Nanoparticles reinforced laundry dispenser

Abstract

A laundry chemistry dispenser for an appliance includes a base having an inner surface and an outer surface. A plurality of sidewalls extends from the base to define an interior cavity. Each sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls includes an inner surface and an outer surface. A coating is at least partially disposed on the inner surface of the base and the inner surface of each sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A laundry chemistry dispenser for an appliance, comprising:
 a base including an inner surface and an outer surface;   a plurality of sidewalls extending from the base to define at least one interior cavity, wherein each sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls includes an inner surface and an outer surface; and   a coating at least partially disposed on the inner surface of the base and the inner surface of each sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls, wherein the coating is superhydrophobic.   
     
     
         2 . The laundry chemistry dispenser of  claim 1 , including:
 a dispenser body defined by the base and the plurality of sidewalls, wherein the dispenser body includes an upper opening defined by the plurality of sidewalls; and   an outlet positioned at a lower portion of the dispenser body.   
     
     
         3 . The laundry chemistry dispenser of  claim 2 , including:
 an inlet positioned proximate the upper opening of the dispenser body.   
     
     
         4 . The laundry chemistry dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein a laundry chemistry is repelled by the coating when introduced into the at least one interior cavity. 
     
     
         5 . The laundry chemistry dispenser of  claim 4 , wherein a surface area of the laundry chemistry condenses when in contact with the coating. 
     
     
         6 . The laundry chemistry dispenser of  claim 1 , including:
 a partition dividing the at least one interior cavity into first and second interior cavities, wherein the coating is disposed on the partition.   
     
     
         7 . The laundry chemistry dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the coating includes a contact angle of at least 130 degrees. 
     
     
         8 . A laundry chemistry dispenser for an appliance, comprising:
 a base including an inner surface and an outer surface;   a plurality of sidewalls extending from the base to define at least one interior cavity, wherein each sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls includes an inner surface and an outer surface; and   a coating at least partially disposed on the inner surface of the base and the inner surface of each sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls.   
     
     
         9 . The laundry chemistry dispenser of  claim 8 , wherein the coating is a hydrophobic nanocoating, and further wherein the hydrophobic nanocoating includes a contact angle of at least 100 degrees. 
     
     
         10 . The laundry chemistry dispenser of  claim 8 , wherein the coating is a superhydrophobic nanocoating, and further wherein the superhydrophobic nanocoating includes a contact angle of at least 130 degrees to 160 degrees. 
     
     
         11 . The laundry chemistry dispenser of  claim 8 , including:
 a partition dividing the at least one interior cavity into first and second interior cavities, wherein the coating is disposed on the partition.   
     
     
         12 . The laundry chemistry dispenser of  claim 8 , wherein a laundry chemistry is repelled by the coating when introduced into the interior cavity. 
     
     
         13 . The laundry chemistry dispenser of  claim 8 , including:
 a dispenser body including an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the plurality of sidewalls and the upper portion of the dispenser body define an upper opening.   
     
     
         14 . The laundry chemistry dispenser of  claim 13 , including:
 an inlet proximate the upper portion of the dispenser body, wherein the inlet is received by the upper opening of the dispenser body; and   an outlet positioned at the lower portion of the dispenser body.   
     
     
         15 . A method of making a laundry chemistry dispenser, comprising the steps of:
 providing a dispenser body having a base and a plurality of sidewalls, the base and each sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls including inner and outer surfaces; and   defining an interior cavity by the base and the plurality of sidewalls;   applying a coating to at least a portion of the dispenser body, wherein the coating is a nanocoating.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of applying the coating includes the step of forming the coating from a hydrophobic nanocoating. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of applying the coating includes the step of forming the coating from a superhydrophobic nanocoating. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further including the steps of:
 dispensing a laundry chemistry in the interior cavity; and   repelling the laundry chemistry from the inner surface of the base and the inner surface of each sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls with the coating.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of applying the coating includes the step of applying the coating to a lower portion of the dispenser body. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further including the steps of:
 dividing the interior cavity into a first interior cavity and a second interior cavity with a partition; and   applying the coating to the partition.