Additive dispenser assembly for a laundry treatment appliance

Abstract

A laundry treatment appliance includes a cabinet forming a receiving space, a tub provided within the receiving space, a laundry door to provide selective access to the receiving space, a reservoir attached to an external surface of the laundry door, the reservoir storing a quantity of liquid, and a nozzle in fluid communication with the reservoir, the nozzle being positioned within the receiving space to selectively release the liquid from the reservoir into the tub.

1 . A laundry treatment appliance defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the laundry treatment appliance comprising:
 a cabinet forming a receiving space;   a tub provided within the receiving space;   a laundry door to provide selective access to the receiving space;   a reservoir attached to an external surface of the laundry door, the reservoir storing a quantity of liquid;   an access door rotatably coupled to the external surface of the laundry door, the access door being movable between an open position and a closed position to allow selective access to the reservoir, wherein a gap is formed between a bottom of the access door and a bottom of the laundry door when the access door is in the open position; and   a nozzle in fluid communication with the reservoir, the nozzle being positioned within the receiving space to selectively release the liquid from the reservoir into the tub.   
     
     
         2 . The laundry treatment appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pump in fluid communication with the reservoir and the nozzle; and   a controller provided within the cabinet, the controller being operably connected with the pump.   
     
     
         3 . The laundry treatment appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the reservoir defines an outlet port, the reservoir comprising:
 a valve positioned within the outlet port, the valve selectively opening and closing the outlet port of the reservoir according to a position of the reservoir with respect to the pump.   
     
     
         4 . The laundry treatment appliance of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a float sensor provided within the reservoir; and   a reed switch provided outside of the reservoir adjacent to the float sensor.   
     
     
         5 . The laundry treatment appliance of  claim 4 , wherein the float sensor comprises:
 a cage comprising a plurality of rods extending along the vertical direction between a top and a bottom of the reservoir; and   a float provided within the cage, the float comprising a magnet.   
     
     
         6 . The laundry treatment appliance of  claim 5 , wherein the reed switch is located beneath the cage along the vertical direction, the reed switch being operably coupled with the controller. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The laundry treatment appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising an articulating hinge connecting the access door to the laundry door, the articulating hinge provided at a bottom of the access door along the vertical direction. 
     
     
         9 . The laundry treatment appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle is positioned within a hole formed in the laundry door. 
     
     
         10 . An appliance door for a domestic appliance, the appliance door defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the appliance door comprising:
 a door panel defining an internal surface and an external surface;   a reservoir attached to an external surface of the door panel, the reservoir storing a quantity of liquid;   a nozzle in fluid communication with the reservoir, the nozzle being positioned through the door panel to selectively release the liquid from the reservoir into the domestic appliance; and   an access door rotatably coupled to the external surface of the appliance door, the access door being movable between an open position and a closed position to allow selective access to the reservoir, wherein a gap is formed between a bottom of the access door and a bottom of the appliance door when the access door is in the open position.   
     
     
         11 . The appliance door of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a pump in fluid communication with the reservoir and the nozzle; and   a controller provided within the domestic appliance, the controller being operably connected with the pump.   
     
     
         12 . The appliance door of  claim 11 , wherein the reservoir defines an outlet port, the reservoir comprising:
 a valve positioned within the outlet port, the valve selectively opening and closing the outlet port of the reservoir according to a position of the reservoir with respect to the pump.   
     
     
         13 . The appliance door of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a float sensor provided within the reservoir; and   a reed switch provided outside of the reservoir adjacent to the float sensor.   
     
     
         14 . The appliance door of  claim 13 , wherein the float sensor comprises:
 a cage comprising a plurality of rods extending along vertical direction between a top and a bottom of the reservoir; and   a float provided within the cage, the float comprising a magnet.   
     
     
         15 . The appliance door of  claim 14 , wherein the reed switch is located beneath the cage along the vertical direction, the reed switch being operably coupled with the controller. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The appliance door of  claim 10 , further comprising an articulating hinge connecting the access door to the appliance door, the articulating hinge provided at a bottom of the access door along the vertical direction. 
     
     
         18 . The appliance door of  claim 10 , wherein the nozzle is positioned within a hole formed in the appliance door. 
     
     
         19 . The appliance door of  claim 10 , wherein the domestic appliance is a combination washing machine and dryer.