Cartridge system for dispensing substances into a washing machine
First Claim
1. A cartridge system for dispensing a substance into a washing machine comprising:
- at least one cartridge, where the at least one cartridge comprises;
six sides that define an inner space, a handle, a barcode, a vent, a delivery tube adapter, and a delivery tube,where the delivery tube adapter mates with the delivery tube, where a substance is contained within the inner space of the cartridge, where the substance may flow through the delivery tube, where the substance that flows through the delivery tube is inserted into a washing machine,where each barcode can contain three or more pieces data, where the three or more pieces of data relate to an identity of the substance, a delivery time which is the time during a washing machine cycle that the substance is to be delivered, and a delivery amount which is the amount of substance to be delivered.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A cartridge system for dispensing substances into a washing machine is disclosed. One or more preferably different sized or shaped cartridges are located within removable drawers contained in a washing machine. Each cartridge contains a particular substance, such as laundry detergent, bleach, or fabric softener, that is released into the washing machine. The cartridge system also includes a means to identify the substance contained within the cartridge as well as when and how much of the substance should be released into the washing machine. At the appropriate time, the system dispenses an appropriate amount of substance into the washing machine. A pump pulls the substance out of the container and into the washing basin of a washing machine. Alternatively, a valve is opened and the substance pours into the washing basin due to gravitational forces.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A cartridge system for dispensing a substance into a washing machine comprising:
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at least one cartridge, where the at least one cartridge comprises; six sides that define an inner space, a handle, a barcode, a vent, a delivery tube adapter, and a delivery tube, where the delivery tube adapter mates with the delivery tube, where a substance is contained within the inner space of the cartridge, where the substance may flow through the delivery tube, where the substance that flows through the delivery tube is inserted into a washing machine, where each barcode can contain three or more pieces data, where the three or more pieces of data relate to an identity of the substance, a delivery time which is the time during a washing machine cycle that the substance is to be delivered, and a delivery amount which is the amount of substance to be delivered. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of dispensing a substance into a washing machine through a cartridge system, comprising the steps of:
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accepting a cartridge, where the cartridge comprises; six sides that define an inner space, a handle, a barcode, a vent, a delivery tube adapter, and a delivery tube, where the delivery tube adapter mates with the delivery tube, where a substance is contained within the inner space of the cartridge, where the substance may flow through the delivery tube, where the substance that flows through the delivery tube is inserted into a washing machine, where each barcode can contain three or more pieces data, where the three or more pieces of data relate to an identity of the substance, a delivery time which is the time during a washing machine cycle that the substance is to be delivered, and a delivery amount which is the amount of substance to be delivered; scanning the barcode of the cartridge; destroying the barcode of the cartridge such that it cannot be read again; inserting a level indicator through the vent and into the cartridge; and dispensing a substance contained within the cartridge into a washing machine; whereby data collected from scanning the barcode is used to determine the volume and timing of dispensing the substance contained within the cartridge into the washing machine. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A cartridge system for dispensing a substance comprising:
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a barcode reader, a level indicator, a cartridge, a second cartridge, a third cartridge, and a dispensing tube, where the cartridge comprises; six sides that define an inner space, a handle, a barcode, a vent, a delivery tube adapter, and a delivery tube, where the delivery tube adapter mates with the delivery tube, where a substance is contained within the inner space of the cartridge, where the substance may flow through the delivery tube, where the substance that flows through the delivery tube is inserted into a washing machine, where each barcode can contain three or more pieces data, where the three or more pieces of data relate to an identity of the substance, a delivery time which is the time during a washing machine cycle that the substance is to be delivered, and a delivery amount which is the amount of substance to be delivered; where the barcode reader reads the barcode of the cartridge, where the barcode reader destroys the barcode of the cartridge after the barcode reader has read the barcode, where the level indicator is inserted through the vent and determines the level of a substance remaining within the cartridge, wherein the cartridge further comprises a dispensing adapter, where the dispensing adapter of the cartridge mates with the dispensing tube, whereby a substance contained within the cartridge may flow through the dispensing adapter and through the dispensing tube, where the second cartridge and the third cartridge each comprise a barcode and a vent, where the second cartridge is smaller than the cartridge, where the third cartridge is smaller than the second cartridge, wherein the cartridge, second cartridge, and third cartridge each contain a substance, where the substance of the cartridge is laundry detergent, where the substance of the second cartridge is fabric softener, and where the substance of the third cartridge is bleach.
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Specification