US2011048578A1PendingUtilityA1

Appliance Securing Shipping Kit and Apparatus

39
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Apr 30, 2007Filed: Nov 9, 2010Published: Mar 3, 2011
Est. expiryApr 30, 2027(~0.7 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Gary L. TrebilcockChristopher D. DonadioAl Thompson
D06F 39/001
39
PatentIndex Score
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Cited by
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References
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Claims

Abstract

Securing the drum casing of a washer during shipping includes a kit assembly having at least one airbag for wedging between the drum casing and washer housing. The preferred airbag has three arm extensions, although a bag with two arm extensions, or two separate bags could be used. Two of the extensions, or two separate bags, whichever is used, are positioned around the washer drum exterior to prevent free, lateral movement of the drum casing relative to the housing. The third arm of a three arm bag is slid between the drum casing and rear washer housing before inflating. Preferably included with this assembly is a spacer for wedging between the drum and a housing bracket to prevent free, vertical movement of the drum relative to its washer housing.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shipping kit for a washing machine comprising:
 at least one airbag for positioning and inflating between a drum and a housing of the washing machine, each airbag has an inner skin and an outer skin; and   at least one spacer for inserting between the drum and an adjacent housing bracket for affecting an extension of the drum away from said bracket.   
     
     
         2 . The shipping kit of  claim 1  which includes at least two separate airbags for positioning at least about 60 degrees apart about a circumference of the drum. 
     
     
         3 . The shipping kit of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one airbag has a plurality of elongated compartments for positioning in multiple regions between the drum and the housing. 
     
     
         4 . The shipping kit of  claim 3 , wherein each elongated compartment of the airbag has a valve for inflating the corresponding compartment separately. 
     
     
         5 . The shipping kit of  claim 1 , wherein each spacer is an elongated section of corrugated cardboard. 
     
     
         6 . The shipping kit of  claim 1  having multiple spacers with various widths. 
     
     
         7 . A shipping kit for a washing machine comprising:
 at least two separate airbags for inflating between a drum and a housing of the washing machine, and positioning at least 60 degrees apart about a circumference of the drum, each airbag has an inner skin and an outer skin.   
     
     
         8 . The shipping kit of  claim 7 , further comprising at least one spacer for inserting between the drum and an adjacent housing bracket for affecting an extension of the drum away from said bracket. 
     
     
         9 . A shipping kit for a washing machine comprising:
 at least one airbag for positioning and inflating between a drum and a housing of the washing machine, the at least one airbag has a plurality of elongated compartments for positioning in multiple regions between the drum and the housing, each airbag has an inner skin and an outer skin.   
     
     
         10 . The shipping kit of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one spacer for inserting between the drum and an adjacent housing bracket for affecting an extension of the drum away from said bracket. 
     
     
         11 . The shipping kit of  claim 10 , having multiple spacers with various widths.

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