US3581527A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Laundry machine structure
Assignee: Maytag Corp
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Filing: 1969-12-18
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Granted: 1971-06-01
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Expires: 1989-12-18
Abstract
Abstract A compact laundry machine includes a two-compartment molded plastic tub supported on the upper metal edge of a cabinet structure. The forces associated with agitating means mounted on one wall of the plastic tub in a first compartment, the springbiasing force on a seal assembly at a spinner in the second compartment, and the weight of fluid within the two compartments are all carried through the plastic tub to the supporting edge of the cabinet.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas R Smith
- 👤 Charles W Burkland
- 👤 Edward O Mccartney
- 👤 Frank E Ross
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 15:27
CPC Classifications
D; D06; D06F; D06F29/00; D06F29/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
In a laundry machine, the combination comprising: base means supportable on a substantially horizontal surface; cabinet means supported on said base means and comprising a plurality of substantially vertical sidewalls and a generally upwardly facing supporting edge adjacent an upper portion of said sidewalls; a plastic tub disposed within said cabinet means and having a bottom wall spaced upwardly from said base means and further having sidewalls extending upwardly from said bottom wall and including shoulder means defining a generally downwardly facing load-bearing surface approximately the width of the upwardly facing supporting edge of said cabinet means and engageable therewith; and means for maintaining said load-bearing surface of said tub engaged with portions of the upwardly facing supporting edge of said cabinet means for supporting said tub within said cabinet means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
131 words
In a laundry machine, the combination comprising: base means supportable on a substantially horizontal surface; cabinet means supported on said base means and comprising a plurality of substantially vertical sidewalls and a generally upwardly facing supporting edge adjacent an upper portion of said sidewalls; a plastic tub disposed within said cabinet means and having a bottom wall spaced upwardly from said base means and further having sidewalls extending upwardly from said bottom wall and including shoulder means defining a generally downwardly facing load-bearing surface approximately the width of the upwardly facing supporting edge of said cabinet means and engageable therewith; and means for maintaining said load-bearing surface of said tub engaged with portions of the upwardly facing supporting edge of said cabinet means for supporting said tub within said cabinet means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
In a laundry machine as defined in claim 1 wherein the sidewalls of said cabinet means are rigidly joined to form a substantially rectangular open-top enclosure having an upwardly facing edge extending substantially endlessly around said rectangular enclosure for engagement by at least portions of the load-bearing surface of said tub.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
In a laundry machine as defined in claim 1 wherein the shoulder means of said tub is in the form of a peripheral flange on the upper outside of the tub sidewalls and wherein the vertical thickness of said flange greatly exceeds the width of the downwardly facing surface to provide resistance to shear at said flange.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
In a laundry machine as defined claim 1 And further including agitating means mounted on one of the sidewalls of said plastic tub for effecting a washing action within said tub.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
In a laundry machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said tub defines two compartments and wherein the combination further includes agitating means mounted on one of the sidewalls of said tub and operable for effecting a washing action in one of the compartments and wherein spinner means is mounted on said base means and rotatively operable within the other compartment.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
76 words
In a laundry machine as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of the sidewalls of said cabinet means below said upper portion is normally spaced outwardly from said tub sidewalls and engageable by said tub sidewalls upon lateral expansion of said tub sidewalls under loading of hot washing fluid in said tub, said sidewalls of said cabinet means being sufficiently rigid to provide auxiliary support for limiting said lateral expansion of the tub sidewalls.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
141 words
In a laundry machine, the combination comprising: base means supportable on a substantially horizontal surface; a cabinet supported on said base means and including a plurality of substantially vertical sheet metal sidewalls terminating in an upper sheet metal edge; a unitary plastic tub having a bottom wall spaced upwardly from said base means and further having sidewalls extending upwardly from said bottom wall and terminating at an upper flange defining a loading surface substantially the width of the upper sheet metal edge of said cabinet sidewalls and facing generally toward said upper sheet metal edge for engagement therewith; and means for maintaining the upper flange of said tub substantially aligned with portions of the upper sheet metal edge of said cabinet sidewalls for engagement of said loading surface with said upper sheet metal edge to support said tub within said cabinet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
141 words
In a laundry machine, the combination comprising: base means supportable on a substantially horizontal surface; a cabinet supported on said base means and including a plurality of substantially vertical sheet metal sidewalls terminating in an upper sheet metal edge; a unitary plastic tub having a bottom wall spaced upwardly from said base means and further having sidewalls extending upwardly from said bottom wall and terminating at an upper flange defining a loading surface substantially the width of the upper sheet metal edge of said cabinet sidewalls and facing generally toward said upper sheet metal edge for engagement therewith; and means for maintaining the upper flange of said tub substantially aligned with portions of the upper sheet metal edge of said cabinet sidewalls for engagement of said loading surface with said upper sheet metal edge to support said tub within said cabinet.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
In a laundry machine as defined in claim 7 wherein the upper sheet metal edge of said cabinet presents a substantially horizontal upwardly facing support for the loading surface of said tub flange.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
84 words
In a laundry machine as defined in claim 7 wherein said last named means is in the form of an inverted U-shaped clip means engageable with said cabinet sidewalls and said tub flange to maintain alignment of said tub flange with said upper sheet metal edge and wherein said laundry machine further includes top cover means defining access means into said tub and having an outer downwardly extending peripheral flange for enclosing the connection between said upper sheet metal edge and said tub flange.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
In a laundry machine as defined in claim 7 wherein said tub is substantially imperforate for containing liquid and wherein the sidewalls of said tub are spaced inwardly from the sidewalls of said cabinet whereby the tub and fluids contained therein are supported on said upper sheet metal edge.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
A laundry machine as defined in claim 7 and further including substantially rigid reinforcing means attached to the outside of one of the sidewalls of said tub spaced from the sidewall of said cabinet and defining a bearing means for said agitating means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
A laundry machine as defined in claim 11 and further including drive means mounted on said base means and drivingly connected to said agitating means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
A laundry machine as defined in claim 9 and further including seal means adjacent the peripheral flange of said top cover and engageable with the upper flange of said tub for effectively providing a fluid seal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
128 words
A two-compartment laundry machine comprising: base means supportable on a substantially horizontal surface; a cabinet supported on said base means and including a plurality of substantially vertical sidewalls terminating in an upper edge; a two-compartment unitary plastic tub having bottom wall means spaced upwardly from said base means and further having sidewalls extending upwardly from said bottom wall means and including an upper outwardly extending shoulder defining a loading surface engageable With the upper edge of said cabinet sidewalls for supporting said tub within said cabinet; and a generally horizontally disposed top cover means defining individual access means into each of said compartments and having an outer downwardly extending peripheral flange enclosing the connection between the upper edge of said cabinet and the upper shoulder of said tub.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
128 words
A two-compartment laundry machine comprising: base means supportable on a substantially horizontal surface; a cabinet supported on said base means and including a plurality of substantially vertical sidewalls terminating in an upper edge; a two-compartment unitary plastic tub having bottom wall means spaced upwardly from said base means and further having sidewalls extending upwardly from said bottom wall means and including an upper outwardly extending shoulder defining a loading surface engageable With the upper edge of said cabinet sidewalls for supporting said tub within said cabinet; and a generally horizontally disposed top cover means defining individual access means into each of said compartments and having an outer downwardly extending peripheral flange enclosing the connection between the upper edge of said cabinet and the upper shoulder of said tub.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
A two-compartment laundry machine as defined in claim 14 and further including agitating means mounted on one of the sidewalls of said plastic tub for effecting a washing operation within one of said compartments.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
A two-compartment laundry machine as defined in claim 15 and further including drive means mounted on said base means and belt means drivingly interconnecting said agitating means to said drive means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
51 words
A two-compartment laundry machine as defined in claim 14 wherein said bottom wall means includes a first portion defining an opening in a first of said compartments and wherein the combination further includes spinner means nutationally mounted on said base means and extending axially through said opening into said first compartment.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
A two-compartment laundry machine as defined in claim 17 and further including resilient seal means disposed in said opening and including bearing means for said spinner means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
A two-compartment laundry machine as defined in claim 17 and further including agitating means mounted on one of the sidewalls of said plastic tub for effecting a washing operation within the second of said compartments.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB1036123A
Cited
US3333282A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-31 | 1974-11-30 | 1975-06-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-31 | 1978-11-30 | 1979-06-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-31 | 1982-11-30 | 1983-06-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |