Detergent container with thermo-chromatic level indicator
First Claim
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1. A detergent-containing article of commerce having internal and external surfaces, comprising:
- (a) a container being made of an opaque plastic material, said container having an internal layer and an external layer, both of said layers being made of a plastic material;
(b) a solid chemical within said container, said chemical being a detergent, said container surrounding and in contact with the detergent on all but one surface thereof, said one surface being an eroding surface; and
(c) a thermo-chromatic substance dispersed throughout said external layer of said container, said thermo-chromatic substance being selected so as to exhibit a color change of said external layer at the level of said eroding surface responsive to a warm water spray onto said eroding surface of said chemical and onto said internal surface of said container.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is an indicator (15, 35) for determining the level of contents in an opaque, plastic container (10, 30, 40). The container (10, 30, 40) is filled with a solid chemical (11), such as a detergent. A spray of warm or hot water (19) impinges upon the eroding surface (16) of the solid chemical (11) to produce a chemical solution. The container (10, 30, 40) is provided with a thermo-chromatic strip (15, 35) or thermo-chromatic surface (41) for detecting the level of solid chemical (11) within the plastic capsule (10). A method of manufacturing the dispensing container (10, 30, 40) is also disclosed.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A detergent-containing article of commerce having internal and external surfaces, comprising:
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(a) a container being made of an opaque plastic material, said container having an internal layer and an external layer, both of said layers being made of a plastic material; (b) a solid chemical within said container, said chemical being a detergent, said container surrounding and in contact with the detergent on all but one surface thereof, said one surface being an eroding surface; and (c) a thermo-chromatic substance dispersed throughout said external layer of said container, said thermo-chromatic substance being selected so as to exhibit a color change of said external layer at the level of said eroding surface responsive to a warm water spray onto said eroding surface of said chemical and onto said internal surface of said container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of manufacturing a container which contains a solid block of chemical within an upper portion of said container, said container having at least one internal surface, said solid chemical being a detergent for the washing of dishes, ware, laundry or hard surface, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a first plastic material, approximately ten percent of said first material comprising a thermo-chromatic additive; (b) providing a second plastic material containing no thermo-chromatic additive; (c) combining said first and second plastic materials as outer and inner layers, respectively, in a coextrusion process so as to form a hollow container; and (d) filling said container with the solid chemical, said chemical having an eroding surface, said thermo-chromatic additive being selected so as to exhibit a color change at the level of said eroding surface responsive to a warm water spray. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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Specification