The present invention relates to the dispensing of a washing agent in a washing machine, particularly a dishwasher.

More specifically, the invention relates to a dispenser comprising

a body in which there is defined a tub-like receptacle, having a mouth and capable of receiving an amount of washing agent,

covering means, which comprise first and second cover portions and which are movable with respect to the body, between

* a closed position in which the first cover portion covers the receptacle and the second cover portion covers a portion of the body adjacent to the receptacle, and

* an open position in which the first cover portion uncovers and opens the receptacle;

the first cover portion being articulated to the body about a first axis which is essentially parallel to the mouth of the receptacle, and can move in translation along guide means provided in the body, and being connected to a crank member in an essentially articulated manner about a second axis parallel to said first axis, the crank member being in turn articulated to the body about a third axis which is parallel to said first and second axes.

A washing agent dispenser of the type specified above is described in international application WO 2007/116354 A2, in the name of the applicant.

In this prior art dispenser, the covering means comprise first and second portions of a single cover made integrally as a single piece, and the crank member is articulated to an intermediate portion of said cover. The result of this arrangement is that, when open, said single cover protrudes considerably from the contour of the body of the dispenser.

It is an aim of this invention to provide an improved dispenser, in particular improved in the sense that the covering means take up less space when open. This and other aims are achieved according to the invention with a dispenser of the type described above, characterized in that the abovementioned second cover portion is articulated to the first cover portion about said second axis, and is articulated to the body about said third axis, and forms said crank member.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be obvious from the following detailed description, provided by way of non-limiting example, which refers to the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a dispenser according to the invention, when closed;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the dispenser according to Figure 1 , shown in the open position;

Figure 3 is a perspective view from the rear of the dispenser according to Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the dispenser according to the preceding figures;

Figure 5 shows a section essentially along the line V-V of Figure 1;

Figure 6 shows a cross section essentially along the line VI -VI of Figure 5;

Figures 7 and 8 are views similar to that shown in Figure 6, showing the dispenser with the covering means thereof in two different positions.

In the drawings, the general reference number 1 indicates a dispenser according to the invention for dispensing a washing agent, such as a solid, liquid or powder detergent, in a washing machine, particularly a dishwasher.

The dispenser 1 shown in the attached drawings comprises a body 2 that is operationally fixed, made for example of a moulded plastic. This body is designed to be secured (in a manner known per se and not shown) to the inside surface of the front door of a dishwasher, for example.

An essentially tub-like hollow receptacle 3 with a mouth 4 is defined in the body 2. The receptacle 3 can receive an amount of washing agent. The device 1 comprises an articulated cover, indicated with the general reference 5, including two cover portions 5a and 5b.

The articulated cover 5 is connected to the body 2 and can move with respect thereto between a position in which the mouth of the receptacle 3 is closed (Figures 1 and 6) and a position in which it is open (Figures 2 and 8).

The articulated cover 5 in the embodiment shown is mounted so that it can move between two parallel raised shoulders or banks 2a of the body 2, which include respective guide grooves 6, next to two opposite sides of the mouth 4 of the receptacle 3.

The first portion 5a of the cover 5 has, on opposite sides, hinge members 7 (Figures 4 and 5) that slide in the guide grooves 6 of the body 2. Because said hinge members 7 slide in the grooves 6, the portion 5 a of the cover 5 can tilt relative to the body 2 about a first axis (the axis of its hinge members 7) which is essentially parallel to the mouth 4 of the receptacle 3, and can move in translation along said guide grooves 6.

The second portion 5b is connected to the side of the portion 5 a opposite the side from which the hinge members 7 extend, essentially articulated about a second axis, indicated by the reference 9 in Figures 4 and 5, parallel to the axis of the hinge members 7.

The portion 5b of the cover 5 is also articulated to the body 2 about a third axis 10 (Figures 3-8) that is fixed and parallel to the axes 7 and 9 defined above.

In the embodiment shown, the fixed axis 10 lies substantially at the same level as the mouth 4 of the receptacle 3 (Figures 6-8).

The sequence of Figures 6 to 8 shows the path followed by the articulated cover 5 as it moves from the closed position into the completely open position.

Looking at Figure 6 for example, it can be seen in the embodiment shown that when the articulated cover 5 is closed, the first portion 5a thereof covers the receptacle 3, sealing it closed by virtue of the interaction between a seal 8 and the edge of the mouth 4 of said receptacle. Moreover, when the cover 5 is closed the second portion 5b thereof covers a part of the body 2 adjacent to the receptacle 3.

With reference to Figure 8, when the articulated cover 5 is completely open, the first portion 5a thereof uncovers and opens the receptacle 4, and instead covers the portion of the body 2 adjacent to said receptacle.

Overall, the articulated cover 5 forms a sort of class 1 crank mechanism, or connecting rod/crank system, in which the portion 5b represents the crank member and the portion 5a represents the connecting rod. As the cover 5 goes from the closed to the open position, the portion 5a thereof performs a rotational/translational movement whereas the portion 5b simply rotates.

With reference to Figures 4, 5 and 8, a spring 14 is associated with the portion 5b of the cover 5, said spring tending to make said portion tilt towards the position it assumes when the cover 5 is completely open (Figure 8). In the example shown, said spring 14 is a torsion spring, or helical torsion spring, and is mounted about the axis 10.

When the articulated cover 5 is closed (Figures 1, 5 and 6), a retaining device holds it in this position, against the action of the return spring 14 that would tend to push it into the completely open position.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the retaining device comprises a blocking member 15, fixed to one end of a shaped shaft generally indicated by the reference 16 in Figures 4 and 6 to 8.

With reference to Figures 4 and 5, the blocking member 15 and the shaft 16 are rotationally mounted in the body 2, about a fixed axis (reference 17 in Figure 4) that is orthogonal to the axis 10.

With the cover 5 in the closed position, a projecting part 5c (Figure 5) on the inside face of the portion 5a of said cover is in end-to-end contact with an end 15a of the blocking member 15, preventing the cover 5 from opening.

The blocking member 15 has another end 15b loosely articulated to the end of an arm 16a of a rocker 16 that can rotate about an axis 18, parallel to the axis 17.

The rocker 16 has a second arm 16b via which it can interact with a pusher 19 mounted with the possibility of translational movement in a straight guide 20 in the body 2 (Figures 4 and 5).

The pusher 19 is associated with a spring 21 that tends to push it into a rest position (shown in Figures 1 and 5), in which one end thereof protrudes from the housing or support body 2 of the dispenser.

With reference to Figure 4, a lever transmission member 22, associated with a spring 23, is coupled to the lower end of the shaft 16 in a torsionally integral manner (see also Figures 6 to 8). Said spring 23 is positioned so that it tends to press the assembly formed by the member 22, shaft 16 and blocking member 15 to rotate clockwise (when looking at Figures 4 and 5). Under the effect of the spring 23 (Figure 5), the arm 16a of the rocker 16 abuts against a stop formation 2d formed in the body 2.

A solenoid actuator (generally indicated by 25 in Figures 3, 4 and 6 to 8) is mounted at the rear of the body 2. As known per se, said actuator comprises a movable core that, under the effect of excitation by the associated solenoid, is operated to impact against the lever member 22, causing it to rotate anti-clockwise (when looking at Figure 4), against the action of the spring 23. Rotation of the lever member 22 causes a corresponding rotation of the shaft 16 and blocking member 15, thereby releasing the projecting part 5c (Figure 5) of the portion 5 a of the cover 5, enabling the cover to go from the closed position to the completely open position, under the action of the return spring 14.

After a washing cycle, the articulated cover 5 can be closed manually, in particular by bringing the portion 5a of said cover into the position shown in Figures 1 and 6. The projecting part 5c of said portion 5a of the cover thus comes back into engagement against the projecting part 15a of the blocking member 15, and the cover 5 as a whole is therefore once again kept in the closed position.

The articulated cover 5 can easily be opened manually by pressing on the pusher 19 which, like a push-button, acts on the arm 16b of the rocker 16, rotating the latter clockwise (when looking at Figure 5), causing the blocking member 15 to rotate anti-clockwise (also when looking at Figure 5). This causes the blocking member 15 to release the projecting part 5c of the cover 5 and the cover 5 to return to the completely open position under the action exerted by the return spring 14.

Naturally, without prejudice to the principle of the invention, the forms of implementation and details of embodiments may vary widely from what has been described and illustrated herein purely by way of non-limiting example, without exceeding the scope of the invention as defined in the attached claims.