Scent dispensing assembly for a washing machine appliance

Abstract

A scent dispensing assembly for a washing machine appliance includes a scent dispensing box defining a reservoir for receiving a scented material, such as aromatic oil. An ultrasonic diffuser may be mounted to a bottom of the scent dispensing box for generating a flow of scented vapor from the scented material which may pass into the wash chamber through an aperture in the scent dispensing box. The flow of scented vapor may be drawn into the wash chamber by spinning the wash basket to generate air circulation. In addition, a fan may be fluidly coupled with the reservoir for urging the flow of scented vapor into the wash chamber.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A washing machine appliance comprising:
 a cabinet;   a wash tub positioned within the cabinet and defining a wash chamber;   a wash basket rotatably mounted within the wash tub for receiving of a load of articles for washing; and   a scent dispensing box defining a reservoir for receiving a scented material, the scent dispensing box being in fluid communication with the wash chamber such that a flow of scented vapor is drawn into the wash chamber as the wash basket spins.   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an ultrasonic diffuser operably coupled to the scent dispensing box for generating the flow of scented vapor from the scented material.   
     
     
         3 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the scent dispensing box comprises a bottom wall defining a hole, the ultrasonic diffuser being mounted to the scent dispensing box under the hole. 
     
     
         4 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a fan mounted to the scent dispensing box for urging the flow of scented vapor through the reservoir.   
     
     
         5 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 4 , wherein the fan comprises an axial fan positioned at a rear of the scent dispensing box. 
     
     
         6 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein one or more baffles are positioned within the reservoir for directing the flow of scented vapor. 
     
     
         7 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the scent dispensing box defines an aperture to provide fluid communication between the reservoir and the wash chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 7 , wherein the aperture is defined at a front of the scent dispensing box above the scented material along a vertical direction. 
     
     
         9 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 one or more louvres pivotally mounted over the aperture for regulating the flow of scented vapor into the wash chamber.   
     
     
         10 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the scented material is an antimicrobial liquid. 
     
     
         11 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a top panel positioned over the wash tub and defining an opening for accessing the wash chamber; and   a primary dispenser positioned below the top panel proximate a rear of the washing machine appliance, wherein the scent dispensing box is positioned within the primary dispenser.   
     
     
         12 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the primary dispenser is slidably mounted to the top panel, such that the scent dispensing box may be pulled out and refilled. 
     
     
         13 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a motor in mechanical communication with the wash basket, the motor being configured for selectively rotating the wash basket within the wash tub; and   a controller in operative communication with the motor, the controller being configured for:
 operating the motor to spin the wash basket at a spin speed during a spin cycle; and 
 operating the motor to spin the wash basket at a scent introduction speed after the spin cycle, the scent introduction speed being less than the spin speed. 
   
     
     
         14 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the washing machine appliance is a top load washing machine appliance. 
     
     
         15 . A scent dispensing assembly for a washing machine appliance, the washing machine appliance comprising a cabinet, a wash tub positioned within cabinet and defining a wash chamber, and a wash basket rotatably mounted within the wash tub, the scent dispensing assembly comprising:
 a scent dispensing box defining a reservoir for receiving a scented material, the scent dispensing box being in fluid communication with the wash chamber;   a scented material positioned within the reservoir for generating a flow of scented vapor; and   a fan fluidly coupled with the reservoir for urging the flow of scented vapor into the wash chamber.   
     
     
         16 . The scent dispensing assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 an ultrasonic diffuser operably coupled to the scent dispensing box for generating the flow of scented vapor from the scented material.   
     
     
         17 . The scent dispensing assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the scent dispensing box comprises a bottom wall defining a hole, the ultrasonic diffuser being mounted to the scent dispensing box under the hole. 
     
     
         18 . The scent dispensing assembly of  claim 15 , wherein one or more baffles are positioned within the reservoir for directing the flow of scented vapor. 
     
     
         19 . The scent dispensing assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the scent dispensing box defines an aperture to provide fluid communication between the reservoir and the wash chamber. 
     
     
         20 . The scent dispensing assembly of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 one or more louvres pivotally mounted over the aperture for regulating the flow of scented vapor into the wash chamber.