Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02456471 2004-02-03
TITLE: WASHING MACHINE WATER AND
CHEMICAL DELIVERY APPARATUS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Washing machines include compartments for holding various additives, such as
detergent, bleach, and fabric softener. These compartments are typically
formed in the
cabinet of the washing machine, with hoses or conduits leading from a water
supply to the
compartments to flush the additive to the washing machine drum at the
appropriate time
during the wash and rinse cycles. The hoses and conduits must extend around
the access
opening in the top of the cabinet, and thus generally take long curved paths
to reach the
various additive compartments.
While most machines are adapted to receive liquid or particulate detergent,
some
consumers prefer detergent tablets. The tablets typically are difficult to
flush away with
flowing water, such that the use of detergent tablets is less than ideal.
It is also desirable to provide a pre-wash wet down or shower of clothes or
laundry
in the drum, particularly for large loads. However, conventional washing
machines
typically have a very small area of shower holes, which does not optimize the
wet down.
Accordingly, a primary objective of the present invention is the provision of
a
washing machine with an improved water and chemical delivery system.
Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a washing
machine
having a lid with water channels formed therein for directing water to
additive
compartments.
Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a washing
machine
having a detergent compartment adapted to receive detergent tablets which can
be
effectively flushed away with flowing water.
A further objective of the present invention is the provision of a washing
machine
having an enlarged area of shower holes for wetting down laundry in the tub.
Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a washing
machine
wherein the water delivery system is formed in-the lid of the machine.
Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a washing
machine
wherein the detergent compartments are in the lid of the washing machine.
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A further objective of the present invention is the provision of a washing
machine
wherein the wet down shower holes are in the lid of the machine.
These and other objectives will become apparent from the following
description.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An improved washing machine is provided with a water delivery system formed in
the lid for delivering water to various additive compartments in the washing
machine. The
water delivery system includes water channels molded into the lid. The
additive
compartments include a detergent compartment in the lid, with the water
delivery system
having outlets for flushing detergent from the detergent compartment. The
detergent
compartment can dispense detergent in the form of liquid, powder, or tablets.
The
detergent compartment may include a ceiling wall with ribs adapted to space a
detergent
tablet above the ceiling wall to enhance exposure of the tablet to water. The
ribs are sloped
to facilitate discharge of the tablet into the tub of the washing machine.
The additive compartments also include a bleach compartment and a fabric
softener
compartment in the cabinet, with the water delivery system having outlets to
direct water
into the bleach and fabric softener compartments. The water delivery system
also includes
a plurality of shower holes to provide a wet down to laundry in the tub. A
water trap is
formed in the water delivery system to retain water when the lid is raised
from the closed
position, thereby preventing water from accidentally splashing on the user or
into the drum
when the lid is raised.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWIrTGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the washing machine lid assembly of the
present
invention.
Figure 2 is a front elevation view of the lid assembly.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the lid assembly.
Figure 4 is an exploded view of the inner and outer lids, the retainer
brackets, and
the detergent dispenser of the lid assembly.
Figure S is a rear perspective view of the inner lid.
Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along lines 6-6 of Figure 2.
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Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along lines 7-7 of Figure 2.
Figure 8 is a sectional view of the detergent dispenser showing the water flow
path
through the dispenser.
Figure 9 is a view of the lid assembly of the present invention mounted on a
washing machine cabinet.
Figure 10 is an enlarged partial sectional view of the detergent dispenser.
Figure 11 is a front elevation view of one of the retainer brackets.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The lid assembly 10 of the present invention is intended for use on a vertical
axis
washing machine. As seen in Figure 9, the washing machine includes a cabinet
12 with an
opening 14 providing access to the inner drum (not shown).
The lid assembly 10 includes an outer lid 18 and an inner lid 20. The outer
lid 18 is
preferably made of sheet metal and is porcelain coated. The inner lid 20 is
preferably made
of plastic and is secured to the outer lid 18 without the use of screws or
other fasteners
which penetrate the outer lid 18, as described below.
As best seen in Figure 4, the outer lid 18 includes a front edge 22, a rear
edge 24,
and opposite side edges 26. The edges 22, 24, 26 extend substantially
perpendicular to the
primary surface 28 of the outer lid 18. A perimeter flange or lip 30 extends
inwardly from
the edges 22, 24, 26.
A pair of mounting or retainer brackets 32 reside along the side edges 26
adjacent
the rear corners 34 of the outer lid 18. The brackets 32 are held in position
by the
perimeter flange 30 of the outer lid 18. Each bracket 32 includes a key slot
36 and a snap
receiver 38. Each bracket 32 also includes a pin or post 40 which extends
through a hole
42 in the side edges 26 adjacent the rear corners 34 of the outer lid 18. The
pins 40 are also
received in corresponding holes (not shown) in the cabinet 12 adjacent the
access opening
14, thereby defining a horizontal pivot axis which allows the lid assembly 10
to move
between open and closed positions relative to the access opening 14.
The inner lid 20 includes a front or outer surface 44 and a rear or inner
surface 46.
The inner lid 20 also includes a front edge 48, a rear edge 50, and the
opposite side edges
52. As seen in Figure 5, a pair of key tabs or locking tabs 54 extend from the
inner surface
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46 adjacent the opposite side edges 52 of the inner lid 20. The key tabs 54
are adapted to
be received in the key slots 36 of the retainer brackets 32. The key tabs 54
generally have a
T-shaped structure with a head and a leg. The key slots 36 include a lower end
sufficiently
large to receive the head of the key tabs 54, and a narrow upper portion which
receives the
leg of the key tabs 54 while retaining the head thereof.
The inner lid 20 also includes a pair of snap tabs 56 adjacent the rear edge
S0. The
snap tabs 56 are adapted to be received in the snap receivers 38 of the
retainer brackets 32.
The snap tabs 56 are inserted into the snap receivers 38 after the key tabs 54
are slid
upwardly into the narrow portion of the key slots 36. As the key tabs 54 are
slid into the
key slots 36, the front edge 48 of the inner lid 20 is received under the
perimeter flange 30
adjacent the front edge 22 of the outer lid 18. Spacer tabs 58 are formed in
the front edge
48 of the inner lid 20 so as to provide a snug fit in the front edge 22 of the
outer lid 18.
The front surface 44 of the inner lid 20 includes a recess 60 for receiving a
detergent dispenser 62. More particularly, a pair of slots 64 are provided in
the inner lid 20
adjacent the rear edge 50 thereof. The slots 64 are adapted to receive
mounting tabs 66,
which also extend under or capture the perimeter flange 30 of the outer lid
adjacent the
rearward edge 24 thereof. The upper end of the detergent dispenser 62 includes
a snap tab
68 which is adapted to snap fit into a shoulder 70 in the inner lid 20. A
recess 72 is
provided above the shoulder 70 so that a person can use his/her finger to push
the resilient
snap tab 68 out of engagement with the shoulder 70 to remove the detergent
dispenser 62
from the inner lid 20.
The detergent dispenser 62 includes a compartment 74 to receive liquid
detergent
and a compartment 76 to receive powder detergent. A water inlet 78 is formed
in the
detergent dispenser 62 and resides adjacent the rear edge 50 of the inner lid
20. The water
inlet 78 directs water into each of the compartments 74, 76, as shown by the
arrows in
Figure 8, to flush the respective detergent into the drum of the washing
machine during the
wash cycle of the machine operation. The compartment has a ceiling wall 77 and
a wedge
projection 79 which is sloped to facilitate flush-out of the detergent into
the drum. Water is
also directed to the upper end of the detergent dispenser for exit through
holes 80 to
provide a pre-wet shower for laundry in the drum. The liquid compartment 74
includes a
conventional stand pipe 82 so that liquid detergent is not flushed from the
compartment 74
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until water is introduced through the water inlet 78. The stand pipe 82 is
formed as part of
the detergent dispenser 62. A siphon cover (not shown) is placed over the
stand pipe 82 to
create a siphon system. The stand pipe 82 and siphon cover extend through a
hole on the
back of the detergent dispenser and is secured by a twist lock.
The compartment 76 is also adapted to hold a detergent tablet. The compartment
has a bottom wall 73 and ribs or projections 75 which spaces the tablet from
the bottom
wall 73, so as to enhance water contact with the tablet. The ribs 75 are also
sloped to
facilitate discharge of the tablet into the drum.
The inner lid 20 includes a pair of water inlets 84 adjacent the rear edge SO
thereof.
The water inlets 84 are formed on the front surface 44 of the inner lid 20. A
pair of water
channels 86 are provided on the rear surface 46 of the inner lid 20 and
cooperate with the
water inlets 84 to define a water flow path to water outlets 88 adjacent the
front edge 48 of
the inner lid. The water outlets 88 are positioned over a bleach receptacle 90
and fabric
softener receptacle 92 formed in the upper wall of the cabinet 12, as shown in
Figure 9.
Thus, at the proper times during the wash cycle, water can be introduced
through the water
inlets 84 and into the water channels 86 for dispensement through the outlets
88 into the
receptacles 90, 92 so as to flush bleach or fabric softener into the drum. The
water
channels 86 are preferably made of plastic and welded to the rear surface 46
of the inner lid
20.
It is common in the art to utilize rubber hoses with spring steel clamps as
the water
distribution means to distribute water to dispensers mounted on the cabinet.
The hoses are
relatively expensive, and substantial installation effort is required during
assembly. The
water channels 86 provide an economical water distribution means.
The water channels 86 also include an internal dividing wall 87 which defines
a
water trap 89 in each of the channels 86. When the lid assembly 10 is raised
from the
closed position, any water remaining in the channels 86 will drain into the
traps 89.
Thereby precluding accidental spillage onto a user or into the drum.
The inner lid 20 may also include sealing gaskets 94 which are overmolded onto
the
inner lid 20 adjacent the front edge 48 and rear edge 50. The gaskets 94 may
extend
partially or completely along the side edges of the inner lid 20. The sealing
gaskets 94
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engage portions of the cabinet adjacent the access opening 14 when the lid
assembly 10 is
closed to prevent escape of moisture during the wash operation.
Thus, from the foregoing it is seen that the inner lid 20 is mounted to the
outer lid
18 without the use of separate fasteners and without penetrating any portion
of the outer lid
18. Also, when the inner lid 20 is mounted on the outer lid 18, there are no
visible
fasteners or connector means.
The invention has been shown and described above with the preferred
embodiments, and it is understood that many modifications, substitutions, and
additions
may be made which are within the intended spirit and scope of the invention.
From the
foregoing, it can be seen that the present invention accomplishes at least all
of its stated
objectives.
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