Apparatus for washing machine including a drain-back groove

Abstract

A washing machine including a perforated inner basket and an outer tub is disclosed. The outer tub includes one or more grooves on its inside wall to redirect extracted water from the perforated inner basket downwardly into a collection area for disposal. The groove may be generally vertical or angled along the upper portion of the inner wall of the tub. The groove preferably includes an undercut portion that extends in the same direction as the perforated basket spins.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A washing machine having an inner chamber which rotates about an axis of rotation and an outer chamber, the outer chamber comprising: 
 an upper portion having a groove formed therein for directing water downwardly towards a discharge port and traversing the side wall; and    a lower portion connected to the upper portion.    
     
     
         2 . The outer chamber of  claim 1  wherein the groove includes an undercut portion.  
     
     
         3 . The outer chamber of  claim 1  wherein the groove traverses the entire length of the upper portion.  
     
     
         4 . The outer chamber of  claim 1  wherein the groove is vertically disposed.  
     
     
         5 . The outer chamber of  claim 1  wherein the groove is angled with respect to the axis of rotation.  
     
     
         6 . The outer chamber of  claim 1  wherein the groove traverses in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation.  
     
     
         7 . A washing machine that minimizes sudsing during the spin cycle, the washing machine comprising: 
 a cabinet;    a motor secured within the cabinet;    a tub mounted within the cabinet;    a perforated basket mounted within the tub and operatively connected to the motor;    a groove formed in the tub for directing fluid spun out of the perforated basket in a downward direction; and    a drain within the cabinet to direct fluid away from the tub.    
     
     
         8 . The washing machine of  claim 7  wherein the groove includes an undercut portion.  
     
     
         9 . The washing machine of  claim 7  wherein the groove is disposed at an angle with respect to the axis of rotation.  
     
     
         10 . The washing machine of  claim 7  wherein the groove is disposed vertically.  
     
     
         11 . The washing machine of  claim 7  wherein a plurality of equally spaced grooves are used.  
     
     
         12 . The washing machine of  claim 7  wherein the tub includes an upper portion and a lower portion and the groove is formed in the upper portion.  
     
     
         13 . A method of minimizing sudsing in a washing machine during the rinse cycle, the method comprising: 
 forming a groove in a tub of a washing machine, the groove having an undercut portion;    rotating a wash basket inside the tub to remove waste wash water from the basket;    routing waste wash water down the groove to prevent excess sudsing; and    removing the waste wash water from the tub.    
     
     
         14 . The method of minimizing sudsing of  claim 13  wherein the a plurality of grooves are formed and equally spaced along the wall of the tub.  
     
     
         15 . The method of minimizing sudsing of  claim 13  wherein the groove is formed with a shallow end and a deep end and wherein the basket is rotated in the direction going from the shallow end to the deep end of the groove.