Washing agent dispenser, for dishwashing machines

• US 6,474,351 B1
• Filed: 06/06/2000
• Issued: 11/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eltek SpA
• Original Assignee: Eltek SpA
• Inventors: Nebbia, Fabio, Gadini, Costanzo, Cerruti, Daniele
• Primary Examiner(s): Gulakowski, Randy
• Assistant Examiner(s): PERRIN, JOSEPH L
• Application Number:
  US09/587,926
• Time in Patent Office: 882 Days
• Field of Search: 134/93, 134/104.1, 134/104.2, 134/114, 134/201, 134/56.D, 134/57.D, 134/58.D, 134/99.2, 222/109, 222/129, 222/511, 68/17.R
• US Class Current: 134/99.2
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4409 by tipping containers or opening their lids, e.g. with the help of a programmer

Abstract

A dispensing device of detergents and/or additives for washing machines is described, of the type having at least a space for containing a liquid, such as a rinse aid, the body of the device including at least a first part and a second part, the parts being made integral with each other by welding, wherein a portion of the body is intended to be inserted through an opening of a wall, a surface of the wall facing on a washing tank while the opposite surface of the wall faces on a space which has to be sealed from the tank. According to the invention, a seal is provided, in order to prevent leakage of the liquid from the welding into the space.

Claims

1. Apparatus for dispensing detergents and other additives into a washing machine tank, said apparatus for dispensing comprising a body having a first part and a second part, said parts being joined at a weld, a portion of said body being adapted to be inserted through an opening in a wall having a surface of said wall facing into a washing tank and an opposite surface facing into a space sealed from said tank, and sealing means are mounted on said body for diverting leakage of liquid from said weld away from said space and into said washing tank.

2. Apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein a portion of said first part is adapted for insertion into said space and a portion of said second part is adapted to be disposed within said washing tank.

3. Apparatus, according to claim 2, wherein said sealing means is in engagement with a surface of said first part.

4. Apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein at least a first portion of said first part is adapted to be contained within said space and a second portion of said first part is adapted to be disposed in said washing tank.

5. Apparatus, according to claim 4, wherein said sealing means is in engagement with a surface of said second portion of said first part.

6. Apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said sealing means is in engagement with said wall.

7. Apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said sealing means is in engagement with a surface of said second part.

8. Apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said sealing means is in engagement with a surface of said first part and said wall.

9. Apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said sealing means is in engagement with a surface of said first part and a surface of said second part.

10. Apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said weld is in an area of said body which is not inserted in said opening, said area being located outside of said space.

11. Apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said sealing means engages said first part and second part, said first part being of greater volume than said second part.

12. Apparatus, according claim 1, wherein said sealing means is actuated by the positioning of said second part completely outside of said space and in said washing tank.

13. Apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said first part has a flat surface adapted to be engaged by an edge of said wall opening.

14. Apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein a portion of said sealing means is disposed in a plane intermediate said weld and said wall when said portion of said body is inserted through said wall opening.

15. Apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said second part comprises an external surrounding wall.

16. Apparatus, according to claim 15, wherein said external surrounding wall has a passage gap.

17. Apparatus, according to claim 16, wherein said passage gap allows a rinse aid leaking out of said weld to flow towards said washing tank, and allows a part of the liquid circulating in said washing tank to remove residues of said rinse aid.

18. Apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said first part has a rest area on the surface of said wall facing the washing tank.

19. Apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein a housing for said sealing means comprises one surface of said first part and said wall.

20. Apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said second part comprises a support to keep said sealing means in contact with said wall.

21. Apparatus, according to claim 20, wherein said support comprises a passage gap.

22. Apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said sealing means are in contact with said first part, said second part and said wall.

23. Apparatus, according to claim 22, wherein said sealing means comprise means for achieving a first seal between said second part and said wall, and a second seal between said first part and said wall.

24. Apparatus, according claim 1, wherein said sealing means comprises means for absorbing excessive stresses on said weld during fastening of said dispenser.

25. Apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said sealing means comprise:

a first seal between a surface of said first part and the edges of said opening defined in said wall, which are folded towards the inside of said space; and

a second seal, between said wall and a surface of said second part.

26. Apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said weld is located substantially intermediate said washing tank and said space.

27. Apparatus, according to claim 26, wherein said sealing means operate between a surface of said first part and the edges of said opening defined in said wall, which are folded towards the inside of said space.

28. Apparatus, according to claim 27, wherein said sealing means comprise a first sealing element, disposed between said first part and said wall, and a second elastic element, disposed between said second part and said wall.

29. Apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said weld is within said space.

30. Apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said sealing means comprise two peripheral sealing elements and an intermediate sealing element connected therebetween.

31. Apparatus, according to claim 30, wherein said peripheral sealing elements comprise rings.

32. Apparatus, according to claim 30, wherein said intermediate sealing element comprises an elastic membrane.

33. Apparatus, according to claim 30, wherein said intermediate sealing element is adapted to compensate for the size difference between said first part and said opening.

34. Apparatus, according to claim 30, wherein said intermediate sealing element is adapted to produce a slight elastic flexion of edges of said opening.

35. Apparatus, according to claim 30, wherein said intermediate sealing element has a substantially cuneiform shape.

36. Apparatus, according to claim 30, wherein one of said peripheral sealing elements is located within said space and the other of said peripheral sealing elements is located outside said space and in said washing tank.

37. Apparatus, according to claim 36, wherein said intermediate sealing element is arranged between said two peripheral sealing elements for conveying the rinse aid leaking out of said weld towards the outside of said space, into said washing tank.

38. Apparatus, according to claim 36, wherein said intermediate sealing element is arranged for covering said weld and areas of at least one of said first part and said second part adjacent to said weld, in order to collect the rinse aid leaking out of said weld.

39. Apparatus, according to claim 30, wherein a surface of said body comprises a positioning seat for one of said peripheral sealing elements.

40. Apparatus, according to claim 30, wherein at least one of said sealing elements comprises an elastic material.

41. Apparatus, according to claim 30, wherein one of said peripheral sealing elements is integral with one of said first and second parts.

42. Apparatus, according to claim 30, wherein one of said peripheral sealing elements is between said wall and a surface of said second part.

43. Apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said body comprises a mold for forming said sealing means from a liquid which solidifies after being poured thereinto.