Tub support
AssigneeSonoco Development, Inc.
InventorClifton T. Moore
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A washing machine tub lock device is provided that prevents the wash tub from impacting the washing machine cabinet during shipping and handling. The tub lock device is formed by cutting and folding a corrugated blank into an inverted truncated rectangular cone that can be wedged inside the top portion of the washing machine tub. The tub lock device includes hanging tabs which prevent the tub lock device from falling into the wash tub during shipping and handling. The tub lock device also includes elliptical tabs which bend or deform into elliptical cutouts such that the edges of the elliptical cutouts are covered, thus preventing the elliptical cutouts from damaging the washing machine during shipping and handling.
Claims20
A blank for a tub lock device for a washing machine, the blank comprising:
- a base portion, the base portion defining at least four fold lines;
- and
- at least four folding portions, each folding portion extending outwardly from a fold line of the base portion, the at least four folding portions each defining two side edges and an outer edge, and,
- wherein a first two of the at least four folding portions are opposite each other, with respect to the base portion, and wherein each side edge of the first two folding portions defines an elliptical cutout and a hanging tab,
- wherein a second two of the at least four folding portions are opposite each other, with respect to the base portion, and wherein each outer edge of the second two folding portions defines two receiving slots, and
- wherein the second two folding portions each define two elliptical tabs.
A method of making a tub lock device for a washing machine, the method comprising:
- scoring a blank, the blank defining:
- a base portion, the base portion defining at least four fold lines;
- and
- at least four folding portions, each folding portion extending outwardly from a fold line of the base portion, the at least four folding portions each defining two side edges and an outer edge, and,
- wherein a first two of the at least four folding portions are opposite each other, with respect to the base portion, and wherein each side edge of the first two folding portions defines an elliptical cutout and a hanging tab,
- wherein a second two of the at least four folding portions are opposite each other, with respect to the base portion, wherein each outer edge of the second two folding portions defines two receiving slots, and wherein each of the second two folding portions defines two flaps which are bendable along flap fold lines, and
- wherein the second two folding portions each define two elliptical tabs;
- folding the first two folding portions in an inward direction;
- folding the second two folding portions in the inward direction;
- causing the first two folding portions to be received by the receiving slots;
- bending the flaps along the flap fold lines;
- and
- attaching the flaps to the first two folding portions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.