Agitation element for a washing machine appliance
AssigneeHaier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
InventorsRoberto Obregon, Bradley Kyle Harris, Randall Winfield Calmeise
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A single action agitation element for a washing machine appliance is provided. The agitation element includes a shaft, a first fin, and a second fin. The first fin and second fin each extend outwardly from the shaft and around the shaft. The first fin extends generally in a first fin plane defining an angle greater than zero with a reference plane of the shaft. By contrast, the second fin extends generally in a second fin plane defining an angle less than zero with the reference plane of the shaft. Such a configuration may more efficiently move clothes or other articles within a wash basket of the washing machine appliance downwardly along a vertical direction during certain washing machine operations.
Claims18
A washing machine appliance defining a vertical direction, the washing machine appliance comprising:
- a tub;
- a basket rotatably positioned within the tub;
- a single-action agitation element positioned within the basket, the agitation element defining a reference plane perpendicular to the vertical direction, the agitation element including a shaft, a first fin, and a second fin, the shaft extending generally along the vertical direction, the first fin and second fin each extending outwardly from the shaft and around the shaft, the first fin defining an angle greater than zero with the reference plane and the second fin defining an angle less than zero with the reference plane;
- and
- a first support plate extending outwardly from the shaft and generally along the vertical direction, wherein the first fin includes at least one end portion and a middle portion, and wherein the first support plate intersects the first fin at the middle portion.
A single-action agitation element for a washing machine appliance defining a vertical direction, the agitation element comprising:
- a shaft extending generally along the vertical direction and defining a reference plane perpendicular to the vertical direction;
- a first fin extending outwardly from the shaft and around the shaft, the first fin extending generally in a first fin plane defining an angle greater than zero with the reference plane;
- and a second fin also extending outwardly from the shaft and around the shaft, the second fin extending generally in a second fin plane defining an angle less than zero with the reference plane such that the second fin plane intersects with the first fin plane;
- and
- a first support plate extending outwardly from the shaft and generally along the vertical direction, wherein the first fin includes at least one end portion and a middle portion, and wherein the first support plate intersects the first fin at the middle portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.