Top loading clothes washer
AssigneeMaytag Corporation
InventorDaniel F. Wunderlich
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved washing machine is provided with a rotatable wash basket having rotatable agitators mounted therein. The agitators have the shape of a spherical segment so as to nest adjacent the interior surface of the wash basket. The agitators include a spur gear which meshes with a ring gear extending around the wash basket so as to impart rotation to the agitators as the wash basket rotates within the ring gear. The agitators include ribs or baffles to impart tumbling or mixing action to the laundry in the wash or rinse water in the wash basket.
Claims17
An improved washing machine including a cabinet with a top opening and a door positioned over the opening, and a drive motor mounted in the cabinet with a rotatable output shaft, the improvement comprising:
- a wash basket mounted on the output shaft for rotation therewith and having interior and exterior surfaces,
- the basket having an upper opening through which clothes are loaded and unloaded,
- a rotatable agitator mounted in the basket, the agitator having a plurality of ribs for agitating articles being washed in the basket and an axis of rotation offset with respect to the output shaft.
An improved washing machine comprising:
- a rotatable wash basket;
- a first drive member in cooperable juxtaposition to the wash basket;
- a rotatable agitator mounted in the basket and having an axle extending through the basket;
- a second drive member on the end of the axle, the second drive member engageable with the first drive member, whereby the agitator is rotated relative to the wash basket upon rotation of the wash basket relative to the first drive member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.