Detergent feeding device for washer

• US 10,508,381 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2015
• Issued: 12/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Jung, Sungwoon, Geier, Michael, Hofmann, Hartmut
• Primary Examiner(s): Osterhout, Benjamin L
• Application Number:
  US15/321,344
• Publication Number:
  US 20170159227A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,638 Days
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 23/02 and rotating or oscillating about a horizontal axis
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/022 in a liquid state D06F39/024 takes precedence

Abstract

Provided is a detergent feeding device including a detergent box provided with a detergent accommodating part having an opening part; an opening and closing member; a detergent box housing accommodating the detergent box; a dispenser to supply water to the detergent box; a first water supply tube supplying water to the dispenser; a second water supply tube connected to the detergent box housing; and an opening unit connected to an outlet of the second water supply tube, wherein the opening unit is moved by water pressure of the water supplied from the second water supply tube to push the opening and closing member to open the opening part of the detergent accommodating part.

Claims

1. A detergent feeding device comprising:

a detergent box with a detergent accommodating part, the detergent accommodating part being configured to receive a liquid detergent or a powder detergent, and including an opening part at a rear end;

a detergent box housing having wall parts and houses the detergent box;

a dispenser disposed above the detergent box housing and that is configured to supply water to the detergent box;

a support rib that connects wall parts of the detergent box;

an opening and closing member hinged to the supporting rib that is configured to selectively open and close the opening part;

an elastic member mounted to the support rib;

a fixing rib that protrudes from one surface of the opening and closing member and extends to contact the elastic member;

a first water supply tube connected to the dispenser and that is configured to supply water to the dispenser;

a second water supply tube connected to the detergent box housing; and

an opening unit provided on the detergent box housing and connected to an outlet of the second water supply tube,

wherein the opening unit is configured to be moved by water pressure of the water supplied from the second water supply tube to push the opening and closing member to open the opening part, and

wherein the fixing rib is configured to contact the elastic member along movement of the opening unit.

2. The detergent feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the opening unit comprises:

a cylinder that is configured to receive the water from the second water supply tube, and a piston accommodated in the cylinder,

wherein the piston is configured to be advanced by the water pressure of the water supplied from the second water supply tube to push the opening and closing member to open the opening part of the detergent accommodating part.

3. The detergent feeding device according to claim 2, wherein when the supply of the water to the second water supply tube is stopped, the piston is configured to return to an original position based on the weight of the piston.

4. The detergent feeding device according to claim 1, wherein, when the opening and closing member is moved by the piston in a first direction, the fixing rib is configured to catch the elastic member to fix the opening and closing member.

5. The detergent feeding device according to claim 4, wherein, when the detergent box is withdrawn from the detergent box housing, the opening and closing member is configured to return to an original position of the opening closing member.

6. The detergent feeding device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a guide part that protrudes from the dispenser towards the detergent box, and

an auxiliary rib that protrudes from the opening and closing member to selectively contact the guide part,

wherein the auxiliary rib is configured to move along the guide part to move the opening and closing member to close the opening part of the detergent accommodating part when the detergent box is withdrawn from the detergent box housing.

7. The detergent feeding device according to claim 6, wherein, when the opening and closing member close the opening part of the detergent accommodating part, the fixing rib is configured to catch the elastic member, so that the opening and closing member maintains the closing of the opening part of the detergent accommodating part.