Washing machine appliance with an accessible reservoir

Abstract

The present subject matter provides an appliance with a base or pedestal that defines a cavity. A reservoir configured for receipt of a fluid additive (e.g., detergent) is disposed in the cavity such that the reservoir is accessible from outside of the cavity. The reservoir is in fluid communication with a wash chamber of the appliance such that fluid additive from reservoir may be selectively delivered to the wash chamber.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A washing machine appliance comprising:
 a cabinet extending between a base and a top, said cabinet defining a cavity positioned proximate the base of said cabinet, said cabinet also defining an opening, the opening permitting access to the cavity;   a wash tub received in said cabinet above said cavity and configured for containing a fluid used in a washing process;   a wash basket mounted in said wash tub, said wash basket configured for the receipt of articles during the washing process and for rotation about an axis;   a drawer received within the cavity of said cabinet, said drawer being configured for selective adjustment between an open configuration and a closed configuration;   a reservoir mounted on said drawer, said reservoir configured for receipt of a fluid additive used in the washing process, said reservoir being disposed within the cavity when said drawer is in the closed configuration, said reservoir being at least partially disposed outside of the cavity when said drawer is in the open configuration; and   a pump in fluid communication with said reservoir and said wash tub, said pump configured for selective delivery of the fluid additive from said reservoir to said wash tub during operation of the appliance.   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein said reservoir is configured for receipt of a volume of the fluid additive sufficient for a plurality of wash cycles of the appliance. 
     
     
         3 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein said reservoir is removably mounted to said drawer such that said reservoir may be selectively removed from said drawer. 
     
     
         4 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising an additional reservoir configured for receipt of an additional fluid additive used in the washing process, said additional reservoir supported by said drawer and in fluid communication with said pump. 
     
     
         5 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 4 , further comprising a front panel mounted to said drawer and positioned adjacent the opening in the closed configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 4 , further comprising a slide rail slidably mounting said drawer to said cabinet. 
     
     
         7 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 4 , wherein said drawer is rotatably mounted to said cabinet. 
     
     
         8 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the axis is substantially vertical and the washing machine appliance is a vertical axis washing machine appliance. 
     
     
         9 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the axis is substantially horizontal and the washing machine appliance is a horizontal axis washing machine appliance. 
     
     
         10 . A washing machine appliance comprising:
 a cabinet extending between a top and a bottom;   a wash tub received in said cabinet and configured for containing a fluid used in a washing process;   a wash basket mounted in said wash tub, said wash basket configured for the receipt of articles during the washing process and for rotation about an axis;   a pedestal positioned beneath the bottom of said cabinet and configured for supporting said cabinet, said pedestal extending between a front and a back, said pedestal defining a cavity, said pedestal also defining an opening positioned adjacent the front of said pedestal, the opening permitting access to the cavity;   a drawer received within the cavity of said pedestal;   a reservoir mounted on said drawer, said reservoir configured for receipt of a fluid additive used in the washing process; and   a pump in fluid communication with said reservoir and said wash tub, said pump configured for selective delivery of the fluid additive from said reservoir to said wash tub during operation of the appliance, wherein:
 said drawer is configured for selective adjustment between an open configuration and a closed configuration, said reservoir being disposed within the cavity when said drawer is in the closed configuration, said reservoir being at least partially disposed outside of the cavity when said drawer is in the open configuration. 
   
     
     
         11 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 11 , wherein said reservoir is configured for receipt of a volume of the fluid additive sufficient for a plurality of wash cycles of the appliance. 
     
     
         12 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 11 , further comprising an additional reservoir configured for receipt of an additional fluid additive used in the washing process, said additional reservoir supported by said drawer and in fluid communication with said pump. 
     
     
         13 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 14 , further comprising a front panel mounted to said drawer and positioned adjacent the opening of said pedestal. 
     
     
         14 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 14 , further comprising a slide rail mounting said drawer to said pedestal such that said drawer is slidingly mounted to said pedestal. 
     
     
         15 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 14 , wherein said drawer is rotatably mounted to said pedestal. 
     
     
         16 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the axis is substantially vertical and the washing machine appliance is a vertical axis washing machine appliance. 
     
     
         17 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the axis is substantially horizontal and the washing machine appliance is a horizontal axis washing machine appliance.