Refill Cartridge for a Cylindrical Type Multi-Dosing Detergent Delivery Device

Abstract

The invention is a refill device for a cylindrical type of multi-dosing detergent delivery device wherein, said refill device comprises a plurality of detergent carrying chambers ( 210 ) sharing a common backing substrate ( 230 ). In prior refill devices, the device is provided to consumers in a fully rolled condition ready to be deployed into the detergent delivery device. However, in the present invention the refill is supplied in flat format with locking features which enable the end consumer to easily perform a rolling operation prior to use. The advantage to this arrangement comes in the lowering of manufacturing costs, packaging, storage and transportation costs that come with a less complicated product.

1 . A refill device adapted for insertion into a cylindrical type of multi-dosing detergent delivery device, wherein said refill device comprises a plurality of detergent carrying chambers sharing a web or common backing substrate, the refill device being supplied to an end consumer in a first configuration in which said backing substrate lies flat, and wherein upon deployment into the detergent delivery device the refill device is manipulated by the consumer to adopt a second, substantially cylindrical, configuration in which individual chambers are arranged substantially symmetrically around a central axis. 
     
     
         2 . A refill device according to  claim 1 , wherein the refill device comprises a locking feature to secure opposed ends of the substrate to one another and maintain the refill device in a the second configuration. 
     
     
         3 . A refill device according to  claim 2 , wherein said locking feature comprises at least a first locking portion at one end of the substrate for co-operation with a complementary element at the other end. 
     
     
         4 . A refill device according to  claim 3 , wherein said complementary element comprises a second locking portion. 
     
     
         5 . A refill device according to  claim 4 , wherein the first locking portion comprises a male portion and the second locking portion comprises a female portion. 
     
     
         6 . A refill device according to  claim 5 , wherein said male portion comprises a protrusion and said female portion comprises a cavity, aperture or depression. 
     
     
         7 . A refill device according to  claim 3 , wherein the locking feature comprises an element at one end of the substrate for overlapping with and securing to a chamber of the refill device at the other end of the substrate. 
     
     
         8 . A refill device according to  claim 7 , wherein said element comprises a dummy chamber, a hook or an aperture. 
     
     
         9 . A refill device according to  claim 2 , wherein the locking feature comprises an extension of the substrate at one end of the refill device for overlapping with, and fixation to, the substrate at the other end of the refill device. 
     
     
         10 . A refill device according to  claim 9 , wherein the substrate includes an adhesive portion for aiding maintenance of the refill device in the second configuration. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled)