Appliance splash seal and method for using same

Abstract

An appliance splash seal includes a rigid ring attached to a flexible ring. The flexible ring includes a living hinge between it and the rigid ring so that the flexible ring can deflect in response to being engaged by a moving tub. The rigid ring includes spring fingers which can spring radially outwardly for passing over a curled flange of a top cover.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . In combination: 
 an appliance top cover surrounding an access opening therein, a flange extending around the perimeter of the access opening and having in cross section a curled portion extending outwardly from the access opening and terminating in a end portion;    a splash seal comprising a rigid ring made of a material having a first flexibility and a splash seal ring made of a material having a second flexibility that is more flexible than the first flexibility;    the rigid ring surrounding the flange and engaging the curled portion so that the end portion of the flange retentively holds the rigid ring attached to the flange of the top cover;    the rigid ring having sufficient flexibility to flex from a normal position to a flexed position and pass around the end portion of the flange during mounting thereto, and to return to the normal position after passing around the end portion so that the end portion retentively holds the rigid ring in attachment to the top cover.    
     
     
         2 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein the splash seal in cross section comprises a living hinge between the rigid ring and the splash seal ring.  
     
     
         3 . The combination of  claim 2  wherein the living hinge and the splash seal ring are made of a material having the second flexibility.  
     
     
         4 . The combination of  claim 3  and further comprising a tub having a tub opening registered with the access opening of the top cover, the tub being mounted for movement relative to the top cover, the splash seal ring protruding within the tub opening.  
     
     
         5 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein the rigid ring includes a plurality of flexible fingers presented in an inner radial direction with respect to the access opening of the top cover, the flexible fingers engaging the curled portion and being sufficiently flexible to flex and pass around the end portion of the top cover flange.  
     
     
         6 . A splash seal comprising: 
 a rigid ring made of a material having a first flexibility;    a splash seal ring made of a material having a second flexibility that is more flexible than the first flexibility of the rigid ring;    a living hinge between the rigid ring and the splash seal ring and permitting the splash seal ring to flex and move relative to the rigid ring from a normal position to a flexed position and having sufficient flexibility to return to the normal position from the flexed position.    
     
     
         7 . A method for assembling a splash seal to an appliance top cover having an access opening therein, a top cover flange extending around the perimeter of the access opening, and having in cross section a curled portion extending outwardly away from the access opening and terminating in a curled end portion, the method comprising: 
 taking a splash seal comprising a rigid ring made of a material having a first flexibility and a splash seal ring made of a material having a second flexibility that is more flexible than the first flexibility, the rigid ring having a normal circumference that is slightly smaller than the perimeter of the end portion of the flange, but the rigid ring being sufficiently flexible to pass over the end portion of the flange;    flexing the rigid ring and passing the rigid ring over the curled end portion of the top cover flange;    permitting the rigid ring to return to the normal circumference whereby the rigid ring surrounds and engages the curled portion of the top cover flange and the end portion of the top cover flange retentively holds the rigid seal in attachment to the top cover flange.    
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 7  wherein the rigid ring includes a plurality of spring fingers each extending in an inner radial direction toward the curled portion of the top cover flange, the method further comprising flexing the spring fingers in an outer radial direction away from the end portion of the top cover flange during the step of passing the rigid ring over the curled end portion of the top cover flange.  
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 7  wherein a washing tub includes an upper edge surrounded by the splash seal ring, the method comprising moving the washing tub relative to the top cover whereby the upper edge of the washing tub will engage the splash seal ring, and deflecting the splash seal ring in response to being engaged by the upper edge of the washing tub.  
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 9  wherein the splash seal ring includes a living hinge, the method comprising flexing the splash seal ring about the living hinge in response to being engaged by the upper edge of the washing tub.  
     
     
         11 . A method for using a splash seal in an appliance having a top cover and an access opening in the top cover; a tub mounted for movement relative to the top cover and having a tub opening in close proximity to the access opening of the top cover, the splash seal having a rigid ring attached to the top cover and an apron fitted within a tub opening, the method comprising: 
 moving the tub relative to the top cover whereby the tub will from time to time engage portions of the apron of the splash seal;    permitting the apron of the splash seal to flex from a normal position to a flexed position in response to being engaged by the tub during the moving of the tub relative to the top cover; and    flexing the apron back from the flexed position to the normal position whenever the tub disengages from the apron during moving of the tub relative to the top cover.    
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11  wherein the splash seal includes a living hinge and the method comprises flexing the splash seal about the living hinge in response to being engaged by the tub during the moving of the tub.  
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 11  wherein the top cover includes a flange surrounding the access opening, the flange including a curled portion terminating in a curled end facing in an outer radial direction away from the access opening, the method further comprising flexing the rigid ring in an outer radial direction from a normal circumference to a larger circumference to permit the rigid ring to pass over the curled end of the top cover flange during assembly, and permitting the rigid ring to return to the normal circumference after passing over the curled end of the top cover so that the curled end of the top cover flange provides attachment of the splash seal to the top cover.