Washing machine dispenser cup

Abstract

Dispenser cups for washing machine appliances are provided. A dispenser cup includes a container which includes a side wall and a bottom wall, the side wall having a top end. The container defines a compartment configured to receive a wash material. The dispenser cup further includes a wash liquid inlet positioned on the side wall of the container and in fluid communication with the compartment for providing a flow of wash liquid to the compartment. The dispenser cup further includes a deflector plate positioned at least partially within the compartment. The deflector plate is positioned such that wash liquid exhausted from the wash liquid inlet into the compartment contacts the deflector plate and is redirected towards the bottom wall of the container. The dispenser cup further includes a wall extending from the deflector plate within the compartment such that wash liquid redirected towards the top end contacts the wall.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A dispenser cup for a washing machine appliance, the dispenser cup comprising:
 a container comprising a side wall and a bottom wall, the side wall having a top end, the container defining a compartment configured to receive a wash material;   a wash liquid inlet positioned on the side wall of the container and in fluid communication with the compartment for providing a flow of wash liquid to the compartment;   a deflector plate positioned at least partially within the compartment, the deflector plate positioned such that wash liquid exhausted from the wash liquid inlet into the compartment contacts the deflector plate and is redirected towards the bottom wall of the container; and   a wall extending from the deflector plate within the compartment such that wash liquid redirected towards the top end contacts the wall.   
     
     
         2 . The dispenser cup of  claim 1 , wherein the wall is disposed between the top end and the bottom wall along the vertical direction. 
     
     
         3 . The dispenser cup of  claim 1 , wherein the wall extends from the deflector plate along a vertical direction. 
     
     
         4 . The dispenser cup of  claim 1 , wherein the wall is made integrally with the deflector plate. 
     
     
         5 . The dispenser cup of  claim 1 , wherein the wash liquid inlet defines a flow direction and wherein the deflector plate defines a convex shape relative to the flow direction. 
     
     
         6 . The dispenser cup of  claim 1 , wherein the deflector plate is configured to spread wash liquid across a width of the bottom wall of the container. 
     
     
         7 . The dispenser cup of  claim 1 , wherein the deflector plate comprises a tapered portion and is positioned such that wash liquid from the wash liquid inlet contacts the tapered portion when the wash liquid is exhausted from the wash liquid inlet. 
     
     
         8 . The dispenser cup of  claim 7 , wherein the wash liquid inlet defines a flow direction and wherein the tapered portion defines an acute angle relative to the flow direction. 
     
     
         9 . The dispenser cup of  claim 7 , wherein the deflector plate further comprises a rim extending downwardly from the tapered portion. 
     
     
         10 . The dispenser cup of  claim 7 , wherein the wall extends from the tapered portion. 
     
     
         11 . The dispenser cup of  claim 1 , wherein the wash liquid inlet is made integrally with the container. 
     
     
         12 . The dispenser cup of  claim 1 , further comprising an outlet defined in the bottom wall of the container for receiving wash liquid and wash material. 
     
     
         13 . The dispenser cup of  claim 1 , wherein the deflector plate is attached to the container at the top end of the container. 
     
     
         14 . The dispenser cup of  claim 1 , wherein the side wall extends substantially along a vertical direction, and wherein the bottom wall extends approximately perpendicularly from the side wall. 
     
     
         15 . The dispenser cup of  claim 1 , wherein the wash liquid inlet defines a flow direction that is approximately perpendicular to the side wall of the container. 
     
     
         16 . A washing machine appliance comprising:
 a wash tub;   a wash drum rotatably positioned in the wash tub; and   a dispenser cup configured to provide a mixture of wash material and wash liquid to at least one of the wash tub or the wash drum, the dispenser cup comprising:
 a container comprising a side wall and a bottom wall, the side wall having a top end, the container defining a compartment configured to receive the wash material; 
 a wash liquid inlet positioned on the side wall of the container and in fluid communication with the compartment for providing a flow of wash liquid to the compartment; 
 a deflector plate positioned at least partially within the compartment, the deflector plate positioned such that wash liquid exhausted from the wash liquid inlet into the compartment contacts the deflector plate and is redirected towards the bottom wall of the container; and 
 a wall extending from the deflector plate within the compartment such that wash liquid redirected towards the top end contacts the wall. 
   
     
     
         17 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 16 , wherein the wall is disposed between the top end and the bottom wall along the vertical direction. 
     
     
         18 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 16 , wherein the wall extends from the deflector plate along a vertical direction. 
     
     
         19 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 16 , wherein the deflector plate comprises a tapered portion and is positioned such that wash liquid from the wash liquid inlet contacts the tapered portion when the wash liquid is exhausted from the wash liquid inlet. 
     
     
         20 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 19 , wherein the wall extends from the tapered portion.