System and method for lowering humidity within a washing machine appliance

Abstract

A washing machine appliance includes a wash tub defining a wash chamber and a door assembly for providing selective access to the wash chamber. The door assembly includes an inner door panel defining an inner aperture, an outer door panel defining an outer aperture, and a duct extending therebetween to permit a flow of air into the wash chamber to lower the humidity and reduce the likelihood of mold, mildew, and/or foul odors within the washing machine appliance.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A washing machine appliance defining a vertical direction, the washing machine appliance comprising:
 a wash tub positioned within a cabinet and defining a wash chamber;   a wash basket rotatably mounted within the wash tub and being configured for receiving of a load of articles for washing; and   a door assembly pivotally mounted to the cabinet for providing selective access to the wash chamber, the door assembly comprising:
 an inner door panel defining an inner aperture; 
 an outer door panel spaced apart from the inner door panel to define an air plenum therebetween, the outer door panel defining an outer aperture; and 
 a duct providing fluid communication between the inner aperture and the outer aperture. 
   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the outer aperture extends at least partially above the inner aperture along the vertical direction. 
     
     
         3 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the duct slopes downward along the vertical direction toward the inner aperture. 
     
     
         4 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the duct extends at an angle relative to the horizontal direction, the angle being greater than 20 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 4 , wherein the angle is greater than 45 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the outer aperture is positioned at a top of the door assembly along the vertical direction. 
     
     
         7 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the inner aperture and the outer aperture are offset such that there is no line of sight between the inner aperture and the outer aperture through the duct. 
     
     
         8 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the door assembly further comprises:
 an inner cover positioned over the inner aperture, the inner cover defining a plurality of inner cover apertures; and   an outer cover positioned over the outer aperture, the outer cover defining a plurality of outer cover apertures   
     
     
         9 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the door assembly further comprises:
 one or more baffles positioned within duct.   
     
     
         10 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a fan in fluid communication with the duct for urging a flow of air through the duct and through the wash chamber.   
     
     
         11 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 10 , further comprising a controller operably coupled to the fan, the controller being configured for:
 operating the fan after a wash cycle has finished.   
     
     
         12 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 10 , further comprising a controller operably coupled to the fan, the controller being configured for:
 receiving a command to lower a humidity within the wash chamber; and   operating the fan in response to receiving the command.   
     
     
         13 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a vent button in operative communication with a controller, wherein the command to lower the humidity is received when a user presses the vent button.   
     
     
         14 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the washing machine appliance is a horizontal axis washing machine. 
     
     
         15 . A door assembly for a washing machine appliance, the door assembly comprising:
 an inner door panel defining an inner aperture;   an outer door panel spaced apart from the inner door panel to define an air plenum therebetween, the outer door panel defining an outer aperture; and   a duct providing fluid communication between the inner aperture and the outer aperture.   
     
     
         16 . The door assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the outer aperture extends at least partially above the inner aperture along a vertical direction. 
     
     
         17 . The door assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the duct slopes downward along a vertical direction toward the inner aperture. 
     
     
         18 . The door assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the duct extends at an angle relative to a horizontal direction, the angle being greater than 20 degrees. 
     
     
         19 . The door assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 one or more baffles positioned within duct.   
     
     
         20 . The door assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a fan in fluid communication with the duct for urging a flow of air through the duct and through a wash chamber of the washing machine appliance.