# US 2020/0399811 A1 · Laundry treating system and kit for use with a laundry treating appliance > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2020/0399811 A1 - Document ID: US20200399811A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/009,556 - Filed: 2020-09-01 - Published: 2020-12-24 - Earliest claimed: 2017-08-22 - Assignees: Whirlpool Corporation - Applicants: Whirlpool Corporation - Inventors: Philip J. CZARNECKI; Pamela R. KLYN; Eric W. MERROW; Jon STRAIT; Mary E. ZEITLER - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200399811A1 ## CPC - D06F 31/00: Washing installations comprising an assembly of several washing machines or washing units, e.g. continuous flow assemblies - D06F 13/00: Washing machines having receptacles, stationary for washing purposes, with agitators therein contacting the articles being washed (plungers or the like adapted for removable mounting on receptacles D06F5/04) - D06F 17/10: Impellers - D06F 34/28: Arrangements for programme selection, e.g. control panels therefor; Arrangements for indicating programme parameters, e.g. the selected programme or its progress - D06F 37/12: adapted for rotation or oscillation about a vertical axis - D06F 13/02: wherein the agitator has an oscillatory rotary motion only - D06F 37/40: for driving the receptacle and an agitator or impeller, e.g. alternatively {(D06F37/304, D06F37/308 take precedence)} - D06F 2101/00: User input for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers - D06F 2101/20: Operation modes, e.g. delicate laundry washing programmes, service modes or refreshment cycles - D06F 2103/00: Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers - D06F 2105/58: Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user - D06F: LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES ## Abstract A laundry treating system includes a laundry treating appliance having a first basket for receiving a first laundry load and a first clothes mover disposed in the first basket. The laundry treating system is user configurable between first, second, and third configurations. A kit for customizing a laundry treating appliance can include a second clothes mover and a second basket configured to removably couple with the laundry treating appliance. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A laundry treating system, comprising: a base having a first connector configured to receive a second connector of a removeable clothes mover, the first connector including a socket, a cover, and a biasing element, the cover being moveable between a closed position covering the socket and an open position allowing access to the socket, the biasing element configured to bias the cover into the closed position, such that pressing the clothes mover into the socket to connect the first and second connectors overcomes the bias and moves the cover into the open position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the base is an impeller configured to operate as a low-profile clothes mover independent of attachment of the removeable clothes mover. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first connector includes threads configured to receive corresponding threads of the second connector, such that the clothes mover can be threaded onto the base to secure the clothes mover. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the base is configured to mount the removable clothes mover using a bayonet mount connection. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the first connector includes at least one pin projecting radially into the socket and configured to be received into at least one respective channel of the second connector. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the biasing element is configured to bias the at least one pin against a lock portion of the least one respective channel to maintain the at least one pin in the lock portion and inhibit rotation of the removeable clothes mover relative to the base. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the first connector includes at least one channel configured to receive a corresponding at least one pin of the second connector. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the biasing element is configured to bias the at least one pin against a surface of the at least one channel to inhibit rotation of the removeable clothes mover relative to the base. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first connector includes a set of alternating grooves and ribs configured to mate with a corresponding set of alternating grooves and ribs of the second connector, such that the first and second sets of alternating grooves and ribs align the clothes mover for coupling with the base and provide structural support to the clothes mover during operation of the laundry treating system. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first connector includes an aperture to secure a lock element of the second connector to the base. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the cover includes a plate that substantially covers the socket when in the closed position. ### Claim 12 A laundry treating system, comprising: a base having a first connector, a socket, a cover moveable between a closed position covering the socket and an open position allowing access to the socket, the cover being biased into the closed position; and a removable clothes mover having a second connector configured to be received by the first connector, such that pressing the removable clothes mover into the socket for connecting the first and second connectors overcomes the bias and moves the cover into the open position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the base is an impeller configured to operate as a low-profile clothes mover independent of attachment of the removeable clothes mover. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein: the first connector includes threads; and the second connector includes corresponding threads configured to receive the threads of the first connector, such that the clothes mover can be threaded onto the base to secure the clothes mover. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the removeable clothes mover is configured to mount to the base using a bayonet mount connection. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the first connector includes at least one pin projecting radially into the socket and configured to be received into at least one respective channel of the second connector. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, further comprising a biasing element configured to bias the at least one pin against a surface of a lock portion of the at least one channel to maintain the at least one pin in the lock portion and inhibit rotation of the removeable clothes mover relative to the base. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the first connector includes at least one channel configured to receive a corresponding at least one pin of the second connector. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, further comprising a biasing element configured to bias the at least one pin against a surface of a lock portion of the at least one channel to maintain the at least one pin in the lock portion and inhibit rotation of the removeable clothes mover relative to the base. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein: the first connector includes a first set of alternating grooves; and the second connector includes a second set of alternating grooves and ribs configured to mate with the first set of alternating grooves, wherein the first and second sets of alternating grooves align the clothes mover for coupling with the base and provide structural support to the clothes mover during operation of the laundry treating system. ### Claim 21 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein: the second connector includes a lock element; and the first connector includes an aperture to secure the lock element to the base. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, wherein the lock element includes a pair of resilient prongs having outwardly extending legs that flex toward one another as the lock element is inserted into the aperture and resiliently flex back toward an original position once the legs pass through the aperture such that the legs engage surface around the aperture to inhibit withdrawal of the first connector from the second connector.