US 7,610,922 B2
Device for the metered delivery of a liquid washing or rinsing agent, for a washing machine
Giuseppe Marone, Moncalieri (Italy); and Paolo Da Pont, Turin (Italy)
Assigned to Elbi International S.p.A., Turin (Italy)
Filed on Dec. 08, 2004, as Appl. No. 11/6,771.
Claims priority of application No. T003A0986 (IT), filed on Dec. 09, 2003.
Prior Publication US 2005/0150260 A1, Jul. 14, 2005
Int. Cl. B08B 3/00 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 134—99.2  [134/94.1; 134/58 D; 134/57 D] 3 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A device for the metered delivery of a liquid rinsing agent to a washing machine provided with a door for access to a washing chamber, which door is pivotable between a substantially vertical closed position and a substantially horizontal loading position;
the device comprising:
a casing which is to be secured to the machine door and in which are provided a refillable reservoir for the rinsing agent and a refillable delivery receptacle which is capable of being brought to a condition of liquid communication with said reservoir only when the door is opened, for receiving an amount of rinsing agent, said delivery receptacle being able to hold an amount of rinsing agent when the door passes to the closed position;
an electrically controlled delivery valve device associated with said delivery receptacle and capable of permitting a flow of rinsing agent from said receptacle towards the washing chamber of the machine;
a level-indicator device associated with the delivery receptacle and capable of signaling the instantaneous level reaches by the rinsing agent in the receptacle when the door is closed; and
control means connected to the level-indicator device and configured to control the delivery valve device in accordance with predetermined modalities, as a function of the signals provided by the level-indicator device.