U.S. patent application number 12/558501 was filed with the patent office on 2010-01-07 for device for the treatment of laundry using biocides.
This patent application is currently assigned to SMART FIBER AG. Invention is credited to Michael Kohne.
Application Number | 20100000268 12/558501 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39560899 |
Filed Date | 2010-01-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100000268 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kohne; Michael |
January 7, 2010 |
Device for the Treatment of Laundry Using Biocides
Abstract
An apparatus for the biocidal treatment of laundry in a washing
machine includes a hollow body in which a biocidal substance is
enclosed and whose shell has openings for the passage of the
washing and rinsing bath. The biocidal substance is chosen in such
a way that it is at least substantially harmless for the human
metabolism and is effective for a certain period of time beyond the
washing process in the washed laundry.
Inventors: |
Kohne; Michael;
(Gundelfingen, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
EDELL, SHAPIRO & FINNAN, LLC
1901 RESEARCH BOULEVARD, SUITE 400
ROCKVILLE
MD
20850
US
|
Assignee: |
SMART FIBER AG
Rudolstadt
DE
|
Family ID: |
39560899 |
Appl. No.: |
12/558501 |
Filed: |
September 12, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
PCT/EP2008/001811 |
Mar 6, 2008 |
|
|
|
12558501 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
68/235R |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 39/024 20130101;
D06F 58/203 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
68/235.R |
International
Class: |
D06F 35/00 20060101
D06F035/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 14, 2007 |
DE |
102007012972.8 |
Claims
1. A laundry treatment apparatus for the biocidal treatment of
laundry in a washing machine, the apparatus comprising: a hollow
body including a shell defining an internal chamber; a carrier
containing a biocidal substance, wherein the carrier is enclosed
within internal chamber of the hollow body; and openings formed
into the shell for the passage of an aqueous medium into and out of
the internal chamber, wherein the biocidal substance is released
from the carrier upon contact with the aqueous medium such that the
apparatus disperses the biocidal substance into washing and rinsing
baths of the washing machine to provide the laundry with biocidal
properties.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hollow body
shell comprises a first shell section coupled to a second shell
section.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hollow body is
formed of plastic.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hollow body
shell comprises an inner shell portion nested within an outer shell
portion.
5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein: the inner shell is
formed of a glass-fiber reinforced polypropylene; and the outer
shell is formed of a thermoplastic elastomer.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the openings in the
hollow body shell comprise two mutually opposite sets of holes
having diameters of between 0.5 mm and 5 mm.
7. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising an
indicator embedded into at least one location in the hollow body
shell, the indicator being operable to indicate the depletion of
the biocidal substance by changing color.
8. (canceled)
9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the biocidal
substance comprises nanoscale particles disposed on a carrier
material.
10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the biocidal
substance is water soluble.
11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the biocidal
substance comprises metal ions.
12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the metal ions are
selected from the group consisting of Ag, Cu, Zn, Au, Ir, Pd, Ti,
Al and Sn.
13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the biocidal
substance comprises quaternary ammonium compounds, triclosan,
isothiazoline, antibiotics, chitosan or mixtures thereof.
14-15. (canceled)
16. A device for dispersing biocide into a washing machine, the
device comprising: a hollow body comprising: an outer shell having
a first set of holes; an inner shell nested within the outer shell,
the inner shell having a second set of holes, wherein each hole
formed into the outer shell is in fluid communication with a
corresponding hole formed into the inner shell; an internal chamber
defined by the inner shell of the hollow body; and a substrate
comprising a water soluble biocide disposed within the internal
chamber, wherein the holes cooperate to permit fluid to pass
through the inner and outer shells and into the internal chamber
such that the fluid contacts the substrate and exits the internal
chamber as biocide-enriched fluid.
17. The device according to claim 16, wherein: the inner shell is
formed of a glass-fiber reinforced polypropylene; and the outer
shell is formed of a thermoplastic elastomer.
18. The device according to claim 17, wherein: the hollow body
comprises a sphere having a first hemisphere coupled to a second
hemisphere via a latch; and the latch comprises a tongue formed on
the first hemisphere that mates with a groove formed into the
second hemisphere.
19. The device according to claim 16, wherein the biocide comprises
metal ions selected from the group consisting of Ag, Cu, Zn, Au,
Ir, Pd, Ti, Al and Sn.
20. The device according to claim 16, wherein the biocide comprises
quaternary ammonium compounds, triclosan, isothiazoline,
antibiotics, chitosan, and mixtures thereof.
21. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the biocidal
substance comprises nanoscale particles disposed on a fibrous
carrier material
22. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the biocidal
substance comprises nanoscale particles embedded into a fibrous
carrier material.
23. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the biocidal
substance is released in a concentration that is harmless for human
metabolism and is effective to transfer biocidal properties to
laundry after washing for a predetermined period of time.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of International
Application No. PCT/EP2008/001811, filed on Mar. 6, 2008, entitled
"Device for the Treatment of Laundry Using Biocides," which claims
priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119 to Application No. DE
102007012972.8 filed on Mar. 14, 2007, entitled "Device for the
Treatment of Laundry Using Biocides," the entire contents of which
are hereby incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to a device for the biocidal treatment
of laundry in a washing machine.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Biocides are capable of killing or at least growth-retarding
microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and/or spores.
Certain biocidal substances have a biocidal effect in suitable
dosing, and are generally harmless to the human organism and
especially human metabolism. When these substances are added to
washing machines, they decrease the level of bacteria therein.
These biocidal substances are typically delivered utilizing a
dosing apparatus to deliver the biocide to either the detergent or
directly into the drum upon loading the same with laundry. A
biocidal treatment of each batch of laundry in this manner,
however, is both laborious and entails the risk of underdosage or
overdosage.
[0004] Thus, it would be desirable to provide an apparatus that is
easy to handle for biocidal treatment of laundry in a washing
machine, especially a domestic (non-commericial) washing
machine.
SUMMARY
[0005] The present invention is directed toward a device that
dispenses predetermined amounts of biocide within an aqueous
environment and, in particular, during the wash cycle of a washing
machine. The device includes a housing having an exterior body and
an interior body nested within the exterior body. The interior body
defines an internal chamber in which a biocide is contained. The
housing includes a series of apertures that provide fluid
communication into the interior chamber of the housing. In
operation, the device is placed into the drum of a washing machine
filled with water. As the drum operates, fluid enters the housing
through the apertures, interacting with the biocide, a portion of
which is dispensed into the water. The biocide-enriched water then
travels out through the apertures in the housing. In this manner,
biocide is delivered to the laundry-filled drum. The biocide coats
drum components and clothing therein to prevent to formation of
bacteria.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of the biocide-dispensing
apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0007] FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of the apparatus of FIG.
1.
[0008] FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along line
B-B in FIG. 2.
[0009] FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along line
D-D in FIG. 2.
[0010] FIG. 5 illustrates a close-up view of the device of FIG. 1,
showing the latch mechanism and the details on an enlarged
scale.
[0011] Like reference numerals in the various figures are utilized
to designate like components.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] This present invention is directed toward hollow body
including a biocidal substance enclosed therein. The shell of the
body includes openings for the passage of the washing and rinsing
baths. The hollow body contains a biocidal substance whose type,
composition and optionally carrier structure is chosen by the
manufacturer in such a way that it is released continually into an
aqueous medium (i.e., into the washing and/or rinsing baths of the
washing machine) in an effective concentration which is harmless
for humans. The user therefore only needs to place the hollow body
(together with the laundry) into the drum of the washing machine
and operate the machine normally. The biocidal substance and/or its
carrier structure can especially be chosen in such a way that they
remain active over many washing cycles, e.g. more than 100
cycles.
[0013] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the dispensing device in accordance
with an embodiment of the invention. As shown, the device may
include a housing in the form of a hollow sphere having an upper
shell portion or hemisphere 1 and a bottom shell portion or
hemisphere 2. The shell portions 1, 2 are perforated and may be
latched together (discussed in greater detail below). The
dimensions of the sphere may be any suitable for its described
purposed. By way of the example, the exterior diameter of the
sphere can be approximately 50 mm.
[0014] FIGS. 1 and 3 further show that the upper shell portion 1 is
provided with a first set of holes 4A and the bottom shell portion
2 is provided with a second set of holes 4B. The arrangement,
number, and cross-section of the openings in the hollow-body shell
have an influence on the concentration of the biocidal substance in
the washing and/or rinsing baths. Appropriately, the holes 4A, 4B
in the hollow-body shell can consist of two sets of mutually
opposite holes with diameters of between 0.5 mm and 5 mm, with
these two sets of holes being appropriately opposite of one
another.
[0015] The sphere further includes an internal chamber in which a
biocidal substance is contained. Referring to the embodiment
illustrated in FIG. 3, a carrier body 3 (shown as a cube) is
enclosed in the interior of the hollow sphere. The carrier body or
substrate 3 contains a biocidal substance (e.g., a bactericide).
The carrier body 3 can be a fiber structure in the form of a
non-woven material or multi-layer knitwear or fabric which is doped
(e.g., impregnated) with the biocidal substance. By way of example,
the carrier body 3 may include silver-containing cellulosic fibers
with ion-exchanging properties. Support materials to be considered
can also be doped porous polymers, polyurethane, activated carbon,
zeolites, ceramics, and the like.
[0016] The carrier body 3 may further include nanoscale particles
coated onto or embedded into a carrier material (also called a
substrate or support structure). Suitable organic or inorganic,
porous or water-permeable carrier materials are known. Preferably,
the biocidal substance comprises metal ions. These can include ions
of at least one of the metals of Ag, Cu, Zn, Au, Ir, Pd, Ti, Al and
Sn. Alternatively, the biocidal substance can comprise quaternary
ammonium compounds, triclosan, isothiazoline, antibiotics, chitosan
or mixtures thereof. It is understood that the use of a mixture of
different biocidal substances is also possible.
[0017] In other embodiments, it is possible to omit the carrier
body 3 when the biocidal substance is a granulated or compact,
e.g., a slightly soluble metal salt.
[0018] Depending on the choice made, the average effective
concentration is set by the number and the cross section of the
holes, the type of carrier material, and the quantity of its doping
with the biocidal substance and, alternatively, its granulation and
quantity. By way of example, the concentration of the biocide may
be from approximately 1 .mu.g/L to 10 mg/L water.
[0019] Preferably, the hollow body comprises an inner shell and an
outer shell. This offers the advantage that the outer shell can be
formed of a soft or elastic material which protects the laundry
drum components, as well as provides an arrangement that is
appealing with respect to color and haptics (texture/touch). In the
embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, both shell portions 1, 2 are
two-layered, with the upper shell portion 1 including an inner
shell 1.1 nested within an outer shell 1.2 and the lower shell
portion 2 including an inner shell 2.1 nested within an outer shell
2.2. The inner shells 1.1, 2.1 may be formed from plastic that
ensures mechanical strength such as a glass-fiber-reinforced
polypropylene. The outer shells 1.2, 2.2 may be formed from a
thermoplastic elastomer. The inner 1.1, 2.1 and outer 1.2, 2.2
shells may be integrally connected by melting together or in any
other suitable manner.
[0020] Both the inner 1.1, 2.1 and outer 1.2, 2.2 shells may
include the above-described apertures or holes 4A, 4B that provide
fluid communication through the wall of the sphere, permitting
water to enter and exit the internal chamber of the sphere. By way
of example, each shell 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2 may include holes having
the same or different diameters. By way of specific example, the
holes 4A, 4B may be provided in a stepped arrangement, i.e., the
cross sectional dimensions of the holes in the outer shells 1.2,
2.2 may be slightly larger than the cross sectional dimension of
the corresponding holes in the inner shell 1.1, 2.1. By way of
specific example, the diameter of the hole is approximately one
millimeter.
[0021] The inner shell 1.1 of the upper portion 1 and the inner
shell 2.1 of the bottom portion 2 may be latched together
circumferentially in a substantially non-detachable manner. As
shown in FIG. 5, the inner shells 1.1, 2.1 are coupled via a latch
5, e.g., tongue-and-groove connection. Specifically, the upper
inner shell 1.1 may include a tongue 50 that mates with a
corresponding groove 55 formed into the lower inner shell 2.1. For
this purpose, the upper inner shell 1.1 is provided with numerous
webs which provide it with a high stiffness, so that the hollow
sphere can only be opened by destroying the same.
[0022] The apparatus may further include an indicator or sensor
embedded into the hollow-body shell in at least one location
operable to indicate the end of the useful life of the apparatus
by, e.g., changing its color. This is especially useful when the
apparatus can be used for a very large number of laundry batches,
e.g. 100, by suitable choice of the biocidal structure. The period
of use can also be limited in such a case by mechanical wear and
tear of the hollow body. Specifically, one or both shell portions
1, 2 can carry an indicator substance which assumes the place of
one hole (not illustrated). The sensing time depends on the number,
duration, and the washing bath temperatures. The sensor indicates
that the effectiveness of the biocidal substances is coming to an
end.
[0023] While the invention has been described in detail and with
reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to
one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can
be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope
thereof. For example, the hollow body is preferably a hollow
sphere, and may be formed from a detergent-resistant plastic.
[0024] The biocides may include substances that, when in contact
with an aqueous medium, are released in an effective concentration
which is harmless for human metabolism. Biocidal substances are
especially preferred which are effective not only during the
washing cycle, but also lead to an impregnation of the laundry, so
that the laundry is equipped in a biocidal manner after the washing
for a prolonged period of time, i.e., the invasion and/or the
reproduction of microorganisms is reduced considerably or even
suppressed completely for some time. This effect was proven
especially in a quantitative respect in the use of metal ions as
mentioned above, especially silver ions.
[0025] The two half-shells of the hollow body may be latched onto
each other, and in particular, may be non-detachably latched to
each other by the manufacturer after the introduction of the
biocidal substance.
[0026] It is to be understood that terms such as "top", "bottom",
"front", "rear", "side", "height", "length", "width", "upper",
"lower", "interior", "exterior", and the like as may be used
herein, merely describe points of reference and do not limit the
present invention to any particular orientation or configuration.
Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the
modifications and variations of this invention provided they come
within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *