Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47L15/00—Washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware
  • A47L15/42—Details
  • A47L15/44—Devices for adding cleaning agents; Devices for dispensing cleaning agents, rinsing aids or deodorants
  • A47L15/4445—Detachable devices

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a dispensing device for detergent tablet for use in dish washing machines, and the like.
• Detergent compositions formed in non particulate solids such as bars or tablets or briquettes are known in the art.
• tablette will refer to any form of non particulate solids.
• the tablet provides a number of advantages to both the consumer and the manufacturer. Indeed, said tablet prevents spillage of the detergent composition. Furthermore, said tablet eliminates the need for the user to estimate the dosage of detergent composition required and ensures that the correct dosage of detergent composition per wash cycle is used by the user.
• This dispensing device may comprise a fastening means (Fig. 2, 1 1 1 ) which fastens said dispensing device to the interior of an automatic washing machine such that it can be released therefrom when required.
• said dispensing device is usually attached to the exterior of the cutlery basket or the crockery basket.
• said dispensing device may occasionally be detached form the interior of the automatic dish washing machine during the wash cycle of this machine. This may mainly occur due to external forces acting on said dispensing device during the wash cycle. These forces may, for example, be due to the circulation of water and/or of air inside said automatic dish washing machine during the wash cycle. Also dishes and/or cutlery which inadvertently move inside said automatic dish washing machine during the wash cycle may cause the detaching of said dispensing device. Furthermore, it may then further occur that said dispensing device melts when falling on the heating elements of the automatic dish washing machine.
• the present invention provides a Iiquid permeable dispensing device (10) adapted to retain a detergent tablet.
• Said dispensing device comprises a hollow body (12) having an opening (14) to allow the introduction of said tablet into said device.
• Said dispensing device comprises a fastening means (20) which allows to attach said dispensing device to the interior of an automatic washing machine.
• Said dispensing device further comprises securing means (30) which prevents that said dispensing device is detached during the wash cycle of an automatic washing machine.
• Figure 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the dispensing device according to the present invention.
• Figure 2 is a side view of another embodiment of the dispensing device according to the present invention.
• Figure 3 is a side view of another embodiment of the dispensing device according to the present invention.
• Figures 4a to 4d is a side view of another embodiment of the clip according to the present invention.
• Figures 5a and 5b are side views of another embodiment of the dispensing device according to the present invention.
• any form of non particulate solids such as bars or tablets or briquettes will be encompassed by the term "tablet".
• Said tablet is made by a detergent composition for dish or laundry washing. Said tablet may have any shape or dimension. Preferably, said solid, non particulate tablet is symmetrical to ensure the uniform dissolution of said tablet in the wash liquor.
• the detergent tablet may comprise any ingredients known in the art. Such ingredients may include surfactants, suds suppressers, bleaches, chelants, builders, enzymes, fillers and perfumes.
• the detergent composition of the tablet is prepared in its granular or particulate form and then formed into tablets of the desired shape and size by any one of the methods known in the art. Suitable methods include compression, extrusion and casting.
• the detergent composition may be homogeneously distributed throughout the tablet or may comprise distinct layers of certain detergent ingredients.
• FIG. 1 shows a dispensing device (10) in a first embodiment of the present invention.
• Said dispensing device (10) comprises a hollow body (12).
• Said hollow body comprises an opening (14) and a Iiquid permeable side wall (16).
• Preferably said opening and said hollow body correspond to the configuration of the detergent tablet. This means that the shape and dimension of said opening is such that said tablet is able to be readily inserted into said device through said opening. Whereas the shape and dimension of said hollow body (12) is adapted to retain the detergent tablet.
• the dispensing device (10) of the present invention is Iiquid permeable. This means that said device allows Iiquid to enter inside said device itself. Therefore a detergent tablet contained in said device can be dissolved during a wash cycle, for example, by water. The dissolved detergent tablet forms a wash liquor. This wash liquor is able then to exit the Iiquid permeable dispensing device to be available in the wash cycle of the washing machine.
• said hollow body (12) is surrounded by a Iiquid permeable side wall (16).
• Said side wall is a cage or a mesh or a perforated sheet structure, so that the device has multiple orifices. Said orifices are preferably evenly distributed throughout said hollow body of said device.
• said hollow body of said device has a cage structure.
• said hollow body (12) of said dispensing device (10) comprises a rigid frame having a base (15) and a perforated side wall (16).
• said side wall is substantially perpendicular to said base.
• Said opening (14) is preferably opposite to said base (15).
• said dispensing device comprises a fastening means (20).
• fastening means refers to any means which can be adapted to fasten said dispensing device to the interior of e.g. an automatic dish washing machine such that it can be released therefrom when required by the user.
• Said fastening means is preferably made of similar or identical material to that of said dispensing device itself.
• the fastening means may preferably located on said side wall (16) of said dispensing device.
• the fastening means preferably comprises at least a hook (22), which extends along said side wall (16).
• said fastening means is adapted to be fastened on the exterior of the cutlery basket of an automatic dish washing machine.
• securing means refers to any means which can be adapted to secure said dispensing device to the interior of an automatic dish or laundry washing machine such that it cannot be disengaged therefrom during the wash cycle of said automatic washing machine.
• said securing means is adapted to prevent disengagement of said dispensing device due to forces occurring inside an automatic dish washing machine, as for example forces exerted by the circulation of water and/or air. Nevertheless, said securing means does not impede the release of said dispensing device from the interior of an automatic dish or laundry washing machine when required by the user.
• said securing means is adapted to secure said dispensing device on the cutlery basket of an automatic dish washing machine.
• Said securing means is preferably made of similar or identical material as said dispensing device, but being more flexible with respect to said dispensing device itself. Other flexible material, like metals, may be also considered for the purpose of the present invention.
• said securing means (30) prevents said dispensing device (10) from disengaging from said cutlery basket.
• said securing means prevents disengagement of said dispensing device in a direction which is opposite to the direction in which said dispensing device is fastened with said fastening means.
• said securing means (30) is an inclined arm, hereinafter referred to as "clip" (32), as illustrated in Figure 1.
• Said clip may also be a curved convex or concave arm, as shown, for example, respectively in Figure 4a and Figure 4b.
• said curved concave arm of Figure 4b is connected to said side wall (16) of said dispensing device through a transition part (33).
• Another possible embodiment is a clip comprising two arms, preferably pointing in opposed directions, as shown in Figure 4c.
• Figure 4d illustrates the possibility to combine inclined and curved arms. More than two arms may be also considered to form a clip according to the present invention.
• Said clip is located on the same side of said dispensing device (10) on which also said fastening means (20) is located. Specifically, said clip may be located on the part (16a) of said side wall (16) facing said fastening means, as illustrated for example in Figure 1. Said clip may be also located on said fastening means, as illustrated in Figure 2. Said clip may be attached to or integral part of said side wall (16a), as shown in Figure 1 . As herein defined, “upwards” is defined to be pointed towards the upper part of said dispensing device, said upper part being defined by said opening (12). On the contrary, “downwards” is in the following defined to be pointed towards the opposed direction with respect to "upwards", i.e. towards said base (15) opposing said opening. In Figure 1 said clip points upwards, but a clip pointing downwards may also considered in an embodiment according to the present invention. Another preferred embodiment is shown in Figure 2, where said clip is attached to or integral part of said fastening means.
• said securing means (30) comprises two clips (32), as illustrated in Figure 3.
• said clips may be located on said side wall (16a) or on said fastening means (20).
• Another possibility is to have one clip located on said fastening means, whereas the other may be located on said side wall.
• Both clips may point together towards the same direction, upwards or downwards, or point each one in an opposed direction.
• said clips are above each other on said side wall (16a) along the vertical direction.
• the "vertical" direction is defined to be parallel to the axis (A) of said dispensing device. Said clips may be distanced also along the horizontal direction, i.e. said clips are not aligned along the same vertical line.
• the "horizontal” direction is the direction perpendicular to axis (A) and perpendicular to axis (B) of said dispensing device. More than two clips are also possible in an embodiment according to the present invention. In any of the above embodiments, any of said clips may also point along the horizontal direction, to the left or to the right.
• Said clip (32) secures preferably said dispensing device onto the cutlery basket of an automatic dish washing machine.
• Said cutlery basket usually comprises perforations on its side wall. Said perforations are evenly distributed over said side wall of said cutlery basket. Consequently, there is always at least a perforation which comes into interaction with said clip when said dispensing device is fastened over said cutlery basket. Indeed, said clip fits into one of said perforations.
• said dispensing device is placed on the outermost surface of said side wall of said cutlery basket whereby said hook of said fastening means plunges into the inside of said cutlery basket and said clip (32) is secured into one of said perforations from the outside to the inside of said cutlery basket.
• the dimensions, i.e. length and width, of said clip are such to secure said dispensing device onto said cutlery basket.
• the dimension of said inclined arm of said clip has to be small enough to fit into any of said perforations of said cutlery basket.
• said dimension has to be big enough to ensure that said clip is blocked within said perforation.
• said clip should be prevented by the frame surrounding said perforation to exit said perforation.
• This dimensions may also depend of the specific shape of said clip, i.e. if said clip is inclined or curved and/or said clip points upwards, downwards or in the horizontal direction.
• said dimensions are between about 1 mm to 10 mm of length and about 1 mm to 5 mm of width, more preferably about 5 mm of length and about 3 mm of width.
• said angle ⁇ being the smallest angle between the inclined arm of said clip and said vertical or horizontal direction.
• said angle ⁇ is in the range of about 0° deg to about 90° deg, preferably in the range of about 20° deg and about 70° deg, more preferably about 45° deg.
• the radius of the curvature of said curved arm is preferably between about 3 mm and about 8 mm, more preferably about 5 mm. The radius is measured from the side wall of said dispensing device.
• a preferred embodiment according to the present invention is a cradle comprising a single clip as shown in Figure 1 .
• the dimensions of said clip with this preferred embodiment are about 5 mm of length and 3 mm of width.
• This clip is located between said fastening means (20) and said side wall (1 6a) distanced 1 1 mm from the opening (14).
• the angle ⁇ is about 45° deg.
• Said clip (32) avoids great displacements of said dispensing device when said dispensing device is fastened and secured onto a cutlery basket of an automatic dish washing machine.
• the dispensing device of Figure 1 may be fastened and secured onto a cutlery basket and placed into an automatic dish washing machine.
• said dispensing device When upward forces act onto said dispensing device during the wash cycle of said washing machine, said dispensing device is lifted upwards until the top bar of the frame of the perforation in which said clip is positioned impedes any further displacement. Indeed, said horizontal top bar is secured in the angle ⁇ between said clip and said side wall (16a) of said dispensing device.
• said dispensing device When side forces act onto said dispensing device during the wash cycle of said washing machine, said dispensing device may move to the left or right but only within the perforation in which said clip is positioned. Indeed, said clip being inclined or curved comes in contact with the side bars of the frame surrounding said perforation.
• the only way to remove said dispensing device (10) from the cutlery basket is to exert a force parallel to the axis (B) and away from said side wall of said cutlery basket. In this manner, said clip (32) is forced to exit the perforation in which said clip was secured.
• the force necessary to unclip said dispensing device from said cutlery basket are greater than the forces exerted onto said dispensing device during the wash cycle in an automatic dish washing machine.
• the circulating water and/or air in said washing machine are not strong enough to achieve a complete detachment of said dispensing device from said cutlery basket. Therefore, said dispensing device according to the present invention does not drop off from said cutlery basket during the wash cycle.
• said dispensing device (10) further comprises a child resistant restraining means (Fig. 5a, 24).
• Said restraining means is adapted to prevent the removal of said tablet through said opening (14) prior to the dissolution of the tablet in the wash liquor.
• the wording child resistant restraining means refers to any mechanism whereby access to the tablet, once inserted in the dispenser, is reduced so that the tablet cannot be readily removed, especially by infants and children.
• a possible child resistant restraining means (24) may be at least a resiliently hingeable (25a) or deformable element (25b) located in the region of said opening (14) as illustrated in detail in Figures 5a and 5b.
• Said resiliently hingeable or deformable element is displaced from its rest position within said hollow body (12) of said dispensing device (10) by the insertion of the tablet.
• Said element has minimal, preferably no opposite hingeable motion or deformability beyond its rest position, so that the tablet cannot be removed from said hollow body once inserted therein.
• said resiliently hingeable or deformable element may entirely close or partially close said opening of said dispensing device.
• the dispensing device of the present invention may be formed from any water resistant material that can withstand moderately elevated temperatures, such as those reached in automatic washing machines, e.g. about 95° C, for a relatively long period of time (about 3 hours) and which can be formed into the desired shape.
• the dispensing device is made of low cost thermoplastic material such as polypropylene and formed by injection molding.
• the means (20) which allows to take said detergent tablet and introduce said tablet into said dispensing device without having a contact between the fingers of a user and said detergent tablet is preferably formed from the same material as the body of said dispensing device.
• the hollow body (12) of said dispensing device (10) may be of any shape such that it can readily accommodate the detergent tablet.
• said dispensing device is substantially rectangular.

Landscapes

• Detergent Compositions (AREA)
• Washing And Drying Of Tableware (AREA)
• Bidet-Like Cleaning Device And Other Flush Toilet Accessories (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=22249905

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (10)

Families Citing this family (7)

Family Cites Families (2)

• 1995
  • 1995-10-05 AU AU44046/96A patent/AU4404696A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1995-10-05 JP JP9514217A patent/JPH11512633A/ja active Pending
  • 1995-10-05 ES ES95942830T patent/ES2145321T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1995-10-05 DE DE69517059T patent/DE69517059T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1995-10-05 AT AT95942830T patent/ATE192913T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1995-10-05 PT PT95942830T patent/PT853460E/pt unknown
  • 1995-10-05 DK DK95942830T patent/DK0853460T3/da active
  • 1995-10-05 WO PCT/US1995/012787 patent/WO1997012539A1/en active IP Right Grant
  • 1995-10-05 EP EP95942830A patent/EP0853460B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 2000
  • 2000-07-19 GR GR20000401669T patent/GR3033984T3/el not_active IP Right Cessation

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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