Patent Publication Number: US-2021172107-A1

Title: Laundry appliance having a drawer provided with improved top cover

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of laundry treatment appliances (hereinafter, concisely, “laundry appliances”), and particularly to laundry appliances for treating, e.g. washing, items (such as linen, clothes, garments, shoes, and the like), such as laundry washing machines and laundry washing machines also implementing laundry drying functions (also referred to as washers/dryers). 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In order to perform washing cycles (e.g., comprising washing, rinsing and draining phases) on laundry located in the laundry treatment chamber of a laundry appliance, water and laundry treatment agents (such as liquid and powder treatment agents) should be fed into the laundry treatment chamber in a controlled way during the various phases of the washing cycles. 
     For this reason, a laundry appliance typically comprises a drawer having drawer compartments for containing one or more of said laundry treatment agents. The laundry is configured to deliver selected amounts of such laundry treatment agents contained in the drawer compartments into the laundry treatment chamber, mixed with proper amounts of water. 
     In addition to, or in the place of drawer compartments adapted to contain a single dose of a respective laundry treatment agent for performing a single washing cycle (hereinafter referred to as single-dose compartments), in an increasingly common type of laundry appliance, the drawer comprises one or more compartments each one adapted to contain multiple doses of a respective treatment agent for performing multiple washing cycles (hereinafter referred to as multi-dose compartments). Just as an example, in case of two multi-dose compartments, a multi-dose compartment may be arranged to contain multiple doses of a liquid washing detergent, whereas the other multi-dose compartment may be arranged to contain multiple doses of a liquid softener. In this class of laundry appliance, the laundry appliance may implement an auto-dosing functionality in which, at each washing cycle (and when the auto-dosing functionality is enabled), a predetermined amount of treatment agent is automatically taken (e.g., by means of a pumping apparatus) from the multi-dose compartment(s) and dispensed to the laundry treatment chamber through proper channels together with water supplied by a water distribution system of the laundry appliance. 
     It is known to equip drawers for laundry appliances with drawer top covers (hereinafter, simply “top covers”) adapted to cover at least partially the compartments for the laundry treatment agents. Preferably, the top cover is arranged to cover at least partially the multi-dose compartments, however, the top cover may be also arranged to cover at least partially the single-dose compartments. 
     The top cover is advantageously provided for protecting the laundry treatment agent stored in the compartments from dirt or foreign objects coming from outside, as well as for avoiding (or at least reducing) evaporation of the stored laundry treatment agent. Moreover, the top cover may advantageously allow to avoid undesired laundry treatment agent spilling. 
     If the drawer is not accurately cleaned from time to time, laundry washing agent residuals and/or stagnant water may cause washing agent delivery devices to clog and/or bad smelling to generate. For this purpose, the top cover is usually coupled to the drawer in a releasable way, so that it can be disengaged entirely from the drawer for uncovering the laundry treatment agent compartments and easing the cleaning operations thereof. 
     In order to allow a releasable coupling between the drawer and the top cover, it is known to provide a releasable coupling system which can be manually operated by the user. 
     For example, known coupling systems comprise a plurality of snap-fit elements located at borders of the top cover and adapted to engage the drawer in a releasable way, or a plurality of pins or screws adapted to be releasably fitted into corresponding seats located at the drawer by passing through holes located at borders of the top cover. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Applicant has realized that the known releasable coupling systems for the releasable coupling between the drawer and the top cover are not efficient, because they are affected by drawbacks. 
     Indeed, the known solutions force a user who is trying to detach the top cover from the drawer to perform a series of inconvenient operations which require a not negligible amount of time. 
     Making reference to the known coupling systems comprising a plurality of snap-fit elements located at borders of the top cover, the user is compelled to interact with all the snap-fit elements because in order to free the top cover, all the snap-fit elements should be disengaged: this operation is quite long and uncomfortable, because the snap-fit nature of this elements usually requires to disengage all the elements at the same time. This operation is particularly cumbersome since the snap-fit elements are usually small and provided with very small grip portions, generally too small for allowing a user to easily and comfortably interact with more than one of them at the same time. Moreover, the difficulty of this operation usually causes the user to succeed in actually opening all the snap-fit elements only after having performed a series of different attempts. This may cause in turn the snap-fit elements to wear down, and, in the worst cases, to break. 
     Even in the case of the known coupling systems comprising pins or screws, the operations required to disengage the top cover from the drawer are cumbersome and require a not negligible amount of time. The user is indeed forced to pull out the pins or screws from the corresponding seats, which is a long process requiring additional tools (such as a screwdriver). Moreover, coupling systems of this kind are not capable of providing a sealing effect (between the top cover and the drawer) sufficient to avoid undesired spilling of laundry treatment agent. 
     In view of the above, in order to avoid the abovementioned drawbacks, Applicant has devised a system for coupling the top cover to the drawer in a releasable way which is efficient, handy and durable, and which at the same time does not require long and cumbersome operations to be carried out by the user when trying to detach the top cover from the drawer. 
     Applicant has found that by providing a coupling system comprising two different (from the mechanical and functional point of view) kinds of coupling members, for which a first kind is allowed to switch from a disengaged condition to an engaged condition when the second kind is still in the disengaged condition, and the first kind is prevented to switch from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition when the second kind is already in the engaged condition, the drawbacks affecting the known solutions could be efficiently overcome. 
     One or more aspects of the present invention are set out in the independent claims, with advantageous features of the same invention that are indicated in the dependent claims. 
     An aspect of the present invention relates to a laundry appliance. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the laundry appliance comprises a cabinet accommodating a laundry treatment chamber and a drawer configured to slide with respect to the cabinet along a sliding direction. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the drawer comprises at least one compartment for containing laundry treatment agent to be selectively provided to the laundry treatment chamber. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, said at least one compartment is provided with a top opening for the loading of the laundry treatment agent from above. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the drawer further comprises a top cover adapted to cover at least partially the top opening of the at least one compartment. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the top cover comprises at least one first coupling member and at least one second coupling member. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, each one of said at least one first coupling member and at least one second coupling member is adapted to be switched between an engaged condition in which it engages the drawer and a disengaged condition in which it is disengaged from the drawer, so that the top cover is firmly coupled to the drawer when both the at least one first coupling member and the at least one second coupling member are in the engaged condition. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first and second coupling members are configured to:
         prevent the second coupling member to switch from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition when the first coupling member is in the engaged condition;   allow the second coupling member to switch from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition when the first coupling member is in the disengaged condition.       

     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the at least one second coupling member is configured such that, when the at least one first coupling member is in the disengaged condition, and at the same time the at least one second coupling member is in the engaged condition, the top cover is allowed to be moved with respect to the drawer with the at least one second coupling member acting as a fulcrum. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, said at least one first coupling member comprises a respective snap-fitting portion adapted to engage a respective drawer portion in the engaged condition. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, said at least one first coupling member comprises a release portion operable by a user to switch the at least one first coupling member the disengaged condition by releasing the snap-fitting portion from the corresponding drawer portion. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, said at least one second coupling member comprises a respective cantilevered element. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the drawer further comprises at least one slit adapted to receive the cantilevered element of a respective second coupling member when said second coupling member is in the engaged condition. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the drawer further comprises at least one cantilevered element. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, at least one second coupling member comprises a respective slit adapted to receive a respective cantilevered element when the second coupling member is in the engaged condition. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, said slit is shaped in such a way that, when the at least one first coupling member is in the disengaged condition and at the same time the at least one second coupling member is in the engaged condition, a slit/cantilevered element mechanical play is left to allow a rotation of the top cover with respect to the drawer. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the at least one first coupling member and the at least one second coupling member are located on opposite ends of the top cover. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the drawer comprises a drawer rear portion and an opposite drawer front portion. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the drawer is configured to slide with respect to the cabinet along the sliding direction between:
         a retracted position, in which the drawer is retracted inside cabinet and   an extracted position, in which the drawer is at least partially extracted from the cabinet and the drawer front portion externally protrudes from the cabinet front.       

     According to an embodiment of the present invention, a selected one between the at least one first coupling member and the at least one second coupling member is located at a rear end of the top cover located at the rear portion of the drawer when the top cover is coupled to the drawer. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, when the drawer is in the retracted position, the drawer front portion is substantially flush with a cabinet front. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the at least one first coupling member is located at said rear end of the top cover. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the at least one second coupling member is located at a front end of the top cover opposite to the rear end. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the drawer comprises, from the drawer front portion and along the sliding direction:
         a handle forming the drawer front;   behind the handle, at least one compartment adapted to contain multiple doses of the laundry treatment agent;   behind the at least one compartment, at least one channel associated with the at least one compartment for channelling water and at least one dose of the laundry treatment agent towards a mixing region allowing a mixture between the water and the at least one laundry treatment agent dose;   behind the at least one channel, at least one pump actuation part having a suction side in fluid communication with the at least one compartment for drawing up the at least one laundry treatment agent dose therefrom, and a delivery side in fluid communication with the at least one channel for delivering the at least one treatment agent dose thereto.       

     According to an embodiment of the present invention, said at least one first coupling member is arranged to engage a portion of a wall between the at least one compartment and the at least one channel when said at least one first coupling member is in the engaged condition. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the drawer comprises between the handle and the at least one compartment adapted to contain multiple doses of the laundry treatment agent, at least one further compartment adapted to contain a single dose of the laundry treatment agent. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the top cover comprises one or more access apertures, in fluid communication with a respective one of the at least one compartment for allowing the laundry treatment agent to be loaded therein when the top cover is coupled to the drawer. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the top cover further comprises at least one wall member surrounding from below a respective one access apertures and downwardly extending from the top cover into the respective compartment when the top cover is coupled to the drawer. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, borders of said at least one compartment comprise seats adapted to receive borders of the top cover when the top cover is coupled to the drawer. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the top cover comprises at least one breaking wall member comprising a wall which downwardly extends from the top cover into one of the at least one compartment when the top cover is coupled to the drawer for breaking waves forming in the laundry treatment agent contained in said at least one compartment when the drawer is moved along the sliding direction. 
     Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the method comprises providing a drawer configured to slide with respect to a cabinet of a laundry appliance, the drawer comprising at least one compartment for containing laundry treatment agent to be selectively provided to a laundry treatment chamber of the laundry appliance, said at least one compartment being provided with a top opening for the loading of the laundry treatment chamber from above. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the method comprises providing a top cover adapted to cover at least partially the top opening of the at least one compartment, the top cover comprising at least one first coupling member and at least one second coupling member each one of said at least one first coupling member and at least one second coupling member being adapted to be switched between an engaged condition in which it engages the drawer and a disengaged condition in which is disengaged from the drawer, so that the top cover is coupled to the drawer when both the at least one first coupling member and the at least one second coupling member are in the engaged condition. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first and second coupling members are configured to: 
     a) prevent the second coupling member to switch from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition when the first coupling member is in the engaged condition; 
     b) allow the second coupling member to switch from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition when the first coupling member is in the disengaged condition. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the method comprises having the at least one second coupling member be in the engaged condition and the at least one first coupling member be in the disengaged condition; then,
         having the top cover be moved with respect to the drawer around the at least one second coupling member until the top cover covers at least partially the top opening of the at least one compartment, and then   having the at least one first coupling member be switched in the engaged condition.       

     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the method further comprises:
         having the at least one first coupling member be in the engaged condition and the at least one second coupling member be in the engaged condition; then   having the at least one first coupling member be switched in the disengaged condition; then   having the top cover be moved with respect to the drawer around the at least one second coupling member to uncover the top opening of the at least one compartment, and then   having the at least one second coupling member be switched in the disengaged condition.       

    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ANNEXED DRAWINGS 
       These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be made apparent by the following description of some exemplary and non-limitative embodiments thereof; for its better intelligibility, the following description should be read making reference to the attached drawings, wherein: 
         FIGS. 1A and 1B  show perspective views of a laundry appliance according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2A  shows a top view of a drawer of the laundry appliance according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2B  shows a perspective view of the drawer of  FIG. 2A  in an extracted position within a drawer seat, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2C  shows a perspective and partially exploded view from behind of the drawer of  FIGS. 2A and 2B  and of the drawer seat of  FIG. 2B , according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2D  shows a sectional view of the drawer along the section line E-E line of  FIG. 2B  when the drawer is in a retracted position; 
         FIG. 2E  shows a sectional view of the drawer along the section line E-E line of  FIG. 2B  when the drawer is in an extracted; 
         FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of the drawer showing a top cover thereof while decoupled from the drawer; 
         FIG. 3B  is a top view of the drawer of  FIG. 3A , and 
         FIG. 3C  is a side view of the drawer  FIG. 3A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference to the drawings, sharing the same reference system identified by the three orthogonal directions x, y and z,  FIGS. 1A and 1B  show perspective views of a laundry appliance  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to the exemplary, not limiting, embodiment herein considered, the laundry appliance  100  is a washing machine. In any case, although in the following description explicit reference will be made to a washing machine, this should not to be construed as a limitation; indeed, the present invention applies to other types of laundry appliances (for example combined washers/dryers, i.e. washing machines also having laundry drying functions). In operation, the laundry appliance  100  rests on a rest surface, such as the floor, parallel to directions x and y, and uprightly extends from it along direction z. 
     The laundry appliance  100  comprises a (e.g., parallepiped-shaped) cabinet  105 , which preferably accommodates a laundry treatment chamber (i.e., a laundry washing chamber in the example herein considered of a washing machine) for performing a laundry treatment cycle on items housed therein (i.e., a washing cycle on a laundry load in the example herein considered of a washing machine). 
     The laundry treatment chamber (also simply referred to as treatment chamber) preferably comprises a washing tub (not shown) and, within it, a (e.g., rotatable) washing basket or drum (not shown) adapted to contain the laundry load to be washed. A cabinet front has a loading opening providing an access to the drum for loading/unloading the laundry load, a door  110  (shown in a closed position in  FIGS. 1A and 1B ) being provided for sealably closing the loading opening during the operation of the laundry appliance  100 . 
     Although not shown, the laundry appliance  100  also comprises, enclosed in the cabinet  105 , electrical/electronic/mechanical/hydraulic components for the operation of the laundry appliance  100  (such as for example motor, electromechanical valves, pumps and impellers of the hydraulic apparatus, one or more heating elements for heating water/treatment agents/air). 
     The laundry appliance  100  is advantageously equipped with a laundry appliance control system (not visible in  FIGS. 1A and 1B ) comprising control units, power supply modules, driving units, power regulators and generally all the electric and electronic components which are responsible for the driving, control, and supply of the electrical/electronic/mechanical/hydraulic components of the laundry appliance  100 . Preferably, at least part of said laundry appliance control system is located on one or more dedicated electronic boards, for example located on the top part of the cabinet. 
     The laundry appliance  100  further comprises a storage drawer  115  (briefly, or, concisely, drawer) for containing one or more laundry treatment agents (or, concisely, treatment agents), such as liquid and powder treatment agents including, but not limited to, washing detergents, rinsing detergents, bleaches and softeners. The cabinet  105  comprises a drawer seat  120  (preferably provided on a top part of a cabinet front) for housing the drawer  115 , the drawer being advantageously adapted to slide within the drawer seat  120 , along a longitudinal or sliding direction, between an extracted position (shown in  FIG. 1A ) and a retracted position (shown in  FIG. 1B ). The sliding direction is for example parallel to direction x, or may be slightly slanted with respect thereto. 
     As already mentioned in the introduction, by retracted position of the drawer  115  it is intended a position in which the drawer  115  is (fully) retracted inside the drawer seat  120  (as in the situation illustrated in  FIG. 1B ), while by extracted position of the drawer  115 , it is intended a position in which the drawer  115  is at least partially extracted from the drawer seat  120  and preferably, but not necessarily, protrudes from the cabinet  105  (as in the situation illustrated in  FIG. 1A ). 
     Preferably, the laundry appliance  100  further comprises a user interface  125 , the user interface  125  being preferably provided on the top part of the cabinet front, more preferably next to the drawer seat  120  along direction y. 
     Preferably, although not necessarily, the user interface  125  comprises a display unit, not shown, for visually displaying one or more pieces of information; the display unit may for example be a light emitting polymer display (LPD), a liquid crystal display, a thin film transistor-liquid crystal display, or an organic light-emitting diode display. 
     The user interface  125  preferably comprises one or more control elements (e.g., selection buttons and/or knobs) for allowing the user to select a washing cycle and to control one or more operating parameters of the selected washing cycle (including, but not limited to, temperature, laundry load dirt level, spin speed, start time delay, drawer compartment selection, treatment agent selection). 
     Additionally, as herein exemplary assumed, or alternatively, the user interface  125  preferably comprises one or more status indicators for indicating to the user a status of the laundry appliance  100 ; the status indicators may be configured to indicate a status of one or more components of the laundry appliances  100  and/or a status of the washing cycle (including, but not limited to, information about a residual time to the end of the ongoing washing cycle, and/or information about a current phase of the ongoing washing cycle, and/or selected parameters for the ongoing washing cycle, and/or selected drawer compartment, and/or selected treatment agent). 
     With reference now also to  FIG. 2A , it shows a top view of the drawer  115  according to an embodiment of the present invention. For ease of description,  FIG. 2A  will be discussed together with  FIG. 2B , which shows a perspective view of the drawer  115  in the extracted position, wherein the drawer  115  is partially extracted from the drawer seat  120 , with  FIG. 2C , which shows a perspective and partially exploded view from behind of the drawer  115  and of the drawer seat  120 , and with  FIGS. 2D, 2E , which show section views of the drawer  115  housed in the drawer seat  120  along a plane parallel to directions x and z and passing through section line E-E depicted in  FIG. 2B  (wherein  FIG. 2D  shows the drawer  115  in the retracted position, while  FIG. 2E  shows the drawer in the extracted position). 
     The drawer  115  preferably comprises a drawer handle  205  allowing the user to slidably move the drawer  115  between the extracted position and the retracted position when it is fitted in the drawer seat  120 , and a drawer body  210  to which the drawer handle  205  is adapted to be mounted or coupled or connected (for example, in a removable or reversible way). When the laundry appliance  100  is installed and the drawer  115  is fitted in the drawer seat  120 , the drawer handle  205  preferably identifies, along direction x, a drawer front (which advantageously forms part of the cabinet front when the drawer  115  is in the retracted position). 
     The drawer  115  preferably comprises, along direction x (from the drawer front backwards):
         behind the handle  205 , and hence in the drawer body  210 , one or more (two, in the example at issue) drawer compartments  220 ( 1 ),  220 ( 2 ) each one adapted to contain multiple doses of a respective laundry treatment agent for performing multiple washing cycles, hereinafter referred to as multi-dose compartments  220 ( 1 ),  220 ( 2 ); each multi-dose compartment  220 ( 1 ),  220 ( 2 ) is provided with a top opening for the loading of laundry treatment agent from above. Therefore, the exemplary considered laundry appliance  100  is configured to implement an auto-dosing functionality in which, at each washing cycle (and when the auto-dosing functionality is enabled), a predetermined amount of treatment agent is automatically taken (e.g. by means of a pumping system, discussed in the following) from one or both of the multi-dose compartments  220 ( 1 ),  220 ( 2 ). Just as an example, the multi-dose compartment  220 ( 1 ) may be arranged to contain multiple doses of a liquid washing detergent, whereas the multi-dose compartment  220 ( 2 ) may be arranged to contain multiple doses of a liquid softener;   behind the multi-dose compartments  220 ( 1 ),  220 ( 2 ), and hence in the drawer body  210 , one or more (two, in the example at issue) channels  215 ( 1 ),  215 ( 2 ) associated with the multi-dose compartments  220 ( 1 ),  220 ( 2 ) (in the example herein considered, each channel  215 ( 1 ),  215 ( 2 ) is associated with a respective one of the multi-dose compartments  220 ( 1 ),  220 ( 2 ), the channel  215 ( 1 ) being for example associated with the multi-dose compartment  220 ( 1 ) and the channel  215 ( 2 ) being for example associated with the multi-dose compartment  220 ( 2 )). Each channel  215 ( 1 ),  215 ( 2 ) is preferably adapted to channel water and/or one or more treatment agent doses towards a region of the drawer seat  120  that allows a mixture between the water and the treatment agent dose(s) (hereinafter referred to as mixing region): the mixing region may for example be or comprise a bottom wall  220 (BW) of the drawer seat  120  (visible in  FIG. 2B ), the bottom wall  220 (BW) of the drawer seat  120  being advantageously slanted in order to promote a flow of the mixture between the water and the treatment agent dose(s) towards the treatment chamber of the laundry appliance  100 . Advantageously, the channels  215 ( 1 ),  215 ( 2 ) (or at least one thereof) extend vertically with respect to the rest surface (such as the floor) on which the laundry appliance  100  rests in operation (the channels  215 ( 1 ),  215 ( 2 ) thus extending substantially along direction z). In alternative embodiments of the present invention, the channels  215 ( 1 ),  215 ( 2 ) (or at least one thereof) are inclined with respect to the rest surface (such as the floor) on which the laundry appliance  100  rests in operation. Regardless of the specific (vertical or inclined) orientation of the channels  215 ( 1 ),  215 ( 2 ), which is not limiting for the present invention, each channel  215 ( 1 ),  215 ( 2 ) is structured and shaped such as to allow the water and/or the treatment agent dose(s) to fall towards the mixing region of the drawer seat  120  by gravity; in order to achieve it, each channel  215 ( 1 ),  215 ( 2 ) advantageously comprises a top channel input for receiving the water from a water distribution system above it (not illustrated) and a bottom channel output facing the bottom wall  220 (BW) of the drawer seat  120 ; in operation the bottom channel outputs of the channels  215 ( 1 ),  215 ( 2 ) are arranged for delivering the water and the treatment agent dose(s) to the bottom wall  220 (BW) of the drawer seat  120 , and hence to the treatment chamber of the laundry appliance  100 . Having two separate channels  215 ( 1 ),  215 ( 2 ) each one associated with a respective multi-dose compartment  220 ( 1 ),  220 ( 2 ) is particularly advantageous in the preferred embodiment herein considered in which the multi-dose compartments  220 ( 1 ),  220 ( 2 ) store different types of treatment agents (e.g., liquid washing detergent and liquid softener); in fact, in this way, a mixing between the two different types of treatment agents due to the presence of treatment agent residues from channel walls is avoided;   behind the channels  215 ( 1 ),  215 ( 2 ), and hence in the drawer body  210 , one or more (two, in the example at issue) pump actuation parts  225 ( 1 ),  225 ( 2 ) of the pumping system. The pump actuation parts  225 ( 1 ),  225 ( 2 ) preferably have suction sides in fluid communication with the multi-dose compartments  220 ( 1 ),  220 ( 2 ) for drawing up the treatment agent dose(s) therefrom, and delivery sides in fluid communication with the channels  215 ( 1 ),  215 ( 2 ) for delivering the treatment agent dose(s) thereto. Preferably, as herein assumed, the pump actuation part  225 ( 1 ) is associated with the multi-dose compartment  220 ( 1 ) and with the channel  215 ( 1 ) (it meaning that the suction and delivery sides of the pump actuation part  225 ( 1 ) are in fluid communication with the multi-dose compartment  220 ( 1 ) and with the channel  215 ( 1 ), respectively), and the pump actuation part  225 ( 2 ) is associated with the multi-dose compartment  220 ( 2 ) and with the channel  215 ( 2 ) (it meaning that the suction and delivery sides of the pump actuation part  225 ( 2 ) are in fluid communication with the multi-dose compartment  220 ( 2 ) and with the channel  215 ( 2 ), respectively). According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the suction sides and the delivery sides of the pump actuation part  225 ( 1 ),  225 ( 2 ) comprise suction and delivery pipes in the form of deformable tubes, and each pump actuation part  225 ( 1 ),  225 ( 2 ) preferably comprises a peristaltic rotor adapted to hydraulically cooperate with the respective deformable tubes for allowing the fluid (i.e., the laundry treatment agent dose(s)) in the deformable tubes to move during the rotation of the peristaltic rotor.       

     As visible in the figures, the pump actuation parts  225 ( 1 ),  225 ( 2 ) are advantageously housed in a corresponding pump housing  228  on the rear portion of the drawer  115  (rear with respect to the drawer front along direction x). 
     When the drawer  115  is in the retracted position, the pump actuation parts  225 ( 1 ),  225 ( 2 ) are adapted to mechanically couple with one or more electrically-operated pump driving parts (preferably provided in the drawer seat  120 ) of the pumping system, upon said mechanical coupling the electrically-operated pump driving parts allowing driving of the pump actuation parts  225 ( 1 ),  225 ( 2 ), such as rotating the peristaltic rotor thereof. 
     According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention herein considered and illustrated, the drawer  115  also comprises one or more (two, in the example at issue) drawer compartments  230 ( 1 ),  230 ( 2 ) each one adapted to contain a single dose of a respective treatment agent for performing a single washing cycle, hereinafter referred to as mono-dose compartments  230 ( 1 ),  230 ( 2 ); just as an example, the mono-dose compartment  230 ( 1 ) may be arranged to contain a single dose of a powder or liquid washing detergent, whereas the mono-dose compartment  230 ( 2 ) may be arranged to contain a single dose of a powder or liquid or pearl softener. Each mono-dose compartment  230 ( 1 ),  230 ( 2 ) is provided with a top opening for the loading of laundry treatment agent from above. 
     Preferably, the mono-dose compartments  230 ( 1 ),  230 ( 2 ) are, along direction x, between the handle  205  and the multi-dose compartments  220 ( 1 ),  220 ( 2 ). More preferably, the mono-dose compartments  230 ( 1 ),  230 ( 2 ) are formed in a region of the drawer body  210  that, when the drawer handle  205  is mounted on the drawer body  210 , is proximal to the drawer handle  205  (hereinafter referred to as front region of the drawer body  210 ), whereas the multi-dose compartments  220 ( 1 ),  220 ( 2 ) are formed in a region of the drawer body  210  (hereinafter referred to as rear region of the drawer body  210 ) that, along direction x, is rearward with respect to the front region of the drawer body  210 . 
     The already mentioned water distribution system may advantageously comprise a water duct system forming a top  255  of the drawer seat  120  (see  FIG. 2C ), thus allowing the water to be fed to the channels  215 ( 1 ),  215 ( 2 ) (and/or to the mono-dose compartments  230 ( 1 ),  230 ( 2 ), when provided) from above. For example, such water duct system may be provided with water output ends (not visible in figures) which are arranged to be located above the channels  215 ( 1 ),  215 ( 2 ) (and also above the mono-dose compartments  230 ( 1 ),  230 ( 2 ), when provided) when the drawer  115  is in the retracted position. 
     As mentioned above, the pump actuation part  225 ( 1 ),  225 ( 2 ) of the pumping system is adapted to mechanically couple, in the retracted position of the drawer  115 , with respective one or more electrically-operated pump driving parts (for example, with a respective electrically-operated pump driving part) of the pumping system provided in the drawer seat  120  for allowing driving of the pump actuation part  225 ( 1 ),  225 ( 2 ). 
     Each electrically-operated pump driving part may for example comprise a pump electric motor  245 ( 1 ),  245 ( 2 ) (the electric motor  245 ( 1 ) being visible in  FIGS. 2D, 2E ) selectively actuatable (e.g., by means of a washing cycle control system and of an electric power supply unit of the laundry appliance control system) for operating the respective pump actuation part  225 ( 1 ),  225 ( 2 ) (in alternative embodiments of the present invention, a single electric motor may be provided in order to selectively operate both the pump actuation part  225 ( 1 ),  225 ( 2 )), and an output shaft  245 (S 1 ),  245 (S 2 ) (the output shaft  245 (S 1 ) being visible in  FIGS. 2D, 2E ) adapted to be fitted into a corresponding seat  225 (S 1 ),  225 (S 2 ) of the respective pump actuation part  225 ( 1 ),  225 ( 2 ). Advantageously, the output shaft  245 (S 1 ),  245 (S 2 ) and the respective seat  225 (S 1 ),  225 (S 2 ) of the pump actuation part  225 ( 1 ),  225 ( 2 ) have mutually complementary shapes (the output shaft  245 (S 1 ),  245 (S 2 ) having for example a multi-lobed shape or a star shape), so as to couple or engage with each other when the drawer  115  is moved to the retracted position. More advantageously, each seat  225 (S 1 ),  225 (S 2 ) is torsionally supported by the pump actuation part  225 ( 1 ),  225 ( 2 ), whereby the coupling between each output shaft  245 (S 1 ),  245 (S 2 ) and the respective seat  225 (S 1 ),  225 (S 2 ) takes place in a dampened manner and even if their complementary shapes are not perfectly aligned when drawer  115  is pushed to the retracted position. According to an embodiment of the invention, each seat  225 (S 1 ),  225 (S 2 ) is torsionally supported by the peristaltic rotor included in the respective pump actuation part  225 ( 1 ),  225 ( 2 )). In this way, when an output shaft  245 (S 1 ),  245 (S 2 ) is engaged with the corresponding seat  225 (S 1 ),  225 (S 2 ) (i.e., when the drawer  115  is in the retracted position), the corresponding pump electric motor  245 ( 1 ),  245 ( 2 ) could transfer rotational movement to the peristaltic rotor. 
     The pump housing  228  comprises on a rear face  228 (R) substantially parallel to directions y and z and which in operation faces the rear portion of the drawer seat  120  (i.e., where the electric motors  245 ( 1 ),  245 ( 2 ) are located) openings  228 (O 1 ),  228 (O 2 ) through which the output shafts  245 (S 1 ),  245 (S 2 ) of the electric motors  245 ( 1 ),  245 ( 2 ) are able to pass for being coupled with the pump actuation parts  225 ( 1 ),  225 ( 2 ) (particularly, with the seats  225 (S 1 ),  225 (S 2 ) thereof). 
     The electric motors  245 ( 1 ),  245 ( 2 ) are advantageously enclosed in a motor shell  250 , preferably fixed on the drawer seat  120  (and, hence, separate from drawer body  210 ) and facing the rear portion of the drawer  115 . The motor shell  250  has a front face  250 (F) that faces in operation the rear face  228 (R) of the pump housing  228 . The front face  250 (F) of the motor shell  250  is preferably provided with openings  250 (O 1 ),  250 (O 2 ) through which the output shafts  245 (S 1 ),  245 (S 2 ) of the electric motors  245 ( 1 ),  245 ( 2 ) project: in this way, when the drawer  115  is moved to the retracted position (i.e., towards the motor shell  250 ), the output shafts  245 (S 1 ),  245 (S 2 ) of the electric motors  245 ( 1 ),  245 ( 2 ) engage the pump actuation parts  225 ( 1 ),  225 ( 2 ), thus allowing mechanical coupling therebetween. 
     Returning back to  FIG. 2C , the drawer  115  preferably comprises a drawer body top cover  210 (C) (hereinafter, simply referred to as “top cover”) for covering the drawer body  210 . According to a preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the figures, the top cover  210 (C) is configured to cover the rear region of the drawer body  110  in such a way to cover the top openings of the multi-dose compartments  220 ( 1 ),  220 ( 2 ), but leaves uncovered both the channels  215 ( 1 ),  215 ( 2 ), and particularly the top channel inputs thereof (which can therefore be accessed by water fed by the water distribution system) and the front region of the drawer body  210  (and hence the top openings of the mono-dose compartments  230 ( 1 ),  230 ( 2 ), which can therefore be directly accessed from above for loading the treatment agents therein). While in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the figures, the top cover  210 (C) is covering entirely the top openings of the multi-dose compartments  220 ( 1 ),  220 ( 2 ), similar considerations apply in case the top cover  210 (C) is configured to cover only partially the top openings of the multi-dose compartments  220 ( 1 ),  220 ( 2 ), and/or to cover at least partially the top openings of the mono-dose compartments  230 ( 1 ),  230 ( 2 ). 
     Even more preferably, the top cover  210 (C) comprises one or more access apertures, not shown, each one for accessing a respective multi-dose compartment  220 ( 1 ),  220 ( 2 ) for allowing the loading of treatment agent therein; in the example at issue in which the drawer body  210  comprises two multi-dose compartments  220 ( 1 ),  220 ( 2 ), two access apertures are provided in the top cover  210 (C). 
     Preferably, one or more access components may be provided for selectively covering and uncovering the access apertures thereby respectively preventing and allowing access to the respective multi-dose compartments  220 ( 1 ),  220 ( 2 ) (in the exemplary considered embodiment, no access components are provided for selectively covering and uncovering the mono-dose compartments  230 ( 1 ),  230 ( 2 ), however this should not be construed as a limitation). As visible in  FIG. 2C , the access components comprises a single door  210 (D), for example a flap door pivotally coupled to the top cover  210 (C) so as to be actuatable by the user between an open position and a closed position for jointly uncovering and covering, respectively, both the access apertures—in any case, in alternative embodiments of the present invention, not shown, two doors may be provided, each door being for example associated with a respective access aperture, and hence with a respective multi-dose compartment  220 ( 1 ),  220 ( 2 ). 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the top cover  210 (C) is preferably configured to be releasably coupled to the drawer  115  (particularly, to the drawer body  210 ) by means of a coupling system. In order to describe in detail said coupling system according to an embodiment of the invention, reference will be now made to  FIGS. 3A-3D , wherein  FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of the drawer  115  showing the top cover  210 (C) decoupled from the drawer  115 ,  FIG. 3B  is a top view of the drawer  115  of  FIG. 3A  taken from a plane parallel to directions x and y, and  FIG. 3C  is a side view of the drawer  115  of  FIG. 3A  taken from a plane parallel to directions x and z. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the coupling system preferably provides for having coupling members located on the top cover  210 (C). Each coupling member is adapted to be switched between an engaged condition in which it engages the drawer  115  (particularly, the drawer body  210 ) and a disengaged condition in which it is disengaged from the drawer  115 . 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the coupling system preferably comprises two different kinds of coupling members, hereinafter referred to as first coupling members (identified in the figures with reference  310 ) and second coupling members (identified in the figures with reference  320 ). In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the figures and which will be described in detail in the following of the description, the coupling system comprises a single first coupling member  310  and two second coupling members  320 . However, similar considerations apply in case the coupling system comprises a different number of first coupling members  310  and second coupling members  320  as long as at least one first coupling members  310  and at least one second coupling members  320  are both provided. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the top cover  210 (C) is coupled to the drawer  115  when both the first coupling member(s)  310  and the second coupling member(s)  320  are in the engaged condition. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first and second coupling members  310 ,  320  are configured to:
         prevent the second coupling members  320  to switch from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition when the first coupling members  310  are in the engaged condition;   allow the second coupling members  320  to switch from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition when the first coupling members  310  are in the disengaged condition.       

     This peculiar configuration capable of preventing/allowing the second coupling members  320  to switch into the engaged condition according to an embodiment of the present invention is advantageously obtained by exploiting differences in mechanical and functional features between the first coupling member(s)  310  and the second coupling member(s)  320 . 
     More in detail, according to an embodiment of the present invention, each first coupling member  310  comprises a respective snap-fitting portion  310 (S) and a respective release portion  310 (R) (see  FIGS. 3A and 3C ). Advantageously, the snap-fitting portion  310 (S) is configured to engage a respective portion of the drawer  115  when the first coupling member  310  is in the engaged condition, and the release portion  310 (R) is configured to be operable by a user for switching the first coupling member  310  to the disengaged condition by releasing the snap-fitting portion  310 (S) from the corresponding drawer portion. 
     According to the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in the figures, the snap-fitting portion  310 (S) preferably is a substantially u-shaped resilient member comprising a protruding tooth adapted to engage a corresponding portion of the wall located between the multi-dose compartments  220 ( 1 ),  220 ( 2 ) and the channels  215 ( 1 ),  215 ( 2 ). 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the release portion  310 (R) preferably comprises a grip member preferably configured to protrude upwardly (along direction z) from the top cover  210 (C) when the top cover  210 (C) is coupled to the drawer  115  (see for example  FIG. 2C ). 
     According to an embodiment of the invention of the present invention, each second coupling member  320  preferably comprises a respective cantilevered element configured to be received in a corresponding slit  330  (see for example  FIGS. 3A and 3B ) located on the drawer  115  when said second coupling member  320  is in the engaged condition. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the slits  330  define corresponding cavities which extend within the drawer substantially along direction x. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the cantilevered elements extend along a direction substantially parallel to the top cover  210 (C) surface, so that, when the top cover  210 (C) is coupled to the drawer  115 , said cantilevered elements extends along direction x inside the slits  330 . Therefore, in order to switch the second coupling members  320  between the engaged and disengaged conditions it is necessary to move the top cover  210 (C) along a direction substantially parallel to direction x. Indeed, if the top cover  210 (C) was moved along a different direction, e.g., along direction z, the cantilevered elements of the second coupling members  320  would not be able to enter into/exit from the slits  330 . 
     In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the figures, wherein two second coupling members  320  are provided, two corresponding slits  330  are located on a wall located between the multi-dose compartments  220 ( 1 ),  220 ( 2 ) and the mono-dose compartments  230 ( 1 ),  230 ( 2 ). 
     According to a different embodiment of the invention (not illustrated), the second coupling members  320  comprise slits adapted to receive corresponding cantilevered elements located on the drawer  115 , for example cantilevered elements protruding from the wall located between the multi-dose compartments  220 ( 1 ),  220 ( 2 ) and the mono-dose compartments  230 ( 1 ),  230 ( 2 ). 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first and second coupling members  310 ,  320  are preferably located on opposite ends of the top cover  210 (C), respectively. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the figures, the first coupling member  310  is preferably located at a rear end of the top cover  210 (C) which is configured to be located at the rear portion of the drawer  115  when the top cover  210 (C) is coupled to the drawer  115  (so that the snap-fitting portion  310 (S) of the first coupling member  310  is able to engage a portion of the wall preferably located between the multi-dose compartments  220 ( 1 ),  220 ( 2 ) and the channels  215 ( 1 ),  215 ( 2 )). In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the figures, the second coupling members  320  are located at a front end of the top cover  210 (C) opposite to the rear end (so that the cantilevered elements of the second coupling members  320  are able to be received in the slits  330  preferably located on the wall between the multi-dose compartments  220 ( 1 ),  220 ( 2 ) and the mono-dose compartments  230 ( 1 ),  230 ( 2 )). This configuration is particularly advantageous since in order to being able to reach the (release portion  310 (R) of the) first coupling member  310 , an user is forced to entirely detach the drawer  115  from the drawer seat  120 , avoiding thus that a partially decoupled top cover  210 (C) get stuck within the drawer seat  120 . In any case, the concepts of the present invention can be also applied in case the positions of the first and second coupling members  310 ,  320  are switched, and/or if at least one first and/or second coupling member  310  is provided at lateral sides of the top cover  210 (C) (i.e., at the sides thereof which substantially extend along direction x). 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, in order to couple the top cover  210 (C) to the drawer  115 , the second coupling members  320  preferably have to be switched to the engaged condition (i.e., the cantilevered elements thereof have to be inserted inside the corresponding slits  330 ) while the first coupling member  310  is still in the disengaged condition (i.e., with the snap-fitting portion  310 (S) that it is still disengaged from any portion of the drawer  115 ). Indeed, as already mentioned above, the only way to allow the top cover  210 (C) to enter into/exit from the slits  330  is to move the top cover  210 (C) along a direction substantially parallel to direction x; if the if the first coupling member  310  was switched to the engaged condition (i.e., by having the snap-fitting portion  310 (S) which is engaging a portion of the drawer  115 ) before the second coupling members  320  is switched to the engaged condition, this movement along a direction parallel to direction x would not possible, because the top cover  210 (C) would be already bound to the drawer  115  on the other side through the first coupling member  310 . 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the second coupling members  320  are preferably configured such that, when they are in the engaged condition (i.e., when the cantilevered elements thereof are inserted inside the corresponding slits  330 ), and at the same time the first coupling member  310  is in the disengaged condition (i.e., with the snap-fitting portion  310 (S) that it is disengaged from any portion of the drawer  115 ), the top cover  210 (C) is allowed to be moved with respect to the drawer  115  with the second coupling members  320  acting as a fulcrum. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, this is obtained by having the slits  330  shaped in such a way that, when the second coupling members  320  are in the engaged condition (i.e., when the cantilevered elements thereof are inserted inside the slits  330 ), a slit/cantilevered element mechanical play is left to allow a rotation of the top cover  210 (C) with respect to the drawer  115  while the first coupling member  310  is in the disengaged condition. 
     Compared to the known solutions, the coupling system according to the embodiments of the present invention described above is handy and does not require long and cumbersome operations to be carried out by the user when trying to couple/decouple the top cover  210 (C) to/from the drawer  115 . 
     Indeed, in order to couple the top cover  210 (C) to the drawer  115  starting from a situation in which both the first and second coupling members  310 ,  320  are in the disengaged condition, it is sufficient to perform the following sequence of operations:
         switching the second coupling members  320  into the engaged condition (e.g., by moving the top cover  210 (C) substantially along direction x to insert the cantilevered elements inside the corresponding slits  330 );   moving (rotating) the top cover  210 (C) with respect to the drawer  115  around the second coupling members  320  until the top cover  210 (C) covers at least partially the top openings of the compartments;   switching the first coupling member  310  into the engaged condition.       

     In order to decouple the top cover  210 (C) from the drawer  115 , i.e., starting from the situation in which both the first and second coupling members  310 ,  320  are in the engaged condition, it is sufficient to perform the following sequence of operations:
         switching the first coupling member  310  from the engaged to the disengaged condition by operating the release portion  310 (R);   moving the top cover  210 (C) with respect to the drawer  115  around the second coupling members  320  to uncover the top openings of the compartments;   switching the second coupling member  320  into the disengaged condition (e.g., by moving the top cover  210 (C) substantially along direction x to extract the cantilevered elements from the corresponding slits  330 ).       

     Since these operations are very intuitive and easy to be carried out, they can be carried out quite quickly, usually accomplishing the desired decoupling or coupling at the first attempt, reducing thus the wear the first and second coupling members  310 ,  320  are subjected to. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the borders of the multi-dose compartments  220 ( 1 ),  220 ( 2 ) advantageously comprises seats or recesses  340  (see for example  FIGS. 2B and 3A ) adapted to receive borders of the top cover  210 (C) when the top cover  210 (C) is coupled to the drawer  115 . 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, the top cover  210 (C) preferably comprises wall members  360  (Only one visible in  FIGS. 3A and 3C ), each one downwardly protruding from the inner side of the top cover  210 (C) and surrounding from below a respective one between the abovementioned two access apertures (not shown) located on the top cover  210 (C), and downwardly extending from the top cover  210 (C) into the respective multi-dose compartment  220 ( 1 ),  220 ( 2 ) when the top cover  210 (C) is coupled to the drawer  115 . The wall members  360  are advantageously used for guiding the flow of the laundry treatment agent into the multi-dose compartment  220 ( 1 ),  220 ( 2 ) when the laundry treatment agent is poured from outside by an user to refill said multi-dose compartment  220 ( 1 ),  220 ( 2 ). 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the top cover  210 (C) is preferably provided with a wave breaking system which is configured to break waves which can be formed at the surface of the laundry treatment agent contained in at least one of the multi-dose compartments  220 ( 1 ),  220 ( 2 ) when the drawer  115  is moved along the sliding direction between the extracted and retracted positions because of the accelerations the drawer  115  is subjected to during such movements. For this purpose, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the top cover  210 (C) further comprises at least one breaking wall member  370  comprising a wall which downwardly extends from the (inner side of the) top cover  210 (C) into one of the multi-dose compartments  220 ( 1 ),  220 ( 2 ) when the top cover  210 (C) is coupled to the drawer  115 . 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the wave breaking system preferably comprises two wave breaking wall members  370  (Only one visible in  FIGS. 3A and 3C ) each one comprising a wall substantially extending along direction z and which downwardly protrudes from a portion of the inner side of the top cover  210 (C) which preferably is rearward with respect to the access apertures (and therefore rearward with respect to the wall members  360  as well) when the top cover  210 (C) is coupled to the drawer  115 . 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, each one of the wave breaking wall members  370  preferably exhibits at least one breaking surface which is arranged to oppose itself against the propagation direction of waves which could be formed at the surface of the laundry treatment agent contained in the multi-dose compartments  220 ( 1 ),  220 ( 2 ) when the drawer  115  is moved between the extracted position and the retracted position. For example, according to an embodiment of the invention, such breaking surface may extend substantially perpendicularly to the sliding direction. 
     In the same way, each one of the wave breaking wall members  370  preferably defines a free area between said wave breaking wall member  370  and one of the walls of the multi-dose compartments  220 ( 1 ),  220 ( 2 ) around the periphery of the wave breaking wall member  370 . In this way, a gap is left for allowing the laundry treatment agent contained in the multi-dose compartments  220 ( 1 ),  220 ( 2 ) to flow past and around the wave breaking wall members  370 . In the considered example, the wave breaking wall members  370  have such a length that they do not reach the bottom wall of the multi-dose compartments  220 ( 1 ),  220 ( 2 ) and such a width that they do not reach lateral walls of the multi-dose compartment multi-dose compartments  220 ( 1 ),  220 ( 2 ). 
     Naturally, similar considerations apply in case the number, shape, and the position of the wave breaking wall members is different. 
     It has to be appreciated that also the wall members  360  surrounding from below the access apertures of the top cover  210 (C) can be used as wave breaking wall members, since, like the wave breaking wall members  370 , they exhibit at least one breaking surface arranged to oppose itself against the propagation direction of waves which could be formed at the surface of the laundry treatment agent. 
     Naturally, in order to satisfy local and specific requirements, a person skilled in the art may apply to the invention described above many logical and/or physical modifications and alterations. More specifically, although the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it should be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form and details as well as other embodiments are possible. In particular, different embodiments of the invention may even be practiced without the specific details (such as the numeric examples) set forth in the preceding description for providing a more thorough understanding thereof; on the contrary, well known features may have been omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the description with unnecessary particulars.