U.S. patent application number 11/700502 was filed with the patent office on 2008-07-31 for dosing and dispensing device.
This patent application is currently assigned to The Procter & Gamble Company. Invention is credited to Patrick Jean-Francois Etesse, Frederik Fernand Simon Lintermans, Carol Smith, Chris Van den Wouwer.
Application Number | 20080178637 11/700502 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39666416 |
Filed Date | 2008-07-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080178637 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Etesse; Patrick Jean-Francois ;
et al. |
July 31, 2008 |
Dosing and dispensing device
Abstract
The present invention relates to a method for dosing and
dispensing a laundry detergent, preferably a liquid laundry
detergent, into a washing machine comprising the steps of: i)
measuring a dose of laundry detergent into a dosing and dispensing
device (10) comprising a hollow cavity defined by a base (11) and
side-walls (12), wherein the base (11) and/or side walls (12) are
at least partly covered by a sleeve (20), and wherein the sleeve
(20) comprises a film of material comprising printed indicia (21)
thereupon, wherein the printed indicia (21) are resistant to
removal from the film when the dosing and dispensing device (10) is
exposed to wash conditions inside a washing machine; ii) placing
both the laundry and the dosing and dispensing device containing
laundry detergent into a washing machine, and running the washing
machine on a selected cleaning cycle; and iii) subsequently reusing
the dosing and dispensing device (10) for steps i) and ii).
Inventors: |
Etesse; Patrick Jean-Francois;
(Brussel, BE) ; Smith; Carol; (Brussel, BE)
; Lintermans; Frederik Fernand Simon; (Heverlee, BE)
; Van den Wouwer; Chris; (Deurne, BE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY;INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DIVISION - WEST BLDG.
WINTON HILL BUSINESS CENTER - BOX 412, 6250 CENTER HILL AVENUE
CINCINNATI
OH
45224
US
|
Assignee: |
The Procter & Gamble
Company
|
Family ID: |
39666416 |
Appl. No.: |
11/700502 |
Filed: |
January 31, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
68/17R |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 39/024
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
68/17.R |
International
Class: |
D06F 35/00 20060101
D06F035/00 |
Claims
1. A method for dosing and dispensing a laundry detergent,
preferably a liquid laundry detergent, into a washing machine
comprising the steps of: i) measuring a dose of laundry detergent
into a dosing and dispensing device comprising a hollow cavity
defined by a base (11) and side-walls (12), wherein the base (11)
and/or side walls (12) are at least partly covered by a sleeve
(20), and wherein the sleeve (20) comprises a film of material
comprising printed indicia (21) thereupon, wherein the printed
indicia (21) are resistant to removal from the film when the dosing
and dispensing device (10) is exposed to wash conditions inside a
washing machine; ii) placing both the laundry and the dosing and
dispensing device containing laundry detergent into a washing
machine, and running the washing machine on a selected cleaning
cycle; and iii) subsequently reusing the dosing and dispensing
device (10) for steps i) and ii).
2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the indicia (21) are
printed onto the film by reverse printing so that the printed
indicia (21) lie on the side of the film which is in contact with
the base (11) or side-wall (12).
3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the indicia (21) are
printed by sandwich printing so that the printed indicia (21) lie
between two films.
4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the indicia (21) are
printed onto the side of the film which is not in contact with the
base (11) or side-wall (12), and wherein the printed indicia (11)
are protected by varnish which is acrylic-based varnish or
ultraviolet-cured varnish.
5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the indicia (21)
comprise at least one indication of dosing volume or dosing
weight.
6. The method according to claim 1 comprising the additional step,
between steps (i) and (ii), of pre-treating stained or soiled
laundry with a portion of the measured laundry detergent.
7. A dosing and dispensing device (10) comprising a hollow cavity
defined by a base (11) and side-walls (12), wherein the base (11)
and/or side walls (12) are at least partly covered by a sleeve
(20), and wherein the sleeve (20) comprises a film of material
comprising printed indicia (21) thereupon, wherein the printed
indicia (21) are resistant to removal from the film when the dosing
and dispensing device (10) is exposed to wash conditions inside a
washing machine.
8. The dosing and dispensing device (10) according to claim 7
wherein the indicia (21) are printed onto the film by reverse
printing so that the printed indicia (21) lie on the side of the
film which is in contact with the base (11) or side-wall (12).
9. The dosing and dispensing device (10) according to claim 7
wherein the indicia (21) are printed by sandwich printing so that
the printed indicia (21) lie between two films.
10. The dosing and dispensing device (10) according to claim 7
wherein the indicia (21) are printed onto the side of the film
which is not in contact with the base (11) or side-wall (12), and
wherein the printed indicia (11) are protected by varnish which is
acrylic-based varnish or ultraviolet-cured varnish.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a method for dosing and
dispensing a laundry detergent into a washing machine, and to the
dosing and dispensing device for use therein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Dispensing devices which are useful for machine washing of
clothes are described in, for example, FR-A-2 563 250, published on
25.sup.th Oct. 1985.
[0003] It is known that, in order to obtain a good degree of
cleanliness whilst minimizing wastage it is important to dose the
right amount of product. This is commonly achieved by embossed
dosing lines marks on the dispensing device but these are difficult
to read because the lines and the background are made of the same
material and color resulting in a low contrast. Accurate dosing is
made even more difficult with transparent or translucent liquid
products that provide little or no contrast against which embossed
dosing lines can be read.
[0004] The requirements of resistance to boil wash and need for
transparency have ruled out conventional labelling technology such
as wet glue labels, self-adhesive labels, or in mold labels for
dosing devices.
[0005] One technology which has been used with success is hot
stamping, but this is expensive, requires dedicated equipment and
only works with flat surfaces on the device. Hot stamping however
does not allow large and multicolour printing on the device and as
such is not an adequate means of decoration.
[0006] The aim of the present invention is to provide a dosing and
dispensing device which has accurate dosing lines marking and
graphics that are resilient to boil wash and retain the
transparency of the device where the sleeve is not printed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In a first aspect the present invention provides a method
for dosing and dispensing a laundry detergent, preferably a liquid
laundry detergent, into a washing machine comprising the steps of
[0008] i) measuring a dose of laundry detergent into a dosing and
dispensing device comprising a hollow cavity defined by a base and
side-walls, wherein the base and/or side walls are at least partly
covered by a sleeve, and wherein the sleeve comprises a film of
material comprising printed indicia thereupon, wherein the printed
indicia are resistant to removal from the film when the dosing and
dispensing device is exposed to wash conditions inside a washing
machine; [0009] ii) placing both the laundry and the dosing and
dispensing device containing laundry detergent into a washing
machine, and running the washing machine on a selected cleaning
cycle; and [0010] iii) subsequently reusing the dosing and
dispensing device for steps i) and ii).
[0011] In a second aspect the present invention provides a dosing
and dispensing device comprising a hollow cavity defined by a base
and side-walls, wherein the base and/or side walls are at least
partly covered by a sleeve, and wherein the sleeve comprises a film
of material comprising printed indicia thereupon, wherein the
printed indicia are resistant to removal from the film when the
dosing and dispensing device is exposed to wash conditions inside a
washing machine.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 shows a dosing ball suitable for use in the present
invention.
[0013] FIG. 2 shows in isomeric view the same ball as in FIG.
1.
[0014] FIG. 3 shows a sleeve printed with dosing lines suitable for
sleeving around the dosing ball shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0015] FIG. 4 shows the finished device according to the present
invention consisting of the dosing ball and printed sleeve.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] The invention relates to a decorated reusable dosing and
dispensing device for washing machines where the means of marking
and decoration is a plastic sleeve. The term "dosing and dispensing
device", or "dosing device" for short, herein should be understood
generally as a means for providing measured quantities of fluid
products into a washing machine. The term "fluid products" includes
liquids or gels as well as flowing materials such as powders or
granules.
[0017] The dosing device has a base. By a base it should be
understood a part of the device on which the device is left to
stand up-right. This part my be flat, or may for example be formed
from a moulded tripod, or from a flat ring. Many types of "base"
are known in the art, the main feature of such a base being to hold
the device in a stable position on a flat supporting surface. The
base comprises a base wall. The device also has a major axis which
is generally perpendicular to the plane of the base.
[0018] The device also comprises sides. The sides are the surfaces
which, in general terms, join the top and the base of the bottle.
Typically, when the device is upright, the sides are substantially
vertical and perpendicular to the base. The sides may also have a
curved or relatively complex shape depending on the device
considered. The base and side-walls define a hollow cavity, which
is capable of containing a liquid product within the solid walls
defining the hollow cavity.
[0019] The device further comprises a top part. The top part is
typically the part of the device opposed to the base. The top is
commonly the part of the device which is provided with an aperture
for dosing the laundry product. The aperture is generally provided
without a closure so that the device can be nested on top of a
bottle when not used during the washing process.
[0020] The device may be formed by any convenient means,
blow-molding being the most commonly used. Preferably the device
has an internal volume of at least 20 ml and of less than 500 ml,
and more preferably less than 300 ml.
[0021] Further, the device is sleeved. Whilst any process can be
used to attach the sleeve around the outside of the dosing device,
preferred processes are shrink-sleeving and stretch-sleeving. In
these processes the sleeve is generally formed by forming the
plastic film essentially into a tube, preferably by folding the
film back upon itself and forming a seam, and cutting the tube to
form individual sleeves.
[0022] Shrink-sleeving is mostly used in the drinks industry,
whereby a sleeve of thermo-plastic material may be stretched or
shrunk all around a beverage bottle, thus offering an extended area
which may be used for any type of graphics. Typical thermoplastic
materials used for stretch or shrink sleeving include
polyvinylchloride (PVC); low or high density polyethylene (LDPE,
HDPE); polyester teraphthalate (PET); polypropylene (PP) and
oriented polypropylene (OPP); polystyrene (PS) and oriented
polystyrene (OPS); and mixtures thereof.
[0023] Stretch-sleeving entails placing a stretchable sheath on a
reel and forming a tubular sheath made from stretchable plastic
material of the dimension required to fit the product. We often
find that the use of stretch sleeving for provision of decorative
or informative packaging on products has the benefit of increased
economy since inexpensive film materials such as low density
polyethylene (LDPE) or low density polyethylene/ethyl vinyl acetate
(EVA) blends or co-extrusions may be sued for the polymeric film
sleeve. Such processes and typical applications are described in US
2004/0182501 or WO 03/037745.
[0024] Shrink-sleeving or stretch-sleeving consists in enveloping a
part of the device in a tube-like flexible sleeve. Preferably the
material of the sleeve is thermoplastic, and the sleeve is heated
to shrink closely around the outer surface of the device or in the
case of a stretch sleeve stretched to the dimensions required to
fit around the device. The sleeve may be made from a single film of
plastic, or laminated in two or more layers. The plastic film may
be either coloured or glass clear transparent glossy film which
will be printed upon, or, alternatively, in the case of a laminated
film, at least one layer of film may be pigmented by the addition
of dyes or pigments before or at the point of extruding the
laminate. The plastic film may also be decorated with colours,
designs, logos, usage instructions, health and regulatory symbols
and warnings, and other written or graphical information.
Preferably the indicia comprise at least one indication of dosing
volume or dosing weight. More preferably the indicia comprise at
least one indication of dosing volume or dosing weight positioned
within or close to a transparent window in the sleeve in order to
facilitate measurement of the desired dose. Accurate dosing is
facilitated by the contrast between the dosing indicia and the
product to be dosed, especially if the product is a transparent or
translucent liquid, i.e. has a light transmittance greater than 25%
at wavelength of 410-800 nm.
[0025] Many different printing processes may be used to print on
the film, but gravure and flexography are preferred, utilizing
continuous web substrate. Gravure is an intaglio process, in that
the printing image is formed below the surface of the printing
medium. A cylinder is engraved utilizing the art for the particular
shrink or stretch sleeve label. Flexography is a relief printing
process developed from the letterpress principle. The printing
image is produced on a photopolymer plate, in which the image is
physically above the non-image area.
[0026] The characteristics on the inks desired in the present
invention include visual appearance, durability, color
steadfastness and strong adhesion quality. Both water and solvent
based inks have been found suitable for application in the present
invention. To prevent a "wet" look when a shrink or stretch sleeve
label is not printed with a tint coating, anti-wet coating is used
to eliminate a spotty or water stain appearance when the sleeve
label is applied to a container that contains imperfections (voids)
on their surface. These imperfections can trap air between the
sleeve label and the container surface, giving rise to the spotty
or water stain appearance. Anti-wet coating creates breathable
channels, allowing the air to escape during the shrinking phase,
and thus eliminating the spotty or water stain appearance. Some
label designs may have one or more areas that constitute a window
devoid of any ink. The content of the device may be viewed through
the one or more windows of the film and through the device wall. In
such cases, the inner surface of the window areas may have the
anti-wet coating.
[0027] Preferred inks are nitro-cellulosic inks.
[0028] A preferred method, known as reverse printing, is to print
the colours on the inside of the sleeve, i.e. the side which will
be in contact with the base or side-wall of the dosing device, in
order to maintain its glossiness and prevent abrasion and ink
transfer to the clothes during the washing process. A particularly
preferred method, known as sandwich printing, is to reverse print
on to the sleeve material and cover the printed sleeve material on
the printed side with another sleeve of the same or slightly lower
or higher thickness. The inks are entrapped in between, and
protected by, two layers of sleeve material.
[0029] A particular benefit of sandwich printing is that it helps
to prevent slipping of the sleeve around the surface of the dosing
ball, and as such helps the sleeve to remain in its original
position.
[0030] Alternatively, in the case where front "surface" printing is
used, then suitable varnishes will be added on top of the inks
layers to protect the inks for the wash liquor and clothes and
machine drum abrasion. Particularly suitable varnishes are
acrylic-based varnishes and ultraviolet-cured varnishes.
[0031] Preferably the sleeve covers at least 30% of the side-walls
of the dosing device, and preferably covers at least 50% of the
side-walls of the dosing device, and more preferably covers at
least 70% of the side-walls of the dosing device.
[0032] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present
invention the sleeve has a cut-out region that is juxtaposed with
the pre-treating region of the device. This allows decoration of a
dosing device with a pre-treat slit or roll-on applicator.
[0033] A typical device according to the present invention
comprises a dosing ball as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and a
sleeve as illustrated in FIG. 3. The dosing ball 10 shown in FIGS.
1 and 2 comprises a base 11 and side-walls 12 which define a hollow
cavity. The hollow cavity is in direct communication with the
outside of the dosing ball 10 by means of an open aperture at the
top 13. Viewed from the outside, the three-dimensional shape of the
dosing ball 10 is substantially spherical with a flat base 11 and
open top 13.
[0034] FIG. 3 shows a sleeve 20 with indicia 21 marked thereon. In
this example the indicia comprise a largely coloured surface 22 and
a transparent window 23. Around the edge of the transparent window
dosing lines indicate 50, 60, 75, 90, 100, 120, 125 and 150 ml.
[0035] FIG. 4 shows a dosing and dispensing device 30 according to
the present invention comprising the dosing ball 10 shown in FIGS.
1 and 2 with the sleeve 20 shown in FIG. 3 covering the side-wall.
The sleeve is brought into close proximity with the side-wall by
shrink-sleeving, or, alternatively, by stretch-sleeving. In FIG. 4
the shrunken sleeve 32 is shown covering substantially 100% of the
side-wall. The transparent window 33 provides the means for the
user to see the level of detergent which is within the hollow
cavity of the dosing device, and thus enables the user to measure
the desired dose.
[0036] Method of Use. The dosing device of the present invention is
filled with detergent, preferably liquid detergent, up to required
level indicated by the dosing lines printed on the sleeve. Once the
filling operation has been completed and the fabrics have been
arranged in the drum of the washing machine, the device filled with
detergent is then introduced onto the fabrics present in the drum.
Once the machine has been started, the product held in the ball is
dispensed into the wash by the rotation of the drum. After washing,
the device is retrieved from the drum and ready for the next use.
Colors and marking remain intact even after numerous washes.
[0037] Alternatively consumers may wish to remove the sleeve prior
to using in the washing machine. This could be because the consumer
is washing particularly expensive or delicate garments and wants to
eliminate any risk of damage to the garment, for example in case
the sleeve detaches in the wash. Alternatively this could be
because the consumer wishes to use a drying cycle after the wash
cycle and does not wish to look for the dosing ball in the wash
load in order to remove it. The sleeved dosing ball may not be
compatible with extended drying cycles at high temperature and thus
it is important to have the ability to remove the sleeve. In a
preferred embodiment of the present invention the sleeve can
incorporate a line of weakness, such as a perforation, and
appropriate marking to facilitate tearing off of the sleeve before
use.
[0038] In a further preferred embodiment of the method of the
present invention an additional step is introduced, between steps
i) and ii), of pretreating stained or soiled laundry with a portion
of the measured laundry liquid.
[0039] The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be
understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values
recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension
is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally
equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension
disclosed as "40 mm" is intended to mean "about 40 mm."
[0040] All documents cited in the Detailed Description of the
Invention are, in relevant part, incorporated herein by reference;
the citation of any document is not to be construed as an admission
that it is prior art with respect to the present invention. To the
extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this document
conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same term in a
document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition
assigned to that term in this document shall govern.
[0041] While particular embodiments of the present invention have
been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those
skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can
be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims
all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of
this invention.
* * * * *