Plastic tub assembly for use with clothes washer

Claim 2

In combination with a clothes washer, a nonrotatable outer tub assembly and a rotatable inner tub assembly nested within said outer tub assembly and in spaced relation thereto, said inner tub assembly comprising a plastic inner tub having a slightly outwardly tapered outer wall, a central reentry portion forming a radial-vaned pedestal within said inner tub and a bottom wall of expanded cross section therebetween, the side of said pedestal facing outside said inner tub being adapted for connection with an oscillating and rotating mechanism for selectively oscillating or rotating said inner tub, the side of said pedestal facing inside said inner tub being adapted by the oscillating thereof to agitate clothes in said inner tub, said outer wall having formed inwardly thereof a plurality of vertical ribs, said ribs cooperating with the side of said pedestal facing inside when said inner tub is oscillating in agitating clothes, said outer wall having formed around the upper edge as a projection thereof alternating long- and short-spaced fingers, said long fingers having an intermediate shoulder portion, a plastic inner tub rim fastened to the top of said outer wall and forming therewith a plurality of outflow ports, said inner tub rim having a radial flange overlying said outer wall, said radial flange including alternating large and small ports overfitting, respectively, said long and short fingers and resting on the intermediate shoulder portion of said long fingers to form the top of said outflow ports, a channel-shaped metal ring encircling said rim above said radial flange and snap fastened thereto over ramp-shaped lugs on said rim, said ring including an antiturn tang extending into said radial flange and an antirattle spring between said ring and said rim, said outer tub assembly comprising a plastic outer tub having a preformed bottom wall and a sidewall, said bottom wall formed with an integral depending pump housing and arcuate channel leading to said pump housing, said sidewall having at its lower terminus an antidrip flange depending below the jointure of said sidewall with said bottom wall for diverting overflow from said bottom wall, an integral plastic outer tub rim on top of said sidewall and including a pair of spaced upstanding walls forming a circular trough and a collar depending from said trough sealingly nesting within the top of said sidewall, the innermost of said pair of spaced walls overlying said inner tub rim in a manner to receive overflow from said inner tub assembly and to direct said overflow to said trough, conduit means connected to said trough and extending to a lower portion of said clothes washer for draining the overflow, and means for connecting said outer tub rim to said outer tub, said last named means including an elongated spring having one end connected to a lug on the outside of said outer tub rim and another end connected to said antidrip flange, said spring having an intermediate crimped portion to bias the outer tub rim toward said top of said sidewall.

Claim 3

In combination with a clothes washer, a nonrotatable outer tub assembly and a rotatable inner tub assembly of substantially the same size nested within said outer tub assembly and in closely spaced relation thereto, said inner tub assembly comprising a plastic inner tub having as integral portions thereof a slightly outwardly tapered outer wall, a central reentry portion forming a radial-vaned pedestal within said inner tub and a bottom wall of expanded cross section therebetween, the side of said pedestal facing outside said inner tub forming a socket on a lower portion thereof for connection with an oscillating and rotating mechanism for selectively oscillating or rotating said inner tub, the side of said pedestal facing inside said inner tub forming an agitator on the upper portion thereof, said outer wall having formed inwardly thereof opposite the agitator portion oF said pedestal a plurality of vertical ribs tapered toward their lower ends to merge at a point with said outer wall, said ribs cooperating with the agitator portion of said pedestal when said inner tub is oscillating to agitate clothes, said outer wall having formed around the upper edge as a projection thereof alternating long- and short-spaced fingers, said long fingers having an intermediate shoulder portion and a radially outwardly turned terminal grip portion, a plastic inner tub rim fastened to the top of said outer wall and forming therewith a plurality of outflow ports, said inner tub rim having a radial flange overlying said outer wall, said radial flange including alternating large and small ports overfitting, respectively, said long and short fingers and resting on the intermediate shoulder portion of said long fingers to form the top of said outflow ports, said inner tub rim being snap fastened to said inner tub by the interference fit of said large port with said grip portion, a channel-shaped metal ring encircling said rim above said radial flange and snap fastened thereto over ramp-shaped lugs on said rim, said ring including an antiturn tang extending into said radial flange and an antirattle spring between said ring and said rim, said outer tub assembly comprising a plastic outer tub having a preformed bottom wall and a sidewall, said bottom wall formed with an integral depending pump housing and arcuate channel leading to said pump housing, said sidewall having at its lower terminus an antidrip flange depending below the jointure of said sidewall with said bottom wall for diverting overflow from said bottom wall, an integral plastic outer tub rim on top of said sidewall and including a pair of spaced upstanding walls forming a circular trough and a collar depending from said trough and nesting within the top of said sidewall, the innermost of said pair of spaced walls overlying said inner tub rim in a manner to receive overflow from said inner tub assembly and to direct said overflow to said trough, conduit means connected to said trough and extending to a lower portion of said clothes washer for draining the overflow, said outer tub rim including a plurality of lugs at the jointure of said walls with said collar, each lug having a shoulder spaced from said collar and resting on an outer portion of the top of said sidewall to form a cavity circumscribing said outer tub where said outer tub rim nests within said outer tub sidewall, a soft butyl rubber seal in said cavity, and means for connecting said outer tub rim to said outer tub, said last named means including an elongated spring having one end connected to at least one of said lugs and another end connected to said antidrip flange, said spring having an intermediate crimped portion to bias the outer tub rim toward said top of said sidewall.

Claim 4

In combination with a clothes washer, a nonrotatable outer tub assembly and a rotatable inner tub assembly of substantially the same size nested within said outer tub assembly and in closely spaced relation thereto, said inner tub assembly comprising a plastic inner tub having as integral portions thereof a slightly outwardly tapered outer wall, a central reentry portion forming a radial-vaned pedestal within said inner tub and a bottom wall of expanded cross section therebetween, the side of said pedestal facing outside said inner tub forming a socket on a lower portion thereof for connection with an oscillating and rotating mechanism for selectively oscillating or rotating said inner tub, the side of said pedestal facing inside said inner tub forming an agitator on the upper portion thereof, said outer wall having formed inwardly thereof opposite the agitator portion oF said pedestal a plurality of vertical ribs tapered toward their lower ends to merge at a point with said outer wall, said ribs cooperating with the agitator portion of said pedestal when said inner tub is oscillating to agitate clothes, said outer wall having formed around the upper edge as a projection thereof alternating long- and short-spaced fingers, said long fingers having an intermediate shoulder portion and a radially outwardly turned terminal grip portion, a plastic inner tub rim fastened to the top of said outer wall and forming therewith a plurality of outflow ports, said inner tub rim having a radial flange overlying said outer wall, said radial flange including alternating large and small ports overfitting, respectively, said long and short fingers and resting on the intermediate shoulder portion of said long fingers to form the top of said outflow ports, said inner tub rim being snap fastened to said inner tub by the interference fit of said large port with said grip portion, a channel-shaped metal ring encircling said rim above said radial flange and snap fastened thereto over ramp-shaped lugs on said rim, said ring including an antiturn tang extending into said radial flange and an antirattle spring between said ring and said rim, said outer tub assembly comprising a plastic outer tub having a preformed bottom wall and a sidewall, said bottom wall formed with an integral depending pump housing and arcuate channel leading to said pump housing, said sidewall having at its lower terminus an antidrip flange depending below the jointure of said sidewall with said bottom wall for diverting overflow from said bottom wall, an integral plastic outer tub rim on top of said sidewall and including a pair of spaced upstanding walls forming a circular trough and a collar depending from said trough and nesting within the top of said sidewall, the innermost of said pair of spaced walls overlying said inner tub rim in a manner to receive overflow from said inner tub assembly and to direct said overflow to said trough, conduit means connected to said trough and extending to a lower portion of said clothes washer for draining the overflow, said outer tub rim including a plurality of lugs at the jointure of said walls with said collar, each lug having a shoulder spaced from said collar and resting on an outer portion of the top of said sidewall to form a cavity circumscribing said outer tub where said outer tub rim nests within said outer tub sidewall, a soft butyl rubber seal in said cavity, and means for connecting said outer tub rim to said outer tub, said last named means including an elongated spring having one end connected to at least one of said lugs and another end connected to said antidrip flange, said spring having an intermediate crimped portion to bias the outer tub rim toward said top of said sidewall.

Claim 5

In combination with a clothes washer, a nonrotatable outer tub assembly and a rotatable inner tub assembly of substantially the same size nested within said outer tub assembly and in closely spaced relation thereto, said inner tub assembly comprising a plastic inner tub having an outer wall between 17 inches and 20 inches in diameter, a central reentry portion forming a radial-vaned pedestal within said inner tub and a bottom wall of expanded cross section therebetween, the side of said pedestal facing outside said inner tub forming a socket on a lower portion thereof for connection with an oscillating and rotating mechanism for selectively oscillating or rotating said inner tub, the side of said pedestal facing inside said inner tub forming an agitator on the upper portion thereof, said outer wall having formed inwardly thereof substantially 45 equally spaced vertical ribs, said ribs cooperating with the agitator portion of said pedestal when said inner tub is oscillating to agitate clothes, the socket portion of said pedestal facing inside said inner tub effecting a toroidal movement of said clothes when said inner tub is oscillating thereby to Present the clothes repeatedly to said ribs and said agitator portion for agitation, and a plastic inner tub rim having a radial flange fastened to the top of said outer wall and forming therewith a plurality of outflow ports, said inner tub rim having a collar depending into said inner tub in sufficiently closely spaced relationship to said outflow ports to act as a clothes guard preventing clothes from blocking said outflow ports.

Claim 6

In combination with a clothes washer, a nonrotatable outer tub assembly and a rotatable inner tub assembly of substantially the same size nested within said outer tub assembly and in closely spaced relation thereto, said inner tub assembly comprising a plastic inner tub having an outer wall between 17 inches and 20 inches in diameter, a central reentry portion forming a radial-vaned pedestal within said inner tub and a bottom wall of expanded cross section therebetween, the side of said pedestal facing outside said inner tub forming a socket on a lower portion thereof for connection with an oscillating and rotating mechanism for selectively oscillating or rotating said inner tub, the side of said pedestal facing inside said inner tub forming an agitator on the upper portion thereof, said outer wall having formed inwardly thereof substantially 45 equally spaced vertical ribs, said ribs cooperating with the agitator portion of said pedestal when said inner tub is oscillating to agitate clothes, the socket portion of said pedestal facing inside said inner tub effecting a toroidal movement of said clothes when said inner tub is oscillating thereby to Present the clothes repeatedly to said ribs and said agitator portion for agitation, and a plastic inner tub rim having a radial flange fastened to the top of said outer wall and forming therewith a plurality of outflow ports, said inner tub rim having a collar depending into said inner tub in sufficiently closely spaced relationship to said outflow ports to act as a clothes guard preventing clothes from blocking said outflow ports.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 3 wherein the plastic for said inner tub includes a 20 percent by weight glass fiber fill, said outer wall has a cross-sectional thickness of substantially 0.090 inch, said reentry portion has a cross-sectional thickness of substantially 0.120 inch, and the expanded cross section of said bottom wall is substantially 0.280 inch.

Claim 8

In combination with a clothes washer, a nonrotatable outer tub assembly and a rotatable inner tub assembly of substantially the same size nested within said outer tub assembly and in closely spaced relation thereto, said outer tub assembly comprising a plastic outer tub having a preformed bottom wall and a sidewall, said bottom wall formed with an integral depending pump housing, said sidewall having at its lower terminus an antidrip flange depending below the jointure of said sidewall with said bottom wall for diverting overflow from said bottom wall, an integral plastic outer tub rim on top of said sidewall and including a pair of spaced upstanding walls forming a circular trough and a collar depending from said trough and nesting within the top of said sidewall, the innermost of said pair of spaced walls overlying said inner tub assembly in a manner to receive overflow therefrom and to direct said overflow to said trough, conduit means connected to said trough and extending to a lower portion of said clothes washer for draining the overflow, said outer tub rim including a plurality of lugs at the jointure of said walls with said collar, each lug having a shoulder spaced from said collar and resting on an outer portion of the top of said sidewall to form a cavity circumscribing said outer tub where said outer tub rim nests within said outer tub sidewall, a soft butyl rubber seal in said cavity, and means for connecting said outer tub rim to said outer tub, said last named means including an elongated spring having one end connected to at least one of said lugs and another end connected to said antidrip flange, said spring having an intermediate crimped portion to bias the outer tub rim toward said top of said sidewall.

Claim 9

In combination with a clothes washer, a nonrotatable outer tub assembly and a rotatable inner tub assembly of substantially the same size nested within said outer tub assembly and in closely spaced relation thereto, said outer tub assembly comprising a plastic outer tub having a preformed bottom wall and a sidewall, said bottom wall formed with an integral depending pump housing, said sidewall having at its lower terminus an antidrip flange depending below the jointure of said sidewall with said bottom wall for diverting overflow from said bottom wall, an integral plastic outer tub rim on top of said sidewall and including a pair of spaced upstanding walls forming a circular trough and a collar depending from said trough and nesting within the top of said sidewall, the innermost of said pair of spaced walls overlying said inner tub assembly in a manner to receive overflow therefrom and to direct said overflow to said trough, conduit means connected to said trough and extending to a lower portion of said clothes washer for draining the overflow, said outer tub rim including a plurality of lugs at the jointure of said walls with said collar, each lug having a shoulder spaced from said collar and resting on an outer portion of the top of said sidewall to form a cavity circumscribing said outer tub where said outer tub rim nests within said outer tub sidewall, a soft butyl rubber seal in said cavity, and means for connecting said outer tub rim to said outer tub, said last named means including an elongated spring having one end connected to at least one of said lugs and another end connected to said antidrip flange, said spring having an intermediate crimped portion to bias the outer tub rim toward said top of said sidewall.

Claim 10

An arrangement for positioning and permanently locating nested inner and outer plastic tubs with respect to a clothes washer mechanism and comprising, a drive mechanism having an oscillatable and rotatable vertical drive shaft and a vertical power shaft means laterally spaced from said drive shaft and adapted to selectively oscillate or rotate said drive shaft, drive mechanism support means supporting said drive mechanism, inner tub support means including radial tenons solidly affixed to said drive shaft, a pump impeller solidly affixed to said power shaft, said drive mechanism support means including an upstanding guide portion, a plastic outer tub having integrally formed therein a reentry portion snugly interfitting with said guide portion and a pump housing enclosing said pump impeller, said pump housing having an integral depending collar interfitting with said power shaft means, first water seal means between said reentry portion of said outer tub and said inner tub support means, second water seal means between said pump housing and said pump impeller, said guide portion of said drive mechanism support means and said collar of said pump housing locating and permanently positioning said outer tub with respect to said drive mechanism support means thereby to maintain the alignment of said first and second water seal means, a plastic inner tub having integrally formed therein a central reentry portion defining a socket having radial cavities Mortised onto the radial tenons of said inner tub support means whereby to locate said inner tub vertically and horizontally with respect to said outer tub and to provide the sole support for said inner tub during oscillation and rotation thereof, the radial cavities of said socket defining on the inside of said inner tub a radial-vaned agitator portion aiding in the initiation of flow of washing fluid within said inner tub when said inner tub is oscillated.

Claim 11

An arrangement for positioning and permanently locating nested inner and outer plastic tubs with respect to a clothes washer mechanism and comprising, a drive mechanism having an oscillatable and rotatable vertical drive shaft and a vertical power shaft means laterally spaced from said drive shaft and adapted to selectively oscillate or rotate said drive shaft, drive mechanism support means supporting said drive mechanism, inner tub support means including radial tenons solidly affixed to said drive shaft, a pump impeller solidly affixed to said power shaft, said drive mechanism support means including an upstanding guide portion, a plastic outer tub having integrally formed therein a reentry portion snugly interfitting with said guide portion and a pump housing enclosing said pump impeller, said pump housing having an integral depending collar interfitting with said power shaft means, first water seal means between said reentry portion of said outer tub and said inner tub support means, second water seal means between said pump housing and said pump impeller, said guide portion of said drive mechanism support means and said collar of said pump housing locating and permanently positioning said outer tub with respect to said drive mechanism support means thereby to maintain the alignment of said first and second water seal means, a plastic inner tub having integrally formed therein a central reentry portion defining a socket having radial cavities Mortised onto the radial tenons of said inner tub support means whereby to locate said inner tub vertically and horizontally with respect to said outer tub and to provide the sole support for said inner tub during oscillation and rotation thereof, the radial cavities of said socket defining on the inside of said inner tub a radial-vaned agitator portion aiding in the initiation of flow of washing fluid within said inner tub when said inner tub is oscillated.

Claim 12

The arrangement of claim 6 wherein the plastic for said inner and outer tubs is polypropylene and the cross-sectional thickness of the reentry portions of said inner and outer tubs and the collar of said pump housing is substantially 0.120 inch.

Claim 13

In combination with a clothes washer, a nonrotatable outer tub assembly and a rotatable inner tub assembly of substantially the same size nested within said outer tub assembly and in closely spaced relation thereto, said outer tub assembly including a plastic rim circumscribing said inner tub assembly, said inner tub assembly comprising a plastic inner tub adapted to contain water and having an imperforate outer wall, a central reentry portion forming a pedestal within said inner tub and a bottom wall therebetween, the side of said pedestal facing outside said inner tub forming a socket for connection with an oscillating and rotating mechanism for selectively oscillating or rotating said inner tub, an inner tub rim fastened to the top of said outer wall and forming thereat a plurality of outflow ports, said inner tub rim having a plastic flange sufficiently close to said plastic rim when said inner tub is rotating for centrifuging water through said outflow ports to tend to occasionally engage said plastic rim and spin weld said plastic flange to said plastic rim, and a stainless steel ring circumscribing said inner tub assembly adjacent said plastic flange for strengthening said inner tub assembly, said ring extending closer to said plastic rim than said plastic flange for preventing the occasional engagement of said plastic flange with said plastic rim and thus the spin welding thereof.

Claim 14

In combination with a clothes washer, a nonrotatable outer tub assembly and a rotatable inner tub assembly of substantially the same size nested within said outer tub assembly and in closely spaced relation thereto, said outer tub assembly including a plastic rim circumscribing said inner tub assembly, said inner tub assembly comprising a plastic inner tub adapted to contain water and having an imperforate outer wall, a central reentry portion forming a pedestal within said inner tub and a bottom wall therebetween, the side of said pedestal facing outside said inner tub forming a socket for connection with an oscillating and rotating mechanism for selectively oscillating or rotating said inner tub, an inner tub rim fastened to the top of said outer wall and forming thereat a plurality of outflow ports, said inner tub rim having a plastic flange sufficiently close to said plastic rim when said inner tub is rotating for centrifuging water through said outflow ports to tend to occasionally engage said plastic rim and spin weld said plastic flange to said plastic rim, and a stainless steel ring circumscribing said inner tub assembly adjacent said plastic flange for strengthening said inner tub assembly, said ring extending closer to said plastic rim than said plastic flange for preventing the occasional engagement of said plastic flange with said plastic rim and thus the spin welding thereof.