Clothes washing machine

Abstract

A clothes washing machine of the top loading type and which comprises a generally tubular base structure ( 10 ) to be inferiorly seated onto the floor (P); a tub ( 20 ) to contain a washing liquid and affixed onto the base structure ( 10 ); a support frame ( 30 ) suspended in the interior of the base structure ( 10 ); suspension means ( 40 ) to absorb the vibratory and oscillatory motions and that connect the support frame ( 30 ) to the base structure ( 10 ) in order to maintain the former suspended in the interior of the latter; a motor unit ( 50 ) disposed in the interior of the base structure ( 10 ) secured to the support frame ( 30 ) and carrying a drive shaft ( 51 ) extending vertically upwardly to the inside of the tub ( 20 ); and a rotative basket ( 60 ) disposed in the interior of the tub ( 20 ) and which is operatively and selectively associated with the drive shaft ( 55 ).

1 . A clothes washing machine of the top loading type, characterized in that it comprises a base structure to be inferiorly seated onto a floor; a tub to contain a washing liquid and which is affixed onto the base structure; a support frame suspended in the interior of the base structure; suspension means to absorb the vibratory and oscillatory motions and which connect a support frame to the base structure, in order to maintain the former suspended in the interior of the latter; a motor unit disposed in the interior of the base structure, affixed to the support frame and carrying a drive shaft extending vertically upwardly to the inside of the tub; and a rotative basket disposed in the interior of the tub and which is operatively and selectively associated with the drive shaft. 
   
   
       2 . The machine according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the base structure is defined by a generally tubular body incorporating a housing. 
   
   
       3 . The machine according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the housing comprises a front wall portion and two lateral wall portions. 
   
   
       4 . The machine according to  claim 3 , characterized in that the base structure further comprises an upper wall portion affixed to the front wall portion and to the lateral wall portions. 
   
   
       5 . The machine according to  claim 3 , characterized in that the base structure further comprises a rear frame affixed to the lateral wall portions and to the upper wall portion. 
   
   
       6 . The machine according to  claim 3 , characterized in that the lateral wall portions each affix, internally and inferiorly, at least one bed plate in which is affixed a foot. 
   
   
       7 . The machine according to  claim 6 , characterized in that the front wall portion secures, internally and inferiorly, a pair of bed plates for the fixation of respective feet. 
   
   
       8 . The machine, according to  claim 3 , characterized in that the base structure is formed in a single piece. 
   
   
       9 . The machine according to  claim 3 , characterized in that the tub comprises a cylindrical lateral wall and a bottom wall affixed to the base structure onto the front wall portion and onto the lateral wall portions of said base structure. 
   
   
       10 . The machine according to  claim 9 , characterized in that the base structure further comprises an upper wall portion affixed to the front wall portion and to the lateral wall portions, the bottom wall of the tub being seated and affixed onto the upper wall portion of the base structure. 
   
   
       11 . The machine according to  claim 10 , characterized in that the front wall of the base structure presents a generally semi-cylindrical form and is vertically aligned with the cylindrical lateral wall of the tub, the latter further comprising a pair of opposite and parallel lateral shields which are vertically aligned with the lateral wall portions of the base structure. 
   
   
       12 . The machine according to  claim 10 , characterized in that the bottom wall of the tub incorporates, inferiorly, a plurality of internally threaded tubular axial projections to be aligned with the respective bores provided with an upper wall portion of the base structure and through which are ascendingly mounted screws whose body is threaded in the interior of a respective axial tubular projection of the bottom wall of the tub. 
   
   
       13 . The machine according to  claim 1 , characterized in that each suspension means comprises a rod having an upper end articulated to the base structure, a median portion loosely disposed through a respective bore of the support frame and a lower end carrying a stop means; and a support spring disposed around the median portion of the rod and having its opposite ends seated onto the stop means and under the support frame, respectively. 
   
   
       14 . The machine according to  claim 13 , characterized in that the support frame comprises radial arms, that are angularly spaced from each other and each being provided with a semi-spherical lower recess, inside which is provided a bore of said radial arm, the upper end of the support spring being seated against a pad that is superiorly shaped as a spherical calotte so as to be seated in the interior of the semi-spherical lower recess of the respective radial arm, defining therein an articulated coupling between the upper end of the support spring and the support frame. 
   
   
       15 . The machine according to  claim 14 , characterized in that the lower end of the rod is threaded to receive a nut for retaining the stop means. 
   
   
       16 . The machine according to  claim 14 , characterized in that the stop means of each suspension means carries a cylindrical tubular sleeve surrounding at least part of the longitudinal extension of the support spring. 
   
   
       17 . The machine according to  claim 13 , characterized in that each suspension means further comprises a dampening spring disposed around the rod and having its opposite lower and upper ends respectively seated onto a support frame and under the base structure. 
   
   
       18 . The machine according to  claim 17 , characterized in that the base structure is defined by a generally tubular body incorporating a housing which comprises a front wall portion, two lateral wall portions and an upper wall portion in which is articulated the upper end of the rod of each suspension means. 
   
   
       19 . The machine according to  claim 18 , characterized in that the upper wall portion of the base structures presents, for each suspension means, a semi-spherical recess provided with a bore, the upper end of the rod being disposed through said bore and affixed to a spacer pad inferiorly shaped as a spherical calotte and which is seated to journal in the interior of the respective semi-spherical recess. 
   
   
       20 . The machine according to  claim 19 , characterized in that the bore of each spherical recess is radially connected, through a slot, to a respective window provided on the upper wall portion of the base structure and presenting an area that is sufficiently open to allow the passage of the spacer pad. 
   
   
       21 . The machine according to  claim 19 , characterized in that the opposite lower and upper ends of each dampening spring are respectively seated, through pads onto a support frame and under a respective semi-spherical recess of the upper wall portion of the base structure. 
   
   
       22 . The machine according to  claim 17 , characterized in that the support frame comprises a central hub incorporating, in a single piece, the angularly spaced apart radial arms, each provided with a semi-spherical lower recess provided with a bore for the passage of the rod, said radial arms securing, inferiorly, a support plate in which is affixed a motor unit. 
   
   
       23 . The machine, according to  claim 4 , characterized in that the base structure is formed in a single piece. 
   
   
       24 . The machine, according to  claim 5 , characterized in that the base structure is formed in a single piece. 
   
   
       25 . The machine, according to  claim 6 , characterized in that the base structure is formed in a single piece.