EP0777776B1 - Container for a laundry treatment agent - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a container (1) for a laundry treatment agent, in particular a washing powder (3), to be placed in a washing machine. During the course of a washing process, the laundry treatment agent is dispensed from the container (1) into the suds. The container (1) comprises a wall (6, 7). In order to attenuate the noises caused by the container hitting the washing drum when it is inside the washing machine, the container wall (6, 7) has slot-like apertures (8), each aperture (8) terminating at its ends in the container wall (6, 7).

Description

• das Behältnis eine Behältniswand aufweist, die eine Behältnisseitenwand und einen Behältnisboden aufweist,
• die Behältniswand Vertiefungen aufweist und
• zwischen der Behältnisseitenwand und dem Behältnisboden einen kantenartiger Wandübergang vorgesehen ist.

The invention relates to a container for holding a laundry treatment agent, in particular a washing powder, for introduction into a washing machine, the laundry treatment agent being dispensed from the container into the wash liquor during a washing process, wherein

• the container has a container wall which has a container side wall and a container bottom,
• the container wall has depressions and
• an edge-like wall transition is provided between the side wall of the container and the bottom of the container.

Such a container is known and is described in EP-A-0 490 577.

Further containers have already become known in many forms in the prior art. For this, z. B. on the French patent application 2 570 720, the European patent application 261 713 and German patent application 38 04 665 referenced.

If there are also such containers for introducing a laundry treatment agent, especially washing powder, but possibly also one liquid detergents that have been proven, they can be improved with regard to the noises that the container in the washing machine makes when it is struck caused the washing drum. In this context, it has already been proposed been to produce such a container from a textile material or to dress with a textile. On the one hand, there are such containers relatively difficult to manufacture, on the other hand, the release of the detergent not always during the washing process or acceptance by a user satisfactory.

Based on the prior art described above, the invention with the technical problem, at a cost to manufacture Container of the type mentioned the noise during the To reduce the washing process.

• daß die Vertiefungen schlitzartig ausgebildet sind,
• daß beide Enden der Vertiefungen innerhalb der Behältniswand angeordnet sind,
• daß mindestens eine Vertiefung den kantenartigen Wandübergang durchsetzt,
• daß die im Behältnisboden angeordneten Vertiefungen an einer Radialen orientiert ausgerichtet sind,
• und daß die in der Behältnisseitenwand angeordneten Vertiefungen vertikal zum aufrecht stehenden Behältnis ausgerichtet sind.

This technical problem is solved according to the invention in a container of the type mentioned at the outset by

• that the depressions are slit-like,
• that both ends of the depressions are arranged within the container wall,
• that at least one depression penetrates the edge-like wall transition,
• that the depressions arranged in the container base are oriented in a radial manner,
• and that the depressions arranged in the container side wall are aligned vertically to the upright container.

According to the invention it has been recognized that it is possible in such a container to accommodate z. B. washing powder slot-like wells without that the use properties of the container suffer. It is straightforward possible, the slot-like depressions only in such a size or width to ensure that the detergent powder does not or practically does not leak. In terms of production technology, the slot width can easily be reduced to 0.2 mm become. However, especially for dust-free detergent granules Slot widths close to the smallest grain diameter can be selected. On the other hand, there is even a desirable improvement in properties of the container in that wash liquor during the washing process due to the slot-like depressions and in addition to the usual Opening can enter the container. Essential to the subject of the invention is that a drum effect occurring in known containers in the invention Container is suppressed by the slot-like depressions. The vibration behavior of the container is fundamentally changed, so that the Structure-borne noise cannot develop or reproduce significantly. On Another advantage lies in the significantly lower manufacturing costs Containers with or made of textile material.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one depression is as continuous opening of the container wall is formed.

In a further advantageous embodiment, at least one depression is through a significant reduction in the wall thickness of the otherwise closed Container wall formed.

The slit-like depressions can be in different areas of the container be provided. There is preferably at least one depression in the bottom of the container educated. For noise reduction, it is particularly preferred that at least a recess only in the wall transition between the container side wall and the container bottom is arranged.

The container has an opening through which the laundry treatment agent, especially the washing powder, into which the container can be filled. In this Context, it is preferred that the opening is surrounded by an edge of the mouth and that at least one depression runs out in front of the mouth edge.

An increased strength of the container compared to the mechanical Loads during the washing process are achieved with minimal use of materials, if the mouth edge is designed as an upper edge region of the container and the edge area has a greater wall thickness than the remaining area of the container side wall has, which wall thickness is 0.8 to 1.5 mm, and if the Wall thickness of the container base is 0.8 to 1.2 mm.

At least one recess preferably also has bluntly tapered ends on. To reduce the tendency to break caused by sharp-edged corners it is particularly advantageous if the recess has rounded ends, wherein the radius of curvature at the ends in particular half the width of the depression is.

Furthermore, the invention proposes that a recess by intermediate webs is interrupted, the distances from each other in particular 0.5 to 5 cm. The thickness of the intermediate webs is essentially uninfluenced other container wall. A width of an intermediate web can be about the width correspond to a slot-like depression or a little larger or smaller his. In absolute terms, this can e.g. B. be a width of 0.1 to 1 mm.

In detail, the container can also have an oval shape. On Container as it is in question here is initially, especially in the bowl-like or spherical shape, can be made in one piece. However, it is also possible to produce such a container in two parts, the division level by a perpendicular to the plane of the opening and the plane penetrating the opening approximately in the middle given is. This is particularly preferred in connection with a container, which has the oval shape mentioned. Here is the advantage given that a z. B. half-shell manufactured by injection molding Provide the parting plane with depressions in a sufficiently dense arrangement can be. The two half-shells are by means of locking elements or by means of Glued or welded together. The two half shells can already be connected by a film hinge on the manufacturing side. The undivided containers can also preferably be produced by injection molding his.

A highly transparent container that can also withstand loads caused by washing temperatures of 95 ° C in the presence of surfactants over at least 100 washing cycles is resistant, preferably consists of a block co-polypropylene.

The slot-like depressions addressed in the context of this invention can also be designed so that they have no actual openings in the Are the meaning of a through opening. For example, you can use a thin film, for example with the thickness of a film joint, be closed. A significant reduction in the wall thickness in the area of the Deepening compared to the uninfluenced wall thickness and thereby achieved Sound wave attenuation or sound wave interruption.

The invention also relates to the use of a container of the invention Type for receiving a laundry treatment agent, in particular in powder form for placing in a washing machine, during a washing process the laundry treatment agent from the container into the wash liquor is delivered.

Figur 1

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Behältnisses mit Vertiefungen nach einer ersten Ausführungsform,

Figur 2

eine Seitenansicht des Behältnisses gemäß Fig. 1,

Figur 3

eine Draufsicht auf das Behältnis gemäß Fig. 1,

Figur 4

eine Unteransicht des Behältnisses gemäß Fig. 1,

Figur 5

einen Schnitt durch das Behältnis gemäß Fig. 1 entlang der Linie V-V in Fig. 3,

Figur 6

eine perspektivische Darstellung einer zweiten Ausführungsform des Behältnisses,

Figur 7

eine Draufsicht auf das Behältnis gemäß Fig. 6,

Figur 8

eine Darstellung gemäß Fig. 7 mit noch nicht zusammengesetzten Behältnishälften,

Figur 9

eine Detaildarstellung einer alternativen Vertiefungsausbildung,

Figur 10

eine auszugsweise Darstellung einer Behältniswand mit Vertiefungen mit Zwischenstegen,

Figur 11

einen Längsschnitt durch ein Behältnis nach einer dritten, besonders bevorzugten Ausführungsform,

Figur 12

die Ansicht X nach Figur 11,

Figur 13

eine Draufsicht auf das Behältnis nach Figur 11,

Figur 14

einen Längsschnitt durch den oberen Bereich des Behältnisses nach Figur 11 und

Figur 15

eine Seitenansicht dieses Behältnisses.

The invention is further explained below with reference to drawings, which, however, only represent exemplary embodiments. Show here

Figure 1

2 shows a perspective illustration of a container with depressions according to a first embodiment,

Figure 2

2 shows a side view of the container according to FIG. 1,

Figure 3

2 shows a plan view of the container according to FIG. 1,

Figure 4

2 shows a bottom view of the container according to FIG. 1,

Figure 5

2 shows a section through the container according to FIG. 1 along the line VV in FIG. 3,

Figure 6

2 shows a perspective illustration of a second embodiment of the container,

Figure 7

6 shows a plan view of the container according to FIG. 6,

Figure 8

7 with container halves not yet assembled,

Figure 9

a detailed representation of an alternative specialization,

Figure 10

a partial representation of a container wall with depressions with intermediate webs,

Figure 11

2 shows a longitudinal section through a container according to a third, particularly preferred embodiment,

Figure 12

the view X according to FIG. 11,

Figure 13

11 shows a plan view of the container according to FIG. 11,

Figure 14

a longitudinal section through the upper region of the container according to Figure 11 and

Figure 15

a side view of this container.

Shown and described is a container 1 for holding a laundry treatment agent, especially a washing powder 3. However, it is also possible to fill a liquid detergent into such a container 1, especially a high viscosity liquid detergent. Such a container 1 is after filling the laundry treatment agent into the washing machine set, the laundry treatment agent in the course of a washing process is released from the container 1 into the wash liquor. The Water or the wash liquor can enter the container 1 through the opening 2 penetrate and dissolve and rinse the washing powder 3 in it.

The container shown is generally cup-shaped, with a retracted upper edge area 4, which ends in a mouth edge 5. In detail, the container base is designed with a circular floor plan. The container side wall is cylindrical with a rounded cross-section Transitions to the edge of the mouth 5 or to the container bottom 7. The Transitions can be semicircular or quarter-circular. It is essential that a confiscation, which is illustrated in Fig. 1 by the dimension e is, the mouth edge 5 relative to a container side wall 6 relative is chosen small. With regard to the diameter in the cylindrical region of the Container side walls 6, dimension e can be, for example, approximately 5%.

It is essential that both in the container side wall 6 and in the Container bottom 7 slot-like depressions 8 are formed. The slot-like depressions 8 are vertical in the container side wall 6 oriented while being oriented radially in the container bottom 7 are. Individual depressions 8, in particular depressions 8 ' and 8 "in Fig. 2, enforce a wall transition, in the exemplary embodiment between the container side wall 6 and the container bottom 7. The depressions 8 'and 8' 'also change theirs when pushing through the wall transition Orientation. From an initially oriented towards a radial in the container bottom 7 they change to vertical alignment in the side wall 6th

The slot-like depressions 8 run on both ends, on one first end 9 and a second end 10, in the container wall 6 and 7 respectively or start there. They do not run up to a muzzle edge 11. Rather the entire mouth edge 5 also remains unaffected. It is preferred that the ends 9 and 10 are formed bluntly tapering. For example they can be rounded.

From the top view according to FIG. 3 it can be seen that the in the container bottom 7 formed slot-like depressions 8 all with one Start distance a from the center of the bottom of the container. Further are with Embodiment, the ends 9, 9 '' etc. of the slot-like depressions 8 in the container base 7 oriented on a circular line 12.

Furthermore, it is also important, as in particular also FIGS. 4 and 5 it can be seen that the slot-like depressions 8 overlap one another are arranged. One formed in the side wall of the container slot-like depression 8 '' 'runs, for example, up to the end point 9' '' in Fig. 4, while overlapping this from the container bottom 7 slit-like depression 8 '' '' runs. It is essential that the overlap area is formed in the area of the wall transition.

10 it is indicated that a slot-like Indentation 8 in turn by transverse webs 20 with regard to their longitudinal extent can be interrupted. The crosspieces 20 have an advantageous effect with regard to the desired overall stability of the container 1, 1 '. The width of the crosspieces 20 can be, for example a width of the slot-like depressions 8 and in absolute dimensions range between 0.1 and 1.0 mm. The distance of the Cross webs 20 of a depression is preferably 0.5 to 5 cm.

The container 1 'according to FIG. 6 has an oval shape. Is further the container 1 'composed of two half-shells 13, 14. A division level runs essentially vertically and passes through an opening plane about in the middle. In the exemplary embodiment, the division level is in Longitudinal direction of the oval-shaped floor plan.

Otherwise, the slot-like depressions 8 also run in this Embodiment as described in principle above. Essential is that the depressions 8 up to the parting plane of the half-shells 13, 14 can run, d. H. can run open in the parting line. A a sufficiently dense arrangement is advantageous.

7 and 8 that the two half-shells 13 and 14th Can be latched together via latching elements 15, 16 and latching recesses 17, 18 are. Deviating from this can also - if necessary additionally - a film joint connection between the two half-shells from the outset be provided. The half-shells can also be glued or be welded.

It can be seen from the illustration in FIG. 9 that the depressions 8 can also be closed by a film hinge-like (in terms of the thickness) connection 19. A depression 8 is only through a significant reduction in the wall thickness s of the otherwise closed Container wall formed. The wall thickness s of the container wall has a thickness corresponding to, for example, in the region of a depression 8 a plastic film hinge. While the wall thickness s for example 1 or 1.5 mm, a thickness d of the connection 19 is, for example 0.01 mm to 0.1 mm. The slot width b can preferably be between 0.2 and 0.6 mm. This also applies to the slot-like depressions 8, as described above, i.e. with a full opening, to.

Figures 11 to 15 show a third embodiment of the invention Container. Here as in the other drawings same reference numerals have the same meaning and may only be called once. As can be seen in particular from FIG. 11, it concerns a container with a cylindrical symmetrical shape. The up yourself conically opening lower area of the container goes into an annular upper edge area 4, which narrows slightly towards the top again. All transitions in this upper edge area are rounded, as Figure 14 clearly shows. The one for Purposes of stabilization against the wall area of the container side wall 6 reinforced edge area 4.

When manufacturing the container, the bottom of the container with the lower edge area on the one hand and the upper edge area on the other others made in a plastic injection molding process and then along the dividing line 20 (Figure 15) welded together.

The conical side wall of the container that opens upwards this embodiment enables the stacking of these cups.

Another advantage of this container is that the recesses, in this case in the form of slots, only in the transition are attached from the container bottom 7 to the container side wall 6. tries have shown that these depressions alone are sufficient to achieve the desired To achieve low noise. Furthermore, the rounding of the Ends of the wells are particularly advantageous. Such a rounded one The end can be seen particularly clearly in the enlargement of FIG. 11. The radius of curvature here is equal to half the width of the depression. The outer longitudinal edge of the depressions is also rounded, as shown in Figure 12.

The roundings reduce the tendency to break, that of sharp corners and Edges can go out and also reduce the risk of injury such sharp edges and corners.

There is a on the outside of the container to facilitate dosing Graduation attached (Figure 15).

The in the above description, the drawing and the claims Disclosed features of the invention can be used both individually and in any combination of importance for the implementation of the invention his. All the features disclosed are essential to the invention. In the revelation the disclosure also hereby includes the disclosure content of the associated / attached Priority documents (copy of pre-registration) fully included.

Claims (16)

1. Container (1) for receiving a laundry treatment agent, particularly a washing power (3), for introduction into a washing machine, wherein during a washing process the laundry treatment agent is delivered from the container (1) into the washing solution, wherein

   the container (1) has a container wall (6, 7) which comprises a container side wall (6) and a container base (7),

   the container wall (6, 7) has depressions (8) and

   an edgelike wall transition is provided between the container side wall (6) and the container base (7),

   characterised in that

   the depressions (8) are formed to be slot-shaped,

   the two ends (9, 10) of the depressions (8) are arranged within the container wall (6, 7),

   at least one depression (8) crosses the edgelike wall transition,

   the depressions (8) arranged in the container base (7) are aligned to be oriented on radials and

   the depressions (8) arranged in the container side wall (6) are aligned vertically relative to the upright container (1).
2. Container according to claim 1, characterised in that at least one depression (8) is formed as a piercing through of the container wall (6, 7).
3. Container according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that at least one depression (8) is formed by a significant reduction in the wall thickness or thicknesses of the container wall (6, 7) which is, however, otherwise closed.
4. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one depression (8) is formed in the container base (7).
5. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one depression (8) is arranged exclusively in the wall transition between the container side wall (6) and the container base (7).
6. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the container (1) has an opening for adding the laundry treatment agent, the opening is surrounded by a mouth edge (5) and the at least one depression (5) comes to a stop in front of the mouth edge (5).
7. Container according to claim 6, characterised in that the mouth edge (5) is formed as an upper edge region (4) of the container (1) and the edge region (4) has a greater wall thickness than the remaining region of the container side wall (6), wherein this wall thickness amounts to 0.8 to 1.5 mm.
8. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterised by a wall thickness of the container base (7) of 0.8 to 1.2 mm.
9. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one depression (8) has ends (9, 10) coming to a stop in blunt manner.
10. Container according to claim 9, characterised in that the depression (8) has rounded ends, wherein the radius of curvature at the ends amounts to, in particular, half the width of the depression.
11. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one depression (8) is interrupted by intermediate webs (20), the mutual spacings of which amount to 0.5 to 5 cm.
12. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the container (1') has an oval-shaped plan.
13. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the container (1') is of two-part construction.
14. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the container (1, 1') is produced in a synthetic material injection moulding process.
15. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the container consists of block-co-polypropylene.
16. Use of a container (1) according to the one of the preceding claims for receiving a laundry treatment agent (3), which is in particular of powder form, for introduction into a washing machine, wherein the laundry treatment agent (3) is delivered from the container (1) into the washing solution during a washing process.

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