Two piece base assembly of a dryer

• US 10,619,920 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2017
• Issued: 04/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: Schurr, Daniel A.
• Primary Examiner(s): McCormack, John P
• Application Number:
  US15/722,363
• Publication Number:
  US 20190101330A1
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: 34108, 34109, 34499, 34602, 34121
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/125 Supporting arrangements for the casing, e.g. rollers or legs
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/20 General details of domestic laundry dryers D06F59/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/00 General constructional features F25D21/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 11/022 Arrangements of drives, bearings, supports

Abstract

A dryer is provided herein and includes a cabinet and a dryer drum disposed in a cavity of the cabinet. A base assembly of the dryer includes a top piece and a bottom piece. The top piece has a plurality of debosses formed therefrom and each deboss has an end portion. The bottom piece is coupled to the top piece to define a cavity and has embosses formed therefrom. Each emboss is vertically aligned with a corresponding deboss and each emboss has an end portion in abutting contact with the end portion of the corresponding deboss. A plurality of mechanical fasteners are configured to engage the end portions of the embosses to the end portions of the debosses.

Claims

1. A dryer comprising:

a cabinet;

a dryer drum disposed in a cavity of the cabinet; and

a base assembly comprising;

a top piece having a central portion, a perimeter portion enclosing the central portion, and a plurality of debosses formed from the central portion; and

a bottom piece having a central portion, a perimeter portion enclosing the central portion, and a plurality of embosses formed from the central portion;

wherein the perimeter portion of the top piece is coupled to the perimeter portion of the bottom piece and the plurality of debosses are coupled to the plurality of embosses at a common plane passing through the base assembly, wherein the plurality of embosses are formed from a lower platform of the central portion of the bottom piece, the lower platform being dropped in relation to the perimeter portion of the bottom piece.

2. The dryer of claim 1, wherein the plurality of debosses are formed from an upper platform of the central portion of the top piece, the upper platform being elevated in relation to the perimeter portion of the top piece.

3. The dryer of claim 1, wherein the plurality of debosses each correspond to an indent having a frustoconical shape.

4. The dryer of claim 1, wherein the plurality of embosses each correspond to a raised relief having a frustoconical shape.

5. The dryer of claim 1, further comprising an intermediate member confined within a cavity defined by the top and bottom pieces, the intermediate member configured to reduce noise levels produced by the dryer.

6. The dryer of claim 1, wherein the common plane corresponds to a horizontal midplane dividing the top and bottom pieces.

7. A dryer comprising:

a cabinet;

a dryer drum disposed in a cavity of the cabinet; and

a base assembly comprising;

a top piece having a plurality of debosses formed therefrom and each deboss having an end portion;

a bottom piece coupled to the top piece to define a cavity and having a plurality of embosses formed therefrom, each emboss vertically aligned with a corresponding deboss and each emboss having an end portion in abutting contact with the end portion of the corresponding deboss; and

a plurality of mechanical fasteners configured to engage the end portions of the plurality of embosses to the end portions of the plurality of debosses.

8. The dryer of claim 7, wherein the plurality of mechanical fasteners are received in a clearance or threaded aperture formed through the end portions of the plurality of embosses and the plurality of debosses.

9. The dryer of claim 7, wherein the plurality of mechanical fasteners each include a shank that is exposed and extends upwardly past the top piece and a head that is nestled inside a corresponding emboss.

10. The dryer of claim 7, wherein the top piece and bottom pieces have perimeter portions that are crimped together.

11. The dryer of claim 7, further comprising an intermediate member confined within a cavity defined by the top and bottom pieces, the intermediate member configured to reduce noise levels produced by the dryer.

12. The dryer of claim 7, wherein couplings between the plurality of embosses and the plurality of debosses occur at a common plane passing through the base assembly and separating the top and bottom pieces.

13. A dryer comprising:

a cabinet;

a dryer drum disposed in a cavity of the cabinet; and

a base assembly comprising;

a top piece having a plurality of debosses;

a bottom piece coupled to the top piece to define a cavity and having a plurality of embosses coupled to the plurality of debosses; and

an intermediate member confined in the cavity and configured to surround couplings between the plurality of debosses and the plurality of embosses.

14. The dryer of claim 13, wherein the intermediate member is configured to align the top piece with the bottom piece.

15. The dryer of claim 13, wherein the intermediate member includes a plurality of through holes, each configured to accommodate a corresponding deboss and a corresponding emboss.

16. The dryer of claim 13, wherein the intermediate member is dimensioned to fill a substantial entirety of the cavity.

17. The dryer of claim 13, wherein the plurality of embosses are coupled to the plurality of debosses by a plurality of mechanical fasteners having shanks that are exposed and extend upwardly past the top piece and heads that are nestled inside corresponding embosses.

18. The dryer of claim 13, wherein the top piece and bottom pieces have perimeter portions that are crimped together.

19. The dryer of claim 13, wherein couplings between the plurality of embosses and the plurality of debosses occur at a common plane passing through the base assembly and separating the top and bottom pieces.