Patent ID: 6877640

Claim:
The device for dispensing a predetermined volume of fluent material to a washing machine comprising: a container for storing the fluent material, said container adapted to be removably mounted above and adjacent the washing machine; a flexible tube having a proximal end, a distal end and a central portion between said proximal and distal ends, said proximal end is removably connected to said container for conveying the fluent material from said container to the washing machine; and at least two control valves along said flexible tube for selectively interrupting the conveyance of the fluent material, at least one of said control valves is located at said central portion of said flexible tube and at least another one of said control valves is located at said distal end of said flexible tube, with the length of tubing between said two control valves defining an intermediate portion of said flexible tube having the predetermined volume; wherein each of said control valves comprising: a body having a slot and an opening; an actuating handle slidably engaged in said slot and sandwiched between said body for opening and closing said valve, said handle having an enlarged end and an opening adjacent said enlarged end; means for biasing said handle with said valve in a closed position to prevent flow of said fluent material such that said opening of said handle is at least partially outside said slot of said body, wherein said valve is opened when said opening of said body and said opening of said handle are in alignment.