US2016083891A1PendingUtilityA1

Washing machine appliances and methods for assembling cabinets of washing machine appliances

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Assignee: GEN ELECTRICPriority: Sep 23, 2014Filed: Sep 23, 2014Published: Mar 24, 2016
Est. expirySep 23, 2034(~8.2 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Christopher Gene Vowels
D06F 37/26D06F 37/02D06F 39/083D06F 39/12D06F 23/04
52
PatentIndex Score
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Claims

Abstract

Methods for assembling cabinets of washing machine appliances, and washing machine appliances, are provided. A method includes plastically bending a first side portion and a second side portion of a main cabinet panel relative to a central portion of the main cabinet panel until a first corner is defined between the first side portion and the central portion and a second corner is defined between the second side portion and the central portion, the first corner and the second corner each having a plastic inside angle of greater than or equal to 95 degrees. The method further includes elastically bending the first side portion and the second side portion such that the first corner and the second corner each have an elastic inside angle of less than 95 degrees. The method further includes connecting a rear cabinet panel to the first side portion and the second side portion.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for assembling a cabinet of a washing machine appliance, the method comprising:
 plastically bending a first side portion and a second side portion of a main cabinet panel relative to a central portion of the main cabinet panel until a first corner is defined between the first side portion and the central portion and a second corner is defined between the second side portion and the central portion, the first corner and the second corner each having a plastic inside angle of greater than or equal to 95 degrees;   elastically bending the first side portion and the second side portion such that the first corner and the second corner each have an elastic inside angle of less than 95 degrees; and   connecting a rear cabinet panel to the first side portion and the second side portion.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first corner and the second corner each have a plastic inside angle of between 95 degrees and 105 degrees. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first corner and the second corner each have a plastic inside angle of between 98 degrees and 102 degrees. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first corner and the second corner each have a plastic inside angle of greater than or equal to 100 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first corner and the second corner each have an elastic inside angle of approximately 90 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the rear cabinet panel is connected to the first side portion proximate an outer edge of the first side portion and the rear cabinet panel is connected to the second side portion proximate an outer edge of the second side portion. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising connecting a corner bracket to the main cabinet panel at the first corner and connecting a corner bracket to the main cabinet panel at the second corner. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein each corner bracket is a plurality of corner brackets, the plurality of corner brackets comprising a top corner bracket and a bottom corner bracket. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first corner and the second corner are each free from reinforcement members between the top corner bracket and the bottom corner bracket. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the assembled cabinet is free from internal reinforcement members. 
     
     
         11 . A washing machine appliance, comprising:
 a cabinet, the cabinet comprising a main cabinet panel and a rear cabinet panel, the rear cabinet panel connected to the main cabinet panel, the main cabinet panel comprising a central portion, a first side portion, a first corner defined between the central portion and the first side portion, an opposing second side portion, and a second corner defined between the central portion and the second side portion, the first corner and the second corner each having a plastic inside angle of greater than or equal to 95 degrees and an elastic inside angle of less than 95 degrees;   a tub disposed within the cabinet; and   a basket rotatably mounted within the tub, the basket defining a wash chamber for receipt of articles for washing.   
     
     
         12 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the first corner and the second corner each have a plastic inside angle of between 95 degrees and 105 degrees. 
     
     
         13 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the first corner and the second corner each have a plastic inside angle of between 98 degrees and 102 degrees. 
     
     
         14 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the first corner and the second corner each have a plastic inside angle of greater than or equal to 100 degrees. 
     
     
         15 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the first corner and the second corner each have an elastic inside angle of approximately 90 degrees. 
     
     
         16 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the rear cabinet panel is connected to the first side portion proximate an outer edge of the first side portion and the rear cabinet panel is connected to the second side portion proximate an outer edge of the second side portion. 
     
     
         17 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the cabinet further comprises a corner bracket connected to the main cabinet panel at the first corner and a corner bracket connected to the main cabinet panel at the second corner. 
     
     
         18 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 17 , wherein each corner bracket is a plurality of corner brackets, the plurality of corner brackets comprising a top corner bracket and a bottom corner bracket. 
     
     
         19 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 18 , wherein the first corner and the second corner are each free from reinforcement members between the top corner bracket and the bottom corner bracket. 
     
     
         20 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the assembled cabinet is free from internal reinforcement members.

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