Shell for a ball to be used in automatic washing machines, such as washing machines and dish washers

Abstract

 Shell for a ball to be used in an automatic washing machine, such as a washing machine or dishwasher, such a ball having a substantially spherical configuration and having particles of solid material such as ceramics or washing substances inside it. Such a ball has holes and/or slots on its surface so as to allow the contact between the washing water and said particles.
The shell is made from material that is both soft and elastic (advantageously from food-grade silicone), said shell having holes (4) and/or slots to be arranged with those of the ball. The shell has dimensions such as to allow it to perfectly adhere to the outer surface of the ball. The presence of the shell protects against bumps against the drum that occur during use inside the drum of a washing machine. Moreover, the treatment of the linen occurs in a much more delicate manner thanks to the presence of this shell.

Description

[0001] The present finding concerns a shell for a ball to be used in automatic washing machines, such as washing machines and dish washers, according to the general part of claim 1.

[0002] It is known that in recent times it has become increasingly common to use substantially spherical shaped balls, which are used in the field of automatic washing of linen carried out through a washing machine. In particular these balls are made from plastic material, they are provided with holes and/or slots on their surfaces and particles of solid material, such as ceramic granules and detergent products of various types are arranged inside them. Said balls are inserted inside the drum of the washing machine and, precisely thanks to the fact that they have some holes on their surfaces, the water used for the washing comes into contact with the materials arranged inside them. Moreover, the surface of the balls creates a real mechanical rubbing effect on the garments to be washed, due to the swirling movement of the drum in which said balls are arranged together with the garments.

[0003] In practice, due to the synergic action of these two effects, the presence of these balls is able to substantially increase the efficiency of the washing action. Of course, such efficiency varies according to the balls that are used, but, from a general point of view, said efficiency is certain, even in the light of some tests carried out by international certification bodies such as TÜV (well known and prestigious German certification body).

[0004] Some of these balls can also be opened so as to allow the elements arranged inside them, which are worn out or in any case no longer effective, to be replaced or reintegrate. Moreover, some of these balls have protuberances that come out from their surface to increase the mechanical effect exerted by the balls themselves during the washing action.

[0005] Unfortunately, the presence of these protuberances can cause damage to delicate garments present inside the drum of the washing machine.

[0006] In order to try to avoid these drawbacks, some of these balls have circular crowns or similar made from smooth and sufficiently soft material on their outer surface, at their widest circumference. This device however, makes the ball rather bulky and makes it difficult to open so as to access it.

[0007] The purpose of the present finding is that of foreseeing a shell for a ball of such a type that, once applied to the latter, makes it possible to avoid the drawbacks described above.

[0008] In particular, such a shell must make it possible for the water to come into contact with the content of the ball during the washing and must make it possible to access the inside of the ball easily, in the case in which said access is foreseen.

[0009] This is obtained, according to the finding, by foreseeing that said shell is made from elastic and soft material and has some holes and/or slots at the holes and/or slots present on the surface of the ball that it is intended to cover. The dimensions of said shell are such as to allow it to perfectly adhere to the surface of the ball; such a shell also has a hole to allow the shell itself to be widened during the insertion of the ball inside it or for taking out the ball from inside it. These and other characteristics of the finding shall be described in detail hereafter, with reference to one of its preferred embodiments, given as an example and not for limiting purposes, with help from the attached drawing tables, in which:

• figure 1 (fin I) illustrates an overall perspective view of an embodiment of the shell according to the finding;
• figure 2 (fin II) illustrates a view of the shell according to the finding in which inside there is a ball of the type previously illustrated;
• figure 3 illustrates a view of the shell according to the finding, in an "inverted" position and that is to say inverted with respect to the normal positioning of the shell itself, so as to emphasise the characteristics of the inner part of the shell itself.

[0010] In figure 1 it can be seen that the shell 1 according to the finding has a substantially spherical surface configuration. It is made from material that is both elastic and soft (advantageously it shall be made from food-grade silicone). It has a hole 2 that, being able to be widened thanks to the elastic characteristics of the material with which the shell is made, makes it possible to easily insert/take out the ball into/from the shell. The diameter of the shell shall be such as to allow the ball 3 to be perfectly inserted inside it (see figure 2). At the outer surface of the shell there are some ribbings 7, that have the function of softening the bumps of the ball against the inner part of the drum of the washing machine in which the ball covered by the shell is inserted, as well as against garments present inside the drum itself. The shell is provided with holes 4, as well as, possibly, slots of various configuration, arranged at the holes and slots present on the surface of the ball. In such a way the substances contained in the ball (for example ceramic of various types and/or washing substances) come into contact with the water present inside the drum of the washing machine. In order to allow the perfect matching of the holes present on the ball with the holes present on the shell, it is possible to foresee some protrusions 8 on the inner surface of the shell (fig.3), that have the purpose of being inserting into suitable slits present on the ball.

[0011] In figure 3 it can also be seen that, again at the inner surface of the shell, in a position opposite with respect to that in which there is the hole 2 for letting the ball into the shell itself, it is possible to foresee a fin 5 projecting towards the inside of the shell, suitable for being inserted into a suitable groove present in a corresponding position in the ball, also in this case allowing the perfect positioning of the shell on the ball.

[0012] Analogously, it is possible to foresee, on the inner surface of the shell, in an "equatorial" position, a groove 9 in which a corresponding "equatorial" edge in relief, present in the outer surface of the ball, is suitable for being inserted, again in order to allow an optimal positioning of the shell with respect to the ball.

[0013] Tests carried out on the shell according to the finding, made from food-grade silicone, have made it possible to verify that the use of the shell does not lead to any drawback in the use of the ball, which is capable of efficiently carrying out its function of aiding the washing action. At the same time the shell, since it is indeed made from food-grade silicone, has non-allergic properties, it is particularly heat-resistant and it is substantially long lasting. Thanks to the use of the shell the use of the balls is very quiet, especially in the centrifugation step.

[0014] In practice, through the use of the shell according to the finding, it is possible to combine all the advantages coming from the use of balls for washing in washing machines and the like, with the advantage deriving from foreseeing a soft cover that is also strong, so as to be able to protect in the best way possible the integrity of the drum in which it is inserted, as well as linen undergoing washing.

Claims

1. SHELL FOR A BALL TO BE USED IN AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINES SUCH AS WASHING MACHINES OR DISHWASHERS, said ball having a substantially spherical configuration, said ball having particles of solid material inside of it, said ball having holes and/or slots on its surface for allowing contact between the washing water and said particles, said shell being made from material that is both elastic and soft, as well as having dimensions such as to be able to contain said ball, perfectly adhering to its outer surface, said shell having a plurality of holes (4) and/or slots to be arranged at analogous holes and/or slots present on the surface of the ball, said shell having a hole (2) to allow the insertion of the ball inside the shell, by reversible widening said hole.

2. SHELL, according to claim 1, characterised in that it is made from food-grade silicone.

3. SHELL, according to claims 1 or 2, characterised in that it has ribbings (7) at its outer surface.

4. GROUP CONSISTING OF A SHELL, MADE ACCORDING TO ONE OR MORE OF THE PREVIOUS CLAIMS, AS WELL AS OF A BALL TO BE USED IN AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINES, characterised in that it foresees ribbings and/or fins (5) at the inner surface of the shell, which are suitable for being inserted in corresponding slits and/or grooves that are on the outer surface of the ball, so as to define the perfect positioning of the shell with respect to the ball.

5. GROUP CONSISTING OF THE SHELL, MADE ACCORDING TO ONE OR MORE OF CLAIMS FROM 1 TO 3, AS WELL AS OF A BALL TO BE USED IN AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINES, characterised in that it foresees that at the inner surface of the shell there are some grooves (9) in which some edges in relief located in the outer surface of the ball are suitable for being inserted, so as to define the perfect positioning of the shell with respect to the ball.

Drawing