U.S. patent application number 16/124917 was filed with the patent office on 2019-01-03 for washing agent dispensing device, particularly for a dishwashing machine.
This patent application is currently assigned to BITRON POLAND SP. ZO.O. The applicant listed for this patent is BITRON POLAND SP. ZO.O. Invention is credited to Lukasz DETKO.
Application Number | 20190000298 16/124917 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 64735006 |
Filed Date | 2019-01-03 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190000298 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
DETKO; Lukasz |
January 3, 2019 |
WASHING AGENT DISPENSING DEVICE, PARTICULARLY FOR A DISHWASHING
MACHINE
Abstract
A dispensing device for a dishwashing machine, including: a body
mounted to a door of the dishwashing machine; a receptacle formed
in the body to receive a quantity of a washing or rinsing agent; a
lid associated with the receptacle and displaceable in a manner
constrained to the body against the action of a spring from an open
position into a closed position, wherein the lid comprises an outer
face which faces away from the receptacle when the lid is in closed
position; a latching apparatus having a striker member assuming a
deactivated configuration, in which the striker member is
configured to be engaged by the latching member when the lid is
closed, and an activated configuration, in which the striker member
releases the latching element allowing the lid to pass into the
open position; and an opening member which disengages the latching
member from the striker element in deactivated configuration,
allowing the lid to open.
Inventors: |
DETKO; Lukasz; (Niegowonice,
PL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
BITRON POLAND SP. ZO.O |
SOSNOWIEC |
|
PL |
|
|
Assignee: |
BITRON POLAND SP. ZO.O
SOSNOWIEC
PL
|
Family ID: |
64735006 |
Appl. No.: |
16/124917 |
Filed: |
September 7, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 2501/07 20130101;
A47L 15/4257 20130101; A47L 15/4409 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47L 15/44 20060101
A47L015/44; A47L 15/42 20060101 A47L015/42 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 9, 2017 |
PL |
P.423109 |
Claims
1. A dispensing device (1) for a washing and/or rinsing agent, in
particular for a dishwashing machine, said dispensing device (1)
comprising: a body (2) configured to be mounted to a door of the
dishwashing machine on the side directed during operation towards a
washing chamber of said dishwashing machine; at least one
receptacle (3) formed in the body (2) and intended to receive a
quantity of a washing or rinsing agent; at least one movable lid
(5) associated with said at least one receptacle (3) and
displaceable in a manner constrained to the body (2) against the
action of resilient return means (8) from an open position into a
closed position, where it opens and closes the receptacle (3),
respectively, wherein said lid comprises an outer face (5b) which
faces away from the receptacle (3) when the lid (5) is in closed
position; a latching apparatus comprising a resiliently biased
latching member (11) arranged on the lid (5) and an automatically
controlled striker member (13) arranged on the body (2), wherein
said striker member is able to assume a deactivated configuration,
in which the striker member (13) is configured to be engaged by the
latching member (11) when the lid (5) is in the closed position,
and an activated configuration, in which the striker member (13)
releases the latching element allowing the lid (5) to pass from the
closed position into the open position; and at least one manually
operated opening member (15) arranged on the lid (5) and operable
to disengage the latching member (11) from the striker element (13)
in deactivated configuration, allowing the lid (5) to pass from the
closed position into the open position; characterized in that said
opening member is slidably arranged in a slider guide (16)
extending along said outer face of the lid (5).
2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said lid is rotatable
about a rotation axis, and the slider guide extends in a direction
parallel to said rotation axis.
3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said lid is movable along
a trajectory (y) which is rectilinear at least when viewed in plan
view, and the slider guide (16) extends in a direction orthogonal
to said trajectory, at least when viewed in plan view.
4. A device according to claim 1, wherein said opening member is
fixedly connected to the latching member (11).
5. A device according to claim 4, wherein said opening member is
formed in one piece with the latching member (11).
6. A device according to claim 1, further comprising an elastic
member (17) configured to resiliently bias the latching member (11)
and/or the opening member (15) towards a rest position, said spring
having a first end connected to the lid (5) and a second end
connected to the latching member (11) and/or opening member (15).
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a dispensing device for a
washing and/or rinsing agent, in particular for a dishwashing
machine.
[0002] More specifically, the present invention relates to a
dispensing device comprising [0003] a body configured to be mounted
to a door of the dishwashing machine on the side directed during
operation towards a washing chamber of said dishwashing machine;
[0004] at least one receptacle formed in the body and intended to
receive a quantity of a washing or rinsing agent; [0005] at least
one movable lid associated with said at least one receptacle and
displaceable in a manner constrained to the body against the action
of resilient return means from an open position into a closed
position, where it opens and closes the receptacle, respectively,
wherein said lid comprises an outer face which faces away from the
receptacle when the lid is in closed position; [0006] a latching
apparatus comprising a resiliently biased latching member arranged
on the lid and an automatically controlled striker member arranged
on the body, wherein said striker member is able to assume a
deactivated configuration, in which the striker member is
configured to be engaged by the latching element when the lid is in
the closed position, and an activated configuration, in which the
striker member releases the latching element allowing the lid to
pass from the closed position into the open position; and [0007] at
least one manually operated opening member arranged on the lid and
operable to disengage the latching element from the striker element
in deactivated configuration, allowing the lid to pass from the
closed position into the open position.
Background
[0008] Dispensing devices are known, wherein the manually operated
opening member is a push-button.
[0009] One object of the present invention is to provide an
alternative configuration for a dispensing device for a washing
and/or rinsing agent.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] This and other objects are achieved according to the
invention with a dispensing device of the type specified at the
beginning, characterised in that the manually operated opening
member is slidably arranged in a slider guide extending along said
outer face of the lid.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] Further features and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent from the following detailed description, which
is given purely by way of a non-limiting example, with reference to
the attached drawings, wherein:
[0012] FIGS. 1 and 2 are front, perspective views of a dispensing
device according to the present invention, in closed and open
position, respectively;
[0013] FIGS. 3a-3c are a plan view, a sectioned view and a detail
view, respectively, of the dispensing device of FIG. 1, in which a
striker member is in deactivated configuration and an opening
member is not operated;
[0014] FIGS. 4a-4c are a plan view, a sectioned view and a detail
view, respectively, of the dispensing device of FIG. 1, in which
the striker member is in activated configuration and the opening
member is not operated; and
[0015] FIG. 5a-5c are a plan view, a sectioned view and a detail
view, respectively, of the dispensing device of FIG. 1, in which
the striker member is in deactivated configuration and the opening
member is operated.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] In the drawings, the reference number 1 indicates the whole
of an integrated dispensing device including a dispenser of washing
agent or detergent according to the present invention.
[0017] In a per se known manner, such an integrated dispensing
device 1 is intended to be fixed to an inner wall of a door
delimiting a washing chamber of a dishwashing machine.
[0018] Although the attached drawings show an integrated dispensing
device also comprising a dispenser of rinse agent or rinse aid, the
present invention is not limited to the embodiment of the washing
agent dispenser in a form in which it is integrated with such a
further dispenser of rinse agent.
[0019] The dispensing device 1 comprises a body 2, for example made
of moulded plastic, which is intended to be connected (in a manner
known per se and not shown) to the door of the dishwashing machine
on the side directed during operation towards the washing chamber
of this dishwashing machine.
[0020] The body 2 comprised a recessed receptacle 3, essentially in
the form of a tray. The receptacle 3 is intended to receive a
quantity of washing agent, such as a powder detergent or a liquid
detergent or a solid washing agent in the form of "soap bar" or
tablet.
[0021] The device 1 comprises a movable lid 5 which is associated
with the receptacle 3 and is connected to the body 2. The movable
lid 5 is displaceable in a manner constrained to the body 2 between
a closed position (FIG. 1) and an open position (FIG. 2), where it
sealingly closes and opens the receptacle 3, respectively. In the
example shown in the drawings, the lid 5 is slidable in the
direction indicated by arrow y. However, the invention is not
limited to such a kind of motion, and comprises for example
embodiments in which the lid rotates about a fixed axis, as well as
embodiments in which the lid follows a more complex trajectory,
such as a trajectory comprising a sliding component and a tilting
component.
[0022] In the example shown in the drawings, the lid 5 comprises,
on each of its lateral sides, a pair of pins 5a integrally formed
with the lid 5 and slidably arranged in respective grooves 5b
formed in the body of the dispenser 1.
[0023] A resilient return member, such as a spring 8, is associated
with the lid 5, said return member tending to cause the latter to
slide towards the open position. This return spring may be, for
example, a torsion spring.
[0024] When the movable lid 5 is situated in the closed position
(FIG. 1), a latching apparatus keeps it in this position against
the action of the return spring 8 which would tend to bring it back
into the open position. With reference to FIGS. 3b-3c to 5b-5c,
this latching apparatus comprising a resiliently biased latching
member 11 arranged on the lid 5 and an automatically controlled
striker member 13 arranged on the body 2.
[0025] In the example shown in the drawings, the striker member 13
is formed as a pivoting lever housed in a recess 13a formed in the
body 2 and adjacent to the receptacle 3 for the washing agent. The
pivoting axis of the latching member 13 is designated with x in the
drawings, and extends in a direction substantially orthogonal to
the bottom of the recess 13a. However, the invention is not limited
to such a kind of motion for the striker member 13. The latching
member 13 is arranged in such a way as to have a free end 13b,
opposite to the pivoting axis x, lying under the lid 5.
[0026] In a way per se known, the striker member 13 is operatively
connected to an electrically operated actuator (not shown), such as
a solenoid actuator or the like. Due to this connection, the
striker member 13 is able to switch or move between a deactivated
configuration (FIGS. 3a-3c), in which the free end 13b of the
striker member 13 is configured to be engaged by the latching
member 11 when the lid 5 is in the closed position, and an
activated configuration (FIGS. 4a-4c), in which the free end 13b of
the striker member 13 releases the latching member 11 allowing the
lid 5 to pass from the closed position into the open position,
under the action of the associated return spring 8.
[0027] The latching member 11 is formed in one piece with a
manually operated opening member 15 arranged on the lid 5. The
opening member 15 is slidably arranged in a slider guide 16
extending along an outer face 5b of the lid 5. As used herein, the
term "outer face" is intended to mean a face of the lid 5 that
faces away from the receptacle 3 when the lid 5 is in closed
position. In other words, the outer face is the top surface of the
lid 5, so that the opening member can be operated by a finger of a
user. The slider guide 16 is formed as a groove extending through
the thickness of the lid, so that the latching member 11 can
protrude from the inner face of the lid 5, facing towards the
receptacle 3 and recess 13a.
[0028] According to further embodiments, the latching member 11 can
be a member fixedly connected to the opening member. Alternatively,
the latching member 11 can be connected to the opening member 15
through a mechanism.
[0029] The opening member 15 is biased towards a rest position
(FIGS. 3a-3c and 4a-4c) by an elastic return member, such as a
spring 17, having one end (not shown) connected to the opening
member 15, and an opposite end connected to the lid 5. According to
other embodiments, the return member may be directly connected to
the opening member 15.
[0030] Therefore, the opening member 15 is operable to disengage
the latching element 11 from the free end 13b of the striker
element 13 when the striker element 13 is in deactivated
configuration (FIGS. 5a-5c), allowing the lid 5 to pass from the
closed position into the open position under the action of the
return member 8.
[0031] A method of using the above described dispensing device 1 is
explained hereinbelow.
[0032] After having filled the receptacle 3 of the dispensing
device 1 with the desired quantity of washing agent, a user
operates manually the lid 5 and slide it from its open position,
shown in FIG. 2, to its closed position, shown in FIG. 1, against
the action of the return spring 8. The free end 13b of the striker
member 13, which is in deactivated configuration, and the latching
member 11 are configured to contact each other at the end of the
sliding motion of the lid 5, in such a way as to cause the latching
member 11 to move slightly away from its rest position against the
action of the return spring 17, and return to its rest position
when an end position of the lid 5 is reached, in which the lid 5
closes the receptacle 3 and is locked in this closed position by
the fact that striker member 13 is snap engaged by the latching
element 11 (FIGS. 3a-3c).
[0033] If the user desires to open the lid 5 again, he/she can
operate the opening member 15 by sliding it away from its rest
position (towards the right side in the drawings) against the
action of the return spring 17, in such a way as to disengage the
latching member 11 from the free end 13b of the striker member 13
(FIGS. 5a-5c). When the latching member 11 is disengaged from the
striker element 13, the lid 5 is free to move towards its open
position under the action of the return spring 8.
[0034] If, on the contrary, the user closes the door of the
dishwashing machine and turns on the machine, a washing cycle is
activated. During this washing cycle, the actuator (not shown)
associated to the striker member 13 is electrically operated to
switch the striker member 13 from its deactivated position to its
activated position (FIGS. 4a-4c). When the striker member 13 is in
activated position, it releases the latching member 11, and the lid
5 is free to move towards its open position under the action of the
return spring 8.
[0035] In the example shown in the drawings, the above described
latching apparatus is applied only to the lid 5 associated to the
receptacle for the washing agent. In further embodiments, this
latching apparatus can be applied also to a lid associated to a
receptacle for the rinsing agent.
[0036] Obviously, without affecting the principle of the invention,
the embodiments and constructional details may be widely varied
with respect to that described and illustrated purely by way of a
non-limiting example, without thereby departing from the scope of
the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.
* * * * *