Dishwasher tub and frame assembly

Claim 1

A tub assembly for a front loading washing appliance to be supported on a generally flat supporting surface, said tub assembly comprising: a plastic tub comprising a top wall, a back wall, a bottom wall, and two side walls having an open front; an integral support boss extending outwardly from each side wall adjacent the front opening; a main support frame formed from a narrow, continuous metal member of U-shaped cross-section; said frame formed into an inverted "U" configuration having a base and a pair of depending legs; said main frame positioned about said plastic tub with said base supportingly engaging said tub top wall and each of said depending less supportingly engaging a corresponding tub side wall; said legs extending downwardly beyond said tub bottom for mounting on said supporting surface; each of said support bosses being received within a corresponding depending leg, fastening means securely interconnecting each corresponding boss and leg to cause the lateral dimension of the front opening to conform to that of said main frame; a rigid front crossing member fixedly attached to each of said depending legs and extending therebetween beneath said tub and generally parallel to the supporting surface and supportingly engaging said tub bottom wall; a pair of rigid rear support members, each formed from a narrow continuous metal member of U-shaped cross-section; each rear support member having one end fixedly attached to the lower portion of a corresponding main frame leg, a first section extending rearwardly from said corresponding main frame leg for mounting on the supporting surface and a second section extending upwardly and supporting the rear portion of said tub; said main frame and said rear support members spacing the bottom wall of said tub above the supporting surface to provide a service space for receiving various operating components.