Dispenser assembly for a laundry treatment appliance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Laundry treatment appliances require manual addition of additional cleaning agents like bleach and sanitizing agents, negating the convenience of prefilled detergent tanks and necessitating routine cleaning to prevent residue buildup.

Innovation Solution

A dispenser assembly with a drawer body having multiple receiving compartments for removable cartridges and a cover, allowing for easy insertion and removal of interchangeable tanks for various additives, ensuring seamless integration with the wash tub.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a large prefilled detergent tank is used, then the convenience of automatic detergent supply is improved, but the ability to add additional cleaning agents (bleach, sanitizing agents) manually is lost and residue buildup requires routine cleaning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconvenience of automatic detergent supplyVSAvoidability to add additional cleaning agents

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The dispenser assembly is divided into multiple separate receiving compartments within the drawer body, each capable of holding different types of cleaning agents. This segmentation allows the system to maintain the convenience of prefilled tanks while enabling users to add additional cleaning agents in specific designated compartments without manual intervention in the main detergent supply system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The dispenser assembly is designed with multiple receiving compartments that can universally accommodate different types of cleaning agents (detergent, bleach, sanitizing agents). Each compartment can be independently filled and removed, allowing the system to perform multiple functions - automatic detergent supply, manual addition of additives, and easy cleaning - all within a single integrated assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If a large prefilled detergent tank is used, then automatic detergent supply is improved, but routine cleaning is required to prevent residue buildup

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic detergent supplyVSAvoidtime required for routine cleaning

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The detergent supply system is segmented into multiple independent receiving compartments that can be individually removed from the drawer body. This allows users to easily access and clean only the specific compartment that requires maintenance, rather than cleaning the entire dispenser assembly, thereby reducing the time and effort required for routine cleaning while maintaining automatic detergent supply functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The receiving compartments are designed to be selectively removable from the drawer body. When cleaning is required, users can extract only the affected compartment for cleaning, leaving the other compartments in place and functional. This extraction approach minimizes the disruption to automatic detergent supply and reduces overall cleaning time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If manual addition of cleaning agents is required, then versatility of cleaning agents is improved, but user convenience is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveversatility of cleaning agentsVSAvoiduser convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The dispenser assembly incorporates multiple receiving compartments that can hold different types of cleaning agents simultaneously. The system provides versatility by accommodating detergent, bleach, and sanitizing agents in separate compartments, while maintaining user convenience through the integrated drawer design that allows easy access and automatic dispensing mechanisms for each compartment type.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The dispenser assembly is designed with receiving compartments that can be independently filled and removed by the user. Once filled, the system automatically manages the dispensing of each cleaning agent type, eliminating the need for manual intervention during operation. This self-service approach maintains versatility while restoring user convenience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS12584262B2Dispenser assembly for a laundry treatment appliance

Publication Date: 2026.03.24 HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

A laundry treatment appliance includes a cabinet forming a receiving space; a tub provided within the receiving space; and a dispenser assembly provided within the receiving space. The dispenser assembly includes a drawer body coupled to the cabinet and provided adjacent to the tub and defining a plurality of receiving compartments; at least one removable cartridge selectively positioned within a first receiving compartment of the plurality of receiving compartments; and a cover removably coupled to the drawer body, the cover being positioned over a second receiving compartment of the plurality of receiving compartments.