Tub cover with bumpers to absorb impacts in a washing machine appliance

Abstract

A washing machine appliance includes a cabinet, a wash tub positioned within the cabinet, a wash basket rotatably mounted within the wash tub and defining a wash chamber configured for receiving a load of clothes, a tub cover positioned over the wash tub, the tub cover having a main body defining a perimeter, and a plurality of bumpers mounted to the perimeter of the tub cover to absorb impacts between the tub cover and the cabinet.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A washing machine appliance, comprising:
 a cabinet;   a wash tub positioned within the cabinet;   a wash basket rotatably mounted within the wash tub and defining a wash chamber configured for receiving a load of clothes;   a tub cover positioned over the wash tub, the tub cover having a main body defining a perimeter; and   a plurality of bumpers mounted to the perimeter of the tub cover to absorb impacts between the tub cover and the cabinet.   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of bumpers comprises:
 two side arms extending away from the perimeter of the tub cover; and   a cross arm that extends between distal ends of the two side arms.   
     
     
         3 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the two side arms extend at an extension angle relative to the cross arm, the extension angle being greater than 100 degrees. 
     
     
         4 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 3 , wherein the extension angle is about 135 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the two side arms and the cross arm define an arm thickness, the arm thickness being between about 1 and 5 millimeters. 
     
     
         6 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 5 , wherein the arm thickness is about 2 millimeters. 
     
     
         7 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 2 , wherein a bumper opening is defined between the perimeter of the tub cover, the two side arms, and the cross arm. 
     
     
         8 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of bumpers are leaf springs. 
     
     
         9 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of bumpers are cantilevered arms extending from the perimeter of the tub cover. 
     
     
         10 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of bumpers are spaced apart on the tub cover along a circumferential direction. 
     
     
         11 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of bumpers comprise four bumpers positioned in four quadrants of the perimeter of the tub cover. 
     
     
         12 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of bumpers are positioned at a front end, a back end, a left end, and a right end of the tub cover. 
     
     
         13 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of bumpers cover greater than 20 percent of the perimeter of the tub cover. 
     
     
         14 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of bumpers cover greater than 40 percent of the perimeter of the tub cover. 
     
     
         15 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of bumpers define a depth measured along a radial direction and a width measured perpendicular to the radial direction, wherein a width to depth ratio is greater than 5:1. 
     
     
         16 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of bumpers are integrally molded with tub cover. 
     
     
         17 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the washing machine appliance is a vertical axis washing machine. 
     
     
         18 . A tub cover for a washing machine appliance, the washing machine appliance comprising a wash tub positioned within a cabinet, the tub cover comprising:
 a main body defining a perimeter; and   a plurality of bumpers mounted to the perimeter of the main body to absorb impacts between the tub cover and the cabinet.   
     
     
         19 . The tub cover of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of bumpers comprises:
 two side arms extending away from the perimeter of the tub cover; and   a cross arm that extends between distal ends of the two side arms.   
     
     
         20 . The tub cover of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of bumpers are integrally molded with main body of the tub cover.