DISPENSING SYSTEM

• US 20100161143A1
• Filed: 12/14/2009
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Roselle, Brian Joseph, Smith, Christopher Lawrence
• Application Number:
  US12/636,998
• Publication Number:
  US 20100161143A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/283
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4418 in the form of liquids A47L15/4409, A47L15/4436, A47L15/4445 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4454 with automatic identification means, e.g. barcodes, RFID tags or magnetic strips
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/022 in a liquid state D06F39/024 takes precedence

Abstract

A modular fluid dispensing system is configured to dispense at least one fluid to a machine having an aperture therein. The modular fluid dispensing system comprises a module configured to be removably engaged with the aperture. The module comprises at least one receiving chamber configured to receive at least one container. The at least one container is configured to receive the at least one fluid. The module comprises at least one engagement key configured to be engaged with a receiver portion of the aperture and a fluid extracting element defines a passage therethrough. The fluid extracting element is configured to engage a portion of the at least one container to withdraw a portion of the at least one fluid from the at least one container into the passage.

Claims

1. A modular fluid dispensing system configured to dispense at least one fluid to a machine wherein the machine comprises an aperture therein, the modular fluid dispensing system comprising:

a module configured to be removably engaged with the aperture of the machine, wherein the module comprises;

at least one receiving chamber configured to receive at least one container, the at least one container configured to receive the at least one fluid;

at least one engagement key configured to be engaged with a receiver portion of the aperture; and

a fluid extracting element defining a passage therethrough, wherein the fluid extracting element is configured to engage a portion of the at least one container to withdraw a portion of the at least one fluid from the at least one container into the passage and to the machine.

2. The modular fluid dispensing system of claim 1 comprising a selectable fluid dosing system positioned on one of the at least one container and the module.

3. The modular fluid dispensing system of claim 2 wherein the selectable fluid dosing system comprises at least one exposable member, wherein the at least one exposable member is exposed to a portion of the modular fluid dispensing system to instruct the fluid extracting element to withdraw a first dose of the at least one fluid from the at least one container.

4. The modular fluid dispensing system of claim 1 comprising a fluid level detection system configured to detect the level of the at least one fluid within the at least one container.

5. The modular fluid dispensing system of claim 1 comprising a container authentication system configured to authenticate the at least one container.

6. The modular fluid dispensing system of claim 5 comprising a fluid level detection system configured to detect the level of the at least one fluid within the at least one container, wherein the fluid level detection system is configured to interact with the container authentication system to determine if the at least one container is authentic.

7. The modular fluid dispensing system of claim 5 wherein at least one container comprises a readable tag configured to be read by the container authentication system.

8. The modular fluid dispensing system of claim 1 wherein the at least one receiving chamber comprises:

a first receiving space;

a second receiving space; and

wherein the at least one container comprises;

a first container configured to receive a first fluid and be positioned within the first receiving space; and

a second container configured to receive a second fluid and be positioned within the second receiving space.

9. The modular fluid dispensing system of claim 8 wherein the first container comprises a first engagement key, wherein the second container comprises a second engagement key, and wherein the first engagement key is different than the second engagement key.

10. The modular fluid dispensing system of claim 1 comprising:

a longitudinally oriented slot on a side wall of the aperture; and

a longitudinally oriented projection on the module, wherein the longitudinally oriented projection is configured to be at least partially engaged with the longitudinally oriented slot when the module is positioned within the aperture.

11. A modular fluid dispensing system for a machine, comprising:

a removable module comprising a receiving chamber for receiving at least one container configured to contain a fluid, the removable module comprising;

a container authentication system configured to interact with an authentication portion of the at least one container; and

a fluid dosing system interface configured to interact with a selectable fluid dosing system located on the at least one container.

12. The modular fluid dispensing system of claim 11 comprising at least one tube configured to withdraw the fluid from the container.

13. The modular fluid dispensing system of claim 11 wherein the container authentication system is configured to authenticate the at least one container and activate at least one of the modular fluid dispensing system and the appliance.

14. The modular fluid dispensing system of claim 11 wherein the fluid dosing system interface is configured to instruct the modular fluid dispensing system to withdraw one of a first fluid dose and a second fluid dose from the at least one container based on a setting of the selectable fluid dosing system of the at least one container.

15. A container configured to be used with a fluid dispensing system for a machine wherein the container is configured to contain a fluid such that the fluid can be provided to the fluid dispensing system, the container comprising:

a selectable fluid dosing system comprising at least one user activation member, wherein the fluid dispensing system extracts a first dose amount of the fluid when the user activation member is in a first position, and wherein the fluid dispensing system extracts a second dose amount of the fluid when the user activation member is in a second position.

16. The container of claim 15 wherein the selectable fluid dosing system comprises:

a first exposable member, wherein when the first exposable member is exposed to an interface of the fluid dispensing system, the fluid dispensing system is configured to withdraw the first dose amount of the fluid from the container; and

a second exposable member, wherein when the second exposable member is exposed to the interface of the fluid dispensing system, the fluid dispensing system is configured to withdraw a second dose amount of the fluid from the container and wherein the first dose amount is different than the second dose amount.

17. The container of claim 15 comprising an authentication portion configured to interact with a container authentication system to authenticate the container.

18. The container of claim 15 wherein said selectable fluid dosing system comprises at least one exposable member which is at least partially obscured by a cover wherein said cover is a rotatable cover, a peelable cover, a slide, or a combination thereof.

19. An appliance, comprising:

a modular fluid dispensing system configured to dispense at least one fluid from at least one container to the appliance, the modular fluid dispensing system comprising;

a module comprising a receiving chamber configured to receive the at least one container;

a fluid extracting element configured to withdraw the at least one fluid from the at least one container;

a container authentication system configured to interact with an authentication portion of the at least one container; and

a fluid dosing system interface configured to interact with a selectable fluid dosing system of the at least one container.

20. A method of using a modular fluid dispensing system, wherein the modular fluid dispensing system comprises a module configured to receive a first container containing a first fluid and a second container containing a second fluid, the method comprising:

selecting a first fluid dose amount to be provided by the first container to a machine;

inserting the first container into the module;

selecting a second fluid dose amount to be provided by the second container to the machine;

inserting the second container into the module;

withdrawing the first fluid dose amount from the first container at a first instance during an operating cycle of the machine; and

withdrawing the second fluid dose amount from the second container at a second instance during the operating cycle of the machine.