Washing machine with drum that rotates in two dimensions

Abstract

A washing machine includes a drum configured to rotate around a first axis to wash items contained therein, and a motor configured to rotate the drum around a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis, such that the drum is rotated by the second motor between a first rotational position and a second rotational position different from the first rotational position, the first rotational position for washing and the second rotational position for loading and unloading the items from the drum.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A washing machine comprising:
 a drum configured to hold items to be washed;   a first motor configured to rotate the drum around a first axis during washing of the items; and   a second motor configured to rotate the drum around a second axis different from the first axis, such that the drum is rotated by the second motor between a first rotational position and a second rotational position different from the first rotational position, the first rotational position for washing and the second rotational position for loading and unloading the items from the drum.   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the second axis is substantially perpendicular to the first axis. 
     
     
         3 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the first rotational position is a position where the first axis is substantially horizontal and the second rotational position is a position where the first axis is non-horizontal. 
     
     
         4 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the second motor is configured to rotate the drum back and forth around the second axis during washing of items in the drum. 
     
     
         5 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising an outer frame configured to hold the drum. 
     
     
         6 . The washing machine according to  claim 5 , further comprising a suspension mount configured to hold the second motor, the suspension mount being connected to the frame, and the second motor being connected to the drum. 
     
     
         7 . The washing machine according to  claim 6 , further comprising a plurality of springs that connect the suspension mount to the frame at a plurality of connection points. 
     
     
         8 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising an inner door connected to the drum, wherein the inner door comprises a first portion connected to the drum by a first hinge and a second portion connected to the first portion by a second hinge. 
     
     
         9 . The washing machine according to  claim 5 , further comprising an outer door connected to the outer frame of the washing machine by a frame hinge, the outer door further including an outer door hinge positioned along a length of the outer door allowing a portion of the outer door to be folded. 
     
     
         10 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein an alignment of the first axis is about 58.8 degrees different in the first rotational position than in the second rotational position. 
     
     
         11 . A washing machine comprising:
 a drum configured to rotate around a first axis to wash items contained therein; and   a motor configured to rotate the drum around a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis, such that the drum is rotated by the second motor between a first rotational position and a second rotational position different from the first rotational position, the first rotational position for washing and the second rotational position for loading and unloading the items from the drum.   
     
     
         12 . The washing machine according to  claim 11 , wherein the first rotational position is a position where the first axis is substantially horizontal and the second rotational position is a position where the first axis is non-horizontal. 
     
     
         13 . The washing machine according to  claim 11 , wherein the motor is configured to rotate the drum back and forth around the second axis during washing of items in the drum. 
     
     
         14 . The washing machine according to  claim 11 , further comprising an outer frame configured to hold the drum. 
     
     
         15 . The washing machine according to  claim 11 , further comprising a drum motor configured to rotate the drum about the first axis during washing, and a suspension mount configured to hold the motor, the suspension mount being connected to the frame, and the motor being connected to the drum. 
     
     
         16 . The washing machine according to  claim 15 , further comprising a plurality of springs that connect the suspension mount to the frame at a plurality of connection points. 
     
     
         17 . The washing machine according to  claim 16 , further comprising an inner door connected to the drum. 
     
     
         18 . The washing machine according to  claim 17 , wherein the inner door comprises a first portion connected to the drum by a first hinge and a second portion connected to the first portion by a second hinge. 
     
     
         19 . The washing machine according to  claim 18 , wherein an alignment of the first axis is about 58.8 degrees different in the first rotational position than in the second rotational position. 
     
     
         20 . The washing machine according to  claim 14 , further comprising an outer door connected to the outer frame of the washing machine by a frame hinge, the outer door further including an outer door hinge positioned along a length of the outer door allowing a portion of the outer door to be folded.