Tub Insert System with Cross-Brace Holder for Top Loading Washer

Abstract

Tub Insert System with Cross-Brace Holder for Top Loading Washer A tub insert for a top loading washing machine having a cabinet with a top opening, a lid, and a wash tub disposed within the cabinet may include a tub insert body shaped to engage the cabinet and the wash tub when the tub insert body is inserted through the top opening to substantially prevent movement of the wash tub relative to the cabinet. Cross-brace support panels having cross-brace openings extend from a top edge of the tub insert body upward through a gap between the lid and the cabinet on opposite sides of the lid. The cross-brace openings receive a cross-brace that extends across the cabinet to provide lateral support for a container in which the washing machine is shipped.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tub insert for a top loading washing machine having a cabinet with a top surface and a top opening in the top surface, a lid movable between an open position and a closed position, and a wash tub disposed within the cabinet, the tub insert comprising:
 a tub insert body shaped to engage the cabinet and the wash tub when the tub insert body is inserted through the top opening to substantially prevent movement of the wash tub relative to the cabinet; and   cross-brace support panels operatively connected to a top edge of the tub insert body on opposite sides of the tub insert body and each of the cross-brace support panels having a cross-brace opening for receiving a cross-brace, wherein the cross-brace support panels extend upward through a gap between the lid and the top surface of the cabinet with the cross-brace opening disposed above the lid when the tub insert body is inserted through the top opening and the lid is in the closed position.   
     
     
         2 . The tub insert of  claim 1 , wherein the cross-brace opening of each of the cross-brace support panels has an open end through which the cross-brace can be inserted. 
     
     
         3 . The tub insert of  claim 2 , wherein the cross-brace opening of each of the cross-brace support panel has a cross-brace detent extending into the cross-brace opening and engaging the cross-brace disposed within the cross-brace opening to resist the cross-brace exiting the cross-brace opening through the open end. 
     
     
         4 . The tub insert of  claim 1 , wherein the cross-brace opening is shaped to receive a cross-brace having a rectangular cross-section. 
     
     
         5 . The tub insert of  claim 1 , wherein the tub insert body includes a bottom wall, a front wall, a rear wall and oppositely disposed side walls, wherein the tub insert comprises:
 a front lock flap attached to side wall front edges of each side wall, wherein the front lock flaps wrap around the front wall to secure the front wall to the side walls; and   a rear lock flap attached to side wall rear edges of each side wall, wherein the rear lock flaps wrap around the rear wall to secure the rear wall to the side walls.   
     
     
         6 . The tub insert of  claim 5 , wherein each of the front lock flaps and the rear lock flaps comprises a lock tab at an end opposite the respective side wall front edge and side wall rear edge, wherein the bottom wall includes lock slots disposed adjacent the front wall and proximate each side wall and adjacent the rear wall and proximate each side wall, wherein each of the lock tabs is inserted into a corresponding one of the lock slots to secure the front lock flaps around the front wall and the rear lock flaps around the rear wall. 
     
     
         7 . A tub insert system, comprising:
 a cross-brace; and   the tub insert of  claim 1 , wherein the cross-brace is inserted into the cross-brace openings when the tub insert is inserted into the top opening and the lid is in the closed position with the cross-brace support panels extending upward through the gap.   
     
     
         8 . A tub insert for a top loading washing machine having a cabinet with a top surface and a top opening in the top surface, a lid movable between an open position and a closed position, and a wash tub disposed within the cabinet, the tub insert comprising:
 a tub insert blank fabricated from a paperboard sheet;   a front wall fold line, a rear wall fold line and oppositely disposed side wall fold lines extending between the front wall fold line and the rear wall fold line to define a bottom wall having a front wall, a rear wall and oppositely disposed side walls extending therefrom such that the front wall, the rear wall and the side walls form a tub insert body when folded toward each other with front wall side edges of the front wall adjacent a corresponding one of side wall front edges and rear wall side edges of the rear wall adjacent a corresponding one of side wall rear edges, wherein the tub insert body is shaped to engage the cabinet and the wash tub when the tub insert body is inserted through the top opening to substantially prevent movement of the wash tub relative to the cabinet; and   for each side wall, a support panel bottom edge fold line between the side wall and a cross-brace support panel, the cross-brace support panel having a cross-brace opening cut out of the tub insert blank for receiving a cross-brace, wherein the cross-brace support panels are folded about the support panel bottom edge fold lines so that the cross-brace support panels extend upward through a gap between the lid and the top surface of the cabinet with the cross-brace opening disposed above the lid when the tub insert body is inserted through the top opening and the lid is in the closed position.   
     
     
         9 . The tub insert of  claim 8 , wherein the cross-brace opening of each of the cross-brace support panels has an open end cut out of the tub insert blank that faces toward the front wall when the tub insert blank is folded into the tub insert body. 
     
     
         10 . The tub insert of  claim 9 , wherein each of the cross-brace openings is cut out of the tub insert blank with a cross-brace detent extending into the cross-brace opening, wherein the cross-brace detents engage the cross-brace disposed within the cross-brace opening to resist the cross-brace exiting the cross-brace opening through the open end. 
     
     
         11 . The tub insert of  claim 8 , wherein the top loading washing machine includes an agitator extending upward within the wash tub, and wherein the bottom wall comprises an agitator opening cut out of the tub insert blank having a size and position to allow the agitator to pass there through when the tub insert body is inserted through the top opening. 
     
     
         12 . The tub insert of  claim 8 , wherein the cross-brace opening is cut out of the tub insert blank having a shape to receive a cross-brace having a rectangular cross-section. 
     
     
         13 . The tub insert of  claim 8 , comprising:
 for each side wall, a side wall front edge fold line for a front lock flap extending from the side wall, wherein the front lock flaps are cut to wrap around the front wall to secure the front wall to the side walls after the tub insert body is formed; and   for each side wall, a side wall rear edge fold line for a rear lock flap extending from the side wall, wherein the rear lock flaps wrap around the rear wall to secure the rear wall to the side walls after the tub insert body is formed.   
     
     
         14 . The tub insert of  claim 13 , wherein each of the front lock flaps and the rear lock flaps comprises a lock tab cut into the tub insert blank at an end opposite the respective side wall front edge fold line and side wall rear edge fold line, wherein lock slots are cut out of the tub insert blank in the bottom wall adjacent the front wall fold line and proximate each side wall fold line and adjacent the rear wall fold line and proximate each side wall fold line, wherein each of the lock slots receive a corresponding one of the lock tabs to secure the front lock flaps around the front wall and the rear lock flaps around the rear wall. 
     
     
         15 . A tub insert for a top loading washing machine having a cabinet with a top surface and a top opening in the top surface, a lid movable between an open position and a closed position, and a wash tub disposed within the cabinet, the tub insert comprising:
 a bottom wall having a front wall edge, a rear wall edge opposite the front wall edge, and oppositely disposed side wall edges extending between the front wall edge and the rear wall edge;   a front wall extending upward from the front wall edge and having oppositely disposed front wall side edges and a front wall top edge opposite the front wall edge;   a rear wall extending upward from the rear wall edge and having oppositely disposed rear wall side edges and a rear wall top edge opposite the front wall edge;   oppositely disposed side walls each extending upward from one of the side wall edges, each side wall having a side wall front edge, a side wall rear edge opposite the side wall front edge, and a side wall top edge opposite the side wall edge, wherein the bottom wall, the front wall, the rear wall and the side walls form a tub insert body when each of the front wall side edges is adjacent a corresponding one of the side wall front edges and each of the rear wall side edges is adjacent a corresponding one of the side wall rear edges, and the tub insert body is shaped to engage the cabinet and the wash tub when the tub insert body is inserted through the top opening to substantially prevent movement of the wash tub relative to the cabinet; and   a cross-brace support panel operatively connected to each of the side walls at the corresponding side wall top edge and having a cross-brace opening for receiving a cross-brace, wherein the cross-brace support panels extend upward through a gap between the lid and the top surface of the cabinet with the cross-brace opening disposed above the lid when the tub insert body is inserted through the top opening and the lid is in the closed position.   
     
     
         16 . The tub insert of  claim 15 , wherein the cross-brace opening of each of the cross-brace support panels has an open end facing toward the front wall. 
     
     
         17 . The tub insert of  claim 16 , wherein the cross-brace opening of each of the cross-brace support panel has a cross-brace detent extending into the cross-brace opening and engaging the cross-brace disposed within the cross-brace opening to resist the cross-brace exiting the cross-brace opening through the open end. 
     
     
         18 . The tub insert of  claim 15 , wherein the cross-brace opening is shaped to receive a cross-brace having a rectangular cross-section. 
     
     
         19 . The tub insert of  claim 15 , comprising:
 a front lock flap attached to each side wall front edge, wherein the front lock flaps wrap around the front wall to secure the front wall to the side walls; and   a rear lock flap attached to each side wall rear edge, wherein the rear lock flaps wrap around the rear wall to secure the rear wall to the side walls.   
     
     
         20 . A tub insert system, comprising:
 a cross-brace; and   the tub insert of  claim 15 , wherein the cross-brace is inserted into the cross-brace openings when the tub insert is inserted into the top opening and the lid is in the closed position with the cross-brace support panels extending upward through the gap.