Universal dispenser for dispensing of laundry additives during automatic machine laundering of fabrics

Abstract

Disclosed are systems, methods, devices and kits for dispensing laundry 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 additives, a lidded housing structure is placed within the drum of an automatic washing machine, an insert, containing one or more laundry additives in each compartment, is placed within the lidded housing structure, the lid is closed and the machine is run through the several stages of its laundering cycle. Selectively actuatable puncturing element are provided to optionally open at least one compartment of the insert upon closing of the housing structure lid, thereby dispensing the contents of that opened compartment into the washing machine drum as wash additive materials and/or to open one or more compartments of the insert later in the laundering cycle to dispense contents of those compartments into the washing machine drum as rinse additive materials. The selectively actuatable puncturing element being activated by centrifugal force arising during the spin cycle of the laundering operation. In a multiple rinse cycle laundering operation, selectively actuatable puncturing element has a track and cam that allows for the dispensing of additives into the desired rinse cycle.