Thanks for the link on the washing machine patents, I'm going to add that to the post. And I was actually going to mention the Dyson, until I saw that they had been discontinued due to lack of profitability.
From that review:
"Unfortunately, although Dyson announced plans to bring another Dyson washing machine out, for the moment, the Dyson washing machine is no longer being made in the UK (although you will still be able to get them repaired)"
He could have at least mentioned some advances, eg http://www.washerhelp.co.uk/reviews/dyson-CR01-review.html or http://www.google.com/patents?q=%22washing%20machine%22&...