Fabric treating appliance comprising a scrubbing tool

Abstract

A fabric treating appliance includes a cabinet defining an interior and having a top wall defining an access opening. A cover is provided that is movable relative to the cabinet between an open position and a closed position to selectively close the access opening. A tub is located within the interior and includes and open top aligned with the access opening. A rotatable basket is located within the tub and has a loading opening aligned with the open top and the access opening. A top wall extends between the cabinet and the tub. A scrubbing tool seat recessed in the top wall.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fabric treating appliance comprising:
 a cabinet defining an interior and having a top wall defining an access opening;   a cover movable relative to the cabinet between opened and closed positions to selectively close the access opening;   a tub located within the interior and having an open top aligned with the access opening;   a rotatable basket located within the tub and having a loading opening aligned with the open top and the access opening;   a top wall extending between at least one of the cabinet and the tub;   a scrubbing tool seat recessed in the top wall; and   a scrubbing surface provided on the top wall of the cabinet and located in an area contiguous with an edge of the scrubbing tool seat.   
     
     
         2 . The fabric treating appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a scrubbing tool removably disposed in the scrubbing tool seat. 
     
     
         3 . The fabric treating appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the scrubbing tool comprises a gripper portion and a set of bristles mounted on the tool opposite the gripper portion removably disposed in the scrubbing tool seat and configured to be oriented in a bristles up or bristles down orientation within the seat such that when the scrubbing tool is disposed in the seat the height of the scrubbing tool is below the top wall. 
     
     
         4 . The fabric treating appliance of  claim 3  wherein when the cover is in the closed position, the cover overlies the scrubbing tool. 
     
     
         5 . The fabric treating appliance of  claim 3  wherein the cover does not contact the scrubbing tool in the closed position. 
     
     
         6 . The fabric treating appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the scrubbing tool comprises a gripper portion and a set of bristles mounted on the tool opposite the gripper portion, with the scrubbing tool removably disposed in the scrubbing tool seat such that one of the gripper portion or set of bristles is oriented up and the height of the scrubbing tool is such that at least a portion of one of the gripper portion or the set of bristles extends above the top wall. 
     
     
         7 . The fabric treating appliance of  claim 2  wherein at least a portion of the scrubbing tool and the scrubbing tool seat are complementary in shape. 
     
     
         8 . The fabric treating appliance of  claim 1  wherein the top wall comprises a shroud and the scrubbing tool seat is located in the shroud. 
     
     
         9 . The fabric treating appliance of  claim 1  wherein the seat comprises an aperture fluidly coupled to the tub for allowing excess liquid from the scrubbing tool to be drained through the aperture and into the tub. 
     
     
         10 . The fabric treating appliance of  claim 2  wherein the scrubbing tool comprises a cap portion removably coupled to a base portion, and a reservoir is at least partially located within the base portion. 
     
     
         11 . The fabric treating appliance of  claim 10  wherein the reservoir is configured to receive a removable chemistry pod. 
     
     
         12 . The fabric treating appliance of  claim 10  wherein the scrubbing tool comprises a refillable liquid reservoir. 
     
     
         13 . A fabric treating appliance comprising:
 a cabinet defining an interior and having a top wall defining an access opening;   a cover movable relative to the cabinet between opened and closed positions to selectively close the access opening;   a tub located within the interior and having an open top aligned with the access opening;   a rotatable basket located within the tub and having a loading opening aligned with the open top and the access opening;   a top wall extending between at least one of the cabinet and the tub; and   a scrubbing tool seat recessed in the top wall and comprising an aperture in the seat fluidly connected to the tub to define a drain in fluid communication with the tub, wherein excess liquid in the scrubbing tool seat drains through the aperture and into the tub.   
     
     
         14 . The fabric treating appliance of  claim 13 , further comprising a scrubbing tool removably disposed in the scrubbing tool seat. 
     
     
         15 . The fabric treating appliance of  claim 14 , wherein the scrubbing tool comprises a gripper portion and a set of bristles mounted on the tool opposite the gripper portion removably disposed in the scrubbing tool seat and configured to be oriented in a bristles up or bristles down orientation within the seat such that when the scrubbing tool is disposed in the seat the height of the scrubbing tool is below the top wall. 
     
     
         16 . The fabric treating appliance of  claim 15  wherein when the cover is in the closed position, the cover overlies the scrubbing tool. 
     
     
         17 . The fabric treating appliance of  claim 15  wherein the cover does not contact the scrubbing tool in the closed position. 
     
     
         18 . The fabric treating appliance of  claim 14 , wherein the scrubbing tool comprises a gripper portion and a set of bristles mounted on the tool opposite the gripper portion, with the scrubbing tool removably disposed in the scrubbing tool seat such that one of the gripper portion or set of bristles is oriented up and the height of the scrubbing tool is such that at least a portion of one of the gripper portion or the set of bristles extends above the top wall. 
     
     
         19 . The fabric treating appliance of  claim 13 , wherein the scrubbing tool seat is located along a front portion of the top wall. 
     
     
         20 . The fabric treating appliance of  claim 13 , wherein the top wall further comprises a scrubbing surface contiguous with at least a portion of an edge of the scrubbing tool seat.