Apparatus for reducing retained moisture content of articles and method of fabricating

Abstract

A method of fabricating a wash basket for a washing machine including providing a substantially cylindrical housing having a bottom and an inner wall, providing a plurality of geometric structures and connecting the plurality of geometric structures to the inner wall. The plurality of geometric structures may be configured to optimize a relationship between mechanically agitating an article contained within the wash basket during a wash cycle and reducing a residual moisture content of the article during a spin cycle. A wash basket for a washing machine may include a housing having an inner wall fabricated by a first process and a plurality of geometric structures fabricated by a second process where the plurality of geometric structures are attached to and extend radially inwardly from the inner wall, the geometric structures comprising a separate structure relative to the housing.

1 ) A method of fabricating a wash basket for a washing machine, the method comprising: 
 providing a substantially cylindrical housing having a bottom and an inner wall;    providing a plurality of geometric structures; and    connecting the plurality of geometric structures to the inner wall.    
   
   
       2 ) The method of  claim 1 , the step of providing a housing comprising providing the housing comprising stainless steel.  
   
   
       3 ) The method of  claim 2 , the step of providing a plurality of geometric structures comprising providing the plurality of geometric structures comprising a synthetic resin.  
   
   
       4 ) The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 configuring the plurality of geometric structures to optimize a relationship between mechanically agitating an article contained within the wash basket during a wash cycle and reducing a residual moisture content of the article during a spin cycle.    
   
   
       5 ) The method of  claim 4 , the step of configuring comprising: 
 determining a spacing between at least two of the plurality of geometric structures;    determining a height of at least one of the plurality of geometric structures; and    determining a shape of at least one of the plurality of geometric structures.    
   
   
       6 ) The method of  claim 5  wherein at least one of the determining steps is a function of at least one operating parameter of the washing machine.  
   
   
       7 ) The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 providing a geometric structure having an aperture formed therein.    
   
   
       8 ) A wash basket for a washing machine, the wash basket comprising: 
 a housing having an inner wall fabricated by a first process; and    a plurality of geometric structures fabricated by a second process, the plurality of geometric structures attached to and extending radially inwardly from the inner wall, the geometric structures comprising a separate structure relative to the housing:    
   
   
       9 ) The wash basket of  claim 8  wherein at least one of the plurality of geometric structures has a bell-shaped cross section.  
   
   
       10 ) The wash basket of  claim 8 , at least one of the plurality of geometric structures comprising a first portion extending radially inwardly a first distance from the inner wall and a second portion extending radially inwardly a second distance from the inner wall where the first distance is greater than the second distance.  
   
   
       11 ) The wash basket of  claim 8  further comprising: 
 a porous material covering at least a portion of at least one of the plurality of geometric structures.    
   
   
       12 ) The wash basket of  claim 8  wherein at least one of the geometric structures is formed of a material sufficiently porous to wick a quantity of liquid away from an article contained in the wash basket during a spin cycle.  
   
   
       13 ) The wash basket of  claim 8 , the plurality of geometric structures comprising a plurality of spaced apart ribs.  
   
   
       14 ) The wash basket of  claim 8  wherein a shape of the plurality of geometric structures is configured for mechanically agitating an article contained within the wash basket during a wash cycle and for reducing a residual moisture content of the article during a spin cycle.  
   
   
       15 ) The wash basket of  claim 8  wherein at least one of the plurality of geometric structures has an aperture formed therein.  
   
   
       16 ) A washing machine comprising: 
 a cabinet;    a wash basket rotatably mounted in the cabinet, the wash basket having a bottom and an inner wall; and    a plurality of geometric structures connected to the inner wall, the geometric structures extending radially inwardly from the inner wall.    
   
   
       17 ) The washing machine of  claim 16  wherein at least two of the plurality of geometric structures are spaced apart about 1.25 inches from respective centerlines and at least one of the plurality of geometric structures extends radially inwardly of the wash basket about 0.625 inches.  
   
   
       18 ) The washing machine of  claim 16  wherein a shape of the plurality of geometric structures is configured based on at least an operating parameter of the washing machine for increasing a volume of the wash basket and decreasing a residual moisture content of an article contained within the wash basket during a spin cycle.  
   
   
       19 ) The washing machine of  claim 16  further comprising: 
 means for introducing air into the wash basket during a spin cycle.    
   
   
       20 ) The washing machine of  claim 16  further comprising: 
 means for providing airflow along a central axis of an agitator during a spin.    
   
   
       21 ) The washing machine of  claim 20 , the means for providing airflow along a central axis of the agitator during a spin cycle comprising a vent formed in the cabinet and a duct for directing air from the vent to the central axis of the agitator.  
   
   
       22 ) The washing machine of  claim 20  further comprising: 
 means for heating the airflow.    
   
   
       23 ) The washing machine of  claim 16  further comprising: 
 a porous material covering at least a portion of a geometric structure for wicking a quantity of water away from an article contained in the wash basket during a spin cycle.    
   
   
       24 ) The washing machine of  claim 16  further comprising: 
 means for drawing air from the wash basket during a spin cycle.    
   
   
       25 ) An apparatus in a washing machine for extracting liquid from an article when the apparatus is rotated about an axis, the apparatus comprising: 
 a substantially cylindrical housing having an inner wall defining a height;    a geometric structure attachable to the housing; and    means for attaching the geometric structure to the inner wall.    
   
   
       26 ) The apparatus of  claim 25 , the housing further comprising: 
 a bottom; and    wherein the geometric structure is configured in an area of the housing that is less than the height of the housing.    
   
   
       27 ) The apparatus of  claim 26 , the geometric structure comprising a plurality of ribs.  
   
   
       28 ) The apparatus of  claim 25 , the geometric structure comprising at least one geometric structure selected from the group of a linear rib and a nonlinear rib and a semi-spherical protrusion.  
   
   
       29 ) The apparatus of  claim 25  wherein the geometric structure has a constant cross section and extends radially inwardly from the inner wall.  
   
   
       30 ) The apparatus of  claim 25  wherein the geometric structure has a bell-shaped cross section.  
   
   
       31 ) The apparatus of  claim 25  wherein the geometric structure extends radially inwardly from the inner wall between about 0.25 inches and 1.0 inch.  
   
   
       32 ) The apparatus of  claim 25 , the geometric structure comprising a plurality of ribs, wherein a distance between at least two ribs is sufficient to prevent the article from impinging the inner wall during a spin cycle.  
   
   
       33 ) The apparatus of  claim 32  wherein at least one of the plurality of ribs has an aperture formed therein.  
   
   
       34 ) The apparatus of  claim 25  wherein the geometric structure has an aperture formed therein.