US 11,982,039 B2
Pet hair filter
Seth E. Bixby, Stevensville, MI (US); Sayer J. Murphy, Saint Joseph, MI (US); Thomas D. Spicer, Saint Joseph, MI (US); Eric J. Vasko, Saint Joseph, MI (US); Heather A. Hellmuth, St. Joseph, MI (US); Michael A. Ledford, St. Joseph, MI (US); and Meagan K. Vandervelde, St. Joseph, MI (US)
Assigned to WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION, Benton Harbor, MI (US)
Filed by WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION, Benton Harbor, MI (US)
Filed on Jan. 25, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/584,010.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/142,815, filed on Jan. 28, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0235512 A1, Jul. 28, 2022
Int. Cl. D06F 39/10 (2006.01); D06F 13/02 (2006.01); D06F 17/10 (2006.01)
CPC D06F 39/10 (2013.01) [D06F 13/02 (2013.01); D06F 17/10 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A removable agitator having built-in filtration, comprising:
a handle section defining a grip to facilitate insertion and removal of the agitator into a laundry treatment machine;
an impeller section defining a hollow interior having a closed bottom, generally cylindrical sides, and an open top, the impeller section further defining a lower water opening to allow for passage of wash water into or out of the hollow interior of the agitator;
a filter section, of a generally cylindrical shape and removably attachable between the handle section and the impeller section, the exterior of the filter section defining a midsection water opening to allow for the passage of water into or out of the interior of the agitator, the filter section having a partition further defining a first, inner space open to the hollow interior of the impeller section, a second, outer space open to the midsection water opening but closed to the first space, and a filter area open to the first and second spaces configured to hold a removable filter to filter water flowing between the inner space and the outer space; and
a handle pull locking post provided within the hollow interior of the agitator, the handle pull locking post including a handle pull portion at a top end for gripping and at least one pin at a bottom end configured to selectively lock the agitator into the laundry treatment machine.