Front-loading washing machine
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorDennis Kehl
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A front-loading washing machine includes a door frame, a latch, a door, a seal, and a striker. The latch is secured to the door frame. The door is rotatably secured to the door frame. The seal is disposed between the door and the door frame. The striker is secured to the door. The striker is configured to disengage the latch in a first configuration while the door is in a closed position such that a gap is formed between the door and the door frame to facilitate venting from an interior of the washing machine. The striker is configured to engage the latch in a second configuration while the door is in the closed position such that the seal closes the gap between the door and the door frame to inhibit venting from the interior of the washing machine.
Claims20
A front-loading washing machine comprising;
- a door frame;
- a latch secured to the door frame;
- a door secured to the door frame and configured to transition between open and closed positions;
- a striker secured to the door and configured to engage the latch to lock the door in the closed position;
- a seal disposed on the door frame and configured to engage the door to prevent fluid transport between the door and the door frame when the door is in the closed position and the striker is engaging the latch;
- and
- a biasing element secured to the door or the door frame and configured to bias the door away from the door frame when the door is in the closed position and the striker is disengaged from the latch such that a gap is formed between the seal and the door to facilitate venting between the door and the door frame.
A front-loading washing machine comprising:
- a door frame;
- a latch secured to the door frame;
- a door secured to the door frame and configured to transition between open and closed positions;
- a seal disposed between the door and the door frame, wherein the seal is configured to prevent fluid transport between the door and the door frame;
- and
- a striker secured to the door and configured to (i) disengage the latch in a first position while the door is in the closed position such that a gap is formed between the seal and the door to facilitate venting between an interior and an exterior of the washing machine, and (ii) engage the latch in a second position while the door is in the closed position such that the seal engages the door to inhibit venting between the interior and the exterior of the washing machine.
A front-loading washing machine comprising;
- a door frame;
- a latch secured to the door frame;
- a door rotatably secured to the door frame;
- a seal disposed between door and the door frame;
- and
- a striker secured to the door and configured to (i) disengage the latch in a first configuration while the door is in a closed position such that a gap is formed between the door and the door frame to facilitate venting from an interior of the washing machine, and (ii) engage the latch in a second configuration while the door is in the closed position such that the seal closes the gap between the door and the door frame to inhibit venting from the interior of the washing machine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.