Multifunction lifter for a laundry appliance
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorsMohsin Mahamadshafi Attar, Sandip Kashinath Kardile, Wesley Paul Traylor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A laundry appliance includes a drum that is disposed within a cabinet. The drum defines a processing space and rotationally operates during a drying operation. The drum cooperates with an airflow path to dehumidify articles being processed within the processing space. A lifter is attached to an inner surface of the drum. The lifter defines an attachment receptacle and rearranges the articles within the processing space during performance of the drying operation. A particulate removal accessory is selectively removable from the attachment receptacle and operates to separate particulate from the articles being processed.
Claims20
A laundry appliance comprising:
- a drum disposed within a cabinet, wherein the drum defines a processing space and rotationally operates during a drying operation, wherein the drum cooperates with an airflow path to dehumidify articles being processed within the processing space;
- a lifter attached to an inner surface of the drum, the lifter defining an attachment receptacle, wherein the lifter rearranges the articles within the processing space during performance of the drying operation;
- and
- a particulate removal accessory that is selectively removable from the attachment receptacle, wherein the particulate removal accessory operates to separate particulate from the articles being processed, wherein the attachment receptacle includes a first end and a second end, wherein at least one of the first end and the second end includes an outwardly biased receiver that selectively engages the particulate removal accessory in an installed position, wherein the second end of the attachment receptacle is a fixed bracket that selectively receives the particulate removal accessory.
A laundry appliance comprising:
- a drum disposed within a cabinet, wherein the drum defines a processing space and rotationally operates during a drying operation, wherein the drum cooperates with an airflow path to dehumidify articles being processed within the processing space;
- a lifter attached to an inner surface of the drum, the lifter defining an attachment receptacle, wherein the lifter rearranges the articles within the processing space during performance of the drying operation;
- and
- a particulate removal accessory that is selectively removable from the attachment receptacle, wherein the particulate removal accessory operates to separate particulate from the articles being processed, wherein the attachment receptacle includes a first end and a second end, wherein at least one of the first end and the second end includes an outwardly biased receiver that selectively engages the particulate removal accessory in an installed position, wherein the attachment receptacle includes an alignment tab that extends from the lifter and into an accessory space that is disposed between the first end and the second end.
A laundry appliance comprising:
- a drum disposed within a cabinet, wherein the drum defines a processing space and rotationally operates during a drying operation, wherein the drum cooperates with an airflow path to dehumidify articles being processed within the processing space;
- a lifter attached to an inner surface of the drum, the lifter defining an attachment receptacle, wherein the lifter rearranges the articles within the processing space during performance of the drying operation;
- and
- a particulate removal accessory that is selectively removable from the attachment receptacle, wherein the particulate removal accessory operates to separate particulate from the articles being processed, wherein the attachment receptacle includes a first end and a second end, wherein at least one of the first end and the second end includes an outwardly biased receiver that selectively engages the particulate removal accessory in an installed position, wherein a particulate collecting roller engages the first end and the second end, wherein the first end and the second end define a rotational axis that extends through a roller portion of the particulate collecting roller, wherein the roller rotationally operates about the rotational axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.