Detergent container

• US 5,086,952 A
• Filed: 09/12/1988
• Issued: 02/11/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Diverseylever Incorporated (Unilever PLC)
• Original Assignee: Diversey Limited (Sealed Air)
• Inventors: Kryk, Lewis R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hajec, Donald T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huson, Gregory L.
• Application Number:
  US07/242,914
• Time in Patent Office: 1,247 Days
• Field of Search: 222/565, 222/465.1, 222/189, 222/325, 222/652, 239/310, 206/219, 206/424.5, 422/264, 422/278, 422/267
• US Class Current: 422/264
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4436 in the form of a detergent solution made by gradually dissolving a powder detergent cake or a solid detergent block
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 21/22 using additional holders in conduits, containers or pools for keeping the solid material in place, e.g. supports or receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 23/003 Suspension means

Abstract

This new detergent delivery system involves the formation of a detergent solution from a solid detergent material. The system comprises a container for holding the detergent pellets, and a lid. The container includes a hollow body portion, a base portion, and a passageway. The container has a handle which is pivotally attached to the hollow body portion. The base portion of the container has a recess molded therein, and tabs for retentively engaging the handle in a nested position when the handle is not in use. The lid retentively and disengageably fits securely with a coupling means of the passageway. The lid includes means for retentively and disengageably fitting securely within the passageway of the container. An integral grid is formed within the lid, the grid having a plurality of apertures forming a pattern therein. The grid is divided into four quadrants, and the pattern on each quadrant is similar.

Claims

1. A detergent delivery system whereby a detergent solution is formed from dissolving a detergent material with a liquid, the system comprising:

a container for holding the detergent material, the container having a hollow body portion, a passageway, and a base portion, the base portion having rotatable means for grasping the container when the container is disposed in an inverted position; and

a lid fitting retentively and securely within the passageway of the hollow body portion, the lid having an integral grid, the grid being divided into quadrants, each quadrant of the grid having a plurality of first apertures and a plurality of second apertures, the size of the second apertures being different from the size of the first apertures, the first apertures and the second apertures cooperating to form a pattern in each quadrant, the pattern in each quadrant being substantially identical to the pattern in each of the other quadrants, the first apertures and the second apertures enabling a detergent solvent solution to pass therethrough and dissolve the detergent material into a detergent solution.

2. The detergent delivery system of claim 1, wherein the detergent material is in the form of pellets, and the size of some of the pellets is larger than some of the apertures.

3. The detergent delivery system of claim 1, wherein the grasping means is a handle, and the means for grasping is pivotally attached to the base portion.

4. The detergent delivery system of claim 1, wherein the base portion has a recess molded therein.

5. The detergent delivery system of claim 4, wherein tabs are disposed in the base portion of the container, the tabs retentively engaging the means for grasping in a nested position when the handle is not in use, the tabs being disposed within the recess.

6. A container comprising:

a hollow body portion, a base portion, and a passageway, and the container having means for grasping the container in an inverted position, the passageway being opposed to the base portion, the passageway having a coupling means, and the container having a lid which retentively and disengagably fits securely with the coupling means of the passageway, the lid having a grid formed thereon, the grid having a plurality of first and second apertures forming a pattern therein, wherein a first cluster of the first apertures are disposed proximate to the center of the grid, the first cluster of first apertures being surrounded by a first cluster of the second apertures, the first cluster of the second apertures being more distant from the center of the grid than the cluster of first apertures, and thereafter successive clusters of first apertures and successive clusters of second apertures, each successive cluster of apertures alternating between first apertures and second apertures, and each successive cluster being more distant from the center of the grid than the preceding cluster.

7. The container of claim 6, further comprising a tapered neck portion which is an integral part of the hollow body portion, the neck portion terminating into the passageway, the neck portion being disposed between the hollow body portion and the passageway, and the cross-sectional area of the neck portion being less than the cross-sectional are of the body portion.

8. The container of claim 6, wherein the grasping means is a handle, and the handle being pivotally attached to the hollow body portion.

9. The container of claim 6, wherein the base portion has a recess molded therein.

10. The container of claim 6, wherein the base portion of the container has tabs for retentively engaging the handle in a nested position when not in use, the tabs being disposed within the recess.

11. The container of claim 6, further comprising means for covering and sealing the passageway.

12. The container of claim 11, further comprising a cover which may be secured to the sealing means.

13. The container of claim 6, wherein the first apertures are larger than the second apertures.

14. The container of claim 6, wherein the first apertures are symmetrically dispersed about the grid.

15. The container of claim 6, wherein the grid is divided into quadrants, the plurality of apertures within each grid forming a pattern, and wherein each quadrant has a generally checkerboard configuration in that the first apertures are alternated between the clusters of second apertures.

16. The container of claim 15, wherein each quadrant grid pattern is identical.

17. A container comprising:

a hollow body portion, a base portion, and a passageway, a handle being pivotally attached to the base portion, a recess being molded into the base portion, tabs being disposed within the recess for retentively engaging the handle in a nested position when the handle is not in use, the handle capable of supporting the container when the container is suspended in an inverted position, the passageway being opposed to the base portion, the passageway having a coupling means, and the container having a lid which retentively and disengagably fits securely with the coupling means of the passageway, the lid having a grid formed thereon, the grid having a plurality of first and second apertures forming a pattern therein, the first apertures being larger than the second apertures, the apertures being symmetrically disposed about the grid.

18. The container of claim 17, wherein a first cluster of the first apertures are disposed proximate to the center of the grid, the first cluster of firsts apertures being surrounded by a first cluster of the second apertures, the first cluster of the second apertures being more distant from the center of the grid than the cluster of first apertures, and thereafter successive clusters of first apertures and successive clusters of second apertures, each succussive cluster of apertures alternating between the first apertures and second apertures, and each successive cluster being more distant from the center of the grid than the preceding cluster.

19. The container of claim 18, further comprising means for covering and sealing the passageway.

20. The container of claim 19, wherein the sealing means comprises a cover.

21. The container of claim 19, wherein the grid is divided into quadrants, the plurality of apertures within each grid forming a pattern, and wherein each quadrant has a generally checkerboard configuration in that the first apertures are alternated between the clusters of second apertures.

22. The container of claim 21, wherein each quadrant grid pattern is identical.

23. A container lid which comprises:

means for retentively and disengagably fitting securely within a passageway in a container; and

an integral grid formed on the lid, the grid having a plurality of first and second apertures forming a pattern therein, a first cluster of the first apertures are disposed proximate to the center of the grid, the first cluster of first apertures being surrounded by a first cluster of the second apertures, the first cluster of the second apertures being more distant from the center of the grid than the cluster of first apertures, and thereafter successive clusters of first apertures being alternated with successive clusters of second apertures, and each successive cluster being more distant from the center of the grid than the preceding cluster.

24. The container lid of claim 23, wherein the first apertures are larger than the second apertures.

25. The container lid of claim 23, wherein the first apertures and the second apertures have the same general shape.

27. The container lid of claim 25, wherein the shape of the apertures is essentially square.

28. The container lid of claim 23, wherein the grid is divided into quadrants, the plurality of apertures within each grid forming a pattern, and wherein each quadrant has a generally checkerboard configuration in that the clusters of first apertures are alternated with the clusters of second apertures.

29. The container lid of claim 28, wherein each quadrant grid pattern is identical.

30. The container lid of claim 28, wherein each of the quadrants contains a first aperture nearest the center of the grid, the first apertures being larger than the second apertures.

31. The container lid of claim 23, wherein the perimeter of each second aperture is about one-fourth of the perimeter of each first aperture.

26. The container lid of cliam 23, wherein the first apertures are evenly dispersed throughout the pattern.

32. A container lid which comprises:

means for retentively and disengagably fitting securely within a passageway of the container; and

an integral grid formed on the lid, the grid having a plurality of first and second apertures forming a pattern therein, the first apertures being larger than the second apertures, the grid having four quadrants, the pattern on each of the quadrants being similar, the first apertures being dispersed evenly about each quadrant, the second apertures forming clusters which surround each of the first apertures, each quadrant having a generally checkerboard configuration in that the clusters of first apertures are alternated with the clusters of second apertures, wherein a first aperture is disposed proximate to the center of the quadrant.

33. The container lid of claim 32, wherein the first cluster of first apertures are surrounded by a first cluster of the second apertures, the first cluster of the second apertures are more distant from the center of the grid than the cluster of first apertures, and thereafter the grid having successive clusters of first apertures and successive clusters of second apertures, each successive cluster of apertures alternating between first apertures and second apertures, and each successive cluster being more distant from the center of the grid than the preceding cluster.

34. The container lid of claim 32, wherein the first aperture and the second apertures have the same general shape.

35. The container lid of claim 34, wherein the shape of the apertures is essentially square.

36. The container lid of claim 32, wherein each quadrant grid pattern is identical.

37. The container lid of claim 32, wherein the perimeter of each second aperture is about one-fourth of the perimeter of each first aperture.