Laundry pretreatment system

• US 6,353,954 B1
• Filed: 06/06/2000
• Issued: 03/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Maytag Corporation (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Maytag Corporation (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Inventors: Dunsbergen, Kirk M., Nekic, Frank S., Westbrook, Jeff S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stinson, Frankie L.
• Application Number:
  US09/588,071
• Time in Patent Office: 644 Days
• Field of Search: 68/17.R, 68/17.A, 682/07, 68/5.A, 134/200, 134/93, 815/8, 815/9
• US Class Current: 8/158
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 37/28 Doors; Security means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/022 in a liquid state D06F39/024 takes precedence

Abstract

A washing machine lid includes a fluid chamber with 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. A fill cap with bristles is removably mounted in the fill opening. The laundry can be pretreated by scrubbing with the bristles, after the laundry is wetted with water and/or detergent.

Claims

1. A lid for a washing machine having a cabinet with an upwardly presented access opening therein, comprising:

a lid frame having a perimeter edge, an upper surface, and a lower surface;

a hinge pivotally connecting said edge of said lid frame to said cabinet for pivotal movement between an open position and a closed position;

a housing carried on said lower surface of said lid frame and forming an enclosed chamber;

said housing having a fill opening providing communication into said chamber for filling said chamber with a fluid;

a fill cap removably mounted in the fill opening; and

bristles on the fill cap for scrubbing laundry to be washed.

2. The lid of claim 1 wherein the bristles are removably mounted on the fill cap.

3. The lid of claim 2 wherein the bristles are twist locked onto the fill cap.

4. The lid of claim 2 wherein the bristles are snap fit into the fill cap.

5. The lid of claim 1 wherein the bristles are mounted on a body which is detachably secured to the fill cap.

6. The lid of claim 5 wherein the body is attached to the fill cap by a twist lock action.

7. The lid of claim 5 wherein the body is attached to the fill cap by a snap fit action.

8. The lid of claim 5 wherein the body includes at least one protrusion adapted to be matingly received within a recess in the fill cap.

9. A method for pretreating laundry to be washed in 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 fill cap detachably mounted over said fill opening and having bristles thereon, said method comprising:

removing the fill cap from the fill opening;

pouring a laundry treatment fluid into the fill opening;

replacing the fill cap in the fill opening to close the fill opening;

closing the lid so that fluid coats the bristles of the fill cap;

opening the lid and removing the fill cap; and

scrubbing laundry with the fluid-coated bristles.

10. A method of pretreating laundry to be washed in a washing machine having a cabinet, a tub rotatably mounted in the cabinet, an opening in the cabinet to provide access to the tub, a door hinged to the cabinet for movement between open and closed positions relative to the opening, and a brush mounted on the door, the method comprising:

wetting the laundry before washing in the machine;

removing the brush from the door; and

scrubbing the laundry with the brush.