Fabric article treating device and system with user interface

• US 20070000291A1
• Filed: 06/30/2005
• Published: 01/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Smith, Christopher, France, Paul Amaat Raymond Gerard, Clark, Melissa
• Application Number:
  US11/171,102
• Publication Number:
  US 20070000291A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 68/12.180
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/00 Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/38 Time, e.g. duration
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/44 Current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/60 related to auxiliary conditioning or finishing agents, e.g. filling level of perfume tanks
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/38 Conditioning or finishing, e.g. control of perfume injection
• 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 34/08 Control circuits or arrangements thereof
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/14 Arrangements for detecting or measuring specific parameters
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/203 Laundry conditioning arrangements

Abstract

A fabric article treating device having a dispenser, reservoir, fluid handling system, measuring device and user interface. The dispenser and reservoir are adapted for fluid communication with one another. The reservoir is configured to contain a benefit composition. The measuring device communicates with the reservoir and/or fluid handling system to determine the amount of benefit composition remaining in the reservoir and activate a user signal on the user interface to inform the consumer with information relating to the amount of benefit composition in the reservoir.

Claims

1. A fabric article treating device, comprising:

a dispenser;

a reservoir configured to contain a benefit composition;

a fluid handling system, wherein the fluid handling system is configured to transport benefit composition from the reservoir to the dispenser, and wherein the dispenser is configured to deliver benefit composition to one or more fabric articles in a fabric article treating appliance;

a measuring device adapted to determine an amount of benefit composition remaining in the reservoir; and

a user interface in communication with the measuring device, wherein the user interface comprises a user signal adapted to provide a user with information relating to an amount of benefit composition in the reservoir.

2. The fabric article treating device of claim 1, wherein the fluid handling system comprises a pump, a controller and a power supply, wherein the pump compels benefit composition from the reservoir to a desired location, and wherein the power supply is adapted to provide electric current to the pump;

and

wherein the controller is in communication with the power supply and the measuring device, and wherein the controller initiates dispensing of benefit composition and is adapted to prevent the power supply from energizing the pump when the reservoir contains less than a predetermined amount of benefit composition.

3. The fabric article treating device of claim 2, wherein the measuring device comprises a current sensor and a logic control system in communication with the power supply and wherein the measuring device is adapted to activate the user signal when the current sensor detects a current less than a predetermined current level.

4. The fabric article treating device of claim 1, wherein the measuring device comprises a weight sensor adapted to weigh the amount of benefit composition in the reservoir, and wherein the measuring device is adapted to activate the user signal when the weight sensor detects a weight at less than a predetermined weight level.

5. The fabric article treating device of claim 1, wherein the measuring device comprises a flow sensor in communication with the fluid handling system, and wherein the measuring device is adapted to activate the user signal when the flow sensor detects a flow rate at less than a predetermined flow rate.

6. The fabric article treating device of claim 1, wherein the measuring device comprises a timer in communication with the fluid handling system, wherein the timer is adapted to measure the amount of time the fluid handling system is transporting benefit composition, and wherein the measuring device is adapted to activate the user signal when the timer reaches a predetermined level.

7. The fabric article treating device of claim 1, wherein the measuring device comprises an opacity sensor in visual communication with the reservoir, wherein the opacity sensor is adapted to detect the amount of benefit composition in the reservoir, and wherein the measuring device is adapted to activate the user signal when the opacity sensor detects less than a predetermined level of the benefit composition remaining in the reservoir.

8. The fabric article treating device of claim 1, wherein the measuring device comprises a thickness sensor, wherein the thickness sensor is adapted to measure a thickness of the reservoir, and wherein the measuring device is adapted to activate the user signal when the thickness of the reservoir is less than a predetermined level.

9. The fabric article treating device of claim 1, wherein the measuring device comprises a pressure sensor in fluid communication with the fluid handling system, wherein the pressure sensor is adapted to determine the pressure in the fluid handling system, and wherein the measuring device is adapted to activate the user signal when the pressure sensor detects less than a predetermined pressure level in the fluid handling system.

10. The fabric article treating device of claim 1, further comprising a RFID reader, and wherein the reservoir comprises a RFID tag, wherein the RFID reader is adapted to read data from the RFID tag, and wherein the data comprises an identification code of the reservoir.

11. The fabric article treating device of claim 1, wherein the measuring device comprises an electrical sensor and at least one electrode in electrical communication with the benefit composition in the reservoir, wherein the electrical sensor is adapted to detect a change in at least one electrical property of the electrode in the reservoir.

12. The fabric article treating device of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller that initiates dispensing of the benefit composition, wherein the controller is in communication with the measuring device and further wherein the controller is configured to prevent the fluid handling system from attempting to dispense the benefit composition from the reservoir when the reservoir contains less than a predetermined amount of benefit composition.

14. The fabric article treating device of claim 1, further comprising a communication link adapted for connection with a fabric article drying appliance.

13. A fabric article treating system having a dosing system, comprising:

a fabric article drying appliance having a chamber and a closure structure, the closure structure having a closed position and at least one open position, the closure structure allowing access to the chamber;

a reservoir for containing a benefit composition;

a dispenser in communication with the chamber;

a fluid handling system that compels benefit composition from the reservoir toward the dispenser, thereby dispensing benefit composition into the chamber;

a closure structure sensor;

a controller that initiates dispensing of the benefit composition, wherein the controller is configured to prevent benefit composition from being dispensed when the closure structure sensor indicates that the closure structure is not in the closed position;

a measuring device adapted to determine an amount of benefit composition remaining in the reservoir; and

a user interface in communication with the measuring device, wherein the user interface comprises a user signal adapted to provide a user with information relating to an amount of benefit composition in the reservoir.