US3248914A

US3248914A - Liquid dispenser for automatic washing machines

Info

Publication number: US3248914A
Application number: US252519A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr Loyal H Tingley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-01-18
Filing date: 1963-01-18
Publication date: 1966-05-03
Anticipated expiration: 1983-05-03

Description

LIQUID DISPENSER FOR AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINES Filed Jan. 18, 1965 May 3, 1966 L. H. TINGLEY, JR

5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Loyal H. 77h9/ey,./r. 4 BY A TTORA/EYS y 96$ LQH. TINGLEY, JR 3,243,914

LIQUID DISPENSER FOR AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINES Filed Jan. 18, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTCR. Loya/ 77ny/ey, Jr.

ATTORNEYS May 3, 1966 L. H TINGLEY, JR 3,243,914

LIQUID DISPENSER FOR AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINES Filed Jan. 18, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. Laga/ Tiny/ey/r:

United States Patent Ofiice 3,248,914 Patented May 3, 1966 3,248,914 LIQUID DISPENSER FOR AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINES Loyal H. Tingley, IL, RED. 2, Havana, Ill. Filed Jan. 18, 1963, Ser. No. 252,519 17 Claims. (Cl. 68207) This invention relates generally to dispenser attachments for use With automatic Washing machines and the like.

More particularly, the invention provides an improved dispenser attachment designed for mounting within the rotatable tub of an automatic clothes washing machine, and constructed to automatically dispense a quantity of liquid into the tub at a preselected stage in the operating cycle of the machine.

The use of automatic Washing machines for the purpose of Washing clothes and the like has become quite common, and numerous different automatic washers are being commercially manufactured and sold in quantity. While significant differences exist between the products of different manufacturers, and even between different models produced by the same manufacturer, all automatic washing machines of the type to which this invention relates have generally the same arrangement of components, and include a cabinet within which is mounted a tub, or basket, for receiving the articles to be washed, said tub being disposed for rotary movement about a vertical axis. The tub contains an agitator element, which is also mounted for rotary movement about said vertical axis, and motor means is provided to both oscillate said agitator and to rapidly rotate the tub agitator according to a predetermined sequence programmed into the cycle of the machine. The operating sequences of the various commercially available Washing machines of the type to which the invention relates vary, but generally include the same principal steps. The articles to be washed are first placed in the tub and a suitable soap or detergent is added, after which the control switch is turned on and the tub fills with water. When the Water has attained a predetermined level, the agitator is activated, and oscillates back and forth about its vertical axis to manipulate the articles in the soapy or detergent-bearing water to thereby wash the same. At the conclusion of this washing cycle, the oscillations of the agitator cease, and the tub then enters a first extraction cycle and is spun rapidly about its vertical axis, together with the agitator, to remove by centrifugal action the dirt-laden wash water from the articles being washed.

After the first wash water has been extracted from the articles being washed, the tub ceases to spin and is again filled with water for the purpose of rinsing the washed articles. When the rinsing operation is completed, the machine enters another extraction operation and the tub and agitator are again rapidly revolved to remove the rinse water therefrom. In some automatic washers the operating sequence ends with the first removal of the rinse water, and the tub comes to a standstill; in other machines a second rinse operation follows the first, and various other arrangements of washing, water extracting, and rinsing operations are possible.

It has been found desirable to supply certain additives to the tub water at a predetermined phase of the cycle.

There are now several suitable additives available to be added to the tub at some time during the operating cycle, including bleach compounds, water softeners, starch, fresheners, flufiiness-producing compounds, and the like, the majority of these being available in liquid form. When an additive is intended to be placed in the tub at the time the articles to be washed are inserted therein, this can be easily done manually. But many of the present day additives are intended to be placed in the tub only at some point after the initial washing operation, usually during or just prior to a rinse operation.

If an attendant must be present during the entire operating sequence of an automatic washer to place additives into the tub at various times during the cycle, then fully automatic operation is defeated. Obviously, a device for automatically dispensing an additive into the tub of an automatic washer at a preselected time during its operating cycle is desirable, and retains intact the automatic feature of the washer.

In my previous US. Patents 2,868,006 and 2,949,025 there is disclosed liquid dispensers for automatically dispensing liquid additives into the tub of an automatic washing machine at various preselected times during the operating cycle thereof. Briefly, in their simplest form, the dispenser devices described in these patents each comprises an annular container mounted concentrically about the axis of the tub, and contains at least two, concentrically disposed, annular chambers separated by an upright wall. The liquid to be dispensed is initially placed within the inner chamber, where it remains until the tub is rapidly rotated during the first water extraction operation. The centrifugal forces present during rapid rotation of the tub cause the liquid to pass over the upright wall and into the outer chamber, from which it will flow by gravity into the tub when rotation thereof ceases. By multiplying the number of annular chambers, one for each extraction operation, the entry of the liquid into the tub may be delayed until after any desired extraction step.

It is necessary for widest application, that the liquid dispenser be adaptable for use with various different washing machines. The present invention provides novel dispensers and means for mounting the dispensers, which means make the dispensers readily adaptable for use on substantially any washing machine agitator.

Another feature of the dispensers of the present invention is that they can be constructed to dispense liquid immediately after the centrifugal force produced by rotation of the agitator ceases to be effective. While this is satisfactory for many laundry additives, it is undesirable for some others, particularly those which should not be deposited directly upon the clothes. Certain additives should be added to the tub only when it is at least partially filled with rinse water, and the present dispensers may have means associated therewith to delay delivery of the treating liquid to the tub until the agitator starts to oscillate. To this end, the present invention utilizes an annular container positioned immediately below the dispenser, which receives the additive at the end of the water extraction step, but functions to delay the entry of the additive liquid into the tub until after it is at least partially filled with rinse water. In most washers, the agitator does not begin its oscillations until the tub is at least partially filled with Water. The annular container of the present invention is constructed to be emptied by the initial oscillatory motions of the agitator, and hence will dispense the additive into a sloshing body of water, whereby it is readily mixed therewith and goes into solution. Thus, the novel dispenser arrangement of the present invention is compatible with substantially all liquid laundry additives.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a liquid dispenser for automatic washing machines, so constructed as to dispense liquid into the tub of said machine at a preselected time during the operating sequence thereof.

Another object is to provide a liquid dispenser for automatic washing machines constructed so that it is relatively easy to install and to fill with liquid.

It is also an object to provide a liquid dispenser for automatic washing machines, constructed so that it retains the liquid within the dispenser until the point of the cycle is reached at which it is to be discharged.

A further object is to provide various means for attaching a liquid dispenser to the agitator of different makes of washing machines, so as to be universally adaptable to various designs of agitators.

Still another object is to provide a liquid retaining receptacle for a liquid dispenser utilized with automatic washing machines, so constructed as to retain liquid to be dispensed until the tub of said machine is at least partially filled with water.

Another object is to provide a liquid dispenser for automatic washing machines that can be economically constructed, and which utilizes no moving elements.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the invention will be readily appreciated by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view partly in cross-section of an automatic washing machine, showing a preferred embodiment of the invention mounted on the agitator thereof;

FIG. 2 is a plan view, taken generally along the line 22 in FIG. 1, a portion of the dispenser being broken away;

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view, taken along the line 33 in FIG. 2, showing in detail the manner in which the dispenser is mounted on the agitator;

FIG. 4 is a similar view of a second embodiment of the invention, showing different means for mounting the dispenser on an agitator;

FIG. 5 is a view in cross-section of another embodiment of the invention, showing another means for attaching the dispenser to an agitator;

FIG. 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view, taken along the line 6-6 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of still another embodiment of the invention and showing still another means for attaching the dispenser to an agitator;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of the invention, with the novel annular, delayeddelivery container of the present invention attached thereto;

FIG. 9 is a horizontal sectional view, taken along the line 99 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a perspective View of the annular, delayedelivery container shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the annular, delayed-delivery container;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a modified form of the dispenser shown in FIG. 8; and

FIG. 13 is a similar view of a modification of the dispenser shown in FIG. 7.

The dispenser of the present invention is adapted for mounting on the top of the agitator of an automatic washing machine, and in several forms thereof is comprised of an inner, annular trough-like receptacle disposed concentrically within an encircling flanged ring. The ring includes a cylindrical rim having a radially inwardly projecting flange at each end thereof, said flanges respectively extending above and below said annular receptacle. The liquid additive to be dispensed is initially poured into the trough-like annular receptacle at the time the tub of the washing machine is loaded with articles to be washed. After completion of the washing operation, the agitator and the tub are rapidly spun to extract water from the clothes. Concurrently, the additive is moved by centrifugal force from said annular receptacle into the chamber defined by the encircling ring and is held against the cylindrical wall of said ring. Upon stopping of the tub, the liquid additive then flows by gravity out of said encircling ring and into the tub.

In another embodiment of the invention, an annular container is disposed below the liquid discharge means of the encircling ring portion and functions to catch the liquid additive as it flows by gravity from said ring. The liquid is retained within said annular container until the agitator begins its oscillatory motion, which motion rapidly empties the liquid additive from said container into the tub.

Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a washing machine is indicated generally at 2 and includes a cabinet 4 having a plurality of feet 6 thereon resting upon a floor or other structure. The cabinet 4 of the machine has a hinged lid 7 in the top thereof, and a clothes basket, or tub 8 is mounted within said cabinet and confronts the opening covered by said lid. An agitator 12 having vanes 14 thereon is mounted within said tub for oscillatory motion, and a conventional motor and transmission unit 16 is disposed within the lower portion of the cabinet 4 and is connected to both rotate the tub 8 and to oscillate the agitator 12, according to a predetermined operating cycle.

As is best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the agitator 12 has a reduced cylindrical portion 18 at the top end thereof upon which is received a liquid dispenser 20. The dispenser 20 includes an annular upwardly opening, troughshaped receptacle 22 and an encircling ring 24. The receptacle 22 includes an inner, generally axially extending cylindrical wall 26 and an outwardly and upwardly inclined outer wall 28, said walls being connected at the lower portion thereof by an annular, rounded or arcuateshaped bottom wall portion 30. The cylindrical wall 26 has a slightly larger diameter than the inner diameter of the rounded portion 30, whereby an indented shoulder 32 is formed therebetween. An annular ring of resilient material 34 is received Within the cylindrical wall 26 and rests upon said shoulder 32, said ring having a generally rectangular cross-section and being retained in position at its upper end by an inturned flange 36 at the top of said cylindrical wall.

The ring 34 may be constructed of rubber or a like resilient material, and the outside diameter thereof is larger than the diameter of the largest agitator with which it is intended to be used. The ring 34 has an opening 35 of a size to receive the cylindrical portion 18 of the agitator 12 with a light press-fit. The resilient material of the ring 34 is sufficiently hard to keep the dispenser 20 level, and sufliciently soft to permit it to be readily mounted upon and removed from said agitator.

The ring 24 includes an outer cylindrical wall 37 having, at its upper and lower edges, inwardly directed

horizontal flanges

38 and 40. The inner diameter of the upper flange 3-8 is greater than the outer diameter of the cylindrical wall 26 of the receptacle 22, but substantially less than the diameter of the top end of the outwardly inclined wall, or baffle, 28; preferably, the diameter of the flange 38 may be about midway between said other two diameters. The lower flange 40 has an inner diameter substantially equal to that of the cylindrical wall 26. A plurality of circumferentially spaced webs or columns 42 project upwardly from the flange and are connected to the rounded portion of the bottom wall 30 of the receptacle 22. In this connection, it will be noted that elongated passages or slots of substantial length are provided for free flow of liquid between the webs 42.

In use, the liquid agent, which it is desired to dispense, is poured into the annular receptacle 22 through the relatively large opening '39 in the upper flange 38. The washingmachine is then started, and water flows into the tub 8. After the tub 8 has filled sufliciently, the agitator 12 is caused to oscillate back and forth about its vertical axis by the motor unit 16. During the period when the agitator is so oscillating, the liquid within the receptacle 22 will remain therein. At the conclusion of the washing operation, the agitator 12 will cease its oscillatory movement, and it, together with the tub 8, will then be rapidly rotated in one direction by the motor unit 16, as is well understood in the art.

As the tub 8 is rapidly spun, the water initially contained therein and in the washed clothes will be extracted therefrom by centrifugal action. During this extraction period, the liquid contained within the annular receptacle 22 will be acted upon by the centrifugal force thus produced and will be caused thereby to pass up and over the inclined wall, or baflle, 28 into the encircling annular ring or receptacle 24 defined by the cylindrical Wall 37 and its attached

flanges

38 and 40. After the liquid has all passed over the wall 28, it will be retained within the annular ring 24 during the remainder of the extraction period by centrifugal action.

When the extraction operation is complete, the tub 8 will slow down and stop, thus reducing the centrifugal force to zero. The liquid contained within the annular ring 24 will then flow out of said ring through the passages between the columns 42 and discharge through opening 41 in the lower flange 40. The position of said annular discharge opening radially inwardly of said columns 42 insures that the liquid additive will be retained within the ring 24 until the tub 8 ceases its rotation. Further, the positioning of the edge of the filling opening 39 in the top flange 38 about medially of the receptacle 22 insures that liquid passing over the inclined Wall 28 will be retained within the outer ring 24, while at the same time a relatively large opening 39 is provided for easy filling of said receptacle.

The flexible attachment ring arrangement of FIG. 3 is adaptable to many washing machine agitators. However, this invention also contemplates other means for mounting a dispenser in position.

Referring to FIG. 4, a dispenser is shown at 44 and comprises an annular receptacle 46 and an encircling ring 48. The receptacle 46 includes an outwardly and upwardly inclined wall '50, an inwardly and upwardly inclined Wall 52 and a connecting, rounded bottom wall 54. The receptacle 46 and the ring 48 are substantially identical in construction to the corresponding elements of the dispenser 20 shown in FIG. 3, except for the construction of the inclined wall 52 and the structure attached thereto. The ring 48 is attached to the rounded bottom portion 54 by a plurality of circumferentially spaced columns 56, which correspond to the columns 42 in FIG. 3.

The wall 52 terminates in a plane about midway 0f the height of the wall and a circular disk 58 having an opening 60 centrally thereof merges into the upper edges of said wall around the entire periphery thereof. The disk 58 is shown disposed upon the flat upper face of an agitator 6-2, said agitator having a stud bolt 64 projecting upwardly therefrom and aligned with its axis of rotation. The bolt 64 extends through the opening 60, and a rounded cap nut 66 is threaded thereon and functions to retain the dispenser in fixed position on the agitator 62. The dispenser 44 of FIG. 4 functions in a manner identical to that of the dispenser 20 of FIG. 3.

Another means for attaching a dispenser to the agitator of a washing machine is shown in FIG. 5, wherein a dispenser is indicated generally at 68. The dispenser 68 includes, like the

dispensers

20 and 44, an annular receptacle 70 and an encircling ring 72. The receptacle 70 comprises an outwardly and upwardly inclined wall 74, an inner cylindrical wall '76, and a connecting, rounded bottom wall 78. The ring 72 includes a cylindrical outer wall having a pair of inwardly directed

radial flanges

82 and 84 at the upper and lower ends thereof, respectively.

The cylindrical wall 80 has a height such that it extends a substantial distance above the upper edge of the inclined wall 74 on the receptacle 70. The receptacle 70 is attached to the lower flange 84 by a plurality of columns 86. The inner cylindrical wall 76 of the annular receptacle 70 extends upwardly through a filling opening 88 in the flange 82, and projects a substantial distance above said flange. A disk 90 is connected with the cylindrical Wall 76 at the top end thereof and closes that end. Thus, the annular receptacle 70 can be readily filled to the extent desired by pouring additive liquid around the closed, protruding portion of the cylindrical wall 76.

The dispenser 68 is mounted concentrically upon the upper end of an agitator 82, said agitator having a rounded cap nut 94, similar to the nut 66, secured to its upper end by a stud bolt 96. The inner surface of the cylindrical wall 76 has secured thereto medially of its height a resilient, annular, rubber ring 98, said ring having a socket molded in its lower face. A plurality of circumferentially spaced, upwardly inclined ribs 102 are positioned on the lower surface of said ring 98 and project radially inwardly at their upper end and overlie a portion of said socket. The cap nut 94 has a circumferential flange 104 thereon of a size to be received Within the socket 100. To install the dispenser 68, the annular ring 98 is positioned on the cap nut 94 and is pressed downwardly; the resilient ribs 102 then yield or give sufliciently to permit the flange 104 to enter the socket 100, and thereafter snap back to their original positions, whereby to lock the dispense-r in position on the agitator 92. The manner in which the ribs 102 function to lock the dispenser 68 in place will be readily apparent from FIG. 6. The dispenser 68 functions to discharge liquid from the receptacle 70 for delivery through an outlet opening 85 in the lower flange S4 in a manner identical to the

dispensers

20 and 44 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Still another means for securing a dispenser 106 to the top of an agitator is shown in FIG. 7. The dispenser 106 includes an inner annular receptacle 108 and an en circling ring 110. The receptacle 108 has an outwardly and upwardly inclined wall 112, an inner cylindrical wall 114 and a rounded bottom wall 116, which is connected to the ring 110 by a plurality of columns 118. The cylindrical wall 114 extends to a point above the upper end of the inclined wall 12, and is closed at its top by a horizontally disposed disk-like wall 120. The disk is disposed below the filling opening 122 in the upper flange 111 of the ring 106, whereby the receptacle 108 can be easily filled. The ring 106 has a discharge opening 123 which communicates with the elongated openings between the columns 118.

The cylindrical wall 114 has received therein an annular ring 124 identical in construction to the ring 98, and including a plurality of circumferentially spaced ribs 126 on its lower face. The ring 124 is secured within the dispenser 106 by means similar to that employed to secure the ring 34 within the dispenser 20, that is, the ribs 126 of the ring 124 rest at their lower end upon a shoulder 128 disposed between the rounded bottom 116 and the cylindrical wall 114. The dispenser 106 is mounted upon the upper reduced cylindrical portion 130 of an agitator 132, said cylindrical portion 130 having cemented thereto a ring 134 having a radially projecting flange 136 at its upper end similar to the flange 104. The ring 134 may be constructed of any suitable plastic material. The flange 136 is of a size to be received within a socket 138 in the resilient ring 124, whereby the dispenser is secured in position. The ring 134 is preferably so positioned relative to the disk 126 that when the flange 136 on said ring is secured within the resilient ring 124, said disk will engage the top surface of the agitator 132. This arrangement insures that the dispenser 106 will remain level.

The

dispensers

20, 44, 68 and 106 all include inner and outer chambers and function in a substantially identical manner, and will dispense a liquid agent into the tub of a washing machine after the end of the first water extraction operation. It is readily seen that each of said dispensers can be easily filled through the openings in the upper flange of their outer ring and that the discharge openings in the lower flange thereof are so positioned and are of such a size as to insure non-clogging, trouble-free operation. It is to be understood that, if it is desired to utilize said dispensers to dispense liquid after a second or a subsequent water extraction operation, the chambers therein can be multiplied according to the teachings of the above two-identified patents.

All of the aforesaid dispensers can be molded from plastic material, and the inner receptacles and encircling rings can be separately molded and later assembled by cementing the upper end of the columns to the bottom wall of the inner receptacle. The plastic materials used are sufficiently flexible to permit any distortion that may be necessary to insert the inner receptacles into the outer rings.

Referring now to FIG. 8, a washing machine agitator 140 is shown mounted upon a shaft 142. The external surface of the agitator 146 has a plurality of circumferentially spaced, axially extending, rectangular splines 144 thereon, and a lint filter unit 146 having corresponding longitudinal grooves 148 therewithin is mounted upon said agitator. The details of construction of lint filter 146 form no part of the present invention, and it is, therefore, sutficient to merely point out that it includes inner and outer spaced, concentrically disposed

walls

150 and 152. In operation, water is forced upwardly by the motion of the agitator through the opening defined at the top of said lint filter between the

walls

150 and 152, as indicated by the arrows.

The agitator 140 terminates in a fiat top face 141. The shaft 142 has a threaded bore 154 therein. Disposed upon the top 141 of the agitator 140 is a dispenser 156, said dispenser including a horizontal wall 158 having a central opening 159 therein. The dispense-r 156 is secured in position by a cap nut 16% having a threaded stud extending therefrom, which extends through the opening 159 and is received in the threaded bore 154. The dispenser 156 is identical in construction to that illustrated in FIGS. 2 to of my prior US. Patent 2,868,006, and includes an annular housing 162, which is rectangular in radial cross-section, having a cylindrical bafiie wall 164 therein, said wall 164 dividing said housing into inner and outer annular receptacles or

chambers

166 and 168, respectively. The bottom wall of the housing 162 has a plurality of circumferentially spaced discharge openings 170 therein positioned immediately adjacent the Wall 164. The chamher 166 can be filled through a plug opening 171 in the top wall of said housing.

As has been mentioned hereinabove, it is desirable that certain additives be mixed into a laundry tub which is at least partially filled with water. It is known, that, in most washing machines of the type to which this invention relates, the agitator does not begin its oscillations after an extraction operation until the tub is nearly filled with water. The dispenser 156 of FIG. 8 is equipped with a novel container attachment which utilizes this characteristic of washing machine cycles to dispense liquid additive into the tub only when there is water therein.

Positioned below and spaced from the dispenser 156 is an upwardly-facing annular container 172, said receptacle having a plurality of circumferentially spaced, radially disposed bafile plates 174 therein. The deepest portion of the container 172 is disposed immediately below the several discharge openings 171) in the dispenser 156. The container 172 is secured to the bottom face of the dispenser 156 by a plurality of columns 176 extending upwardly from the baflie plates 174 and cemented at their upper end to said dispenser, as indicated at 17 7.

In operation, the dispenser 156 functions during the extraction ope-ration to transfer treating liquid over the baffie 164 from the chamber 166 into the chamber 168. When the centrifugal force ceases the liquid will discharge through the openings into the container 172, where it will remain until the agitator begins its oscillatory motion. The agitator, as hereinabove described, will begin to oscillate when the tub is nearly filled with water. The oscillatory motion of the agitator will rapidly cause the liquid contained within the container 172 to be spilled or sloshed over the inner and outer annular edges thereof into the tub, the baffle plates 174 assisting in this action.

In washing machines equipped with the lint filter unit 146, the water issuing from the top of said filter will have a tendency to spill over into the container 172, and will insure that all treating liquid is washed therefrom. Even in the absence of such a filter unit, the oscillatory motion of the agitator is sufficient to slosh out the treating liquid and completely empty the container 172 in a very short period.

The annular container 172 illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 10 has a generally semi-circular radial cross-section. In certain instances, a more angular configuration may be desirable, and such is shown in FIG. 11. Referring to FIG. 11, an annular container 178 is shown having radially extending bafiie plates 180 therein, said plates having columns 182 extending upwardly therefrom. The container 178 includes a flat, horizontal bottom wall 184 and a pair of sloped diverging side walls 186 and 188. The container 178 thus has a slightly greater volume than the container 174, and the inclined walls thereof will function better than the rounded walls of the receptacle 172 in delaying slightly the complete emptying of the container 17 8.

FIG. 12 illustrates a modified form of the dispenser 156 shown in FIG. 8, the principal differences residing in the top wall 162 of the dispenser being provided with an annular opening 199, through which a treating agent may be introduced into the inner receptacle or chamber 192; and in the upright wall being inclined outwardly as shown at 194, instead of being vertical. Otherwise, the parts in FIG. 12 corresponding to those in FIG. 8 have been identified by the same reference numerals.

FIG. 13 illustrates a modified form of the dispenser 106 shown in FIG. 7, and wherein the numbers previously used have been applied to corresponding parts. The modification consists in attaching to the bottom flange of the encircling ring a container 1% similar to the container 172 for receiving liquid from the dispenser and delaying delivery thereof to the tub until after the agitator has started to oscillate.

It will be understood that a container of the type illustrated in either FIGS. 11 or 12 can be added to the

dispensers

20, 44 and 68, in the same manner illustrated in FIG. 13. It will also be understood that such container can be mounted upon a lint filter or any other part that is fixed to oscillate with the agitator.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

I claim: a

1. A dispenser mountable upon the agitator of a clothes Washing machine for discharging a liquid into the tub of said machine after an extraction operation to treat the water in the tub during the succeeding rinsing operation,

comprising: means providing an inner receptacle adapted to contain said liquid and having an outer wall with an upper edge; means providing an outer receptacle communicating with said inner receptacle for receiving and retaining liquid centrifugally discharged from said inner receptacle over the upper edge of said outer wall upon rotation of said agitator during an extraction operation, said outer receptacle having opening means for draining liquid therefrom by gravity at the end of said extraction operation; and a container positioned below the drain opening means in said second receptacle for receiving the gravity-drained liquid, a series of bafl les in said container, said container having an edge spaced from said second receptacle over which liquid from said container can be sloshed with the aid of said baffles as the agitator is oscillated during a rinse operation.

2. A dispenser as defined in claim 1, in which the container is trough-shaped and has an open top facing the drain opening means in the outer receptacle.

3. A dispenser as defined in claim 2, in which one of the receptacle-providing means has a bottom wall, and in which the container has upwardly extending columns connecting the same in spaced relation to said bottom wall.

4. A dispenser as defined in claim 1, wherein the outer receptacle includes a bottom flange and the drain opening means comprises a central opening in said bottom flange for draining liquid from said outer receptacle; and wherein the container is attached to said bottom flange in a position to receive liquid from said outer receptacle discharged through said central opening in said bottom flange.

5. A dispenser as defined in claim 1, wherein the inner receptacle is generally U-shaped in radial cross-section and faces upwardly; and wherein the outer receptacle comprises a cylindrical wall having inwardly extending flanges at the top and bottom thereof, with the top flange extending inwardly to a point where it substantially overlies the open top of the inner receptacle.

6. A dispenser as defined in claim 5, including means supporting said inner receptacle in spaced relation to the cylindrical wall and in spaced relation to the top and bottom flanges of the outer receptacle.

7. A dispenser as defined in claim 6, in which the spacing means comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced webs interconnecting the inner and outer receptacles.

8. In combination, a dispenser mountable upon the agitator of a clothes washing machine having a tub, said dispenser including a plurality of concentric, interconnecting chambers arranged to discharge a liquid from one chamber thereof into another during an extraction operation of the machine and to store said liquid in said other chamber until the end of said extraction operation; and an annular trough-like imperforate container having an open top, said container having a plurality of circumferentially spaced baflle elements therein, and being positioned to receive said liquid by gravity flow from said other chamber while said agitator is stationary and to delay delivery of said liquid to said tub until said agitator is oscillated, said container being constructed and arranged so that oscillatory motion of said agitator causes said liquid to be sloshed out of said open top of said container by interaction of said liquid with said baflles.

9. A dispenser mountable upon the agitator of a clothes washing machine for discharging a liquid into the tub of said machine after an extraction operation to treat the water in the tub during the succeeding rinsing operation, comprising: an annular, upwardly opening receptacle having an outer wall with a continuous upper edge; an encircling receptacle including a cylindrical wall having inwardly directed, radially extending flanges at the top and bottom thereof; and means supporting said annular receptacle concentrically within said encircling receptacle and radially spaced from said cylindrical wall and axially spaced from both of said radial flanges, said radial top flange having a filling opening therein communicating with said annular receptacle, said filling opening being spaced radially inwardly of said continuous upper edge and said radial bottom flange having a discharge opening therein for discharging liquid from within said encircling receptacle, said discharge opening being spaced radially inwardly from said cylindrical wall.

10. A dispenser as defined in claim 9, wherein the means supporting the annular receptacle comprises a series of circumferentially spaced webs disposed between the bottom wall of the annular receptacle and the radial bottom flange of the encircling receptacle and which provide arcuate passageways in said encircling receptacle communicating with the discharge opening in said radial bottom flange.

11. A dispenser as defined in claim 9 wherein an upwardly facing, trough-like, imperforate, annular container having a plurality of circumferentially spaced baflles therein is secured in spaced relation to and below the radial bottom flange and in a position to confront the discharge opening therein for receiving liquid by gravity flow therefrom, said container delaying delivery of the liquid to said tub until said agitator is oscillated, whereupon interaction of said liquid with said baffles will cause said liquid to be sloshed from said container.

12. A dispenser mountable upon the agitator of a clothes washing machine for discharging a liquid into the tub of said machine after an extraction operation to treat the water in the tub during the succeeding rinsing operation, comprising: an annular, upwardly opening receptacle having inner and outer walls and a bottom wall therebetween; means carried by said annular receptacle for attaching the same to an agitator of a washing machine; an encircling receptacle including a cylindrical wall having inwardly directed, radially extending flanges at the top and circumferentially spaced bottom thereof; and means extending between said bottom wall and said radial bottom flange for supporting said annular receptacle concentrically within said encircling receptacle and radially spaced from said cylindrical wall and axially spaced from both of said radial flanges, said radial top flange having a filling opening therein communicating with said annular receptacle, and said radial bottom flange having a discharge opening therein for discharging liquid from within said encircling receptacle.

13. A dispenser as defined in claim 12, wherein the attaching means for mounting the dispenser on the agitator includes a resilient ring secured within the inner wall of the annular receptacle and which ring has a socket in the lower face thereof of a size to receive a flange fixed to said agitator, said ring also having a plurality of circumferentially spaced resilient ribs on its lower face extending radially inwardly and overlying said socket for engaging the lower face of said flange.

14. A dispenser as defined in claim 13, wherein the flange on said agitator is carried by a member adapted to be secured to the agitator.

15. A dispenser mountable upon the agitator of a clothes washing machine for discharging a liquid after an extraction operation, said dispenser including a bottom wall having discharge opening means therein through which said liquid can flow; an annular, open top, troughlike, imperforate body connected in spaced relation to said bottom wall to receive said liquid from said discharge opening means; and a series of circumferentially spaced baflie elements in said body arranged to interact with said liquid when said body is oscillated about the longitudinal axis thereof to thereby slosh said liquid from said body.

16. A container as defined in claim 15, wherein at least some of said baflie elements include extensions for connecting said container with said bottom wall of said dispenser.

17. A dispenser as defined in claim 16, wherein the annular receptacle has an inner wall provided with means connected therewith for mounting said annular receptacle upon the agitator.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1960 Tingley 68-17 12 Devery et a1. 68-17 Pelensky 6817 Morey 6818 X Dodd 6817 X Goodlaxson 6817 X Gerhardt 68-18 X IRVING BUNEVICH, Primary Examiner.

Claims

15. A DISPENSER MOUNTABLE UPON THE AGITATOR OF A CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE FOR DISCHARGING A LIQUID AFTER AN EXTRACTION OPERATION, SAID DISPENSER INCLUDING A BOTTOM WALL HAVING DISCHARGE OPENING MEANS THEREIN THROUGH WHICH SAID LIQUID CAN FLOW; AN ANNULAR, OPEN TOP, TROUGHLIKE, IMPERFORATE BODY CONNECTED IN SPACED RELATION TO SAID BOTTOM WALL TO RECEIVE SAID LIQUID FROM SAID DISCHARGE OPENING MEANS; AND A SERIES OF CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED BAFFLE ELEMENTS IN SAID BODY ARRANGED TO INTERACT WITH SAID LIQUID WHEN SAID BODY IS OSCILLATED ABOUT THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS THERETO TO THEREBY SLOSH SAID LIQUID FROM SAID BODY.