Remote powder detergent dispenser
First Claim
1. A remote powdered detergent dispenser of the type which produces a concentrated detergent solution from powdered detergent within a container for supplying a remotely located washing machine therewith, comprising:
- (a) a chassis defining a reservoir, said chassis having an upper inlet port opening into said reservoir;
(b) a continuous curved screen member overlying and completely covering said inlet port, said curved screen member being shaped to present a downwardly facing concave surface with respect to the underlying reservoir and having a mesh sized to prevent powdered detergent from passing therethrough;
(c) means for positioning and for holding a powdered detergent bearing container in an inverted position in overlying engagment with said curved screen member such that said screen member projects into the mouth of the container and is convexly disposed relative to the inside of the container for supportingly engaging the powdered detergent in the container;
(d) seal means cooperatively engaging the container and said chassis for forming a leakproof seal therebetween when the container is in operative position overlying the inlet port to said reservoir;
(e) spray means for converting the powdered detergent to a detergent solution, comprising;
(i) a single nozzle mounted at said inlet port to said reservoir and disposed generally below the center of said curved screen member for directing a uniform spray at substantially the entire downwardly facing concave surface of said screen member to dissolve that portion of the powdered detergent being carried immediately above said screen, whereby the dissolved detergent passes in solution through the screen and is collected by said underlying reservoir; and
(ii) a pump connecting said reservoir and said nozzle, operative when energized to generate said spray by forcing solution from the reservoir through said nozzle;
(f) spray control means operatively connected with said spray means for selectively energizing said pump so as to maintain within said reservoir a predetermined volume of said detergent solution; and
(g) safety control means for selectively blocking energization of said pump, said safety control means being operative to prevent the spray of said solution through said nozzle whenever the container is not operatively positioned over said inlet port.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for converting powdered detergent in a shipping container into a concentrated detergent solution and for maintaining a predetermined volume of the solution available for use by a remotely located washing apparatus. A chassis defines a reservoir suitable for holding concentrated detergent solution and has an inlet port opening into the reservoir. A curved screen member is continuously mounted across and extends into the open mouth end of a detergent-filled container. A cradle assembly pivotally positions the container and screen in inverted position over the inlet port to the reservoir such that the curved screen retainably supports the detergent within the container. A single nozzle is mounted at the inlet port for uniformly directing a spray of solution from the reservoir against substantially the entire downwardly facing surface of the screen, dissolving a portion of the detergent carried thereby, which passes in solution through the screen and into the underlying reservoir. Automatic safety control apparatus protects operators of the system from hazardous spray of solution from the nozzle by preventing energization of the pump which feeds solution to the nozzle whenever the container is not operatively positioned overlying the inlet port and in locked sealing engagement with the chassis.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A remote powdered detergent dispenser of the type which produces a concentrated detergent solution from powdered detergent within a container for supplying a remotely located washing machine therewith, comprising:
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(a) a chassis defining a reservoir, said chassis having an upper inlet port opening into said reservoir; (b) a continuous curved screen member overlying and completely covering said inlet port, said curved screen member being shaped to present a downwardly facing concave surface with respect to the underlying reservoir and having a mesh sized to prevent powdered detergent from passing therethrough; (c) means for positioning and for holding a powdered detergent bearing container in an inverted position in overlying engagment with said curved screen member such that said screen member projects into the mouth of the container and is convexly disposed relative to the inside of the container for supportingly engaging the powdered detergent in the container; (d) seal means cooperatively engaging the container and said chassis for forming a leakproof seal therebetween when the container is in operative position overlying the inlet port to said reservoir; (e) spray means for converting the powdered detergent to a detergent solution, comprising; (i) a single nozzle mounted at said inlet port to said reservoir and disposed generally below the center of said curved screen member for directing a uniform spray at substantially the entire downwardly facing concave surface of said screen member to dissolve that portion of the powdered detergent being carried immediately above said screen, whereby the dissolved detergent passes in solution through the screen and is collected by said underlying reservoir; and (ii) a pump connecting said reservoir and said nozzle, operative when energized to generate said spray by forcing solution from the reservoir through said nozzle; (f) spray control means operatively connected with said spray means for selectively energizing said pump so as to maintain within said reservoir a predetermined volume of said detergent solution; and (g) safety control means for selectively blocking energization of said pump, said safety control means being operative to prevent the spray of said solution through said nozzle whenever the container is not operatively positioned over said inlet port. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. In combination with powdered detergent dispenser apparatus of the type having a chassis defining a reservoir for collecting a supply of concentrated detergent solution to be drawn for use by remote equipment;
- a container for powdered detergent having an open mouth and operatively disposed in inverted manner with its mouth overlying the reservoir;
a curved screen member mounted to continuously extend across the container mouth for supporting powdered detergent in the container overlying the reservoir and defining a downwardly facing curved surface;
spray means disposed below the curved screen member suitable for forming a spray from received fluid flow and for directing the spray at substantially the entire downwardly facing surface of the screen member, thus dissolving a portion of the powdered detergent carried thereby, which passes in solution through the screen and is collected within the reservoir;
the improvement being characterized by improved control means operatively connected for selectively controlling the spray of fluid by said spray means, comprising;(a) first fluid control means for periodically supplying said spray means with a flow of solution from the reservoir for causing a low-pressure spray to be formed therefrom which is directed against the downwardly facing surface of the curved screen member, for maintaining the detergent concentration level of the solution in the reservoir within a predetermined range; and (b) safety control means responsive to positioning of the container relative to said underlying spray means for preventing spray of said solution from the spray means whenever the container is not positioned so as to completely intercept the produced solution spray. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
- a container for powdered detergent having an open mouth and operatively disposed in inverted manner with its mouth overlying the reservoir;
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19. Apparatus for preparing a concentrated detergent solution, comprising:
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(a) a container suitable for carrying a powdered detergent and having a downwardly facing substantially completely open end; (b) a curved screen member mounted to said container at its open end and projecting inwardly from the open end in the direction toward the detergent carrying portion of the container, said screen member having a mesh continuously extending across said open end and sized to prevent the powdered detergent carried within the container from passing therethrough; (c) a reservoir suitable for holding a detergent solution disposed below said container and having an inlet port aligned with the open end of said container; (d) a single spray-forming nozzle mounted at the inlet port of said reservoir for forming a spray of fluid passing therethrough and for directing the spray on substantially the entire downwardly facing concave surface of said screen member to dissolve that portion of the powdered detergent lying on and immediately adjacent the screen member into a detergent solution which passes through the screen into the underlying reservoir; (e) controlled supply means for periodically directing solution from said reservoir through said nozzle to maintain a supply of detergent solution within said reservoir for use by remote apparatus, said supply means being operable to maintain the concentration level of said solution in said reservoir within a predetermined range; and (f) safety control means connected with said controlled supply means for sensing the position of said container relative to said inlet port and for automatically preventing said solution from passing through said nozzle when said container is not positioned in overlying relationship with said nozzle so as to completely intercept spray emanating therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. Apparatus for withdrawing as a concentrated detergent solution, powdered detergent from a substantially completely open end of a container holding such detergent, comprising:
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(a) a chassis defining a reservoir for a detergent solution, said chassis having an upper inlet port opening into said reservoir; (b) container receptor means having a retaining base for matingly accepting the open end of the container, a curved screen member sized to extend across the retaining base for entirely covering the open end of a container matingly engaged with said retaining base and having a mesh sized for preventing powdered detergent from passing therethrough, and means for securing the retaining base and screen members to a container at its open end; (c) means for rapidly positioning said receptor means and affixed container in cooperative engagement with said chassis at its said inlet port such that said retaining base of said receptor means is aligned with said inlet port, forming a continuum between the reservoir and the inside of the container affixed to said receptor means; (d) spray means for periodically directing a spray of solution from said reservoir at substantially the entire downwardly facing surface of said screen member for hydrating a portion of the powdered detergent carried thereby which passes in solution through the screen member and into the underlying reservoir; and (e) safety control means responsive to said positioning means for preventing spray of solution from said spray means whenever said receptor means and affixed container are not operatively positioned in inverted manner overlying said inlet port of said reservoir.
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Specification