Additive Dispenser

• US 20090100880A1
• Filed: 10/23/2007
• Published: 04/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Incorporated (AB Electrolux)
• Original Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Incorporated (AB Electrolux)
• Inventors: Hill, Chris H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,895,864 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 68/17.R
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/02 Devices for adding soap or other washing agents

Abstract

An additive dispenser includes a fluid-retaining chamber. A siphoning post extends upward from a lower surface of the fluid-retaining chamber and cooperates with a cap or other structure so as to form a siphon chamber. When water is added to the chamber and a liquid level rises above an inlet to the siphoning element, a siphoning effect draws fluid from the chamber. When the siphoning effect is interrupted, any unsiphoned fluid remaining in the chamber exits by permeation through one or more porous elements located in a base of the chamber.

Claims

1. An apparatus for retaining and dispensing fluid, comprising:

a fluid-retaining chamber having a bottom surface;

a siphoning element having a base coupled to the bottom surface and extending upward therefrom, the siphoning element including an upper portion and a fluid pathway from the upper portion to a region external to the fluid-retaining chamber;

an enclosure positioned over the siphoning element so as to form a siphon chamber for effecting siphon dispensing of fluid from the fluid-retaining chamber; and

a porous element having an exposed portion in the bottom surface of the fluid-retaining chamber and positioned so as to allow fluid remaining in the fluid-retaining chamber following said siphon dispensing to permeate through the porous element and exit the fluid-retaining chamber.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the porous element is located entirely within the bottom surface and the porous element is of a fixed size.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bottom surface includes a region that is recessed relative to other regions of the bottom surface, wherein the siphoning element base is positioned in the recessed region, and wherein the porous element is also located within the recessed region.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a second siphoning element having a base coupled to the bottom surface and extending upward therefrom, the second siphoning element including an upper portion and a fluid pathway from the upper portion to the region external to the fluid-retaining chamber; and

a second enclosure positioned over the second siphoning element so as to form a second siphon chamber for effecting siphon dispensing of fluid from the fluid-retaining chamber.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a second porous element in the bottom surface, the second porous element having an exposed portion in the fluid-retaining chamber and positioned so as to allow fluid remaining in the fluid-retaining chamber following the siphon dispensing through the second siphon chamber to permeate through the second porous element.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a second fluid-retaining chamber having a second bottom surface;

a second siphoning element having a base coupled to the second bottom surface and extending upward therefrom, the second siphoning element including an upper portion and a fluid pathway from the upper portion to a region external to the second fluid-retaining chamber; and

an enclosure positioned over the second siphoning element so as to form a second siphon chamber for effecting siphon dispensing of fluid from the second fluid-retaining chamber.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a second porous element having an exposed portion in the second fluid-retaining chamber and positioned so as to allow fluid in the second fluid-retaining chamber following the siphon dispensing through the second siphon chamber to permeate through the second porous element and exit the second fluid-retaining chamber.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the porous element is located entirely within the bottom surface.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the porous element is of a fixed size.

10. A washing machine, comprising:

a washing chamber;

one or more water inputs; and

an additive dispenser coupled to the one or more water inputs and having an outfall in fluid communication with the washing chamber, the additive dispenser including

an additive-retaining chamber having a bottom surface and an opening for receiving water supplied by the one or more water inputs,

a siphoning element having a base coupled to the bottom surface and extending upward therefrom, the siphoning element including an upper portion and a fluid pathway from the upper portion to a region external to the additive-retaining chamber,

an enclosure positioned over the siphoning element so as to form a siphon chamber for effecting siphon dispensing of fluid from the additive-retaining chamber, and

a porous element having an exposed portion in the bottom surface of the additive-retaining chamber and positioned so as to allow fluid remaining in the additive-retaining chamber following the siphon dispensing to permeate through the porous element and exit the additive-retaining chamber.

11. The washing machine of claim 10, wherein the porous element is located entirely within the bottom surface and the porous element is of a fixed size.

12. The washing machine of claim 10, wherein

the additive dispenser further includes first and second portions, the first portion at least partially removable from the second portion, and

the additive-retaining chamber, siphoning element and cap are contained in the first portion.

13. The washing machine of claim 10, wherein the bottom surface includes a region that is recessed relative to other regions of the bottom surface, wherein the siphoning element base is positioned in the recessed region, and wherein the porous element is also located within the recessed region.

14. The washing machine of claim 10, wherein the additive dispenser further includes

a second siphoning element having a base coupled to the bottom surface and extending upward therefrom, the second siphoning element including an upper portion and a fluid pathway from that upper portion to the region external to the additive-retaining chamber, and

a second enclosure positioned over the second siphoning element so as to form a second siphon chamber for effecting siphon dispensing of fluid from the additive-retaining chamber.

15. The washing machine of claim 14, wherein the additive dispenser further includes a second porous element having an exposed portion in the additive-retaining chamber and positioned so as to allow fluid remaining in the additive-retaining chamber following the siphon dispensing through the second siphon chamber to permeate through the second porous element.

16. The washing machine of claim 10, wherein the additive dispenser further includes

a second additive-retaining chamber having a second bottom surface,

a second siphoning element having a base coupled to the second bottom surface and extending upward therefrom, the second siphoning element including an upper portion and a fluid pathway from that upper portion to a region external to the second additive-retaining chamber;

and

an enclosure positioned over the second siphoning element so as to form a second siphon chamber for effecting siphon dispensing of fluid from the second additive-retaining chamber.

17. The washing machine of claim 16, wherein the second additive chamber includes a second porous element in the second bottom surface, the second porous element having an exposed portion in the second additive-retaining chamber and positioned so as to allow fluid in the second additive-retaining chamber following the siphon dispensing through the second siphon chamber to permeate through the second porous element and exit the second additive-retaining chamber.

18. The washing machine of claim 10, wherein the porous element is of a fixed size.

19. The washing machine of claim 10, wherein the porous element is located entirely within the bottom surface.

20. An apparatus for retaining and dispensing fluid, comprising:

a fluid-retaining chamber;

a fluid withdrawal inlet in fluid communication with an outlet, the outlet positioned so as to evacuate fluid from the fluid retaining chamber when fluid flows from the inlet to the outlet; and

a porous element having an exposed portion in a bottom surface of the fluid-retaining chamber and positioned so as to allow fluid remaining in the fluid-retaining chamber to permeate through the porous element and exit the fluid-retaining chamber independent of evacuation through the fluid withdrawal inlet.