Device for dispensing cleaning agent

Abstract

A device for dispensing detergent into a dishwasher, comprising a cover element for closing off or opening up at least one opening (2) of a reservoir (1) for storing the detergent, wherein the reservoir (1) has at least one base wall (8) arranged opposite the opening (2) and at least one side wall (7) oriented transversely to the base wall (8), is proposed, which device improves on the prior art. This is achieved according to the invention by virtue of the fact that at least one water conducting element (5, 9) is arranged for the conductance and/or guidance of water.

Claims

1. A device for dispensing a detergent into a dishwasher, comprising a cover element (10) for closing off or opening up at least one opening (2) of a reservoir (1) for storing the detergent wherein the reservoir (1) has at least one base wall (8) in a plane parallel to and arranged opposite the at least one opening (2) and at least one side wall (7) oriented transversely to the base wall (8), and a plurality of non parallel rectilinear water conducting elements (9B) to provide for the conductance and guidance of water along a zig zag flow path (F) behind the detergent in the plane parallel to and opposite to the opening (2).

2. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the reservoir is a detergent storage compartment and has at least one parallel water conducting element (9A, 9D) disposed on the at least one side wall (7).

3. The device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the at least one parallel water conducting element 9D in the detergent storage compartment is one distancing element to provide at least a partial distancing of the detergent from the at least one side wall in the detergent storage compartment and wherein the plurality of non parallel rectilinear water conducting elements (9B) provides a cavity between the at least one base wall and the detergent.

4. The device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the plurality of non parallel rectilinear water conducting elements (9B) in the detergent storage compartment is disposed at angles to the at least one side wall and is at least one distancing element.

5. The device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the at least one parallel (9A, 9D) water conducting element is a plurality of water conducting elements and/or a plurality of distancing elements.

6. The device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the at least one parallel water conducting element and/or a distancing element (9A, 9D) is a rib and/or boss and/or dam and/or elevation and/or an open or closed channel and/or groove and/or slot and/or depression.

7. The device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the plurality of non parallel rectilinear water conducting elements is a projection from the detergent storage compartment and/or from the at least one side wall of the detergent storage compartment.

8. The device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the at least one side wall and/or the at least one base wall and the plurality of non parallel rectilinear conducting elements forms a partially closed water channel for the passage of water.

9. The device as claimed in claim 1 disposed in a door of a dishwasher.

10. A dispensing apparatus comprising: (a) a recessed detergent reservoir having a closure to accommodate a detergent; (b) a base wall (8) defining the bottom of the recessed detergent reservoir; (c) a side wall (7) defining the depth of the recessed detergent reservoir between the closure and the base wall; (d) a plurality of first base wall bosses or ribs (9A) in the recessed detergent reservoir extending substantially perpendicular to the base wall (8) in a first plane and connecting the base wall to the side wall and a water collection compartment to form a first water flow path between the base wall and the side wall; (e) a plurality of second base wall bosses or ribs (9B) in the detergent reservoir extending angularly to each other and substantially perpendicular from the base wall in a second plane substantially perpendicular to the first plane to form a second zig zag flow path for water to dissolve a detergent or detergent tablet from behind the detergent or detergent tablet; and (f) the water collection compartment having a water collection side wall and a water conducting element or flow diverter terminating in a water inlet to the recessed detergent reservoir to collect and channel water to the recessed detergent reservoir.

11. The dispensing apparatus of claim 10 wherein said closure is a cover element enclosing the detergent reservoir.

12. The dispensing apparatus of claim 10 wherein the water collection compartment has a second water conducting element and a vertical drop.

13. The dispensing apparatus of claim 10 wherein the plurality of first base wall bosses or ribs disposed on the side wall are a part of the side wall.

14. The dispensing apparatus of claim 13 wherein the plurality of first base wall bosses or ribs are disposed between the water inlet and the recessed detergent reservoir.

15. A device for dispensing detergent comprising: (a) a recessed reservoir for accommodating a detergent, said recessed reservoir having a water inlet opening and a water outlet opening; (b) a base wall defining the bottom of the recessed reservoir; (c) a side wall defining the depth of the recessed reservoir and connecting the base wall to the side wall; (d) a plurality of rectilinear base wall ribs extending from the base wall in a zig zag pattern to distance the detergent from the base wall and form a plurality of channels between the detergent and the base wall to dissolve the detergent from behind; (e) a plurality of side wall ribs connecting the side wall to the base wall; and (f) a water collection compartment (3) having a substantially vertical side wall disposed substantially parallel to the base wall and a funnel shaped element having a water conducting element having a first end and a second end horizontally displaced from the substantially vertical side wall in the water collection compartment and with a substantially vertical drop at the second end of the funnel shaped element.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein the plurality of side wall ribs are disposed in the water inlet opening.

17. The device of claim 15 wherein the plurality of side wall ribs are disposed in the water outlet opening.

18. The device of claim 15 wherein the plurality of rectilinear base wall ribs are disposed at angles to each other in a plane perpendicular to the base wall.

Description

ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT

(1) An illustrative embodiment of the invention is represented in the drawing and is explained in greater detail below with reference to the schematic figures.

(2) More specifically:

(3) FIG. 1 shows in schematic representation a device according to the invention in front view (without cover/lid of a reservoir),

(4) FIG. 2 shows in schematic, perspective representation the device according to FIG. 1 viewed frontally from above,

(5) FIG. 3 shows in schematic, perspective representation the device according to FIG. 1 viewed laterally from the front,

(6) FIG. 4 shows in schematic, perspective representation a detail of a reservoir of the device according to FIG. 1 viewed frontally from below,

(7) FIG. 5 shows in schematic, perspective representation a section through the reservoir of the device according to FIG. 1 viewed frontally from below,

(8) FIG. 6 shows in schematic, perspective representation a detail of a second reservoir of a second device according to the invention, and

(9) FIG. 7 shows in schematic, perspective representation a detail of a third reservoir of a third device according to the invention.

(10) In the figures is respectively represented a device according to the invention, wherein a reservoir device or storage compartment 1 is provided having a cavity for the reception of detergent. This detergent is fed in controlled dosage, during the cleaning phase of the dishwasher, into the cleaning chamber for the dishware. A cover (not represented in detail) is hereupon opened, so that the detergent can run out or be rinsed out of the reservoir opening 1 through outlet/outflow A FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. For instance, a latching device (not represented in detail), or a rotary detent, is actuated for this purpose, so that a tension spring or the like effects the opening movement of the cover.

(11) The reservoir device or storage compartment 1 has a top O, bottom U (FIG. 1) with a base wall 8 and side walls 7. In the represented operating position or in the washout position of the device, on a top side or an upper side wall 7 of the reservoir opening 2 is provided a reservoir opening inlet 6 for water which flows/streams down from above or vertically along flow path F (FIG. 3).

(12) In the operating position or in the washout position of the device, on the top side or over the upper side wall 7 of the reservoir opening 2 is provided a funnel 4, which is realized by means of a housing wall having two dams 5 or water conducting elements 5 or elevations 5. Water which sprays/flies from the spray arms to the device or into the water inlet 1A and additionally above the reservoir opening 2 onto the device, is hereby collected and channeled to the reservoir opening 2 in an advantageous manner.

(13) In FIG. 4 specifically, it becomes clear that, on the rim of the reservoir opening 2 or the reservoir inlet 6 are provided projections 12 from ribs 9 of the side wall 7, which “capture” and redirect the downflowing water, are conducted along the upper side wall 7, which is inclined somewhat (at an acute angle) to the horizontal plane, by means of the water inlet bosses/ribs 9A or water conducting elements 9A according to the invention to the base wall 8.

(14) The base wall 8, in turn, has space ribs bosses 9B or a profile/elevations, so that the water of the upper side wall 7 can flow “behind” a detergent tablet and can wash this out/dissolve this from “behind”. As a result of the small bearing surface, i.e. “tips” 9C of the bosses 9B or ribs 9B of the base wall 8, a very rapid dissolution, even if the tablet is stuck on, is effected.

(15) After this, the water will flow out of the reservoir opening 2 along the outlet ribs 9D of the lower side wall 7. Should a tablet, following detachment from the base wall 8, fall onto the lower side wall 7, which is slightly inclined relative to the horizontal plane, an “underflushing” or advantageous “outwashing” is here too realized by means of the ribs 9D.

(16) The spacer bosses 9B or spacer ribs 9B of the base wall 8 are arranged or oriented advantageously, so that the water is advantageously distributed.

(17) In FIG. 3, three separate flow paths of water are indicated by way of example, which water, according to the invention, is collected (point of impact), conducted/guided to/in the reservoir opening 2, and streams out (with dissolved detergent) (point of arrow).

(18) Moreover, water which flows down along the door, i.e. water which flows down from above, and which flows to the device can also be collected into or from the tunnel 4 and conducted in an advantageous manner to the reservoir opening 2. Thus, according to the invention, water which strikes the wall/door outside the device is also collected, which means a marked increase in the quantity of water for dissolving/washing out the detergent/tablet.

(19) Specifically a comparison of the structures or bosses/ribs 9A, 9B and 9D according to FIG. 4 with the structures or bosses/ribs 9A, 9B and 9D according to FIGS. 6 and 7, it becomes clear that the downflowing water is “captured” in an advantageous manner and conducted into the reservoir opening 2 and, specifically on the base wall 8, diverse structures or bosses/ribs 9B of different shape/formation, in particular branched and/or V-shaped structures or bosses/ribs 9B or the like, can be attained. An advantageously functional water navigation/guidance or “back-rinse” along the base wall 8 or between detergent tablet and wall 8 can hereby be realized.

(20) In principle, an advantageous configuration of the guide ribs or of the dam 5, which are intended to conduct the water from the inside door and dispenser surface, respectively, into the detergent tray or the reservoir device 1 or storage compartment 1 can also have a larger radius, which can likewise have a favorable effect.

REFERENCE SYMBOL LIST

(21) 1 reservoir 2 reservoir opening 3 collection area/region 4 funnel 5 dam 6 inlet 7 side wall 8 base wall 9A water inlet bosses/ribs 9B spacer ribs or bosses 9C tips of bosses/ribs 9B 9D outlet ribs 10 rinse aid region 12 projection A outlet/outflow F flow path O top U bottom.