Fluid detergent and fabric softener box assembly for laundry machine and detergent dispenser having the same

• US 8,230,705 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2009
• Issued: 07/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Bo Yeon
• Primary Examiner(s): Barr, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): KLING, CHARLES
• Application Number:
  US12/537,769
• Publication Number:
  US 20100095712A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 68/17.R, 68/121.8
• US Class Current: 68/12.18
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/02 Devices for adding soap or other washing agents
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/022 in a liquid state D06F39/024 takes precedence

Abstract

A fluid detergent and fabric softener box assembly which can be attached and detached to/from a detergent supply apparatus, and temporarily stores a fluid detergent and a fabric softener until they are selectively introduced into a washing room in water supply is provided.

Claims

1. A detergent dispenser for a drum type laundry machine, comprising:

a dispenser cover which is formed by coupling a dispenser lower cover to a dispenser upper cover, and includes a region into which a main washing detergent is introduced, a region on which a fluid detergent and fabric softener box assembly is mounted, and a region into which a primary washing detergent is introduced; and

a fluid detergent and fabric softener box assembly which is detachably coupled to the dispenser cover which comprises a main body partitioned into a fluid detergent storage space and a fabric softener storage space by a barrier to store a fluid detergent and a fabric softener, and a cap partitioned by a barrier, and attached and detached to/from an upper portion of the main body,

wherein the dispenser lower cover comprises a water supply inlet through which water is supplied from the outside, drainage holes which supply water to each region, passages which guide water supplied to each drainage hole, and a distribution rib which distributes water to each passage,

wherein an end of the distribution rib on the side of the water supply inlet is smoothly formed and therefore the water supplied through the water supply inlet is not splashed against the distribution rib.

2. The detergent dispenser of claim 1, wherein the main body comprises pipes capable of discharging mixed water, in which water supplied to a rear of the main body is mixed with the fluid detergent or the fabric softener, into a washing room.

3. The detergent dispenser of claim 2, wherein a bottom end of each pipe of the main body is positioned lower than bottom surfaces of storages spaces into which the fluid detergent and the fabric softener are introduced.

4. The detergent dispenser of claim 2, wherein the cap comprises pipe covers which cover an upper portion of each pipe at a defined interval from each pipe.

5. The detergent dispenser of claim 4, wherein water used to produce fluid detergent mixed water or fabric softener mixed water is supplied to open side surfaces at the rear of the cap which are not covered with the pipe covers.

6. The detergent dispenser of claim 1, wherein the barrier of the cap comprises a groove so that the barrier of the main body can be inserted thereinto.

7. The detergent dispenser of claim 1, wherein a stepped portion is formed between a front portion and a rear portion of the cap, and the front portion of the cap is higher than the rear portion thereof.

8. The detergent dispenser of claim 7, wherein the dispenser upper cover comprises a rib so that the front portion of the cap can be hooked thereon and fixed thereto, when the fluid detergent and fabric softener box assembly is coupled to the dispenser cover.

9. The detergent dispenser of claim 7, wherein, when the fluid detergent and fabric softener box assembly is coupled to the dispenser cover, the rear portion of the cap is positioned below the dispenser lower cover.

10. The detergent dispenser of claim 1, wherein a seating protrusion is formed at a front of the cap so that a front portion of the main body can be fitted thereto.

11. The detergent dispenser of claim 1, wherein a fixing hook is provided at a rear of the cap, and a fixing protrusion which fixes the fixing hook is provided at a rear of the main body.

12. The detergent dispenser of claim 1,

wherein a height of an endmost portion of the end of the distribution rib on the side of the water supply inlet is restricted to within 3.5 mm, and the height smoothly and gradually increases from the endmost portion to about 15 mm.

13. The detergent dispenser of claim 1, wherein the dispenser lower cover comprises a fluid detergent-side drainage hole and a fabric softener-side drainage hole in the region on which the fluid detergent and fabric softener box assembly is mounted, and also comprises a plurality of ribs between the respective drainage holes.

14. The detergent dispenser of claim 1, wherein the dispenser lower cover comprises a fluid detergent-side drainage hole and a fabric softener-side drainage hole in the region on which the fluid detergent and fabric softener box assembly is mounted, and also comprises a rib for guiding water around each drainage hole.

15. The detergent dispenser of claim 1, wherein the dispenser lower cover comprises a groove so that the barrier of the main body can be inserted thereinto.