Detergent dispenser for a laundry treating appliance

Abstract

A laundry treating appliance includes a detergent dispenser with a door pivotably mounted relative to the detergent dispenser for movement between an open position where an opening in the detergent dispenser is exposed and a closed position where the opening in the detergent dispenser is covered. A damper provides controlled movement of the door between the closed and open positions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A laundry treating appliance comprising:
 a cabinet;   a laundry treating chamber in the cabinet;   a detergent dispenser disposed in the cabinet in fluid communication with the laundry treating chamber;   a door pivotably mounted relative to the detergent dispenser for movement between an open position where an opening in the detergent dispenser is exposed and a closed position where the opening in the detergent dispenser is covered; and   a damper to provide controlled movement of the door between the closed and open positions.   
     
     
         2 . The laundry treating appliance of  claim 1  further comprising a latch to hold the door in the closed position. 
     
     
         3 . The laundry treating appliance of  claim 2  wherein the latch is a push to open latch. 
     
     
         4 . The laundry treating appliance of  claim 1  wherein the door retracts into a housing when the door is lifted from the closed position. 
     
     
         5 . The laundry treating appliance of  claim 1  wherein the damper is a spring. 
     
     
         6 . The laundry treating appliance of  claim 1  further comprising at least one removable cup. 
     
     
         7 . The laundry treating appliance of  claim 1  further comprising an over center spring structure to hold the door in the closed position. 
     
     
         8 . A detergent dispenser for fixedly mounting in a receptacle in a cabinet of a laundry treating appliance, the detergent dispenser comprising:
 a housing dimensioned to fit within a receptacle in a cabinet of a laundry treating appliance;   at least one dispensing cup mounted in the housing and adapted to fluidly connect to a laundry treating chamber in the cabinet;   a door pivotably mounted to the body for movement between an open position where the at least one dispensing cup is exposed and a closed position where the at least one dispensing cup is covered; and   a damper mounted to the housing to provide controlled movement of the door between the closed and open positions.   
     
     
         9 . The detergent dispenser of  claim 8  further comprising a latch to hold the door in the closed position. 
     
     
         10 . The detergent dispenser of  claim 9  wherein the latch is a push to open latch. 
     
     
         11 . The detergent dispenser of  claim 8  wherein the door retracts into the housing when the door is lifted from the closed position. 
     
     
         12 . The detergent dispenser of  claim 8  wherein the damper is a spring. 
     
     
         13 . The detergent dispenser of  claim 8  wherein the at least one cup is removable. 
     
     
         14 . The detergent dispenser of  claim 8  further comprising an over center spring structure to hold the door in the closed position.