FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present subject matter relates generally to a washing machine appliance, or more particularly, to a dispenser cup for a washing machine appliance.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Washing machine appliances generally include a tub with a drum rotatably mounted therein. The tub defines a wash chamber for receipt of articles for washing. During operation of such washing machine appliances, a wash liquid is directed into the tub and onto articles within the wash chamber of the drum. The drum can rotate at various speeds to agitate articles within the wash chamber in the wash fluid, wring wash fluid from articles within the wash chamber, etc.
During operation of certain washing machine appliances, a volume of wash liquid is directed into the tub in order to wash and/or rinse articles within the wash chamber of the drum. The volume of wash liquid can vary depending upon a variety of factors. For example, large loads may require a large volume of wash liquid, relative to small loads that may require a small volume of wash liquid. Likewise, loads containing absorptive fabrics, such as cotton, may require a large volume of water relative to similarly sized loads containing certain synthetic fabrics, such as polyester or nylon.
One or more fluid additives may be added to the wash liquid to enhance the cleaning or other properties of the wash liquid. The fluid additives may be in powder or concentrated liquid form, and are generally added to a dispenser cup of the washing machine appliance by, e.g., a user of the washing machine appliance. A portion of the wash liquid to be added to the tub may be directed into the dispenser cup to transport the fluid additive to the tub. However, such wash liquid is generally provided as a concentrated flow from an inlet in one area of the dispenser cup, and thus does not reach all of the fluid additive(s) in the dispenser cup. Further, such flows may cause unwanted turbulence in the dispenser cup, causing certain wash materials, e.g., wash detergent, to foam up and leave unwanted residue in the dispenser cup. Thus, residue of the fluid additive(s) may remain within the container.
Accordingly, a dispenser cup that can redirect a flow of water or other wash liquid to more fully cover an area of the dispenser cup and reduce an amount of fluid additive residue in the dispenser cup would be useful.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Aspects and advantages of the invention are set forth below in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.
In one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a dispenser cup for a washing machine appliance is provided, the dispenser cup including a container having a side wall and a bottom wall, the container defining a compartment configured to receive a wash material. The dispenser cup also includes a wash liquid inlet positioned on the side wall of the container configured to provide a flow of wash liquid to the compartment. Further, the dispenser cup includes a deflector plate positioned at least partially within the compartment adjacent to the inlet. The deflector plate is positioned such that the flow of wash liquid from the wash liquid inlet contacts the deflector plate and is redirected towards the bottom wall of the container.
In another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a washing machine appliance is provided, the washing machine appliance including a wash tub, a wash drum rotatably positioned in the wash tub, and a dispenser cup. The dispenser cup is configured to provide a mixture of wash material and wash liquid to one or both of the wash tub and the wash drum. The dispenser cup includes a container having a side wall and a bottom wall, the container defining a compartment configured to receive a wash material. The dispenser cup also includes a wash liquid inlet positioned on the side wall of the container configured to provide a flow of wash liquid to the compartment. Further, the dispenser cup includes a deflector plate includes at least partially within the compartment adjacent to the inlet. The deflector plate is positioned such that the flow of wash liquid from the wash liquid inlet contacts the deflector plate and is redirected towards the bottom wall of the container.
In still another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a dispenser cup for a washing machine appliance is provided, the dispenser cup including a container having a side wall and a bottom wall, the container defining a compartment configured to receive a wash material. The dispenser cup additionally includes a wash liquid inlet positioned on the side wall of the container configured to provide a flow of wash liquid to the compartment. Further, the dispenser cup provides a means for redirecting the flow of wash liquid from the wash liquid inlet towards the bottom wall of the container, the means positioned at least partially within the compartment.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof to one skilled in the art, is set forth more particularly in the remainder of the specification, including reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
FIG. 1 provides a front perspective view of a washing machine appliance according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter, with a lid in a closed position.
FIG. 2 provides a front perspective view of the exemplary washing machine appliance of FIG. 1 with the lid in an open position.
FIG. 3 provides a top view of a dispenser cup according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter.
FIG. 4 provides a side cross-sectional view of the exemplary dispenser cup of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 provides a top cross-sectional view of the exemplary dispenser cup of FIG. 3 along Line 5-5 in FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a washing machine appliance 50 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter. The exemplary washing machine appliance defines a vertical direction V, a lateral direction L, and a transverse direction T, each orthogonal to one another. Additionally, as may be seen in FIG. 1, the washing machine appliance 50 includes a cabinet 52 and a cover 54. A backsplash 56 extends from cover 54, and a control panel 58 including a plurality of input selectors 60 is coupled to backsplash 56. The control panel 58 and input selectors 60 collectively form a user interface input for operator selection of machine cycles and features. In one exemplary embodiment, a display 61 indicates selected features, a countdown timer, and/or other items of interest to machine users. A lid 62 is mounted to cover 54 and is rotatable between an open position facilitating access to a wash drum 64 located within cabinet 52 (see FIG. 2) and a closed position forming an enclosure over wash drum 64 (see FIG. 1).
Referring now to FIG. 2, a perspective view of the exemplary washing machine appliance 50 in the open position is provided. As may be seen in FIG. 2, the wash drum 64 includes a side wall 66 with a plurality of perforations 68. The wash drum 64 is rotatably mounted within a wash tub (not shown), and the plurality of perforations 68 in the side wall 66 of the wash drum 64 facilitate fluid communication between an interior of wash drum 64 and wash tub. In particular, the wash drum 64 for the exemplary embodiment depicted is rotatable about the vertical direction V. Thus, washing machine appliance 50 is generally referred to as a vertical axis washing machine appliance. The wash drum 64 further defines a wash chamber 70 for receipt of articles for washing and extends vertically between a bottom portion (not shown) and a top portion 72.
As will be explained in greater detail below, with reference to FIGS. 3 through 5, the washing machine appliance 50 further includes a dispenser cup 100 positioned adjacent to the top end 72 of the wash chamber 70, underneath the lid 62. The exemplary dispenser cup 100 depicted includes three compartments and is configured to receive a wash material, such as a fluid additive, to impart cleaning or other desired properties to the wash liquid. In certain embodiments, the wash material may include a wash detergent, a bleach, a fabric softener, or a combination thereof, which may be provided by a user of the washing machine appliance 50 prior to starting a certain wash cycle, or subsequent to starting a certain wash cycle. The wash liquid may be provided to the dispenser cup 100 such that a wash liquid and wash material mixture is formed and provided to one or both of the wash tub and the wash drum 64.
It should be appreciated, however, that the dispenser cup 100 depicted in FIG. 2 is by way of example only. In other exemplary embodiments, the dispenser cup 100 may be positioned at any other suitable location on or within the washing machine appliance 50. For example, in other exemplary embodiments, the washing machine appliance 50 may be a horizontal axis washing machine appliance, and the dispenser cup 100 may be positioned in a dedicated compartment at a top of the washing machine appliance 50. Additionally, or alternatively, the dispenser cup 100 may be slidably received in a dedicated compartment accessible from, e.g., a front of the washing machine appliance 50. Other embodiments of the washing machine appliance 50 may further include any other suitable location for the dispenser cup 100.
Referring still to FIG. 2, an agitation element 74, shown as an impeller in FIG. 2, is disposed in wash drum 64 to impart an oscillatory motion to articles and liquid in the wash chamber 70 of the wash drum 64. In various exemplary embodiments, agitation element 74 includes a single action element (i.e., oscillatory only), double action (oscillatory movement at one end, single direction rotation at the other end) or triple action (oscillatory movement plus single direction rotation at one end, singe direction rotation at the other end). As illustrated in FIG. 2, the agitation element 74 is oriented to rotate about the vertical direction V. The washing machine appliance 50 may also include a brake assembly (also not shown) selectively applied or released for respectively maintaining wash drum 64 in a stationary position within wash tub or for allowing wash drum 64 to spin within wash tub.
Operation of washing machine appliance 50 may be controlled by a processing device or controller 76 (shown in phantom in FIGS. 1 and 2) that is operatively coupled to the user input selectors 60 and display 61 located on the washing machine backsplash 56 for user manipulation to select washing machine cycles and features. In response to user manipulation of the input selectors 60, controller 76 may operate the various components of washing machine appliance 50 to execute selected wash cycles and features.
The controller 76 may include a memory and microprocessor, such as a general or special purpose microprocessor operable to execute programming instructions or micro-control code associated with a cleaning cycle. The memory may represent random access memory such as DRAM, or read only memory such as ROM or FLASH. In one embodiment, the processor executes programming instructions stored in memory. The memory may be a separate component from the processor or may be included onboard within the processor. Alternatively, controller 76 may be constructed without using a microprocessor, e.g., using a combination of discrete analog and/or digital logic circuitry (such as switches, amplifiers, integrators, comparators, flip-flops, AND gates, and the like) to perform control functionality instead of relying upon software. The control panel 58 and other components of washing machine appliance 50 may be in communication with controller 76 via one or more signal lines or shared communication busses.
In an illustrative embodiment, laundry items are loaded into wash chamber 70 of the wash drum 64, and a washing cycle is initiated through user manipulation of control input selectors 60. The user may add one or more wash materials to the dispenser cup 100, and the wash drum 64 may be filled with a wash liquid, such as water, and mixed with, e.g., detergent or other wash materials from the dispenser cup 100, to form a wash liquid mixture. A flow of wash liquid into wash drum 64 may be initiated by a valve and spout (not shown), and the wash drum 64 can be filled to the appropriate level for the amount of articles being washed. Once wash drum 64 is properly filled with the wash liquid mixture, the contents of the wash drum 64 may be agitated with the agitation element 74 for cleaning of laundry items in the wash chamber 70. More specifically, the agitation element 70 may be moved back and forth in an oscillatory motion.
After the agitation phase of the wash cycle is completed, the wash drum 64 and wash tub may be drained. Laundry articles can then be rinsed by again adding fluid to wash tub drum 64 and, depending on the particulars of the cleaning cycle selected by a user, the agitation element 74 may again provide agitation within wash drum 64. One or more spin cycles may also be used. In particular, a spin cycle may be applied after the wash cycle and/or after the rinse cycle in order to wring wash fluid from the articles being washed. During a spin cycle, the wash drum 64 may be rotated at relatively high speeds.
It should be appreciated, however, that while described in the context of a specific embodiment of the washing machine appliance 50, using the teachings disclosed herein it will be understood that washing machine appliance 50 is provided by way of example only. Other washing machine appliances having different configurations (such as horizontal-axis washing machine appliances), different appearances, and/or different features may also be utilized with the present subject matter as well.
Referring now to FIG. 3, a top view of one exemplary embodiment of a dispenser cup 100 is provided. As shown, the dispenser cup 100 includes a container for receipt of a wash material. More particularly, the exemplary embodiment depicted includes a first container 102, a second container 104, and a third container 106. Each container 102, 104, 106 may be configured for receipt of a wash material. More particularly, each container 102, 104, 106 may be configured to receive any suitable wash material, and one or more of the containers 102, 104, 106 may be dedicated to a specific wash material. For example, the first container 102 may be configured to receive wash detergent, the second container 104 may be configured to receive bleach, and the third container 106 may be configured to receive fabric softener.
Further, each container 102, 104, 106 is provided with a wash liquid inlet. For example, the first container 102 is in fluid communication with a first wash liquid inlet 108, the second container 104 is in fluid communication with a second wash liquid inlet 110, and the third container 106 is in fluid communication with a third wash liquid inlet 112. The washing machine appliance 50 may provide a flow of wash liquid to each of the containers 102, 104, 106 via the respective wash liquid inlets 108, 110, 112 simultaneously at the start of a wash cycle, or alternatively the washing machine appliance 50 may be configured to provide a flow of wash liquid to each of the containers 102, 104, 106 sequentially and/or at predetermined time intervals through a wash cycle.
Referring still to FIG. 3, a cover 114 is positioned over a top portion 116 (see FIG. 4) of each of the three containers 102, 104, 106. As will be discussed below, the cover 114 includes an inside surface 118 (FIG. 4) and an outside surface 120, and also includes a tapered portion 122 that extends around a perimeter of each of the three respective containers 102, 104, 106. The outside surface 120 may direct the wash material, such as a fluid additive, towards a center of the respective containers 102, 104, 106 and the inside surface may be configured to interact with a flow of wash liquid from one or more of the wash liquid inlets 108, 110, 112, as is discussed below.
Referring now to FIG. 4, a cross-sectional side view of the second container 104 of the dispenser cup 100 is provided. As shown in FIG. 4, the container 104 has a sidewall 124 and a bottom wall 126, and defines a compartment 128 configured to receive the wash material. For the embodiment depicted, the sidewall 124 extends substantially along the vertical direction V and the bottom wall 126 extends inwardly from the sidewall 124. More particularly, for the embodiment depicted, the bottom wall 128 is approximately perpendicular to the sidewall 124. It should be appreciated that as used herein, terms of approximation, such as “substantially” and “approximately,” refer to being within a 10% margin of error.
Referring still to FIG. 4, the dispenser cup 100 includes the wash liquid inlet 110 positioned on the sidewall 124 of the container 104. The wash liquid inlet 110 is configured to provide a flow of wash liquid to the compartment 128, and accordingly the wash liquid inlet defines a flow direction F moving inwardly from the side wall 124 of the container 128. More particularly, for the embodiment depicted, the flow direction F is approximately perpendicular to the sidewall 124 of the container 104 and the wash liquid inlet 110 defines a cylindrical channel 130 leading to the compartment 128. Accordingly, the wash liquid inlet 110 may provide the flow of wash liquid as a cylindrical flow into the compartment 128 of the container 104 at a predefined pressure. The wash liquid inlet 110 may be fluidly connected to a water source such as a supply pipe, or the spout discussed above with reference to FIG. 2, to provide such a flow of wash liquid.
Moreover, for the exemplary embodiment depicted, the wash liquid inlet 104 is made integrally with the side wall 124 of the container 104. For example, the wash liquid inlet 110 may be made of the same material as the side wall 124 of the container 104, with no seams or junctions defined between the two components. Such a configuration may result by molding the side wall 124 of the container 104 and the wash liquid inlet 110 simultaneously together (e.g., in a single, continuous mold), and may prevent any leaks between the two parts.
The dispenser cup 100 depicted further includes an outlet 132 positioned on the bottom wall 126 of the container 104 for receiving a mixture of wash liquid and wash material. The outlet 132 may be fluidly connected to the wash tub and/or the wash drum 64 (FIG. 2) to provide the wash liquid and wash material mixture thereto. The outlet 132 is positioned proximate to a side wall of the container 104 opposite the side wall 124 on which the wash liquid inlet 110 is positioned. However, in other exemplary embodiments, the outlet 132 may instead be positioned proximate the side wall 124 on which the wash liquid inlet 110 is positioned, or proximate to a center of the bottom wall 126. In certain exemplary embodiments, the outlet 132 may be configured as a siphon to more effectively transport the mixture of wash liquid and wash material to the wash tub and/or wash drum 64.
Referring still to FIG. 4, the dispenser cup 100 further includes a means for redirecting the flow of wash liquid from the wash liquid inlet 110 towards the bottom wall 126 of the container 104. The means is positioned at least partially within the compartment 128 defined by the container 104. For the exemplary embodiment depicted, the means for redirecting the flow of wash liquid from the wash liquid inlet 110 towards the bottom wall 124 the container 104 includes the cover 114 attached to the container 104 at the top end 116 of the container 104. More particularly, the means includes a deflector plate 134 of the cover 114 positioned at least partially within the compartment 128 of the container 104. The deflector plate 134 is positioned adjacent to the wash liquid inlet 110 such that a flow of wash liquid from the wash liquid inlet 110 contacts the deflector plate 134 and is redirected towards the bottom wall 126 of the container 110 when such a flow is provided.
Moreover, the deflector plate 134 includes the tapered portion 122 and a rim 136 extending downwardly from the tapered portion 122 along the vertical direction V. The tapered portion 122 is positioned such that the flow of wash liquid from the wash liquid inlet 110 contacts the tapered portion 122 when such a flow of wash liquid is provided by the wash liquid inlet 110. The tapered portion 122 slants away from the side wall 124 of the compartment as it extends downwardly. Accordingly, the tapered portion 122 defines an angle, a, relative to the flow direction F, which for the embodiment depicted in FIG. 4 is an acute angle. More particularly, for the exemplary embodiment depicted, the angle α is approximately forty-five (45) degrees. However, in other exemplary embodiments, the angle α may instead be between fifteen (15) and seventy-five (75) degrees, between thirty (30) and sixty (60) degrees, or any other suitable angle.
Referring now also to FIG. 5, a cross-sectional top view of the dispenser cup 100 is provided along Line 5-5 in FIG. 4. As depicted, the deflector plate 100 defines a convex shape relative to the flow direction F of the wash liquid. More specifically, the deflector plate 100 defines a convex shape relative to the flow direction F of the wash liquid in a plane perpendicular to the vertical direction (such as in the plane depicted in FIG. 5). For the embodiment depicted, both the tapered portion 122 and the rim 136 of the deflector plate 134 define a convex shape. Moreover, as may be seen in FIG. 5, the rim 136 defines a shape in the plane of FIG. 5 (perpendicular to the vertical direction V) that is complementary to the sidewall 124 of the container 104 proximate the wash liquid inlet 110. Accordingly, for the exemplary embodiment depicted the sidewall 124 of the container 104 defines a convex shape that is substantially the same as the convex shape of the rim 136 proximate the wash liquid inlet 110.
Referring now to both FIGS. 4 and 5, the deflector plate 100 is configured to redirect the flow of wash liquid from the wash liquid inlet 110 toward the bottom wall 126 of the container 104. More particularly, the deflector plate 134 is configured to spread the cylindrical flow of wash liquid in a widthwise direction W of the bottom wall 126 of the container 104, as is indicated by the redirected flow lines F′ depicted in phantom in FIG. 5. In certain exemplary embodiments, the deflector plate 134 may spread the flow of wash liquid across an entire width of the bottom wall 126 of the container 104, although in other exemplary embodiments, the deflector plate 134 may instead be configured to spread the flow of wash liquid across a portion of the bottom wall 126 of the container 104. Regardless, the deflector plate 134 is configured to spread the cylindrical flow of wash liquid from the wash liquid inlet 110 in a flat flow pattern, or alternatively, in a concave flow pattern, or a convex flow pattern. More particularly, cylindrical flow from the wash liquid inlet 110 may contact the deflector plate 134 and substantially take the shape of the deflector plate 134 and rim 136 as the flow spreads out across the deflector plate 134 and rim 136 and moves downwardly along the deflector plate 134 and rim 136. Accordingly, by the time the flow of wash liquid reaches the bottom wall 126, the flow may define a shape that corresponds substantially to a shape of the inside surface 118 of the deflector plate 134 and rim 136 (e.g., flat, concave, or convex). The pressure of the cylindrical flow of wash liquid from the inlet 110 may be enhanced to minimize an amount of turbulence generated with the wash material positioned in the container 104.
Accordingly, a dispenser cup 100 including the deflector plate 134 described above with reference to FIGS. 3 through 5 may leave less residue from the wash material over a plurality of wash cycles in the container 104 of the dispenser cup 100. More particularly, a dispenser cup 100 in accordance with the present disclosure may more effectively clean the bottom wall 126 of the container 104 during or after each wash cycle by redirecting the wash fluid flow from the wash fluid inlet 110 towards and/or across a width of the bottom wall 126 of the container 104, enabling a lower pressure fluid flow to clean the bottom wall 126 of the container without generating unwanted turbulence.
It should be appreciated, however, that the dispenser cup 100 described above with reference to FIGS. 3 through 5 is by way of example only and in other exemplary embodiments, the dispenser cup 100 may have any other suitable configuration. For example, in other exemplary embodiments the dispenser cup 100 may define any suitable number of containers, such as two or four containers, and may include any suitable design for the cover 114. For example, the cover 114 may not define a tapered portion 122 that extends around a perimeter of each of the respective containers, and instead the tapered portion 122 may only extend around a portion of a perimeter of the respective containers proximate to the wash liquid inlet of the respective containers. Moreover, in still other exemplary embodiments the cover 114, including the tapered portion 122 and/or the rim 136 may define any other suitable shape for redirecting the flow of wash liquid from the wash liquid inlet towards the bottom wall of the containers. For example, in other embodiments, the deflector plate 134 and/or rim 136 may define a flat shape relative to the flow direction F, or alternatively may define a concave shape relative to the flow direction F.
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other and examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.
Patent Application
20160090681
