laundry appliance

Abstract

The invention relates to a laundry appliance with a washing additive dispenser. The laundry appliance comprises a cabinet, a vessel for accommodating laundry, and a motor for rotating the vessel relative to the cabinet. The vessel is rotatably supported within a water tight enclosure. The axis of rotation is substantially horizontal and substantially parallel to a front panel of the cabinet. In an open condition, the cabinet provides access to the vessel via a vessel access area. A washing additive dispenser for dispensing additives to washing fluid contained in the water tight enclosure is positioned so that user access to the dispenser is located in the vessel access area.

1 . A laundry appliance comprising:
 a cabinet,   a vessel for accommodating laundry,   a motor for rotating the vessel relative to the cabinet,   the vessel rotatably supported within a water tight enclosure, the axis of rotation being substantially horizontal and substantially parallel to a front panel of the cabinet,   the water tight enclosure being one of, a) a sub-structure within the cabinet, or b) the cabinet,   the cabinet including, in at least an open condition, access to the vessel via a vessel access area, and   a washing additive dispenser with user access to the dispenser located in the vessel access area.   
   
   
       2 . A laundry appliance according to  claim 1  wherein the dispenser is located in a substantially vertical inside surface of the appliance, said inside surface facing inwardly toward said vessel. 
   
   
       3 . A laundry appliance according to  claim 2  wherein the inside surface faces towards the drum and rear of the appliance, the dispenser being located adjacent a top front surface of the appliance, in front of and above the vessel. 
   
   
       4 . A laundry appliance according to any one of  claims 1  to  3  wherein at least one outlet of said dispenser flushes to an interior surface of said water tight enclosure. 
   
   
       5 . A laundry appliance according to any one of  claims 1  to  3  wherein at least one outlet of said dispenser flushes to an interior surface of said water tight enclosure adjacent the foremost part of said vessel. 
   
   
       6 . A laundry appliance according to any one of  claims 1  to  3  wherein at least one outlet of said dispenser flushes into a sump, the water tight enclosure draining into the sump. 
   
   
       7 . A laundry appliance according to  claim 1  wherein said dispenser is located within said water tight enclosure. 
   
   
       8 . A laundry appliance according to  claim 2  wherein said dispenser is moveably attached to said inside surface so that said dispenser may be moved between a closed position and an open position. 
   
   
       9 . A laundry appliance according to  claim 8  wherein said dispenser is pivotally attached to said inside surface so that said dispenser may be pivoted between said closed and said open positions. 
   
   
       10 . A laundry appliance according to any one of  claims 8  wherein said dispenser lies substantially flat against said inside surface when in the closed position. 
   
   
       11 . A laundry appliance according to any one of  claims 8  wherein said dispenser moves open automatically when a user activates a dispenser opening system, said opening system comprising:
 a catch to maintain said dispenser in the closed position,   a catch release mechanism to release said catch, and   a spring and damper system to control the opening rate of said dispenser.   
   
   
       12 . A laundry appliance according to  claim 11  wherein said catch release mechanism is actuated via a button located on said inside surface, adjacent a top edge of the dispenser. 
   
   
       13 . A laundry appliance according to  claim 11  wherein said catch release mechanism is actuated via a button located in or adjacent to a top front surface of the appliance. 
   
   
       14 . A laundry appliance according to  claim 1  wherein the vessel access area is above the vessel in a top loading configuration. 
   
   
       15 . A laundry appliance according to  claim 1  wherein said substructure is moveably coupled within the interior of the cabinet in such a way as to allow at least an upper part of the substructure to be withdrawn from the cabinet to the open condition to provide the vessel access area, the vessel access area being adjacent a top front surface of the substructure. 
   
   
       16 . A laundry appliance according to  claim 15  wherein the substructure is withdrawn from said cabinet in a tilting or pivoting motion, tilting or pivoting about an axis adjacent the base of said cabinet. 
   
   
       17 . A laundry appliance according to  claim 15  wherein the substructure is withdrawn from the cabinet in a substantially horizontal sliding motion. 
   
   
       18 . A laundry appliance according to  claim 3  wherein a main lateral dimension of said dispenser extends substantially parallel to said top front surface, said lateral dimension extending across a substantial portion of the width of said vessel access area. 
   
   
       19 . A laundry appliance according to  claim 17  wherein said lateral dimension is at least 75% of the width of said vessel access area.