Console shell for a laundry appliance

• US 10,604,881 B1
• Filed: 02/14/2019
• Issued: 03/31/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2019
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Allen, Ryan L., Guidarini, Charles J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rohrhoff, Daniel J
• Application Number:
  US16/275,783
• Time in Patent Office: 411 Days
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/28 Arrangements for program selection, e.g. control panels therefor; Arrangements for indicating program parameters, e.g. the selected program or its progress
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/12 Casings; Tubs
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/06 Devices for limiting the opening movement of hinges
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 2005/102 Pins
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 7/1044 in an axial direction E05D7/1005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 5/02 specially for preventing the slamming of swinging wings during final closing movement, e.g. jamb stops
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/266 rotary
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2600/528 Hooking, e.g. using bayonets; Locking
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/312 for washing machines or laundry dryers

Abstract

A laundry appliance includes a cabinet and a top panel coupled to a top edge of the cabinet. A console shell is coupled to the top panel. The console shell defined left and right shoulders extending from the console shell towards a front of the cabinet. An edge-to-edge lid is coupled to the left and right shoulders via left and right wire hinges, respectively.

Claims

1. A laundry appliance comprising:

a cabinet;

a top panel coupled to a top edge of the cabinet;

a console shell coupled to the top panel, wherein the console shell defines left and right shoulders extending from the console shell towards a front of the cabinet; and

an edge-to-edge lid coupled to the left and right shoulders via left and right wire hinges, respectively, wherein the edge-to-edge lid defines left and right cutouts to accommodate the left and right shoulders, respectively.

2. The laundry appliance of claim 1, wherein the edge-to-edge lid extends from a right edge of the cabinet to a left edge of the cabinet.

3. The laundry appliance of claim 1, wherein the left and right shoulders extend approximately one inch from a body of the console shell.

4. The laundry appliance of claim 1, wherein the left and right shoulders each define an aperture on an interior surface for receiving the left and right wire hinges, respectively.

5. The laundry appliance of claim 1, further comprising:

left and right hinge stops positioned within an interior of the left and right shoulders, respectively.

6. The laundry appliance of claim 5, wherein the left and right wire hinges include a hook configured to cooperate with the left and right hinge stops, respectively, to define an open position of the edge-to-edge lid.

7. The laundry appliance of claim 1, wherein the console shell includes a body and the left and right shoulders that form a single integral piece.

8. The laundry appliance of claim 1, wherein the edge-to-edge lid includes a frame positioned about an inner panel.

9. A laundry appliance, comprising:

a cabinet;

a top panel coupled to a top edge of the cabinet;

a console shell coupled to the top panel, wherein the console shell defines left and right shoulders; and

an edge-to-edge lid coupled to the left and right shoulders via left and right rotary dampers, respectively, wherein the edge-to-edge lid defines left and right cutouts to accommodate the left and right shoulders, respectively.

10. The laundry appliance of claim 9, wherein shafts of the left and right rotary dampers are coupled to the left and right shoulders, respectively, and housings of the left and right rotary dampers are positioned within the edge-to-edge lid.

11. The laundry appliance of claim 10, wherein the left and right shoulders each define a cavity for securing the shafts of the left and right rotary dampers, respectively.

12. The laundry appliance of claim 9, wherein the edge-to-edge lid includes a frame positioned about an inner panel.

13. The laundry appliance of claim 12, wherein housings of the left and right rotary dampers are positioned within the frame of the edge-to-edge lid.

14. The laundry appliance of claim 9, wherein the left and right shoulders extend approximately 2 inches from the console shell.

15. A laundry appliance, comprising:

a cabinet;

a console shell coupled to the cabinet, wherein the console shell defines first and second shoulders; and

an edge-to-edge lid pivotally coupled to the first and second shoulders, wherein the edge-to-edge lid includes a frame and a glass panel positioned therein.

16. The laundry appliance of claim 15, wherein the edge-to-edge lid is coupled to the first and second shoulders via wire hinges.

17. The laundry appliance of claim 16, wherein the edge-to-edge lid is made from steel.

18. The laundry appliance of claim 15, wherein the edge-to-edge lid is coupled to the first and second shoulders via at least one rotary damper.

19. The laundry appliance of claim 15, wherein the first and second shoulders extend a distance in a range of from approximately 1 inch to approximately 2 inches from the console shell towards a front of the cabinet.