Combination washer/dryer apparatus

Abstract

A combination clothes washer/dryer apparatus for receiving, washing, and drying clothes or other washable items includes a housing for resting atop a generally horizontal surface (like the floor), with the housing being generally box-like and having a bottom portion. A first drum is pivotally mounted within the housing, and the first drum is pivotable about a pivot axis that is oriented generally between about 10 degrees and 50 degrees up from the bottom portion of the housing and a movable door is mounted at an angle of between about 40 degrees and 80 degrees up from the bottom portion of the housing. So constructed, a compact washer/dryer combination is provided that minimizes the risk of water leaking through the door and that is easy to load and unload.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A combination clothes washer/dryer apparatus for receiving, washing, and drying clothes or other washable items, the apparatus comprising:
 a housing for resting atop a generally horizontal surface, the housing being generally box-like and having a bottom portion; and   a first drum pivotally mounted within the housing, wherein the first drum is pivotable about a pivot axis that is oriented generally between about 10 degrees and 50 degrees up from the bottom portion of the housing.   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the pivot axis is generally between about 10 degrees and 40 degrees up from the bottom portion of the housing. 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the pivot axis is generally between about 10 degrees and 35 degrees up from the bottom portion of the housing. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the pivot axis is generally between about 15 degrees and 20 degrees up from the bottom portion of the housing. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the pivot axis is at a fixed orientation. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first drum is movably mounted within the housing such that the orientation of the pivot axis relative to the housing can be changed. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the first drum is movably mounted within the housing with a movable mount and the movable mount can be operated such that the orientation of the pivot axis relative to the housing can be changed. 
     
     
         8 . A combination clothes washer/dryer apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the housing has a movable door for permitting a user to add or remove items to be washed and/or dried, and the movable door is oriented at an angle of between about 40 degrees and 80 degrees up from the bottom portion of the housing. 
     
     
         9 . A combination clothes washer/dryer apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the housing has a movable door for permitting a user to add or remove items to be washed and/or dried, and the movable door is oriented at an angle of between about 50 degrees and 80 degrees up from the bottom portion of the housing. 
     
     
         10 . A combination clothes washer/dryer apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first drum comprises an inner drum and further comprising an outer drum rotatably encasing the inner drum. 
     
     
         11 . A combination clothes washer/dryer apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first drum is mounted for oscillation in both the clockwise and counter-clockwise directions. 
     
     
         12 . A combination clothes washer/dryer apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first drum is mounted for rotation.