Abstract: An agitator for a washing machine appliance may define an axial direction and a radial direction. The agitator may include a cylindrical shaft that may include one or more dispense ports defined therethrough. The agitator may further include a cap assembly positioned at a top portion of the agitator. The agitator may additionally include a restrictor ring positioned within the agitator below the cap assembly. The restrictor ring may include a frustoconical wall, a first cylindrical wall, a second cylindrical wall, and a trough. The frustoconical wall may include a top surface and a bottom surface. The trough may be defined at the bottom surface of the frustoconical wall.

Abstract: A laundry machine appliance is provided, including a cup including an upper lip and attachable to a base positioned at a shaft of an agitator at a wash basket. A cap is positioned atop the shaft of the agitator, the cap including an outer cylindrical wall and a trough wall extending radially inward from the outer cylindrical wall and sloped vertically downward toward the cup. The trough wall includes a radially inward end positioned vertically upward of the upper lip of the cup. A clearance gap is formed between the upper lip and the inward end of the trough wall. A lid is selectively attachable to the cap at the trough wall. The lid includes a cylindrical wall extending vertically when attached to the cap and a sloped wall corresponding to the trough wall.

Abstract: A washing machine appliance includes a cabinet; a tub rotatably provided within the cabinet; an agitator provided within the tub, the agitator defining an axial direction, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction, the axial direction being parallel to the vertical direction. The agitator defines a receiving space; a cup assembly received within the receiving space along the axial direction, the cup assembly including a cup and a cap; and a restrictor tube received within the receiving space along the axial direction below the cup assembly along the vertical direction.

Abstract: A washing machine includes a cabinet, a door, a tub provided within the cabinet, a wireless communication module provided within the cabinet, and a controller in operative communication with the wireless communication module. The controller is configured to perform a series of operations, including receiving an initiation signal for a laundry operation to be performed by the washing machine appliance; sending a wake-up signal to a mobile electronic device via the wireless communication module in response to receiving the initiation signal; emitting a laundry operation trigger prior to initiating the laundry operation; determining that the mobile device is within a predetermined distance from the washing machine appliance in response to generating the laundry operation trigger; and receiving a confirmation signal before beginning the laundry operation.

Abstract: A washing machine includes a cabinet, a door, a tub provided within the cabinet, a wireless communication module provided within the cabinet, and a controller in operative communication with the wireless communication module. The controller is configured to perform a series of operations, including receiving an initiation signal for a laundry operation to be performed by the washing machine appliance; sending a wake-up signal to a mobile electronic device via the wireless communication module in response to receiving the initiation signal; emitting a laundry operation trigger prior to initiating the laundry operation; determining that the mobile device is within a predetermined distance from the washing machine appliance in response to generating the laundry operation trigger; and receiving a confirmation signal before beginning the laundry operation.

Abstract: A washing machine appliance is provided including a sump for collecting wash fluid and a pump assembly fluidly coupled to the sump for urging a flow of wash fluid. The pump assembly includes a pump housing, a pump impeller, and a drive motor for selectively rotating the pump impeller. A heat pipe assembly extends between the drive motor and the flow of wash fluid to transfer thermal energy generated by the motor to the wash fluid. For example, an evaporator section of the heat pipe may be in direct contact with the drive motor and a condenser section of the heat pipe may be positioned within pump housing.

Abstract: Dispenser cups for washing machine appliances are provided. A dispenser cup includes a container which includes a side wall and a bottom wall, the side wall having a top end. The container defines a compartment configured to receive a wash material. The dispenser cup further includes a wash liquid inlet positioned on the side wall of the container and in fluid communication with the compartment for providing a flow of wash liquid to the compartment. The dispenser cup further includes a deflector plate positioned at least partially within the compartment. The deflector plate is positioned such that wash liquid exhausted from the wash liquid inlet into the compartment contacts the deflector plate and is redirected towards the bottom wall of the container. The dispenser cup further includes a wall extending from the deflector plate within the compartment such that wash liquid redirected towards the top end contacts the wall.