Clothing care appliances with fragrance dispensing system

Abstract

The present invention relates to a garment care appliance (10) comprising: a housing (11) having a container (12) therein; an opening (13) in the housing (11) for placing an item to be treated into the container (12); a door (14) for closing the opening (13); and a fragrance dispensing system (20) disposed in the door (14) or in the housing (11), the fragrance dispensing system comprising a container (21) for fragrance and a dispensing device (22) having an inlet (23) and an outlet (24) connected to the container (21), the dispensing device (22) being operable with movement of the door (14) to pump fragrance from the container (21) out of the dispensing device (22) and out of the appliance. The appliance has a compact fragrance dispensing system that dispenses fragrance from the appliance.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of garment care appliances, which include a housing having a bucket inside, an opening in the housing for placing items to be treated into the bucket, a door for closing the opening, and a fragrance dispensing system. Background Technology

[0002] Document EP 2145997 A1 describes, for example, a garment care appliance comprising a housing, a door mounted in the front surface of the housing for opening and closing the interior, a roller rotatably mounted in the housing, and a fragrance supply module for supplying fragrance material to the roller. The fragrance supply module is mounted in a front support in the main body, thus accessible by opening the door, and the fragrance material contained in the fragrance supply module is a solid, liquid, or gaseous component. Thus, if desired, the addition or replacement of fragrance material can be facilitated by installing the fragrance supply module for spraying fragrance into the dryer roller in an easily accessible location. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Therefore, the present invention relates to a garment care appliance with an improved fragrance dispensing system having adjustable fragrance consumption.

[0004] This objective is achieved by using a garment care appliance comprising: a housing having a bucket inside; an opening in the housing for placing an item to be treated into the bucket; a door for closing the opening; and a fragrance dispensing system disposed within the door or the housing, and including a reservoir for the fragrance and a dispensing device having an inlet and an outlet connected to the reservoir, the dispensing device being operable as the door moves to pump the fragrance from the reservoir out of the dispensing device and out of the appliance.

[0005] The garment care appliance of the present invention is preferably a household washing machine, dryer, or washer-dryer. The housing is the external structure that houses all the components of the appliance, particularly the tub for holding and caring for the garments. The tub has a roller, which, depending on the type of appliance, can rotate within the tub about a horizontal or vertical axis. The housing has an opening that can be closed by a door for placing garments into the roller. The door can be located at the front or top of the appliance and is attached to the housing by means of a hinge. Furthermore, the door can be closed by a latch and opened by a handle.

[0006] The appliance has a fragrance dispensing system that can be integrated with the rest of the appliance into a door or appliance housing. The dispensing system has a reservoir for containing fragrance, which can be liquid or gaseous. For dispensing the fragrance, the dispensing system has a dispensing device with an inlet connected to the reservoir for drawing fragrance from the reservoir and an outlet for spraying the fragrance out of the appliance. The dispensing device can be a commonly known type of atomizer canister or liquid dispenser. A dispensing device for liquids has a valve including an intermediate container in which the liquid to be dispensed is collected for subsequent spraying upon actuation by an internal spring. A dispensing device for gases has a flow valve that allows gas to escape upon actuation.

[0007] In this way, an apparatus is obtained having a fragrance dispensing system positioned in an appropriate location to dispense the fragrance from the apparatus when it is turned on, so that the user can smell the fragrance at that specific moment, but the clothing itself has not yet been permeated by the fragrance.

[0008] In a simplified embodiment of the metering system, an actuator is provided that applies prestress to an energy storage element when the door is in the closed position, and releases the energy storage element when the door is open, thereby operating the metering device to release the fragrance. The actuator is an element that protrudes beyond the outer surface of the door or housing, depending on the precise location where the metering system is installed. When the door is closed, this element is pressed, thus applying prestress to the energy storage element, such as any type of elastic spring. When the door is open, the spring stops being pressed by the actuator and pushes the metering system, thereby actuating the metering device and releasing the fragrance from the reservoir. This mechanical operation is both inexpensive and efficient. It can also be implemented using motorized electrical and electronic components, which offer greater precision in the amount of fragrance released.

[0009] To release the fragrance, the metering system has an injector connected to the outlet of the metering device. This injector may include a diffuser for spraying the fragrance in the form of a mist, thereby dispersing the fragrance through the air and allowing it to diffuse further and faster. To ensure that the fragrance contained in the reservoir is not lost, the metering device is connected to the reservoir via a sealing element.

[0010] To integrate the metering system into the appliance in an aesthetically pleasing and protected manner, the appliance is designed with a chamber into which the reservoir can be removably introduced. Depending on the location of the metering system, the chamber may be situated within a door or within the housing. When the door is closed, the chamber entrance can be covered by the door. Alternatively, a cover can be used to close the chamber entrance to conceal it. Attached Figure Description

[0011] The invention will be explained in more detail using preferred embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0012] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the appliance according to the present invention;

[0013] Figure 2 is Figure 1 Front view of the door of the appliance;

[0014] Figure 2b yes Figure 2a Side view of the door;

[0015] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the quantitative feeding system of the device of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0016] In the accompanying drawings, unless otherwise specified, the same or functionally equivalent elements are given the same reference numerals.

[0017] Figure 1 A household laundry care appliance 10 is shown, which has a housing 11 with a door 14 hinged to the housing to close an access opening 12 leading to a tub 13 through which laundry to be treated is introduced. The inner surface of the door 14, when closed, houses a fragrance dispensing system 20 with a chamber 25, in which a fragrance reservoir is placed. The dispensing system has an actuator 28 that is pressed in and operates when the door is closed and contacts the outer surface of the housing. Figure 3 The energy storage element 27, in the form of a spring, is prestressed. An opening 30 is provided on the surface of the door, which, when the door 14 is opened, provides an outlet for the fragrance sprayed from the reservoir. Figure 2a and Figure 2b Showing more details Figure 1 The door reveals the cover 29 of chamber 25, into which the reservoir 21 is introduced.

[0018] Figure 3This is a schematic diagram of the fragrance metering system 20 of the present invention, which can be disposed in the door or housing of an appliance. The system includes a reservoir 21 disposed within a chamber 25 and closed by a cover 29. The system also includes an actuator 28 that protrudes beyond a surface and is pressed in when the appliance door is closed. When closed, the inwardly displaced actuator 28 applies stress to a spring 27, causing a connecting rod 31 to rotate about its axis of rotation 33. The rotational movement of the connecting rod 31 causes a pusher 32 to linearly displace, contacting the reservoir 21 and enabling the metering device 22 to load fragrance into an intermediate container and draw fragrance from the reservoir 21 via an inlet 23.

[0019] When the door is opened, the spring 27 pushes the actuator 28 to move it outward and causes the connecting rod 31 to rotate, thereby linearly pushing the pusher 32 and pressing it against the storage container, and actuating the metering feeder 22, so that the fragrance contained in the intermediate container is discharged through the outlet 24 into the injector 26 and discharged from the appliance through the orifice 30.

[0020] In a simplified embodiment, the reservoir containing the pressurized gaseous fragrance releases the gaseous fragrance by functioning as an atomizer.

[0021] List of reference numerals

[0022] 10. Garment care equipment

[0023] 11. Shell

[0024] 12 barrels

[0025] 13 Opening

[0026] 14 doors

[0027] 20. Quantitative feeding system

[0028] 21. Memory

[0029] 22. Quantitative feeding device

[0030] 23 Entrance

[0031] 24 Exports

[0032] 25 chambers

[0033] 26 Injectors

[0034] 27 Energy storage elements

[0035] 29 covers

[0036] 28 Actuators

[0037] 30 orifices

[0038] 31-link

[0039] 32 Pushing component

[0040] 33. Axis of rotation

Claims

1. A garment care appliance (10), comprising: A shell (11) with a barrel (12) inside the shell; An opening (13) in the housing (11) for placing the item to be processed into the bucket (12); a door (14) for closing the opening (13); and a fragrance metering system (20). The fragrance metering system (20) is characterized in that it is arranged in a door (14) or a housing (11) and includes a reservoir (21) for the fragrance and a metering device (22) having an inlet (23) connected to the reservoir (21) and an outlet (24). The metering device (22) is operable as the door (14) moves to pump the fragrance from the reservoir (21) out of the metering device (22) and out of the garment care appliance (10). The fragrance metering system (20) has an actuator (28) that applies a prestress to an energy storage element (27) when the door (14) is in the closed position; when the door (14) is opened, the actuator (28) releases the energy storage element (27), thereby operating the metering device (22) to release the fragrance.

2. The garment care appliance (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The aromatant metering system (20) has an injector (26) connected to the outlet (24) of the metering device (22).

3. The garment care appliance (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that, The injector (26) has a diffuser for spraying the fragrance in the form of a spray.

4. The garment care appliance (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The quantitative feeding device (22) is connected to the storage container (21) via a sealing element.

5. The garment care appliance (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The aromatant metering system (20) has a chamber (25) into which the reservoir (21) can be detachably introduced.

6. The garment care appliance (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that, The chamber (25) is located in the surface of the door (14) facing the housing (11).

7. The garment care appliance (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that, The chamber (25) is located in the surface of the housing (11), which is covered by the door (14) in the closed position, and the chamber (25) can be closed by the cover (29).

8. The garment care appliance (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The garment care appliance (10) is a washing machine, a dryer, or a laundry dryer.

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