US 12,031,260 B2
Reinforcing cap for a tub rear wall of an appliance
Steven Fricke, St. Joseph, MI (US); Tarun Sai Yadav Godha, St. Joseph, MI (US); James B. Hull, St. Joseph, MI (US); Peter A. Wagoner, St. Joseph, MI (US); Eric J. Walsh, St. Joseph, MI (US); and Christoph J. Miller, St. Joseph, MI (US)
Assigned to Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, MI (US)
Filed by WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION, Benton Harbor, MI (US)
Filed on Sep. 9, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/941,466.
Application 17/941,466 is a continuation of application No. 16/884,786, filed on May 27, 2020, granted, now 11,473,231.
Application 16/884,786 is a continuation of application No. 15/694,003, filed on Sep. 1, 2017, granted, now 10,704,180, issued on Jul. 7, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/468,485, filed on Mar. 8, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/398,075, filed on Sep. 22, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2023/0002950 A1, Jan. 5, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. D06F 37/26 (2006.01); D06F 37/30 (2020.01); H02K 1/2791 (2022.01); H02K 1/14 (2006.01); H02K 5/02 (2006.01); H02K 5/16 (2006.01)
CPC D06F 37/264 (2013.01) [D06F 37/267 (2013.01); D06F 37/269 (2013.01); D06F 37/30 (2013.01); D06F 37/304 (2013.01); H02K 1/2791 (2022.01); H02K 1/146 (2013.01); H02K 5/02 (2013.01); H02K 5/161 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A tub for an appliance, the tub comprising:
a rear wall that includes a plurality of structural ribs that extend from a center of the rear wall;
a reinforcing cap having outer and inner reinforcing portions that are parallel with one another and are fixed at least to the plurality of structural ribs, the reinforcing cap having an angled reinforcing portion extending between the outer and inner reinforcing portions, wherein the angled reinforcing portion is spaced apart from the plurality of structural ribs to define a clearance space therebetween, and wherein the angled reinforcing portion is a frustoconical member that extends between the outer and inner reinforcing portions.