Transport bolt assembly for a laundry appliance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10837136-B2
Application number	US-201816230934-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 21, 2018
Priority date	Dec 21, 2018
Publication date	Nov 17, 2020
Grant date	Nov 17, 2020

Abstract

A transport bolt assembly to immobilize a tub of a laundry appliance comprising: a bolt including a head disposed at a first end, a second end configured to insert into a bolt receiver of a tub of a laundry appliance, and a length between the first end and the second end; and a washer comprising a body, a hole through the body, through which the length of the bolt is disposed, with a first side of the body facing towards the head of the bolt and a second side of the body facing towards the second end of the bolt, and an appendage extending away from the body of the washer at an obtuse angle transitioning to a reflex angle relative to the first side of the body of the washer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A transport bolt assembly to immobilize a tub of a laundry appliance comprising:
a bolt including a head disposed at a first end, a second end configured to insert into a bolt receiver of a tub of a laundry appliance, and a length between the first end and the second end; and
a washer comprising (i) a body, (ii) a hole through the body, through which the length of the bolt is disposed, with a first side of the body facing towards the head of the bolt and a second side of the body facing towards the second end of the bolt, and (iii) an appendage extending away from the body of the washer at an obtuse angle transitioning to a reflex angle relative to the first side of the body of the washer.

2. The transport bolt assembly of claim 1 ,
wherein, the length of the bolt has a first radius and a second radius that is larger than the first radius; and
wherein, the second radius is disposed closer to the second end of the bolt than the first radius.

3. The transport bolt assembly of claim 1 ,
wherein, the second end of the bolt is threaded.

4. The transport bolt assembly of claim 1 ,
wherein, the first side of the body of the washer abuts the head of the bolt.

5. The transport bolt assembly of claim 1 ,
wherein, the appendage transitions to a portion that is parallel to the first side of the washer after extending away from the body of the washer at the obtuse angle, and then transitions at the reflex angle to extend orthogonally to the first side of the body of the washer to terminate in an end.

6. The transport bolt assembly of claim 1 further comprising:
a hollow cylindrical bushing through which the length of the bolt extends such that the hollow cylindrical bushing is positioned between the first end of the bolt and the second end of the bolt, the hollow cylindrical bushing including:
an inner surface having an inner radius that is larger than a first radius of the length of the bolt;
a first portion having an outer radius;
a second portion contiguous with the first portion and having an outer radius that is smaller than the outer radius of the first portion; and
a lip extending from the first portion away from the second portion and at least partially enveloping the washer.

7. The transport bolt assembly of claim 6 ,
wherein, the first portion has a length; and
wherein, the second portion has a length that is longer than the length of the first portion.

8. The transport bolt assembly of claim 2 further comprising:
a hollow cylindrical spacer through which the length of the bolt extends such that the hollow cylindrical spacer is positioned between the first end of the bolt and the second end of the bolt, the hollow cylindrical spacer including:
an inner surface having an inner radius that is larger than a first radius of the length of the bolt; and
a projection extending from the inner surface, the projection having a minimum radius that is smaller than the second radius of the length of the bolt;

wherein, the washer is disposed between the head of the bolt and the hollow cylindrical spacer.

9. The transport bolt assembly of claim 8 ,
wherein, the minimum radius of the projection is smaller than the first radius of the length of the bolt such that the bolt compresses the projection.

10. The transport bolt assembly of claim 8 further comprising:
a hollow cylindrical bushing through which the length of the bolt extends such that the hollow cylindrical bushing is positioned between the first end of the bolt and the second end of the bolt, the hollow cylindrical bushing including:
an inner surface having an inner radius that is larger than the first radius of the length of the bolt;
a first portion having an outer radius;
a second portion contiguous with the first portion and having an outer radius that is smaller than the outer radius of the first portion; and
a lip extending from the first portion away from the second portion and at least partially enveloping the washer; and

the hollow cylindrical spacer further including:
an outer surface having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having an outer radius and the second portion having an outer radius that is greater than the outer radius of the first portion; and
a projection extending from the outer surface at the first portion;

wherein, the inner surface of the hollow cylindrical bushing surrounds the first portion of the outer surface of the hollow cylindrical spacer, and the projection extending from the first portion of the outer surface of the hollow cylindrical spacer compresses the inner surface of the hollow cylindrical bushing.

11. A laundry appliance comprising:
a tub to retain water during a washing operation;
a drum within the tub to receive an article of clothing for the washing operation, the tub including a bolt receiver;
a cabinet at least partially enclosing the tub within an interior, the cabinet including a first aperture providing access to the bolt receiver, a second aperture adjacent the first aperture, and an exterior surface facing an exterior;
a power cord terminating in a plug; and
a transport bolt assembly extending into the first aperture of the cabinet, the transport bolt assembly including:
a bolt including a head disposed at a first end, a second end inserted into the bolt receiver of the tub placing the bolt in a received position, and a length between the first end and the second end; and
a washer comprising (i) a body, (ii) a hole through the body, through which the length of the bolt is disposed, with a first side of the body facing towards the head of the bolt and away from the exterior surface of the cabinet, and a second side of the body facing towards the exterior surface of the cabinet, and (iii) an appendage extending away from the body of the washer at an obtuse angle transitioning to a reflex angle relative to the first side of the washer and into the second aperture of the cabinet;

wherein, the appendage limits the ability of the power cord to move away from the exterior surface of the cabinet.

12. The laundry appliance of claim 11 ,
wherein, the second end of the bolt is threaded; and
wherein, the second end is inserted into the bolt receiver of the tub to place the bolt in the received position by rotating the second end of the bolt while within the bolt receiver.

13. The laundry appliance of claim 11 ,
wherein, the appendage transitions to a portion that is parallel to the first side of the washer after extending away from the body of the washer at the obtuse angle, and then transitions at the reflex angle to extend orthogonally to the first side of the body of the washer to terminate in an end;
wherein, the portion of the appendage that is parallel to the first side of the washer is disposed at the exterior of the cabinet, and the end of the appendage is disposed in the interior of the cabinet.

14. The laundry appliance of claim 11 , the transport bolt assembly further including:
a hollow cylindrical bushing through which the length of the bolt extends such that the hollow cylindrical bushing is positioned between the head of the bolt and the second end of the bolt, the hollow cylindrical bushing including:
an inner surface having an inner radius that is larger than a first radius of the length of the bolt;
a first portion disposed to the exterior of the cabinet and abutting the exterior surface of the cabinet, the first portion having an outer radius;
a second portion extending through the first aperture of the cabinet and into the interior of the cabinet, the second portion being contiguous with the first portion and having an

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Rineer Regan E
• Pawletki David Michael

Classifications

• D06F39/001 Primary

  Arrangements for transporting, moving, or setting washing machines; Protective arrangements for use during transport (transport in general B65) · CPC title

• B65D85/68

  for machines, engines or vehicles in assembled or dismantled form · CPC title

• B65D2585/6855

  washing machine · CPC title