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US4444730A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Detergent dispenser

Assignee: Colgate Palmolive Co
•
Filing: 1982-06-07
•
Granted: 1984-04-24
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Expires: 2002-06-07
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Abstract

Abstract Detergent dispenser for providing water-added, concentrated detergent solutions, particularly for replenishing the detergent reservoir of an automatic washing machine, comprising a container equipped internally with a horizontally disposed perforated plate for receiving detergent the plate dividing the container into an upper detergent retaining zone and a lower fluid reservoir zone. In operation, water is continually admitted to the reservoir zone through an inlet port and rises through the plate and detergent mass, thereafter exiting as a concentrated detergent solution via a discharge port positioned above the detergent retaining zone.

Inventors

  • 👤 Gerard Renders
  • 👤 Jean-Pierre Denis
  • 👤 Lucien Gryglewicz

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 13:20
CPC Classifications
D; D06; D06F; D06F39/00; D06F39/02; D06F33/00; D06F33/30; D06F33/32; D06F33/37

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim 154 words
A container for providing water-added detergent solutions comprising top, bottom and connecting sidewall portions, said top portion being pivotally mounted to said sidewall portion for movement to open and closed positions, a support member disposed substantially horizontally within said container for receiving a plurality of apertures for distributing an aqueous medium upwardly of said member, said support member in combination with said sidewall portion defining a detergent retaining zone thereabove, water inlet means positioned to initiate low pressure percolating water flow upwardly through said apertures, outlet means positioned above said detergent retaining zone for discharging aqueous, solubilized detergent from said container and adapted to removably engage conduit means for external transport of said discharged liquid, switch control means responsive to movement of said top portion for blocking water flow to said container when said top portion is removed from a fully closed position and means for attaching said container to an external supporting surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 154 words
A container for providing water-added detergent solutions comprising top, bottom and connecting sidewall portions, said top portion being pivotally mounted to said sidewall portion for movement to open and closed positions, a support member disposed substantially horizontally within said container for receiving a plurality of apertures for distributing an aqueous medium upwardly of said member, said support member in combination with said sidewall portion defining a detergent retaining zone thereabove, water inlet means positioned to initiate low pressure percolating water flow upwardly through said apertures, outlet means positioned above said detergent retaining zone for discharging aqueous, solubilized detergent from said container and adapted to removably engage conduit means for external transport of said discharged liquid, switch control means responsive to movement of said top portion for blocking water flow to said container when said top portion is removed from a fully closed position and means for attaching said container to an external supporting surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 52 words
A container according to claim 1 wherein said top portion is configured to provide a peripheral ledge portion for engaging said sidewall portion in closed position, said ledge portion being integral with a downwardly convergent central portion truncated to provide a slit type opening for charging detergent at said detergent retaining zone.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 20 words
A container according to claim 2 wherein the angle of convergence of said central portion is about 35° to 55°.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 14 words
A container according to claim 1 wherein said support member comprises a perforated plate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 16 words
A container according to claim 1 wherein said support member comprises a plurality of perforated pipes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 17 words
A container according to claim 1 wherein said support member comprises a rigid or flexible permeable membrane.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 15 words
A container according to claim 1 wherein said support member comprises a continuous screen member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 33 words
A container according to claim 1 wherein said detergent retaining zone is divided into approximately co-equal sections by a plurality of vertically disposed baffle members supported by said support member and sidewall portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 23 words
A container according to claim 1 wherein said apertures are circular in shape having an average diameter of about 0.5 to 2.75 mm.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 29 words
A container according to claim 1 wherein said apertures are arranged in parallel along perpendicular axes, adjacent of said apertures being spaced apart by about 10 to 40 mm.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 37 words
A container according to claim 1, said support member being provided with a pair of opposed, upwardly extending arms, configured in their uppermost portions to facilitate hand gripping enabling removal of said support member from said container.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 35 words
A container according to claim 1 wherein said support member is spaced from said bottom portion by a vertical distance which is about 20 to 100% of the vertical extent of said detergent retaining zone.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 26 words
A container according to claim 1 wherein said outlet means engages external conduit means in liquid flow communication with the detergent reservoir of a washing machine.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 46 words
A container according to claim 13 wherein waterflow to said container through said inlet means is in response to the concentration level of detergent in said detergent reservoir and said switch control means responsive to movement of said top portion, said switch control means being dominant.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 29 words
A container according to claim 1 wherein a second support member having a plurality of apertures is disposed substantially horizontally between said outlet means and said detergent retaining zone.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 21 words
A container according to claim 1 having charged thereto a detergent material in powder, flake, liquid, granule, pellet or paste form.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 17 words
A container according to claim 16 wherein said detergent is in the form of a thixotropic paste.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 17 words
A container according to claim 1 wherein said water inlet means is located in said sidewall portion.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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US693749A Cited
US2014037A Cited
US2287339A Cited
US2762527A Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1987-04-24 1987-10-24 1988-04-24 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1991-04-24 1991-10-24 1992-04-24 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1995-04-24 1995-10-24 1996-04-24 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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