Patent ID: 8302434

Claim:
A drum type washing machine, comprising: a tub that hold washing fluid therein; a drum rotatably arranged in the tub; a shaft connected to the drum; a motor that rotates the shaft; a supporting plate positioned at an open axial end of the tub, wherein the supporting plate rotatably supports the shaft; a suspension system coupled to the supporting plate to elastically support the drum, the shaft, the motor, and the supporting plate; a balancer coupled to the drum to balance the drum during rotation of the drum; and a substantially annular gasket connected between the open axial end of the tub and the supporting plate such that the gasket and the supporting plate form an axial end wall of the tub, wherein the gasket comprises: a tub connecting portion that is connected to the tub; a supporting plate connecting portion that is positioned radially inward from the tub connecting portion and is connected to the supporting plate; and a flexible portion that extends radially between the tub connecting portion and the supporting plate connecting portion.