JPH02189189A - Method and device for treating fabric product - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To appropriately disperse a detergent by charging and distributing a detergent composition from the opening of a hollow body which can be deformed by textile charged with a washing liquid and restored to the original shape when the deforming power is removed. CONSTITUTION: Concerning a device for distributing the detergent or similar composition inside a washing machine drum, a hollow body 1 is provided having at least one opening 4 through while the detergent composition can be charged and distributed. That hollow body 1 is provided with a smooth elastic wall 2 showing elasticity so that the hollow body deforms by the textile charged with the washing liquid in the drum of a washing machine and recovers the original shape when the deforming power is removed. By using such a hollow body in the washing machine drum, the detergent composition can be appropriately dispersed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a dispenser device for dispensing detergents or similar compositions, and more particularly to a dispenser device for dispensing detergents or similar compositions, and in particular for dispensing the contents directly as a result of rotation of the drum by installing it in a drum of a washing machine [1fi]. a reusable device used for dispensing into the washing liquid;
and a method of treating textile products using such equipment.

Such a dispensing device is well suited for dispensing the composition in laundry without automatic dosing equipment or in machines with dosing equipment that do not allow satisfactory dosing of the composition into the washing machine. Commonly used dosing equipment includes one or more drawers that are filled with the composition prior to the start of the wash cycle and then flushed by filling the machine with water.

If this water occurs at the beginning of the wash cycle, or if the design of the drawer is such that it does not retain the composition within the drawer until the start of the wash cycle, the composition may be added to the items being washed in the drum. washing that comes into contact with) U
It can end up in dead areas of the washing machine that don't have enough access to the liquid.

Additionally, the composition sometimes remains in the drawer and washes)
It is possible that the liquid will not flow out sufficiently.

For example, in British Patent No. 2,157,718, a rigid and reusable device for liquid detergent is provided for installation in the drum of a washing machine and for gradually distributing the liquid detergent into the washing liquor as the washing machine rotates. Proposed. It has also been proposed to provide such a rigid device with a removable and reinstallable lid having a number of holes into which a quantity of powder to be dispensed into the washing liquid can be filled. .

It has been found that dispensers similar to those previously proposed are not able to satisfactorily dispense all liquid and powder detergent compositions. When liquid detergent compositions are relatively viscous, rigid liquid detergent dispensers proposed in the past can sometimes still contain a certain amount of liquid detergent at the end of a wash cycle. Similarly, powder detergent composition 7
If objects tend to coalesce into clumps in the presence of water,
The detergent does not dispense satisfactorily through the pores of a rigid dispenser, as has been proposed in the past, and may even become deposited on the inside of the dispenser.

These problems can occur especially when wash cycles are affected by relatively low temperatures. They also occur at the beginning of the machine, especially if the disturbance in the drum is low.

Previously proposed dispensers also suffer from the disadvantage of emitting excessive noise when they contact the inner surface of the washing machine drum.

The invention relates to a device for dispensing detergent or similar compositions in a washing machine drum comprising a hollow body having at least one opening through which a detergent composition can be filled and dispensed, the hollow body containing a textile product. To provide a device characterized in that it is provided with a smooth elastic wall that can be deformed in the drum of a washing machine by washing liquid and exhibits elasticity such that it returns to its original shape when the deforming force is removed. do.

As the washing machine drum rotates to agitate the items being washed in the washing liquid, the weight of the washing liquid-wet fabric on top of it sometimes squeezes or compresses the device. This compression reduces the internal volume of the device and forces some of the contents out. As soon as the drum rotates, one of the compressed fabrics on the device is released, and the elastic walls of the device bend the device back to its original shape, increasing its internal volume and returning to its original level. This bending back into the original internal volume tends to create a partial vacuum within the device and also allows the washing liquid to be absorbed into the hollow device. Washing liquid can also enter the hollow body of the device by flowing therein to the upper through open filling and dispensing openings. The combination of the pumping action of the compression and return bending of the elastic wall and the inlet of the washing liquid to dilute or dissolve the composition within the device makes it difficult to dispense the composition due to viscosity or tendency to form clumps. It has been found that the contents are easily dispensed even when mixed.

In the simplest embodiment of the dispensing device, the invention provides a single filling and dispensing opening in the hollow body. The opening may be provided large enough to easily fill with the desired composition to be dispensed. Such a device is placed in a drum with an open mouth at the top. While the large opening allows for most of the composition to be dispensed as soon as the drum is rotated and the device is reversed, washing performance has not been found to be affected thereby. Wash tllll! The pumping action operating in all configurations within the drum enhances the cleaning properties of the entire composition within the device.

The resilient wall may be at least partially convex, and the aperture is disposed in the convex portion with a rigid flat insert located within the aperture, the insert forming a filling and dispensing aperture therein. It has at least one aperture.

The insert somewhat impedes the rate at which the composition is dispensed into the wash liquor if there is any risk of damage to the fabric during laundering due to contact of the composition before it is diluted into the wash liquor. be able to. The insert also stiffens the elastic wall around the opening and provides a reinforcing band. In that case, the book should be designed to minimize any risk of the device deforming and forcing out the composition to some extent when handled by the user installing the device in position within the washing machine drum after filling with the composition. The device can be grasped and held. Because the insert is placed in the convex portion of the device, the device is deformable regardless of the orientation of the device when the fabric is inverted thereon.

The insert preferably has a central aperture and a number of small holes surrounding the central aperture.

The center pores are large enough to easily fill with liquid or powder compositions, and the peripheral pores ensure that no water remains in the device at the end of the wash cycle.

To facilitate filling of the 5Allff, the insert may extend toward the body to form an annular gap between the insert and the body, and a plurality of apertures, at least some of which communicate with said annular gap. may have. Accordingly, a recess is provided above the top surface of the insert and below the upper edge of the resilient body to aid in filling the device. Annular 1 formed between the insert and the body wall! Because the thread is in communication with the outside of the device through at least some of the apertures in the insert, there is little risk that R solution or water will remain in the device at the end of the wash cycle.

In another embodiment of the invention, the resilient wall has one or more slits through which the composition can be dispensed. The slit forms a dispensing opening through which the composition can be dispensed by the pumping action resulting from the deformation and bending of the walls of the device by the fabric in the wash liquor.

The hollow body may have a spherical portion in which the slit defines a portion of the panel that extends inwardly into the hollow body and is used to adopt an initial position forming a filling opening between the panels. Preferably, the panels are used to adopt a second position such that the panels join to form at least part of said bulbous portion of the hollow body. Thus, by moving the panel to the second position, the user can substantially open and close its filling interior after filling. These conditions allow easy operation of the device with minimal risk of spillage when the device is installed in a washing machine drum.

Alternatively, a filling opening may be located in the inner bend of the hollow body to facilitate filling of the device.

The plurality of arcuate slits in the spherical part of the hollow body constitute an internal bend, so that the slits are placed in the most favorable position to ensure that no washing liquid or water remains in the device at the end of the washing cycle.

The core member is made rigid to help impart some degree of rigidity to the device without minimizing the pumping effect during use.
and the second end opposite the filling opening is fixed to the hollow body. The second body is preferably secured to the second concave portion of the body. Any contact between the hollow body and the drum or the fabric being washed in the zone reinforced by the core member is therefore relieved by the area surrounding the elastic body.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the hollow body is formed with an upper resilient wall portion and a lower resilient wall portion joined by a rigid central tubular core member, the central tubular core member being a filling opening in the upper wall portion. An open joint communicating with the body forms a single continuous slit in its body. Preferably, the upper wall part can be adapted to be bent into a filling position where it forms a funnel part joining the open end of the core. The funnel part therefore facilitates the filling of the device and
Before installation in the lamidrum, the joint between the upper and lower parts is bent back into position to form a slit.

The present invention also includes placing the fabric to be treated in a drum with a dispensing device having elastic walls and filled with a detergent or similar composition, repeatedly agitating the fabric over the device in the presence of washing liquid to flex the elastic walls, and To provide a method for treating textile articles in a washing machine drum by rotating the drum to force items out of the device and into a liquid in the washing machine.

The pumping effect obtained in this method makes it possible to completely distribute the entire contents of the device and also allows the composition to be ejected from the device to achieve good dispersion of the composition in the liquid in the washing machine.

The resilient walls of the device significantly reduce the amount of noise resulting from the presence of the distribution device within the rotating drum of the washing machine.

The resilient walls of the device may preferably be transparent to allow the user to observe the amount of composition loaded into the device. A suitable material that can impart the desired degree of elasticity and has the necessary thermal stability to withstand the operating temperatures typical in washing machines is plasticized PVC. Such materials may be colored in various colors without obscuring the user's ability to observe the fill level, incorporating bands of contrasting color into the body to indicate one or more predetermined fill volumes. You can.

The present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the following drawings.

1 and 2, the dispenser device is shown to consist of a substantially spherical hollow body 1 made of resilient brass material having a smooth outer surface 2 and an inner surface 2a. The flat plate part 3 forms a bottom part so that the device can be placed on a horizontal surface without tilting or rolling. Diametrically opposite the bottom 3 is an opening 4 with a smoothly rounded annular edge 5 through which the device can be filled and its contents distributed during use. The edge 5 of the aperture is thickened in the area 6, increasing the stiffness of the upper region of the hollow body relative to the rest of the body, where the filling dispenser can be easily pinched by hand despite the presence of the aperture 4. The device can be placed in the drum of AiIJ II without crushing the device and spilling the contents, or spilling out the contents.

The device can be constructed of any suitable elastic plastic material, such as plasticized PvC, which will withstand the required operating temperatures in a washing machine. The body is conveniently transparent or translucent so that the fill level can be seen by the user, and markings may be provided on the body to indicate to the user the fill level of a particular amount. The opening 4 can be sealed with a removable lid so that the package contains a predetermined amount of the composition and can be dispensed and sold.

In use, the user fills the hollow body with the desired composition for treating textile products in the drum of a washing machine. The composition may be in liquid or powder form. The composition is typically a detergent, but other compositions such as bleach can also be filled into the hollow body. This and other compositions, alone or in combination with other compositions, from the device into the drum may be dispensed in a similar manner or from automatic dispensing equipment built into the washing machine itself.

If the two compositions are to be dispensed simultaneously into the washing machine, and provided that they are compatible, they can of course be filled respectively into the hollow body. Those are the first
If it is not sufficiently compatible to fill a single hollow body similar to that shown in the figures, the hollow body may be subdivided into two or more compartments each having a filling opening and a dispensing opening.

The filled device is placed in the washing machine drum with the fabric to be treated. If the device is placed in an upright position, the contents will not be dispensed until the drum begins to rotate. When the drum is rotating, the dispensing device is overturned, causing the composition contained therein to be dispensed through the openings 4. Depending on the nature of the composition, it is unlikely that the entire contents will be dispersed as soon as the drum starts rotating. The speed at which dispensing occurs depends on the nature of the product, the angle at which the dispenser is tilted, and the time the dispenser is tilted. When the drum rotates,
(The dispenser is scraped together with the fabric and washed a certain amount)
V liquid enters the hollow body. Most importantly, the fabric, which absorbs the washing liquid and is therefore loaded with its weight, is disturbed on the device, so that the ff1ffl of the fabric compresses or squeezes the device, regardless of its configuration, reducing its internal volume. The goal is to reduce the

This squeezing therefore forces out some of the contents within the hollow body. When the weight of the fabric is removed from the bookshelf, the elastic wall allows the hollow body to bend back to its original shape. This bending generally occurs when the device is below the level of the washing liquid in the washing machine, so that a small volume of washing liquid is sucked into the device. The flow of the washing liquid into the device and the pumping action of the compression and return bending of the elastic walls ensure that even the most difficult to dispense compositions are properly distributed within the drum. At the end of the wash cycle, there are no traces of the composition within the device. When a washing machine cycle with a high-speed rotating drum is completed,
The dispenser can then be retrieved from inside the drum, which contains no water or washing liquid, and is ready for reuse.

3 and 4 show a modification of the dispenser of FIGS. 1 and 2, in which a rigid insert 7 is placed in an annular groove 8 in a region 6 surrounding the opening 4 of the hollow body. The insert has an outer annular 7 flange 9 located within the annular groove 8.
and a flat portion 10 spaced inwardly into the hollow body from the 7 flange 9, giving it a dish-shaped appearance. Planar portion 10 has a central aperture 11 surrounded by a plurality of smaller apertures 12 and 13. The small aperture 13 extends below the annular 7 flange 9 and communicates with the annular gap 14 between the insert and the inner side 2a of the hollow body 1, created by the older insert on its outside. The dish-shaped insert cooperates with the thickened area [6] of the hollow body to form a recess 15 above the insert and below the upper edge of the filling device.

The dispenser is filled through the insert apertures 11, 12 and 13, with most filling preferably occurring through the central aperture 11. If the rate of passage of the composition through its aperture is slower than the rate at which the composition is injected or refilled into the device, the recess 5 on the insert will minimize spillage. It gives rigidity to the upper area and allows handling of the filling dispenser without spilling, but since it is located on a convex part of the hollow body, the device can be dispensed independently of its orientation in the drum. Can be compressed by fabric. Place the filled device into the washer drum before the washer cycle starts. The insert then partially limits the distribution of the composition, in particular any risks that may arise from the concentrated composition contained within the device coming into direct contact with the fabric before the fabric is wetted. minimize.

As soon as the device is agitated with the fabric in the presence of the washing liquid, a volume of liquid is drawn into the device by the pumping action to dilute the composition before it is dispensed. Furthermore, extruding the liquid composition, i.e. the diluted composition or the powder-dissolved composition, as a liquid jet through the small apertures 12 and 13, especially the smallest aperture 12, improves the dispersion of the composition in the liquid in the drum. Ru.

During the final swirl cycle, the water or liquid in the device is emptied. The presence of the aperture 13 communicating with the annular gap 14 ensures that no water or liquid remains trapped within the annular gap.

FIG. 5 shows a device comprising a substantially spherical hollow body 1 of elastic material. The upper bulbous part of the body is interrupted 17
It has three arcuate slits 16 that together form a circle. From the center point 18 of the spherical part above the slit 16 three further slits 19 extend, which are interrupted by the interruption 11.
towards the midpoint of the slit 16 and terminating above the circle of the slit 16.

Together, the slits 16 and 19 constitute three petal-like panels 20 which are pushed inwardly from the spherical state as shown in FIG. can be in position. 1 similar to that shown in Figure 6.
In this position, the panel 20 creates a gap between it and another panel, providing a filling opening 21 therebetween, through which the composition can be filled into the hollow body. The present load may be placed in this state in the drum of the washing machine only to minimize spillage or inadvertent release of the composition into the drum before the wash cycle has started. However, the panel 20 is preferably placed back into the second position shown in FIG. This can be done by squeezing the hollow body which approximately surrounds its horizontal diameter.

If this device is placed in a washing machine drum in this state together with the fabric to be processed, even if the device falls from its upright position with the center point 18 at the top, the slit 1G and There is little risk of the composition escaping from the book l111ef through 19.

As the drum begins to rotate, the device is crushed and deformed by the fabric within the drum, as in the previous embodiment. This deformation opens one or more slits and the contents of the device are forced out as before. When the device returns to its original shape, liquid is sucked into the device through the slit. During the whirling phase of the washing machine, residual liquid or water in the device escapes through the slit.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8, the generally spherical hollow body of elastic material provides three arcuate slits 16 interrupted by 17 in the same way as in FIG.

Inside the circle defined by the slit 16 is the inner support part of the body with the opening 4 in the center. 2 exists. Filling opening 4
Extending inwardly from the hollow body is a hollow tubular central core member 23 which is open at its lower end 24 and communicates with the interior of the hollow body.

In use, the device is filled through the filling opening 4, which is facilitated by the curved portion 22. The central core member prevents leakage during handling.

When the device is deformed by the fabric in the washing machine drum, the contents of the device are forced through the opening 4 and through the slit 16. When the deforming force is removed and the device returns to its original state, the liquid is sucked through the slit and into the opening 4.
You can also enter through it. The slit 16 empties the device at the end of the swirl phase of the wash 17JR.

The embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10 shows that a substantially spherical elastic hollow body 1 has a filling opening 4 at the top. A filling aperture 4 is disposed in the inner surface portion 25 and communicates with the hollow tubular central core member 2G, which extends through the hollow body and is secured to the hollow body at an opposite end 27 of the aperture 4. The distal end 27 of the core member is rounded and provided with one or more IUI caps 8 to communicate the inside of the hollow body 1 and the inside of the core member 26. The distal end 27 of the core member is secured to the downwardly curved portion 29 of the hollow body, and the inner surface portion 25 is similarly secured to the upper end of the core member. The downwardly curved portion 29 provides an annular edge 30 on which the device can be placed.

A slit 31 is provided in the hollow body above the filling level of the composition dispensed from the device.

Fill the device through opening 4 as before.

In use, the composition contained within the device is forced out of the opening 4 through the slit 31 and through the core member. The washing machine rotates due to the slit 31! !
By the end of i, the device will be empty. Although the core member makes the hollow body 1 somewhat rigid, the device is deformed by the fabric disturbed thereon, regardless of its orientation. Because the rigid core member is secured to the inner surface portions 25 and 29 of the hollow body, the core member does not come into contact with the drum of the washing machine and create noise.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 11 and 12, the hollow body is formed from an upper wall portion 32 and a lower wall portion 33, both of elastic material. The upper part 32 has a filling opening 4;
This communicates with the upper end of the tubular hollow central core member 26.

The lower end of the core member is closed and secured to the lower wall portion 33. A vertical opening 28 is formed in the core member adjacent the lower end of the core.

Both the upper and lower wall sections are dish-shaped and held together by a core member, the junction of the outer rims of the wall sections forming a continuous circular slit 34 in the hollow body.

Wooden packaging can be filled through the opening 4, but in use, the contents are distributed by pushing through the slit 34 and the opening 4 in the same manner as described above. Due to the slit 34, the device is empty after the pivoting phase.

To facilitate filling, the upper wall portion should be bent as shown in Figure 12.
Adopt a funnel-shaped position as shown in . After filling, the upper wall portion is returned to the position shown in Figure 11 before placing the device into the washing machine drum.

Dispensing devices and methods of washing textile products similar to those described above represent significant improvements in the dispensing of detergents and similar compositions, and furthermore, the rigid components of the dispensing device and the upper area within the washer drum are minimized, resulting in noise generation. is avoided.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified embodiment of the apparatus of FIG. 1. 4 is a plan view of the device of FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the device of the invention, and FIG. 6 is a plan view of the device of FIG. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the invention, FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device of FIG. 7, and FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. There is a perspective view r of the 51st embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device of FIG. 9, and FIG.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 11 in the configuration for filling it before use. 1...Hollow body, 2...Smooth and elastic wall, 3...Bottom, 4...Opening, 5...
...Annular rim, 6...Area of thickening, 1...
···insert.

Claims (16)

[Claims] (1) A device for dispensing a detergent or similar composition in a washing machine drum, comprising a hollow body having at least one opening through which a detergent composition can be filled and dispensed; The hollow body has a smooth elastic wall that is deformable by the textile product loaded with washing liquid in the drum of the washing machine and exhibits elasticity such that it returns to its original shape when the deforming force is removed. A device characterized by: 2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a single filling and dispensing opening in the hollow body. (3) the resilient wall is at least partially convex and an aperture is disposed with a rigid planar insert positioned in the aperture, the insert forming at least one filling and dispensing aperture; 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it has one aperture therein. 4. The device of claim 3, wherein the insert includes a central aperture and a plurality of smaller apertures surrounding the central aperture. (5) the insert has a plurality of apertures extending into the hollow body forming an annular gap between the insert and the body, and at least some of which are in communication with the annular gap; The device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that: 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the resilient wall comprises one or more slits through which the composition can be dispensed. (7) said hollow body has a spherical portion in which a slit constitutes a group of panels, said panels assuming a first position extending inwardly of said hollow body to form a filling opening therebetween; 7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that it is applied as follows. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the panel is adapted to assume a second position in which the panel joins to form at least a portion of the spherical portion of the hollow body. . 9. The device of claim 6, wherein the filling opening is located in a concave portion of the hollow body. 10. The device of claim 9, wherein the incurved portion is constituted by a plurality of arcuate slits within a spherical portion of the hollow body. 11. A central tubular core member is provided having at least one opening communicating with the filling opening at one end and communicating with the interior of the hollow body. The device described. (12) the central tubular core member is rigid, one end of the central tubular core member being the filling opening and the opposite end being secured to the second concave portion of the hollow body; 12. The device according to claim 11. (13) said hollow body is formed by upper and lower resilient wall portions joined by said central tubular core member that is rigid, said central tubular core member having an open end in communication with a filling opening in said upper wall portion; , at least one opening communicating with the inside of the hollow body, characterized in that the joint between the upper and lower wall parts forms a single continuous slit in the hollow body. 7. Apparatus according to claim 6. 14. The upper wall portion is adapted to be bent into a filling position in which the upper wall portion forms a funnel portion that joins the open end of the central tubular core. equipment. (15) A method for treating textile products in a drum of a washing machine, wherein the textile products to be treated are placed in said drum with a dispensing device containing a desired amount of detergent or similar composition before starting the machine cycle. , the dispensing device is agitated with the textile product in the presence of washing liquid, and the dispensing device has an elastic wall that is repeatedly flexed by the product agitated on the dispensing device as the drum rotates; A method characterized in that wall curvature forces the composition out of the dispensing device into a liquid. (16) The dispensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 14, which contains a predetermined amount of the detergent composition.