Systems, dispensers and methods for laundry additives

Abstract

A system for introducing laundry additive materials to an automatic washing machine comprises a unit dose package including a first compartment containing a first laundry additive material, a second compartment containing a second laundry additive material, and optionally at least a third compartment containing a third laundry additive material, and a dispenser. The dispenser is adapted for interchangeable use with unit dose packages containing two, three or more compartments, and includes a housing structure comprising a first chamber adapted to receive the unit dose package. The housing structure is arrangeable in a first position to receive the unit dose package and a second position to secure the unit dose package in the first chamber. The dispenser further includes first compartment piercing elements adapted to open the first compartment and, if included, the third compartment; a second compartment piercing element adapted to open the second compartment; and a second chamber in fluid communication with the first chamber. The first compartment piercing elements are adapted to open the first compartment and the third compartment, if included, by arranging the housing structure from the first position to the second position, and at least the first compartment and the third compartment, if included, are adapted to then release the first laundry additive material and the third laundry additive material, if included, for gravitational flow for use in a wash cycle. The second compartment of the unit dose package is adapted to release the second laundry additive material to the second chamber during a spin cycle.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of provisional application U.S. Ser. No. 60 / 526,642 filed Dec. 3, 2003 and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 10 / 366,204, filed Feb. 13, 2003 which claims the benefit of provisional application U.S. Ser. No. 60 / 356,544, filed Feb. 13, 2002; U.S. Ser. No. 10 / 366,100, filed Feb. 13, 2003 which claims the benefit of provisional application U.S. Ser. No. 60 / 356,543, filed Feb. 13, 2002; U.S. Ser. No. 10 / 289,936, filed Nov. 7, 2002; and U.S. Ser. No. 10 / 737,429, filed Dec. 16, 2003 which claims the benefit of provisional application U.S. Ser. No. 60 / 435,646, filed Dec. 20, 2002.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to systems, dispensers and methods, for adding laundry additive materials to the drum (tub) of an automatic fabric laundering (washing) machine during a multiple cycle operation. The laundry additive materials are packaged in separate compartments of a unit dose pac...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0017] The systems, dispensers and methods according to the present invention are advantageous for addition of laundry additive materials in an automatic washing machine for fabric laundering. The systems, dispensers and methods are particularly advantageous for allowing addition of separate laundry a

Problems solved by technology

Several factors complicate the provision of certain types of laundry additive materials in unit dose form.

For example, some types and forms of laundry additives are not compatible with each other within a single concentrated product.

Different types of materials may chemically interact with each other when admixed in concentrated form, thereby degrading and rendering one or both types ultimately ineffective for its intended purpose.

Such incompatibility works against combining such materials together within a single unit dose product.

In some cases, rinse-stage materials may not work in the way they are intended if they are present in the relatively high pH washing stages with chemically incompatible surfactants, builders, enzymes and other types of materials which perform their functions in the washing cycle(s).

Use of centrifugal force activated devices, dispensers or packages for delivery of laundry additives to the laundry cycles in an automatic laundering machine operation is not without its difficulties.

In the first place, it is not simple or straightforward to fashion such devices, dispensers or packages in a way such that they are useful with or as unit dose packages of additives.

If the additive contents of the unit dose are released into the drum too early, much of these contents are lost with the water being drained from the drum during the spin cycle.

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