(19) |
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(11) |
EP 0 346 113 A1 |
(12) |
EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
(43) |
Date of publication: |
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13.12.1989 Bulletin 1989/50 |
(22) |
Date of filing: 08.06.1989 |
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(84) |
Designated Contracting States: |
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AT BE CH DE ES FR GB GR IT LI NL SE |
(30) |
Priority: |
09.06.1988 GB 8813685
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(71) |
Applicant: IMPERIAL CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES PLC |
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London SW1P 3JF (GB) |
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(72) |
Inventors: |
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- Locke, Timothy John
Great Ayton
Middlesbrough
Cleveland (GB)
- Wilne, Clive Edward
Northallerton
North Yorkshire (GB)
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(74) |
Representative: Roberts, Jonathan Winstanley et al |
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Intellectual Property Department
ICI Chemicals & Polymers Ltd
P.O. Box 11
The Heath Runcorn
Cheshire WA7 4QE Runcorn
Cheshire WA7 4QE (GB) |
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(57) A process of washing fabrics in a washing machine comprises introducing a quantity
of a liquid detergent (2) into an open topped vessel (5) through the open top, placing
the vessel (5) containing said liquid detergent and fabrics to be washed in said washing
machine, carrying out a washing process in the presence of the said vessel without
either wholly or partly closing the open top or securing the vessel to any part of
the washing machine, and removing said vessel from the washing machine after the washing
process.
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[0001] This invention relates to a washing process.
[0002] It is known to wash fabrics in washing machines introducing perforated containers
containing materials such as detergents, bleaches and conditioners into the washing
machine. The introduction in this way of bleach or other powders is disclosed in US
patent 3,400,808, of aqueous solutions of surface active synthetic anionic non ionic
or cationic fabric conditioning agents is disclosed in US patent 4,014,105 and of
detergent formulations is disclosed in UK patent specifications 2,157,718 and 2,157,717.
[0003] Whereas there is a benefit in the slow release of bleaches in order to avoid undue
concentrations it is a disadvantage with detergents in that the early part of the
washing process may be carried out with insufficient detergent available. The problem
is more serious with comparatively viscous liquid detergents, whereas liquid detergents
of low viscosity may leak through the holes in a container quite quickly. Viscous
liquid detergents may however be difficult to introduce into washing machines by certain
conventional washing machine mechanisms, and a simple method of introduction which
avoids slow release and renders unnecessary the use of complex plastics containers
is desirable.
[0004] This invention comprises a process of washing fabrics in a washing machine, which
may be for example a top loading washing machine but is suitably a front loading washing
machine, preferably an automatic washing machine, which comprises introducing a quantity
of a liquid detergent into an open topped vessel through the open top, placing the
vessel containing said liquid detergent and fabrics to be washed in said washing machine,
carrying out a washing process in the presence of the said vessel without either wholly
or partly closing the open top or securing the vessel to any part of the washing machine,
and removing said vessel from the washing machine after the washing process.
[0005] The open topped vessel is suitably a bowl or cup, for example a cap of a bottle of
the detergent. It should be made of a material for example a plastics material, which
will not break in the washing process.
[0006] By leaving the vessel with the fabric during the washing process the detergent is
dissolved substantially completely in the wash water.
[0007] The vessel may be of any convenient shape. It preferably has no projections which
would catch fabrics and suitably has a flattened or upwardly dished base on which
it can stand during introduction of the liquid detergent. Suitably the open upper
apperture of the vessel is 20% to 40% and more preferably 25 to 35% of the area of
the remaining external surface area of the vessel. It is suitably calibrated to show
suitable quantities of detergent for use.
[0008] The process is particularly suitable for liquid detergents of more than 300 preferably
more than 1000 and more preferably more than 1500 centipoise and suitably at most
20,000 and preferably at most 10,000 centipoise, for example 2,000 to 8,000 centipoise
as measured at a low rate of shear for example using a Brookfield RVTD viscometer
using a No 4 spindle at 10 revolutions per minute at 20 to 25°C.
[0009] One form of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying
drawing which shows a bottle 1 in cross section which holds a liquid detergent 2 and
which is formed with a nozzle 3 closed with a hinged flap 4. A vessel 5 serves as
an outer protective cap to the bottle to which it is screwed by screw threads 6. Vessel
5 is calibrated by marks 7 and 8 to show appropriate measures of liquid detergent.
[0010] In use, the vessel 5 is unscrewed and preferably placed on its base, the flap 4 lifted
and the vessel 5 filled to the desired mark. Flap 4 is then closed and vessel 5 placed
in a front loading washing machine with the fabrics to be washed and the washing process
carried out.
[0011] After the washing process vessel 5 can be recovered and replaced on the bottle.
1. A process of washing fabrics in a washing machine which comprises introducing a
quantity of a liquid detergent into an open topped vessel through the open top, placing
the vessel containing said liquid detergent and fabrics to be washed in said washing
machine, carrying out a washing process in the presence of the said vessel without
either wholly or partly closing the open top or securing the vessel to any part of
the washing machine, and removing said vessel from the washing machine after the washing
process.
2. A process as claimed in claim 1 in which the vessel is formed with a base on which
it can stand during introduction of the liquid detergent.
3. A process as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which the open upper aperture of the vessel
is 20 to 40% of the area of the remaining external surface area of the vessel.
4. A process as claimed in any preceding claim in which the vessel is calibrated to
show a suitable quantity of detergent for use and is filled to said calibration..
5. A process as claimed in any preceding claim in which the liquid detergent has a
viscosity of 1500 to 10,000 centipoise as measured at a low rate of shear at 25°C.
6. A process as claimed in any preceding claim in which the vessel is a cup without
external projections which is made of a breakage-resistant material.
7. A package of liquid detergent for laundry use which comprises a bottle containing
a liquid detergent of viscosity of 1,500 to 10,000 centipoise as measured at low shear
at 25°C, means to close the bottle and in addition to the said means a vessel which
has no external projections, is made of a breakaged resistant material and is calibrated
to indicate suitable quantities of detergent for use in a washing machine, detachably
secured to the bottle and constituting whilst secured to the bottle a secondary means
to close the bottle.
