GB2352248A

GB2352248A - A dosing arrangement for detergent

Info

Publication number: GB2352248A
Application number: GB9917135A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lorenzo Miguel Reboratti; Andrew Thomas Steel; Juan Carlos Federico Wetzel
Original assignee: Unilever PLC
Current assignee: Unilever PLC
Priority date: 1999-07-21
Filing date: 1999-07-21
Publication date: 2001-01-24
Anticipated expiration: 2019-07-21
Also published as: GB9917135D0; GB2352248B; FR2796658B1; FR2796658A1; AR024809A1

Abstract

A dosing device for dispensing a fabric treatment composition comprises a resiliently deformable hollow body 2 for containing the composition and a filling opening 3 defined by a rim. The body includes a slot or slit 6 which extends a distance around the body adjacent to, and beneath, the rim of the filling opening. The invention also describes a doypack having a slot 13 formed in a sidewall portion thereof, which slot acts as a re-entrant slot for engaging the dosing device. The invention also relates to a method of engaging the dosing device and the doypack.

Description

C3942 2352248 PACKAGING AND DELIVERY DEVICES

Introduction

The invention relates to a dosing device of the type used to dose fabric treatment agents into a washing machine and comprising a container having a resiliently deformable body wall and a permanently open filling aperture defined by a rim. The invention also relates to a flexible packaging system of the type having a pair of opposed sidewalls and a gusseted base, hereinafter referred to as a "doypacks".

Dosing devices of the above type are known and described in the Applicants European Patent No. 0368680. Generally these devices are supplied with liquid detergent bottles and have round filling openings, which allow the device to be easily attached to a round neck of the bottle. However in recent years alternative types of packs for detergent materials have come onto the market, one such pack being commonly known as a doypack. A problem associated with these types of packs is that they generally do not have a neck and as such there is no formation on the pack to which the above types of dosing devices may be easily attached.

It is an object of the invention to provide a dosing device and doypack, which overcomes the above disadvantage.

C3942 2 STATEMENTS OF INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a dosing device for dispensing a fabric treatment composition into a washing machine and comprising a resiliently deformable hollow body for containing the composition and a filling opening defined by a rim, characterised in that the body includes a slot or slit which extends a distance around the body. Ideally, the slot or slit extends around the body adjacent to, and beneath, the rim of the filling opening. In one embodiment of the invention the body includes a pair of slots or slits. Preferably the device includes a base formed in the body opposite the filling opening. Typically, the hollow body is generally round.

In one embodiment of the invention the or each slot or slit extends latitudinally around a part of the top of the body. Typically, each slot or slit extends about 40% around the body. Generally, each slot or slit extends substantially parallel to the rim of the filling opening. 20 The invention also relates to a doypack having means for engaging with a dosing device of the invention. Typically the engagement means comprise an elongated slot extending through the doypack wherein the slot is dimensioned to accept a top of the dosing device in a re-entrant manner 25 when sides of the device are pressed together. Suitably, a longitudinal axis of the slot in the doypack lies parallel to, or at an acute angle to, a vertical axis of the pack.

C3942 3 The invention also relates to a kit comprising a dosing device according to the invention and a doypack according to the invention.

Further, the invention describes a method of attaching a dosing device of the invention to a doypack of the invention, the method comprising the steps of: flattening the top of the body by applying pressure on 10 opposite sides of the top of the body between the slots; with the top of the body flattened, inserting the flattened top through the slot in the doypack such that 15 the or each slot lies in the same general plane as the doypack; rotating the body within the doypack slot such that a longitudinal sidewall of the doypack slot engages a 20 slot on the device; releasing the pressure on the body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of an embodiment thereof, given by way of example only, with. reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

C3942 4 Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a dosing device according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a side view of the dosing device of Fig. 1; 5 Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a doypack and dosing device according to the invention; Fig. 4 is a rear perspective view of the doypack of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a compressed dosing device being inserted into a slot in the doypack; Fig. 6 is a perspective view, from an opposite side to the view of Fig 5, of a top of the dosing device protruding through the slot in the doypack; Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the dosing device rotating in the doypack slot to engage the doypack; and Figs. 8 and 9 are perspective views of the dosing device engaging the doypack.

Referring to the drawings, and initially to Figs 1 and 2, there is illustrated a dosing device according to the invention, indicated generally by the reference numeral 1, and comprising a resiliently deformable hollow body 1 for containing a fabric treatment composition, the body 2 having a filling opening 3 defined a by a rim 4. In this case the body 2 is generally round and includes a base 5 opposite the filling opening 3.

C3942 A pair of symmetrically opposed slots 6 extend latitudinally around a top of the body 2 parallel to and beneath the rim 4 of the opening 3. Each slot 6 extends about 40% around the top of the body leaving finger grip portions 7 lying between the ends 8 of each slot 6. In more detail, each slot 6 widens slightly and curves downwardly adjacent a respective end 8.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4 there is illustrated a doypack according to-the invention, indicated generally by the reference numeral 10, and comprising a deformable pack for fabric treatment liquid having a front wall 11, a rear wall 12 and a g-usseted base (not shown). The construction of such doypacks are well known and will not be described here in further detail except to say that an upper right corner of the pack includes an extended portion where the front 11 and rear walls 12 are sealed together. The pack 10 is characterised in that it includes a re- entrant slot 13 for engaging the dosing device 1 of the invention, the slot 13 being defined by a line of weakening 14 which is partly shown in Fig. 3. In this case the slot 13 is formed in the upper right corner of the pack and is orientated such that a longitudinal axis of the slot 13 lies at an acute angle to a longitudinal axis of the pack 10.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly Figs 5 to 9, a method of attaching the dosing device 1 and doypack 10 according to the invention will be described. Referring first to Fig. 5, a user grips the dosing device 1 at the opposed finger grip portions 7 and squeezes the device until a top of the device 1 has been sufficiently compressed to C3942 6 allow it be inserted into the slot 13. Squeezing the device 1 in this manner has a further effect of opening up the slots 6 on the device 1. Once the device 1 has been sufficiently compressed it is inserted into the slot 13 as shown in Figs 5 and 6 until the slots 6 in the device 1 lie in the same plane as the walls 11, 12 of the doypack 10, wherein the device 1 is rotated through about 45 degrees as shown in Fig. 7 in which position the sidewalls of the slot 13 engage the partially opened slots 6 on the dosing device 1 in the same manner as a key engaging a re-entrant slot. Releasing the grip of the device 1 as shown in Fig 8 closes the slots 6 against the walls of the doypack thus forming a gripping engagement between the device 1 and doypack 10.

In use the dosing device 1 is separated from the doypack 10 by squeezing the finger grip portions 7 to open the slots 6 on the device, and rotating the device 1 until the squeezed top of the device 1 lies in the position shown in Fig. 6 whereupon it is retracted from the slot 13. The doypack 10 is than opened by use of a scissors and liquid fabric treatment composition is poured into the dosing device 1 and the device 1 then put into a washing machine along with the fabrics to be treated.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment hereinbefore described which may be varied in both construction and detail.

C3942 7

Claims

1.A dosing device for dispensing a fabric treatment composition into a washing machine and comprising a resiliently deformable hollow body for containing the composition and a filling opening defined by rim, characterised in that the body includes a slot or slit which extends a distance around the body adjacent to, and beneath, the rim of the filling opening.

2. A dosing device as claimed in claim 1 in which the body includes a pair of slots or slits.

3. A dosing device as claimed in claim 2 in which the slits or slots are symmetrically opposed about the top of the body

4.A dosing device as claimed in claims 1 or 2 in which the or each slot or slit extends latitudinally around a part of the top of the body.

5.A dosing device as claimed in any preceding claim in which each slot or slit extends substantially parallel to the rim of the filling opening.

C3942 8

6. A doypack having means for engaging with a dosing device of any of claims 1 to 5, which means comprise an elongated slot extending through the doypack wherein the slot is dimensioned to accept a top of the dosing device when sides of the device are pressed together.

7. A doypack as claimed in claim 8 in which a longitudinal axis of the slot in the doypack lies parallel to or at an acute angle to, a vertical axis of the pack.

8. A kit comprising a dosing device of claims 1 to 7 and a doypack of claims 8 and 9.

9. A method of attaching a dosing device of any of claims 1 to 7 to a doypack of any of claims 8 and 9, the method comprising the steps of:

flattening the top of the body by applying pressure on opposite sides of the top of the body between the slots; with the top of the body flattened, inserting the flattened top through the slot in the doypack such that the or each slot lies in the same general plane as the doypack; rotating the body within the doypack slot such that a longitudinal sidewall of the doypack slot engages a slot on the device; C3942 releasing the pressure on the body.

10. A dosing device and doypack substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accoiTpanying drawings.