IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DISPENSING OF DETERGENT

Abstract: A dispensing device, particularly for delivery of a detergent or other composition in a washing-machine, of the type comprising a hollow body (1) and a mouth (2) for delivery of the detergent. The device has a number of elongated elements (3a, 3b, 8a, 8b, 6) extending from the wall within the body and designed to prevent or restrict delivery of the detergent in the form of a bolus or gel and to prevent unwanted entry of articles into the device.

Description: IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DISPENSING OF DETERGENT This invention relates to the dispensing of detergent or * other composition from a dispensing device placed in the 5 drum of a washing machine together with the textile articles to be treated. One form of dispensing device which has been proposed for dispensing a detergent composition in powder or liquid 10 form comprises a hollow body having an opening through which the required dose of the composition can be filled into the dispensing device and through which the composition is dispensed as the device is agitated by the rotation of the washing machine drum during the wash 15 cycle. The opening must be large enough to allow the user to continuously fill the device with the detergent composition but this can lead to the composition being dispensed in concentrated form before it becomes diluted with wash liquor entering the device. Depending on the 20 nature of the composition it can also be found that when the composition is contacted by the wash liquor there is a tendency for the composition to form a gel which is then dispensed in one or more pieces. Again depending upon the nature of the composition it can be found that the 25 concentration of the dispensed gel can lead to staining or bleaching of the textile articles being treated. It has been proposed to provide a perforated barrier element across the dispensing opening of the dispensing 30 device but if the user is to fill the device through the barrier element the perforations in the element can be too i large to prevent significant sized portions of gel escaping when in use. 35 Furthermore it can be found that if the opening in the dispensing device is too large some of the textile articles being treated can become entangled in the opening and not be dislodged by subsequent agitation of the drum of the machine. An object of the invention is to provide an improved detergent dispensing device and a process for producing same. A further object is to provide an improved process for treating textile articles in a washing machine. According to the present invention there is provided a dispensing device for dispensing detergent or like composition in a washing machine comprising a hollow body having an opening for filling the device and through which the composition is dispensed characterised in that a plurality of tines are provided within the hollow body having one end attached to the hollow body and extending towards the interior of the hollow body. Because the tines extend into the hollow body any gel that is formed by the composition and the wash liquor becomes entrapped by the tines and agitated or broken up into smaller discrete portions before being released from the tines and then being free to be dispensed through the opening. The tines do not however impede the user filling the device with the composition prior to use. Preferably the tines have free ends which are disposed above the filling level to which the device is filled with the composition to be dispensed. This minimises the risk of a gel being formed within the hollow body such that a volume of gel is above the free ends of the tines and which can become dispensed in a single portion. The tines are preferably attached to the body at a level below the filling level to which the device is filled with the composition to be dispensed. This ensures that any gel is formed around the tines and the gel must therefore be broken up into smaller portions before being released through the opening in the device. The surface of the tines can be smooth but if desired the tines can have an irregular surface to enhance the adhesion of any gel to the tines and thereby further ensure that the gel is only released in small portions. Conveniently a number of the tines can terminate in free ends within the hollow body and adjacent the opening, a free area between the free ends of the tines being smaller than that of the opening. The free ends of the tines thus restrict the effective size of the opening in the device in which textile articles can become entangled but without significantly obscuring the opening to impede the user filling the device with the desired composition. The lengths of the tine can even be such that the free end of one tine interdigitates between two other tines extending from substantially the opposite side of the hollow body to ' completely obscure the opening but again without impairing the ease with which the user can fill the device. The tines can extend from the inner wall of the hollow body in a direction oblique to the plane of the opening. The tines are preferably resilient so that in the event of any textile articles entering the opening of the device to an extent sufficient for the articles to become engaged with the tines the tines will flex and not damage the textile articles. The tines are particularly effective in breaking up any gel that forms within the hollow body if the hollow body is resilient to be deformed by textile articles in the drum and return to its original shape when the deforming force is removed. As the hollow body is deformed the position of one or more of the tines within the hollow body is varied. The tines thus moving within the hollow body effect a stirring action within any gel that has formed. This stirring action tends to break up the gel. Furthermore it causes the gel to mix with further wash liquor which enters the device through the opening, the additional wash liquor helping to break down the gel and allow the composition to be dispensed in less concentrated form. In another aspect the invention also provides a process for treating textile articles in a washing machine with a detergent or like composition contained in a dispensing device, comprising placing the device in the drum of the machine with the textile articles to be treated, the device being freely movable in the drum, and starting the machine characterised in that the detergent or like composition is agitated by a number of elongated elements within the device and is released from elongated elements and discharged through an opening in the device. The invention also provides a process for producing a dispensing device comprising moulding a hollow body having an opening characterised in that the moulding comprises the steps of introducing a male moulding element having a plurality of cavities into a female moulding element, injecting plastics material between the male and female moulding elements to form the hollow body having a plurality of internal tines corresponding to the plurality of cavities on the male element, separating the male and female moulding elements and projecting the hollow body from the male element. The detergent or other composition can be in a powder, liquid or solid form where the solid form may encapsulate the powder or liquid form, in addition may be contained within a sachet or bag which in turn could be soluble or insoluble. The invention will now be described having regard to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a device according to the invention; - Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-section along the line II-II of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a top view of the device of Figure 1; - Figure 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the dispensing device; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the dispensing device; Figures 6,7 and 8 are cross-sectional views illustrating various stages in an injection moulding process for producing the dispensing device, and - Figures 9 to 13 are enlarged cross-sectional views of alternative tine types. As shown in Figure 1, a dispensing device of the invention comprises a hollow body 1 having a general spherical shape with a top delivery mouth 2. The dispensing device comprises a number of tines elongated or elements 3a and 3b, in the form of small bars extending inwards from the side wall of the body into the body, in an oblique direction. As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the elongated elements 3a and 3b comprise a first upper group of bars 3a, arranged angularly spaced, forming a first conical envelope; and a second lower group 3b forming a second envelope. The elements 3a and 3b are also made of flexible material, and are preferably integrated into the wall of the body 1. The elongated elements 3a and 3b carry out a restraining function when the detergent consists of powder, preventing escape as a concentrated mass of paste or a bolus. In addition, these elements have an important agitating function inside the body 1 of the dispensing device and help to prevent unwanted entry of articles into the device. Due to the impacts to which the dispensing device is subjected inside a washing-machine drum, and which cause crushing and deformation of its side wall, the elongated elements 3a, 3b are subjected to movement in various directions, causing the elongated elements to further penetrate the body 1, thus exerting a mixing effect very similar to that of a bar mixer. The penetrative movement of the elongated emements 3a, 3b causes agitation of detergent or other composition within the body. In particular, the elongated elements can destroy any lumps formed by the detergent powder and the washing liquor. The delivery mouth of the dispensing device is defined by a rib 4 and an axial neck 5. The function of the rib 4 will be described in more detail below. The elongated elements 3a and 3b may extend inwards to terminate in proximity to the rib 4 or extend some millimetres beyond the rib 4. In order to allow injection moulding production of the device as an entire body, the points of connection of the elongated elements 3a and 3b to the wall of the body 1 are located in the hemispherical part opposite the mouth 2, and hence (with reference to the figures) below the horizontal plane coinciding with the maximum diameter of the generally spherical body 1. Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of the dispensing device in which the body 1 of the dispensing device comprises a number of teeth-like elongated elements 6 in the form of a baffle extending in a radial inwards direction above the rib 4 and in the same plane as the neck wall 5. The baffles 6 are formed of flexible plastics material integral with the body and serve to restrain detergent powder paste or gel, preventing its escape in the form of a bolus. It is to be understood that the elongated elements 6 in baffle form may also be used in conjunction with the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 3. Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a third embodiment of the dispensing device in which the elongated elements consist of a number of baffles 8a and 8b arranged circumferentially about the spherical body 1. The baffles 8a, 8b are angularly spaced and extend upwards towards the mouth 2 from the base of the dispensing device body 1. A first group of baffles 8a, extending in axial direction or oblique direction, defines a first outer chamber 9, while a second group of concentric baffles 8b defines an inner second and concentric chamber with opening 10. Restraint and agitation of a detergent composition can be further enhanced by incorporating the baffles illustrated in Figure 4 into the present embodiment . The dispensing device mouth is preferably produced by injection moulding in accordance with the steps or phases diagrammatically illustrated in Figures 6, 7 and 8. The figures show two half-moulds 11 and 12 and a male element 13 presenting cavities 14 of a shape complementary to that of the elongated elements to be made. The male mould 13 has a ring groove 15 corresponding to the rib 4 of the dispensing device as previously illustrated. Inside the male mould there is also an axial duct 16 for the supply of air under pressure. The plastics material is injected through a duct 17 in the half-mould 12. The two half-moulds are then opened, as illustrated in Figure 7, and air is fed under pressure through the duct 16. As a result of the air supply under pressure the rib 4 carries out a seal function between the body 1 and the male mould 13 until, as pressure increases, the container body is practically projected out of the male mould 13. The above-indicated process allows construction of an integral 3a, 3b body forming the dispensing device having tines as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 that extend inside the body and tines as illustrated in Figure 4. Figures 9 to 13 show enlarged cross-sectional views of tines having different cross-sectional shapes for use with the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 3. Figure 9 shows a tine having a cross-sectional shape in the form of a five pointed star. An advantage of a tine of this configuration is that a saving in production material can be achieved compared with the substantially round cross- sectional shape of the tines 3a, 3b of Figures 1 to 3. Figure 10 shows a tine having a cross-sectional shape with a toothed edge while Figure 11 shows a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape having an increased baffled effect. Figure 12 shows a tine having a half-moon type cross-sectional shape and Figure 13 shows a tine having a zig-zagged cross-sectional shape. A substantially spherical dispensing device is generally preferred. However, it is to be understood that the body may take on other forms, for example a general circular- cylindrical form. The body of the container is preferably made of soft and flexible plastics material, for example PVC, polyurethane, polypropylene, propylene-ethylene copolymers (e.g. the HIPAX materials marketed by Himont) and various elastomers, but it may also be made of rigid plastics material. For preference the material used has a hardness of less that 100 shore A. The use of a flexible material enables a pumping effect to be obtained in response to the impacts to which the delivery device is subjected during the washing cycle, facilitating delivery of the detergent and improving the exchange between washing liquid and the detergent contained in the dispensing device. It should be understood that, without prejudice to the principle of the discovery, the modes of construction and the implementation details may be widely varied in relation to the foregoing description and illustrations given for purposes of example without any limiting force.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A dispensing device for dispensing detergent or like composition in a washing machine comprising a hollow body (1) having an opening (2) for filling the device and through which the composition is dispensed characterised in that a plurality of tines (3a, 3b, 6, 8a, 8b)are provided within the hollow body having one end attached to the hollow body and extending towards the interior of the hollow body. 2. A dispensing device according to claim 1 in which the tines (3a, 3b, 6, 8a, 8b) have free ends which are disposed above the filling level to which the device is filled with the composition to be dispensed. 3. A dispensing device according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the tines (3a, 3b, 6, 8a, 8b) are attached to the body at a level below the filling level to which the device is filled with the composition to be dispensed. 4. A dispensing device according to any one of the preceding claims in which the tines (3a, 3b, 6, 8a, 8b) have a substantially smooth external surface. 5. A dispensing device according to any one of the preceding claims in which a number of tines (3a, 3b, 6, 8a, 8b) terminate in free ends within the hollow body and adjacent the opening (2), a free area between the free ends of the tines (3a, 3b, 6, 8a, 8b) being smaller than that of the opening (2) . 6. A dispensing device according to claim 5 in which the tines (3a, 3b, b, 8a, 8b) extend in a direction oblique to the plane of the opening (2) . 7. A dispensing device according to any one of the preceding claims in which the tines (3a, 3b, 6, 8a, 8b) are resilient. 8. A dispensing device according to claim 4 in which the hollow body (1) is resilient to be deformed by textile articles in the drum and return to its original shape when the deforming force is removed. 9. A dispensing device, particularly for delivery of a detergent in a washing-machine, of the type comprising a hollow body (1) having a mouth (2) for delivery of the detergent, characterised by the fact that the said hollow body has a number of elongated elements (3a, 3b, 8a, 8b, 6) extending from the wall inside the body and designed to prevent or limit delivery of the detergent in the form of a bolus. 10. A dispensing device according to Claim 9, characterised by the fact that the said elongated elements consist of small bars (3a, 3b) spaced angularly from each other, and extending from the side wall of the body to the central axis of the said body. 11. A dispensing device according to Claim 9 or 10 characterised by the fact that the said elongated elements comprise a number of baffles (6) arranged circumferentially and spaced angularly to each other, extending radially around the mouth of the container. 12. A dispensing device according to Claim 9, characterised by the fact that the said elongated elements comprise a number of baffles (8a, 8b) spaced angularly to each other, and extending from the bottom wall of the body in an axial and oblique direction. 13. A dispensing device according to any one of Claims 9 to 12, in which the said elongated elements are made of flexible plastic material integrated with the body. 14. A dispensing device according to any one of Claims 9 to 13, characterised by the fact that it comprises a rib (4) in proximity of the mouth of the said body. 15. A dispensing device according to Claim 14, characterised by the fact that it comprises a circular neck (5) above the rib (4) . 16. A dispensing device according to any one of Claims 9 to 15, characterised by the fact that the said body is formed of flexible plastics material. 17. A dispensing device according to Claim 16, characterised by the fact that it is formed of flexible plastics material of hardness less that 100 shore A. 18. A dispensing device as according to any one of Claims 9 to 17, characterised by the fact that it can be obtained in its entirety by injection moulding. 19. A process for producing a dispensing device as claimed in claim 1 comprising moulding a hollow body having an opening characterised in that the moulding comprises the steps of introducing a male moulding element having a plurality of cavities into a female moulding element, injecting plastics material between the male and female moulding elements to form the hollow body having a plurality of internal tines corresponding to the plurality of cavities on the male element, separating the male and female moulding elements and projecting the hollow body from the male element . 20. A process for producing a dispensing device, as claimed in claim 19, characterised in that the moulding further comprises the step of forming a seal between the hollow body and the male element and separating the moulded hollow body from the male element under pressure to break the seal and project the moulded hollow body from the male element. 21. A process for treating textile articles in a washing machine with a detergent or like composition contained in a device, comprising placing the device in the drum of the machine with the textile articles to be treated, the device being freely movable in the drum, and starting the machine characterised in that the detergent or like composition is agitated by a number of elongated elements within the device and is released from elongated elements and discharged through an opening in the device.

Inventors: DICIMIA VALERIO APRILE, DICIMIA, VALERIO, APRILE
Applicants: UNILEVER NV, UNILEVER PLC
Application year: 1993
Main classification: D06F39
IPC codes: D06F39