PORT ASSEMBLY FOR USE WITH A CLEANING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING THE SAME

• US 20120152290A1
• Filed: 12/15/2010
• Published: 06/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Inventors: Hari, Om, Hensley, Amelia Lear, Okruch, Nicholas Jr., BROSNAN, Daniel Vincent, Ernst, Daniel Patrick, Flesch, Joshua
• Granted Patent: US 9,386,906 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/115.R
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0049 Detection or prevention of malfunction, including accident prevention arrangements to prevent clogging of filters A47L15/4208; safety arrangements for preventing water damage A47L15/421
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4418 in the form of liquids A47L15/4409, A47L15/4436, A47L15/4445 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/449 Metering controlling devices A47L15/4229 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2301/08 Other manual input
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/023 Quantity or concentration of the consumable product
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/026 Nature or type of the consumable product, e.g. information on detergent, e.g. 3-in-1 tablets, rinsing aid or salt
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/07 Consumable products, e.g. detergent, rinse aids or salt
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/08 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/20 Washing liquid condition, e.g. turbidity
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/42 Detergent or additive supply
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/37 of metering of detergents or additives
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/28 Arrangements for program selection, e.g. control panels therefor; Arrangements for indicating program parameters, e.g. the selected program or its progress
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/022 in a liquid state D06F39/024 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A port assembly for use with a refillable storage container of a cleaning device includes a cap assembly having a sensor aperture and an outlet aperture. The cap assembly is configured to couple to a lip of the storage container. A sensor assembly extends through the sensor aperture and is coupled to the cap assembly, and an outlet assembly extends through the outlet aperture and is coupled to the cap assembly. The outlet assembly is coupled in fluid communication with a cleaning cavity of the cleaning device and the storage container.

Claims

1. A port assembly for use with a refillable storage container of a cleaning device, said port assembly comprising:

a cap assembly comprising a sensor aperture and an outlet aperture, said cap assembly configured to couple to a lip of the storage container;

a sensor assembly extending through said sensor aperture and coupled to said cap assembly; and

an outlet assembly extending through said outlet aperture and coupled to said cap assembly, said outlet assembly coupled in fluid communication with a cleaning cavity of the cleaning device and the storage container.

2. A port assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said sensor assembly comprises:

a support coupled to said cap assembly;

a sensor coupled to said support; and

a circuit board positioned within a chamber of said cap assembly, said circuit board communicatively coupled to said sensor.

3. A port assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said sensor assembly comprises at least one of a conductivity sensor, a pH level sensor, a color sensor, a viscosity sensor, a turbidity sensor, a chemical property sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a luminescence sensor, and a bio-sensor.

4. A port assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said outlet assembly comprises:

an outlet tube extending to the storage container; and

an outlet connector coupled in flow communication with said outlet tube and the cleaning cavity of the cleaning device.

5. A port assembly in accordance with claim 4. further comprising a tube support coupled to said cap assembly. at least one of said outlet tube and said outlet connector coupled to said tube support.

6. A port assembly in accordance with Claim I, wherein said cap assembly comprises:

a cap configured to seal an opening of the storage container, said sensor aperture and said outlet aperture defined through said cap; and

a coupling portion coupled to said cap and configured to couple to a lip of the storage container that defines the opening of the storage container.

7. A port assembly in accordance with claim 6, wherein at least one of said cap, said coupling portion, and the lip is configured to provide venting of the storage container.

8. A cleaning device comprising:

a cleaning cavity configured to receive items to be cleaned;

at least one storage container configured to receive a fluid; and

a port assembly coupled to said at least one storage container, said port assembly comprising;

a cap assembly comprising a sensor aperture and an outlet aperture, said cap assembly configured to couple to a lip of said at least one storage container;

a sensor assembly extending through said sensor aperture and coupled to said cap assembly; and

an outlet assembly extending through said outlet aperture and coupled to said cap assembly, said outlet assembly coupled in fluid communication with said cleaning cavity and said at least one storage container.

9. A cleaning device in accordance with claim 8 further comprising a controller communicatively coupled to said sensor assembly, said controller configured to control an operation of said cleaning device.

10. A cleaning device in accordance with claim 9, wherein said sensor assembly comprises a circuit board communicatively coupled to said controller, said circuit board positioned within a chamber of said cap assembly.

11. A cleaning device in accordance with claim 9 further comprising a control panel configured to receive a wash setting from a user, said controller configured to automatically dispense a fluid from said at least one storage container into said cleaning cavity based on the wash setting.

12. A cleaning device in accordance with claim 9, wherein said controller is configured to use data from said sensor assembly to determine at least one of a fluid level within said at least one storage container and a property of the fluid within said at least one storage container.

13. A cleaning device in accordance with claim 8 further comprising a pump coupled in flow communication with said outlet assembly and said cleaning cavity.

14. A cleaning device in accordance with claim 8 further comprising a drawer positioned beneath said cleaning cavity, said at least one storage container positioned within said drawer.

15. A cleaning device in accordance with claim 8 further comprising a locking mechanism defined at a lip of said at least one storage container that defines an opening of said at least one storage container, wherein said cap assembly comprises a key extending from a surface thereof, the key configured to fit within the locking mechanism to facilitate proper alignment of said port assembly with respect to said at least one storage container.

16. A method for assembling a cleaning device including a storage container having a cap assembly configured to couple to a lip of the storage container, wherein a sensor aperture and an outlet aperture are defined through the cap assembly, said method comprising:

coupling a sensor assembly to the cap assembly such that the sensor assembly extends through the sensor aperture; and

coupling an outlet assembly to the cap assembly such that the outlet assembly extends through the outlet aperture, the outlet assembly configured to channel the fluid from the storage container to a cleaning cavity of the cleaning device, wherein the cap assembly, the sensor assembly, and the outlet assembly form an integrated port assembly.

17. A method in accordance with claim 16, wherein coupling a sensor assembly to the cap assembly further comprises:

coupling a support within the cap assembly;

coupling a sensor and a circuit board to the support; and

communicatively coupling the circuit board to the sensor.

18. A method in accordance with claim 16, wherein coupling a sensor assembly to the cap assembly further comprises coupling at least one of a conductivity sensor, a pH level sensor, a color sensor, a viscosity sensor, a turbidity sensor, a chemical property sensor, a temperature sensor, and a bio-sensor to the cap assembly.

19. A method in accordance with claim 16, wherein coupling an outlet assembly to the cap assembly comprises:

coupling a tube support to the cap assembly; and

coupling an outlet tube to the tube support.

20. A method in accordance with claim 16, wherein the cap assembly includes a cap, a shoulder, and a coupling portion, said method comprising:

fixedly coupling the shoulder to the coupling portion to form a cap connector; and

rotatably coupling the cap connector to the cap.