Laundry Additive Dispenser

Abstract

An additive dispensing assembly for providing wash liquid to a wash tub of a washing machine appliance is provided. The additive dispensing assembly includes a water supply conduit configured to provide a flow of water to the wash tub. An additive reservoir is connected to the water supply conduit such that the flow of water through the water supply conduit draws in and entrains the wash additive prior to delivery of the wash liquid into the wash tub. The resulting wash liquid has an optimal additive concentration that is proportional to the amount of water delivered to the wash tub.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A washing machine appliance defining a vertical, a lateral, and a transverse direction, the washing machine appliance comprising:
 a cabinet;   a wash tub positioned within the cabinet;   a wash basket rotatably mounted within the wash tub, the wash basket defining a wash chamber for receiving articles for washing; and   an additive dispensing assembly positioned within the cabinet and configured to provide wash liquid to the wash tub, the additive dispensing assembly comprising:
 a water supply conduit extending between a water supply and the wash tub; 
 an additive dispenser for storing and dispensing a wash additive; and 
 a siphon channel extending from the additive dispenser to the water supply conduit, 
 wherein a flow of water directed through the water supply conduit creates a siphon which draws the wash additive into the water supply conduit to mix with the flow of water and create a wash liquid that is dispensed into the wash tub. 
   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the siphon channel is connected to the water supply conduit using a venturi-shaped nozzle. 
     
     
         3 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the water supply conduit is in fluid communication with both a hot water supply through a hot water inlet and a cold water supply through a cold water inlet. 
     
     
         4 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the siphon channel is calibrated to provide a selected flow rate of the wash additive. 
     
     
         5 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 4 , wherein the selected flow rate of the wash additive is proportional to a flow rate of the flow of water through the water supply conduit. 
     
     
         6 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a valve operatively coupled with the siphon channel for controlling the flow of the wash additive through the siphon channel. 
     
     
         7 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 6 , wherein the valve is a solenoid valve that is selectively controlled based on at least one of the selected wash cycle, the soil level of the articles to be washed, and the article type. 
     
     
         8 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a pump operatively coupled with the siphon channel, the pump configured to selectively dispense the wash additive from the additive dispenser. 
     
     
         9 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 8 , further comprising a valve operatively coupled with the siphon channel for controlling the flow of the wash additive through the siphon channel. 
     
     
         10 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the wash additive is either detergent or fabric softener. 
     
     
         11 . An additive dispensing assembly for providing wash liquid to a wash tub of a washing machine appliance, the additive dispensing assembly comprising:
 a water supply conduit extending between a water supply and the wash tub;   a solenoid valve operatively coupled to the water supply and configured to selectively provide a flow of water to the wash tub;   an additive reservoir configured for receiving a wash additive; and   an additive supply conduit operably coupling the additive reservoir to the water supply conduit such that the flow of water through the water supply conduit creates a negative pressure in the additive supply conduit which draws the wash additive into the water supply conduit to mix with the flow of water and create a wash liquid that is dispensed into the wash tub.   
     
     
         12 . The additive dispensing assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the additive supply conduit is connected to the water supply conduit using a venturi-shaped nozzle. 
     
     
         13 . The additive dispensing assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the water supply conduit is in fluid communication with both a hot water supply through a hot water inlet and a cold water supply through a cold water inlet. 
     
     
         14 . The additive dispensing assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the additive supply conduit is calibrated to provide a selected flow rate of the wash additive. 
     
     
         15 . The additive dispensing assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the selected flow rate of the wash additive is proportional to a flow rate of the flow of water through the water supply conduit. 
     
     
         16 . The additive dispensing assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising a valve operatively coupled with the additive supply conduit for controlling a flow of the wash additive through the additive supply conduit. 
     
     
         17 . The additive dispensing assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the valve is a solenoid valve that is selectively controlled based on at least one of the selected wash cycle, the soil level of the articles to be washed, and the article type. 
     
     
         18 . The additive dispensing assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising a pump operatively coupled with the additive supply conduit, the pump configured to selectively dispense the wash additive from the additive reservoir. 
     
     
         19 . The additive dispensing assembly of  claim 18 , further comprising a valve operatively coupled with the additive supply conduit for controlling a flow of the wash additive through the additive supply conduit. 
     
     
         20 . The additive dispensing assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the wash additive is either detergent or fabric softener.