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
• • 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
  • D06F39/022—Devices for adding soap or other washing agents in a liquid state
• • 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 without consuming a greater amount of liquid detergent.
• Pre- treatment means that a certain amount of detergent is applied directly onto the dirty parts of said fabrics before they are washed in the machine. In the following these devices are called “pretreat- ment devices”.
• detergent means a detergent composition for the treatment of fabrics. This detergent composition may comprise washing additives, like beaches, enzymes and/or others known in the art.
• pretreatment devices for liquid detergent are described in the prior art, for example in WO 92/09736 and WO 92/09737. These devices allow an application of said liquid detergent onto the fabrics before the washing cycle either with predetermined outlets or a removable pretreatment applicator respectively.
• Another approach is represented by EP-A-575 714.
• This document describes another pretreatment device for liquid detergent with a fixed appli- cator in form of a roller ball. This roller ball is able to spread the contained liquid detergent only in a predetermined direction.
• pretreating devices mentioned before allow an even spreading of the contained liquid detergent onto the fabric, i.e. the spread quantity is always the same. This way of even spreading does not consider that different stains need a different amount of liquid detergent during pretreatment. For example, stains can be made of certain constituents which need a more thorough pretreatment to increase its effectiveness. This can be achieved by applying a greater amount of the liquid detergent. A greater quantity is also needed depending on the dimensions of the stain itself. Therefore, we found that the effectiveness of stain removal is increased when a greater amount of pretreating detergent is applied upon the soiled surface of the fabric, since said surface can be pretreated more thoroughly.
• a dosing and dispensing device for liquid detergent comprising a hollow body having a portion comprising a flexible material, where ⁇ i n at least one slit is provided In the flexible portion for dispensing the product, and means to spread at least a portion of the contained liquid detergent onto a surface of fabric, wherein said slit Is (progressively) opened when lateral pressure is applied to said de- vice on a surface to which the liquid detergent is applied, and said opening being substantially closed when said pressure stops.
• the container of the invention is particularly advantageous in that the amount of detergent dosed from the de- vice and the spreading of the detergent onto the surface being treated is surprisingly beneficial .
• These benefits include quick / advanced control of discharge of the detergent from the device by the application / removal of pressure applied thereto. Additionally the device of the invention is able to provide a rubbing / scrubbing action as well as the application of pressure.
• the opening is located in the bottom part of said device. This allows dosing of the detergent (aided by gravity) onto the surface being treated.
• the portion of flexible material is located in the bottom part of said device.
• the device comprises several openings. This allows effective dosage and spreading of the detergent onto the surface being treated.
• the openings are in the form of a slit valve.
• slit valves are understood to be capable of being opened when pressure is applied thereto.
• the pressure applied may be in the form of contact pressure against a surface or translational pressure (or a combination thereof) caused by movement relative to a surface.
• Each slit valve may have one or more preferably a plurality of sep- arate slit openings (these may be arranged perpendicularly to one other - in this way it is possible to achieve dosing of the detergent even when the direction of rubbing is perpendicular to some of the slit valves (i.e. for any rubbing direction some valves will be in the best condition to work)), (ideally about two openings for enhanced discharge of detergent). Where more than one slit opening is present it can be that the openings are not of an equivalent size.
• the slit valve is co-planar with the surface of the flexible portion.
• the flexible portion may be planar.
• the flexible portion is in the form of a portion of a sphere / spheroid. .
• the device preferably on the flexible portion
• the spreading means is in the form of a ridge.
• the ridge may be liner or may be curved. Generally a plurality of ridges is present on the device.
• the device comprises a gripping means.
• the gripping means prefera- bly comprises the main body of the device, into which the detergent is poured.
• the main body of the device is preferably shaped so that it is capable of fitting into a hand of a user yet may contain sufficient detergent for a pre-treatment and laundry step.
• the main body thus has a volume of from 50-200cm 3 .
• the main body may comprise any geometrical shape but is generally based on an ovoid, tapering towards its upper opening (into which the detergent is poured) and also at its lower end (which adjoins onto the flexible portion).
• the device is made of elastic plastic material .
• the main body may comprise PP, PE or PET (both injected or blow moulded).
• the ridges and the valves may comprise any rubber or elastomer suitable for being welded, melted or glued onto the main body.
• the device is for a laundry cleaning formulation and for use in dispensing same onto a clothing surface.
• the laundry cleaning formulation comprises a bleach, e.g . i n an amount of from 0.001 % to 99.99%, preferably 0.001 % to 20%, preferably 4% to 18%, e.g . most preferably about 4.5% or 13%, by weight, of bleach .
• the bleach is preferably peroxide bleach, most preferably hydrogen peroxide. Peroxide sources oth- er than H 2 O 2 can be used .
• the laundry cleaning formulation comprises a surfactant.
• the composition comprises from 0.001 % to 99.99%, preferably 0.05% to 15%, e.g . about 7%, by weight of surfactant.
• the surfactant is, for example, an anionic or nonionic surfactant or mixture thereof (most preferably a nonionic surfactant) .
• the nonionic surfactant is preferably a surfactant having a formula RO(CH 2 CH 2 O) n H wherein R is a mixture of linear, even carbon- number hydrocarbon chains ranging from C12H25 to C16H33 and n represents the number of repeating units and is a number of from about 1 to about 12.
• examples of other non-ionic surfactants include higher aliphatic primary alcohol containing about twelve to about 16 carbon atoms which are condensed with about three to thirteen moles of ethylene oxide.
• nonionic surfactants include primary alcohol ethoxylates (available under the Neodol trade name from Shell Co.), such as C11 alkanol condensed with 9 moles of ethylene oxide (Neodol 1-9), C12- 13 alkanol condensed with 6.5 moles ethylene ox ⁇ ide (Neodol 23-6.5), C12- 13 alkanol with 9 moles of ethylene oxide (Neodol 23-9), C12-15 alkanol condensed with 7 or 3 moles ethylene oxide (Neodol 25-7 or Neodol 25-3), C14-15 alkanol condensed with 13 moles ethylene oxide (Neodol 45-13), Cg-n linear ethox- ylated alcohol, averaging 2.5 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol (Neodol 91-2.5), and the like.
• Neodol trade name available under the Neodol trade name from Shell Co.
• nonionic surfactants suitable for use in the pre- sent invention include ethylene oxide condensate products of secondary aliphatic alcohols containing 11 to 18 carbon atoms in a straight or branched chain configuration condensed with 5 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide.
• examples of commercially available nonionic detergents of the foregoing type are Cn-15 secondary alkanol condensed with either 9 moles of ethylene oxide (Tergitol 15-S-9) or 12 moles of ethylene oxide (Tergitol 15-S-12) marketed by Union Carbide, a subsidiary of Dow Chemical.
• Octylphenoxy polyethoxyethanol type nonionic surfactants for ex- ample, Triton X-100, as well as amine oxides can also be used as a nonionic surfactant in the present invention.
• Other examples of linear primary alcohol ethoxylates are available under the Tomadol trade name such as, for example, Tomadol 1-7, a Cii linear primary alcohol ethoxylate with 7 moles EO; Tomadol 25-7, a C12-C15 linear primary alcohol ethoxylate with 7 moles EO; Tomadol 45-7, a C14-C15 linear primary alcohol ethoxylate with 7 moles EO; and Tomadol 91-6, a Cg-Cn linear alcohol ethoxylate with 6 moles EO.
• linear primary alcohol ethoxylates are available under the Lutensol trade name such as, for example, Lutensol A3N, a C13-15 linear primary alcohol ethoxylate with 3 moles EO; Lutensol LA60, a C13-15 linear primary alcohol ethoxylate with 7 moles EO.
• Genapol such as, for example, Genapol LA3, a C13-15 linear primary alcohol ethoxylate with 3 moles EO; Genapol LA070, a C13- 15 linear primary alcohol ethoxylate with 7 moles EO
• Tomadol 45-7 a C14-C15 linear primary alcohol ethoxylate with 7 moles EO; and Tomadol 91-6, a Cg-Cn linear alcohol ethoxylate with 6 moles EO.
• nonionic surfactants are amine oxides, alkyl amide oxide surfactants.
• Preferred anionic surfactants are frequently provided as alkali met- al salts, ammonium salts, amine salts, aminoalcohol salts or magnesium salts.
• Contemplated as useful are one or more sulfate or sulfonate compounds including : alkyl benzene sulfates, alkyl sulfates, alkyl ether sulfates, alkylamidoether sulfates, alkylaryl poly- ether sulfates, monoglyceride sulfates, alkylsulfonates, alkylamide sulfonates, alkylarylsulfonates, olefinsulfonates, paraffin sulfonates, alkyl sulfosuccinates, alkyl ether sulfosuccinates, alkylamide sulfosuccinates, alkyl sulfosuccinamate, alkyl sulfoacetates
• surfactants which may be used are al kyl naphthalene sul ⁇ fonates and acyl / oleoyl sarcosinates and mixtures thereof.
• the laundry cleaning formulation may comprise various optional ingredients, including enzymes, builders, solvents, dye transfer i n ⁇ hibition agents, dye catchers, preservatives, anti-oxidants, anti ⁇ static agents, fragrances, odour absorbing components, optical brighteners, acidifying agents, al kalizing agents, thickeners (e.g . hydroxyethylcellulose and / or xanthan gum) .
• Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a device i n ac ⁇ cordance with the invention .
• the device 1 comprises a main body section 2 in the form of a modified cylinder and a flexible body portion 3. These are bra ned together to form a dosing device for retaining / dosing a liquid (detergent) composition .
• the main body 2 is able to act as a handle for use by a consumer.
• the main body has an opening 4 for introduction of detergent into the device and release of detergent in a (laundry) washing cycle.
• the flexible body portion 3 comprises a plurality of slit valves 5 disposed on its lower surface.
• the slit valves 5 have openings 6 that may be opened by the application of pressure (contact and / or translational) on a surface.
• the flexible body portion 3 also comprises a plurality of curved spreading ridges 7 on its lower sur ⁇ face.
• a dose of the total quantity of liquid detergent to be utilized during the pretreatment and washing cycle is introduced into the device 1.
• Pretreatment of fabrics is executed with a controlled quantity of the liquid detergent dosage contained i n said device 1 being dispensed from said device 1 through said valves 5. This is achieved by pressing and rubbing the device 1 on the fabric sur- face to be treated, thus causing release of detergent and spreading of same (aided by the ridges 7) on the surface being treated .
• the thus pretreated fabrics are placed in the drum of the washing ma ⁇ chine together with said dosing and dispensing device 1 and with other non-pretreated fabrics.
• a washing cycle may then be oper- ated .

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Textile Engineering (AREA)
• Detergent Compositions (AREA)
• Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)
• Treatment Of Fiber Materials (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=44485082

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (11)

Families Citing this family (2)

Family Cites Families (11)

• 2011
  • 2011-06-24 GB GBGB1110705.9A patent/GB201110705D0/en not_active Ceased
• 2012
  • 2012-06-22 US US14/127,319 patent/US20140165297A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2012-06-22 RU RU2014102211/12A patent/RU2014102211A/ru not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2012-06-22 EP EP12730250.3A patent/EP2723933A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2012-06-22 WO PCT/GB2012/051464 patent/WO2012175989A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2012-06-22 KR KR1020137030846A patent/KR20140027294A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2012-06-22 BR BR112013029368A patent/BR112013029368A2/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2012-06-22 SG SG2013080205A patent/SG194685A1/en unknown
  • 2012-06-22 CN CN201280030513.6A patent/CN103635623A/zh active Pending
  • 2012-06-22 AU AU2012273746A patent/AU2012273746A1/en not_active Abandoned
• 2013
  • 2013-10-29 ZA ZA2013/08058A patent/ZA201308058B/en unknown

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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