Dispenser of washing agents for a household washing machine, in particular a dishwasher
AssigneeELTEK S.p.A.
InventorsDaniele Cerruti, Marco Moro
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device for dispensing washing agents has a body defined in which is a reservoir for a liquid substance that can be dispensed. The reservoir has a charging passage that can be engaged by a plug. Operatively set between the body of the dispenser and the plug is an articulated connection, provided for keeping the plug mechanically connected to the dispenser even following upon removal of the plug from the charging passage. Preferably the articulated connection is of a “hide-away” type and comprises a movable member to which the plug is constrained so as to present a number of degrees of freedom.
Claims20
A dispenser of washing agents for a household washing machine, the dispenser comprising a dispenser body defined in which is a reservoir for a fluid substance that can be dispensed, the reservoir having a charging passage that can be engaged or that can be closed by a plug, between the plug and the charging passage there being operative sealing means, wherein the charging passage and the plug have means for mutual coupling configured for maintaining, in a respective blocking condition, the plug in a position of fluid-tight sealing of the charging passage, the plug being manually operable for bringing the coupling means into a respective condition of release, in which the plug can be removed from the charging passage in order to enable introduction of the fluid substance into the reservoir, wherein operatively set between the dispenser body and the plug are connection means, provided for keeping the plug mechanically connected or constrained to the dispenser also following upon removal of the plug from the charging passage,
- wherein the plug has an upper portion and a lower portion, a sealing gasket being provided at said upper portion of the plug;
- wherein the charging passage has, at an upper region thereof, a sealing surface on which the sealing gasket of the plug rests when the means for mutual coupling are in the respective blocking condition,
- wherein the connection means comprise
- a hinge having a fixed hinge part and a movable hinge part, and
- a first engagement means on the plug and a second engagement means on the movable hinge part;
- wherein the fixed hinge part comprises a cavity which is defined under said sealing surface and is provided with at least one seat for hinge-pin means;
- wherein the movable hinge part comprises a movable member including a first portion and a second portion, said first portion having a first end region and a second end region opposite to each other, said hinge-pin means being provided at said first end region, said first end region being at least partially housed within said cavity when the means for mutual coupling are in the respective blocking condition.
A dispenser of washing agents for a household washing machine, the dispenser comprising a dispenser body defined in which is a reservoir for a fluid substance that can be dispensed, the reservoir having a charging passage that can be engaged or that can be closed by a plug, between the plug and the charging passage there being operative sealing means, wherein the charging passage and the plug have means for mutual coupling configured for maintaining, in a respective blocking condition, the plug in a position of fluid-tight sealing of the charging passage, the plug being manually operable for bringing the coupling means into a respective condition of release, in which the plug can be removed from the charging passage in order to enable introduction of the fluid substance into the reservoir, wherein operatively set between the dispenser body and the plug are connection means, provided for keeping the plug mechanically connected or constrained to the dispenser also following upon removal of the plug from the charging passage,
- wherein the plug has an upper portion and a lower portion, a sealing gasket being provided at said upper portion of the plug;
- wherein the charging passage has, at an upper region thereof, a sealing surface on which the sealing gasket of the plug rests when the means for mutual coupling are in the respective blocking condition,
- wherein the dispenser body, the plug and the connection means are configured in such a way that, at least when the plug is in the respective position of fluid-tight sealing of the charging passage, the connection means are completely hidden from view,
- wherein the connection means comprise
- a hinge having a fixed hinge part, a movable hinge part and hinge-pin means;
- a first engagement means on the plug and a second engagement means on the movable hinge part,
- and wherein said hinge-pin means identify an axis of rotation of said movable hinge part which is below at least one of
- said sealing surface,
- said sealing gasket of the plug when the plug is in said position of fluid-tight sealing of the charging passage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.