Detergent Dispensing Device
First Claim
1. A detergent dispensing device adapted for use with an automatic washing machine, the device having a plurality of chambers to accommodate a detergent composition, a selecting means to selectively expose each chamber to wash liquor allowing the detergent, in use, to be washed out of the chamber;
- a manual operating means being movable from a first position to a second position for loading mechanical energy into the device which provides a restoring force for the operating means, and a return motion prevention means to retain the operating means in the second position, the return motion prevention means being arranged to move when subjected to a condition prevailing in an interior of the machine during a wash cycle, thereby moving the operating means to the first position or releasing the operating means to return to the first position during a single wash cycle;
the operating means being arranged to move the selecting means and cartridge relatively to one another to advance the selecting means to an adjacent chamber as it moves either from the first to the second position, the second to the first position, or both.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A detergent dispensing device for an automatic washing machine, the device having a plurality of chambers to accommodate a detergent composition, a selecting means to selectively expose each chamber to wash liquor allowing the detergent, in use, to be washed out of the chamber; a manual operating means being movable from a first position to a second position for loading mechanical energy into the device which provides a restoring force for the operating means, and a return motion prevention means to retain the operating means in the second position, the return motion prevention means being arranged to move when subjected to a condition prevailing in an interior of the machine during a wash cycle, thereby moving the operating means to the first position or releasing the operating means to return to the first position during a single wash cycle; the operating means being arranged to move the selecting means and cartridge relatively to one another to advance the selecting means to an adjacent chamber as it moves either from the first to the second position, the second to the first position, or both.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A detergent dispensing device adapted for use with an automatic washing machine, the device having a plurality of chambers to accommodate a detergent composition, a selecting means to selectively expose each chamber to wash liquor allowing the detergent, in use, to be washed out of the chamber;
- a manual operating means being movable from a first position to a second position for loading mechanical energy into the device which provides a restoring force for the operating means, and a return motion prevention means to retain the operating means in the second position, the return motion prevention means being arranged to move when subjected to a condition prevailing in an interior of the machine during a wash cycle, thereby moving the operating means to the first position or releasing the operating means to return to the first position during a single wash cycle;
the operating means being arranged to move the selecting means and cartridge relatively to one another to advance the selecting means to an adjacent chamber as it moves either from the first to the second position, the second to the first position, or both. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
- a manual operating means being movable from a first position to a second position for loading mechanical energy into the device which provides a restoring force for the operating means, and a return motion prevention means to retain the operating means in the second position, the return motion prevention means being arranged to move when subjected to a condition prevailing in an interior of the machine during a wash cycle, thereby moving the operating means to the first position or releasing the operating means to return to the first position during a single wash cycle;
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13. A method for dispensing detergent into an automatic washing machine from a device having a plurality pf chambers to accommodate a detergent composition, the method comprising:
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providing said device to said machine; manually moving an operating means of the device before each wash cycle from a first position to a second position for loading mechanical energy into the device to provide a restoring force for the operating means, initially retaining the operating means in the second position, subjecting the device to a wash cycle, allowing the operating means to return to the first position during the wash cycle when subjected to a condition prevailing in an interior of the machine during a wash cycle, wherein the operating means advances a selecting means to an adjacent chamber as it moves either from the first position to the second position, the second position to the first position, or both.
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Specification