Patent ID: 8074475

Claim:
A heater apparatus of a washing machine, comprising: a tub; a heater receiving groove recessed in an interior bottom surface of the tub; a heater received in the heater receiving groove; and a heater bracket that couples the heater to the tub, wherein the heater bracket is directly fixed to an exterior surface of the tub so as to indirectly couple the heater to a corresponding interior surface of the tub within the heater receiving groove, the heater bracket comprising: a pressurizing plate; a center hole formed in the pressurizing plate that receives a fastener therethrough that rigidly couples the heater to the heater bracket; a first flange that extends outward from a first edge of the pressurizing plate; a second flange that extends outward from a second edge of the pressurizing plate opposite the first edge thereof; a hook formed along a peripheral edge of the second flange; a support flange that extends outward from the peripheral edge of the second flange; and fastener inserting holes formed in the support flange and the first flange, wherein the fastener inserting holes respectively receive fasteners therethrough that rigidly couple the heater bracket to the tub.