WO2013114088A1

WO2013114088A1 - Dosing and dispensing device for liquid detergent and process of washing

Info

Publication number: WO2013114088A1
Application number: PCT/GB2013/050177
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giuseppe Di Bono; Nicola Pretto; Ralf Wiedemann
Original assignee: Reckitt Benckiser N.V.; Reckitt & Colman (Overseas) Limited
Priority date: 2012-02-03
Filing date: 2013-01-28
Publication date: 2013-08-08
Also published as: GB2500367A; GB201201908D0

Abstract

A dosing and dispensing device for liquid detergent comprises a hollow body (2). At least one valve is provided in the hollow body for dispensing the product, and means to spread at least a portion of the contained liquid detergent onto a surface of fabric. The valve is (progressively) opened when lateral pressure is applied to said device on a surface to which the liquid detergent is applied. The valve is substantially closed when said pressure stops. The valve comprises an aperture (8) in a portion of the hollow body and a closure member (4) associated with said aperture (8). The closure member (4) is moveable with respect to the aperture (8) such that on application of lateral pressure the closure member (4) is moved relative to the aperture.

Description

DOSING AND DISPENSING DEVICE FOR LIQUID DETERGENT AND PROCESS OF WASHING

The present invention relates to a dosing and dispensing device for liquid laundry detergents. The device according to the present invention is particularly adapted to pretreat fabrics with a portion of liquid detergent.

Dispensing devices for liquid detergent, which are to be introduced with the fabrics in the washing machine, are well known in the prior art. It is also known that it is possible to achieve a greater effectiveness in respect of stain removal by pretreating the fabrics without consuming a greater amount of liquid detergent. Pre- treatment means that a certain amount of detergent is applied directly onto the dirty parts of said fabrics before they are washed in the machine. In the following these devices are called "pretreat- ment devices". In the following detergent means a detergent composition for the treatment of fabrics. This detergent composition may comprise washing additives, like beaches, enzymes and/or others known in the art.

Various pretreatment devices for liquid detergent are described in the prior art, for example in WO 92/09736 and WO 92/09737. These devices allow an application of said liquid detergent onto the fabrics before the washing cycle either with predetermined outlets or a removable pretreatment applicator respectively. Another approach is represented by EP-A-575 714. This document describes another pretreatment device for liquid detergent with a fixed appli- cator in form of a roller ball. This roller ball is able to spread the contained liquid detergent only in a predetermined direction.

The pretreating devices mentioned before allow an even spreading of the contained liquid detergent onto the fabric, i.e. the spread quantity is always the same. This way of even spreading does not consider that different stains need a different amount of liquid detergent during pretreatment. For example, stains can be made of certain constituents which need a more thorough pretreatment to increase its effectiveness. This can be achieved by applying a greater amount of the liquid detergent. A greater quantity is also needed depending on the dimensions of the stain itself. Therefore, we found that the effectiveness of stain removal is increased when a greater amount of pretreating detergent is applied upon the soiled surface of the fabric, since said surface can be pretreated more thoroughly.

It is not possible with the pretreatment devices of the prior art to adjust the amount of liquid detergent on the specific needs. Indeed, the outlets having a fixed aperture or the applicators, being for example a sponge, do not give the possibility to vary the quan- tity of liquid detergent to be spread on the fabric for a thorough pre-treatment / to control the amount of detergent such that eventual damages to fabrics (i.e. fading, etc.) can be avoided. It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a device with an adjustable flow of the contained liquid detergent for the pretreatment.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate / mitigate the problems outlined above.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a dosing and dispensing device for liquid detergent comprising a hollow body, where n at least one valve is provided in the hollow body for dispensing the liquid detergent, and means to spread at least a portion of the contained liquid detergent onto a surface of fabric, wherein said valve is (progressively) opened when lateral pressure is applied to said device on a surface to which the liquid detergent is applied, and said valve being substantially closed when said pressure stops, wherein the valve comprises an aperture in a portion of the hollow body and a closure member associated with said opening, wherein the closure member moveable with respect to the opening such that on application of lateral pressure the closure member is moved relative to the opening.

It has been found that the container of the invention is particularly advantageous in that the amount of detergent dosed from the device and the spreading of the detergent onto the surface being treated is surprisingly beneficial. These benefits include quick / advanced control of discharge of the detergent from the device by the application / removal of pressure applied thereto. Additionally the device of the invention is able to provide a rubbing / scrubbing action as well as the application of pressure.

Generally the closure member is moveable by being resiliently mounted or being a resilient material, which can be at least partially deformed by the application of lateral pressure.

It is to be understood that movement of the closure member relative to the hollow body aperture leads to at least a partial opening (i.e. the creation of a fluid passageway therethrough) of the hollow body aperture.

In a most preferred embodiment the hollow body aperture remains at a fixed locus in use whereas the closure member is moveable relative thereto. In an alternative embodiment both the hollow body aperture and the closure member may be moveable relative to each other.

Preferably the closure member comprises a sheath of material mounted on the hollow body. The sheath may be inside or more preferably outside the hollow body. When located outside move- ment of the sheath is facilitated by frictional contact with a surface being addressed.

Generally the sheath has an aperture to associates (at least partially overlap) with the hollow body aperture. Generally the valve is located in the bottom part of said device. This allows dosing of the detergent (aided by gravity) onto the surface being treated.

Preferably the device comprises several valves. This allows effective dosage and spreading of the detergent onto the surface being treated.

It is preferred that the valves are in the form of a slit valve. Such slit valves are understood to be capable of being opened when pressure is applied thereto. The pressure applied may be in the form of contact pressure against a surface or translational pressure (or a combination thereof) caused by movement relative to a surface.

To improve the penetration / spreading of the detergent into the (usually fabric surface) being treated it is preferred that the device (preferably on the flexible portion) comprises a spreading means. Preferably the spreading means is in the form of a ridge. The ridge may be liner or may be curved. Generally a plurality of ridges is present on the device.

In order to be capable of being used by a consumer generally the device comprises a gripping means. The gripping means prefera- bly comprises the main body of the device, into which the detergent is poured. The main body of the device is preferably shaped so that it is capable of fitting into a hand of a user yet may contain sufficient detergent for a pre-treatment and laundry step. The main body thus has a volume of from 50-200cm³. The main body may comprise any geometrical shape but is generally based on an ovoid, tapering towards its upper opening (into which the detergent is poured) and also at its lower end (which adjoins onto the flexible portion).

Generally the device is made of elastic plastic material. The main body may comprise PP, PE or PET (both injected or blow moulded). The ridges and the valves may comprise any rubber or elastomer suitable for being welded, melted or glued onto the main body. According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a process for pretreating and washing fabrics in a washing machine with the dosing and dispensing device according to the first aspect of the invention, characterized in that it comprises of the following steps: a dose of liquid detergent (to be utilized during the pretreatment and washing cycle) is introduced into the dosing and dispensing device; pretreatment of the fabrics is executed with a controlled quantity of the liquid detergent dosage contained in said device and dispensed from said device; the thus pretreated fabrics are placed in the drum of the washing machine together with said dosing and dispensing device and with other non- pretreated fabrics.

Most preferably the device is for a laundry cleaning formulation and for use in dispensing same onto a clothing surface.

Preferably the laundry cleaning formulation comprises a bleach, e.g. in an amount of from 0.001% to 99.99%, preferably 0.001% to 20%, preferably 4% to 18%, e.g. most preferably about 4.5% or 13%, by weight, of bleach. The bleach is preferably peroxide bleach, most preferably hydrogen peroxide. Peroxide sources other than H2O2 can be used. Preferably the laundry cleaning formulation comprises a surfactant. Where present the composition comprises from 0.001% to 99.99%, preferably 0.05% to 15%, e.g . about 7%, by weig ht of surfactant.

The surfactant is, for example, an anionic or nonionic surfactant or mixture thereof (most preferably a nonionic surfactant) . The non^¬ ionic surfactant is preferably a surfactant having a formula RO(CH₂CH₂0)nH wherein R is a mixture of linear, even carbon- number hydrocarbon chains ranging from C12H25 to C16H33 and n represents the number of repeating units and is a number of from about 1 to about 12. Examples of other non-ionic surfactants in^¬ clude higher aliphatic primary alcohol containing about twelve to about 16 carbon atoms which are condensed with about three to thirteen moles of ethylene oxide.

Other examples of nonionic surfactants include primary alcohol ethoxylates (available under the Neodol trade name from Shell Co.), such as Cn alkanol condensed with 9 moles of ethylene oxide (Neodol 1-9), C₁₂-13 alkanol condensed with 6.5 moles ethylene ox^¬ ide (Neodol 23-6.5), C12- 13 alkanol with 9 moles of ethylene oxide (Neodol 23-9), C12-15 alkanol condensed with 7 or 3 moles ethyl^¬ ene oxide (Neodol 25-7 or Neodol 25-3), C -IS alkanol condensed with 13 moles ethylene oxide (Neodol 45-13), Cg-n linear ethoxy- lated alcohol, averaging 2.5 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol (Neodol 91-2.5), and the like.

Other examples of nonionic surfactants suitable for use in the pre- sent invention include ethylene oxide condensate products of sec^¬ ondary aliphatic alcohols containing 11 to 18 carbon atoms in a straight or branched chain configuration condensed with 5 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide. Examples of commercially available non- ionic detergents of the foregoing type are Cn-15 secondary alkanol condensed with either 9 moles of ethylene oxide (Tergitol 15-S-9) or 12 moles of ethylene oxide (Tergitol 15-S-12) marketed by Un- ion Carbide, a subsidiary of Dow Chemical.

Octylphenoxy polyethoxyethanol type nonionic surfactants, for example, Triton X-100, as well as amine oxides can also be used as a nonionic surfactant in the present invention.

Other examples of linear primary alcohol ethoxylates are available under the Tomadol trade name such as, for example, Tomadol 1-7, a Cn linear primary alcohol ethoxylate with 7 moles EO; Tomadol 25-7, a Ci2-Ci5 linear primary alcohol ethoxylate with 7 moles EO; Tomadol 45-7, a C14-C15 linear primary alcohol ethoxylate with 7 moles EO; and Tomadol 91-6, a Cg-Cn linear alcohol ethoxylate with 6 moles EO.

Other examples of linear primary alcohol ethoxylates are available under the Lutensol trade name such as, for example, Lutensol A3N, a C13-15 linear primary alcohol ethoxylate with 3 moles EO; Lutensol LA60, a C13-15 linear primary alcohol ethoxylate with 7 moles EO. Also Genapol such as, for example, Genapol LA3, a C13-15 linear primary alcohol ethoxylate with 3 moles EO; Genapol LA070, a C13- 15 linear primary alcohol ethoxylate with 7 moles EO

Tomadol 45-7, a C14-C15 linear primary alcohol ethoxylate with 7 moles EO; and Tomadol 91-6, a Cg-Cn linear alcohol ethoxylate with 6 moles EO.

Other nonionic surfactants are amine oxides, alkyl amide oxide surfactants. Preferred anionic surfactants are frequently provided as alkali metal salts, ammonium salts, amine salts, aminoalcohol salts or magnesium salts. Contemplated as useful are one or more sulfate or sulfonate compounds including: alkyl benzene sulfates, alkyl sul^¬ fates, alkyl ether sulfates, alkylamidoether sulfates, alkylaryl poly- ether sulfates, monoglyceride sulfates, alkylsulfonates, alkylamide sulfonates, alkylarylsulfonates, olefinsulfonates, paraffin sul^¬ fonates, alkyl sulfosuccinates, alkyl ether sulfosuccinates, alkyla- mide sulfosuccinates, alkyl sulfosuccinamate, alkyl sulfoacetates, alkyl phosphates, alkyl ether phosphates, acyl sarconsinates, acyl isethionates, and N-acyl taurates. Generally, the alkyl or acyl radi^¬ cal in these various compounds comprise a carbon chain containing 12 to 20 carbon atoms.

Other surfactants which may be used are alkyl naphthalene sul^¬ fonates and acyl / oleoyl sarcosinates and mixtures thereof.

The laundry cleaning formulation may comprise various optional ingredients, including enzymes, builders, solvents, dye transfer in^¬ hibition agents, dye catchers, preservatives, anti-oxidants, anti^¬ static agents, fragrances, odour absorbing components, optical brighteners, acidifying agents, alkalizing agents, thickeners (e.g. hydroxyethylcellulose and / or xanthan gum). The container of the invention is further described by reference to the following Figures in which:

Figure 1 is a view of a portion of a device in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a device in accor- dance with the invention; and Figure 3 is a schematic representation of the operation of a valve of a device of the invention.

From Figure 1 it can be seen that the device 1 comprises a main body section 2 in the form of a sphere. The main body 2 is able to act as a handle for use by a consumer. The main body has an opening 4 for introduction of detergent into the device and release of detergent in a (laundry) washing cycle.

The body portion 2 is covered in a sheath 6 which is resiliently mounted thereon. The sheath 6 comprises a resiliently material and has a plurality of apertures 8 present therein..

In use a dose of the total quantity of liquid detergent to be utilized during the pretreatment and washing cycle is introduced into the device. Pretreatment of fabrics is executed with a controlled quantity of the liquid detergent dosage contained in said device being dispensed from said device through said apertures 8. This is achieved by pressing and rubbing the device on the fabric surface to be treated, thus causing release of detergent and spreading of same on the surface being treated.

A schematic for the operation of this mechanism is shown in Figure 3. The pressing and rubbing the device on the fabric surface to be treated causes movement of the sheath 4 relative to the hollow body 2. In doing so the apertures 8 are brought into at least partial alignment with apertures in the hollow body 2. Thus there is a creation of a fluid pathway from the hollow body 2 allowing pas- sage of the liquid detergent therethrough.

The thus pretreated fabrics are placed in the drum of the washing machine together with said dosing and dispensing device 1 and with other non-pretreated fabrics. A washing cycle may then be operated.

Claims

1. A dosing and dispensing device for liquid detergent comprising a hollow body, wherein at leas!: one valve is provided In the hollow body for dispensing the liquid detergent, and means to spread at least a portion of the contained liquid detergent onto a surface of fabric, wherein said valve Is (progressively) opened when lateral pressure is applied to said device on a surface to which the liquid detergent is applied, and said valve being substantially closed when said pressure stops, wherein the valve comprises an aperture in a portion of the hollow body and a closure member associated with said opening, wherein the closure member moveable with respect to the opening such that on application of lateral pressure the closure member is moved relative to the opening.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the closure member is moveable by being resiliently mounted or being a resilient material.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein both the aperture and the closure member may be moveable relative to the hollow body and relative to each other.

4. A device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the closure member comprises a sheath of material mounted on the hollow ball.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the sheath is mounted on the exterior of the hollow body.

6. A device according to claim 4 or 5, wherein said sheath has an aperture to associates (at least partially overlap) with the hollow body aperture.

7. A device according to any one of the preceding claims , wherein said valve is located in the bottom part of said device.

8. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a plurality of valves Is provided.

9, A device according to claim 8_; wherein the slits are arranged In a regular pattern.

10. A device according to any one of the proceeding claims wherein the valves have a size of 0, 1 to 10mm.

11. A device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said device comprises rubbing ridges.

12. A device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said device comprises gripping means.

13. A device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said device is made of elastic plastic material.

14. A process for pretreating and washing fabrics in a washing machine with the dosing and dispensing device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises of the following steps: a dose of the total quantity of liquid detergent to be utilized during the pretreatment and washing cycle is introduced into the dosing and dispensing device; pretreatment of the fabrics is executed with a controlled quantity of the liquid detergent dosage contained in said device and dispensed from said device through said valve; the thus pretreated fabrics are placed in the drum of the washing machine together with said dosing and dis- pensing device and with other non-pretreated fabrics.