Smart dosing device

• US 6,955,067 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2002
• Issued: 10/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Azzani, Jean-Luc, Barron, Bradford Scott, Diamanti, Luca, Davenet, Dorothee Hélène, Smith, Christopher Lawrence, Day, Todd Mitchell
• Primary Examiner(s): Stinson, Frankie L.
• Application Number:
  US10/108,740
• Publication Number:
  US 20030182732A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,300 Days
• Field of Search: 682/35.R, 68/17.R, 682/07, 682/13, 222/52, 222/638
• US Class Current: 68/17.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4454 with automatic identification means, e.g. barcodes, RFID tags or magnetic strips
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4463 Multi-dose dispensing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/16 Washing liquid temperature
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/22 Content of detergent or additives
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/42 Detergent or additive supply
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/58 Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/57 of metering of detergents or additives
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/22 Condition of the washing liquid, e.g. turbidity
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/024 mounted on the agitator or the rotating drum; Free body dispensers

Abstract

A portable, self-contained, device for dosing and/or dispensing at least one product into an appliance for treating laundry or dishes is disclosed. The device includes a housing with at least one compartment for containing at least one product. The compartment(s) can be closed by at least one corresponding cover. The device further includes at least one means for storing and releasing energy, so that the product to be dispensed may be released at one or more predetermined point(s) in time during a wash cycle. In one embodiment, the means may be a battery, such as a rechargeable battery. The device may also include at least one sensor and/or at least one actuator for detecting when the wash conditions are optimal and open at least one of the compartments for releasing a product.

Claims

1. A portable, self-contained, device for dosing and/or dispensing at least one product into an appliance for treating laundry or dishes, said device comprising a housing with at least one compartment for containing said at least one product, said at least one compartment being closed by at least one corresponding cover, and at least one actuator to open the cover of said at least one compartment, wherein said device comprises at least one means for storing energy and releasing it, so that said product is released at one or more predetermined point(s) in time during the wash cycle wherein said actuator comprises a mechanical actuator linked to the cover, said mechanical actuator being manually loaded with mechanical energy when a user presses the cover prior to placing said device into the washing machine, said mechanical energy being stored by locking the mechanical actuator in a loaded position through a locking means, said mechanical energy being released when said locking means is unlocked by an electromechanical actuator powered by the battery.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said mechanical actuator is a metallic coiled spring, said mechanical energy is spring compression energy, said electromechanical actuator is a solenoid, and said locking means is achieved by:

(a) a locking tooth located onto the movable plunger rod, into which (b) a shaft of the solenoid moves in/out to respectively lock/unlock said spring.