Combination washer/dryer

• US 6,671,978 B1
• Filed: 11/13/2002
• Issued: 01/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ian A. Mcgowan, Laura Tartaro-Mcgowan
• Original Assignee: Ian A. Mcgowan, Laura Tartaro-Mcgowan
• Inventors: Tartaro-McGowan, Laura, McGowan, Ian A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ragonese, Andrea M.
• Application Number:
  US10/292,531
• Time in Patent Office: 419 Days
• Field of Search: 345/26, 345/27, 345/73, 34/60, 345/95, 345/96, 345/99, 346/02, 346/03, 341/35, 341/39, 342/36, D32/5, D32/6, D32/8, D32/11, 68/3.R, 68/192
• US Class Current: 34/596
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 29/00 Combinations of a washing machine with other separate apparatus in a common frame or the like, e.g. with rinsing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 29/005 the other separate apparatus being a drying appliance
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 95/00 Laundry systems or arrangements of apparatus or machines; Mobile laundries D06F31/00 takes precedence

Abstract

A combined washer and dryer that automatically moves laundry from the washer to the dryer thereby allowing the operator to avoid manually moving wet laundry and eliminating a step requiring the operator'"'"'s presence. The invention includes an automatic load-feeder that automatically loads laundry into the washer.

Claims

1. A combination washer/dryer comprising:

a washer component, a dryer component, and an outer container wherein;

(a) said washer component comprises;

(i) a cylindrical washing drum with an open top and a closed bottom, and including an inner drum and an outer drum, said inner drum sitting inside of said outer drum, said inner drum is perforated and said outer drum is water-tight with a drain hole through its base;

(ii) an agitating arm running through the center of said washing drum, wherein said agitating arm is a shaft with fins protruding outward from its side, a portion of said agitating arm passing through said base of said washing drum, the top of said agitating arm does not extend beyond top end of said washing drum;

(iii) means for rotating said inner drum and said agitating arm;

(iv) means for supplying water to said washing drum;

(v) means for removing water from washing drum through said drain hole;

(vi) means for mounting said washing drum to said outer container means; and

(vii) means for inverting said washing drum;

(b) said dryer component comprising;

(i) a cylindrical drying drum rotatably mounted within said outer container means;

(ii) means for rotating said drying drum;

(iii) means for supplying warm air to said drying drum;

(iv) means for removing air from dryer drum; and

(v) means for filtering air as it is removed from said dryer drum;

(c) said outer container means encloses said washer component and said dryer component, and comprises;

(i) a rigid frame,

(ii) covering which covers said washer component, said dryer component and said frame,

(iii) a washer door which provides access through said covering to said washing drum,

(iv) a dryer door which provides access through said covering to said drying drum, and

(v) two control panels—

one for operating said washer component and one for operating said dryer component;

wherein said washer component washes laundry loaded into said washing drum by filling said washing drum with water, agitating water and laundry by rotating said inner drum and said agitating arm, draining water from said washing drum via said drain hole, and rotating said inner drum to drain excess water from laundry via centrifugal force;

wherein said dryer component drys laundry loaded in said drying drum by applying warm air to tumbling laundry as said drying drum is rotated, and removing moisture-laden air from said drying drum; and

wherein washed laundry is transferred from said washer drum to said dryer drum by inverting said washer drum.

2. The combination washer/dryer according to claim 1, wherein:

said washing drum is mounted to said outer container means via two bearing/axle assemblies attached to opposite sides of said washing drum, said bearing/axle assemblies allowing said washing drum to be rotated into an inverted position, there further being means for rotating one axle of one bearing axle assembly, wherein rotation of said axle causes said washing drum to be inverted;

said drying drum has an opening over which a movable drying drum door is positioned; and

means for opening and closing said drying drum door, wherein washed laundry is transferred from washing drum to drying drum upon positioning of said drying drum opening under said washing drum, opening of said drying drum door, rotation of said bearing/axle assembly, inversion of said washing drum and, once laundry is loaded into said dryer drum, closing of said drying drum door.

3. The combination washer/dryer according to claim 2, wherein said outer container means includes a tapered chute between said washer component and said dryer component, wherein said chute tapers inward from top to bottom and wherein, when said washing drum is inverted, laundry falls from said washing drum, through said chute, and into said drying drum.

4. The combination washer/dryer according to claim 2, wherein said means for rotating inner drum can rotate said inner drum clockwise and counter-clockwise in alternating successive intervals of less than five seconds thereby helping free laundry, when washing drum is inverted, from the walls of said inner drum.

5. A load-feeder for a washer comprising:

(a) a laundry hopper having an open top, an open bottom and more than three sides;

(b) a load-feeder door shaped and dimensioned to cover bottom opening of said laundry hopper; and

(c) means for opening and closing said load-feeder door;

wherein said load-feeder is mounted on a washer door having an opening that mates to bottom opening of said laundry hopper, said load-feeder door is positioned between bottom opening of said laundry hopper and said opening in said washer door, and wherein when said load-feeder door is in closed position, laundry may be held in laundry hopper, and wherein when said load-feeder door is opened, laundry falls freely through bottom opening of said laundry hopper and through opening in said washer door.

6. The loader-feeder according to claim 5, wherein said sides of said laundry hopper taper inwardly from top to bottom.

7. A combination washer/dryer comprising:

a washer component, a dryer component, a load-feeder, and an outer container;

(a) said washer component comprising;

(i) a cylindrical washing drum with an open top and a closed bottom, said washing drum further including an inner drum and an outer drum with said inner drum sitting inside of said outer drum, and wherein said inner drum is perforated and said outer drum is water-tight with a drain hole through its base;

(ii) an agitating arm running through the center of said washing drum, said agitating arm is a shaft with fins protruding outward from its side, a portion of said agitating arm passes through base of said washing drum, and the top of said agitating arm does not extend beyond top end of said washing drum;

(iii) means for rotating said inner drum and said agitating arm;

(iv) means for supplying water to said washing drum;

(v) means for removing water from washing drum through said drain hole;

(vi) means for mounting said washing drum to said outer container; and

(vii) means for inverting said washing drum;

(b) said dryer component comprising;

(i) a cylindrical drying drum being rotatably mounted within said outer container;

(ii) means for rotating said drying drum;

(iii) means for supplying warm air to said drying drum;

(iv) means for removing air from dryer drum; and

(v) means for filtering air as it is removed from said dryer drum;

(c) said load-feeder comprising;

(i) a laundry hopper having an open top, an open bottom and more than three sides;

(ii) a load-feeder door shaped and dimensioned to cover bottom opening of said laundry hopper; and

(iii) means for opening and closing said load-feeder door;

(d) said outer container means enclosing said washer component and said dryer component and comprising;

(i) a rigid frame;

(ii) a covering which covers said washer component, said dryer component and said frame,

(iii) a washer door which provides access through said covering to said washing drum,

(iv) a dryer door which provides access through said covering to said drying drum; and

(v) two control panels—

one for operating both said washer component and said load-feeder, and one for operating said dryer component;

wherein said load-feeder is mounted on said washer door and said washer door has an opening that mates to bottom opening of said laundry hopper, said load-feeder door is positioned between bottom opening of said laundry hopper and said opening in said washer door, such that when said load-feeder door is in a closed position, laundry may be held in laundry hopper, and when load-feeder door is opened laundry falls freely through bottom opening of said laundry hopper, through opening in said washer door and into said washing drum, wherein said washer component washes laundry loaded into said washing drum by filling said washing drum with water, agitating water and laundry by rotating said inner drum and said agitating arm, draining water from said washing drum via said drain hole, and rotating said inner drum to drain excess water from laundry via centrifugal force, wherein said dryer component drys laundry loaded in said drying drum by applying warm air to tumbling laundry as said drying drum is rotated, and removing moisture-laden air from said drying drum, and wherein washed laundry are transferred from said washer drum to said dryer drum by inverting said washer drum.

8. The combination washer/dryer according to claim 7, wherein:

said washing drum is mounted to said outer container means via two bearing/axle assemblies attached to opposite sides of said washing drum, wherein said bearing/axle assemblies allow said washing drum to be rotated into an inverted position, and further including means for rotating one axle of one bearing axle assembly, wherein rotation of said axle causes said washing drum to be inverted, said drying drum having an opening over which a movable drying drum doors is positioned, and means for opening and closing said drying drum door, wherein washed laundry is transferred from washing drum to drying drum upon positioning of said drying drum opening under said washing drum, opening of said drying drum door, rotation of said bearing/axle assembly, inversion of said washing drum and, once laundry is loaded into said drying drum, closing of said drying drum door.

9. The combination washer/dryer according to claim 8, wherein:

said outer container means includes a tapered chute between said washer component and said dryer component, wherein said chute tapers inward from top to bottom and wherein, when said washer drum is inverted, laundry falls from said washer drum, through said chute, and into said drying drum.

10. The combination washer/dryer according to claim 8, wherein said means for rotating inner drum can rotate said inner drum clockwise and counter-clockwise in alternating successive intervals of less than five seconds thereby helping free laundry, when washing drum is inverted, from walls of said inner drum.

11. The combination washer/dryer according to claim 8, wherein said sides of said laundry hopper taper inward from top to bottom.