Door gasket assembly for a washing machine appliance
A washing machine appliance includes a cabinet comprising a front panel defining a chamber opening, a wash tub positioned within the cabinet and defining a wash chamber, a wash basket rotatably mounted within the wash tub for receiving a load of clothes, a door rotatably mounted to the front panel for providing selective access to the wash chamber through the chamber opening, and a door gasket assembly positioned between the front panel and the door. The door gasket assembly includes a gasket surrounding the chamber opening, the gasket defining an aperture and a component mounting bracket positioned within the aperture of the gasket, the component mounting bracket defining a plurality of mounting ports for receiving auxiliary components through the door gasket assembly.
1 . A washing machine appliance comprising:
a cabinet comprising a front panel defining a chamber opening;
a wash tub positioned within the cabinet and defining a wash chamber;
a wash basket rotatably mounted within the wash tub for receiving a load of clothes;
a door rotatably mounted to the front panel for providing selective access to the wash chamber through the chamber opening; and
a door gasket assembly positioned between the front panel and the door, the door gasket assembly comprising:
a gasket surrounding the chamber opening, the gasket defining an aperture, wherein the gasket defines a sealing flange that extends outward along a radial direction; and
a component mounting bracket positioned within the aperture of the gasket, the component mounting bracket being seated against an outer radial surface of the gasket against the sealing flange, and the component mounting bracket defining a plurality of mounting ports for receiving auxiliary components through the gasket, wherein the auxiliary components comprise an air vent port fluidly coupled to an air vent system for discharging chamber air to an ambient environment.
2 . The washing machine appliance of claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary components comprise:
a main water fill nozzle directed into the wash chamber.
3 . The washing machine appliance of claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary components comprise:
a door glass rinse nozzle directed toward a window of the door.
4 . The washing machine appliance of claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary components comprise:
a tub light for illuminating the wash chamber.
5 . The washing machine appliance of claim 1 , wherein the component mounting bracket extends along an arc length that is less than 25 percent of a perimeter of the gasket.
6 . The washing machine appliance of claim 5 , wherein the arc length is less than 15 percent of the perimeter of the gasket.
7 . The washing machine appliance of claim 1 , wherein the component mounting bracket defines a retention lip that seats against the sealing flange of the gasket.
8 . The washing machine appliance of claim 1 , wherein the door gasket assembly is mounted to the front panel and the component mounting bracket is positioned proximate a top of the chamber opening.
9 . The washing machine appliance of claim 1 , wherein the component mounting bracket is injection molded.
10 . A door gasket assembly for a washing machine appliance, the washing machine appliance comprising a cabinet comprising a front panel defining a chamber opening and a door rotatably mounted to the front panel for providing selective access to a wash chamber through the chamber opening, the door gasket assembly comprising:
a gasket surrounding the chamber opening, the gasket defining an aperture, wherein the gasket defines a sealing flange that extends outward along a radial direction; and
a component mounting bracket positioned within the aperture of the gasket, the component mounting bracket being seated against an outer radial surface of the gasket against the sealing flange, and the component mounting bracket defining a plurality of mounting ports for receiving auxiliary components through the gasket, wherein the auxiliary components comprise an air vent port fluidly coupled to an air vent system for discharging chamber air to an ambient environment.
11 . The door gasket assembly of claim 10 , wherein the auxiliary components comprise:
a main water fill nozzle directed into the wash chamber.
12 . The door gasket assembly of claim 10 , wherein the auxiliary components comprise:
a door glass rinse nozzle directed toward a window of the door.
13 . The door gasket assembly of claim 10 , wherein the auxiliary components comprise:
a tub light for illuminating the wash chamber.
14 . The door gasket assembly of claim 10 , wherein the component mounting bracket extends along an arc length that is less than 25 percent of a perimeter of the gasket.
15 . The door gasket assembly of claim 10 , wherein the component mounting bracket defines a retention lip that seats against the sealing flange of the gasket.