IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,146,256
Granted Patent B2
US 12,146,256 · App. 18/219,811 · Granted Nov 19, 2024

Fabric cleaning appliance with performance enhancement selector

Inventors: Amberdeep S. Aurora (Saint Joseph, MI); Michael J. Bauman (Saint Joseph, MI); Donald Erickson (Stevensville, MI); Sarah E. Ihne (Stevensville, MI); Nicholas Leep (Saint Joseph, MI); Karl David McAllister (Stevensville, MI); Daniel Polonsky (Stevensville, MI); Ryan James Van Zoest (Benton Harbor, MI)
Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
D06F34/30D06F33/00D06F33/37D06F34/18D06F34/22D06F34/28D06F39/028D06F39/02D06F2101/04D06F2101/20D06F2103/16D06F2103/42D06F2103/68D06F2105/42
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,146,256
App. No.
18/219,811
Granted
Nov 19, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of operating a laundry treating appliance having a tub, a rotatable drum at least partially defining a treating chamber, and a treating chemistry dispenser comprising multiple treating chemistry cups configured to dispense treating chemistry to the treating chamber. The method comprises performing a first wash cycle and dispensing a first dose of treating chemistry from one of the treating chemistry cups, receiving at a controller a user selection of an activation of a performance enhancement selector, and upon activation of the performance enhancement selector, activating a second wash cycle comprising dispensing a second dose of treating chemistry from another of treating chemistry cups.

Claims (25)

1. A cycle of operation for a laundry treating appliance having a tub and a rotatable drum located within the tub and operably coupled with a motor for rotating the drum, the drum at least partially defining a treating chamber for receiving laundry for treatment according to a cycle of operation, the cycle of operation comprising:

a first wash phase comprising forming a first wash liquid comprising a mixture of water and a first dose of treating chemistry, filling to a first level of water, and washing for a first amount of time; and

a second wash phase comprising providing a second wash liquid comprising at least one of water and a second dose of treating chemistry, and washing for a second amount of time.

2. The cycle of operation of claim 1 , wherein the first dose of treating chemistry comprises a detergent.

3. The cycle of operation of claim 2 , wherein the second dose of treating chemistry comprises a detergent.

4. The cycle of operation of claim 3 , wherein a concentration of the detergent in the second wash phase is about the same as a concentration of the detergent in the first wash phase.

5. The cycle of operation of claim 1 , wherein the first wash phase is stopped after a fixed amount of time.

6. The cycle of operation of claim 1 , wherein the first wash liquid is drained before the second wash phase begins.

7. The cycle of operation of claim 6 wherein the first dose of treating chemistry in the first wash phase is dispensed from a first dedicated detergent cup.

8. The cycle of operation of claim 7 , wherein the second dose of treating chemistry in the second wash phase is dispensed from a second dedicated detergent cup.

9. A method of operating a laundry treating appliance having a tub and a rotatable drum located within the tub and operably coupled with a motor for rotating the drum, the drum at least partially defining a treating chamber for receiving laundry for treatment according to a cycle of operation, and a treating chemistry dispenser comprising multiple treating chemistry cups, each configured to dispense treating chemistry to the treating chamber; the method comprising:

receiving at a controller a user selection of an activation of a performance enhancement selector;

performing a first wash cycle comprising a first wash liquid comprising a mixture of water and a first dose of treating chemistry from at least one of the treating chemistry cups, filling to a first level of water, and washing for a first amount of time; and

upon activation of the performance enhancement selector, activating a second wash cycle comprising a second wash liquid comprising at least one of water and a second dose of treating chemistry from at least one of the treating chemistry cups, and washing for a second amount of time.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising receiving at a user interface a user selection of a preprogrammed wash cycle.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein selection of the preprogrammed wash cycle implements washing parameters of the first wash cycle.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the second wash cycle occurs after a completion of the first wash cycle.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the second wash cycle is a hot liquid wash cycle.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the second wash cycle is longer than the first wash cycle.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the multiple treating chemistry cups include a bleach cup, a detergent cup, and a fabric softener cup.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the bleach cup is configured to function as the at least one of the treating chemistry cups.

17. The method of claim 9 , further comprising changing a wash cycle parameter of the first wash cycle upon activation of the performance enhancement selector.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the wash cycle parameter includes one of an amount of water, water temperature, wash time, spin/tumble time, and agitator/tumble speed.

19. The method of claim 9 , further comprising activating a turbidity sensor in the laundry treating appliance to measure a turbidity of the wash liquid during the first wash cycle.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising starting the second wash cycle based on preprogrammed measured turbidity characteristics of the first wash cycle.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 10, 2023
From: AURORA, AMBERDEEP S.; BAUMAN, MICHAEL J.; ERICKSON, DONALD; IHNE, SARAH E.; LEEP, NICHOLAS; MCALLISTER, KARL DAVID; POLONSKY, DANIEL; VAN ZOEST, RYAN JAMES
To: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064196/0860 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 17213696 · Mar 26, 2021
Division 15977278 · May 11, 2018
Provisional Application 62529210 · Jul 6, 2017
Related Publication 20230349088A1 · Nov 2, 2023