Automatic laundry aid dispenser for washing machine
First Claim
1. A laundry aid dispenser for use in a washing machine, the washing machine providing a housing having an upper surface, a washtub positioned within the housing to receive clothing to be washed, and a console extending upward from the upper surface of the housing and including a door, the laundry aid dispenser comprising:
- a laundry aid chamber positioned within the console behind the door to be revealed when the door is open;
a channel leading from the laundry aid chamber to the washtub;
at least one electrically actuated valve positioned between the laundry aid chamber and the channel, the electrically actuated valve, when closed, causing the accumulation of introduced laundry aid in the laundry aid chamber as visible by a user through the door, and when opened, releasing the laundry aid accumulated in the laundry aid chamber into the channel;
whereby laundry aids may be introduced to the console without pre-measuring for later automatic introduction to the washtub.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A laundry aid dispenser for a washing machine allows simple introduction of laundry aids into cups whose volumes are visible to the user and held within the console of the washing machine. A vertically oriented valve and flush chamber arrangement allows for the removal of the cups and the dispensing of viscous laundry aids such as fabric softener with reduced accumulation and buildup. The configuration also allows easy access to critical channels and parts of the dispenser as well as flexible electronic control of the dispensing times. Color-coding, keying and other indicia simplify the consumer'"'"'s identification of the proper laundry aid for each cup.
70 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A laundry aid dispenser for use in a washing machine, the washing machine providing a housing having an upper surface, a washtub positioned within the housing to receive clothing to be washed, and a console extending upward from the upper surface of the housing and including a door, the laundry aid dispenser comprising:
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a laundry aid chamber positioned within the console behind the door to be revealed when the door is open;
a channel leading from the laundry aid chamber to the washtub;
at least one electrically actuated valve positioned between the laundry aid chamber and the channel, the electrically actuated valve, when closed, causing the accumulation of introduced laundry aid in the laundry aid chamber as visible by a user through the door, and when opened, releasing the laundry aid accumulated in the laundry aid chamber into the channel;
whereby laundry aids may be introduced to the console without pre-measuring for later automatic introduction to the washtub. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
whereby excess laundry aid is channel directed to the washtub.
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13. The laundry aid dispenser of claim 12 wherein the overflow passage is an orifice within a vertical wall of the cup.
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14. The laundry aid dispenser of claim 1 wherein the electrically actuated valve provides a valve head movable vertically from an upward closed position to a lower opened position and wherein the valve head abuts a dispensing orifice to stop the flow of a laundry aid from the laundry aid chamber when in the upward closed position, and wherein the laundry aid chamber includes a flush channel communicating with a source of water and wherein the flush channel passes water in the flush channel between the bottom surface of the orifice and the valve head when the valve is in the opened position.
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15. The laundry aid dispenser of claim 14 including a temperature sensor attached to the flush channel and positioned in a path of water flow.
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16. The laundry aid dispenser of claim 1 wherein the laundry aid chamber communicates with a source of water and including an orifice receiving water from the source of water to direct a water stream into an upper portion of the laundry aid chamber upon accumulated laundry aid therein.
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17. The laundry aid dispenser of claim 1 wherein the electrically actuable valve is a wax motor.
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18. The laundry aid dispenser of claim 1 wherein the electrically actuated valve provides a valve head movable vertically from an upward closed position to a lower opened position and wherein the valve head abuts a dispensing orifice to stop the flow of a laundry aid from the laundry aid chamber when in the upwardly closed position, the electrically actuable valve further having a housing having a movable actuation arm extending therefrom and wherein the valve head is a flexible rubber hood covering an actuator arm and a portion of the housing surrounding the actuator arm.
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19. A laundry aid dispenser for use in a washing machine having a washtub held within a housing, the laundry aid dispenser comprising:
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a laundry aid chamber having an outer chamber wall receiving at least one removable cup, the cup having an upper open end and a lower dispensing orifice and fitting within the outer chamber wall;
a channel leading to the washtub;
at least one electrically actuated valve attached to the outer chamber walls so that the dispensing orifice of the cup engages with the electrically actuated valve when the cup is positioned within the outer chamber walls;
whereby flow of a laundry aid placed in the cup between the cup and washtub may be controlled. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
whereby excess laundry aid is channel directed to the washtub.
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30. The laundry aid dispenser of claim 29 wherein the overflow passage is an orifice within a vertical wall of the cup.
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31. The laundry aid dispenser of claim 19 wherein the electrically actuated valve provides a valve head movable vertically from an upward closed position to a lower opened position and wherein the valve head abuts the dispensing orifice to stop the flow of a laundry aid from the laundry aid chamber when in the upwardly closed position, and wherein the laundry aid chamber includes a flush channel communicating with a source of water and wherein the flush channel passes water in the flush channel between the bottom surface of the orifice and the valve head when the valve is in the opened position.
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32. The laundry aid dispenser of claim 31 including a temperature sensor attached to the flush channel and positioned in a path of water flow.
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33. The laundry aid dispenser of claim 19 wherein the laundry aid chamber communicates with a source of water and including an orifice receiving water from the source of water to direct a water stream into an upper portion of the removable cup upon any accumulated laundry aid therein.
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34. The laundry aid dispenser of claim 19 wherein the electrically actuable valve is a wax motor.
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35. The laundry aid dispenser of claim 19 wherein the electrically actuated valve provides a valve head movable vertically from an upward closed position to a lower opened position and wherein the valve head abuts a dispensing orifice when in the upwardly closed position, the electrically actuable valve further having a housing having a movable actuation arm extending therefrom and wherein the valve head is a flexible rubber hood covering an actuator arm and a portion of the housing surrounding the actuator arm.
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36. A laundry aid dispenser for use in a washing machine having a washtub held within a housing, the laundry aid dispenser comprising:
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a laundry aid chamber having an upper open end for receiving a laundry aid and a lower dispensing orifice;
a flush channel leading to the washtub;
at least one electrically actuated valve positioned between the laundry aid chamber and the channel having a valve head blocking the orifice in a first position and exposing the orifice to the flush channel in a second position; and
a water inlet communicating with the flush channel to receive a flow of water from the washing machine.
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Specification