Washing machine

• US 5,056,341 A
• Filed: 04/20/1990
• Issued: 10/15/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Mori, Koichi, Kawaguchi, Tomonari
• Primary Examiner(s): Coe, Philip R.
• Application Number:
  US07/512,790
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 68/3 R, 68/212, 220/345, 220/625, 220/626, 220/627, 206/320, 248/633, 248/634, 248/638
• US Class Current: 68/3.00R
• 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: D06F 39/12 Casings; Tubs

Abstract

A washing machine includes a washing tub elastically supported in a body of the washing machine; a sound insulation member covering the bottom surface of the body; the sound insulation member being formed with an opening for inserting packing to prevent the washing tub from moving when the washing machine should be packed; and a lid for opening and closing the opening.

Claims

1. A washing machine comprising:

a washing tub;

a body in which said washing tub is resiliently supported;

sound insulation means for supporting said body and for preventing the noise generated during operation of said washing machine from leaking out of said body, said sound insulation means comprising;

a base for supporting said body and having a first opening for receiving a packing that prevents said washing tub from moving when said washing machine should be packed, and a second opening on a side of said base; and

a removable sound absorbing element made of a synthetic resin having a high specific gravity and including a filler for increasing the specific gravity thereof insertable through said second opening for closing said first opening, said sound absorbing element being removable for opening the first opening to enable installation of the packing.

2. A washing machine according to claim 1, wherein said synthetic resin is polypropylene resin including calcium carbonate as the filler.

3. A washing machine according to claim 1 wherein said sound absorbing element has opposite major faces, and includes a sound absorbing member on an opposite major face remote from said washing tub.

4. A washing machine according to claim 3 wherein said sound absorbing member comprises a plate made of a foam urethane resin and affixed to a face of said sound absorbing element.

5. A washing machine according to claim 3 wherein said sound absorbing member is made of a preformed felt affixed to a face of said sound absorbing element,

6. A washing machine according to claim 3 wherein said sound absorbing member comprises an elastic plate of kneaded asphalt and composite rubber affixed to a face of said sound absorbing element.

7. A washing machine according to claim 1 wherein said sound absorbing element comprises a plate made of a synthetic resin which is surrounded by felt.

8. A washing machine according to claim 1 wherein said sound absorbing element comprises a synthetic resin plate having a thin non-foam resin layer over an entire surface thereof.

9. A washing machine according to claim 1 wherein said washing tub comprises an outer tub elastically suspended in said body, a washing and water extracting tub rotatably supported in said outer tub, an agitator at a bottom of said washing and water extracting tub, and a motor mounted to a bottom of said outer tub for rotating said agitator during a washing operation and rotating said washing and water extracting tub at high speed during a water extracting operation.