Agitation element for a washing machine appliance
AssigneeHaier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
InventorsRoberto Obregon, Thomas Holzen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An agitation element includes a base, a shaft extending from the base generally along a vertical direction, at least one fin, and a plurality of ribs. Each of the plurality of ribs extends from the base and radially outward from the shaft. Each of the plurality of ribs includes a radially outward portion, the radially outward portion including two opposing entirely convex sidewalls and defining a maximum width and a maximum height, wherein a ratio of the maximum width to the maximum height is between 0.8 and 1.2. Each of the plurality of ribs further includes a radially inward portion, the radially inward portion including two opposing sidewalls.
Claims17
A washing machine appliance defining a vertical direction and a radial direction, the washing machine appliance comprising:
- a tub;
- a basket rotatably positioned within the tub;
- and
- an agitation element positioned within the basket and comprising a base and a shaft, the shaft extending from the base generally along the vertical direction, the agitation element further comprising at least one fin and a plurality of ribs, each of the plurality of ribs extending from the base and radially outward from the shaft, each of the plurality of ribs comprising:
- a radially outward portion radially distal from the shaft, the radially outward portion having an entirely convex cross-sectional profile when viewed in a radial-vertical plane, the radially outward portion comprising two opposing sidewalls and defining a maximum width and a maximum height, wherein a ratio of the maximum width to the maximum height is between 0.8 and 1.2;
- and
- a radially inward portion radially proximate the shaft, the radially inward portion directly connected to the radially outward portion and having an entirely concave cross-sectional profile when viewed in the radial-vertical plane, the radially inward portion comprising two opposing sidewalls.
An agitation element for a washing machine appliance defining a vertical direction and a radial direction, the agitation element comprising:
- a base;
- a shaft extending from the base generally along the vertical direction;
- at least one fin;
- and
- a plurality of ribs, each of the plurality of ribs extending from the base and radially outward from the shaft, each of the plurality of ribs comprising:
- a radially outward portion radially distal from the shaft, the radially outward portion having an entirely convex cross-sectional profile when viewed in a radial-vertical plane, the radially outward portion comprising two opposing sidewalls and defining a maximum width and a maximum height, wherein a ratio of the maximum width to the maximum height is between 0.8 and 1.2;
- and
- a radially inward portion radially proximate the shaft, the radially inward portion directly connected to the radially outward portion and having an entirely concave cross-sectional profile when viewed in the radial-vertical plane, the radially inward portion comprising two opposing sidewalls.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.