WO2015193340A1

WO2015193340A1 - A container particularly for local laundering purpose

Info

Publication number: WO2015193340A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/063532
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jacob KONGSBAK; Thomas Henrik GJØRUP
Original assignee: Jktg Invest Aps
Priority date: 2014-06-18
Filing date: 2015-06-17
Publication date: 2015-12-23
Also published as: WO2015192897A1

Abstract

The present invention provides a container (1) comprising a first part (2) and a second part (3), the first part (2) forming a first inner space (4) and a first opening into the first inner space (4), and the second part (3) being detachably attachable in a sealing position to the first part (2) for sealing the first opening; the container further comprises magnetic attraction means (10-19) arranged in at least one of the first part (2) and/or the second part (3) and configured to maintain the second part (3) in a sealing position to said first part (2) by magnetic attraction.

Description

A CONTAINER PARTICULARLY FOR LOCAL LAUNDERING PURPOSE Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a container with a releasable closure. The invention further relates to such a container and being configured for mobile and local laundering purpose. The invention further relates to a pouch containing a detergent and being arrangeable in the container and to a pouch containing an absorbing material and being arrangeable in the container. The invention further relates to a method of carrying out local laundering by use of the container. The invention further relates to a detergent suitable for being used with the container. The invention further relates to a kit comprising a container and at least one detergent receptacle comprising a detergent.

Background of the invention

Fabric is typically cleaned by wetting with water, and typically by use of a detergent.

Traditionally, the entire piece of cloth is immersed into the fluid, washed, rinsed, and allowed to dry. If the cloth is only dirty in local areas, e.g. has a single or a few stains, it may sometimes be sufficient to wash only the stained area - often resulting in wetting of a larger area and unpleasant wet stains and prolonged time for drying.

E.g. for travel purpose, different portable devices facilitate local cleaning. WO9950494 discloses a cleaning kit which can be stored e.g. in a shirt pocket and which can be activated and applied to a stained area. At the stained area, it can provide wetting and soaking of the stain with cleaning liquid, and it can pick up excess cleaning liquid.

WO0146512 discloses a device and a method of use for cleaning stains from fabric or cloth. The device is portable and comprises a chamber housing a fluid cleaning solution. The device is applied directly to the stained fabric by placing the fabric between a chamber and a second chamber. When the cleaning solution is transferred from the chamber to the second chamber, the stained fabric is in the flow path, and the stain can thereby be removed from the fabric by the cleaning solution.

Generally, it can be difficult to arrange two chambers on opposite sides of a piece of fabric. Firstly, it is difficult to keep the two chambers closely together. Due to the soft and compliant characteristics of most fabrics, the fabric does not provide back pressure, and an attempt to press one chamber against a surface of the fabric can be difficult and requires that the other chamber is simultaneously pressed against the opposite surface. Secondly, it can be difficult to position the chambers correctly relative to each other. If the chambers are offset relative to each other, the cleaning solution may escape and cause wetting of a larger surface area. Further, it can be difficult to load the chambers with detergent, and it can be difficult to ensure complete wetting of the cloth Description of the invention

It is an object of embodiments of the invention to provide an improved container, and particularly a container which can be applied for handling fluid substances, particularly for local and/or mobile laundering purpose, for cleaning cloth and other items, or for handling of fluid or liquid substances in general . According to a first aspect, the invention provides a container comprising a first part and a second part, the first part forming a first inner space and a first opening into the first inner space, and the second part being detachably attachable in a sealing position to the first part for sealing the first opening, the container further comprising magnetic attraction means arranged in at least one of the first and the second parts and configured to maintain the second part in the sealing position by magnetic attraction.

The use of magnetic attraction means for maintaining the sealing position enables the first and second parts to be separated by an element and still maintain the sealing position. This again allows the container to be used for carrying out local laundering and cleaning tasks where an item is arranged between the first and second parts while a detergent contained in the container works on the item.

The container can e.g. be attached on opposite sides of a piece of cloth. When the cloth is between the first and second parts, the magnetic attraction forces not only keep the parts together without penetrating or otherwise interfering with the cloth, it also aligns the first part relative to the second part to thereby prevent offsetting between the parts and thereby possible escape of detergent from the container. The magnetic attraction means may also ensure a dependable consistent attraction force between the first and second parts and thereby provide proper sealing.

The item to be cleaned could be cloth, e.g. being washed while it is carried by a person, it could be a sail for a sailboat, e.g. being washed while it is in operation, it could be a curtain, e.g. being washed while being suspended at the window, it could be a carpet, e.g. being washed while still being arranged on the floor, it could be a sunshade, or an awning. Herein, we generally refer to item or cloth but the item could be of any kind which, by the container according to the invention, can be washed e.g. while still being in use. Particularly, the inner space could be liquid tight when the second part is in the sealing position. This will enable the use of liquid detergent, and it may even allow use of low viscous liquids without contaminating an external space around the container.

An elastically deformable sealing structure, e.g. in the form of an O-ring, or similar elastically compressible structures may be provided between the first and second parts, e.g. fixed to at least one of the first and second parts. The sealing structure may provide not only liquid tightness but optionally also gas tightness. The elastically deformable sealing structure could include one or more protrusions, e.g. extending circumferentially and unbroken about the opening and being moulded in one part with the first or second part. At least one of the first and second parts could form a corresponding depression or cavity in which the elastically deformable sealing structure of the other one of the first and second parts could be received.

Herein, liquid and gas tightness is defined as tightness obtainable by direct contact between the first and second parts. When used for cleaning or laundry purpose where the first and second parts are separated by an item such as a piece of cloth, the tightness depends on the structure of the item, particularly on the surface structure thereof.

The first and second parts could have any shape and size but would be particularly suitable for mobile, local, laundry or cleaning purpose if they are of a size which can be held in hand, e.g. having a largest dimension in the range of 5-30 cm. such as particularly 8-20 cm. and having a weight below 1 kg or particularly below 500 grams or below 250 grams for the combination including the first and second parts.

The first and second parts could have any colour, surface texture, decoration or other visual appearance. Different colours, surface textures, decorations, or patterns for the two parts could be an advantage for immediate and precise recognition of one of the parts from the other part. The second part could be a plan part exclusively suitable for closing the first opening. A plan second part could have an absorbing surface capable of receiving detergents and other fluids from the first part. However, e.g. for laundry purposes, the second part may form a second inner space and a second opening into the second inner space. In this case, a piece of cloth can be arranged between the two parts and thereby between the first and second spaces. In this case, the detergent or other fluids can be flushed from the first inner space through the cloth into the second inner space.

For the purpose of transferring a liquid detergent from the first inner space to the second inner space, the second opening could be in communication with the first opening when the second part is in the sealing position. By communication is herein meant that the liquid can flow directly from one inner space out through the corresponding opening, through the item, into the other opening, and into the corresponding other inner space.

The second part may form a second edge portion about the second opening, and the second edge portion may face the first part when the second part is in the sealing position. The first part may form a first edge portion about the first opening, and the second edge portion may face the first edge portion when the second part is in the sealing position. In this embodiment, the magnetic attraction means may particularly be suitable for aligning the first and second edge portions relative to each other and thereby enable use of very thin edge portions, e.g. edges with a width down to less than 1 cm or even less than 5 mm. To reduce wear on the cloth, the sealing surfaces of the first and second parts, i.e. the surfaces which face the other part when the second part is in the sealing position may have a particularly low coefficient of friction, i.e. it may have a lower friction coefficient than other surfaces of the first and second parts. Particularly, the kinetic dry friction between the sealing surfaces may be μ< 1,2, an preferably μ<0,5. A fluid medium such as detergent may particularly be contained in one of the first and second spaces and the other internal space could be for collecting the fluid medium when it has passed the cloth. Herein, the one of the first and second spaces which contains the new fluid medium before it has passed through the cloth will be referred to as the primary space. The other one of the first and second internal spaces will be referred to as the secondary space. The fluid medium could be contained directly in the primary space, or the fluid medium could be stored in a first compartment which can be arranged in the primary space.

The first compartment could be a pre-formed packaging e.g. made of plastic or metal and forming a cavity or pocket made from a formable web, e.g. a thermoformed plastic, e.g. forming part of a blister pack. The first compartment could also be a clamshell a sachet, bottle, pouch, or similar structure, e.g. made from a polymer or metal material, e.g. a film material, e.g. a metalized polymer film. Such a first compartment can contain the fluid medium until it is released by rupturing the first compartment, e.g. by applying an external pressure, peeling off a cover foil, or in other ways deforming or changing the first compartment until it ruptures or opens etc. Alternatively, the first compartment could be constituted by a body with a porous structure, e.g. sponge-like structure or a piece of fibrous fabric with internal cavities or pores in which the fluid medium can be contained until it is released by deformation of the first

compartment.

Alternatively, the first compartment could be a sachet, bottle, pouch, or similar structure, e.g. made from a polymer or metal material, e.g. a film material, e.g. a metalized polymer film and containing inside a body with a porous structure, e.g. sponge-like structure or a piece of fibrous fabric with internal cavities or pores in which the fluid medium can be contained until it is released.

At least one, i.e. e.g. both of the first part and the second part may comprise a protrusion, preferably a rigid protrusion, for squeezing and/or rotating the sponge structure. The rigid protrusion may be configured to be stored within the first and/or second inner space in- between the first and second part in their sealing position, when the container is not in use. Likewise the container may be configured to store the protrusion in-between the first and second part when the container is assembled. This will limit the size of the container when it is not in use, so that it is easier to store or fit into a pocket or bag and carry it with you. When the protrusion is stored in-between the first part and the second part, the sponge structure may not be arranged in any of the first or second inner spaces.

When the container is brought into use, the protrusion may be removed from in-between the first part and the second part and rearranged on the first or second part from the opposite site of the first or second part, i.e. in an opening, e.g. a through hole, opposite the first opening of the first part into the first inner space or opposite the second opening of the second part into the second inner space.

The sponge may comprise a baseplate, preferable made of a rigid material, attached to the sponge. The baseplate may have an upper surface and a lower surface whereas the sponge may be attached to the lower surface, e.g. by use of an adhesive. The baseplate may comprise a retaining element on the upper surface configured to engage with the protrusion. The protrusion and retaining element may engage with each other by means of a flexible snap-connection or a looking mechanism. The protrusion and the retaining element may engage, i.e. be attached to each other, in such a way, so that the baseplate rotates within the container when the protrusion is rotated from the outside of the container. Hereby may a scrubbing effect between the sponge and the second part, preferably the absorbing structure arranged in the second part, be obtained.

The baseplate may comprise a number of portions of brush hairs. Each portion of brush hairs may be attached in a cavity in the baseplate, preferably cavities in the lower surface of the baseplate. The baseplate may furthermore comprise one or more ribs extending from the lower surface of the baseplate and containing one or more cavities wherein portions of brush hairs may be attached. The portions of brush hairs may be attached by means of an adhesive. The brush hairs may be either natural or synthetic hairs. Portions of sponges may be arranged between the ribs and attached to the lower surface, preferably by means of an adhesive. The portions of sponge may contain a fluid medium such as a detergent or the like. The portions of brush hairs may improve the scrubbing effect of the container during use.

Alternatively the at least one, i.e. e.g. both of the first part and the second parts may comprise an elastically deformable wall allowing squeezing of the first compartment through the elastically deformable wall. The elastically deformable wall may e.g. be made of a soft resilient rubber or silicone material, and it may form a protrusion on an outer surface of one of the first and second parts. The protrusion may e.g. be twistable during elastic deformation such that the user can compress and wring out the fluid medium from a first compartment contained in the inner space.

The sponge may comprise a structured surface. The structured surface may preferably face the absorbing structure. The structured surface may either be of the same material as the sponge or of a different material, preferably a more coarse, i.e. rough, material, than the sponge. The structured surface may improve the scrubbing effect of the container during use.

The container may comprise release means operable to release the fluid medium from the first compartment, particularly if the first compartment is in the form of a bag, ampule, sachet or pouch. The release means may include any kind of structure suitable for ripping or tearing the first compartment open, e.g. a pointed sharp element or a knife, a string arranged to penetrate or pull the first compartment apart or other similar means for opening the first compartment. The release means could be operable outside the container when the second part is in the sealing position, e.g. upon movement of the first part relative to the second part. Particularly, the container could be configured as a washing device and the fluid may therefore particularly be a detergent e.g. for stain removal from a piece of cloth. However, in alternative embodiments, the fluid medium could be selected from a group consisting of a beverage or an ingredient for a beverage, a food product or an ingredient for a food product, a cosmetic compound, a medical drug, a colouring compound e.g. for colouring, marking or decorating a piece of cloth, and a heat releasing compound, e.g. for heating hands or feeds by chemical reaction between two chemicals. In general, the first and second inner spaces may each contain a substance or composition which is compatible with a complementary element, substance, or composition contained in the other inner space. Examples include:

• A liquid medium such as a detergent and a corresponding compatible absorbing

element for absorbing the liquid medium; • A first chemical substance which interacts with a corresponding second chemical substance to provide a desired effect, e.g. for emission of heat or light; or

• A first food ingredient which is mixable with a corresponding second food ingredient to provide a desired taste, colour, texture or smell of a food product. To enable reuse of the first and second parts with refill of the fluid medium, the first compartment may be replaceable. The first compartment may e.g. be arranged in the primary one of the first and second spaces. The primary space may e.g. include a structural element, e.g. a depression or other similar shape enabling easy fitting of the first compartment into and removal from the primary space. The container may comprise an absorbing structure formed in a secondary one of the first and second spaces, e.g. being replaceable in the secondary space. The absorbing structure may comprise any kind of material capable of absorbing the fluid medium in question, e.g. spongy material or a fibrous material, e.g. a woven or non-woven material, or a hydrophilic material, e.g. of the kind known from diapers etc. e.g. a Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) material etc.

The absorbing structure could be contained directly in the secondary space, or the absorbing structure could be stored in a second compartment which can be arranged in the secondary space.

The second compartment could be a pre-formed packaging e.g. made of plastic or metal and forming a cavity or pocket made from a formable web, e.g. a thermoformed plastic, e.g. forming part of a blister pack.

The second compartment could also be a clamshell package, a sachet, bottle, pouch, or similar structure, e.g. made from a polymer or metal material, e.g. a film material, e.g. a metalized polymer film. Such a second compartment can contain the absorbing structure dry and ready to absorb the fluid medium when released from the first compartment.

The absorbing structure could be constituted by a body with a porous structure, e.g. spongelike structure or a piece of fibrous fabric with internal cavities or pores in which the fluid medium can be absorbed.

The primary and the secondary space could be the same one of the first and second spaces or they could be different ones of the first and second spaces. It is an advantage to obtain very strong attraction between the first and second part. Mainly, this may increase the liquid tightness of the connection and ensure alignment. The magnetic attraction means may therefore comprise strong permanent magnet, e.g. neodymium or ferrite magnets. The stronger the magnets are, the more difficult may it be to detach the second part from the first part after use. For this purpose, the magnetic attraction means may comprise at least two assemblies, each assembly comprising at least two magnetic poles of different polarity, and at least one assembly being arranged in each of the first and second parts. By this arrangement, release of the second part from the first part can be obtained by sliding the two parts against each other until magnets of same polarity on opposite parts approaches each other - this will repel the first part from the second part.

The magnetic poles of each assembly may particularly be arranged in a circular, or in an oval, or in a square layout with alternating poles of different polarity, and the magnetic poles of each assembly may particularly be arranged about one of the first and second openings, and preferably very close to each other such that the opening becomes completely enclosed by magnets or such that openings between the magnets constitute at most 10 percent of the distance about the opening.

The magnetic attraction means may particularly provide a force of attraction sufficient to elastically deform the elastically deformable sealing structure provided on at least one of the first and second parts. This may further increase the ability to keep the fluid medium inside the inner space, i.e. within the first and second inner spaces.

The first part of the container may have a first grip surface and the second part may have a second grip surface. First and second grip surface may be configured to be the surfaces the user hold on to when using the container for cleaning a cloth. One or both of the first and second grip surfaces may comprise a pattern, e.g. of groves and/or ribs, allowing for a better grip on the first and second part when rotating the parts relative to each other. This is particular useful when releasing the first part and the second part from their sealing state.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a compartment being arrangeable in the container according to the first aspect and containing a fluid medium or an absorbing material where the compartment and/or the fluid medium and/or the absorbing structure could be of a kind already described relative to the first aspect of the invention.

In a third aspect, the invention provides a liquid detergent assembly for a container according to the first aspect of the invention. The assembly comprises a first and a second compartment, the first compartment comprising a liquid detergent and the second compartment comprising a structure for absorbing the liquid detergent. The compartments and/or the fluid medium and/or the absorbing structure could be of a kind already described relative to the first aspect of the invention.

In a fourth aspect, the invention provides a method of carrying out local laundering on an item by use of the container according to the first aspect of the invention. The method according to the second aspect comprising the step of applying a detergent to at least one of the first and second inner spaces, arranging the first part on one side of the item, arranging the second part on the opposite side of the item in the sealing position relative to the first part and allowing the detergent to act on the item while the magnetic attraction means maintains the second part in the sealing position.

The method may further comprise a step of scrubbing the item by rotating a sponge arranged within the first or second inner space. The sponge may be rotated by means of the protrusion available from the outside of the container through a first or second through hole in either the first or second part. The sponge may also be pressed against the item by means of pressing the protrusion towards the centre of the container.

Particularly, the method may be applied on :

• a sail for a sailboat e.g. being washed while it is in operation;

• a curtain, e.g. being washed while being suspended at the window;

• a carpet, e.g. being washed while still being arranged on the floor; or

· a sunshade, or an awning.

• a textile in the form of clothing.

Detergent composition

The container according to the first aspect of the invention is very suitable for cleaning items such as textiles with localized stains. Such as clothing with localized stains in the form of e.g. food stains (chocolate, egg, meat sauce, or tomato stains), greasy (oil) stains, blood stains, grass stains, lipstick and other makeup stains.

Soiled items may be cleaned using the container of the present invention in combination with any suitable detergent. It may be advantageous to employ a detergent composition that is particular useful for removing the particular type of stain. For example, for chocolate, lipstick and greasy (oil) stains the optimal results may be obtained using a detergent composition particular suitable for this type of stains, e.g. a detergent composition comprising a lipase. Likewise, it may be advantageous to employ a detergent composition comprising a protease for stains comprising proteins, such as blood stains and food stain like stains of meat sauce.

The method of local laundering may be performed for any time period considered to be sufficient to remove or at remove the majority of the stain. Thus, in one embodiment, the local laundering is carried out for more than 5 minutes, such as more than 10 minutes, for example as more than 15 minutes, such as more than 30 minutes, for example as more than 1 hour, such between 2 and 10 hours.

The detergent used in the method of the present invention may be provided in any suitable formulation. In one embodiment, detergent composition is formulated as a liquid, paste, gel or a powder. Preferably, the detergent composition is in liquid or semi-liquid form.

The following section discloses non-limiting examples of detergent composition and detergent ingredients which may be included in the method and kit of the present invention.

Surfactants

In one embodiment, the detergent composition comprises at least one surfactant, which may be selected from the list consisting of anionic, cationic, non-ionic, semi-polar, zwitterionic.

The detergent composition may comprises a mixture of different surfactants, for example one or more anionic surfactants and one or more non- ionic surfactants. The surfactant(s) is typically present at a level of from about 0.1 percent to 60 percent by weight, for example 1 percent to 40 percent, such as 3 percent to 20 percent, or 5 percent to 10 percent. In one embodiment of the present invention, the detergent composition comprises at least one anionic surfactant. Suitable anionic surfactants are in particular soaps and those which contain sulfate or sulfonate groups with preferably alkali metal ions as cations. Usable soaps are preferably the alkali metal salts of saturated or unsaturated fatty acids with 12 to 18 C atoms. Such fatty acids may also be used in incompletely neutralized form. Usable surfactants of the sulfate type include the salts of sulfuric acid semiesters of fatty alcohols with 12 to 18 C atoms and the sulfation products of the stated nonionic surfactants with a low degree of ethoxylation. Usable surfactants of the sulfonate type include linear

alkylbenzene sulfonates with 9 to 14 C atoms in the alkyl moiety, alkanesulfonates with 12 to 18 C atoms, and olefin sulfonates with 12 to 18 C atoms, which arise from the reaction of corresponding monoolefins with sulfur trioxide, and alpha-sulfofatty acid esters which arise from the sulfonation of fatty acid methyl or ethyl esters. Linear alkylbenzene sulfonate, alcohol ethoxysulfates, alkyl sulfates and soap are the most common anionic surfactants and may be included in the detergent composition described herein. Suitable anionic surfactants include sulfates and sulfonates, such as linear alkylbenzenesulfonat.es (LAS), isomers of LAS, branched alkylbenzenesulfonat.es (BABS), phenylalkanesulfonat.es, alpha-olefinsulfonates (AOS), olefin sulfonates, alkene sulfonates, alkane-2,3-diylbis(sulfates),

hydroxyalkanesulfonat.es and disulfonates, alkyl sulfates (AS) such as sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), fatty alcohol sulfates (FAS), primary alcohol sulfates (PAS), alcohol ethersulfates (AES or AEOS or FES, also known as alcohol ethoxysulfates or fatty alcohol ether sulfates), secondary alkanesulfonates (SAS), paraffin sulfonates (PS), ester sulfonates, sulfonated fatty acid glycerol esters, alpha-sulfo fatty acid methyl esters (alpha-SFMe or SES) including methyl ester sulfonate (MES), alkyl- or alkenylsuccinic acid, dodecenyl/tetradecenyl succinic acid (DTSA), fatty acid derivatives of amino acids, diesters and monoesters of sulfo-succinic acid or salt of fatty acids (soap), and combinations thereof.

Anionic surfactant(s) may be present in the detergent composition such that the detergent composition comprises 1 percent to 40 percent by weight of anionic surfactant(s), such as from 5 percent to 30 percent, for example 5 percent to 15 percent, or from 15 percent to 20 percent, such as 20 percent to 25 percent of anionic surfactant(s). In another embodiment of the present invention, the detergent composition comprises at least one non-ionic surfactant. Suitable non-ionic surfactants are in particular alkyl glycosides and ethoxylation and/or propoxylation products of alkyl glycosides or linear or branched alcohols in each case having 12 to 18 C atoms in the alkyl moiety and 3 to 20, preferably 4 to 10, alkyl ether groups. Corresponding ethoxylation and/or propoxylation products of N- alkylamines, vicinal diols, fatty acid esters and fatty acid amides, which correspond with regard to the alkyl moiety to the stated long-chain alcohol derivatives, and of alkylphenols having 5 to 12 C atoms in the alkyl residue may furthermore be used. Suitable non-ionic surfactants include alcohol ethoxylates (AE or AEO), alcohol propoxylates, propoxylated fatty alcohols (PFA), alkoxylated fatty acid alkyl esters, such as ethoxylated and/or propoxylated fatty acid alkyl esters, alkylphenol ethoxylates (APE), nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPE), alkylpolyglycosides (APG), alkoxylated amines, fatty acid monoethanolamides (FAM), fatty acid diethanolamides (FADA), ethoxylated fatty acid monoethanolamides (EFAM),

propoxylated fatty acid monoethanolamides (PFAM), polyhydroxyalkyl fatty acid amides, or N-acyl N-alkyl derivatives of glucosamine (glucamides, GA, or fatty acid glucamides, FAGA), as well as products available under the trade names SPAN and TWEEN, and combinations thereof.

Non-ionic surfactant(s) may be present in the detergent composition such that the detergent composition comprises 0.2 percent to 40 percent by weight of a nonionic surfactant(s), for example from 0.5 percent to 30 percent, in particular from 1 percent to 20 percent, from 3 percent to 10 percent, such as from 3 percent to 5 percent, from 8 percent to 12 percent, or from 10 percent to 12 percent. Builders

In a further embodiment, detergent composition further comprises a builder. Builders enhance or maintain the cleaning efficiency of the surfactant. The primary function of builders is to reduce water hardness. This is done either by sequestration or chelation, by

precipitation, or by ion exchange. Complex phosphates and sodium citrate are common sequestering builders. Sodium carbonate and sodium silicate are precipitating builders.

Sodium aluminium silicate (zeolite A) is an ion exchange builder. Builders can also supply and maintain alkalinity, which assists cleaning, especially of acid soils; help keep removed soil from redepositing during washing ; and emulsify oily and greasy soils. The detergent composition may contain about 0-65% by weight, such as about 5% to about 50% of a detergent builder or co-builder, or a mixture thereof. In a dish wash detergent, the level of builder is typically 40-65%, particularly 50-65%. The builder and/or co-builder may particularly be a chelating agent that forms water-soluble complexes with Ca and Mg . Any builder and/or co-builder known in the art for use in laundry detergents may be utilized . Non- limiting examples of builders include zeolites, diphosphates (pyrophosphates), triphosphates such as sodium triphosphate (STP or STPP), carbonates such as sodium carbonate, soluble silicates such as sodium metasilicate, layered silicates (e.g ., SKS-6 from Hoechst), ethanolamines such as 2-aminoethan-l-ol (MEA), diethanolamine (DEA, also known as 2,2'- iminodiethan-l-ol), triethanolamine (TEA, also known as 2,2',2"-nitrilotriethan-l-ol), and (carboxymethyl)inulin (CMI), and combinations thereof.

The detergent composition may also contain 0-50% by weight, such as about 5% to about 30%, of a detergent co-builder, or a mixture thereof. The detergent composition may include include a co-builder alone, or in combination with a builder, for example a zeolite builder. Non-limiting examples of co-builders include homopolymers of polyacrylates or copolymers thereof, such as poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) or copoly(acrylic acid/maleic acid) (PAA PMA) .

Further non-limiting examples include citrate, chelators such as aminocarboxylates, aminopolycarboxylates and phosphonates, and alkyl- or alkenylsuccinic acid. Additional specific examples include 2,2',2"-nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), iminodisuccinic acid (IDS),

ethylenediamine-/V,/V'-disuccinic acid (EDDS), methylglycinediacetic acid (MGDA), glutamic acid-/V,/V-diacetic acid (GLDA), 1 -hydroxyethane-1 ,1 -diphosphonic acid (HEDP), ethylenediaminetetra(methylenephosphonic acid) (EDTMPA),

diethylenetriaminepentakis(methylenephosphonic acid) (DTMPA or DTPMPA), N-(2- hydroxyethyl)iminodiacetic acid (EDG), aspartic acid-/V-monoacetic acid (ASMA), aspartic acid-/V,/V-di acetic acid (ASDA), aspartic acid-/V-monopropionic acid (ASMP), iminodisuccinic acid (IDA), A/-(2-sulfomethyl)-aspartic acid (SMAS), A/-(2-sulfoethyl)-aspartic acid (SEAS), N- (2-sulfomethyl)-glutamic acid (SMGL), A/-(2-sulfoethyl)-glutamic acid (SEGL), N- methyliminodiacetic acid (Ml DA), a-alanine-/V,/V-diacetic acid (a-ALDA), serine-/V,/V-diacetic acid (SEDA), isoserine-/V,/V-diacetic acid (ISDA), phenylalanine-/V,/V-diacetic acid (PHDA), anthranilic acid-/V,/V-diacetic acid (ANDA), sulfanilic acid-/V,/V-diacetic acid (SLDA) , taurine- Λ/,/V-diacetic acid (TUDA) and sulfomethyl-/V,/V-diacetic acid (SMDA), Λ/-(2- hydroxyethyl)ethylenediamine-/V, N ',N"-triacetic acid (HEDTA), diethanolglycine (DEG), diethylenetriamine penta(methylenephosphonic acid) (DTPMP),

aminotris(methylenephosphonic acid) (ATMP), and combinations and salts thereof. Further exemplary builders and/or co-builders are described in, e.g., WO 09/102854 and US 5977053. In one embodiment, detergent is essentially phosphate-free. Alkali

In one embodiment, the detergent composition comprises an alkali, for example sodium metasilicate (pentahydrate or anhydrous), potassium analogue of sodium metasilicate, sodium carbonate, potassium and sodium hydroxide.

Bleach and bleach activators The detergent may contain a bleach or a bleaching system. Thus in embodiment, the detergent composition comprises bleach, such as peroxide based bleach. In a further embodiment, the detergent composition further comprises a bleach activator, such as tetra acetyl ethylene diamine (TEAD) . Any bleaching system known in the art for use in laundry detergents may be utilized. The bleaching system typically comprises a H₂0₂ source such as perborate (e.g . sodium perborate tetrahydrate, sodium perborate monohydrate, or sodium perborate) or percarbonate (e.g sodium percarbonate), which may be combined with a peracid-forming bleach activator such as tetraacetylethylenediamine (TAED) or

nonanoyloxybenzenesulfonate (NOBS) . Alternatively, the bleaching system may comprise peroxyacids (e.g., the amide, imide, or sulfone type peroxyacids) . Suitable bleaching system components include bleaching catalysts, photobleaches, bleach activators, sources of hydrogen peroxide such as sodium percarbonate, sodium perborates and hydrogen peroxide— urea (1 : 1 ), preformed peracids and mixtures thereof. Suitable preformed peracids include, but are not limited to, peroxycarboxylic acids and salts, diperoxydicarboxylic acids, perimidic acids and salts, peroxymonosuifuric acids and salts, for example, Oxone (R), and mixtures thereof. Non-limiting examples of bleaching systems include peroxide-based bleaching systems, which may comprise, for example, an inorganic salt, including alkali metal salts such as sodium salts of perborate (usually mono- or tetrahydrate), percarbonate, persulfate, perphosphate, persilicate salts, in combination with a peracid-forming bleach activator. The term bleach activator is meant herein as a compound which reacts with hydrogen peroxide to form a peracid via perhydrolysis. The peracid thus formed constitutes the activated bleach. Suitable bleach activators to be used herein include those belonging to the class of esters, amides, imides or anhydrides. Suitable examples are tetraacetylethylenediamine (TAED), sodium 4-[(3,5,5-trimethylhexanoyl)oxy]benzene-l - sulfonate (ISONOBS), 4-(dodecanoyloxy)benzene-l-sulfonate (LOBS), 4- (decanoyloxy)benzene-l -sulfonate, 4-(decanoyloxy)benzoate (DOBS or DOBA), 4- (nonanoyloxy)benzene-l-sulfonate (NOBS), and/or those disclosed in W098/17767. A particular family of bleach activators of interest was disclosed in EP624154 and particulary preferred in that family is acetyl triethyl citrate (ATC). ATC or a short chain triglyceride like triacetin has the advantage that it is environmentally friendly Furthermore acetyl triethyl citrate and triacetin have good hydrolytical stability in the product upon storage and are efficient bleach activators. Finally ATC is multifunctional, as the citrate released in the perhydrolysis reaction may function as a builder. Alternatively, the bleaching system may comprise peroxyacids of, for example, the amide, imide, or sulfone type. The bleaching system may also comprise peracids such as 6-(phthalimido)peroxyhexanoic acid (PAP). The bleaching system may also include a bleach catalyst. Other exemplary bleaching systems are described, e.g. in WO2007/087258, WO2007/087244, WO2007/087259, EP1867708 (Vitamin K) and WO2007/087242. Suitable photobleaches may for example be sulfonated zinc or aluminium phthalocyanines. The bleaching system can also be an enzymatic bleaching system, for example, perhydrolase, such as that described in International PCT Application WO 005/056783.

Enzymes

The method of the present invention is typically performed at ambient temperature, which means that the temperature conditions of the local laundering corresponds to low

temperature wash of conventional laundering. It may therefore be advantageous to use a detergent comprising one or more enzymes.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the detergent composition contemplated herein comprises one or more enzymes provide cleaning performance and/or fabric care benefits. Examples of suitable enzymes include, but are not limited to, hemicellulases, cellulases, peroxidases, proteases, xylanases, lipases, phospholipases, esterases, cutinases, pectinases, pectate lyases, mannanases, keratinases, reductases, oxidases, phenoloxidases, lipoxygenases, ligninases, pullulanases, tannases, pentosanases, malanases, β-glucanases, arabinosidases, hyaluronidase, chondroitinase, laccase, and amylases, or mixtures thereof. In some embodiments, a combination of enzymes is used (i.e., a "cocktail") comprising conventional applicable enzymes like protease, lipase, cutinase and/or cellulase in conjunction with amylase is used. In a preferred embodiement, the enzyme is selected from the consisting of a protease, a lipolytic enzyme (lipases and cutinases), an amylase and a cellulase. In general the properties of the selected enzyme(s) should be compatible with the selected detergent, (i.e., pH-optimum, compatibility with other enzymatic and non-enzymatic ingredients, etc.), and the enzyme(s) should be present in effective amounts.

Suitable cellulases include those of bacterial or fungal origin. Chemically modified or protein engineered mutants are included. Suitable cellulases include cellulases from the genera Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Humicola, Fusarium, Thielavia, Acremonium, e.g., the fungal cellulases produced from Humicola insolens, Myceliophthora thermophila and Fusarium oxysporum disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,435,307, U.S. Pat. No. 5,648,263, U.S. Pat. No. 5,691,178, U.S. Pat. No. 5,776,757 and WO 89/09259. Particular suitable cellulases are the alkaline or neutral cellulases having color care benefits. Examples of such cellulases are cellulases described in EP 0 495 257, EP 0 531 372, WO 96/11262, WO 96/29397, WO

98/08940. Other examples are cellulase variants such as those described in WO 94/07998, EP 0 531 315, U.S. Pat. No. 5,457,046, U.S. Pat. No. 5,686,593, U.S. Pat. No. 5,763,254, WO 95/24471, WO 98/12307 and PCT/DK98/00299. Commercially available cellulases include Celluzyme™, and Carezyme™ (Novozymes A/S), Clazinase™, and Puradax HA™ (Genencor International Inc.), and KAC-500(B)™ (Kao Corporation).

In a preferred embodiment, the detergent composition comprises one or more proteases, which are useful for removing protein stains such as grass, blood, egg and human sweat. These organic stains have a tendency to adhere strongly to textile fibres. The proteins act as glues, preventing the water-borne detergent systems from removing some of the other components of the soiling, such as pigments and street dirt. The protease may be of animal, vegetable or microbial origin, including chemically or genetically modified mutants. Microbial origin is preferred. It may be an alkaline protease, such as a serine protease (such as a substilase) or a metalloprotease. A serine protease may for example be of the Si family, such as trypsin, or the S8 family such as subtilisin. A metalloproteases protease may for example be a thermolysin from e.g. family M4, M5, M7 or M8.

The term "subtilases" refers to a sub-group of serine protease according to Siezen et al., Protein Engng. 4 (1991) 719-737 and Siezen et al. Protein Science 6 (1997) 501-523. Serine proteases are a subgroup of proteases characterized by having a serine in the active site, which forms a covalent adduct with the substrate. The subtilases may be divided into 6 sub- divisions, i.e. the Subtilisin family, the Thermitase family, the Proteinase K family, the

Lantibiotic peptidase family, the Kexin family and the Pyrolysin family. In an embodiment, the additional protease may be a subtilase, such as a subtilisin or a variant hereof

Examples of subtilisins are those derived from Bacillus such as subtilisin lentus, Bacillus lentus, subtilisin Novo, subtilisin Carlsberg, Bacillus licheniformis, subtilisin BPN', subtilisin 309, subtilisin 147 and subtilisin 168 described in WO 89/06279 and protease PD138 (WO 93/18140). Additional serine protease examples are described in WO 98/020115, WO 01/44452, WO 01/58275, WO 01/58276, WO 03/006602 and WO 04/099401. Further examples of subtilase variants may be those having mutations in any of the positions: 3, 4, 9, 15, 27, 36, 68, 76, 87, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 106, 118, 120, 123, 128, 129, 130, 160, 167, 170, 194, 195, 199, 205, 217, 218, 222, 232, 235, 236, 245, 248, 252 and 274 using the BPN' numbering. More preferred the subtilase variants may comprise the mutations: S3T, V4I, S9R, A15T, K27R, *36D, V68A, N76D, N87S,R, *97E, A98S, S99G,D,A, S99AD, 5101G,M,R S103A, V104I,Y,N, S106A, G118V,R, H120D,N,N123S, 5128L, P129Q, 5130A, G160D, Y167A, R1705, A194P, G195E, V199M, V205I, L217D, N218D, M222S, A232V, K235L, Q236H, Q245R, N252K, T274A (using BPN' numbering). A further preferred protease is the alkaline protease from Bacillus lentus DSM 5483, as described for example in WO 95/23221, and variants thereof which are described in WO 92/21760, WO 95/23221, EP 1921147 and EP 1921148.

Examples of trypsin-like proteases are trypsin (e.g. of porcine or bovine origin) and the Fusarium protease described in WO 89/06270 and WO 94/25583. Examples of useful proteases are the variants described in WO 92/19729, WO 98/20115, WO 98/20116, and WO 98/34946, especially the variants with substitutions in one or more of the following positions: 27, 36, 57, 76, 87, 97, 101, 104, 120, 123, 167, 170, 194, 206, 218, 222, 224, 235, and 274. Examples of metalloproteases are the neutral metalloprotease as described in WO 07/044,993. Preferred commercially available protease enzymes include Alcalase™, Coronase™,

Duralase™, Durazym™, Esperase™, Everlase™, Kannase™, Liquanase™, Liquanase Ultra™, Ovozyme™, Polarzyme™, Primase™, Relase™, Savinase™ and Savinase Ultra™, (Novozymes A/S), Axapem™ (Gist-Brocases N.V.), Excellase™, FN2™, FN3™, FN4™, Maxaca™,

Maxapem™, Maxatase™, Properase™, Purafast™, Purafect™, Purafect OxP™, Purafect Prime™ and Puramax™ (DuPont/Genencor int.).

The removal of stains such as grease spots is an even bigger problem at low temperature. This applies particularly to materials made up of a blend of cotton and polyester. It may therefore be advantageous to use the container of the present invention in combination with a detergent composition comprising one or more lipases, which are capable of removing fatty stains such as fats, butter, salad oil, sauces and the tough stains, e.g. on collars and cuffs.

Suitable lipases and cutinases include those of bacterial or fungal origin. Chemically modified or protein engineered mutants are included. Examples include lipase from Thermomyces, e.g., from T. lanuginosus (previously named Humicola lanuginosa) as described in EP 258 068 and EP 305 216, cutinase from Humicola, e.g. H. insolens as described in WO 96/13580, a Pseudomonas lipase, e.g., from P. alcaligenes or P. pseudoalcaligenes (EP 218 272), P. cepacia (EP 331 376), P. stutzeri (GB 1,372,034), P. fluorescens, Pseudomonas sp. strain SD 705 (WO 95/06720 and WO 96/27002), P. wisconsinensis (WO 96/12012), a Bacillus lipase, e.g., from B. subtilis (Dartois et al., 1993, Biochemica et Biophysica Acta, 1131 : 253-360), B. stearothermophilus (JP 64/744992) or B. pumilus (WO 91/16422). Other examples are lipase variants such as those described in WO 92/05249, WO 94/01541, EP 407 225, EP 260 105, WO 95/35381, WO 96/00292, WO 95/30744, WO 94/25578, WO 95/14783, WO 95/22615, WO 97/04079, WO 97/07202, WO 00/060063, WO2007/087508 and WO 2009/109500.

Preferred commercially available lipase enzymes include Lipolase™, Lipolase Ultra™, and Lipex™; Lecitase™, Lipolex™; Lipoclean™, Lipoprime™ (Novozymes A/S). Other

commercially available lipases include Lumafast (Genencor Int Inc); Lipomax (Gist- Brocades/Genencor Int Inc) and Bacillus sp lipase from Solvay.

Amylases are particular useful to remove residues of starch-based foods like potatoes, spaghetti, custards, gravies and chocolate.

Suitable amylases (a and/or 13) include those of bacterial or fungal origin. Chemically modified or protein engineered mutants are included. Amylases include, for example, a- amylases obtained from Bacillus, e.g., a special strain of Bacillus licheniformis, described in more detail in GB 1,296,839. Examples of useful amylases are the variants described in WO 94/02597, WO 94/18314, WO 96/23873, and WO 97/43424, especially the variants with substitutions in one or more of the following positions: 15, 23, 105, 106, 124, 128, 133, 154, 156, 181, 188, 190, 197, 202, 208, 209, 243, 264, 304, 305, 391, 408, and 444.

Commercially available amylases are Duramyl™, Termamyl™, Fungamyl™ and BAN™

(Novozymes A/S), Rapidase™ and Purastar™ (from Genencor International Inc.).

Peroxidases/Oxidases: Suitable peroxidases/oxidases include those of plant, bacterial or fungal origin. Chemically modified or protein engineered mutants are included. Examples of useful peroxidases include peroxidases from Coprinus, e.g., from C. cinereus, and variants thereof as those described in WO 93/24618, WO 95/10602, and WO 98/15257. Commercially available peroxidases include Guardzyme™ (Novozymes A/S).

Dye transfer inhibitors

Dye transfer inhibitors which may be considered for use in compositions herein for washing textiles include in particular polyvinylpyrrolidones, polyvinylimidazoles, polymeric N-oxides such as poly-(vinylpyridine-N-oxide) and copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone with vinylimidazole and optionally further monomers.

Soil release agents In one embodiment of the present, the detergent composition comprises at least one soil- releasing agent.

Polymers with a soil detachment capacity, which are often known as "soil release" active ingredients or, due to their ability to provide a soil-repelling finish on the treated surface, for example the fiber, as "soil repellents," are for example nonionic or cationic cellulose derivatives. Polymers with a soil detachment capacity, in particular with regard to polyesters, include copolyesters prepared from dicarboxylic acids, for example adipic acid, phthalic acid or terephthalic acid, diols, for example ethylene glycol or propylene glycol, and polydiols, for example polyethylene glycol or polypropylene glycol . Polyesters with a soil detachment capacity which are preferably used include those compounds which, in formal terms, are obtainable by esterifying two monomer moieties, the first monomer being a dicarboxylic acid HOOC-Ph-COOH and the second monomer a diol HO— (CHRⁿ-)_aOH, which may also be present as a polymeric diol H— (0— (CHRl l-)_a)_bOH . Ph here means an o-, m- or p-phenylene residue which may bear 1 to 4 substituents selected from alkyl residues with 1 to 22 C atoms, sulfonic acid groups, carboxyl groups and mixtures thereof, Rl l means hydrogen, an alkyl residue with 1 to 22 C atoms and mixtures thereof, a means a number from 2 to 6 and b a number from 1 to 300. The polyesters obtainable therefrom preferably contain not only monomer diol units— O— (CHRⁿ-)_aO— but also polymer diol units— (0— (CHRⁿ-)_a)_bO— . The molar ratio of monomer diol units to polymer diol units preferably amounts to about 100 : 1 to about 1 : 100, in particular to about 10 : 1 to about 1 : 10. In the polymer diol units, the degree of polymerization b is preferably in the range from 4 to 200, in particular from 12 to 140. The molecular weight or average molecular weight or the maximum of the molecular weight distribution of preferred polyesters with a soil detachment capacity is in the range from about 250 to about 100,000, in particular from about 500 to about 50,000. The acid on which the residue Ph is based is preferably selected from terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, phthalic acid, trimellitic acid, mellitic acid, the isomers of sulfophthalic acid, sulfoisophthalic acid and sulfoterephthalic acid and mixtures thereof. Where the acid groups thereof are not part of the ester bond in the polymer, they are preferably present in salt form, in particular as an alkali metal or ammonium salt. Among these, sodium and potassium salts are particularly preferred . If desired, instead of the monomer HOOC-Ph-COOH, the polyester with a soil detachment capacity may contain small proportions, in particular no more than about 10 mol % relative to the proportion of Ph with the above-stated meaning, of other acids which comprise at least two carboxyl groups. These include, for example, alkylene and alkenylene dicarboxylic acids such as malonic acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid, pimelic acid, suberic acid, azelaic acid and sebacic acid . Preferred diols HO— (CHR¹¹— )_aOH include those in which R¹¹ is hydrogen and a is a number from 2 to 6, and those in which a has the value 2 and Rl l is selected from hydrogen and alkyl residues with 1 to 10, in particular 1 to 3 C atoms. Among the latter-stated diols, those of the formula HO— CH2— CHR¹¹— OH, in which R¹¹ has the above-stated meaning, are particularly preferred . Examples of diol components are ethylene glycol, 1,2-propylene glycol, 1,3-propylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,5-pentanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, 1,8-octanediol, 1,2-decanediol, 1,2- dodecanediol and neopentyl glycol. Among the polymeric diols, polyethylene glycol with an average molar mass in the range from about 1000 to about 6000 is particularly preferred. If desired, these polyesters may also be end group-terminated, with end groups which may be considered being alkyl groups with 1 to 22 C atoms and esters of monocarboxylic acids. The end groups attached via ester bonds may be based on alkyl, alkenyl and aryl monocarboxylic acids with 5 to 32 C atoms, in particular 5 to 18 C atoms. These include valeric acid, caproic acid, enanthic acid, caprylic acid, pelargonic acid, capric acid, undecanoic acid, undecenoic acid, lauric acid, lauroieic acid, tridecanoic acid, myristic acid, myristoleic acid, pentadecanoic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, petroselinic acid, petroselaidic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolaidic acid, linolenic acid, eleostearic acid, arachidic acid, gadoleic acid, arachidonic acid, behenic acid, erucic acid, brassidic acid, clupanodonic acid, lignoceric acid, cerotic acid, melissic acid, benzoic acid, which may bear 1 to 5 substituents having a total of up to 25 C atoms, in particular 1 to 12 C atoms, for example tert.-butylbenzoic acid. The end groups may also be based on hydroxymonocarboxylic acids with 5 to 22 C atoms, which for example include hydroxyvaleric acid, hydroxycaproic acid, ricinoleic acid, the hydrogenation product thereof, hydroxystearic acid, and o-, m- and p-hydroxybenzoic acid. The

hydroxymonocarboxylic acids may in turn be joined to one another via their hydroxyl group and their carboxyl group and thus be repeatedly present in an end group. The number of hydroxymonocarboxylic acid units per end group, i.e. their degree of oligomerization, is preferably in the range from 1 to 50, in particular from 1 to 10. In a preferred development of the invention, polymers of ethylene terephthalate and polyethylene oxide terephthalate, in which the polyethylene glycol units have molar weights of about 750 to about 5000 and the molar ratio of ethylene terephthalate to polyethylene oxide terephthalate amounts to about 50: 50 to about 90: 10, are used alone or in combination with cellulose derivatives. Preferred soil-releasing agent based on PolyEthyleneTerephthalate (PET) or

PolyOxyEthyleneTerephthalate (POET).

Foam inibitors It may be advantageous to add conventional foam inhibitors to the compositions. Suitable foam inhibitors are, for example, soaps of natural or synthetic origin, which comprise an elevated proportion of C18-C24 fatty acids. Suitable non-surfactant foam inhibitors are, for example, organopolysiloxanes and mixtures thereof with microtine, optionally silanized silica as well as paraffins, waxes, microcrystalline waxes and mixtures thereof with silanized silica or bis-fatty acid alkylenediamides. Mixtures of different foam inhibitors are also

advantageously used, for example mixtures of silicones, paraffins or waxes. The foam inhibitors, in particular foam inhibitors containing silicone and/or paraffin, are preferably bound to a granular carrier substance which is soluble or dispersible in water. Mixtures of paraffins and bistearylethylenediamide are particularly preferred here.

Textile

In one embodiment of the present invention the item is a textile. In the context of the present invention, the term "textile" refers to any textile or fabric containing natural material and/or synthetic materials, which may be in the form of non-woven materials, yarns, fibers. The textile may include textile or fabric material based on cellulose such as natural cellulosics, including abaca, cotton, flax/linen, jute, kapok, kenaf, raffia, hemp, ramie, sisal or coir or manufactured cellulosics material such as viscose/rayon, cellulose acetate fibers (tricell), lyocell or blends thereof. The textile may also include natural fibres made by animal such as wool, camel, cashmere wool, mohair wool, angora wool, llama wool and silk. The textile may include synthetic polymers such as nylon, aramid, polyester, acrylic,

polypropylene and spandex/elastane, or blends thereof as well as blends of cellulose based and non-cellulose based fibers. Examples of blends are blends of cotton and/or rayon/viscose with one or more companion material such as wool, synthetic fiber (e.g. polyamide fiber, acrylic fiber, polyester fiber, polyvinyl chloride fiber, polyurethane fiber, polyurea fiber, aramid fiber), and/or cellulose-containing fiber (e.g. rayon/viscose, ramie, flax/linen, jute, cellulose acetate fiber, lyocell). The textile or fabric may be in the form of a woven or non- woven textile, denims, felts, or knit. The textile may be a cloth in the form of a shirt, t-thirt, polo-shirt, dress shirt, suit, waist coat, trouser, jeans, jacket, coat, tie, dress, blouse, chemise or a skirt.

A fifth aspect of the present invention provides a kit comprising a container according to the first aspect of the invention and at least one detergent receptacle comprising a detergent as described herein. The detergent may formulated as a liquid, paste, gel or a powder and the detergent receptacle is adapted to contain the detergent. The kit may comprise more than one detergent receptacle, where each detergent receptacle comprises identical or different detergent composition. The volume of the detergent in the detergent receptacle may correspond to a single application (a unit dose) or multiple applications (multiple units). In another embodiment, the kit comprises a plurality of detergent receptacle, each detergent receptacle comprising different detergents. In one embodiment, the kit comprises two or more detergent receptacle comprising different detergents, where the detergents is optimized for removing stains selected from the list consisting of food stains (chocolate, egg, meat sauce, or tomato stains), grease (oil) stains, blood stains, grass stains, lipstick and other makeup stains. It should be understood, that a skilled person would readily recognise that any feature described in combination with the first aspect of the invention could also be combined with the second aspect of the invention, and vice versa.

The container according to the first aspect of the invention is very suitable for performing the laundering method steps according to the second aspect of the invention. The remarks set forth above in relation to the container are therefore equally applicable in relation to the method.

Brief description of the drawings

Embodiments of the invention will now be further described with reference to the drawings, in which :

Fig. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a container according to the invention;

Fig. 2 illustrates a picture of a container where the first and second parts are disassembled;

Fig. 3 illustrates a cross section through a container along line BB in Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 illustrates a side-view of a container according to the invention; Fig. 5 illustrates an exploded view of a container according to the invention;

Figs. 6-8 illustrate parts for the container according to the invention;

Fig. 9 illustrates a perspective view of a further embodiment of a container according to the invention where the first and second part is assembled for storage;

Fig.10 illustrates a cross section through the container in Fig. 9; Fig. 11 illustrates a perspective view of the further embodiment of a container according to the invention where the first and second part is disassembled and ready for use;

Fig.12 illustrates a cross section through the container in Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 illustrates an exploded view of an further embodiment of a container according to the invent, and Figs. 14 and 15 illustrate a top and a bottom view of an embodiment of a base plate to be arranged in a container according to the invention.

Detailed description of the drawings

It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

Fig. 1 illustrates a container 1 comprising a first part 2 and a second part 3.

In fig. 2, the two parts are taken apart and a first inner space 4 in the first part and a second inner space 5 in the second part can be seen.

The container illustrated in Figs 1-4 is configured for local and mobile laundering purpose, particularly for removing stains from cloth. The first and second parts both comprise an elastically deformable sealing O-ring 6, 7. When the second part is arranged against the first part in a sealing position, c.f. Figs. 1, 3 and 4, the sealing structure of each part meets the sealing structure of the other part and thereby makes the inner space liquid tight. For this purpose, the magnetic attraction forces are sufficiently strong to induce an elastic deformation of the deformable sealing rings.

The container illustrated in Figs 1-4 is made with first and second edge portions 8, 9 formed about the respective first and second openings into the first and second spaces. The edge portions face each other when the second part is in the sealing position.

The first and second parts are maintained in the sealing position by magnetic attraction means comprising a plurality of permanent magnets 10-19 in each part. The magnets are grouped in two groups, one group comprising magnets 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18. This group of magnets forms a plurality of north poles on the edge portion. The other group of magnets comprises magnets 11, 13, 15, 17, and 19. This group of magnets forms a plurality of south poles on the edge portion.

The magnetic poles of each assembly are arranged in a circular layout with alternating poles of different polarity.

The magnetic poles of each assembly are arranged about the first and second openings. Rotation of the parts relative to each other may bring the container from a locked state where permanent magnets with opposite polarity are close to each other and therefore provide an attraction force between the parts to an open state where permanent magnets with same polarity are close to each other and therefore provide a repulsion force pressing the two parts away from each other.

Fig. 3 illustrates a cross section of a container and thereby more clearly visualize the content in the first and second spaces. A fluid medium comprised in a sponge 20 is arranged in the first inner space 4 and an absorbing structure 21 is arranged in the second inner space.

The first part comprises an elastically deformable protrusion 22a forming a wall which allows squeezing of the sponge structure from the outside of the container, even when the container is closed. The protrusion has a cylindrical shape enabling not only compression of the sponge but also twisting of the sponge. This is partly obtained by filling out the inner space of the cylindrically shaped protrusion with the sponge.

The absorbing structure 21 is arranged in a second compartment 23 which is again arranged replaceably in the second inner space. The first and second compartments could e.g. be held in place geometrically locking e.g. by use of projections or latches on one part catching an edge, projection or depression on another part, or it could be held by friction.

The first and second parts are made in a moulding material e.g. Polyoxymethylen or Acetal (POM), e.g. in an injection moulding process. At least one of the first and second parts may particularly be made by a two-component moulding where POM is combined with a softer or more elastically deformable material, e.g. a silicone or soft rubber material is injected to form an elastically deformable part.

The elastically deformable part could e.g. be a wall part useful for manipulating an item between the parts or for releasing a detergent from a first compartment, e.g. by squeezing a sponge etc.

The elastically deformable part could also be a deformable sealing structure arranged on a surface of at least one of the parts facing the other part for sealing the inner space.

The elastically deformable wall part and/or the elastically deformable sealing structure could also be attached to the moulding material once the material is cooled down and setting is achieved. The first and second parts could be moulded with cavities shaped and sized to receive the magnets after cooling and setting of the moulding material. The magnets, e.g. Neodymium magnets, could be pressed into the cavities and held therein by an adhesive or simply by surface friction between the magnets and the moulding material. In one embodiment, the container is for mobile laundry purpose, and a liquid detergent is arranged in one of the inner spaces. The other one of the inner spaces is filled with an absorbing material, e.g. a hydrophilic material. Subsequently this inner space could be sealed e.g. with a foil, e.g. a paper foil or generally with a foil which is open for diffusion of the liquid detergent. In that way, the absorbing material is allowed to absorb the detergent through the foil.

In another embodiment, the foil is releasable and intended to be removed prior to use to thereby allow the absorbing material unhindered access to absorb the liquid detergent.

Fig. 5 illustrates an exploded view of the container, and Figs. 6-8 illustrate the first part, the second part and the elastically deformable protrusion including the sponge. Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate a further embodiment of a container 1 comprising a first part 2 and a second part 3 and where the first and second part is assembled. The first part and the second part each has a circumferential first grip surface 35 and second grip surface 36 wherein both have a circumferential pattern of groves 25 and ribs 26 allowing for a better grip on the first and second part when rotating the parts relative to each other. Furthermore the first part comprises a protrusion 22b, preferably a rigid protrusion, which is stored in-between the first part and the second part and a sealing ring 24. The sealing ring may be made of a combination of an elastic material and metal. When the protrusion is stored in-between the first part and the second part a first inner space 4 in the first part and a second inner space 5 in the second part may be empty, i.e. not containing a sponge 20 or absorbing structure 21, see Fig. 11 and 12. The protrusion may be kept in place by means of a first through hole 37, or the sealing ring arranged in the first through hole, in the centre of the first part and a second through hole 38 in the centre of the second part, see Fig. 13.

The first through hole may be used to disengage the sponge from the first part by pushing it out of the first inner space e.g. by means of a finger. Likewise, the second through hole may be used for disengaging the absorbing structure from the second part by pushing it out of the second inner space e.g. by means of a finger. The second through hole may be blocked by an elastic membrane, not shown, allowing for disengaging the absorbing structure from the second part by pushing it out of the second inner space e.g. by means of a finger. Figs. 11 and 12 illustrate the further embodiment of the container 1 where the first and second part is disassembled from each other. The protrusion 22b is removed from in- between the first and second part and is arranged in the sealing ring from the top of the first part. The sponge 20 is arranged in the first inner space and the absorbing structure 21 is arranged in the second inner space.

The sponge comprises a baseplate 27 having an upper surface 31 and a lower surface 32 whereas the sponge is attached to the lower surface, preferably by use of an adhesive. The sponge further comprises a retaining element 29 on the upper surface of the baseplate. The retaining element extends in the presently illustrated embodiment from the upper surface to a flange forming an undercut. When arranging the sponge in the first inner space the retaining element is brought into engagement with a recess 30 configured for receiving the retaining element and placed in the bottom end of the protrusion 22b, see also Fig. 10. In order to engage the retaining element with the recess, one or both of the material forming the recess or the retaining element may be so flexible that the retaining element can snap into the recess. Or the retaining element may be moved into a looking position within the recess e.g. by rotating the protrusion 22b relatively to the baseplate.

The container as illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12 is considered as ready for use.

The sealing ring allows the protrusion to rotate without detergent is leaking from the sponge through a first through hole in the first part. Dividing the protrusion and sponge into two separate parts facilitate that only the sponge and the absorbing structure needs to be replaced after use, whereas the protrusion is a reusable part.

The sponge may as in the presently illustrated embodiment have a structured surface 28, whereas the structured surface face the absorbing structure. The structured surface may either be of the same or a different material, preferably a more coarse or rough material, than the sponge.

Fig. 13 illustrates an exploded view of the further embodiment of the container.

Figs. 14 and 15 illustrate an embodiment of a base plate 28 configured to be arranged in the first inner space of the first part of the container. The baseplate comprises the retaining element 29 on the upper surface 31 and a number of ribs 33 arranged on the lower surface 32. In the presently illustrated embodiment, the ribs extend from the centre of the baseplate to the circumference of the baseplate, but they may as well be arranged in any other suitable pattern. Each rib comprises a number of cavities 34, each configured for receiving a portion of brush hairs, not shown. Portions of sponges may be arranged between the ribs and attached to the lower surface, preferably by means of an adhesive, not shown.

Claims

1. A container comprising a first part and a second part, the first part forming a first inner space and a first opening into the first inner space, and the second part being detachably attachable in a sealing position to the first part for sealing the first opening, the container further comprising magnetic attraction means arranged in at least one of the first and the second parts and configured to maintain the second part in the sealing position by magnetic attraction.

2. A container according to claim 1, wherein the inner space is liquid tight when the second part is in the sealing position.

3. A container according to claim 1 or 2, comprising an elastically deformable sealing structure on at least one of the first and second parts and arranged between the first and second parts and extending about the first opening.

4. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second part forms a second inner space and a second opening into the second inner space.

5. A container according to claim 4, where the second opening is in communication with the first opening, when the second part is in the sealing position.

6. A container according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the second part forms a second edge portion about the second opening, and wherein the second edge portion faces the first part when the second part is in the sealing position.

7. A container according to claim 6, wherein the first part forms a first edge portion about the first opening, and wherein the second edge portion faces the first edge portion when the second part is in the sealing position.

8. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a fluid medium in a primary one of the first and second spaces.

9. A container according to claim 8, comprising a first compartment containing the fluid medium.

10. A container according to claim 9, wherein the first compartment comprises a sponge structure.

11. A container according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the first part and the second part comprises a rigid protrusion for squeezing the sponge structure.

12. A container according to claim 11, wherein the rigid protrusion is configured to be stored within the first inner space and/ or the second inner space.

13. A container according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the sponge comprises a baseplate and the baseplate comprises a retaining element configured for engaging with the protrusion.

14. A container according to any one of claim 13, wherein the baseplate comprises one or more portions of brush hairs.

15. A container according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the first part and the second part comprises an elastically deformable wall allowing squeezing of the sponge structure through the elastically deformable wall.

16. A container according to claim 15, wherein the elastically deformable wall forms a protrusion on an outer surface of one of the first and second parts.

17. A container according to clam 16, wherein the protrusion is twistable during elastic deformation.

18. A container according to any one of claims 10-17, wherein the sponge has a structured surface.

19. A container according to claim 18, wherein the structured surface is of a different material, preferably a more coarse material, than the sponge.

20. A container according to any one of claims 8-19, wherein the container further comprising release means operable to release the fluid medium from the first compartment.

21. A container according to claim 20, wherein the release means is operable outside the container when the second part is in the sealing position.

22. A container according to claim 20 or 21, wherein the release means is configured to release the fluid medium from the first compartment upon movement of the first part relative to the second part.

23. A container according to any one of claims 8-22, wherein the fluid medium is selected from a group consisting of a detergent, a beverage, a food ingredient, a cosmetic compound, a medical drug, colouring compound, and a heat releasing compound.

24. A container according to any one of claims 9-23, wherein the first compartment is replaceably arranged in the primary one of the first and second spaces.

25. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising an absorbing structure formed in a secondary one of the first and second spaces.

26. A container according to claim 25, comprising a second compartment containing the absorbing structure.

27. A container according to any one of claims 8-25 and claim 26, wherein the absorbing structure is configured to absorb the fluid medium.

28. A container according to any one of claims 25-27, wherein the absorbing structure is replaceably arranged in the secondary one of the first and second spaces.

29. A container according to any one of claims 25-28, wherein one of the first and second spaces is the primary space and the other one of the first and second spaces is the secondary space.

30. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the magnetic attraction means comprises at least two assemblies, each assembly comprising at least two magnetic poles of different polarity, and at least one assembly being arranged in each of the first and second parts.

31. A container according to claim 30, wherein the magnetic poles of each assembly is arranged in a circular layout with alternating poles of different polarity.

32. A container according to claim 30 or 31, wherein the magnetic poles of each assembly is arranged about one of the first and second openings.

33. A container according to any one of the claims 3-32, where the magnetic attraction means provides a force of attraction sufficient to elastically deform the elastically deformable sealing structure provided on at least one of the first and second parts.

34. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first part has a first grip surface and the second part has a second grip surface and one or both of the first and second grip surfaces comprises a pattern of groves and/or ribs.

35. A compartment being arrangeable in the container according to any one of the preceding claims and containing a fluid medium or an absorbing structure.

36. A liquid detergent assembly for a container according to any one of claims 1-33, the assembly comprising a first and a second compartment, the first compartment comprising a liquid detergent and the second compartment comprising a structure for absorbing the liquid detergent.

37. A method of carrying out local laundering on an item by use of the container according to any of the preceding claims, the method comprising the step of applying a detergent to at least one of the first and second inner spaces, arranging the first part on one side of the item, arranging the second part on the opposite side of the item in the sealing position relative to the first part and allowing the detergent to act on the item while the magnetic attraction means maintains the second part in the sealing position.

38. The method according to claim 37 and a sponge being arranged in one of the first and second inner spaces, the method further comprises the step of scrubbing the item by rotating the sponge.

39. A method according to claim 37 or 38, the method being carried out on an item selected from the group consisting of: textile, a sail, a curtain, a carpet, a sunshade, and an awning.

40. The method according to any one of claims 37-39, wherein said detergent composition comprises at least one surfactant.

41. The method according to any one of claims 37-40, wherein said composition comprises at least one anionic surfactant.

42. The method according to any one of claims 37-41, wherein said composition comprises at least one non-ionic surfactant.

43. The method according to any one of claims 37-42, wherein said detergent composition further comprises a builder, such as Zeolite A.

44. The method according to any one of claims 37-43, wherein said detergent composition comprises bleach, such as peroxide based bleach.

45. The method according to any one of claims 37-44, wherein said detergent composition comprises a bleach activator, such as tetra acetyl ethylene diamine (TEAD).

46. The method according to any one of claims 37-45, wherein said composition comprises at least one enzyme.

47. The method according to claim 46, wherein said enzyme is selected from the consisting of a protease, a lipolytic enzyme (lipases and cutinases), an amylase and a cellulase.

48. The method according to any one of claims 37-47, wherein said composition comprises at least one soil-releasing agent.

49. The method according to any one of claims 37-48, wherein said composition comprises an alkali.

50. The detergent according to any one of claims 37-49, wherein said detergent is formulated as a liquid, paste, gel or a powder.

51. A kit comprising a container according to any one of claims 1-34 and at least one detergent receptacle comprising a detergent.

52. The kit according to claim 51 comprising two or more detergent receptacle comprising different detergents, where the detergents is optimized for removing stains selected from the list consisting of food stains (chocolate, egg, meat sauce, or tomato stains), grease (oil) stains, blood stains, grass stains, lipstick and other makeup stains.

53. The kit according to claim 51 or 52 comprising one or more detergent receptacle, wherein each detergent receptacle comprises a detergent as defined in any one of the preceding claims 40-50.