Washing machine appliance with a top panel having a recessed portion

Abstract

A washing machine appliance is provided with a cabinet having a top panel. The top panel includes a recessed portion. The recessed portion has an arcuate shape and is configured for receipt of a human torso. The recessed portion can, e.g., assist a user in accessing a wash basket of the appliance.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vertical axis washing machine appliance comprising:
 a cabinet extending between a top and a bottom and extending between a first side and a second side, said cabinet defining a horizontal direction between the first and second sides of said cabinet also defining a vertical direction between the top and bottom of said cabinet, said cabinet further extending between a front and a back and defining a transverse direction between the front and back of said cabinet, the transverse direction being perpendicular to the vertical and horizontal directions;   a wash basket mounted in said cabinet, said wash basket configured for the receipt of articles during a washing process and for rotation about a substantially vertical axis; and   a top panel positioned adjacent the top of said cabinet, said top panel defining an opening for permitting access to said wash basket, said top panel having a recessed portion positioned adjacent the front of said cabinet, the recessed portion being substantially arcuate along the horizontal direction, the recessed portion being configured for receipt of a human torso.   
     
     
         2 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein said top panel extends between a first side and a second side about a centerline of the appliance, wherein the recessed portion of said top panel is substantially symmetrically distributed about the centerline between first side of said top panel and the second side of said top panel. 
     
     
         3 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein said top panel has a width, W, along the horizontal direction between a first side of said top panel and a second side of said top panel, wherein the recessed portion of said top panel has a length, L, along the horizontal direction between a first end of the recessed portion and a second end of the recessed portion, wherein L is between about twenty percent and about fifty percent of W. 
     
     
         4 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the recessed portion of said top panel has a length, L, along the horizontal direction between a first end of the recessed portion and a second end of the recessed portion, wherein L is between about four inches and about sixteen inches. 
     
     
         5 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the recessed portion has a front, a back, and a depth, D, along the vertical direction between a top of the recessed portion and a bottom of the recessed portion, wherein the recessed portion slopes downwardly along the transverse direction such that depth D increases from the front to the back of the recessed portion. 
     
     
         6 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the recessed portion extends between a top and a bottom, the recessed portion defining a depth, D, along the vertical direction between the top of the recessed portion and the bottom of the recessed portion, with D being between about one inch and about 4 inches. 
     
     
         7 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the recessed portion extends between a front and a back along the transverse direction, wherein the front of the recessed portion is positioned higher than the back of the recessed portion such that the recessed portion is pitched towards the back of said cabinet along the transverse direction. 
     
     
         8 . The appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a door mounted to said cabinet or said top panel, said door configured for permitting selective access to said wash basket, said door being disposed over the recessed portion of said top panel such that the door covers the recessed portion. 
     
     
         9 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein a bottom of the recessed portion is positioned adjacent said wash basket. 
     
     
         10 . A vertical axis washing machine appliance comprising:
 a cabinet extending between a top and a bottom and extending between a first side and a second side, said cabinet defining a horizontal direction between the first and second sides of said cabinet and also defining a vertical direction between the top and bottom of said cabinet, said cabinet further extending between a front and a back and defining a transverse direction between the front and back of said cabinet, the transverse direction being perpendicular to the vertical and horizontal directions;   a wash basket mounted in said cabinet, said wash basket configured for the receipt of articles during a washing process and for rotation about a substantially vertical axis;   a top panel positioned adjacent the top of said cabinet, said top panel defining an opening for permitting access to said wash basket, said top panel having a substantially planar exterior portion and a recessed exterior portion, the recessed exterior portion being positioned adjacent the front of said cabinet, the recessed exterior portion being substantially arcuate along the horizontal direction, the recessed exterior portion extending between a first end and a second end, the recessed exterior portion having a length, L, along the horizontal direction between the first end and the second end of the recessed exterior portion, the recessed exterior portion being disposed below the substantially planar exterior portion along L such that the recessed exterior portion extends between a top and a bottom and has a depth, D, along the vertical direction between the top and the bottom of the recessed exterior portion, the recessed exterior portion being configured for receipt of a human torso.   
     
     
         11 . The appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the recessed exterior portion of said top panel is substantially symmetrically distributed about a centerline between first side of said top panel and the second side of said top panel. 
     
     
         12 . The appliance of  claim 10 , wherein said top panel has a width, W, along the horizontal direction between a first side of said top panel and a second side of said top panel, wherein L is between about twenty percent and about fifty percent of W. 
     
     
         13 . The appliance of  claim 10 , wherein L is between about four inches and about sixteen inches. 
     
     
         14 . The appliance of  claim 10 , wherein D is between about one inch and about 4 inches. 
     
     
         15 . The appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the recessed exterior portion extends between a front and a back along the transverse direction, wherein the front of the recessed exterior portion is positioned higher than the back of the recessed exterior portion such that the recessed exterior portion is pitched towards the back of said cabinet along the transverse direction. 
     
     
         16 . The appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the recessed exterior portion slopes downwardly along the transverse direction such that depth D increases from a front of the recessed exterior portion to a back of the recessed exterior portion. 
     
     
         17 . The appliance of  claim 10 , further comprising a door mounted to said cabinet or said top panel, said door configured for permitting selective access to said wash basket, said door being disposed over the recessed exterior portion of said top panel such that the door covers the recessed exterior portion. 
     
     
         18 . The appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the bottom of the recessed exterior portion is positioned adjacent said wash basket.