Laundry appliance filter and frame

Abstract

A laundry appliance includes a cabinet defining an interior volume. The laundry appliance also includes an air filter assembly positioned in the cabinet. The air filter assembly includes a frame and an air filter removably mounted to the frame. The air filter is mounted to the frame such that an orientation of the air filter to the frame is constrained.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A laundry appliance, comprising:
 a cabinet defining an interior volume;   a tub mounted within the interior volume of the cabinet;   a laundry basket rotatably mounted within the tub, the laundry basket defining a chamber for the receipt of articles for treatment;   a heating system in thermal communication with the chamber whereby heated air flows from the heating system to the chamber; and   an air filter assembly positioned between the laundry basket and the heating system upstream of the heating system, whereby a flow of return air from the chamber passes through and is filtered by an air filter of the air filter assembly before flowing to the heating system, the air filter assembly comprising a frame and an air filter removably mounted to the frame, wherein an orientation of the air filter to the frame is constrained.   
     
     
         2 . The laundry appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of locator pins positioned on the frame, wherein the air filter comprises a plurality of holes corresponding to the plurality of locator pins positioned on the frame, wherein the plurality of locator pins define an asymmetrical array of locator pins on the frame, wherein the air filter is removably mounted to the frame by engaging each locator pin of the plurality of locator pins with a corresponding one hole of the plurality of holes in the air filter, whereby the orientation of the air filter to the frame is constrained by the asymmetrical array of locator pins on the frame. 
     
     
         3 . The laundry appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the frame defines a height along a first direction and a length along a second direction generally perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the asymmetrical array of locator pins on the frame is asymmetrical about a first axis parallel to the first direction. 
     
     
         4 . The laundry appliance of  claim 3 , wherein the asymmetrical array of locator pins on the frame is asymmetrical about a second axis parallel to the second direction. 
     
     
         5 . The laundry appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the frame defines a grid, and wherein at least one locator pin of the plurality of locator pins is positioned at a node of the grid. 
     
     
         6 . The laundry appliance of  claim 2 , wherein at least one locator pin of the plurality of locator pins is positioned at a perimeter of the frame. 
     
     
         7 . The laundry appliance of  claim 2 , wherein each locator pin of the plurality of locator pins is bifurcated. 
     
     
         8 . The laundry appliance of  claim 2 , wherein each locator pin of the plurality of locator pins extends longitudinally from a proximal end to a distal end, and wherein each locator pin of the plurality of locator pins comprises a shoulder defined at the distal end. 
     
     
         9 . The laundry appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the frame defines a handle, the handle comprising a plurality of finger grooves. 
     
     
         10 . A laundry appliance, comprising:
 a cabinet defining an interior volume;   an air filter assembly positioned in the cabinet, the air filter assembly comprising a frame and an air filter removably mounted to the frame, wherein an orientation of the air filter to the frame is constrained.   
     
     
         11 . The laundry appliance of  claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of locator pins positioned on the frame, wherein the air filter comprises a plurality of holes corresponding to the plurality of locator pins positioned on the frame, wherein the plurality of locator pins define an asymmetrical array of locator pins on the frame, wherein the air filter is removably mounted to the frame by engaging each locator pin of the plurality of locator pins with a corresponding one hole of the plurality of holes in the air filter, whereby the orientation of the air filter to the frame is constrained by the asymmetrical array of locator pins on the frame. 
     
     
         12 . The laundry appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the frame defines a height along a first direction and a length along a second direction generally perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the asymmetrical array of locator pins on the frame is asymmetrical about a first axis parallel to the first direction. 
     
     
         13 . The laundry appliance of  claim 12 , wherein the asymmetrical array of locator pins on the frame is asymmetrical about a second axis parallel to the second direction. 
     
     
         14 . The laundry appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the frame defines a grid, and wherein at least one locator pin of the plurality of locator pins is positioned at a node of the grid. 
     
     
         15 . The laundry appliance of  claim 11 , wherein at least one locator pin of the plurality of locator pins is positioned at a perimeter of the frame. 
     
     
         16 . The laundry appliance of  claim 11 , wherein each locator pin of the plurality of locator pins is bifurcated. 
     
     
         17 . The laundry appliance of  claim 11 , wherein each locator pin of the plurality of locator pins extends longitudinally from a proximal end to a distal end, and wherein each locator pin of the plurality of locator pins comprises a shoulder defined at the distal end. 
     
     
         18 . The laundry appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the frame defines a handle, the handle comprising a plurality of finger grooves.