Abstract: An appliance shipping restraint assembly includes a housing with a base and vertical lateral walls. An operational assembly is mounted in the housing and is normally moveable relative to the housing. The operational assembly includes a platform spaced above the base with a pair of spaced apart, aligned openings. The base includes a pair of spaced apart openings aligned with the openings in the platform. An elongated rod extends through the openings in the platform and the base to restrain the operational assembly against excessive movement during shipment of the appliance. The rod is removable to release the operational assembly for normal movement relative to the housing.