Laundry treating appliance with an adjustable height lifter

Abstract

A lifter for a laundry treating appliance having a rotating treating chamber includes a main lifter body configured to mount in the rotating treating chamber. An adjustable element is rotatably mounted to the main lifter body and rotates between first and second positions. When the adjustable element is in the first position, a first profile provides the lifter with a first effective height. When the adjustable element is in the second position, a second profile provides the lifter with a second effective height. The main lifter body is coated with an antimicrobial coating to protect laundry articles from microbial contamination.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lifter for a laundry treating appliance having a rotating treating chamber, the lifter comprising:
 a main lifter body configured to mount in the rotating treating chamber; and   an adjustable element rotatably mounted to the main lifter body and rotating between first and second positions, the adjustable element having first and second profiles and a maximum projection;   wherein when the adjustable element is in the first position, the first profile provides the lifter with a first effective height defined by the maximum projection, and when the adjustable element is in the second position, the second profile provides the lifter with a second effective height, which is less than the first effective height, and further wherein the main lifter body is coated with an antimicrobial coating to protect laundry articles from microbial contamination.   
     
     
         2 . The lifter of  claim 1  wherein the main lifter body further comprises an anti-staining coating to protect the lifter from staining. 
     
     
         3 . The lifter of  claim 1  wherein the maximum projection is at least one of flush with a sidewall of the main lifter body or received within an interior of the main lifter body when the adjustable element is in the second position. 
     
     
         4 . The lifter of  claim 1  wherein the adjustable element comprises a main body and a ridge projecting from the main body. 
     
     
         5 . The lifter of  claim 4  wherein the maximum projection comprises the ridge. 
     
     
         6 . The lifter of  claim 4  wherein in the first position, the ridge defines a maximum height of the lifter. 
     
     
         7 . The lifter of  claim 4  wherein in the second position, the ridge lies below a maximum height of the lifter. 
     
     
         8 . The lifter of  claim 1  wherein the adjustable element comprises an asymmetrical body rotatable about a rotation axis. 
     
     
         9 . The lifter of  claim 8  wherein the asymmetrical body defines the maximum projection of the adjustable element radially furthest from the rotation axis. 
     
     
         10 . The lifter of  claim 9  wherein the asymmetrical body further defines a lesser projection radially closer to the rotation axis than the maximum projection, and in the second position the lesser projection defines the second effective height. 
     
     
         11 . The lifter of  claim 1  further comprising a lock fixing the adjustable element in at least one of the first and second positions. 
     
     
         12 . A lifter for a laundry treating appliance having a rotating treating chamber, the lifter comprising:
 a main lifter body configured to mount in the rotating treating chamber; and   an adjustable element rotatably mounted to the main lifter body and rotating between first and second positions, the adjustable element having a main body and a ridge projecting radially outwardly from the main body;   wherein when the adjustable element is in the first position, the lifter is provided with a first profile having a first effective height defined by the ridge of the adjustable element, and when the adjustable element is in the second position, the lifter is provided with a second profile having a second effective height defined by the main body of the adjustable element, wherein the second effective height is less than the first effective height, and further wherein the main lifter body is coated with an antimicrobial coating to protect laundry articles from microbial contamination.   
     
     
         13 . The lifter of  claim 12  wherein the main lifter body further comprises an anti-staining coating to protect the lifter from staining. 
     
     
         14 . The lifter of  claim 12  wherein the maximum projection is at least one of flush with a sidewall of the main lifter body or received within an interior of the main lifter body when the adjustable element is in the second position. 
     
     
         15 . The lifter of  claim 12  further comprising a lock fixing the adjustable element in at least one of the first and second positions. 
     
     
         16 . The lifter of  claim 15  wherein the lock comprises an actuator located on an end of the lifter. 
     
     
         17 . The lifter of  claim 12  wherein the ridge defines a radially outermost maximum projection of the adjustable element. 
     
     
         18 . The lifter of  claim 12  wherein the adjustable element comprises an asymmetrical body rotatable about a rotation axis. 
     
     
         19 . The lifter of  claim 18  wherein the asymmetrical body comprises the ridge defining a maximum projection of the adjustable element radially furthest from the rotation axis. 
     
     
         20 . The lifter of  claim 19  wherein the asymmetrical body comprises the main body defining a lesser projection radially closer to the rotation axis than the maximum projection, and in the second position the lesser projection defines the second effective height.