Washing machine appliances having pre-treatment agitation features

Abstract

A washing machine appliance having pre-treatment agitation features is provided herein. The washing machine appliance may include a cabinet defining an opening, a tub, a wash basket, a tub cover, a textured agitation panel, and a liquid dispenser. The tub may be tub positioned within the cabinet and below the opening along a vertical direction. The wash basket may be rotatably mounted within the tub. The wash basket may define a wash chamber for receiving articles therein. The tub cover may be fixed to the tub within the cabinet. The textured agitation panel may extend from the tub cover toward the wash chamber. The liquid dispenser may be directed at the textured agitation panel and mounted thereabove along the vertical direction to flow liquid across the textured agitation panel.

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 defining an opening;   a tub positioned within the cabinet and below the opening along the vertical direction;   a wash basket rotatably mounted within the tub, the wash basket defining a wash chamber for receiving articles therein;   a tub cover fixed to the tub within the cabinet;   a textured agitation panel extending from the tub cover toward the wash chamber; and   a liquid dispenser directed at the textured agitation panel and mounted thereabove along the vertical direction to flow liquid 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 2 , wherein the integral upper surface is a non-permeable surface. 
     
     
         4 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the textured agitation panel defines a plurality of permeable apertures extending along the vertical direction through the textured agitation panel. 
     
     
         5 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the wash basket is rotatable 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 , further comprising a metallic trim extending along a bottom lip of the textured agitation panel. 
     
     
         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 tub cover 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 tub cover. 
     
     
         9 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the tub cover 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 tub cover. 
     
     
         10 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the tub cover 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 tub cover. 
     
     
         11 . A washing machine appliance defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the washing machine appliance comprising:
 a cabinet defining an opening;   a tub positioned within the cabinet and below the opening along the vertical direction;   a wash basket rotatably mounted within the tub, the wash basket defining a wash chamber receiving articles therein;   a tub cover fixed to the tub within the cabinet;   a textured agitation panel extending from the tub cover, the textured agitation panel defining an upper surface facing the opening; and   a liquid dispenser directed at the upper surface of the textured agitation panel and mounted thereabove along the vertical direction, the liquid dispenser defining a fluid outlet upstream from the textured agitation panel, the liquid 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 upper surface comprises an integral upper surface defining a plurality of elevated ridges. 
     
     
         13 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 12 , wherein the integral upper surface is a non-permeable surface. 
     
     
         14 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the textured agitation panel defines a plurality of permeable apertures extending along the vertical direction through the textured agitation panel. 
     
     
         15 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the wash basket is rotatable 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 , further comprising a metallic trim extending along a bottom lip of the textured agitation panel. 
     
     
         17 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the tub cover 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 tub cover. 
     
     
         18 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the tub cover 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 tub cover. 
     
     
         19 . The washing machine appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the tub cover 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 tub cover.