Drum for laundry handling machine

Claim 1

A washing machine drum particularly constructed for a low cost laundry machine comprising: a pair of circular shaped side walls made from a synthetic material; a partially perforated casing made from a synthetic material positioned between and joining said side walls forming a cylindrical shaped member enclosing the space between said side walls except for an open portion; and a door for said open portion; at least one of said side walls having toothed ring portion formed on one outside edge thereof which is adapted to mate with a driving pinion associated with said laundry machine; each of said side walls having a pair of slightly spaced apart circular grooves peripherally located adjacent its outer edge, the outer of each of said grooves being adapted to receive the opposing edges of said door and to allow for sliding movement of said door therein for opening and closing said open portion, and the inner of said grooves having a plurality of peripherally spaced openings formed through each of said side walls, each of said openings through said side walls having a first outer width, a pair of locking parts and a wider inner width, said casing having a plurality of pairs of spaced apart somewhat resilient stud-like protrusions formed on each lateral edge adapted to mate with said plurality of openings formed through said inner peripheral groove of said side walls, each of said stud-like protrusions having a tapered portion and a locking shoulder portion formed thereon adjacent its outer end, said protrusions being spaced apart by an amount which is less than said first outer width through said openings of said side walls and being adapted to be forced toward each other to penetrate through said first outer width of said openings and then to move outwardly whereby said locking shoulders hook onto and are supported on said locking parts of said openings through said side walls.