Delayed flow water reservoir for a clothes drying cabinet and method of use

• US 20050040184A1
• Filed: 08/18/2003
• Published: 02/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maytag Corporation (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Maytag Corporation (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Inventors: Noyes, Bethany C., Rydberg, Don J., Prows, Dennis S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,228,994 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/185.100
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/10 Drying cabinets or drying chambers having heating or ventilating means
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 73/02 having one or more treatment chambers

Abstract

A delay flow water reservoir for a clothes dryer cabinet and method of use is provided. The delay flow reservoir has a container having an opening and a cap engaging the opening. The cap has a delay chamber with a drain opening, a seal covering the opening with first and second seal holes, and the delayed flow reservoir. The delay chamber fills with water from the container before draining into the clothes drying cabinets. The method of using the delay flow water reservoir permits the user to fill a container while in an upright position and then moving the delay flow water reservoir to an overturned dispense position. The method permits water to drain into the delay reservoir rather than out the drain opening while the user moves the reservoir into operational communication in the clothes drying cabinet.

Claims

1. A delayed flow reservoir, comprising:

a container having an opening;

a seal covering the opening and having first and second seal holes; and

a cap engaging the opening and having a delay chamber and a drain opening, wherein water flows from the container through one of the seal holes to fill the delay chamber before flowing out the drain opening.

2. The delayed flow reservoir of claim 1 wherein the container is a hand-held water bottle.

3. The delayed flow reservoir of claim 1 wherein the seal has a downward curved portion relative to the first hole.

4. The delayed flow reservoir of claim 1 wherein the seal has an upwardly curved portion relative to the second hole.

5. The delayed flow reservoir of claim 1 wherein the first seal hole is offset in a vertical direction from the second seal hole.

6. The delayed flow reservoir of claim 1 wherein the first seal hole is below the second seal hole when the reservoir is in a dispense position.

7. The delayed flow reservoir of claim 1 wherein the first seal hole has a smaller diameter than the second seal hole.

8. The delayed flow reservoir of claim 1 wherein the cap includes a tower extending upwardly in the delay chamber, with the drain opening being in the tower.

9. The delayed flow reservoir of claim 1 wherein the drain opening is below the first seal hole when the reservoir is in a dispense position.

10. The delayed flow reservoir of claim 1 wherein the drain opening is partially covered.

11. The delayed flow reservoir of claim 1 wherein the drain opening is larger than the first seal hole.

12. A delayed flow reservoir cap, comprising:

a body adapted to engage a container having an opening;

a seal in the body with first and second seal holes for the passage of water and air, respectively;

a delay chamber in the body; and

drain opening for the passage of water and air.

13. The cap of claim 12 wherein the seal has a downward curved portion relative to the first hole.

14. The cap of claim 12 wherein the seal has an upwardly curved portion relative to the second hole.

15. The cap of claim 12 wherein the first seal hole is offset in a vertical axis from the second seal hole.

16. The cap of claim 12 wherein the first seal hole is below the second seal hole when in a dispense position.

17. The cap of claim 12 wherein the first seal hole has a smaller diameter than the second seal hole.

18. The cap of claim 12 further comprising a tower within the delay chamber, the drain opening being in the tower.

19. The cap of claim 12 wherein the drain opening is below the first seal hole.

20. The cap of claim 12 wherein the drain opening is partially covered.

21. The cap of claim 12 wherein the drain opening is larger than the first seal hole.

22. The cap of claim 12 wherein the seal is removable from within the cap.

23. A method of providing delayed water flow in a clothes drying cabinet, the method comprising:

filling a container in an upright fill position with water;

attaching a cap with a seal to the container;

turning the container over to a downward dispense position;

flowing water from the container through a first hole in the seal into a chamber in the cap;

passing air from the cap through a second hole in the seal and into the container;

placing the container in the cabinet; and

draining water from the chamber into the cabinet.