Top panel for a laundry washing machine

Abstract

A top panel for a laundry washing machine. The top panel allows for separation from the remaining portion of the laundry washing machine. The top panel may include a door to a vertically mounted wash tub within a cabinet. The top panel may include one or more apertures to allow the user to access the one or more controls or internal components separately mounted from the top panel. The separable top panel may allow for ease of servicing and/or assembly of the laundry washing machine.

1 . A laundry washing machine comprising:
 a cabinet having a plurality of sides and a top flange, wherein the top flange defines an outer periphery;   a vertically mounted wash tub positioned within the cabinet;   one or more controls positioned at least partially within the outer periphery of the cabinet; and   a top panel having a tub aperture defining access to the wash tub, one or more control apertures, and a door configurable between an open position and a closed position with the tub aperture to the wash tub, wherein the one or more control apertures of the top panel define user access to the one or more controls when the top panel is assembled with the cabinet and the one or more controls remain mounted with the cabinet when the top panel is disassembled from the cabinet.   
     
     
         2 . The laundry washing machine of  claim 1  further comprising a frame extending from the top flange of the cabinet into the top panel when assembled. 
     
     
         3 . The laundry washing machine of  claim 2  wherein the frame extends along at least a portion of the outer periphery of the cabinet adjacent the top flange and includes a front frame, a rear frame, and one or more support frames connecting the front frame to the rear frame. 
     
     
         4 . The laundry washing machine of  claim 2  further comprising one or more water valves, one or more trays, and one or more water nozzles attached to the frame separate from the top panel. 
     
     
         5 . The laundry washing machine of  claim 1  wherein the top panel is free from electrical connections and hydraulic connections allowing separation freely from the cabinet between an assembled position and a disassembled position. 
     
     
         6 . The laundry washing machine of  claim 5  wherein one or more mechanical connections releasably connect the top panel from the cabinet. 
     
     
         7 . The laundry washing machine of  claim 1  wherein the one or more control apertures is adjacent a front edge of the top panel. 
     
     
         8 . A laundry washing machine comprising:
 a cabinet having a plurality of sides and a top flange, wherein the top flange defines an outer periphery;   a frame attached to the cabinet adjacent the top flange and having a front frame, a rear frame, and at least one support frame connecting the front frame to the rear frame;   a vertically mounted wash tub positioned within the cabinet;   one or more controls mounted to the frame; and   a top panel having a tub aperture defining access towards the wash tub, one or more control apertures, and a door configurable between an open position and a closed position with the tub aperture to the wash tub, and wherein the one or more control apertures of the top panel define user access to the one or more controls when assembled with the cabinet; and   wherein when the top panel is dissembled from the cabinet and the frame, the one or more controls remain mounted with the frame.   
     
     
         9 . The laundry washing machine of  claim 8  further comprising electrical systems and hydraulic systems mounted to the frame but freely separable from the top panel. 
     
     
         10 . The laundry washing machine of  claim 8  wherein the frame extends along the outer periphery and extends upwardly into the top panel. 
     
     
         11 . The laundry washing machine of  claim 8  wherein the frame defines a through opening between the wash tub and the tub aperture of the top panel. 
     
     
         12 . The laundry washing machine of  claim 8  wherein the one or more control apertures is adjacent a front edge of the top panel outside the door in the closed position. 
     
     
         13 . The laundry washing machine of  claim 8  wherein the top panel surrounds an outer periphery of the frame. 
     
     
         14 . The laundry washing machine of  claim 8  wherein the top panel includes one or more water supply apertures for receiving hydraulic connections therethrough. 
     
     
         15 . A laundry washing machine comprising:
 a cabinet having a plurality of sides and a top flange, wherein the top flange defines an outer periphery;   a frame attached to the cabinet adjacent the top flange and having a front frame, a rear frame, and at least one support frame connecting the front frame to the rear frame;   a vertically mounted wash tub positioned within the cabinet;   one or more controls mounted to the frame;   a top panel having a tub aperture defining access towards the wash tub, one or more control apertures, and a door configurable between an open position and a closed position with the tub aperture to the wash tub, and wherein the one or more control apertures of the top panel define user access to the one or more controls in an assembled position with the cabinet; and   wherein the top panel includes a connection to a remaining portion of the laundry washing machine that is free from electrical connections and hydraulic connections thereby allowing separation of the top panel from the frame, the cabinet, and the mounted one or more controls to the frame towards a disassembled position.   
     
     
         16 . The laundry washing machine of  claim 15  wherein the top panel includes the mechanical connections to the frame and the cabinet. 
     
     
         17 . The laundry washing machine of  claim 15  wherein the frame includes a single support frame connecting the front frame to the rear frame. 
     
     
         18 . The laundry washing machine of  claim 15  wherein the frame defines a through opening between the wash tub and the tub aperture of the top panel. 
     
     
         19 . The laundry washing machine of  claim 15  wherein the one or more control apertures is adjacent a front edge of the top panel outside the door in the closed position. 
     
     
         20 . The laundry washing machine of  claim 15  wherein the top panel includes one or more water supply apertures for receiving one or more hydraulic connections therethrough.