Wedge for keeping an appliance access door open

Abstract

A wedge for keeping an appliance access door open to air dry at selectable minimum angles. The wedge attaches through a magnetic connection to any portion of the threshold of the access door for controlling the minimum angle. The wedge has a low profile so that the wedge does not protrude from the threshold.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a wedge for keeping an access door of an appliance open at a minimum angle of incidence relative to the appliance, wherein the wedge comprises: an upper portion having non-planar shape; a base portion having a planar shape; a magnet disposed along the base portion; the upper portion and the base portion made from a material having impact dampening properties; and a cavity between the upper portion and the base portion, wherein the magnet is removably housed, the method comprising: using a molding technique for controlling a space between the magnet and the base portion; and urging a foam material around the magnet inside of the cavity.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

(2) FIG. 2 is an exploded bottom perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 3 is a cross section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

(4) FIG. 4 is a cross section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

(5) FIG. 5 is a detailed perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a mounting plate of the present invention, shown in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

(7) Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a wedge for keeping an appliance access door open to air dry at selectable minimum angles. The wedge attaches through a magnetic connection to any portion of the threshold of the access door for controlling the minimum angle. The wedge has a low profile so that the wedge does not protrude from the threshold.

(8) Referring to FIGS. 1 through 5, the present invention may include a wedge 10 dimensioned and adapted to keep an access door 20 of an appliance 18 ajar. Access doors 20 for household appliances 18 (including, but not limited to washing machines) are potentially trouble-prone or short-lived because, among other things, the impermissible buildup of mold. The inventor, based on research, has identified odor from mold spores and buildup along the seal/gasket of the access door 20 as a big problem and a chief source of user frustration. Many access doors 20 are locked shut during the entire wash cycle, since opening the door with the machine in use could result in water gushing out onto the floor. Furthermore, many of these access doors 20 are biased to move to a closed position under gravity. The impermissible mold can be prevented with exposure to the ambient air, but for the tendency of these access doors 20 to move to the closed condition automatically.

(9) The wedge 10 may have an upper portion 12 and a lower, flat base 16, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The upper portion 12 and base 16 may be foam or other material exhibiting a cushioning performance and/or an impact damping property. An internal magnet 14 may be disposed just inward of the base 16, thereby embedded in the wedge 10. The base 16 may be removable from the upper portion 16 exposing a cavity for storing the magnet 14. In one embodiment, the magnet 14 may be manufactured to be embedded or integrated by way of an adhesive, for instance, with the lower portion 12/base 16. In other embodiments, the wedge 10 and magnetic 14 may be a unitary construction. A molding technique may be used that will allow the gap of the magnet 14 to bottom of the base 16 to be controlled by an inner mold technique. Basically, the magnet will be held in place by tooled holders and the foam will be shot around the magnet 14 inside of the mold enclosure.

(10) The magnet 14 is selected to have the strength so that there is a sufficient magnetic attraction to ferromagnetic material for the wedge 10 to be removably attached thereto, such as a threshold 22 of the access door 20, and whereby there is a sufficient layer of the base 16 to cushions or dampen the impact against the threshold 22 when the access door 20 closes upon the upper portion 12 of the wedge 10.

(11) In another embodiment, the magnet 14 may be disposed along the outward-facing surface of the base 16 so that the magnet 14 physically contacts the ferromagnetic material is attached to.

(12) The whole system may be a magnet embodied in foam wedge for stopping the access door 20 from fully closing and allowing the inside to air dry. The magnet 14 enables the wedge 10 magnetically connect to the appliance's stamped ferromagnetic outer surfaces. And so, the magnetic wedge 10 can be stored to the outside of the appliance 18 (along other ferromagnetic portions) when not in use.

(13) A method of using the present invention may include the following. A user may remove articles from the appliance 20, and when they want to access door 20 to remain ajar for aeration or other purposes, they will simply grab the wedge 10 and place it in the threshold 22 of the access door 20. This action will prevent the access door 20 from fully closing and allow the inside to air dry, as illustrated in FIG. 5. The magnetic wedge 10 can be left in place or removed after the inside has fully dried. The magnetic wedge 10 could also air dry a dish washer or refrigerator or any other appliance 18 with an access door 20 and a need to keep the latter ajar.

(14) The wedge 10 enables different angles for propping the access door 20 ajar and thus enables selective sizing of the gap between the access door 20 and the appliance 18 based on where the wedge 10 is attached—thus the present invention allows for adjustability. For instance, with the wedge 10 may be placed closer to the pivotable attachment point of the access door 20, resulting in an angle of incidence between the access door 20 and the otherwise flush face of the appliance 18 to be greater than if the wedge 20 as placed along the threshold 22, farther from the pivotable attachment point. The wedge 10 may be dimensioned to fit within the entirety of the threshold 22 of the access door 20, so as not to protrude therefrom where it can be unintentionally bumped and dislodged.

(15) it should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.