FR2793266A1 - WASHING DEVICE AND METHOD - Google Patents

Abstract

a) Dispersion device for use in washing textile articles in a washing machine. b) Device comprising a hollow body having a filling and dispensing opening (14), the body suitable for containing a certain quantity of a composition liquid detergent; a secondary dispensing opening through which a user can cause a liquid detergent composition to flow from inside the body; a region (16) for guiding the liquid on the external surface of the body having the shape of a channel for receiving a detergent composition exiting through the dispensing opening and guiding this composition towards a treatment region of the device; the liquid guide region (16) including at least one reservoir formation (24) adapted to receive and retain a detergent composition, reservoir formation (24) from which a user can then cause a detergent composition to be transported to the treatment region. c) The invention relates to a dispersing device for use in washing textile articles in a washing machine.

Description

WASHING DEVICE AND METHOD

  The present invention relates to a device for use in washing and a method for using this device. More particularly, it relates to a device and a method for washing textile articles in a washing machine, a method which includes localized pretreatment of the articles before washing them in the washing machine.

washing machine.

  The device to which this invention relates is of a type which comprises a body which, for use, is filled with a certain amount of a liquid detergent composition. Then the body, with the detergent composition therein, is introduced into the drum of a washing machine at the same time as the articles to be washed. During the wash cycle, the detergent composition in the body disperses in the wash water. We will refer

  here to such devices under the name of dispersing devices.

  If it is found that an article to be washed has a particularly soiled localized area, it is known that the effectiveness of washing can be improved by pretreating this area with a certain amount of an undiluted liquid detergent composition before d '' introduce the article into the washing machine. Typically this is achieved by introducing by friction, by means of a suitable instrument, a small amount of detergent composition into the textile of the article. So that the user does not have to worry about finding such an instrument, it has been proposed for example in document WO92 / 09736, to provide a dispersing device which comprises means which make it possible to pour and hence the composition. detergent with which the device has been previously filled can be distributed over part of an article to be treated. The dispersing device further comprises on an external surface of the device a treatment region which can be used to introduce into the article, by friction, the composition.

distributed detergent.

  An object of this invention is to provide a dispersing device which can be used to treat the articles as described in the preceding paragraph, and allow the user, when applying the detergent composition, better control than

  that obtained with known devices.

  According to the invention, there is provided a dispersion device for use in washing textile articles in a washing machine, the device comprising a hollow body having a filling and dispensing opening, the body suitable for containing a certain amount of 'a liquid detergent composition; a secondary dispensing opening through which a user can cause a liquid detergent composition to flow from inside the body; a region for guiding the liquid on the external surface of the body having the shape of a channel for receiving a detergent composition exiting through the dispensing opening and guiding this composition towards a treatment region of the device; the liquid guide region including at least one reservoir formation adapted to receive and retain a detergent composition, reservoir formation from which a user can then cause a detergent composition to be transported

to the treatment area.

  A user can therefore choose to distribute the detergent composition directly from the body of the device or to allow only a small amount of the detergent composition

  to be distributed from the tank training.

  To facilitate its use, the device preferably comprises a base arranged so that the device is stable when it is placed on a flat support surface, its base at the bottom. The base can be a flat surface region. When placed in this way, the filling and dispensing opening is most preferably oriented vertically upward to allow a user to easily fill the body with a liquid detergent composition. We will refer to this orientation of the device

  under the name of "the filling position".

  The treatment region may include a region of the outer surface of the body. More preferably, the treatment region has formations that protrude from its surface. Such formations may include ribs or stampings spaced apart from each other on the surface. These formations improve the efficiency with which the detergent composition can penetrate the textile article. In a preferred embodiment, the treatment region is adjacent to the base. In the filling position, the treatment region is inclined relative to the

  support surface and generally faces down.

  The liquid guide region may have a channel formed in an exterior surface of the device. Inside the channel can be formed at least one formation hindering the flow. For example, a flow-blocking formation may include a region of folded material in the base of the channel. The flow-blocking region serves to reduce the rate of flow of the detergent liquid composition through the channel, thereby allowing the user to better control the flow of the composition.

  detergent in tank formation.

  Reservoir formation can include a concavity in the body material. More typically, the reservoir formation is located at a lower part of the liquid guide region

  when the device is oriented for normal use.

  Preferably, the dispensing opening is sized to restrict the flow of the detergent composition through it to allow the user to control the flow rate. In a preferred embodiment, the dispensing opening is a slot which, from the periphery of the opening of

  filling and dispensing, extends into the body material.

  The invention further comprises a method for washing textile articles in which: (1) a device fulfilling the first aspect of the invention is filled with a certain amount of a liquid detergent composition; (2) a certain quantity of the detergent composition is distributed over a part of a textile article (3) the treatment region of the device is applied to the detergent composition dispensed; and (4) the device and the article are then placed together in the

  drum of a washing machine and a washing cycle is carried out.

  In a preferred method, the above step (2) includes the other steps of (2.1) from the body, dispensing, through the dispensing opening (20), a certain amount of detergent composition to the tank formation ; and (2.2) then distribute on the textile article at least a portion

  of this amount of detergent composition.

  Additionally steps (2) and (3) can be repeated as often

  than necessary for one or more textile articles.

  More typically, at the start of step (4), detergent composition remains in the body, this detergent composition

  remaining being dispersed from the body during the wash cycle.

  We will now describe in detail an embodiment of the invention by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figures 1 and 2 are, respectively, a plan view and a side view of a device dispersion embodying the invention; Figures 3 to 7 are transverse views, partially in section, of the device of Figures 1 and 2 to illustrate the successive stages of its use in a pretreatment operation; Figure 8 is a perspective view from front and from above of a minor modification of the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2; and Figure 9 is a perspective view from the front and from above of a minor modification of the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2. Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, a dispersing device embodying the invention is formed as a hollow body 10, molded in one piece from a plastic material

suitable.

  The body 10 has a flat base 12 such that it can be supported on a flat surface, oriented vertically upwards in the filling position, as previously defined. (in the

  description which follows, the device will be described in this orientation).

  A filling and dispensing opening 14 is provided in an upper surface of the body, the opening 14 being oriented upwards. The opening 14 has a periphery which, over most of its extension is approximately circular and

  surrounded by an upwardly projecting lip 15.

  A channel 16 is formed in a front wall portion 17 of the body 10, the channel 16 and the front wall 17 extending along an inclined plane of about 30 relative to the vertical. The channel 16 has a generally U-shaped cross section. From the periphery of the opening 14, a slot 20 extends downward in an upper part of the channel 16 to act as a secondary distribution opening for a detergent composition. Several folds 18 extending horizontally are formed in the channel 16. Each of these folds 18 forms in the material of the channel 16 a shallow bowl, in an arc, or a step inside the channel 16. The shape of the folds 18 in channel 16 can be understood more clearly by

  its sectional illustration in Figures 3 to 7.

  Under the channel 16, the body 10 has a lip 22 projecting forward. The upper surface of the lip defines a shallow concavity 24 oriented upwards. At its lower end, the channel 16 penetrates into the cavity 24. The lip 22 has an approximately flat bottom surface 26 which projects forward and slopes upwards from the base 12 in a position generally located under the concavity 24. From the concavity 24, a front external surface 28 extends in a convex curvature

  to reach the lower surface 26.

  Preferably, the lower surface 26 is not smooth. In this embodiment, several transverse ribs 32 extend over a part of the length going from one side to the other of the lower surface to constitute a treatment region of the device. Alternatively, rough protrusions or in the form of stampings could be provided on the lower surface 26 for

  constitute a treatment region.

  A rear portion of the body 10 has a region of the wall portion of the body which is rounded in plan view. Within this region is a recessed region 34 which serves

  helping a user maintain a firm grip on the device.

  To use the device, a user typically first places it on a flat support surface in the filling position. It then introduces into the body 10, through the opening 14, a certain amount of the liquid detergent composition 30 (see

figure 3).

  If the user does not consider that part of one of the articles to be washed requires pretreatment, he can introduce the articles and the dispersing device into the drum of a washing machine. A washing cycle is then carried out as with a

  conventional dispersing device.

  In the event that the user identifies part of an article which he considers to require preprocessing, the procedure

  typical will progress as we will describe now.

  The user grasps the device and carefully tilts it forward from the filling position, until the detergent composition 30 therein reaches the slot 20. Part of the detergent composition 30 can then, through the slot 20, flow into the channel 16 (see FIG. 4). From the slot 20, the detergent composition flows downward through the channel 16 under gravity. As it flows, the detergent composition meets the folds 18; the bowl or the step, as the case may be, defined by each of the folds 18 prevents the acceleration of the detergent composition. Having reached the bottom of the channel, part of the detergent composition can accumulate in the concavity 24. The concavity 24 therefore acts as a reservoir of detergent composition to

inside the lip 22.

  If the device is then tilted in the opposite direction, towards the filling position, so that the detergent composition 30 therein descends below the slot 20, the flow along the channel 16 ceases. However, a small amount of detergent composition is retained in the concavity 24

(see figure 5).

  The user can then apply the detergent composition to the article in two ways. First, by tilting the device slightly forward, from the filling position, the detergent composition can, from the concavity 24, flow onto the front surface 28 of the lip 22. From the front surface 28, the composition detergent may fall on the item. What does not fall from the front surface 28 will tend to flow around the surface

  front 28 to the bottom surface 26.

  If the user wishes to apply more detergent composition, then he or she can tilt the device further forward so that the detergent composition 30 which is inside the body can pass through the slot 20 and, from there, flow down along the channel 16, in good time, to reach the article, as shown in Figure 6. The limitation of the flow of liquid through the slot 20 and the presence of the folds 18 and concavity 24 help moderate the flow so that the user can better control the amount of composition

  detergent applied to the article.

  Once the detergent composition has been applied, its effectiveness can be improved by introducing it, by friction, into the textile material of the article. This can be achieved for a user by grasping the body of the device, preferably by the recessed region 34, and by

  using the lower surface 26 of the lip 22 on the treated area.

  Any amount of the detergent composition which has previously

  flow on the bottom surface will then be transferred to the article.

  The presence of the ribs 32, or other formations of this kind, on

  the lower surface 26 helps to improve the effectiveness of this action.

  Upon completion of the pretreatment as required, the device and the remaining content of the detergent composition are brought back to the filling position (FIG. 7) and then placed in the drum of the washing machine, with the textile articles to be washed. , and

  a washing cycle can then be carried out.

  Note the relative arrangement of the parts of the device.

  The following is based on the assumption that the device has been filled with a suitable amount of detergent composition. Firstly, it must be possible to tilt the device so that the lower surface 26 of its lip 22 is horizontal for processing an article.

  textile without the detergent composition flowing through the slot 20.

  A user can therefore continue to introduce by friction the detergent composition previously dispensed without adding more to the surface of the article. Then it is preferable to be able to tilt the device further to remove part of the detergent composition from the concavity 24, again without the detergent composition flowing through the slot 20. This allows the user to dispense over the 'article, since concavity 28, that just a very small amount of detergent composition. It must then be necessary to tilt the device even more to obtain a flow of detergent composition.

through slot 20.

  This arrangement offers the user a high degree of

  order on the amount of detergent applied to an item.

9 2793266

Claims (14)

  1. Dispersion device for use in washing textile articles in a washing machine, the device comprising a hollow body (10) having a filling and dispensing opening (14), the body suitable for containing a certain amount of a liquid detergent composition (30); a secondary dispensing opening (20) through which a user can cause a liquid detergent composition (30) to flow from inside the body (10); a region (16) for guiding the liquid on the external surface of the body (10) having the shape of a channel for receiving a detergent composition exiting through the dispensing opening (20) and guiding this composition towards a treatment region (26 ) of the device; the liquid guide region (16) including at least one reservoir formation (24) adapted to receive and retain a detergent composition, reservoir formation (24) from which a user can then make a composition   detergent is transported to the treatment region (26).   2. Device according to claim 1 which comprises a base (12) arranged so that the device is stable when placed on   a flat support surface, its base at the bottom.   3. Device according to claim 2 wherein the base (12) is a flat surface region.   4. Device according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein, when placed on a flat support surface, its base (12) at the bottom, the opening (14) for filling and dispensing is   substantially oriented upwards.   5. Device according to any one of the claims   previous in which the treatment region has a region   (26) of the outer surface of the body (10).   6. Device according to any one of claims   previous in which the treatment region (26) has   formations (31) which project from its surface.   7. Device according to claim 6 wherein the formations lO 2793266   (32) include ribs or stampings spaced apart from each other   others on the treatment area.   8. Device according to any one of claims   The preceding regions in which the treatment region (26) is adjacent to the base (12). 9. Device according to claim 8 wherein the region of   treatment (26) is inclined relative to the base (12).   10. Device according to any one of the claims   previous in which the liquid guide region includes a   channel (16) formed in an outer surface of the device.   11. Device according to claim 10 wherein is formed, inside the channel (16), at least one formation (18) hindering the flow. 12. Device according to claim 11, in which the formation hindering the flow includes a region (18) of material folded in the bottom of the channel (16).   13 Device according to any one of claims   where tank training includes a   concavity (24) in the material of the body (10).   14. Device according to any one of the claims   previous in which the reservoir formation (24) is located at a lower part of the region (16) for guiding the liquid when   the device is oriented for normal use.   Device according to any one of the claims   previous in which the dispensing opening (20) is dimensioned to restrict the flow of the detergent composition therethrough to allow the user to   control the flow rate.   16 Device according to any one of claims   previous in which the dispensing opening is a slot (20) which, from the periphery of the filling opening and   distribution (14), extends into the material of the body (10).   17 Device for use in washing textile articles in washing machines, substantially as described herein referring to the attached drawings.   18 A method of washing textile articles in which (1) a device according to any one is filled with a certain quantity of a liquid detergent composition (30) previous claims;   (2) a certain quantity of the detergent composition (30) is distributed over a part of a textile article; (3) the treatment region (26) of the device is applied to the dispensed detergent composition; and (4) the device and the article are then placed together in the   drum of a washing machine and a washing cycle is carried out.   19. The method of claim 18 wherein step (2) includes the other steps of: (2.1) from the body (10), dispensing, through the dispensing opening (20), a certain amount of detergent composition (30) tank formation (24); and (2.2) then distribute on the textile article at least a portion   of this amount of detergent composition.   20. The method of claim 18 or claim 19 wherein steps (2) and (3) are repeated as often as necessary   for one or more textile articles.   21. Method according to any one of claims 18 to 20   in which, at the start of step (4), there remains detergent composition in the body (10), this detergent composition remaining   being dispersed from the body during the wash cycle.