Fabric article treating device comprising more than one housing

• US 7,043,855 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2003
• Issued: 05/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Du Val, Dean Larry, France, Paul Amaat Raymond Gerard, Orr, Michael Joseph, Smith, Christopher Lawrence, Shi, Jichun, Heilman, Laura Lynn, Fanta, Keith David
• Primary Examiner(s): GRAVINI, STEPHEN MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US10/697,685
• Publication Number:
  US 20040134090A1
• Time in Patent Office: 930 Days
• Field of Search: 343/89, 343/90, 345/97, 345/95, 343/43, 343/48
• US Class Current: 34/389
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 5/00 Electrostatic spraying apparatus; Spraying apparatus with means for charging the spray electrically; Apparatus for spraying liquids or other fluent materials by other electric means
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/203 Laundry conditioning arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/30 Drying processes controlling a series of operations in domestic laundry dryers D06F58/32

Abstract

A treating device for use with a fabric article drying appliance. The treating device dispenses a benefit composition into a chamber so as to provide benefits to fabric articles contained within the fabric article drying appliance. The treating device is comprised of at least two housings in communication with one another wherein at least one housing is located in the interior of a fabric article drying appliance and at least one housing is located outside of the fabric article drying appliance.

Claims

1. A fabric article treating device, said fabric article treating device comprising:

a portable apparatus comprising;

a) an unitary interior housing, for location inside of a fabric article drying appliance wherein said interior housing of said portable apparatus includes a nozzle for delivering a benefit composition into the drum of a fabric article drying appliance and wherein said interior housing of said portable apparatus is releasably attachable to the interior of a fabric article drying appliance; and

b) an unitary exterior housing for location outside of a fabric article drying appliance;

wherein said interior housing of said portable apparatus and said exterior housing of said portable apparatus are in communication with one another and wherein a reservoir is contained within said exterior housing of said portable apparatus, within said interior housing of said portable apparatus, or a combination thereof.

2. The fabric article treating device of claim 1 wherein said interior housing and said exterior housing are in electrical communication with one another.

3. The fabric article treating device of claim 2 further comprising a power source wherein said power source is located in said exterior housing.

4. The fabric article treating device of claim 1 wherein said interior housing and said exterior housing are in compositional transfer communication.

5. The fabric article treating device of claim 1 wherein said interior housing and said exterior housing are in thermal communication.

6. The fabric article treating device of claim 1 wherein said fabric article drying appliance further comprises a closure structure and wherein said interior housing is located between the interior and exterior surfaces of said closure structure.

7. The fabric article treating device of claim 1 further comprising sensitive components wherein said sensitive components comprise components that are sensitive to heat, components sensitive to humidity, or a combination thereof.

8. The fabric article treating device of claim 1 wherein said fabric article treating device is mechanically or electrically activated.

9. The fabric article treating device of claim 1 further comprising a benefit composition wherein said benefit composition is electrically charged.

10. The fabric article treating device of claim 1 further comprising sensors.

11. A fabric article treating device, said fabric article treating device comprising:

a portable apparatus comprising;

a) an unitary interior housing, for location inside of a fabric article drying appliance wherein said interior housing of said portable apparatus includes a nozzle for delivering a benefit composition into the drum of a fabric article drying appliance and wherein said interior housing of said portable apparatus is releasably attachable to the interior of a fabric article drying appliance; and

b) an unitary exterior housing for location outside of a fabric article drying appliance;

wherein said interior housing of said portable apparatus and said exterior housing of said portable apparatus are connected to one another so as to be in communication with one another wherein said exterior housing of said portable apparatus includes sensitive components, components used to communicate with a user, or a combination thereof and wherein a reservoir is contained within said exterior housing of said portable apparatus, within said interior housing of said portable apparatus or a combination thereof.

12. The fabric article treating device of claim 11 wherein said interior housing and said exterior housing are connected to one another with a flat cable, a wire, a wire or group of wires encased in a sheath of woven or non-woven material, a conduit, or a combination thereof.

13. The fabric article treating device of claim 11 wherein the connection between said inner housing and said exterior housing comprises a gravitational counter balance.

14. A system for treating fabrics, said system for treating fabrics comprising:

a) a fabric article drying appliance; and

b) a portable fabric article treating device comprising;

i) an unitary interior housing, wherein said interior housing is for location inside of said fabric article drying appliance and wherein said interior housing of said portable fabric article treating device includes a nozzle for delivering a benefit composition into the drum of said fabric article drying appliance and wherein said interior housing of said portable fabric article treating device is releasably attached to the interior of said fabric article drying appliance and;

ii) an unitary exterior housing for location outside of said fabric article drying appliance;

wherein said interior housing of said portable fabric article treating device and said exterior housing of said portable fabric article treating device are in communication with one another and wherein a reservoir is contained within said exterior housing of said portable fabric article treating device, within said interior housing of said portable fabric article treating device, or a combination thereof.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said fabric article drying appliance is a clothes dryer.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein said interior housing and said exterior housing are connected to one another with a flat cable, a wire, a wire or group of wires encased in a sheath of woven or non-woven material, a conduit, or a combination thereof.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein said interior housing and said exterior housing are in electrical communication with one another.

18. The system of claim 14 wherein said fabric article drying appliance further comprises controls and wherein said fabric article treating device is operated substantially independent of said controls.

19. A method for treating fabrics said method comprising:

a) providing a fabric article drying appliance;

b) providing a portable fabric article treating device wherein said fabric article treating device is comprised of;

i) an unitary interior housing for location inside of said fabric article drying appliance wherein said interior housing of said portable fabric article treating device includes a nozzle for delivering a benefit composition into the drum of said fabric article drying appliance and wherein said interior housing of said portable fabric article treating device is releasably attachable to the interior of said fabric article drying appliance; and

ii) an unitary exterior housing for location outside of said fabric article drying appliance;

wherein said interior housing of said portable fabric article treating device and said exterior housing of said portable fabric article treating device are in communication with one another and wherein a reservoir is contained within said exterior housing of said portable fabric article treating device, within said interior housing of said fabric article treating device, or a combination thereof;

c) providing a pump within said portable fabric article treating device for moving a benefit composition from said reservoir to said nozzle;

d) attaching said interior housing of said portable fabric article treating device to the interior of said fabric article drying appliance and attaching said exterior housing of said portable fabric article treating device to the exterior of said fabric article drying appliance; and

e) spraying said benefit composition through said nozzle into said fabric article drying appliance.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising subsequent to step e) the step of operating said fabric article drying appliance.

21. The method of claim 19 further comprising applying an electrical charge to said benefit composition prior to step e).