Washing machine with ultraviolet protection cycle

Abstract

A controller for a washing machine includes a memory storing an ultraviolet protection wash cycle and another wash cycle, and a selector that selects one of the ultraviolet protection wash cycle and the another wash cycle.

1 . A washing machine comprising:
 a housing;   a rotatable drum within the housing; and   a controller in the housing that that selects one of a ultraviolet protection wash cycle and another wash cycle.   
   
   
       2 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the controller further comprises a memory that stores the ultraviolet protection wash cycle and the another wash cycle. 
   
   
       3 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein, one of a wash liquid temperature of the ultraviolet protection wash cycle is higher than the another wash cycle, a cycle time of the ultraviolet protection wash cycle is longer than the another wash cycle, a spin speed of the ultraviolet protection wash cycle is lower than the another wash cycle, a spin pattern of the ultraviolet protection wash cycle is graduated, the ultraviolet protection wash cycle prevents cold water from entering the washing chamber until after the main wash cycle, and a main wash cycle of the ultraviolet protection wash cycle is longer than a main wash cycle of the another wash cycle. 
   
   
       4 . A controller for a washing machine comprising:
 a memory storing an ultraviolet protection wash cycle and another wash cycle; and   a selector that selects one of the ultraviolet protection wash cycle and the another wash cycle.   
   
   
       5 . The controller of  claim 4 , wherein the ultraviolet protection wash cycle improves the ultraviolet protection of items over the another wash cycle. 
   
   
       6 . The controller of  claim 4 , wherein a wash liquid temperature of the ultraviolet protection wash cycle is higher than the another wash cycle. 
   
   
       7 . The controller of  claim 4 , wherein a starting wash liquid temperature of the ultraviolet protection wash cycle is about 120 degrees Fahrenheit. 
   
   
       8 . The controller of  claim 4 , wherein a wash liquid temperature of the ultraviolet protection wash cycle is about 140 degrees Fahrenheit. 
   
   
       9 . The controller of  claim 8 , wherein the wash liquid temperature of the ultraviolet protection wash cycle is maintained at about 140 degrees Fahrenheit for about five minutes. 
   
   
       10 . The controller of  claim 4 , wherein the cycle time of the ultraviolet protection wash cycle is longer than the another wash cycle. 
   
   
       11 . The controller of  claim 4 , wherein the spin speed of the ultraviolet protection wash cycle is lower than the another wash cycle. 
   
   
       12 . The controller of  claim 11 , wherein the final spin speed of the ultraviolet protection wash cycle is lower than the another wash cycle. 
   
   
       13 . The controller of  claim 4 , wherein the spin pattern of the ultraviolet protection wash cycle comprises a series of spin intervals of about thirty seconds each. 
   
   
       14 . The controller of  claim 4 , wherein the spin pattern of the ultraviolet protection wash cycle is graduated. 
   
   
       15 . The controller of  claim 14 , wherein the spin pattern of the ultraviolet protection wash cycle comprises a plurality of spin speed spikes. 
   
   
       16 . The controller of  claim 15 , wherein the spin speed of each of the plurality of spin speed spikes is different. 
   
   
       17 . The controller of  claim 16 , wherein the spin speed of each of the plurality of spin speed spikes gradually increase. 
   
   
       18 . The controller of  claim 15 , wherein the spin speed of the ultraviolet protection wash cycle is about zero between the plurality of spin speed spikes. 
   
   
       19 . The controller of  claim 4 , wherein ultraviolet protection wash cycle prevents cold water from entering the washing chamber until after the main wash cycle. 
   
   
       20 . The controller of  claim 4 , wherein the main wash cycle of the ultraviolet protection wash cycle is longer than the main wash cycle of the another wash cycle.