Delivery device
First Claim
1. A delivery device for delivering a dose of washing material into the interior of a washing apparatus, the device comprising:
- a chamber for containing the dose of washing material to be delivered, the chamber being selectively openable or closable for selectively allowing communication between the interior of the chamber and the outside of the device; and
temperature sensitive actuation means constructed and arranged for causing the chamber to be opened from a closed condition at a point or stage in the wash cycle of the apparatus at which a predetermined temperature within the interior of the apparatus is reached, wherein the chamber includes at least one opening for allowing the selective communication between the interior of the chamber and the outside of the device, and the device further includes closure means for selectively closing or opening the at least one opening in the chamber, the opening of the chamber resulting from the actuation means causing the closure means to move from their closed condition to their open condition at the predetermined temperature and wherein the housing is a two part housing, the housing having a lower housing part defining the chamber within which the dose of washing material is contained and from which it is released via apertures in a lower region of the lower housing part, and an upper housing part which is cooperable with the lower housing part, the closure means for the apertures being provided by respective wall portions of the upper housing part, which wall portions close or open the apertures in the lower housing part as the two housing parts move between their relative closed and opened positions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A delivery device for delivering a dose of washing material, especially a detergent tablet, into the interior of a washing apparatus such as a machine dishwasher. In one preferred form, the device comprises:
a chamber for containing the dose of washing material to be delivered, the chamber including at least one opening for allowing communication between the interior of the chamber and the outside of the device;
closure means for selectively closing or opening the at least one opening in the chamber; and
temperature sensitive actuation means constructed and arranged for causing the closure means to move from their closed condition to their open position at a point or stage in the wash cycle of the apparatus at which a predetermined temperature within the interior of the apparatus is reached. The temperature sensitive actuation means preferably comprises a temperature sensitive actuation element, e.g. a bimetallic strip, in combination with a spring which moves the closure means from their closed to their open position when triggered to do so by the actuation element. Alternatively, in other embodiments the temperature sensitive actuation means may comprise simply a memory spring. In the context of an automatic dishwashing machine, triggering of the release of the detergent tablet can be arranged to occur when the temperature inside the machine reaches that indicative of the beginning of a main wash cycle e.g. 35 or 40 to 80° C., following completion of a preceding, cooler, prewash stage.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A delivery device for delivering a dose of washing material into the interior of a washing apparatus, the device comprising:
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a chamber for containing the dose of washing material to be delivered, the chamber being selectively openable or closable for selectively allowing communication between the interior of the chamber and the outside of the device; and temperature sensitive actuation means constructed and arranged for causing the chamber to be opened from a closed condition at a point or stage in the wash cycle of the apparatus at which a predetermined temperature within the interior of the apparatus is reached, wherein the chamber includes at least one opening for allowing the selective communication between the interior of the chamber and the outside of the device, and the device further includes closure means for selectively closing or opening the at least one opening in the chamber, the opening of the chamber resulting from the actuation means causing the closure means to move from their closed condition to their open condition at the predetermined temperature and wherein the housing is a two part housing, the housing having a lower housing part defining the chamber within which the dose of washing material is contained and from which it is released via apertures in a lower region of the lower housing part, and an upper housing part which is cooperable with the lower housing part, the closure means for the apertures being provided by respective wall portions of the upper housing part, which wall portions close or open the apertures in the lower housing part as the two housing parts move between their relative closed and opened positions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A delivery device for delivering a dose of washing material into the interior of a washing apparatus, the device comprising:
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a chamber for containing the dose of washing material to be delivered, the chamber being selectively openable or closable for selectively allowing communication between the interior of the chamber and the outside of the device; and a temperature sensitive memory spring whose shape is dependent upon and varies with temperature, said memory spring being constructed and arranged for causing the chamber to be opened from a closed condition at a point or stage in the wash cycle of the apparatus at which a predetermined temperature within the interior of the apparatus is reached. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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Specification