# US 12,000,076 B2 · Front load washer with locking bolt removal confirmation

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- Number: US 12,000,076 B2
- Document ID: US12000076B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/688,973
- Filed: 2022-03-08
- Published: 2023-09-14
- Granted: 2024-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2022-03-08
- Assignees: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
- Applicants: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
- Inventors: Jay Pareshbhai Shinde; Sanjana Tuniki; Neki Jashwant Patel; Sanjay Yadav Majjath; Sasikumar Durairaj
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12000076B2

## CPC

- D06F 37/267: {Tubs specially adapted for mounting thereto components or devices not provided for in preceding subgroups (D06F37/206 takes precedence)}
- D06F 33/30: Control of washing machines characterised by the purpose or target of the control (controlling processes of washer-dryers D06F33/50)
- D06F 34/28: Arrangements for programme selection, e.g. control panels therefor; Arrangements for indicating programme parameters, e.g. the selected programme or its progress
- D06F 37/04: adapted for rotation or oscillation about a horizontal or inclined axis
- D06F 39/001: {Arrangements for transporting, moving, or setting washing machines; Protective arrangements for use during transport (transport in general B65)}
- D06F 2103/00: Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
- D06F 2105/50: Starting machine operation, e.g. delayed start or re-start after power cut
- D06F 2105/58: Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user
- F16B 2200/95: with markings, colours, indicators or the like
- D06F: LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D)

## Abstract

A laundry appliance includes a cabinet, a tub, and a control panel for accepting inputs directing functionality of the laundry appliance. When movement of the laundry appliance is necessary, such as upon initial delivery, laundry appliance includes one or more shipping attachment assemblies comprising a shipping bolt and shipping bolt spacer, which connect to attachment elements of the tub and serve to stabilize the tub while laundry appliance is moved. The laundry appliance further includes identifiers for each shipping attachment assembly. The identifiers are only visible upon removal of the shipping attachment assembly. When moving of the laundry appliance is complete, the shipping attachment assemblies are removed, revealing the identifiers. The identifiers are provided through a network to ensure removal of the shipping attachment assemblies. Once all identifiers are accounted for, a sequence of inputs is provided that, when properly entered using the control panel of the laundry appliance, enables operation of the laundry appliance.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A front-loading laundry appliance defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the laundry appliance comprising:
a cabinet having a rear side;
a tub provided within the cabinet having an attachment element;
a control panel including plurality of input selectors for selecting machine cycles and features;
a shipping attachment assembly detachably connected to the attachment element of the tub through the rear side of the cabinet, the shipping attachment assembly comprising
a shipping bolt spacer have an exterior surface defining an internal spacer chamber;
a shipping bolt within the spacer chamber;
an identifier visible from the exterior of the laundry appliance only upon detachment of the shipping attachment assembly from the attachment element; and
a controller in communication with the control panel and input selectors, wherein the controller is configured to:
receive a series of sequential inputs from the plurality of input selectors;
compare the series of sequential inputs to a predetermined input pattern, wherein the predetermined input pattern is associated with the identifier; and
enable operation of the laundry appliance when the series of sequential inputs matches the predetermined input pattern.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The front-loading laundry appliance of claim 1, wherein the identifier is located on the exterior surface of the shipping bolt spacer.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The front-loading laundry appliance of claim 1, wherein the identifier is located on the rear side of the cabinet in a location concealed from view by the attached shipping attachment assembly.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The front-loading laundry appliance of claim 1, wherein the shipping bolt includes a bolt body, a threaded portion, and a connecting portion, the connecting portion connecting the bolt body to the threaded portion.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The front-loading laundry appliance of claim 4, wherein at the point of connection between the connecting portion and the threaded portion of the shipping bolt, the diameter of the threaded portion is greater than the diameter of the connecting portion such that the threaded portion defines a lip.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The front-loading laundry appliance of claim 5, wherein the shipping bolt spacer has a first end and a second end, a through hole extending from the first end to the second end, and a plurality of elastic flanges situated at the second end that are configured to flex radially outward upon the application of a force in the direction from the first end to the second end and to return to their original position in the absence of the application of such force.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The front-loading laundry appliance of claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of flanges includes a first end and a second end, the first end of each of the plurality of flanges connected to the shipping bolt space, and distance between each of the second ends of the plurality of flange being less than the diameter of the threaded portion of the shipping bolt such that the plurality of flanges prevent removal of the shipping bolt.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The front-loading laundry appliance of claim 1, wherein the identifier is a QR code.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The front-loading laundry appliance of claim 1, wherein the identifier is a bar code.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The front-loading laundry appliance of claim 1, wherein the identifier is an alpha-numeric code.

### Claim 11

A front-loading laundry appliance defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the laundry appliance comprising:
a cabinet having a rear side;
a tub provided within the cabinet having an attachment element;
a control panel including plurality of input selectors for selecting machine cycles and features;
a bracket attached to the rear side of the cabinet for stabilizing the cabinet;
a shipping attachment assembly detachably connected to the attachment element of the tub through the rear side of the cabinet and through the bracket, the shipping attachment assembly comprising
a shipping bolt spacer have an exterior surface defining an internal spacer chamber;
a shipping bolt within the spacer chamber;
an identifier visible from the exterior of the laundry appliance only upon detachment of the shipping attachment assembly from the attachment element; and
a controller in communication with the control panel and input selectors, wherein the controller is configured to:
receive a series of sequential inputs from the plurality of input selectors;
compare the series of sequential inputs to a predetermined input pattern, wherein the predetermined input pattern is associated with the identifier; and
enable operation of the laundry appliance when the series of sequential inputs matches the predetermined input pattern.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The front-loading laundry appliance of claim 11, wherein the identifier is located on the exterior surface of the shipping bolt spacer.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The front-loading laundry appliance of claim 11, wherein the identifier is located on the rear side of the cabinet in a location concealed from view by the attached shipping attachment assembly.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The front-loading laundry appliance of claim 11, wherein the shipping bolt includes a bolt body, a threaded portion, and a connecting portion, the connecting portion connecting the bolt body to the threaded portion.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The front-loading laundry appliance of claim 14, wherein at the point of connection between the connecting portion and the threaded portion of the shipping bolt, the diameter of the threaded portion is greater than the diameter of the connecting portion such that the threaded portion defines a lip.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The front-loading laundry appliance of claim 15, wherein the shipping bolt spacer has a first end and a second end, a through hole extending from the first end to the second end, and a plurality of elastic flanges situated at the second end that are configured to flex radially outward upon the application of a force in the direction from the first end to the second end and to return to their original position in the absence of the application of such force.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The front-loading laundry appliance of claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of flanges includes a first end and a second end, the first end of each of the plurality of flanges connected to the shipping bolt space, and distance between each of the second ends of the plurality of flange being less than the diameter of the threaded portion of the shipping bolt such that the plurality of flanges prevent removal of the shipping bolt.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The front-loading laundry appliance of claim 11, wherein the identifier is a QR code.

### Claim 19 (depends on 11)

The front-loading laundry appliance of claim 11, wherein the identifier is a bar code.

### Claim 20 (depends on 11)

The front-loading laundry appliance of claim 11, wherein the identifier is an alpha-numeric code.