Detergent Dispensing and Pre-Treatment Cap

Abstract

A detergent dispensing cap for pre-treating a stained fabric. The cap can have a pour volume sized and dimensioned to provide for a unit dose of the detergent composition. A portion of the cap can be provided with surface irregularities for scrubbing a stain.

1 . A cap for dispensing a detergent composition, said cap comprising:
 a base having a base interior and a base exterior opposing said base interior, said base interior having a periphery; and   a vessel wall having an interior surface and an exterior surface opposing said interior surface, said vessel wall extending from said periphery to a rim, said interior surface and said base interior defining a pour volume, said base interior forming a closed end of said pour volume;   wherein said cap is sealingly engaged to a container containing a detergent composition by a connector disposed on said cap and a corresponding receiver disposed on an opening of said container;   wherein said cap has a longitudinal axis about which said vessel wall extends;   wherein said cap comprises a plurality of second surface irregularities at a location selected from the group consisting of on said base exterior with said second surface irregularities being asymmetrically disposed about said longitudinal axis, on said exterior surface with said second surface irregularities being asymmetrically disposed about said longitudinal axis, on said base exterior with said second surface irregularities comprising bristles, on said exterior surface with said second surface irregularities comprising bristles, and combinations thereof;   wherein said pour volume is sized and dimensioned to provide for a unit dose of said detergent composition.   
     
     
         2 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein said cap comprises a plurality of second surface irregularities at a location selected from the group consisting of on said base exterior with said second surface irregularities being asymmetrically disposed about said longitudinal axis, on said exterior surface with said second surface irregularities being asymmetrically disposed about said longitudinal axis, and combinations thereof, wherein said second surface irregularities are structures selected from the group consisting of rings, ribs, nubs, bristles, fibers, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein said cap comprises a plurality of second surface irregularities at a location selected from the group consisting of on said base exterior with said second surface irregularities comprising bristles, on said exterior surface with said second surface irregularities comprising bristles, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The cap of  claim 3 , wherein said bristles are generally columnar bristles having an aspect ratio greater than about 0.5. 
     
     
         5 . The cap of  claim 3 , wherein said bristles are generally columnar bristles having an aspect ratio greater than about 1. 
     
     
         6 . The cap of  claim 3 , wherein said vessel wall exterior surface has a maximum radial extent from said longitudinal axis, wherein said bristles are nested within said maximum radial extent from said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         7 . The cap of  claim 3 , wherein said bristles are generally aligned parallel to said longitudinal axis or wherein said bristles are generally aligned orthogonal to said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         8 . The cap of  claim 3 , wherein said base exterior has a maximum axial extent along said longitudinal axis, wherein said bristles are nested within said maximum axial extent along said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         9 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein said first surface irregularities comprise a first material and another portion of said cap next to said first material comprises a second material, wherein said first material and said second material differ from one another in chemical composition. 
     
     
         10 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein said first surface irregularities comprise a first material and another portion of said cap next to said first material comprises a second material, wherein said first material and said second material are measured by a Hunter Reflectance Meter test according to the colors L*, a*, and b*, the L*, a*, and b*, wherein said first material has a color difference, the color difference being calculated using the L*, a*, and b* values by the formula ΔE=[(L *   X .−L* Y ) 2 +(a* X .−a* Y ) 2 +(b* X −b* Y ) 2 ] 1/2 , wherein said ΔE between said first material and said second material is at least about 1. 
     
     
         11 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein said interior surface of said vessel wall is defined by a surface of revolution. 
     
     
         12 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein said rim has a weir. 
     
     
         13 . The cap of  claim 3 , wherein said rim has a weir generally aligned with said bristles. 
     
     
         14 . The cap of  claim 3 , wherein a pouring ledge having an aperture there through extends from said vessel wall or rim, wherein said aperture is generally aligned with said bristles. 
     
     
         15 . The cap of  claim 3 , wherein a pouring ledge extends from said vessel wall or rim and an aperture is in said vessel wall between said pouring ledge and said base, wherein said aperture is generally aligned with said bristles. 
     
     
         16 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein a collector at least partially surrounds said exterior surface of said vessel wall. 
     
     
         17 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein said connector is threads and said receiver is corresponding threads. 
     
     
         18 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein said cap comprises a plurality of gripping irregularities on said vessel wall exterior surface or on said base exterior, said gripping irregularities uniformly distributed about a location. 
     
     
         19 . A method employing the cap of  claim 1  for pre-treating a clothing article having a stained portion comprising the steps of:
 removing said cap from a container containing a detergent composition; 
 pouring a volume of said detergent composition from said container into said cap; 
 applying at least a portion of said volume to a stained portion of said stained clothing article; 
 scrubbing said stained portion with a portion of said cap; and 
 reengaging said cap with said container containing said detergent composition. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said cap comprises bristles.