COUNTERWEIGHT WITH FASCIA DESIGN OF FUNCTIONAL DOOR

Abstract

A horizontal mount laundry treatment machine having a housing and a drum inside the housing, the drum defining a treatment chamber configured to spin laundry placed therein. A front ring assembly surrounds an opening of the treatment chamber. At least one counterweight is mounted to the front ring assembly or positioned between a front surface of the front ring assembly and a fascia that substantially covers the front ring assembly.

Claims

1. A laundry treatment machine, comprising: a housing; a cylindrical drum horizontally mounted inside of the housing, the drum defining a treatment chamber and having an opening to the treatment chamber through which to place laundry, the cylindrical drum being configured to spin laundry placed in the treatment chamber; a front ring assembly surrounding the outer periphery of the opening to the treatment chamber; a front fascia substantially covering the front ring assembly; and at least one counterweight positioned between a front surface of the front ring assembly and the front fascia.

2. The laundry treatment machine of claim 1, wherein the at least one counterweight is mounted to the front ring assembly.

3. The laundry treatment machine of claim 2, wherein the at least one counterweight comprises at least one upper counterweight mounted to an upper portion of the front ring assembly and at least one lower counterweight mounted to a lower portion of the front ring assembly.

4. The laundry treatment machine of claim 1, wherein the at least one counterweight is mounted to the fascia.

5. The laundry treatment machine of claim 4, wherein the at least one counterweight comprises at least one upper counterweight mounted to an upper portion of the fascia and at least one lower counterweight mounted to a lower portion of the fascia.

6. The laundry treatment machine of claim 1, wherein the fascia is a unity piece.

7. A laundry treatment machine, comprising: a housing; a cylindrical drum horizontally mounted inside of the housing, the drum defining a treatment chamber and having an opening to the treatment chamber through which to place laundry, the cylindrical drum being configured to spin laundry placed in the treatment chamber; a front ring assembly surrounding the outer periphery of the opening to the treatment chamber; and at least one counterweight mounted to the front ring assembly.

8. The laundry treatment machine of claim 7, wherein the at least one counterweight comprises at least one upper counterweight mounted to an upper portion of the front ring assembly and at least lower counterweight mounted to a lower portion of the front ring assembly.

9. The laundry treatment machine of claim 7, wherein the at least one counterweight is mounted to a front surface of the front ring assembly.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0008] The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0009] FIG. 1 illustrates a horizontal mount laundry treatment machine.

[0010] FIG. 2a illustrates a side view of a known drum of a horizontal mount laundry treatment machine showing counterweights mounted on the top and bottom of the drum.

[0011] FIG. 2b illustrates a top view of the drum in FIG. 2a, showing one of the counterweights mounted to the top of the drum.

[0012] FIG. 2c illustrates a bottom view of the drum in FIG. 2c, showing one of the counterweights mounted to the bottom of the drum.

[0013] FIG. 3 illustrates an isolated view of the drum and door of a horizontal mount laundry treatment machine according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0014] FIG. 4 illustrates an isolated view of the front ring assembly of the drum illustrated in FIG. 3 without the front fascia, showing counterweights mounted to the front ring assembly.

[0015] FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of the front ring assembly of FIG. 3 showing both the front ring assembly and the front fascia.

[0016] FIG. 6 is a magnified view of the upper and lower portions of the front ring assembly and front fascia shown in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0018] FIG. 1 generally illustrates a horizontal mount laundry treatment machine 10, such as a washer or washer/dryer combo. The laundry treatment machine 10 includes a housing 12 and a drum 28 defining a treatment chamber 18 suspended within the housing 12. A front ring assembly (not visible in FIG. 1) surrounds the opening to the treatment chamber 18. A fascia 20 covers the front ring assembly. The fascia 20 may be a unitary circular component. A door 22, having a handle 24, is connected to the front ring assembly (which is positioned behind fascia 20) by hinge 26. A display 34 may be disposed on the front of the housing 12.

[0019] FIGS. 2a-2c illustrate a side view, top view and bottom view, respectively, of a drum 28 as configured in a known horizontal mount laundry treatment machine. Notably, the drum includes a bottom counterweight 40 mounted to the bottom of the drum 28 and a top counterweight 42 mounted to the top of the drum 28.

[0020] FIG. 3 illustrates a drum 28 and a door 22 of a laundry treatment machine according to an embodiment of the invention. The drum 28 includes a front ring assembly (not visible) covered by a fascia 20. The fascia 20 may be a unitary circular component. Door 22 is connected to the front ring assembly by hinge 26.

[0021] FIG. 4 is a front view illustration of the front ring assembly 44 of the drum 28 shown in FIG. 3, with the fascia 20 removed. Counterweights 46a and 46b are mounted or fastened to the front surface of front ring assembly 44. Upper counterweights 46a are mounted or fastened to the upper portion of the front ring assembly 44, and lower counterweights 46b are mounted to the lower portion of front ring assembly 44.

[0022] FIG. 5 is a side view illustration of the front ring assembly 44 shown in FIG. 4 and the front fascia 20. FIG. 6 is a magnified view of the upper portion and lower portion of the front ring assembly 44 and front fascia 20 shown in FIG. 5. As illustrated in both FIGS. 5 and 6, upper counterweights 46a and lower counterweights 46b are positioned between the front ring assembly 44 and the front fascia 20. Counterweights 46a and 46b are shown mounted or fastened to front ring assembly 44.

[0023] Though not illustrated, it is also contemplated and within the scope of this disclosure to attach the upper and lower counterweights 46a and 46b to the front fascia 20 (instead of the front ring assembly 44), still maintaining the same position of the counterweights between the front ring assembly 44 and the front fascia 20.

[0024] The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.