Laundry treating appliance having an acoustic barrier

Abstract

A laundry treating appliance for treating laundry according to an automatic cycle of operation is disclosed. The laundry treating appliance includes a cabinet defining a cabinet interior and a tub having a periphery and provided in the cabinet interior defining a tub interior. The laundry treating appliance further includes an acoustic barrier extending around the periphery of the tub.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A laundry treating appliance for treating laundry according to an automatic cycle of operation, the laundry treating appliance comprising:
 a cabinet defining a cabinet interior;   a tub having a periphery and provided in the cabinet interior defining a tub interior; and   a self-supporting acoustic barrier extending around the periphery and located within the cabinet in spaced relation to the periphery of the tub.   
     
     
         2 . The laundry treating appliance of  claim 1  wherein the spaced relation between the self-supporting acoustic barrier and the tub defines an air gap between the self-supporting acoustic barrier and the tub. 
     
     
         3 . The laundry treating appliance of  claim 2  wherein the thickness of the air gap is variable along the horizontal length of the tub. 
     
     
         4 . The laundry treating appliance of  claim 3  wherein the thickness of the air gap is greater at the top or bottom of the tub than at the sides of the tub. 
     
     
         5 . The laundry treating appliance of  claim 2  wherein the thickness of the air gap is at least 1 millimeter. 
     
     
         6 . The laundry treating appliance of  claim 2  wherein the air gap is at least partially filled with a non-rigid layer of lofty fiber which is non-compressed. 
     
     
         7 . The laundry treating appliance of  claim 1  wherein the self-supporting acoustic barrier comprises a compressed fiber layer. 
     
     
         8 . The laundry treating appliance of  claim 7  wherein the compressed fiber layer comprises PET or polypropylene fibers. 
     
     
         9 . The laundry treating appliance of  claim 7  wherein the self-supporting acoustic barrier is rigid. 
     
     
         10 . The laundry treating appliance of  claim 1  wherein a mounting structure for mounting the self-supporting acoustic barrier to the tub is integrally formed within the self-supporting acoustic barrier. 
     
     
         11 . The laundry treating appliance of  claim 1  wherein the self-supporting acoustic barrier extends completely around the periphery of the tub. 
     
     
         12 . A laundry treating appliance for treating laundry according to an automatic cycle of operation, the laundry treating appliance comprising:
 a cabinet defining a cabinet interior;   a tub having a periphery and provided in the cabinet interior defining a tub interior; and   a self-supporting acoustic barrier extending around the periphery and located within the cabinet;   wherein at least one mounting structure for mounting the self-supporting acoustic barrier about the periphery of the tub is integrally formed within the self-supporting acoustic barrier.   
     
     
         13 . The laundry treating appliance of  claim 12  wherein the self-supporting acoustic barrier extends completely around the periphery of the tub. 
     
     
         14 . The laundry treating appliance of  claim 12  wherein the at least one mounting structure comprises two mounting structures integrally formed within the self-supporting acoustic barrier. 
     
     
         15 . The laundry treating appliance of  claim 14  wherein the two mounting structures integrally formed within the self-supporting acoustic barrier attach to one another to secure the self-supporting acoustic barrier about the tub. 
     
     
         16 . The laundry treating appliance of  claim 15  wherein the self-supporting acoustic barrier is secured in a spaced relation from the tub. 
     
     
         17 . The laundry treating appliance of  claim 12  wherein a second mounting structure is provided on the tub. 
     
     
         18 . The laundry treating appliance of  claim 17  wherein the second mounting structure on the tub is configured to attach to the at least one mounting structure formed within the self-supporting acoustic barrier to secure the self-supporting acoustic barrier about the tub. 
     
     
         19 . The laundry treating appliance of  claim 18  wherein the mounting structures are configured to hold the self-supporting acoustic barrier in spaced relation to the tub.