Dispenser with enhanced diffusion

• US 5,924,151 A
• Filed: 12/05/1996
• Issued: 07/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
• Original Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
• Inventors: Connan, Patrick Andre
• Primary Examiner(s): Coe, Philip R.
• Application Number:
  US08/761,048
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• Field of Search: 68/17 R, 206/0.5, 222/209, 222/212, 99/287, 426/80, 8/158
• US Class Current: 8/158
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/024 mounted on the agitator or the rotating drum; Free body dispensers

Abstract

This invention relates to a device for providing a dose of a liquid or solid to a larger container. More particularly, this invention relates to a dispensing device for providing a dose of substances, such as solid or liquid detergents or bleaches to a wash tub. This is accomplished by the structure of the doser device which provides for an increase and decrease in the volume of the doser during use. In a preferred embodiment, the structure to increase and decrease the volume of the dispenser is one or more bellows which are a part of the surface of the doser.

Claims

1. A device for the release of at least one active agent into a wash tub on contact with a liquid wash medium comprising:

a hollow body having an inner chamber, a mouth opening, and a neck between the mouth opening and the inner chamber;

means integral with said hollow body, to allow the volume of said hollow body to increase and decrease in a given range upon the application of outside forces, thereby increasing an exchange of liquid between the inner chamber of said hollow body and the liquid wash medium outside said hollow body;

a cover removably attached to said neck and closing said mouth opening;

attaching means on said neck for said cover; and

a plurality of fine apertures on a part of said device whereby liquid wash medium can pass through said apertures into said hollow body to dissolve and dilute substances therein and carry out of said hollow body some of the dissolved and diluted substances, a protecting grid overlaying the plurality of fine apertures, said protective grid of a structure to protect the plurality of fine apertures from direct contact with laundry in the washer and to provide a space for further dilution of the dissolved and diluted substances prior to contact with the laundry in the wash tub.

2. A device as in claim 1, wherein said means to increase and decrease the volume of said hollow body is at least one bellow.

3. A device as in claim 2, wherein there are at least two bellows in said hollow body.

4. A device as in claim 3, wherein said apertures are a fine mesh.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said fine mesh is woven.

6. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said fine mesh is non-woven.

7. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said cover attaches to the neck of said hollow body by an interlocking projecting rib and mating recess arrangement.

8. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said cover is a molded cover.

9. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said protecting grid has open cells.

10. A device as in claim 1, wherein said hollow body has at least one bellow, said at least one bellow extending essentially longitudinally on said hollow body.

11. A device as in claim 1, wherein said hollow body has at least one bellow said at least one bellow extending longitudinally on said hollow body.

12. A device as in claim 1, wherein said hollow body has at least one bellow said at least one bellow extending laterally around said hollow body.

13. A method of washing laundry in a wash tub comprising placing the laundry in a wash tub, placing laundry washing substances into a hollow body that has at least one bellow that allows the hollow body to change in volume and a portion having fine apertures overlayed with a protecting grid and adding water to said tub characterized in that the fine apertures of said hollow body allow wash water to be drawn into said hollow body to dissolve and dilute the substances in the hollow body and to expel dissolved and diluted substances into the wash tub, the laundry not contacting the fine apertures due to the protective grid therefore to further dilute the dissolved and diluted substances that are expelled form the hollow body prior to contact with the laundry.

14. The method as in claim 13 comprising agitating the laundry in the wash tub with the changing weight of the laundry on the hollow body causing the hollow body to flex and draw in and expel wash water.