Pedestal in dispenser cups of a washing machine

• US 9,353,472 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2013
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Singh, Taranjeet, Leibman, Alexander Boris, Kappler, Jerrod Aaron
• Primary Examiner(s): Perrin, Joseph L
• Application Number:
  US13/735,231
• Publication Number:
  US 20140190216A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,240 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/12 Casings; Tubs

Abstract

A fluid additive dispenser for a washing machine appliance is provided. The dispenser includes a platform have a receiving surface. The receiving surface is elevated relative to a bottom of the dispenser and is positioned in view of an opening in the top of the dispenser. As fluid additives are drained or siphoned from the dispenser and off of the platform, the receiving surface will become visible through the opening even as some residual fluid additives may remain in the dispenser. The user is thereby provided with a more desirable appearance inside the dispenser with regard to e.g., residues or remains of fluid additives that would otherwise be visible.

Claims

1. A washing machine appliance, comprising:

a cabinet;

a wash chamber located within said cabinet and configured for containing fluid during operation of the washing machine appliance;

a wash basket rotatably mounted within said wash chamber and configured for receipt of articles for washing;

a fluid additive dispenser positioned near said wash chamber and configured for feeding one or more fluid additives into said wash chamber, said fluid additive dispenser comprising;

an upper portion;

a lower portion joined with the upper portion to form a dispenser chamber for the receipt of one or more fluid additives, the lower portion including a bottom surface that defines an integral platform, the platform extending vertically from the bottom surface and defining a receiving surface that is substantially horizontal and elevated relative to the bottom surface of the lower portion, the platform further defining a substantially horizontal maximum fill level indicator that extends vertically from the receiving surface; and

an opening formed in the upper portion whereby fluid additives may be introduced into the dispenser chamber, the opening positioned directly over the platform such that a user primarily views the receiving surface through the opening.

2. A washing machine appliance as in claim 1, wherein the receiving surface of the platform is larger than the opening in the upper portion.

3. A washing machine appliance as in claim 1, wherein the platform is positioned under the opening so that after a fluid in said dispenser drains off of the receiving surface of the platform the fluid is no longer visible below the opening.

4. A washing machine appliance as in claim 1, wherein the opening is circular in shape.

5. A washing machine appliance as in claim 4, wherein the opening has a diameter that is less than a width of the receiving surface of the platform.

6. A washing machine appliance as in claim 1, wherein the opening has a diameter that is less than a width of the receiving surface of the platform.

7. A washing machine appliance as in claim 1, wherein the receiving surface of the platform is sloped relative to the bottom surface of the lower portion.

8. A washing machine appliance as in claim 1, wherein the receiving surface of the platform is elevated at least 2 mm above the bottom surface of the lower portion.

9. A washing machine appliance as in claim 1, further comprising a siphon channel extending from the lower portion of the dispenser and configured for siphoning fluid from the dispenser.

10. A washing machine appliance as in claim 9, further comprising an overflow channel extending from the lower portion of the dispenser and having a height less than the siphon channel along a vertical direction of the appliance.

11. A fluid additive dispenser for a washing machine appliance, comprising:

a container defining a dispenser chamber for the receipt of one or more fluid additives, the container having an opening along an upper portion of the container whereby fluid additives may be introduced into the dispenser chamber and having a platform defined by and projecting vertically into the chamber from a bottom portion of the container, wherein the platform has an elevated and substantially horizontal receiving surface and is positioned directly below the opening in the upper portion such that a user primarily views the platform through the opening, and

wherein the platform defines a substantially horizontal maximum fill level indicator that extends vertically from the platform.

12. A fluid additive dispenser as in claim 11, wherein said platform has a receiving surface that is larger than the opening.

13. A fluid additive dispenser as in claim 12, wherein the platform is positioned under the opening so that after a fluid in said dispenser drains off of the receiving surface of the platform the fluid is no longer visible below the opening.

14. A fluid additive dispenser as in claim 12, wherein the lower portion defines a bottom surface, and wherein the receiving surface of the platform is sloped relative to the bottom surface of the lower portion.

15. A fluid additive dispenser as in claim 14, wherein the receiving surface of the platform is elevated by an amount in the range of about 2 mm to about 5 mm above the bottom surface of the lower portion.

16. A fluid additive dispenser as in claim 11, wherein the opening in the upper portion is circular in shape.

17. A fluid additive dispenser as in claim 11, wherein the opening has a diameter that is less than a width and a length of a receiving surface of the platform.

18. A fluid additive dispenser as in claim as in claim 11, further comprising a siphon channel extending from the lower portion of the dispenser and configured for siphoning fluid from the dispenser.

19. A fluid additive dispenser as in claim 18, further comprising an overflow channel extending from the lower portion of the dispenser and having a height less than the siphon channel along a vertical direction of the appliance.