Patent US3901804A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3670530A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3670530A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dispenser for clothes washing additives
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1971-06-09
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Granted: 1972-06-20
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Expires: 1991-06-09
Abstract
Abstract An additive dispenser for clothes washing machines or the like having a container that pivots from a vertical additive-retaining position to a substantially horizontal additive-dispensing position in response to centrifugal force developed by spinning of the agitator. The container is maintained in the retaining and dispensing positions by an elastic band urging the side and top walls, respectively, against the agitator, the elastic band stretching during agitator spin to allow the container to change positions. In another embodiment of the invention, the container is pivotally mounted to the agitator by a bracket that has a leaf spring depending therefrom, the leaf spring being operative to engage the top of the container after agitator spin to hold the same in its dispensing position.
Inventors
- 👤 Edmund H Filipak
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 13:43
CPC Classifications
D; D06; D06F; D06F39/00; D06F39/02; D06F39/024
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
In a clothes washer having a washing basket and an agitator member, an additive dispenser comprising a container having an aperture therein, said container being pivotally suspended from the agitator member to spin with the same in such a manner as to swing from a substantially vertical additive-retaining position to a substantially horizontal additive-dispensing position in response to centrifugal force developed by spinning of said agitator member, and resilient means associated with said agitator member operative to maintain said container in its additive-dispensing position after said agitator member completes its spin, thereby to allow said additives to be discharged through said opening into said basket.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
105 words
In a clothes washer having a washing basket and an agitator member, an additive dispenser comprising a container having an aperture therein, said container being pivotally suspended from the agitator member to spin with the same in such a manner as to swing from a substantially vertical additive-retaining position to a substantially horizontal additive-dispensing position in response to centrifugal force developed by spinning of said agitator member, and resilient means associated with said agitator member operative to maintain said container in its additive-dispensing position after said agitator member completes its spin, thereby to allow said additives to be discharged through said opening into said basket.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
77 words
A dispenser as set forth in claim 1, wherein said resilient means comprises an elastic strap that extends around the agitator member and is connected to opposite sides of the container to form the pivotal connection, said elastic strap stretching during agitator spin to allow the container to swing to a substantially horizontal position and contracting after agitator spin to draw the top of the container against the agitator to maintain the container in its additive-dispensing position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
115 words
A dispenser as set forth in claim 2, further including a non-elastic limiting cord that likewise extends around the agitator member and is connected to opposite walls of the container at substantially the same location as the elastic member, said limiting cord being of predetermined length to be slack while said container is in its additive-retaining position and to be taut when said container is in its additive-dispensing position during spin, thereby to limit the extent to which the elastic member stretches during spin so that after spin the top of said container will be brought against the agitator member by the contraction of the elastic member before the container pivots from its additive-dispensing position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
A dispenser as set forth in claim 3, wherein prior to agitator spin, the elastic strap urges a side of the container against the agitator to hold the container in its substantially vertical additive-retaining position, said container having the aperture in the side wall thereof, with such aperture being positioned against the agitator, thereby to preclude entry of water into the container.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
A dispenser as set forth in claim 3, wherein the top of the container is tapered with respect to a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of the container, so that when the top of the container is against the agitator, the container is inclined slightly upwardly away from the agitator to promote additive flow to the aperture.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A dispenser as set forth in claim 1, wherein said container is pivotally suspended from the agitator member by a bracket connected thereto having a pivot pin passing through opposite walls of the container.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
59 words
A dispenser as set forth in claim 6, wherein the opening in the container is in the top wall thereof, the opening being covered in the additive-retaining position of the container by a cover plate pivotally connected to the bracket, said cover plate being adapted to pivot away from the top when the container is in the additive-dispensing position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
68 words
A dispenser aS set forth in claim 7, wherein said resilient means comprises a leaf spring depending from said bracket, said leaf spring being adapted to extend across a portion of the top of said container when in its additive-dispensing position, thereby resiliently to maintain the same in such position and to allow the additive to be dispensed from the uncovered portions of the top opening after spin.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-06-20 | 1975-12-20 | 1976-06-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-20 | 1979-12-20 | 1980-06-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-20 | 1983-12-20 | 1984-06-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |