Systems, dispensers and methods for laundry additives

Abstract

A system for introducing laundry additive materials to an automatic washing machine comprises a unit dose package including a first compartment containing a first laundry additive material, a second compartment containing a second laundry additive material, and optionally at least a third compartment containing a third laundry additive material, and a dispenser. The dispenser is adapted for interchangeable use with unit dose packages containing two, three or more compartments, and includes a housing structure comprising a first chamber adapted to receive the unit dose package. The housing structure is arrangeable in a first position to receive the unit dose package and a second position to secure the unit dose package in the first chamber. The dispenser further includes first compartment piercing elements adapted to open the first compartment and, if included, the third compartment; a second compartment piercing element adapted to open the second compartment; and a second chamber in fluid communication with the first chamber. The first compartment piercing elements are adapted to open the first compartment and the third compartment, if included, by arranging the housing structure from the first position to the second position, and at least the first compartment and the third compartment, if included, are adapted to then release the first laundry additive material and the third laundry additive material, if included, for gravitational flow for use in a wash cycle. The second compartment of the unit dose package is adapted to release the second laundry additive material to the second chamber during a spin cycle.

1 . A system for introducing laundry additive materials to an automatic washing machine, the system comprising: 
 a unit dose package including a first compartment containing a first laundry additive material and a second compartment containing a second laundry additive material, and optionally at least a third compartment containing a third laundry additive material; and    a dispenser adapted for interchangeable use with a unit dose package containing two, three or more compartments, the dispenser including a housing structure comprising a first chamber adapted to receive the unit dose package, wherein the housing structure is arrangeable in a first position to receive the unit dose package and a second position to secure the unit dose package in the first chamber; first compartment piercing elements adapted to open the first compartment and, if included, the third compartment; a second compartment piercing element adapted to open the second compartment; and a second chamber in fluid communication with the first chamber;    wherein the first compartment piercing elements are adapted to open the first compartment and the third compartment, if included, by arranging the housing structure from the first position to the second position;    wherein, after the housing structure is arranged in the second position, at least the first compartment and the third compartment, if included, are adapted to release the first laundry additive material and the third laundry additive material, if included, from the unit dose package for gravitational flow from the dispenser for use in a wash cycle of a washing machine; and    wherein the second compartment of the unit dose package is adapted to release the second laundry additive material to the second chamber during a spin cycle of a washing machine.    
   
   
       2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the second compartment piercing element is adapted to open the second compartment by arranging the housing structure from the first position to the second position.  
   
   
       3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the second compartment piercing element comprises a centrifugal pivoting member adapted for centrifugal actuation during a spin cycle of a washing machine.  
   
   
       4 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the second compartment of the unit dose package is adapted to substantially contain the second laundry additive material until a spin cycle of a washing machine.  
   
   
       5 . The system according to  claim 4 , wherein the second chamber is adapted to substantially contain the second laundry additive material during a spin cycle.  
   
   
       6 . The system according to  claim 5 , wherein the housing structure further comprises a third chamber in fluid communication with the second chamber, and a dam positioned between the second chamber and the third chamber, wherein the dam is adapted to substantially inhibit flow of the second laundry additive material from the second chamber to the third chamber during a spin cycle and the dam is adapted to substantially permit a gravitational flow of the second laundry additive material over the dam and into the third chamber after a spin cycle.  
   
   
       7 . The system according to  claim 6 , wherein the third chamber is adapted to substantially contain the second laundry additive material received after a spin cycle until after a predetermined water level is reached in the washing machine during a rinse cycle of a washing machine.  
   
   
       8 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first chamber is substantially free of the first compartment piercing elements when the housing structure is arranged in the first position and the first compartment piercing elements extend into the first chamber when the housing structure is arranged in the second position.  
   
   
       9 . The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the first compartment piercing elements are pivotally attached to the housing structure for pivotal retraction from the first chamber and pivotal extension into the first chamber.  
   
   
       10 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first chamber is substantially free of the second compartment piercing element when the housing structure is arranged in the first position.  
   
   
       11 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first compartment piercing elements is adapted to open the first compartment by forming an opening in a wall of the first compartment, wherein the first laundry additive material may be released from the first compartment by passing through the opening, and the dispenser further includes an auxiliary first compartment piercing element adapted to form a vent opening in the wall of the first compartment, wherein the vent opening is adapted to permit air flow into the first compartment when the first laundry additive material is released through the opening in the first compartment wall.  
   
   
       12 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the second compartment piercing element is adapted to open the second compartment by forming a slit in a wall of the second compartment.  
   
   
       13 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein the second compartment piercing element is adapted to open the second compartment by forming a single slit in the second compartment wall.  
   
   
       14 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the unit dose package includes a third compartment containing a third laundry additive material.  
   
   
       15 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first compartment piercing elements is adapted to open the third compartment by forming an opening in a wall of the third compartment, wherein the third laundry additive material may be released from the third compartment by passing through the opening in the third compartment wall, and the dispenser further includes an auxiliary compartment piercing element adapted to form a vent opening in the wall of the third compartment, wherein the vent opening is adapted to permit air flow into the third compartment when the third laundry additive material is released through the opening in the third compartment wall.  
   
   
       16 . A dispenser adapted to receive a unit dose package including a first compartment, a second compartment and optionally at least a third compartment, for introducing laundry additive materials to an automatic washing machine, the dispenser comprising: 
 a housing structure comprising a first chamber adapted to receive a unit dose package, wherein the housing structure is arrangeable in a first position to receive a unit dose package and a second position to secure a unit dose package in the first chamber;    first compartment piercing elements adapted to open a first compartment and optionally a third compartment; and    a second compartment piercing element adapted to open a second compartment;    wherein the first chamber is substantially free of the first and second compartment piercing elements when the housing structure is arranged in the first position and the first compartment piercing element extends into the first chamber to open a first compartment and optionally a third compartment of a unit dose package by arranging the housing structure from the first position to the second position.    
   
   
       17 . The dispenser according to  claim 16 , wherein the second compartment piercing element is adapted to be extended into the first chamber to open a second compartment of a unit dose package by arranging the housing structure from the first position to the second position.  
   
   
       18 . The dispenser according to  claim 16 , wherein the second compartment piercing element comprises a centrifugal pivoting member adapted for centrifugal actuation during a spin cycle of a washing machine.  
   
   
       19 . The dispenser according to  claim 16 , wherein the housing structure further includes a second chamber in fluid communication with the first chamber, and wherein the housing structure is adapted to substantially contain laundry additive material in the second chamber during a spin cycle of a washing machine.  
   
   
       20 . The dispenser according to  claim 19 , wherein the housing structure further comprises a third chamber in fluid communication with the second chamber, and a dam positioned between the second chamber and the third chamber, wherein the dam is adapted to substantially inhibit flow of laundry additive material from the second chamber to the third chamber during the spin cycle and the dam is adapted to substantially permit a gravitational flow of laundry additive material over the dam and into the third chamber after a spin cycle.  
   
   
       21 . The dispenser according to  claim 20 , wherein the third chamber is adapted to substantially contain laundry additive material after the spin cycle until after a predetermined water level is reached in the washing machine during a rinse cycle of a washing machine.  
   
   
       22 . The dispenser according to  claim 16 , wherein the first compartment piercing elements are pivotally attached to the housing structure for pivotal retraction from the first chamber and pivotal extension into the first chamber.  
   
   
       23 . A dispenser adapted to receive a unit dose package including a first compartment, a second compartment and optionally at least a third compartment, for introducing first, second and optionally at least third laundry additive materials to an automatic washing machine, the dispenser comprising: 
 a housing structure comprising a first chamber adapted to receive a unit dose package, and a second chamber in fluid communication with the first chamber, wherein the housing structure is arrangeable in a first position to receive a unit dose package and a second position to secure a unit dose package in the first chamber;    first compartment piercing elements adapted to open a first compartment and optionally a third compartment, by arranging the housing structure from the first position to the second position; and    a second compartment piercing element adapted to open a second compartment;    wherein the housing structure is adapted to dispense a first laundry additive material and optionally a third laundry additive material by gravitational flow from the dispenser in a wash cycle of a washing machine, and    wherein the housing structure is adapted to receive and substantially contain a second laundry additive material in the second chamber during a spin cycle of a washing machine.    
   
   
       24 . The dispenser according to  claim 23 , wherein the housing structure further comprises a third chamber in fluid communication with the second chamber, and a dam positioned between the second chamber and the third chamber, wherein the dam is adapted to substantially inhibit flow of laundry additive material from the second chamber to the third chamber during the spin cycle and the dam is adapted to substantially permit a gravitational flow of laundry additive material over the dam and into the third chamber after a spin cycle.  
   
   
       25 . A method of introducing laundry additive materials to an automatic washing machine, the method comprising: 
 attaching a dispenser to a drum of a washing machine, the dispenser including a housing structure arrangeable in a first position and a second position and comprising a first chamber, first compartment piercing elements, and a second compartment piercing element;    inserting a unit dose package into the first chamber while the dispenser is arranged in the first position, the unit dose package including a first compartment containing a first laundry additive material and a second compartment containing a second laundry additive material, and optionally at least a third compartment containing a third laundry additive material;    arranging the dispenser in the second position to secure the unit dose package in the first chamber, open the first compartment with a first compartment piercing element, and release the first laundry additive material from the unit dose package for gravitational flow from the dispenser, and, if a third compartment is included, open the third compartment with a first compartment piercing element and release the third laundry additive material from the unit dose package for gravitational flow from the dispenser;    opening the second compartment with the second compartment piercing element, the second laundry additive material being substantially contained within the second compartment prior to a spin cycle;    initiating a wash cycle of the washing machine wherein the first laundry additive material is mixed with water within the washing machine;    initiating the spin cycle of the washing machine such that the second laundry additive material is released from the second compartment and substantially contained within the dispenser during the spin cycle; and    initiating a rinse cycle of the washing machine such that the second laundry additive material is released from the dispenser and mixed with water contained within the washing machine drum.    
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the second compartment is opened with the second compartment piercing element when the dispenser is arranged in the second position.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the second compartment is opened with the second compartment piercing element during the spin cycle.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising the steps of containing the second laundry additive material in the dispenser after the spin cycle until after a predetermined water level is reached in the washing machine during the rinse cycle.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the unit dose package includes a third compartment containing a third laundry additive material.  
   
   
       30 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the piercing elements are adapted to be fully retracted from the first chamber when the housing structure is arranged in the first position.  
   
   
       31 . The system according to  claim 30 , wherein a bottom plate of the first chamber is pivotable to an upward position when the housing structure is arranged in the first position, wherein the piercing elements are fully retracted from the first chamber and contact between a user's hand in the first chamber and a piercing element is prevented, and wherein the bottom plate is pivotable to a downward position wherein at least the first piercing elements are adapted to extend into the first chamber when the housing structure is arranged in the second position.  
   
   
       32 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser is adapted to receive rinse water in a washing machine rinse cycle to rinse remaining laundry additive from the dispenser.  
   
   
       33 . The dispenser according to  claim 16 , wherein the piercing elements are adapted to be fully retracted from the first chamber when the housing structure is arranged in the first position.  
   
   
       34 . The dispenser according to  claim 33 , wherein a bottom plate of the first chamber is pivotable to an upward position when the housing structure is arranged in the first position, wherein the piercing elements are fully retracted from the first chamber and contact between a user's hand in the first chamber and a piercing element is prevented, and wherein the bottom plate is pivotable to a downward position wherein at least the first piercing elements are adapted to extend into the first chamber when the housing structure is arranged in the second position.  
   
   
       35 . The dispenser according to  claim 16 , wherein the dispenser is adapted to receive rinse water in a washing machine rinse cycle to rinse remaining laundry additive from the dispenser.  
   
   
       36 . The dispenser according to  claim 23 , wherein the piercing elements are adapted to be fully retracted from the first chamber when the housing structure is arranged in the first position.  
   
   
       37 . The dispenser according to  claim 36 , wherein a bottom plate of the first chamber is pivotable to an upward position when the housing structure is arranged in the first position, wherein the piercing elements are fully retracted from the first chamber and contact between a user's hand in the first chamber and a piercing element is prevented, and wherein the bottom plate is pivotable to a downward position wherein at least the first piercing elements are adapted to extend into the first chamber when the housing structure is arranged in the second position.  
   
   
       38 . The dispenser according to  claim 23 , wherein the dispenser is adapted to receive rinse water in a washing machine rinse cycle to rinse remaining laundry additive from the dispenser.  
   
   
       39 . The method according to  claim 25 , wherein the dispenser receives rinse water during the rinse cycle to rinse remaining laundry additive from the dispenser.