Washing machine appliance with a bulk dispense reservoir having an integral bleach cup

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10435834-B2
Application number	US-201615234002-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 11, 2016
Priority date	Aug 11, 2016
Publication date	Oct 8, 2019
Grant date	Oct 8, 2019

Abstract

A washing machine appliance includes an additive reservoir positioned below a top panel of the washing machine appliance for receiving large quantities of a first fluid additive, such as detergent. In addition, the additive reservoir defines an additive passageway that extends through the additive reservoir and is configured for receiving a second fluid additive, such as bleach, and directing that additive directly into a tub of the washing machine appliance. In this manner, bulk detergent and an additional additive may be added into the washing machine appliance without requiring the manufacturing and assembly of two separate parts which must be installed within the limited space under the top panel of the washing machine appliance.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A washing machine appliance, comprising:
a cabinet having a top panel; the top panel of the cabinet defining a first opening and a second opening;
a tub disposed within the cabinet below the top panel;
a basket rotatably mounted within the tub; and
an additive reservoir positioned below the top panel, the additive reservoir defining a storage chamber, a reservoir inlet positioned at the first opening of the top panel for receiving a first fluid additive, and an additive passageway for receiving a second fluid additive, the additive passageway extending through the additive reservoir between a passage inlet positioned at the second opening of the top panel and a passage outlet such that the additive passageway is entirely surrounded by the storage chamber with the exception of the passage inlet and the passage outlet and such that the additive passageway bypasses and is not in fluid communication with the storage chamber within the additive reservoir.

2. The washing machine appliance of claim 1 , wherein the additive passageway is funnel-shaped.

3. The washing machine appliance of claim 1 , wherein the additive passageway is integrally formed with the additive reservoir.

4. The washing machine appliance of claim 1 , wherein the additive reservoir is injection molded as a single, integral piece of plastic.

5. The washing machine appliance of claim 1 , wherein the passage inlet of the additive passageway is configured to receive the second fluid additive.

6. The washing machine appliance of claim 5 , wherein the first fluid additive is detergent and the second fluid additive is bleach.

7. The washing machine appliance of claim 1 , wherein the passage outlet of the additive passageway is in fluid communication with the tub such that the second fluid additive poured into the additive passageway flows into the tub.

8. The washing machine appliance of claim 1 , further comprising an additive conduit, the additive conduit extending between the passage outlet of the additive passageway and the tub and being configured to direct the second fluid additive in the additive passageway into the tub.

9. The washing machine appliance of claim 1 , wherein the additive reservoir defines a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction that are mutually perpendicular to one another, wherein the additive passageway extends between the passage inlet and the passage outlet along the vertical direction.

10. The washing machine appliance of claim 9 , wherein the cabinet extends between a front portion and a rear portion along the transverse direction, the first opening of the top panel being positioned at the front portion of the cabinet, the second opening of the top panel being positioned closer to the rear portion of the cabinet relative to the first opening.

Assignees

• Haier Us Appliance Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Wright Troy Marshall
• Leibman Alexander B
• Vowels Christopher Gene

Classifications

• D06F39/022

  in a liquid state (D06F39/024 takes precedence) · CPC title

• D06F23/04

  and rotating or oscillating about a vertical axis · CPC title

• D06F39/12

  Casings; Tubs · CPC title

• D06F39/02 Primary

  Devices for adding soap or other washing agents · CPC title

• D06F2204/08

  Textiles & Paper · mapped topic