Dispenser for a laundry treating household appliance having a float diverter

Abstract

A treating chemistry dispenser for a household appliance includes at least first and second treating chemistry reservoirs and a distributor selectively supplying liquid to the first and second reservoirs. The distributor includes a liquid supply circuit having a first branch fluidly coupled to the first treating chemistry reservoir and a second branch fluidly coupled to the second treating chemistry reservoir. A first float diverter is located within the supply circuit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A treating chemistry dispenser for a household appliance comprising:
 at least first and second treating chemistry reservoirs;   a distributor selectively supplying liquid to the first and second reservoirs comprising:
 a liquid supply circuit having a first branch fluidly coupled to the first treating chemistry reservoir, and a second branch fluidly coupled to the second treating chemistry reservoir; and 
 a first float diverter located within the supply circuit and operable between a first position, where the liquid is supplied to the first branch, and a second position where liquid is supplied to the second branch. 
   
     
     
         2 . The treating chemistry dispenser of  claim 1  further comprising a third chemistry reservoir, a third branch, and a second float diverter operable between a first position, where the liquid is supplied to at least one of the first and second branches, and a second position, where the liquid is supplied to the third branch. 
     
     
         3 . The treating chemistry dispenser of  claim 2  wherein the second float diverter is located in the supply circuit upstream of the first float diverter. 
     
     
         4 . The treating chemistry dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the first position corresponds to a non-floating position for the first float diverter. 
     
     
         5 . The treating chemistry dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the second position corresponds to a floating position for the first float diverter. 
     
     
         6 . The treating chemistry dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the distributor comprises a float chamber fluidly coupled to the supply circuit and the first float diverter resides in the float chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The treating chemistry dispenser of  claim 6  wherein the supply circuit comprises a backflow portion fluidly coupled to the float chamber whereby liquid in the supply circuit will backflow into the float chamber upon the cessation of the supplying of liquid to the supply circuit. 
     
     
         8 . The treating chemistry dispenser of  claim 6  wherein the float chamber comprises a drain opening. 
     
     
         9 . The treating chemistry dispenser of  claim 8  wherein the drain opening is sized such that the liquid drain rate through the drain opening is less than the liquid supply rate through the supply circuit. 
     
     
         10 . The treating chemistry dispenser of  claim 9  wherein the liquid drain rate is not greater than half of the liquid supply rate. 
     
     
         11 . The treating chemistry dispenser of  claim 6  comprising an index fixing the position of the first float diverter within the float chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The treating chemistry dispenser of  claim 11  wherein the index comprises cooperating structural features on the first float diverter and the float chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The treating chemistry dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the first float diverter further comprises at least one flow control channel. 
     
     
         14 . The treating chemistry dispenser of  claim 13  wherein the flow control channel is on one of a top or side of the first float diverter. 
     
     
         15 . The treating chemistry dispenser of  claim 14  wherein the flow control channel is located on a side of the first float diverter and confronts the supply circuit when the first float is in the second position. 
     
     
         16 . The treating chemistry dispenser of  claim 15  wherein the flow control channel is aligned with the second branch in the second position. 
     
     
         17 . A method of supplying liquid between first and second branches of a supply circuit in a dispenser for a household appliance, the method comprising:
 floating a float diverter from a non-floating to a floating position to block flow to one of the first or second branches while permitting flow to the other of the first or second branches.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the floating of the float diverter comprises back-flowing liquid in the supply circuit to float the float diverter. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the back-flowing comprises back-flowing the liquid into a float chamber in which the float diverter resides. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the back-flowing comprises reducing the flow of liquid in the supply circuit. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein reducing the flow of liquid in the supply circuit comprises shutting off the supply of liquid to the supply circuit. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising draining liquid from the float chamber 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the draining liquid from the float chamber comprises draining the liquid at a rate slower than the rate of liquid supplied through the supply circuit.