GB2554046A

GB2554046A - Dispensing device for detergents and the like

Info

Publication number: GB2554046A
Application number: GB1610346.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Morgan Darren
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-06-14
Filing date: 2016-06-14
Publication date: 2018-03-28
Also published as: GB201610346D0

Abstract

Disclosed is a dispensing device suitable for adding a scent to a wash in a washing machine. The dispensing device comprises a dissolvable scent member 11, and a container 10 having a compartment adapted to receive a product to be dispensed D. The container comprises an outlet 12 through which the product can egress, and a means 15 for mounting the scent member such that at least a portion of the scent member extend into the compartment in use. The mounting means may be tubular, and may extend into the compartment from a side wall of the container. The scent member may be a dissolvable solid material, or a liquid with an at least partially dissolvable enclosure. Also disclosed is a method of adding a scent to a wash comprising the steps of; engaging a scent member with a mounting means provided by a dispensing container, filling the container with a product such that at least a portion of the scent member contacts the product; placing the container in a washing machine, running the washing machine, and allowing the scent member to dissolve by contact with the product or water inside the washing machine.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: Dispensing device for detergents and the like

Abstract Title: Dispensing device comprising a container and a dissolvable scent member (57) Disclosed is a dispensing device suitable for adding a scent to a wash in a washing machine. The dispensing device comprises a dissolvable scent member 11, and a container 10 having a compartment adapted to receive a product to be dispensed D. The container comprises an outlet 12 through which the product can egress, and a means 15 for mounting the scent member such that at least a portion of the scent member extend into the compartment in use. The mounting means may be tubular, and may extend into the compartment from a side wall of the container. The scent member may be a dissolvable solid material, or a liquid with an at least partially dissolvable enclosure. Also disclosed is a method of adding a scent to a wash comprising the steps of; engaging a scent member with a mounting means provided by a dispensing container, filling the container with a product such that at least a portion of the scent member contacts the product; placing the container in a washing machine, running the washing machine, and allowing the scent member to dissolve by contact with the product or water inside the washing machine.

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DISPENSING DEVICE FOR DETERGENTS AND THE LIKE

This invention relates to a dispensing device for detergents and the like.

Washing machines generally comprise a dispensing compartment or a drawer which can be filled with detergents, fabric softeners and other products in either liquid or powered form. The side walls of the dispensing device comprises lines or other markings which indicate various volumetric levels to which the device can be filled. A problem of this is that the lines or other markings can be difficult to read especially as the inside of the device can become dirty over time, with the result that the device can be filled with wrong dosage of product.

In order to overcome the above-mentioned problem, it has been proposed to provide balls and other containers which can be filled with a detergent or other product and which can be placed inside a washing machine following dosing. One such device is disclosed in EP1813708. Once the washing cycle of the machine starts, the detergent or other product in the container is dispensed into the wash through an opening in the container. The container has markings on its side wall, which can easily be seen thereby solving the above-mentioned problem.

Typically the detergents and other products used in washing machines comprise a scent that provides the clothes or other articles being washed with a pleasant aroma after washing.

One problem with this is that a user will have to keep a large number of washing products if a variety of different scents are required. Another problem is that the scent is so diluted that the aroma is hardly noticeable in the washed article. This problem is also exacerbated by the fact that the detergent is normally washed away by a final rinse cycle, which can have the effect of washing away any aroma that is imparted to the articles being washed.

I have now devised a dispensing device which alleviates the above-mentioned problems.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a dispensing device having a container comprising a compartment adapted to receive a detergent or other product to be dispensed, the container having an outlet through which the product can egress, the device further comprising a dissolvable scent member, the container further comprising means for mounting the scent member such that, in use, at least a portion of the scent member extends into the compartment.

In use, a user can select a scent member having the desired scent. The selected scent member can then be fitted into the mounting means such that at least a portion of the scent member extends into the compartment. The compartment can then be filled with an unscented detergent or other product.

During the washing cycle, the detergent or other product is washed out of the container in the normal way. However, the scent member remains inside the compartment and is dissolved slowly by contact with the water and/or the detergent or other product inside the container: this delays the application of the scent to a later stage in the wash cycle. In this manner, a user is able to select a scent from a range of scent members, which are inexpensive and easy to store. Since the scent is added to the wash later in the wash cycle, the articles being washed will have a much stronger aroma than that conventionally provided by a detergent or other product.

It is envisaged that the user might be able to purchase a pack of scent members which comprise a mixture of different scents that the user can selectively use. Alternatively, the user can purchase a number of packs of scent members having different respective scents.

The mounting means may be tubular, the scent member being elongate and insertable into the tubular mounting means such that one end thereof extends into the compartment. Since only one end of the scent member is exposed, the scent member will dissolve more slowly.

Preferably the tubular mounting means extends into the compartment from the side wall of the container, the side wall comprising an aperture which communicates with the interior of the tubular mounting means at one end thereof, the scent member being insertable into the tubular mounting means through the aperture.

Preferably the opposite end of the tubular mounting means is open.

Preferably a side wall of the scent member has a profile arranged to engage a complementary profile of the tubular mounting means, such that the scent member is retained inside the tubular mounting means and in a position where it is dissolved more slowly.

The scent member may comprise a dissolvable solid material. Alternatively the scent member may comprise a liquid contained within an enclosure which is at least partially dissolvable.

Also in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method of adding a scent to a wash in a washing machine, the method comprising the steps of:

engaging a scent member with a mounting means provided by a dispensing container;

filling the dispensing container with a detergent or another product such that at least a portion of the scent member is in contact with the product;

placing the container into the washing machine;

rimming the washing machine on a selected wash cycle; and allowing the scent member to dissolve by contact with the product and/or water inside the washing machine.

Preferably the scent member is inserted into a tubular mount of the container.

Preferably the scent member is inserted into the tubular mount through an aperture in a side wall of the container which communicates with the interior of one end of the tubular mount.

Preferably the scent member is inserted into the tubular mount such that one end thereof extends out of the other end of the tubular mount.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a dispensing device in accordance with the present invention, the device being shown prior to the insertion of a scent member into the container;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the device of Figure 1, with the container thereof being shown in outline;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the device of Figure 1, illustrating how the scent member is inserted into the container;

Figure 4 is a sectional view through the device of Figure 1 when assembled; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the device of Figure 1 when in use.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, there is shown a dispensing device comprising a hollow ball-shaped container 10 formed of transparent plastics material. The container 10 defines an internal compartment 14. The container 10 is provided with an opening 12, through which washing detergent or another product can be poured into the compartment 14. Advantageously, a series of lines or other indicia 13 are provide on the side wall of the container to provide an indication of the dosage of detergent or other product.

A tubular mount 15 extends into the compartment 14 from a side wall of the container 10, the side wall of the container 10 being provided with an aperture 17 which communicates with one end of the tubular mount 15. A central portion of the tubular side wall of the mount 15 extends radially outwardly to provide a bulbous formation 16.

A scent member 11 comprises an elongate cylindrical body having a bulbous region 18 intermediate its opposite ends.

In use a selected scent member 11 is taken from a pack and inserted into the aperture 17 until the bulbous region 18 of the scent member 11 seats inside the bulbous portion 16 of the tubular mount 15: this arrangement helps to retain the scent member 11 securely in position. One end 11a of the scent member 11 projects out of the tubular mount 15 into the compartment 14.

The compartment 14 is then filled with a detergent D through the opening 12. Referring to Figure 5 of the drawings, the filled device is then placed inside the drum of a washing machine and the detergent D and/or water inside the device 10 acts to dissolve the projecting end 11 a of the scent member 11, such that the scent is slowly added to the wash later in the wash cycle. It will be appreciated that the tubular mounting means 15 prevents detergent and/or water from contacting the majority of the scent member 11, so that it dissolves slowly. At some point, the scent member

11 will have dissolved sufficiently for it to become disengaged from the tubular mount and so that the scent is only fully released into the wash at a much later stage during the wash cycle.

A dispensing device in accordance with the present invention is simple and inexpensive in construction yet allows users to select one of a variety of different scents, which are applied to the articles being washed in such a manner that they smell strongly of the scent.

Claims

1. A dispensing device having a container comprising a compartment adapted to receive a detergent or other product to be dispensed, the container having an outlet through which the product can egress, the device further comprising a dissolvable scent member, the container further comprising means for mounting the scent member such that, in use, at least a portion of the scent member extends into the compartment.

2. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 1, in which the mounting means is tubular, the scent member being elongate and insertable into the tubular mounting member such that one end thereof extends into the compartment.

3. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 2, in which the tubular mounting member extends into the compartment from the side wall of the container, the side wall comprising an aperture which communicates with the interior of the tubular mounting member, the scent member being insertable into the tubular mounting member through the aperture.

4. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, in which a side wall of the scent member has a profile arranged to engage a complementary profile of the tubular mounting member, such that the scent member is retained inside the tubular mounting member.

5. A dispensing device as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the scent member comprises a dissolvable solid material.

6. A dispensing device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, in which the scent member comprises a liquid contained within an enclosure which is at least partially dissolvable.

7. A kit of parts comprising a dispensing device as claimed in any preceding claim and a plurality of scent members for selectively mounting to the container.

8. A method of adding a scent to a wash in a washing machine, the method comprising the steps of:

5 filling the dispensing container with a detergent or another product such that at least a portion of the scent member is in contact with the product;

placing the container into the washing machine;

running the washing machine on a selected wash cycle; and allowing the scent member to dissolve by contact with the product

10 and/or water inside the washing machine.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, in which the scent member is inserted into a tubular mounting member of the container.

15

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, in which the scent member is inserted into the tubular mounting member through an aperture in a side wall of the container which communicates with the interior of the tubular mounting member.

Intellectual

Property

Office

GB1610346.7

1-7

Application No: Claims searched: