Appliance splash seal and method for using same

Abstract

An appliance splash seal includes a rigid ring attached to a flexible ring. The flexible ring includes a living hinge between it and the rigid ring so that the flexible ring can deflect in response to being engaged by a moving tub. The rigid ring includes spring fingers which can spring radially outwardly for passing over a curled flange of a top cover.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an appliance splash seal and method for using same.

[0002] Splash seals have been utilized in washing appliances to provide a seal around the upper end of a tub to prevent splashing of the contents of the tub during the washing cycle.

[0003] Difficulty has been encountered in attaching the splash seals to the top cover of the appliance. Various methods have been used to attach the splash seals, including various loops and tie members for attaching the seal to the top cover.

[0004] Also, difficulty has been encountered with prior splash seals in their ability to flex in response to the movement of the tub during the washing and extraction cycles. If the splash seal is unable to flex in response to being engaged by the cover above the rotating tub, it often emanates noises which increase the sound of a washing appliance and causes excessive vibration.

[0005] Therefore, a primary object of the present invention is the provision of an improved appliance splash seal and method for using same.

[0006] A further object of the present invention is the provision of an improved appliance splash seal which includes a ring that can be easily and quickly attached to the top cover during assembly.

[0007] A further object of the present invention is the provision of an improved appliance splash seal that includes a lower portion that flexes easily in response to being engaged by the moving tub, thereby minimizing sound and vibration during the operation of the washing appliance.

[0008] A further object of the present invention is the provision of an improved appliance splash seal having a living hinge which flexes easily in response to being encountered by the washing tub cover.

[0009] A further object of the present invention is the provision of an improved appliance splash seal and method for using same which is economical to manufacture, durable in use and efficient in operation.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The foregoing objects may be achieved by a splash seal comprising a rigid ring made of a material having a first flexibility. A splash seal ring is made of a material having a second flexibility that is more flexible than the first flexibility of the rigid ring. A living hinge is between the rigid ring and the splash seal ring for permitting the splash seal ring to flex and move relative to the rigid ring from a normal position to a flexed position, and having sufficient flexibility to return to its normal position from the flexed position.

[0011] The method of using the foregoing splash seal comprises using the foregoing splash seal having a rigid ring attached to the top cover and an apron fitted within a tub opening. The method comprises fitting the tub about the tub axis whereby the tub will from time to time while moving engage portions of the apron of the splash seal. The method further comprises permitting the apron of the splash seal to flex from a normal position to a flexed position about a living hinge between the rigid ring and the apron in response to being engaged by the tub during the movement of the tub with respect to the top cover. The apron is adapted to flex back from its flex position to its normal position whenever the tub disengages from the apron during the movement of the tub.

[0012] According to another feature of the invention, an appliance top cover surrounds an access opening and includes a flange extending around the perimeter of the access opening. The flange has in cross section a curled portion extending outwardly from the access opening and terminating in an end portion. The splash seal comprises a rigid ring made of a material having a first flexibility and a splash seal ring made of a material having a second flexibility that is more flexible than the first flexibility. The rigid ring surrounds the flange and engages the curled portion so that the end portion of the flange retentively holds the rigid ring attached to the flange of the top cover. The rigid ring has sufficient flexibility to flex from a normal position to a flexed position and pass around the end portion of the flange during mounting thereto. The rigid ring has sufficient flexibility to return to its normal position after passing around the end portion of the flange so that the end portion retentively holds the rigid ring in attachment to the top cover.

[0013] A method of using the foregoing splash seal comprises flexing the rigid ring and passing the rigid ring over the curled end portion of the top cover flange. Then the rigid ring is permitted to return to its normal circumference whereby the rigid ring surrounds and engages the curled portion of the top cover flange and the end portion of the top cover flange retentively holds the rigid seal in attachment to the top cover flange.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the splash seal of the present invention.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the splash seal mounted inside an appliance.

[0016] FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial detail taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0017] Referring to the drawings the numeral 10 generally designates a splash seal of the present invention. Splash seal 10 is comprised of a rigid ring 12 which is attached to a flexible ring or splash seal ring 14 there below. Referring to FIG. 3, the rigid ring 12 includes a U-shaped portion 16 which is in an enclosed ring. The ring is not perfectly round as in a circle, but is shaped to conform to the access opening of the appliance to which it is to be attached. The rigid ring 12 includes inner spring fingers 18 which because of their shape have sufficient flexibility to flex so as to permit the rigid ring 12 to pass over the lower end of a flange in the top cover of the machine to be described hereafter. Rigid ring 12 also includes outer fingers 20. Protruding from the front edge of the rigid ring 12 is a forward flange 22 and protruding from the rear edge of the rigid ring 12 is a rear flange 24. Also, a pair of hook features 26 extend upwardly from the rear edge of the rigid ring 12 to engage holes (not shown) in the top cover 42.

[0018] Flexible ring 14 is comprised of an upper edge 28 which extends upwardly into the U-shaped portion 16 of the rigid ring 12. Flexible ring 14 also includes alternating flaps 30 which protrude between the spaces between the outer fingers 20 of the rigid ring 12. Fingers 20 intertwine with the upper edge 28 of ring 14 so as to attach the two together. This attachment may be achieved by molding the flexible ring 14 to the rigid ring 12 so as to provide this attachment.

[0019] Flexible ring 14 includes a lower apron 32 having in cross section an angled portion 34 and a vertical portion 36. A living hinge 38 is provided between the angled portion 34 and the upper edge 28 of ring 14.

[0020] Flexible ring 14 is made of a softer and more pliant material capable of flexing easily. Thermoplastic elastomer or other flexible plastic material may be used for flexible ring 14. Rigid ring 12 is made of a more rigid material, preferably polypropylene or poly vinyl chloride. The flexibility of the lower flexible ring 14 is substantially greater than that of the flexibility of the rigid ring 12. However, the inner spring fingers 18 of rigid ring 12 are sufficiently pliant to spring radially outwardly in response to force being applied thereto and to flex back to their original normal positions shown in FIG. 3 when the force is removed.

[0021] Referring to FIG. 2, an appliance cabinet 40 includes a top cover 42. Top cover 42 has an access opening 44 which is surrounded by a top cover flange 46. Top cover flange 46 extends downwardly and forms a curled portion 48 which terminates in an end 50 facing outwardly away from access opening 44.

[0022] Translatably mounted within the cabinet 40 is a tub 52 having tub side walls 54 and a tub cover 56 mounted on the top thereof. The tub cover 56 includes a downwardly extending annular tub cover flange 58 forming a tub opening 60.

[0023] As is well know in the art, a spinner (not shown) resides within the tub 52 and contains the clothing to be washed. During the extraction cycle, the spinner rotates at high speed about the spinner rotational axis 62. It is also well know in the art that clothing unbalances during this phase will cause the spinner and tub 52 to translate and/or pivot within the cabinet 40. It is known that the characteristics of this movement is dependent on the particular suspension (not shown) that is employed to mount the tub 52 and spinner within the cabinet 40.

[0024] FIG. 2 shows the splash seal 10 mounted in attachment to the top cover 42. In this position the spring fingers 18 of the rigid ring 12 are positioned radially inwardly from the ends 50 of the curled portion 48 of top cover flange 46. This causes the rigid ring 12 to be attached to the top cover, with the ends 50 preventing the detachment of the splash seal 10 from the top cover 42.

[0025] The lower apron 32 of the flexible ring 14 is positioned so that the vertical portion 36 thereof fits within the annular tub opening 60 and is surrounded by the tub cover 56, During either the extraction cycle or the washing cycle, the movement of the tub on occasion causes the flange 58 to engage the vertical portion 36 of the flexible ring 14. The living hinge 38 permits the flexible ring 14 to flex inwardly about the hinge provided at 38, and to return to its original position when disengaged by the flange 58 of tub 52. The use of this living hinge 38 provides a quieter operation of the appliance and also permits the flexible ring 14 to flex easily in response to being bumped or engaged by the tub cover 56.

[0026] The splash seal 10 also is easily mounted to the top cover 42 during assembly. The rigid ring 12 is pressed upwardly so that the flexible fingers 18 spread outwardly away from access opening 44 in response to being engaged by and caming against the ends 50 of the top cover flange 46. After the ring has been pressed upwardly so that the spring fingers 18 clear the ends 50 of flange 46, the spring fingers 18 then spring back in an inner radial direction so as to attach the rigid ring 12 to the top cover 42. During operation, the spring-like nature of spring fingers 18 causes the splash seal 10 to tightly embrace the curved portion 48 of the flanges 46 thereby minimizing vibration or sound during the movement of the tub 52.

[0027] In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, these are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Changes in the form and the proportion of parts as well as in the substitution of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as further defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. In combination: an appliance top cover surrounding an access opening therein, a flange extending around the perimeter of the access opening and having in cross section a curled portion extending outwardly from the access opening and terminating in a end portion; a splash seal comprising a rigid ring made of a material having a first flexibility and a splash seal ring made of a material having a second flexibility that is more flexible than the first flexibility; the rigid ring surrounding the flange and engaging the curled portion so that the end portion of the flange retentively holds the rigid ring attached to the flange of the top cover; the rigid ring having sufficient flexibility to flex from a normal position to a flexed position and pass around the end portion of the flange during mounting thereto, and to return to the normal position after passing around the end portion so that the end portion retentively holds the rigid ring in attachment to the top cover.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the splash seal in cross section comprises a living hinge between the rigid ring and the splash seal ring.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein the living hinge and the splash seal ring are made of a material having the second flexibility.

4. The combination of claim 3 and further comprising a tub having a tub opening registered with the access opening of the top cover, the tub being mounted for movement relative to the top cover, the splash seal ring protruding within the tub opening.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein the rigid ring includes a plurality of flexible fingers presented in an inner radial direction with respect to the access opening of the top cover, the flexible fingers engaging the curled portion and being sufficiently flexible to flex and pass around the end portion of the top cover flange.

6. A splash seal comprising: a rigid ring made of a material having a first flexibility; a splash seal ring made of a material having a second flexibility that is more flexible than the first flexibility of the rigid ring; a living hinge between the rigid ring and the splash seal ring and permitting the splash seal ring to flex and move relative to the rigid ring from a normal position to a flexed position and having sufficient flexibility to return to the normal position from the flexed position.

7. A method for assembling a splash seal to an appliance top cover having an access opening therein, a top cover flange extending around the perimeter of the access opening, and having in cross section a curled portion extending outwardly away from the access opening and terminating in a curled end portion, the method comprising: taking a splash seal comprising a rigid ring made of a material having a first flexibility and a splash seal ring made of a material having a second flexibility that is more flexible than the first flexibility, the rigid ring having a normal circumference that is slightly smaller than the perimeter of the end portion of the flange, but the rigid ring being sufficiently flexible to pass over the end portion of the flange; flexing the rigid ring and passing the rigid ring over the curled end portion of the top cover flange; permitting the rigid ring to return to the normal circumference whereby the rigid ring surrounds and engages the curled portion of the top cover flange and the end portion of the top cover flange retentively holds the rigid seal in attachment to the top cover flange.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the rigid ring includes a plurality of spring fingers each extending in an inner radial direction toward the curled portion of the top cover flange, the method further comprising flexing the spring fingers in an outer radial direction away from the end portion of the top cover flange during the step of passing the rigid ring over the curled end portion of the top cover flange.

9. A method according to claim 7 wherein a washing tub includes an upper edge surrounded by the splash seal ring, the method comprising moving the washing tub relative to the top cover whereby the upper edge of the washing tub will engage the splash seal ring, and deflecting the splash seal ring in response to being engaged by the upper edge of the washing tub.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein the splash seal ring includes a living hinge, the method comprising flexing the splash seal ring about the living hinge in response to being engaged by the upper edge of the washing tub.

11. A method for using a splash seal in an appliance having a top cover and an access opening in the top cover; a tub mounted for movement relative to the top cover and having a tub opening in close proximity to the access opening of the top cover, the splash seal having a rigid ring attached to the top cover and an apron fitted within a tub opening, the method comprising: moving the tub relative to the top cover whereby the tub will from time to time engage portions of the apron of the splash seal; permitting the apron of the splash seal to flex from a normal position to a flexed position in response to being engaged by the tub during the moving of the tub relative to the top cover; and flexing the apron back from the flexed position to the normal position whenever the tub disengages from the apron during moving of the tub relative to the top cover.

12. A method according to claim 11 wherein the splash seal includes a living hinge and the method comprises flexing the splash seal about the living hinge in response to being engaged by the tub during the moving of the tub.

13. A method according to claim 11 wherein the top cover includes a flange surrounding the access opening, the flange including a curled portion terminating in a curled end facing in an outer radial direction away from the access opening, the method further comprising flexing the rigid ring in an outer radial direction from a normal circumference to a larger circumference to permit the rigid ring to pass over the curled end of the top cover flange during assembly, and permitting the rigid ring to return to the normal circumference after passing over the curled end of the top cover so that the curled end of the top cover flange provides attachment of the splash seal to the top cover.