Appliance having dampening portion

• US 10,519,585 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2016
• Issued: 12/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Owens Corning Intellectual Capital, LLC (Owens Corning)
• Original Assignee: Owens Corning Intellectual Capital, LLC (Owens Corning)
• Inventors: Rockwell, Anthony L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Adhlakha, Rita P
• Application Number:
  US15/348,001
• Publication Number:
  US 20170058448A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,146 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2585/6815 kitchen devices, including unspecified devices, e.g. Haushaltgeräte
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2585/6855 washing machine
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/07 using resilient suspension means B65D81/051 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/68 for machines, engines or vehicles in assembled or dismantled form
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 37/262 made of plastic material, e.g. by injection moulding
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 37/267 Tubs specially adapted for mounting thereto components or devices not provided for in preceding subgroups D06F37/206 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/001 Arrangements for transporting, moving, or setting washing machines; Protective arrangements for use during transport transport in general B65
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

Systems for shipping and operation dampening an appliance having a housing, a moveable tub member inside the housing, and a dampening portion are provided. The housing includes at least one sidewall, with the dampening portion disposed at least partially between the moveable tub member and the at least one side wall. The dampening portion includes a resilient material having at least one surface extending at least partially along the sidewall or tub member.

Claims

1. A shipping and operational dampening system comprising:

a housing having a plurality of sidewalls;

a tub disposed within the housing;

a damping member comprising a body of resilient material secured to the sidewalls; and

wherein the body includes a tub opening;

wherein the tub extends into the tub opening;

wherein the damping member surrounds an entire circumference of the tub; and

wherein an air gap exists between the damping member and the tub, such that the damping member is not connected to the tub.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the resilient material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a polyester, a polyester olefin blend, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, a polyethylene terephthalate and polypropylene blend, a polybutylene terephthalate and polypropylene blend, and combinations thereof.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the housing has four sidewalls, and

wherein the body is connected to each of the sidewalls.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the tub extends through the tub opening.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein a height of the body is less than a height of the tub.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the body is a unitary structure.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the body contacts a bottom wall of the housing.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the body contacts a top wall of the housing.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plug for removable engagement with an upper opening in a top wall of the housing and an access opening in the tub.