Abstract:
This invention comprises a support base designed to elevate an appliance such as a washer, dryer, or refrigerator in order to provide more convenient access. The invention also optionally provides castors on the bottom of the support base so that the appliance may be easily moved, if the user desires such mobility.

Description:
BACKGROUND—FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates to the field of appliances. More specifically, the invention comprises a base which can be used to raise the height of an appliance such as a washer, dryer, or refrigerator. The invention is comprised of simple molded components which can be joined without the need for separate fastening hardware. 
     BACKGROUND—DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART 
     Appliances such as laundry washing and drying machines now have standard dimensions. A typical size for such an appliance is 27 inches wide by 27 inches deep by 36 inches high. FIG. 1 shows a typical washer and dryer in a side-by-side installation. Washer  10  has washer door  14  in its upper surface. Dryer  12  has dryer door  16  in its front surface. The user may transfer laundry through washer door  14 —which is located approximately 36 inches off the floor—without having to stoop. However, the user must often bend own considerably to transfer laundry through dryer door  16 . This repetitive stooping while loading and unloading laundry can be a problem for older persons and injured persons. Accordingly, it is desirable to raise dryer  12  so that dryer door  16  is placed at a more convenient level. 
     It is also true that appliances must be moved in and out in order to clean around them and unclog the lint vent. Because the appliances are typically resting on rigid feet, this movement is difficult. It would therefore be advantageous to provide a device which would facilitate the movement of the appliances as well as raise them. 
     Rolling cabinets are well known in the prior art. One example is U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,629 to Simons (1993). He Simons device is a small cabinet with four castors. Its height is such that it can be placed beneath a desk or table when not in use. A similar device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,921,646 to Hwang (1999). The Hwang device is a rolling cabinet which is particularly suited for use with TV and stereo equipment. Although useful, neither the Simons nor the Hwang device is sturdy enough to support a laundry drying machine (which can weigh upwards of 100 pounds). 
     A device which is particularly adapted to appliances is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,741,054 to Becker et.al. (1998). The Becker device is a molded structural foam base attached to the bottom of a portable dishwasher. It does allow the dishwasher to be easily moved about. However, it does not elevate the dishwasher above its normal position. 
     Another type of rolling appliance attachments disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,758,057 to Spiegel (1988). This invention is a modification to the conventional frame of a dishwasher. Two wheels are added near the rear portion of the frame, so that when the front of the unit is lifted it can be rolled into place. While an effective solution, the Spiegel device cannot be applied to existing appliances without extensive modification. Also, like the Becker device, it does nothing to elevate the appliance. 
     The known devices for elevating and moving an appliance such as a washer, dryer, or refrigerator are therefore limited in that they: 
     1. Do not elevate the appliance; 
     2. Cannot be retroactively applied to existing appliances; and 
     3. Are not sturdy enough to support the weight of large appliances. 
     OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES 
     Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the present invention are: 
     1. To provide an appliance support which can elevate an appliance so that it may be more conveniently used; 
     2. To provide an appliance support which is applicable to a wide range of existing appliances; 
     3. To provide an appliance support which is sturdy enough to support washers, dryers, and refrigerators; and 
     4. To provide an appliance support which may be molded in large quantities at a relatively low cost. 
    
    
     DRAWING FIGURES 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view, showing a conventional washer and dryer in a side-by-side installation; 
     FIG. 2 is an isometric view, showing the proposed invention placed under an appliance; 
     FIG. 3 is an isometric view showing one of the molded side walls that comprise the proposed invention; 
     FIG. 4 is an isometric view, showing a different side of said molded side wall; 
     FIG. 5 is an isometric view showing how the molded side walls are joined to form a support base; 
     FIG. 6 is an isometric view, showing the completed base; and 
     FIG. 7 is an isometric view, showing an alternate embodiment which incorporates a storage compartment. 
     FIG. 8 is an isometric view, showing the installation of castors on the bottom of the base. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Reference Numerals in Drawings 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 10 
                 washer 
                 12 
                 dryer 
               
               
                   
                 14 
                 washer door 
                 16 
                 dryer door 
               
               
                   
                 18 
                 support base 
                 20 
                 side wall 
               
               
                   
                 22 
                 top surface 
                 24 
                 appliance recess 
               
               
                   
                 26 
                 spacer beam recess 
                 28 
                 notch 
               
               
                   
                 30 
                 locking lug 
                 32 
                 locking pin 
               
               
                   
                 34 
                 lug recess 
                 36 
                 pin recess 
               
               
                   
                 38 
                 spacer beam 
                 40 
                 notch lug 
               
               
                   
                 42 
                 castor hole 
                 44 
                 castor 
               
               
                   
                 46 
                 alternate side wall 
                 48 
                 drawer 
               
               
                   
                 50 
                 outer surface 
                 52 
                 right surface 
               
               
                   
                 54 
                 left surface 
                 56 
                 inner surface 
               
               
                   
                 58 
                 hollow interior 
                 60 
                 upper beam surface 
               
               
                   
                 62 
                 lower beam surface 
                 64 
                 bottom surface 
               
               
                   
                 66 
                 drawer opening 
                 68 
                 lower reinforcement rib 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 2 shows washer  10  and dryer  12  in a side-by-side installation. Support box  18  has been placed under dryer  12  to elevate it approximately 16 inches. Dryer door  16  has been consequently elevated and is therefore more easily accessible. Support box  18  also has castors  44  attached to its lower surface. These allow the user to easily roll dryer  12  out of its position to facilitate mopping and vacuuming. The reader should be aware that although support box  18  has been illustrated as raising dryer  12 , it may also be used to raise washer  10 , refrigerators, or various other appliances. 
     Turning now to FIG. 5, the details of support box  18  will be explained. Support box  18  is comprised of four side walls  20 . In the typical embodiment all four side walls  20  are identical. Side wall  20  has outer surface  50 , top surface  22 , and right surface  52 . Turning briefly to FIG. 4, the reader will note inner surface  56 , left surface  54 , and bottom surface  64 . 
     Returning now to FIG. 5, the reader will observe that top surface  22  opens into appliance recess  24 . It also contains notch  28 . The function of these features will be disclosed subsequently. Right surface  52  has two locking lugs  30 . Each locking lug  30  has a locking pin  32  protruding from its top. Tuning again to FIG. 4, the reader will observe that inner surface  56  open into two lug recesses  34 . Each lug recess  34  also has a pin recess  36 . Locking lugs  30  and lug recesses  34  are designed to interlock and thereby fasten together two adjacent side walls  20 . 
     Inner surface  56  has a plurality of stiffening ribs  38 , intended to stiffen side wall  20 . Though a variety of rib designs could be employed, the one illustrated has proven to be particularly effective when side wall  20  is made as a hollow, thin-walled structure (such as in roto-molding). Bottom surface  64  has a single castor hole  42 . Castor  44  is mounted therein, and is free to swivel about its mounting pin. 
     Turning now to FIG. 5, the assembly of support base  18  will be explained. A succession of four side walls  20  are locked together to form support base  18 . A first side wall  20 , which is lowest as shown in the view, has exposed right surface  52  and locking lugs  30 . A second side wall  20  is shown prior to assembly (in the right hand portion of the view). Inner surface  56  of the second side wall  20  is mated to right surface  52  of the first side wall  20 . Locking lugs  30  on the first side wall  20  engage lug recesses  34  on the second side wall  20 . Once the second side wall  20  is pressed into place, left surface  54  of the second side wall  20  will be flush with outer surface  50  of the first side wall  20 . Top surface  22  of the second side wall  20  will also be flush with top surface  22  of the first side wall  20 . 
     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that four identical side walls  20  can be assembled as previously explained to form an interlocked support base  18  in a simple step-wise procedure. The last of the four side walls  20  to be assembled requires more manipulation in that both its end must be linked simultaneously. The result is a box structure having hollow interior  58 . The appliance recesses  24  within the upper portion of each side wall  20  also join to define a large recessed square, which is sized to accommodate the base of most standard appliances. 
     However, some appliances may be too small to span hollow interior  58 . This problem is typically encountered with small refrigerators, such as those found in hotel rooms and college dormitories. An appliance with a small footprint would be unable to rest on appliance recess  24  without falling into hollow interior  58 . Accordingly, another component is needed to remedy this problem. 
     FIG. 5 shows this additional component—spacer beam  38 . Spacer beam  38  is in the form of an elongated bar. It has upper beam surface  60  and lower beam surface  62 . Lower reinforcing rib  68  is provided to stiffen spacer beam  38  when bending moments are applied. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates spacer beam  38  in place over hollow interior  58 . The length of spacer beam  38  is set to fit within the spacer beam recess  26  on two opposing side walls  20 . Lower beam surface  62  mates to the surface designated as spacer beam recess  26  on the two opposing side walls  20 . In this position, upper beam surface  60  is flush with appliance recess  24 . Thus, spacer beam  38  has effectively covered a portion of hollow interior  58 . 
     Notch lug  40  fits within notch  28  in the upper (as illustrated) side wall  20 , thereby further restricting unwanted movement of spacer beam  38 . Spacer beam  38  actually has two notch lugs  40  on opposite sides. They are offset to allow nesting of several spacer beams  38 . Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the user can add three additional spacer beams  38  (in addition to the first one illustrated) in order to completely cover hollow interior  58 . Thus, virtually any type of small appliance can be accommodated. Spacer beams  38  are made strong enough to support the weight of the appliance. 
     With reference to FIGS. 2 and 6, the reader will observe that the base of dryer  12  fits within appliance recess  24 . With respect to FIGS. 2 and 8, the reader will also observe that castors  44  allow dryer  12  to be easily rolled in and out of its normal position. FIG. 7 is also significant in that it contains alternate side wall  46 . One of the previously illustrated side walls  20  has been replaced by alternate side wall  46 . Alternate side wall  46  is identical to side wall  20  except that its outer surface  50  opens into drawer opening  66 , which passes completely through side wall  46 . Drawer  48  slidably fits within drawer opening  66 . This modification allows the user to utilize the space within hollow interior  58 . Drawer  48  can also be made as a pivoting hamper or other commonly known variation. This advantage makes the version illustrated in FIG. 7 the preferred embodiment. 
     FIG. 8 shows an enlarged view of castor  44  being inserted in castor hole  42 . Castors  44  are held in place by the weight of support base  18 . However, they should be a fairly tight fit, so that they do not fall out when support base  18  is lifted off the floor. Alternatively, they can be retained by a spring clip or other conventional retaining device. 
     The reader should be aware that the user has the option to omit castors  44 . The user may want the appliance to be unable to move around. If this is desired, omitting castors  44  results in the bottom of support base  18  resting directly on the floor. The rest of the device functions in exactly the same way. 
     The strength of the material used to construct side wall  20  and spacer beam  38  is significant, as the completed assembly must support substantial loads. A hollow, double-walled structure has been found to be particularly effective. Molding plastics—such as ABS—are sufficiently strong when used in the roto-molding process. Reaction-injection molding and structural foam molding can also be employed to create walls having enough thickness to meet the strength requirements. Any of these processes can produce a substantial quantity of side walls  20  at a reasonable cost. 
     SUMMARY, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE 
     Accordingly, the reader will appreciate that the proposed invention allows the elevation and easy movement of a variety of appliances such as washers, dryers, and refrigerators. The invention has further advantages in that: 
     1. It provides an appliance support which is applicable to a wide range of existing appliances; 
     2. It provides an appliance support which is sturdy enough to support washers, dryers, and refrigerators; and 
     3. It provides an appliance support which may be molded in large quantities at a relatively low cost. 
     Although the preceding description contains significant detail, it should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but rather as providing illustrations of the preferred embodiment of the invention. For example, many types of manufacturing processes beyond those discussed could be employed to make side wall  20  without altering the central objective of the invention. Thus, the scope of the invention should be fixed by the following claims, rather than by the examples given.