Laundry machine and corresponding cabinet configuration

Abstract

A laundry machine cabinet includes a rear panel and a side panel extending from the rear panel. The side panel includes a plurality of embossments. The embossments are stacked in a column. Depths of the embossments increase in directions that extend upward and downward from a central region of the side panel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A laundry machine comprising:
 a drum configured to (i) receive clothing articles and (ii) rotate at less than or equal to a maximum operating frequency; and   a cabinet (i) housing the drum and (ii) having exterior panels, wherein (a) at least one of the exterior panels includes an array of embossments, (b) depths of the embossments vary between embossments within the array, and (c) the depths of the embossments increase along the array in first and second opposing directions that extend away from a central region of the array such that a natural frequency of the at least one of the exterior panels is greater than the maximum operating frequency.   
     
     
         2 . The laundry machine of  claim 1 , wherein the embossments are stacked in a vertically extending column. 
     
     
         3 . The laundry machine of  claim 2 , wherein the depths of the embossments increase along the array in directions extending upward and downward from one or more centrally positioned embossments. 
     
     
         4 . The laundry machine of  claim 1 , wherein each embossment extends inward from an exterior surface of the at least one of the exterior panels to a corresponding depth. 
     
     
         5 . The laundry machine of  claim 4 , wherein each embossment includes a chamfer extending from the exterior surface of the at least one of the exterior panels to the corresponding depth. 
     
     
         6 . The laundry machine of  claim 4 , wherein each chamfer extends about an outer periphery of a corresponding embossment. 
     
     
         7 . The laundry machine of  claim 4 , wherein the depth of each embossment is substantially constant within an entirety of an area that is internal relative to a corresponding chamfer. 
     
     
         8 . A laundry machine cabinet comprising:
 a rear panel; and   a side panel extending from the rear panel, wherein (i) the side panel includes a plurality of embossments, (ii) the embossments are aligned in an array, and (iii) depths of the embossments increase along the array in opposing directions that extend outward from a central region of the side panel.   
     
     
         9 . The laundry machine cabinet of  claim 8 , wherein each embossment extends inward from an exterior surface of the side panel to a corresponding depth. 
     
     
         10 . The laundry machine cabinet of  claim 9 , wherein each embossment includes a chamfer extending from the exterior surface of the side panel to the corresponding depth. 
     
     
         11 . The laundry machine cabinet of  claim 9 , wherein each chamfer extends about an outer periphery of a corresponding embossment. 
     
     
         12 . The laundry machine cabinet of  claim 9 , wherein the depth of each embossment is substantially constant within an area that is internal relative to a corresponding chamfer. 
     
     
         13 . The laundry machine cabinet of  claim 9 , wherein the depths of the embossments increase in directions extending upward and downward from one or more centrally positioned embossments. 
     
     
         14 . A laundry machine comprising:
 at least one panel, wherein (i) the at least one panel includes a plurality of embossments, (ii) depths of the embossments vary, and (iii) the depths of the embossments increase opposing directions that extend away from a central region of the at least one panel such that a natural frequency of the at least one of the panel is greater than an operational frequency of the laundry machine.   
     
     
         15 . The laundry machine of  claim 14 , wherein each embossment extends inward from an exterior surface of the at least one panel to a corresponding depth. 
     
     
         16 . The laundry machine of  claim 15 , wherein each embossment includes a chamfer extending from the exterior surface of the at least one panel to the corresponding depth. 
     
     
         17 . The laundry machine of  claim 16 , wherein each chamfer extends about an outer periphery of a corresponding embossment. 
     
     
         18 . The laundry machine of  claim 16 , wherein the depth of each embossment is substantially constant within an area that is internal relative to a corresponding chamfer. 
     
     
         19 . The laundry machine of  claim 14 , wherein the embossments are stacked in a vertically extending column. 
     
     
         20 . The laundry machine of  claim 19 , wherein the depths of the embossments increase in directions extending upward and downward from one or more centrally positioned embossments.