bracket disposed on the base body at the bottom end, the overmolded bottom bracket comprising a metal bracket frame that is overmolded within a non-metallic polymer material forming at least a portion of the base body, and
• a connector bolt extending through the overmolded bottom bracket to the mating collar;
• and
• an output shaft extending through the mating collar along the rotation axis, the output shaft receiving the connector bolt to attach the extended post to the impeller base,
• wherein the impeller base defines a plurality of vertical receiver slots circumferentially spaced apart about the rotation axis,
• wherein the base body comprises a plurality of vertical teeth selectively received within the vertical receiver slots,
• wherein the vertical teeth are formed according to a C-shaped profile,
• wherein the impeller base comprises a plurality of interior ridges extending radially outward from the mating collar, and
• wherein one or more interior ridges are received within an opening of the of the C-shaped profile of one or more vertical teeth of the plurality of vertical teeth.

A washing machine appliance comprising:

• a tub;
• a basket rotatably positioned within the tub;
• an impeller base rotatably mounted within the basket and defining a rotation axis, the impeller base comprising a mating collar extending along the rotation axis;
• an extended post removably attached to the impeller base to rotate therewith, the extended post comprising
• a base body extending along the rotation axis between a bottom end proximal to the impeller base and a top end distal to the impeller base,
• a bottom bracket disposed on the base body at the bottom end, and
• a connector bolt extending through the bottom bracket to the mating collar;
• and
• an output shaft extending through the mating collar along the rotation axis, the output shaft receiving the connector bolt to attach the extended post to the impeller base,
• wherein the base body comprises a plurality of vertical teeth selectively received within the impeller base and formed according to a C-shaped profile,
• wherein the impeller base comprises a plurality of interior ridges extending radially outward from the mating collar, and
• wherein one or more interior ridges are received within an opening of the of the C-shaped profile of one or more vertical teeth of the plurality of vertical teeth.