Patent Application
20170121071
The present invention generally relates to a dosing cap for a cleaning agent container, comprising a cup-shaped cap body having an open end part and a closed end part, and comprising a brush device for pre-treating items to be cleaned.
Dosing caps of this type are generally known. For example, WO 2014/004456 A1 discloses a dosing cap in which surface irregularities are arranged on the outer base surface of the dosing cap. In this dosing cap, however, it is disadvantageous that the dosing cap has to be turned around after applying the dose of washing agent to the laundry to be cleaned, so that, by means of the surface irregularities, the washing agent can be distributed over the laundry and rubbed in. As a result, the use of this conventional dosing cap is comparatively laborious.
The problem addressed by the present invention is therefore to provide a dosing cap that does not have the drawbacks of the prior art and in particular allows convenient and user-friendly pre-treatment.
Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the invention and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background of the invention.
A dosing cap (1) for a cleaning agent container (20), comprising a cup-shaped cap body (3) having an open end part (4) and a closed end part (5), and comprising a brush device (2) for pre-treating items to be cleaned, characterized in that the brush device (2) is designed as a brush attachment (2) that is detachably arranged on the cap body (3), the brush attachment (2) being designed to be interchangeable such that the brush attachment (2) can be placed onto the closed end part (5) or the open end part (4) as desired.
The present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and
The following detailed description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or the application and uses of the invention. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background of the invention or the following detailed description of the invention.
The instant dosing cap (1) for a cleaning agent container (20), comprises a cup-shaped cap body (3) having an open end part (4) and a closed end part (5), and further comprises a brush device (2) for pre-treating items to be cleaned, characterized in that the brush device (2) is designed as a brush attachment (2) that is detachably arranged on the cap body (3), the brush attachment (2) being designed to be interchangeable such that the brush attachment (2) can be placed onto the closed end part (5) or the open end part (4) as desired.
Because it is possible to interchange the brush attachment, it is advantageously possible to place the brush attachment either on the closed end part or on the open end part as required or depending on the intended use. If the brush attachment is intended to be visible on the cleaning agent container for presentation purposes, for example on a shelf in a store, the brush attachment is placed on the closed end part. If the brush attachment is intended to be used for pre-treating items, such as laundry, the brush attachment is placed on the open end part. Therefore, using the dosing cap according to the invention, it is advantageously possible to combine the advantages of the two positions of the brush attachment. On one hand, the brush attachment can be placed onto the closed end part so that it is visible and provides effective advertising to consumers; on the other hand, it is considerably easier to handle the dosing cap during pre-treatment if the brush attachment is placed onto the open end part, since the dosing cap makes it possible to distribute and rub in cleaning agent using the brush attachment directly and without being turned around after the cleaning agent, such as a liquid washing agent, has been applied to the item.
The brush attachment extends in a longitudinal direction, a width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the width direction. If reference is made to “top” or “upper” and “bottom” or “lower” in the following, these positions are given relative to the longitudinal direction. If reference is made to a cross section or a cross-sectional area or a cross-sectional plane, this means sections in parallel with the plane that is spanned by the width direction and transverse direction or that is arranged perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction.
For example, it may in particular be provided that the brush attachment is designed to be interchangeable such that the brush attachment is in a first position when it is placed onto the closed end part or is in a second position when it is placed onto the open end part, the brush attachment being variably interchangeable between the first position and the second position. As a result, it is advantageously possible to use the dosing cap particularly easily.
The dosing cap is designed such that it can be filled with a partial dose of the cleaning agent contained in the cleaning agent container. For this purpose, the dosing cap may for example have marker lines and volume indicators that display the corresponding fill level. In addition, the dosing cap is designed such that it can close an outlet in the cleaning agent container. In addition, the dosing cap is designed such that it can be connected to the cleaning agent container, for example via a screwed connection. The cleaning agent container may be any type of vessel into which a cleaning agent can be introduced. The cleaning agent may comprise any type of composition that allows items to be cleaned. The cleaning agent may be e.g. washing agent, in particular liquid washing agent, and/or detergent, etc. The items to be cleaned may e.g. be laundry and/or tableware.
The cup-shaped cap body may be in any shape that allows the cap body to be filled with cleaning agent and allows the cleaning agent to be applied to the item to be cleaned. On the closed end part, the cap body has a closed shape, so that the cleaning agent cannot flow out of the dosing cap. On the open end part, the dosing cap has an opening which allows the cleaning agent to be poured out of the dosing cap onto the item. The brush device or brush attachment is designed such that it allows the item to be pre-treated. The brush attachment may be designed such that it makes it possible to distribute the cleaning agent over the item and/or to rub the cleaning agent into the item, for example.
According to an exemplary development, it is provided that the brush attachment comprises a plurality of bristles having a length of from 4 mm to 20 mm. In this range of lengths, a comparatively good pre-treatment effect is advantageously achieved. According to a preferred development, it is provided that the bristles have a length of from 6 mm to 10 mm, as a result of which very efficient pre-treatment can advantageously be achieved. In addition, at this length it is particularly easy for the consumer to see the bristles when the brush attachment is on the closed end part in the first position and the dosing cap is on the cleaning agent container, which is positioned on a shelf in a store, for example. The plurality of bristles may be different lengths, but it may be provided in particular that all the bristles are the same length. The bristles may in particular be circular-cylindrical, preferably slightly conical.
According to another preferred development, it is provided that the bristles have a diameter of from 0.3 mm to 3.0 mm. In this range of diameters, a comparatively good pre-treatment effect is advantageously achieved. According to a preferred development, it is provided that the bristles have a diameter of from 0.8 mm to 1.0 mm. As a result, very efficient pre-treatment can advantageously be achieved. The plurality of bristles may have different diameters, but it may be provided in particular that all the bristles have the same diameter.
According to another exemplary embodiment, it is provided that the bristles have a degree of hardness in the range of from 30 to 110 Shore A. As a result, a comparatively high level of flexibility is achieved, meaning that particularly good pre-treatment is possible. According to a preferred development, it is provided that the bristles have a degree of hardness of from 50 to 70 Shore A. In this range, optimal pre-treatment is possible. The plurality of bristles may have different degrees of hardness, but it may be provided in particular that all the bristles have the same degree of hardness.
According to another exemplary embodiment, it is provided that the brush attachment comprises an annular brush attachment body designed such that the brush attachment body can placed onto the cap body by its lower part and the plurality of bristles are arranged on its upper part. Owing to this annular design, it is advantageously possible to produce the brush attachment particularly efficiently. The brush attachment body is substantially rotationally symmetrical to its longitudinal axis, which extends in parallel with the longitudinal direction. The cross-sectional plane of the brush attachment body is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the brush attachment body, and is thus parallel to the plane spanned by the width direction and the transverse direction.
In particular, it may be provided that the brush attachment is made of an injection-molded material. In particular, the brush attachment is made of a rubber material and/or a plastics material. The brush attachment body is placed onto either the open end part or the closed end part by its lower part. The upper part opposite the lower part accordingly comprises the plurality of bristles.
By way of example, it may in particular be provided that the brush attachment body has a larger cross section on its lower part than the cross section of the cap body in the region of the closed or open end part, such that the brush attachment can be placed over the outer surface of the corresponding end part. The brush attachment body can be designed such that a sufficiently rigid connection is produced between the brush attachment body and the cap body by sliding the brush attachment body onto the cap body, such that the brush attachment remains firmly arranged on the cap body for example during pre-treatment of the item.
An external diameter at the closed end part of the cap body may differ from an external diameter at the open end part of the cap body. Preferably, the external diameter at the closed end part is less than the external diameter at the open end part. A lateral face of the cap body may extend conically at least in the region of the closed end part, such that when it is being manufactured, the cap body can be ejected from an injection-molding die half by its closed end part. The difference in external diameter may be at least 2 percent, based on the greater external diameter.
The brush attachment or the cap body may comprise connecting means so that a brush attachment placed onto the closed end part and a brush attachment placed onto the open end part can each only be removed by overcoming a removal force, even if, as in the embodiment set out above, the external diameter at the closed and the open end parts is different. The removal force (in the axial direction of the cap body, perpendicular to the cap base) is intended to be greater than 2 N. Preferably, the removal force for the closed end and the open end is in each case greater than 20 or even 100 N.
In one embodiment, the connecting means include resilient restoring forces for the brush attachment body. If the brush attachment is placed onto the open end part or the closed end part of the cap body, the brush attachment body widens accordingly. The resilient restoring forces that occur ensure that the brush attachment is held securely on the cap body. When the material is selected appropriately (for example silicone, elastomer material), secure positioning on two end parts of the cap body is thus possible, even if the external diameters at the closed end and the open end differ.
The connecting means may comprise adhesive. Alternatively or in addition to the elasticity of the brush attachment body, an appropriate adhesive can be applied between the brush attachment and the cap body. There is the option here to apply the adhesive to the outer wall of the cap body and, as long as the adhesive is still liquid or is not yet cured, the brush attachment can be slid onto the closed end of the cap body. Adhesive strips may also be used, which are arranged between the brush attachment and the cap body.
According to another exemplary embodiment, it is provided that the brush attachment comprises a fillet on which the plurality of bristles are arranged, the fillet being arranged in the upper region of the brush attachment body or on the upper part thereof. The fillet is planar and is connected to the plurality of bristles. In particular, the bristles may be arranged perpendicularly to the surface of the fillet. The bristles may be spaced apart at regular intervals and may in particular be linear, it being possible for a plurality of lines to be arranged in succession and/or so as to be offset from one another. The bristles may for example be spaced apart at regular intervals at a distance of from 1 mm to 2 mm.
It may be provided that the fillet is arranged in parallel with the cross-sectional area or cross-sectional plane of the brush attachment body. The fillet or its surface is therefore also perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the brush attachment body. According to an exemplary embodiment, the fillet is approximately semicircular and covers approximately 40% to 50% of the cross-sectional area of the brush attachment body so that an approximately semicircular upper opening is formed. This upper opening is formed between an upper edge of the brush attachment body, which delimits the brush attachment body at the top, and an edge of the fillet, this upper opening allowing the dosed cleaning agent located in the dosing cap to be applied to the item to be cleaned by passing out of the dosing cap and past the fillet comprising the bristles. As a result, it is advantageously possible to handle the dosing cap particularly easily.
It may in particular be provided that the plurality of bristles are surrounded by a circumferential collar that is arranged on the fillet. This collar advantageously prevents the cleaning agent from unintentionally flowing off the fillet or the bristles. It may be provided that the collar is 2 mm to 10 mm high. Here, the collar extends perpendicularly to the surface of the fillet and the height of the collar is the perpendicular extension of the collar relative to the surface of the fillet. According to a preferred embodiment, the collar height is 3.0 mm to 4.0 mm.
According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that the brush attachment comprises ribbing arranged laterally on the outer wall of the brush attachment body, the ribbing comprising notches having a depth of from 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm. The ribbing makes it easier to grip the brush attachment during pre-treatment by the user. The ribbing comprising the notches also allows the cleaning agent to be dispersed over the item and thus improves the pre-treatment options of the brush attachment and dosing cap. It may in particular be provided that the notches and projections on the outer wall of the brush attachment body regularly alternate, such that a particularly efficient gripping surface or pre-treatment surface is produced. Therefore, for example, the distance between adjacent notches is approximately 1 mm.
It may in particular be provided that the ribbing comprises at least one ribbed region, which extends in an angular region of from 40° to 60° on the outside or outer wall of the brush attachment body. Here, “angular region” means an arc segment arranged on the outer wall of the annular brush attachment body. This ribbed angular region e.g. makes it possible to efficiently distribute the cleaning agent. In particular, the ribbing on the outer wall of the brush attachment body may comprise two spaced-apart ribbed regions, which are opposite one another relative to the longitudinal axis of the brush attachment body. By arranging the ribbed regions in this way, particularly efficient pre-treatment is possible.
The present invention also relates to a cleaning agent container, comprising a dosing cap according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the brush attachment is either on the closed end part of the dosing cap in a presentation state of the cleaning agent container or on the open end part of the dosing cap in a use state of the cleaning agent container. The presentation state may for example be the state which the container is in when the brush attachment is intended to be particularly visible to consumers on a shelf in a store. The use state is the state which the container is in when the brush attachment or the dosing cap is intended to be used for pre-treatment. It may be provided that in the use state, the brush attachment is arranged inside the container and is therefore not visible from the outside. Moreover, reference is made to the statements regarding the dosing cap.
The present invention also relates to the use of a dosing cap according to one of the preceding embodiments for pre-treating laundry to be cleaned, wherein the dosing cap is filled with a partial quantity of a washing agent from a liquid washing agent container, wherein the partial quantity is applied to the laundry to be cleaned from the dosing cap, and wherein the washing agent applied is distributed over the laundry to be cleaned and rubbed into the laundry to be cleaned by means of the brush attachment placed onto the open end part of the cap body. Advantageously, it is possible to place the brush attachment onto the open end part for pre-treating the laundry, such that the dosing cap does not have to be turned around after applying the washing agent. Moreover, reference is made to the statements regarding the dosing cap and the cleaning agent container.
Embodiments of the present invention are shown in the drawings and are explained in greater detail in the following description.
In the various figures, the same parts are always provided with the same reference signs and are therefore also generally labelled or mentioned only once in each case.
Ribbing 10, which in this exemplary embodiment has a depth of approximately 0.2 mm, is arranged on the outer wall of the brush attachment body 9. The ribbed region 10 extends on the outer wall of the brush attachment body 9 approximately over an angle of 50°. In this exemplary embodiment, the brush attachment 2 also has a second ribbed region 110, which is not shown in
This brush attachment 2 can then be used to pre-treat laundry. If the brush attachment 2 is placed onto the open end part of the cap body 3, washing agent can be applied to the laundry from the dosing cap 1 through the remaining opening 11 that is not covered by the fillet 8. Using the bristles 6, the washing agent can be distributed over the laundry and rubbed into the laundry. Using the lateral ribbing 10, 110, pre-treatment can also take place by the washing agent being rubbed in using the ribbing 10, 110, which means that it is possible for the laundry to be treated particularly gently. Alternatively, it is of course also possible to use the brush attachment 2 separately, i.e. without the cap body 3, for pre-treatment.
For the sake of completeness, it should also be noted that the above-described embodiments are merely used to illustrate the invention and are not intended to limit the subject matter of the invention in any way.
While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description of the invention, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment of the invention, it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2014 213 604.0 | Jul 2014 | DE | national |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/EP2015/064438 | Jun 2015 | US |
| Child | 15405086 | US |
