Suspension rod assembly for automatic washer

Claim 2

Tub suspension means for use in a laundry appliance of the type having a cabinet and a floating base comprising: first and second suspension rods disposed in parallel relationship; biasing means comprising a coil compression spring encircling said first and second suspension rods, said spring interconnecting said rods in axially movable assembly and preloading said rods in one direction; dampening means comprising a pair of friction bushings respectively disposed in frictional sliding engagement with each of said rods in proximity to one end of each rod; a pair of anchoring means operatively anchoring said one end of one rod to the cabinet and said one end of the other rod to the adjoining floating base, respectively; and a pair of linking means operatively linking another end of each of said rods to the opposite one of said rods, said linking means having slidably receiving means for the opposite one of said rods, each of said linking means comprising a one-piece unit having first and second symmetrical parts hingedly joined together, said parts being movable together in an assembled relationship to form an elongated unit, said unit comprising: an enclosure portion at one end of said unit, said enclosure portion having a cavity in each of said first and second symmetrical parts, said cavities coacting when said parts are in the assembled relationship to form a chamber for enclosing and capturing an associated one of said friction bushings; a pilot portion at the opposite end of said unit for entering the coils of said spring; and an intermediate collar portion forming a radial shoulder on which an end of the coils of said spring are seated, with said other end of the associated one of said rods being interconnected in said intermediate portion for movement with said coupling means.

Claim 3

A housing for use with a tub suspension, comprising: first and second symmetrical parts hingedly joined together and being movable together in an assembled relationship to form an elongated, substantially cylindrical unit, said unit comprising: an enclosure portion at one end of said unit, said enclosure portion having a cavity in each of said first and second symmetrical parts, said cavities coacting when said parts are in the assembled relationship to form a chamber for enclosing and capturing a friction bushing fitted about a first hanger rod passing therethrough, a pilot portion at the opposite end for entering the coils of a compression spring, and an intermediate collar portion having a hinge interconnecting said first and second parts and forming a radial shoulder on which an end of the coils of the spring is seated, said collar portion having means to receive and interconnect an end of a second hanger rod for movement with said unit.

Claim 4

A housing for use with a tub suspension, comprising: first and second symmetrical parts hingedly joined together and being movable together in an assembled relationship to form an elongated, substantially cylindrical unit, said unit comprising: an enclosure portion at one end of said unit, said enclosure portion having a cavity in each of said first and second symmetrical parts, said cavities coacting when said parts are in the assembled relationship to form a chamber for enclosing and capturing a friction bushing fitted about a first hanger rod passing therethrough, a pilot portion at the opposite end for entering the coils of a compression spring, and an intermediate collar portion having a hinge interconnecting said first and second parts and forming a radial shoulder on which an end of the coils of the spring is seated, said collar portion having means to receive and interconnect an end of a second hanger rod for movement with said unit.

Claim 5

A housing as defined in claim 2 and further characterized by said unit being composed of a plastic material with said hinge being formed integrally with said first and second symmetrical parts.

Claim 6

A housing as defined in claim 2 and further characterized by a retaining clip encircling said enclosure portion and maintaining said first and second parts in the assembled relationship.

Claim 7

A housing as defined in claim 2 and further characterized by: said pilot portion having outer parti-cylindrical surface portions sized to be closely received within the coil of the spring, and means forming a pair of diametrically, oppositely disposed, axially elongated, radial recesses in said pilot portion for receiving respective ones of said first and second hanger rods, whereby said hanger rods are guided for axial movement parallel to an axis of the coils of the spring.

Claim 8

A housing as defined in claim 5, wherein the friction bushing includes a cylindrical member, and further characterized by: said chamber of said enclosure portion having an interior cylindrical wall surface sized to closely fit over an outer surface of said cylindrical friction bushing.

Claim 9

A housing as defined in claim 6 and further characterized by said collar portion having a through bore formed therein in axial alignment with said cylindrical surface of said chamber and in alignment with one of said recesses for slidably receiving said first hanger rod.

Claim 10

A housing as defined in claim 7 and further characterized by said first and second symmetrical parts having confronting, face surfaces lying on a plane containing the axes of said cylindrical surface of said chamber and bisecting said recess thereby to facilitate a wrap-around assembly of the housing part over said rods and said friction bushing.

Claim 11

A housing as defined in claim 2, wherein said second hanger rod has a head plate secured thereto and apertured to slidably receive said first hanger rod, and further characterized by said means of said intermediate collar portion having an interior cavity formed therein and sized to receive and enclose the head plate connected to said second hanger rod for interconnecting the same to said unit for movement therewith.

Claim 12

A housing for use with a tub suspension, utilizing a first hanger bar and a second hanger bar and a coil compression spring, comprising: first and second symmetrical parts of plastic material joined together by an integral hinge, said first and second parts being movable on said hinge from an opened to an assembled condition to form an elongated, substantially cylindrical unit, said unit comprising: an enclosure portion at one end having an interior cylindrical wall surface sized to closely fit over an outer surface of a cylindrical friction bushing fitted about the first hanger bar passing through the portion and said portion having a radially inwardly extending flange at one end of the cylindrical wall surface to overlie an outer end of the frictional bushing to enclose and capture said bushing within said unit, a pilot portion at the opposite end of the unit, said pilot portion having an outer parti-cylindrical surface portion sized to be closely received within the coil of the compression spring, said pilot portion having means forming a pair of diametrically, oppositely disposed axially elongated radial recesses in said pilot portion for receiving respective lengths of the first and second hanger bars so that the hanger bars are guided for axial movement parallel to an axis of the coil of the spring, an intermediate collar portion between the pilot portion and enclosure portion, said collar portion having the integral hinge for interconnecting the first and second parts together and forming a radial shoulder on which the end of the coil of the sprIng is seated, said collar portion having an interior cavity formed therein of a size to receive and enclose a head plate connected to the second hanger bar for interconnecting the hanger bar to said unit for movement therewith, and said housing including a retaining clip encircling said enclosure portion for maintaining said first and second parts in the assembled relationship.

Claim 13

A housing for use with a tub suspension, utilizing a first hanger bar and a second hanger bar and a coil compression spring, comprising: first and second symmetrical parts of plastic material joined together by an integral hinge, said first and second parts being movable on said hinge from an opened to an assembled condition to form an elongated, substantially cylindrical unit, said unit comprising: an enclosure portion at one end having an interior cylindrical wall surface sized to closely fit over an outer surface of a cylindrical friction bushing fitted about the first hanger bar passing through the portion and said portion having a radially inwardly extending flange at one end of the cylindrical wall surface to overlie an outer end of the frictional bushing to enclose and capture said bushing within said unit, a pilot portion at the opposite end of the unit, said pilot portion having an outer parti-cylindrical surface portion sized to be closely received within the coil of the compression spring, said pilot portion having means forming a pair of diametrically, oppositely disposed axially elongated radial recesses in said pilot portion for receiving respective lengths of the first and second hanger bars so that the hanger bars are guided for axial movement parallel to an axis of the coil of the spring, an intermediate collar portion between the pilot portion and enclosure portion, said collar portion having the integral hinge for interconnecting the first and second parts together and forming a radial shoulder on which the end of the coil of the sprIng is seated, said collar portion having an interior cavity formed therein of a size to receive and enclose a head plate connected to the second hanger bar for interconnecting the hanger bar to said unit for movement therewith, and said housing including a retaining clip encircling said enclosure portion for maintaining said first and second parts in the assembled relationship.