Hose storage access means for shipment of appliance
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorsPaul R. Staun, Robert M. Weir, Dean R. Sommerfeld
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hose retainer is provided for removably securing hoses within a cabinet of the appliance. The retainer includes a hook for securing the apparatus to a structure inside the appliance, a slit for receiving an end of a hose, and in one embodiment at least one aperture for receiving an end of a second hose. In a second embodiment the apparatus includes an arm and projection for securing an end of the second hose. The appliance includes access ports for affording access to a portion of the hoses while they are in their stored position and further includes an electrical plug storage aperture for holding the electrical cord in a stored, yet accessible location during shipping.
Claims16
A cabinet for an appliance wherein the appliance has at least one hose with a free end to be attached to a conduit external of the cabinet, and the hose is stored internally of the cabinet during assembly and shipping of the appliance, comprising:
- an access port through said cabinet providing access to at least a portion of said hose;
- connecting means mounted onto an interior portion of said cabinet adjacent to said access port for attaching a fixed end of said hose to said appliance said fixed end of said hose attached to said connecting means, the free end of said hose being stored internally of said cabinet inaccessible from said port;
- whereby selective removal of said free end of said hose from within said cabinet may be effected by grasping said accessible portion of said hose.
In an automatic washer having two water inlet hoses fixed to said washer at a first end and having a free second end and a drain hose also fixed to said washer at a first end and having a free second end, for admitting and discharging wash fluid within said washer, and a cabinet enclosing said washer, a storage means for said hoses comprising:
- access openings through said cabinet forming recessed areas in which said fixed end and an adjacent portion of said hoses are located during storage of said hoses interior of said cabinet, said free ends being positioned interior of said cabinet and being inaccessible from the exterior, said access openings thus providing access to said hoses from the exterior of said cabinet.
An automatic washing machine comprising:
- an exterior cabinet;
- two water inlet hoses at a first end to said washing machine, each having a free end attachable to a water supply conduit;
- a drain hose attached at a first end to said washing machine and having a free end attachable to a drain conduit;
- said cabinet having recessed areas therein;
- said first ends being attached to said washing machine in said recessed areas of said cabinet;
- said recessed areas having openings into the interior of said cabinet;
- said free ends being stored internally of said cabinet and being inaccessible from the exterior thereof;
- whereby, said hoses may be stored interior of said cabinet during assembly and shipping while being accessible from exterior of said cabinet at said recessed areas for removal of said free ends of said hoses from said cabinet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.