US2252072A - Fluid discharge apparatus for laundry machines - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 12, 1941- A. H. GERHARDT FLU ID DISCHARGE APPARATUS FOR LAUNDRY MACHINES Filed Aug. 16, 1939 INVENTOR. find "2w H Gerhardt ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 12, 1941 FLUID DISCHARGE APPARATUS FOR LAUNDRY MACHINES Andrew H. Gerhardt, Chicago, 11]., assignor to Electric Household Utilities Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application August 16, 1939, Serial No. 290,429'

7 Claims. (Cl. 248-79) This invention relates to improvements in fluid discharge apparatus for use in connection with domestic washing machines of the type having a pump and hose connections, by virtue of which the washing fluid may be quickly withdrawn and discharged into a suitable drain or container.

More particularly, the present invention is directed to a novel form of attachment and mounting associated with the discharge end of a flexible hose, which is attached to the pump; the attachment being such as to permit more convenient disposal of the hose in an out-of the-way position on the machine when not in use, and

which also lends itself for convenient handlingv by the attendant when discharging the washing fluid from the machine.

I am aware of various constructions of devices the fluid discharge hose for use in connection with washing machines. The construction of such attachments as heretofore employed are, in some instances, relatively expensive; and others are rather impractical considering machines as now constructed. For example, one of the most widely used forms of attachments includes a piece of flexible hose, one end of which is connected to the pump and the other or free end is provided with a rigid metal hook-shaped tubular discharge outlet fixture. Such a fixture provides suitable anchorage means for the free end of the hose when the fixture'is disposed over the edge of a stationary tub for discharging the washing fluid from the tub of the machine. Such forms of hose attachments, however, have been found somewhat objectionable particularly because the hose, when the machine is not in use, is by necessity compelled to be drapped around the machine with the metal hook fixture anchored wherever convenient, and usually such fixtures are hooked over the marginal edge of the tub of the machine. In present-day washing machine constructions, it is practically a prerequisite that the tub be finished in enamel or porcelain for purposes of appearance and facility of cleansing, and obviously the placement of a metallic hook-shaped end fixture of the hose on the marginal edges of such tubs often results in checking or chipping of the enamel-coated surfaces. This condition is highly objectionable.

Moreover, such forms of hose attachments do not properly lend themselves for convenient anchorage to the machine and hence the hose is frequently knocked from its place of anchorage to the floor. For example, when the washing machine is being operated, it is frequently found and attachments proposed for association with inconvenient to have the hook end portion disposed over the marginal edge of the tub because it prevents proper seating of the cover of the machine, and thus necessitates an efiort to anchor the free end of the hose to some other support, such as, perhaps, the wringer post of the machine, or over the edge of a stationary tub. Due to such insecure anchorage of the hose on the machine, it often is inadvertently dislodged and knocked on the floor, which greatly detracts from the appearance of the machine on sales floors. Oneobject of this invention is to provide an inexpensive, simple, and improved form of hose attachment of the character indicated by virtue of which the free end of said hose may be detachably secured to the exterior wall of the machine in a convenient, out-of-the-way location.

Another object is to provide an improved attachment of the character indicated, having means for reinforcing a preformed hook at the free end of the flexible hose so as to reduce the tendency of opening of said hook due to fluid pressure in the hose.

Other objects and advantages of this invention In the preferred embodiment of my invention,

I have shown in the drawing a washing ma chine of the type including a body structure composed of a tub "I, rigidly seated upon a supporting base ll, said base being provided with a plurality of spaced-apart depending legs l2 for supporting the tub in proper relation to the floor. Suitably mounted within the base H is a fluid pump 14, of conventional construction, which, it may be understood, is provided with the usual connection, as by conduit 14 to the drain'of the tub ID for withdrawing the washing fluid therefrom. The discharge end of the pump I4 is connected by means of a coupling Hi to one end of a flexible hose l6, which is of adequate length to extend outwardly a substantial 'distance beyond the lower marginal edge of the forc base. Said hose desirably is of such length so as to permit the opposite or discharge end thereof to be disposed at a substantial distance from the machine, such as for discharging the washing fluid into a stationary tub or container. or-into a suitable drain.

The hose l6, which'is formed of flexible material, such as rubber, has its discharge end pre-formed in the shape of a gooseneck or hook, as indicated at H; said hook portion, being relatively fixed and of resilient material, serves to protect the upper marginal edge of the porcelain coated tub when the hose is hooked over said edge of the tub. It will be apparent that by forming the hook end of the hose of the same flexible material that the body of the hose is formed of, results in eliminating noise incident to placement of the hooked end of the hose in position on the edge of the tub, and reduces possibility of checking and chipping of the porcelain coated surface of the tub.

The novel attachment constituting the pres ent invention is such that a major portionof the flexible hose adjacent the discharge Hid is rendered relatively rigid by means of a reinbar 20 extending parallel an in close proximity to the outside wall of the hose with respect to the outer curved surface of the hooked endportion ll' thereof, as seen in Fig. 1 of the drawing. Said bar is firmly secured to said hose,

by means of a plurality of fingers 2|,- formed in pairs and secured to the bar 20, and which serve to embrace the hose for holding it firmly against said bar 20. Said pairs of fingers are formed from a single piece of metal stock, secured adjacent the middle of its length to said bar 20, as by welding, It will be noted that the upper end of the bar 20 is curved to conform to the contour of the outer curved surface of the hook portion i1, and'by virtue of the clamping fingers 2|, said body of the hose in contact with the bar 20 is reinforced and rendered relatively rigid, and the hooked end portion of the hose is reinforced so as to preclude excessive spreading of the extreme terminal or discharge end thereof, such as may occur when fluid is passing through the hose under substantial pressure, I

Rigidly attached, as by welding, to the lower end of the bar 20 is a metallic band 23 formled to tightly surround the hose and-having extensions cooperativeiy formed and secured to-' gether so as to produce a hollow depending chine and'in nowise interferes with the proper tongue element 24 disposed in spaced apart A a bracket 21 which, in turn, is rigidly attached to the base portion II by means of bolts 28. As may be seen in Fig. 2, said tongue is of substantial length so that when seated in .the

socket 26, it provides adequate support for properly maintaining the reinforcing bar 20, together with the secured portion of the hose IS, in a relatively fixed upright position in close proximity to the wall of the body structure of the washing machine. It will be noted that the band 23 and tongue 24 are connected together by a web 23 which is adapted to seat upon the upper edge of the bracket 21. for limiting the protrusion of the tongue 24 into the socket 26.

It will be apparent that by virtue of the construction described, a substantial portion of the hose adjacent the discharge end is maintained relatively flxed or rigid so as to afford conveniposition thereof in an outof-the-way location adjacent the body structure of the washing machine when said hose is not in use. Such an arrangement eliminates the possibility of inad vertent dislodgment of the hose from the marangement of parts without departing from the I do not, therefore,

spirit and scope thereof. wish to be understood as limiting this invention to the precise form herein disclosed, except as it may be so limited in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Fluid discharge apparatus for a washing machine of the type having a body structure including a tub and a base forsupporting said.

. tub, and a pump carried on the base for forcibly discharging fluid from the tub; said apparatus including a flexible hose adapted to be connected at one end to the pump, means adapted for detachably securing an intermediate portion of said hose to the exterior of the supporting base, and means connected to the securing means and extending toward the free end of the hose for reinforcing and supporting said portion of the hose in upright position in close proximity to the exterior of the body structure, said reinforcing means comprising a relatively rigid bar having a plurality of fingers at longitudinally spaced-points, formed for embracing said hose portion for supporting it firmly against the bar.

2. Fluid discharge apparatus for a washing machine of the type having a body structure including a tub and a base for Suppo ting said tub, and a pump carried on the base for forcibly discharging fluid from the tub; said apparatus including a flexible hose adapted to be connected at one end to the pump, the other end terminating in a preformed gooseneck hook,

means adapted for detachably securing a porcluding a relatively rigid bar having a portion formed to conform to the conto i 1r of at least aportion of said hook end of the hose, and means connected to the bar and formed to firmly embrace said hose portion at a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart points.

3. Fluid discharge apparatus for a washing machine of the type having a body structure including a tub and a base for supporting said tub, and a pump carried on the base for forcibly discharging fluid -from the tub; said apparatus including a flexible hose adapted to be connected at one end to the pump, the other end terminating in a preformed gooseneck hook, means adapted for detachably securing a portion of the hose adjacent said hook to the exterior of the supporting base. and means connected to the portion of the hose intermediate said securing means and said hook for reinforcing and supporting said hose portion in upright position in close proximity to the exterior of the body structure, s aidreinforcing means including a relatively rigid bar having a portion formed to conform to the contour of the outer surface of at least a portion of said hook endof the hose, and means connected to the bar and formed to firmly embrace said hose portion at a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart points.

Fluid discharge apparatus for a washing machine of the type having a body structure including a tub and a base for supporting said tub, and a pump carried on the base for forcibly discharging fluid from the tub; said apparatus including a flexible hose adapted to be connected at one end to the pump, the other end terminating in a preformed gooseneck hook, means adapted for detachably securing a portion of the hose adjacent said hook to the exterior of the supporting base, and means connected to the portion of thehose intermediate said securing means and said hook for reinforcing and supporting said hose portion in upright position in close proximity to the exterior of the body structure, said reinforcing means including a relatively rigid bar connected at one end to said detachable securing means and the other end having a portion formed to conform to the contour of the outer surface of at least a-portion of said hook end of the hose, and means connected to the bar and formed to firmly embrace said hose portion at a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart points.

5. Fluid discharge apparatus for a washing machine of the type having a body structure including a tub and a base for supporting said tub, and a pump carried on the base for forcibly discharging fluid from the tub; said apparatus including a flexible hose adapted to be connected at one end to the pump, means adapted for detachably securing an intermediate portion of said hose to the exterior of the supporting base, and means connected to the securing means and extending toward the free e of the hose for reinforcing and supporting sa d portion of the hose in upright position in close proximity to the exterior of the body structure, said reinforcing means comprising a relatively rigid bar having a plurality of fingers at longitudinally spaced points, formed for embracing said hose portion for supporting it firmly against the bar, said detachable securing means including a bracket on said supporting base formed to provides. socket of polygonal cross-section, and a cooperating member formed as a stamping, including a hollow tongue of polygonalcross-section for seating in said socket, and a looped body surround- ;ing said hose, said looped body being formed integrally with said tongue and being rigidly connected to the lower portion of said reinforcing bar. a

6. Fluid discharge apparatus for a washing machine oi the type having a body structure including a tub and a base for supporting said tub, and a pump carried on the base for forcibly discharging fluid from the tub; said apparatus including a flexible hose adapted to be connected at one end to the pump, the other end terminating in a preformed gooseneck hook, means adapt ed for detachably securing a portion of the hose adjacent said hook to the exterior of the supporting base, and means connected to the portion of the hose intermediate said securing means and said hook for reinforcing and supporting said hose portion in upright position in close proximity to the exterior of the body structure, said reinforcing means including a relatively rigid bar having a portion formed to conform to the contour of at least a portion of said hook end of the hose, and means connected to the bar and formed to firmly embrace said hose portion at a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart points, said detachable securing means including a bracket on said supporting base formed to pro- 1 vide a socket of polygonal cross-section, and a cooperating member formed'as a stamping, including a hollow tongue of polygonal cross-section for seating in said socket, and a looped body surrounding said hose, said looped body being formed integrally with said tongue and being rigidly connected to the lower portion of said rein- ,forcing bar.

' external surface of the supporting structure, and

ANDREW H. GERHARDT.

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