IE56618B1

IE56618B1 - Device for machine washing with a liquid detergent and method for using the device

Info

Publication number: IE56618B1
Application number: IE987/85A
Authority: IE
Original assignee: Procter & Gamble
Priority date: 1984-04-18
Filing date: 1985-04-17
Publication date: 1991-10-09
Also published as: JPS6133696A; ES285818U; DE3512083C2; DE8509898U1; EP0152359B2; GB8508601D0; AT392299B; ES541851A0; ES285818Y; EP0152359B1; NL8500967A; CA1234296A; IT1218468B; DE3512083A1; GR850935B; GB2157718B; ATA98985A; DE3574602D1; ATE48450T1; IT8520203A0

Abstract

The substantially spherical device incorporates a body (41) and a cover-assembly (42). The latter has vents (47) and can be screwed onto the body (41). In use, with the cover (42) removed, the body (41) is filled through the opening (44) with liquid detergent up to the chosen level A or B. The cover (42) is then fixed and then the device is introduced into the drum of the machine where the linen is already present. During washing, the detergent is gradually distributed outwards by passing through the vents (47). A flat portion (43) opposite opening (44) facilitates filling the device.

Description

The present invention relates fo the field of washing linen in a machine and its subject Is a device designed for employing a process for washing and cleaning linen in a machine, with a liquid detergent, of the type described in FR-A-2 563 250, filed on April 1984 for Process for washing linen in a machine with a liquid detergent and device for its application m in the name of the Applicant Company» The invention thus relates to a device, in general reloadable, which is first i filled with Liquid detergent, and then placed in the drum of the machine with the linen to be washed» The detergent held in the device is distributed gradually into the washing medium and into the linen present in the machine» The abovementioned patent already provides 15 examples illustrating such devices for employing the washing process» In an embodiment, the device incorporates a filling orifice and vents for gradual release of the liquid within the linen which is being washed» The subject of the present invention is an 1a2θ proved device belonging to the general type just described» the invention consequently relates to a device of essentially spherical form for washing laundry in a machine, the said device being designed to be placed in the machine with the laundry and to contain a liquid detergent and to diffuse it in the machine, and having to this end at least one filling orifice and outlets for the gradual release of the liquid within the laundry during washing, the said outlets being disposed in the body of the device or in a cover mounted on the latter, the said device being characterized in that the said filling orifice or orifices are provided in a funnel plunging inside the body of the device, and in that the outlets are distributed on the * periphery of the funnel.

The invention also relates to the following character 1 st 1 cs, considered in isolation or 1n accordance <3 with all their technically possible combinations: - outlets are provided in the top of the funnel; - the end face of the funnel, situated inside the body, 1s closed by a well and the funnel has holes used for filling; = the device has a flat or domed part projecting inside the body ; -the device has, at the top, gripping means in the form of recesses.

An essential characteristic of the present inven 10 tion lies in the general spherical shape of the device» The latter thus has the appearance of a ball» Such a ball is extremely easy to handle and to place in the drum of the washing machine» After having introduced the Linen into the Latter, it is sufficient to place the ball on the linenu During operation, the liquid detergent held in the ball is gradually and uniformly spread in the washing medium» At the end of the washing cycle the ball is perfectly clean and free from both water and Liquid detergent» In effect, no retention of Liquid is found» Without wishing to be bound by any theory, it is thought that this advantageous effect is due to the fact that as the drum rotates the centrifugal force acting on the moving ball results in removal of any liquid which may be present in the latter» The invention will be further illustrated in the following description, with the aid of concrete examples of embodiment» It goes without saying, however, that the invention is not restricted In any way to such exemplary devices» Thus, the diameter and the number of vents de30 pend solely on the viscosity of the Liquid detergent» Surprisingly, it has been found that the use of a device according to the invention afforded a marked improvement in performance during the washing of Linen in a machine» This improvement is very clearly marked in machines having physical Loss systems resulting in detergent losses, as already mentioned in the French Patent referred to earlier» The Improvement Is still appreciable in many cases in machines which do not incorporate such physical loss systems, for example a program system or other, and this by virtue of the fact that the ball which is placed within the Linen provides a measured and gradual delivery of the liquid in the Linen, which is found to be generally favourable for washing efficiency, In the attached drawings: F1ge 1 is a device according to the invention, seen in perspective.

Fig» 2 Is a diametral section taken along the line VI-VI of the device of Fig- I» YQ F1ge 3 is a cross-section similar to that of Figo 2, showing another embodiment» Fig, 4 is a perspective view of yet another al™ ternative form,, Fig. 5 shows in perspective the cover-assembly corresponding to the alternative form of Figo4« In the embodiment shown in Figs»!, and 2, the device according to the invention, which is indicated by the general reference 20, is generally in the shape of a sphere or ball. It consists of a body 21 and an added assembly 22. The assembly 22 is permanently fixed on the body 21, by. any suitable means, for example by glueing or welding. In this case, the assembly 22 acts as means for both filling with and distributing the liquid detergent. For this purpose it has, on the one hand, a central opening 24 in the shape of a funnel entering inside the body 21 and, on the other hand, peripheral vents 27. In the example chosen, the vents are four in number. The opening 24 is used essenn tially for filling and the vents 27 permit gradual re5 lease of the- liquid detergent during washing.

| The drawings of Figs. I and 2 also show hollows 28 and 29 respectively on the body 21 and on the assembly 22» In fact, such an arrangement is not essential in any way when the user does not have to manipulate the assembly 22» In another alternative form, however, it is quite possible to provide an assembly 22, such as is shown in Figs. I and 2, in a removable mounting, be it by rotation or by pressure.

The alternative form of embodiment shown in Fig. 3, which is a cross-section similar to Fig. 2, incorporates a body 31 and an added assembly 32. The latter is permanently fixed on the body 31. The construction of Fig» 3 is very similar to that of Fig.2 z except where the construction of the assembly 32 is concerned. The latter has a central opening 34 in the form of a funnel entering inside the body 31 and terminating in an end wall 35. The assembly 32 incorporates orifices 36 which, in the example shown, are three in number and which are provided in the walls of the funnel 34 which terminate in the end wall 35. The orifices 36 are used for filling with liquid detergent. Furthermore, the assembly 32 incorporates, like assembly 22 of Fig.2 , a certain number of vents 37 permitting gradual release of the liquid detergent during washing. Also shown in Fig. 3 is the flattening 33 of the body 31, together with the hollows 38 and 39, although the presence of such hollows is not absolutely ’ necessary» Another alternative form of embodiment is shown in Fig,4 -, the corresponding cover-assembly of which is shown in Fig* 5 o The device of Fig« 4’, which is denoted by the general reference 50, incorporates a body 51 and a cover-assembly 52 to form a device of a generally spherical shape. The body 51 has a α planar surface 58 surrounding the opening 54 concentrically^ Xn the alternative form . illustrated in the drawings, the cover-assembly 52 Is r permanently fixed on the body 51* This cover-assembly is shown in greater detail in Fig* 5 , from which it can be seen that it incorporates, as in the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 3, a central opening 54 in the shape of a funnel entering inside the body 51* This funnel terminates in an end wall 55« The side surface of the funnel 54 incorporates orifices 56 intended to permit filling with the liquid detergent* Furthermore,, the cover-assembly 52 incorporates a certain number of vents 57 arranged uniformly on the part opposite the wall 55* Lastty, the cover-assembly 52 incorporates hollows 59 permitting easier grasping of the whole device, which can thus be easily handled.

The use of the device is as follows. The body 11 is first filled with a liquid detergent up to the required level. Furthermore, the linen has been arranged in the drum of the washing machine* The ball, filled with Liquid detergent, is then introduced into or onto the linen present in the drum- Once the machine has been started, the liquid held in the ball is uniformly and gradually distributed through the vents, A highly satisfactory washing and cleaning of the linen is thus ensured* * As mentioned earlier, thfc expert can add to the embodiments described above by way of examples all kinds of modifications which do not depart from the scope of the present invention» 5 As an example, and uhatever the form of embodiment in the Figures illustrated earlier, the ball may be available for use after it has been pre-filled with liquid detergent. This form of presentation can, in particular, consist of a test quantity» Xn this case, Iq it is appropriate to provide a system of blocking the vents which are intended, in use, to deliver liquid detergent during washing® This blocking system may consist of capping with a film which can be torn off, or with quick tear-off means which uncover the vents* A possible embodiment then consists in providing nipples of a kind which are respectively engaged in the vents and which can be removed at the same time or separately, with one or more tear strips* These are different forms of presentation which nevertheless result in one and the same type of device which, in accordance with the invention, may be employed in a process of washing and cleaning linen in a machine, in which process, once the device has been placed in the drum of the machine with the linen to be washed, the detergent held in the device is gradually distributed in the washing medium and in the linen which i t contains «

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. Device of essentially spherical form for washing laundry in a machine, the said device being designed to be placed in the machine with the laundry and to contain 5 a liquid detergent and to diffuse it in the machine, and b having to this end at least one filling orifice and outlets for the gradual release of the liquid within the laundry during washing, the said outlets being disposed r in the body of the device or in a cover mounted on the 10 latter, the said device being characterized in that the said filling orifice or orifices are provided in a funnel plunging inside the body of the device, and in that the outlets are distributed on the periphery of the funnel. 15

2. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the outlets are provided in the top of the funnel.

3. Device according to one of Claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the end face of the funnel, located inside the body, is closed by a wall, and in 20 that the funnel has holes for the purposes of filling.

4. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it has a flat or domed part projecting inside the body.

5. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, 25 characterized in that it has, at the top, gripping means in the form of recesses.

6. A device according to Claim 1, substantially as < hereinbefore described with particular reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.