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);
characterized in that,
- multiple flexible flaps (16) fitted to an inner surface (18) of said drum (12) in a predefined pattern, said multiple flexible flaps (16) adapted to remove dirt from said laundry during at least one operating event of said household appliance (10).

2. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said inner surface (18) of said drum (12) comprises at least one hole (20) to mount at least one of said multiple flexible flaps (16).

3. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said flexible flap (16) comprises a wave profile at a first end (22) and at least one cavity (24) made at a second end (26).

4. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first end (22) is adapted to come into contact with said laundry and said second end (26) is fitted to said inner surface (18) of said drum (12).

5. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 3, wherein said multiple flexible flaps (16) comprises a first portion (28) and a second portion (30) and a contour of said first end (22) reduces in a direction from said first portion (28) to said second portion (30).

6. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said multiple flexible flaps (16) are fitted to said inner surface (18) of said drum (12) by any one of the fitting techniques comprising a snap fit, a screw fit and by a fastener.

7. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said multiple flexible flaps (16) are adapted to bend in a direction of a rotation of said impeller (14) during said at least one operational event of said appliance (10).

8. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said multiple flexible flaps (16) are made of a material chosen from a group of materials comprising a silicon rubber and an Ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber.

9. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said multiple flexible flaps (16) are fitted in multiple rows and columns on said inner surface (18) of said drum (12).

10. The appliance (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein multiple flexible flaps (16) are fitted in any one of said predefined pattern comprising a trapezoidal pattern, a parallelogram pattern, a zigzag pattern and a circular pattern.
, Description:Field of the invention
[0001] This disclosure relates to a household appliance. More particularly, it relates to the household appliance having multiple flexible flaps to remove dirt from the laundry.

Background of the invention
[0002] In a top load washing machine wash performance is less and number of tangles and damage to laundry are more. Tangling will create the wrinkles on laundry. Hand wash is very effective in stain removal and preventing the tangling of the laundry and at the same time being delicate on the clothes leading to less wear and tear. 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, different washing techniques are introduced. Generally, washing machines washes laundry by rotating a drum 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 CN204282058 discloses a washing machine with movable inner barrel convex washing sheets. The washing machine comprises a washing machine body, wherein an inner barrel is arranged in the washing machine body, the washing machine also comprises a plurality of grooves and a plurality of movable convex washing sheets, the grooves are formed in the inner wall of the inner barrel, the plurality of movable convex washing sheets are correspondingly arranged in the grooves. the movable convex washing sheets also do positive and reverse rotation along with the inner barrel, and the friction on the clothes is realized to the maximum degree, so that the clothes washing cleanness degree can be improved.

Brief description of the invention:

[0004] It is an object of the invention to provide a household appliance with multiple flexible flaps to remove dirt from 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 comprising a drum to receive laundry. The appliance comprises an impeller positioned at a bottom portion of the drum. The appliance comprises multiple flexible flaps fitted to an inner surface of the drum in a predefined pattern. The multiple flexible flaps adapted to remove dirt from the laundry during at least one operating event of the household appliance.

[0007] A feature of this invention is that, the inner surface of the drum comprises at least one hole mount at least one flexible flap.

[0008] Another feature of this invention is that, at least one flexible flap comprises a wave profile at a first end and at least one cavity made at a second end.

[0009] Another feature of this invention is that, the first end is adapted to come into contact with the laundry and the second end is fitted to the inner surface of the drum.

[0010] Another feature of this invention is that, the multiple flexible flaps comprises a first portion and a second portion and a contour of the first end reduces in a direction from the first portion to the second portion.

[0011] Another feature of this invention is that, the multiple flexible flaps are fitted to the inner surface of the drum by any one of the fitting techniques comprising a snap fit, a screw fit and by a fastener.

[0012] Another feature of this invention is that, the multiple flexible flaps are adapted to bend in a direction of a rotation of the impeller during the at least one operational event of the appliance.

[0013] Another feature of this invention is that, the multiple flexible flaps are made of a material chosen from a group of materials comprising a silicon rubber and an Ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber.

[0014] Another feature of this invention is that, the multiple flexible flaps are fitted in multiple rows and columns on the inner surface of the drum.

[0015] Another feature of this invention is that, the multiple flexible flaps are fitted in any one of the predefined pattern comprising a trapezoidal pattern, a parallelogram pattern, a zigzag pattern, a circular pattern.

[0014] With the above-disclosed household appliance, the removal of dirt from the laundry is made easier when compared to the conventional methods. With multiple flexible flaps, a constant movement of the laundry in the drum is achieved. The flexible flap facilitates a better dirt removal of the laundry during different operational events of the household appliance due to the wave profile that provides a hand mimicking action on the items of the laundry. The usage of the flexible flaps helps in detangling the laundry during the rollover moment in the drum.
[0015] The spring-back nature of the flexible flaps facilitates in not only detangling of the clothes during at least one operational event (e.g.: by the end of a spin cycle) as mentioned above, but also to detangles the clothes by the end of the spin cycle and reduces damage to laundry. The flexible flaps are made of a material that can withstand an operating temperature of 100 degree Celsius. The flexible flaps reduces the laundry sticking to the drum inner surface, such that, the wrinkling can be reduced without compromising the wash quality. 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 flexible flap present in the appliance, in accordance with the embodiment of the 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. The appliance 10 comprises an impeller 14 positioned at a bottom portion of the drum 12. The appliance 10 comprises multiple flexible flaps 16 fitted to an inner surface 18 of the drum 12 in a predefined pattern. The multiple flexible flaps 16 adapted to remove dirt from the laundry during at least one operating event 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 top-load washing machine. The household appliance 10 further comprises an impeller 14 positioned at the bottom portion of 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 comprising a filter (not shown) is integrated into the drum 12 at a suitable position. The pumping tower carries the water and allows to flow into the drum 12 via the filter during at least one operating event of the appliance 10.

[0020] However, due to a unidirectional valve (not shown) present in the pumping tower, the water is not allowed to flow back into the filter. The positon of the pumping tower and the filter is based on the availability of the space on the inner surface 18 of the drum 12 in between of the multiple flexible flaps 16. A person skilled in the art knows the working of the impeller 14 and the drum 12 when the laundry is loaded into the appliance 10. At least one operating event of the appliance 10 is chosen from a group of operating events comprising a washing event, a rinsing event, a spinning event and a drying event. The event is also called as cycle in the following paragraphs of the disclosed document.

[0021] The drum 12 is made in a cylindrical shape. However, the shape of the drum 12 is not restricted to the cylindrical shape but can be any shape that can be accommodated in the appliance 10. For instance, the drum can be of a hexagonal shape according to one embodiment of the invention. The shape of the drum 12 is maintained such that, it facilitates a larger space availability for the laundry to move when loaded into the appliance 10. The number of flexible flaps 16 fitted on the inner surface 18 of the drum 12 depends on the size and capacity of the appliance 10. For example, three flexible flaps 16 are fitted inside the drum 12 having a diameter of 250mm to 350mm. Yet in another example, the total number of flexible flaps 16 fitted inside the drum 12 with a diameter of 350mm to 600mm are approximately six. These are just examples and must not be understood in limiting manner. The flexible flaps 16 are arranged in the predefined pattern on the inner surface 18 of the drum 12.

[0022] One of the predefined pattern is, arranging the flexible flaps 16 in multiple rows and columns. In the first example (with three flexible flaps 16), the flexible flaps 16 are arranged in a single row on the inner surface of the drum 12. Whereas, in the second example (with six flexible flaps 16), the flexible flaps 16 are fitted in proximity to each other in a single row on the inner surface 18 of the drum 12 to cover the complete circumference of the drum 12. According to other embodiment, the six flexible flaps 16 are fitted in two rows and three columns on the inner surface 18 of the drum 12. However, the predefined pattern is not restricted to the multiple rows and columns, but can be chosen from any one of the following patterns comprising a trapezoidal pattern, a parallelogram pattern, a zigzag pattern, a circular pattern, a random pattern and the like as known to a person skilled in the art. The position of the flexible flaps 16 in the predefined pattern enhances the washing quality of the laundry.

[0023] In another embodiment, the position of the flexible flaps 16 depends on the size of each flap 16 that is fitted to the inner surface 18 of the drum 12. If the flaps 16 are smaller in dimensions than the above-mentioned flaps 16, then the number of flaps 16 fitted onto the inner surface 18 of the drum 12 increases. For example, for a drum 12 of 250mm to 350mm, the number of flexible flaps 16 (with smaller dimensions) fitted on the inner surface 18 of the drum 12 will be more than three.

[0024] The inner surface 18 of the drum 12 comprises at least one hole 20 to mount at least one of the multiple flexible flaps 16. According to one embodiment of the invention, four holes 20 are made on the inner surface 18 of the drum 12 to accommodate one flexible flap 16. The number of holes 20 made on the inner surface 18 to accommodate at least one flexible flap 16 depends on the size of a single flexible flap 16. The flexible flaps 16 are fitted into the holes 20 on the inner surface 18 of the drum 12 using at least one fitting technique like a snap fit, a fastener fit and the like. For example, as shown in the figure 2, at least one flexible flap 16 is screwed onto the inner surface 18 of the drum 12 using multiple screws 32.

[0025] According to one embodiment of the invention, the multiple flexible flaps 16 are glued onto the inner surface 18 of the drum 12. The gluing material that is used to attach the flexible flaps 16 onto the inner surface 18 of the drum 12 comprises a liquid-resistant characteristic, such that, the flexible flaps 16 will not get detach from the inner surface 18 of the drum 12 during the operational event of the appliance 10.

[0026] According to one embodiment of the invention, the flexible flaps 16 are made as integral components on the inner surface 18 of the drum 12. The function and working of the integrated flexible flaps are same as the above-disclosed flexible flaps 16 that are fitted onto inner surface 18 of the drum 12.

[0027] At least one flexible flap 16 comprises a first end 22 and a second end 26. The first end 22 has a wave profile and at least one cavity 24 is made at a second end 24. The first end 22 that has the wave profile comes into contact/encounters/interacts with laundry and the second end 26 having at least one cavity 24 is fitted to the inner surface 18 of the drum 12. In other terms, the first end 22 is an open/free end and the second end is a closed/fixed end. At least one cavity 24 is made on the second end 26 of the at least one flexible flap 16 to accommodate/receive at least one screw/snap/fastener 32, when the flexible flap 16 is fitted onto the inner surface 18 of the drum 12 as shown in the figure 2. The multiple flexible flaps 16 comprises a first portion 28 and a second portion 30 and a contour of the first portion 28 reduces in a direction from the first portion 28 to the second portion 30. The above disclosed wave pattern resembles a transient wave profile as known to a person skilled in the art.

[0028] The wave profile of the multiple flexible flaps 16 can vary based on the requirement. The wave profile of at least one flexible flap 16 is not restricted to the transient wave profile, but can be any other wave profile that improves the contact surface with at least one item of the laundry and provides an effective thumping process during at least one operational event of the appliance 10.

[0029] At least one flexible flap 16 comprises a middle portion in between of the first portion 28 and the second portion 30. The dimensions of the first portion 28 is larger than the middle portion 29 and the second portion 30. The dimensions of the middle portion 29 is larger than the second portion 30. The reduction in the contour of the first end 22 in the direction from the first portion 28 to the second portion 30 via the middle portion 29 is made such that, the second portion 29 that is in proximity to the bottom portion of the drum 12, allows the laundry to move without much hassle during the operating mode of the appliance 10. The flexible flaps 16 are adapted to bend in a direction of a rotation of the impeller 14 during the at least one operational event of the appliance 10. The bending angle is different for different operational events of the appliance. For instance, the bending angle of at least one flexible flap 16 will be from 15 degrees to 45 degrees during the wash cycle. Wherein, the bending angle of at least one flexible flap 16 will bend up to approximately 80 degrees during the spin cycle.

[0030] The flexible flaps 16 are made of materials comprising a polypropylene (PP), a silicone rubber or an Ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber. The flexible flaps 16 that are made of the above material, treats the laundry delicately in both soft water and hard water. An operating temperature of the flexible flaps 16 can be up to 100°C.

[0031] A method of working of the appliance 10 is explained as follows. The laundry that requires washing is loaded into the drum of the appliance 10. When the appliance 10 is switched ON, then 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 as known in the state of the art.

[0032] 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 impeller 14) in the appliance 10. The movement of the laundry encounters with the flexible flaps 16 fitted on the inner surface 18 of the drum 12. In the wash cycle, the flexible flaps 16 bends (approximately from 15 degree to 45 degree) in the direction of the rotation of the impeller 14 and provides a hand mimicking action on the laundry.

[0033] During the rotation and the rollover of the laundry during at least one operational event of the appliance 10, the laundry comes into the contact with at least one flexible flap 16. Due the above disclosed wave profile of the flexible flap 16, the flexible flap 16 will not act as a stopper, but, instead it pushes the laundry away from the inner surface 18 of the drum 12, thus avoiding the sticking of the laundry to the drum 12. In the rinse cycle, the laundry undergoes a pounding process when encountered with at least one flexible flap 16. Due to the pounding process, the detergent on the laundry is removed efficiently.

[0034] During the spin cycle of the appliance 10 (which is a water extraction cycle), the spin speed of the appliance ranges from 600 to 800 RPM based on a drive and washing machine capacity. In the spin cycle, the flaps 16 and the impeller 14 both rotates in the same direction. The flexible flaps 16 will tend to bend up to 80° angle from its original shape due to centrifugal force and load of the laundry. When the drum 12 stops rotating by the end of the spin cycle, the centrifugal force reduces to zero and thus the flexible flaps 16 spring back to its original position. Due to the spring nature of the flexible flaps 16, the flexible flaps 16 are not damaged in the spin cycle.
[0035] The springing-back of the flexible flaps 16 pushes the laundry which is accumulated on the flexible flaps 16 during the spin, thus resulting in fluffed laundry and detangling the laundry. By this action of loosening up the tangles and fluffing the laundry by end of the spin cycle, the wrinkles forming on the laundry is reduced. The detangling will also reduce the force required for the consumer to remove the laundry from the drum since the laundry is not connected to each other.

[0036] The items of the laundry when rotated along the height of the drum 12 during the working mode, comes into contact with the multiple flexible flaps 16. The second portion of the flexible flaps 16 (being smaller than the first portion 28 of the flexible flaps 16) present at facilitates the free movement of the items of the laundry to move during the working mode. The flexible flaps 16 fitted in different locations of the drum 12 replicates a typical hand wash by providing the same via a mechanical action.

[0037] With the above-disclosed household appliance 10, the removal of dirt from the laundry is made easier when compared to the conventional methods. With multiple flexible flaps 16, a constant movement of the laundry in the drum 12 is achieved. The flexible flaps 16 facilitates a better dirt removal of the laundry during different operational events of the household appliance 10 due to the wave profile that provides a hand mimicking action on the items of the laundry. The usage of the flexible flaps 16 helps in detangling the laundry during the rollover moment in the drum 12.

[0038] The spring back nature of the flexible flaps 16 facilitates in not only detangling of the clothes during at least one operational event (e.g. by the end of a spin cycle) as mentioned above, but also to detangle the clothes by the end of spin cycle and reduced damage to laundry. The flexible flaps 16 are made of a material that can withstand an operating temperature of 100degree Celsius. The flexible flaps 16 reduces the laundry sticking to the drum 12 inner surface 16, such that, the wrinkling can be reduced without compromising the wash quality. 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.

[0039] 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
16 multiple flexible flaps
18 inner surface of the drum
20 at least one hole
22 first end of at least one flexible flap
24 at least one cavity
26 second end of at least one flexible flap
28 first portion of at least one flexible flap
29 middle portion of at least one flexible flap
30 second portion of at least one flexible flap
32 screws