Patent Abstract:
Systems and methods for delivering a first additive to an appliance are disclosed. The systems include a first storage container located in a pedestal, a first pump operatively connected to the first storage container and the appliance. A controller is configured to activate the first pump upon receiving an input. The first pump configured to deliver the first additive from the first storage container to the appliance. The methods include receiving a first input. The first input specifying an amount of the first additive to be delivered to the appliance. The first additive is delivered by activating a first pump in response to receiving the first input. Activating the first pump causes the first additive to be delivered to the appliance.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is related to United States patent application having Ser. No. ______ titled “Bulk Dispense User Adjustable Controls” filed Oct. 12, 2007 having attorney docket number 60280.0005US01 and United States patent application having Ser. No. ______ titled “Removable Tank for Laundry Bulk Dispenser System” filed Oct. 12, 2007 having attorney docket number 60280.0006US01, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to transportation of additives to an appliance. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods for delivering additives from a pedestal located beneath an appliance to the appliance (e.g. a washing machine and/or dryer). 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Current system for adding additives (e.g. soap, fabric softener, etc.) to an appliance (e.g. washing machine, dryer, etc.) utilize pumps to force air into a container housing the additive thereby increasing the pressure within the container. This increase in pressure forces the additive into the appliance. This increase in pressure can also cause rupturing of the container. In addition, the pumping of air into the container increases the risk of adding contaminates to the additive. Currently, the container is located inside an appliance cabinet and is not accessible to a user without disassembling the appliance. For example, if the container develops a leak, a homeowner or service person would be required to disassemble a washing machine to replace or repair the container. 
         [0004]    Having the containers and other hardware (e.g. pumps, circuitry, and other connections) located inside the appliance cabinet also hinders routine maintenance such as cleaning the containers, lubricating the pumps. In addition having the containers located inside the appliance cabinet does not allow a user to alter the additive capacity. For example, the homeowner may want to load two gallons of soap and a half a gallon of fabric softener. If the appliance only has two one-gallon containers, then the homeowner&#39;s wishes cannot be accommodated. In addition, current delivery of the additives to the wash bath of the appliance utilizes manual feed of the additives into the respective containers. 
         [0005]    Having the above problems in mind, there exist a need for systems and methods for delivering additives to appliances that don&#39;t require increasing the pressure within the containers, allow for easy access to the containers and other system components, are customizable based on user preferences, and facilitate easy maintenance. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Consistent with embodiments of the present invention, systems for delivering a first additive to an appliance are disclosed. The systems include a first storage container located in a pedestal, a first pump operatively connected to the first storage container and the appliance. A controller is configured to activate the first pump upon receiving an input. The first pump is configured to deliver the first additive from the first storage container to the appliance. 
         [0007]    Still consistent with embodiments of the present invention, methods for delivering a first additive to an appliance are disclosed. The appliance being located on a pedestal beneath the appliance. The methods include receiving a first input. The first input specifying an amount of the first additive to be delivered to the appliance. The first additive is delivered by activating a first pump in response to receiving the first input. Activating the first pump causes the first additive to be delivered to the appliance. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0008]    Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  depicts a washer and dryer combination sitting on pedestals; and 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  depicts and additive deliver system located in a pedestal. 
       
    
    
     GENERAL DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    Reference may be made throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “embodiments,” “an aspect,” or “aspects” meaning that a particular described feature, structure, or characteristic may be included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, usage of such phrases may refer to more than just one embodiment or aspect. In addition, the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or aspects. Furthermore, reference to a single item may mean a single item or a plurality of items, just as reference to a plurality of items may mean a single item. Throughout this specification a washing machine or a dryer may be used as an example appliance. It is contemplated that embodiments of the invention may be used with other appliances such as a dishwasher, refrigerator, trash compactor, ice machine, etc. 
         [0012]    Embodiments of the present invention utilize at least one container located within a pedestal situated beneath an appliance (e.g. washing machine, dryer, dishwasher, etc.) to house components to deliver an additive to the appliance. Upon receiving an input from a controller, a pump located within the pedestal may pump the additive from the container into the appliance (e.g. the tub of the washing machine). The at least one container located within the pedestal may be an integrated part of the appliance when assemble together with the appliance or a portable pedestal being separable from the washing machine or other appliance. 
         [0013]    Other aspects of the invention may include having valves to control the amount of additives being added to the appliance. The valves may also be used to allow a single pump to deliver multiple additives housed in different containers. In addition, various embodiment of the invention may include sensors to alert a user to leaks within the system, low levels of additives or other maintenance/service related issues. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    Referring to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 1  depicts a washer and dryer combination sitting on pedestals. A washing machine  102  is located on top a washing machine pedestal  104 . The washing machine  102  may also have a washing machine controller  110 . The washing machine controller  110  may be used to control washing machine  102  operations as well as a system for delivering a washer additive to the washing machine  102 . A dryer  106  may be located on top of a dryer pedestal  108 . The dryer  106  may also have a dryer controller  112 . The dryer controller  112  may be used to control dryer  106  operations as well as a system for delivering a dryer additive to the dryer  106 . It is contemplated that the washing machine controller  110  and dryer controller  112  may communicate with each other and washing machine controller  110  may control the delivery of an additive to washing machine  102  and vise versa. 
         [0015]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 2  depicts the washing machine pedestal  104 . The washing machine pedestal  104  may include a housing  202  (cover plate has been removed for clarity). A drawer  204  may operatively slide in and out of the housing  202 . Within the drawer  204  there may be containers  206 ,  208  and  210 . Also contained within the drawer  204  there may also be a bracket  220  used to secure containers  206 ,  208  and  210  in place. The bracket  220  may also include a label that may indicate the contents of the containers  206 ,  208 , and  210  located within the drawer  204 . The drawer  204  may also contain a tray  218 . The tray  218  may be used to house connections where piping connecting containers  206 ,  208  and  210  connect to peristaltic pumps  212 ,  214 , and  216 . The tray  218  may also contain tools and/or quick connect fasteners operatively configured to allow quick connecting of the containers  206 ,  208  and  210 . 
         [0016]    During operation of the washing machine  102  a user may select a predetermined mode. This predetermined mode may, for example, consist of washing whites, darks, delicates, full loads or fractional loads. When selecting this particular mode, the user may press a button on the washing machine controller  110 . Upon pressing the button on the washing machine controller  110 , peristaltic pump  212  may add detergent from the container  206 . Additionally, the washing machine controller  110  may be programmed with various modes. For example, the washing machine controller  110  may be programmed such that during a first stage of a wash cycle a single additive from the container  206  may be added. During a second stage of the wash cycle, the washing machine controller  110  may add a second additive from the container  208 . For example, during a first cycle, the clothes may be washed using laundry detergent. During the second stage of the wash cycle, a fabric softener may be added. Other examples may include, adding a rinsing agent, adding predetermined amounts of additives based on the laundry load size, etc. In addition, the washing machine controller  110  may be configured to facilitate a continuous delivery of an amount of additive to the washing machine while the user continuously depresses a button. 
         [0017]    While  FIG. 2  depicts three peristaltic pumps  212 ,  214  and  216 , it is contemplated that a single peristaltic pump may be used in conjunction with a single container or multiple containers. In embodiments in which a single peristaltic pump is used for multiple containers, various valve assemblies may be necessary in order to inhibit the flow of a particular additive from a particular container. In addition, various piping manifolds may be necessary in order to connect the containers  206 ,  208 , and  210  to a single peristaltic pump. For example, if a single peristaltic pump is connected to the containers  206 ,  208 , and  210 , a manifold utilizing valves (e.g. solenoid valves, etc.) may be needed to facilitate the delivery of an additive from container  206  to the washing machine  102  without delivering an additive from container  208  or  210 . In addition, the manifold may be configured to deliver two or more additives via a single pump. 
         [0018]    While  FIG. 2  depicts the containers  206 ,  208  and  210  being of equal size, it is contemplated that the containers  206 ,  208  and  210  may varying in size. For example, the container  206  may be a half-gallon container containing fabric softener, whereas the container  208  may be a one-gallon container housing laundry detergent. 
         [0019]    In addition, the containers  206 ,  208  and  210  may be disposable. The containers  206 ,  208  and  210  may also be refillable (i.e., new additives may be added without removing the containers  206 ,  208  and  210  from the drawer  204 ). It is contemplated however, that the containers  206 ,  208  and  210  may be removable, refillable, disposable, and washable. For example, the container  210  may be removed periodically by the user and washed. After a certain time or if the container  210  becomes damaged, the container  210  may be replaced. 
         [0020]    Additionally, the containers  206 ,  208  and  210  may include float sensors or other means to determine additive levels within the containers  206 ,  208  and  210 . This information may be fed to the washing machine controller  110  to provide an indication to the user that the additive is running low and needs to be refilled. Additionally, the drawer  204  may contain an indicator to indicate the presence of additive within the drawer  204 . For example, if there is a leak in the container  208 , a contact sensor or other detection means may send a signal to washer controller to notify the user. 
         [0021]    Furthermore, the containers may include specialized connections such that only a certain container may be connected to a certain pump. In various aspects of the invention, the container  206  may include a specialized connection such that only a container of similar type to the container  206  may be connected to the peristaltic pump  212 . For example, the washing machine controller  110  may be programmed such that the peristaltic pump  212  delivers fabric softener. The container  206  may be labeled fabric softener (e.g. color coded or a label) or may be a disposable fabric softener container. The specialized connection would then help the user from inadvertently connecting a container of soap to a connection designed for fabric softener. 
         [0022]    During operation the peristaltic pumps  212 ,  214  and  216  remove additives from the containers  206 ,  208  and  210  via siphoning the additives from the containers  206 ,  208  and  210 . In other words, peristaltic pumps  212 ,  214  and  216  remove additives from the containers  206 ,  208  and  210  without causing a substantial pressure change within the containers  206 ,  208  and  210 . A substantial pressure change may be a pressure change that would result in fluid flow. In other words, the pressure inside the containers  206 ,  208  and  210  will not increase or decrease to a point that would cause fluid to flow. For example, as described in the background section, current additive delivery systems pump air into a container to increase pressure within the container. The increase in pressure causes the additive to flow. In embodiments of the current invention, additives flow because of the head applied by the pump directly to the fluid. 
         [0023]    While the peristaltic pumps  212 ,  214  and  216  are described as peristaltic pumps, it is contemplated that other types of pumps may be used such as positive displacement pumps, rotary vein pumps, etc. without departing from the scope of the invention. Peristaltic pumps allow for delivery of the additive without the additive coming into contact with the pump. This reduces the risk of the additives becoming contaminated with pump lubricants, or harsh additives which may cause excessive wear on the pumps, etc. 
         [0024]    While the drawer  204  has been described as a “sliding drawer,” it is contemplated that the drawer  204  may be stationary and a pedestal face  224  may be operatively hinged. For example, the pedestal face  224  may be hinged to allow access to the containers  206 ,  208 , and  210 . In this example, containers  206 ,  208 , and  210  may slide out of the drawer  204 . 
         [0025]    Additionally, the pumps may be connected to the containers  206 ,  208 , and  210  via flexible or rigid piping. For example, for use in a washing machine, plastic tubing may be used for the piping system. For harsher environments such as a parts washer in an automotive garage, rigid tubing may be needed for the piping system. 
         [0026]    This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 3