Granted Patent B2

US 12,534,846 · App. 17/723,612 · Granted Jan 27, 2026

Inventors: Seth E. Bixby (Stevensville, MI); Mark Jason Christensen (Stevensville, MI); Marco Ali Curti Espinosa (Nueno Leon, MX); Yu Liu (St. Joseph, MI); Sergio Moreno (Apodaca, MX); Sayer James Murphy (St. Joseph, MI); Jonathan D. Pugh (Benton Harbor, MI); Bruno T. Ramasco (Stevensville, MI); Nicholas C. Schooley (Coloma, MI); Meagan Kathleen VanderVelde (St. Joseph, MI)

Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation

D06F58/203D06F57/00D06F58/02D06F58/10

Abstract

Claims (26)

1 . A laundry appliance comprising:

a cabinet;

a blower disposed within the cabinet that delivers accessory air through an accessory airflow path; and

an accessory bar assembly in fluid communication with the accessory airflow path, wherein the accessory bar assembly is configured to suspend articles therefrom and to provide the accessory air for conditioning the articles, wherein the accessory bar assembly extends from a front portion of the cabinet.

2 . The laundry appliance of claim 1 , wherein the accessory bar assembly is in the form of a footwear dryer or a hanging-clothes dryer.

3 . The laundry appliance of claim 1 , wherein the accessory airflow path includes a diverter valve that selectively delivers process air to the accessory airflow path.

4 . The laundry appliance of claim 1 , wherein the blower also directs process air through a primary airflow path that includes a rotating drum.

5 . The laundry appliance of claim 1 , wherein the accessory air is directed within a processing space that is outside of the cabinet and proximate the front portion.

6 . The laundry appliance of claim 5 , wherein the accessory bar assembly includes a plurality of perforations that direct the accessory air from the accessory airflow path and into the processing space.

7 . The laundry appliance of claim 1 , wherein the accessory bar assembly includes an upper first air bar and a lower second air bar that are each connected to the accessory airflow path.

8 . The laundry appliance of claim 7 , wherein the upper first air bar directs the accessory air in a downward direction and into a processing space.

9 . The laundry appliance of claim 7 , wherein the lower second air bar directs the accessory air in an upward direction and into a processing space.

10 . The laundry appliance of claim 1 , wherein the accessory bar assembly slidably extends from a receptacle defined within the cabinet.

11 . The laundry appliance of claim 10 , wherein the receptacle is defined within an outer surface of the cabinet.

12 . The laundry appliance of claim 10 , wherein the receptacle is defined within an interior of the cabinet.

13 . A laundry appliance comprising:

a cabinet;

a blower disposed within the cabinet that delivers accessory air through an accessory airflow path; and

an accessory bar assembly in fluid communication with the accessory airflow path, wherein the accessory bar assembly is configured to suspend articles therefrom and to provide the accessory air for conditioning the articles, wherein the accessory bar assembly slidably extends from a receptacle defined within the cabinet.

14 . The laundry appliance of claim 13 , wherein the accessory bar assembly is in the form of a footwear dryer or a hanging-clothes dryer.

15 . The laundry appliance of claim 13 , wherein the accessory airflow path includes a diverter valve that selectively delivers process air to the accessory airflow path.

16 . The laundry appliance of claim 13 , wherein the blower also directs process air through a primary airflow path that includes a rotating drum.

17 . The laundry appliance of claim 13 , wherein the accessory bar assembly extends from a front portion of the cabinet, wherein the accessory air is directed within a processing space that is outside of the cabinet and proximate the front portion, and wherein the accessory bar assembly includes a plurality of perforations that direct the accessory air from the accessory airflow path and into the processing space.

18 . The laundry appliance of claim 13 , wherein the accessory bar assembly includes an upper first air bar and a lower second air bar that are each connected to the accessory airflow path, wherein the upper first air bar directs the accessory air in a downward direction and into a processing space, and wherein the lower second air bar directs the accessory air in an upward direction and into the processing space.

19 . The laundry appliance of claim 13 , wherein the receptacle is defined within an outer surface of the cabinet.

20 . The laundry appliance of claim 13 , wherein the receptacle is defined within an interior of the cabinet.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (39)