Customer Accessible Lint Filter

Abstract

A lint filter assembly (40) for a household appliance (10) has a housing (42) that couples with duct work (38) of the appliance (10). A lint catcher (44) is receivable in the housing (42). The lint catcher (44) collects lint as it is moved through the duct work (38). A mechanism (90) is coupled with the lint catcher (44) so that a user pushes the lint catcher (44) into the housing (42) for a first filtering position. The lint catcher (44) is positively locked in place by the mechanism (90). The lint catcher (44) is moved to a second cleanout position, releasing the positive lock, so that lint can be removed from the lint catcher (44).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lint filter assembly for a household appliance comprising:
 a housing for coupling with duct work of the appliance;   a filter assembly receivable in the housing, the filter assembly collecting lint as it is moved through the duct work;   a mechanism coupled with the filter assembly so that a user pushes the filter assembly into the housing for retaining the filter assembly in a first lint catching position and the filter assembly is positively locked in place by the mechanism and the filter assembly is removed from the housing to a second cleanout position, releasing the positive lock, so that lint can be removed from the filter assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The lint filter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanism is a push/push mechanism including a grab latch device. 
     
     
         3 . The lint filter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanism is a push/push mechanism including a magnetic latch device. 
     
     
         4 . The lint filter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanism is a magnetic seal positioned on the filter assembly for magnetically locking the filter assembly in the first lint catching position. 
     
     
         5 . The lint filter assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the filter assembly includes a cover with the magnetic seal, the magnetic seal locking with a cabinet. 
     
     
         6 . The lint filter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the filter assembly includes a frame with a screen for catching the lint. 
     
     
         7 . The lint filter assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the frame is two piece with a bowl and cover lid. 
     
     
         8 . The lint filter assembly of  claim 7 , wherein in the bowl or cover lid includes a metal piece and the other includes a magnet. 
     
     
         9 . The lint filter assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the bowl and cover are co-molded. 
     
     
         10 . The lint filter assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the cover lid includes a lint peeler. 
     
     
         11 . The lint filter assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the frame includes a storage bin. 
     
     
         12 . A household appliance including a dryer function comprising:
 a cabinet with a rotatably drum and a drying circuit, the drying circuit including duct work that directs heating air through the cabinet; and   a housing couples with the duct work;   a filter assembly receivable in the housing, the filter assembly collecting lint as it is moved through the duct work;   a mechanism coupled with the filter assembly so that a user pushes the filter assembly into the housing for retaining the filter assembly in a first lint catching position and the filter assembly is positively locked in place by the mechanism and the filter assembly is removed from the cabinet to a second cleanout position, releasing the positive lock, so that lint can be removed from the filter assembly.   
     
     
         13 . The household appliance including a dryer function of  claim 12 , wherein the mechanism is a push/push mechanism including a grab latch device or a magnetic latch. 
     
     
         14 . The household appliance including a dryer function of  claim 12 , wherein the mechanism is a magnetic seal positioned on the filter assembly for magnetically locking the filter assembly in the first lint catching position. 
     
     
         15 . The household appliance including a dryer function of  claim 14 , wherein the filter assembly includes a cover with the magnetic seal, the magnetic seal locking with the cabinet. 
     
     
         16 . The household appliance including a dryer function of  claim 12 , wherein the filter assembly includes a frame with a screen for catching the lint, the frame is two piece with a bowl and cover lid. 
     
     
         17 . The household appliance including a dryer function of  claim 16 , wherein the bowl and cover are co-molded and the bowl or cover lid includes a metal piece and the other includes a magnet. 
     
     
         18 . The household appliance including a dryer function of  claim 16 , wherein the cover includes a lint peeler. 
     
     
         19 . The household appliance including a dryer function of  claim 16 , wherein the frame includes a storage bin. 
     
     
         20 . A household appliance including a dryer function comprising:
 a cabinet with a rotatable drum and a drying circuit, the drying circuit including duct work that directs heating air through the cabinet; and   a housing coupled with the duct work;   a filter assembly receivable in the housing, the filter assembly collecting lint as it is moved through the duct work;   a mechanism coupled with the filter assembly so that a user pushes the filter assembly into the housing for retaining the filter assembly in a first lint catching position and the filter assembly is positively locked in place by the mechanism and the filter assembly is moved to a second cleanout position, releasing the positive lock, so that lint can be removed from the filter assembly;   the filter assembly includes a frame with a screw for catching the lint.   the frame is two piece with a bowl and cover.   the bowl or cover includes a metal piece and the other includes a magnet;   the blow and cover are co-molded;   the cover includes a lint peeler; and   the frame includes a storage area.