Abstract: A close washing machine includes a cabinet (2), a stationary water container (3) mounted in the cabinet and having a base and a side wall, downwardly extending ribs (4a, 5) on the base, a bearing tube (6) on the base supported by the ribs, vertically spaced bearings (20, 21) mounted on the bearing tube and having a vertical shaft (13) rotatably mounted therein, a seal between the shaft and bearing tube mounted above the bearing, an agitator (7) mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith, a perforated spin tub (4) within the container supported by bearings mounted on the shaft for rotatably supporting the spin tub, an electric motor type drive system having a stator (31) and a rotor and driving the vertical shaft (13) to rotatably oscillate the agitator or rotate the spin tub and agitator together in one direction. The stator is fixed to the container (3) and the rotor is fixed to the shaft (13) so that the bearings (20, 21) provide relative rotation of the stator and rotor.

Abstract: A hair curler for providing a variable curl on human hair is disclosed. The hair curler comprises a first elongated portion that is situated for wrapping receipt of hair. This first elongated section has a cross-sectional area A that is substantially constant over a length of the first elongated portion. A second elongated portion extends axially from the first portion and is situated for wrapping receipt of hair therearound. The second portion has a cross-sectional area B that differs from cross-sectional area A. Cross-sectional area B is substantially constant over a length of the second elongated portion of the curler.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electric motor stator (31) and rotor (43) including holding magnetic elements (29, 32, 53) thereof in position in dies and injecting a plastics material into the dies to provide bearing carrier mountings in the stator substantially concentric with pole faces (33) of the stator and poles of the rotor, providing a bearing (21) in the stator bearing carrier (27), mounting a shaft (13) in the bearing (21), with the shaft running in a further bearing mounting tube (6), and mounting the hub (51) of the rotor onto the shaft (13) so that operation of the motor drives the shaft. The motor and drive so made is mounted to drive an agitation and spin tub of a laundry machine.

Abstract: A clothes washing machine has a cabinet with either a back panel or front panel integral with two side panels and a removable front back panel. A platform integral with or mounted on stiffening members is fixed to the cabinet intermediate of the height thereof by shear resistant fastenings and a lightweight outer container containing an inner perforated frame is mounted on the platform. The washing and spinning mechanism is also supported by the platform.