Lower shipping support for an appliance such as a washing machine

摘要

A base for supporting a component of an appliance and a method of assembling the same, is formed from a single sheet having four opposing sides and a top of the base when erected. Two of the opposing sides include inner and outer panels that are affixed to one another to maintain the base in the erected configuration, and define an internal cavity therein for receiving the appliance component. When a force is applied to the appliance, the erected base supports the component, which may be the motor of a washing machine, within the internal cavity to inhibit movement of the component.

主权项

1. A base for receiving an appliance thereon, the base comprising:
a first pair of sides comprising a generally trapezoidal first side and an opposing generally trapezoidal second side, the first and second skies each having a top edge and a bottom edge; a second pair of sides joined to the first pair of sides, the second pair of sides comprising a generally trapezoidal third side and an opposing generally trapezoidal fourth side, the third and fourth sides each having a top edge and a bottom edge; a pair of bottom flanges, each of which extends outwardly from the bottom edge of the sides of one of the pairs of sides; and a top panel joined to and extending between the top edges of the sides of one of the pairs of sides, wherein the top panel extends across an interior cavity defined by the first and second pairs of sides, and wherein the top panel defines a first edge that is connected via a hinge connection to the top edge of one of the sides and a second edge that is connected via a breakable connection with the top edge of an opposite one of the sides, wherein the top panel is separable from the opposite one of the skies via the breakable connection and is pivotable downwardly via the hinge connection into the interior cavity while remaining connected to the top edge of the side via the hinge connection, wherein movement of the top panel into the interior cavity defines an opening for receiving a portion of the appliance within the interior cavity.