Washing machine appliances having pre-treatment agitation features

Abstract

A washing machine appliance having pre-treatment features is provided herein. The washing machine appliance may include a cabinet, a tub positioned within the cabinet, a basket rotatably mounted within the tub to rotate about a rotation axis, a textured agitation panel, and a wash fluid dispenser. The textured agitation panel may extend from the cabinet toward the tub. The textured agitation panel may include an upper surface defining a plurality of elevated ridges. The wash fluid dispenser may be directed at the upper surface of the textured agitation panel. The wash fluid dispenser may be mounted thereabove along a vertical direction. The wash fluid dispenser may define a fluid outlet upstream from the textured agitation panel. The wash fluid dispenser may further define a mixing chamber upstream from the fluid outlet and downstream from a water source to receive a wash additive therein.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A washing machine appliance defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the washing machine appliance comprising:
 a cabinet comprising a top panel, the top panel defining an opening;   a tub positioned within the cabinet;   a textured agitation panel extending from the cabinet toward the tub; and   a wash fluid dispenser directed at the textured agitation panel and mounted thereabove along the vertical direction to flow wash fluid across the textured agitation panel.   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the textured agitation panel comprises an integral upper surface defining a plurality of elevated ridges. 
     
     
         3 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the textured agitation panel extends from the top panel. 
     
     
         4 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the textured agitation panel extends from the wash fluid dispenser. 
     
     
         5 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a basket mounted with the tub to rotate about a rotation axis, and wherein the textured agitation panel is positioned along a non-parallel angle relative to the vertical direction toward the rotation axis. 
     
     
         6 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the textured agitation panel is positioned parallel to the vertical direction. 
     
     
         7 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the wash fluid dispenser defines
 a fluid outlet upstream from the textured agitation panel, and   a mixing chamber upstream from the fluid outlet and downstream from a water source to receive a wash additive therein.   
     
     
         8 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the top panel extends along the transverse direction between a front portion and a rear portion, and wherein the textured agitation panel is positioned at the rear portion of the top panel. 
     
     
         9 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the top panel extends along the transverse direction between a front portion and a rear portion, and wherein the textured agitation panel is positioned at the front portion of the top panel. 
     
     
         10 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the top panel extends along the lateral direction between a first side portion and a second side portion, and wherein the textured agitation panel is positioned at one of the first side portion or the second side portion of the top panel. 
     
     
         11 . A washing machine appliance defining a vertical, a lateral, and a transverse direction, the washing machine appliance comprising:
 a cabinet comprising a top panel, the top panel defining an opening;   a tub positioned within the cabinet;   a basket rotatably mounted within the tub to rotate about a rotation axis;   a textured agitation panel extending from the cabinet toward the tub, the textured agitation panel comprising an upper surface defining a plurality of elevated ridges; and   a wash fluid dispenser directed at the upper surface of the textured agitation panel and mounted thereabove along the vertical direction, the wash fluid dispenser defining a fluid outlet upstream from the textured agitation panel, the wash fluid dispenser further defining a mixing chamber upstream from the fluid outlet and downstream from a water source to receive a wash additive therein.   
     
     
         12 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of elevated ridges is integrally-formed on the upper surface. 
     
     
         13 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the textured agitation panel extends from the top panel. 
     
     
         14 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the textured agitation panel extends from the wash fluid dispenser. 
     
     
         15 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 11 , further comprising a basket mounted with the tub to rotate about a rotation axis, and wherein the textured agitation panel is positioned along a non-parallel angle relative to the vertical direction toward the rotation axis. 
     
     
         16 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the textured agitation panel is positioned parallel to the vertical direction. 
     
     
         17 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the top panel extends along the transverse direction between a front portion and a rear portion, and wherein the textured agitation panel is positioned at the rear portion of the top panel. 
     
     
         18 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the top panel extends along the transverse direction between a front portion and a rear portion, and wherein the textured agitation panel is positioned at the front portion of the top panel. 
     
     
         19 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the top panel extends along the lateral direction between a first side portion and a second side portion, and wherein the textured agitation panel is positioned at one of the first side portion or the second side portion of the top panel.