Dispensing – Processes of dispensing
Patent
1996-10-25
1999-03-30
Huson, Gregory I.
Dispensing
Processes of dispensing
222494, 68 17R, 68 96, 401186, 401209, 401316, B67B 700
Patent
active
058877533
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
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.
BACKAGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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 with the liquid detergent. Pretreatment means that a certain amount of detergent is applied directly onto the dirty parts of said fabrics before they are washed in the machine. The devices in the prior art adapted to pretreat are generally dispensing devices with a spreader of liquid detergent for pretreatment purposes. In the following detergent means a detergent composition for the treatment of fabrics. This detergent composition may comprise washing additives, like bleaches, enzymes and/or others known in the art.
We found that a pretreatment spreader has to provide certain features to maximize the pretreatment performance. Such an important feature is a controlled multi-directional spreading. "Multi-directional spreading" means that the spreading is not bound to act in a predetermined direction, but it is always completely free to change the spreading direction. This ensures a comfortable spreading of the liquid detergent even on very complicated patterns of stains, without the need for the user to perform complicated movements with his hand. In this manner the spreading is also better controlled, and therefore avoids waste of liquid detergent, since it is easier to spread with accuracy only on the limited area of the stain.
Various pretreatment devices for liquid detergent are described in the prior art, for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5.388,298 and 5,355,541. The pretreatment devices of U.S. Pat. No. 5,355,541 have predetermined outlets. The liquid detergent is spreaded and then rubbed on the areas of the fabrics through irregularities on the external surface of the pretreatment device itself. In this manner the application of the liquid detergent on the fabrics can not be performed with an accurate control of the direction.
One of the removable pretreatment applicators disclosed in WO 92/09737 is generically a ball. It is not specified in which direction said ball rotates. Furthermore, this ball applicator is in fact a separate piece from the dispensing device. This means that to pretreat the user has to hold the filled dosing device in one hand and the ball applicator in the other which renders the pretreatment very complicated. Furthermore, the ball applicator has to be dipped from time to time into the filled dosing device to keep the ball always wet enough for the pretreatment.
Another approach is represented by U.S. Pat. No. 5,341,660. A circular-sectioned applicator acts as a spreader of the liquid detergent onto the fabrics. Said applicator rotates about opposite pins engaged in the rim of said orifice. Said applicator is able to apply the liquid detergent flowing out of the orifice on a surface by rotating about the axis defined by the pins. A predetermined axis of rotation is therefore defined by these opposite pins. This does not allow a controlled multi-directional spreading of the liquid detergent in the pretreatment.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a dosing and dispensing device adapted to pretreat fabrics with a spreader acting in a controlled multi-directional manner.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a process for pretreating and washing fabrics in a washing machine with the dosing and dispensing device herein described.
We have now found that this could be achieved by designing a pretreatment device with a "roller ball", i.e. a ball which rotates in all directions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a dosing and dispensing device for liquid detergent which can be introduced in a
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patent: 5355541 (1994-10-01), Rutter et al.
patent: 5379919 (1995-01-01), Gueret
patent: 5388298 (1995-02-01), Rutter et al.
Huson Gregory I.
Koch Elizabeth M.
The Procter & Gamble & Company
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