COMBINATION DETERGENT DISPENSER AND MANUAL FILTER

• US 3,757,543 A
• Filed: 08/30/1971
• Issued: 09/11/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Albert T. Braga
• Original Assignee: Albert T. Braga
• Inventors: Braga, Albert T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Petrakes, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Coe, Philip R.
• Application Number:
  US05/175,959
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• Field of Search: 68/17R,17A,18F 222/160,162,164 134/93
• US Class Current: 68/17.00R
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/02 Devices for adding soap or other washing agents
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/10 Filtering arrangements

Abstract

A dispensing device adapted for use in a washing machine having a liquid circulation system for selectively dispensing a washing agent into the liquid of the circulation system. The dispensing device includes a housing which is connected in the circulation system of the washing machine and which preferably acts as a discharge for circulating the liquid back to the tub of the machine. A tray for holding the laundry agent or additive is removably received in the housing and is movable between a bypass position withdrawn from the flow of the circulating liquid and a dispensing position with the tray in the path of the circulating liquid to flush the agent contained therein into the machine. When inserted in the device, the tray is held by a permanent magnet in the bypass position until an electromagnetic force overcomes the magnetic forces of a permanet magnet to release the tray and enable a spring to bias the tray to the dispensing position. In one embodiment of the invention, the tray includes a filtering means comprising upstanding fingers to filter the washing liquid as it is passing across the tray to be discharged into the washing machine.

Claims

1. In a washing machine having a liquid circulation system, a wash agent dispenser comprising:

a housing forming a portion of said liquid circulation system;

a tray disposed in said housing, said tray including means for filtering wash liquid in said liquid circulation system;

means for mounting said tray in said housing between a liquid bypass position and a wash agent dispensing position; and

actuating means for releasing said tray from said bypass position to said wash agent dispensing position at a predetermined time in a wash cycle of the washing machine.

2. In a washing machine of claim 1, wherein said actuating means comprises a magnetic means.

3. In a washing machine according to claim 2, wherein said tray includes means biasing the tray to the dispensing position, and wherein said magnetic means includes a permanent magnEt holding the tray in the bypass position against the force of the biasing means and an electromagnet arranged to overcome the holding force of the permanent magnet, whereby the energizing of the electromagnet at said predeterminedtime releases the tray from the bypass position to enable the biasing means to mvoe the tray to the wash agent dispensing position.

4. In a washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the tray is slidable removed from the housing to enable cleaning and filling with the wash agent.

5. In a washing machine according to claim 4 wherein said housing and said tray have coacting means for limiting movement of the tray in the housing while in the dispensing position.

6. In a washing machine according to claim 5, wherein said coacting means comprises coacting abutment surfaces arranged to allow a limited movement of the tray in the housing while in the dispensing position.

7. In a washing machine according to claim 1, wherein said means for filtering comprises a plurality of upstanding fingers arranged across the tray to filter the liquid passing through the liquid circulation system.

8. A laundry agent dispenser for a washing machine having a liquid circulation system, said dispenser comprising:

a housing having an inlet and outlet opening forming a portion of the liquid circulation system;

a tray removably disposed in said housing, said tray including means for filtering a wash liquid in the liquid circulation system as it passes across the tray;

means for mounting said tray in said housing for movement between a liquid bypass position and a wash agent dispensing position with the liquid of said circulation system passing across the tray to flush the contents therefrom; and

actuating means including a biasing means for urging the tray to the dispensing position and magnetic means for holding the tray in the bypass position and selectively releasing the tray to enable the biasing means to urge the tray to the dispensing position.

9. A laundry agent dispenser according to claim 8, wherein said means for mounting includes abutment surfaces disposed on the inner walls of the housing to provide pivot points for the tray while moving between the bypass and dispensing positions.

10. A laundry dispenser according to claim 9, wherein the tray includes a pair of abutment surfaces adapted to engage an upper surface of and housing andco coacting with the abutment surfaces of the housing to limit movement of the tray in a direction of the flow of the liquid of the circulation system while said tray is in the dispensing position.