Fabric article treating device and system

Abstract

A fabric article treating device having an interior dispenser adapted for location inside of a fabric article drying appliance and a reservoir. The interior dispenser and reservoir are adapted for fluid communication with one another. The reservoir contains a benefit composition and is configured to maintain to minimize contamination within the reservoir during dispensing of the benefit composition.

1 . A fabric article treating device, comprising: 
 an interior dispenser and a reservoir,    wherein the interior dispenser and reservoir are adapted for fluid communication with one another;    wherein the reservoir contains a benefit composition; and    wherein the reservoir is configured with minimum headspace or void volume to minimize contamination within the reservoir during dispensing of the benefit composition.    
   
   
       2 . The fabric article treating device of  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir is removable.  
   
   
       3 . The fabric article treating device of  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir comprises a sealed pouch.  
   
   
       4 . The fabric article treating device of  claim 1 , further comprising one of corresponding male and female fitments and wherein the reservoir comprises the other of the corresponding male and female fitments, wherein the female fitment is configured to receive the male fitment to establish the fluid communication between the interior dispenser and the external reservoir while preserving the anaerobic environment within the reservoir.  
   
   
       5 . The fabric article treating device of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a power source;    a fluid handling system; and    a controller.    
   
   
       6 . The fabric article treating device of  claim 5 , wherein the fluid handling system is configured to transport the benefit composition from the reservoir to the interior dispenser, and wherein the interior dispenser is configured to deliver the benefit composition to one or more fabric articles in the fabric article drying appliance.  
   
   
       7 . The fabric article treating device of  claim 5 , further comprising an external housing, wherein the external housing is adapted to receive the power source, the fluid handling system, the controller and the exterior reservoir.  
   
   
       8 . The fabric article treating device of  claim 5 , wherein the fluid handling system includes a piezo-electric pump.  
   
   
       9 . The fabric article treating device of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller and at least one sensor in electrical communication with the controller.  
   
   
       10 . The fabric article treating device of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a temperature sensor.  
   
   
       11 . The fabric article treating device of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a light sensor.  
   
   
       12 . The fabric article treating device of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a motion sensor.  
   
   
       13 . The fabric article treating device of  claim 1 , further comprising a communication link adapted for connection with a fabric drying appliance.  
   
   
       14 . The fabric article treating device of  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir comprises a single or multi-layer barrier film.  
   
   
       15 . The fabric article treating device of  claim 1 , wherein the benefit composition includes a preservative.  
   
   
       16 . The fabric article treating device of  claim 7 , wherein the external housing comprises a tubing storage area.  
   
   
       17 . The fabric article treating device of  claim 5 , wherein the fluid handling system is further configured to filter the benefit composition.  
   
   
       18 . A fabric article treating system, comprising: 
 a fabric article drying appliance having a chamber and a closure structure, the closure structure having a closed position and at least one open position, the closure structure allowing access to the chamber;    a reservoir for containing a benefit composition;    a dispenser in communication with the chamber; and    a fluid handling system that compels the benefit composition from the reservoir toward the dispenser, thereby dispensing the benefit composition into the chamber;    wherein the reservoir is configured with minimum headspace or void volume to minimize contamination within the reservoir during dispensing of the benefit composition.    
   
   
       19 . The fabric article treating system of  claim 18 , wherein the reservoir is removable.  
   
   
       20 . The fabric article treating system of  claim 18 , wherein the reservoir comprises a sealed pouch.  
   
   
       21 . The fabric article treating system of  claim 18 , further comprising one of a corresponding male and female fitments, and wherein the reservoir comprises the other of the corresponding male or female fitments, wherein the female fitment is adapted to receive the male fitment to establish fluid communication between the dispenser and the reservoir while preserving the anaerobic environment within the reservoir.  
   
   
       22 . A fabric article treating system, comprising: 
 a fabric article drying appliance having a chamber and a closure structure, the closure structure having a closed position and at least one open position, the closure structure allowing access to the chamber;    a reservoir for containing a benefit composition;    a dispenser in communication with the chamber;    a fluid handling system that compels the benefit composition from the reservoir toward the dispenser, thereby dispensing the benefit composition into the chamber;    a closure structure sensor; and    a controller that initiates dispensing of the benefit composition, wherein the controller is configured to prevent the benefit composition from being dispensed when the closure structure sensor indicates that the closure structure is not in the closed position,    wherein the reservoir is configured with minimum headspace or void volume to minimize contamination within the reservoir during dispensing of the benefit composition.    
   
   
       23 . The fabric article treating system of  claim 22 , further comprising one or more additional sensors in the chamber in communication with the controller.  
   
   
       24 . The fabric article treating system of  claim 22 , wherein the fluid handling system is further configured to filter the benefit composition.  
   
   
       25 . A fabric article treating device, comprising: 
 an interior dispenser and a reservoir,    wherein the interior dispenser and reservoir are adapted for fluid communication with one another;    wherein the reservoir contains a benefit composition; and    wherein the reservoir is configured to provide a sealed environment to minimize contamination within the reservoir during dispensing of the benefit composition.