FLOATING VENTILATION INTERFACE FOR SUDS

Information

  • Patent Application
  • 20240254679
  • Publication Number
    20240254679
  • Date Filed
    January 31, 2023
    2 years ago
  • Date Published
    August 01, 2024
    6 months ago
Abstract
A laundry treating appliance including a cabinet, a tub, a drum, a suds tube, and a suds vent. The tub is disposed in the cabinet and configured to receive water and detergent. The drum is disposed in the tub and configured to receive the water and the detergent from the tub. The suds tube is fluidly coupled to the tub and configured to receive suds generated by the water and detergent. The suds vent includes a proximal portion disposed between the cabinet and the tub. The suds vent is configured to receive the suds from the suds tube and the suds vent is spaced apart from the suds tube to form a gap between the suds tube and the suds vent.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to laundry treating appliances such as a washing machine.


BACKGROUND

Laundry treating appliances, such as clothes washers, clothes dryers, washing machines, refreshers, and non-aqueous systems, can have a configuration based on a container, such as a drum that defines a drum opening, which may or may not rotate, and that at least partially defines a treating chamber in which laundry items are placed for treating. The laundry treating appliance can have a controller that implements a number of user-selectable, pre-programmed cycles of operation having one or more operating parameters. Hot water, cold water, or a mixture thereof, along with various treating chemistries, or detergents, can be supplied to the treating chamber in accordance with the cycle of operation.


Under certain conditions, over-sudsing conditions may occur during a cycle of operation. For example, if a soap to water ratio exceeds a certain threshold, excess bubbles may be formed e.g., suds by the detergent resulting in foam and inefficient operation or entirely stopping of the laundry treating appliance.


SUMMARY

According to one embodiment, a laundry treating appliance is provided. The laundry treating appliance may include a cabinet, a tub, a drum, a suds tube, and a suds vent. The tub may be disposed in the cabinet and configured to receive water and detergent. The drum may be disposed in the tub and may be configured to receive the water and the detergent from the tub. The suds tube may be fluidly coupled to the tub and configured to receive suds generated by the water and detergent. The suds vent may include a proximal portion that may be disposed between the cabinet and the tub. The suds vent may be configured to receive the suds from the suds tube and the suds vent may be spaced apart from the suds tube to form a gap between the suds tube and the suds vent.


According to another embodiments, a suds expulsion assembly for use in a laundry treating appliance, is provided. The suds expulsion assembly may include a suds expulsion member and a suds vent. The suds expulsion member may be configured to be disposed between the tub and the cabinet and may include a suds inlet and a suds outlet. The suds inlet may be configured to receive suds from the tub and the suds outlet may be configured to expel a substantially continuous stream of suds from the suds tube. The suds vent may be configured to be fixed to the cabinet so that the suds vent is spaced apart from the suds outlet to form a gap. The suds vent may form an aperture that may be configured to receive the continuous stream of suds from the suds expulsion member and vent the continuous stream of suds away from an inner surface of the cabinet.


According to yet another embodiment, a laundry treating appliance is provided. The laundry treating appliance may include a cabinet, a tub, a drum, a suds tube, and a suds vent. The tub may be disposed in the cabinet and configured to receive water and detergent. The drum may be disposed in the tub and may be configured to receive the water and the detergent from the tub. The suds tube may be fluidly coupled to the tub and configured to receive suds generated by the water and detergent. The suds vent may be disposed within an opening defined by the cabinet and spaced apart from the suds tube to form a gap. The suds vent may form an aperture configured to receive the suds from the suds tube and vent the suds to an area external to the cabinet.





BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS


FIG. 1 illustrates a front-plan view of the exemplary laundry treating appliance.



FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic view of the exemplary laundry treating appliance.



FIG. 3 illustrates a top-perspective view of a portion of the laundry treating appliance 10 such as a combination washer dryer.



FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a suds expulsion assembly according to one or more embodiments.



FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of another suds expulsion assembly according to one or more embodiments.



FIGS. 6A-6B illustrate cross-sectional views of a portion of the cabinet and the suds vent in an uninstalled configuration and in an installed configuration, respectively.



FIG. 7 illustrates a rear-perspective view of the laundry treating appliance.



FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of another suds tube according to one or more embodiments.



FIG. 9A illustrates a front-perspective view of the suds vent according to one or more embodiments.



FIG. 9B illustrates a rear-perspective view of the suds vent according to one or more embodiments.





DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.


This invention is not limited to the specific embodiments and methods described below, as specific components and/or conditions may, of course, vary. Furthermore, the terminology used herein is used only for the purpose of describing particular embodiments of the present invention and is not intended to be limiting in any way.


As used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular form “a,” “an,” and “the” comprise plural referents unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. For example, reference to a component in the singular is intended to comprise a plurality of components.


The term “substantially” or “about” may be used herein to describe disclosed or claimed embodiments. The term “substantially” or “about” may modify a value or relative characteristic disclosed or claimed in the present disclosure. In such instances, “substantially” or “about” may signify that the value or relative characteristic it modifies is within +0%, 0.1%, 0.5%, 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5% or 10% of the value or relative characteristic.


When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engaged to,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). The term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.


Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.


Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.


Under certain conditions, suds or foam bubbles may develop leading to what is known as over-sudsing. Over-sudsing may create excessive friction between the tub 18 and drum 18 which may cause inefficient operation of the appliance 10 and/or stop the operation of the appliance all together. Additionally, over-sudsing may lead to the suds contacting one or more electrical components disposed in the cabinet. As used herein, “suds” may refer to a type of foam such as a mass of small bubbles formed on or in liquid, typically by agitation or fermentation. Known appliances use a hose or tube that includes a first end fixed to a tub and a second end that is fixed to the cabinet so that the suds may be expelled outside of the cabinet. Depending on the appliance, there may not be sufficient space to provide such a hose or tube fixed between the tub and cabinet.


Referring generally to the figures, a laundry treating appliance 10 provided with a suds expulsion assembly 86 is provided. The appliance 10 may include a cabinet 12 that may house a tub 16 and a drum 18. As described in greater detail below, the tub 16 may receive water and detergent and provide the same to the drum 18 to treat laundry disposed in the drum 18. The suds expulsion assembly 86 may be configured to package or fit within a relatively small space while maintaining the capability to expel the suds 88 from the tub 16 to an area external to the cabinet 12. The suds expulsion assembly 86 may include a suds tube 90 and a suds vent 92. The suds tube 90 may be fluidly coupled to the tub 16 and configured to receive suds 88 from the tub 16 and the suds vent 92 may be fixed to the cabinet 12 and configured to receive and expel suds 88 from the suds tube 90. The suds tube 90 may include an inlet 94, that may receive the suds 88 from the tub 16, and an outlet 96 that may be arranged to face the suds vent 92 so that suds 88 expelled from the suds outlet 96 are provided to the suds vent 92. The outlet 96 may not be physically connected to the suds vent 92, and more specifically, the suds outlet 96 may be spaced apart from the suds vent 92 so that a gap G is formed between the suds outlet 96 and the suds vent 92. The suds tube 90 may be configured to provide a substantially continuous flow of suds that are configured to bridge the gap G between the suds outlet 96 and the suds vent 92.



FIG. 1 illustrates a front elevational view of the laundry treating appliance 10 having a door 14 in a closed position. The laundry treating appliance 10 may be a commercial or household laundry treating appliance 10 such as a washing machine or dryer, configured to treat laundry, such as by washing and/or drying clothes and other textiles and items. The laundry treating appliance 10 may more specifically be a front-loading washing machine or dryer or a combination washer and dryer. While the appliance 10 may be referred to as a laundry treating appliance throughout, the appliance 10 may include other appliances such as dishwashers, ice makers, freezers, refrigerators, among others, that include doors or other closable openings.


The door 14 may be rotatably attached to the front panel 17 about an access opening 19 via at least one hinge assembly 13. The hinge assembly 13 may include a pair of hinge assemblies, as shown in the example of FIG. 1 as a first hinge assembly and a second hinge assembly and collectively referred to as hinge assembly or hinge assemblies 13. The hinge assemblies 13 may be spaced apart from one another along a vertical axis. In the example of a round or circular door, the hinge assemblies 13 may be placed at approximately 8 o'clock and 10 o'clock positions. In an example where the door is hinged on the opposite side, the hinge assemblies 13 may be placed at approximately 2 o'clock and 4 o'clock positions. More or fewer hinge assemblies 13 may be included. It is also conceivable that a hinge assembly 13 is arranged at the top or the bottom of the door 14.


The door 14 may rotate or hinge about the hinge assembly 13 between the open and closed positions. A latch 15 may be secured to a front panel 17 of the cabinet and may be arranged at or near the access opening 19 to latch or lock the door 14 in the closed position. The latch 15 may be arranged on an opposite side of the opening 19 relive to the hinge assembly 13. The hinge assembly 13 may be capable of disengaging the door 14 from the latch 15 in order to open the door 14, as well as engaging the latch 15 with the door 14 upon closing the door 14.


The door 14 may define a window 25 or a clear substrate to allow users to see inside the drum 18 (FIG. 2). The window 25 may be a bowl-like shape, or semi-circular shape, or the window 25 may be flat. Depending on the type of appliance 10, the window 25 may be formed of plastic, or in the example of the appliance being a dryer or a combination washer-dryer, the window may be glass. The door 14 includes a frame 27 surrounding the window 25. The door 14 may include various seals and gaskets, as well as other structural portions such as collars, flanges, plates, harnesses, screws, etc.


Referring to FIG. 2, the laundry treating appliance 10 is illustrated, by way of non-limiting example, as a horizontal axis laundry treating appliance. The present disclosure may also contemplate vertical-axis laundry treating appliances. The laundry treating appliance 10 shares many features of a conventional automated clothes washer and/or dryer, which will not be described in detail herein except as necessary for a complete understanding of the exemplary aspects in accordance with the present disclosure.


The laundry treating appliance 10 includes the cabinet 12, which may be a housing having a chassis and/or a frame, defining an interior enclosing components typically found in conventional household appliances, such as, but not limited to, motors, pumps, fluid lines, controls, sensors, transducers, and the like. Such components will not be described further herein except as necessary for a complete understanding of the invention.


The door 14 may be mounted to or carried by the cabinet 12 to selectively close an access opening to the interior of a liquid-holding, imperforate tub 16. The tub 16 may be supported within the cabinet 12 by a suitable suspension system 43. A drum 18 may be provided within the tub 16 and may have an inner periphery at least partially defining the treating chamber 20 with an open face for receiving the article, such as a laundry item, to be treated according to a cycle of operation. The drum 18 may be mounted for rotation within the tub 16 and may have perforations that permit the flow of liquid between the drum 18 and the tub 16.


The tub 16 and drum 18 may have aligned openings, which provide access to the treating chamber 20. The door 14 may be provided to selectively close at least one of the aligned openings to selectively provide access to the treating chamber 20 through the open face of the treating chamber 20. While the illustrated laundry treating appliance includes both the tub 16 and the drum 18, with the drum 18 defining the treating chamber 20, it is within the scope of the disclosure that the laundry treating appliance 10 may include only one receptacle for an article, with the receptacle being the treating chamber 20 defined by the cabinet 12.


At least one lifter 22 may be provided in the drum 18 to facilitate movement of the laundry load within the drum 18 as the drum 18 rotates. The lifter 22 may be provided on the inner periphery of the drum 18. Multiple lifters 22 may be provided and may optionally be evenly spaced about the inner periphery of the drum 18. The drum 18 may be coupled to a motor 24 by a drive shaft 26 for selective rotation of the drum 18 during a cycle of operation. Alternatively or additionally, the motor 24 may be coupled with the drive shaft 26 through a drive belt for selective rotation of the drum 18. The motor 24 may rotate the drum 18 at multiple or variable speeds and in one direction or opposite rotational directions.


A liquid supply system 30 may be included in the laundry treating appliance 10 to supply liquid to the treating chamber 20. More specifically, liquid, such as water, may be supplied from a liquid source 32, such as a household water supply, to the laundry treating appliance 10 by operation of at least one control valve controlling the flow of water through a supply or inlet conduit 34. As shown herein, separate valves 36, 38 may control the supply of hot and cold water, respectively, through the inlet conduit 34. The inlet conduit 34 may direct the water from the liquid source 32 to the treating chamber 20, and as an example, the inlet conduit 34 may direct the water into the drum 18. As shown, the inlet conduit 34 may be coupled with a bellows 40.


The inlet conduit 34 may include a liquid dispenser in the form of a supply nozzle 42, for example, configured to supply the water into the treating chamber 20 along a flow path in a desired pattern and under a predetermined amount of pressure. For example, the supply nozzle 42 may be configured to supply a stream of water into the treating chamber 20 by gravity, i.e., a non-pressurized stream. The supply nozzle 44 may be mounted to the bellows 40 and be located in any desired position around the open face of the treating chamber 20. A chemistry dispenser 46 may be included in the liquid supply system 30. It is contemplated that a valve 48 may selectively direct fluid from the inlet conduit 34 to the chemistry dispenser 46. It is further contemplated that a valve 49 selectively fluidly couple the chemistry dispenser 46 to the liquid supply system 30 upstream of the supply nozzle 44 for providing liquid or treating chemistries to the treating chamber 20.


Liquid in the treating chamber 20 may flow by gravity to a low portion or sump 50 of the tub 16. A liquid drain system 52 may be provided for draining liquid from the treating chamber 20. The liquid drain system 52 may include a drain pump 54 and a drain conduit 56. The drain pump 54 fluidly couples the sump 50 to the drain conduit 56 such that liquid in the tub 16 may be drained via the drain conduit 56. The drain conduit 56 may be coupled with a household drain.


A liquid recirculation system 58 may be provided for recirculating liquid to the treating chamber 20 during a cycle of operation. As illustrated, the recirculation system 58 includes a recirculation pump 60, a recirculation tank 62, and the at least one consumable 23 for use in the performing the cycle of operation. The at least one consumable 23 may be, but is not limited to a filter cartridge, softener cartridge, or fluid treatment cartridge. Non-limiting examples of filter cartridges may include water or other liquid filters, vacuum bags, or air filters. Non-limiting examples of softener cartridges may include cartridges for water softening. Non-limiting examples of fluid treating cartridges includes cartridges containing detergent, bleach, stain treatment, scents, pods, or user defined homemade cartridges. Bulk cartridges of any of the aforementioned are also considered. By way of non-limiting example, the at least one consumable 23 is illustrated as multiple consumables; a water filter cartridge 64 and a water softener cartridge 66. The filter cartridge 64 may be received in a first internal dock 65 in the cabinet 12. A second internal dock 67 in the cabinet 12 may receive the softener cartridge 66. The recirculation pump 60 or the drain pump 54 fluidly couples the tub 16 to the recirculation tank 62. Alternatively, the sump 50 may fluidly couple to the recirculation tank 62, using gravity to move liquid from the sump 50 to the recirculation tank 62.


Water treating chemistries may be supplied to the recirculation tank 62 from the softener cartridge 66. The recirculation pump 60 or the drain pump 54 may then pump at least a portion of the treated liquid in the recirculation tank 62 to the filter cartridge 64. The filter cartridge 64 is fluidly connived to a spray conduit 68. The spray conduit 68 may fluidly couple with the inlet conduit 34 or another sprayer 70 for fluid communication with the treating chamber 20. While illustrated as including the filter cartridge 64 and the softener cartridge 66, it is contemplated that a variety of consumable or non-consumable additives or structures. For example, the recirculation system 58 couple include additional conduit, valves, or the chemistry dispenser 46, while recirculating liquid from the treating chamber 20 to the recirculation tank 62 and back to the treating chamber 20. The liquid recirculation system 58 may use only consumable or non-consumable additives or structures, that is no recirculation tank 62, to recirculate liquid from the treating chamber 20 for treatment and redistribution to the treating chamber 20 during a portion of the cycle of operation.


While the laundry treating appliance 10 is illustrated as having separate drain and recirculation pumps 54, 60, the laundry treating appliance 10 may include a single pump configured to selectively drain or recirculate liquid, such as by configuring the pump to rotate in opposite directions, or by providing a suitable valve system. As an example, at least one component of the liquid recirculation system 58 may be located in a lower portion or pedestal 72 of the cabinet 12.


The laundry treating appliance 10 may further include one or more devices for heating the liquid, such as a steam generator and/or a sump heater (not shown). The steam generator may be provided to supply steam to the treating chamber 20. The sump heater may be used to heat liquid in the sump 50. Alternatively, the sump heater may be used to heat laundry (not shown), air, the drum 18, or liquid in the tub 16 to generate steam, in place of or in addition to the steam generator. The steam generator may be used to heat the laundry as part of a cycle of operation, much in the same manner as a sump heater, as well as to introduce steam to treat the laundry.


As another example, if the laundry treating appliance 10 is a combination washer and dryer, one or more a heat exchangers, such as a condenser 84, may be provided to heat and dry laundry during a drying cycle. The condenser 84 may be fixed to a rear portion of the tub and configured to provide dry heated air to the tub 16 to dry and heat the laundry. In one or more embodiments, the suds tube 90, may be arranged between a rear panel 98 of the cabinet and the tub 16 and the suds vent 92 may be fixed to the rear panel 98. The suds tube 90 may also be disposed between the condenser 84 and the rear panel 98.


A controller 76 may be located within the cabinet 12 for controlling the operation of the laundry treating appliance 10 to implement one or more cycles of operation, which may be stored in a memory of the controller 76. Examples, without limitation, of the controller 76 may be configured to execute or command one or more cycles of operation including but not limited to wash, heavy duty wash, delicate wash, quick wash, refresh, rinse only, timed wash, steam, and dry. A user interface 78 may be carried by the cabinet 12 and coupled to the controller 76. The user interface 78 may provide data communication between the controller 76 and a user. The user interface 78 may include one or more knobs, switches, touch displays, display screens, and the like for communicating with the user, such as to receive input and provide output.


The user may enter many different types of information, including, without limitation, cycle selection and cycle parameters, such as cycle options. During operation of laundry treating appliance 10, the controller 76 may be operably coupled with one or more components of the laundry treating appliance 10 for communicating with and controlling the operation of the component to complete a cycle of operation. For example, the controller 76 may be operably coupled with at least the motor 24, the valves 36, 38, 48, 49, the chemistry dispenser 46, the drain pump 54, and the recirculation pump 60 to control the operation of these and other components to implement one or more of the cycles of operation.


A luminary communication interface 80 located on the cabinet 12 is physically spaced from the user interface 78. The luminary communication interface 80 is physically associated with at least one of the at least one consumable 23, illustrated by way of non-limiting example as adjacent the filter cartridge 64. That is, the luminary communication interface 80 is physically associated with the filter cartridge 64 by circumscribing the first internal port 65, where the first internal port 65 is designed to receive the filter cartridge 64.


The luminary communication interface 80 may emit at least one of colored light motion or light intensity patterns to illustrate the status of the at least one consumable 23 or filter cartridge 64. The luminary communication interface 80 may be in communication with the filter cartridge 64 or the softener cartridge 66. As an example, the luminary communication interface 80 may be connected to a supplemental controller 82, wherein the supplemental controller 82 may be in communication with or determine a status of the at least one consumable 23. That is, the status of the filter cartridge 64 or the softener cartridge 66, or both, may be determined by the supplemental controller 82. The status may then be communicated to the user via the luminary communication interface 80. The supplemental controller 82 may include or be coupled to a variety of sensors. It is contemplated that the supplemental controller 82 may be in communication with the controller 76. It is further contemplated that the supplemental controller 82 operates independently or does not require communication with the controller 76. However, it is possible for the supplemental controller 82 to be in communication with the controller 76. It is even possible for the controller 76 to perform the control function of the supplemental controller 82.



FIG. 3 illustrates a top-perspective view of a portion of the laundry treating appliance 10 such as a combination washer dryer. The cabinet 12 includes a number of walls or panels such as a side panel 100 that may be connected to the rear panel 98. A rear portion of the tub 16 may face the rear panel 98 and define a driveshaft aperture 102 that may receive a driveshaft (not illustrated) that may be coupled to the motor 24. As the motor 24 is actuated, the tub 16 may rotate about a rotational axis RA. One or more electrical components 104 may be disposed in the cabinet 12 and positioned adjacent to the tub and the cabinet panels 98, 100.


The suds expulsion assembly 86 may be positioned at the rear of the cabinet 12. Alternatively, the suds expulsion assembly 86 may be positioned between a side of the tub 16 and the side panel 100. As an example, the suds tube 90 may include a first portion or medial portion 106, a second portion or distal portion 108, and a third portion or proximal portion 110. The suds vent 92 may be disposed within an opening or an aperture 156 (FIG. 6A) defined by at least one panel 17, 98, 100 of the cabinet 12 so that the distal portion 108 of the suds tube 90 overlaps or lies within a common plane defined by a periphery of the suds vent 92. The proximal portion 110 of the suds tube 90 may extend in from a heat exchanger such as the condenser 84 or the rear portion of the tub 16. More specifically, the proximal portion 110 may be arranged with respect to the tub 16 and the drum 18 so that the proximal portion 110 is fluidly coupled to the drum 18, the tub 16, or both to receive suds. As one example, the proximal portion 110 may be disposed below the rotational axis RA, though in other configurations the proximal portion 110 may be disposed above or substantially in line with the rotational axis RA, as required. As stated above, the suds tube 90 may be configured to route the suds away from the electrical components 104, the condenser 84, and other components disposed within the cabinet 12.


The distal portion 108 and the proximal portion 110 may each extend in a direction that is substantially orthogonal to the medial portion 106. The medial portion 106 may be connected to the proximal portion 110 by an elbow or the proximal portion 110 may be integrally formed with the medial portion 106 such as by injection molding or over-molding. The medial portion 106 may have a non-uniform diameter to facilitate a continuous flow of suds received from the proximal portion 110. As an example, an upper section 114 of the medial portion 106 may have a larger diameter than a lower section 116 of the medial portion 106. As an example, the distal portion 108 may be integrally formed to the medial portion 106 or the distal portion 108 may be connected to the medial portion 106 by an elbow or another connection suitable tube member, as required. The distal portion 108 may define the suds outlet 96 (FIG. 8) that may face the suds vent 92. As stated above, the suds outlet 96 may be spaced apart from the suds vent 92 to form a gap (FIG. 4) between.


In one or more embodiments, the suds vent 92 may include a wall 118 that may define an aperture or an opening 120 that may extend from an interior of the cabinet 12 to an exterior area of the cabinet 12 so that suds received from the suds tube 90 flow to the area exterior of the cabinet 12. The suds vent 92 may include an annular flange 122 that may surround or enclose the opening 120 and extend away from the cabinet. The annular flange 122 may shield the suds to retain moisture of the suds so that a substantially continuous flow or stream of suds is expelled from the suds 92. As one example, a hose or conduit (not illustrated) may be fixed to the annular flange 122 and the hose or conduit may be routed to a drain including but not limited to a floor drain or a drain of a sink such as a utility sink (not illustrated). suds may flow through the hose or conduit



FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of another suds expulsion assembly 124 according to one or more embodiments. The suds expulsion assembly 124 includes a suds tube 126 and a suds vent 128, the suds tube 126 and the suds vent 128 are shown in an exemplary installed configuration but for the purposes of clarity, the cabinet 12 is not illustrated. The suds tube 126 and the suds vent 128 may have components or features that are substantially identical or similar to the suds tube 90 and the suds vent 92 described above. And those substantially identical or similar components and features are referred to by common reference numbers.


The suds tube 126 may only include a first and second portion, such as the proximal portion 110 and the distal portion 108, the proximal portion extending from the tub 16 and the distal portion 108 being arranged to face the suds vent 128. As an example, the proximal portion 110 may extend in a vertical direction and the distal portion 108 may extend in a horizontal direction. In one or more embodiments, the proximal portion 110 may be integrally formed with an outlet of the tub 16, such as bonded by over-molding or another suitable process. The distal portion 108 of the suds tube 126 may define the suds outlet 96 and the proximal portion 110 may define the suds inlet 94. In one or more embodiments, the proximal portion 110 may define a first length L1 and the distal portion 108 may define a second length L2 and the second length L2 may be less than the first length L1. The first and second lengths L1, L2 may be sized so that the suds tube 126 may be disposed between the tub 16 and the cabinet 12 (FIGS. 6A-6B) while maintaining the gap G between the suds vent 128 and the outlet 96 of the suds tube 126.


The suds vent 128 may include a proximal portion 136, a medial portion 138, and a distal portion 140. The proximal portion 136 may be disposed closer to the suds tube 126 than the medial and distal portions 138, 140. The medial portion 138 may include or may be substantially aligned with the wall 118 of the vent 128 and the distal portion 140 may extend away from the suds tube 126 from the medial portion 138. The opening 120 of the suds vent 128 may extend through the proximal, medial, and distal portions 136-140.


The suds opening 120 may define a first inner diameter D1 and the outlet 96 may define a second inner diameter D2, the first diameter D1 may be greater than the second diameter D2. The first and second diameters D1, D2 may be collectively sized with respect to one another to allow vertical displacement of the outlet 96, caused by vertical movement of the tub 16, as the treatment chamber 20 is loaded with laundry or during one or more cycles of operation, while maintaining an overlap between the outlet 96 and the opening 120. The outlet 96 may be disposed between top and bottom portions of a periphery of the opening 120 may be disposed above and below the periphery of the outlet 96 so that at least a majority of or an entire circumference of a suds stream is received by the opening 120, despite vertical or horizontal movement of the tub 16 and the suds tube 126.


One or more portions of the suds tube 126, such a section of the distal portion forming the outlet 96, may be spaced apart from portions of the suds vent 128, suds as the proximal portion 136 to form the gap G. The gap may range from 15 mm to 45 mm or another distance, as required. The gap G may be sized so that the tub 16 and the suds tube 126 may move horizontally during a cycle of operation. as the outlet 96, may be spaced apart from the suds tube to form a gap between the suds vent and the suds vent. Additionally, the gap G may be sized to obviate a physically connected tube or hose, provided that there is sufficient space, between the tub 16 and the cabinet 12.


The proximal portion 136 of the suds vent 128 may include a top portion 144 and a bottom portion 136 that may each form a periphery of at least a portion of the opening 120. In one or more embodiments, a protrusion such as a flange or a lip 142 may extend from or form portions of the bottom portion 136. The lip 142 may be disposed within the gap G and configured to catch or capture suds that may fall from the outlet 96 prior to reaching the opening 120 of the suds vent 128. The lip 142 may serve as a guard that may collect the suds or moisture, such as condensation that may form within the cabinet, to prevent the suds, moisture, or some combination thereof from traveling to an undesired location and/or contacting one or more electrical components of the laundry treating appliance 10. As one example, the lip may be tapered from the bottom portion 146 towards the top portion 144.


A moisture retention member such as a canopy 130 may extend from the distal portion 140 of the suds vent 128. extending from the proximal portion and external to the cabinet, the distal portion includes a canopy 130 that may be configured to retain moisture of the suds flowing through the suds vent 128. The canopy 130 may include a top portion 132 and one or more side portions 134 that may extend from one or more edges of the top portion 132 of the canopy 130. In one or more embodiments, the top portion 132 may extend in a direction that may be oblique with respect to a portion of the cabinet 12 such as the rear panel 98. The top portion 132 may form an angle α that may range between 100° and 175° (FIG. 6B).



FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of another suds expulsion assembly 148 according to one or more embodiments. The suds expulsion assembly 148 may include the suds vent 128 and a suds tube 150 provided with a deformable or collapsible section. The suds vent 128 may include one or more baffles 154 that may be disposed in the opening 120 of the suds vent 128. As one example, the baffles 154 may cooperate with a number of rails 192 (FIGS. 9A-9B) to form a guard or shield to prevent an individual from inserting his or her fingers, a tool, or another device through the opening 120 and into the cabinet 12. Additionally or alternatively, the baffles 154 may be configured to guide the flow of suds through the opening 120. The baffles 154 may be planar members that may extend between at least a portion of the opening 120. In one or more embodiments, one or more of the baffles 154 may be configured to move such as pivot to alter the direction of the flow of suds.


One or more portions of the suds tube 150, such as the distal portion 108 may include bellows 152 that may be configured to selectively collapse in response to a force applied to the bellows 152. As an example, the bellows 152 may be inserted into an end of the distal portion 108 and fixed to the distal portion 108 by a force fit condition or another secured arrangement, as required. As another example, the bellows 152 may be integrally formed with the distal portion 108 by over-molding or another suitable process. In one or more embodiments, a distal end of the bellows 152 may be spaced apart from the suds vent 128 to form a gap G′. The gap G′ between the bellows 152 and the suds vent may have a sized that is less than the gap G between the distal portion 108 of the suds tube 126 and the suds vent 128.


In response to the tub 16 and the suds tube 150 moving and causing the bellows 152 to contact the suds vent 128, the bellows 152 may collapse or compress. In one or more embodiments, the bellows 152 may be positioned adjacent to the proximal portion 110 and the bellows 152 may deflect or axially compress in response to a vertical force applied to the suds tube 150 moving in a vertical direction and contacting a portion of the cabinet 12 or another component of the laundry treating appliance 10.



FIGS. 6A-6B illustrate cross-sectional views of a portion of the cabinet 12 and the suds vent 128 in an uninstalled configuration and in an installed configuration, respectively. One or more portions of the cabinet 12, such as the rear panel 98 may define one or more openings or apertures that may receive the suds vent 128. As an example, the rear panel 98 may include a first aperture or opening 156 that may be sized to receive a main portion of the suds vent 128, such as the portion of the suds vent 128 that defines the opening 120 of the suds vent 128. The rear panel 98 may also form a second aperture or opening 158 that may be configured to receive a fixation member such as a clip 160 of the suds vent 128.


The suds vent 128 may include one or more legs such as a first leg 160 and a second leg 164 that may be spaced apart from one another to form a notch 166. To assemble the suds vent 128 to the cabinet 12, the suds vent may be tilted or angled with respect to the rear panel 98 so that the first leg 162 is placed on or against the rear panel 98 and the second leg 164 lies along an inner periphery of the first opening 156. An end of the suds vent 128, disposed opposite the first and second legs 162, 164, may be tilted towards the rear panel 98 so that the clip 160 is inserted into the second aperture 158.


The clip 160 may include a recess 168 that may be configured to receive a portion of the rear panel 98 to fix the suds vent 128 to the rear panel 98. Alternatively, or additionally, a boss 170 may extend from the wall 118 of the suds vent 128. The boss 170 may be configured to receive a fastener (e.g., a screw) (not illustrated) to fix suds vent 128 to the rear panel 98. In the installed configuration, the wall 118 of the suds vent 128 may lie against one or more portions of the rear panel 98. As an example, the medial portion 138 of the suds vent 128 may be aligned with the rear panel 98 of the cabinet 12 when the suds vent 128 is in the installed configuration.



FIG. 7 illustrates a rear-perspective view of the laundry treating appliance 10. As mentioned above, the suds vent 92 may be configured to expel a substantially continuous flow of suds 88 out of and away from the cabinet 12. As an example, the suds vent 128 may be fixed to one or more of the panels such as the rear panel 98.



FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of another suds tube 170 according to one or more embodiments. The suds tube 170 may include a proximal portion 172 and a medial portion 174 that may extend in a vertical direction from the proximal portion 172 to a distal portion 176. One or more flanges 178 may extend from the medial portion 174 and the flanges 178 may be configured to provide attachment points to fix the suds tube 170 within the cabinet 12. The proximal portion 172 may define the inlet 94 of the suds tube 170 and the distal portion 176 may define the outlet 96 of the suds tube 170. In one or more embodiments, the inlet 94 may be disposed beneath and spaced apart from the outlet 96 to leverage convection associated with the warmer air and fluid received by the inlet 94 and the relatively cooler air in which the outlet 96 is disposed in.



FIG. 9A illustrates a front-perspective view of the suds vent 128 according to one or more embodiments and FIG. 9B illustrates a rear-perspective view of the suds vent 128 according to one or more embodiments. The wall 118 of the suds vent 128 may include a first side 118a and a second side 118b that may oppose the first side 118a. The canopy 130 may include the top portion 132 and one or more side portions 134. The top portion 132 and the side portions 134 may extend from the first side 118a of the wall 118. The top portion 132 and side portions 134 may be arranged with respect to one another to form a U-shaped end portion or U-shaped cross-section. The canopy 130 may have a first height H1 that may overlap a majority of the diameter of the opening 120, such as at least 50% of the diameter D1 (FIG. 4) of the opening 120.


An annular flange 122 may extend from the second side 118b of the wall 118 and surround the opening 120. The lip 142 may extend from or be integrally formed with one or more portions, such as a bottom portion of the annular flange 122. One or more rails 192 and one or more baffles 154 may be disposed in the opening 120. The rails 192 and the baffles 154 may collectively form a guard or grate that may prevent a user or another individual from inserting his or fingers or another item into the cabinet 12. As previously mentioned, the clip 160 may extend from the first face 118a of the wall 118 and the boss 170 may extend from the second side 118b of the wall 118.


While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the invention.

Claims
  • 1. A laundry treating appliance comprising: a cabinet forming a receptacle;a tub disposed in the receptacle and configured to receive water and detergent;a drum disposed within the tub configured to receive the water and the detergent from the tub;a suds tube fluidly coupled to the tub and configured to receive suds generated by the water and detergent; anda suds vent including a proximal portion disposed between the cabinet and the tub and configured to receive the suds from the suds tube, wherein the suds vent is spaced apart from the suds tube to form a gap between the suds tube and the suds vent.
  • 2. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1, wherein the suds vent includes a distal portion extending from the proximal portion and external to the cabinet, the distal portion includes a canopy configured to retain moisture of the suds flowing through the suds vent.
  • 3. The laundry treating appliance of claim 2, wherein the cabinet includes a wall forming an aperture configured to receive a medial portion of the suds vent disposed between the proximal portion and the distal portion.
  • 4. The laundry treating appliance of claim 2, wherein the canopy extends in a direction oblique to a wall of the cabinet.
  • 5. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1, wherein the suds vent forms an opening configured to receive and vent the suds, and the suds vent includes a number of baffles disposed in the opening.
  • 6. The laundry treating appliance of claim 5, wherein the suds vent includes a number of rails extending between the number of baffles.
  • 7. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1, wherein the proximal portion of the suds vent includes a top portion and a bottom portion, wherein the bottom portion has a width that is greater than the top portion.
  • 8. The laundry treating appliance of claim 7, wherein the bottom portion includes a lip extending towards the drum and is configured to catch the suds.
  • 9. The laundry treating appliance of claim 8, wherein the lip is disposed within the gap.
  • 10. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1, wherein the gap has a length that is at least 15 mm.
  • 11. A suds expulsion assembly for use in a laundry treating appliance provided with a cabinet and a tub disposed therein, the suds expulsion assembly comprising: a suds expulsion member configured to be disposed between the tub and the cabinet and including a suds inlet and a suds outlet, wherein the suds inlet is configured to receive suds from the tub and the suds outlet is configured to expel a substantially continuous stream of suds from the suds tube; anda suds vent configured to be fixed to the cabinet so that the suds vent is spaced apart from the suds outlet to form a gap, wherein the suds vent forms an aperture configured to receive the continuous stream of suds from the suds expulsion member and vent the continuous stream of suds away from an inner surface of the cabinet.
  • 12. The suds expulsion assembly of claim 11, wherein the suds expulsion member is formed by a tube provided with a first portion and a second portion, arranged substantially orthogonal to the first portion, wherein the second portion forms the suds outlet and is configured to face towards the suds vent.
  • 13. The suds expulsion assembly of claim 12, wherein the second portion includes bellows configured to axially deform in response to a force applied to the second portion of the tube.
  • 14. The suds expulsion assembly of claim 12, wherein the tube includes a third portion arranged substantially orthogonally to the first portion, wherein the third portion is configured to face away from the suds vent, and the third portion forms the suds inlet.
  • 15. The suds expulsion assembly of claim 12, wherein the first portion of the suds tube has a first length, the second portion of the suds tube has a second length, wherein the second length is less than the first length.
  • 16. The laundry treating appliance of claim 12, wherein the suds outlet defines a first inner diameter aperture of the suds vent defines a second inner diameter, wherein the second inner diameter is greater than the first inner diameter.
  • 17. A laundry treating appliance comprising: a cabinet;a tub disposed in the cabinet and configured to receive water and detergent;a drum disposed within the tub configured to receive the water and the detergent from the tub;a suds tube fluidly coupled to the tub and configured to receive suds generated by the water and detergent; anda suds vent disposed within an opening defined by the cabinet and spaced apart from the suds tube to form a gap, wherein the suds vent forms an aperture configured to receive the suds from the suds tube and vent the suds to an area external to the cabinet.
  • 18. The laundry treating appliance of claim 17, wherein the suds tube includes a proximal end, fixed to the tub, and a distal end facing the suds vent, wherein the gap is formed between the distal end of the suds tube and at least a portion of the suds vent.
  • 19. The laundry treating appliance of claim 17, further comprising: a heat exchanger configured to deliver dry heated air to the drum to dry laundry disposed therein, wherein the suds tube includes a proximal end, fixed to the heat exchanger, and a distal end facing the suds vent, wherein the gap is formed between the distal end of the suds tube and at least a portion of the suds vent.
  • 20. The laundry treating appliance of claim 19, wherein the suds vent includes a canopy extending from the distal end in a direction oblique to the cabinet, wherein the canopy is configured to retain moisture of the suds and an end of the canopy is U-shaped.