Patent attributes
A household appliance includes a tub, in which a liquid is at least temporarily contained, and a pump assembly for effecting liquid flow within the tub. The pump assembly includes a housing including an integrally formed flow path portion defining an inlet, an outlet, and a flow path extending between and interconnecting the inlet and the outlet. The flow path portion defines a turn, such that part of the flow path extends in a direction oriented at an angle relative to the inlet axis. The pump assembly includes a rotatable impeller. The impeller includes a plurality of blades extending at least substantially radially from the impeller axis and configured to propel a fluid at least substantially axially thereby. The impeller is positioned in the flow path adjacent the inlet such that the impeller axis and the inlet axis are at least substantially parallel or at least substantially aligned.