Washing machine appliance spray hose assembly

Abstract

A washing machine appliance including a cabinet, a tub positioned within the cabinet, and a basket rotatably mounted within the tub is provided. The washing machine appliance additionally includes a spout fluidly connected to a water source, the spout configured to flow water from the water source into one or both of the tub and the drum. Moreover, the washing machine appliance includes a spray hose assembly fluidly connected to the water source, the spray hose assembly including a hose and a handle. The spray hose assembly is configured for selectively providing a flow of water in a desired location and direction to assist a user in, e.g., cleaning out a dispenser cup and/or performing one or more pretreatment activities on articles to be washed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A washing machine appliance comprising:
 a cabinet;   a tub positioned within the cabinet;   a basket rotatably mounted within the tub, the basket defining a wash chamber for receipt of articles for washing;   a spout fluidly connected to a water source and configured for flowing water from the water source into one or both of the tub and the drum; and   a spray hose assembly fluidly connected to the water source and including a hose and a handle attached to the hose, at least a portion of the hose extending outside of the cabinet, the spray hose assembly configured for selectively providing a flow of water in a desired direction and location.   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the handle of the spray hose assembly is removably mounted to the cabinet. 
     
     
         3 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the handle of the spray hose assembly is removably mounted to the cabinet at a side portion of the washing machine appliance. 
     
     
         4 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the handle includes a nozzle, and wherein the spray hose assembly further includes an attachment member removably attached to the handle over the nozzle. 
     
     
         5 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 4 , wherein the attachment member is a brush attachment. 
     
     
         6 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the hose of the spray hose assembly is a flexible hose. 
     
     
         7 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising
 a supply line fluidly connecting the water source to the spout, wherein the spray hose assembly is fluidly connected to the supply line using a three-way valve.   
     
     
         8 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 7 , wherein the three-way valve is positioned outside the cabinet. 
     
     
         9 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 7 , wherein the three-way valve is positioned within the cabinet. 
     
     
         10 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein cabinet defines an opening and wherein at least a portion of the spray hose assembly retractably extends through the opening. 
     
     
         11 . A washing machine appliance comprising:
 a cabinet;   a tub positioned within the cabinet;   a basket rotatably mounted within the tub, the basket defining a wash chamber for receipt of articles for washing;   a spout fluidly connected to a water source and configured for flowing water from the water source into one or both of the tub and the drum; and   a spray hose assembly fluidly connected to the water source and including a hose and a handle attached to the hose, the handle removably positioned on the cabinet, the spray hose assembly configured for selectively providing a flow of water in a desired direction and location.   
     
     
         12 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the handle includes an activation member and a nozzle, the activation member configured to selectively allow a flow of water through the nozzle. 
     
     
         13 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 12 , wherein the spray hose assembly further includes an attachment member removably attached to the handle over the nozzle. 
     
     
         14 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 13 , wherein the attachment member is a brush attachment. 
     
     
         15 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the handle of the spray hose assembly is removably mounted to the cabinet at a side portion of the washing machine appliance. 
     
     
         16 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the handle of the spray hose assembly is removably positioned on the cabinet at a top end of the washing machine appliance. 
     
     
         17 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the hose of the spray hose assembly is a flexible hose. 
     
     
         18 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 11 , further comprising
 a supply line fluidly connecting the water source to the spout, wherein the spray hose assembly is fluidly connected to the supply line using a three-way valve.   
     
     
         19 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 18 , wherein the three-way valve is positioned outside the cabinet. 
     
     
         20 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 18 , wherein the three-way valve is positioned within the cabinet.