Patent ID: 7895864

Claim:
A washing machine, comprising: a washing chamber; one or more water inputs; an additive dispenser coupled to the one or more water inputs, the additive dispenser including a fluid-retaining chamber and being configured so that an outfall of the additive dispenser can flow into the washing chamber, the fluid-retaining chamber including a bottom surface and an opening for receiving water supplied by the one or more water inputs; a siphoning element having a base coupled to the bottom surface and extending upward therefrom, the siphoning element including an upper portion and a fluid pathway from the upper portion to a region external to the fluid-retaining chamber; an enclosure positioned over the siphoning element so as to form a siphon chamber for effecting siphon dispensing of liquid from the fluid-retaining chamber; and a porous element having an exposed portion in the bottom surface of the fluid-retaining chamber and positioned so as to allow liquid remaining in the fluid-retaining chamber following said siphon dispensing to permeate through the porous element and exit the fluid-retaining chamber, wherein the porous element is configured to permit permeation by a first liquid at a first rate and to permit permeation by a mixture of the first liquid and water at a second rate, the first liquid is more viscous than the mixture, and the first rate is slower than the second rate.