Flexible vane agitator for high stroke rate automatic washer

Claim 2

For use in a high stroke rate automatic washer, a vertically mounted oscillating agitator comprising: an upstanding barrel portion; a flared skirt portion joined to a bottom end of said barrel portion; a plurality of flexible vanes connected at their base to said barrel portion and extending radially outwardly from said barrel portion and spaced above said skirt portion; said vanes having a strengthening rib along at least a portion of a top and bottom edge of said vanes and a bulbous radial tip portion, the thickness of said tip portion being greater than the thickness at any other portion of the vane, including said ribs, except for said base.

Claim 3

For use in a high stroke rate automatic washer, a vertically mounted oscillating agitator comprising: an upstanding barrel portion; a flared skirt portion joined to a bottom end of said barrel portion, a plurality of vanes connected at their base to said barrel portion and extending radially outwardly from said barrel portion and spaced above said skirt portion; said vanes having a decreasing thickness radially outwardly from said base to a point more than half way along their length and an increasing thickness from said point radially outwardly to a radial tip, the thickness at said tip being greater than the thickness at any other place along the vane except for the base.

Claim 4

For use in a high stroke rate automatic washer, a vertically mounted oscillating agitator comprising: an upstanding barrel portion; a flared skirt portion joined to a bottom end of said barrel portion, a plurality of vanes connected at their base to said barrel portion and extending radially outwardly from said barrel portion and spaced above said skirt portion; said vanes having a decreasing thickness radially outwardly from said base to a point more than half way along their length and an increasing thickness from said point radially outwardly to a radial tip, the thickness at said tip being greater than the thickness at any other place along the vane except for the base.

Claim 5

The device of claim 2 wherein each of said vanes has a stepped profile with a relatively tall base end and a shorter tip end.

Claim 6

The device of claim 2 wherein each of said vanes has a relatively tall base and the height of said vane gradually decreases to said tip.

Claim 7

The device of claim 2 wherein said tip of said vane has a rounded contour.

Claim 8

The device of claim 2 wherein said tip is at least twice as thick as said point.

Claim 9

The device of claim 2 wherein five of said vanes are provided on said agitator.

Claim 10

A vane configuration for use on a vertical axis washing machine agitator comprising: a base end connected to said agitator; a radial tip at an opposite end of said vane; and a thickness decreasing from said base end radially outwardly to a point more than half way along the length of said vane and an increasing thickness from said point radially outwardly to said tip, the thickness at said tip being greater than the thickness at any other point along said vane except at said base.

Claim 11

A vane configuration for use on a vertical axis washing machine agitator comprising: a base end connected to said agitator; a radial tip at an opposite end of said vane; and a thickness decreasing from said base end radially outwardly to a point more than half way along the length of said vane and an increasing thickness from said point radially outwardly to said tip, the thickness at said tip being greater than the thickness at any other point along said vane except at said base.

Claim 12

The device of claim 8 wherein said radial tip is shorter in height than said base end.

Claim 13

The device of claim 9 wherein said vane has a stepped profile.

Claim 14

The device of claim 9 wherein said vane has a sloping vertical profile.

Claim 15

The device of claim 8 wherein said tip of said vane has a rounded contour.

Claim 16

The device of claim 8 wherein said tip is at twice as thick as said point.

Claim 17

The device of claim 8 wherein said vane is mounted vertically on said agitator.

Claim 18

For use in a high stroke rate automatic washer, a vertically mounted oscillating agitator comprising: an upstanding barrel portion; a flared skirt portion joined to a bottom end of said barrel portion; a plurality of vertically oriented flexible vanes connected at their base to said barrel portion and extending radially outwardly from said barrel portion and spaced above said skirt portion; said vanes having a configuration comprising: a relatively tall base end connected to said agitator, a shorter radial tip at an opposite end of said vane, a rounded contour at said tip, a thickness decreasing from said base ends to a point more than half way along the length of said vane and an increasing thickness from said point radially outwardly to said tip, the thickness at said tip being greater than the thickness at any other place along said vane except at said base and said tip thickness being at least twice as great as the thickness at said point.

Claim 19

For use in a high stroke rate automatic washer, a vertically mounted oscillating agitator comprising: an upstanding barrel portion; a flared skirt portion joined to a bottom end of said barrel portion; a plurality of vertically oriented flexible vanes connected at their base to said barrel portion and extending radially outwardly from said barrel portion and spaced above said skirt portion; said vanes having a configuration comprising: a relatively tall base end connected to said agitator, a shorter radial tip at an opposite end of said vane, a rounded contour at said tip, a thickness decreasing from said base ends to a point more than half way along the length of said vane and an increasing thickness from said point radially outwardly to said tip, the thickness at said tip being greater than the thickness at any other place along said vane except at said base and said tip thickness being at least twice as great as the thickness at said point.

Claim 20

The device of claim 15 wherein each of said vanes has a stepped profile.

Claim 21

The device of claim 15 wherein each of said vanes has a tapered vertical profile.

Claim 22

The device of claim 15 wherein five vanes are provided on said agitator.