Method for using single piece tub frame and support for dishwasher

• US 6,764,147 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2003
• Issued: 07/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Maytag Corporation (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Maytag Corporation (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Inventors: Flowers, Christopher L.
• Primary Examiner(s): WOOD, KIMBERLY T
• Application Number:
  US10/397,562
• Publication Number:
  US 20030184195A1
• Time in Patent Office: 482 Days
• Field of Search: 248/188.8, 248/677, 248/676, 248/188.91, 248/672, 248/316.8, 248/678, 312/228, 312/229, 312/249, 312/250, 312/236, 312/311, 134/200, 134/201
• US Class Current: 312/228
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4272 Supporting arrangements for the tub
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49908 Joining by deforming

Abstract

A single piece tub support and frame for a dishwasher has a unitary support member that includes a pair of laterally spaced U-shaped upright end portions and an intermediate inverted U-shaped upright portion. The intermediate portion fits over the top and sides of the dishwasher tub rearwardly adjacent the front flange portion thereof. When the U-shaped end portions clear the bottom wall of the tub, they resiliently spring inward into supporting positions under the bottom wall. The unitary support member greatly reduces the number of components required, reduces manufacturing time and cost, and maintains the tub in its designed shape.

Claims

1. A method of assembling a dishwasher tub to a support frame comprising the steps of:

providing a substantially rigid support member having a pair of laterally spaced upright U-shaped end portions for supporting a bottom wall of the tub and an inverted U-shaped upright intermediate portion for extending laterally across a top wall of the tub and downward along opposite side walls of the tub, and the upright U-shaped portions and the inverted U-shaped portion being formed from a single continuous piece of tubular material;

pulling the laterally spaced upright U-shaped end portions of the support frame away from each other sufficiently to receive the top wall and side walls of the tub therebetween; and

forcing the support member downwardly toward the bottom wall until the end portions extend beyond the bottom wall and resiliently spring laterally inward toward each other to support the bottom wall.