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US 5,440,903 AGranted
Washing machine agitator
AssigneeMaytag Corporation
InventorsKeith E. Kropf, Richard P. Bergeson, Luann E. Fitzpatrick
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A washing machine agitator includes a vertical barrel having a tapered skirt connected to the lower end thereof. A plurality of lower vanes are connected to the barrel and extend radially outwardly adjacent the tapered skirt. A splash rib extends circumferentially around the barrel adjacent its upper end. A plurality of triangular vanes are connected to the barrel and extend upwardly to abut against the downwardly presented surface of the splash rib. A number of pairs of rectangular ribs are also attached to the barrel between the triangular vanes and extend upwardly to abut the splash rib.
Claims23
A washing machine agitator comprising:
- a vertical barrel having a top end, a bottom end, and an external barrel surface extending between said top end and said bottom end;
- a skirt connected to said bottom end of said barrel and having a generally upwardly facing tapered skirt surface;
- a splash rib extending circumferentially around said barrel adjacent said top end thereof and protruding outwardly from said external barrel surface, said splash rib having a substantially horizontal downwardly presented lower surface;
- a plurality of lower vanes connected to said barrel, each of said lower vanes having upstanding vane surfaces extending outwardly from said barrel adjacent said tapered skirt surface;
- and
- a plurality of upper vanes connected to said barrel, each of said upper vanes extending outwardly from said barrel to terminate in an outer vane edge, said outer vane edge commencing at an upper end adjacent said splash rib and extending downwardly and outwardly therefrom to terminate in a lower end.
3 more elements
A washing machine agitator comprising:
- a vertical barrel having a top end, a bottom end, and an external barrel surface extending between said top end and said bottom end;
- a skirt connected to said bottom end of said barrel and having a generally upwardly facing tapered skirt surface which in cross section commences adjacent said bottom end of said barrel and tapers outwardly and downwardly therefrom;
- a splash rib extending circumferentially around said barrel adjacent said top end thereof and protruding outwardly from said external barrel surface;
- a plurality of lower vanes connected to said barrel, each of said lower vanes having oppositely opposed upstanding vane surfaces extending outwardly from said barrel adjacent said tapered skirt surface;
- a plurality of triangular shaped vanes connected to said barrel above said lower vanes, each of said triangular shaped vanes having opposite upstanding surfaces, an inner edge connected to said barrel, and an outer edge positioned outwardly from said external barrel surface;
- and
- a plurality of rectangular shaped ribs connected to said barrel above said lower vanes, and extending outwardly from said external barrel surface, each of said rectangular shaped ribs being spaced circumferentially from each of said triangular shaped ribs.
4 more elements
A washing machine agitator comprising:
- a vertical barrel having a top end, a bottom end, and an external barrel surface extending between said top end and said bottom end;
- a skirt connected to said bottom end of said barrel and having a generally upwardly facing tapered skirt surface;
- a splash rib extending circumferentially around said barrel adjacent said top end thereof and protruding outwardly from said external barrel surface;
- a plurality of lower vanes connected to said barrel, each of said lower vanes having upstanding vane surfaces extending outwardly from said barrel adjacent said tapered skirt surface;
- and
- a plurality of triangular shaped vanes connected to said barrel, each of said triangular shaped vanes extending outwardly from said barrel to terminate in an outer inclined vane edge, said outer inclined vane edge commencing at an upper end adjacent said splash rib and extending downwardly and outwardly therefrom to terminate in a lower end.
3 more elements
A washing machine agitator comprising:
- a vertical barrel having a top end, a bottom end, and an external barrel surface extending between said top end and said bottom end;
- a skirt connected to said bottom end of said barrel and having a generally upwardly facing tapered skirt surface;
- a splash rib extending circumferentially around said barrel adjacent said top end thereof and protruding outwardly from said external barrel surface;
- a plurality of lower vanes connected to said barrel, each of said lower vanes having oppositely opposed upstanding vane surfaces extending outwardly from said barrel adjacent said tapered skirt surface;
- a plurality of triangular shaped vanes connected to said barrel above said lower vanes, each of said triangular shaped vanes having opposite upstanding surfaces, an upper end abutting said splash rib, an inner edge connected to said barrel, and an outer edge positioned outwardly from said external barrel surface;
- and
- a plurality of rectangular shaped ribs connected to said barrel above said lower vanes, and extending outwardly from said external barrel surface.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.