US3160319A

US3160319A - Detergent dispenser for washing machines

Info

Publication number: US3160319A
Application number: US263246A
Authority: US
Inventors: Patzelt Klaudius; Lengsfeld Karl
Original assignee: G Bauknecht GmbH
Current assignee: G Bauknecht GmbH
Priority date: 1962-09-14
Filing date: 1963-03-06
Publication date: 1964-12-08
Anticipated expiration: 1981-12-08
Also published as: DE1239822B; LU42493A1; BE624494A; GB962940A; CH397169A; NL285275A; NL135077C

Description

FIG. 3

FIG. 1

vnvvxarvmm KLAuDIUs PATzELT KARL LENGSFELD f/ Q14/ 77M Dec. 8, 1964 K. PATzELT ETAL DETERGENT DISPENSER FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed MaIGh 6, 1963 s claims. (Cl. zzz-s4) This invention relates to a detergent dispenser for washing machines.

Detergent dispensers of the prior art are either of the hand-actuated type or are tied in with a programming system controlling the working cycle of ythe machine, or are known to be actuated by a separate programming device. The detergent or like agent may be powdered, pelletized, or a liquid.

It is to be understood that the term detergent is meant to include a large variety of chemical-action or scrubbing agents generally introduced into washing machines, and the term washing machine is meant to include clothes washing machines, dish washing machines and the like.

The hand-actuated known dispensers serve mainly for introducing a predetermined quantity of the detergent into the washing machine at the beginning of the process. The automatically program-actuated devices are adapted to add the detergent at a predetermined time during a given cycle to the washing liquid in the machine. All vof these devices are technically complicated and expensive since they call for mechanical or electromagnetic control means.

Accordingly, the main object of this invention is to provide a relatively simple device, for adding a detergent to a washing machine during the operation thereof.

The above and other objects of the invention are accomplished by an arrangement in which a bimetal strip is so connected to a retaining device on the detergent holder that when the washing liquid reaches a predetermined temperature, the bimetal strip moves due to the action of heat, releases the detergent holder and permits the detergent to be emptied into the interior of the washing machine. This ensures in a very simple and foolproof manner that the detergent to be used in the cleaning process is added to the washing liquid atvthe correct part of the cycle, i.e. when the hot washing process begins. The device of the invention is, therefore, independent of the programming device that may be provided in the machine tor controlling the operation thereof, and the dispenser automatically performs its function when the washing liquid is of a given desired temperature.

The device of the invention may be a separate unit removable from the washing machine, or, alternatively, it may be permanently attached to the interior of the machine at a point which is readily accessible when kthe door ofthe machine is open.

Further features and advantages of the invention are to become apparent from the following detailed description, wherein reference is being had to the appended drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a cross sectional view of an embodiment of the invention, the dispenser being provided with a lid, the dispenser being removable from the machine;

FIG. 2 is a side view of another embodiment of the invention, the dispenser being adapted to be firmly mounted within the machine; and

vUnited States Patent O yFIG. 3 is a rear view taken in the direction of the line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

a detergent dispenser of the invention is to be used, since such machines are conventional and well known.

In FIG. l a removable detergent dispenser 6 is shown within the interior of a fragmentarily shown washing machine housing 8. Within the housing 8 a fragmentarily shown rack `10 is disposed, for instance, suchas may be used in dishwashing machines for holding the dishes to be washed (not shown) in a desired position. The removable dispenser 6 is hung from the edge of the rack 10 by means of a hook 12. Attached to the hook 12 by means of a screw 14,are parallel disposed

llat strips

16 and 18. The

strips

16 and 18 are attached to the hook 12 and to each other only at one end, the

other parts throughout the length of the strips beingV merely freely disposed adjacent each other. The strip 16 is a bimetal strip, adapted to bend away from the adjacent strip 18 under the iniiuence of rising temperature, as shown by the broken line in FIG. l.

Attached to the lower end of the strip 1S is a detergent container 24), with its opening facing downward. If desired, the container may be of a size corresponding to the volume of detergent used for one washing cycle. A lid 22 is pivotally attached from the container 20 at 24, so that when the lid is not held against the container, the lid swings freely open, as indicated by the broken line showing.

The lower end of the bimetal strip 16 is provided with a projection 26 adapted to engage a protrudingnose portion 28 of the lid 22 so as to maintain therlid inthe closed position.

In operation, the dispenser 6 may be removed from the machine with a view to be iilled with a detergent;

subsequently the lid 22 is closed by causing the projec.

tion 26 to engage the nose portion 28 to maintain the lid in the closed position. The dispenser 6 is reversed, so that the opening of the container 20 faces downward and then the dispenser is disposed within the washing machine 8 by hanging it onto the edge of the rack 10 by the hook v12. Subsequently the machine is set into operation. When lthe water within the washing machine is of a suitable temperature, the bimetal strip 16 responds to the given temperature and bends into the position indicated by the broken line in FIG. l, whereby the projection 26 releases the nose portion 28 and the lid freely swings open downward about the pivot 24 into the position shown by the broken line in FIG. 1. The detergent is discharged from thecontainer 2t) into the wash ing liquid, and the washing operation can commence.

If desired, the mounting strip 18 may be also constructed from a bimetal and disposed so as to bend together with the container 20 in the opposite direction than the strip 16, whereby a more positive removal of the projection 26 from the nose portion 28 can be accomplished.

In FIGS. 2 and 3 a detergent dispenser 30 is shown mounted firmly to a housing 38 of a washing machine by a mounting bracket 40. The mounting bracket 40 is formed with a pivot mount 42 having a pivot 44 therein. The pivot 44 in turn engages a lug 46 attached to the bottom of a detergent container 48. The container 48 is open at the top and is adapted to pivot downward into the position shown by the broken line in FIG. 2.

To the bottom end of the mounting bracket 40 a bimetal strip 50 is attached by means of a rivet 52 or the like. Attached to the side of the container 48 facing the housing 38 of the washing machine, when the container is in the upright position, is a retainer hook 54, adapted to be engaged by a narrower top portion 56 'of the bimetal strip 50, whereby the container 48 is maintained in the upright, solid-line position.

As the washing liquid within the machine reaches a predetermined temperature, the strip 50 bends sideways,

Patented Dec. 8, 1964 Y 3 as indicated by the broken line in FIG. 3, and releases the retainer hook 54, whereby 'the container A4'8 spills forward into the position indicated by the broken line in FIG. 2 and dumps its contents into the washing liquid.

The mounting bracket 40 mayalso consist of a birnetal 'strip adapted -to bend in the opposite direction than the strip 50, whereby a more positive disengagement Ycan be provided between the strip y50 and the retainer forming a part of said detergent holder means for selec-V tively maintaining the detergent in said holder, and bimetal strip means selectively engaging said retainer for releasing said retainer when the washing liquid inthe machine has reached a predetermined temperature, said bimetal strip means including two Abimetal strips in the form of thin flat members with their wide sides in contact with one another, said strips being commonly mounted at one end thereof, the ends of said strips opposite to the mount- 'ed ends being arranged to move apart from one another when exposed to a preselected temperature, said holder means being arranged on the free end of one of said bime'tal strips and the free lend 'of the other bi'metal strip being arranged to engage said retainer.

2. A Vdispenser for introducing a detergent into the washing liquid of a washing'machine, comprising a ldetergent hol'der, a lid pivotally attached from said detergent holder, irst andse'cond elongated strips disposed in a substantially parallel relationship and mounted commonly at one end thereof, :said first strip being a bimetal strip, means mounting vthe container from the end `of Vsaid second strip opposite said common mounting withthe lid facing in the direction opposite said common mounting, said lid having an extending portion adapted to be selectively restrained from pivoting by said rst strip.

3. A dispenser according to claim 2, wherein said sec- 0nd strip is a bimetal strip adapted to bend upon the application of heat thereto in a direction substantially opposite to the bending direction of said rst strip.

4. A container -according to claim 2 including means disposed substantially adjacent the common mounting of said iirst and second strips, for removably attaching the container to the washing machine.

5. A container for introducing a detergent into the washing liquid of a washing machine, comprising a detergent'holder pivotally mounted from the machine, a retainer hook integral with said detergent holder, and a bimetal strip attached at one end thereof from the machine, the other end of said strip selectively engaging said retainer hook, whereby upon the heating-of said bimetal strip it bends sideways releasing the hook, the holder thereby becoming free to pivot downward.

6. A detergent dispenser for a washing machine, com- -prising a cup shaped detergent holder means, means for pivotally mounting said holder means for movement about a horizontal axis, and bimetal strip means engaging a portion ofY said holder means for maintaining it upright and for releasing said holder means to permit movement thereof about said horizontal pivot axis to discharge its contents into said Vwashing machineuwhen the washing liquid'in said machine has reached a predetermined temperature.V y ,g

References 'Cited by the Examiner Y UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,698,022 12v/S4 -Fahnoe a 222-54 X V`2,997,206 8/'61 Vendegaer et al. f -..f v 222--54 LOUIS J. yDEMBO, Primary Examiner.

RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Examiner.

Claims

6. A DETERGENT DISPENSER FOR A WASHING MACHINE, COMPRISING A CUP SHAPED DETERGENT HOLDER MEANS, MEANS FOR PIVOTALLY MOUNTING SAID HOLDER MEANS FOR MOVEMENT ABOUT A HORIZONTAL AXIS, AND BIMETAL STRIP MEANS ENGAGING A PORTION OF SAID HOLDER MEANS FOR MAINTAINING IT UPRIGHT AND FOR RELEASING SAID HOLDER MEANS TO PERMIT MOVEMENT THEREOF ABOUT SAID HORIZONTAL PIVOT AXIS TO DISCHARGE ITS CONTENTS INTO SAID WASHING MACHINE WHEN THE WASHING LIQUID IN SAID MACHINE HAS REACHED A PREDETERMINED TEMPERATURE.