Basket assembly for a washing machine appliance

Abstract

A basket assembly may include a wash basket rotatably mounted within a tub of a washing machine appliance. The wash basket may define a wash chamber for receiving clothing articles. The wash basket may include an annular side wall. The annular side wall may include an upper circumferential edge and a lower circumferential edge. The basket assembly may include an upper annular balance ring attached directly to the upper circumferential edge. The upper annular balance ring may define a first annular fluid compartment therewithin. The basket assembly may include a lower annular balance ring attached directly to the lower circumferential edge. The lower annular balance ring may define a second annular fluid compartment therewithin. The basket assembly may include a basket bottom attached directly to the lower annular balance ring. The basket bottom may define a bottom surface of the wash basket.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A basket assembly for a washing machine appliance comprising a tub, the basket assembly comprising:  
       a wash basket rotatably mounted within the tub, the wash basket defining a wash chamber for receiving clothing articles, the wash basket comprising an annular side wall, the annular side wall comprising an upper circumferential edge and a lower circumferential edge, 
       an upper annular balance ring attached directly to the upper circumferential edge, the upper annular balance ring defining a first annular fluid compartment therewithin, 
       a lower annular balance ring attached directly to the lower circumferential edge, the lower annular balance ring defining a second annular fluid compartment therewithin, and  
       a basket bottom attached directly to the lower annular balance ring, the basket bottom defining a bottom surface of the wash basket.  
     
     
         2 . The basket assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the lower annular balance ring comprises a screw boss disposed at a top side of the lower annular balance ring,  
       wherein the screw boss defines a first fastener hole,  
       wherein the basket bottom defines a second fastener hole therethrough, wherein the second fastener hole is aligned with the first fastener hole,  
       wherein the basket assembly further comprises a mechanical fastener disposed within the first fastener hole and the second fastener hole, and  
       wherein the basket bottom is attached to the lower annular balance ring via the mechanical fastener.  
     
     
         3 . The basket assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the basket assembly further comprises a bottom plate and a bolt,  
       wherein the lower annular balance ring comprises a top side and a bottom side, 
       wherein the bottom plate is engaged with the bottom side of the lower annular balance ring,  
       wherein the bottom plate defines a first fastener hole therethrough,  
       wherein the basket bottom is disposed at the top side of the lower annular balance ring,  
       wherein the basket bottom defines a second fastener hole therethrough,  
       wherein the second fastener hole is aligned with the first fastener hole,  
       wherein the bolt is disposed within the first fastener hole and the second fastener hole, and  
       wherein the basket bottom and the bottom plate are attached to the lower annular balance ring via the bolt.  
     
     
         4 . The basket assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the washing machine appliance further comprises a motor assembly for driving rotation of the wash basket,  
       wherein the basket bottom comprises a spline positioned at a center thereof, and 
       wherein the spline is mated to the motor assembly.  
     
     
         5 . The basket assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the washing machine appliance further comprises an agitation element positioned within the wash basket, and  
       wherein the agitation element is in mechanical communication with the motor assembly.  
     
     
         6 . The basket assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the lower annular balance ring comprises a first annular member and a second annular member,  
       wherein the first annular member comprises a top side and a bottom side, 
       wherein the second annular member comprises a top side and a bottom side, and  
       wherein the top side of the first annular member and the bottom side of the second annular member are permanently coupled together.  
     
     
         7 . The basket assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the top side of the first annular member defines a first annular slot therewithin, 
       wherein the bottom side of the second annular member defines a second annular slot therewithin, and  
       wherein the first annular slot and the second annular slot are aligned to form the second annular fluid compartment.  
     
     
         8 . The basket assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the upper annular balance ring defines an inner diameter, wherein the lower annular balance ring defines an inner diameter, wherein the inner diameter of the upper annular balance ring is equivalent to the inner diameter of the lower annular balance ring.  
     
     
         9 . The basket assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second annular fluid compartment defines a second volume,  
       wherein a balancing fluid disposed within the second annular fluid compartment fills approximately fifty percent of the second volume. 
     
     
         10 . A washing machine appliance, the washing machine appliance comprising: 
 a tub; and    a basket assembly comprising: 
 a wash basket rotatably mounted within the tub, the wash basket defining a wash chamber for receiving clothing articles, the wash basket comprising an annular side wall, the annular side wall comprising an upper circumferential edge and a lower circumferential edge, 
 an upper annular balance ring attached directly to the upper circumferential edge, the upper annular balance ring defining a first annular fluid compartment therewithin, 
 a lower annular balance ring attached directly to the lower circumferential edge, the lower annular balance ring defining a second annular fluid compartment therewithin, and  
 a basket bottom attached directly to the lower annular balance ring, the basket bottom defining a bottom surface of the wash basket.  
   
     
     
         11 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the lower annular balance ring comprises a screw boss disposed at a top side of the lower annular balance ring,  
       wherein the screw boss defines a first fastener hole,  
       wherein the basket bottom defines a second fastener hole therethrough, wherein the second fastener hole is aligned with the first fastener hole,  
       wherein the basket assembly further comprises a mechanical fastener disposed within the first fastener hole and the second fastener hole, and  
       wherein the basket bottom is attached to the lower annular balance ring via the mechanical fastener.  
     
     
         12 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the basket assembly further comprises a bottom plate and a bolt,  
       wherein the lower annular balance ring comprises a top side and a bottom side, 
       wherein the bottom plate is engaged with the bottom side of the lower annular balance ring,  
       wherein the bottom plate defines a first fastener hole therethrough,  
       wherein the basket bottom is disposed at the top side of the lower annular balance ring,  
       wherein the basket bottom defines a second fastener hole therethrough,  
       wherein the second fastener hole is aligned with the first fastener hole,  
       wherein the bolt is disposed within the first fastener hole and the second fastener hole, and  
       wherein the basket bottom and the bottom plate are attached to the lower annular balance ring via the bolt.  
     
     
         13 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the washing machine appliance further comprises a motor assembly for driving rotation of the wash basket,  
       wherein the basket bottom comprises a spline positioned at a center thereof, and 
       wherein the spline is mated to the motor assembly.  
     
     
         14 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 13 , wherein the washing machine appliance further comprises an agitation element positioned within the wash basket, and  
       wherein the agitation element is in mechanical communication the motor assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the lower annular balance ring comprises a first annular member and a second annular member,  
       wherein the first annular member comprises a top side and a bottom side, 
       wherein the second annular member comprises a top side and a bottom side, and  
       wherein the top side of the first annular member and the bottom side of the second annular member are permanently coupled together.  
     
     
         16 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 15 , wherein the top side of the first annular member defines a first annular slot therewithin, 
       wherein the bottom side of the second annular member defines a second annular slot therewithin, and  
       wherein the first annular slot and the second annular slot are aligned to form the second annular fluid compartment.  
     
     
         17 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the upper annular balance ring defines an inner diameter, wherein the lower annular balance ring defines an inner diameter, wherein the inner diameter of the upper annular balance ring is equivalent to the inner diameter of the lower annular balance ring. 
     
     
         18 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the first annular fluid compartment defines a first volume, and 
       wherein a balancing fluid disposed within the first annular fluid compartment fills approximately fifty percent of the first volume.