Air pump bulk dispenser

• US 6,401,499 B1
• Filed: 07/31/2000
• Issued: 06/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Maytag Corporation (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Maytag Corporation (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Inventors: Hansen, Ted L., Clark, Brian D., Wunderlich, Daniel F.
• Primary Examiner(s): COE, PHILIP R
• Application Number:
  US09/629,011
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: 68/17.R, 68/121.8, 134/99.2
• US Class Current: 68/17.00R
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/022 in a liquid state D06F39/024 takes precedence

Abstract

An improved laundry washing machine is provided with multiple fluid storage tanks for fluid detergent, bleach, and/or fabric softener. An air pump pressurizes the tanks when the door of the washing machine is opened. Each tank is in fluid communication with an associated fluid compartment. A user can push a control button to open a valve to selectively deposit a desired amount of fluid from a tank into the associated compartment for a wash cycle.

Claims

1. A washing machine comprising:

a cabinet;

a tub mounted in the cabinet;

a first bulk fluid tank within the cabinet;

a first fluid compartment in the cabinet and being in fluid communication with the tub;

a first fluid line providing fluid communication between the first fluid tank and the first fluid compartment;

an air pump operatively connected to the first tank for pressurizing the first fluid tank;

a switch for actuating the pump; and

a first valve for controlling flow of fluid from the first tank to the first compartment.

2. The washing machine of claim 1 further comprising:

a second bulk fluid tank in the cabinet;

a second fluid compartment in the cabinet and being in fluid communication with the tub;

a second fluid line providing fluid communication between the second fluid tank and the second fluid compartment;

a second valve for controlling flow of fluid from the second tank to the second compartment; and

the pump being operatively connected to the second tank for pressurizing the second tank.

3. The washing machine of claim 2 wherein the first and second tanks are adapted to contain different fluids.

4. The washing machine of claim 1 wherein the first valve is manually operated to deliver a desired amount of fluid from the first tank to the first compartment.

5. The washing machine of claim 1 wherein the cabinet includes an opening for access to the tub and a door movable between open and closed positions relative to the opening, the switch being activated when the door is moved to the open position, thereby actuating the pump.

6. An improved washing machine having a cabinet, a tub mounted in the cabinet, an opening in the cabinet to provide access to the tub, and a door on the cabinet movable between open and closed positions relative to the opening, the improvement comprising:

multiple fluid tanks within the cabinet, each fluid tank being adapted to store a different fluid;

multiple fluid compartments within the cabinet, each compartment being adapted to receive fluid from one of the respective fluid tanks;

an air pump in the cabinet and being operatively connected to each of the fluid tanks for pressurizing the fluid tanks; and

multiple valves in the cabinet, each valve being operatively connected to one of the fluid tanks and one of the fluid compartments to control flow of fluid from the fluid tank to the fluid compartment.

7. The improved washing machine of claim 6 wherein each of the valves is manually activated to deliver a desired amount of fluid from the one fluid tank to the one fluid compartment.

8. The improved washing machine of claim 6 further comprising a switch to activate the air pump, the switch being activated when the door is moved to the open position.

9. The improved washing machine of claim 6 wherein the pump is a diaphragm air pump.

10. The improved washing machine of claim 6 further comprising multiple fluid inlet conduits, each having an upper end mounted in the cabinet and a lower end in one of the fluid tanks to allow filling of the fluid tank with fluid, and multiple removable caps each adapted for closing the upper end of each conduit.