The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 07, 2004
Filed:
Feb. 06, 2002
Scott A. Merkle, Newton, IA (US);
Jeffrey A. Shown, Marlboro, MA (US);
Jason D. Berube, Methuen, MA (US);
Boyd D. Boucher, Dorchester, MA (US);
Shaun T. Kjellman, Nashua, NH (US);
Clifford S. Lansil, Toronto, CA;
Torben C. Thurow, Boston, MA (US);
Michael E. Morris, Arlington, MA (US);
Maytag Corporation, Newton, IA (US);
Abstract
A clothes washing machine is provided with an improved detergent dispenser which can use either liquid or powder detergent for both the prewash and wash cycles of the machine. The dispenser includes a base for receiving the prewash detergent. A tray having a powder detergent cup and a fabric softener cup is positioned within the base. A liquid detergent cup is removably nested within the powder detergent cup. The liquid detergent cup includes a siphon which drains into the powder detergent cup, which in turn drains into the base of the dispenser. The softener cup includes a siphon which drains into the base of the dispenser. The base includes an outlet drain through which the detergent and fabric softener drain for introduction into the tub of the washing machine.