Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE
WASHING MACHINE TUB LOCK
BACKGROUND
Field Of The Invention
This patent relates to appliance packaging. More particularly, this patent
relates to
a device that fits inside a washing machine tub to lock the tub in place
during shipping.
Description Of The Related Art
Top-loading washing machines generally comprise a spin or wash tub disposed
within a washing machine cabinet or housing. Some washing machines have a
central
pivoting agitator extending upwardly from the bottom of the wash tub and
operably
connected to a motor located below the tub. Other washing machines lack this
central
agitator and instead have ridges located on the inside of the wash tub to
assist with the
agitating function. In washing machines without the central agitator the wash
tub itself
may oscillate up and down and/or rotate back and forth to agitate the clothes.
In either
type of washing machine the clearance between the wash tub and the appliance
cabinet is
often no more than about an inch (2.54 cm), and so the cabinet is susceptible
to damage
from impacts from the wash tub when the appliance is moved during shipping.
Thus there is a need for a device that locks the tub in place or otherwise
prevents
the tub from impacting the appliance cabinet when the washing machine is
moved. Prior
to the present invention, this was typically accomplished using blocks of
expanded
polystyrene foam (EPS) as disclosed in United States Patent Nos. 3,620,365;
3,812,959;
3,901,385; 3,912,076; 3,913,736 and 4,700.832; or corrugated fiberboard as
disclosed in
United States Patent No. 4,832,190. However, EPS braces can break apart,
reducing
protection.
Thus it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved
protective
device made from corrugated fiberboard that prevents a washing machine wash
tub from
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impacting and damaging the cabinet during shipping and handling.
Further and additional objects will appear from the description, accompanying
drawings, and appended claims.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a tub lock device for a washing machine that locks
the
wash tub into place to prevent the tub from impacting the cabinet during
shipping and
handling. The tub lock device preferably comprises six side panels arranged to
form a six
sided truncated cone having a bottom major (maximum) diameter less than the
top
diameter of the wash tub and a top major (maximum) diameter exceeding the top
diameter
of the wash tub. Alternatively, the side panels can be arranged to form a
cylinder, the
cylinder configured to form a friction fit with the wash tub top opening and
the cabinet top
opening.
Preferably the tub lock device is formed from a cut and folded blank made from
corrugated board. Upon delivery, the brace can be removed from the appliance
in a single
piece and recycled.
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THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a cutaway side view of a tub lock according to the present
invention
shown installed in a washing machine.
Figure 2 is a top perspective view of a washing machine shown without a tub
lock.
Figure 3 is a top perspective view of a washing machine shown with a tub lock.
Figure 4 is a top perspective view of the tub lock of Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a top plan view of a blank from which a tub lock according to the
present invention can be made.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
While this invention may be embodied in many forms, there is shown in the
drawings and will herein be described in detail one or more embodiments with
the
5 understanding that this disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of
the principles
of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the illustrated
embodiments.
Turning to the drawings, there is shown in Figure 1 one embodiment of the
present
invention, a tub lock 10 for a top loading washing machine 16 that prevents
the wash tub
12 from impacting (hitting) the washing machine cabinet 14 during shipping and
handling.
The washing machine itself, shown generally at 16, may be the type that does
not
have a central agitator. Instead, the wash tub 12 may have ridges 201ocated on
the wash
tub wall interior surface and the tub 12 may move reciprocally up and down
and/or rotate
back and forth to agitate the clothes. In the washing machine 16 shown in
Figures 1-3 the
cabinet top opening and the wash tub top opening are both about 16 inches (41
cm) in
diameter, with the wash tub top opening slightly smaller than the cabinet top
opening. The
wash tub 12 is supported from below the tub 12 and can swing from its center
position and
impact the walls of the cabinet 12 from the inside if not restrained. These
impacts can
produce a cosmetic defect to the outside of the cabinet 14.
As shown in Figures 1 and 3, this problem is solved by placing inside the
washing
machine 16 a tub lock 10 made according to the present invention. Preferably
the tub lock
10 has an inverted, truncated conical shape in which the major (maximum)
diameter of the
bottom of the inverted cone is less than the top diameter of the wash tub top
opening so
that the tub lock 10 fits down into the wash tub 12, and the major (maximum)
diameter of
the top of the inverted cone exceeds the top diameter of the wash tub top
opening to
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prevent the tub lock 10 from falling completely into the wash tub 12.
More preferably, the major top diameter of the wash tub lock 10 exceeds the
diameter of the cabinet top opening. In this way, the bottom of the wash tub
lock 10 is
located below the wash tub top opening while the top of the wash tub lock 10
is located
above the cabinet top opening (but low enough to allow the washing machine lid
to close).
Preferably the sides of the wash tub lock 10 are wedged against the rim of the
washing
machine cabinet top opening and the rim of the wash tub top opening as shown
in Figure
1. This positioning of the wash tub lock 101imits or even eliminates any
movement of the
wash tub 12 relative to the washing machine cabinet 14, thereby reducing or
eliminating
the possibility of the wash tub swinging against or otherwise hitting the
interior wall of the
washing machine cabinet 14.
Figure 4 provides a perspective view of the tub lock. The six sided
(hexagonal)
shape of the tub lock 10 is considered optimal because this shape is best
suited for
securing the tub lock 10 in place. However, other tub lock shapes are
contemplated,
including four, five and seven sided truncated cones.
Referring now to Figure 5, the tub lock 10 is formed from a unitary (one
piece)
blank, preferably made of corrugated board, that is cut and folded into a
three-dimensional
shape that fits into the tub top section. The blank comprises six
substantially rectangular
flat side panels 22, 24, 26, 28, 32 and 34 and six attachment panels 23, 25,
27, 29, 31 and
33 interposed between the side panels, the side and attachment panels arranged
in roughly
a circular pattern. The blank can be cut along cut lines 51, 52, 53, 54, 55
and 56, folded at
fold lines 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71 and 72, and then glued
to form a
truncated hexagonal cone shaped tub lock. The side panels 22, 24, 26, 28, 32
and 34 need
not be uniform in shape or dimensions but rather can be configured to best fit
the top
section of the wash tub 12. The side panels may be contiguous as shown in the
figures.
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The tub lock 10 may be assembled using glue or other adhesive, although any
suitable
mean of attaching the panels may be used..
The tub lock 10 preferably comprises a bottom pane136 as shown in Figures 3, 4
and 5 to help the tub lock 10 retain its shape during use. If the washing
machine has a
central agitator, the tub lock 10 must be shallow enough to fit above the
agitator or not
have a bottom pane136.
If necessary, notches 38 may be formed in the top rim 42 of the tub lock 10 to
accommodate the washing machine lid hinge or other lid components. Likewise,
the top
rim 42 may include contoured sections 44 to accommodate the washing machine
lid
handle or other lid components.
The invention works in the following manner. As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the
tub lock 10 is inserted into the top section of the wash tub 12 so that it is
wedged against
the washing machine opening and/or wash tub opening. If a six sided tub lock
10 is used it
may contact the washing machine cabinet 14 and/or wash tub 12 in as many as
six places.
The tub lock 10 is removed once the washing machine 16 reaches its final
destination.
Thus there has been described a tub lock for a washing machine that protects
the
washing machine cabinet from being dented from the inside by the washing
machine tub.
Preferably the tub lock is made from a folded and glued corrugated blank to
provide
strength and recyclability. The tub lock can be used with a special washing
machine base
as described in a co-owned and co-pending patent application to further
protect and
cushion the washing machine during assembly and shipping.
The present invention can also be used with dryers having a dryer tub mounted
within a cabinet in a fashion similar to that of the washing machines
described herein.
It is understood that the embodiments of the invention described above are
only
particular examples which serve to illustrate the principles of the invention.
Modifications
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and alternative embodiments of the invention are contemplated which do not
depart from
the scope of the invention as defined by the foregoing teachings and appended
claims. It is
intended that the claims cover all such modifications and alternative
embodiments that fall
within their scope.
