Washer lid having fluid dispenser and method for using same
First Claim
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1. A lid for a washing machine having a cabinet with an upwardly presented access opening therein, comprising:
- a lid frame having a front edge, a rear edge, side edges, an upper surface, and a lower surface;
a hinge connected to one of said edges of said lid frame permitting hinged attachment of said lid frame to said cabinet for pivotal movement between an open position wherein said upper and lower surfaces are upstanding and a closed position wherein said lid is in covering relation over said access opening;
a housing carried on said lower surface of said lid frame and forming an enclosed chamber, said chamber having a lowest portion when said lid is in said open position;
said housing having a dispensing opening located adjacent said lowest portion and communicating from within to outside said chamber;
said housing having a fill opening providing communication into said chamber for filling said chamber with a fluid;
a manually operated dispensing valve mounted in said dispensing opening and manually movable from a normally closed position preventing fluid from leaving said chamber through said dispensing opening to an open position permitting fluid to exit through said dispensing opening when said lid frame is in said open position; and
said dispensing opening being located above said access opening when said lid frame is in said open position whereby fluid exiting from said dispensing opening will fall by gravity into said access opening.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A washing machine lid includes a fluid chamber on its lower surface. The fluid chamber has a fill opening and a dispensing opening. A removable valve is within the dispensing opening. The lid includes a lid frame and a housing detachably mounted to one another.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A lid for a washing machine having a cabinet with an upwardly presented access opening therein, comprising:
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a lid frame having a front edge, a rear edge, side edges, an upper surface, and a lower surface;
a hinge connected to one of said edges of said lid frame permitting hinged attachment of said lid frame to said cabinet for pivotal movement between an open position wherein said upper and lower surfaces are upstanding and a closed position wherein said lid is in covering relation over said access opening;
a housing carried on said lower surface of said lid frame and forming an enclosed chamber, said chamber having a lowest portion when said lid is in said open position;
said housing having a dispensing opening located adjacent said lowest portion and communicating from within to outside said chamber;
said housing having a fill opening providing communication into said chamber for filling said chamber with a fluid;
a manually operated dispensing valve mounted in said dispensing opening and manually movable from a normally closed position preventing fluid from leaving said chamber through said dispensing opening to an open position permitting fluid to exit through said dispensing opening when said lid frame is in said open position; and
said dispensing opening being located above said access opening when said lid frame is in said open position whereby fluid exiting from said dispensing opening will fall by gravity into said access opening. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A lid for a washing machine having an upwardly presented access opening, comprising:
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a lid frame having a front edge, a rear edge, side edges, an upper surface, and a lower surface;
a hinge connected to one of said lid frame edges permitting hinged attachment of said lid frame to said washing machine for pivotal movement between an open position wherein said upper and lower surfaces are upstanding and a closed position;
a housing carried on said lower surface of said lid frame and forming a dispensing chamber;
said housing having a fill opening providing communication into said dispensing chamber for filling said chamber with a fluid;
said housing having a dispensing opening forming communication from within to outside said dispensing chamber for permitting removal of said fluid from said dispensing chamber;
a manually operated dispensing valve mounted in said dispensing opening and manually movable from a normally closed position preventing fluid from leaving said chamber through said dispensing opening to an open position permitting fluid to exit through said dispensing opening when said lid frame is in said open position;
an indicator on said housing for visually representing the amount of fluid which has been dispensed from said dispensing chamber; and
said dispensing opening being located above said access opening when said lid frame is in said open position whereby fluid exiting from said dispensing opening will fall by gravity into said access opening. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A lid for a washing machine having an upwardly presented access opening, comprising:
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a lid frame having a front edge, a rear edge, side edges, an upper surface, and a lower surface;
a hinge connecting the lid frame to the washing machine for movement between open and closed positions relative to the access opening;
a housing carried on said lower surface of said lid frame and forming a dispensing chamber;
said housing having a fill opening providing communication into said dispensing chamber for filling said chamber with a fluid;
said housing having a dispensing opening forming communication from within to outside said dispensing chamber for permitting dispensing of said fluid from said dispensing chamber;
a manually operated dispensing valve mounted in said dispensing opening and manually movable from a normally closed position preventing fluid from leaving said chamber through said dispensing opening to an open position permitting fluid to exit through said dispensing opening when said lid frame is in said open position;
said dispensing valve being detachably mounted in said dispensing opening and selectively removable therefrom for cleaning; and
said dispensing opening being located above said access opening when said lid frame is in said open position whereby fluid exiting from said dispensing opening will fall by gravity into said access opening. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for using a lid for a washing machine comprising a washing machine cabinet having an upwardly presented access opening therein, a lid frame, a hinge connected to said lid frame and said washing machine cabinet for permitting hinged movement of said lid about a hinge axis with respect to said washing machine, a housing on said lid frame forming an enclosed fluid retaining chamber, said housing having a fill opening and a dispensing opening therein, a fill cap detachably mounted over said fill opening and a valve mounted in said dispensing opening, said method comprising:
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moving said lid frame about said hinge axis from a closed position wherein said lid frame is in covering relation over said washing machine access opening to an up-standing open position;
manually moving said valve from a normally closed position preventing fluid from exiting said chamber through said dispensing opening to an open position permitting fluid to exit said chamber through said dispensing opening when the lid is in the open position;
said dispensing opening being located above said access opening when said lid frame is in said open position whereby fluid exiting from said dispensing opening will fall by gravity into said access opening. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification