Detergent container cradle for applying pressure to the container

• US 8,464,913 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2010
• Issued: 06/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Yoon, Jong Sun
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver, Kevin P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Buechner, Patrick M
• Application Number:
  US12/860,718
• Publication Number:
  US 20110049314A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,033 Days
• Field of Search: 462/8, 206/446, 206/521, 206/587, 206/588, 206/592, 222/108, 222/143, 222164-166, 222/184, 222/185.1, 222/214, 222/465.1, 222/466, 222/325, 2111261-1264, 211/11, 211/45, 211/50, 211/188, 211/194, 211/74, 248/146, 248/148
• US Class Current: 222/185.1
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/022 in a liquid state D06F39/024 takes precedence

Abstract

A detergent container cradle including a seating surface for supporting a detergent container having an outlet for discharging detergent therefrom, and sidewalls provided at opposite edges of the seating surface to apply pressure to an outside circumferential surface of the detergent container having no outlet provided thereto.

Claims

1. A detergent container cradle comprising:

a seating surface for supporting a detergent container having an outlet for discharging detergent therefrom; and

sidewalls provided at opposite edges of the seating surface to apply pressure to an outside circumferential surface of the detergent container having no outlet provided thereto,

wherein the seating surface has a width smaller than a width of the outside circumferential surface of the detergent container for press fit of the detergent container between the sidewalls, and

wherein the application of pressure to the detergent container applies a predetermined pressure to the detergent in the detergent container to assist in discharging of the detergent.

2. The detergent container cradle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sidewalls are provided such that a distance between the sidewalls becomes greater as the sidewalls go upward more.

3. The detergent container cradle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sidewalls further include a projection projected therefrom toward an outside surface direction of the detergent container.

4. The detergent container cradle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the seating surface is provided sloped downward in a direction of the outlet of the detergent container.

5. The detergent container cradle as claimed in claim 4, wherein the seating surface further includes a holding step for holding one side of the detergent container having the outlet.

6. The detergent container cradle as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a cup holder on a lower side of the outlet of the detergent container for receiving a cup which holds the detergent from the outlet.

7. The detergent container cradle as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a cup holder receiving recess for receiving the cup holder, and the cup holder can be placed in/removed from the cup holder receiving recess.

8. The detergent container cradle as claimed in claim 7, wherein the cup holder includes a base plate having a cup receiving recess for receiving the cup, and the cup receiving recess is a downward recess from the base plate to be in contact with the cup holder receiving recess.

9. The detergent container cradle as claimed in claim 7, wherein the cup holder includes:

the base plate having the cup receiving recess for receiving the cup; and

ribs provided on an underside of the base plate spaced a distance from an edge of the base plate toward an inside of the base plate.

10. The detergent container cradle as claimed in claim 7, wherein the cup holder includes:

the base plate having the cup receiving recess for receiving the cup;

a front flange and a rear flange which are bents from opposite edges of the base plate, respectively; and

a side flange which is a bent from at least one edge of the base plate to have a height lower than heights of the front flange and the rear flange.

11. The detergent container cradle as claimed in claim 1, further comprising supporting walls provided to opposite edges of the seating surface for supporting the seating surface;

and

the supporting walls have curved portions bent toward the seating surface, respectively.

12. The detergent container cradle as claimed in claim 11, further comprising an extension from the curved portion to an outside of the supporting wall, the extension having a length the same or greater than a thickness of the supporting wall, and a coupling rib which has a bent portion of the extension.

13. The detergent container cradle as claimed in claim 12, wherein the coupling rib is provided to each of opposite edges of the curved portion and the bent portions are bent in directions opposite to each other.

14. The detergent container cradle as claimed in claim 12, wherein the supporting wall further includes anti-slip ribs provided to a top side of the curved portion.

15. The detergent container cradle as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a work board provided for supporting a bottom of the supporting walls,

wherein the supporting walls further include a receiving slot provided at the bottom portion of each of the supporting walls, and

wherein the work board further includes a securing portion which is inserted into the receiving slot for securing a position of the supporting walls.

16. The detergent container cradle as claimed in claim 15, wherein the work board further includes:

a frame having the securing portion for supporting the supporting wall; and

a laundering machine receiver provided on an underside of the frame for receiving a top side of the laundering machine.

17. The detergent container cradle as claimed in claim 16, wherein the securing portion is a rail provided along a length direction of the frame.