How Early Washing Machines Moved Clothes
This 1910 patent describes a mechanical system designed to power the washing action within early washing machines, focusing on how the tub or agitator moved.
Original patent title: “Drive mechanism for washing-machines.”
This 1910 patent describes a mechanical system designed to power the washing action within early washing machines, focusing on how the tub or agitator moved. Granted to HURLEY MACHINE Co in 1910, and it is now in the public domain.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
Based on its title, 'Drive mechanism for washing-machines,' this patent likely details the mechanical system responsible for moving the washing machine's components, such as an agitator or the wash tub itself. In the early 20th century, these mechanisms typically involved a series of gears, pulleys, and linkages to convert a rotating input (from an electric motor or manual crank) into the oscillating or rotating motion needed to clean clothes. Without specific claimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → text, the exact configuration of these elements cannot be described, but it would aim to provide a robust and efficient way to agitate laundry.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover the specific design of the washing tub or the agitator that directly touches the clothes.
- Does not cover the methods for heating water or adding soap to the washing machine.
- Does not cover any electrical control systems, as the patent focuses solely on mechanical power transfer.
- Does not cover drying functions or spin cycles, which are separate mechanisms.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
For its era, the cleverness likely lay in designing a durable and effective mechanical system that could reliably agitate clothes without breaking down, translating a simple input motion into the complex movement needed for washing.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Early 20th-century electric washing machines
Manual crank washing machines with geared drives
Washing machines with oscillating tubs
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent represents an early step in the mechanization of household chores, specifically laundry. Before such drive mechanisms, washing clothes was a labor-intensive manual process. Patents like this one contributed to the development of more efficient and accessible washing machines, transforming domestic life by reducing the physical burden of laundry and paving the way for the widespread adoption of automated appliances in homes.
Filed
May 27, 1909
Granted
August 9, 1910
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
While the original assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, Hurley Machine Co., is no longer a dominant player in modern appliance manufacturing, the fundamental principles of mechanical drive systems for washing machines are still employed. Companies like Whirlpool, LG, Samsung, and Bosch continue to innovate in washing machine drive technologies, though their systems are far more advanced and electronically controlled.
Market impact
This type of patent contributed to the gradual shift from manual laundry methods to mechanized washing, creating a new market for household appliances. It enabled the development of more affordable and efficient washing machines, which eventually became standard in many homes, significantly impacting domestic labor and the appliance manufacturing industry.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
Based on its title, 'Drive mechanism for washing-machines,' this patent likely details the mechanical system responsible for moving the washing machine's components, such as an agitator or the wash tub itself. In the early 20th century, these mechanisms typically involved a series of gears, pulleys, and linkages to convert a rotating input (from an electric motor or manual crank) into the oscillating or rotating motion needed to clean clothes. Without specific claim text, the exact configuration of these elements cannot be described, but it would aim to provide a robust and efficient way to agitate laundry.
The clever bit
For its era, the cleverness likely lay in designing a durable and effective mechanical system that could reliably agitate clothes without breaking down, translating a simple input motion into the complex movement needed for washing.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover the specific design of the washing tub or the agitator that directly touches the clothes.
- Does not cover the methods for heating water or adding soap to the washing machine.
- Does not cover any electrical control systems, as the patent focuses solely on mechanical power transfer.
- Does not cover drying functions or spin cycles, which are separate mechanisms.
Patent Journey
From filing to expiry
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Limited data
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$2K – $8K
Midpoint $5K · expired or expiring · industry ×1.6
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Concepts involved
Cite this patent
Fisher, A. J. (1910). How Early Washing Machines Moved Clothes (U.S. Patent No. 966,677). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/966677/electric-washing-machine-fisher
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Early Washing Machines Moved Clothes cover?
This 1910 patent describes a mechanical system designed to power the washing action within early washing machines, focusing on how the tub or agitator moved.
Who owns patent US 966677?
HURLEY MACHINE Co owns this patent, granted in 1910.
When does this patent expire?
This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent represents an early step in the mechanization of household chores, specifically laundry. Before such drive mechanisms, washing clothes was a labor-intensive manual process. Patents like this one contributed to the development of more efficient and accessible washing machines, transforming domestic life by reducing the physical burden of laundry and paving the way for the widespread adoption of automated appliances in homes.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover the specific design of the washing tub or the agitator that directly touches the clothes.
Patent monitoring