Apparatus for holding and metered dispensing of at least one active composition into a washing machine, a laundry dryer or a dishwashing machine

• US 6,581,800 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2002
• Issued: 06/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Reckitt Benckiser Finish B.V. (Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Reckitt Benckiser N.V. (Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC)
• Inventors: Rodd, Timothy, Harbutt, Richard, Nott, Peter T. M., Fuller, Graham
• Primary Examiner(s): Bomberg, Kenneth
• Application Number:
  US10/053,816
• Publication Number:
  US 20020108969A1
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 222/52, 222/54, 222/651, 222/652, 222/83, 222/83.5, 222/144, 68/120.3
• US Class Current: 222/54
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/44 Devices for adding cleaning agents; Devices for dispensing cleaning agents, rinsing aids or deodorants
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/024 mounted on the agitator or the rotating drum; Free body dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/203 Laundry conditioning arrangements

Abstract

An apparatus for holding and dispensing metered doses of at least one active composition in a washing machine, a dryer or a dishwasher has at least two separate compartments for respectively receiving and dispensing an active composition and an opening mechanism for the compartments, which is operated by means which are activated by conditions prevailing in the inside of the machine. These conditions prevail solely in the course of a washing, drying or dishwashing cycle. The position of the opening mechanism and/or the compartment(s) after emptying of at least one compartment is changed relative to each other, such that the opening mechanism can then open at least one other compartment, when another activation occurs.

Claims

1. An apparatus for holding and dispensing metered doses of at least one active composition into a laundry washing, drying or dishwashing machine, comprising at least two separate compartments (5) for respectively receiving and dispensing at least one active composition, a mechanism (7) for opening the compartments (5), the opening mechanism (7) being operated by means inside the apparatus that are activated by a condition prevailing in an interior of the machine which occurs exclusively during a washing, drying or dishwashing cycle, and means for altering a position of the opening mechanism (7) and/or the compartment(s) (5) relative to one another after at least one of the compartments (5) has been emptied of active composition, such that at least one other of the compartments (5) may be opened by a subsequent activation of the opening mechanism (7).

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for operating the opening mechanism (7) comprises a first bellows (8);

a second bellows (11);

a connecting pipe (10) with a one-way valve (12) which connects the two bellows (8, 11) to one another; and

a hydraulic fluid (9) which is released from the first bellows (8) into the second bellows (11) causing the second bellows to expand, wherein the opening mechanism (7) is connected to the second bellows (11) in such a way that the opening mechanism (7) is raised due to expansion of the second bellows (11), wherein the opening mechanism (7) is so designed that its raising causes at least one of the compartments (5) to open to a degree that the active composition in the compartment is substantially entirely dispensed into the machine; and

further comprising means (14) for enabling the hydraulic fluid (9) gradually to leave the second bellows (11) and a return mechanism (15) connected to the opening mechanism (7) which enables the opening mechanism (7) to be re-positioned as the hydraulic fluid (9) gradually leaves the second bellows (11), such that the opening mechanism (7) is guided into a position where at least one other of the compartments (5) can be opened in a similar manner by the subsequent activation.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the release of hydraulic (9) fluid from the first bellows (8) to the second bellows (11) is operated, directly or indirectly, by rotation of the apparatus with a drum of the machine.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a pivotably secured weight (18) adapted to compress the first bellows (8) as the apparatus is rotated with the drum, thereby causing the hydraulic fluid (9) to be released to the second bellows (11).

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first bellows (8) is adapted to be compressed directly or indirectly by wet or dry laundry in the machine, thereby causing the hydraulic fluid (9) to be released to the second bellows (11).

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for operating the opening mechanism (7) comprises means (20, 21, 22) adapted to alter in form, at least to a certain degree, when a temperature in the machine is increased, such that the opening mechanism (7) is raised, directly or indirectly, until at least one of the compartments (5) has been opened wide enough for the active composition in the compartment to be essentially entirely released into the machine, and wherein the means (20, 21, 22) is adapted to undergo a reverse change of form, at least to a certain degree, on cooling, such that the opening mechanism (7) is guided into a position where at least one other of the compartments (5) can be opened in a similar manner by the subsequent activation.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the means adapted to alter in form comprises a rigid compartment (20) with a material (21) disposed therein which expands as the temperature increases and shrinks on cooling.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the material (21) comprises a wax.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the means adapted to alter in form further comprises a flexible diaphragm (22), which responds to the expansion of the material (21), thereby raising the opening mechanism (7).

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the means adapted to alter in form comprises a bimetallic strip, which bends when the temperature increases and returns to shape on cooling.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for altering a position comprises a key groove (16) and a nose (17) co-operating therewith to guide the opening mechanism (7) into a new position.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the opening mechanism (7) has at least one blade or a tongue (13) for opening the compartments.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus is firmly but detachably secured in an interior of the machine.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus has a cartridge (4) containing four to fifteen of the compartments (5).

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the cartridge (4) contains ten of the compartments (5).

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the compartments (5) are laid out in a circular arrangement in the cartridge (4).