Laundry machine and corresponding lid

Abstract

A laundry machine lid includes a frame, a control panel, and a cover panel. The frame has a front beam, a rear beam, and a pair of side beams. The side beams extend between the front and rear beams. A top of the front beam defines a recess. The control panel has an upper surface, a lower surface, user interface controls positioned along the upper surface, and circuitry positioned along the lower surface. The control panel is secured to the front beam such that the circuitry is disposed within the recess. The cover panel is secured to a top of the frame, spans the side beams, and extends from the front beam to the rear end of the frame.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A laundry machine lid comprising:
 a frame having (i) a front beam, (ii) a rear beam, and (iii) a pair of side beams, wherein (a) the side beams extend between the front and rear beams, (b) a top of the front beam defines a recess, and (c) a bottom surface of the frame defines at least one drain orifice;   a control panel having (i) an upper surface, (ii) a lower surface, (iii) user interface controls positioned along the upper surface, and (iv) circuitry positioned along the lower surface, wherein the control panel is secured to the front beam such that the circuitry is disposed within the recess; and   a cover panel (i) secured to a top of the frame, (ii) spanning the side beams, (iii) extending from the front beam to the rear beam of the frame.   
     
     
         2 . The laundry machine lid of  claim 1 , wherein a first of the side beams defines a channel extending between the recess of the front beam and the rear beam. 
     
     
         3 . The laundry machine lid of  claim 2  further comprising a wire harness, wherein the wire harness (i) is electrically connected to the circuitry, (ii) extends through the recess to the channel, and (iii) extends through the channel and to the rear beam. 
     
     
         4 . The laundry machine lid of  claim 3  further comprising a hinge secured to the rear beam, and wherein the wire harness is routed through an opening defined by the rear beam that is configured received the hinge. 
     
     
         5 . The laundry machine lid of  claim 2 , wherein the channel includes an opening along a top of the first of the side beams and (ii) the cover panel is disposed on along the top of the first of the side beams and over the opening. 
     
     
         6 . The laundry machine lid of  claim 1 , wherein (i) the front beam includes a first wall extending upward from an outer periphery of recess, (ii) the control panel includes a second wall extend downward from an outer periphery of the lower surface, and (iii) the first wall engages the second wall to secure the control panel to the frame. 
     
     
         7 . The laundry machine lid of  claim 6 , wherein the front beam includes a third wall, and wherein the third wall (i) is positioned internally relative to the first wall and within the recess, (ii) extends upward from the front beam, (iii) extends about an outer periphery of the circuitry. 
     
     
         8 . The laundry machine lid of  claim 1 , wherein the control panel (i) spans the side beams and (ii) extends from a forward edge toward a rearward edge of the front beam such that the control panel overlaps the front beam between the forward edge and a middle region of the front beam. 
     
     
         9 . The laundry machine lid of  claim 8 , wherein the cover panel overlaps the front beam between the middle region and the rearward edge of the front beam. 
     
     
         10 . A laundry machine lid comprising:
 a frame having (i) a forward region, (ii) a rearward region, and (iii) at least one side region extending between and connecting the forward region to the rearward region, wherein (a) the forward region defines a downward extending recess and (b) the at least one side region defines a channel extending between the downward extending recess and the rearward region;   a control panel having (i) user interface controls and (ii) circuitry, wherein (a) the user interface controls and the circuitry are positioned on opposing surfaces of the control panel and (b) the control panel is secured to the forward region such that the circuitry is disposed within the downward extending recess; and   a wire harness extending (i) from the circuitry, (ii) through the downward extending recess and to the channel, (iii) and through the channel and to the rearward region.   
     
     
         11 . The laundry machine lid of  claim 10 , wherein a bottom surface of the frame defines at least one drain orifice. 
     
     
         12 . The laundry machine lid of  claim 10  further comprising a hinge secured to the rearward region, and wherein the wire harness is routed through an opening defined by the rearward region that is configured received the hinge. 
     
     
         13 . The laundry machine lid of  claim 10 , wherein (i) the forward region includes a first wall extending upward from an outer periphery of the downward extending recess, (ii) the control panel includes a second wall extend downward from an outer periphery of the control panel, and (iii) the first wall engages the second wall to secure the control panel to the frame. 
     
     
         14 . The laundry machine lid of  claim 10 , wherein the forward region includes an internal wall, and wherein the internal wall extends upward from the forward region and about an outer periphery of the circuitry. 
     
     
         15 . A laundry machine lid comprising:
 a frame having (i) a forward region, (ii) a rearward region, and (iii) a side region extending between the forward and rearward regions, wherein the forward region (a) defines a downward extending recess and (b) includes an internal wall, and wherein the internal wall (I) extends upward from recess and (II) forms a closed loop; and   a control panel having (i) user interface controls and (ii) circuitry, wherein (a) the user interface controls and the circuitry are positioned on opposing surfaces of the control panel, (b) the control panel is secured to the forward region, and (c) the circuitry is disposed within the recess and within the closed loop formed by the internal wall.   
     
     
         16 . The laundry machine lid of  claim 15 , wherein the side region defines a channel extending between the recess of the forward region and the rearward region. 
     
     
         17 . The laundry machine lid of  claim 16  further comprising a wire harness, wherein the wire harness (i) is electrically connected to the circuitry, (ii) extends through the recess to the channel, and (iii) extends through the channel and to the rearward region. 
     
     
         18 . The laundry machine lid of  claim 17  further comprising a hinge secured to the rearward region, and wherein the wire harness is routed through an opening defined by the rearward region that is configured received the hinge. 
     
     
         19 . The laundry machine lid of  claim 15 , wherein (i) the forward region includes a first wall extending upward from an outer periphery of the recess, (ii) the control panel includes a second wall extend downward from an outer periphery of the control panel, and (iii) the first wall engages the second wall to secure the control panel to the frame. 
     
     
         20 . The laundry machine lid of  claim 15 , wherein a bottom surface of the frame defines at least one drain orifice.