Dispensing of rinse additives into the rinse cycle during automatic machine laundering of fabrics

Abstract

Disclosed are systems, methods, devices and kits for the timed dispensing of laundry rinse additive materials into the drum of an automatic washing machine as that machine is used to carry out a fabric laundering operation. To bring about such dispensing of rinse additives, a housing structure device is placed within the drum of an automatic washing machine, a unit dose insert package, containing laundry rinse additives in at least one compartment of the insert, is placed within the housing structure, and the machine is run through the several stages of its laundering cycle. Means are provided to open at least one rinse additive-containing compartment of the insert later in the laundering cycle to dispense contents of this compartment into the washing machine drum as rinse additive materials. The means for opening such compartments of the insert are activated by centrifugal force arising during the spin cycle of the laundering operation. This spin cycle centrifugal force also holds the contents of the opened insert compartment(s) within the structure until the rinse cycle of the laundering operation, whereupon those contents are dispensed from the housing structure into the washing machine drum.