Manual screen filter for automatic washer and method

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein the movement of said particles to the storage area is caused by the action of the entering laundry liquid from a nozzle against the surfacE.

Claim 4

In an automatic washer, a manually cleanable filter comprising: a filter housing having water inlet means for receiving a supply of washing liquid, the inlet including a nozzle for directing a flow of liquid within the housing, a removable filter element within the housing, the element including a mesh filter screen having a contour with a high point intermediate its edges to provide a filtering area and a storage area, the filtering area being substantially adjacent the nozzle and inclined at an angle to the flow of washing liquid from the nozzle and being effective to separate particles from the liquid, the storage area being spaced from the filtering area for receiving and retaining the particles separated from the washing liquid by the filtering area.

Claim 5

In an automatic washer, a manually cleanable filter comprising: a filter housing having water inlet means for receiving a supply of washing liquid, the inlet including a nozzle for directing a flow of liquid within the housing, a removable filter element within the housing, the element including a mesh filter screen having a contour with a high point intermediate its edges to provide a filtering area and a storage area, the filtering area being substantially adjacent the nozzle and inclined at an angle to the flow of washing liquid from the nozzle and being effective to separate particles from the liquid, the storage area being spaced from the filtering area for receiving and retaining the particles separated from the washing liquid by the filtering area.

Claim 6

In an automatic washer according to claim 3, wherein the storage area has a substantially U-shape with legs and with the high point of the screen disposed between the legs of the storage area.

Claim 7

In an automatic washer according to claim 3, wherein the storage area has at least a portion thereof adjacent an end of the filter element which end is remote to the inlet means.

Claim 8

In an automatic washer according to claim 3, wherein said angle is a shallow angle and wherein said storage area extends from the filtering area to a level in the housing below the level of the adjacent portions of the filtering area.

Claim 9

A FILTER ASSEMBLY COMPRISING: A HOUSING HAVING AN INLET, NOZZLE MEANS DISPOSED AT THE INLET FOR DIRCTING A FLOW OF FLUID THROUGH THE HOUSING, AND REMOVABLE FILTER ELEMENT DISPOSED IN THE HOUSING, SAID FILTER ELEMENT HAVING A CONTOUR TO PROVIDE A FIRST PORTION AND SECOND PORTION, SAID FIRST PORTION BEING RECEIVED IN THE HOUSING ADJACENT THE INLET AT A SHALLOW AGNLE TO THE DIRECTION OF FLOW OF FLUID FROM THE NOZZLE TO PROVIDE A PRIMARY FILTERING AREA, SAID SECOND PORTION HAVING A U SHAPE WITH LEGS WITH A PORTION OF THE FIRST PROTION EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID LEGS, SAID SECOND PORTION EXTENDING FROM THE FIRST PORTION TO A LEVEL IN THE HOUSING BELOW THE LEVEL OF AN ADJACENT PORTION OF THE FIRST PORTION TO PROVIDE A STORAGE AREA SPACED FROM THE INLET FOR RECEIVING PARTILCES SEPARATED BY THE PRIMARY FILTERING AREA AND MOVED BY THE FLOW OF THE FLUID THEREFROM.

Claim 10

A FILTER ASSEMBLY COMPRISING: A HOUSING HAVING AN INLET, NOZZLE MEANS DISPOSED AT THE INLET FOR DIRCTING A FLOW OF FLUID THROUGH THE HOUSING, AND REMOVABLE FILTER ELEMENT DISPOSED IN THE HOUSING, SAID FILTER ELEMENT HAVING A CONTOUR TO PROVIDE A FIRST PORTION AND SECOND PORTION, SAID FIRST PORTION BEING RECEIVED IN THE HOUSING ADJACENT THE INLET AT A SHALLOW AGNLE TO THE DIRECTION OF FLOW OF FLUID FROM THE NOZZLE TO PROVIDE A PRIMARY FILTERING AREA, SAID SECOND PORTION HAVING A U SHAPE WITH LEGS WITH A PORTION OF THE FIRST PROTION EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID LEGS, SAID SECOND PORTION EXTENDING FROM THE FIRST PORTION TO A LEVEL IN THE HOUSING BELOW THE LEVEL OF AN ADJACENT PORTION OF THE FIRST PORTION TO PROVIDE A STORAGE AREA SPACED FROM THE INLET FOR RECEIVING PARTILCES SEPARATED BY THE PRIMARY FILTERING AREA AND MOVED BY THE FLOW OF THE FLUID THEREFROM.

Claim 11

A filter assembly for an automatic washer comprising a housing, said housing having an open interior defined by top, bottom and side walls, one end of the housing having an entrance nozzle communicating with the interior thereof, the other end of said housing having a discharge opening therefrom, said nozzle directing a flow of fluid in the housing substantially parallel to the top wall, a filter assembly including a rectangular frame and a filter screen having its edges attached to said frame, said filter screen having a contour to provide a high point intermediate its edges, which high point has a level different than the level of the edges attached to said frame, said filter assembly being removably received in said housing with a portion of the screen which is substantially adjacent to the nozzle being inclined to the direction of flow from the nozzle to form a primary filtering area to separate particles from the flow of fluid, and portions of the screen spaced from the nozzle forming a storage area to receive particles washed from the primary filter area by the flow of fluid from the nozzle.

Claim 12

A filter assembly for an automatic washer comprising a housing, said housing having an open interior defined by top, bottom and side walls, one end of the housing having an entrance nozzle communicating with the interior thereof, the other end of said housing having a discharge opening therefrom, said nozzle directing a flow of fluid in the housing substantially parallel to the top wall, a filter assembly including a rectangular frame and a filter screen having its edges attached to said frame, said filter screen having a contour to provide a high point intermediate its edges, which high point has a level different than the level of the edges attached to said frame, said filter assembly being removably received in said housing with a portion of the screen which is substantially adjacent to the nozzle being inclined to the direction of flow from the nozzle to form a primary filtering area to separate particles from the flow of fluid, and portions of the screen spaced from the nozzle forming a storage area to receive particles washed from the primary filter area by the flow of fluid from the nozzle.

Claim 13

A filter assembly according to claim 8, wherein the storage area formed by the portions of the filter screen has a substantial U shape with a bight portion and a pair of legs, said bight portion being disposed adjacent a side of the frame remote to the nozzle with the leg portion extending along opposite sides of the frame substantially parallel to the direction of fluid flow from the nozzle.

Claim 14

A filter assembly according to claim 8, wherein said frame includes at least one support member to support the screen at said high point.

Claim 15

A filter assembly according to claim 8, wherein said frame includes a plurality of support meMbers supporting said filter screen in said frame, a pair of said support members being spaced apart and extending from a side of the frame adjacent the nozzle, each of said pair of support members having a support surface inclined at an angle to the direction of flow of fluid to form an upwardly inclined portion for the primary filtering area.

Claim 16

In an automatic washer having a tub and means for circulating washing water from the tub through a filter and back into the tub, the filter comprising a filter housing having a water inlet means for receiving a supply of washing liquid and a discharge opening spaced from the inlet means, said inlet means including a nozzle for directing the flow of liquid within the housing, a removable filter element including a frame and a mesh filter screen attached by its edges to the frame, said filter screen being contoured to provide a high point within its edges, said filter element being disposed in the housing with a portion of the screen adjacent the nozzle being inclined at an angle to the flow of washing liquid from the nozzle and forming a primary filtering area to separate particles from the liquid and the portion of the screen which is remote to the nozzle and spaced therefrom by the primary filtering area being a storage area for retaining particles conveyed from the filtering area by the flow of water on the filtering area so that the filtering area is free from clogging and particles separated by the filter element may be removed from the washer as the element is removed.

Claim 17

In an automatic washer having a tub and means for circulating washing water from the tub through a filter and back into the tub, the filter comprising a filter housing having a water inlet means for receiving a supply of washing liquid and a discharge opening spaced from the inlet means, said inlet means including a nozzle for directing the flow of liquid within the housing, a removable filter element including a frame and a mesh filter screen attached by its edges to the frame, said filter screen being contoured to provide a high point within its edges, said filter element being disposed in the housing with a portion of the screen adjacent the nozzle being inclined at an angle to the flow of washing liquid from the nozzle and forming a primary filtering area to separate particles from the liquid and the portion of the screen which is remote to the nozzle and spaced therefrom by the primary filtering area being a storage area for retaining particles conveyed from the filtering area by the flow of water on the filtering area so that the filtering area is free from clogging and particles separated by the filter element may be removed from the washer as the element is removed.