IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,234,588
Granted Patent B2
US 12,234,588 · App. 18/205,682 · Granted Feb 25, 2025

Laundry treating appliance detergent dispenser

Inventors: Benjamin A. Beres (South Haven, MI); Paul E. Brownie (Benton Harbor, MI); Eric A. Gallagher (Kalamazoo, MI); Guy M. Kazmierzak (Dowagiac, MI); Andrew C. Kubasiak (Saint Joseph, MI)
Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
D06F33/34D06F37/24D06F39/022D06F23/04D06F39/028D06F39/088D06F2103/16D06F2105/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,234,588
App. No.
18/205,682
Granted
Feb 25, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A laundry treating appliance includes a cabinet defining an interior and having an access opening to the interior, a treating chamber located within the interior and accessible through the access opening, a dispenser having a drawer with at least one chemistry container and a faucet, and a water supply fluidly coupled to the faucet.

Claims (36)

1. A laundry treating appliance comprising:

a cabinet defining an interior and having an access opening to the interior;

a basket located within the interior, the basket defining a treating chamber, the basket having an open top and rotatable about a vertical axis;

a lid selectively openable and configured to provide access to the basket through the access opening when the lid is opened;

a user interface having at least one input configured to receive a selection of an automatic cycle of operation;

a pre-treatment faucet having an actuator and an outlet located within a shroud or fluidly coupled to the treating chamber, the pre-treatment faucet configured for pre-treating a laundry item prior to the laundry treating appliance beginning the automatic cycle of operation and in response to user actuation of the actuator, wherein the actuator is accessible via the access opening, located on the user interface, or located on a top of the cabinet and wherein actuation of the actuator controls dispensing from the pre-treatment faucet via at least one valve; and

a treating chemistry dispenser spaced from the outlet of the pre-treatment faucet;

wherein when the lid is closed the pre-treatment faucet and the actuator are inaccessible to a user and wherein when the lid is opened the pre-treatment faucet and actuator are accessible to a user.

2. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1 , wherein the pre-treatment faucet and the treating chemistry dispenser are both provided toward a rear of the access opening.

3. The laundry treating appliance of claim 2 , wherein the actuator is located on the shroud toward the rear of the access opening.

4. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1 wherein the pre-treatment faucet can dispense water or water mixed with treating chemistry.

5. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is spaced from the pre-treatment faucet.

6. The laundry treating appliance of claim 1 , wherein the treating chemistry dispenser comprises a drawer and at least one container is carried by the drawer.

7. A laundry treating appliance, comprising:

a cabinet defining an interior and having a shroud defining an access opening to the interior;

a basket located within the interior, the basket defining a treating chamber, the basket having an open top and rotatable about a vertical axis;

a lid selectively openable and configured to provide access to the basket through the access opening when the lid is opened;

a pre-treatment faucet having an actuator accessible by a user and an outlet located within the shroud or fluidly coupled to the treating chamber, the pre-treatment faucet configured for pre-treating a laundry item prior to the laundry treating appliance beginning an automatic cycle of operation and in response to user actuation of the actuator; and

a treating chemistry dispenser adjacent the outlet of the pre-treatment faucet; and

wherein the actuator is proximate at least one of the pre-treatment faucet or the treating chemistry dispenser and wherein actuation of the actuator controls fluid supply from the pre-treatment faucet and wherein when the lid is closed the pre-treatment faucet is inaccessible to a user and wherein when the lid is opened the pre-treatment faucet is accessible to a user.

8. The laundry treating appliance of claim 7 , wherein the pre-treatment faucet and the treating chemistry dispenser are both provided at a rear of the access opening.

9. The laundry treating appliance of claim 8 , wherein the actuator is located on the shroud toward the rear of the access opening.

10. The laundry treating appliance of claim 7 wherein the pre-treatment faucet can dispense water or water mixed with treating chemistry.

11. The laundry treating appliance of claim 7 , wherein the actuator is on the shroud and spaced from the pre-treatment faucet.

12. The laundry treating appliance of claim 7 , wherein the treating chemistry dispenser comprises a drawer and at least one container is carried by the drawer and wherein the actuator is located on the drawer.

13. A laundry treating appliance comprising:

a cabinet defining an interior;

a basket located within the interior, the basket having an open top and defining a treating chamber;

a shroud provided at a top of the cabinet and defining an access opening, the access opening configured to provide access to the treating chamber;

a faucet provided on the shroud and having an outlet configured to dispense to the treating chamber;

a treating chemistry dispenser drawer provided on the shroud, the treating chemistry dispenser drawer slidable relative to the shroud between a first position, wherein at least one container of the treating chemistry dispenser drawer underlies the shroud, and a second position, wherein the at least one container of the treating chemistry dispenser drawer extends at least partially beyond the shroud and overlies the basket;

an actuator operably coupled to the faucet and wherein actuation of the actuator controls a supply of water from the faucet; and

a lid that is selectively openable and configured to provide access to the treating chamber through the access opening when the lid is opened; and

wherein when the lid is closed the faucet and the actuator are inaccessible to a user and wherein when the lid is opened the faucet and actuator are accessible to a user.

14. The laundry treating appliance of claim 13 , wherein the actuator is provided on the shroud.

15. The laundry treating appliance of claim 13 , wherein the actuator is a button.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2023
From: BERES, BENJAMIN A.; BROWNIE, PAUL E.; GALLAGHER, ERIC A.; KAZMIERZAK, GUY M.; KUBASIAK, ANDREW C.
To: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 063852/0251 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 17186119 · Feb 26, 2021
Continuation 16700647 · Dec 2, 2019
Continuation 15443372 · Feb 27, 2017
Related Publication 20230313432A1 · Oct 5, 2023
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