Claims:We Claim:

1. A household appliance (10), comprising :
- a drum(12) adapted to receive laundry;
- an impeller (14) positioned at a bottom portion of said drum (12);
- multiple vanes (16) fixed on said impeller (14);
characterized in that:
- multiple cut-sections (18) made on said impeller (14);
- at least one member (20) movably fitted in each of said multiple cut-sections (18), such that, said at least one member (20) is adapted to rollover said laundry in said drum (12) during an operating mode of said household appliance (10).

2. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 1, comprises a cam (22) positioned beneath said impeller (14), said at least one member (20) adapted to move on said cam (22), when said impeller (14) is operated.

3. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said cam (22) comprises a groove (24) to support a movement of said at least one member (20) during a rotation of said impeller (14).

4. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one cut-section (18) is formed in between said at least two vanes (16).

5. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least two protrusions (26) are made on each side of at least one said cut-section (18).

6. The appliance as claimed in claim 5, wherein said at least one member (20) comprises two extensions (28) with a hole (30) each, made on each side of said at least one member (20), each of said two extensions (28) are movably locked into each said at least two protrusions (26).

7. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cam (22) is fitted to said drum (12) using at least one fitting technique comprising a screw fit, a snap fit and a fastener .

8. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cam (22) is integrated at said bottom portion of said drum (12).

9. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said multiple vanes (16) are formed as an integral part of said impeller (14).
, Description:Field of the invention
[0001] This disclosure relates to a household appliance. More particularly, it relates to the household appliance having an impeller with at least one member to rollover the laundry.

Background of the invention
[0002] Hand wash is very effective in stain removal at the same time being delicate on the clothes leading to less wear and tear on the clothes. In present Top loaders, dirt removal happens during mechanical interactions namely, cloth to cloth and cloth to dimples present in the drum inner circumference. To improve the mechanical rubbing action between drum and clothes, scrubber balls are introduced in the drum circumference. Generally, washing machines wash laundry by rotating a drum containing the laundry using a driving motor. The drum is rotated at a low speed in regular and opposite directions during a washing process, and is rotated at a high speed in a regular direction during a dehydrating (drying) process.

[0003] A Chinese patent application CN1122734 discloses a washing machine with a horizontal movement of the wash plate includes an inner tube for containing washing water and washing articles. A pulsator for a washing water was stirred rotatably mounted within the inner tube; for a forward rotation and reversing the direction of rotation of the pulsator drive means provided outside the inner cylinder, the drive device having a washing shaft connected to the pulsator.

Brief description of the invention:
[0004] It is an object of the invention to provide a household appliance with an impeller comprising at least one member to rollover the laundry.

[0005] The objects are solved by the household appliance having the features according to claim 1.

[0006] The invention relates to a household appliance comprises a drum adapted to receive laundry and an impeller positioned at a bottom portion of the drum. The appliance comprises multiple vanes fixed on the impeller, characterized in that, the appliance comprises multiple cut-sections made on the impeller. The appliance further comprises at least one member movably fitted in each of the multiple cut-sections, such that, the at least one member is adapted to rollover the laundry in the drum during an operating mode of the household appliance.

[0007] A feature of this invention is that, the appliance comprises a cam is positioned beneath the impeller and the at least one member adapted to move on the cam, when the impeller is operated.

[0008] Another feature of this invention is that, the cam comprises a groove to support a movement of at least one member during a rotation of the impeller.

[0009] Another feature of this invention is that, the at least one cut-section is formed in between the at least two vanes.

[0010] Another feature of this invention is that, the at least two protrusions are made on each side of the at least one cut-section.

[0011] Another feature of this invention is that, the at least one movable member comprises two extensions with a hole each, made on each side of the at least one movable member, each of the two extensions are movably locked with each of the at least two protrusions.

[0012] Another feature of this invention is that, the cam is fitted to the drum using at least one fitting technique comprising a screw fit, a snap fit and a fastener.

[0013] Another feature of this invention is that, the cam is integrated at the bottom portion of the drum.

[0014] Another feature of this invention is that, the vanes are formed as an integral part of the impeller.

[0015] With the above-disclosed household appliance, the removal of dirt from the laundry is made easier when compared to the conventional methods. With at least one member, a constant movement of water and the laundry in the drum is achieved. The member facilitates a better rollover of the laundry during different operational events of the household appliance. Scrubbing and washing of the laundry in a vertical movement (with the members) enhances the washing performance. The members disclosed above provides soft pounding effects on the laundry there by removing the stains effectively. When there is continuous pounding to the items of the laundry along the vertical direction results in a water wobbling effects, which creates better laundry rollover and enhances scrubbing effect over the laundry and efficient dirt/stain removal.

Brief description of the accompanying drawings
An embodiment of the disclosure is described with reference to the following accompanying drawings;
[0016] Figure 1 illustrates a household appliance, in accordance with an embodiment of this invention, and
[0017] Figure 2 illustrates at least one member present in the impeller of the appliance, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed description of the embodiments
[0018] Figure 1 illustrates a household appliance, in accordance to one embodiment of the invention. The household appliance 10 comprises a drum 12 adapted to receive laundry and an impeller 14 positioned at a bottom portion of the drum 12. The appliance 10 comprises multiple vanes 16 fixed on the impeller 14, characterized in that, the appliance 10 comprises multiple cut-sections 18 made on the impeller 14. The appliance 10 further comprises at least one member 20 movably fitted in each of the multiple cut-sections 18, such that, the at least one member 20 is adapted to rollover the laundry in the drum 12 during an operating mode of the household appliance 10.

[0019] Further, the construction of the household appliance 10 and the components of the household appliance 10 are explained as follows. According to one embodiment of the invention, the household appliance 10 is a washing machine. The washing machine is a top-load washing machine. The impeller 14 is in fluid communication with the drum 12. The impeller 14 and drum 12 are positioned in the appliance 10 in such a way that, a small gap is formed between the drum 12 and the impeller 14. A pumping tower 15 comprising a filter (not shown) is integrated into the drum 12 at a suitable position. The pumping tower 15 carries the water and allows to flow into the drum 12 via the filter during at least one operating event of the appliance 10. However, due to a unidirectional valve (not shown) present in the pumping tower 15, the water is not allowed to flow back into the filter.

[0020] The appliance 10 comprises a cam 22 positioned beneath (ie.,to a bottom surface) of the impeller 14 and the at least one member 20 is adapted to move on the cam 22, when the impeller 14 is operated. The cam 22 is made stagnant/stationary, and the impeller 14 is made to rotate on the cam 22, during at least one operational event of the appliance 10. The impeller 14 is fitted to a shaft of a drive unit placed beneath the cam 22. A portion of the shaft is made to pass through the cam 22 before fitting it to the impeller 14. The cam 22 is fitted to the drum 12 using at least one fitting technique comprising a screw fit, a snap fit and a fastener. However, the fitting technique is not restricted to the above disclosed, but can be any other fitting technique that is known in the state of the art. The cam 22 comprises a groove 24 to support a movement of at least one member 20 during a rotation of the impeller 14 on the cam 22.

[0020] The shape of the cam 22 facilitates the movement of the members 20 of the impeller 14 in the vertical direction during at least one operational event of the appliance 10. The rotational movement of the impeller 14 on the cam 22 changes into reciprocating movement of the members 20 of the impeller 14. The members 20 are adapted to move in the vertical direction (upwards and the downwards) during the rotational movement of the impeller 14. A portion of the cam 22 is integrated into the bottom portion of the drum 12 according to one embodiment of the invention. The cam 22 is made of a material same as the material of the impeller 14 according to one embodiment of the invention. It is to be observed that, as disclosed above, the movement of the at least one member 20 is not restricted to the profile of the cam 22, but any other mechanism that is used to move the members 20 of the impeller14 can be used to get the same effect.

[0021] At least one cut-section 18 of the impeller 22 is made in between of two vanes 16. The shape of the cut-section 18 is made corresponding to the shape of the members 20. Each of the cut-section 18 comprises two protrusions 26 made on each side of the cut-section 18. According to one embodiment of the invention, the two protrusions 26 are made on a top surface of the impeller 14 and the members 20 are assembled from the top.

[0022] According to another embodiment of the invention, the two protrusions 26 are made at a bottom surface of the impeller 14 and the members 20 are assembled from the bottom. The height of the two protrusions 26 at the bottom surface are made as the same height of the cut-section 18. According to one embodiment of the invention, the vanes 16 are fixed externally onto the impeller 14. According to another embodiment of the invention, the vanes 16 are formed as an integral part of the impeller 14. The number of vanes 16 present on the impeller 14 depends on the size and the capacity of the household appliance 10. A person skilled in the art knows the construction and the working of the vanes 16.

[0023] Figure 2 illustrates at least one member present in the impeller of the appliance, according to an embodiment of the present invention. At least one member 20 comprises a first portion 32 and a second portion 34. The dimensions of the first portion 32 are larger than the dimensions of the second portion 34. The first portion 32 encouters with the water and the laundry filled in the drum 12 during the operation of the appliance 10. The second portion 34 is fitted into the cut-section 18 present on the impeller 14. The shape of the member 20 is not restricted as shown in the figure 2, but can be any shape that is corresponding to the shape of the cut-section 18. The first portion 32 and the second portion 34 of the member 20 are made as a single component. A bottom surface of the second portion 34 of at least one member 20 comprises a cut-out 36 corresponding to the groove 24 of the cam 22, such that, the member 20 moves on the groove 24 of the cam 22 without much hassle during the operating mode of the appliance 10.

[0024] The dimensions of the members 20 are made corresponding to the dimensions of the cut-sections 18 present on the impeller 14. The members 20 are made of the material chosen from a group of materials comprising a plastic, a rubber and the like. At least one movable member 20 comprises two extensions 28 with a hole/cavity 30 each, made on each side of the at least one movable member 20. Each of the two extensions 28 are movably locked into each of the two protrusions 26. When the members 20 are assembled into the cut-sections 18 of the impeller 14 from the bottom, the protrusions 26 present on the each side of the cut-section 18 are inserted into the cavity 30 present on the each of the extension 28 of the movable member 20. The height of the protrusion 26 facilitates the vertical movement of the member 20 during the rotation of the impeller 14 on the cam 22. The open end of the protrusion 26 is sealed with a sealing member (not shown) to restrict the movement of the extension 28 sliding out of the protrusion 26.

[0025] A method of working of the appliance 10 is explained as follows. The laundry that requires washing is loaded into the drum 12 of the appliance 10. When the appliance 10 is switched ON, the laundry undergoes four stages of washing process i.e., a wash cycle, a rinse cycle, a spin cycle and a dry cycle. During the above-mentioned cycles, the rotational direction of the impeller 14 and the drum 12 varies based on the type of the appliance 10. For instance, in few appliance, the impeller 14 and the drum 12 rotates in same direction and in some appliances, both (the impeller 14 and the drum 12) rotates in opposite direction. The dirt and the threads coming out of the laundry during the washing process is redirected to the filter via the pumping tower 15 as known in the state of the art.

[0026] In the wash cycle, the laundry becomes heavy when soaked in water and gets settles down at the bottom portion of the drum 12. During the rinse and the spin cycles, the laundry rotates in a high speed (along with the drum 12 and the impeller 14). The rotational movement of the impeller 14 on the cam 22 results in the reciprocating movement of at least one member 20 inserted in the at least one cut-section 18 of the impeller 14. At least one member 20 moves in the upward direction, when the corresponding member 20 reaches an elevated portion of the cam 22. Each member 24 of the impeller 14 will be at different heights due to the rotation of the impeller 14 on the cam 22. The upward movement of the member 20 rolls over the laundry present at the bottom portion of the drum 12, thus increasing the washing quality. At least one member 20 will be in the elevated portion during the complete at least one operational event of the appliance. For instance, the operational event is a wash cycle.

[0027] The items of the laundry when rotated along the height of the drum 12 during the working mode, encounters at least one members 20. The cam 22 structure facilitates the free movement and an efficient rollover process of the items of the laundry to move during the working mode, wherein the vanes 16 helps in increasing the scrubbing process during the rotational movements inside the drum 12. The scrubbing process during at least one of the operational event of the appliance 10 resembles the conventional hand scrubbing method due to the movement of the members 20 and the vanes 16 fitted on the impeller 14.

[0028] For instance, the appliance 10 is a top-load washing machine 10 comprising three vanes 16 and three cut-sections 18 made on the impeller 14, wherein each of cut-section 18 is made in between of two vanes 16. The impeller 14 is fitted on the cam 22 and the cam 22 is integrated into the bottom portion of the drum 12. Each of the cut-sections 18 accommodates a member 20 in a movable manner. Each member 20 having two extensions 28 with the cavity 30 is assembled from the bottom into the cut-section 18. The protrusions 26 made at either side of the cut-section 18 receives the extensions 28 with the cavity 30 during the assembly, thus the movement of the member 22 is restricted.

[0029] During the operating mode of the appliance 10, the impeller 14 rotates on the cam 22, such that, at least one member 20 of the three members 20 of the impeller14 is moved upwards for pushing the laundry present at the bottom portion of the drum 12. Each member 20 moves in a simultaneous manner during the rotation of the impeller 14 on the cam 22. Due to the shape of the cam 22 (with the elevated portions and the depressions as known to a person skilled in the art), the members 20 experiences a movement in the upward direction and in the downward direction. When the corresponding member 20 encounters with the elevated portion of the cam 22, the member 20 moves upwards and the member 20 retracts to the original position when it encounters with the depression of the cam 22. According to one embodiment of the invention, at least one member 20 is moved upwards at one time.

[0030] With the above-disclosed household appliance, the removal of dirt from the laundry is made easier when compared to the conventional methods. With at least one member 20, a constant movement of water and the laundry in the drum 12 is achieved. The member 20 facilitates a better rollover of the laundry during different operational events of the household appliance 10. Scrubbing and washing of the laundry in a vertical movement (with the members 20) enhances the washing performance. The members 20 disclosed above provides soft pounding effects on the laundry there by removing the stains effectively. When there is continuous pounding to the items of the laundry along the vertical direction results in a water wobbling effects which creates better laundry rollover and enhances scrubbing effect over the laundry and efficient dirt/stain removal.

[0031] It should be understood that embodiments explained in the description above are only illustrative and do not limit the scope of this disclosure. Many such embodiments and other modifications and changes in the embodiment explained in the description are envisaged. The scope of the invention is only limited by the scope of the claims.

List of Reference Signs
10 household appliance
12 drum
14 impeller
15 pumping tower
16 vanes
18 at least one cut-section
20 at least one member
22 cam
24 groove on the cam
26 protrusions of at least one cut-section
28 extensions of at least one member
30 cavity made on each extension
32 first portion of at least one member
34 second portion of at least one member
36 cutout on at least one member