Abstract:
The disclosure relates to a device for dispensing material such as detergent powder or the like from a material container ( 2 ), the device comprising a dispensing chamber ( 16 ) arrangeable on the material container, the dispensing chamber comprising: 
     an open distal end ( 20 ) wherethrough powder is introducible into the device from the material container, 
     a proximal end ( 22 ) provided with one or more material release openings ( 42 ), wherethrough material is dispensable from the device, 
     a cover ( 18 ) mounted over the proximal end of the dispensing chamber, said cover provided with one or more material release openings ( 54 ), and 
     displaceable securing means ( 74;55 ) for displaceably securing the cover to the dosing chamber in such a way that the cover and chamber are mutually displaceable between a dispensing arrangement, wherein the dispensing chamber openings ( 42 ) are alignable with the cover openings ( 54 ), and a non-dispensing arrangement, wherein the dispensing arranging openings are non-alignable with the cover openings.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a dispensing device for dispensing material, such as detergent powder or the like from a container, to an assembly comprising such a device and to a method for dispensing material such as powder detergent. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A variable quantity dispensing device for granular material is known for example from the U.S. Pat. No. 4,560,092. An object of the present invention is to provide an alternative dispensing device, in particular for dispensing powder detergent from a container. 
     DEFINITION OF THE INVENTION 
     According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a device for dispensing material such as detergent powder or the like from a material container, said device comprising a dispensing chamber arrangeable on the material container, said dispensing chamber comprising: 
     an open distal end wherethrough powder is introducible into the device from the material container, 
     a proximal end provided with one or more material release openings, wherethrough powder is dispensable from the device, 
     a cover mounted over the proximal end of the dispensing chamber, said cover provided with one or more material release openings, and 
     displaceable securing means for displaceably securing the cover to the dosing chamber in such a way that the cover and chamber are mutually displaceable between a dispensing arrangement, wherein the dispensing chamber openings are alignable with the cover openings, and a non-dispensing arrangement, wherein the dispensing arranging openings are non-alignable with the cover openings. 
     According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided an assembly comprising this dispensing device and a material receptacle, for powder detergent or the like, said receptacle being couplable with the cover for receiving dispensed material. 
     Preferably, the assembly of the present invention further comprises a material container to which the dispensing device is releasably attachable. 
     According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for dispensing material, such as powder detergent or the like, using an assembly or device according to the invention, said method comprising the steps of manually, rotatably displacing the cover around the dispensing chamber in order to align the cover and dispensing chamber openings wherethrough material is dispensed into the receptacle, until the material reaches a predetermined level in the receptacle, at which level further dispensing of material from the device is prevented. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Desirably the device according to the present invention comprises displacement limiting means for limiting the mutual displacement of the cover and the chamber from the non-dispensing arrangement to the dispensing arrangement. These displacement limiting means effectively comprise one or more baffle-like elements arranged on the inside wall of the cover and one or more corresponding baffle-like elements arranged on the outer wall of the dispensing chamber. 
     Furthermore, the device of the invention preferably comprises automatic re-positioning means for automatically repositioning the cover and chamber in the non-dispensing arrangement from the dispensing arrangement. These re-positioning means effectively comprise a spring arrangeable between a rest state, wherein the device occupies its non-dispensing arrangement, and a tensioned state, wherein the device occupies its dispensing arrangement. The spring is preferably mounted on the dispensing chamber. 
     The device of the invention preferably further comprises fixed position spring locking means for fixably locking a first spring end to the device and displaceable spring locking means for displaceably locking a second end of the spring to the device. Effectively, the first spring end is locked to the dispensing chamber, whereas the second spring end is desirably locked to the cover. 
     The tip of the proximal end of the cover effectively comprises a locking opening, which is preferably in the form of a slot, wherein the displaceable securing means are preferably fixably locked. These displaceable securing means desirably rotatably extend through a circular locking opening in a tip of a proximal end of the dispensing chamber. 
     Good results were obtained when the displaceable securing means comprise a post-like member comprising a proximal securing part, extending through the circular locking opening of the chamber to fixably lock in the cover slot and a distal member having a length substantially equal to or greater than the height of the dispensing chamber. In order to secure a good flow of material through the dispensing chamber, the securing post-like member effectively comprises one or more stirring elements arranged thereon for stirring the material when this flows into the device from the material container. 
    
    
     The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the following description and figures, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 shows a perspective, exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the assembly according to the present invention, 
     FIG. 2 shows an exploded side view of the assembly from FIG. 1, 
     FIG. 3 shows an exploded, perspective bottom view of a preferred embodiment of the device according to the present invention, 
     FIG. 4 shows an exploded perspective top view of the device from FIG. 3, and 
     FIG. 5 shows a partially cut away side view of the assembly according to the present invention. 
    
    
     An assembly  1  (FIG. 1) comprises a powder detergent container  2 , a container hanger  4 , a dispensing device  6  attached to a neck of the container  2  and a powder detergent dispensing cup receptacle  8 . 
     The container hanger  4  is provided with an upturned L-shaped channel  10 , wherein a container handle  12  is interlockable. The container hanger  4  can be affixed at an easy to reach height to a wall near a domestic washing machine for example, by means of screws passing through screw holes  14 . 
     The dispensing device  6  consists of a conical dosing chamber  16  and a cover  18  therefor (FIGS.  2 - 5 ). The dosing chamber  16  comprises an open distal end  20 , a proximal end  22  and a middle section  24 . The open distal end  20  comprises an upstanding circular lip section  28 , cooperable with a neck  30  of the container  2 . The distal end  20  narrows successively through the cylinder-like middle part  24  to the truncated nose-like form of the proximal end  22 . 
     A spring  32  is mounted externally on this middle part  24 . A first end of the spring, not shown, is secured to the interior of the chamber  16 . A wire-like section  34  of the spring  32  extends from the spring  32  around the middle part  24  and is curved downwardly around a rigid flap  36  to terminate in a downwardly extending second end  38  (FIGS. 2,  3  and  5 ). 
     This second end  38  of the spring extends into a securing channel  40  arranged on an inner wall of the cover  18  (FIG.  4 ). 
     Three equally spaced apart sloping openings  42  are arranged in the nose of the proximal end  22  of the dispensing chamber  16 . A circular opening  44  is arranged in a flat tip of the nose end  22  (FIGS.  3  and  4 ). 
     The cover  18  comprises an open distal end  46  continuous with an upstanding circular wall  48 , equipped on the exterior thereof with a number of rib sections  50 . A truncated nose section  52  of the cover  18  is provided with three equally spaced apart, sloping material release openings  54  and a tip opening  55  having the form of a slot. 
     Five baffles  56  are arranged on the middle part  24  of the chamber  16  (FIGS. 2,  3  and  5 ). Two cooperating baffles  58  are arranged on the interior of the cover wall  48  (FIG.  4 ). 
     The conical nose end  22  of the dispensing chamber  16  terminates in a downwardly protruding circular profile  61 , extending around the circular opening  44 , which couples around an upstanding internal circular ring  62  of the cover  18  (FIGS.  3  and  4 ). 
     A locking post  64 , preferably extruded from plastic, comprises a stem  66 , whereon a number of stirring branches  68  extend laterally therefrom. In a non shown embodiment, the stirring branches can be arranged on the stem to extend therefrom at angles of roughly 120° to each other, in order to ensure a good flow through the chamber and cover openings. A proximal end  70  of the post  64  is provided with a circular washer-like element  72 , whereunder two securing hooks  74  depend, which hooks  74  are separated by a plate member  76 , which cooperates with a cut away section of the ring  62  (not shown). The stirrers of the securing post, enable bridging, i.e. clumping of the powder, in the neck of the container to be prevented, since this stirs up the powder on its flow from the container to the dispensing device. 
     A cup  8  releasably clicks over the cover  18  by means of a number of reciprocating rib sections  80  (FIG.  3 ), which interlock with the ribs  50  of the cover  18 . 
     The cover  18  is rotateably fixed to the chamber  16  by means of the post  64 . The hooks  74  of the post  64  pass through the circular nose opening  44  of the dosing chamber  16  so that the washer  72  of the post  64  rests against an internal circular rim of the circular chamber opening  44  (FIGS. 4,  5 ). The hooks  74  lock over the edges of the cover slot  55  to rotateably affix the cover  18  to the chamber  16  (FIG.  5 ). 
     The middle part  24  of the dispensing chamber  16  is provided internally with a screw thread  82  which cooperates with a screw thread  84  of the neck  30  of the container  2  to secure the device to said container. When the spring  32  occupies its resting state, as shown in the FIGS. 2-5, the cover openings  54  and the dispensing chamber openings  42  are not aligned, so that any powder in the dispensing chamber is kept therein, by means of closed sections  86  of the truncated nose  52  of the cover  18 , covering the dispensing chamber openings  42 . 
     In use the user merely grips the cup  8  and twists. On doing so the cover  18  and post  64  rotate until the cover openings  54  are aligned with the chamber openings  42 . The dispensing chamber is fixed in position on the container neck. 
     The cover  18  is prevented from further rotation by means of the chamber baffles  56  abutting the cover baffles  58 . In this position the spring  32  is fully expanded, the second end  38  thereof also being displaced along with the cover  18  since this end  38  is held in the cover channel  40 . 
     In this position the dispensing chamber openings and the cover openings are aligned whereby powder flows from the container, bridging being prevented by the stirring branches extending into the neck of the container, into the dispensing device and through the openings thereof and the openings of the cover into the cup. 
     Once the powder has reached the level of the upper wall of the cover openings, the flow of powder into the cup is cut off due to the powder already present in the cup. 
     At this point the user simply releases the cover, whereby this is displaced back into the non-dispensing position, by the spring, reassuming its resting state. In this position, the cover and dispensing chamber openings are non-aligned. The precisely measured contents of the cup can then be added into a washing machine. 
     It will be noted that the device according to the present invention makes repeated dispensing of an accurate, predetermined amount of washing powder very simple and easy, i.e. giving the required amount of powder at each dispensation. The required amount of powder is determined by the volume of the cup, which can vary according to the user&#39;s wishes. 
     Furthermore, the device according to the present invention ensures substantially against spillage and overdosing which in turn leads to a cost effective, and efficient washing. Furthermore, due to the container hanger, the assembly can be fixed to a wall near a household washing machine for example, whereby the powder detergent is always within easy reach, at a specific location. If the assembly is positioned close to the washing machine, kneeling, bending or lifting can be avoided whereby dosing can be carried out at head height, for example, instead of being carried out as is usually the case on the ground, whereby spillage and overdosing are substantially prevented. 
     Once the container is empty, this can be, after removal of the dispenser, replaced by a similar filled container or simply refilled with powder detergent, the dispensing device screwed back onto the neck thereof whereafter the assembly is again ready for use. 
     The invention is not limited to the above description, the requested rights are rather determined by the following claims.