The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 17, 2012
Filed:
Aug. 22, 2005
Guido Brandt, Mt Waverley, AU;
Thomas Enkel, Ellerstadt, DE;
Karl-ludwig Gibis, Ludwigshafen, DE;
Michael Hahl, Bern, CH;
Chris Efstathios Housmekerides, Ludwigshafen, DE;
Brendyn Rodgers, Mt Waverley, AU;
Guido Brandt, Mt Waverley, AU;
Thomas Enkel, Ellerstadt, DE;
Karl-Ludwig Gibis, Ludwigshafen, DE;
Michael Hahl, Bern, CH;
Chris Efstathios Housmekerides, Ludwigshafen, DE;
Brendyn Rodgers, Mt Waverley, AU;
Reckitt Benckiser N.V., WT Hoofddorp, NL;
Abstract
A detergent dispensing device for an automatic washing machine has a cartridge, a selecting mechanism, an operating mechanism, and a thermal element. The cartridge includes a plurality of chambers to accommodate a detergent composition. The selecting mechanism selectively exposes each chamber to wash liquor allowing the detergent, in use, to be washed out of the chamber. The operating mechanism is movable from a first position to a second position for loading mechanical energy into the device which provides a restoring force for the operating mechanism. The thermal element retains the operating means in the second position and is arranged to move when subjected to an elevated temperature prevailing in an interior of the washing machine during a wash cycle, thereby the thermal element moves or releases the operating mechanism. The operating mechanism is arranged to advance the selecting mechanism to an adjacent chamber as the cartridge remains stationary.