Washing Machine with Securing Apparatus for Transport

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.

1 . A shipping apparatus and automatic washing machine assembled for transport, the assembly comprising:
 a rotating drum mechanism having a tub assembly with an inner drum suspended from an upper bracket of a multi-wall housing, and a gap between an outer circumference of the drum and the housing walls, with at least one airbag positioned and inflated in the gap to wedge the drum between at least two sidewalls of the housing; and   at least one semi-rigid spacer inserted between the drum and the upper bracket to extend the drum away from a top portion of the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1  having at least two airbags positioned at least about 60 degrees apart about the circumference of the drum. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one airbag has a plurality of elongated compartments which are positioned in multiple gap regions between the drum and the housing walls. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein each elongated compartment of the airbag has a valve for separately inflating said compartment. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each spacer having an elongated section of corrugated cardboard. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 5 , wherein multiple spacers with various widths secure the drum away from the bracket to prevent vertical movement of the drum during transport. 
     
     
         7 . A washing machine assembled for transport using a shipping kit, the assembled apparatus comprising:
 a rotating drum mechanism having a tub assembly with an inner drum suspended from an upper bracket of a multi-wall housing, and a gap between an outer circumference of the drum and the housing walls;   at least one airbag positioned and inflated in the gap between the drum circumference and housing walls, each airbag has an inner skin and an outer skin; and   at least one semi-rigid spacer inserted between the drum and a housing bracket for affecting a vertical extension of the drum away from said bracket.   
     
     
         8 . The assembled apparatus of  claim 7  having at least two airbags positioned between 60 to 180 degrees apart about the circumference of the drum. 
     
     
         9 . The assembled apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one airbag has a plurality of elongated compartments which are positioned in multiple gap regions between the drum and the housing walls and two compartments are between 60 to 180 degrees apart about the circumference of the drum. 
     
     
         10 . The assembled apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein each elongated compartment of the airbag has a valve for separately inflating said compartment. 
     
     
         11 . The assembled apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein there are multiple spacers with various widths to secure the drum away from the bracket to prevent vertical movement of the drum in transport, and each spacer being elongated and comprising corrugated cardboard. 
     
     
         12 . A washing machine assembled with a shipping apparatus for transport, the assembled apparatus comprising:
 a rotating drum mechanism having a tub with an inner drum suspended from an upper bracket of a multi-wall housing, with a gap between an outer circumference of the drum and the housing walls; and   at least two inflated airbags filling a portion of the gap between the drum and the multi-wall housing of the washing machine, said airbags being positioning at least 60 degrees apart about the circumference of the drum to wedge the drum between at least two sidewalls, each airbag having an inner skin and an outer skin.   
     
     
         13 . The assembled apparatus of  claim 12  wherein at least two inflated airbags are positioned between 60 to 180 degrees apart about the circumference of the drum. 
     
     
         14 . The assembled apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the two inflated airbags has a plurality of elongated compartments which are positioned in multiple gap regions between the drum and the housing walls. 
     
     
         15 . The assembled apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein each elongated compartment has a valve for separately inflating said compartment. 
     
     
         16 . The assembled apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein there are multiple spacers with various widths used to secure the drum away from the bracket to substantially prevent vertical movement of the drum in transport, and each spacer is comprised of corrugated cardboard.