Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a packing brace Eor securing
the agitator and tub of an automatic washiny machine ayainst
movement. In particular, this invention relates to a
unitary corrugated fibreboard packing brace and blank
therefor for securing the agitator and tub to the housing of
an automatic washing machine to prevent damage of inner
parts during transport or moving.
~ACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Generally, upright automatic washing machines have
inner parts, such as the agitator and tub, which move or are
able to move with respect to the housing, during normal
operation. The agitator vibrates in a substantially
circular motion, reversing direction or ramaining station-
ary, while the tub generally rotates or remains stationary,
according to the cycle of the machine. When the machine is
not in operation, the agitator and tub generally remain
unsecured with respect to the housing and each other.
Thereby, upon moving, lifting or transporting the washing
machine, the agitator and tub are relatively free to move or
vibrate with respect to the housing and each other, in most
cases causing damage to the inner parts and the housing.
Various packing braces have been proposed to secure the
agitator and tub to the housing. USP 3,184,048 dated May
18, l965 and as invented by V.G. Bjerum teaches an agitator
and tub bracing means where four parts of corrugated paper
material are assembled together with a flexible tehsion
means. Thus a single packing brace requires the manufacture
of several parts and their assembly. USP 3,9l2,076 dated
October 14, 1975 and as invented by M.W. Elwell teaches a
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packing brace consisting of two plastic foam bracing members
to be inserted and pressed in position in the waGhiny
machine one at a time, thereby requiring more than a one
step insertion. Also, these multi-part packing braces
sometimes unnoticeably become disassembled prior to and
particularly during moving of the washing machine, whereby
damages can occur.
In order to overcome these difficulties, it is an
object of this invention to provide a readily insertable
unitary packing brace and blank therefor to secure the
agitator and tub to the housing of the washing machine, to
prevent damage of inner parts during shipment or moving.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a
packing brace and blank therefor with a means to indicate
orientation to enable easier insertion of the packing brace
into the washing machine.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVEN~ION
Broadly stated, the invention is directed to a unitary
packing brace for washing machines, for maintaining the
agitator, tub and housing of the machine free from movement
relative to each other when transporting the machine
comprising:
a corrugated fiberboard box having a top surface and a
bottom surface, said top surface and said bottom surface
being substantially parallel and including a means to
maintain said top surface and said boktom surface in spaced
relationship,
said box through said bottom surface, having a box-like
opening,
said box-like opening having a bottom-like surface
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parallel to said top surface and spaced between and away
from said top surface and said bottom surface,
whareby when said packing brace is inserted into said
washing machine through its load opening, said box-like
opening fits onto and cooperates with said ayitator, said
bottom-like surface being supported by the top end of said
agitator, and
said box adapted to snugly engage against the rim of
said tub and said housing thereby maintaining said agitator,
said tub and said housing free from movement relative to
each other when transporting said machine~
The invention is also directed to a corrugated fiber-
board blank for constructing a washing machine packing brace
comprising:
a first tuck panel,
said first tuck panel extending along one edge via a
first fold line into a foldably connected first bottom
panel,
said first bottom panel extending away from said first
tuck panel into a foldably connected first end panel,
said first end panel extending away from said first
bottom panel into a top panel,
said top panel extending away from said first end panel
into a second end panel,
said second end panel extending away from said top
panel into a second bottom panel,
- said second bottom panel extending away from said
second end panel via a second fold line into a second tuck
panel,
said first tuck panel extending about an edge remote
from said first bottom panel into at least one first locking
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38
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tab,
said second tuck panel extending about an edge remote
from said second bottom panel into at least one second lock-
ing tab,
said top panel having at least one elongate aperture
for cooperating with said at least one first locking tab and
said at least one second locking tab,
said first fold line being discontinuous about a first
cut out portion extending into said first tuck panel and
said first bottom panel,
said second fold line being discontinuous about a
second cut out portion extending into said second tuck panel
and said second bottom panel,
whereby when said blank is folded into said packing
brace, on folding said first and said second end panel, said
first and said second bottom panel and said first and said
second tuck panel, said at least one first and said at least
one second locking tab are releasably locked by insertion
into said at least one elongate aperture, thereby defining
said packing brace wherein said first and said second cut
out portion cooperate to define a box-like opening within
said packing brace, said box-like opening having a depth of
less than the depth of said packing brace.
The invention i5 further directed to a unitary packing
brace for washing machines, for maintaining the agitator,
tub and housing of the machine free from movement relative
to each other when transporting the machine comprising:
a corrugated fiberboard box having a top panel,
said top panel extending perpendicularly into a pair of
opposite end panels,
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said opposite end panels extending perpendicularly
towaxd each other into a pair of bottom panels,
said pair o~ bottom panels extending perpendicularly
toward said top panel into a pair of juxtaposed tuck panels,
said top panel having at least one elongate aperture
parallel with said end panels,
each of said tuck panels extending remote from said
bottom panels into at least one locking tab,
said at least one locking tab of each of said tuck
panels inserted and thereby releasably locked within said at
least one elongate aperture,
said pair of bottom panels and their extending tuck
panels each having a cut out portion cooperating to define a
box-like opening within said packing brace, said box-like
opening having a depth less than the depth of said packing
brace.
BRIEF DESCRIPq~ION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring now to the drawings which illustrate the
invention .
Figure l is a plan view of a blank in accordance with
an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 2 is a partial perspective view of a packing
brace in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 2a is a perspective view of the packing brace as
shown in Figure 2.
Figure 3 is a plan view of a packing brace within a
washing machine, in accordance with an embodiment of the
invention.
Figure 4 is a sectional view of a packing brace within
a washing machine, in accordance with an embodiment of the
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invention.
Figure S is a plan view of a blank in accordance with a
preferred embodiment o the invention.
Figure 6 is a partial perspactive view of a blank
partially folded to define a packing brace.
Figure 7 is a perspective view of a packing brace
inserted within a washing machine.
Figure 8 is a sectional view of a packing hrace
inserted within a washing machine and in accordance with a
preferred embodiment of the invention.
Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown a corrugated
fiberboard blank 10 having top panel 12 extending via
opposite edges 14,16 into foldably connected end panels
18,20 respectively. End panels 18,20 each extend away from
top panel 12 via fold lin~s 22,24 into foldably connected
bottom panels 26,28 respectively. Opposite edges 14,16 and
fold lines 22,24 are substantially parallel.
~ottom panels 26,28 each extend away from end panels
18,20 respectively via fold lines 30,32 into tuck panels
34,36 respectively. Each of the tuck panels 34,36 has at
least one locking tab extending from an edge remote from
bottom panels 26,28. Each tuck panel 34,36 is shown with
two locking tabs 38,40 and ~2,44 respectively. The locking
tabs preferably extend from at least two thirds the length
f the above-mentioned remote edge. The fold lines 30,32
are discontinuous thereby allowing for a cut out portion
amidst the fold lines 30,32, and not necessarily at the mid
portion of fold lines 30,32, the cut out portions extending
into bottom panels 26,28 and tuck panels 34,36
respectively. The cut out portions preferably remain
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foldably connected at fold lines 46,48 defining cushion
flaps 50,52, each of which preferably has at least one lock
tab 54,56 extending from an edge remote from fold lines
46,48. Cushion ~laps 50,52 may be omikted, however, this is
less preferred~ The cut out portions also define support
edges 58,60 parallel to fold lines 30,32 and within tuck
panels 34,36.
Top panel 12 has at least one aperture to cooperate
with the locking tabs extending from the tuck panels. Blank
10 is shown having apertures 62,64 in top panel 12, to
cooperate with locking tabs 38,42 and 40,44 respectively, as
will be explained later. Top panel 1~ preferably has at
least two apertures 66,68 to cooperate with lock tabs 54,56
as will be explained later.
Blank 10 also preferably has a means to indicate its
orientation. Such means may be a symbolic aperture, a label,
a printed symbol etc., particularly located about one of top
panel 12, end panels ~8,20 or bottom panels 26,28. In
Figure 1, the means to indicate orientation is shown as
triangular aperture 70 in top panel 12.
Referring now to Figure 2, blank 10 of Figure 1 is in
folded position defining packing brace 80. End panels 18,20
are bent about edges 14,16 respectively, to be perpendicular
to top panel 12. Bottom panels 26,~8 are bent about fold
lines 22,24, and tuck panels 34,36 are bent about fold lines
30,32 respectively until the tuck panels approach top panel
12. The locking tabs 38,42 and 40,44 (38 and 44 not shown)
are inserted into apertures 62,64 respectively, and cushion
flaps 50,52 (when present) are bent about fold lines 46,48
and their preferred lock tabs 54,56 inserted into apertures
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66,68 respectively. Only cushion flap 50, fold line 46,
lock tab 54 and aperture 66 are shown in Figure 2.
The locking tabs 38,42 and 40,44 are tightly and snugly
fitted within apertures 62,64 to releasably lock and thereby
maintain the tuck panels 34,36 in substantial contact with
and perpendicular to top panel 12. ~he locking mechanism
(each locking tab in its corresponding aperture) may be
released if desired, particularly to unfold packing brace 80
into a blank thereby reducing its storage volume until
further useO
End panels 18,20, tuck panels 34,36, and cushion flaps
50,52 are all substantially parallel wikh each other, and
are also substantially perpendicular to top panel 12, and
bottom panels 26,28.
Referring now to Figure 2a, there i5 shown packing
brace 80 of Figure 2, in its entirety, and actually in an
upside down position: bottom panels 26,28 form a bottom
sur~ace and top panel 12, a top surface of the packing
brace. In the bottom surface, the cut out portions in
bottom panels 26,28 form a generally square box like opening
82 of a predetermined depth. Opening 82 may or may not be
centrally located, this being determined by the structure of
the individual washing machines the packing brace is to be
inserted within.
2S Support edges 58,60 (see Figure 2) form a support
surface distanced between top panel 12 and bottom panels
26,28 according to the necessary predetermined depth of
opening 82. Edges 84,86 (and similarly on opposite side of
opening 82) also form a surface perpendicular to the above
support surface, the function of these surfaces to be
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defined below.
Referring now to Figure 3, there is shown a plan view
of packing brace 80 inserted into washing machine 90.
Washing machine 9o is of the standard upright standing type
and the dimensions of packing brace 80 are chosen to
accomodate the various models on the market. Washing
machine 90 comprises housing 92, load opening 94, cover 96
shown in part only and hinged at 98 and 100. Load opening 94
is generally annular, such as the circle shcwn, however
packing brace 80 can easily be proportioned to be insertable
into various shapes of load opening 94.
Packing brace 80 is usually rectangular, preferably
square, such that at least four corner edges frictionally
abut against the inside rim 95 of load opening 94, whether
the latter is circular, oval, partially circular or other.
The means to indicate its orientation with respect to
washing machine 90, such as triangular aperture 70 in this
case pointing towards what will be considered as the front
of packing brace 80 and housing 92, enables fast and easy
insertion of the brace into load opening 94 according to a
predetermined orientation, thereby avoiding a generally
lengthy trial and error insertion.
The means to indicate orientation is most practical
when the agitator and the corresponding box-li.ke opening in
the brace are not centrally located with respect to load
opening 94.
Referring now to Figure 4, there is shown section 4-4
of Figure 3. Washing machine 90 comprises housing 92 which
is formed about its upper portion into a depression 93 which
terminates into the rim 95 defining the load opening 94.
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The cover 96 is fitted into depression 93, and is hinged
about an edge to enable cover 96 to open and close load
opening 94.
A tub 98, generally with a circular cross~section is
fixed to enable rotation and some vibration of tub 98 about
vertical axis 100. Agitator 102 is located within tub 98
and is also fixed to enable rotation and some vibration
about vertical axis 100, independent or dependent with the
motions of tub 98.
Packing brace 80 is inserted into load opening 94,
whereby the upper end portion of agitator 102 fits into
box-like opening 82: support edges 58, 60 (58 not shown)
abut against the upper horizontal surface of agitator 102
while edges 86, 86a within tuck panel 36 (and similarly with
edges of adjacent hidden tuck panel 34) frictionally abut
against opposite substantially vertical surfaces of the
upper portion of agitator 102. Unshown fold line 46 and
preferred cushion flap 50 (and similarly for oppcsite fold
line 48 and cushion flap 52) are also areas where opposite
substantially vertical surfaces of the upper portion of
agitator 102 frictionally abut, the latter vertical surfaces
being perpendicular to the previously mentioned vertical
surfaces and upper horizontal surface of agitator 102.
. The bottom surface of the packing brace must be wikhin
tub 98 such that the four corners of the packing brace also
frictionally abut against the upper inside portion of tub 98
to prevent any movement or vibration of the latter with
respect to housing 92.
Thus, the upper portion of agitator 102 being snugly
fit within box-like opening 8~ of the packing brace, and the
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latter being snugly fit into load opening 94 and tub 98 of
the washing machine prevents any movement or vibration of
the agitator and the tub with respect to the housing.
As mentioned above, the bottom surface of packing brace
80 must be within tub 98 a sufficient distance to
efficiently brace the tub against movement with respect to
housing 92. The top surface of the brace being top panel
12, must be above the lower edge of rim 95 a sufficient
distance to effectively hold brace 80 in position.
When brace 80 is fully inserted onto agitator 102, the
brace pushes down onto the agitator, preventing the latter
to vibrate with respPct to the tub. In order to maintain
the brace fully inserted and to prevent it from moving
upwards, cover 96 is closed and taped or strapped to housing
92 in order to remain closed onto the brace. The locking
tabs 42,44 ~and 38,40 not shown) which protrude through top
panel 12, abut against cover 96, maintaining the brace in
position. Alternatively, the locking tabs 42,44 (and 38,40)
may not protrude through top panel 12, whereby the top panel
itself abuts against cover 96. As cover 96 is often arced,
kop panel 12 or alternatively the locking tabs may not abut
against cover 96 in their entirety.
Another less preferred embodimer.t of a blank and pack-
ing brace thereo~ can be obtained as follows. A bottom
panel extends perpendicularly into a pair of opposite end
panels. The end panels extend perpendicularly toward each
other into a pair of top panels. The pair of top panels
extend perpendicularly toward the bottom panel into a pair
of juxtaposed tuck panels. The bottom panel has a cut out
portion (circular or square) near or about its mid point.
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The tuck panels have locking tabs which are snugly inserted
into elongate apertures on opposite sides of the cut out
portion. The tuck panels have a portion cut away about
their Pdge remote ~rom the adjacent top panels, these
portiolls cut away cooperating with the cut out portion in
the bottom panel to define a box-like opening with a depth
less than the depth of the packing brace.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to Figure 5, there is shown a corrugated
fiberboard blank 210 having top panel 212 extending via
opposite lateral edges 214,216 into foldably connected end
panels 218,220 respectively. End panels 218,220 each extend
away from top panel 212 via fold lines 222,224 into foldably
connected inner bottom panels 226,228 respectively. Lateral
edges 214,216 and fold lines 222,224 are substantially
parallel.
Inner bottom panels 226,228 each extend away from end
panels 218,220 respectively via fold lines 230,232 into tuck
panels 234,236. Each of tuck panels 234,236 has a locking
tab 238,240 extending from an edge remote from inner bottom
panels 226,228. Locking tabs 238,2~0 are most preferably at
least two thirds the length of tuck panels 234,236
respectively. The fold lines 230,232 are discontinuous
thereby allowing for a substantially rectangular cut out
portion amidst them, the cut out portion extending into
inner bottom panels 226,228 and adjacent tuck panels 234,236
respectively. The cut out portions may separate each fold
line 230,232 into equal or unequal lengths.
The cut out portions remain foldably connected at fold
lines 246,248 defining cushion flaps 250,252, each having a
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lock tab 254,25~ extending from an edye opposite ~rom fold
lines 246,24~. The cut out portions also provide support
edges 258,260, within tuck panals 234,236 and substantially
parallel to fold lines 230,232 respectively.
Top panel 212 has an alongate aperture 263 to cooperate
with locXing tabs 238,240 respectively, as will be explained
later. Top panel 212 also has apertures 266,268 to
cooperate with lock tabs 254,256 respectivelyO
Top panel 212 also extends via opposite longitudinal
edges 270,272 into foldably connected side panels 274,276
respectively. Side panels 274,276 each extend away from top
panel 212 via fold lines 278,280 into foldably connected
outer bottom panels 282,284 respectively.
Each outer bottom panel 282,284 has a rectangular cut
out portion which preferably remains foldably connected at
fold lines 286,288 within the outer bottom panels. The cut
out portions define cushion panels ~90,2g2 which may extend
beyond the outer edge of the outer bottom panels as shown.
Each outer bottom panel 282,284, about an edge remote
from side panels 274,276, and on either side of cushion
panels 290,292, extends into a foldably connected lock flap
294,296 and 298,300 respectively. Each of the lock flaps
preferably has a pye lock 302,304,306,308, to be explained
later.
Inner bottom panels 226,228 have elongate apertures
310,312, which will cooperate with lock flaps 294,298 and
296,300 respectively. Apertures 310,312 preferably have a
lock slit about one end, to cooperate with the pye locks of
the lock flaps. Each of end panels 218,220 preferably
extends about opposite edg~s into foldably connected inner
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flaps 314,31~ and 318,320 respectively.
Blank 210 preferably has a means to indicate i.ts
orientation, such as a symbolic aperture, a printed symbol,
a label, particularly lo~ated about one of top panel 212,
end panels 218,220, side panels 274,276 and outer bottom
panals 282,284. The means to indicate orientation is shown
as aperture 322 in side panel 276.
Referring now to Figure 6, blank 210 of Flgure 5 is in
partially folded position defining partially folded packing
10 brace 350. End panels 218,220 are bent about lateral edges
214,216 respectively, to be perpendicular to top panel 212.
Inner bottom panels 226,228 are bent about fold lines
222,224, and tuck panels 234,236 are bent about fold lines
230,232 respectively until the tuck panels approach top
15 panel 212 (fold line 232 is not shown). The locking tabs
238,240 are inserted into elongate aperture 263, and cushion
flaps 250,252 are bent about fold lines 246,248 and their
lock tabs 254,256 inserted .into apertures 266,268
respectively. Only cushion flap 2S0, fold line 246, locking
20 tab 254 and aperture 266 are shown in Figure 6.
The locking tabs 238,240 are tightly and snugly fitted
within aperture 263 to releasably lock and thereby maintain
the tuck panels 234,236 in substantial contact with and
perpendicular to top panel 212.
Inner flaps 314,318 (not shown) and 316,320 are folded
until each pair is vis-a-vis each other and longitudinal
edges 270 (not shown) and 272 respectively. Side panel 274
is bent about longitudinal edge 270, to be perpendicular to
top panel 212. Outer bottom panel 282 is bent about fold
30 line 278, and lock flaps 294,296 are bent until they
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respectively approach apertures 310,312 in innex bottom
panels 226,228. The lock flaps axe inserted into apertures
310,312 and their pye locks and lock slits cooperate to
provide a releasably locking assembly which will not unlock
unless purposely ~orcsd to unlock.
Cushion panel 290 is bent, about fold line 286,
inwardly into generally square box-like opening 352 formed
within packing brace 350. The ~olding of the packing brace
would be completed by similarly folding side panel 276,
outer bottom panel 284, lock flaps 298,300, and cushion
panel 292, and finally inserting lock flaps 298,300 into
apertures 310,312 respectively.
The final product, when fully folded, is a rectangular
packing brace having a bottom surface formed by outer bottom
panels 282,284, and a top surface formed by top panel 212.
Within the bottom surface is a generally square box-like
opening 352, the depth of the opening being determined by
support edges 258,260 which are spaced between the top and
bottom sur~aces of the packing brace.
Lock flaps 294,296,298,300 preferably abut against top
panel 212 and against cushion panels 250,252 to increase the
strength o~ the brace near opening 352.
Referring now to Figure 7, there is shown a perspective
view of packing brace 350 insertsd into washing machine 390
which comprises housing 392, load opening 394, cover 396
shown in part only and hinged at 3~8 and 400. Load opening
394 is generally circular and packing brace 350 inserted
within is rectangular, preferably square, with its four
corners frictionally engaging against the inside rim 395 of
load opsning 394.
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The means to indicate orientation, aperture 322, is
shown to point towards the front of the washiny machine.
Referring now to Figure 8, there is shown section 8 8
of Figure 7. Washing machine 390 comprises housing 392
which is formed about its upper portion into a depression
393 which terminates into the rim ~95 defining the load
opening 394. The cover 396 is fitted into depression 393,
and is hinged about an edge to enable cover 396 to open and
close load opening 394.
A cylindrical tub 398 is fixed to enable rotation and
some vibration of tub 398 about a central vertical axis.
Agitator 402 is located within tub 398 and is also fixed to
enahle rotation and some vibration about the central
vPrtical axis, independent or dependent with the motions of
15 tub 398.
Packing brace 350 is inserted into load opening 394,
whereby the upper end portion of agitator 402 fits into
square box-like opening 352~ support edges 258,260 abut
against the upper horizontal surface of agitator 402 while
20 the four cushion panels defining the side walls of box-like
opening 352 frictionally abut against the substantially
vertical surfaces of the upper portion of agitator 402.
The bottom surface of the packing brace is within tub
398 a sufficient distance such that the four corners of the
25 packing brace also frictionally abut against the upper
inside portion of tub 398 to prevent any movement or
vibration of the latter with respect to housing 392. The
top surface of the brace being top panel 212, is above the
lower edge of rim 395 a sufficient distance to eff~ctively
30hold brace 350 in position.
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When brace 350 is fully inserted onto agitator 402, the
brace pushes down onto the agitator, preventing the latter
to vibrate with respect to the tub. In order to maintain
the brace fully inserted and to prevent it from moving
upwards, cover 396 is closed and taped or strapped to
housing 392 in order to remain closed onto the brace. The
locking tabs 238,240 protrude through top panel 212, abut
against cover 396 and maintain the brace in position. Alter-
natively the locking tabs 238,240 may not protrude through
top panel 212, whereby the top panel itself abuts against
cover 396. As cover 396 is often arced, top panel 212 or
alternatively the locking tabs may not abut against cover
396 in their entirety.
Packing brace 350 offers additional strength in the
box-like opening 352 surrounding the upper portion of
agitator 402. Also, lock flaps 294,296 increase the
strength of the brace near its mid portion, preventing it
from caving inwardly if compressed unusually by agitator 402
while the machine is being transported. The brace, being
made of corrugated fiberboard, is rigid yet still has
sufficient yield to provide a cushioning effect to the
braced inner parts when the washing machine is subjected to
vibration, transport or sudden shocks.
Having described the invention, modifications will be
evident to those skilled in the art without departing from
the spirit of the invention, as defined in the appended
claims.
