Patent ID: 7475572

Claim:
A washing machine comprising: a frame defining an interior and having a frame aperture extending from an exterior of the frame to the interior; a tub supported within the interior and having a screw hole therein and spaced from the frame aperture to define a gap therebetween; a power cord; a removable immobilizing rod passing through the frame aperture to physically couple the frame and the tub, comprising: a spacer portion extending between the frame and the tub, and having an axially-disposed spacer bore; a threaded fastener extending through the frame aperture, the spacer bore, and into the screw hole to immovably couple the tub with the frame; and a projection extending from the spacer portion to define a recess located within the gap for restraining the power cord within the gap in the interior of the frame; wherein when the immobilizing rod couples the tub to the frame and the cord is received within the recess, the projection and cord are located within the gap in the interior of the frame rendering the cord inaccessible from the exterior of the frame for plugging into an outlet.