Tub for washing machines

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a tub for washing machines. The tub comprises a tub body, a weight receiving part formed at the tub body, and a balance weight integrally formed at the weight receiving part by injection molding. Consequently, the balance weight is integrally attached to the tub body without using additional fixing units for fixing the balance weight to the tub body, and therefore, the balance weight and the tub body are formed in a simple structure.

1 . A tub for washing machines, comprising: 
 a tub body;    a weight receiving part formed at the tub body; and    a balance weight integrally formed at the weight receiving part by injection molding.    
   
   
       2 . The tub as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the balance weight is made of a concrete material or a metal material having a low melting point.  
   
   
       3 . The tub as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the tub body comprises: 
 a front tub having an inlet formed at the front surface thereof and the rear surface of which is opened; and    a rear tub attached to the rear surface of the front tub,    the weight receiving part being formed at the front tub and/or the rear tub.    
   
   
       4 . The tub as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the weight receiving part is formed at the outer circumferential surface of the tub body.  
   
   
       5 . The tub as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the weight receiving part is defined by ribs protruded from the tub body.  
   
   
       6 . The tub as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the weight receiving part comprises: 
 a vertical rib protruded outward from the outer circumferential surface of the tub body while the vertical rib is perpendicular to the outer circumferential surface of the tub body; and    a horizontal rib formed at the tip end of the vertical rib while the horizontal rib is parallel with the outer circumferential surface of the tub body.    
   
   
       7 . The tub as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the weight receiving part is formed along the outer circumference of the tub body.  
   
   
       8 . The tub as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the weight receiving part comprises: 
 a vertical rib protruded outward from the outer circumferential surface of the tub body along the outer circumference of the tub body while the vertical rib is perpendicular to the outer circumferential surface of the tub body; and    a horizontal rib protruded forward or rearward from the tip end of the vertical rib while the horizontal rib is parallel with the outer circumferential surface of the tub body.    
   
   
       9 . The tub as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the horizontal rib is protruded from the tip end of the vertical rib further forward than the front surface of the tub body.  
   
   
       10 . The tub as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein 
 the tub body is provided at the front surface thereof with an inlet, and    the tub further comprises: a cylindrical rib disposed at the inlet of the tub body while the cylindrical rib is protruded forward from the tub body.    
   
   
       11 . The tub as set forth in  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 a curling part formed at the tip end of the cylindrical rib, to which a gasket is connected, wherein    the gasket is disposed between the inlet of the tub body and a laundry inlet/outlet hole of a cabinet cover disposed in front of the tub body.    
   
   
       12 . The tub as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the balance weight comprises: 
 a first weight disposed between the vertical and horizontal ribs and the outer circumferential surface of the tub body; and    a second weight disposed between the vertical and cylindrical ribs and the front surface of the tub body, the second weight being integrally molded with the first weight.    
   
   
       13 . The tub as set forth in  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 at least one motion preventing protrusion protruded from the front surface of the tub body for preventing motion of the balance weight.    
   
   
       14 . The tub as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the at least one motion preventing protrusion is provided at the tip end thereof with a separation preventing extension for preventing the balance weight from being separated from the tub body.  
   
   
       15 . The tub as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein the at least one motion preventing protrusion comprises a plurality of motion preventing protrusions arranged at the front surface of the tub body in the circumferential direction while being spaced apart from one another.  
   
   
       16 . The tub as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein 
 the tub body is mounted in a cabinet in a shock-absorbing fashion, and    the weight receiving part has collapsed sections, which are opposite to both side surfaces of the cabinet, the collapsed sections being collapsed toward the tub body.    
   
   
       17 . The tub as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein 
 the tub body is provided at the front surface thereof with an inlet, and    the tub further comprises: a cylindrical rib disposed at the inlet of the tub body while the cylindrical rib is protruded forward from the tub body.    
   
   
       18 . The tub as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the balance weight comprises: 
 a first weight disposed between the vertical and horizontal ribs and the outer circumferential surface of the tub body; and    a second weight disposed between the vertical and cylindrical ribs and the front surface of the tub body, the second weight being integrally molded with the first weight.    
   
   
       19 . The tub as set forth in  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 at least one motion preventing protrusion protruded from the front surface of the tub body for preventing motion of the balance weight.    
   
   
       20 . The tub as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein the at least one motion preventing protrusion is provided at the tip end thereof with a separation preventing extension for preventing the balance weight from being separated from the tub body.