Patent Publication Number: US-7219517-B2

Title: Washing machine

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2002-37602, filed Jun. 29, 2002 and Application No. 2002-44329, filed Jul. 26, 2002 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to washing machines, and more particularly, to a washing machine having a detergent supply device which is easily and removably installed in an upper portion of a cabinet of the washing machine. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Generally, washing machines are apparatuses which wash laundry by rotating a cylindrical rotary tub thereof, containing the laundry and wash water. Such washing machines have been typically classified into drum type washing machines and vertical shaft type washing machines. In drum type washing machines, a rotary tub is horizontally set in a cabinet. The rotary tub is rotated around a horizontal axis of the cabinet in alternating directions to repeatedly move laundry upward and allow the laundry to be dropped from a top to a bottom inside the rotary tub, due to gravity, thus washing the laundry. In the vertical shaft type washing machines, a rotary tube having a pulsator is vertically set in a cabinet and is rotated around a vertical axis of the cabinet in alternating directions. Accordingly, laundry inside the rotary tub is washed by forced water currents generated by the pulsator. 
     FIG. 1  shows a partial perspective view of a conventional vertical shaft type washing machine having a conventional detergent supply device  10  installed to the washing machine. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the conventional vertical shaft type washing machine includes a cabinet  1  which defines an appearance of the washing machine. A cylindrical washing tub  2  is vertically set in the cabinet  1 , and a spin-drying tub  3  is rotatably and concentrically set in the washing tub  2 . A pulsator (not shown) is interiorly installed on a bottom of the spin-drying tub  3 , and is rotated in alternating directions to generate wash water currents inside the spin-drying tub  3  to wash laundry. The cabinet  1  is open at its top to allow a user to place or remove the laundry from the spin-drying tub  3 . A door (not shown) is hinged to the open top of the cabinet  1  to selectively open and close the cabinet  1 . 
   The conventional detergent supply device  10  is installed at a rear position on an upper portion of the cabinet  1  to supply powdered detergent to the washing tub  2 . The detergent supply device  10  includes a box-shaped detergent container  11  and a cover  12  which functions to open and close an open top of the detergent container  11 . A detergent feeding unit  13  is provided on a lower end of the detergent container  11  to feed the powdered detergent from the detergent container  11  into the washing tub  2 . 
   Two hooks  14  are provided on the lower portions of opposite sidewalls of the detergent container  11  to removably install the detergent supply device  10  to the upper portion of the cabinet  1 . A push button  15  is installed at a position above either of the two hooks  14 , and functions to push the corresponding hook  14  inward to release the detergent supply device  10  from the cabinet  1 . 
   A reception chamber  4  is defined at a rear position on the upper portion of the cabinet  1  to receive the detergent supply device  10 . Hook holes  5  are formed on inside surfaces of corresponding opposite sidewalls of the reception chamber  4  so as to engage with the hooks  14 . Since the push button  15  and the two hooks  14  are provided on the lower portion of the detergent container  11 , the reception chamber  4  has a depth suitable to receive only the detergent feeding unit  13 , which downwardly extends from the lower end of the detergent container  11 . 
   The conventional washing machine having the detergent supply device  10  is difficult to operate, and it takes a long time to lock or release the detergent supply device  10  to or from the reception chamber  4  of the cabinet  1 . That is, where a user desires to release the detergent supply device  10  from the reception chamber  4 , the user necessarily holds the detergent container  11  with one hand and presses the push button  15  with the other hand. In such a state, the user lifts up the detergent container  11  such that the hook  14  operated in conjunction with the push button  15  disengages from the corresponding hook hole  5  of the reception chamber  4 . Next, the user lifts up the detergent container  11  again after pulling the detergent container  11  to a side, which is provided with the push button  15 , thus disengaging the other hook  14  from the respective hook hole  5 . 
   To lock the detergent supply device  10  back into the cabinet  1 , the detergent container  11  is slightly inclined in a direction to engage the hook  14 , provided on a sidewall which is not provided with the push button  15 , with the respective hook hole  5  which is provided on the reception chamber  4 . Next, the user presses the detergent container  11  down while pushing the push button  15  such that the hook  14  operated in conjunction with the push button  15  engages with the corresponding hook hole  5 . 
   As such, where the conventional detergent supply device  10  is locked to or released from the cabinet  1 , a user necessarily uses both of his/her hands, and a sufficient force must be applied to the detergent supply device  10  to engage or disengage the hooks  14  with or from the hook holes  5 . Accordingly, it is very inconvenient and time consuming to lock or release the detergent supply device  10  to or from the cabinet  1 . 
   In the case of installing a conventional detergent supply device  10  to a large-capacity washing machine, it is even more difficult to lock or release the detergent supply device  10  to or from a cabinet  1  thereof, making it impossible for a user of small stature, in some instances, to lock or release the detergent supply device  10  to or from the cabinet  1 . 
   Additionally, in the conventional washing machine, the push button  15  and the two hooks  14 , which are provided to lock or release the detergent supply device  10  to or from the cabinet  1 , are installed on the lower portion of the detergent container  11 . As such, the detergent container  11  of the detergent supply device  10  is inevitably and upwardly projected from the cabinet  1 . Therefore, the appearance of the conventional washing machine is poor. The detergent container  11  containing the powdered detergent is also made of a crystalline resin which does not contain moisture. However, the detergent container  11  made of the crystalline resin is poor in color and surface treatment, and does not aesthetically match with the cabinet  1 , which is made of a non-crystalline resin to provide a good appearance to the washing machine, thus further spoiling the appearance of the washing machine. 
   Furthermore, since the detergent container  11  of the detergent supply device  10  is upwardly projected from the cabinet  1  and exposed to the outside of the cabinet  1 , water may splash into the detergent supply device  10 . In this case, the water flows into the detergent container  11  through the detergent feeding unit  13 , which downwardly extends from the lower end of the detergent container  11 , and undesirably solidifies the powdered detergent. In such a case, the detergent does not smoothly feed into the washing tub  2 , thereby lowering the reliability of the washing machine. 
   The conventional detergent supply device  10  is also designed to manually feed the powdered detergent into the washing tub  2  using gravity. Therefore, a detergent outlet port of the detergent supply device  10  may clog where the powdered detergent is solidified, making it more difficult to feed the powdered detergent into the washing tub  2 . 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide a washing machine having a detergent supply device which is easily and removably installed to a cabinet of the washing machine. 
   Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a washing machine having a detergent supply device which is not exposed to the outside of a cabinet, thus providing a good appearance, and preventing powdered detergent therein from being solidified. 
   Yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide a washing machine having a detergent supply device which is provided with an automatic detergent feeding unit. The automatic detergent feeding unit automatically and effectively feeds detergent into a washing tub. 
   Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. 
   To achieve the above and/or other aspects of the present invention, there is provided a washing machine comprising a cabinet which defines an appearance of the washing machine, a detergent supply device which is removably installed in the cabinet, and a reception chamber which is defined at an upper portion of the cabinet to receive the detergent supply device. The detergent supply device includes a detergent container to contain detergent therein, and a handle which is mounted on an upper portion of the detergent container and selectively locks and releases the detergent supply device to and from the reception chamber in response to the handle being rotated. 
   The reception chamber may have a depth corresponding to a height of the detergent supply device so as to have the detergent supply device not be projected from the cabinet where the detergent supply device is seated in the reception chamber. 
   The handle may include two side mounting parts which rotatably mount the handle to the detergent container and removably lock the handle to the cabinet, and a connection part which integrally connects the two side mounting parts to each other into a single structure. 
   The handle may include hinge holes which are provided on the corresponding side mounting parts, and the detergent container may include hinge shafts which are outwardly projected from an upper portion of corresponding opposite sidewalls of the detergent container, so as to be inserted into the respective hinge holes and rotatably mount the handle to the detergent container. 
   The handle may further include locking slots which are formed on the corresponding side mounting parts, at corresponding positions adjacent to the respective hinge holes, and are provided with an opening which is downwardly opened where the handle is upwardly rotated. The reception chamber may include locking projections which are provided on the corresponding opposite sidewalls of the reception chamber, and are inserted into the locking slots through the openings to lock the detergent supply device to the reception chamber in response to the detergent container being seated in the reception chamber and the handle being downwardly rotated. 
   The detergent container may have at least one sidewall thereof which is downwardly and inwardly inclined, so as to allow the detergent to easily flow to a bottom of the detergent container. The at least one sidewall of the detergent container may have an angle in a range from 45° to 55° with respect to a horizontal support surface of the detergent container. 
   The reception chamber may include a cover which is installed on an upper portion of the reception chamber to open and close the reception chamber, so as to cover the detergent supply device received in the reception chamber. 
   The cover may be hinged to a rear portion of the reception chamber so as to be rotated upward and downward. 
   The cover may include at least one hook which is provided on a front end of the cover, and the reception chamber may further include at least one hook hole which is formed on a front portion of the reception chamber to engage with the hook, so as to have the cover openably cover an open top portion of the reception chamber. 
   The detergent supply device may further include a detergent feeding part which is provided at a lower portion of the detergent container, and includes an automatic detergent feeding unit which automatically feeds the detergent to the washing machine. 
   The detergent feeding part may have a tubular shape and be open at first and second ends thereof. The automatic detergent feeding unit may include a feed screw which is set in the detergent feeding part and rotates to feed the detergent to the second end of the detergent feeding part, a detergent feeding motor which is provided at a position adjacent to the first end of the detergent feeding part and drives the feed screw, a cap which is provided at the second end of the detergent feeding part, and a cap drive motor which selectively opens and closes the cap. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent by describing in detail preferred embodiments thereof with references to the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a partial perspective view of a conventional washing machine having a conventional detergent supply device mounted on a cabinet; 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  show a detergent supply device of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which  FIG. 2A  is an exploded perspective view of the detergent supply device, and  FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of the detergent supply device; 
       FIG. 3  is a bottom perspective view of the detergent supply device of the washing machine shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , in which the detergent supply device is provided with an automatic detergent feeding unit to automatically feed powdered detergent into a washing tub of the washing machine; 
       FIG. 4  is a partial perspective view of a washing machine according to the present invention, where the detergent supply device shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B  is removed from a cabinet having a cover which functions to cover an open top of the detergent supply device; 
       FIG. 5  is a partial perspective view of the washing machine shown in  FIG. 4 , where the cover is open and the detergent supply device of  FIGS. 2A and 2B  is inserted into the cabinet; and 
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  are partial sectional views of the washing machine shown in  FIG. 4  with the detergent supply device of  FIGS. 2A and 2B  installed in the cabinet, in which  FIG. 6A  shows the washing machine where the cover is open, and  FIG. 6B  shows the washing machine where the cover is closed. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain the present invention by referring to the figures. 
   Although a washing machine having a detergent supply device according to the present invention is described herein with reference to vertical shaft type washing machines, it is understood that the present invention can be applied to other types of washing machines, including drum type washing machines. 
     FIGS. 2A and 2B  show a detergent supply device  20  of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 3  is a bottom perspective view of the detergent supply device  20  having an automatic detergent feeding unit  60  to automatically feed powdered detergent into a washing tub  2  (see  FIG. 4 ) of the washing machine. 
   As shown in the drawings, the detergent supply device  20  of the present invention includes a detergent container  21 , an upper member  22 , and a handle  30 . The detergent container  21  receives, for example, powdered detergent therein. The upper member  22  is mounted on an open top of the detergent container  21 . The handle  30  is hinged to an upper portion of the detergent container  21  so as to lock or release the detergent container  21  to or from a cabinet  1  of the washing machine (see  FIG. 4 ). A detergent feeding part  23  is provided at a lower portion of the detergent container  21 . The automatic detergent feeding unit  60  is provided in the detergent feeding part  23  to automatically feed the powdered detergent from the detergent container  21  to the washing tub  2  (see  FIG. 4 ). 
   Since sidewalls of the detergent container  21  are downwardly and inwardly inclined in such a way as to be tapered from a top to a bottom of the detergent container  21 , the powdered detergent easily flows to the bottom of the detergent container  21  and converges into the detergent feeding part  23 . The angles of the inclined sidewalls of the detergent container  21  may be from 45° to 55° with respect to a horizontal support surface of the detergent container  21 . 
   The upper member  22  is opened at a top wall thereof to form a walled opening  22   a , so as to place the powdered detergent into the detergent container  21  through the walled opening  22   a . Several locking lugs  22   b , spaced apart from each other, are provided along a lower edge of a skirt provided at a lower portion of the upper member  22 . Locking notches  21   a  corresponding to the locking lugs  22   b  are formed along an upper edge of the detergent container  21 , thus allowing the upper member  22  to be easily locked to or unlocked from the detergent container  21 . 
   The handle  30  includes two side mounting parts  31  and a connection part  32 . In this case, the side mounting parts  31  function to rotatably mount the handle  30  to the detergent container  21  and to removably lock the handle  30  to the cabinet  1 . The connection part  32  integrally connects the two side mounting parts  31  to each other, and is handled to rotate the handle  30 . The handle  30  is used to lock and release the detergent supply device  20  to and from the cabinet  1  (see  FIG. 4 ). 
   A hinge hole  33  and a locking slot  34  are provided on each side mounting part  31  so as to be adjacent to each other. A hinge shaft  24  is provided at an upper portion of each of opposite sidewalls of the detergent container  21 , and is inserted into the corresponding hinge hole  33  to allow the handle  30  to be rotated upward or downward with respect to the detergent container  21 . The handle  30  is made of, for example, an elastic material so as to have the side mounting parts  31  easily and elastically stretched out where the hinge shafts  24  are inserted into the hinge holes  33 . 
   Each locking slot  34  is provided with an opening  34   a  which is downwardly opened where the handle  30  is upwardly rotated to be positioned above the detergent container  21 . Thus, as the handle  30  is downwardly rotated, locking projections  41  (see  FIG. 4 ) of a reception chamber  40 , which will be described later herein, are inserted into the locking slots  34  through the openings  34   a.    
   The detergent feeding part  23  has, for example, a tubular shape, and has first and second ends  23   a  and  23   b  which are opened at left and right side ends of the detergent feeding part  23 , respectively. 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , the automatic detergent feeding unit  60  includes a detergent feeding motor  61  and a cap drive motor  65 . The detergent feeding motor  61  is provided at a position adjacent to the open first end  23   a  (see  FIG. 2A ) of the detergent feeding part  23 , and the cap drive motor  65  is provided at a position adjacent to the open second end  23   b  of the detergent feeding part  23 . In this case, the detergent feeding motor  61  and the cap drive motor  65  are fixedly installed in the cabinet  1 . Thus, although the detergent container  21  is removed from the cabinet  1 , the detergent feeding motor  61  and the cap drive motor  65  are maintained in the cabinet  1 . 
   The second end  23   b  of the detergent feeding part  23  serves as an outlet port to supply the powdered detergent to the washing tub  2  (see  FIG. 4 ). The second end  23   b  is covered with a cap  66  which is connected to the cap drive motor  65 . Thus, where the cap drive motor  65  is operated, the cap  66  is pulled to open the second end  23   b . On the contrary, where the cap drive motor  65  stops operating, the cap  66  is elastically returned to its original position while closing the second end  23   b.    
   A feed screw  62  is set in the detergent feeding part  23 , and is rotated by the detergent feeding motor  61  to discharge the powdered detergent through the second end  23   b . To removably connect the feed screw  62  to the detergent feeding motor  61 , a first coupling gear  63  is mounted to the detergent feeding motor  61  and a second coupling gear  64  is mounted at an end of the feed screw  62  outside the first end  23   a  of the detergent feeding part  23 . The first coupling gear  63  connected to the detergent feeding motor  61  engages with the second coupling gear  64  connected to the feed screw  62 . Thus, where the detergent container  21  is lifted up, the second coupling gear  64  disengages from the first coupling gear  63 . Meanwhile, where the detergent container  21  is pushed into the reception chamber  40  (see  FIG. 4 ), the second coupling gear  64  engages with the first coupling gear  63  to connect the feed screw  62  to the detergent feeding motor  61 . 
   As described above, the cap  66  is provided at the second end  23   b  of the detergent feeding part  23 , and selectively opens or closes the second end  23   b  by an operation of the cap drive motor  65 . Where the detergent feeding motor  61  and the cap drive motor  65  are not operated, the cap  66  closes the second end  23   b  so as to prevent the powdered detergent from being discharged through the second end  23   b . On the other hand, where the detergent feeding motor  61  and the cap drive motor  65  are operated, the cap  66  is pulled by the cap drive motor  65  to open the second end  23   b , thus supplying the powdered detergent fed by the rotation of the feed screw  62  to the washing tub  2  (see  FIG. 4 ). 
     FIG. 4  shows a part of a washing machine according to the present invention, where the detergent supply device  20  is released from the cabinet  1  having a cover  50  which functions to cover the detergent supply device  20 .  FIG. 5  shows the part of the washing machine shown in  FIG. 4 , where the cover  50  is open and the detergent supply device  20  is seated in the cabinet  1 . 
   As shown in the drawings, the reception chamber  40  is defined at a rear position on an upper portion of the cabinet  1  so as to seat the detergent supply device  20  in the cabinet  1  of the washing machine. The reception chamber  40  has a depth which allows the detergent supply device  20  to be completely received in the reception chamber  40 . The locking projections  41  are provided on opposite sidewalls of the reception chamber  40 , and are inserted into the locking slots  34  which are provided on the handle  30  of the detergent supply device  20 . 
   The cover  50 , which functions to open and close an open top portion of the reception chamber  40 , is installed on the cabinet  1  to cover the detergent supply device  20 , which is seated in the reception chamber  40 . The cover  50  prevents the detergent supply device  20  from being exposed to the outside. Several hinge shafts  51  are provided on a rear end of the cover  50 . Several hinge members  42  are provided on a rear portion of the reception chamber  40 , and are provided with several hinge holes  42   a  so as to rotatably fit the hinge shafts  51  into the hinge holes  42   a . Thus, the cover  50  is rotatably hinged to the cabinet  1  by inserting the hinge shafts  51  into the hinge holes  42   a  of the hinge members  42 . In this case, each hinge member  42  may be elastically deformed in a horizontal direction, thus allowing the hinge shafts  51  of the cover  50  to be easily inserted into the hinge holes  42   a  of the hinge members  42 . 
   Several hooks  52  are provided on a front end of the cover  50 , and several hook holes  43  are formed on a front portion of the reception chamber  40  to engage with the hooks  52 , so as to maintain the cover  50  in an openable closed position on the upper portion of the reception chamber  40 . Each hook  52  is designed such that its free end is elastically deformed back and forth. A depression  44  is formed at a center of the front portion of the reception chamber  40  to allow the cover  50  to be easily opened. 
   In response to pressing the cover  50  down, the hooks  52  provided on the cover  50  engage with the hook holes  43  provided on the reception chamber  40 . In response to opening the cover  50  using the depression  44 , the hooks  52  are disengaged from the hook holes  43 . At this time, the cover  50  is upwardly moved with respect to the hinge shafts  51  to be opened. 
   The cover  50  may be made of a non-crystalline resin, which is the same material of the cabinet  1 , and may have the same color of the cabinet  1 , thereby maintaining a good uniform appearance of the washing machine. Meanwhile, since the detergent supply device  20  is covered with the cover  50  and not exposed to the outside, where the detergent supply device  20  is seated in the reception chamber  40  of the cabinet  1 , the detergent supply device  20  may be made of a crystalline resin. Although, the crystalline resin does not provide a good appearance as compared to the non-crystalline resin, the crystalline resin does not contain moisture and prevents the powdered detergent from being solidified. 
   An operation of locking and releasing the detergent supply device  20  to and from the reception chamber  40  of the cabinet  1  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 6A and 6B . 
     FIGS. 6A and 6B  show partial sectional views of the washing machine according to the present invention, with the detergent supply device  20  installed in the cabinet  1 , in which  FIG. 6A  shows the washing machine where the cover  50  is open, and  FIG. 6B  shows the washing machine where the cover  50  is closed. 
   As shown in  FIG. 6A , where the cover  50  is open, a user may hold the handle  30  upwardly positioned, and downwardly move the detergent supply device  20  from a position above the cabinet  1  to insert the detergent supply device  20  into the reception chamber  40 . Thereafter, where the handle  30  is downwardly rotated, the locking projections  41  provided on the opposite sidewalls of the reception chamber  40  are inserted into the locking slots  34  of the handle  30 , as shown in  FIG. 6B . Next, the cover  50  is downwardly rotated with respect to the hinge shafts  51  to press the front end of the cover  50 . At this time, the hooks  52  of the cover  50  engage with the hook holes  43  of the reception chamber  40 , so as to have the cover  50  cover the upper portion of the reception chamber  40  and close the reception chamber  40 . 
   As described above, the open top portion of the reception chamber  40  is covered with the cover  50  such that the detergent supply device  20  is not exposed to the outside, thus preventing water from splashing into the detergent supply device  20 , and providing a good appearance to the washing machine. 
   Where the detergent supply device  20  is seated in the reception chamber  40  and the handle  30  is upwardly rotated, as shown in  FIG. 6A , the locking projections  41  of the reception chamber  40  is not inserted into the locking slots  34  of the handle  30 . Accordingly, the detergent supply device  20  is not locked to the reception chamber  40 . As such, with the handle  30  upwardly rotated, the cover  50  is not closed. 
   That is, since the cover  50  is closed only where the handle  30  is downwardly rotated and the locking projections  41  of the reception chamber  40  are inserted into the locking slots  34 , a user may automatically confirm that the detergent supply device  20  is locked to the cabinet  1  inside the reception chamber  40  where the cover  50  is closed. 
   Referring to  FIG. 6B , to take the detergent supply device  20  out of the reception chamber  40 , i.e., to replenish the powdered detergent, the cover  50  is primarily opened using the depression  44  (see  FIG. 4 ), which is formed at the center of the front portion of the reception chamber  40 . At this time, the hooks  52  disengage from the hook holes  43 , thus opening the cover  50 . Where the handle  30  of the detergent supply device  20  is upwardly rotated in such a state, the detergent supply device  20  is released from the reception chamber  40  of the cabinet  1 . Next, where a user lifts up the handle  30 , the detergent supply device  20  is easily taken out of the reception chamber  40 . Where the detergent supply device  20  is taken out of the reception chamber  40  as such, the detergent feeding motor  61 , the first coupling gear  63 , the cap drive motor  65  and the cap  66  of the automatic detergent feeding unit  60  are left at their respective positions in the reception chamber  40 , whereas the feed screw  62  received in the detergent feeding part  23  and the second coupling gear  64  are separated from the other parts of the automatic detergent feeding unit  60 , and are removed from the reception chamber  40  along with the detergent supply device  20 . 
   As described above, the present invention provides a washing machine having a detergent supply device which is easily locked to and released from a cabinet of the washing machine, by rotating a handle mounted on an upper portion of a detergent container of the detergent supply device. Accordingly, a user can easily lock and release the detergent supply device to and from the cabinet. 
   Additionally, the detergent supply device is seated in a reception chamber provided on an upper portion of the cabinet so as not to project upwardly from the cabinet. A rotatable cover is also provided to open and close an open top portion of the reception chamber, so as not to expose the detergent supply device to the outside where the cover closes the open top portion. The above-described features provide a good uniform appearance to the washing machine, and prevent water from splashing into the detergent supply device and solidifying powdered detergent therein. 
   Furthermore, the detergent supply device is made of a non-crystalline resin, which further prevents the powdered detergent from being solidified. 
   The detergent supply device also automatically feeds the powdered detergent into a washing tub of the washing machine, thus smoothly and effectively feeding the powdered detergent into the washing tub, even though the powered detergent may be solidified by exposure to moisture or water. 
   Although a few preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.