Display for indicating the depletion of cleaning agents or auxiliary cleaning agents

• US 7,913,639 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2005
• Issued: 03/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Henkel AG & Co KGaA
• Original Assignee: Henkel KGaA (Henkel AG & Co KGaA)
• Inventors: Kessler, Arnd, Düffels, Arno, Canavoi, Jan
• Primary Examiner(s): Barr; Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ko; Jason Y
• Application Number:
  US11/578,095
• Publication Number:
  US 20070283876A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,188 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 116/201
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4293 Arrangements for programme selection, e.g. control panels; Indication of the selected programme, programme progress or other parameters of the programme, e.g. by using display panels

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for indicating the depletion of a cleaning agent or auxiliary cleaning agent introduced into a dishwasher machine for a plurality of washing programs. According to the invention, a display appliance is arranged on or in the dishwasher machine, indicating to the user the depletion of the cleaning agent or auxiliary cleaning agent.

Claims

1. A method for displaying on a dishwasher having a reservoir for holding an amount of a dish cleaning agent or dish cleaning auxiliary for multiple dishwasher cleaning cycles, an electronic display unit fitted in a dishwasher interior or on a dishwasher exterior to display a reservoir refill indicator, a time-dependent controller, and a structure fitted to a movable part of a dishwasher, comprising:

receiving a setting for a duration of time with a time-dependent controller;

after the passing of the duration of time, causing the electronic display unit to display the reservoir refill indicator, which displays the depletion of the cleaning agent or cleaning auxiliary in the reservoir as a function of time, with the controller;

triggering a switching operation for the controller when the movable part having a structure fitted is moved and correlating the switching operation to a count of number of dishwashing cleaning cycles that have been carried out;

detecting the switching operation for the controller;

after a threshold number of switching operations are detected, notwithstanding if the duration of time has passed, causing the display of the reservoir refill indicator, which displays the depletion of the cleaning agent or cleaning auxiliary in the reservoir as a function of a time, with the controller.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the display unit is arranged outside the dishwasher.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein counting the number of dishwashing cleaning cycles is correlated as a function of the number of times a door of the dishwasher is opened.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein counting the number of dishwashing cleaning cycles is correlated as a function of the number of movements of at least one dish rack.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein counting the number of dishwashing cleaning cycles is correlated as a function of the number of times an on/off switch of the dishwasher is switched.

6. A dishwasher detergent or dishwasher auxiliary depletion display device, comprising:

a reservoir being of a size for holding a dish cleaning agent or dish cleaning auxiliary in an amount for multiple dishwasher cleaning cycles;

an electronic display unit fitted in a dishwasher interior or on a dishwasher exterior to display a reservoir refill indicator;

a time-dependent controller configured to receive a setting for a duration of time after the passing of which the controller is configured to cause the electronic display unit to display the reservoir refill indicator, which displays the depletion of the cleaning agent or cleaning auxiliary in the reservoir as a function of time; and

a structure fitted to a movable part of a dishwasher, wherein movement of the movable part triggers a switching operation for the controller that is correlated to a count of the number of dishwashing cleaning cycles that have been carried out, and wherein the controller is configured to cause the electronic display unit to display the reservoir refill indicator, which displays the depletion of the cleaning agent or cleaning auxiliary in the reservoir as a function of time after a threshold number of switching operations is detected, notwithstanding if the duration of time has passed and without visually inspecting the reservoir contents.

7. The display device of claim 6, wherein the structure includes a reed switch, and further comprising a magnet fastened to the movable part of the dishwasher.

8. The display device of claim 6, wherein the movable part is a dish rack.

9. The display device of claim 6, wherein the movable part is an on/off switch of the dishwasher.

10. The display device of claim 6, wherein the movable part is a dishwasher door.

11. The display device of claim 6 wherein the electronic display unit is a liquid-crystal display (LCD).