Suds container for a washing machine and method for making a suds container

Abstract

A suds container for a washing machine includes a cylindrical vessel surrounding a drum of the washing machine. The cylindrical vessel includes a cylindrical wall and a front wall. A hub unit for receiving a drive shaft for the drum is integrated into the front wall. A fabric reinforcing mat is integrated in the front wall. The fabric mat at least partially covers the hub unit.

1 . A suds container for a washing machine, comprising: 
 a cylindrical vessel configured to receive a drum of the washing machine, the cylindrical vessel including a cylindrical wall and a front wall; and    a hub unit configured to receive a drive shaft for the drum, the hub unit being integrated into the front wall;    wherein a fabric reinforcing mat is integrated in the front wall in an area thereof, the fabric mat at least partially covering the hub unit.    
   
   
       2 . The suds container as recited in  claim 1  wherein the cylindrical container includes a plastic material.  
   
   
       3 . The suds container as recited in  claim 1  wherein the hub unit includes a metallic bearing block, the fabric mat at least partially covering the bearing block.  
   
   
       4 . The suds container as recited in  claim 1  wherein the fabric mat has, in an area of the hub unit, a contour that differs from a plane of a surface of the front wall, the contour substantially corresponding to a shape of the hub unit.  
   
   
       5 . The suds container as recited in  claim 1  wherein the fabric mat includes a plurality of at least one of fiberglass-plastic fibers and fiberglass-plastic filaments.  
   
   
       6 . The suds container as recited in  claim 1  wherein the fabric mat includes a plurality of at least one of Keviar fibers and Kevlar filaments.  
   
   
       7 . The suds container as recited in  claim 1  wherein the fabric mat includes a plurality of at least one of carbon fibers and carbon filaments.  
   
   
       8 . The suds container as recited in  claim 1  wherein the fabric mat includes a plurality of at least one of fibers and filaments oriented so as to substantially respectively correspond to respective stress lines occurring in the front wall.  
   
   
       9 . The suds container as recited in  claim 1  wherein the fabric mat at least partially covers the hub unit.  
   
   
       10 . The suds container as recited in  claim 3  wherein the fabric mat substantially covers an entire area of the metallic bearing block.  
   
   
       11 . The suds container as recited in  claim 3  wherein the fabric mat at least partially protrudes beyond an outer area of the metallic bearing block.  
   
   
       12 . The suds container as recited in  claim 11  wherein the fabric mat at least partially protrudes from the front wall into an edge area of the cylindrical wall.  
   
   
       13 . A method for making a suds container for a washing machine, the suds container including a cylindrical vessel configured to receive a drum of the washing machine, the cylindrical vessel including a cylindrical wall and a front wall; and a hub unit configured to receive a drive shaft for the drum, the hub unit being integrated into a plastic material of the front wall; the method comprising: 
 disposing at least one fabric reinforcement mat in an injection mold;    disposing the hub unit in the mold;    closing the mold; and then    feeding the plastic material to the mold.    
   
   
       14 . The method as recited in  claim 13  wherein the hub unit includes a metallic bearing block.  
   
   
       15 . The method as recited in  claim 13  wherein the plastic material includes a non-reinforced plastic compound, and further comprising feeding a fiber-reinforced plastic compound into the mold after the feeding of the non-reinforced plastic compound.  
   
   
       16 . A method for making a suds container for a washing machine, the suds container including a cylindrical vessel configured to receive a drum of the washing machine, the cylindrical vessel including a cylindrical wall and a front wall; and a hub unit configured to receive a drive shaft for the drum, the hub unit being integrated into a plastic material of the front wall; the method comprising: 
 disposing at least one fabric reinforcement mat around at least a portion of the hub unit;    disposing the hub unit and the at least one fabric mat in the mold;    closing the mold; and then feeding the plastic material to the mold.    
   
   
       17 . The method as recited in  claim 16  wherein the hub unit includes a metallic bearing block.  
   
   
       18 . The method as recited in  claim 16  wherein the plastic material includes a non-reinforced plastic compound, and further comprising feeding a fiber-reinforced plastic compound into the mold after the feeding of the non-reinforced plastic compound.