EP0679751B2 - Spendevorrichtung zur Vorbehandlung - Google Patents

Spendevorrichtung zur Vorbehandlung Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0679751B2
EP0679751B2 EP94870073A EP94870073A EP0679751B2 EP 0679751 B2 EP0679751 B2 EP 0679751B2 EP 94870073 A EP94870073 A EP 94870073A EP 94870073 A EP94870073 A EP 94870073A EP 0679751 B2 EP0679751 B2 EP 0679751B2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ball
liquid detergent
orifice
fabrics
pretreatment
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP94870073A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0679751A1 (de
EP0679751B1 (de
Inventor
Gerard Charles Poolman
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Procter and Gamble Co
Original Assignee
Procter and Gamble Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Family has litigation
First worldwide family litigation filed litigation Critical https://patents.darts-ip.com/?family=8218637&utm_source=google_patent&utm_medium=platform_link&utm_campaign=public_patent_search&patent=EP0679751(B2) "Global patent litigation dataset” by Darts-ip is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Application filed by Procter and Gamble Co filed Critical Procter and Gamble Co
Priority to AT94870073T priority Critical patent/ATE168420T1/de
Priority to DK94870073T priority patent/DK0679751T4/da
Priority to DE69411707T priority patent/DE69411707T3/de
Priority to EP94870073A priority patent/EP0679751B2/de
Priority to ES94870073T priority patent/ES2119140T5/es
Priority to PCT/US1995/004739 priority patent/WO1995029121A1/en
Priority to JP7527709A priority patent/JPH09512230A/ja
Priority to MX9605072A priority patent/MX9605072A/es
Priority to US08/732,363 priority patent/US5887753A/en
Publication of EP0679751A1 publication Critical patent/EP0679751A1/de
Publication of EP0679751B1 publication Critical patent/EP0679751B1/de
Publication of EP0679751B2 publication Critical patent/EP0679751B2/de
Application granted granted Critical
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00 
    • D06F39/02—Devices for adding soap or other washing agents
    • D06F39/024—Devices for adding soap or other washing agents mounted on the agitator or the rotating drum; Free body dispensers

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a dosing and dispensing device for liquid laundry detergents.
  • the device according to the present invention is particularly adapted to pretreat fabrics with a portion of liquid detergent.
  • Dispensing devices for liquid detergent which are to be introduced with the fabrics in the washing machine, are well known in the prior art. It is also known that it is possible to achieve a greater effectiveness in respect of stain removal by pretreating the fabrics with the liquid detergent. Pretreatment means that a certain amount of detergent is applied directly onto the dirty parts of said fabrics before they are washed in the machine.
  • the devices in the prior art adapted to pretreat are generally dispensing devices with a spreader of liquid detergent for pretreatment purposes.
  • detergent means a detergent composition for the treatment of fabrics. This detergent composition may comprise washing additives, like bleaches, enzymes and/or others known in the art.
  • Multi-directional spreading means that the spreading is not bound to act in a predetermined direction, but it is always completely free to change the spreading direction. This ensures a comfortable spreading of the liquid detergent even on very complicated patterns of stains, without the need for the user to perform complicated movements with his hand. In this manner the spreading is also better controlled, and therefore avoids waste of liquid detergent, since it is easier to spread with accuracy only on the limited area of the stain.
  • pretreatment devices for liquid detergent are described in the prior art, for example in WO 92/09736 and WO 92/09737.
  • the pretreatment devices of WO 92/09737 have predetermined outlets.
  • the liquid detergent is spreaded and then rubbed on the areas of the fabrics through irregularities on the external surface of the pretreatment device itself. In this manner the application of the liquid detergent on the fabrics can not be performed with an accurate control of the direction.
  • One of the removable pretreatment applicators disclosed in WO 92/09737 is generically a ball. It is not specified in which direction said ball rotates. Furthermore, this ball applicator is in fact a separate piece from the dispensing device. This means that to pretreat the user has to hold the filled dosing device in one hand and the ball applicator in the other which renders the pretreatment very complicated. Furthermore, the ball applicator has to be dipped from time to time into the filled dosing device to keep the ball always wet enough for the pretreatment.
  • a circular-sectioned applicator acts as a spreader of the liquid detergent onto the fabrics. Said applicator rotates about opposite pins engaged in the rim of said orifice. Said applicator is able to apply the liquid detergent flowing out of the orifice on a surface by rotating about the axis defined by the pins. A predetermined axis of rotation is therefore defined by these opposite pins. This does not allow a controlled multi-directional spreading of the liquid detergent in the pretreatment.
  • the present invention is a dosing and dispensing device for liquid detergent which can be introduced in a washing machine with the fabrics.
  • Said device comprises a hollow body, an opening and means to spread at least a portion of the contained liquid detergent onto a surface of fabrics.
  • This means comprises an orifice which lets the contained liquid detergent communicate with a ball. Said ball rotates freely in all directions.
  • Figure 1 shows the preferred embodiment of the dosing and dispensing device of the present invention adapted to pretreat fabrics.
  • Figure 2 illustrates a cross sectional view of the embodiment of Figure 1.
  • the present invention is a pretreatment device for containing liquid substances.
  • An embodiment of the device is shown in Figure 1.
  • the pretreatment device (10) comprises a hollow body (13), an opening (12), an orifice (Fig.2, 14), and a ball (16).
  • the orifice (Fig.2, 14) and the ball (16) form the pretreatment means.
  • horizontal means a direction or a plane parallel to the supporting basis of the pretreatment device in its upright position.
  • the hollow body (13) may be made of any material resistant to water and also to weak alkalines/acids, withstanding the temperatures reached in the washing machines. In particular, for temperatures up to 95° C.
  • plastic materials such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane, or any other similar material.
  • said devices are transparent to allow a visible measuring and dosing of the liquid detergent into said devices.
  • the device preferably comprises on the external and/or internal surface of the hollow body at least a dosing line (11).
  • the hollow body may be also deformable at least by the mechanical agitation during the wash cycle and resilient to regain its original shape after any deformation. This compression/springback helps wash liquid to enter in the hollow body of the device, and therefore a better dilution of the liquid detergent within the device is achieved even when said detergents are considered difficult to dispense by virtue of viscosity.
  • the opening (12) Through the opening (12) the filling of the device with the liquid detergent is achieved.
  • this device When this device is put inside the washing machine with the fabrics, it also allows the dispensing of the liquid detergent into the wash liquid of the machine during the wash cycle.
  • Several filling and dispensing openings on one device are also possible.
  • the dimensions of the openings (12) can be chosen by any person skilled in the art.
  • the openings are preferably permanently open. They can be also subdivided in predetermined outlets or closable as described for example in EP-A-339 197.
  • the orifice brings in communication the contained liquid (Fig. 2, 19) with the ball (16).
  • the dimensions and the shape of said orifice can be chosen by any person skilled in the art.
  • the orifice can be permanently open, or it can be a slit which opens progressively upon squeezing on the hollow body of the device and closes again when the squeezing stops. With the slit the leakage tightness can be improved and the amount of liquid detergent coming in contact with said ball (16) can be better adjusted by the user.
  • the device In the case of a slit, the device must be made of a deformable and resilient material.
  • the pretreatment device of the present invention may have a single permanently open orifice or slit, but also several orifices or slits are possible in one device. Orifices and slits as defined before may be also combined in one device.
  • the ball (16) may be made of any water resistant material, withstanding also the temperatures reached in the washing machines.
  • the present invention is not limited to a single ball; several balls for a single device are also possible.
  • plastic materials such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane, or any other similar material used also for the hollow body.
  • the surface of said ball can be rough or smooth.
  • the ball (16) is partially located in the volume (20) part of the hollow body (13) of the device (10).
  • This volume (20) has two openings : the mouth (Fig. 1, 18) and the orifice (14).
  • the ball protrudes at least partially from the mouth (18).
  • the lip of the mouth (18) holds the ball inside the mouth.
  • the dimensions of the ball (16) and the dimensions of the mouth (18) are tuned one to each other so that the ball is not able to exit completely through the mouth. This means that the diameter of the mouth is at least slightly smaller than the diameter of the ball. In this manner, the ball is free to rotate about any axis inside the volume (20).
  • the ball held in this manner is not bound to act in predetermined directions. This is due to the fact that said ball is able to rotate about any possible axis, since the described holding method of said ball does not introduce any constraints. This allows a more even spreading of the liquid detergent in all possible directions. The movement of the ball upon the pretreated surface facilitates also the foaming of the spreaded liquid detergent on any type of surface, even delicate surfaces, like silk.
  • the pretreatment means described so far allows a controlled multi-directional spreading, i.e. a spreading which is not bound to act in a predetermined direction, but it is always completely free to change the spreading direction.
  • This feature is particularly useful to achieve an accurate and comfortable spreading of liquid detergent, ensured also on very complicated patterns of stains. Otherwise the user would be obliged to perform complicated movements with his hand, like twisting the wrist. In this manner the spreading is also better controlled, and therefore avoids waste of liquid detergent, since it is easier to spread only on the limited area of the stain.
  • the ball (16) is manufactured separately from the hollow body (13). This ball can be inserted in the volume (20) by simply pushing said ball through the mouth (18). This is possible, since the lip of the mouth is flexible enough to be elastically deformed, at least slightly, since said mouth, part of the hollow body, is preferably made of a plastic material. Another possibility is to mould the hollow body holding or suspending the ball in a space which will become the volume (20).
  • the device (10) can also comprise more than one ball (16), holded separately or in a common mouth (18).
  • the pretreatment means are located in the bottom part of the device (10), with the opening (12) being on the top part of the same device.
  • the pretreatment means being in the bottom part of the device (10) means that the level of the contained liquid detergent (19) is always above the orifice (14).
  • the orifice (14) allows the communication between the contained liquid (19) and the ball (16).
  • the location of the orifice (14) on the internal wall (21) of the volume (20) can be selected by any person skilled in the art.
  • the contained liquid automatically flows inside the volume (20) intercepting the ball (16), since the minimum liquid detergent level is always higher than the orifice (14).
  • the device remains in a horizontal position during the pretreatment operation allowing an easy measuring and/or controlling of the amount of liquid detergent applied onto the fabrics during the pretreatment.
  • the measuring and/or controlling can be further facilitated by the dosing lines (11). Nevertheless, the pretreatment means can be easily located on the top part of device nearby the opening (12).
  • Gripping means can also be provided in form of cavities, depressions or striations on the external surface of the hollow body (13). They facilitate in holding or even squeezing the device for the pretreatment. This type of means is easy to produce during the moulding of the body of the device. Specific dimensions or shapes of the device in general can be selected by any person skilled in the art.
  • a process comprising the following steps, which desribe the pretreating and washing of fabrics in a washing machine with the dosing and dispensing device according to the present invention, is provided:

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Treatment Of Fiber Materials (AREA)
  • Electrical Discharge Machining, Electrochemical Machining, And Combined Machining (AREA)
  • Manufacturing Optical Record Carriers (AREA)
  • Detail Structures Of Washing Machines And Dryers (AREA)
  • Infusion, Injection, And Reservoir Apparatuses (AREA)
  • Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)
  • Sampling And Sample Adjustment (AREA)
  • Acyclic And Carbocyclic Compounds In Medicinal Compositions (AREA)
  • Organic Low-Molecular-Weight Compounds And Preparation Thereof (AREA)
  • Detergent Compositions (AREA)

Claims (8)

  1. Dosier- und Abgabevorrichtung (10) für flüssiges Reinigungsmittel, mit einem hohlen Körper (13), einer Öffnung (12) zur Abgabe des flüssigen Reinigungsmittels in die Waschflüssigkeit in einer Waschmaschine während eines Waschzyklus und Mitteln zum Verteilen zumindest eines Teiles des in der Vorrichtung enthaltenen flüssigen Reinigungsmittels auf eine Stoffoberfläche, wobei diese Mittel zumindest eine Durchtrittsöffnung (14) umfassen, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß mit der Durchtrittsöffnung eine Kugel (16) in Verbindung steht, wobei die Kugel (16) in allen Richtungen frei drehbar ist.
  2. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Durchtrittsöffnung ein Schlitz sein kann, welcher sich beim Zusammendrücken der Vorrichtung öffnet und nach Beendigung des Zusammendrückens schließt.
  3. Vorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Mittel im unteren Teil der Vorrichtung angeordnet sind.
  4. Vorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß ein Teil der Kugel zwischen einer Mündung (18) und der Durchtrittsöffnung (14) gehalten ist und die Kugel teilweise aus der Mündung herausragt.
  5. Vorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Vorrichtung Dosierlinien (11) aufweist.
  6. Vorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Vorrichtung (10) Greifmittel (25) aufweist.
  7. Vorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Vorrichtung aus Kunststoffmaterial besteht.
  8. Verfahren zum Vorbehandeln und Waschen von Stoffen in einer Waschmaschine mit der Dosier- und Abgabevorrichtung gemäß einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß sie folgende Schritte umfaßt:
    eine Dosis der Gesamtmenge des flüssigen Reinigungsmittels, das während der Vorbehandlung und des Waschzyklus verwendet wird, wird in die Dosier- und Abgabevorrichtung eingebracht;
    die Vorbehandlung der Stoffe wird mit einer kontrollierten Menge der flüssigen Reinigungsmitteldosis vorgenommen, die in der Vorrichtung enthalten ist und aus der Vorrichtung durch die Öffnung abgegeben wird;
    die so vorbehandelten Stoffe werden in die Trommel der Waschmaschine gemeinsam mit der Dosier- und Abgabevorrichtung und mit anderen nicht vorbehandelten Stoffen eingebracht.
EP94870073A 1994-04-27 1994-04-27 Spendevorrichtung zur Vorbehandlung Expired - Lifetime EP0679751B2 (de)

Priority Applications (9)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT94870073T ATE168420T1 (de) 1994-04-27 1994-04-27 Spendevorrichtung zur vorbehandlung
DK94870073T DK0679751T4 (da) 1994-04-27 1994-04-27 Doserings- og dispenseringsanordning
DE69411707T DE69411707T3 (de) 1994-04-27 1994-04-27 Spendevorrichtung zur Vorbehandlung
EP94870073A EP0679751B2 (de) 1994-04-27 1994-04-27 Spendevorrichtung zur Vorbehandlung
ES94870073T ES2119140T5 (es) 1994-04-27 1994-04-27 Dispositivo dispensador de tratamiento previo.
JP7527709A JPH09512230A (ja) 1994-04-27 1995-04-18 前処理分与装置
PCT/US1995/004739 WO1995029121A1 (en) 1994-04-27 1995-04-18 Pretreating dispensing device
MX9605072A MX9605072A (es) 1994-04-27 1995-04-18 Dispositivo dispensador para pretratamiento.
US08/732,363 US5887753A (en) 1994-04-27 1995-04-18 Pretreating dispensing device having a freely rotating ball capable of rotating in all directions

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP94870073A EP0679751B2 (de) 1994-04-27 1994-04-27 Spendevorrichtung zur Vorbehandlung

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0679751A1 EP0679751A1 (de) 1995-11-02
EP0679751B1 EP0679751B1 (de) 1998-07-15
EP0679751B2 true EP0679751B2 (de) 2002-01-09

Family

ID=8218637

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP94870073A Expired - Lifetime EP0679751B2 (de) 1994-04-27 1994-04-27 Spendevorrichtung zur Vorbehandlung

Country Status (8)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0679751B2 (de)
JP (1) JPH09512230A (de)
AT (1) ATE168420T1 (de)
DE (1) DE69411707T3 (de)
DK (1) DK0679751T4 (de)
ES (1) ES2119140T5 (de)
MX (1) MX9605072A (de)
WO (1) WO1995029121A1 (de)

Families Citing this family (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0931870A1 (de) * 1998-01-23 1999-07-28 The Procter & Gamble Company In der Hand haltbare Mehrzweckbehälter
WO2000020676A1 (en) * 1998-10-05 2000-04-13 The Procter & Gamble Company Improved measuring and dispensing device
US6213665B1 (en) * 1999-04-19 2001-04-10 The Procter & Gamble Company Mess free dosing and dispensing devices
GB2349649B (en) * 1999-05-06 2002-10-02 Unilever Plc Washing device and method
CA2489027A1 (en) * 2002-08-20 2004-03-04 Unilever Plc Pretreating and dispensing system
CN100451226C (zh) * 2003-04-11 2009-01-14 乐金电子(天津)电器有限公司 洗衣机的柔顺剂供应装置
JP2010168069A (ja) * 2009-01-22 2010-08-05 Kao Corp 洗濯前処理剤用容器
US9033606B2 (en) * 2011-04-15 2015-05-19 Reckitt Benckiser Dosing and dispensing device for liquid laundry detergent
GB2499017A (en) * 2012-02-03 2013-08-07 Reckitt Benckiser Nv Detergent Dispensing Device.
GB2499015A (en) * 2012-02-03 2013-08-07 Reckitt Benckiser Nv Detergent dispensing device.
EP3012365A1 (de) 2014-10-21 2016-04-27 Jörg Baumgartner Mobiler Fleckenbehandlungsgerät
DE102016115927A1 (de) 2016-08-26 2018-03-01 Brauns-Heitmann GmbH & Co Kommanditgesellschaft Färbesystem für textile Materialien
JP6781524B2 (ja) * 2018-03-12 2020-11-04 日立グローバルライフソリューションズ株式会社 洗濯機

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4241852A (en) * 1978-03-01 1980-12-30 Klem Stanley J Dispensing container for butter having follower
US4889441A (en) * 1988-04-11 1989-12-26 Janell Tice Skin lotion dispenser and applicator
EP0410858B1 (de) * 1989-07-25 1994-04-06 L'oreal Abgabevorrichtung für wenigstens ein flüssiges Produkt, insbesondere kosmetischer oder pharmazeutischer Art
FR2669943B1 (fr) * 1990-11-30 1994-02-11 Procter And Gamble Cy Equipement pour le lavage du linge en machine et son mode de mise en óoeuvre.
IT228562Y1 (it) * 1992-06-26 1998-04-27 Mira Lanza S P A Ora S R L Dosatore-erogatore per detersivo liquido per macchine lavatrici.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DK0679751T3 (da) 1998-11-02
EP0679751A1 (de) 1995-11-02
DE69411707T2 (de) 1999-02-04
DE69411707T3 (de) 2002-09-12
DE69411707D1 (de) 1998-08-20
DK0679751T4 (da) 2002-03-11
MX9605072A (es) 1997-08-30
ES2119140T3 (es) 1998-10-01
ATE168420T1 (de) 1998-08-15
EP0679751B1 (de) 1998-07-15
ES2119140T5 (es) 2002-07-16
JPH09512230A (ja) 1997-12-09
WO1995029121A1 (en) 1995-11-02

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