Fabric softener dispenser for vertical agitator

A rinse agent dispenser assembly for use with an agitator for rotation and vertical reciprocation. The dispenser includes labryinth seals to retain the liquid rinse agent during vertical reciprocation of the agitator. The liquid agent retainer cup is designed to permit centrifugal discharge of the liquid agent at spin speeds. The three-part dispenser assembly is readily separated for easy cleaning.

This invention relates to a domestic appliance and, more particularly, to 
an improved means for dispensing a rinse agent such as a fabric softener 
therefrom at the conclusion of a spinning operation. 
A centrifugally actuated dispenser of the type adapted for installation on 
the top of an agitator is taught in the patent to Martin et al U.S. Pat. 
No. 3,091,108, issued May 28, 1963, and Wolters U.S. Pat. No. 3,370,444, 
issued Feb. 27, 1968. This invention relates to an improved version of 
such a dispenser which is comprised of separable parts so they may be 
totally cleaned and which includes improved means for retaining the rinse 
agent therein during the reciprocation thereof. 
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved 
combination agitator cap and centrifugally actuated rinse agent dispenser. 
Another object of this invention is the provision of a centrifugally 
actuated rinse agent dispenser adapted for installation on a vertically 
reciprocable and rotatable clothes washer agitator and including a 
labyrinth seal formed by the cooperation of two of the separable parts for 
retaining the rinse agent therein during the vertical reciprocation 
thereof. 
A still further object of this invention is the provision of a 
centrifugally actuated, vertically reciprocable dispenser comprising a 
three-part assembly held together by a cap which is removable for pouring 
rinse agent into the dispenser and for separating the parts either for 
cleaning all of the parts or for removing one of the parts for filling 
thereof remote from said dispenser. 
Another object in accordance with the foregoing object is the provision 
that one of the three parts includes a separable rim, the radially inner 
and outer edges of which cooperate respectively with the other two parts, 
(1) to prevent leakage of rinse agent from the dispenser during rotation 
of the dispenser and (2) to facilitate the assembly of the three parts. 
Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent 
from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying 
drawings wherein preferred embodiments of the present invention are 
clearly shown.

In accordance with this invention FIG. 1 shows a fragmentary sectional view 
of a clothes washer preforate spin tub or basket 10 in an imperforate 
outer water container 12. An agitator 14 of the type taught in the U.S. 
Pat. No. 3,132,500 Bullock, issued May 12, 1964, is carried inside the 
spin tub 10 and an agitating and spinning mechanism (not shown) includes a 
spin shaft 16 connected to said spin tub for rotating said spin tub and an 
agitate shaft 18 connected to said agitator for vertically reciprocating 
the agitator 14. A roller drive mechanism of the type taught in the U.S. 
Pat. No. 3,087,321 Brucken, issued Apr. 30, 1963, may be adapted for 
rotating the spin shaft 16 and for vertically reciprocating the agitate 
shaft 18. The improved dispenser 20 of this invention is detachably 
supported on the top of the agitator 14. Dispenser 20 reciprocates and 
rotates with the agitator in accordance with the operation of the roller 
drive mechanism. 
Turning now to FIG. 2, rinse agent dispenser 20 is shown attached to the 
upper end of the cylindrical housing wall portion 21 of agitator cone 22 
forming a hollow 24 in the agitator 14 for receiving an open top bleach 
cup 25 of the type taught in U.S. Pat. No. 3,306,084 to Bullock, issued 
Feb. 28, 1967. The dispenser 20 is particularly adapted for use with 
clothes washers having lower spin speeds during cool-down and is adapted 
to centrifugally release its charge at speeds of 350-400 r.p.m. 
The dispenser 20 is comprised of an outer container portion or dispensing 
compartment forming means 34 having peripheral L-sectional wall or annulus 
including peripheral wall portion 34a and an inwardly directed bottom 34b 
defining an agitator receiving agent dispensing opening 34c. The 
peripheral wall portion 34a is 194.0 millimeters (mm) in diameter by 51.0 
mm deep exclusive of its upstanding collar 34d extending 9.50 mm above top 
34f of the container portion 34. A liquid storage portion or inner chamber 
forming means, generally indicated at 36, is sized for nested relation in 
compartment forming means 34 with both elements 34 and 36 being formed of 
polypropylene or other suitable material. A cap forming means, generally 
indicated at 38, is adapted to close upper collar opening 34e, 94.6 mm in 
diameter, of the outer container 34 and through which opening 34e a rinse 
agent, fabric softener or other liquid wash agent is placed in the 
dispenser. When the liquid container portion 36 and the outer container 
portion 34 are nested, a central frustoconical-shaped cup-like inner 
storage chamber 39 and a substantially coaxial radially inwardly opening 
annulus or dispensing compartment 32 are formed which communicate with 
each other during a wash spin of tub 10 in a manner to be described below. 
As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the cap forming means 38 includes an upper 
cap 40 including a radially inner flange or skirt 41 and a radially outer 
concentric stepped flange or skirt depending from the underside of the 
cap. The outer stepped skirt includes a cylindrical upper skirt portion 42 
and a cylindrical lower skirt portion 43 interconnected by a substantially 
flat shoulder 44. In the form shown the inner skirt 41 includes a 
depending lower rim or edge 45 having a diameter of about 64.00 mm, its 
upper skirt portion 42 includes a depending lower rim or edge 46 having a 
diameter of about 82.00 mm, and its lower skirt portion 43 includes a 
depending lower rim or edge 47 having a diameter of about 71.00 mm. 
With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the chamber forming means 36 provides a 
cylindrical upper wall 51, a cylindrical intermediate wall 52 and a 
cylindrical lower stepped wall 53. Such walls are progressively reduced 
diameters relative to the wall next above. Walls 51 and 52 are 
interconnected by an upper bevel shoulder or ledge 54, while walls 52 and 
53 are connected by a lower bevel shoulder or ledge 55. The storage 
chamber 39 is defined by the lower wall 53 of the removable chamber 
forming means or cup 36. Thus, during use a predetermined quantity of 
liquid treating agent, such as a fabric softener, is poured into the 
storage chamber 39 and diluted with water to a selected level which at its 
maximum will achieve a fill level "A" below the lower ledge 55. It will be 
appreciated that by virtue of the chamber forming means or cup 36 being 
separable it can be removed from the outer container 34 by the operator 
when filling, if desired. The cup upper wall 51 has a diameter of about 
93.70 mm, the cup intermediate wall has a diameter of about 76.00 mm and 
the cup frustoconical shaped lower wall 53 has a miximum diameter at its 
upper end of about 64 mm with lower shoulder or ledge 55 located a 
vertical distance of about 81.0 mm above the base wall 56 of the cup-like 
storage chamber 39. Thus, in the preferred form the storage chamber lower 
wall 53 forms an angle "X" of about 10.degree. for a reason to be 
explained below. 
In the construction illustrated, FIG. 3 shows the upper skirt portion 42 
provided with a plurality or series of equally spaced slots or passageways 
62 formed in the lower edge 46. In a similar manner the lower skirt 
portion 43 and inner skirt 41 each have a plurality or series of equally 
spaced slots or passageways 63 and 64 formed in the lower edges 47 and 45 
respectively, in an offset or staggered manner. In the embodiment shown 
each series of passageways 62, 63 and 64 total twelve in number and are 
1.50 mm high by 3.00 wide. 
It will be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 that the container forming means 34 
partially defines the inner opening annulus 32 the inner limits of which 
are defined by a cylindrical agitator support 70 having an outer rim 72 
and an inner sloped trunk 73 located in concentric fashion intermediate 
outer peripheral wall 34a and the stepped walls 52, 53. The rim 72 
circumscribes the circumferential annulus cavity or dispensing compartment 
space 32 internally thereof to define therewith an inlet to, and an outlet 
from, the dispensing compartment 32. The inlet to the annulus or 
dispensing compartment 32 is delineated between the upper collar opening 
34e and trunk central opening 74 sized to receive the intermediate stepped 
wall 52. A plurality of outflow ports 76 are formed in the juncture of 
upper stepped wall 51 and upper ledge 54. Thus, upon the trunk opening 74 
telescopically receiving the removable cup 36 sufficiently into the outer 
container 34 to position cup outwardly directed peripheral lip 78 on the 
outer container collar 34d upper edge 34g with the outflow ports 76 
located adjacent the annulus or dispensing compartment inlet. In the form 
shown twenty 9.50 mm by 1.88 mm outflow ports 76 are provided in the cup 
36. 
It will be seen in FIG. 2 that the cap 40 includes a cylindrical depending 
peripheral element 82 formed with an inwardly projecting arcuate 
protrusion 84 adapted to be snappingly received in a conforming annular 
collar groove 86. Thus, as shown in FIG. 2 the interlocking releasable 
protrusion 84 and groove 86 provide means to removably retain the cap 
forming means 38 in assembled relation with the outer container portion 34 
and cup 36 for retaining the liquid rinse agent in storage chamber 39 
during reciprocation of the dispenser 20. 
The dispenser 20 is adapted for installation on the top of the agitator 14 
which is reciprocable. In the form shown the support trunk 73 has 
L-sectioned arcuate locking members 87 depending from the underside 
thereof defining inclined surfaces 88 which are cammed into locking 
engagement with the underside 89 of cooperating arcuate tangs 90 spaced 
around the periphery of the agitator post cylindrical wall portion 21 in a 
conventional manner. It will be noted in FIGS. 2 and 3 that a plurality of 
circumferentially spaced integral bosses 94 are formed on the underside of 
wall 34f having bores 95 with each bore receiving a threaded fastener 96 
extending through aligned apertures 97 in the trunk flat portions 98 of 
support trunk 73. 
As discussed in the mentioned Wolters U.S. Pat. No. 3,370,444 patent, 
vertically shaking a dispenser on agitator 14 gives rise to the problem of 
retaining the rinse agent during reciprocation of the agitator and, to 
solve this problem, the dispenser 20 is provided with the plurality of 
circumferentially offset lower notches 63 and 64 which together with lower 
edge 47 being in sufficiently close proximity with wall means, in the form 
of lower beveled shoulder 55, interrupt communication so as to partially 
block the circumferential space 32 in a labryinth seal manner. 
In a similar manner a labyrinth seal is formed by the cup forming means 
lower edge 46 extending telescopically into the cup 36 in sufficiently 
close proximity to the wall means, in the form of beveled shoulder 54, and 
below the outflow ports 76 to interrupt communication between the cup 
storage chamber 39 and the outer dispensing compartment 32 of container 34 
during reciprocation of the dispenser 20. It will be appreciated that this 
is achieved without interrupting communication between the storage chamber 
39 and the dispensing compartment 32 rotation of the dispenser 20 with the 
agitator 14 and spin tub 10. Thus, during agitate the diluted softener 
remains in storage chamber 39, held there by the upper and lower labyrinth 
seals during the vertical shaking action of the dispenser. 
During the wash spin of the tub 10, the liquid softener moves up the 
frustoconical wall 53 portion of the cup 36 and out through the lower 
notches 63 and 64 into the cavity 92 due to centrifugal force. It will be 
noted that the slope angle "X" of cup wall 53 is such that a spin speed of 
about 350-400 revolution per minute (rpm's) is required to generate 
sufficient centrifugal force to move the softener up the cup angled wall 
53. The result is that the liquid softener in storage chamber 39 is unable 
to exit the notches 63 and 64 during "cooldown" of the permanent press and 
knit washing cycles of washer because the tub 10 spin speed is limited to 
the range of about 100 to 150 rpm's as a consequence of the spin tub 
"dragging" or being slowed by the water retained in the outer container 12 
at a predetermined level. 
The wash spin centrifugal force further causes the liquid softener to exit 
the cavity 92 via the upper notches or passages 62 and flow out of the cup 
ports 76 into annulus or dispensing compartment 32. By virtue of the 
channel-sectioned compartment 32, defined by wall portions 34a and 34b, 
the softener is retained at the outer diameter of the dispensing 
compartment 32 during the remainder of the wash spin because of the 
centrifugal force. 
Upon the termination of the wash spin cycle, gravitational force causes the 
softener to flow inwardly over wall portion 34b and exit the opening 34c 
for flow down the face of upper cone portion 99 where the softener is 
further diluted and washed down by the action of the rinse fill water 
entering the tub 10. 
While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed 
constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms 
might be adopted.