US-12618189-B2 - Lint filter for laundry appliance having a closable filtering space for capturing lint particles

Abstract

A lint filter for a laundry appliance includes a handle, a first panel that extends from the handle and has a mesh filtration member, and a second panel that is coupled to the first panel at a hinge member that opposes the handle. The hinge member biases the second panel against the mesh filtration member to define a closed position, and a flow of process air through the mesh filtration member moves the second panel away from the mesh filtration member to define an open position that forms a filtering space for capturing particulate matter from the process air. Upon deactivation of the flow of the process air, the lint filter returns to the closed position that is configured to trap the particulate matter in the filtering space and between the first and second panels.

Inventors

• Mark J. Christensen
• Kyle J. Carow
• Brendan L. Erickson
• Forrest S. McKenzie

Assignees

• WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20230314

Claims (18)

1. 1 . A lint filter for a laundry appliance, the lint filter comprising: a handle; a first panel that extends from the handle and having a mesh filtration member; and a second panel that is coupled to the first panel at a hinge member that opposes the handle, wherein the hinge member biases the second panel against the mesh filtration member to define a closed position, and wherein a flow of process air through the mesh filtration member moves the second panel away from the mesh filtration member to define an open position that forms a filtering space for capturing particulate matter from the process air, and where upon deactivation of the flow of the process air, the lint filter returns to the closed position that is configured to trap the particulate matter in the filtering space and between the first and second panels.
2. 2 . The lint filter of claim 1 , wherein the lint filter is configured to be placed within a filter receptacle of said laundry appliance.
3. 3 . The lint filter of claim 2 , wherein the filter receptacle is positioned within a top panel of a cabinet of said laundry appliance.
4. 4 . The lint filter of claim 1 , wherein the hinge member is a mechanical hinge that connects the first panel and the second panel.
5. 5 . The lint filter of claim 4 , wherein the mechanical hinge includes a biasing mechanism that biases the first panel and the second panel toward the closed position.
6. 6 . The lint filter of claim 1 , wherein the first panel includes a frame that surrounds the mesh filtration member, and wherein the hinge member is attached to the frame.
7. 7 . The lint filter of claim 6 , wherein the frame and the second panel are a single and continuous member, and wherein the hinge member is a living hinge that is defined between the first panel and the second panel.
8. 8 . The lint filter of claim 1 , wherein the hinge member is a living hinge that is defined within the second panel.
9. 9 . The lint filter of claim 1 , wherein the second panel having the hinge member is attached to the first panel.
10. 10 . The lint filter of claim 9 , wherein the second panel having the hinge member is an after-market component that is attached to the first panel.
11. 11 . The lint filter of claim 1 , wherein the second panel includes a body portion and a plurality of apertures defined within the body portion that define a secondary filtration member.
12. 12 . The lint filter of claim 11 , wherein each aperture of the plurality of apertures includes a resilient frame that defines a filtration slot that assists in cooperating with the process air to move the second panel to the open position.
13. 13 . The lint filter of claim 12 , wherein the resilient frame of each aperture is integrally formed with the body portion of the second panel.
14. 14 . The lint filter of claim 1 , wherein the hinge member is a third panel that extends between the first panel and the second panel.
15. 15 . The lint filter of claim 14 , wherein the third panel includes the hinge member in a form of a living hinge.
16. 16 . A laundry appliance comprising: a blower that delivers process air through an airflow path disposed within an outer cabinet; a drum that defines a processing space that treats articles, wherein the airflow path includes the processing space; a lint filter selectively disposed within the airflow path, the lint filter comprising: a first panel that selectively extends into the airflow path and having a filtration member and a handle; and a second panel that is coupled to the first panel at a hinge member that opposes the handle, wherein the hinge member biases the second panel against the first panel to define a closed position, and wherein activation of the blower directs the process air through the filtration member and also biases the second panel away from the first panel to define an open position that forms a filtering space between the second panel and the filtration member, and where upon deactivation of the blower, the second panel returns to the closed position that traps particulate matter within the filtering space and between the second panel and the filtration member.
17. 17 . The laundry appliance of claim 16 , wherein the lint filter Is selectively received within a receptacle that extends into the airflow path.
18. 18 . The laundry appliance of claim 17 , wherein the receptacle is defined within a top panel of the outer cabinet.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims priority to and the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/332,713, filed on Apr. 20, 2022, entitled LINT FILTER FOR LAUNDRY APPLIANCE HAVING A CLOSABLE FILTERING SPACE FOR CAPTURING LINT PARTICLES, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE DEVICE The device is generally in the field of laundry appliances, and more specifically, a lint filter for a laundry appliance that includes opposable panels that operate relative to one another to enclose a filtering space between the two panels so that particulate matter can be captured within the filtering space. SUMMARY OF THE DEVICE According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a lint filter for a laundry appliance includes a handle, a first panel that extends from the handle and has a mesh filtration member, and a second panel that is coupled to the first panel at a hinge member that opposes the handle. The hinge member biases the second panel against the mesh filtration member to define a closed position, and a flow of process air through the mesh filtration member moves the second panel away from the mesh filtration member to define an open position that forms a filtering space for capturing particulate matter from the process air. Upon deactivation of the flow of the process air, the lint filter returns to the closed position that is configured to trap the particulate matter in the filtering space and between the first and second panels. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a laundry appliance includes a blower that delivers process air through an airflow path that is disposed within an outer cabinet. A drum defines a processing space that treats articles, wherein the airflow path includes the processing space. A lint filter is selectively disposed within the airflow path. The lint filter includes a first panel that selectively extends into the airflow path and has a filtration member and a handle, and a second panel that is coupled to the first panel at a hinge member that opposes the handle. The hinge member biases the second panel against the first panel to define a closed position. Activation of the blower directs the process air through the filtration member and also biases the second panel away from the first panel to define an open position that forms a filtering space between the second panel and the filtration member. Upon deactivation of the blower, the second panel returns to the closed position that traps particulate matter within the filtering space and between the second panel and the filtration member. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a filtration system for an appliance includes a blower that delivers process air through an airflow path. A particulate filter is selectively disposed within the airflow path. The particulate filter includes a first panel that extends between a handle and a hinge member, a mesh filtration member that is disposed within the first panel that is configured to separate particulate matter from the process air to define captured particulate matter, and a second panel that is coupled to the hinge member and cooperates with the mesh filtration member to define a filtering space therebetween. The hinge member biases the second panel to a closed position proximate the mesh filtration member. Activation of the blower directs the process air through the filtering space and defines an increased air pressure within the filtering space that moves the second panel to an open position that expands the filtering space. Upon deactivation of the blower, the second panel is biased to the closed position that traps the captured particulate matter within the filtering space and between the second panel and the mesh filtration member. These and other features, advantages, and objects of the present disclosure will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims, and appended drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an aspect of the lint filter separated from a filter receptacle of a laundry appliance; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the lint filter shown in a closed position with lint particles captured within the filtering space; FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an aspect of the lint filter and showing operation of the lint filter as process air moves therethrough; FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the lint filter of FIG. 3 and showing the lint particles captured within a filtering space after the blower for the appliance is deactivated; FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the lint filter of FIG. 2 and showing captured lint particles within the filtering space; FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating operation of the second panel relative to the first panel as process air moves through the lint filter; FIG. 7 is a schemat