Appliance shipping restraint assembly

• US 5,533,367 A
• Filed: 04/26/1995
• Issued: 07/09/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Lybarger, Michael A., Beck, Stephen D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coe, Philip R.
• Application Number:
  US08/427,890
• Time in Patent Office: 440 Days
• Field of Search: 68/3 R, 206/320, 248/500
• 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

Abstract

An appliance shipping restraint assembly includes a housing with a base and vertical lateral walls. An operational assembly is mounted in the housing and is normally moveable relative to the housing. The operational assembly includes a platform spaced above the base with a pair of spaced apart, aligned openings. The base includes a pair of spaced apart openings aligned with the openings in the platform. An elongated rod extends through the openings in the platform and the base to restrain the operational assembly against excessive movement during shipment of the appliance. The rod is removable to release the operational assembly for normal movement relative to the housing.

Claims

1. An appliance shipping restraint assembly, including;

an appliance housing having a base for support from a floor and lateral walls extending upward of said base;

an operational assembly mounted within said housing and normally moveable relative to said housing;

said operational assembly including a platform spaced above said base and defining at least one pair of spaced apart, aligned openings;

said base defining at least one pair of spaced apart openings aligned with said at least one pair of platform openings; and

at least one elongated rod mounted in said at least one pair of platform openings and said at least one pair of base openings for restraining said operating assembly against excessive movement during shipment of said appliance;

said at least one rod being selectively moveable to release said operational assembly for normal movement relative to said housing.

2. An appliance shipping restraint assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said at least one rod is removable from said at least one pair of platform openings and said at least one pair of base openings to release said operational assembly.

3. An appliance assembly as set forth in claim 2, wherein:

one of said lateral walls defines at least one opening therein aligned with said at least one pair of platform openings and said at least one pair of base openings and said at least one rod extends through said at least one lateral wall opening when mounted in said at least one pair of platform openings and said at least one pair of base openings and is removable through said at least one lateral wall opening to release said operational assembly.

4. An appliance shipping restraint assembly, including:

an appliance housing having a base for support from a floor and lateral walls extending upward from said base;

an operational assembly mounted within and normally moveable relative to said housing;

said operational assembly including a platform spaced above said base, said platform including a pair of spaced apart, downwardly projecting ears with aligned openings therein;

said base including a pair of spaced apart upwardly projecting ears with openings therein aligned with said openings in said platform ears;

an elongated rod mounted in said openings in said platform and base ears for restraining said operational assembly against excessive movement during shipment of said appliance;

said rod being movable to release said operational assembly for normal movement relative to said housing.

5. An appliance shipping restraint assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein:

said rod is removable from said openings in said platform and base ears to release said operational assembly.

6. An appliance assembly as set forth in claim 5, wherein:

one of said lateral walls defines an opening therein aligned with said openings in said platform ears and said base ears and said rod extends through said lateral wall opening when mounted in said openings in said platform and base ears and is removable through said lateral wall opening to release said operational assembly.

7. An appliance shipping restrain assembly, as set forth in claim 4, wherein:

said platform ears are positioned between said base ears.

8. An appliance shipping restraint assembly as set forth in claim 7, wherein:

said openings in said platform ears normally are positioned above said openings in said base ears and said operational assembly is depressable to bring said platform ear openings into alignment with said base ear openings for insertion of said rod therethrough.