FR2723752A1 - Loose washing machine detergent dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

A spherical loose one-piece dispenser for a detergent, to be placed in the rotating drum of a clothes washing machine, delivers dosed washing medium during the washing cycle. It has a conical upper section (26) with the free end (26a) directed towards the base, to give the filling opening (20). A number of perforations (28) at the upper section give the detergent release. The base (14) has a domed centre section (30), without micro-openings, equal to the dimensions of the filling opening (20). The hollow interior can be sepd. into two compartments by a vertical dividing wall.

Description

 The present invention relates to a metering and dispensing container for washing products in a tank, comprising a hollow body having a bottom and a side wall, as well as an upper element, the latter being integral with said side wall and being, at least generally , arranged across the hollow body, a filling opening being formed in the upper element and opening into the hollow body, the bottom having a plurality of micro-orifices, of dimensions suitable for allowing the diffusion of the detergents in contact with the 'a washing solution injected into the tank and to avoid the diffusion of said products before their contact with said washing solution, and the container being provided with fixing means inside the tank.

 It is known to use metering and diffusing containers in washing machines. The known containers are not fixed inside the tank of these machines, but are simply introduced into the rotary drum to be tossed around with the linen in order to gradually diffuse the washing products therein. Their use has various advantages, among which the fact of facilitating the dosage of the detergents and that of avoiding the conventional prewash step which increases the duration of the washing cycle and consumes water and energy.

 Numerous documents, for example the European patent application EP-AO 490 577 and the French patent application FR-A-2 669 944, mention improvements made to these containers, mainly aimed at controlling the diffusion of the washing products. in the laundry.

 Insofar as these receptacles are tossed with the linen in the washing water injected into the tank of the machine, the entry of the washing water into the hollow body and the total and homogeneous diffusion, in the whole of the he interior of the tank, detergents diluted in water operate without difficulty due to the numerous changes in position of the containers (which can in turn fill and empty) and their course in the tank.

 In other words, the improvements made by the known documents are mainly aimed at avoiding too rapid diffusion of the washing products.

 For certain applications, it may prove desirable, even essential, to prevent such a container from being freely placed inside the tank. This is for example the case when the tank is that of a dishwashing machine, where it is obviously excluded to use a dispenser-dispensing container stirred in the washing water, which could damage the dishes.

 It is therefore important to provide the container with fixing means inside the tank.

 The addition of these fixing means to the known containers is not sufficient, however, to provide a satisfactory solution, since the circulation of water from the machine tank towards the interior of the container, as well as the diffusion of the products washing from inside the container to the machine tank, are problematic in the case of a fixed container, not stirred in the washing solution.

 The present invention aims to provide a solution to this technical problem, by allowing a diffusion of the homogeneous and total washing products, while preventing this diffusion from being too rapid.

 For this purpose, the upper element comprises a central part provided with a frustoconical skirt extending downwards and having a free lower end which delimits the filling opening; the container has, in its upper part, a plurality of openings for diffusing the detergents; and the bottom has a central portion provided with an upward bulge, free of micro-orifices, and having dimensions substantially equal to those of the filling opening.

 The various position indications (upwards, downwards) are given with reference to the position of the dispensing metering container under the conditions of use, that is to say when the upper element is on top while that the bottom is below.

 It is therefore understood that the frustoconical skirt extends towards the inside of the hollow body, just as the bulge projects towards the inside of this hollow body. The washing product diffusion openings are located towards the top of the diffuser dosing container.

 When this container is in the presence of the washing solution, it mainly tends to enter through the filling opening, and the bulge, as well as the internal face of the skirt, act as deflectors for the flow fluid. As a result, a circulation of fluid is established inside the container, allowing the detergents to dissolve in the washing solution. The amount of excess fluid, this fluid being constituted by the washing solution loaded with washing products, emerges through the diffusion openings and by the micro-orifices to diffuse inside the tank.

 The washing solution can be water or consist of a solution of water and of a product complementary to the washing product such as, for example in the case of a dishwashing machine, an anti-scale agent.

 By detergents is meant products to be added to such a washing solution to provide a cleaning action. They can thus be constituted by a conventional detergent for dishwashing machine, by detergent products or even, for example in the case where the tank is that of a flush, by descaling or disinfectant products.

 These washing products can be in the form of granules, a powder or a viscous liquid. The dimensions of the micro-orifices are determined according to the particle size or the viscosity of the detergents.

 In the case of granules or a powder, these dimensions must obviously be less than the particle size of the detergents. In the case of a viscous liquid, these dimensions should only allow the passage of the washing products through the micro-orifices when these products see their viscosity decrease due to their dilution in the washing solution.

 According to an advantageous variant, the hollow body has first and second compartments separated by a partition wall, the bottom of this hollow body thus comprising a first and a second part which respectively have first and second micro-orifices and which constitute respectively the bottom of the first compartment and the bottom of the second compartment, the dimensions of the first micro-orifices being greater than the dimensions of the second micro-orifices. In addition, the diffusion openings include first diffusion openings located substantially above the first compartment, and second diffusion openings located substantially above the second compartment, the dimensions of the first diffusion openings being greater than the dimensions of the second broadcast openings. The first compartment is smaller than the second compartment.

The filling opening opens into the first and second compartments, and the bulge has first and second parts located respectively in the first and in the second compartments.

 The first and second compartments can both be filled through the filling opening.

 Due to the dimensions of the first micro-orifices and the first diffusion openings, the washing products contained in the first compartment diffuse very quickly in the tank, from the start of their dilution in the washing solution. More specifically, the fluid circulation cycle inside the first compartment is quickly established, since the first micro-orifices and the first diffusion openings easily let out the washing solution (loaded with washing product) which has entered by the portion of the filling opening which opens into the first compartment.

 The first compartment therefore allows the diffusion of a parity of washing products inside the tank from the start of the washing cycle.

 On the other hand, the fluid circulation cycle inside the second compartment takes longer to establish. In addition, due to the reduced dimensions of the second micro-orifices, only a very low viscosity liquid or very fine particles can pass through them. Thus, it is only when the detergents contained in the second compartment have been sufficiently diluted in the washing solution that they can diffuse in the tank.

 The second compartment therefore allows a slow diffusion of the washing products which it contains inside the tank, as the washing cycle progresses.

The invention will be better understood and its advantages will appear better on reading the detailed description which follows, of embodiments indicated by way of nonlimiting examples. The description refers to the accompanying drawings in which
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dispensing metering container according to the invention,
FIG. 2 is a cross section of the container of FIG. 1,
FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the container, directly after its manufacture and before it is put into conditions of use,
FIG. 4 is a cross section of FIG. 3,
FIG. 5 is a top view showing the variant with two compartments directly after its manufacture and before it is put into conditions of use, and
- Figure 6 is a cross section of Figure 5.

 The dispenser metering container is first described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. This container 10 comprises a hollow body 12 having a bottom 14 and a side wall 16. It also includes an upper element 18 which is integral with the side wall 16 and which is at least generally disposed across the hollow body 12. In fact, the upper end of the side wall 16 delimits a circular opening, through which the upper element 18 is disposed.

 The latter has a filling opening 20 which opens into the hollow body. The bottom 14 has a plurality of micro-orifices 22, the dimensions of which are capable of allowing the diffusion of the washing products in contact with a washing solution and of preventing this diffusion before they are brought into contact with this solution.

 It was previously indicated that the configuration of Figures 1 and 2, that in which the upper element is arranged across the hollow body, is at least generally that of the container.

 In fact, as will be seen with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the container can adopt another configuration in which the upper element is not disposed across the hollow body. However, this only occurs temporarily, possibly during and just after the manufacture of the container.

Then, the upper element is arranged across the hollow body and held in this position. During the use of the container, it is not necessary to modify this configuration since the detergents can be introduced through the filling opening.

 The container 10 is provided with a fixing lug 24. This container can indeed be used in the tank of a dishwashing machine, and the lug 24 has a shape which makes it possible to fix the container to a part of this machine such as a dish rack. Of course, this tab 24 can easily be released from the rack before each washing cycle, to introduce a dose of washing product into the container 10 before replacing it in the tank.

 The fixing means can also be produced in another form, for example in order to fix the container to a wall of the tank.

 In general, the fixing means serve to fix the container inside the tank, directly on one of its walls or to an element placed inside this tank. This fixing is not, however, final, and the container can easily be removed from the tank when it is desired to pour a new dose of detergent there.

 The central part of the upper element 18 is provided with a frustoconical skirt 26 which extends downwards and has a free end 26a delimiting the filling opening 20. This skirt 26 forms an integral part of the upper element by its upper flared end 26b.

 The container has, in its upper part, a plurality of washing product diffusion openings 28.

 In the example shown, these openings are made in a marginal part of the upper element 18. In an alternative embodiment, these openings could also be made in the side wall 16, above the level of filling of the washing products. . In fact, unlike the micro-orifices 22, their dimensions are relatively large compared to the grain size or the viscosity of the washing products. The diffusion openings are regularly distributed around the periphery of the container.

 A central portion of the bottom, located opposite the filling opening 20 and having dimensions substantially equal to those of the latter, is free of micro-orifices. This central portion is provided with an upward bulge 30. In fact, the surface of the bottom covered by the bulge 30 is substantially equal to the section of the opening 20.

 In FIG. 2, the circulation of the fluid inside and in the vicinity of the container 10 is represented by arrows. During the injection of the washing solution inside the tank, the container first knows a short filling phase. The circulation shown is that which occurs in a balanced situation during washing, after this short filling phase and before the final phase during which the container is emptied.

 When the circulation of fluid is balanced, the washing solution tends to enter the container through the largest opening, that is to say through the filling opening 20, in the direction of the arrows E. The skirt 26 causes a funneling effect which leads the fluid to enter the container.

 The central portion of the bottom 14 being free of micro-orifices, the washing solution, mixed with the washing product, does not come out directly from the bottom after its entry through the filling opening 20, which avoids too rapid diffusion of the detergents inside the tank. On the contrary, the bulge 30 plays the role of a deflector which deflects the fluid constituted by the washing solution mixed with the washing product along the bottom 14, as indicated by the arrows F.

 In this regard, it should be noted that the container shown has (apart from the tab 24) a symmetry of revolution about the axis A indicated in phantom, which allows a homogeneous flow around this axis.

 Due to the bulge 30, the fluid is deflected to flow tangentially along the bottom 14, and does not tend to exit directly through the micro-orifices 22. On the contrary, it rises along the side wall 16 as indicated the arrows G.

 At the upper part of the internal cavity of the container, two phenomena occur. On the one hand, the internal face 26c of the skirt 26 plays the role of a deflector for a portion of the fluid which is therefore driven in the direction of the arrows H. On the other hand, due to the pressure prevailing at the inside the container (the washing solution continuing to enter through the filling opening 20), a portion of excess fluid tends to escape through the diffusion openings 28 in the direction of the arrows I, without undergoing the action of deflector of the internal face of the skirt 26.

 The portion of fluid deflected by the internal face of the skirt is entrained towards the bottom of the container in the direction of the arrows J. Since it is then entrained substantially perpendicular to the bottom, this portion of fluid naturally tends to come out through the micro-orifices 22 in the direction of the arrows K. Depending on the number of micro-orifices, it may also have a partial tendency to be recirculated inside the container in the direction of the arrows G.

 The height of the bulge and the number of micro-orifices therefore constitute important factors for the speed of the diffusion of the detergents inside the tank by influencing the setting of the fluid in circulation in the region of the bottom of the container. The dimensions of the frustoconical skirt and those of the diffusion openings influence the circulation of the fluid in the upper part of the interior of the container. Furthermore, the size of the filling opening and that of the diffusion openings directly influence the pressure of the fluid inside the container.

 The diffusion openings 28 are advantageously made in a marginal part 32 of the upper element 18. The internal face 32a of this marginal part forms with the internal face 26c of the frustoconical skirt an angle ss at most equal to the half-angle at vertex a of this skirt, increased by 90-.

 In fact, if the angle t3 was equal to the angle increased by 90, the marginal part 32 would be horizontal. It is preferably at least slightly inclined outward (that is, 8 is preferably less than increased by 90-) which allows the fluid to exit through the diffusion openings 28 in one direction moving away from axis A.

 In the figures, the marginal part 32 has the shape of a truncated cone which widens downwards, that is to say it is inverted relative to the frustoconical skirt.

 We have seen that the container shown has a symmetry of revolution around the axis A. More generally, the bulge 30 advantageously has the shape of a portion of a sphere whose axis coincides with that of the frustoconical skirt 26.

 The lower end 26a of the skirt 26 determines the maximum level N of filling of the container with the detergents. This skirt therefore extends inside the container over a height determined as a function of the value which it is desired to give to this maximum level of filling.

 Furthermore, this height must be sufficient for the internal face 26c of the skirt to effectively play its role of deflector. To meet this double imperative, the height h of the skirt 26 is advantageously between 30 and 40%, and preferably substantially equal to 35%, of the total height L of the container.

 It has also been found that the efficiency of the deflector formed by the internal face 26c of the skirt 26 is better when the half-angle at the apex a of the latter is between 50 and 60-.

 Figures 3 and 4 show the container 10 just after its manufacture, and before the upper element 18 is held across the hollow body. This container is made in one piece and for example manufactured by molding an injected plastic.

 Thus, the upper element 18 is integral with the hollow body 12 by means of an articulation tab 40 and two retaining tabs 42.

The articulation tab 40 has a weakening line 41, which allows the pivoting around this line of the upper element 18 in order to place it across the hollow body. On this occasion, the retaining tabs 42 can also play the role of positioning springs.

 The upper element 18 has a circular rim 44 situated at the same level as the tab 40. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, this rim 44 cooperates in abutment with the upper edge 16a of the side wall 16 to define the position of the closing element 18 in the configuration in which it is arranged across the hollow body.

 First clipping means, for example constituted by an annular rib 46, are produced on the internal face of the side wall 16, in the vicinity of its upper edge 16a. Second clipping means, for example constituted by a semi-circular groove 48, are produced in the region of the external edge of the upper element 18. As shown in FIG. 2, the first and second clipping means cooperate with each other to hold the upper element across the hollow body.

 Insofar as it is not necessary to modify the configuration of the container during its use, the clipping means can be replaced by a weld.

 In FIG. 3, it can be seen that the surface covered by the bulge 30 is substantially equal to the section of the filling opening 20. The micro-orifices 22 are distributed regularly over several concentric circles arranged around the bulge 30.

 The diffusion openings 28 are regularly distributed over the annular marginal portion 32 of the closure element 18.

 Referring to Figures 5 and 6, we now describe the alternative embodiment in which the container has two compartments. In these figures, the elements already described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 are given the same references increased by 100.

 The body 112 comprises a first compartment 1 12a and a second compartment 112b separated by a partition wall 113. The bottom 114a of the first compartment is provided with first micro-orifices 122a, while the bottom 1 14b of the second compartment is provided with second micro-holes 122b. The dimensions of the first micro-holes are greater than those of the second micro-holes. They are advantageously 2 to 5 times larger. However, the dimensions of the first micro-orifices are such that the detergents cannot pass through them until they have, at least partially, been diluted in the washing solution.

 The diffusion openings include first and second diffusion openings 128a and 128b, respectively located above the first and second compartments or capable of occupying this position when, the diffusion openings being, as in the example shown, made in the upper element 118, itself articulated with respect to the hollow body, this upper element is across this body.

 The first diffusion openings are larger than the second, advantageously from 2 to 5 times larger.

 The first compartment 1 12a is smaller than the second. The two compartments extend partially below the filling opening 120 and can thus be filled simultaneously by this opening.

 The bulge 130 comprises a first and a second part, 130a and <130b, located respectively in the first and in the second compartments.

 As previously indicated, the detergents initially contained in the first compartment are rapidly released into the tank, while the detergents initially contained in the second compartment are released more slowly.

 Preferably, the ratio between the section of the filling opening which is situated opposite the first compartment 112a and the section of this opening which is situated opposite the second compartment 112b is substantially equal to the ratio between the volume of the first compartment and the volume of the second compartment. Thus, the washing products poured into the container 110 through the filling opening 120 are distributed appropriately between the two compartments.

 The circulation of fluid in each of the two compartments is similar to that which has been described for the container 10, with reference to FIG. 2. In fact, the parts 130a and 130b of the bulge, as well as the parts of the skirt 126 which are respectively located opposite the first and second compartments, continue to play the role of deflectors which, for each of the two compartments, divert the fluid entering through the section of the filling opening located above.

 Due to the presence of the partition wall, the symmetry of the container with respect to an axis of revolution is no longer respected. To prevent this asymmetry from being the cause of turbulence effects detrimental to the circulation of the fluid inside the compartments, the first compartment is advantageously produced in the form of a cylinder sector. More specifically, the partition wall 113 comprises first and second wall portions, 113a and 113b, which are substantially radial with respect to the substantially cylindrical side wall 116 of the hollow body.

 The two wall portions 1 13a and 1 13b can join in the region of the center of the bulge 130. Depending on the dimensions which it is desired to give to the first compartment 112a, they can be connected to each other by a more or less long wall transverse element 113c, situated in the region of the bulge 130.

 In the example shown, the partition wall 113 extends upwards only substantially up to the upper end of the side wall 116. Consequently, when the upper element 118 is arranged across the hollow body, this wall 113 does not join the internal face of this upper element.

 If it is desired to completely close the two compartments upwards, it is possible to extend this partition wall beyond the upper edge of the hollow body, by providing it with a shape adapted to that of the internal face opposite. the top element.

 It is also possible to provide the internal face of the upper element with at least one wall element which, when the upper element is arranged across the hollow body, is in continuity with at least part of the wall of separation. More specifically, Figure 5 shows two wall elements 123a and 123b which are respectively intended to be placed in the continuity of the wall portions 1 13a and 1 13b when the upper element is located across the hollow body.

 The wall elements 123a and 123b are constituted by radial ribs. The central part 115 of the partition wall 113 which, when the upper element 118 is across the hollow body, extends towards the center beyond the wall elements 123a and 123b, has a shape adapted to the internal face 126c of the skirt 126.

 The container according to the variant of FIGS. 5 and 6 generally has the same shape and the same design characteristics as the container 10 of FIGS. 1 to 4.

 In general, depending on the viscosity or the grain size of the washing products, the dimensions of the micro-orifices can vary in the range from 0.35 mm to 1.5 mm. In the variant with two compartments, the dimensions of the first and second micro-orifices are respectively close to the upper and lower limits of this range.

 It has been found that the circulation of the fluid inside the container 10, as well as the diffusion, not too fast, of the detergents outside this container, is improved when the sum of the sections of the diffusion openings 28 is between 50 and 65% of the cross-section of the filling opening 20. This proportion can remain substantially the same for the container with two compartments, considering overall the first and second diffusion openings.

Claims (13)

1. Dosing and diffusing container (10, 110) of detergents in a tank, comprising a hollow body (12, 112) having a bottom (14, 114) and a side wall (16, 116), as well as a upper element (18, 118), the latter being integral with said side wall (16, 116) and being, at least generally, arranged across the hollow body (12, 112), a filling opening (20, 120) being formed in the upper element (18, 118) and opening into the hollow body (12, 112), the bottom having a plurality of micro-orifices (22; 122a, 122b), of dimensions suitable for allowing the diffusion of the products of washing in contact with a washing solution injected into the tank and to avoid the diffusion of said products before their contact with said washing solution, and the container being provided with fixing means (24, 124) inside the tank ,  characterized in that the upper element comprises a central part provided with a frustoconical skirt (26, 126) extending downwards and having a free lower end (26a, 126a) which delimits the filling opening (20, 120), in that the container has, in its upper part, a plurality of diffusion openings (28; 128a, 128b) of the washing products, and in that the bottom (14, 114) has a central portion provided a bulge (30, 130) upwards, free of micro-orifices, and having dimensions substantially equal to those of the filling opening (20,120). 2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the hollow body (112) has first and second compartments (112a, 112b) separated by a partition wall (113), the bottom (114) of this hollow body comprising thus a first and a second part (114a, 114b) which respectively have first and second micro-orifices (122a, 122b) and which respectively constitute the bottom of the first compartment (112a) and the bottom of the second compartment (112b), the dimensions of the first micro-holes (122a) being greater than the dimensions of the second micro-holes (122b), in that the diffusion openings include first diffusion openings (128a) located substantially above the first compartment (112a) , and second diffusion openings (128b) located substantially above the second compartment (112b), the dimensions of the first diffusion openings being greater than the dimensions of the second th diffusion openings, in that the first compartment is smaller than the second compartment, in that the filling opening (120) opens into the first and into the second compartments, and in that the bulge (130) comprises first and second parts (130a, 130b) respectively located in the first and in the second compartments. 3. Container according to claim 2, characterized in that the ratio between the section of the filling opening which is located opposite the first compartment (112a) and the section of this opening which is located opposite the second compartment (112b ) is substantially equal to the ratio between the volume of the first compartment and the volume of the second compartment. 4. Container according to any one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that, the side wall (116) of the hollow body (112) being substantially cylindrical, the first compartment (112a) has substantially the shape of a sector of cylinder, the partition wall (113) comprising first and second wall portions (113a, 113b) substantially radial. 5. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the diffusion openings (28; 128a, 128b) are made in a marginal part (32, 132) of the upper element (18, 118) whose internal face (32a, 132a) makes with the internal face (26c; 126c) of the frustoconical skirt (26, 126) an angle at most equal to the half-angle at the top (a) of said skirt, increased by 90 , the diffusion openings (28; 128a, 128b) thus being oriented towards the outside. 6. Container according to claim 5, characterized in that the marginal part (32, 132) of the upper element (18, 118), provided with the diffusion openings (28, 128), has the shape of a trunk of cone flaring downwards. 7. Container according to any one of claims 5 and 6, characterized in that the internal face of the upper element (118) has at least one wall element (123a, 123b) which, when the upper element (118 ) is arranged across the hollow body (112), is in the continuity of at least part of the partition wall (113). 8. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the bulge (30, 130) has the shape of a portion of sphere whose axis coincides with that of the frustoconical skirt (26, 126) . 9. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it is made in one piece. 10. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the half-angle at the top (a) of the frustoconical skirt (26, 126) is between 50. and 60u. 11. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the sum of the sections of the diffusion openings (28 128a, 128b) is between 50% and 65% of the section of the filling opening ( 20, 120). 12. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the frustoconical skirt (26, 126) extends inside the container (10, 110) over a height (h) of between 30% and 40% of the total height (L) of the latter. 13. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the dimensions of the micro-orifices (22; 122a, 122b) are in the range of 0.35 mm to 1.5 mm.