Textiles: fluid treating apparatus – Machines – Combined
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-31
2002-06-11
Coe, Philip (Department: 1746)
Textiles: fluid treating apparatus
Machines
Combined
Reexamination Certificate
active
06401499
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
Conventional laundry washing machines have individual compartments for various washing products such as detergents, bleach, and fabric softeners. The user selectively fills each compartment for each load of laundry. Each fill of the compartments requires that the product be taken from its storage location, such as a shelf or cabinet, opened, poured, closed, and replaced in storage. Each of these steps takes time, which is increased when multiple products are used for a specific load of laundry.
Therefore, a primary objective of the present invention is the provision of an improved washing machine having one or more fluid tanks for containing relatively large quantities of washing products, which can be selectively pumped into smaller compartments for each wash load.
Another objective of the present invention is the provision of an improved washing machine having multiple fluid storage tanks with a single air pump to pressurize the fluid tanks for pumping the respective fluids into associated compartments for a wash cycle.
Another objective of the present invention is the provision of an improved washing machine having large fluid storage tanks for wash products, such as liquid or fluid detergent, bleach, and fabric softener, which is easy and quick to use.
These and other objectives become apparent from the following description of the invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The improved washing machine of the present invention includes a cabinet with a tub mounted therein. An opening is provided in the front or top of the cabinet to provide access to the tub. A door on the cabinet is moveable between open and closed positions relative to the access opening.
The plurality of fluid tanks are mounted within the cabinet. Each tank is in fluid communication with a separate, smaller compartment. A single diaphragm air pump is actuated by a switch when the door is opened so as to pressurize each tank. A manually operated valve allows a user to switch compartment or compartments to fill with a desired amount of liquid or fluid detergent, bleach, and/or fabric softener. An easy access inlet conduit is provided for each tank so that the tank can be filled quickly and easily. A removable cap closes each fill conduit.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3094247 (1963-06-01), Marchi
patent: 5046336 (1991-09-01), Ferguson et al.
patent: 5195338 (1993-03-01), Russo
patent: 5226301 (1993-07-01), Rizzetto et al.
patent: 5758521 (1998-06-01), Roberts
patent: 0449060 (1991-10-01), None
patent: 2214524 (1989-09-01), None
Clark Brian D.
Hansen Ted L.
Wunderlich Daniel F.
Coe Philip
Maytag Corporation
McKee Voorhees & Sease, P.L.C.
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