Patent Publication Number: US-2018038035-A1

Title: Laundry treating appliance and tub assembly and method of forming

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application claims the benefit of and is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/288,788, filed May 28, 2014, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Laundry treating appliances, such as clothes washers, refreshers, and non-aqueous systems, may have a configuration based on a cabinet within which is housed the components of the appliance, including a tub. The tub may house a rotating drum that defines a treating chamber in which laundry items are placed for treating. The dimensions of the tub are defined in part by the space available within the cabinet which in turn define the dimensions of the drum which receive the laundry items for treatment. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     In one aspect, illustrative embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure relate to a laundry appliance for treating a load of laundry according to a cycle of operation comprising a cabinet and a tub assembly having a longitudinal axis and housed within the cabinet. The tub assembly comprises a front tub section having a first side wall with a first draft forming a first acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis, a rear tub section having a second side wall with a second draft forming a second acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis, and at least one middle tub section provided between the front tub section and the rear tub section, each of the at least one middle tub sections having at least a third side wall with at least a third draft forming a third acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis, wherein the front, rear, and at least one middle tub sections are assembled such that an angle formed by the meeting of any of the first, second, or the at least third side walls opens away from an interior of the tub assembly. 
     In another aspect, illustrative embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure relate to a laundry appliance for treating a load of laundry according to a cycle of operation comprising a cabinet and a tub assembly having a longitudinal axis and housed within the cabinet. The tub assembly comprises a front tub section having a first side wall with a first draft forming a first acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis, a rear tub section having a second side wall with a second draft forming a second acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis, and at least one middle tub section provided between the front tub section and the rear tub section, each of the at least one middle tub sections having at least a third side wall with at least a third draft forming a third acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis, wherein the front, rear, and at least one middle tub sections are assembled such that an angle formed by the at least one middle tub section opens away from an interior of the tub assembly. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a laundry treating appliance in the form of a washing machine according to a first embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a tub assembly for use in the laundry treating appliance of  FIG. 1  according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the tub assembly of  FIG. 2  according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the tub assembly of  FIG. 2  according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic illustration of a male and female mold for forming a part. 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  are schematic views of a cross-sectional view of a tub portion arranged such that a side wall of the tub portion has a positive and negative angle, respectively, with respect to a longitudinal axis of the tub portion according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic cross-sectional view of a tub assembly according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic cross-sectional view of a tub assembly according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic cross-sectional view of a tub assembly according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic cross-sectional view of a traditional tub assembly. 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the tub assembly of  FIG. 2  according to an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a laundry treating appliance according to an embodiment of the invention. The laundry treating appliance may be any appliance which performs a cycle of operation to clean or otherwise treat items placed therein, non-limiting examples of which include a horizontal or vertical axis clothes washer; a combination washing machine and dryer; a tumbling or stationary refreshing/revitalizing machine; an extractor; a non-aqueous washing apparatus; and a revitalizing machine. 
     The laundry treating appliance of  FIG. 1  is illustrated as a washing machine  10 , which may include a structural support system comprising a cabinet  12  which defines a housing within which a laundry holding system resides. The cabinet  12  may be a housing having a chassis and/or a frame, defining an interior enclosing components typically found in a conventional washing machine, such as motors, pumps, fluid lines, controls, sensors, transducers, and the like. Such components will not be described further herein except as necessary for a complete understanding of the invention. 
     The laundry holding system comprises a tub assembly  14  supported within the cabinet  12  by a suitable suspension system and a drum  16  provided within the tub assembly  14 , the drum  16  defining at least a portion of a laundry treating chamber  18 . The drum  16  may include a plurality of perforations  20  such that liquid may flow between the tub assembly  14  and the drum  16  through the perforations  20 . A plurality of baffles  22  may be disposed on an inner surface of the drum  16  to lift the laundry load received in the treating chamber  18  while the drum  16  rotates. It is also within the scope of the invention for the laundry holding system to comprise only a tub with the tub defining the laundry treating chamber. 
     The laundry holding system may further include a door  24  which may be movably mounted to the cabinet  12  to selectively close both the tub assembly  14  and the drum  16 . A bellows  26  may couple an open face of the tub assembly  14  with the cabinet  12 , with the door  24  sealing against the bellows  26  when the door  24  closes the tub assembly  14 . 
     The washing machine  10  may further include a suspension system  28  for dynamically suspending the laundry holding system within the structural support system. 
     The washing machine  10  may further include a liquid supply system for supplying water to the washing machine  10  for use in treating laundry during a cycle of operation and a dispensing system for dispensing treating chemistry to the treating chamber  18  for use in treating the laundry according to a cycle of operation. Any suitable liquid supply system and dispensing system may be used with the embodiments of the prevent invention, the details of which are not germane to the present invention. 
     The washing machine  10  may also include a recirculation and drain system for recirculating liquid within the laundry holding system and draining liquid from the washing machine  10 . Liquid supplied to the tub assembly  14  typically enters a space between the tub assembly  14  and the drum  16  and may flow by gravity to a sump  30  formed in part by a lower portion of the tub assembly  14 . The sump  30  may also be formed by a sump conduit  32  that may fluidly couple the lower portion of the tub assembly  14  to a pump  34 . The pump  34  may direct liquid to a drain conduit, which may drain the liquid from the washing machine  10 , or to a recirculation conduit to direct liquid into the drum  16 . In this manner, liquid provided to the tub assembly  14 , with or without treating chemistry may be recirculated into the treating chamber  18  for treating the laundry within. The liquid supply and/or recirculation and drain system may be provided with a heating system which may include one or more devices for heating laundry and/or liquid supplied to the tub assembly  14 , such as a steam generator and/or a sump heater, the details of which are not germane to the present invention. 
     The washing machine  10  also includes a drive system for rotating the drum  16  within the tub assembly  14 . The drive system may include a motor  40 , which may be directly coupled with the drum  16  through a drive shaft  42  to rotate the drum  16  about a rotational axis during a cycle of operation. The motor  40  may be a brushless permanent magnet (BPM) motor having a stator and a rotor. Alternately, the motor  40  may be coupled to the drum  16  through a belt and a drive shaft to rotate the drum  16 , as is known in the art. Other motors, such as an induction motor or a permanent split capacitor (PSC) motor, may also be used. The motor  40  may rotate the drum  16  at various speeds in either rotational direction. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the tub assembly  14  includes a front tub section  50 , a middle tub section  52  and a rear tub section  54 . The front tub section  50  includes a front section side wall  60  extending between open first and second front section ends  62  and  64 . The first end  62  may include an opening  66  that may be at least partially aligned with the door  24  and an open face of the drum  16  through which the user may load items into the drum  16  for treatment. The first front section end  62  of the front tub section  50  may be coupled with the bellows  26  to fluidly seal the opening  66  of the tub assembly  14  when the door  24  closes the tub assembly  14 . 
     The rear tub section  54  may include a rear section side wall  68  extending between an open first rear section end  70  and a closed second rear section end  72 . The closed second rear section end  72  may include an opening  74  through which the drive shaft  42  may extend for coupling the motor  40  with the drum  16 . The rear tub section  54  may also include at least a portion of the sump  30 . The middle tub section  52  includes a middle section side wall  76  extending between an open first middle section end  78  and an open second middle section end  80 . A portion of the sump  30  is formed in the rear tub section  54  and a portion of the sump  30  is formed in an adjacent portion of the middle tub section  52 . Alternatively, the sump  30  may be formed entirely in either the rear tub section  54 , middle tub section  52 , or the front tub section  50  or in a portion of all three of the front, middle and rear tub sections  50 ,  52 , and  54 , or the sump  30  may not be formed in any of the tub sections  50 ,  52 , and  54  without deviating from the scope of the invention. 
     Each of the front, middle and rear tub sections  50 ,  52 ,  54  may be attached to an adjacent tub section  50 ,  52 ,  54  by any mechanical and/or non-mechanical fastener. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the front section  50  may be coupled with the middle tub section  52  by joining the second front section end  64  with the first middle section end  78  by welding. The weld may be any suitable type of weld, non-limiting examples of which include an ultra-sonic welding, high frequency welding, friction welding, laser welding, pressure welding, and/or heat welding. The middle tub section  52  may include fastening elements  82  which align with corresponding fastening elements  84  on the rear tub section  54  such that the second middle section end  80  of the middle tub section  52  may be coupled with the first rear section end  70  using mechanical fasteners, such as bolts or pins. It is also within the scope of the invention for both the front and rear tub sections  50 ,  54  to be coupled with the middle tub section  52  by welding or by mechanical fasteners. In another example, the front tub section  50  may be coupled with the middle tub section  52  by mechanical fasteners while the rear tub section  54  is coupled with the middle tub section  52  by welding. 
     The front, middle and rear tub sections  50 ,  52 , and  54  may all be made from the same or different materials. In one example, the front, middle and rear tub sections  50 ,  52 , and  54  may be made from a polymeric material, with each section made by a molding process, such as injection molding. The front, middle and rear tub sections  50 ,  52 , and  54  may each be made from the same or a different polymeric material. In another example, the front and rear tub sections  50  and  54  may be made from a polymeric material while the middle tub section  52  is made from a metal-based material that has been casted to form the tub section. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4  each of the side walls  60 ,  76 , and  68  of the front, middle and rear tub sections  50 ,  52 , and  54 , respectively, may include a draft with respect to a longitudinal axis  90  of the tub assembly  14 . A brief explanation of draft and the use of draft within the context of the embodiments of the invention may be helpful. Draft is a term used in the art of molding and casting parts to refer to an amount of taper for a part perpendicular to a parting line of the part. Referring to  FIG. 5 , consider an arbitrary part  110  formed within a female mold  112  and a male mold  114 . The side walls of the female and male molds  112 ,  114  may be provided with a draft to facilitate release of the part  110  from the molds  112  and  114 . A draft angle  116  of an inner wall of the part  110  may be determined with respect to an axis  118  perpendicular to a parting line  120  of the part  110 . An outer wall of the part  110  may also be provided with a draft angle that is the same or different than the draft angle  116 . The draft on the part  110  provides the part  110  with a side wall  122  having a taper. In a similar manner, each of the side walls  60 ,  76 , and  68  of the front, middle and rear tub sections  50 ,  52 , and  54  may be provided with at least one draft to facilitate release of the tub sections  50 ,  52 , and  54  from the molds and/or casts used to form the tub sections, providing the side walls  60 ,  76 , and  68  with a taper or draft. 
     Draft angles may be provided in molded or cast parts to facilitate releasing the part from the mold or cast without distortion or damage. In the context of injection molding a plastic part, the high pressures during the molding process may force the plastic to come into contact with the surfaces of the mold&#39;s cores and cavities. The cavity may become so tightly packed with plastic that it is difficult to remove the part from the mold. In some cases, the part may shrink, which may make it easier to remove the part from the mold, but may also result in the part sticking to the mold&#39;s cores. Providing a part with a draft angle may facilitate removal of the part from the mold, particularly when high pressure injection molding processes are used, the part is large and/or the part is thin walled. These considerations, as well as the characteristics of the material used to mold the part, such as the material&#39;s shrinkage properties. Typically, the larger the draft angle, the easier it is to remove the part from the mold. However, the draft angle affects the dimensions of the part. For example, the part  110  in  FIG. 5  is illustrated as having a draft such that a base of the part is narrower than an opening of the part, which results in the part  110  have a smaller volume than a similar part in which there was no draft and the base was the same width as the opening. Each of the tub sections,  50 ,  52 , and  54  may be arranged relative to the longitudinal axis  90  such that the taper or draft of the side walls  60 ,  76 , and  68  are at alternating positive and negative angles with respect to the longitudinal axis  90 . Referring now to  FIGS. 6A and 6B  in which a schematic of the front tub section  50  is illustrated for the purposes of discussion, the front tub section  50  may be arranged relative to the longitudinal axis  90  such that a plane  126  defined by the side wall  60  intersects the longitudinal axis  90  at a vertex  128 . When an angle  130  created by rotating a ray  132  aligned with the longitudinal axis  90  from the longitudinal axis  90  to the plane  126  is created by rotating the ray  132  counterclockwise about the vertex  128 , the angle  130  is a positive angle, as illustrated in  FIG. 6A . When the angle  130  is created by rotating the ray  132  clockwise about the vertex  128 , the angle  130  is a negative angle. In this manner, the front tub section  50  may be arranged along the longitudinal axis  90  such that the side wall  60  is oriented relative to the longitudinal axis  90  at a positive angle or a negative angle. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 4 , the side wall  60  of the front tub section  50  may include a draft forming a front section draft angle  92  with respect to the longitudinal axis  90 . The front section draft angle  92  may be an acute, positive angle with respect to the longitudinal axis  90 . The side wall  68  of the rear tub section  54  may include a draft forming a rear section draft angle  94  with respect to the longitudinal axis  90 . The rear section draft angle  94  may be an acute, negative angle with respect to the longitudinal axis  90 . The rear section draft angle  94  may have the same or different magnitude as the front section draft angle  92 . 
     The side wall  76  of the middle tub section  52  may include a first side wall portion  76   a  having a first middle section draft angle  96  with respect to the longitudinal axis  90  and a second side wall portion  76   b  having a second middle section draft angle  98  with respect to the longitudinal axis  90 . The first middle section angle  96  may be an acute, negative angle and the second middle section angle  98  may be an acute, positive angle having a magnitude the same or different than the first middle section angle  96 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the front, middle and rear tub sections  50 ,  52 , and  54  are assembled such that the side walls  60 ,  76   a,    76   b,  and  68  have alternating positive and negative draft angles  92 ,  96 ,  98 , and  94 , respectively. The magnitude of each of the draft angles  92 ,  96 ,  98 , and  94  may be the same or different from one or more of the other draft angles  92 ,  96 ,  98 , and  94 . In an exemplary embodiment, the draft angles  92 ,  96 ,  98 , and  94  may be within 0.5 to about 3 degrees. This range is typically within the capability of the manufacturing process. 
     While the side walls  60 ,  76 , and  68  of the front, middle and rear tub sections  50 ,  52 , and  54  are illustrated as having a draft on both an inner and outer surface of the side walls  60 ,  76 , and  68 , it is within the scope of the invention for the draft to be present on only the inner or the outer surface of the side walls  60 ,  76 , and  68 . In addition, the side wall draft may extend only partially about the circumference of the tub section. For example a portion of the middle tub section side wall  76  and rear tub section side wall  68  is interrupted by the sump  30 , thus interrupting the draft angle in these areas of the side walls  76  and  68  (see  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). 
     While  FIG. 4  illustrates the middle tub section  52  as being in the form of a single part having two integrally formed side wall portions defined by two draft angles  96 ,  98 , it is within the scope of the invention for the middle tub section  52  to be formed by two or more separate sections without deviating from the scope of the invention. The two or more separate middle sections may be assembled to adjacent tub sections using any suitable mechanical and/or non-mechanical fasteners as described above with respect to the front, middle and rear tub sections  50 ,  52 , and  54 . 
       FIGS. 7-9  schematically illustrate exemplary alternative tub assemblies  214 ,  314 , and  414  which are similar to the tub assembly  14  except for the combination of tub sections and tub section draft angles used to form the tub assembly. Therefore, elements of the tub assemblies  214 ,  314 , and  414  similar to the tub assembly  14  are numbered with the prefix  200 ,  300 , and  400 , respectively. For the purposes of discussion, each tub section or portion of a tub section may be exemplified by a frustum. The dimensions and angles are not drawn to scale with the angles exaggerated for the purposes of discussion. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a tub assembly  214  in which the front tub section  250  has a side wall  260  formed with a positive draft angle and a rear tub section  254  having a side wall  268  formed with a negative draft angle. The middle tub section  252  of the tub assembly  214  may include a first middle tub section  252   a  coupled on one end with the front tub section  250  and having a side wall  276   a  with negative draft angle and a second middle tub section  252   b  coupled on one end with the rear tub section  254  and having a side wall  276   b  with a positive draft angle. The first and second middle tub sections  252   a  and  252   b  may be individual sections that are coupled together to form the tub assembly  214 . In this manner the tub assembly  214  may be formed by four separate sections  250 ,  252   a,    252   b,  and  254  assembled such that the draft angles of each section  250 ,  252   a,    252   b,  and  254  are arranged in alternating directions while the magnitude of each draft angle may be the same or different from one or more of the other draft angles. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a tub assembly  314  in which the middle tub section  352  of the tub assembly includes first, second, third and fourth middle tub sections  352   a,    352   b,    352   c,  and  352   d  assembled such that the draft angles for each section  352   a,    352   b,    352   c,  and  352   d  are arranged in alternating directions. The first middle tub section  352   a  has a side wall  376   a  with a negative draft angle that is coupled at one end with the front tub section  350  and at an opposite end with the second middle tub section  352   b.  The second middle tub section  352   b  has a side wall  376   b  with a positive draft angle and is coupled at one end with the first middle tub section  352   a  and on an opposite end with the third middle tub section  352   c.  The third middle tub section  352   c  has a side wall  376   c  with a negative draft angle and is coupled at one end with the second middle tub section  352   b  and on an opposite end with the fourth middle tub section  352   b.  The fourth middle tub section  352   d  has a side wall  376   d  with a positive draft angle and is coupled at one end with the third middle tub section  352   c  and on an opposite end with the rear tub section  354 . In this manner the tub assembly  314  may be formed by six separate sections  350 ,  352   a,    352   b,    352   c,    352   d,  and  354  assembled such that the draft angles of each section  350 ,  352   a,    352   b,    352   c,    352   d,  and  354  are arranged in alternating directions while the magnitude of each draft angle may be the same or different from one or more of the other draft angles. 
     While  FIG. 8  illustrates the middle tub section  352  being formed by four sections  352   a,    352   b,    352   c,  and  352   d  having draft angles arranged in alternating directions, it will be understood that the middle tub section may be formed by any number of sections having draft angles arranged in alternating directions. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a tub assembly  414  in which the middle tub section  452  is formed from first and second middle tub sections  452   a  and  452   b  each having multiple draft angles arranged in alternating directions. The first middle tub section  452   a  includes a side wall portion  476   a  having a negative draft angle and a side wall portion  476   b  having a positive draft angle. The second middle tub section  452   b  includes a side wall portion  476   c  having a negative draft angle and a side wall portion  476   d  having a positive draft angle. The first and middle tub sections  452   a  and  452   b  can be assembled with the front and rear tub sections  450  and  454  such that the draft angles of each section  450 ,  452   a,    452   b,  and  454  are arranged in alternating directions. 
     While the tub assemblies  14 ,  214 ,  314 , and  414  are illustrated as being formed from front and rear tub sections  50  and  54 ,  250  and  254 ,  350  and  354 , and  450  and  454 , respectively, that have a side wall  60  and  68 ,  260  and  268 ,  360  and  368 , and  460  and  468 , with a draft angle, it is also within the scope of the invention for either or both of the front and rear tub sections  50  and  54 ,  250  and  254 ,  350  and  354 , and  450  and  454 , respectively, to not have a side wall with a draft angle. 
     Forming the tub assembly from a front tub section, at least one middle tub section and a rear tub section each having at least one drafted side wall affects the capacity inside the tub as well as the diameter of the opening to the tub through which items are loaded to be treated, both of which may be important to the user of the laundry treating appliance. The tub assembly may be divided into multiple pieces having one or more drafted side walls to increase the capacity of the tub and to also increase the diameter of the opening to the tub, which makes loading items into the tub easier for the user. 
       FIG. 10  schematically illustrates a traditional tub assembly  500  which includes a front tub section  502  having a side wall  504  with a positive draft angle  506  with respect to a longitudinal axis  508  coupled with a rear tub section  510  having a side wall  512  with a negative draft angle  514 . For the purposes of discussion, the front and rear tub sections  502  and  510  may be considered frustums with the frustum forming the rear tub section  510  having the same dimensions as the frustum forming the front tub section  502 . The frustum forming the front and rear tub sections  502  and  510  may have a first or base radius  516 , a length  518  and a second radius  520 . The second radius  520  of the frustum forming the front tub section  502  corresponds to the opening in the front tub section  502  through which a user may load items to be treated. For simplicity sake for the purposes of discussion, the dimensions of the frustums are not drawn to scale and the draft angles have been exaggerated for the purposes of discussion. 
       FIG. 11  schematically illustrates the tub assembly  14  of  FIGS. 2-4  for comparison with the traditional tub assembly  500  of  FIG. 10 . For the purposes of discussion, the front and rear tub sections  50  and  54  are each represented by a frustum while the middle tub section  52  is represented by a pair of frustums. For simplicity sake for the purposes of discussion, the dimensions of the frustums forming the front, middle and rear tub sections  50 ,  52 , and  54  are the same, although not to scale and the draft angles have been exaggerated. The frustum forming the tub assembly  14  may have a first or base radius  530 , a length  532  and a second radius  534 . The second radius for the frustum forming the front tub section  50  corresponds to the radius of the opening  66  in the front tub section  50  through which a user loads items to be treated. 
     Table 1 provides exemplary dimensions for the tub assembly  500  of  FIG. 10  and the tub assembly  14  of  FIG. 11  having the same total length of the tub assembly and the same side wall draft angle. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Exemplary Tub Assembly Dimensions 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                   
                 Total tub 
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Draft 
                 assembly 
                 Section 
                 First 
                 Second 
                 Tub 
               
               
                 Tub 
                 angle 
                 length 
                 length 
                 radius 
                 radius 
                 volume 
               
               
                 assembly 
                 (degrees) 
                 (mm) 
                 (mm) 
                 (mm) 
                 (mm) 
                 (m 3 ) 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Tub 
                 2 
                 520 
                 260 
                 622 
                 612 
                 0.622 
               
               
                 assembly 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 500 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 Tub 
                 2 
                 520 
                 130 
                 630 
                 625 
                 0.643 
               
               
                 assembly 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 14 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     As illustrated in Table 1, for a given draft angle and total tub assembly length, decreasing the height of the tub sections and using more than two tub sections to form the tub assembly provides a corresponding increase in the first and second radii of the tub. The first and second radii of the tub assembly  14  increase by 8 mm and 13 mm, respectively, compared to the traditional tub assembly  500 . The increase in the first and second radii provides an increase in the effective internal diameter of the tub assembly  14  as well as increases the tub opening through which items to be treated are loaded. The increase in the first and second radii also results in a corresponding increase in the internal volume of the tub, increasing the volume for the tub assembly  14  by more than 3% compared to the traditional tub assembly  500 . 
     The draft angle for molded or cast parts of the dimensions typically found for laundry appliance tubs is generally in the range of 0.5 to 3 degrees, which is primarily driven by manufacturing requirements. Forming the tub assembly from a front tub section having a drafted side wall, at least one middle tub section having at least one drafted side wall and a rear tub section having a drafted side wall as described herein provides increase flexibility in the tub capacity and the load opening dimensions within a given range of draft angles and total tub assembly length. Providing one or more middle tub sections having one or more draft angles also provides flexibility in designing the tub assembly by allowing different middle tub sections to be used with a given set of front and rear tub sections to provide the desired tub capacity and load opening dimensions. In addition, the increased tub capacity results in less unused space within the cabinet. 
     To the extent not already described, the different features and structures of the various embodiments of the tub assemblies  14 ,  214 ,  314 , and  414  may be used in combination with each other as desired. That one feature may not be illustrated in all of the embodiments of the tub assemblies  14 ,  214 ,  314 , and  414  is not meant to be construed that it cannot be, but is done for brevity of description. Thus, the various features of the different embodiments of the tub assemblies  14 ,  214 ,  314 , and  414  may be mixed and matched as desired to form new embodiments, whether or not the new embodiments are expressly described. 
     While the invention has been specifically described in connection with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that this is by way of illustration and not of limitation. Reasonable variation and modification are possible within the scope of the forgoing disclosure and drawings without departing from the spirit of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.