US 11,702,790 B2
Moveable laundry treatment apparatus
Clifford Theodore Papsdorf, Loveland, OH (US); Scott Eugene Mizer, Loveland, OH (US); and Mark Neil Howdyshell, Mason, OH (US)
Assigned to The Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, OH (US)
Filed by The Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, OH (US)
Filed on Nov. 19, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/530,667.
Claims priority of application No. 20208817 (EP), filed on Nov. 20, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0162793 A1, May 26, 2022
Int. Cl. D06F 39/12 (2006.01); D06F 23/06 (2006.01); D06F 39/00 (2020.01); D06F 23/02 (2006.01); B60B 33/00 (2006.01); B60B 33/04 (2006.01)
CPC D06F 39/125 (2013.01) [D06F 23/02 (2013.01); D06F 23/06 (2013.01); D06F 39/001 (2013.01); B60B 33/0092 (2013.01); B60B 33/04 (2013.01); B60B 2200/20 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A laundry treatment apparatus comprising:
an apparatus base having four corners;
a tub defining a fluid containment envelope, wherein said tub is above said apparatus base;
a drum positioned within the tub and rotatable relative to the tub about an axis of rotation that is within about 20 degrees of horizontal relative to said apparatus base;
a first pair of first swivel casters operably engaged with said apparatus base, wherein each first swivel caster operably supports one of said four corners;
a second pair of second swivel casters opposite said first pair and operably engaged with said apparatus base, wherein each said second swivel caster supports one of said four corners independent of said first swivel casters;
wherein one of said first swivel casters is a braked first swivel caster having a first rolling brake; wherein one of said second swivel casters is a braked second swivel caster having a second rolling brake;
wherein one of said second swivel casters other than said braked second swivel caster is a vertically adjustable swivel caster wherein a wheel of said vertically adjustable swivel caster is movable in a direction towards and away from said apparatus base;
wherein said vertically adjustable swivel caster comprises a lock engageable to restrain movement of said vertically adjustable swivel caster in a direction towards and away from said apparatus base;
wherein said first rolling brake is operably engaged to an actuator by a first linkage, said second rolling brake is connected to said actuator by a second linkage, and said lock is connected to said actuator by a third linkage;
wherein said first linkage, said second linkage, and said third linkage each have a first position in which said first rolling brake and said second rolling brake are unbraked and said lock is unlocked; and
wherein said first linkage, said second linkage, and said third linkage each have a second position in which said first rolling brake and said second rolling brake are braked and said lock is locked to restrain movement of said vertically adjustable swivel caster in a direction towards and away from said apparatus base;
wherein said first pair of swivel casters and one of said second swivel casters other than said vertically adjustable swivel caster define a plane upon which said apparatus base rests and said vertically adjustable swivel caster supports said plane.