Plastic suds container for a washing machine

Abstract

A plastic suds container for a washing machine for receiving a drum rotatable therein includes a container wall including a cylindrical shell and an end wall at an end of the shell. The end wall defines a plane and includes a stabilizing device and a number of channel-like relief profiles formed therein in limited regions within respective areas bounded by the stabilizing device. Each of the relief profiles includes a hollow, the hollow being at least substantially surrounded by a remaining flat or unprofiled region of the respective area bounding the stabilizing device. Each of the relief profiles is expandable and/or compressible in a respective direction of extension of the plane.

1 . A plastic suds container for a washing machine for receiving a drum rotatable therein, the plastic suds container comprising a container wall including a cylindrical shell and an end wall at an end of the shell, the end wall defining a plane, the end wall including a stabilizing device, the end wall including a plurality of channel-like relief profiles formed therein in limited regions within respective areas bounded by the stabilizing device, each of the relief profiles including a hollow, the hollow being at least substantially surrounded by a remaining flat or unprofiled region of the respective area bounding the stabilizing device, each of the relief profiles being at least one of expandable and compressible in a respective direction of extension of the plane.  
   
   
       2 . The plastic suds container as recited in  claim 1  wherein the relief profiles include at least one of a meander-shape, a star-shape, an oval shape, a circular shape, and a spherical shape in the plane.  
   
   
       3 . The plastic suds container as recited in  claim 1  wherein a thickness of the end wall in an area of at least one of the relief profiles is equal to a thickness of an unprofiled area of the wall.  
   
   
       4 . The plastic suds container as recited in  claim 1  wherein a thickness of the end wall in an area of at least one of the relief profiles is smaller than a thickness of an unprofiled area of the wall.  
   
   
       5 . The plastic suds container as recited in  claim 4  wherein the thickness of the end wall in the area of the at least one of the relief profiles is one-half to two-thirds of the thickness of the unprofiled area of the wall.  
   
   
       6 . The plastic suds container as recited in  claim 4  wherein the at least one of the relief profiles includes a transition region wherein the thickness of the end wall continuously decreases from the thickness of the unprofiled area to the thickness in the area of the at least one of the relief profiles.  
   
   
       7 . The plastic suds container as recited in  claim 4  wherein the at least one of the relief profiles includes a groove.  
   
   
       8 . A plastic suds container for a washing machine for receiving a drum rotatable therein, the plastic suds container comprising a container wall including a cylindrical shell and an end wall at an end of the shell, the end wall defining a plane, the end wall including a molded plastic portion, a metallic cross-shaped bearing member being disposed in the molded plastic portion, the bearing member including a hub configured to receive a drive shaft for the drum and including at least one brace extending substantially radially outwardly from the hub, the end wall including a plurality of channel-like relief profiles formed therein in limited regions within respective areas bounded by the stabilizing device, each of the relief profiles including a hollow, the hollow being at least substantially surrounded by a remaining flat or unprofiled region of the respective area bounding the stabilizing device, each of the relief profiles being at least one of expandable and compressible in a respective direction of extension of the plane.  
   
   
       9 . The plastic suds container as recited in  claim 8  wherein the relief profiles include at least one of a meander-shape, a star-shape, an oval shape, a circular shape, and a spherical shape in the plane.  
   
   
       10 . The plastic suds container as recited in  claim 8  wherein a thickness of the end wall in an area of at least one of the relief profiles is equal to a thickness of an unprofiled area of the wall.  
   
   
       11 . The plastic suds container as recited in  claim 8  wherein a thickness of the end wall in an area of at least one of the relief profiles is smaller than a thickness of an unprofiled area of the wall.  
   
   
       12 . The plastic suds container as recited in  claim 11  wherein the thickness of the end wall in the area of the at least one of the relief profiles is one-half to two-thirds of the thickness of the unprofiled area of the wall.  
   
   
       13 . The plastic suds container as recited in  claim 11  wherein the at least one of the relief profiles includes a transition region wherein the thickness of the end wall continuously decreases from the thickness of the unprofiled area to the thickness in the area of the at least one of the relief profiles.  
   
   
       14 . The plastic suds container as recited in  claim 11  wherein the at least one of the relief profiles includes a groove.  
   
   
       15 . A plastic suds container for a washing machine for receiving a drum rotatable therein, the plastic suds container comprising a container wall including a cylindrical shell and an end wall at an end of the shell, the end wall defining a plane, the end wall including a stabilizing device, the end wall defining a plurality of channel-like relief profiles adjacent to respective flat or unprofiled areas in respective regions bounded by the stabilizing device, each of the relief profiles being at least one of expandable and compressible in a respective direction of extension of the plane.