Detergent product

Abstract

A detergent product for treating textiles, in particular for cleaning textiles and/or washing textiles, is illustrated and described, including a film pouch having at least one pouch chamber which is enclosed by at least one water-soluble film and contains a detergent preparation. In order to improve the dissolution behavior of the detergent product, the film pouch has at least one through-flow opening arranged outside of the pouch chamber.

Claims

1. A detergent product for treating textiles, comprising a film pouch having at least one pouch chamber which is enclosed by at least one water-soluble film and contains a detergent preparation, wherein the film pouch has only one through-flow opening arranged outside of the pouch chamber.

2. The detergent product according to claim 1, wherein the pouch chamber is formed by at least two film layers which are sealed to one another in one or more sealing sections, and in that the through-flow opening is provided in a region of a sealing section between at least two adjacent pouch chambers.

3. The detergent product according to claim 2, wherein the pouch chamber is formed by only two film layers which are sealed to one another in one or more sealing sections, and in that the through-flow opening is provided in a region of a sealing section between at least two adjacent pouch chambers.

4. The detergent product according to claim 1, wherein the film pouch has a footprint located in the sealing plane, and in that the through-flow opening is provided in a middle region of the footprint of the film pouch.

5. The detergent product according to claim 4, wherein the through-flow opening has an opening area, and wherein the opening area of the through-flow opening on the footprint of the film pouch is between 0.5% to 50%.

6. The detergent product according to claim 1, wherein the film pouch has between two to ten pouch chambers.

7. The detergent product according to claim 6, wherein the film pouch has between three and five pouch chambers.

8. The detergent product according to claim 1, wherein more than two pouch chambers are arranged around the through-flow opening.

9. The detergent product according to claim 1, wherein the through-flow opening is oval.

10. The detergent product according to claim 1, wherein an outer contour of the through-flow opening is designed to be complementary, at least in some sections, to an outer contour of at least one adjacent pouch chamber.

11. The detergent product according to claim 1, wherein a sealing section is provided between a pouch chamber and the through-flow opening, and in that the sealing section has a width between 1 mm and 5 mm, and/or in that the sealing section is non-rectilinear.

12. The detergent product according to claim 1, wherein the through-flow opening has an opening area between 10 mm.sup.2and 700 mm.sup.2.

13. A detergent product for treating textiles, comprising a film pouch having at least one pouch chamber which is enclosed by at least one water-soluble film and contains a detergent preparation, wherein the film pouch has more than 1 and less than 10 through-flow openings arranged outside of the pouch chamber.

14. The detergent product according to claim 13, wherein each of the through-flow openings has an opening area and wherein the opening area of all through-flow openings is between 10 mm.sup.2 and 700 mm.sup.2.

15. The detergent product according to claim 13, wherein the film pouch has a footprint located in a sealing plane, wherein each of the through-flow openings has an opening area, and wherein the opening area of all through-flow openings on the footprint of the film pouch is between 0.5% to 50%.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be explained in greater detail below by way of example and with reference to the figures. The features mentioned and described above and also the features shown in the drawing and described below can be combined as required, even if this is not shown and/or described in detail. The invention is not limited to the features and combinations of features shown in the figures.

(2) In the figures:

(3) FIG. 1 shows a detergent product, not according to the invention, having three pouch chambers which are arranged around a closed central sealing section, in a view of the footprints of the pouch chambers from above and in a perspective view at an angle from above;

(4) FIG. 2 shows a detergent product, not according to the invention, having three pouch chambers and one central chamber in the middle, in a view of the footprints of the pouch chambers from above and in a perspective view at an angle from above;

(5) FIG. 3 shows a detergent product, according to the invention, having three pouch chambers and one central through-flow opening, in a view of the footprints of the pouch chambers from above and in a perspective view at an angle from above;

(6) FIG. 4 shows a detergent product, not according to the invention, having four pouch chambers which are arranged around a closed central sealing section, in a view of the footprints of the pouch chambers from above and in a perspective view at an angle from above;

(7) FIG. 5 shows a detergent product, not according to the invention, having four pouch chambers and one central chamber in the middle, in a view of the footprints of the pouch chambers from above and in a perspective view at an angle from above;

(8) FIG. 6 shows a detergent product, according to the invention, having four pouch chambers and one central through-flow opening, in a view of the footprints of the pouch chambers from above and in a perspective view at an angle from above;

(9) FIG. 7 shows a detergent product, not according to the invention, having two pouch chambers which are arranged around a closed central sealing section, in a view of the footprints of the pouch chambers from above and in a perspective view at an angle from above;

(10) FIG. 8 shows a detergent product, not according to the invention, having two pouch chambers and one central chamber in the middle, in a view of the footprints of the pouch chambers from above and in a perspective view at an angle from above; and

(11) FIG. 9 shows a detergent product, according to the invention, having two pouch chambers and one central through-flow opening, in a view of the footprints of the pouch chambers from above and in a perspective view at an angle from above.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(12) FIGS. 1 to 3 show a detergent product 1 having three pouch chambers 2 in the form of a single-use portion pack. The detergent product 1 is used only once for treating textiles, usually in a textile washing machine. The detergent product 1 comprises a film pouch 3 having the three pouch chambers 2. Accommodated in the individual pouch chambers 2 are detergent preparations which contain active washing substances for treating textiles, in particular for washing textiles.

(13) Water-soluble films with the type designation M8630 or M8720 from the film manufacturer Monosol can be used to produce the film pouch 3. Alternatively, suitable water-soluble films from other film manufacturers, such as for example Aicello, Nippon Gohsei or Mondi, can also be used.

(14) The film pouch 2 is formed of two water-soluble films, which may be in the form of PVA films. The water-soluble films enclose the pouch chambers 2 by forming the boundary walls thereof. During production, the films are connected to one another in the region of sealing sections 4 in such a way that the pouch chambers 2 are each sealed and separated from one another around their entire circumference by the sealing sections 4. Thus, between two adjacent pouch chambers 2, in each case a sealed film section is also provided, which connects the pouch chambers 2 to one another in order to achieve a single portion pack.

(15) The pouch chambers 2 each have an identical footprint A1 in the sealing plane or connecting plane of the two films, while the total detergent product 1 or film pouch 3 has the footprint A2 in the sealing plane. The footprint A1 of the pouch chamber 2 is delimited by the contour line of the pouch chamber 2 in the sealing plane. The footprint A2 of the detergent product 1 is delimited by the contour line thereof in the sealing plane. In the embodiments shown, the footprint A2 of the detergent product 1 is circular. The footprint A2 could also have a contour line differing from a circular shape.

(16) In all the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 9, the footprints A1 of the pouch chambers 2 each have a droplet shape or teardrop shape which extends in each case from a narrow convex end section 6 of the contour of the respective pouch chamber 2 with a smaller inner radius r1 to a wider convex end section 6 with a larger inner diameter r2.

(17) Provided between the two convex sections 5, 6 at the ends of the pouch chamber 2 is a concave connecting section 7 radially on the inside and a convex connecting section 8 radially on the outside.

(18) The area bisector 11 of the footprint A1 is shown by way of example for one pouch chamber 2 in FIGS. 3, 6 and 9. All the pouch chambers 2 of a film pouch 3 have the same direction of curvature of the area bisector 11. It will be understood that the pouch chambers 2 may also have differing chamber geometries.

(19) The embodiments of detergent products 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 differ only in respect of the design of the detergent product 1 in the middle region of the film pouch 3, wherein according to FIG. 1 a closed sealing section 4 is provided in the middle region of the film pouch 3. Said sealing section is surrounded toward the outside by the pouch chambers 2, wherein in each case a strip-shaped sealing section 4 remains between adjacent pouch chambers 2 so that the pouch chambers 2 are separated from one another and sealed toward the outside.

(20) In the detergent product 1 shown in FIG. 2, a central chamber 9 is provided, the boundary walls of which are likewise formed by the water-soluble films of which the film pouch 3 is made. In the present case, the central chamber 9 has in the sealing plane a triangular contour line with rounded corner sections. The central chamber 9 may likewise contain a detergent preparation.

(21) To improve the dissolution behavior, namely to reduce the time taken for the water-soluble films to (fully) dissolve and to increase the degree of dissolution with a view to a desired fullest possible dissolution of the water-soluble films, the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 has a circular through-opening 10 which is formed in the middle sealing section 4 between the radially outer pouch chambers 2 by punching or laser cutting. The through-flow opening 10 could also have a shape differing from the circular shape, for example may be shaped the same as the central chamber 9 in the sealing plane according to FIG. 2.

(22) By virtue of the through-flow opening 10, washing water flows through the film pouch 3 during a wash cycle and in particular flows intensively around the inner region of the pouch chambers 3 adjacent to the through-flow opening 10. The intensive flow promotes dissolution of the water-soluble films particularly in the region of the inner walls of the pouch chambers 2, which face toward the middle region of the film pouch 3. In addition, the film pouch 3 cannot float in the washing water or cannot float therein for as long a period of time and does not predominantly become arranged in the region below a washing machine door and above a door seal during the cycle of the washing machine. The through-flow opening 10 ensures that the detergent product 1 is released quickly. The empty water-soluble pouch that initially still remains has a significantly reduced risk of being conveyed onto the rubber sleeve than the filled pouch. Instead, it is highly likely to remain in the water and will be circulated in the washing drum in contact with the laundry. This results in intensive (mechanical) contact of the film pouch 3 with the surrounding laundry and the surrounding washing drum, and thus in a faster and more complete dissolution of the films forming the film pouch 3.

(23) The detergent products 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 each have an identical size and shape of the footprints A1 of the pouch chambers 2 and of the total footprint A2 of the detergent product 1 in the sealing plane. The opening area A3 of the through-flow opening 10 is between 5% and 15%, preferably around 10%, in relation to the total footprint A2 of the film pouch 3.

(24) FIGS. 4 to 6 show embodiments of detergent products 1 which each have four outer pouch chambers 2. FIG. 4 shows an embodiment with a closed sealing section 4 in the middle region of the film pouch 3. FIG. 5 shows an embodiment with a central chamber 9 in the middle, and FIG. 6 shows an embodiment with a through-flow opening 10 arranged in the middle region of the film pouch 3 between the outer pouch chambers 2.

(25) The contour line of the through-flow opening 10 is formed by four concave side sections which together form a rectangular or trapezoidal geometry. Each pouch chamber 2 is closed around its entire circumference by a closed sealing section 4 of the film pouch 3, wherein the width of the sealing sections 4 is selected in such a way that a minimal distance between the respective pouch chamber 2 and the through-flow opening 10 in the region of the sealing plane of preferably 1 mm to 5 mm is not exceeded. As a result, the user's attention is drawn to the interesting design of the pouch chambers 2 and to the contents thereof.

(26) In addition, it can be seen from FIG. 6 that the outer contour of the through-flow opening 10 can run in a manner that, at least in some sections, is complementary, that is to say parallel, to the contours of the adjacent pouch chambers 2. The size of the through-flow opening 10 can thus be maximized and the width of the sealing sections 4 can be reduced as far as possible.

(27) To achieve a high intrinsic stability of the film pouch 3, the sealing sections 4 are preferably non-rectilinear.

(28) FIGS. 7 to 9 show further embodiments of detergent products 1 which comprise a film pouch 3 having in each case two pouch chambers 2. In FIG. 7, the two pouch chambers 2 surround a central closed sealing section 4. In FIG. 8, a spherical central chamber 9 is provided in the middle, and is surrounded by two pouch chambers 2. FIG. 9 shows a central through-flow opening 10 which is surrounded by two pouch chambers 2. One common feature of all the embodiments is that the pouch chambers 2 are of identical design.

(29) To examine the effect of the through-flow opening 10 on the dissolution behavior of detergent products 1 of the illustrated type, in each case 20 automatic wash cycles were carried out using a commercially available textile washing machine from the company Bosch (front loader, type: WAS284DE7 kg; quick wash program, Cotton/speed perfect, 20 C.; 75% load=5.25 kg with a mixed batch of domestic laundry (towels, T-shirts, tea towels, pillowcase) 70% cotton-30% synthetic) using the detergent products 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 9, and for each wash cycle carried out the dissolution behavior of the detergent product 1 used in each case was qualitatively (visually) assessed.

(30) In each wash cycle, in each case one detergent product 1 was first placed into the washing drum of the washing machine and the washing machine was then loaded with standard laundry. The wash cycle was then started. During the wash cycle, the region in the washing machine below the washing machine door was observed through the door glass/porthole.

(31) If the detergent product 1 was entrained by the laundry during the wash cycle and then floated onto a rubber sleeve (door seal) provided below the door of the washing machine, this was assessed as Failure 1 of the detergent product 1.

(32) If, after the end of the wash cycle, residues of the film pouch were found on the textile load, on the rubber seal (rubber sleeve) or in the washing drum, this was assessed as Failure 2.

(33) Based on the visual assessment, the following failure frequencies were determined for the detergent products 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 9:

(34) 1. Detergent products having three pouch chambers (FIGS. 1 to 3):

(35) TABLE-US-00001 Number of chambers: 3 (cf. FIGS. 1-3) No opening Central chamber Central opening (FIG. 1) (FIG. 2) (FIG. 3) Wash cycle Fail- Fail- Fail- Fail- Fail- Fail- number ure 1 ure 2 ure 1 ure 2 ure 1 ure 2 1 n n n n n n 2 n n n n y n 3 y y n n n n 4 n n n n n n 5 n n n n n n 6 y y n n n n 7 n n n n y n 8 n n n n n n 9 n n n n n n 10 n n y y n n 11 n n n n n n 12 n n n n n n 13 n n y y n n 14 n n n n n n 15 y n n n n n 16 n n n n n n 17 y n n n n n 18 n n n n n n 19 n n n n n n 20 n n n n n n 21 n n y n n n 22 n n n n n n 23 n n n n n n 24 y n n n n n 25 n n y n n n Total failure 5 + 2 = 7 4 + 2 = 6 2 + 0 = 2 frequency in 28% 24% 8% [%]

(36) 2. Detergent products having four pouch chambers (FIGS. 4 to 6)

(37) TABLE-US-00002 Number of chambers: 4 (cf. FIGS. 4-6) No opening Central chamber Central opening (FIG. 4) (FIG. 5) (FIG. 6) Wash cycle Fail- Fail- Fail- Fail- Fail- Fail- number ure 1 ure 2 ure 1 ure 2 ure 1 ure 2 1 y n n n n n 2 y n n n n n 3 n n n n n n 4 n n y n n n 5 n n n n n n 6 n n y n n n 7 n n y n n n 8 n n n n n n 9 y y n n y n 10 n n n n n n 11 n n n n n n 12 n n n n n n 13 n n n n n n 14 n n n n n n 15 n n n n n n 16 y n n n n n 17 n n n n n n 18 y y y n n n 19 n n y y y n 20 n n n n n n 21 n n n n n n 22 n n n y n n 23 n n n n n n 24 y y n n n n 25 n n n n n n Total failure 6 + 3 = 9 5 + 2 = 7 2 + 0 = 2 frequency in 36% 28% 8% [%]

(38) 3. Detergent products having two pouch chambers (FIGS. 7 to 9)

(39) TABLE-US-00003 Number of chambers: 2 (cf. FIGS. 7-9) No opening Central chamber Central opening (FIG. 7) (FIG. 8) (FIG. 9) Wash cycle Fail- Fail- Fail- Fail- Fail- Fail- number ure 1 ure 2 ure 1 ure 2 ure 1 ure 2 1 n n n n n n 2 n n n n n n 3 n n n n n n 4 n n n n n n 5 n n n n n n 6 y y n n n n 7 y n y n n n 8 n n n n n n 9 n n n n n n 10 n n n n n n 11 y n n n n n 12 n n n n n n 13 n n n n n n 14 n n y n n n 15 n n n n n n 16 n n n n n n 17 n n n n n n 18 n n n y n n 19 y n n n n n 20 n n y y n n 21 n n n n n n 22 n n n n n n 23 n n n n n n 24 n n n n n n 25 n n n n n n Total failure 4 + 1 = 5 3 + 2 = 5 0 + 0 = 0 frequency in 20% 20% 0% [%]

(40) The pouch chambers 1 having a through-flow opening 10 (opening area A3 for 1) around 5%, for 2) around 4% and for around 8%) in relation to the footprint A2 of the film pouch 3) showed a statistically much lower likelihood of failure compared to the detergent products 1 having a closed sealing section in the middle region of the film pouch 3 and also compared to the pouch chambers 1 having a central chamber in the middle.

(41) Experiments showed that these results also apply to other pouch chamber numbers, sizes and geometries. The proportion of the opening area A3 of the through-flow opening 10 on the total footprint A2 of the film pouch 3 should preferably lie in the range between 0.5% to 50%, preferably between 10% to 20%.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(42) 1 detergent product 2 pouch chamber 3 film pouch 4 sealing section 5 end section 6 end section 7 connecting section 8 connecting section 9 central chamber 10 through-flow opening 11 area bisector