CN111074496A - Detergent dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

A detergent dispenser includes a body having a storage chamber for storing a first detergent, a cover mounted to the body and being movable between an open position for opening the storage chamber and a closed position for closing the storage chamber, and a swing arm having a first end, a second end, and a connection between the first end of the swing arm and the second end of the swing arm, the connection being rotatably connected to an end of the cover adjacent the body, the first end of the swing arm being engageable with the body to lock the cover in the closed position, the first end of the swing arm being disengageable from the body to allow the cover to move from the closed position to the open position. The detergent dispenser of the present invention improves the locking reliability of the cover.

Description

Detergent dispenser

Technical Field

The invention relates to the technical field of detergent distribution, in particular to a detergent distributor.

Background

Detergent dispensers are increasingly used in washing apparatuses which dispense detergent to a washing zone within a given time in order to complete a subsequent washing process.

A cover type detergent dispenser is a widely used detergent dispenser, and in the related art, a cover and a body of the cover type detergent dispenser slide relative to each other to open and close a detergent chamber. However, the reliability of the locking manner of the cap of the existing cap type detergent dispenser is yet to be improved.

Disclosure of Invention

To this end, the present invention proposes a detergent dispenser which improves the locking reliability of a cover.

A detergent dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a body having a storage chamber storing a first detergent; a cover mounted to the body and being movable between an open position opening the storage chamber and a closed position closing the storage chamber; a swing arm having a first end, a second end, and a connection between the first end of the swing arm and the second end of the swing arm, the connection being pivotally connected to an end of the cover adjacent the body, the first end of the swing arm being engageable with the body to lock the cover in the closed position, the first end of the swing arm being disengageable from the body to allow the cover to move from the closed position to the open position.

According to the detergent dispenser of the embodiment of the invention, the swing arm is provided with the first end, the second end and the connecting part positioned between the first end and the second end, the connecting part of the swing arm is rotatably connected with one end, adjacent to the body, of the cover body, the first end of the swing arm is clamped with the body to lock the cover body, when external force is applied to the second end of the swing arm, the first end of the swing arm swings to enable the first end of the swing arm to be separated from the body, so that the cover body can be released to allow the cover body to move from the closed position to the open position, therefore, the locking and releasing of the cover body can be realized through the.

In some embodiments, a first end of the swing arm has a first protrusion extending in a direction toward the body, the first protrusion is engageable with and disengageable from the body, and a second end of the swing arm has a pressing portion extending in a direction away from the body and penetrating out of the cover.

In some embodiments, the detergent dispenser further comprises a drive assembly including a rotating member rotatably coupled to the body to drive the first projection out of engagement with the body.

In some embodiments, the first end of the swing arm has a second projection extending in a direction toward the body, the second projection being spaced apart from the first projection, and the rotating member may push the second projection to disengage the first projection from the body.

In some embodiments, the rotating member includes a rotating shaft and a rotating arm, the rotating arm includes a base plate and a first extension portion, the first end of the rotating shaft is connected to the base plate, the first extension portion extends from an end of the base plate away from the rotating shaft in a direction away from the rotating shaft, the rotating shaft is rotatably mounted to the body, and the first extension portion is driven by the rotating shaft to push the first end of the swinging arm so as to separate the first end of the swinging arm from the body.

In some embodiments, the driving assembly further includes a control valve and a connecting member, the connecting member includes a cylinder and a second extending portion extending outward from an outer peripheral surface of the cylinder, the cylinder is disposed around the second end of the rotating shaft, the control valve is connected to the second extending portion to drive the body to rotate through the second extending portion, and the cylinder can drive the rotating shaft to rotate.

In some embodiments, the detergent dispenser further comprises a cover opening elastic member provided between the body and the cover body for urging the cover body toward the open position.

In some embodiments, the lid opening elastic member is a torsion spring, a first end of the torsion spring is connected to the body, and a second end of the torsion spring is connected to the lid body.

In some embodiments, the body comprises: a first housing, the storage chamber being disposed within the first housing, the cover being slidably mounted to the first housing; a second housing combined with the first housing.

In some embodiments, the first end of the swing arm and the first housing may be snap-fit to lock the cover in the closed position, and the first end of the swing arm and the first housing may be disengageable to allow the cover to move from the closed position to the open position.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of the overall structure of a detergent dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an exploded view of a detergent dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a detergent dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is an assembly view of a cover and a swing arm of a detergent dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is an exploded view of a cover and swing arm of a detergent dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a detergent dispenser with a cover removed according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a schematic view of a swing arm, a rotating member, and a connecting member of a detergent dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention in cooperation.

Fig. 8 is an exploded view of a rotating member and a connecting member of a detergent dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a driving assembly of a detergent dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention

Fig. 10 is a sectional view of a drive assembly of a detergent dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Reference numerals:

the device comprises a body 1, a storage cavity 101, an outflow cavity 102, a first shell 11, a clamping protrusion 111, a second shell 12, a communication hole 13, an adding nozzle 14, a cover body 2, a through hole 21, a supporting plate 22, an opening 221, a swing arm 3, a first end 31 of the swing arm, a first bulge 311, a second bulge 312, a second end 32 of the swing arm, a pressing part 321, a connecting part 33, a rotating part 4, a rotating shaft 41, a rotating arm 42, a base body 421, a first extending part 422, a connecting part 5, a cylinder body 51, a second extending part 52, a control valve 6, a valve core 61, an uncovering elastic part 7 and a turnover cover 8.

Detailed Description

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments described below with reference to the drawings are illustrative and intended to be illustrative of the invention and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. In the description of the present invention, it is to be understood that the terms "central," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," "counterclockwise," "axial," "radial," "circumferential," and the like are used in the orientations and positional relationships indicated in the drawings for convenience in describing the invention and to simplify the description, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the referenced devices or elements must have a particular orientation, be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and are therefore not to be considered limiting of the invention.

As shown in fig. 1 to 10, a detergent dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a body 1, a cover 2, and a swing arm 3, the body 1 having a storage chamber 101 storing a first detergent, wherein the first detergent may be a general detergent used in a dishwasher when dishes are washed.

The cover 2 is mounted to the body 1, and the cover 2 is changeable between an open position to open the storage chamber 101 and a closed position to close the storage chamber 101. For example, the cover 2 may be slidable with respect to the body 1, or the cover 2 may be reversible with respect to the body 1. In the present embodiment, the lid 2 is slidable with respect to the body 1.

The swing arm 3 has a first end 31 (an upper end of the swing arm 3 shown in fig. 4 and 5), a second end 32 (a lower end of the swing arm 3 shown in fig. 4 and 5), and a connecting portion 33 between the first end 31 of the swing arm 3 and the second end 32 of the swing arm 3, the connecting portion 33 being rotatably connected to an end of the lid body 2 adjacent to the main body 1 (a rear end of the lid body 2 shown in fig. 2). It will be understood that, with respect to the detergent dispenser, the end adjacent to the interior of the detergent dispenser is the inner end and the end remote from the interior of the detergent dispenser is the outer end, and that the end of the cover 2 adjacent to the body 1 is the inner end of the cover 2.

The first end 31 of the swing arm 3 is engageable with the body 1 to lock the cover 2 in the closed position, and the first end 31 of the swing arm 3 is disengageable from the body 1 to allow the cover 32 to move from the closed position to the open position. In other words, when the cover 2 is slidable relative to the body 1, the first end 31 of the swing arm 3 can be disengaged from the body 1 to allow the cover 32 to slide from the closed position to the open position; when the cover 2 is reversible with respect to the body 1, the first end 31 of the swing arm 3 may be disengaged from the body 1 to allow the cover 32 to be reversed from the closed position toward the open position. In the present embodiment, the cover 2 is slidable relative to the body 1, and the first end 31 of the swing arm 3 is detachable from the body 1 to allow the cover 32 to slide from the closed position to the open position.

According to the detergent dispenser of the embodiment of the invention, the swing arm 3 is provided with the first end 31, the second end 32 and the connecting part 33 positioned between the first end 31 and the second end, the connecting part 33 of the swing arm 3 is pivotally connected with one end, adjacent to the body 1, of the cover body 2, the first end 31 of the swing arm 3 is clamped with the body 1 to lock the cover body 2, when external force is applied to the second end of the swing arm 3, the first end 31 of the swing arm 3 swings to enable the first end 31 of the swing arm 3 to be separated from the body 1, so that the cover body 2 can be released to allow the cover body 2 to move from the closed position to the open position, therefore, the locking and releasing of the cover body 2 can be realized through the swing arm 3, the cover body 2 can be reliably locked at the closed position to prevent the first.

In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 4 to 6, the first end 31 of the swing arm 3 has a first protrusion 311, the first protrusion 311 extends in a direction toward the body 1 (a direction from front to back in fig. 2, 4, 5), the first protrusion 311 is engageable with and disengageable from the body 1, the second end 32 of the swing arm 3 is provided with a pressing portion 321, and the pressing portion 321 extends in a direction away from the body 1 (a direction from back to front in fig. 2, 4, 5) and penetrates out of the cover 2.

Specifically, the lid body 2 is provided with a through hole 21, and the pressing portion 321 is provided in the through hole 21. In other words, the cover 2 is provided with a through hole 21 penetrating the wall thickness of the cover 2, the pressing portion 321 of the swing arm 3 extends forward from the lower end of the swing arm 3 and passes through the through hole 21, and an external force can act on the pressing portion 321 to drive the first protrusion 311 of the swing arm 3 to move, i.e. the external force can act on the swing arm 3 from the outside of the detergent dispenser. In the present invention, the terms "first", "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one such feature.

More specifically, as shown in fig. 4 and 5, two support plates 22 are disposed on one end surface of the cover 2 adjacent to the body 1, the support plates 22 are disposed opposite to each other and spaced apart from each other, an opening 221 is disposed on each support plate 22, two connecting portions 33 of the swing arm 3 are disposed opposite to each other, the connecting portions 33 are fitted in the openings 221 and are pivotable in the openings 221, and one connecting portion 33 corresponds to one opening 221. As shown in fig. 4 and 5, the main body 1 is vertically placed, the first end of the swing arm 3 is the upper end of the swing arm 3, the second end of the swing arm 3 is the lower end of the swing arm 3, two protrusions are arranged between the upper end of the swing arm 3 and the lower end of the swing arm 3, one protrusion extends from the right side surface of the swing arm 3 to the right side to protrude the right side surface of the swing arm 3, the other protrusion extends from the left side surface of the swing arm 3 to the left side to protrude the left side surface of the swing arm 3, the protrusions form the connecting portion 33 of the swing arm 3, and each protrusion can be matched in one opening 221 to be.

In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 7-10, the detergent dispenser further comprises a drive assembly comprising a rotor 4, the rotor 4 being rotatably coupled to the body 1 to drive the first end 31 of the swing arm 3 out of engagement with the body 1. It can be understood that, when the cover 2 is in the closed position, the first protrusion 321 of the swing arm 3 is engaged with the body 1 to lock the cover 2, and when unlocking is required, the cover 2 can be manually unlocked, or the cover 2 can be automatically unlocked, wherein, during manual unlocking, an external force acts on the pressing portion 321 of the swing arm 3, and the first protrusion 321 of the swing arm 3 is disengaged from the body 1 to allow the cover 2 to slide from the closed position to the open position; when automatically unlocking the lid body 2, the rotating member 4 mounted on the body 1 rotates to drive the first projection 321 of the swing arm 3 to disengage from the body, thereby allowing the lid body 2 to slide from the closed position to the open position.

In some specific embodiments, as shown in fig. 7 and 8, the rotating member 4 includes a rotating shaft 41 and a rotating arm 42, the rotating arm 42 includes a base 421 and a first extension 422, the first extension 422 extends from an end surface of the base 421 away from the rotating shaft 41 (a front end surface of the base 421 shown in fig. 2 and 7) in a direction away from the rotating shaft 41 (a direction from back to front shown in fig. 2 and 7), a first end of the rotating shaft 41 (a front end of the rotating shaft 41 shown in fig. 2 and 7) is connected to the base 421, the rotating shaft 41 is rotatably mounted on the body 1, and the first extension 422 of the rotating arm 42 can push the first end 31 of the swing arm 3 to disengage the first end 31 of the swing arm 3 from the body 1 under the driving of the rotating shaft 41.

More specifically, the first end 31 of the swing arm 3 also has a second projection 312, the second projection 312 extends in a direction toward the body 1 (a direction from front to back in fig. 2, 4, 5), and the second projection 312 and the first projection 311 are spaced apart from each other, for example, as shown in fig. 4, 5, the first projection 311 is located above the second projection 312, and the first projection 311 is located on the left side of the second projection 312. When the rotating shaft 41 rotates, the first extending portion 422 is driven to push the second protrusion 312 of the swing arm 3, so that the first protrusion 311 of the swing arm 3 is separated from the body 1.

In some specific embodiments, as shown in fig. 7-10, the driving assembly further includes a connecting member 5 and a control valve 6, the connecting member 5 includes a cylinder 51 and a second extending portion 52, the second extending portion 52 extends outward from an outer peripheral surface of the cylinder 51, the cylinder 51 is wound around a second end of the rotating shaft 41, the control valve 6 is connected to the second extending portion 52 to drive the body 1 to rotate through the second extending portion 52, and the cylinder 51 can drive the rotating shaft 41 to rotate. Specifically, as shown in fig. 9 and 10, the control valve 6 has a valve core 61, one end of the second extending portion 52 away from the cylinder 51 contacts with one end surface of the valve core 61, the control valve 6 is powered on, the valve core 61 acts to drive one end of the second extending portion 52 away from the cylinder 51 to move, so as to drive the cylinder 51 to rotate, and the cylinder 51 rotates to drive the rotating shaft 41 to rotate.

In some embodiments, the detergent dispenser further comprises a door opening elastic member 7, the door opening elastic member 7 being provided between the body 1 and the cover 2 for urging the cover 2 toward the open position. It will be appreciated that when the cover 2 is slidable relative to the body 1, the cover 2 slides from the closed position closing the storage chamber 101 to the open position opening the storage chamber 101 under the influence of the cover spring member 7 after the first end 31 of the swing arm 3 is disengaged from the body 1. Specifically, the lid opening elastic member 7 is a torsion spring having a first end connected to the body 1 and a second end connected to the lid body 2, so that the lid body 2 is slid from the closed position closing the storage chamber 101 to the open position opening the storage chamber 101 after the first end 31 of the swing arm 3 is separated from the body 1 by the torsion spring.

In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 3, the body 1 includes a first case 11 and a second case 12, the storage chamber 101 is provided in the first case 11, and the cover 2 is slidably mounted on the first case 11; the second housing 12 is combined with the first housing 11. It will be appreciated that the first casing 11 is located at the front and the second casing 12 is located at the rear, i.e. the first casing 11 is a front casing and the second casing 12 is a rear casing, the lid 2 is slidably mounted on the front casing, and the rear casing and the front casing may be combined together to form the body 1.

In some specific embodiments, the first end 31 of the swing arm 3 and the first housing 11 can be snapped to lock the cover 2 in the closed position, and the first end 31 of the swing arm 3 and the first housing 11 can be disengaged to allow the cover 2 to move from the closed position to the open position. Specifically, one end of the first housing 11 adjacent to the cover 1 (the front end of the first housing 11 shown in fig. 2 and 3) has a snap projection 111, and the first projection 311 of the swing arm 3 and the snap projection 111 of the first housing 11 can be engaged and disengaged.

In some embodiments, the body 1 also has a containing chamber (not shown) provided inside the second casing 12 and for storing a second detergent, and an outflow chamber 102. The second detergent is a rinsing agent, also called brightener, used in a dishwasher for enhancing the washing effect when washing dishes.

An outflow chamber 102 is provided in the first housing 11, and a communication hole 13 is provided in a wall of the outflow chamber 102, and a communication hole 16 communicates the receiving chamber with the outflow chamber 102 so that the second detergent in the receiving chamber enters the outflow chamber 102 through the communication hole 13.

The wall of the outflow cavity 102 is provided with an adding nozzle 14, the adding nozzle 14 extends from the outflow cavity 102 to the containing cavity and is funnel-shaped, the adding nozzle 14 is provided with a plurality of adding holes so as to add the second detergent into the containing cavity, and the liquid level of the second detergent in the containing cavity can be observed conveniently. In order to improve the manufacturing efficiency, the adding nozzle 14 is an integral injection molding piece, and further, the adding nozzle 14 is integrally formed with the body 1, but the invention is not limited thereto.

The detergent dispenser also has a flip 8, the flip 8 being used to open and close the outflow chamber 102. Specifically, the flip cover 8 is mounted on the body 1 in a manner of being able to be turned, and it is understood that turning the flip cover 8 can realize opening and closing of the outflow chamber 102 to facilitate the subsequent addition of the second additive.

It will be appreciated that the detergent dispenser is first placed in a horizontal position as shown in fig. 1, the flip cover 8 is turned over, the outflow chamber 102 is opened, the second additive is added into the containing chamber from the adding hole of the adding nozzle 14, after the addition is completed, the flip cover is turned over in the opposite direction, and the outflow chamber 102 is closed to store the second additive in the containing chamber; then the detergent dispenser is in a vertical state, the second additive in the containing chamber flows into the outflow chamber 102 from the communication hole 13, and the second additive in the outflow chamber 102 flows into the household appliance such as a dishwasher to provide the second additive for the corresponding household appliance.

A detergent dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 1 to 10.

As shown in fig. 1 to 10, a detergent dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a body 1, a cover 2, a swing arm 3, a rotation member 4, a connection member 5, a control valve 6, a door opening elastic member 7, and a flip cover 8.

The body 1 includes a first housing 11 and a second housing 12 combined with the first housing 11, the first housing 11 has a storage cavity 101 therein, the cover 2 is slidably mounted on the first housing 11, and one end of the first housing 11 adjacent to the cover 1 (the front end of the first housing 11 shown in fig. 2 and 3) has a locking protrusion 111.

One end surface (the rear end surface of the cover 2 shown in fig. 2) of the cover 2 adjacent to the main body 1 is provided with two support plates 22, the two support plates 22 are spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction and face each other, each support plate 22 is provided with an opening 221, and the cover 2 is further provided with a through hole 21 penetrating the wall thickness of the cover 2.

The swing arm 3 has a first end 31 (the upper end of the swing arm 3 shown in fig. 4 and 5), a second end 32 (the lower end of the swing arm 3 shown in fig. 4 and 5), and two connecting portions 33 between the first end 31 of the swing arm 3 and the second end 32 of the swing arm 3.

The first end 31 of the swing arm 3 has a first protrusion 311 and a second protrusion 312 both extending rearward, the first protrusion 311 is engageable with the catch 111 to lock the cover 2 in the closed position, and the first protrusion 311 is disengageable from the catch 111 to allow the cover 32 to slide from the closed position to the open position. The first protrusion 312 and the first protrusion 311 are spaced apart from each other, and the first protrusion 311 is located above the second protrusion 312, and the first protrusion 311 is located on the left side of the second protrusion 312.

The second end 32 of the swing arm 3 is provided with a pressing portion 321, the pressing portion 321 extends forward from the lower end of the swing arm 3 and passes through the through hole 21, and an external force can act on the pressing portion 321 to drive the first protrusion 311 of the swing arm 3 to move.

One of the connecting portions 33 extends rightward from the right side surface of the swing arm 3 to project the right side surface of the swing arm 3, and the other connecting portion extends leftward from the left side surface of the swing arm 3 to project the left side surface of the swing arm 3. The connecting portions 33 are fitted in the openings 221 and rotatable with respect to the support plate 22, and one connecting portion 33 corresponds to one opening 221.

The rotating member 4 includes a rotating shaft 41 and a rotating arm 42, the rotating arm 42 includes a base 421 and a first extending portion 422, the first extending portion 422 extends forward from the lower edge of the front end face of the base 421, the front end of the rotating shaft 41 is connected with the base 421, the rotating shaft 41 is rotatably mounted on the body 1, and the first extending portion 422 of the rotating arm 42 can push the second protrusion 312 of the swing arm 3 under the driving of the rotating shaft 41, so that the first protrusion 311 of the swing arm 3 is disengaged from the locking protrusion 111.

The connecting member 5 includes a cylinder 51 and a second extending portion 52, the second extending portion 52 extends outwardly from the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder 51, and the cylinder 51 is wound around the second end of the rotating shaft 41. The control valve 6 has a valve core 61, one end of the second extending portion 52 far from the cylinder 51 contacts with one end face of the valve core 61, the control valve 6 is powered on, the valve core 61 acts to drive one end of the second extending portion 52 far from the cylinder 51 to move, so as to drive the cylinder 51 to rotate, and the cylinder 51 rotates to drive the rotating shaft 41 to rotate.

The lid opening elastic member 7 is a torsion spring having a first end connected to the body 1 and a second end connected to the lid body 2, so that the lid body 2 is slid from a closed position closing the storage chamber 101 to an open position opening the storage chamber 101 after the first end 31 of the swing arm 3 is separated from the body 1 by the torsion spring.

The body 1 also has a containing chamber (not shown) for storing a second detergent and an outflow chamber 102 provided in the second casing 12. The second detergent is a rinsing agent, also called brightener, used in a dishwasher for enhancing the washing effect when washing dishes. An outflow chamber 102 is provided in the first housing 11, and a communication hole 13 is provided in a wall of the outflow chamber 102, and a communication hole 16 communicates the receiving chamber with the outflow chamber 102 so that the second detergent in the receiving chamber enters the outflow chamber 102 through the communication hole 13.

The wall of the outflow cavity 102 is provided with an adding nozzle 14, the adding nozzle 14 extends from the outflow cavity 102 to the containing cavity and is funnel-shaped, the adding nozzle 14 is provided with a plurality of adding holes so as to add the second detergent into the containing cavity, and the liquid level of the second detergent in the containing cavity can be observed conveniently.

A flip 8 is turnably mounted on the body 1 for opening and closing the outflow chamber 102. It will be appreciated that turning flip cover 8 over, opening and closing of outflow housing 102 may be accomplished to facilitate subsequent addition of the second additive.

In the description herein, references to the description of the term "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "an example," "a specific example," or "some examples," etc., mean that a particular feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the invention. In this specification, the schematic representations of the terms used above are not necessarily intended to refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples. Furthermore, various embodiments or examples and features of different embodiments or examples described in this specification can be combined and combined by one skilled in the art without contradiction.

In the present invention, unless otherwise expressly stated or limited, the terms "mounted," "connected," "secured," and the like are to be construed broadly and can, for example, be fixedly connected, detachably connected, or integrally formed; may be mechanically coupled, may be electrically coupled or may be in communication with each other; they may be directly connected or indirectly connected through intervening media, or they may be connected internally or in any other suitable relationship, unless expressly stated otherwise. The specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood by those skilled in the art according to specific situations.

In the present invention, unless otherwise expressly stated or limited, the first feature "on" or "under" the second feature may be directly contacting the first and second features or indirectly contacting the first and second features through an intermediate. Also, a first feature "on," "over," and "above" a second feature may be directly or diagonally above the second feature, or may simply indicate that the first feature is at a higher level than the second feature. A first feature being "under," "below," and "beneath" a second feature may be directly under or obliquely under the first feature, or may simply mean that the first feature is at a lesser elevation than the second feature.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described above, it is understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and should not be construed as limiting the present invention, and that variations, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to the above embodiments by those of ordinary skill in the art within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (10)

1. A detergent dispenser, comprising:

a body having a storage chamber storing a first detergent;

a cover mounted to the body and being movable between an open position opening the storage chamber and a closed position closing the storage chamber;

a swing arm having a first end, a second end, and a connection between the first end of the swing arm and the second end of the swing arm, the connection rotatably coupled to an end of the cover adjacent the body, the first end of the swing arm engageable with the body to lock the cover in the closed position, the first end of the swing arm disengageable from the body to allow the cover to move from the closed position to the open position.

2. The detergent dispenser of claim 1, wherein a first end of the swing arm has a first protrusion extending in a direction toward the body, the first protrusion being engageable with and disengageable from the body, and a second end of the swing arm has a pressing portion extending in a direction away from the body and passing through the cover.

3. The detergent dispenser of claim 2, further comprising a drive assembly including a rotatable member rotatably coupled to the body for driving the first projection out of engagement with the body.

4. The detergent dispenser of claim 3, wherein the first end of the swing arm has a second projection extending in a direction toward the body, the second projection being spaced apart from the first projection, the rotor being capable of pushing the second projection to disengage the first projection from the body.

5. The detergent dispenser according to claim 4, wherein the rotating member comprises a rotating shaft and a rotating arm, the rotating arm comprises a base plate and a first extension portion, the first end of the rotating shaft is connected to the base plate, the first extension portion extends from an end of the base plate away from the rotating shaft in a direction away from the rotating shaft, the rotating shaft is rotatably mounted to the body, and the first extension portion is driven by the rotating shaft to push the first end of the swing arm so as to separate the first end of the swing arm from the body.

6. The detergent dispenser of claim 5, wherein the drive assembly further comprises a control valve and a connector, the connector comprising a barrel and a second extension extending outwardly from an outer peripheral surface of the barrel, the barrel being disposed about the second end of the shaft, the control valve being coupled to the second extension to drive the body to rotate via the second extension, the barrel being rotatable about the shaft.

7. The detergent dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a door spring disposed between the body and the lid for urging the lid toward the open position.

8. The detergent dispenser according to claim 7, wherein said lid-opening elastic member is a torsion spring, a first end of said torsion spring is connected to said body, and a second end of said torsion spring is connected to said lid body.

9. The detergent dispenser of any of claims 1-8, wherein the body comprises:

a first housing, the storage chamber being disposed within the first housing, the cover being slidably mounted to the first housing;

a second housing combined with the first housing.

10. The detergent dispenser of claim 9, wherein a first end of the swing arm and the first housing are snappable to lock the cover in the closed position, the first end of the swing arm and the first housing being disengageable to allow the cover to move from the closed position to the open position.

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