DETERGENT DISPENSER

BOUCHON DISTRIBUTEUR POUR DETERGENT

English Abstract

A detergent dispenser comprising a first part (2) in the form of a closure
which normally serves to seal a detergent container, the closure having a
closed top (4), a dependent skirt (5a, 5b) and an open mouth (6), and a second
part (3) which is releasably engageable with the closure over its open mouth,
the second part having an aperture (15) for dispensing detergent.

French Abstract

Bouchon distributeur pour détergent comprenant une première partie (2) sous la forme d'un bouchage qui sert normalement à sceller le contenant et possède un sommet (4) fermé, une jupe (5a, 5b) partant de ce sommet ainsi qu'une ouverture béante (6), et une seconde partie (3) qui peut être engagée de manière détachable sur le bouchage au-dessus de l'ouverture béante de celui-ci, cette seconde partie étant dotée d'un orifice (15) destiné à la distribution du détergent.

Claims

-4-
CLAIMS:
1. A detergent dispenser comprising a first part in the
form of a closure which normally serves to seal a
detergent container, the closure having a closed top, a
dependent skirt and an open mouth, and a second part
which is releasably engageable with the closure over its
open mouth, the second part having an aperture for
dispensing detergent, characterised by the aperture in
the second part being formed in a raised funnel formed in
the top of the second part.
2. A detergent dispenser as claimed in claim 1 in which the
closure has an external thread for screwing the closure
into the detergent container.
3. A detergent dispenser as claimed in claim 2 in which the
second part is in the form of a shallow cap with an
internal thread engageable with the external thread of
the closure.
4. A detergent dispenser as claimed in claim 3 in which the
closure and the cap have complementary formations to
enable the cap releasably to be joined to the closed top
of the closure.
5. A method of treating soiled parts of clothing with
liquid detergent, the detergent being provided in a
bottle sealed with the closure of a dispenser according
to any preceding claim, the method being characterised
by removing the closure from the bottle, inverting it,
once filling it with detergent from the bottle; joining
the closure over the mouth of the second part, and
dispensing detergent through the aperture in the second
part to soiled parts of clothing.

Description

' C3619
2 2 ~ ~ 7 5
-- 1
DETERGENT DISPENSER
This invention relates to a detergent dispenser and more
particularly to a dispenser for liquid washing detergent.
When doing household washing in an automatic washing machine,
it is often useful to dab washing detergent on to soiled
parts of clothing such as cuffs and collars before the
clothing is placed in the washing machine.
It is an object of the invention to provide a novel dispenser
of the above kind.
The invention provides a detergent dispenser as defined in
claim 1, and a method of treating soiled parts of clothing as
defined in claim 5.
In a preferred form the closure has an external thread for
screwing the closure into the detergent container.
The second part is preferably in the form of a shallow cap
with an internal thread engageable with the external thread
of the closure.
The closure and the cap preferably have complementary
formations to enable the cap releasably to be joined to the
closed top of the closure.
The aperture in the cap is preferably formed in a raised
funnel formed in the top of the cap.
FND~D SHEEr
}!~EP

WO96/11855 2 ~ ~ ~ 7 ~ I PCT/GB94/02257
An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way
of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in
which:-
Figure 1 is an elevation of two parts of a detergent
dispenser made in accordance with the
invention;
Figure 2 is a similar view of the parts of the
dispenser joined in an inoperative condition;
Figure 3 is a similar view of the parts o~ the
dispenser joined in an operative condition;
Figures 4 is a plan view from above of t.he cap o~ the
dispenser;
Figure 5 is a plan view from below of the cap of the
dispenser, and
Figure 6 is a cross-section of the parts of the
dispenser shown in Figure 1.
As shown in the drawings a dispenser 1 comprises a first part
in the form of a closure 2 and a second part in the form of a
cap 3.
The closure 2 comprises a top 4 having a dependent skirt made
up of upper and lower sections 5a, 5b. The lower section 5b
defines an open mouth 6 o the closure and has an external
thread 7 which enables the closure to be screwed into and to
seal a suitable container such as a liquid detergent bottle
(not shown). The closure 2 therefore normally serves the
purpose of stealing a dete.rgent bottle.

WO96/11855 2 2 0 t 7 5 I PCT/GB94/02257
The top of the closure has a sunken peripheral channel 8
surrounding a centrally located pedestal 9 (see Figure 6).
The cap 3 has a top 10 and a narrow dependant skirt 11. The
skirt 11 has an internal thread 12 (Figure 6) which is
adapted to engage the external thread 7 on the closure 2. In
its top 10 the cap 3 has a raised arcuate funnel 14 with an
aperture 15 therein.
On the underside of the top of the cap 3 dependent arcuate
flanges 16 are provided which are formed in the shape of a
circle and which correspond with the pedestal 9 on the top of
the closure 2.
The flanges 16 are provided to snap over the peripheral edge
of the pedestal 9 when the cap is located over the top of the
closure 2. The cap can thus releasably and inoperatively be
joined to the closure 2 (see Figure 2).
In use, the closure 2 may be removed from its bo~tle,
inverted and filled with detergent from the bottle. The cap
3 may then be operatively joined to the closure by screwing
the cap over mouth 7 of the closure (Figure 3). Detergent
may thereupon be dispensed through the aperture 15 in the cap
3 to soiled parts of clothing such as cuffs and collars.
Thus the invention provides a useful dispenser for use in
clothes washing.
Many other embodiments of the invention may be made without
departing from the scope of the invention described in the
appended claims.

Representative Drawing