Door For A Washing Appliance

Abstract

A door assembly for an appliance such as a washer, washer/dryer combo or the like has a door assembly to close off an opening into the housing unit. The door assembly includes an outer door and an inner door. The inner door seals the door assembly with a tub and drum assembly inside the housing unit. The inner door includes a mating contour associated with a corresponding contour of the tub and drum opening.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A door assembly for an appliance such as a washer, washer/dryer combo or the like comprising:
 the door assembly for a housing unit, the door assembly closing off an opening into the housing unit;   the door assembly including an outer door and an inner door, the inner door sealing the door assembly with a tub and drum assembly inside the housing unit, the inner door including a mating contour associated with a corresponding contour on the tub and drum opening.   
     
     
         2 . The door assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the inner door is stationarily positioned on the tub. 
     
     
         3 . The door assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the inner door is floatably positioned with the outer door. 
     
     
         4 . The door assembly of  claim 2 , wherein a facia is coupled with the tub and drum assembly closing off the tub and defining an opening into a drum. 
     
     
         5 . The door assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the facia opening has a corresponding mating surface for meshing with the inner door. 
     
     
         6 . The door assembly of  claim 3 , wherein a flexible coupling secures the outer door with the inner door. 
     
     
         7 . The door assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the flexible coupling is an elastomeric sleeve. 
     
     
         8 . The door assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the flexible coupling is a spring. 
     
     
         9 . The door assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the flexible coupling is a dash pot. 
     
     
         10 . The door assembly of  claim 3 , wherein an aesthetic membrane is positioned between the housing unit and the tub blocking ingress into a gap between the housing unit and the tub. 
     
     
         11 . A washer appliance comprising:
 a housing unit or cabinet with an opening enabling ingress into a drum and tub assembly inside the housing unit;   a door assembly for closing off the opening into the housing unit;   the door assembly including an outer door and an inner door, the inner door sealing the door assembly with a tub and drum assembly inside the housing unit, the inner door including a mating contour associated with a corresponding contour on the tub and drum opening.   
     
     
         12 . The washer appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the inner door is stationarily positioned on the tub. 
     
     
         13 . The washer appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the inner door is floatably positioned with the outer door. 
     
     
         14 . The washer appliance of  claim 12 , wherein a facia is coupled with the tub and drum assembly closing off the tub and defining an opening into a drum. 
     
     
         15 . The washer appliance of  claim 14 , wherein the facia opening has a corresponding mating surface for meshing with the inner door. 
     
     
         16 . The washer appliance of  claim 13 , wherein a flexible coupling secures the outer door with the inner door. 
     
     
         17 . The washer appliance of  claim 16 , wherein the flexible coupling is an elastomeric sleeve. 
     
     
         18 . The washer appliance of  claim 16 , wherein the flexible coupling is a spring. 
     
     
         19 . The washer appliance of  claim 16 , wherein the flexible coupling is a dash pot. 
     
     
         20 . The washer appliance of  claim 13 , wherein an aesthetic membrane is positioned between the housing unit and the tub blocking ingress into a gap between the housing unit and the tub.