U.S. patent application number 12/601863 was filed with the patent office on 2010-08-12 for detergent dosing device.
This patent application is currently assigned to Reckitt Benckiser N.V.. Invention is credited to Karl Ludwig Gibis, Chris Efstathios Housmekerides.
Application Number | 20100200025 12/601863 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38289474 |
Filed Date | 2010-08-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100200025 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Housmekerides; Chris Efstathios ;
et al. |
August 12, 2010 |
Detergent Dosing Device
Abstract
A refill device for a multi-dosing detergent delivery device
comprises: a plurality of dosage elements each containing an amount
of detergent; and a disposable dosage element support means for
containing said dosage elements and holding them in a specific
configuration prior to use, wherein said specific configuration
matches a compartment layout of a multi-chamber inlet part of a
multi-dosing detergent delivery device and facilitates insertion of
said dosage elements into said multi-chamber inlet part by a user
without the user needing to handle any of said dosage elements
directly. In one variant, primary retail packaging is provided
mimicking the internal formation of the multi-chamber inlet part
(400) such that the removal of a lid and subsequent inverting of a
base portion of the packaging over the multi-chamber inlet part
brings the dosage elements into correct registration with the
chambers of the multi-chamber inlet part. In this variant, a user
then needs to simply press on the base so as to eject the dosage
elements into the multi-chamber inlet part. Plastics waste is
minimal.
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 N.V.
Hoofddorp
NL
|
Family ID: |
38289474 |
Appl. No.: |
12/601863 |
Filed: |
May 23, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
May 23, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/GB08/01752 |
371 Date: |
April 6, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
134/93 ;
222/129 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 39/026 20130101;
D06F 39/024 20130101; A47L 15/4472 20130101; A47L 15/4445 20130101;
A47L 15/4463 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
134/93 ;
222/129 |
International
Class: |
A47L 15/44 20060101
A47L015/44 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 30, 2007 |
GB |
0710231.2 |
Claims
1. A refill device adapted for use in a multi-dosing detergent
delivery device, the refill device comprising: a plurality of
dosage elements each containing an amount of detergent; and a a
disposable dosage element support means for containing said dosage
elements and holding them in a specific configuration prior to use,
wherein said specific configuration matches, in use, a compartment
layout of a multi-chamber inlet part of a multi-dosing detergent
delivery device and facilitates insertion of said dosage elements
into such a multi-chamber inlet part by a user without the user
needing to handle any of said dosage elements directly.
2. A refill device according to claim 1, wherein said dosage
element support means comprises: a dosage element holder including
a base element from which a plurality of dosage element supports
protrude, each dosage element support being adapted to receive a
single dosage element.
3. A refill device according to claim 2, wherein each dosage
element support comprises a finger that projects upwardly from said
base element and co-operates with its respective dosage element to
hold said dosage element thereon.
4. A refill device according to claim 2, wherein each dosage
element support comprises retaining means at a distal end thereof
so as to retain its respective dosage element thereon.
5. A refill device according to claim 1, wherein said dosage
element support means comprises: a dosage element holder comprising
a multi-compartment base and a lid.
6. A refill device according to claim 5, wherein said
multi-compartment base comprises means for separating a plurality
of said dosage elements from one another and keeping them spaced
apart in such a manner that they assume a configuration to match a
compartment layout of a multi-chamber inlet part of a multi-dosing
detergent delivery device.
7. A refill device according to claim 6, wherein said means for
separating comprises upstanding divider parts formed as an integral
part of the base.
8. A refill device according to claim 5, wherein said
multi-compartment base comprises a one-piece plastics element.
9. A refill device according to claim 5, wherein said base includes
means for ensuring a positive engagement between itself and the
lid.
10. A refill device according to claim 5, wherein the lid and base
are formed so that when the lid is lifted from the base, a top part
of each dosage element stands proud of the base so as to protrude
therefrom.
11. A refill device according to claim 10, wherein, in use, when
the lid is removed and the base inverted the base is arranged so as
to retain the dosage elements.
12. A refill device according to claim 10, wherein, in use, to
refill a multi-dosing detergent delivery device a user removes the
lid from the base and inverts the base and then brings the
protruding parts of the dosage elements into registration with
empty compartments of a multi-chamber inlet part of a multi-dosing
detergent delivery device.
13. A refill device according to claim 12, wherein to displace the
dosage elements into the compartments of the multi-chamber
detergent delivery device the user presses on the bottom of the
base to eject said dosage elements from said base into said
compartments.
14. A refill device according to claim 13, wherein said base is
formed with a series of concentric rings/ridges which facilitate
the pushing action so as to enable the bottom of the base to go
from a generally flat form to a concave formation and urge the
dosage elements out of the base.
15. A refill device according to claim 5, wherein said base and lid
form the primary packaging for a refill pack.
16. A multi-dosing detergent delivery device comprising the refill
device according to claim 1.
17. A ware-washing machine provided impermanently with a refill
apparatus or a multi-dosing delivery device according to claim
16.
18. A multi-dosing detergent delivery device comprising the refill
device according to claim 1, which further comprises a
multi-compartment inlet part for the reception therein of said
refill device.
19. A ware-washing machine according to claim 17, wherein said
ware-washing machine is an automatic dishwashing machine.
Description
[0001] This invention relates to a refill device for a multi-dosing
detergent delivery device for use in a ware washing machine, for
example a dishwashing machine or a laundry washing machine.
[0002] PCT/GB2007/000177 describes a dosage element of cleaning
composition and a chamber for use in multi-dosing detergent
delivery device for a ware washing machine, wherein said chamber
comprises a container for said dosage element and comprises at
least a top hole and a bottom hole for permitting ingress and
egress of water/wash liquor to/from the chamber. In preferred
arrangements of the aforementioned invention, the chamber comprises
a sleeve of a plastics material having an upper, and a lower
opening, with in some cases there being also provided a middle
opening being intermediate said upper and lower openings and being
larger than said lower opening and smaller than said upper
opening.
[0003] PCT/GB2007/000177 also describes an article comprising a
rack of dosage elements and chambers as aforementioned wherein said
chambers are retained on a backing material and said rack is in the
form of a parallel array of elongate chambers containing solid
dosage elements, the rack being formable into a generally
cylindrical nested form.
[0004] FIGS. 1 through 7 show an embodiment of the arrangements of
PCT/GB2007/000177 in more detail, in these figures:
[0005] FIG. 1 shows an the article in nested form, in a perspective
view, generally from above;
[0006] FIG. 2 shows the article of FIG. 1 in nested form, in side
view;
[0007] FIG. 3 shows the article of FIG. 1 in flat form;
[0008] FIG. 4 shows a dosage element of the article of FIG. 3 in
plan view;
[0009] FIG. 5a shows the article of FIG. 1 being introduced into a
holder of FIG. 5b, the cap, containing the dosage element selecting
device, being shown removed, as FIG. 5c;
[0010] FIG. 6 shows the article of FIG. 1 having been located
within the holder of FIG. 5b; and
[0011] FIG. 7 shows the fully assembled device, with the cap of
FIG. 5c having been placed on the holder and article assembly of
FIG. 6a.
[0012] The article of FIG. 1 is manufactured as a flat plastics
tray of elongated blister chambers 2, shown in FIG. 3, comprising a
thermoformed plastics tray. The open end of each blister chamber 2
is formed all around its perimeter with an endless flange 4 (which
can be seen in FIG. 2). Dosage elements 6 comprising solid rods or
sticks of a cleaning composition (intended in this embodiment to be
used for cleaning in an automatic dishwasher machine) are
introduced into the blister chambers. This can be done in different
ways. For example in one embodiment the cleaning composition can be
injected or cast into the chambers. However in this embodiment the
rods or sticks comprising each dosage element 6 are pre-formed by
injection moulding or extrusion, then cut to length and introduced
into the chambers. It may be noted that they are introduced into
the chambers in the first embodiment and to fill each chamber to
the bottom end 8, but to leave a space 10 at the top end. In other,
more preferred, embodiments to be discussed later however, there is
also left free space between a lowermost extent of the dosage
element 6 and the base of the chamber. This space 10 is left so
that water can enter the chamber, via opening 12 in the upper end
wall of the chamber. In this embodiment each such opening 12 is
circular, and 8 mm in diameter. An identical opening (not shown) is
formed in the lower end wall of the article, to allow water and
entrained or dissolved cleaning composition to exit the
chamber.
[0013] Once all of the chambers have been provided with the rods or
sticks of cleaning composition (by whatever means) a backing sheet
14 is laid over the open ends, and secured to the flanges 4. The
backing may be adhered thereto by any convenient means, for example
by heat or adhesive.
[0014] Next, the flat article, now in the form of a rack or linear
array of rods or sticks, may be curled into its nested form shown
in FIG. 1. 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.
[0015] The backing may be printed on its outwards-facing side with
information, for example a trade mark, with product get-up, and/or
with usage information.
[0016] As shown in FIG. 4, each rod or stick--and correspondingly
each blister, has a flat base wall 18 abutting the backing sheet
14. From the base wall 18, each rod or stick, and each blister,
generally tapers to a narrower distal end wall 20. The side walls
initially taper gradually, as at 22, 24, then undergo a somewhat
abrupt inward dislocation 26, then taper at an intermediate rate
(between that of the side wall portion and the dislocation 26) at
27, until the distal end wall 20 is reached.
[0017] The rods or sticks may be regarded as having the general
shape of a triangular prism (i.e. trigonal). To be more precise, as
noted above the side walls taper in a discontinuous manner.
[0018] It will be noted that the rods or sticks are located on the
backing sheet with a separation 28 between them, at their base
walls 18.
[0019] It may further be noted that the rods or sticks have a
separation 30 between them, at their distal end region, when in
their nested form.
[0020] The backing sheet 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
rods or sticks.
[0021] The end result of these features is as follows, and can be
clearly seen in FIG. 1: when the article is formed into its nested
shape the backing sheet is displaced about its fold lines 22, in an
articulated manner. This nesting or folding is permitted by the
spacings 28 and 30; if the sticks or rods simply abutted against
each other the operation would not be permitted, due to physical
obstruction. As can be seen in FIG. 1 the spacings 30 in the distal
end regions may remain even in the nested form (though obviously
narrowed).
[0022] In use, the article of the invention is a refill which is
supplied in its nested form shown in FIG. 1, and also FIG. 5a. In
that nested from it is inserted into a holder, shown in FIG. 5b.
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.
[0023] The holder has a hanging handle 44.
[0024] The bottom wall of the holder is a large opening (not
shown).
[0025] The holder has a lid shown in FIG. 5c. 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, equalling the number of rods or sticks of cleaning
composition. Each time the dishwasher is to be used, the user
presses the button to advance the control dial by one number,
bringing the next rod or stick of cleaning 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 rod or stick. Water enters
the appropriate blister through the opening 12 which is aligned
with the opening within the lid. The water may fill the spacing 10
above the rod or stick. The rod or stick is soaked by the water and
dissolves and/or crumbles away, leaving the blister through the
bottom opening.
[0026] Somewhat surprisingly, we have found that excellent
dissolution of the rods or sticks is achieved by this method. It
might have been expected that dissolving dosage elements of the
cleaning composition by directing water to one end of them in an
axial or lengthwise direction might be an inefficient method. In
fact, dissolution or dispersion is excellent and the arrangement is
very space-efficient, in not taking up very much of the "footprint
area" available within the dishwashing machine.
[0027] As can be seen in FIG. 6, when the article is located within
the tub of the holder 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 rods or sticks,
and the upper openings 12, are in the correct orientation, to align
with the opening within the lid.
[0028] FIG. 7 shows the fully assembled device.
[0029] As was apparent from the discussion above, the first
embodiment of PCT/GB2007/000177 as described utilised identically
sized holes top and bottom. In other embodiments different
configurations are described in which different sizing of holes is
provided and an extra hole intermediate the top and bottom holes
can also advantageously provided.
[0030] In all of the aforementioned arrangements, there are
required to be around 80 g of Polypropylene injected plastic for a
12 wash refill cartridge. Here, there is a 7 g plastics cost per
detergent dosage.
[0031] It is an aim of preferred embodiments of the present
invention to reduce the amount of waste material per wash, whilst
still providing a convenient article and refill cartridge.
[0032] According to a first aspect of the invention, there is
provided a refill device suitable for use in a multi-dosing
detergent delivery device, the refill device comprising: a
plurality of dosage elements each containing an amount of
detergent; and a disposable dosage element support means for
containing said dosage elements and holding them in a specific
configuration prior to use, wherein said specific configuration
matches, in use, a compartment layout of a multi-chamber inlet part
of a multi-dosing detergent delivery device and facilitates
insertion of said dosage elements into such a multi-chamber inlet
part by a user without the user needing to handle any of said
dosage elements directly.
[0033] Said dosage elements are bare, or are preferably bare, i.e.
they preferably have no packaging around them and comprise rods or
sticks of a cleaning composition with no outer wrapping or
packaging. Said dosage elements may be of the same or similar
composition to the dosage elements of the prior art, with the
exception that the dosage elements of the present invention are not
then packaged into blister chambers--accordingly, waste packaging
is reduced.
[0034] As noted, the dosage elements are preferably themselves
devoid of any outer packaging and therefore the disposable dosage
element support means holds said bare dosage elements uncovered in
the said specific configuration prior to use and provides a means
of carrying out refill operations without the user needing to grasp
the bare dosage elements themselves.
[0035] In a first preferred variant, said dosage element support
means comprises: a dosage element holder including a base element
from which a plurality of dosage element supports extend, each
dosage element support being apt to receive a single dosage
element.
[0036] Preferably, each dosage element support comprises a finger
that projects upwardly from said base element and co-operates with
its respective dosage element to hold said dosage element
thereon.
[0037] Here, each dosage element may have a passage formed within
it and said passage is apt to receive said finger within it.
Preferably each finger extends through the passage formed within
its respective dosage element and protrudes through the end of its
dosage element and stand proud of an end surface of said dosage
element.
[0038] Preferably each dosage element support comprises retaining
means at a distal end thereof so as to retain its respective dosage
element thereon. The retaining means may comprise at least one
detent means which enables the association of a dosage element with
its respective support means but which resists removal of the
dosage element from the support means once associated therewith.
Preferably, said detent means comprises a pair of angled detents
which co-operate to compress towards one another so as to enable
the support means to extend through a passage formed within a
dosage element, but which expand outwardly to retain said dosage
element once said dosage element is pushed fully home.
[0039] The refill device may further comprise a base part for
co-operation with said dosage element holder and said base part may
comprise locating means, such as a central moulding, to co-operate
with a corresponding feature of the dosage element holder to join
the dosage element holder and base part to one another.
[0040] Preferably, said disposable dosage element support means
comprises an injection moulded plastics material.
[0041] In a second preferred variant, said dosage element support
means comprises: a dosage element holder comprising a
multi-compartment base and a lid.
[0042] In this variant, said multi-compartment base preferably
comprises means for separating a plurality of said dosage elements
from one another and keeping them spaced apart in such a manner
that they assume a configuration to match a compartment layout of a
multi-chamber inlet part of a multi-dosing detergent delivery
device.
[0043] Preferably said means for separating comprises upstanding
divider parts formed as an integral part of the base and/or
comprises fully or partially formed recess wells within the
base.
[0044] Preferably, said multi-compartment base comprises a
one-piece plastics element and may be suitably formed by
thermo-moulding.
[0045] Preferably, said base includes means for ensuring a positive
engagement between itself and the lid which may comprise a lip
around the base co-operating with a complimentary shaped lip around
the lid or, for instance, may comprise a centrally upstanding
portion formed within the base, co-operating with a suitable
complimentary central and downwardly depending part formed on the
lid.
[0046] Preferably, the lid and base are formed so that when the lid
is lifted from the base, a top part of each dosage element stands
proud of the base so as to protrude therefrom.
[0047] Preferably the weight of plastics material in the base and
lid is less than 30 g, preferably less than 25 g, preferably less
than 20 g, most preferably less than 15 g.
[0048] Preferably, when the lid is removed and the base inverted
the base is arranged so as to retain the dosage elements.
[0049] Preferably the base has means for retaining the dosage
elements when the base is inverted with the lid removed. The means
for retaining may be a gripping means, for example, arising from
the fit of the dosage elements in compartments of the base.
Alternatively or additionally the base may be constructed such that
there is an inwards displacement of wall(s) thereof, giving rise to
a retaining force, when a user grips the base.
[0050] Preferably, the refill device is arranged such that, in use,
to refill a multi-dosing detergent delivery device a user removes
the lid from the base and inverts the base and then brings the
protruding parts of the dosage elements into registration with
empty compartments of a multi-chamber inlet part of a multi-dosing
detergent delivery device. Preferably, to displace the dosage
elements into the compartments of the multi-chamber the user
presses on the bottom of the base to eject said dosage elements
from said base into said compartments.
[0051] Advantageously, said base is formed with a series of
concentric rings/ridges which facilitate the pushing action so as
to enable the bottom of the base to go from a generally flat form
to a concave formation and urge the dosage elements out of the
base.
[0052] Preferably, said base and lid form the primary packaging for
a refill pack.
[0053] The invention includes a refill apparatus comprising the
refill device either of the above variants further comprising a
multi-compartment inlet part for the reception therein said refill
device and/or of dosage elements from said refill device.
[0054] The invention also extends to a multi-dosing detergent
delivery device comprising the refill device.
[0055] Preferably the multi-dosing detergent delivery device is
detachable from a ware-washing machine (rather than being a
built-in module of a machine).
[0056] In accordance with a further aspect of the invention there
is provided a ware-washing machine (preferably an automatic
dishwashing machine) provided with a multi-dosing delivery device
of the first aspect. Preferably the device is such that it may be
fitted into (and removed from) a machine by an end user. Preferably
permanent machine adaptations are not undertaken. Thus in simple
terms the device is preferably an "add-on" to an existing
machine.
[0057] For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how
embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will
now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic
drawings in which:
[0058] FIG. 8(a) shows in an exploded perspective view a plurality
of detergent sticks, a stick holder and a base part according to a
first embodiment of the invention, whilst FIG. 8(b) shows the same
parts in an assembled configuration;
[0059] FIG. 9 perspective view a multi-chamber inlet part into
which the assembly of FIG. 8(b) is insertable; and
[0060] FIG. 10(a), (b), (c) and (d) show a retail pack of
replacement detergent sticks according to a second embodiment and
how they may be conveniently associated with a multi-chamber inlet
part during a refilling operation.
[0061] Referring now to FIGS. 8 through 10, a first embodiment of a
refill pack for a multi-dosing detergent delivery device will be
described in which detergent sticks 100 may be associated with a
multi-dosing detergent delivery device whilst reducing the amount
of plastics material.
[0062] Referring to FIG. 8(a) there is shown in exploded view a
detergent stick holder 200, twelve detergent sticks 100 and a base
part 300. The detergent stick holder 200 includes a base element
240, from which twelve fingers 220 project upwardly, each finger
being apt to receive a single stick 100 of detergent.
[0063] Here, it will be noted that each finger 220 includes
retaining means 222 at a distal end thereof in the form of a pair
of angled detents which co-operate so as to enable engagement
within a central hole 110 formed through each detergent stick. The
sticks 100 thus each push onto a respective finger 220 of the
detergent stick holder 200 and are held thereon by the retaining
means 220 which is compressed inwardly during its passage through
the hole 110, but which springs out to retain each finger when it
is pushed fully home. The base element 240 of the detergent stick
holder 200 itself has a central hole 260 which co-operates with a
central moulding 310 of the separate base part 300 to form locating
means to either permanently or releaseably join the holder 200 and
base part 300 to one another. The base part 300 also preferably
features a central hole 320 in register with the hole 260 of the
detergent stick holder 200.
[0064] The finished and assembled refill part is shown in FIG. 8(b)
and it is in this form that the embodiment is preferably supplied
to a customer. In this assembled form the end user may simply take
this assembled part and place it into a multi-chamber inlet part
400 of the type shown in FIG. 9. Here, it will be appreciated that
the multi-chamber inlet part 400 may effectively form part of a
main body part of a multi-dosing detergent delivery device.
Effectively the assembled parts 100 through 400 as described herein
may take the place of the blister package and holder described
earlier and a suitable indexing mechanism may be used to
selectively direct washing liquor to one of the twelve chambers of
the multi-compartment inlet part 400 to provide a dose of detergent
during a washing cycle.
[0065] In the embodiment described above it is envisaged that the
disposable parts of the assembly comprise the detergent stick
holder 200 and the base part 300 which may contain 14 grams and 8.4
grams of plastics material respectively giving a total plastics
wastage cost of 22.4 grams per twelve washing cycles, which is a
considerable saving over the 80 gram cost of the aforementioned
prior art arrangements.
[0066] In another variation, rather than the whole detergent stick
holder 200 and base part 300 being fully disposable, they could be
part of a refill scheme where they are returned to a retail outlet,
or the manufacturer for re-use. In another variation, rather than
the whole assembly of stick holder 200 and base element 300 being
used within the detergent multi-dosing device, the sticks of
detergent 100 could be deposited directly into the
multi-compartment inlet part 400 from the stick holder 200. For
instance, the retaining means 222 might in such a variation be
omitted or arranged to have only a very weak grasp onto the
detergent sticks 100 so as to ease direct deployment into the
multi-compartment inlet part.
[0067] There will now be described in conjunction with FIGS. 9 and
10 a second embodiment of a refill cartridge for a multi-dosing
detergent delivery device in which there is reduced plastics
wastage.
[0068] The second embodiment also envisages the use of a
multi-chamber inlet part 400 of the kind shown in FIG. 9. However,
in contrast to the first embodiment, it is considered that there
should be the possibility of eliminating the need for a separate
detergent stick holder and base part per se. Instead, in this
embodiment it is contemplated that the user may directly introduce
the individual detergent sticks into the multi-chamber inlet part
400.
[0069] It is of course desirable for a user to avoid the need for
handling individual bare dosage sticks. Therefore, the inventors
have designed a specific refill packaging solution in which (as
shown in FIG. 10(a)) individual detergent sticks are provided
already arrayed and separated into the same configuration as they
will be used within the multi-dosing detergent delivery device.
Here, the packaging consists of a one piece multi-compartment base
500 and a lid 600.
[0070] The multi-compartment base 500 includes means for separating
the twelve detergent sticks 100 from one another and keeping them
spaced apart in such a manner that they assume the same axially
separated configuration as they will do in the multi-dosing
detergent delivery device. These means for separating may typically
comprise upstanding divider parts formed as part of an integral
moulding of the one piece base 500, or may comprise full or
partially formed recess wells within the base 500. The base 500
preferably includes means for ensuring a positive engagement
between itself and the lid 600. This may comprise a lip around the
base 500 co-operating with a complimentary shaped lip around the
lid 600. Alternatively and/or additionally, this positive
engagement between lid 600 and base 500 may be ensured by including
a centrally upstanding portion formed within the base 500
co-operating with a suitable complimentary central and downwardly
depending part 620 formed on the lid 600--these central parts may
also serve to separate the detergent sticks in transit.
[0071] As shown in FIG. 10(a) the lid 600 and base 500 are formed
so that when the lid is lifted, a top part of each detergent stick
100 stands proud of the base.
[0072] Referring to FIG. 10(b), it can be seen that when the lid is
removed and the base 500 inverted, the detergent sticks 100 do not
simply fall out. The base is slightly compressed by the user's grip
and thus holds the sticks in place. The user then brings the sticks
100 into register with the empty compartments of the multi-chamber
inlet part 400 so as to bring it into the configuration shown in
FIG. 10(c). Alternatively, the user may leave the base upright,
then invert the part 400, then lower the part 400 on to the base
500, and then invert them together.
[0073] Finally, as illustrated in FIG. 10(d), to displace the
detergent sticks 100 into the compartments of the multi-chamber
inlet part 400, the user need simply press on the bottom of the
base to urge the sticks into place, by the pushing force and/or
gravity. Preferably, the bottom of the base is formed with a series
of concentric rings/ridges 520-580 which facilitate the pushing
action so as to enable the bottom of the base to go from a
generally flat form to a concave formation and urge the sticks out
of the base 500 and into the multi-chamber inlet part 400.
[0074] In accordance with the above description of the second
embodiment a means of introducing detergent sticks into a
multi-dosing detergent delivery device is provided in which a users
hands need never come into contact with the detergent sticks
themselves. Further, the only plastics material waste is the base
and lid of the refill packaging which can be made of lightweight
plastics and need only result in 10 grams wastage per twelve
washes.
[0075] It will further be understood that the plastic base and lid
may themselves advantageously form the primary packaging for a
refill pack such that minimal extra packaging is utilised on the
shelf, such extra packaging might, for instance, be limited to a
plastics or foil seal to join the lid to the base during display
and transport and provide a safety/moisture seal. The base and/or
lid are preferably made of thermoformed plastics. The base and/or
lid may themselves be printed with supplementary information such
as product information, bar codes etc. or such information may be
applied to a paper, card or plastics outer sleeve.
[0076] In the described embodiments, it will be appreciated that
the actual details of the multi-dosing detergent delivery device
itself are not critical to the understanding of the refill system
described herein. In particular, it will be understood that during
an indexing operation following a completed washing cycle (for
example) the multi-chamber inlet part may itself be rotated one
compartment at a time within a static outer container, or the inlet
part may remain static whilst, for instance, an apertured disc or
funnel attachment placed above the inlet part could rotate to
selectively deliver washing liquor to one compartment or another.
Also, it will be realised that such indexing might occur either
manually (for instance by a user pushing a button) or automatically
under action of, for instance, a wax motor.
[0077] It will also be understood that the composition of the
detergent etc. is immaterial to the understanding of the refill
system and it is sufficient to say that each dose of the
composition is calculated to be sufficient for one washing cycle.
Also, whilst the detergent composition is referred to throughout as
being in stick or rod form, it will be realised by the skilled man
that the actual form of the detergent need not be a rod, but could
be a block such as a cuboid, sphere or other shape as convenient
and conforming to the chamber shape of the multi-compartment inlet
part 400.
[0078] Whilst it is preferred that the delivery device be utilised
for automatic dishwashers, it may alternatively be applied to other
scenarios such as clothes washing or other ware washing
machines.
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