WO1997006301A1 - Dispenser with enhanced diffusion - Google Patents
Dispenser with enhanced diffusion Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO1997006301A1 WO1997006301A1 PCT/US1996/012676 US9612676W WO9706301A1 WO 1997006301 A1 WO1997006301 A1 WO 1997006301A1 US 9612676 W US9612676 W US 9612676W WO 9706301 A1 WO9706301 A1 WO 9706301A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- hollow body
- cover
- fine mesh
- apertures
- woven
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00
- D06F39/02—Devices for adding soap or other washing agents
- D06F39/024—Devices for adding soap or other washing agents mounted on the agitator or the rotating drum; Free body dispensers
Definitions
- This invention relates to a device for providing a dose of a liquid or solid to a larger container. More particularly, this invention relates to a dispensing device for providing a dose of substances, such as active agents, to a wash tub.
- the problem of the prior art that the present invention overcomes is the potential for staining and/or discoloration if a solution or agent, such as a bleaching agent or concentrated laundry detergent, comes into contact with the fabric before any significant dilution by the wash water.
- a solution or agent such as a bleaching agent or concentrated laundry detergent
- the present invention is directed to an inexpensive, reusable doser device which is comprised of a hollow body of novel construction for the reliable metered dispensing of substances such as powder additives and solid and liquid detergents uniformly over a period of time into the wash water in an automatic washing machine.
- This doser device is particularly useful with bleach powders and concentrated powder detergents.
- a portion of the hollow body, and usually a cover has an area with a plurality of small apertures.
- This plurality of apertures can be formed by a plurality of fine apertures or mesh and in one embodiment in the form of a woven or non woven material. In another embodiment it can be a sheet of open celled foam. It can also be a sheet with a plurality of small diameter apertures.
- a woven or non-woven material can be of a natural or artificial fiber.
- the size of the apertures generally are less than about 100 ⁇ .
- a supporting and protecting grid overlays and protects the fine mesh openings from damage and separates the laundry from the fine mesh. The grid pieces of this protecting section preferably are connected to provide greater strength.
- the hollow body can be made from any resilient plastic. This includes plastics such as polyethylene or polypropylene, which are sufficiently heat stable at the temperatures of operation to maintain its original form, while allowing some temporary distortions during tumbling in a washing machine. These distortions result in a change in volume which helps to facilitate dispensing of the substances in the hollow body. However, the device is resilient enough to recover its shape when outside forces cease distorting the shape of the hollow body.
- the dimension of this hollow body is usually between 5 to 15 cm in diameter but can be larger or smaller in diameter.
- a hollow body having enhanced diffusion by means of one or more bellows integral with the hollow body structure so that the hollow body can contract and expand to allow the substances in the hollow body to exchange with the water in the wash tub prior to leaving the doser. This avoids prolonged contact of the fabric with the substances in a concentrated condition, thereby reducing the chances of discoloration and staining of the fabrics in the wash.
- FIG. 10 is a top plan view of an hollow body showing an alternative embodiment of the structure of the cover.
- FIG. 2 a cross-sectional view of the hollow body 11 .
- the means to exchange the substances in the hollow body to the exterior is a part of the closure.
- the dispensing closure has a large mesh protecting grid 16.
- the dispensing closure couples to the neck 13 of the hollow body by a suitable fastening means.
- One such fastening means consists of an interlocking projecting rib and mating recess arrangement.
- the hollow body has a projecting rib 32 extending from the outer wall of the neck. This projecting rib 32 couples with a cooperating recess 34 on the skirt 36 of the dispensing closure.
- the protecting grid 16 is shown as overlaying and contacting fine mesh section 17. This can range from contacting to a spaced relationship of up to about 1 cm, and preferably up to about 0.5 cm.
- the objective of the protecting grid is to space materials being treated from the fine mesh section so that the substances from the hollow body are more effectively diluted before contacting any fabrics and to protect the fine mesh section from damage.
- FIG. 3 a hollow body 11 without the dispensing closure which shows the opening where the substance can be added to the inner chamber 23 of the hollow body. The user can open the dispensing closure of the hollow body to fill the hollow body with the desired substance and then close and secure the dispensing closure onto the hollow body to prevent an unintentional opening of the dispensing closure before or during washing machine use.
- the grid pieces 25 and 27 protect the fine mesh grid from direct contact with the surrounding fabrics being washed and provide for further dilution with wash water prior to contact with the fabrics.
- An alternative embodiment for the grid pieces 25 and 27 include preferably intersecting grid pieces, which do not necessarily have to be horizontal and vertical. These can be in a concentric circular or elliptical arrangement, a wave or random pattern or any other arrangement that will keep the fabrics being washed separated from the fine mesh and protect the fine mesh grid from damage.
- FIG. 5 there is shown a dispenser where the hollow body has two sets of bellows 12 which allow a greater volume of the hollow body to contract and expand. The net result is a greater pumping action. The remainder of this dispenser is as described for the dispenser of FIG. 1.
- FIG. 8 there is shown a dispenser where the hollow body has spiral bellow 44.
- the bellow is shown from the bottom to the top portion of the hollow body. However, the bellow may be a part of a smaller portion of the hollow body. The remainder of this dispenser is as described for the dispenser of FIG. 1.
- the dimensions of the apertures of the large mesh protecting grid must prevent the contact between fabrics and the fine mesh section.
- the fine mesh section 17 essentially prevents any undissolved particles or undiluted liquid from exiting the inner chamber 23 of the hollow body during use.
- the grid pieces 60 protect the fine mesh section from direct contact with the surrounding fabrics being washed and provide for further dilution with wash water prior to contact with the fabrics.
- the preferred materials are chosen from polypropylenes, polycarbonates and polyethylenes, or combinations of these materials, with or without adjuvants.
- the hollow body is conveniently made by injection blowmolding.
- the dispensing closure and the protecting grid are economically made by injection molding.
- the fine mesh section is made of a sheet of plastic, usually the same as the hollow body, with a plurality of apertures or is a woven or non-woven fabric material. If a woven or non-woven fabric material is used, it can be a synthetic or non- synthetic. If a synthetic, it can be a polyene such as polyethylene or polypropylene, and if non-synthetic, a cellulose based material. In a further alternative, the fine mesh can be an open celled foam such as an open celled polyurethane foam. It also can be a sheet of material with a plurality of fine apertures.
- the hollow body is shown as being generally spherical. However, it could be of essentially any shape from triangular, quadrangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, or greater number of sides. It also may be generally cylindrical. The only limitation is to have one or more bellows or integral part of the structure so that there can be a pumping action during usage.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Textile Engineering (AREA)
- Detail Structures Of Washing Machines And Dryers (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP96926874A EP0843754A1 (en) | 1995-08-07 | 1996-08-05 | Dispenser with enhanced diffusion |
AU66889/96A AU6688996A (en) | 1995-08-07 | 1996-08-05 | Dispenser with enhanced diffusion |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US199195P | 1995-08-07 | 1995-08-07 | |
US60/001,991 | 1995-08-07 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO1997006301A1 true WO1997006301A1 (en) | 1997-02-20 |
Family
ID=21698737
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US1996/012676 WO1997006301A1 (en) | 1995-08-07 | 1996-08-05 | Dispenser with enhanced diffusion |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0843754A1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU6688996A (en) |
WO (1) | WO1997006301A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2324311A (en) * | 1997-04-07 | 1998-10-21 | Procter & Gamble | Rinse water additive dispenser |
WO2000017438A1 (en) * | 1998-09-18 | 2000-03-30 | Unilever Plc | Device for machine washing of clothes |
Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4703872A (en) * | 1984-08-24 | 1987-11-03 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Device for dispensing liquid detergents in washers |
FR2612894A1 (en) * | 1987-03-25 | 1988-09-30 | Procter & Gamble | PACKAGING FOR LIQUID LAUNDRY AND METHOD FOR USE THEREOF |
EP0327716A1 (en) * | 1988-02-12 | 1989-08-16 | Henkel Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien | Dosing container for holding and dispensing a laundry treatment liquid |
EP0343069A1 (en) * | 1988-05-18 | 1989-11-23 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Method and device for washing laundry in a machine using a powdery product |
GB2244722A (en) * | 1990-03-10 | 1991-12-11 | Paterson Zochonis | Reusable in-wash powder dispensing device |
-
1996
- 1996-08-05 AU AU66889/96A patent/AU6688996A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1996-08-05 WO PCT/US1996/012676 patent/WO1997006301A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1996-08-05 EP EP96926874A patent/EP0843754A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4703872A (en) * | 1984-08-24 | 1987-11-03 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Device for dispensing liquid detergents in washers |
FR2612894A1 (en) * | 1987-03-25 | 1988-09-30 | Procter & Gamble | PACKAGING FOR LIQUID LAUNDRY AND METHOD FOR USE THEREOF |
EP0327716A1 (en) * | 1988-02-12 | 1989-08-16 | Henkel Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien | Dosing container for holding and dispensing a laundry treatment liquid |
EP0343069A1 (en) * | 1988-05-18 | 1989-11-23 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Method and device for washing laundry in a machine using a powdery product |
GB2244722A (en) * | 1990-03-10 | 1991-12-11 | Paterson Zochonis | Reusable in-wash powder dispensing device |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2324311A (en) * | 1997-04-07 | 1998-10-21 | Procter & Gamble | Rinse water additive dispenser |
WO2000017438A1 (en) * | 1998-09-18 | 2000-03-30 | Unilever Plc | Device for machine washing of clothes |
US6523371B1 (en) | 1998-09-18 | 2003-02-25 | Unilever Home & Personal Care Usa, Division Of Conopco, Inc. | Device for machine washing of clothes |
CZ299480B6 (en) * | 1998-09-18 | 2008-08-13 | Unilever N. V. | Dispensing device |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
AU6688996A (en) | 1997-03-05 |
EP0843754A1 (en) | 1998-05-27 |
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