Laundry system

Abstract

Disclosed is a cartridge (103) comprises a reservoir (106) for storing a laundry product and a product delivery mechanism (107) comprising a product delivery outlet (108) in fluid communication with the reservoir (106), and a laundry system (100) comprising a laundry product dispenser (102) mountable to a washing machine and comprising a cavity (194) for receipt of a laundry product and a dispenser outlet (114) for dispensing the laundry product into a drum of the washing machine. The system (100) further comprises said cartridge (103) removably receivable in the cavity of the dispenser (102).

1 . A cartridge ( 103 ) for removable receipt in a cavity ( 104 ) of a laundry product dispenser ( 102 ) of a laundry system ( 100 ), the cartridge ( 103 ) comprising:
 a reservoir ( 106 ) for storing a laundry product;   a product delivery mechanism ( 107 ) comprising:   a product delivery outlet ( 108 ) in fluid communication with the reservoir ( 106 );   a pump ( 121 ) actuatable to discharge laundry product in the reservoir ( 106 ) from the product delivery outlet ( 108 ); and   a lever ( 123 ) operably connected to the pump ( 121 );   a grip in opposed spaced relation with the lever ( 123 ), the lever ( 123 ) moveable towards the grip ( 124 ) to actuate the pump ( 121 );   wherein both the grip ( 124 ) and the lever ( 123 ) are arranged so as to be on an upper portion of the cartridge ( 103 ) when the cartridge ( 103 ) is received in a cavity ( 104 ) of a laundry product dispenser ( 102 ) with the product delivery outlet ( 108 ) directed into the cavity ( 104 ).   
     
     
         2 . A cartridge ( 103 ) according to  claim 1  wherein both the lever ( 123 ) and the grip ( 124 ) are arranged to extend in an upward direction when the cartridge ( 103 ) is received in a cavity ( 104 ) of a laundry product dispenser ( 102 ) with the product delivery outlet ( 108 ) directed into the cavity ( 104 ). 
     
     
         3 . A cartridge ( 103 ) according to  claim 1  comprising a reservoir housing ( 120 ) defining the reservoir ( 106 ), the reservoir housing ( 120 ) comprising:
 a proximal end ( 129 ) at which the product delivery mechanism ( 107 ) is located; 
 a distal end ( 130 ) opposite the proximal end ( 129 ); 
 an upper wall ( 132 ) extending from the proximal end ( 129 ) to the distal end ( 130 ); and 
 a lower wall ( 133 ) extending from the proximal end ( 129 ) to the distal end ( 130 ). 
 
     
     
         4 . A cartridge ( 103 ) according to  claim 3  wherein the lower wall ( 133 ) is sloped with respect to the upper wall ( 132 ) in a direction extending between the distal ( 130 ) and proximal ( 129 ) ends. 
     
     
         5 . A cartridge ( 103 ) according to  claim 3  comprising a distal wall ( 131 ) at the distal end ( 130 ), the distal wall ( 131 ) comprising a first portion ( 134 ) that is substantially perpendicular to the upper ( 132 ) and/or lower ( 133 ) wall, and a second portion ( 135 ) that is arranged on a decline from the first portion ( 134 ) to the lower wall ( 133 ). 
     
     
         6 . A cartridge ( 103 ) according to  claim 1  comprising a groove ( 139 ) that extends at least partly about a periphery of the cartridge ( 103 ). 
     
     
         7 . A laundry system ( 100 ) comprising:
 a laundry product dispenser ( 102 ) mountable to a washing machine and comprising a cavity ( 104 ) for receipt of a laundry product and a dispenser outlet ( 114 ) for dispensing the laundry product into a drum of the washing machine, and a cartridge ( 103 ) according to  claim 1  removably receivable in the cavity ( 104 ) of the dispenser ( 102 ), the cartridge ( 103 ) comprising a reservoir ( 106 ) for storing a laundry product and a product delivery mechanism ( 107 ) comprising a product delivery outlet ( 108 ) in fluid communication with the reservoir ( 106 ), the product delivery mechanism ( 107 ) actuatable, while received in the cavity ( 104 ), to supply a dose of laundry product from the reservoir ( 106 ) into the cavity ( 104 ) of the dispenser ( 102 ) via the product delivery outlet ( 108 ).   
     
     
         8 . A laundry system ( 100 ) according to  claim 7  wherein, when the cartridge ( 103 ) is received in the cavity ( 104 ) of the dispenser ( 102 ), a product flow path is defined between the cartridge ( 103 ) and dispenser ( 102 ) for flow of laundry product from the product delivery outlet ( 108 ) to the dispenser outlet ( 114 ). 
     
     
         9 . A laundry system ( 100 ) according to  claim 8  comprising at least one spacer for spacing the cartridge ( 103 ) from the dispenser ( 102 ) to define the product flow path therebetween. 
     
     
         10 . A laundry system ( 100 ) according to  claim 7  comprising a retaining arrangement configured to restrict movement of the cartridge ( 103 ) relative to the dispenser ( 102 ) along an elongate axis of the cavity ( 104 ) when the cartridge ( 103 ) is received in the cavity ( 104 ); preferably the retaining arrangement comprises a groove ( 139 ) extending at least partly about a periphery of the cartridge ( 103 ), and a protrusion ( 140 ) protruding from an internal surface of the dispenser ( 102 ) into the cavity ( 104 ), the protrusion ( 140 ) engageable in the groove to restrict movement of the cartridge ( 103 ) relative to the dispenser ( 102 ). 
     
     
         11 . A laundry system ( 100 ) according to  claim 7  wherein the dispenser ( 102 ) comprises first ( 111 ) and second ( 112 ) opposite ends and, wherein the system ( 100 ) only comprises fluid inlets ( 119 ), for discharging fluid into the cavity ( 104 ), above the first end ( 111 ) of the dispenser ( 102 ). 
     
     
         12 . A dispenser ( 102 ) for a washing machine ( 101 ) comprising:
 a cavity ( 104 ) for receipt of a cartridge ( 103 ) according to  claim 1  containing a laundry product;   a dispenser outlet ( 114 ) for dispensing laundry product supplied from the cartridge ( 103 ) into a drum of a washing machine ( 101 );   a base portion ( 116 ) defining the bottom of the cavity ( 104 );   at least one spacer for spacing a laundry product cartridge, when received in the cavity ( 104 ), from the base portion ( 116 ).   
     
     
         13 . A washing machine ( 101 ) comprising a dispenser ( 102 ) according to  claim 12 . 
     
     
         14 . A washing machine ( 101 ) comprising a laundry system ( 100 ) according to  claim 7 . 
     
     
         15 . A method of dispensing a dose of laundry product into a drum of a washing machine ( 101 ) comprising:
 providing a laundry system ( 100 ) according to  claim 7 ;   actuating the product delivery mechanism ( 107 ) while the cartridge ( 103 ) is received in the cavity ( 104 ) to supply a dose of laundry product into the cavity ( 104 );   discharging water into the cavity ( 104 ) to dispense the laundry product from the cavity ( 104 ) into the drum of the washing machine ( 101 ).