Laundry treating appliance and dispenser

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11708657-B2
Application number	US-202117350204-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 17, 2021
Priority date	Sep 13, 2016
Publication date	Jul 25, 2023
Grant date	Jul 25, 2023

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a laundry treating appliance having a dispenser assembly. The dispenser assembly includes a frame defining an opening, and at least one dispenser container mounted to the frame for movement between extended and retracted positions. A dispenser door is mounted to the frame for movement between closed and opened positions. The dispenser door closes the opening in the closed position and the dispenser door opens the opening in the opened position. The at least one dispenser container is operably coupled to the dispenser door such that movement of the dispenser door between the closed and opened positions effects a corresponding movement of the at least one dispenser container between the retracted and extended positions.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A laundry treating appliance comprising:
a housing defining an interior;
a treating chamber located within the interior;
a dispenser frame mounted to the housing and at least partially defining an access opening;
a shroud covering the dispenser frame and at least partially defining the access opening;
at least one dispenser container mounted to the dispenser frame for movement between extended and retracted positions, with an upper edge of the at least one dispenser container being aligned with and flush with at least a portion of the access opening in the extended position; and
a dispenser door mounted to the dispenser frame for movement between closed and opened positions, with the dispenser door closing the access opening in the closed position, and the dispenser door opening the access opening in the opened position and positioned at least partially above or below the at least one dispenser container in the extended position;
wherein the at least one dispenser container is operably coupled to the dispenser door such that pivotal movement of the dispenser door between the closed and opened positions effects a corresponding sliding movement of the at least one dispenser container between the retracted and extended positions, the corresponding pivotal and sliding movements configured to maintain the dispenser container at an upright position throughout the opening and closing motion.

2. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1 wherein the upper edge of the at least one dispenser container that is aligned with the access opening in the extended position is flush with an upper edge of the access opening when the at least one dispenser container is in the extended position.

3. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1 further comprising a biasing device that biases the dispenser door to the opened position.

4. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1 further comprising a push-to-open latch securing the dispenser door in the closed position.

5. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1 further comprising a damper mounted to the dispenser door and dampening the movement of the dispenser door between the opened and closed positions.

6. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1 wherein the at least one dispenser container is slidably mounted to the dispenser frame for sliding movement between the extended and retracted positions.

7. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1 wherein the dispenser door is pivotally mounted to the dispenser frame for pivoting movement between the closed and opened positions.

8. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1 wherein the dispenser container is accessible through the access opening in the extended position.

9. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1 wherein the at least one dispenser container has a peripheral edge, the access opening has a peripheral edge, and the peripheral edges are flush when the at least one dispenser container is in the extended position.

10. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1 wherein the dispenser door in the opened position partially retracts below the at least one dispenser container in the extended position.

11. A laundry treating appliance comprising:
a housing defining an interior;
a treating chamber located within the interior;
a dispenser frame mounted to the housing and at least partially defining an access opening;
a shroud covering the dispenser frame and at least partially defining the access opening;
a dispenser drawer comprising at least one container mounted to the dispenser frame for movement between extended and retracted positions, with an upper edge of the dispenser drawer being aligned with and flush with at least a portion of the access opening in the extended position; and
a dispenser door mounted to the dispenser frame for movement between closed and opened positions, with the dispenser door closing the access opening in the closed position, and the dispenser door opening the access opening in the opened position and positioned at least partially above or below the at least one dispenser container in the extended position;
wherein the dispenser drawer is operably coupled to the dispenser door such that pivotal movement of the dispenser door between the closed and opened positions effects a corresponding sliding movement of the dispenser drawer between the retracted and extended positions, the corresponding pivotal and sliding movements configured to maintain the at least one container at an upright position throughout the opening and closing motion.

12. The laundry treating appliance of claim 11 wherein the upper edge of the dispenser drawer that is aligned with the access opening in the extended position is flush with an upper edge of the access opening when the dispenser drawer is in the extended position.

13. The laundry treating appliance of claim 11 further comprising a biasing device that biases the dispenser door to the opened position.

14. The laundry treating appliance of claim 11 further comprising a push-to-open latch securing the dispenser door in the closed position.

15. The laundry treating appliance of claim 11 further comprising a damper mounted to the dispenser door and dampening the movement of the dispenser door between the opened and closed positions.

16. The laundry treating appliance of claim 11 wherein the dispenser drawer is slidably mounted to the dispenser frame for sliding movement between the extended and retracted positions.

17. The laundry treating appliance of claim 11 wherein the dispenser door is pivotally mounted to the dispenser frame for pivoting movement between the closed and opened positions.

18. The laundry treating appliance of claim 11 wherein the at least one container is accessible through the access opening in the extended position.

19. The laundry treating appliance of claim 11 wherein the dispenser drawer has a peripheral edge, the access opening has a peripheral edge, and the peripheral edges are flush when the dispenser drawer is in the extended position.

20. The laundry treating appliance of claim 11 wherein the dispenser door in the opened position partially retracts below the dispenser drawer in the extended position.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Ayers Kevin
• Bixby Seth
• Murphy Sayer J

Classifications

• D06F39/02 Primary

  Devices for adding soap or other washing agents · CPC title

• D06F39/022

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

• D06F39/026

  the powder or tablets being added directly, e.g. without the need of a flushing liquid · CPC title

• D06F39/028

  Arrangements for selectively supplying water to detergent compartments · CPC title

• D06F39/14

  Doors or covers; Securing means therefor · CPC title