WASHING MACHINE WITH DRUM THAT ROTATES IN TWO DIMENSIONS

Abstract

A washing machine includes a drum configured to rotate around a first axis to wash items contained therein, and a motor configured to rotate the drum around a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis, such that the drum is rotated by the second motor between a first rotational position and a second rotational position different from the first rotational position, the first rotational position for washing and the second rotational position for loading and unloading the items from the drum.

Claims

1. A washing machine comprising: a drum configured to hold items to be washed; a first motor configured to rotate the drum around a first axis during washing of the items; and a second motor configured to rotate the drum around a second axis different from the first axis, such that the drum is rotated by the second motor between a first rotational position and a second rotational position different from the first rotational position, the first rotational position for washing and the second rotational position for loading and unloading the items from the drum.

2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the second axis is substantially perpendicular to the first axis.

3. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the first rotational position is a position where the first axis is substantially horizontal and the second rotational position is a position where the first axis is non-horizontal.

4. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the second motor is configured to rotate the drum back and forth around the second axis during washing of items in the drum.

5. The washing machine according to claim 1, further comprising an outer frame configured to hold the drum.

6. The washing machine according to claim 5, further comprising a suspension mount configured to hold the second motor, the suspension mount being connected to the frame, and the second motor being connected to the drum.

7. The washing machine according to claim 6, further comprising a plurality of springs that connect the suspension mount to the frame at a plurality of connection points.

8. The washing machine according to claim 1, further comprising an inner door connected to the drum, wherein the inner door comprises a first portion connected to the drum by a first hinge and a second portion connected to the first portion by a second hinge.

9. The washing machine according to claim 5, further comprising an outer door connected to the outer frame of the washing machine by a frame hinge, the outer door further including an outer door hinge positioned along a length of the outer door allowing a portion of the outer door to be folded.

10. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein an alignment of the first axis is about 58.8 degrees different in the first rotational position than in the second rotational position.

11. A washing machine comprising: a drum configured to rotate around a first axis to wash items contained therein; and a motor configured to rotate the drum around a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis, such that the drum is rotated by the second motor between a first rotational position and a second rotational position different from the first rotational position, the first rotational position for washing and the second rotational position for loading and unloading the items from the drum.

12. The washing machine according to claim 11, wherein the first rotational position is a position where the first axis is substantially horizontal and the second rotational position is a position where the first axis is non-horizontal.

13. The washing machine according to claim 11, wherein the motor is configured to rotate the drum back and forth around the second axis during washing of items in the drum.

14. The washing machine according to claim 11, further comprising an outer frame configured to hold the drum.

15. The washing machine according to claim 11, further comprising a drum motor configured to rotate the drum about the first axis during washing, and a suspension mount configured to hold the motor, the suspension mount being connected to the frame, and the motor being connected to the drum.

16. The washing machine according to claim 15, further comprising a plurality of springs that connect the suspension mount to the frame at a plurality of connection points.

17. The washing machine according to claim 16, further comprising an inner door connected to the drum.

18. The washing machine according to claim 17, wherein the inner door comprises a first portion connected to the drum by a first hinge and a second portion connected to the first portion by a second hinge.

19. The washing machine according to claim 18, wherein an alignment of the first axis is about 58.8 degrees different in the first rotational position than in the second rotational position.

20. The washing machine according to claim 14, further comprising an outer door connected to the outer frame of the washing machine by a frame hinge, the outer door further including an outer door hinge positioned along a length of the outer door allowing a portion of the outer door to be folded.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] FIG. 1 illustrates a front perspective view of a washing machine in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

[0009] FIG. 2 illustrates a front perspective view of a washing machine.

[0010] FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of a washing machine.

[0011] FIG. 4 illustrates a rear view of a washing machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0012] In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough description of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known features have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the invention.

[0013] According to an exemplary embodiment a washing machine comprises a basket or drum to hold clothes being washed. The drum is configured to be positioned in a substantially horizontal “front-loading” position when washing, with the drum being rotated around a substantially horizontally positioned axis to perform washing. This allows the washing machine to enjoy all of the washing advantages of a front-load washer. The washing machine is configured to rotate the drum around a second axis out of the substantially horizontal front-loading position to one or more non-horizontal position for loading and unloading of items into and out of the drum.

[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates a front perspective view of the washing machine 100 in a closed position. The washing machine is configured to wash items such as clothes. The washing machine 100 includes a front outer door 104 for accessing the interior of the washing machine, with a handle 106 on a front 102. A control panel 108 may be used to control the washing machine. The control panel 108 may be a digital panel, such as a touch screen digital panel, allowing a user to input various commands to the washing machine 100, such as speed, temperature, various cycles, positioning of the drum, etc. Embodiments may include any kind of input devices instead of or in addition to the control panel 108, such as push buttons, knobs, dials, etc. The washing machine 100 could also be remotely controlled, such as from an application running on a computerized device or a dedicated remote-control device.

[0015] The washing machine 100 may be any size. In one embodiment, the washing machine may have a width “a” of 27 inches, a depth “b” of 30 inches, and a height “c” of 40 inches.

[0016] FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the washing machine 100 that shows internal components. The washing machine 100 includes a frame 109 from which a drum 110 is suspended for holding items such as clothes to be washed. In FIG. 2, the drum 110 is positioned in a substantially horizontal position which is used when the drum 110 is rotated to wash items therein in an orientation similar to a typical front-loading washing machine.

[0017] The drum 110 has an inner door 112 allowing access to an interior of the drum 110. A motor 118 is configured to rotate the drum 110 about an axis 120 when the items in the drum 110 are being washed. The inner door 112 may be connected to the drum 110 by a first hinge 114.

[0018] The drum 110 is suspended within the frame 109 by springs 122 connected at one end to the frame 109 at various frame connection points and connected at a second end to suspension mount 124. The suspension mount 124 has a motor 126 connected at a center thereof. The motor 126 has a rotor that rotates about a second axis 127. The second axis 127 may be substantially perpendicular to the axis 120. A plurality of drum motor mounts 128 are connected between the motor 126 and the drum 110. Four drum motor mounts 128 are illustrated, although a different number of drum motor mounts 128 could be used.

[0019] FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the washing machine 100 with the drum 110 rotated to a non-horizontal position, in which the axis 120 is positioned non-horizontally. The drum 110 may be rotated by the motor 126 when a user so indicates such as by input at the control panel 108, which may be done under control of a controller. Alternatively, the motor 126 may be configured to automatically rotate the drum 110 to an unloading position such as illustrated in FIG. 3 when washing is completed.

[0020] The motor 126 may be a direct drive motor, although other types of motors may be used. A rotor in the motor 126 rotates, while other portions of the motor 126 do not rotate. The suspension mount 124 and the springs 122 also do not rotate. When the rotor rotates, since the rotor is connected to the drum motor mounts 128, the drum motor mounts 128 also rotate, causing the drum 110 to rotate, such as from the position shown in FIG. 2 to the position shown in FIG. 3.

[0021] In preferred embodiments, the motor 126 is used to rotate the drum 110 to any number of positions. For example, the motor 126 may rotate the drum 110 between the substantially horizontal position as shown in FIG. 2 for washing to a non-horizontal position as shown in FIG. 3 when not washing, or to other non-horizontal positions. The non-horizontal position as shown in FIG. 3 may be used for loading/unloading items from the drum 110, for example, although other loading/unloading positions could be used. For example, the loading/unloading position could be a position in which the axis 120 is in a substantially vertical position, such as in a traditional top-loading washing machine, or anywhere between the substantially horizontal and substantially vertical positions.

[0022] During washing, the drum 110 may be positioned to be in the substantially horizontal position as shown in FIG. 2, with the axis 120 around which the drum 110 rotates being in a substantially horizontal position. During washing, the drum 110 may be configured to rotate about axis 120 under control of motor 118. In one embodiment, during washing, the drum 110 is not rotated by motor 126 out of the substantially horizontal position but is only rotated by motor 118 around axis 120. In other embodiments, the drum 110 may be rotated by motor 118 around axis 120 and at the same time may be rotated back and forth in opposite directions a relatively small amount by motor 126 out of the substantially horizontal position around axis 127 to improve agitation during washing. For example, the motor 126 could rotate the drum 110 by 5 degrees in each direction during washing, although other amounts of rotation may also be used.

[0023] Before and after washing, the drum 110 may be rotated to a non-horizontal position such as illustrated in 3. This position is used for loading and unloading of items from the drum 110. In a preferred embodiment, the motor 118 may be controlled to rotate the drum 110 to a position where the axis 120 is positioned about 58.8 degrees from the substantially horizontal position of FIG. 2, although other amounts of rotation could be used. In one embodiment, when the drum 110 is rotated by motor 126 to a non-horizontal position such as illustrated in FIG. 3, the motor 118 is not being used to rotate the drum 110 about the axis 120.

[0024] During rotation of the drum about the axis 120 by motor 118 or rotation of the drum about axis 127 by motor 126, the drum 110 is suspended within the frame 109 by the suspension mount 124 and the springs 122 connected to the frame 109. The size and shape of the frame 109 are selected such that the drum 110 will not contact side of the frame 109 when the drum 110 is rotated.

[0025] FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of the washing machine 100 with the drum 110 rotated to a non-horizontal position. This position is used for loading and unloading of items from the drum 110 of the washing machine 100.

[0026] The outer door 104 and the inner door 112 are shown in open positions in FIG. 4, allowing access to an inner portion of the drum 110. The outer door 104 includes a first hinge 103 which may be disposed to be in contact with the frame 109, and a second hinge 105. The first hinge 103 is configured to allow the outer door 104 to be opened, while the second hinge 105 is configured to allow the outer door 104 to fold in half, thus reducing an amount of space that is needed above the frame 109 of the washing machine 100 to open the outer door 104.

[0027] The inner door 112 includes a first hinge 114 connected to the drum 110 and a second hinge 116 disposed partway along the inner door 112. The portion 111 of the inner door 112 disposed between the first hinge 114 and the second hinge 116 is configured to pivot approximately 90 degrees around hinge 114 between a closed position as shown in FIG. 2 and an open position as shown in FIG. 3, where an outer surface of portion 111 is positioned to be substantially parallel to axis 120. The remaining portion 113 of inner door 112 is configured to pivot about hinge 116 to an upright position. When closed, the inner door 112 and the outer door 104 are configured to be held in position through the use of tabs or other conventional means.

[0028] The various embodiments of the washing machine described herein provide a washing machine that has advantages over conventional washing machines. The washing machine 100 is positioned in a substantially horizontal position for washing, providing all the washing benefits of a conventional front-loading washing machine. Additionally, the washing machine 100 is configured to rotate the drum to a non-horizontal position for easier loading/unloading of items from the drum. In some embodiments, the loading/unloading position may be between the substantially horizontal position used for washing and a substantially vertical position, which may provide an improved position for loading/unloading items from the drum as compared to a conventional top-loading machine or a conventional front-loading machine.

[0029] The configuration of the inner and outer doors that allow access to the drum may also provide advantages. As explained herein, by providing two hinges on the outer door 104, the outer door is configured to require less space above the washing machine. Additionally, the two hinges provided on the inner door 112 allow the inner door to be poisoned in a substantially horizontal open position even when the drum is positioned at a non-horizontal angle.

[0030] It will be appreciated that the washing machine 100 illustrated in the figures is only exemplary of the specific illustrated embodiments and that various modifications could be made. For example, embodiments of the washing machine 100 may be provided with various other features not shown herein.

[0031] It will be understood that the above described arrangements of apparatus and the method there from are merely illustrative of applications of the principles of this invention and many other embodiments and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.