Laundry pretreatment system
AssigneeMaytag Corporation
InventorsKirk M. Dunsbergen, Jeff S. Westbrook, Frank S. Nekic
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A washing machine lid includes a fluid chamber with a fill opening and a dispensing opening. A removable valve is within the dispensing opening. The lid includes a lid frame and a housing detachably mounted to one another. A fill cap with bristles is removably mounted in the fill opening. The laundry can be pretreated by scrubbing with the bristles, after the laundry is wetted with water and/or detergent.
Claims10
A lid for a washing machine having a cabinet with an upwardly presented access opening therein, comprising:
- a lid frame having a perimeter edge, an upper surface, and a lower surface;
- a hinge pivotally connecting said edge of said lid frame to said cabinet for pivotal movement between an open position and a closed position;
- a housing carried on said lower surface of said lid frame and forming an enclosed chamber;
- said housing having a fill opening providing communication into said chamber for filling said chamber with a fluid;
- a fill cap removably mounted in the fill opening;
- and
- bristles on the fill cap for scrubbing laundry to be washed.
A method for pretreating laundry to be washed in a washing machine comprising a washing machine cabinet having an upwardly presented access opening therein, a lid frame, a hinge connected to said lid frame and said washing machine cabinet for permitting hinged movement of said lid about a hinge axis with respect to said washing machine, a housing on said lid frame forming an enclosed fluid retaining chamber, said housing having a fill opening, and a fill cap detachably mounted over said fill opening and having bristles thereon, said method comprising:
- removing the fill cap from the fill opening;
- pouring a laundry treatment fluid into the fill opening;
- replacing the fill cap in the fill opening to close the fill opening;
- closing the lid so that fluid coats the bristles of the fill cap;
- opening the lid and removing the fill cap;
- and
- scrubbing laundry with the fluid-coated bristles.
A method of pretreating laundry to be washed in a washing machine having a cabinet, a tub rotatably mounted in the cabinet, an opening in the cabinet to provide access to the tub, a door hinged to the cabinet for movement between open and closed positions relative to the opening, and a brush mounted on the door, the method comprising:
- wetting the laundry before washing in the machine;
- removing the brush from the door;
- and
- scrubbing the laundry with the brush.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.