U.S. patent application number 15/405086 was filed with the patent office on 2017-05-04 for dosing cap comprising a brush device.
This patent application is currently assigned to Henkel AG & Co. KGaA. The applicant listed for this patent is Henkel AG & Co. KGaA. Invention is credited to Julia Breisinger, Keith Cardinal, Katja Gerhards, Ingomar Henning, Markus Nachtsheim, Christina Roeleke.
Application Number | 20170121071 15/405086 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53514161 |
Filed Date | 2017-05-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170121071 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gerhards; Katja ; et
al. |
May 4, 2017 |
DOSING CAP COMPRISING A BRUSH DEVICE
Abstract
A dosing cap (1) is proposed for a cleaning agent container
(20), having a cup-shaped cap body (3) with an open end part (4)
and a closed end part (5) and a brush device (2) for the
pre-treatment of objects to be cleaned, the brush device (2) being
configured detachable from the brush attachment arranged on the cap
body, wherein the brush attachment is configured to be pluggable in
such a way that the brush attachment (2) may optionally be either
plugged onto the closed end part (5) or onto the open end part (4).
Further, a cleaning agent container (20) having such a dosing cap
(1) and a use of such a dosing cap (1) for the pre-treatment of
laundry to be cleaned is proposed.
Inventors: |
Gerhards; Katja;
(Duesseldorf, DE) ; Henning; Ingomar; (Koeln,
DE) ; Cardinal; Keith; (Gilbert, AZ) ;
Nachtsheim; Markus; (Langenfeld, DE) ; Roeleke;
Christina; (Moenchengladbach, DE) ; Breisinger;
Julia; (Duesseldorf, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Henkel AG & Co. KGaA |
Duesseldorf |
|
DE |
|
|
Assignee: |
Henkel AG & Co. KGaA
Duesseldorf
DE
|
Family ID: |
53514161 |
Appl. No.: |
15/405086 |
Filed: |
January 12, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
PCT/EP2015/064438 |
Jun 25, 2015 |
|
|
|
15405086 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 51/32 20130101;
A46B 15/0055 20130101; A46B 2200/3053 20130101; A46B 15/0063
20130101; A46B 11/001 20130101; B65D 41/26 20130101; A46B 5/0095
20130101; B65D 47/42 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 47/42 20060101
B65D047/42; B65D 51/32 20060101 B65D051/32; A46B 15/00 20060101
A46B015/00; B65D 41/26 20060101 B65D041/26; A46B 5/00 20060101
A46B005/00; A46B 11/00 20060101 A46B011/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 14, 2014 |
DE |
10 2014 213 604.0 |
Claims
1. A dosing cap for a cleaning agent container, comprising a
cup-shaped cap body having an open end part and a closed end part,
and comprising a brush device for pre-treating items to be cleaned,
characterized in that the brush device is designed as a brush
attachment that is detachably arranged on the cap body, the brush
attachment being designed to be interchangeable such that the brush
attachment can be placed onto the closed end part or the open end
part as desired.
2. The dosing cap according to claim 1, wherein the brush
attachment comprises a plurality of bristles having a length of
from 4 mm to 20 mm.
3. The dosing cap according to claim 2, wherein the bristles have a
diameter of from 0.3 mm to 3.0 mm.
4. The dosing cap according to claim 2, wherein the degree of
hardness of the bristles is in the range of from 30 to 110 Shore
A.
5. The dosing cap according to claim 2, wherein the brush
attachment comprises an annular brush attachment body designed such
that the brush attachment body can be placed onto the cap body by
its lower part and the plurality of bristles are arranged on its
upper part.
6. The dosing cap according to claim 5, wherein the brush
attachment comprises a fillet on which the plurality of bristles
are arranged, the fillet being arranged on the upper part of the
brush attachment body.
7. The dosing cap according to claim 6, wherein the fillet is
arranged in parallel with the cross-sectional plane of the brush
attachment body.
8. The dosing cap according to claim 7, wherein the fillet is
approximately semicircular and covers approximately 40% to 50% of
the cross-sectional area of the brush attachment body so that an
approximately semicircular upper opening is formed.
9. The dosing cap according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of
bristles are surrounded by a circumferential collar that is
arranged on the fillet.
10. The dosing cap according to claim 9, wherein the collar is 2 mm
to 10 mm high.
11. The dosing cap according to claim 5, wherein the brush
attachment comprises ribbing arranged laterally on the outer wall
of the brush attachment body, the ribbing comprising notches having
a depth of from 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm.
12. The dosing cap according to claim 11, wherein the ribbing on
the outer wall of the brush attachment body comprises two
spaced-apart ribbed regions, which are opposite one another
relative to the longitudinal axis of the brush attachment body.
13. A cleaning agent container, comprising a dosing cap according
to claim 1, wherein the brush attachment is either on the closed
end part of the dosing cap in a presentation state of the cleaning
agent container or on the open end part of the dosing cap in a use
state of the cleaning agent container.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention generally relates to a dosing cap for
a cleaning agent container, comprising a cup-shaped cap body having
an open end part and a closed end part, and comprising a brush
device for pre-treating items to be cleaned.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Dosing caps of this type are generally known. For example,
WO 2014/004456 A1 discloses a dosing cap in which surface
irregularities are arranged on the outer base surface of the dosing
cap. In this dosing cap, however, it is disadvantageous that the
dosing cap has to be turned around after applying the dose of
washing agent to the laundry to be cleaned, so that, by means of
the surface irregularities, the washing agent can be distributed
over the laundry and rubbed in. As a result, the use of this
conventional dosing cap is comparatively laborious.
[0003] The problem addressed by the present invention is therefore
to provide a dosing cap that does not have the drawbacks of the
prior art and in particular allows convenient and user-friendly
pre-treatment.
[0004] Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of
the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent
detailed description of the invention and the appended claims,
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this
background of the invention.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] A dosing cap (1) for a cleaning agent container (20),
comprising a cup-shaped cap body (3) having an open end part (4)
and a closed end part (5), and comprising a brush device (2) for
pre-treating items to be cleaned, characterized in that the brush
device (2) is designed as a brush attachment (2) that is detachably
arranged on the cap body (3), the brush attachment (2) being
designed to be interchangeable such that the brush attachment (2)
can be placed onto the closed end part (5) or the open end part (4)
as desired.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] The present invention will hereinafter be described in
conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like
numerals denote like elements, and
[0007] FIG. 1 shows a dosing cap according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention;
[0008] FIG. 2 shows the dosing cap from FIG. 1 in another
state;
[0009] FIG. 3 shows a brush attachment for a dosing cap according
to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 4 is a side view of the brush attachment from FIG.
3;
[0011] FIG. 5 is a plan view of the brush attachment from FIG.
3;
[0012] FIG. 6 is a detailed view of the brush attachment from FIG.
3;
[0013] FIG. 7 is another detailed view of the brush attachment from
FIG. 3;
[0014] FIG. 8 shows a cleaning agent container according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and
[0015] FIG. 9 shows the cleaning agent container from FIG. 8 in
another state.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] The following detailed description of the invention is
merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the
invention or the application and uses of the invention.
Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory
presented in the preceding background of the invention or the
following detailed description of the invention.
[0017] The instant dosing cap (1) for a cleaning agent container
(20), comprises a cup-shaped cap body (3) having an open end part
(4) and a closed end part (5), and further comprises a brush device
(2) for pre-treating items to be cleaned, characterized in that the
brush device (2) is designed as a brush attachment (2) that is
detachably arranged on the cap body (3), the brush attachment (2)
being designed to be interchangeable such that the brush attachment
(2) can be placed onto the closed end part (5) or the open end part
(4) as desired.
[0018] Because it is possible to interchange the brush attachment,
it is advantageously possible to place the brush attachment either
on the closed end part or on the open end part as required or
depending on the intended use. If the brush attachment is intended
to be visible on the cleaning agent container for presentation
purposes, for example on a shelf in a store, the brush attachment
is placed on the closed end part. If the brush attachment is
intended to be used for pre-treating items, such as laundry, the
brush attachment is placed on the open end part. Therefore, using
the dosing cap according to the invention, it is advantageously
possible to combine the advantages of the two positions of the
brush attachment. On one hand, the brush attachment can be placed
onto the closed end part so that it is visible and provides
effective advertising to consumers; on the other hand, it is
considerably easier to handle the dosing cap during pre-treatment
if the brush attachment is placed onto the open end part, since the
dosing cap makes it possible to distribute and rub in cleaning
agent using the brush attachment directly and without being turned
around after the cleaning agent, such as a liquid washing agent,
has been applied to the item.
[0019] The brush attachment extends in a longitudinal direction, a
width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and a
transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction
and the width direction. If reference is made to "top" or "upper"
and "bottom" or "lower" in the following, these positions are given
relative to the longitudinal direction. If reference is made to a
cross section or a cross-sectional area or a cross-sectional plane,
this means sections in parallel with the plane that is spanned by
the width direction and transverse direction or that is arranged
perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction.
[0020] For example, it may in particular be provided that the brush
attachment is designed to be interchangeable such that the brush
attachment is in a first position when it is placed onto the closed
end part or is in a second position when it is placed onto the open
end part, the brush attachment being variably interchangeable
between the first position and the second position. As a result, it
is advantageously possible to use the dosing cap particularly
easily.
[0021] The dosing cap is designed such that it can be filled with a
partial dose of the cleaning agent contained in the cleaning agent
container. For this purpose, the dosing cap may for example have
marker lines and volume indicators that display the corresponding
fill level. In addition, the dosing cap is designed such that it
can close an outlet in the cleaning agent container. In addition,
the dosing cap is designed such that it can be connected to the
cleaning agent container, for example via a screwed connection. The
cleaning agent container may be any type of vessel into which a
cleaning agent can be introduced. The cleaning agent may comprise
any type of composition that allows items to be cleaned. The
cleaning agent may be e.g. washing agent, in particular liquid
washing agent, and/or detergent, etc. The items to be cleaned may
e.g. be laundry and/or tableware.
[0022] The cup-shaped cap body may be in any shape that allows the
cap body to be filled with cleaning agent and allows the cleaning
agent to be applied to the item to be cleaned. On the closed end
part, the cap body has a closed shape, so that the cleaning agent
cannot flow out of the dosing cap. On the open end part, the dosing
cap has an opening which allows the cleaning agent to be poured out
of the dosing cap onto the item. The brush device or brush
attachment is designed such that it allows the item to be
pre-treated. The brush attachment may be designed such that it
makes it possible to distribute the cleaning agent over the item
and/or to rub the cleaning agent into the item, for example.
[0023] According to an exemplary development, it is provided that
the brush attachment comprises a plurality of bristles having a
length of from 4 mm to 20 mm. In this range of lengths, a
comparatively good pre-treatment effect is advantageously achieved.
According to a preferred development, it is provided that the
bristles have a length of from 6 mm to 10 mm, as a result of which
very efficient pre-treatment can advantageously be achieved. In
addition, at this length it is particularly easy for the consumer
to see the bristles when the brush attachment is on the closed end
part in the first position and the dosing cap is on the cleaning
agent container, which is positioned on a shelf in a store, for
example. The plurality of bristles may be different lengths, but it
may be provided in particular that all the bristles are the same
length. The bristles may in particular be circular-cylindrical,
preferably slightly conical.
[0024] According to another preferred development, it is provided
that the bristles have a diameter of from 0.3 mm to 3.0 mm. In this
range of diameters, a comparatively good pre-treatment effect is
advantageously achieved. According to a preferred development, it
is provided that the bristles have a diameter of from 0.8 mm to 1.0
mm. As a result, very efficient pre-treatment can advantageously be
achieved. The plurality of bristles may have different diameters,
but it may be provided in particular that all the bristles have the
same diameter.
[0025] According to another exemplary embodiment, it is provided
that the bristles have a degree of hardness in the range of from 30
to 110 Shore A. As a result, a comparatively high level of
flexibility is achieved, meaning that particularly good
pre-treatment is possible. According to a preferred development, it
is provided that the bristles have a degree of hardness of from 50
to 70 Shore A. In this range, optimal pre-treatment is possible.
The plurality of bristles may have different degrees of hardness,
but it may be provided in particular that all the bristles have the
same degree of hardness.
[0026] According to another exemplary embodiment, it is provided
that the brush attachment comprises an annular brush attachment
body designed such that the brush attachment body can placed onto
the cap body by its lower part and the plurality of bristles are
arranged on its upper part. Owing to this annular design, it is
advantageously possible to produce the brush attachment
particularly efficiently. The brush attachment body is
substantially rotationally symmetrical to its longitudinal axis,
which extends in parallel with the longitudinal direction. The
cross-sectional plane of the brush attachment body is perpendicular
to the longitudinal axis of the brush attachment body, and is thus
parallel to the plane spanned by the width direction and the
transverse direction.
[0027] In particular, it may be provided that the brush attachment
is made of an injection-molded material. In particular, the brush
attachment is made of a rubber material and/or a plastics material.
The brush attachment body is placed onto either the open end part
or the closed end part by its lower part. The upper part opposite
the lower part accordingly comprises the plurality of bristles.
[0028] By way of example, it may in particular be provided that the
brush attachment body has a larger cross section on its lower part
than the cross section of the cap body in the region of the closed
or open end part, such that the brush attachment can be placed over
the outer surface of the corresponding end part. The brush
attachment body can be designed such that a sufficiently rigid
connection is produced between the brush attachment body and the
cap body by sliding the brush attachment body onto the cap body,
such that the brush attachment remains firmly arranged on the cap
body for example during pre-treatment of the item.
[0029] An external diameter at the closed end part of the cap body
may differ from an external diameter at the open end part of the
cap body. Preferably, the external diameter at the closed end part
is less than the external diameter at the open end part. A lateral
face of the cap body may extend conically at least in the region of
the closed end part, such that when it is being manufactured, the
cap body can be ejected from an injection-molding die half by its
closed end part. The difference in external diameter may be at
least 2 percent, based on the greater external diameter.
[0030] The brush attachment or the cap body may comprise connecting
means so that a brush attachment placed onto the closed end part
and a brush attachment placed onto the open end part can each only
be removed by overcoming a removal force, even if, as in the
embodiment set out above, the external diameter at the closed and
the open end parts is different. The removal force (in the axial
direction of the cap body, perpendicular to the cap base) is
intended to be greater than 2 N. Preferably, the removal force for
the closed end and the open end is in each case greater than 20 or
even 100 N.
[0031] In one embodiment, the connecting means include resilient
restoring forces for the brush attachment body. If the brush
attachment is placed onto the open end part or the closed end part
of the cap body, the brush attachment body widens accordingly. The
resilient restoring forces that occur ensure that the brush
attachment is held securely on the cap body. When the material is
selected appropriately (for example silicone, elastomer material),
secure positioning on two end parts of the cap body is thus
possible, even if the external diameters at the closed end and the
open end differ.
[0032] The connecting means may comprise adhesive. Alternatively or
in addition to the elasticity of the brush attachment body, an
appropriate adhesive can be applied between the brush attachment
and the cap body. There is the option here to apply the adhesive to
the outer wall of the cap body and, as long as the adhesive is
still liquid or is not yet cured, the brush attachment can be slid
onto the closed end of the cap body. Adhesive strips may also be
used, which are arranged between the brush attachment and the cap
body.
[0033] According to another exemplary embodiment, it is provided
that the brush attachment comprises a fillet on which the plurality
of bristles are arranged, the fillet being arranged in the upper
region of the brush attachment body or on the upper part thereof.
The fillet is planar and is connected to the plurality of bristles.
In particular, the bristles may be arranged perpendicularly to the
surface of the fillet. The bristles may be spaced apart at regular
intervals and may in particular be linear, it being possible for a
plurality of lines to be arranged in succession and/or so as to be
offset from one another. The bristles may for example be spaced
apart at regular intervals at a distance of from 1 mm to 2 mm.
[0034] It may be provided that the fillet is arranged in parallel
with the cross-sectional area or cross-sectional plane of the brush
attachment body. The fillet or its surface is therefore also
perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the brush attachment
body. According to an exemplary embodiment, the fillet is
approximately semicircular and covers approximately 40% to 50% of
the cross-sectional area of the brush attachment body so that an
approximately semicircular upper opening is formed. This upper
opening is formed between an upper edge of the brush attachment
body, which delimits the brush attachment body at the top, and an
edge of the fillet, this upper opening allowing the dosed cleaning
agent located in the dosing cap to be applied to the item to be
cleaned by passing out of the dosing cap and past the fillet
comprising the bristles. As a result, it is advantageously possible
to handle the dosing cap particularly easily.
[0035] It may in particular be provided that the plurality of
bristles are surrounded by a circumferential collar that is
arranged on the fillet. This collar advantageously prevents the
cleaning agent from unintentionally flowing off the fillet or the
bristles. It may be provided that the collar is 2 mm to 10 mm high.
Here, the collar extends perpendicularly to the surface of the
fillet and the height of the collar is the perpendicular extension
of the collar relative to the surface of the fillet. According to a
preferred embodiment, the collar height is 3.0 mm to 4.0 mm.
[0036] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, it is provided that the brush attachment comprises
ribbing arranged laterally on the outer wall of the brush
attachment body, the ribbing comprising notches having a depth of
from 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm. The ribbing makes it easier to grip the
brush attachment during pre-treatment by the user. The ribbing
comprising the notches also allows the cleaning agent to be
dispersed over the item and thus improves the pre-treatment options
of the brush attachment and dosing cap. It may in particular be
provided that the notches and projections on the outer wall of the
brush attachment body regularly alternate, such that a particularly
efficient gripping surface or pre-treatment surface is produced.
Therefore, for example, the distance between adjacent notches is
approximately 1 mm.
[0037] It may in particular be provided that the ribbing comprises
at least one ribbed region, which extends in an angular region of
from 40.degree. to 60.degree. on the outside or outer wall of the
brush attachment body. Here, "angular region" means an arc segment
arranged on the outer wall of the annular brush attachment body.
This ribbed angular region e.g. makes it possible to efficiently
distribute the cleaning agent. In particular, the ribbing on the
outer wall of the brush attachment body may comprise two
spaced-apart ribbed regions, which are opposite one another
relative to the longitudinal axis of the brush attachment body. By
arranging the ribbed regions in this way, particularly efficient
pre-treatment is possible.
[0038] The present invention also relates to a cleaning agent
container, comprising a dosing cap according to one of the
preceding embodiments, wherein the brush attachment is either on
the closed end part of the dosing cap in a presentation state of
the cleaning agent container or on the open end part of the dosing
cap in a use state of the cleaning agent container. The
presentation state may for example be the state which the container
is in when the brush attachment is intended to be particularly
visible to consumers on a shelf in a store. The use state is the
state which the container is in when the brush attachment or the
dosing cap is intended to be used for pre-treatment. It may be
provided that in the use state, the brush attachment is arranged
inside the container and is therefore not visible from the outside.
Moreover, reference is made to the statements regarding the dosing
cap.
[0039] The present invention also relates to the use of a dosing
cap according to one of the preceding embodiments for pre-treating
laundry to be cleaned, wherein the dosing cap is filled with a
partial quantity of a washing agent from a liquid washing agent
container, wherein the partial quantity is applied to the laundry
to be cleaned from the dosing cap, and wherein the washing agent
applied is distributed over the laundry to be cleaned and rubbed
into the laundry to be cleaned by means of the brush attachment
placed onto the open end part of the cap body. Advantageously, it
is possible to place the brush attachment onto the open end part
for pre-treating the laundry, such that the dosing cap does not
have to be turned around after applying the washing agent.
Moreover, reference is made to the statements regarding the dosing
cap and the cleaning agent container.
[0040] Embodiments of the present invention are shown in the
drawings and are explained in greater detail in the following
description.
[0041] In the various figures, the same parts are always provided
with the same reference signs and are therefore also generally
labelled or mentioned only once in each case.
[0042] FIG. 1 schematically shows a dosing cap 1 according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The dosing cap 1
comprises a cup-shaped cap body 3. In this embodiment, the cap body
3 is designed as a hollow circular cylinder. The cap body 3
comprises an open end part 4 and a closed end part 5. A brush
attachment 2 is placed onto the closed end part 5. The brush
attachment 2 extends in a longitudinal direction X, a width
direction Y perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X and a
transverse direction Z perpendicular to the longitudinal direction
X and the width direction Y. If reference is made to "top" or
"upper" and "bottom" or "lower" in the following, these positions
are given relative to the longitudinal direction X. If reference is
made to a cross section or a cross-sectional area or a
cross-sectional plane YZ, this means sections in parallel with the
plane that is spanned by the width direction Y and transverse
direction Z. The brush attachment 2 is annular and has a larger
cross section than the closed end part 5, such that the brush
attachment 2 can be placed over the outer surface of the closed end
part 5. In this embodiment, the brush attachment 2 comprises a
plurality of bristles 6, which are arranged perpendicularly to the
surface of the brush attachment 2. The bristles 6 are surrounded by
a collar 7 that is arranged perpendicularly to the surface of the
brush attachment 2 and extends around the bristles 6. The brush
attachment 2 is located on the closed end part 5 in a first
position. This first position could, for example, be the position
in which the dosing cap 1 is arranged on a liquid washing agent
container 20 when it is placed on a shelf in a store for the
purposes of advertising or presentation. For the sake of improved
clarity, connecting means for connecting the dosing cap 1 to the
liquid washing agent container 20, such as a screw thread, are not
shown.
[0043] FIG. 2 schematically shows the dosing cap 1 from FIG. 1 in
another state. In this state, the brush attachment 2 is located on
the open end part 4 in a second position. For this purpose, the
brush attachment 2 has a greater diameter in cross section than the
diameter of the open end part 4, such that brush attachment 2 can
be placed onto the open end part 4. This second position could, for
example, be the position in which the dosing cap 1 is used for
pre-treating laundry. Washing agent is applied to the laundry from
the dosing cap 1 and is then distributed over the laundry and
rubbed into the laundry by means of the brush attachment 2.
[0044] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a brush attachment
2 for a dosing cap 1 according to another exemplary embodiment of
the present invention. The brush attachment 2 comprises a brush
attachment body 9. The brush attachment body 9 is annular and has
an annular cross section in this exemplary embodiment. The brush
attachment body 9 is substantially rotationally symmetrical to its
longitudinal axis X, which extends in parallel with the
longitudinal direction X. The cross-sectional plane YZ of the brush
attachment body 9 is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X of
the brush attachment body 9, and is thus parallel to the plane
spanned by the width direction Y and the transverse direction Z.
The brush attachment 2 comprises an upper opening 11 and a lower
opening 12. In this exemplary embodiment, approximately half of the
cross section of the upper opening 11 is covered by a fillet 8, on
which a plurality of bristles 6 are located. In this embodiment,
the bristles 6 are spaced apart at regular intervals and extend
approximately perpendicularly to the cross-sectional area YZ of the
upper opening 11. The distance between adjacent bristles 6 is
approximately 1 mm to 2 mm. The fillet 8 is designed as a flat
plate and extends in parallel with the cross-sectional area YZ of
the upper opening 11. In this exemplary embodiment, the bristles 6
have a length of approximately 10 mm and a diameter of
approximately 0.9 mm, the bristles 6 being circular-cylindrical.
The bristles 6 are designed to be flexible, and have a degree of
hardness of approximately 70 Shore A. The fillet 8 is surrounded by
a collar 7 at its edge. The collar 7 is designed to be
circumferential on the edge of the fillet 8 and extends
perpendicularly to the cross-sectional area YZ of the opening 11 or
to the surface area of the fillet 8. In this exemplary embodiment,
the collar 7 is approximately 3.5 mm high. The fillet 7 is
advantageously used, inter alia, to prevent the washing agent from
flowing away at the sides of the brush attachment 2.
[0045] Ribbing 10, which in this exemplary embodiment has a depth
of approximately 0.2 mm, is arranged on the outer wall of the brush
attachment body 9. The ribbed region 10 extends on the outer wall
of the brush attachment body 9 approximately over an angle of
50.degree.. In this exemplary embodiment, the brush attachment 2
also has a second ribbed region 110, which is not shown in FIG. 3,
however. This second ribbed region 110 is opposite the ribbed
region 10 on the other side of the outer wall of the brush
attachment 2. In this exemplary embodiment, this second ribbed
region 110 is identical to the ribbed region 10.
[0046] This brush attachment 2 can then be used to pre-treat
laundry. If the brush attachment 2 is placed onto the open end part
of the cap body 3, washing agent can be applied to the laundry from
the dosing cap 1 through the remaining opening 11 that is not
covered by the fillet 8. Using the bristles 6, the washing agent
can be distributed over the laundry and rubbed into the laundry.
Using the lateral ribbing 10, 110, pre-treatment can also take
place by the washing agent being rubbed in using the ribbing 10,
110, which means that it is possible for the laundry to be treated
particularly gently. Alternatively, it is of course also possible
to use the brush attachment 2 separately, i.e. without the cap body
3, for pre-treatment.
[0047] FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of the brush attachment 2
from FIG. 3. The regular spacing of the bristles 6 can be seen in
FIG. 4, inter alia. In addition, it can be seen that the collar 7
covers the lower region of the bristles 6. In this exemplary
embodiment, the fillet 8 has a thickness of approximately 1 mm to 2
mm. Moreover, reference is made to the statements regarding FIG.
3.
[0048] FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of the brush attachment 2
from FIG. 3. The cross section of the brush attachment body 9 is
symmetrical to the lines of symmetry 13, 14. In this view, it can
be seen that the fillet 8 covers approximately half of the cross
section of the brush attachment body 9. The inner part of the
fillet 15 is curved outwards, i.e. away from the line of symmetry
13, relative to the axis of symmetry 13 of the brush attachment
body 9 by approximately 2 to 4 mm, such that the fillet 8 covers
slightly less than half, around 45%, of the cross-sectional area of
the brush attachment body 9. In addition, in FIG. 5 the two
opposing ribbed regions 10 and 110 are indicated on the outer wall
of the brush attachment body 9.
[0049] FIG. 6 is a schematic detailed view of the brush attachment
2 in the region of the fillet 8 comprising the bristles 6 in a
sectional view along the plane that is spanned by the longitudinal
axis X and the width direction Y. The two dashed bristles 6 are in
a common plane, while the two non-dashed bristles 6 are one plane
behind. Therefore, a bristle that is one plane behind is arranged
between two adjacent bristles 6 that are in another plane. This
results in an even distribution of the bristles 6 on the fillet 8.
Moreover, reference is made to the statements regarding FIGS. 3, 4
and 5.
[0050] FIG. 7 is a detailed schematic cross section of the ribbing
10 on the outer wall of the brush attachment body 9 from FIG. 3.
The ribbing 10 comprises evenly spaced notches 16 and projections
17 that are distributed over the outer wall of the brush attachment
body 9 in the ribbed region 10. In this exemplary embodiment, the
notches 16 are approximately 0.2 mm deep. Using this ribbing 10,
the laundry can advantageously be pre-treated gently. Moreover,
reference is made to the statements regarding FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and
6.
[0051] FIG. 8 schematically shows a cleaning agent container 20,
such as a liquid washing agent container 20, according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The cleaning agent
container 20 comprises a dosing cap 1 according to the invention
comprising a brush attachment 2. The brush attachment 2 is located
on the closed end part 5 of the dosing cap 1. In this position, the
brush attachment 2 is clearly visible to a consumer, for example,
when the cleaning agent container 20 is in a presentation state and
is presented or displayed for sale on a shelf in a store.
[0052] FIG. 9 schematically shows the cleaning agent container 20
from FIG. 8 in another state. In this use state, the brush
attachment 2 is no longer on the closed end part of the dosing cap
1, but instead the brush attachment 2 has been changed from the
closed end part to the open end part 4 of the dosing cap 1. The
brush attachment 2 is therefore inside the cleaning agent container
20 and is no longer visible from the outside. In this use state,
the dosing cap 1 can be filled with cleaning agent from the
container 20, and said cleaning agent can be applied to e.g. the
laundry from the dosing cap 1. In a simple manner, using the brush
attachment 2, for example the washing agent can be distributed over
the laundry and rubbed into the laundry, without the dosing cap 1
needing to be turned around, since the brush attachment 2 is
located on the open end part 4 of the dosing cap 1. Moreover,
reference is made to the above statements.
[0053] For the sake of completeness, it should also be noted that
the above-described embodiments are merely used to illustrate the
invention and are not intended to limit the subject matter of the
invention in any way.
LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS
[0054] 1 dosing cap [0055] 2 brush attachment [0056] 3 cap body
[0057] 4 open end part [0058] 5 closed end part [0059] 6 bristles
[0060] 7 collar [0061] 8 fillet [0062] 9 brush attachment body
[0063] 10 10, 110 ribbing [0064] 11, 12 opening [0065] 13, 14 line
of symmetry [0066] 15 part of the fillet [0067] 16 notch [0068] 17
projections [0069] 20 cleaning agent container [0070] X
longitudinal direction, longitudinal axis [0071] Y width direction
[0072] Z transverse direction [0073] YZ cross-sectional plane
[0074] While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented
in the foregoing detailed description of the invention, it should
be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should
also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary
embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the
scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention in any way.
Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those
skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an
exemplary embodiment of the invention, it being understood that
various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of
elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing
from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims
and their legal equivalents.
* * * * *