Device status indicator for a multi-dosing detergent delivery device

• US 8,146,609 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2007
• Issued: 04/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Reckitt Benckiser N.V. (Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Reckitt Benckiser N.V. (Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC)
• Inventors: Gibis, Karl-Ludwig, Housmekerides, Chris Efstathios
• Primary Examiner(s): Stinson, Frankie L
• Application Number:
  US12/447,058
• Publication Number:
  US 20100071733A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,618 Days
• Field of Search: 68/121.8, 68/17.R, 682/07, 134/113, 134/93
• US Class Current: 134/93
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4445 Detachable devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4463 Multi-dose dispensing arrangements

Abstract

The present invention concerns a multi-dosing detergent delivery device including a status indicator for providing an external indication of the internal status of the device. The indicator comprises a first element (140) internal to a main housing part (100) of the device and whose position is directly related to the status of the device and a second element (120) external of the main housing. The second element (120) and the first element (140) are linked together by means of magnetic attraction. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first element (140) comprises a magnet and the second element (120) comprises a ferro-magnetic sphere, held within a transparent dome (110). The sphere (120) and dome (110) are mounted to the exterior of a main housing of the device and form an isolated sub-housing, while the magnet (140) is provided internally. Motion of the magnet (140) is translated to motion of the sphere (120) and a static scale adjacent to the path of movement of the sphere indicates the device status.

Claims

1. A multi-dosing detergent delivery device comprising a status indicator for providing an external indication of the internal status of the device, wherein said status indicator indicates a wash number of the multi-dosing detergent delivery device and which comprises;

a first element internal to a main housing part of said device and whose position is directly related to the status of said device and a second element external of said main housing, wherein;

said second element and said first element are linked together by means of magnetic attraction;

wherein said first element is mounted onto a shaft of the device and the status indicator, said shaft corresponds to a refill holder which forms part of a detergent dispensing mechanism, where the rotational position of the shaft corresponds to the internal status of the device and, the position of the shaft corresponds to how many dosage elements of the multi-dosing detergent delivery device remain or have been used.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said second element is provided within a transparent sub-housing adapted to facilitate a user viewing the position of said second element.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein a static indicator scale is provided aligned with a path of movement of the second element.

4. A device according to claim 2, wherein said first element is mounted onto a shaft of the device and the rotational position of the shaft corresponds directly to the device status.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein a static indicator scale is provided aligned with a path of movement of the second element.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein said indicator is numbered or coloured or otherwise marked so as to correspond with the status of the device.

7. A device according to claim 5, wherein said first element is mounted onto a shaft of the device and the rotational position of the shaft corresponds directly to the device status.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein said first element comprises a magnet and said second element comprises a ferro-magnetic material.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein said second element is a sphere.