Washing machine including a shipping protection arrangement

Abstract

A washing machine includes an appliance housing having a front housing part and a rear wall, and includes a washing assembly capable, in an operating mode, of oscillating relative to the appliance housing. The washing assembly includes a washing drum and a suds container enclosing the washing drum. The suds container has a bracket integrally formed thereon. A shipping protection arrangement is provided for protecting the suds container against shocks. The shipping protection arrangement includes a rod and a sleeve-like or tube-like locking element received on the rod. The rod, when in a secured position, is fixed in a first holding receptacle of the front housing part and is fixed in a force-fit manner in a second holding receptacle of the rear wall via the locking element. The rod is connected in a central region thereof in a force-locking manner to the washing assembly via the suds container, the bracket, and the locking element.

1 . A washing machine comprising: 
 an appliance housing including a front housing part and a rear wall;    a washing assembly capable, in an operating mode, of oscillating relative to the appliance housing, the washing assembly including a washing drum and a suds container enclosing the washing drum, the suds container having a bracket integrally formed thereon; and    a shipping protection arrangement configured to protect the suds container against shocks, the shipping protection arrangement including a rod and a sleeve-like or tube-like locking element received on the rod, the rod, when in a secured position, being fixed in a first holding receptacle of the front housing part and being fixed in a force-fit manner in a second holding receptacle of the rear wall via the locking element, the rod being connected in a central region thereof in a force-locking manner to the washing assembly via the suds container, the bracket, and the locking element.    
   
   
       2 . The washing machine as recited in  claim 1  wherein the suds container includes a plastic material and the bracket is integrally formed on the suds container as one piece.  
   
   
       3 . The washing machine as recited in  claim 1  wherein the locking element includes at least one radially extending rib so as to provide locking and fixing, the at least one rib including a first gap in the region of the bracket and a second gap in the region of the rear wall, the first gap corresponding to a thickness of the bracket and the second gap corresponding to a thickness of the rear wall.  
   
   
       4 . The washing machine as recited in  claim 1  wherein the bracket and rear wall each include a respective through-hole reach having a substantially circular shape and a pair of respective recesses disposed in diametrical relationship, the respective through-holes being configured to allow passage of the tube-like locking element with the at least one rib.  
   
   
       5 . The washing machine as recited in  claim 1  wherein the sleeve-like locking element is formed by a molded plastic part configured to be received over an end of the rod.  
   
   
       6 . The washing machine as recited in  claim 5  wherein the locking element includes a disk-like molded part at the end thereof, the disk-like molded part being configured to abut flatly against the rear wall in a locked position of the locking element.  
   
   
       7 . The washing machine as recited in  claim 6  wherein the locking element includes a disk-like molded part having a resilient latching nose configured to secure the locking element against rotation.  
   
   
       8 . The washing machine as recited in  claim 7  wherein the resilient latching nose is connected to the disk-like molded part via a flat spring.  
   
   
       9 . The washing machine as recited in  claim 6  wherein the locking element includes outwardly directed gripping elements integrally formed on the disk-like molded part.  
   
   
       10 . The washing machine as recited in  claim 1  wherein the bracket faces toward the near wall.