Smart dosing device

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a portable, self-contained, device for dosing and/or dispensing at least one product into an appliance for treating laundry or dishes, said device comprising a housing with at least one openable compartment for containing said at least one product, said device comprising at least one means for storing energy and releasing it, such that said product is released at one or more predetermined point(s) in time during the wash cycle.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A portable, self-contained, device ( 1 ) for dosing and/or dispensing at least one product, preferably a liquid product, into an appliance for treating laundry or dishes, said device ( 1 ) comprising a housing with at least one openable compartment ( 14 ) for containing said at least one product, said device comprising at least one means for storing energy ( 25 ) and releasing it, such that said product is released at one or more predetermined point(s) in time during the wash cycle, and wherein said at least one compartment ( 14 ) is reclosable in such a way that the compartment's contents is not contaminated by an external medium.  
     
     
         2 . A device ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein one means ( 25 ) to store and release energy is achieved by an electrical battery ( 25 ).  
     
     
         3 . A device ( 1 ) according to  claim 2 , wherein said electrical battery ( 25 ) is rechargeable.  
     
     
         4 . A device ( 1 ) according to  claim 2 , wherein the battery ( 25 ) is integrated to said at least one compartment ( 14 ).  
     
     
         5 . A device ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said means to ensure that the compartment's contents is not contaminated by an external medium is achieved by a one-way valve ( 15 ) which allows products to flow outside but avoids contamination of the interior of said compartment ( 14 ) from an outside medium.  
     
     
         6 . A device ( 1 ) according to  claim 5 , wherein said one-way valve ( 15 ) is an elastomeric slit valve.  
     
     
         7 . A device ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said product is released by means of a pump ( 17 ) which takes one dose of product at a time from the compartment ( 14 ), and releases it outside the device ( 1 ).  
     
     
         8 . A device ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , which comprises at least one sensor ( 16 ), so as to analyze the composition of the environment of said device and open said compartment ( 14 ) at the right time during a wash cycle.  
     
     
         9 . A device ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , which is rechargeable via a refill container ( 12 ) removable from the compartment ( 14 ).  
     
     
         10 . A device ( 1 ) according to  claim 9 , wherein said refill container ( 12 ) comprises at least one dose of product  
     
     
         11 . A device ( 1 ) according to  claim 10 , wherein said refill container ( 12 ) comprises at least two doses of product.  
     
     
         12 . A device ( 1 ) according to  claim 10 , wherein said refill container ( 12 ) comprises at least five doses of product.  
     
     
         13 . A device ( 1 ) according to  claim 10 , wherein said refill container ( 12 ) comprises at least ten doses of product.  
     
     
         14 . A process of dosing and dispensing at least one product into an appliance for treating laundry or dishes, by using a device ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , the process comprising the steps of: 
 (i) filling said device ( 1 ) with said at least one product, or alternatively inserting at least one product refill (or cartridge) ( 12 ) into said device;    (ii) optionally manually closing said device;    (iii) placing said device within said appliance together with the laundry or dishes items to be treated, and start said appliance for a treatment cycle;    (iv) optionally taking said device out of said appliance together with the laundry or dishes, once they have been treated.