Background of the Invention Anyone who has played sports, or lived with a person who plays sports such as football or hockey or like sports requiring the wearing of protective armour such as helmets, boots, shoulder pads and the like, is aware that, although the manufacturer of the equipment likely allows for the washing of such equipment, such equipment is only infrequently washed by hand due to the bulky nature of the pieces of equipment and hard armour which make using a conventional residential washing machine or laundromat washing machine tedious, difficult and in some cases impossible. Further, in some instances sports apparel, such as ballerina's shoes, cannot be washed in conventional washing machines due to the nature of the apparel, for example, due to fragility of the material, or otherwise. Other flexible articles such as harnesses for lifting bed-ridden invalids often become soiled and require washing. Due to their construction washing of such harnesses has in the past been done by hand.

Certainly, in the prior art, conventional washing machines, for example of the variety which have a wash tub with a generally centrally disposed vertically upright washing agitator, restrict the number or size of articles of sports equipment that may be washed at one time.

Consequently, numerous washing cycles are required to merely wash one complete outfit of sports equipment, and larger items may not fit into the washing machine at all. Further, it has been found that the movement of the agitator causes damage to the equipment.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a washing machine using cooperating bags, mesh containers, or the like, wherein one improvement which is the subject of the present disclosure is a means to allow efficient fitting of such bags or containers into the machine while maintaining articles in the bags spaced apart to allow water and air circulation.

Flexible apparel or most if not all of a sports equipment outfit are placed into such bags or containers, and bags or containers mounted into an easily accessible washing cage or basket. The cage or basket is selectively closable and, once closed, agitatable within a water tight enclosure such as a washing machine tub. Specifically, it is an object to hold the articles to be washed fixed in the bags or containers mounted in the cage or basket, and to move the entire cage or basket relative to the enclosure to obtain the flushing of water and the circulation of drying air in and around the articles.

In the prior art, Applicant is aware of various patents relating to the placement of cages or baskets within clothes dryers. In particular, United States Patent Numbers 4,091,548 and 4,109,397 which issued to Daily for a Door Mounted Stationary Drying Rack and a Rotatable, Non-Tumbling Drying Rack Respectively disclose how to place articles into conventional tumbling dryers so as to prevent articles placed into the dryer being, in the first instance, rotated, and in the second instance tumbled. In the first instance Daily teaches a drying rack that maintains article stationary within an open lattice-work basket while the clothes dryer executes its tumble dry cycle. The basket is maintained stationary relative to the rotating drum of the dryer by being mounted to the dryer door. In the second instance, the basket is mounted to the drum of the dryer and provided with a cover which may be closed into the basket so as to apply pressure to articles in the basket so as to hold the articles stationary within the basket as the basket is rotated in the dryer drum.

Applicant is also aware of United States Patent Number 5,743,025 which issued to Jordon, Jr. for a Dryer Basket for Sneakers Insertable into a Clothes Dryer. As with the Daily'397 patent, Jordan, Jr. discloses the use of an open lattice-work basket mountable into the drum of a

clothes dryer. A plurality of such baskets are mounted within the drum in radially spaced relation, removably secured within the drum adjacent to the drum tumbler vanes. The baskets are adapted for holding sneakers within the dryer drum, for tumbling of the sneakers without the noise that would otherwise be associated with the loose tumbling of sneakers in the dryer drum. Ballast is provided for placement into the baskets, the placement of the ballast serving to maintain a balance load within the dryer.

Applicant is further aware of United States Patent No. 3,724,095 which issued to Laue et al for a Delicate Goods Tray which, similar to the Daily'548 patent teaches an open lattice container for holding articles stationary during turning of a dryer drum. Similarly, United States Patent No. 4,617,743 which issued to Barnard for a Dryer Insert, Holder, Container and United States Patent No. 5,276,979 which issued to Gordon, Sr. for a Shoe Drying Support Apparatus, both teach mounting an open lattice container into the drum of a dryer, the former for holding hosiery, tennis shoes and the like, and the latter two position canvas-type shoes and the like within the dryer drum. Both devices employ a telescoping rod to secure the container within the drum for rotation therewith.

United States Patent Number 5,546,771 which issued to Bonar for a Combination Clothes and Dish Washer & Dryer discloses converting a clothes washer to a dish washer by removing the clothes washer agitator and installing a basket for holding dishes. A hot air dryer structure is mounted into the washer to dry the dishes when the clothes washer is used as a dish washer. In particular, an air dryer blower is provided for circulating hot air through the inside of the washing machine cabinet.

In my pending laid-open Canadian patent application No. 2,280,341, I describe a washing machine which includes a frame, a tub rigidly mounted to the frame, and at least one basket rotatably mounted inside the tub. The wash is for washing and drying flexible articles. The basket is an open-lattice sided container having a releasably closable lid. The basket is adapted for

holding articles of apparel or other flexible articles substantially stationary relative to the basket as the basket is rotated relative to the tub. A water supply cooperates with the tub for washing and rinsing the articles held in the basket.

Put another way, the wash includes a watertight housing, a rotatable frame rotatably mounted within the housing for rotation of the frame about an axis of rotation, a plurality of water porous baskets mounted to the frame. Each basket has a releasably securable lid and means for securing the flexible articles in the basket so as to releasably hold the articles substantially stationary relative to the basket as the frame is rotated relative to the housing. A selectively controllable drive rotates the frame relative to the housing. A wash water supply and drain cooperate with the housing for, respectively, pressurized supply of wash water into contact with the baskets, and for draining the wash water. A forced air dryer may be mounted to the housing for drying the articles in the baskets as the baskets are rotated on the frame relative to the housing.

The forced air dryer may have an inlet mounted to the housing at a first position on the housing, and an exhaust outlet mounted to the housing at a second position on the housing.

The second position is radially spaced from the first position about the axis of rotation so that, when rotated about the axis of rotation in a first direction, a basket rotates a first distance from the inlet to the exhaust outlet. When rotated about the axis of rotation in a second direction opposite to the first direction about the axis of rotation, the basket rotates a second distance from the inlet to the exhaust outlet. When the first and second distances are not equal, during a drying cycle the frame and the baskets are rotated so as to pass from the inlet to the exhaust outlet along which ever distance is the longer distance of either the first or second distances. This provides a maximum dwell time in the housing of an airstream forced into the housing through the inlet into drying contact with the articles in the baskets before the airstream exits the housing through the exhaust outlet.

The wash water supply may comprise at least one spray nozzle for injecting wash water into the housing in a spray directed to include a portion of the spray perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The spray nozzles may include a pair of banks of spray nozzles radially spaced apart in the housing about the axis of rotation.

Each basket is described as drawer-mounted into the frame for sliding removal or exposure of each basket from the frame. A door in the housing provides access to the frame. The lid on each basket is operable once the basket is slid from inside the frame through the door so as to facilitate loading and unloading the articles from the basket. The frame may include slides so that each basket may be slid on the slides generally parallel to the axis of rotation through the door. Further, the slides may be telescopic slides mounted in sliding cooperation to the frame and to each basket. The frame may be rotated so as to sequentially position each basket adjacent the door for sequential access to the plurality of baskets.

The housing of the washer is described as a cylindrical drum radially symmetric about the axis of rotation and the frame described as a cage symmetrically shaped relative to the axis of rotation with the plurality of water porous baskets mounted in radially spaced array on the cage, radially spaced about the axis of rotation. The baskets are slidably mounted on the cage for sliding of each basket from the housing when the cage is stationary before engaging a washing or drying cycle.

The baskets are described as open-lattice rigid baskets. They are described as including a separate air and fluid porous spacer for placing between the articles when held within each basket for facilitating fluid and air flow between the articles. Each basket may be generally rectangular, one side of the basket conformally curved to correspond in shape to a cylindrical inner surface of the housing.

The cage is described as a cylindrical frame-work of rigid hoops held rigidly apart and rigidly perpendicular to a center axis member by radially spaced apart spokes, the center axis member co-axial with the axis of rotation. The hoops are sized for snug fitment within the inner surface of the housing. The inner surface of the housing is described as a rigid perforated liner spaced radially inwardly from an exterior cylindrical wall of the housing.

A mesh bag is described for holding the articles in each basket. One mesh bag may be removably securable within each basket. Each bag may be compartmentalized for simultaneously holding various articles in spaced apart array. Each bag may include a main compartment of a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape mountable into its corresponding basket so as to lay the mesh bag flat. The baskets are sized so as to fit therein a mesh bag folded in half and laid flat. The spacer is sandwiched between the folded-over halves of the mesh bag.

The bag may be sized to fold over the spacer and when so folded to snugly fit into the basket. The compartments within the bag are porous and sized to firmly hold specific articles within the bag in an optimized spatial relationship relative to the frame and the housing when the bag is releasably mounted in a basket for optimized washing penetration of the wash water into and through the articles and for optimized penetration of drying air into or through the articles.

The articles may be held in the bag in a substantially laid-flat orientation relative to an inner side of the basket, the inner side radially innermost in relation to the axis of rotation.

Summary of the Invention In the practice of my above described equipment washer, it has been found that, due to the high centrifugal force exerted on the sodden articles held in the mesh bags in the baskets during the spin cycle, that, firstly, if the articles are not properly mounted within the mesh bags so as to be supported against the radially, outwardly urging of the centrifugal force that the articles, and the bag itself if not secured, will compress into the radially-outermost end of the baskets. The

centrifugal force exerted is such that even a metal frame around the perimeter of the mesh bag may become deformed as the mesh bag tries to invert itself. Secondly, the effect of the centrifugal force tends to concentrate and compress articles within the mesh bags so as to inhibit the free flow of washing solution or drying air around the articles held in the bags. This results in non-uniform washing of the articles and incomplete drying. Consequently, it is an object of the present invention to provide a means for stabilizing the mesh bags within the baskets and for holding the mesh bags open within the baskets against the counter urging forces during the spin cycle which would tend to close the mesh bags, so as to maintain as much as possible a spacing between the articles held in the mesh bag so as to accommodate the free flow of washing solution and drying air therebetween.

In summary, the washing machine of the present invention for washing and drying articles of apparel includes a watertight enclosure in which a cylindrical cage is rotatably mounted for rotation about an axis of symmetry of the cage. The cage is an open-lattice sided cylinder having therein a radial array of wedge-shaped baskets mounted around the axis of symmetry.

Each basket of the radial array has a releasably closable door for providing access to a wedge- shaped cavity within the basket.

A rigid-framed mesh container is removably mountable into the cavity for holding in the container the articles of apparel substantially stationary relative to the cage as the cage is rotated. The container is correspondingly wedge-shaped so as to correspond in shape to the cavity when mounted into the cavity so as to snugly fit with a vertex of the container towards a vertex of the cavity and with oppositely disposed sides of the container snugly adjacent corresponding sides of the cavity. The sides of the container support opposed facing compartments for the articles of apparel.

A wedge-shaped spacing frame is mounted in the cavity to a radially outermost end of the basket so as to be snugly nested between the radially outermost end of the basket and the

container when mounted in the cavity, and between the sides of the cavity. A vertex of the spacing frame is directed towards the vertex of the cavity so that during a spin-cycle of the washing machine, when the cage is rotated at its maximum speed of rotation about the axis of symmetry, radially outermost edges of the sides of the container are urged radially outwardly by centrifugal force so as to seat the radially outermost edges in wedged engagement between, and in proximity to intersections between, the sides of the cavity and corresponding sides of the spacing frame.

Thus during the spin-cycle the sides of the container are held open against the sides of the cavity and the container is stably supported within the cavity.

The container may be a mesh bag mounted to a rigid perimeter frame for holding the apparel. The mesh bag and frame are removably securable within each basket.

Advantageously the mesh bags may be compartmentalized for simultaneously holding in spaced apart array various articles in the mesh bags when held in the basket so as to remain stationary against the centrifugal force during the spin cycle. Each container is slidably mounted into the cage for sliding removal of each container from the cage through a door in the enclosure when the door is aligned with the corresponding basket. The door on each basket is operable through the door on the enclosure so as to facilitate loading and unloading the container from each basket. The cage may be rotated so as to sequentially position each basket adjacent the door in the enclosure for sequential access to the baskets.

The washing machine may include a forced air dryer mounted to the washing machine enclosure for drying the articles in the baskets as the baskets are rotated on the cage relative to the enclosure. The forced air dryer may have an inlet mounted to the enclosure at a first position on the enclosure, and an exhaust outlet mounted to the enclosure at a second position on the enclosure. The second position is radially spaced from the first position about the axis of rotation so that, when rotated about the axis of rotation in a first direction, a basket rotates a first distance from the inlet to the exhaust outlet, and when rotated about the axis of rotation in a second direction opposite to the first direction about the axis of rotation, the basket rotates a

second distance from the inlet to the exhaust outlet. When the first and second distances are not equal, during a drying cycle the baskets are rotated so as to pass from the inlet to the exhaust outlet along which ever distance is the longer distance of either the first or second distances so as to allow a maximum dwell time in the enclosure of an airstream forced into the enclosure through the inlet into drying contact with the articles in the baskets before the airstream exits the enclosure through the exhaust outlet. The washing machine wash water supply may include at least one spray nozzle for injecting wash water into the enclosure in a spray directed to include a portion of the spray perpendicular to the axis of rotation. A pair of banks of spray nozzles may be employed radially spaced apart in the enclosure about the axis of rotation of the cage.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is, in perspective cut-away view, the washing machine of the present invention with its outer door open and one cage door removed.

Figure lb is the side elevation view looking in through the open outer door of Figure 1.

Figure Ic is, in side elevation view, the cage of Figure 1 removed from its enclosure.

Figure 2 is, in front perspective view, the washing machine enclosure of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is, in rear perspective view, the washing machine enclosure of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is, in perspective view, a prior art compartmentalized mesh equipment container laid flat.

Figure 5 is, in partially cut away side elevation view, the prior art compartmentalized mesh equipment container of Figure 2, partially folded.

Figure 6 is, in partially cut-away side elevation view, a prior art embodiment of the machine of the present invention.

Figure 7a is, in front elevation view, the prior art machine of Figure 6.

Figure 7b is, in right side elevation view, the prior art machine of Figure 6.

Figure 7c is, in plan view, the prior art machine of Figure 6.

Figure 8a is, in front elevation view, one basket of the prior art machine of Figure 6.

Figure 8b is, in side elevation view, the prior art basket of Figure 8a.

Figure 8c is, in plan view, the prior art basket of Figure 8a.

Figure 9a is, in front elevation view, the cage of the prior art machine of Figure 6.

Figure 9b is, in side elevation view, the prior art cage of Figure 9a.

Figure 10a is, in front elevation view, the lower tub of the prior art machine of Figure 6.

Figure 1 Ob is, in side elevation view, the prior art lower tub of Figure 10a.

Figure l Oc is, in plan view, the prior art lower tub of Figure 10a.

Figure 1 la is, in front elevation view, the drive motor and mount of the prior art machine of Figure 6.

Figure 1 lob is, in side elevation view, the prior art drive motor and mount of Figure lla.

Figure 12a is, in front elevation view, the upper tub of the prior art machine of Figure 6.

Figure 12b is, in side elevation view, the prior art upper tub of Figure 12a.

Figure 12c is, in plan view, the prior art upper tub of Figure 12a.

Figure 12d is a sectional view along line 12d-12d in Figure 12a.

Figure 13 a is, in front elevation view, the door of the prior art machine of Figure 6.

Figure 13b is, in side elevation view, the prior art door of Figure 13a.

Figure 14a is, in diagrammatic front elevation view, the water control system of the prior art machine of Figure 6.

Figure 14b is, in plan view, the spray nozzle water conduits of the prior art water control system of Figure 14a.

Figure 14c is, in front elevation view, the water pump and valve arrangement of the prior art water control system of Figure 14a.

Figure 15 is, in right side perspective view, the prior art machine of Figure 6 with the door open and a basket slid outwardly from the cage.

Figure 16 is, in front elevation view, the prior art machine of Figure 15, with the door open.

Figure 17 is, in left side perspective view, the prior art machine of Figure 15.

Figure 18 is an enlarged view of the prior art basket of Figure 17 with the basket lid open.

Figure 19 is, in right rear perspective view, the prior art machine of Figure 15.

Figure 20 is an enlarged view in left rear perspective view of the upper tub and spray nozzles of the prior art machine of Figure 15.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments As seen in Figures 1, la and lb, washing machine 8 includes cylindrical cage 10 rotatably mounted within a stationary housing as better described below. Cage 10 contains a radially adjacent array of wire mesh baskets 12 mounted to a common hub 14 between rigid spokes 16 mounted to a pair of circumferential rings 18. Rings 18 are maintained in parallel spaced apart relation by spokes 16 and by rigid cross members 19 and by the rigidity of the outer wire mesh covering extending between rigid member 19 and rings 18 so as to define a cylindrical

cage 10 which is radially symmetric about the axis of rotation of cage 10 being the longitudinal axis of hub 14.

As may be seen, each of baskets 12 is wedge-shape with the vertex of the wedge being co-extensive with hub 14. Access into each of baskets 12 is provided by wire mesh doors 20 mounted to spoke 16 by means of hinges 22. With cage 10 rotated about hub 14 so as to align a desired basket 12 with an opening 22 in a side wall of the washing machine enclosure, an outer door 24 mounted on hinges 26 may be opened allowing access to door 20. Opening door 20, which is not shown for clarity in Figure 1 but is illustrated in Figure lb, so as to fold down both doors 24 and 20 provides an unobstructed linear entry and removal path 28 for entry into, and removal from, basket 12 of a mesh equipment container 38, as better described below, in its folded over position when full of articles to be washed.

As better described below, equipment container 38 has a perimeter metal frame which is hinged to allow folding over onto itself flexible mesh equipment compartments. The equipment compartments may be further internally compartmentalized so as to hold individual articles to be washed in a stationary position relative to the perimeter metal frame when container 38 is inserted into basket 12 along path 28 so as to be positioned within basket 12 as better seen in Figure Ib. During the spin cycle once the articles held within container 38 have been washed and are thoroughly wet, the compartments holding the articles are arranged so that the articles are held stationary against the radially outwardly urging force in direction A of the centrifugal force resultant from the high speed spinning of cage 10 about hub 14.

In order to help maintain equipment 38 in its optimum position within basket 12 during the spin cycle, and also to assist in maintaining the perimeter metal frame of container 38 spaced apart against the wedge-shaped walls of basket 12 during the spin cycle so as to maintain maximum separation of the articles being washed or dried while held within the compartment within container 38, a wedge-shaped spacing frame 30 is mounted within basket 12 so as to be

nested within basket 12 against rings 18. Spacing frame 30 is advantageously mounted within basket 12 so as to be symmetric within basket 12 about a plane of symmetry 32 extending radially from hub 14 so as to bisect basket 12, spacing frame 30, and container 38 when mounted into basket 12.

With the vertices of the wedge formed by spacing frame 30 directed radially inwardly towards hub 14, and with the outer edges of spacing frame 30 mounted into the junction between spokes 16 and rings 18, during the spin cycle when the centrifugal force in direction A is greatest, the metal perimeter frame of container 38 is guided between the converging surfaces of spokes 16 and spacing frame 30 so that the ends of the metal perimeter frame of container 38 become wedged in the junctions 34 at the intersections of spacing frame 30 and spokes 16. This assists in stabilizing the metal perimeter frame of container 38 against twisting deformation of the frame and holds container 38 in its fullest open position to the extent that can be accomplished within basket 12.

Although in the embodiment illustrated, access to baskets 12 is via side opening doors 20 and 24, in an alternative embodiment, access doors may be provided in, for example, end 36 as seen in Figures 2 and 3 of the washing machine enclosure and thus also correspondingly in the radially outermost wall of basket 12, between rings 18 and cross members 19. In this alternative embodiment, spacing frames 30 would be rotatably mounted for example by means of a hinge at one of junctions 34 for each basket 12, and spacing frame 30 would be of a bi-fold design so that with the doors open, spacing frame 30 could be folded outwardly through the doors allowing access into basket 12 allowing for entry or retrieval of container 38.

In my laid-open Canadian patent application No. 2,280,341, incorporated herein by reference, I describe an equipment washer 100 which includes a mesh equipment container 38 in the nature of a garment bag is, as illustrated herein in Figures 4 and 5. The container securely holds articles of sporting equipment. Mesh equipment container 38 may as illustrated, take the

form of a garment bag having mesh side compartments 40 or the like extending in opposed relationship outwardly of a centrally disposed hinge 42 and handle 44. Side compartments 40 may be releasably closed by means of fasteners known in the art such as zippers or strips of hook and loop fasteners or the like, such that the openings which are conveniently large, may be opened to access the interior cavities of side compartments 40. Once articles of sports equipment 46 (shown in dotted outline) have been inserted into their corresponding internal compartments within side compartments 40, and side compartments 40 closed by means of releasable fasteners 48, the mesh equipment container 38 may then be placed into a basket in the equipment washer.

Container 3 8 is made of material allowing for the free passage of water or cleaning solution therethrough. In the embodiment as illustrated, advantageously, tie down rings or clips may be provided. Tether 52 may be provided to assist holding sides 40 in a partially folded orientation about hinge 42 so that container 38 may be free standing allowing for draining and drying of equipment 46 held therein.

In use, the bag is folded open against a carrying handle 44 and placed in an upright position supported by the perimeter reinforcement. A tether strap which is attached to one side of the bag is drawn toward and clipped to the other side of the bag to prevent the folded unit collapsing. The separate compartments are closed by zippers or other means. The internal pockets may have self closing elasticized openings. During transport, the bag is simply folded shut to expose the carrying handle and the tether strap is utilized to retain the bag in a closed folded position.

As seen in Figures 6-20, my prior art equipment washer is a combination washing and drying machine. Machine 100 employs a plurality of baskets 102 which are mounted within a cylindrically shaped caged 104. Baskets 102 are radially spaced in cage 104 about its axis of rotation B. Cage 104 is rotatably mounted so as to be free to turn about axis of rotation B within a cylindrical outer housing consisting of an upper tub 106 and a lower tub 108. Door 110 provides

access into the front of upper tub 106. Door 110 is hinged to lower tub 108 and so may be folded down in direction C into its position shown in Figure 7b which allows one or more baskets 102 to be telescopically slid outwardly in direction D from the interior of upper tub 106. This provides access to the interior of the basket or baskets as further described below. Water for use during the wash cycle is stored in a reservoir water tank 112. Motor drive 114 rotates cage 104 and baskets 102 within the housing during the wash and dry cycles, for example by means of a belt drive linkage 116. A frame assembly 118 provides the supporting structure for the components.

As better seen in Figures 8a-8c, baskets 102 are advantageously each identical to one another, being constructed of an open weave mesh or the like, reference numeral 120 in the figures, rigidly mounted to rigid basket frame 122. Basket lid 124 also constructed of a mesh mounted within an outer frame, is mounted to basket frame 122 by means of hinges 126. Basket lid 124 may be closed in direction E and releasably fastened by means of clasps or the like in the closed position so as to enclose mesh equipment container 38 within the basket. Where the basket is sized so as to retain equipment container 38 in its folded position folded over about hinge 42, advantageously a rigid wire frame spacer 128 is placed between the folded over halves of equipment container 38 so as to allow the passage of water between the folded over halves.

Sliders 130 are rigidly mounted so as to face outwardly from one side of frame 122.

Sliders 130 allow for the telescopic mounting of baskets 102 into cage 104.

As best seen in Figures 9a and 9b, cage 104 has rings 132 rigidly mounted to radial spokes 134. Rings 132 and spokes 134 are maintained in rigid parallel spaced apart relation by stringers 136. Center plates 138 are mounted rigidly at the intersection of the spokes. Stub shaft 146 is mounted to one of center plates 13 8 co-axially with axis of rotation B. Slider angle brackets 140 extend rigidly between the spokes parallel to axis of rotation B and center support 148. Slider plates 144 are mounted parallel to the stringers between rings 132.

As better seen in Figures lOa-lOc, lowertub 108 has shell 150 rigidly mounted to stiffeners 152 so as to define, in cross section, a semi-circle. The front and back of shell 150, that is, between the interior of semi-circular stiffeners 152 is sealed by means of rigid plates 154 and 156. Rigid plates 156 are mounted within supporting stiffeners 158. Extending rigidly between the ends of stiffeners 152 are side angle members 160 and extending between the ends of the parallel adjacent stiffeners 152 across the upper edges of shell 150 are end angle members 162.

Plates 156 each have shaft apertures 164 formed therein for journalled mounting therethrough, through appropriate bearings, stub shaft 146 through one ofthe apertures and a drive shaft better described below through the opposite aperture. Motor mount 166 is mounted to one of stiffeners 152, so as to, for example, lay generally midway along one of the quadrants defined by stiffeners 152.

As better seen in Figures 1 la and 11 b, motor mount flange 168 is rigidly mounted perpendicularly to motor mount 166. Drive motor 170, which is advantageously a reversible electric motor, is rigidly mounted to motor mount flange 168. Drive motor 170 may, for example be a Baldor No. VN3611T 3 horsepower reversible electric motor. Drive motor 170 drives rotation of drive shaft 172 via sheave 174, timing belt 176, and sheave 178. Drive shaft 172 and stub shaft 146 are rotatably mounted within apertures 164 by their respective flange bearings 180 mounted to plates 156. Spacers 184 are rigidly mounted to side walls 154 and the interior of lower tub 108 through which cage 104 rotates when driven by drive motor 170. In the preferred embodiment, spacers 184 are perforated so as to assist in trapping or at least in dampening the energy of spray within the housing so as to facilitate drainage through pipe coupling 182.

Lower tub 108 may be drained of water through pipe coupling 182.

As seen in Figures 12a-12d, upper tub 106 has a semi-circular shell 186 extending between end angle members 188. Inlet duct 190 and exhaust duct 192 are mounted onto shell 186

so as to provide a drying airflow into, and out of, the interior of the housing comprising the upper and lower tubs. Inlet duct 190 has corresponding inflow access F which intersects the outflow access G of exhaust duct 192 at the center of curvature of shell 186. Advantageously, inlet duct 190 and exhaust duct 192 open into upper tub 106 across substantially the entire depth of the tub.

A large volume of hot air as better described below, may thus be blown into the interior of the housing through inlet duct 190 an extracted as moisture laden air through exhaust duct 192.

Shell 186 is also braced by means of side angle members 194. End plate 196 is rigidly mounted to the back of shell 186 so as to seal the back of upper tub 106. The front of shell 186 is sealed when door 110 is closed, for example so as to compress an arcuate resilient door seal member 198 between door 110 and door frame 200. In the embodiment illustrated, door 110 is of a substantially transparent material so that the interior of upper tub 106 may be viewed when door 110 is closed. Door seal 198 may be held in place by means of a door seal retainer 202.

Further apertures are also provided through shell 186 into which are mounted pipe couplings 204 which in one preferred embodiment are 1/2 inch NPT pipe couplings. Pipe couplings 204 may have longitudinal flow axes H which may also intersect the center of curvature of shell 186. Pipe couplings 204 provide for inlet nozzles for the pressurized injection of soapy water or rinse water during the washing cycle as better described below.

As also seen in Figure 12a a perforated splashguard 206 is mounted as a liner within shell 186 and provides for dampening of water spray within the tub, for example thrown from baskets 102 during the spin dry cycle.

As better seen in Figures 13a and 13d door 110 may be a transparent sheet 208, for example a polycarbonate sheet of 1/4 inch thickness preferably with a scratch resistant coating.

Sheet 208 is releasably locked into its closed position against door frame 200 and corresponding door seals 202 by turning handles 210 so as to engage latches 212. With latches 212 disengaged

from engagement with door frame 200, sheet 208 may be pivoted downwardly about hinges 214 in direction C into the door's open position so as to provide access into the upper tub.

As seen in Figures 14a-14c, the control system programmed as would be known to one skilled in the art and user actuated by on/off switches 252 directs water from water tank reservoir 112, advantageously holding approximately 80 gallons, through jet pump 216 mounted to base plate 218, via electrically actuated control valve 220 and reservoir water line 222. Water is drawn from the reservoir and pumped by jet pump 216 through water line 224 and water conduits 226 via wide junction 228 so as to supply water to spray nozzles 230.

Spray nozzles 230 are mounted to pipe couplings 204 so as to project into the interior of upper tub 106 through splashguard 206. Water conduits 226 form a yoke having longitudinally extending arms extending across the depth of upper tub 106 so as to provide pressurized water flow to pipe couplings 204 via T couplings 232.

Water flow into water conduits 226 via water line 224 from jet pump 216 is controlled by electrically actuated valve 234. Once the contents of water tank reservoir 112 has been pumped into the tub housing, that is, the housing comprising the upper and lower tubs, valve 220 is actuating so as to close off water line 222 and open drain line 236. Drain line 236 drains water from drain pipe coupling 182, that is, from the bottom of lower tub 108. Thus either soapy water during the wash cycle or rinse water during the rinse cycle may be recycled into the tub by being pumped from the drain back up to the spray nozzles during both the wash and rinse cycles.

Once each cycle has completed, it is then necessary to drain the tub, for example of either the wash water or the rinse water before the next sequential cycle may be commenced. This is accomplished by actuating valve 234 so as to redirect water being pumped from jet pump 216 from water line 224 to water discharge line 238. The timed actuation of valves 220 and 234 in conjunction with the cycling of motor drive 170 as better described below, is controlled by programmable logic controllers or the like such as would be known in the art. Thus as the wash

cycle is progressing, once reservoir 112 has been depleted and water line 222 shut off by actuation of valve 220, reservoir 112 is replenished awaiting either a further wash cycle or a rinse cycle.

Soap for the wash cycle may be introduced by various means, for example either manually or automatically using liquid detergent or dissolvable solid detergent injected into the tub or an infeed water line, for example by use of an automatic dissolvable cartridge-type solid detergent dispenser 244 such as sold under their trademark Prizm and manufactured by Sunburst Chemicals of Minneapolis, Minnesota, U. S. A. Dispenser 244 dispenses soap via feed line 246.

As an example of the wash cycle, although not intended to be limiting, drive motor 170 may rotate cage 104 and baskets 102 in a first rotational direction about axis B for two minutes and then sequentially reverse directions every two minutes thereafter until the wash cycle is complete, for example after a total of 9 or 10 minutes. The wash cycle is accomplished by spinning rotation as opposed to agitation style rotation. The soapy water is then pumped from the tub and either another wash cycle commenced with fresh soapy water or the rinse cycle commenced. The speed of rotation of cage 104 during the wash cycle is relatively low, for example 9 rpm. The speed of rotation of the cage during the rinse cycle may typically also be 9 rpm. During a spin dry cycle, however, the rotational speed of the cage is increased to at least 200 rpm so as to centrifugally force water radially outwardly from the articles contained in the baskets.

The subsequent drying cycle is accomplished by forcing hot air into the tub while rotating the cage in direction I at 9 rpm. Cage 104 is rotated in direction I so as to draw the hot air being forced into the tub along axis F through inlet duct 190 around the longest circumferential path (labelled path 248 in Figure 12a) within the tub between inlet duct 190 and exhaust duct 192. It has been found that otherwise, the hot air being forced through inlet duct 190, if cage 104 is being rotated in a direction counter to direction I, exits through exhaust duct 192 (i. e., along path 250) with a minimal drying effect on the contents of baskets 102.

Hot air is provided by furnace 240 through flume 242, for example at 2500 c. f. m.

As would be known to one skilled in the art, the water in reservoir 112 may be supplied at or

heated to a selectively controllable temperature (controlled by for example thermostat 254). The hot air being forced through inlet duct 190 would also be supplied at a selectively controllable temperature by the furnace.

As seen in Figure 15, baskets 102 telescope outwardly from cage 104 by means of sliders 130a telescopically sliding along telescopic members 240. In the preferred embodiment, telescopic members 240 are oblong blocks of ultra-highmolecularweight (UHMW) polyethylene slidably mounted along one side thereof to sliders 130a on baskets 102 and slidably mounted on their opposite sides to slider angle brackets 140. Sliders 130b slidably engage slider plates 144.

It would be recognized by those skilled in the art that the washing and drying machine of the present invention is not to be restricted to sporting equipment which in the past has been difficult if not impossible to clean such as helmets, body armour, ski boots with or without the liner removed, but also applies to many other articles that are generally difficult if not impossible to clean without having to be washed by hand. Thus, for example my washing machine may be used to wash fire-fighter suits, flight suits, tents, equestrian equipment, bulky fabrics, backpacks, cloth carriers for bulletproof vests, military and army body armour, harnesses used for lifting the disabled and elderly from beds or wheelchairs, and includes generally any other article which requires the use of an abundance of hook and loop fasteners which if placed in a conventional washing machine would become balled or knotted due to tumbling.

Agitation by conventional agitators it has been found in many articles causes damage to the articles. Such includes the padding coming out of sports equipment, or the fabric becoming entangled and jammed and the agitator wears on the material or tears the fabric.

Further, such articles make an easily unbalanced load during the spin cycle.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure, alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims.