Washing machines comprising load size indicators

Abstract

Automatic washing machines having at a plurality of load size indicators. Processes of treating fabric articles using such machines. Instructional systems that include a plurality of load size indicators.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An automatic fabric washing machine comprising:
 a drum having a closed end, an open end, and an interior volume;   a first load size indicator disposed on or adjacent said drum and providing a visual or tactile indication to a user of a first load size of fabric articles when such articles are placed into said interior volume of said drum, the first load size indicator further including at least a first dosing indicia, said first dosing indicia indicating a first appropriate dose of a fabric care composition based on a first predetermined estimate of load size; and   a second load size indicator disposed on or adjacent said drum and providing a visual or tactile indication to a user of a second load size of fabric articles when such articles are placed into said interior volume of said drum, the second load size indicator further including at least a second dosing indicia indicating a second appropriate dose of fabric care composition based on a second predetermined estimate of load size,   wherein the first and second dosing indicia are different from each other and are located separately from each other.   
     
     
         2 . An automatic fabric washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first and second load size indicators is disposed at a location selected from the group consisting of a door, a rim proximal to said open end, a window, a drum wall, an agitator, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         3 . An automatic fabric washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said automatic washing machine is an automatic top-loading washing machine, and wherein at least one of said first and second load size indicators is disposed at a location selected from the group consisting of a drum wall, an agitator, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . An automatic fabric washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said automatic fabric washing machine is an automatic front-loading washing machine. 
     
     
         5 . An automatic fabric washing machine according to  claim 4 , wherein at least one of said first and second load size indicators is disposed at a location selected from the group consisting of a door, a rim proximate to said open end, a window, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . An automatic fabric washing machine according to  claim 5 , wherein said at least one of said first and second load size indicators is disposed at said rim proximate to said open end. 
     
     
         7 . An automatic fabric washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first and second load size indicators provides a visual indication. 
     
     
         8 . An automatic fabric washing machine according to  claim 7 , wherein said at least one of said first and second load size indicators comprises a line, an arrow, a color, a textual indicia, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . An automatic fabric washing machine according to  claim 8 , wherein said first load size indicator comprises a first color, and wherein said second load size indicator comprises a second color, wherein said second color is different than said first color. 
     
     
         10 . An automatic fabric washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said load size indicator is affixed to said machine. 
     
     
         11 . An automatic fabric washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said first and second appropriate doses are first and second amounts of unitized dose articles. 
     
     
         12 . An automatic fabric washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said first load size of fabric articles is up to about 3 kg of fabric articles, and wherein said second load size of fabric articles is from about 3 kg to about 7 kg. 
     
     
         13 . An automatic fabric washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said first load size of fabric articles is a first fraction of said interior volume, wherein said first fraction is from about 5% to about 50% of said interior volume. 
     
     
         14 . An automatic fabric washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said machine further comprises a third load size indicator disposed on or adjacent said drum and providing a visual or tactile indication to a user of a third load size of fabric articles when such articles are placed into said interior volume of said drum, said third load size indicator further including at least a third dosing indicia indicating a third appropriate dose of fabric care composition based on a third predetermined estimate of load size,
 wherein said third dosing indicia is different from said first and second dosing indicia and is located separately from said first and second dosing indicia.   
     
     
         15 . A process of treating fabric articles, comprising the steps of:
 providing an automatic fabric washing machine, said machine comprising:
 a drum having a closed end, an open end, and an interior volume, and 
 at least a first load size indicator and a second load size indicator,
 wherein said first load size indicator is disposed on or adjacent said drum and provides a visual or tactile indication to a user of a first load size of fabric articles when such articles are placed into said interior volume of said drum, the first load size indicator further including at least a first dosing indicia, said first dosing indicia indicating a first appropriate dose of a fabric care composition based on a first predetermined estimate of load size, and 
 wherein said second load size indicator is disposed on or adjacent said drum and provides a visual or tactile indication to a user of a second load size of fabric articles when such articles are placed into said interior volume of said drum, the second load size indicator further including at least a second dosing indicia indicating a second appropriate dose of fabric care composition based on a second predetermined estimate of load size, 
 
 wherein the first and second dosing indicia are different from each other and are located separately from each other; 
   providing fabric articles having a provided load size to said interior volume of said drum;   determining a matched load size indicator selected from at least said first and second load size indicator by comparing said provided load size to said first and/or second load size indicator and determining which load size indicated by said visual or tactile indication more closely approximates said provided load size;
 providing to said fabric articles the appropriate dose of said fabric care composition indicated by the dosing indicia of said matched load size indicator; and 
 starting a treatment cycle of said machine. 
   
     
     
         16 . A process according to  claim 15 , wherein one or more of said at least first and second load size indicators is disposed at a location selected from the group consisting of a door, a rim proximal to said open end, a window, a drum wall, an agitator, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         17 . A process according to  claim 15 , wherein said automatic fabric washing machine is an automatic front-loading washing machine. 
     
     
         18 . A process according to  claim 17 , wherein one or more of said at least first and second load size indicators is disposed at a location selected from the group consisting of a door, a rim proximate to said open end, a window, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         19 . A process according to  claim 15 , wherein said first and second appropriate doses are first and second amounts of unitized dose articles. 
     
     
         20 . A process according to  claim 15 , wherein said provided load size is from about 3 kg up to about 7 kg and wherein said appropriate dose of said matched load size indicator is at least two unitized dose articles. 
     
     
         21 . An instructional system designed to be affixed to an automatic fabric washing machine having a drum with an interior volume,
 wherein said instructional system comprises a substrate with a printed side and an application side opposite said printed side,   wherein said printed side comprises
 a first load size indicator providing a visual or tactile indication to a user of a first load size of fabric articles, the first load size indicator further including at least a first dosing indicia, said first dosing indicia indicating a first appropriate dose of a fabric care composition based on a first predetermined estimate of load size; and 
 a second load size indicator providing a visual or tactile indication to a user of a second load size of fabric articles, the second load size indicator further including at least a second dosing indicia indicating a second appropriate dose of fabric care composition based on a second predetermined estimate of load size, 
   wherein the first and second dosing indicia are different from each other and are located separately from each other;   and wherein said application side is capable of being affixed to a surface of an automatic fabric washing machine.   
     
     
         22 . An instructional system according to  claim 21 , wherein said application side comprises an adhesive.