Smart dosing device

• US 20030182732A1
• Filed: 03/28/2002
• Published: 10/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Davenet, Dorothee Helene, Smith, Christopher Lawrence, Azzani, Jean-Luc, Barron, Bradford Scott, Day, Todd Mitchell, Diamanti, Luca
• Granted Patent: US 6,955,067 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 8/158
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4454 with automatic identification means, e.g. barcodes, RFID tags or magnetic strips
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4463 Multi-dose dispensing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/16 Washing liquid temperature
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/22 Content of detergent or additives
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/42 Detergent or additive supply
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/58 Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/57 of metering of detergents or additives
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/22 Condition of the washing liquid, e.g. turbidity
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/024 mounted on the agitator or the rotating drum; Free body dispensers

Abstract

A portable, self-contained, device for dosing and/or dispensing at least one product into an appliance for treating laundry or dishes is disclosed. The device includes a housing with at least one compartment for containing at least one product. The compartment(s) can be closed by at least one corresponding cover. The device further includes at least one means for storing and releasing energy, so that the product to be dispensed may be released at one or more predetermined point(s) in time during a wash cycle. In one embodiment, the means may be a battery, such as a rechargeable battery. The device may also include at least one sensor and/or at least one actuator for detecting when the wash conditions are optimal and open at least one of the compartments for releasing a product.

Claims

1. A portable, self-contained, device for dosing and/or dispensing at least one product into an appliance for treating laundry or dishes, said device comprising a housing with at least one compartment for containing said at least one product, said at least one compartment being closed by at least one corresponding cover, wherein said device comprises at least one means for storing energy and releasing it, so that said product is released at one or more predetermined point(s) in time during the wash cycle.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein one means to store and release energy is achieved by an electrical battery.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein said electrical battery is rechargeable.

4. A device according to claim 1 further comprising at least one actuator to open the cover of said at least one compartment.

5. A device according to claim 4 wherein said actuator comprises a mechanical actuator linked to the cover, said mechanical actuator being manually loaded with mechanical energy when a user presses the cover prior to placing said device into the washing machine, said mechanical energy being stored by locking the mechanical actuator in a loaded position through a locking means, said mechanical energy being released when said locking means is unlocked by an electromechanical actuator powered by the battery.

6. A device according to claim 5 wherein said mechanical actuator is a metallic coiled spring, said mechanical energy is spring compression energy, said electromechanical actuator is a solenoid, and said locking means is achieved by:

(a) a locking tooth located onto the movable plunger rod, into which (b) a shaft of the solenoid moves in/out to respectively lock/unlock said spring.

7. A device according to claim 1 further comprising at least one sensor, wherein said sensor is capable of sensing the composition of the environment of said device and determining when the actuator must open said at least one compartment.

8. A sensor for use in a dosing device according to claim 1 which is linked to the battery and/or the actuator.

9. A process of dosing and dispensing at least one product into an appliance for treating laundry or dishes, by using a device according to claim 1, said process comprising the steps of:

(i) filling said device with said at least one product;

(ii) manually closing said device, thereby loading the device with mechanical energy;

(iii) placing said device within said appliance together with the laundry or dishes items to be treated, and start said appliance for a treatment cycle;

(iv) taking said device out of said appliance together with the laundry or dishes, once they have been treated.