Vertical axis washer

An automatic washer for washing a load of fabric comprising:

• an automatic washer frame;
• a wash basket rotatably mounted to said washer frame such as to be rotatable about a preselected vertical axis, said wash basket further comprising:
• a generally circular bottom wall disposed perpendicular to said preselected vertical axis;
• a side wall formed integrally with said generally circular bottom wall and extending upwardly therefrom, said side wall being configured such that at least one portion thereof defines a generally cylindrical surface and at least another portion thereof, at a preselected horizontal elevation above said generally circular bottom wall and along a predetermined angular segment of said side wall, defines an inwardly directed surface along which said side wall which becomes progressively closer to said vertical axis;
• a wash chamber for receiving said fabric, said wash chamber being defined by said side wall and said bottom wall, said wash chamber thereby being rotatable about a said vertical axis;
• means for rotating said wash basket about said vertical axis;
• and
• ramp means extending upwardly from said generally circular bottom wall of said wash basket into said ramp means directing said fabric upwardly along said side wall upon relative rotation between said wash basket and said fabric in at least a first predetermined angular direction, said ramp means comprising a sloped ramp surface extending upwardly from said generally circular bottom wall of said wash basket.

An automatic washer for washing a load of fabric comprising:

• an automatic washer frame;
• a wash basket, rotatably mounted to said washer frame such as to be rotatable about a preselected vertical axis, said wash basket having an annular side wall and a bottom wall;
• means for rotating said wash basket about said vertical axis;
• said wash basket further comprising:
• a generally circular bottom wall disposed perpendicular to said preselected vertical axis;
• a generally annular side wall formed integrally with said generally circular bottom wall and extending upwardly therefrom;
• a wash chamber for receiving fabric, said wash chamber being defined by said generally circular bottom wall and said generally annular side wall;
• at least one baffle projecting inwardly into said wash chamber extending from said generally annular side wall at a predetermined horizontal elevation above said generally circular bottom wall, said baffle having a generally vertical surface extending from said generally annular side wall to a point inward of said generally annular side wall, said generally vertical surface adjoining said generally annular side wall at a generally vertical edge;
• and
• at least one ramp said bottom wall adjacent to, but positioned directly below said baffle, said at least one ramp having a sloped arcuate ramp surface extending upwardly from said generally circular bottom wall of said wash basket into said wash chamber to a point above said bottom wall, said ramp directing said fabric upwardly along said generally annular side wall into engagement with said baffle upon relative rotation between said wash basket and said fabric in at least a first predetermined angular direction.

A wash basket for an automatic washer, said wash basket comprising:

• a generally circular bottom wall;
• a generally annular side wall formed integrally with said generally circular bottom wall and extending upwardly therefrom, said generally annular side wall defining a cylindrical axis for said wash basket;
• a baffle extending from said generally annular side wall into said wash basket at a predetermined horizontal elevation above said generally circular bottom wall, said baffle defining an inwardly directed surface having at least one edge tangent with said generally annular side wall and having at least a portion disposed substantially closer to said cylindrical axis than said generally annular side wall;
• and
• a ramp positioned directly below said inwardly directed surface area of said baffle, said ramp having a sloped arcuate ramp surface extending upwardly from said generally circular bottom wall of said wash basket into said wash chamber.