Apparatus for enhancing the cleaning of laundry

• US 5,682,774 A
• Filed: 02/08/1996
• Issued: 11/04/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Set-High-Tech AG
• Original Assignee: Set-High-Tech AG
• Inventors: Baumgartner, Jesica
• Primary Examiner(s): Coe, Philip R.
• Application Number:
  US08/598,257
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 204/557, 210/695, 210/222, 210/223, 68/235 R, 335/302, 335/303, 335/306
• US Class Current: 68/235.00R
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/48 with magnetic or electric fields C02F1/46 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/22 Eliminating or preventing deposits, scale removal, scale prevention C02F1/042, C02F1/4602, C02F5/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/007 Arrangements of water softeners

Abstract

Two or more permanent magnets (2, 3) are sandwiched between two complimentary plastic plates (1) sealed together and disposed in a protective outer cover (20). The device is placed in the wash water of a laundry machine, where its magnetic field induces eddy currents that soften the water. As an alternative, battery powered circuitry may be provided to generate a radiated electromagnetic field, with a similar cleaning enhancement effect.

Claims

1. A device for enhancing the cleaning of laundry items, comprising:

a) a water-proof housing (1) consisting of essentially electromagnetically neutral material, and

b) means for producing a magnetic field disposed within the housing, the device being adapted to be placed in wash water in a laundry machine,

c) wherein the housing is flared on the outside,

d) wherein the flaring is formed by a basket-shaped protective cover (20) with a plate-like interior, and

e) wherein the housing is constructed flat and plate-like, and is snugly disposed in the plate-like interior.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic field producing means comprises two elongate permanent magnets (2, 3) spaced apart and oriented with opposite polarities.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein the protective cover has an opening (22) for the insertion of the plate-like housing, and elastic flanges (26, 27) are disposed in the area of the opening for holding the housing in the interior of the protective cover.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein sides of the protective cover (20) are formed by open ribs (34, 35, . . . 34'"'"', 35'"'"', . . . ) crossing one another in a honeycomb manner.

3. A device for enhancing the cleaning of laundry items, comprising:

a) a water-proof housing (1) consisting of essentially electromagnetically neutral material, and

b) means for producing a magnetic field disposed within the housing, the device being adapted to be placed in wash water in a laundry machine,

c) wherein the means for producing a magnetic field comprises electronic circuitry for producing electromagnetic waves (12, 13,

     14), and an electrically conducting loop (11) acting as an antenna and connected to an output of said circuitry.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein said circuitry emits electromagnetic impulses with a changing frequency.

5. A device according to claim 3, wherein the conducting loop (11) is a conducting track pressed onto a printed circuit board or directly inside on the housing, and the housing comprises two complementary plate sections sealed together.

7. A device according to claim 3, wherein the means for producing a magnetic field comprises a microcomputer (13) and/or a quartz oscillator.

8. A device according to claim 3, further comprising switch means (15) for connecting and disconnecting a built-in battery to the circuitry, said switch means being activatable from the outside.