Clothes dryer with extendable rack

• US 20080022551A1
• Filed: 07/28/2006
• Published: 01/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: King, Jason, Eakins, Rebecca, Calmeise, Randall, Banta, Mark A., Watson, Eric K., Watkins, Derek, Beyerle, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,087,184 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 34/602
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/24 Spin speed; Drum movements
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/28 Electric heating
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/08 Control circuits or arrangements thereof
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/04 Details controlling or regulating devices D06F34/00

Abstract

A drum for a clothes dryer includes a generally cylindrical sidewall rotatable about a horizontal axis. The sidewall has an outer wall and an inner wall. The inner wall defines an interior volume for receiving articles to be dried. A hanger mechanism is coupled to the inner wall. The hanger mechanism is configured to support items hanged therefrom for drying without rotation of the drum. A shelf is coupled to the inner wall. The shelf is movable between a retracted position and an extended position. When extended, the shelf is configured to support articles to be dried. The drum is stationary during drying cycles wherein the hanger mechanism and the retractable shelf are in use. A heat source is operated at a reduced power level when the drum is not rotated.

Claims

1. A drum for a clothes dryer, said drum comprising:

a generally cylindrical sidewall rotatable about a horizontal axis, said sidewall having an outer wall and an inner wall, said inner wall defining an interior volume for receiving articles to be dried; and

a hanger mechanism coupled to said inner wall, said hanger mechanism configured to support items hanged therefrom for drying without rotation of said drum.

2. A drum in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a baffle coupled to said inner wall, said baffle including said hanger mechanism.

3. A drum in accordance with claim 2 wherein said baffle comprises a shell and a bracket mounted in said shell and said hanger mechanism comprises a retention member movable between an extended position and a retracted position and a magnet positioned on said retention member such that magnetic attraction between said magnet and bracket holds said retention member in the retracted position.

4. A drum for a clothes dryer, said drum comprising:

a generally cylindrical sidewall rotatable about a horizontal axis, said sidewall having an outer wall and an inner wall, said inner wall defining an interior volume for receiving articles to be dried; and

a shelf coupled to said inner wall, said shelf being movable between a retracted position and an extended position.

5. A drum in accordance with claim 4 further comprising a biasing member coupled to said shelf and biasing said shelf in said retracted position.

6. A drum in accordance with claim 4 further comprising a first baffle coupled to said inner wall, said baffle including said shelf.

7. A drum in accordance with claim 6 wherein said first baffle is movable between a retracted position and an extended position to extend said shelf.

8. A drum in accordance with claim 6 wherein said first baffle includes a base and a handle and wherein said shelf has an exterior end coupled to said handle.

9. A drum in accordance with claim 8 wherein said handle is magnetically attracted to said base when said shelf is in said retracted position.

10. A drum in accordance with claim 4 further comprising a hanger mechanism coupled to said inner wall, said shelf engaging said hanger mechanism when in the extended position to retain said shelf in said extended position.

11. A drum in accordance with claim 10 further comprising a second baffle coupled to said inner wall, said second baffle including said hanger mechanism.

12. A clothes dryer comprising:

a drum for holding articles to be dried, said drum including an inner wall defining an interior volume;

a blower circulating heated air within said drum;

a heat source providing heated air to said drum;

a drive system coupled to said drum and said blower;

a controller operatively coupled to said drive system; and

a shelf coupled to said inner wall, said shelf being movable between a retracted position and an extended position.

13. A clothes dryer in accordance with claim 12 further comprising a biasing member coupled to said shelf and biasing said shelf in said retracted position.

14. A clothes dryer in accordance with claim 12 further comprising a first baffle coupled to said inner wall, said baffle including said shelf.

15. A clothes dryer in accordance with claim 14 wherein said first baffle includes a base and a handle and wherein said shelf has an exterior end coupled to said handle.

16. A clothes dryer in accordance with claim 12 further comprising a hanger mechanism coupled to said inner wall, said shelf engaging said hanger mechanism when in the extended position to retain said shelf in said extended position.

17. A clothes dryer in accordance with claim 16 further comprising a second baffle coupled to said inner wall, said second baffle including said hanger mechanism.

18. A clothes dryer in accordance with claim 12 wherein said dryer includes a drying cycle wherein said controller is configured to control said drive mechanism to inhibit rotation of said drum while operating said blower to maintain airflow through said drum.

19. A clothes dryer in accordance with claim 18 wherein said controller is configured to operate said heat source at a reduced power level when said drum is not rotated.

20. A clothes dryer in accordance with claim 19 wherein said heat source is operated at a reduced voltage to reduce the power level of said heat source.

21. A clothes dryer in accordance with claim 19 wherein said heat source includes electric coils and said controller is configured to couple the electric coils in series to reduce the power level of said heat source.