Tub for washing machine or washer-drier

Abstract

A tub for washing machine or washer-drier has a back and a front adapted to be mutually fixed to house a rotary drum where laundry is loaded. The front of the tub defines a loading mouth to provide access to the drum. The front of the tub has at least one stiffening structure, integrally obtained with the front, and adapted to avoid the deformation of the front of the tub and consequent ovalization of the loading mouth.

1 ) Tub for washing machine or washer-drier comprising a back ( 1 ) and a front ( 2 ) adapted to be mutually fixed to house a rotary drum where laundry is loaded,
 said front ( 2 ) of the tub comprising a peripheral cylindrical band ( 20 ) that is joined with a front annular wall ( 21 ) by means of a circular connection section ( 22 ),   said front wall ( 21 ) defining a loading mouth ( 4 ) of the tub to provide access to the drum,   said front ( 2 ) of the tub comprising at least one stiffening structure ( 6 ), integrally obtained with the front ( 2 ), adapted to avoid the deformation of the front ( 2 ) of the tub and consequent ovalization of the loading mouth ( 4 ), characterised in that   said stiffening structure ( 6 ) has a boxed shape comprising an arched flange ( 60 ) arranged on a plane basically parallel to the one of the front wall ( 21 ) of the front of the tub, said flange ( 60 ) being connected to said connection section ( 22 ) of the front of the tub by means of a plurality of stiffening ribs ( 61 ), in such a way that said flange ( 60 ) and connection section ( 22 ) form a double wall.   
   
   
       2 ) Tub as claimed in  claim 1 , characterised in that said stiffening structure ( 6 ) extends at least partially along the circumference of said circular connection section ( 22 ) of the front of the tub. 
   
   
       3 ) Tub as claimed in  claim 2 , characterised in that said stiffening structure ( 6 ) is not provided in the area of the circular connection section ( 22 ) of the front of the tub where a counterweight ( 5 ) is fixed. 
   
   
       4 ) Tub as claimed in  claim 3 , characterised in that it comprises one counterweight ( 5 ) arranged on the front ( 2 ) of the tub and one stiffening structure ( 6 ) extending for an arc of circle from 270° to 300° in the area of the connection section ( 22 ) not provided with counterweight ( 5 ). 
   
   
       5 ) Tub as claimed in  claim 3 , characterised in that it comprises two counterweights ( 5 ) arranged in diametrally opposite positions on the front ( 2 ) of the tub and two stiffening structures ( 6 ) extending for an arc of circle from 90° to 120° in diametrally opposite positions in the areas of the connection section ( 22 ) not provided with the two counterweights ( 5 ). 
   
   
       6 ) Tub as claimed in  claim 1 , characterised in that said stiffening ribs ( 61 ) are arranged along oblique planes relative to the plane of the flange ( 60 ). 
   
   
       7 ) Tub as claimed in  claim 1 , characterised in that the front ( 2 ) of the tub is obtained in one piece from moulding plastic materials, integrally with said stiffening structure ( 6 ). 
   
   
       8 ) Tub as claimed in  claim 1 , characterised in that said front ( 2 ) of the tub is made of polypropylene loaded with calcium carbonate or talcum. 
   
   
       9 ) Tub as claimed in  claim 1 , characterised in that said front ( 2 ) of the tub is made of polypropylene loaded with fibreglass and has thickness lower than 3 mm.