LAUNDRY DOSING DEVICE

Abstract

Laundry composition dosing device (1) having two segregated chambers (5, 7) such that a first laundry composition, for example a fabric conditioner stored in the first chamber (5) is pourable via a first opening (4) by a user without dispensing a second laundry composition stored in the second chamber (7).

Claims

1. A laundry composition dosing device comprising a base and opposed upper portion, and having a first chamber having a first filling and dispensing opening and a segregated second chamber having a second filling and dispensing opening, wherein both of the openings are located in the upper portion and wherein the chambers and the openings are configured such that the first and second openings are located at least 90 apart about a vertical rotation axis of the dosing device, whereby: (i) first and second chambers can be filled with respective first and second laundry compositions via respective first and second openings, and (ii) a first laundry composition stored in the first chamber is pourable via the first opening by a user without dispensing a second laundry composition stored in the second chamber.

2. (canceled)

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second openings are located at least 90 apart about a vertical rotation axis of the dosing device.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second openings are located about 180 apart about a vertical rotation axis of the dosing device.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second openings are located such that, when the device is tipped so as to pour the contents of the first chamber, the first and second openings are approximately in the same plane as the plane in which the device is tilted.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the first chamber is located substantially within the second chamber.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein the first chamber is defined by a cylindrical wall and a base projecting part way into the second chamber.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the first chamber has an interior surface which is a different colour to an interior surface of the second chamber.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein the first chamber has an interior surface which is a different colour to an interior surface of the second chamber and to an exterior surface of the device.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the openings are configured to remain open i.e. without closure by lids or caps or other closure members.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein the first and second openings are configured for dispensing respective first and second laundry compositions.

12. (canceled)

13. A method of laundering articles in an automatic washing machine, the method comprising using a dosing device according to claim 1, the method comprising: i. supplying a fabric conditioner to the first chamber of the device and supplying a detergent product to the second chamber of the device; then ii. positioning the first opening of the device above a drawer recess of the washing machine and tipping the device so as to dispense the fabric conditioner housed in the first chamber into the drawer recess; then iii. placing the device in the washing machine drum with the articles to be laundered; then iv. starting a wash program.

Description

[0049] An embodiment of a device of the invention will now be described with reference to the following diagrammatical drawings in which:

[0050] FIG. 1 shows an elevated perspective view of an embodiment of the invention.

[0051] FIG. 2 shows a cross sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 1.

[0052] FIG. 3 shows the device shown in FIG. 1 in use. The depiction is partially cut away.

[0053] FIG. 4 shows an elevated perspective view of another embodiment of the invention.

[0054] FIG. 5 shows a cross sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 4.

[0055] FIG. 6 shows an elevated perspective view of another embodiment of the invention.

[0056] FIG. 7 shows the device shown in FIG. 6 in use. The depiction is partially cut away.

[0057] An embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 1. The device is viewed from an elevated perspective. FIG. 2 shows a cross sectional view of the device from the side. The device 1 has an outer body 2 which may be referred to as an exterior shell. It has a flattened base portion 3 which facilitates storage and use, but is otherwise spherical in shape. The device has a first opening 4 which provides ingress and egress to a first chamber 5. The device has a second opening 6 which provides ingress and egress to a second chamber 7. The first and second chamber are segregated in the device such that the contents of the first chamber do not interact with the contents of the second chamber. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the first chamber is defined by a cylindrical wall 8 which is capped by a base 9. The first chamber 5 projects into second chamber 7. In other words, the first chamber is located substantially within the second chamber. In this embodiment, the base 9 does not contact the interior wall of the second chamber. However, it will be appreciated that it may be preferable for the base 9 of the first chamber to contact, or even be contiguous with, an interior wall of the second chamber. This may provide strength and rigidity to the device structure.

[0058] The first opening 5 and second opening 7 are each located in the upper portion of the device when oriented in an upright orientation (i.e. on its base). When viewed from above, the first and second opening are both located in a single plane with the centre of the device.

[0059] It is envisaged that the device will be positioned in its upright orientation when a first composition is added to the first chamber and a second composition is added to the second chamber. It is envisaged that the compositions may be supplied by a single dosing machine.

[0060] The user then takes the loaded device to the washing machine drawer and tilts the device in the plane having the first and second openings and the centre of the device. This is shown in FIG. 3, partially cut away to reveal the first chamber 5 and a first composition 10 stored therein. The first opening 4 is therefore lowered and a first composition 10 is poured into the drawer. As the first composition 10 is poured, the second opening (not shown) is directed upwards, preventing the escape of the contents 11 of the second chamber. The contents 11 of the second chamber are depicted with a wavy line and hatching.

[0061] Once the first composition is fully dispensed, the device is placed in the washing machine drum and a wash program is started. Water flows into the second chamber 7 via the second opening 6 to dissolve the contents 11 and form a wash liquor. Water also flows into the first chamber 5 via the first opening 4 and washes away any residue of the first composition 10. After the wash is complete, the entire device is completely clean to be stored and used again.

[0062] Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. The device 101 is jug-shaped, having a flattened base portion 103 and a first opening 104. The first opening 104 is at the top of a first chamber 105. A second opening 106 is located next to the first opening, provided ingress and egress access to a second chamber 107. The second chamber 107 is located primarily beneath the first chamber 105. The first chamber 105 is located substantially within, and towards the top of, the second chamber 107.

[0063] The first opening 104 features a spout 108 to assist pouring of the contents of the first chamber. The first chamber 105 has a base 109 which is inclined towards the spout to assist pouring. It will be appreciated that, when a composition is housed in the first chamber and a composition is housed in the second chamber, tilting the device to pour the contents of the first chamber via the spout causes the contents of the second chamber to displace to the headspace 110 of the second chamber, with the underside of base 109 preventing the contents of the second chamber from being dispensed. Once again, away pouring the contents of the first chamber, the device is simply placed in the washing machine drum and a wash program is started.

[0064] Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. The device 201 is also jug shaped, having a flattened based 203. The first opening 204 and first chamber 205 circumferentially surround the second opening 206 and second chamber 207. The second chamber extends through and beyond the first opening. In other words, in this alternative embodiment, the first chamber 205 is located substantially within, and partially above, the second chamber 207.

[0065] The first opening features a spout 208 to assist pouring of the contents of the first chamber. When the device is tiled to dispense a unit dose of the contents of the first chamber, the higher and angled wall of the second chamber retains a unit dose of second composition (not shown) in the second chamber. It will be appreciated that the relative heights and angles of the chamber walls may be varied to accommodate unit dose volume.