LAUNDRY TREATING APPLIANCE HAVING AN ACOUSTIC BARRIER

Abstract

 A laundry treating appliance (10) for treating laundry according to an automatic cycle of operation is disclosed. The laundry treating appliance (10) includes a cabinet (12) defining a cabinet (12) interior and a tub (14) having a periphery and provided in the cabinet (12) interior defining a tub (14) interior. The laundry treating appliance (10) further includes an acoustic barrier (150) extending around the periphery of the tub (14).

Description

BACKGROUND

[0001] Laundry treating appliances, such as washing machines, refreshers, and non-aqueous systems, can have a configuration based on a rotating drum that at least partially defines a treating chamber in which laundry items are placed for treating. The laundry treating appliance can have a controller that implements a number of user-selectable, preprogrammed cycles of operation having one or more operating parameters. Hot water, cold water, or a mixture thereof, along with various treating chemistries, can be supplied to the treating chamber in accordance with the cycle of operation. The laundry treating appliance can have an acoustic blanket provided about the drum to damp or suppress noises emanating from the drum.

BRIEF SUMMARY

[0002] In one aspect, illustrative embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure relate to a laundry treating appliance for treating laundry according to an automatic cycle of operation, the laundry treating appliance including a cabinet defining a cabinet interior and a tub having a periphery and provided in the cabinet interior defining a tub interior. A self-supporting acoustic barrier extends around the periphery and is located within the cabinet. The acoustic barrier is held in spaced relation to the periphery of the tub.

[0003] In another aspect, illustrative embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure relate to a laundry treating appliance for treating laundry according to an automatic cycle of operation, the laundry treating appliance including a cabinet defining a cabinet interior and a tub having a periphery and provided in the cabinet interior defining a tub interior. A self-supporting acoustic barrier extends around the periphery and is located within the cabinet. At least one mounting structure for mounting the self-supporting acoustic barrier about the periphery of the tub is integrally formed within the self-supporting acoustic barrier.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic cross-sectional view of a laundry treating appliance in the form of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic of a control system of the laundry treating appliance of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic front cross-sectional view of the laundry treating appliance of FIG. 1 having an acoustic barrier according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates the sound damping performance of the acoustic barrier of FIG. 3 across a range of flow resistances of the acoustic barrier according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates the sound damping performance of the acoustic barrier of FIG. 3 across a range of air gap widths of the acoustic barrier according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic front cross-sectional view of the laundry treating appliance of FIG. 1 having an acoustic barrier according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a tub having an acoustic barrier according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0005] Laundry treating appliances can be provided with acoustic barriers to damp sound that can emanate from the laundry treating appliance. Such acoustic barriers can be provided in the form of an acoustic blanket that can be provided partially or completely, circumferentially about the tub of the laundry treating appliance such that they contact the tub about its circumference. However, since the tub can experience movement during a cycle of operation, particularly in a horizontal axis laundry treating appliance, the acoustic blanket can be damaged by the movement of the tub, resulting in reduced acoustic damping performance.

[0006] The present disclosure sets forth an acoustic barrier that is formed of a compressed fiber layer that can be molded into a desired shape and having sufficient rigidity to be self-supporting, making it practical to maintain an air gap between the acoustic barrier and the tub by improving the ease of keeping the acoustic barrier spaced apart from the tub. This decreases the risk of contact between the acoustic barrier and the tub and also allows for improved acoustic damping performance. The space between the acoustic barrier and the tub can also be filled with a lofty fiber material to provide even further sound damping properties.

[0007] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a laundry treating appliance according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The laundry treating appliance can be any appliance which performs an automatic cycle of operation to clean or otherwise treat items placed therein, non-limiting examples of which include a horizontal or vertical axis clothes washer; a combination washing machine and dryer; a tumbling or stationary refreshing/revitalizing machine; an extractor; a non-aqueous washing apparatus; and a revitalizing machine.

[0008] As used herein, the "horizontal axis" washing machine refers to a washing machine having a rotatable drum, perforated or imperforate, that holds laundry items and washes the laundry items. In some horizontal axis washing machines, the drum rotates about a horizontal axis generally parallel to a surface that supports the washing machine. However, the rotational axis need not be horizontal. The drum can rotate about an axis inclined or declined relative to the horizontal axis. Regardless of the axis of rotation, a washing machine can be top-loading or front-loading. In a top-loading washing machine, laundry items are placed into the drum through an access opening in the top of a cabinet, while in a front-loading washing machine laundry items are placed into the drum through an access opening in the front of a cabinet. If a washing machine is a top-loading horizontal axis washing machine or a front-loading vertical axis washing machine, an additional access opening is located on the drum.

[0009] The laundry treating appliance of FIG. 1 is illustrated as a horizontal axis washing machine 10, which can include a structural support system comprising a cabinet 12 which defines a housing within which a laundry holding system resides. The cabinet 12 can be a housing having a chassis and/or a frame, to which decorative panels can or cannot be mounted, defining an interior enclosing components typically found in a conventional washing machine, such as motors, pumps, fluid lines, controls, sensors, transducers, and the like. Such components will not be described further herein except as necessary for a complete understanding of the present disclosure.

[0010] The laundry holding system comprises a tub 14 dynamically suspended within the structural support system of the cabinet 12 by a suitable suspension system 28 and a drum 16 provided within the tub 14, the drum 16 defining at least a portion of a laundry treating chamber 18. The drum 16 can include a plurality of perforations 20 such that liquid can flow between the tub 14 and the drum 16 through the perforations 20. A plurality of baffles 22 can be disposed on an inner surface of the drum 16 to lift the laundry load received in the treating chamber 18 while the drum 16 rotates. It is also within the scope of the present disclosure for the laundry holding system to comprise only one receptacle with the receptacle defining the laundry treating chamber for receiving the load to be treated.

[0011] The laundry holding system can further include a door 24 which can be movably mounted to the cabinet 12 to selectively close both the tub 14 and the drum 16. A bellows 26 can couple an open face of the tub 14 with the cabinet 12, with the door 24 sealing against the bellows 26 when the door 24 closes the tub 14.

[0012] The washing machine 10 can further include a liquid supply system for supplying water to the washing machine 10 for use in treating laundry during a cycle of operation. The liquid supply system can include a source of water, such as a household water supply 40, which can include separate valves 42 and 44 for controlling the flow of hot and cold water, respectively. Water can be supplied through an inlet conduit 46 directly to the tub 14 by controlling first and second diverter mechanisms 48 and 50, respectively. The diverter mechanisms 48, 50 can be a diverter valve having two outlets such that the diverter mechanisms 48, 50 can selectively direct a flow of liquid to one or both of two flow paths. Water from the household water supply 40 can flow through the inlet conduit 46 to the first diverter mechanism 48 which can direct the flow of liquid to a supply conduit 52. The second diverter mechanism 50 on the supply conduit 52 can direct the flow of liquid to a tub outlet conduit 54 which can be provided with a spray nozzle 56 configured to spray the flow of liquid into the tub 14. In this manner, water from the household water supply 40 can be supplied directly to the tub 14. While the valves 42, 44 and the conduit 46 are illustrated exteriorly of the cabinet 12, it will be understood that these components can be internal to the cabinet 12.

[0013] The washing machine 10 can also be provided with a dispensing system for dispensing treating chemistry to the treating chamber 18 for use in treating the laundry according to a cycle of operation. The dispensing system can include a treating chemistry dispenser 62 which can be a single dose dispenser, a bulk dispenser, or an integrated single dose and bulk dispenser and is fluidly coupled to the treating chamber 18. The treating chemistry dispenser 62 can be configured to dispense a treating chemistry directly to the tub 14 or mixed with water from the liquid supply system through a dispensing outlet conduit 64. The dispensing outlet conduit 64 can include a dispensing nozzle 66 configured to dispense the treating chemistry into the tub 14 in a desired pattern and under a desired amount of pressure. For example, the dispensing nozzle 66 can be configured to dispense a flow or stream of treating chemistry into the tub 14 by gravity, i.e. a non-pressurized stream. Water can be supplied to the treating chemistry dispenser 62 from the supply conduit 52 by directing the diverter mechanism 50 to direct the flow of water to a dispensing supply conduit 68.

[0014] Non-limiting examples of treating chemistries that can be dispensed by the dispensing system during a cycle of operation include one or more of the following: water, enzymes, fragrances, stiffness/sizing agents, wrinkle releasers/reducers, softeners, antistatic or electrostatic agents, stain repellants, water repellants, energy reduction/extraction aids, antibacterial agents, medicinal agents, vitamins, moisturizers, shrinkage inhibitors, and color fidelity agents, and combinations thereof.

[0015] The washing machine 10 can also include a recirculation and drain system for recirculating liquid within the laundry holding system and draining liquid from the washing machine 10. Liquid supplied to the tub 14 through tub outlet conduit 54 and/or the dispensing supply conduit 68 typically enters a space between the tub 14 and the drum 16 and can flow by gravity to a sump 70 formed in part by a lower portion of the tub 14. The sump 70 can also be formed by a sump conduit 72 that can fluidly couple the lower portion of the tub 14 to a pump 74. The pump 74 can direct liquid to a drain conduit 76, which can drain the liquid from the washing machine 10, or to a recirculation conduit 78, which can terminate at a recirculation inlet 80. The recirculation inlet 80 can direct the liquid from the recirculation conduit 78 into the drum 16. The recirculation inlet 80 can introduce the liquid into the drum 16 in any suitable manner, such as by spraying, dripping, or providing a steady flow of liquid. In this manner, liquid provided to the tub 14, with or without treating chemistry can be recirculated into the treating chamber 18 for treating the laundry within.

[0016] The liquid supply and/or recirculation and drain system can be provided with a heating system which can include one or more devices for heating laundry and/or liquid supplied to the tub 14, such as a steam generator 82 and/or a sump heater 84. Liquid from the household water supply 40 can be provided to the steam generator 82 through the inlet conduit 46 by controlling the first diverter mechanism 48 to direct the flow of liquid to a steam supply conduit 86. Steam generated by the steam generator 82 can be supplied to the tub 14 through a steam outlet conduit 87. The steam generator 82 can be any suitable type of steam generator such as a flow through steam generator or a tank-type steam generator. Alternatively, the sump heater 84 can be used to generate steam in place of or in addition to the steam generator 82. In addition or alternatively to generating steam, the steam generator 82 and/or sump heater 84 can be used to heat the laundry and/or liquid within the tub 14 as part of a cycle of operation.

[0017] It is noted that the illustrated suspension system, liquid supply system, recirculation and drain system, and dispensing system are shown for exemplary purposes only and are not limited to the systems shown in the drawings and described above. For example, the liquid supply, dispensing, and recirculation and pump systems can differ from the configuration shown in FIG. 1, such as by inclusion of other valves, conduits, treating chemistry dispensers, sensors, such as water level sensors and temperature sensors, and the like, to control the flow of liquid through the washing machine 10 and for the introduction of more than one type of treating chemistry. For example, the liquid supply system can include a single valve for controlling the flow of water from the household water source. In another example, the recirculation and pump system can include two separate pumps for recirculation and draining, instead of the single pump as previously described.

[0018] The washing machine 10 also includes a drive system for rotating the drum 16 within the tub 14. The drive system can include a motor 88, which can be directly coupled with the drum 16 through a drive shaft 90 to rotate the drum 16 about a rotational axis during a cycle of operation. The motor 88 can be a brushless permanent magnet (BPM) motor having a stator 92 and a rotor 94. Alternately, the motor 88 can be coupled to the drum 16 through a belt and a drive shaft to rotate the drum 16, as is known in the art. Other motors, such as an induction motor or a permanent split capacitor (PSC) motor, can also be used. The motor 88 can rotate the drum 16 at various speeds in either rotational direction.

[0019] The washing machine 10 also includes a control system for controlling the operation of the washing machine 10 to implement one or more cycles of operation. The control system can include a controller 96 located within the cabinet 12 and a user interface 98 that is operably coupled with the controller 96. The user interface 98 can include one or more knobs, dials, switches, displays, touch screens and the like for communicating with the user, such as to receive input and provide output. The user can enter different types of information including, without limitation, cycle selection and cycle parameters, such as cycle options.

[0020] The controller 96 can include the machine controller and any additional controllers provided for controlling any of the components of the washing machine 10. For example, the controller 96 can include the machine controller and a motor controller. Many known types of controllers can be used for the controller 96. It is contemplated that the controller is a microprocessor-based controller that implements control software and sends/receives one or more electrical signals to/from each of the various working components to effect the control software. As an example, proportional control (P), proportional integral control (PI), and proportional derivative control (PD), or a combination thereof, a proportional integral derivative control (PID control), can be used to control the various components.

[0021] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the controller 96 can be provided with a memory 100 and a central processing unit (CPU) 102. The memory 100 can be used for storing the control software that is executed by the CPU 102 in completing a cycle of operation using the washing machine 10 and any additional software. Examples, without limitation, of cycles of operation include: wash, heavy duty wash, delicate wash, quick wash, pre-wash, refresh, rinse only, and timed wash. The memory 100 can also be used to store information, such as a database or table, and to store data received from one or more components of the washing machine 10 that can be communicably coupled with the controller 96. The database or table can be used to store the various operating parameters for the one or more cycles of operation, including factory default values for the operating parameters and any adjustments to them by the control system or by user input.

[0022] The controller 96 can be operably coupled with one or more components of the washing machine 10 for communicating with and controlling the operation of the component to complete a cycle of operation. For example, the controller 96 can be operably coupled with the motor 88, the pump 74, the treating chemistry dispenser 62, the steam generator 82 and the sump heater 84 to control the operation of these and other components to implement one or more of the cycles of operation.

[0023] The controller 96 can also be coupled with one or more sensors 104 provided in one or more of the systems of the washing machine 10 to receive input from the sensors, which are known in the art and not shown for simplicity. Non-limiting examples of sensors 104 that can be communicably coupled with the controller 96 include: a treating chamber temperature sensor, a moisture sensor, a weight sensor, a chemical sensor, a position sensor and a motor torque sensor, which can be used to determine a variety of system and laundry characteristics, such as laundry load inertia or mass.

[0024] Referring now to FIG. 3, a schematic front cross-sectional view of the washing machine 10 is shown. An acoustic barrier 150 is provided circumferentially about the periphery of the tub 14. In an exemplary embodiment, the acoustic barrier 150 completely surrounds the circumference of the tub 14, although it will be understood that the acoustic barrier 150 could be provided as a plurality of individual acoustic barriers 150 provided circumferentially about the tub 14, rather than one continuous acoustic barrier 150. The barrier(s) can also extend circumferentially about only a portion of the tub 14. However, such a partial extension provides for much greater sound transfer and is less desirable. While the acoustic barrier 150 is illustrated as having generally the same profile shape as the tub 14, it is also within the scope of the disclosure that the acoustic barrier 150 could have any suitable shape, provided that it fits suitably to overlie or wrap around at least a portion of the periphery of the tub 14 in a circumferential manner, and fits within the space constraints of the cabinet 12.

[0025] In an exemplary embodiment, the acoustic barrier 150 is provided in the form of a compressed fiber layer, which provides the acoustic barrier 150 with sufficient rigidity that it can be self-supporting and can be molded into any desired shape or profile. The level of compression of the acoustic barrier 150 can be any suitable level of compression such that the acoustic barrier 150 achieves a desired mass, density, or flow resistance in order to provide a desired level of sound damping capability and self-supporting rigidity. By way of non-limiting example, the acoustic barrier 150 can be compressed to such a mass and/or density that the flow resistance of the acoustic barrier 150 falls within the range of 500-3000 MKS Rayls. Such a range of flow resistance can provide desired sound damping within the audible range. While the example of quantifying the compression of the acoustic barrier 150 has been given in terms of flow resistance, it will be understood that the degree of compression of the acoustic barrier 150 can be quantified using any other suitable metric, including, by way of non-limiting example, the density of the acoustic barrier 150. Further, it is contemplated that the degree of compression of the acoustic barrier 150 can be quantified in terms of a desired rigidity of the material of the acoustic barrier 150 or in terms of the degree of sound damping from one side of the acoustic barrier 150 to the other side.

[0026] Referring now to FIG. 4, the sound damping performance of the acoustic barrier 150 is characterized by plotting the sound absorption coefficient of the acoustic barrier 150 against the frequency (in Hz) of the sound to be damped across a range of flow resistances. A sound absorption coefficient of 0 indicates that no sound damping is occurring, while a sound absorption coefficient of 1 indicates that complete sound damping is occurring. Line 220 is illustrative of the sound damping performance of an acoustic barrier 150 that has been compressed to have a flow resistance of 2000 MKS Rayls. Line 230 illustrates the sound damping performance of an acoustic barrier 150 that has been compressed to have a flow resistance of 1500 MKS Rayls. Line 225 illustrates the sound damping performance of an acoustic barrier 150 that has been compressed to have a flow resistance of 1000 MKS Rayls. It is shown that the sound damping performance of the acoustic barrier 150 is improved as the flow resistance of the acoustic barrier 150 increases, as indicated by the arrow 235. As such, the sound damping performance of the acoustic barrier 150 can be quantified in terms of the level of flow resistance of the compressed, self-supporting acoustic barrier 150.

[0027] The acoustic barrier 150 can be formed from any suitable material, including, but not limited to, compressed foam or fiber materials, including natural or man-made fibers, or a combination thereof. By way of further example, cotton, polyester, polypropylene, jute, kenaf, etc. can be utilized to form a fiber layer. Further still, a blend of materials including foam and fiber material can be utilized. In an exemplary embodiment, the acoustic barrier 150 can be formed from a molded polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polypropylene fiber layer, or from a mixture thereof, compressed to achieve a desired degree of rigidity. In addition, coatings or additives can be applied to the fibers for, by way of non-limiting example, fire resistance, water repellency, and/or mold resistance as desired.

[0028] FIG. 3 further illustrates that the acoustic barrier 150 has sufficient rigidity that it can be held in spaced relation to the tub 14, such that an air gap 160 is formed between the acoustic barrier 150 and the tub 14. The self-supporting quality of the acoustic barrier 150 enables the acoustic barrier 150 to be held in spaced relation to the tub 14. The air gap 160 allows for improved sound damping capability within the washing machine 10. The presence of the air gap 160 between the acoustic barrier 150 and the tub 14 allows for improved sound damping, both by the air itself within the air gap 160 providing resistance to the sound, as well as by providing the space of the air gap 160 such that the sound waves traveling from the tub 14 into the air gap 160 have a space within which they can bounce off of the acoustic barrier 150 and be directed back towards the tub 14, rather than immediately confronting and passing through the acoustic barrier 150. The air gap 160 can have any suitable thickness being, for example, as small as 1 millimeter or as large as the packaging space within the cabinet 12 will allow. In an exemplary embodiment, the air gap 160 can have a thickness between 10 millimeters and 40 millimeters. The air gap 160 can have a uniform thickness about the entire circumference of the acoustic barrier 150 and the tub 14, or the air gap 160 can have a thickness that varies about the circumference and/or the horizontal length of the tub 14. By way of non-limiting example, it is contemplated that the air gap 160 can be as small as one to two millimeters at the sides of the tub 14, but can be larger at the top and bottom of the tub 14, as space constraints allow. It is also within the scope of the disclosure that the air gap 160 can vary from the front end of the tub 14 to the rear end of the tub 14. For example, the air gap 160 can be thicker at the center of the tub 14 and narrower at the front and rear ends of the tub 14.

[0029] Referring now to FIG. 5, the sound damping performance of the acoustic barrier 150 as a function of the air gap 160 is characterized by plotting the sound absorption coefficient of the acoustic barrier 150 against the frequency (in Hz) of the sound to be damped across a range of widths of the air gap 160. A sound absorption coefficient of 0 indicates that no sound damping is occurring, while a sound absorption coefficient of 1 indicates that complete sound damping is occurring. Line 200 is illustrative of the sound damping performance of an acoustic barrier 150 that provides an air gap 160 that is 30 millimeters wide. Line 205 illustrates the sound damping performance of an acoustic barrier 150 that provides an air gap 160 that is 20 millimeters wide. Line 210 illustrates the sound damping performance of an acoustic barrier 150 that provides an air gap 160 that is 10 millimeters wide. It is shown that the sound damping performance of the acoustic barrier 150 is improved as the width of the air gap 160 increases, as indicated by the arrow 255. As such, the sound damping performance of the acoustic barrier 150 can be quantified in terms of the width of the air gap 160, with the widest allowable air gap 160 corresponding with the most effective sound damping performance.

[0030] Referring now to FIG. 6, a schematic front cross-sectional view of the washing machine 10 according to another embodiment of the invention is illustrated. In this embodiment, a lofty layer 170 of fiber is included between the acoustic barrier 150 and the tub 14. The lofty layer 170 can be a non-rigid layer of non-compressed fiber and can at least partially fill the air gap 160 between the acoustic barrier 150 and the tub 14. The lofty layer 170 can be optionally provided in conjunction with the acoustic barrier 150 in order to provide further sound absorption capability within the washing machine 10 by providing increased airflow resistance. In addition, the lofty layer 170 can also provide some thermal insulation to the tub 14. The lofty layer 170 can be formed of any suitable material that is acoustically insulating and generally non-rigid. It is contemplated that the lofty layer 170 can be formed of the same material as the acoustic barrier 150, in a non-compressed form. It will also be understood that the lofty layer 170 can be formed of a different material than the acoustic barrier 150.

[0031] FIG. 7 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the tub 14 and the acoustic barrier 150. At least one mounting structure 180 can be provided on the acoustic barrier 150. In an exemplary embodiment, a plurality of mounting structures 180 can be integrally molded within the acoustic barrier 150. The mounting structures 180 can be any suitable structure for mounting the acoustic barrier 150 about the tub 14. By way of non-limiting example, the mounting structures 180 can comprise a fastener, screw, pin, or clip. It is also contemplated that the mounting structure 180 can be a strap that is integrally molded into the acoustic barrier 150 in order to wrap circumferentially about the acoustic barrier 150. The mounting structures 180 can be configured to attach to at least one other mounting structure 180, such that the ends of the acoustic barrier 150 can be attached to one another to hold the acoustic barrier 150 in a desired shape. The thickness of the acoustic barrier 150 can further be molded to have an increased or decreased thickness at the point of the mounting structures 180 relative to the thickness at the rest of the acoustic barrier 150, away from the mounting structures 180. The thickness of the acoustic barrier 150 can be varied in any suitable pattern to facilitate mounting of the acoustic barrier 150 about the tub 14.

[0032] It will also be understood that, rather than the mounting structures 180 of the acoustic barrier 150 attaching to one another, the mounting structures 180 can attach to corresponding second mounting structures 190 provided on the tub 14. As described above, the second mounting structures 190 can comprise, by way of non-limiting example, any suitable fastener, screw, pin, clip, or strap. It will also be understood that the mounting structures 180 on the acoustic barrier 150, as well as the second mounting structures 190 on the tub 14 can be configured to secure the acoustic barrier 150 about the tub 14, while also maintaining the spaced relationship between the tub 14 and the acoustic barrier 150. In this way, the acoustic barrier 150 can be attached about the tub 14 by wrapping the molded acoustic barrier 150 about the entirety of the circumference of the tub 14, and attaching the at least one mounting structure 180 integrally formed within the acoustic barrier 150 either to another mounting structure 180 formed within the acoustic barrier 150 or to a second mounting structure 190 provided on the tub 14. Such an attachment will allow the acoustic barrier 150 to be held in spaced relation to the tub to define an air gap 160 that can be selectively filled by the lofty layer 170 as desired.

[0033] The embodiments disclosed herein provide an acoustic barrier for a washing machine that can serve to damp sound within the washing machine. The acoustic barrier can be formed from a compressed fiber layer of sufficient rigidity that it can be molded to any desired shape or profile to circumferentially surround the tub of the washing machine. The rigidity of the molded compressed fiber acoustic barrier allows the acoustic barrier to the placed such that it is spaced apart from the tub, defining an air gap between the tub and the acoustic barrier. One advantage that can be realized in this way is that the air gap between the tub and the acoustic barrier provides improved sound damping capabilities within the washing machine. Another advantage that can be realized in the above embodiments is that the air gap between the tub and the acoustic barrier can be at least partially filled with an additional lofty layer for even further improved sound damping capability. By employing the embodiments disclosed herein, sound damping capability is improved, as well as improved flexibility to accommodate wash units of varying shapes and sizes to maximize the available space within the washing machine while optimizing sound damping capability.

[0034] To the extent not already described, the different features and structures of the various embodiments can be used in combination with each other as desired. That one feature may not be illustrated in all of the embodiments is not meant to be construed that it cannot be, but is done for brevity of description. Thus, the various features of the different embodiments can be mixed and matched as desired to form new embodiments, whether or not the new embodiments are expressly described.

Claims

1. A laundry treating appliance (10) for treating laundry according to an automatic cycle of operation, the laundry treating appliance (10) comprising:

a cabinet (12) defining a cabinet (12) interior;

a tub (14) having a periphery and provided in the cabinet (12) interior defining a tub (14) interior; and

a self-supporting acoustic barrier (150) extending around the periphery and located within the cabinet (12) in spaced relation to the periphery of the tub (14).

2. The laundry treating appliance (10) of claim 1 wherein the spaced relation between the self-supporting acoustic barrier (150) and the tub (14) defines an air gap (160) between the self-supporting acoustic barrier (150) and the tub (14).

3. The laundry treating appliance (10) of claim 2 wherein the thickness of the air gap (160) is variable along the horizontal length of the tub (14) such that the thickness of the air gap (160) is greater at the top or bottom of the tub (14) than at the sides of the tub (14).

4. The laundry treating appliance (10) of any of claims 2-3 wherein the thickness of the air gap (160) is at least 1 millimeter.

5. The laundry treating appliance (10) of any of claims 2-4 wherein the air gap (160) is at least partially filled with a non-rigid layer (170) of lofty fiber which is non-compressed.

6. The laundry treating appliance (10) of any of claims 1-5 wherein the self-supporting acoustic barrier (150) comprises a compressed fiber layer, the compressed fiber layer comprising PET or polypropylene fibers.

7. The laundry treating appliance (10) of any of claims 1-6 wherein the self-supporting acoustic barrier (150) is rigid.

8. The laundry treating appliance (10) of any of claims 1-7 wherein a mounting structure (180) for mounting the self-supporting acoustic barrier (150) to the tub (14) is integrally formed within the self-supporting acoustic barrier (150).

9. The laundry treating appliance (10) of any of claims 1-8 wherein the self-supporting acoustic barrier (150) extends completely around the periphery of the tub (14).

10. A laundry treating appliance (10) for treating laundry according to an automatic cycle of operation, the laundry treating appliance (10) comprising:

a cabinet (12) defining a cabinet (12) interior;

a tub (14) having a periphery and provided in the cabinet (12) interior defining a tub (14) interior; and

a self-supporting acoustic barrier (150) extending around the periphery and located within the cabinet (12);

wherein at least one mounting structure (180) for mounting the self-supporting acoustic barrier (150) about the periphery of the tub (14) is integrally formed within the self-supporting acoustic barrier (150).

11. The laundry treating appliance (10) of claim 10 wherein the self-supporting acoustic barrier (150) extends completely around the periphery of the tub (14).

12. The laundry treating appliance (10) of any of claims 10-11 wherein the at least one mounting structure (180) comprises two mounting structures (180) integrally formed within the self-supporting acoustic barrier (150), wherein the two mounting structures (180) integrally formed within the self-supporting acoustic barrier (150) attach to one another to secure the self-supporting acoustic barrier (150) about the tub (14).

13. The laundry treating appliance (10) of any of claims 10-12 wherein the self-supporting acoustic barrier (150) is secured in a spaced relation from the tub (14).

14. The laundry treating appliance (10) of any of claims 10-13 wherein a second mounting structure (190) is provided on the tub (14).

15. The laundry treating appliance (10) of claim 14 wherein the second mounting structure (190) on the tub (14) is configured to attach to the at least one mounting structure (180) formed within the self-supporting acoustic barrier (150) to secure the self-supporting acoustic barrier (150) about the tub (14), and further wherein the mounting structures (180, 190) are configured to hold the self-supporting acoustic barrier (150) in spaced relation to the tub (14).

Drawing