Whirlpool Corporation

Robert M Weir

Paul R Staun

Robert B Sherer

Dean R Sommerfeld

Gerald L Kretchman

William F Ory

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.

Hose storage access means for shipment of appliance

A shipping restraint system for an appliance having movable suspension components is provided which includes a plurality of locking pins engagable in apertures in the components to prevent their movement during shipping. The locking pins are held in place by cotter pins which are attached to a cord directed to the exterior of the appliance. Removal of the cotter pins will cause the locking pins to fall under gravity bias from the apertures into receiving cups thereby unlocking the movable components.

Removable shipping restraint system for appliances

A U-shaped cabinet shroud for a front-serviceable appliance is provided with overbent side walls which are forced outwardly by guide pins on a stationary back wall of such appliance as the shroud is positioned onto a base member and the rear wall of the appliance resulting in a tight, secure fit of the shroud to the rear wall.

Method and apparatus for assembling a cabinet for automatic washers

In a front-serviceable appliance having a base frame supporting internal components, the base frame having a front member and side members and a rear panel attached thereto, a removable cabinet has a front bottom flange overlapping and extending beneath the front base frame member, and receptacles for receiving upwardly extending tabs from the side members to position the cabinet with respect to the base. The cabinet is held in position on the base by a pair of spring clips engaging the rear panel and each having a portion abutting a top of the cabinet and curved portions extending into the cabinet through aligned slots in the top thereof to maintain a spring tension. The cabinet is thus retained without the use of screws and its removal does not impair the functional operation of the internal components.

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St. Joseph, MI, United States of America

Robert M Weir