Basket assembly for a washing machine
AssigneeBASF SE
InventorsWilliam J. McMaster, Stephen P. Serna, Gavin L. Jewell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A basket assembly for a washing machine includes a basket and a bracket attached to the basket. A motor is coupled to the bracket and the bracket transmits rotation from the motor to the basket. The support bracket is formed of a thermoplastic and includes a hub and fins spaced from each other extending radially from the hub. Each of the fins has an attachment portion connected to the basket. The support bracket includes a reinforcement rod spaced from the hub extending from one of the fins to another of the fins for reinforcing the fins when the support bracket transmits rotation from the motor to the basket.
Claims20
A basket assembly for a washing machine, said basket assembly comprising:
- a basket having an axis and a first end and a second end spaced along said axis;
- said basket defining a cavity at said first end of said basket for receiving laundry and having an end wall at said second end of said basket extending transverse to said axis with said end wall of said basket defining a depression;
- and
- a support bracket for transmitting rotation from a motor to said basket, said support bracket being disposed in said depression and being formed of a thermoplastic;
- said support bracket including a hub and fins spaced from each other extending radially from said hub, each of said fins having an attachment portion connected to said basket at said second end of said basket;
- and
- said support bracket including a reinforcement rod spaced from said hub extending from one of said fins to another of said fins for reinforcing said fins when said support bracket transmits rotation from the motor to said basket.
The basket assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said hub extends about said axis and said hub and said fins extend into said depression in said end wall toward said second end wherein said hub extends toward said second end further than said fins.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.