Pet hair removal assembly for laundry appliances

Abstract

A pet hair removal assembly for a laundry appliance includes a frame having a central support and legs. A cylindrical member is operably coupled to the central support of the frame. The cylindrical member defines recesses within an outer surface of the cylindrical member. A foreign substrate collection member is operably coupled to the cylindrical member. A fastener is positioned proximate each recess that operably couples the foreign substrate collection member with the cylindrical member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pet hair removal assembly for a laundry appliance, comprising:
 a frame having a central support and legs;   a cylindrical member operably coupled to the central support of the frame, the cylindrical member defining recesses within an outer surface of the cylindrical member;   a foreign substrate collection member operably coupled to the cylindrical member; and   a fastener positioned proximate each recess that operably couples the foreign substrate collection member with the cylindrical member.   
     
     
         2 . The pet hair removal assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the foreign substrate collection member is selectively disposed within one of the recesses defined by the cylindrical member. 
     
     
         3 . The pet hair removal assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the foreign substrate collection member includes a first side and a second side, and wherein the first side includes a fabric material. 
     
     
         4 . The pet hair removal assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the foreign substrate collection member is removably coupled to the cylindrical member via the fasteners, and wherein the fasteners include tensile springs that bias the foreign substrate collection member toward the cylindrical member. 
     
     
         5 . The pet hair removal assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the foreign substrate collection member includes a plurality of elongated surfaces, wherein a portion of the plurality of elongated surfaces includes discrete collection surfaces. 
     
     
         6 . The pet hair removal assembly of  claim 5 , wherein one of the discrete collection surfaces includes a fabric material having bristles. 
     
     
         7 . The pet hair removal assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the fabric material includes a plurality of bristles. 
     
     
         8 . The pet hair removal assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the frame includes a front support and a rear support and the central support extending therebetween, wherein the central support extends axially through the cylindrical member. 
     
     
         9 . A laundry appliance comprising:
 a rotating drum that rotationally operates within a cabinet;   a door coupled to a front portion of the cabinet and operable to allow selective access to the rotating drum via an access opening in the front portion, wherein the rotating drum rotates about a primary rotational axis; and   a cylindrical member having a foreign substrate collection member, wherein the cylindrical member is selectively positioned within a lower portion of the rotating drum to rotate about a secondary rotational axis that is parallel with the primary rotational axis.   
     
     
         10 . The laundry appliance of  claim 9 , further comprising a frame that supports the cylindrical member within the rotating drum, wherein the frame rests upon a front static surface and a rear static surface that are positioned proximate the front and the rear of the rotating drum, respectively. 
     
     
         11 . The laundry appliance of  claim 9 , wherein the cylindrical member includes recesses that receive the foreign substrate collection member. 
     
     
         12 . The laundry appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the foreign substrate collection member includes collection members that are selectively positioned within the recesses, respectively. 
     
     
         13 . The laundry appliance of  claim 12 , wherein the collection members are secured within the recesses using fasteners having tensile springs. 
     
     
         14 . The laundry appliance of  claim 12 , wherein each of the collection members include bristles that extend from a discrete collection surface. 
     
     
         15 . The laundry appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the frame includes a front support that is configured to rest upon the front static surface, the front static surface including a receiving opening that selectively receives a removable lint trap. 
     
     
         16 . The laundry appliance of  claim 15 , wherein the frame includes a rear support having a rear attachment portion that selectively rests upon the rear static surface, wherein a central support extends between the front support and the rear support of the frame, wherein the central support extends through the cylindrical member. 
     
     
         17 . The laundry appliance of  claim 16 , wherein the rear attachment portion includes a lower arcuate base and a guide portion that selectively engage the rear static surface to rotationally secure the frame relative to the cabinet. 
     
     
         18 . A laundry appliance comprising:
 a rotating drum that rotationally operates about a primary rotational axis;   lifters that are attached to an interior surface of the drum, wherein rotation of the drum is configured to agitate articles being processed within the drum; and   a cylindrical member having a foreign substrate collection member, wherein the cylindrical member is selectively positioned within a lower portion of the drum to rotate about a secondary rotational axis that is parallel with the primary rotational axis, wherein rotation of the drum moves the lifters near an outer surface of the cylindrical member to engage the articles against the foreign substrate collection member of the cylindrical member.   
     
     
         19 . The laundry appliance of  claim 18 , wherein the cylindrical member includes recesses that receive collection members of the foreign substrate collection member, and wherein the collection members are secured within the recesses using fasteners having tensile springs. 
     
     
         20 . The laundry appliance of  claim 19 , wherein each of the collection members include bristles that extend from a discrete collection surface.