U.S. patent application number 12/601620 was filed with the patent office on 2010-08-12 for article.
This patent application is currently assigned to Reckitt Benckiser. Invention is credited to Karl Ludwig Gibis, Chris Efstathios Housmekerides.
Application Number | 20100200022 12/601620 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38289475 |
Filed Date | 2010-08-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100200022 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Housmekerides; Chris Efstathios ;
et al. |
August 12, 2010 |
Article
Abstract
This invention relates to container containing a dose of a
liquid cleaning composition for use in a ware washing machine,
wherein said container is adapted to be disposed in a ware washing
machine in a predetermined orientation and wherein said container
comprises a low-level opening for permitting egress of the cleaning
composition from the container (when disposed in said predetermined
orientation), and wherein the container is of a water-insoluble
plastics material and wherein the low-level opening is closed by
water-soluble plastics closure member. The dosage element and
chamber are particularly useful in the context of forming part of a
multi-dosing cleaning composition delivery device and/or a refill
for such a device.
Inventors: |
Housmekerides; Chris
Efstathios; (Ludwigshafen, DE) ; Gibis; Karl
Ludwig; (Limburgerhof, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PARFOMAK, ANDREW N.;NORRIS MCLAUGHLIN & MARCUS PA
875 THIRD AVE, 8TH FLOOR
NEW YORK
NY
10022
US
|
Assignee: |
Reckitt Benckiser
Hoofddorp
NL
|
Family ID: |
38289475 |
Appl. No.: |
12/601620 |
Filed: |
May 23, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
May 23, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/GB08/01740 |
371 Date: |
April 6, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
134/25.2 ; 141/1;
206/503; 206/524.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 15/4445 20130101;
D06F 39/024 20130101; A47L 15/4472 20130101; A47L 15/4418 20130101;
B65D 65/46 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
134/25.2 ;
206/524.1; 206/503; 141/1 |
International
Class: |
A47L 15/42 20060101
A47L015/42; B65D 85/00 20060101 B65D085/00; B65D 21/00 20060101
B65D021/00; B65B 1/04 20060101 B65B001/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 30, 2007 |
GB |
0710232.0 |
Claims
1. A container containing a dose of a liquid cleaning composition,
wherein said container is adapted to be disposed in a ware washing
machine in a predetermined orientation and wherein said container
comprises a low-level opening for permitting egress of the cleaning
composition from the container when disposed in said predetermined
orientation, and wherein the container is formed of a
water-insoluble plastics material and wherein the low-level opening
is closed by a water-soluble plastics closure member.
2. A container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the container has a
bottom end face, and the low-level opening is provided in the
bottom end face.
3. A container according to claim 1 wherein the container comprises
a high-level opening for permitting ingress of water into the
container (in said orientation), and also closed by a water-soluble
plastics closure member.
4. A container according to claim 3 wherein the container has an
upper end face, and the high-level opening is provided in the upper
end face.
5. A container according to claim 1, wherein the water-soluble
plastics closure member is in the form of a patch which is adhered
in face-to-face relationship with the water-insoluble plastics
material about the opening, or is in the form of a plug which plugs
the opening.
6. A container according to claim 1 wherein the container is only
partially filled with the cleaning composition, wherein in use,
water enters the container and dilutes the cleaning composition, to
the point where the diluted cleaning composition dissolves the
water-soluble plastics closure member, whereas the undiluted
cleaning composition does not.
7. An article comprising a plurality of conjoined containers each
container being a container according to claim 1.
8. An article according to claim 7 adapted to be formable into a
nested form.
9. A multiple dosing ware washing product comprising an article
according to claim 7, retained within a holder which is adapted for
mounting within a ware washing machine.
10. A method of making an article according to claim 8, comprising
the steps of: forming a parallel array of empty chambers,
delivering doses of cleaning composition into the chambers using
the open low-level openings as fill openings, or when present,
using the high-level openings as fill openings, closing each of the
fill openings with a water soluble plastics closure member, and
forming the article into a nested form.
11. A method of carrying out washing in a ware washing machine, the
method comprising the steps of: (1) mounting a product according to
claim 9 in the ware washing machine, the article within the holder
thereof containing a plurality X of individual doses of cleaning
composition; (2) operating the ware washing machine for one cycle
such that the water soluble plastics closure member(s) of one
chamber is dissolved and one dose of cleaning composition is
released into the ware washing machine; (3) operating the ware
washing machine for X-1 (X minus 1) further cycles such that the
water soluble plastics closure member(s) of further chambers are
dissolved and X-1 further doses of cleaning composition are
released into the ware washing machine chamber by chamber in
successive washes, until the article is spent; (4) removing the
spent article from the holder; (5) introducing a new article into
the holder; and (6) repeating steps (2) to (5) with successive new
articles loaded into the same holder.
12. (canceled)
13. A method of carrying out washing in a ware washing machine,
wherein X is an integer having a value of at least 3.
14. A method of carrying out washing in a ware washing machine,
wherein X is an integer having a value of at least 6.
Description
[0001] This invention relates to the delivery of cleaning
composition into a ware washing machine, for example a dishwashing
machine or a laundry washing machine. The invention is particularly
useful in the context of forming part of a multi-dosing device for
delivering a cleaning composition and/or a refill for such a
device.
[0002] In PCT/GB2007/000175 there is described a container for use
in an automatic dishwasher, the container containing a plurality of
separate doses of cleaning composition, to be utilized
sequentially. The plurality of doses are introduced into the
container in a disposable blister-type body. The plurality of doses
are in the form of sticks or rods or other solid forms of cleaning
composition. Inflow and outflow holes are provided in compartments
of the blister-type body.
[0003] In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention
there is provided a container containing a dose of a liquid
cleaning composition for use in a ware washing machine, wherein
said container is adapted to be disposed in a ware washing machine
in a predetermined orientation and wherein said container comprises
a low-level opening for permitting egress of the cleaning
composition from the container (when disposed in said predetermined
orientation), and wherein the container is of a water-insoluble
plastics material and wherein the low-level opening is closed by a
water-soluble plastics closure member.
[0004] Suitably the viscosity of a liquid cleaning composition
suitable for use in the invention is up to 1,500 cP, preferably up
to 1,000 cP, more preferably up to 600 cP.
[0005] For the purpose of the viscosity definitions given in this
specification, viscosity is measured on a Brookfield RVT
viscometer, 20.degree. C., No. 5 spindle, 50 rpm.
[0006] In layman's terms the liquid cleaning composition may be
described as a free-running or free-flowing liquid at 20.degree.
C., in the manner of water or of conventional laundry washing
liquids.
[0007] Suitably the low-level opening is opened in use by
dissolution of the water-soluble plastics closure member.
[0008] Preferably the container has a bottom end face, and the
low-level opening is provided in the bottom end face.
[0009] The container may comprise a high-level opening for
permitting ingress of water into the container (in said
orientation), and also closed by a water-soluble plastics closure
member. In this embodiment water may enter the container through
the high-level opening and wash through it, leaving via the
low-level opening.
[0010] Preferably the container has an upper end face, and the
high-level opening is provided in the upper end face.
[0011] In this embodiment there may be a middle opening
intermediate said upper and lower openings, and also closed by a
water-soluble plastics closure member.
[0012] Said low-level opening, and preferably said high-level and
middle openings where provided, is preferably of area in a range of
from 1 mm.sup.2 to 30 mm.sup.2, suitably in the range of from 2 to
20 mm.sup.2, preferably in the range of from 3 to 8 mm.sup.2.
[0013] Any water-soluble plastics closure member herein may be in
the form of a patch which is adhered in face-to-face relationship
with the water-insoluble plastics material, about the respective
opening. Adhesion may be achieved by application of heat, for
example delivered as such or induced in situ by electro-magnetic
radiation (induction heating). Adhesion may be achieved by
application of an adhesive. In many cases water is a suitable
adhesive.
[0014] Any water-soluble plastics closure member herein may be in
the form of a plug which plugs the respective opening.
[0015] Suitable materials for use in this invention to serve as any
water-soluble plastics closure member(s) are such that discs of
such material of 100 .mu.m thickness and 30 mm diameter dissolve in
5 litres of water maintained at 50.degree. C., under gentle
stirring, in less than 30 minutes, preferably in less than 10
minutes.
[0016] A material for any water-soluble plastics closure member(s)
for use herein may suitably be selected from the group comprising
polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl alcohol copolymers, partially
hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetates, cellulose derivatives (such as
alkylcelluloses, hydroxyalkylcelluloses, salts, ethers and esters
of alkylcelluloses and hydroxyalkylcelluloses, for example,
hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethyl-cellulose and sodium
carboxymethylcellulose); polyglycolides, polyglycolic acids,
polylactides, polylactic acids; polyvinyl pyrrolidines, polyacrylic
acids or salts or esters thereof, polymaleic acids or salts or
esters thereof, dextrins, maltodextrins, polyacrylamides, acrylic
acid/maleic anhydride copolymers, including copolymers (which
includes terpolymers), and blends. Optionally fillers, plasticisers
and process aids may also be comprised in the formulation of any
water-soluble plastics closure member(s) for use herein.
[0017] Preferred material for any water-soluble plastics closure
member(s) for use in this invention are selected from the group
comprising polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl alcohol copolymers, and
partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetates. A preferred material for
any water-soluble plastics closure member(s) for use in this
invention is a poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVOH) or a soluble polymer
blend containing at least 50% wt/wt PVOH.
[0018] Suitable water-insoluble plastics materials for use herein
include polyesters, and polyalkylenes such as polyethylene and
polypropylene.
[0019] The following definitions apply to a container of the first
aspect, when completely filled with cleaning composition, and thus
"bulked out".
[0020] Preferably the container is of elongate form, preferably
arranged in an upright orientation, in use. It may be of rod-like
or stick-like shape.
[0021] Preferably the weight of the cleaning composition in the
container is at least 8 g, preferably at least 12 g, preferably at
least 15 g. Preferably said weight is up to 32 g, preferably up to
26 g, preferably up to 24 g.
[0022] Preferably its length (that is, the minimum length--see
above) is at least 4 cm, preferably at least 5 cm, preferably at
least 6 cm. Preferably its length is up to 14 cm, preferably up to
12 cm, preferably up to 10 cm.
[0023] Preferably its thickness (that is, the maximum
thickness--see above) is at least 0.8 cm, preferably at least 1.4
cm, preferably at least 1.8 cm. Preferably its thickness is up to 5
cm, more preferably up to 3.5 cm, more preferably up to 2.5 cm.
[0024] Preferably its cross-sectional area (that is, the maximum
cross-sectional area--see above) is at least 0.6 cm.sup.2,
preferably at least 1 cm.sup.2, preferably at least 1.5 cm.sup.2.
Preferably its cross-sectional area is up to 5 cm.sup.2, preferably
up to 3.5 cm.sup.2, more preferably up to 2.5 cm.sup.2.
[0025] Preferably its volume is at least 6 ml, preferably at least
9 ml, preferably at least 12 ml. Preferably its volume is up to 25
ml, preferably up to 20 ml, preferably up to 16 ml.
[0026] Preferably its aspect ratio (that is, the ratio of minimum
length to maximum thickness--see above) is at least 2:1, preferably
at least 2.5:1, preferably at least 3:1. Preferably its aspect
ratio is up to 12:1, preferably up to 8:1, preferably up to
6:1.
[0027] Preferably the ratio of length to cross-sectional area is at
least 2:1, preferably at least 2.5:1, preferably at least 3:1
(units of length.sup.-1). Preferably the ratio of length to
cross-sectional area is up to 12:1, preferably up to 8:1,
preferably up to 6:1 (units of length.sup.-1).
[0028] As noted above the preceding definitions apply when the
definitions apply to a container of the first aspect, when
completely filled with cleaning composition, and thus "bulked out".
This assumption is made so that the definitions given are
meaningful and reliable. In some embodiments of the invention the
container may be completely filled with cleaning composition, but
in other embodiments there may be advantage in only partially
filling the container. This is so that water may enter the
container and dilute the cleaning composition, to the point where
the diluted cleaning composition dissolves the water-soluble
plastics closure member(s), whereas the undiluted cleaning
composition does not.
[0029] Preferably the ratio of the volume of liquid cleaning
composition in the container to the volume of the container is at
least 30%. It may be at least 40%, or at least 50%.
[0030] Preferably the ratio of the volume of liquid cleaning
composition in the container to the volume of the container is up
to 100%. It may be up to 90%, or up to 80%.
[0031] According to a second aspect of the invention, there is
provided an article comprising a plurality of conjoined containers
each in accordance with the first aspect, provided as chambers
containing individual doses of liquid cleaning composition.
[0032] The article may be in the form of a parallel array of
elongate chambers each containing a said dose.
[0033] The article can be made in flat or otherwise extended form,
and formed into a nested form, and inserted into a holder which is
located in use in a ware washing machine. The nested form may be
made by forming the article into a roll.
[0034] Preferably the nested form is generally cylindrical.
[0035] Preferably, in the nested form, the backing material is on
the outside and so the chambers project inwards. However
embodiments in which, in the nested form, the backing material is
on the inside, so that the chambers project outwards, are not
excluded.
[0036] Preferably the article has at least 6 chambers, more
preferably at least 8, and most preferably at least 10.
[0037] Preferably the article has at least 6 chambers, more
preferably up to 18, and most preferably up to 16.
[0038] Preferably the backing material is a sheet or is made up of
a series of elements, for example panels, articulated together such
that the nested form may be achieved. When the backing material is
a sheet the article may be formed into a nested form by rolling it,
preferably until one end touches or even overlaps the other
end.
[0039] Preferably the nested form is maintained by securing one
part of the backing material to another part; preferably one end to
the other end. The securement means may conveniently be adhesive
tape located so as to prevent unrolling or unfolding of the
article, as the case may be.
[0040] Preferably there is a small gap between chambers in the
non-nested position so that they can be formed into their nested
position without hindrance.
[0041] Preferably the container is formed in one main piece i.e.
apart from the water-soluble plastics closure member(s). That one
main piece may be in the form of a moulded or thermoformed tray
having said chambers, in which the doses are provided. The backing
material may be secured over the tray to close the chambers, and
entrap the doses. In such an embodiment the tray and backing
material in effect together form the multiple chambers.
[0042] Preferably the chambers, containing said doses, are of
substantially the same cross-section along their length; in
particular, they preferably do not taper.
[0043] Preferably the article is such that, in its nested form,
adjacent chambers containing doses of cleaning composition are
separated by a spacing. A separate holder into which the nested
article is placed, in use, preferably has an array of walls
radiating from a hub, wherein spacings must be mated with divider
walls when the article is located in the holder. There could be
one-to-one correspondence between spacings and divider walls, but
preferably there are more spacings than divider walls. Three or
four divider walls will generally suffice to cause the article to
be located correctly in the holder. In general we may say there is
preferably 3-8 divider walls, preferably 4-6.
[0044] The holder is generally a plastics body, rigid and
substantial, but the article, once the dosage elements have gone,
is light and may even be rather flimsy. It suitably comprises just
the backing material and the sleeves (which may be light
thermoformed sheet, or film). The article is intended as a refill,
the holder retained. The wastage of material when the article is
exhausted is very small. The invention may thus be seen as a
desirably ergonomic solution.
[0045] In the context of the second embodiment the patch may be a
patch which occludes one opening only or it may be a patch, such as
a band, which occludes more than one opening.
[0046] In accordance with a third aspect of the invention there is
provided a multiple dosing ware washing product comprising an
article of the second aspect, in nested form, retained within a
holder as described above. Preferably the holder is adapted for
location in use in a ware washing machine and the article is
adapted for location in the holder. Preferably the holder is
designed as a non-disposable or long-life body. Preferably the
article is intended as a refill or disposable body. In practice
successive refills are fitted into the one holder.
[0047] Thus, preferably, the holder has means for retaining it
releasably within a ware washing machine. For example it may have a
hook to enable it to be hung from a rack of a dishwasher; or a
clamp to enable it to be clamped to a rack of a dishwasher; or be
designed to be fitted into a compartment of a rack of a dishwasher;
or may have means allowing it to be releasably fitted to the wall
of a dishwasher or laundry washing machine, or to the window of a
laundry washing machine.
[0048] Preferably when the container is located in the product of
the third aspect it is disposed with its low-level opening
lowermost so that when the low-level opening is breached the liquid
cleaning composition flows out under gravity.
[0049] Preferably the holder has a lid adapted to deliver water to
a selected dosage element. Preferably the holder has means to
deliver water to the dosage elements in sequence, one in each wash.
Such means may operate automatically or be operated by the user,
before a wash is commenced.
[0050] In accordance with a fourth aspect of the invention there is
provided a method of making an article in accordance with the
second aspect, comprising forming a parallel array (e.g. a rack) of
empty chambers, delivering doses of cleaning composition into the
chambers using the open low-level openings as fill openings, or
using the high-level openings (when provided) as fill openings,
closing the fill openings with water soluble plastics closure
member(s), and forming the article into said nested form.
[0051] In accordance with a fifth aspect of the invention there is
provided a method of carrying out washing in a ware washing
machine, the method comprising:
[0052] (1) mounting a product of the third aspect in the ware
washing machine, the article (of the second aspect) within the
holder containing a plurality X of dosage elements (where X is an
integer and is 3 or more, preferably 6 or more);
[0053] (2) operating the ware washing machine for one cycle such
that the water soluble plastics closure member(s) of one chamber
is/are dissolved and one dose of cleaning composition is released
into the ware washing machine;
[0054] (3) operating the ware washing machine for X-1 (X minus 1)
further cycles such that the water soluble plastics closure
member(s) of further chambers are dissolved and X-1 further doses
of cleaning composition are released into the ware washing machine
chamber by chamber in successive washes, until the article is
spent;
[0055] (4) removing the spent product from the holder;
[0056] (5) introducing a new article of the second aspect into the
holder; and
[0057] (6) repeating steps (2) to (5) with successive new articles
loaded into the same holder.
[0058] In accordance with a sixth aspect of the invention there is
provided the use of a container in accordance with the first aspect
or of an article in accordance with the second aspect or of a
multiple dosing ware washing product in accordance with the third
aspect, in carrying out washing in a ware washing machine.
[0059] Preferred features of any aspect of the invention herein
described are preferred features of any other aspect.
[0060] The invention will now be further described, by way of
example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0061] FIG. 1 shows a fully assembled multi-dose dishwashing
device;
[0062] FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C show the device of FIG. 1,
disassembled;
[0063] FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C show respectively top plan view, side
plan view and bottom plan views of the article in flat form.
[0064] The device shown in FIG. 1 is made up of a holder 2 (FIG.
2A), a refill 4 (FIG. 2C) for location within the holder, and a lid
or cap 6 (FIG. 2B).
[0065] The refill is a container in the form of a cylindrical roll,
formed from a flat thermoformed water-insoluble plastics tray 8 of
elongate parallel blister recesses 10 and a backing film or sheet
11. The tray and backing sheet are secured together by heat or
adhesive. The open face of each blister recess 10 is formed all
around its perimeter with an endless flange 12. Cleaning
composition doses 6 comprising a low-water, free-running, liquid
cleaning composition (intended in this embodiment to be used for
cleaning in an automatic dishwasher machine) are introduced into
the blister recesses.
[0066] Each blister recess has opposed end walls, one of which, the
upper end wall in use, has an opening 14. In this embodiment each
upper opening 14 is circular, and 6 mm in diameter. Each such
opening 12 is covered by a PVOH disc 15. A smaller opening 16 is
formed in the lower end wall of each blister recess. In this
embodiment each such opening is circular, and 2.5 mm in diameter.
Each such opening 16 is covered by a PVOH disc 17.
[0067] At a position mid-way between the upper and lower end walls
the side wall of each blister recess has a third opening 18, which
is circular and 3 mm in diameter. Each such opening is covered by a
PVOH disc 19.
[0068] A backing sheet is 11 secured, for example by heat sealing
or adhesive, over the open blister recesses, to form the article
with its discrete chambers.
[0069] Securement of the discs 15, 17, 19 is in face-to-face
manner, onto the outer surface of the water-insoluble plastics
tray, about the respective opening. Securement may be by means of a
suitable adhesive, which may conveniently be water. However the
discs 17, 19 are secured first, then the chambers are filled with
low-water cleaning composition by injection via the upper openings
14 (which have not been sealed over). The upper openings are then
sealed over by discs 15.
[0070] Next, the flat article, initially in the form of a rack or
parallel linear array, of elongate dosage elements 6, may be curled
into its nested form shown in FIG. 20, with the backing sheet 11
outermost. In this embodiment the nested form is a generally
cylindrical array. It may be retained in its nested form by a piece
of adhesive tape 16.
[0071] The backing may be printed on its outwards-directed
side--the free face of backing sheet 11--with information, for
example a trade mark and/on, with product get-up, and/or with
contents information, and/or with instructions for use.
[0072] It will be noted that the dosage elements are provided with
a separation 28 between them, on the backing sheet 11.
[0073] It may further be noted that the dosage elements taper in
the inwards direction, and so have a separation 30 between them, at
their distal end region, when in their nested form.
[0074] The tray 8 has, as a result of the mould into which it is
thermoformed during manufacture, preferential fold lines 32. These
fold lines 32 are aligned with the spacings 28 between the dosage
elements.
[0075] The end result of these features is as follows, and can be
clearly seen in FIG. 2C: when the article is formed into its nested
form the article is displaced about its fold lines 22, in a
segmented or articulated manner. This is permitted by the spacings
28 and 30; if the dosage elements simply abutted against each other
the operation would not be permitted, due to physical
obstruction.
[0076] As can be seen in FIG. 2C the spacings 30 in the inboard
regions of the dosage elements remain, even in the nested form
(though obviously narrowed when nested).
[0077] In use, the article of the invention is provided as a
refill, supplied in its nested form shown in FIG. 2C. In that
nested from it is inserted by the customer into the holder 2, shown
in FIG. 2A. The holder is a cylindrical tub having a hub-like axial
projection 40 extending upwards from its base substantially the
whole axial length of the tub. Projecting outwardly from the
projection 40 are four fins 42, set at 90.degree. intervals. The
fins extend approximately four-tenths of the radial distance of the
holder.
[0078] The holder has a hanging handle 44.
[0079] The bottom wall of the holder has a large opening (not
shown).
[0080] The holder has a lid 6 shown in FIG. 2B. The lid has a
central indexing device 46 surrounded by a sieve 48, to allow
particulate-free water to enter the holder. The central indexing
device has a push button 50 and, around it, a dial 54 carrying
numbers, equaling the number of chambers. Each time the dishwasher
is to be used, the user presses the button to advance the control
dial by one number, bringing the next chamber into use. This is
done by rotating an apertured disc within the lid by one position
so that water entering the holder must pass through the aperture
thereof, now in alignment with the next chamber. Water enters the
appropriate chamber through the opening 12 which is aligned with
the opening within the lid, the PVOH disc 15 having very quickly
been dissolved away. Water enters the chamber and dilutes the
low-water liquid cleaning composition, leading to dissolution of
the other PVOH discs 15, 19, as the cleaning composition becomes
more dilute, and allowing the cleaning composition dose to leave
the chamber through the lower and central openings 16, 18. To
facilitate this process, in this embodiment the chamber is only 75%
filled with the cleaning composition,
[0081] When the refill 4 is located within the holder 2 the fins 42
are located within spacings 30 of the nested article. The tolerance
of the fins in the spacings 30 is not large and in this way it is
assured, that the cleaning composition doses, and the upper
openings 12, are in the correct orientation, to align with the
opening within the lid.
[0082] If is helpful for filling purposes and to assure that water
flows into the respective container that the upper opening is
somewhat large. The lower and central openings do not need to be as
large.
[0083] The arrangement is very space-efficient, in not taking up
very much of the "footprint" available within the dishwashing
machine.
[0084] Further advantages of providing water-soluble closure
members include the fact that they allow suitable liquid cleaning
compositions to be used.
[0085] Other embodiments, for example, in which upper and lower
openings are of the same area; or in which the upper opening is of
smaller area than the lower opening; or in which there is no
intermediate opening) are within the broad scope of the present
invention.
* * * * *