Device Status Indicator for a Multi-Dosing Detergent Delivery Device

• US 20100071733A1
• Filed: 10/29/2007
• Published: 03/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Reckitt Benckiser N.V. (Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Reckitt Benckiser N.V. (Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC)
• Inventors: Housmekerides, Chris Efstathios, Gibis, Karl Ludwig
• Granted Patent: US 8,146,609 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/113
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4445 Detachable devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4463 Multi-dose dispensing arrangements

Abstract

The present invention concerns a multi-dosing detergent delivery device including a status indicator for providing an external indication of the internal status of the device. The indicator comprises a first element (140) internal to a main housing part (100) of the device and whose position is directly related to the status of the device and a second element (120) external of the main housing. The second element (120) and the first element (140) are linked together by means of magnetic attraction. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first element (140) comprises a magnet and the second element (120) comprises a ferro-magnetic sphere, held within a transparent dome (110). The sphere (120) and dome (110) are mounted to the exterior of a main housing of the device and form an isolated sub-housing, whilst the magnet (140) is provided internally. Motion of the magnet (140) is translated to motion of the sphere (120) and a static scale adjacent to the path of movement of the sphere indicates the device status.

Claims

1. A multi-dosing detergent delivery device comprising a status indicator for providing an external indication of the internal status of the device, wherein said indicator comprises;

a first element internal to a main housing part of said device and whose position is directly related to the status of said device and a second element external of said main housing, wherein said second element and said first element are linked together by means of magnetic attraction.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said second element is provided within a transparent sub-housing adapted to facilitate a user viewing the position of said second element.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein a static indicator scale is provided aligned with a path of movement of the second element.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein said indicator is numbered or coloured or otherwise marked so as to correspond with the status of the device.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein said first element is mounted onto a shaft of the device and the rotational position of the shaft corresponds directly to the device status.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein the status indicator indicates a wash number of the multi-dosing detergent delivery device and said shaft forms part of a detergent dispensing mechanism.

7. A device according to 6, wherein said shaft corresponds to the shaft of a refill holder, and the position of said shaft indicates how many dosage elements of the multi-dosing system remain or have been used.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein said first element comprises a magnet and said second element comprises a ferro-magnetic material.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein said second element is a sphere.

11. A device according to claim 2, wherein a static indicator scale is provided aligned with a path of movement of the second element.

12. A device according to claim 2, wherein said first element is mounted onto a shaft of the device and the rotational position of the shaft corresponds directly to the device status.

13. A device according to claim 3, wherein said first element is mounted onto a shaft of the device and the rotational position of the shaft corresponds directly to the device status.

10. (canceled)