Fluid-dispenser device conducive to reduced water consumption in a washing machine

Abstract

A fluid-dispenser device for a washing machine having a wash basket is provided. The basket may define radii extending in a horizontal plane relative to a circumference in correspondence with respect to the wash basket. The device includes at least two outlet ports positioned to direct respective jets of fluid into the wash basket. Each of the jets may have a distinctive exit angle relative to a respective radius in such a horizontal plane and passing through the respective outlet ports. In another aspect thereof, each of the jets may have a generally parallel relationship with respect to one another.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention generally relates to washing machines, and, more particularly, to a fluid-dispenser device for washing machines. [0002] A typical washing machine may have a water dispensing spout which generally dispenses water at a fixed location with respect to a bundle of articles, e.g., clothes, that may be widely scattered over the interior of a wash basket during washing and rinsing operations. This may result in just a small-localized fraction of the overall clothes volume getting appropriately soaked under running water while most of the dispensed water initially reaches the bottom of a tub, part of which first fills an annular space between the basket and the tub, causing a delayed and gradual soaking of the clothes from bottom to top with the rising water level. [0003] The rising water level and any buoyancy resulting from entrapped air cause the clothes to move upwards and float, which results in a relatively slow soaking rate and just th...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

This may result in just a small-localized fraction of the overall clothes volume getting appropriately soaked under running water while most of the dispensed water initially reaches the bottom of a tub, part of which first fills an annular space between the basket and the tub, causing a delayed and gradual soaking of the clothes from bottom to top with the rising water level.

The rising water level and any buoyancy resulting from entrapped air cause the clothes to move upwards and float, which results in a relatively slow soaking rate and just the partial submerging of the clothes in the rising water, thus requiring relatively higher quantities of water to ensure appropriate wetting of the clothes.

The additional water may also necessitate extra mechanical efforts during rotation of an agitator in the wash basket and / or rotation of the wash basket.

Smaller and medium clothes loads may form a lower stacked bundle around the basket sidewall, and this bundle makes poor or no contact with the water column emerging from the spout, thus requiring relatively large quantities of water during a rinsing operation.

During a washing operation, the user may desire to add various cleansing and / or conditioning agents directly into the basket, which may result in a localized dispensation of such agents relative to the scattered clothes, thus requiring burdensome efforts to evenly apply the washing agent across the entire volume of clothes.

This localized dispensation may also cause overexposure of the localized small portion of clothes to a concentrated washing agent, which could have an adverse impact on the fabric materials.

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