Washing machine and method of washing

Abstract

A washing machine is for clothing items. The washing machine includes a wash basket defining a basket cavity configured to receive the clothing items. The wash basket includes opposite lateral wall portions with a horizontally aligned rotation axis extending through the opposite lateral wall portions. The wash basket is configured for rotation about the horizontally aligned rotation axis. The washing machine also includes a drive assembly configured to rotate the opposite lateral wall portions of the wash basket with an equally-distributed rotation force. This is done in such a way that an occurrence of a rotational imbalance of the wash basket, as a result of receiving the equally-distributed rotation force, is reduced.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A washing machine for clothing items, the washing machine comprising:
 a wash basket defining a basket cavity being configured to receive the clothing items, the wash basket including opposite lateral wall portions with a horizontally aligned rotation axis extending through the opposite lateral wall portions, and the wash basket being configured for rotation about the horizontally aligned rotation axis; and   a drive assembly being configured to rotate the opposite lateral wall portions of the wash basket with an equally-distributed rotation force in such a way that an occurrence of a rotational imbalance of the wash basket, as a result of receiving the equally-distributed rotation force, is reduced.   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the drive assembly is configured to urge the wash basket to horizontally rotate about the horizontally aligned rotation axis.   
     
     
         3 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the wash basket is configured to form any one of a spheroidal shape and a cylindrical shape.   
     
     
         4 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the wash basket defines a basket channel positioned between the opposite lateral wall portions, in a central zone located midway between the opposite lateral wall portions; and   the basket channel leads into the basket cavity of the wash basket.   
     
     
         5 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the wash basket defines perforations being spaced apart from each other;   the perforations being arranged and positioned over an outer surface of the wash basket;   the perforations being configured to permit flow of water from the basket cavity of the wash basket to the interior of the wash basket, while the basket cavity contains the clothing items within the basket cavity; and   the perforations being configured to permit communication of water between the interior of the wash basket and the interior of a water container.   
     
     
         6 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a foot power-transfer assembly configured to permit a user to rotate the wash basket along a forward rotation in response to the user stepping on the foot power-transfer assembly.   
     
     
         7 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the drive assembly is configured to impart symmetrical rotation forces across the opposite lateral wall portions of the wash basket; and   whereby vibrational rotation imbalance is reduced, at least in part, to the wash basket while the drive assembly, in use, drives to rotate the wash basket.   
     
     
         8 . The washing machine of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a housing assembly; and   wherein the drive assembly includes:
 a pedal assembly; 
 a reciprocatable pedal rod being configured to extend across opposite sides of the wash basket, the reciprocatable pedal rod is spaced apart from the wash basket, the reciprocatable pedal rod is positioned below the wash basket, the reciprocatable pedal rod is coupled to the pedal assembly, and the reciprocatable pedal rod is configured to be linearly translated in response to application of force to the pedal assembly; 
 instance of a first gear rotation axis; 
 instances of a first gear assembly, each instance of the first gear assembly being rotatably mounted to a respective instance of the first gear rotation axis, each instance of the first gear assembly are spaced apart from each other, 
 instances of a cut-length toothed belt being positioned on opposite end sections of the reciprocatable pedal rod, and distal ends of each instance of the cut-length toothed belt being fixedly connected to respective opposite ends of the reciprocatable pedal rod, and each instance of the cut-length toothed belt extends substantially vertically, and each instance of the cut-length toothed belt is configured to operatively engage with a respective instance of the first gear assembly, and as each instance of the cut-length toothed belt is reciprocated, movement of the instances of the cut-length toothed belt causes each respective instance of the first gear assembly to be rotated, respective to the first gear rotation axis; 
 instance of a spring assembly being fixedly connected to opposite distal ends of each respective instance of the cut-length toothed belt, each instance of the spring assembly being connected to the housing assembly, each instance of the spring assembly being configured to bias respectively connected instances of the cut-length toothed belt relative to the housing assembly in such a way as to maintain contact of each instance of the cut-length toothed belt with respective instances of the first gear assembly while the reciprocatable pedal rod is made to reciprocate, and return the reciprocatable pedal rod in response to releasing force from the reciprocatable pedal rod; 
 a one-way clutch being operatively mounted to each instance of the first gear rotation axis, and the one-way clutch being configured to rotate in the same rotational direction no matter which rotational direction that the first gear rotation axis is made to rotate; 
 a second gear being configured to operatively receive a respective instance of the one-way clutch, and the second gear being configured to rotate in the same direction of rotation as the respective instance of the one-way clutch is rotated; 
 instances of a third gear being operatively and fixedly connected to opposite ends of the horizontally aligned rotation axis of the wash basket; and 
 instances of an endless loop belt being configured to operatively couple respective instances of the third gear and respective instances of the second gear, the endless loop belt being configured to operatively rotate the third gear in response to rotation of the second gear. 
   
     
     
         9 . The washing machine of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a housing assembly; and   wherein the drive assembly further includes:
 instances of a permanent magnet being fixedly positioned in the drive assembly and in the housing assembly; 
 for a case where the drive assembly does not provide power, the drive assembly slowly stops rotating, and eventually the instances of the permanent magnet attract each other and become lined up with each other; and 
 once the instances of the permanent magnet are lined up with each other, the wash basket is oriented in such a way that a basket cover of the wash basket is oriented to face vertically upwards, so that a user has ready access to contents of the wash basket. 
   
     
     
         10 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the wash basket includes:
 instances of a washer hub being positioned on opposite sides of the wash basket, and are spaced apart from each other, and the horizontally aligned rotation axis extends through the instances of the washer hub, 
 instances of a support rib extending between the instances of the washer hub; 
 instances of a drum panel extending between instances of the washer hub, and the instances of the drum panel being connected to the respective instances of the support rib; 
 instances of a panel connector being configured to connect adjacent instances of the drum panel; and 
 a detergent tray being provided by a basket cover of the wash basket, and the basket cover defining a plurality of holes configured to permit passage of free flowing water in such a way that a detergent held in the detergent tray is dispersed throughout the wash basket during a wash cycle. 
   
     
     
         11 . The washing machine of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a housing assembly; and   wherein the drive assembly includes:
 a power-transfer assembly that is pivotally mounted to the housing assembly; and 
 a pedal axle extending from the power-transfer assembly, and the pedal axle being operatively coupled to the power-transfer assembly, and the pedal axle being configured to rotate in response to reciprocated movement of the power-transfer assembly. 
   
     
     
         12 . The washing machine of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a housing assembly; and   a drive axle being spaced apart from the horizontally aligned rotation axis, and being positioned below the wash basket, and the drive axle being rotatably supported by the housing assembly in such a way that the drive axle does not interfere with rotation of the wash basket.   
     
     
         13 . The washing machine of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a housing assembly; and   a base pulley being operatively fitted to opposite ends of a drive axle in such a way that once the drive axle is rotated, the base pulley is rotated, and the base pulley is operatively received and supported in the housing assembly and beneath the opposite lateral wall portions of the wash basket.   
     
     
         14 . The washing machine of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a housing assembly; and   a washer pulley being rotatably mounted and supported in the housing assembly proximate to the opposite lateral wall portions of the wash basket, and the washer pulley is rotatably connected to the opposite lateral wall portions of the wash basket, and an axis of the washer pulley is operatively connected to one of the opposite lateral wall portions of the wash basket, and the wash basket rotates in response to rotation of the washer pulley, and once the axis of the washer pulley is rotated, the wash basket is rotated as well.   
     
     
         15 . The washing machine of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a pulley axle being mounted to the washer pulley, and the pulley axle being supported by the housing assembly.   
     
     
         16 . The washing machine of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a belt assembly being operatively mounted to the base pulley; and   the belt assembly also being cooperatively mounted to a washer pulley positioned relative to the base pulley.   
     
     
         17 . The washing machine of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a housing assembly; and   a water portal being mounted to a lower section of the housing assembly, the water portal being configured to release grey water from the interior of the housing assembly, and the water portal being configured to operate between an open state and a closed state; and   wherein in the closed state, the water portal prevents the water from exiting the interior of the housing assembly and the opposite lateral wall portions; and   wherein in the open state, the water portal permits the water to exit from the interior of the housing assembly or the opposite lateral wall portions.   
     
     
         18 . The washing machine of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a floor assembly being mounted in a bottom section of the housing assembly;   the floor assembly being sloped from a higher point to a lower point located proximate to the water portal, and the floor assembly being configured to permit draining of water from the interior of the housing assembly in response to the opening of the water portal; and   the floor assembly being configured to permit gravitational drainage of the water from the interior of the washing machine in response to the opening of the water portal in such a way that gravity pulls the water out from the opposite lateral wall portions.   
     
     
         19 . The washing machine of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a housing assembly; and   wherein the drive assembly includes:
 a power-transfer assembly including a pedal pivot extending from the power-transfer assembly of the drive assembly; 
 the pedal pivot being pivotally mounted to and supported by the housing assembly, and the pedal pivot being fixedly mounted to a side section of the power-transfer assembly, and extending from the power-transfer assembly; and 
 in response to pivotal movement of the pedal pivot, a drive gear is rotated. 
   
     
     
         20 . The washing machine of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a pedal axle includes:
 an elongated shaft positioned between the power-transfer assembly and a drive axle; 
 the drive gear fixedly mounted to the drive axle; 
 a first pedal axle gear is mounted at one end of the pedal axle, and the first pedal axle gear is operatively connected to the drive gear of the drive axle in such a way that rotation of the pedal axle causes rotation of the drive axle; and 
 a second pedal axle gear is mounted to another end of the pedal axle, and the second pedal axle gear is configured to interact with a pivot gear in such a way that rotation of the pivot gear, in use, urges rotation of the second pedal axle gear.