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  Front load washing machine with a single wash/single rinse cycleRelated Patent Categories: Bleaching And Dyeing; Fluid Treatment And Chemical Modification Of Textiles And Fibers, Fluid Treatment (manipulative), Manipulation Of LiquidThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060143837. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] This patent application is a continuation-in-part and claims priority from patent application Ser. No. 10/277,024, filed Oct. 21, 2002, which claims priority from provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/335,055 filed Oct. 19, 2001. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] Washing machines, specifically front load washing machines with wash run cycles modified to include a single, longer than normal wash cycle with typically equal or more water than normal, and a single, longer than normal, with typically equal or more water than normal, rinse cycle and, typically, running the spin cycle longer than normal. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] An 18-pound front load washing machine typically uses 29 to 40 gallons of water in a standard wash run. At the 29 gallon limit, there are typically 3 "drain and fill" cycles used: 1 wash cycle and 2 rinse cycles per run. At the 40 to 48 gallon limit, there are typically 5 "drain and fill" cycles, typically 1 pre-wash, 1 wash cycle and 3 rinse cycles. Each "drain and fill" cycle in a typical 18 pound front load washing machine uses about 9.7 gallons, each wash cycle in the typical prior art front load 18 pound washing machine runs for about 4 minutes using about 9.7 gallons of water, with the rinse being about 3-4 minutes using about 9.7 gallons of total water. The total time for a wash run for most prior art, 18 pound front load washing machine are 20 to 22 minutes plus fill time. Time is typically measured from the moment the water level reaches "full" to begin the cycle, until the drain opens to begin to empty the tub at the end of the cycle. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0004] Applicant provides for a modification to the cycles of a laundry run for a front load 18 pound washing machine, which is adaptable to other machines. Applicant modifies prior art methods and machines in providing only a single wash and a single rinse cycle (and 2 drain and fill cycles) per laundry run. Even though there are fewer cycles used, a single wash and a single rinse cycle (therefore only draining the machine twice per run), it has proven effective when the time for the wash cycle is extended typically to up to about 8 to 15 minutes and further when the amount of water used in the wash cycle and in a rinse cycle is increased from about 9.7 to about 11.0 gallons. Note that while more water may be used per cycle in the two cycles in Applicant's modified system, the total water is still less than either the 3 or 5 cycle prior art machines because there are less "drain an fill" cycles. Indeed, Applicant typically uses 22 gallons or less water, therefore, saving of between 30 and 50 percent water, while providing for effective washing. The use of more water gets rid of oversudsing quicker and may have a psychological effect on the consumer who sees more water and thinks they are getting a better wash. [0005] Applicant has found, however, that it is not necessary to increase the amount of water to get clean laundry. Applicant's method may include tipping the entire front loading machine forward, up to about 10.degree. or so. The purpose of this is to create an "illusion" that there is more water in the tub than there actually is. This may or may not affect the quality of the wash, but helps customer acceptance--they see through the window the water level higher than what it would be if flat, think there is more water in the machine and think they are getting a better wash. Raising the rear may be done with spacers or blocks or other suitable means. The void between the front and rear, created by raising the rear may be filled by grout, to help stabilize the machine, if needed. At least one manufacturer, Milner, tilts their machines rearward. This may lower water consumption and may relieve stress on the bearings. Some machines tilt forward to unload wash when the wash is completed, and then tilt back flat. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0006] FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate side elevational cross sectional of views of a typical front load and washing machine that is titled forward (FIGS. 1A and 1B) compared with normal horizontal mounting illustrated in FIG. 1C. [0007] FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C illustrate modifications to a mechanical timer wherein relays are provided to rapidly advance through pre-existing wash and/or rinse cycles and time delays are used to extend a single wash and single rinse cycle. [0008] FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate one modification on a prior art (FIG. 3A) light board wash system, using relays to eliminate cycles and time delays to extend cycles resulting in a single wash and single rinse cycles. Time may be increased over typical wash or rinse cycles (again, with drain and fill cycles between the wash and rinse cycles). [0009] FIG. 4 illustrates a front load wash machine modified according to Applicant's present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0010] Applicants may extend by about 10 to 20 percent (typically, may be more or less) the total time for a laundry run as compared to a prior art 3 to 5 cycle wash run but use less total water. The trade off is important for conserving water. By using only a single wash and a single rinse cycle but increasing, typically (but not necessarily), the amount of water and typically the time, Applicant's have provided for an effective means of cleaning fabric while using less total water. [0011] The method and system of reducing the cycles and, typically, increasing the water and time per wash and rinse cycle may be done with any mechanical, computer program, chip, palm pilot, PC board or fiber optic control or any other type of timing device known in the art. Programmable timers exist that may be utilized to reduce the number of cycles and increase wash and rinse time. [0012] Household soap typically will break down in about 10 to 12 minutes of wash time. The prior art, by draining a wash cycle before the soap is broken down wastes water and decreases the effectiveness of the rinse cycle. Industrial strength, high caustic soap breaks down about 14 minutes, because Applicant fills the machines only twice, they can use more water and increase the turbulence in the tub. Furthermore, by increasing the amount of water used on the rinse cycle and increasing the time, greater turbulence is created. Prior Art [0013] Typical Prior Art 5 Cycle 18# Front Load [0014] 1. Pre-wash: 9.7 gal, 2.50 min. [0015] 2. Wash: 9.7 gal, 4.0 min [0016] Spin (optional): 1.0 min [0017] 3. Rinse: 9.7 gal, 2.50 min [0018] Spin: 1.0 min [0019] 4. Rinse: 9.7 gal, 2.5 min [0020] Spin: 1.0 min [0021] 5. Rinse: 9.7 gal, 2.5 min [0022] Spin: 4.0 min Continue reading... Full patent description for Front load washing machine with a single wash/single rinse cycle Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Front load washing machine with a single wash/single rinse cycle patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Front load washing machine with a single wash/single rinse cycle or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Laundry treatment compositions Next Patent Application: Washing machine and method for controlling supply of water thereof Industry Class: Bleaching and dyeing; fluid treatment and chemical modification of textiles and fibers ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Front load washing machine with a single wash/single rinse cycle patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 1.04512 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Novartis , Pfizer , Philips , Polaroid , Procter & Gamble , |
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