Washing machine inner lid attachment

Abstract

A washing machine lid assembly is provided with a metal porcelain-coated outer lid and a plastic inner lid. The inner lid is retained on the outer lid by retainer brackets which are held in place by the perimeter flange of the outer lid. No holes are required in the outer lid for mounting the inner lid. A detergent dispenser is removably mounted on the inner lid and has compartments for both liquid and powder detergent. Water channels formed in the detergent dispenser flush the detergent from the respective compartments. Water channels are also provided on the inner lid to direct water to bleach and fabric softeners compartments in the washing machine cabinet.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A washing machine lid assembly comprising: 
 an outer lid with a front edge, a rear edge, opposite side edges, and an inwardly turned perimeter flange extending along the edges;    a pair of retainer brackets retained on the outer lid by the perimeter flange; and    an inner lid retained on the outer lid by the brackets without the use of separate fasteners.    
     
     
         2 . The lid assembly of  claim 1  wherein the brackets are located on opposite sides of the outer lid.  
     
     
         3 . The lid assembly of  claim 1  wherein each bracket has a pin extending through a hole in the outer lid to define a pivot axis for the lid assembly.  
     
     
         4 . The lid assembly of  claim 1  wherein each bracket has a snap receiver and the inner lid has snap tabs for releasable receipt in the snap receivers.  
     
     
         5 . The lid assembly of  claim 1  wherein each bracket has a key slot and the inner lid has locking tabs to matingly fit into the key slots.  
     
     
         6 . The lid assembly of  claim 1  wherein the inner lid has a pair of snap tabs adapted to releasably fit into snap receivers in the brackets.  
     
     
         7 . The lid assembly of  claim 1  wherein the inner lid includes a detergent dispenser.  
     
     
         8 . The lid assembly of  claim 7  wherein the detergent dispenser is removably mounted on the inner lid.  
     
     
         9 . The lid assembly of  claim 7  wherein the detergent dispenser includes attachment tabs adapted to retentively engage the perimeter flange of the outer lid to secure a portion of the inner lid to the outer lid.  
     
     
         10 . The lid assembly of  claim 1  wherein the inner lid has a front edge adapted to be retained by the perimeter flange adjacent the front edge of the outer lid.  
     
     
         11 . A washing machine lid assembly, comprising: 
 a metal outer lid;    a plastic inner lid;    a pair of retention brackets sandwiched between the inner and outer lids; and    the inner and outer lids being secured together by the retention brackets and without visible fasteners.    
     
     
         12 . The lid assembly of  claim 11  wherein the brackets and inner lid have cooperating members to secure the inner lid to the brackets, and the brackets being retained in the outer lid by flanges on the outer lid.  
     
     
         13 . The lid assembly of  claim 12  wherein the cooperating members include a key slot on the brackets and locking tabs on the inner lid.  
     
     
         14 . The lid assembly of claim  12 wherein the cooperating members include snap tabs on the inner lid and snap receivers on the brackets.  
     
     
         15 . The lid assembly of  claim 11  wherein the brackets each has an outwardly extending pin adapted to extend through holes in the outer lid to define a pivot axis for the lid assembly.  
     
     
         16 . The lid assembly of  claim 11  wherein the outer lid has a front edge with an inwardly turned flange and the inner lid has a front edge adapted to be retained by the flange of the outer lid.  
     
     
         17 . The lid assembly of  claim 11  wherein the inner lid includes a detergent dispenser.  
     
     
         18 . The lid assembly of  claim 17  wherein the detergent dispenser is removably mounted on the inner lid.  
     
     
         19 . The lid assembly of  claim 18  wherein the detergent dispenser includes attachment tabs adapted to retentively engage a perimeter flange of the outer lid to secure a portion of the inner lid to the outer lid.