Fluid delivery system for a fabric treatment appliance

Abstract

A fabric revitalizing appliance comprises a fabric treatment chamber; a dehydration system for dehydrating a fabric load within the fabric treatment chamber; and a fluid management system. The fluid management system comprises a fluid storage system configured to store at least one fluid; a fluid conditioning system configured to create a conditioned fluid from the fluid of the fluid storage system; a fluid transport system fluidly connecting the fluid storage system and the fluid conditioning system; and a fluid delivery system fluidly coupled to the fluid conditioning system and configured to deliver the conditioned fluid to the fabric treatment chamber.

1 . A fabric revitalizing appliance comprising:
 a fabric treatment chamber having an interior;   at least one opening into the fabric treatment chamber for enabling user access to the interior of the fabric treatment chamber;   a fabric movement system for causing movement of a fabric load within the fabric treatment chamber;   a dehydration system for dehydrating the fabric load within the fabric treatment chamber; and   a fluid management system comprising:
 a fluid storage system configured to store at least one fluid; 
 a fluid conditioning system configured to create a conditioned fluid from the fluid of the fluid storage system; 
 a fluid transport system fluidly connecting the fluid storage system and the fluid conditioning system; and 
 a fluid delivery system fluidly coupled to the fluid conditioning system and configured to deliver the conditioned fluid to the fabric treatment chamber. 
   
   
   
       2 . The fabric revitalizing appliance of  claim 1  wherein the fluid storage system further comprises a manifold coupled to multiple fluid tanks of the fluid storage system and configured to selectively supply fluids from the fluid tanks to the fluid conditioning system. 
   
   
       3 . The fabric revitalizing appliance of  claim 2  wherein the fluid transport system comprises a pump for delivering fluid from the fluid tank to the fluid conditioning system and for delivering the fluid from the fluid conditioning system to the fluid tank. 
   
   
       4 . The fabric revitalizing appliance of  claim 3 , wherein the fluid is a rinse fluid. 
   
   
       5 . The fabric revitalizing appliance of  claim 1  wherein the fluid conditioning system comprises at least one of the following: a sprayer; a mister; a foamer; a steamer; and an atomizer. 
   
   
       6 . The fabric revitalizing appliance of  claim 1  wherein fluid conditioning system comprises a nebulizer assembly. 
   
   
       7 . The fabric revitalizing appliance of  claim 6  wherein the fluid storage system comprises a fluid reservoir fluidly coupled to the nebulizer assembly. 
   
   
       8 . The fabric revitalizing appliance of  claim 7  wherein the nebulizer assembly further comprises a piezoelectric transducer in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir. 
   
   
       9 . The fabric revitalizing appliance of  claim 8  wherein the piezoelectric transducer is in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir by an opening in a base of the fluid reservoir. 
   
   
       10 . The fabric revitalizing appliance of  claim 8  wherein the piezoelectric transducer is controlled by a temperature control, a power source, and a logic control. 
   
   
       11 . The fabric revitalizing appliance of  claim 7  wherein the fluid storage system further comprises a fluid tank mounted to the nebulizer assembly, and the nebulizer assembly further comprises an air flow chamber formed by an interstitial space between the fluid tank and the fluid reservoir. 
   
   
       12 . The fabric revitalizing appliance of  claim 7  wherein the nebulizer assembly further comprises a fan configured to draw air into the fluid reservoir. 
   
   
       13 . The fabric revitalizing appliance of  claim 6  wherein the fluid delivery system comprises:
 a bulkhead outlet coupled to the fabric treatment chamber;   a sump fluidly coupled to the fluid conditioning system; and   a connecting channel fluidly coupling the sump to the bulkhead outlet.   
   
   
       14 . The fabric revitalizing appliance of  claim 13  wherein the bulkhead outlet is elevated relative to the sump. 
   
   
       15 . The fabric revitalizing appliance of  claim 13  wherein the sump is positioned proximal to the fluid conditioning system. 
   
   
       16 . The fabric revitalizing appliance of  claim 13  wherein the bulkhead outlet is positioned proximal to the interior of the fabric treatment chamber. 
   
   
       17 . The fabric revitalizing appliance of  claim 13  wherein the fluid delivery system further comprises a bulkhead outlet screen having a plurality of openings. 
   
   
       18 . The fabric revitalizing appliance of  claim 6  wherein fluid flow in the nebulizer assembly is controlled by operation of a fan under the control of the fluid flow control. 
   
   
       19 . The fabric revitalizing appliance of  claim 1  wherein the fluid management system further comprises a sanitization means. 
   
   
       20 . The fabric revitalizing appliance of  claim 19  wherein the sanitization means comprises a coating designed to prevent or limit microbial growth. 
   
   
       21 . The fabric revitalizing appliance of  claim 1  wherein the fluid storage system is hermetically sealed. 
   
   
       22 . The fabric revitalizing appliance of  claim 1  wherein the fluid can be conditioned via at least one of the following: a heater, an agitator, a vibrator, an electromagnetic energy generator, an electrochemical energy generator, and a chemistry dispenser. 
   
   
       23 . The fabric revitalizing appliance of  claim 1  wherein the fluid management system further comprises an ionizer prior to entrance into the fabric treatment chamber. 
   
   
       24 . The fabric revitalizing appliance of  claim 1  wherein the fabric treatment chamber comprises an imperforate drum. 
   
   
       25 . The fabric revitalizing appliance of  claim 24  wherein the dehydration system comprises an air moving system configured to move air into, through, and out of the fabric treatment chamber. 
   
   
       26 . The fabric revitalizing appliance of  claim 26  wherein the dehydration system further comprises a heater configured to heat the air moved by the air moving system.