Photoactivating device for washing machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12139840-B2
Application number	US-202017109346-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 2, 2020
Priority date	Jun 11, 2018
Publication date	Nov 12, 2024
Grant date	Nov 12, 2024

Abstract

Provided is a photoactivating device ( 100 ) for deployment in a washing machine for activating one or more photoactive components in a laundry treatment composition, comprising: a light source ( 160 ) configured for emission of light for activation of the one or more photoactive components; a controller ( 180 ), and a switch and/or a motion sensing unit ( 170 ), wherein the controller ( 180 ) is configured to control the light source ( 160 ) responsive to the switch and/or signals received from the motion sensing unit ( 170 ).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A photoactivating device for deployment in a washing machine for activating one or more photoactive components in a laundry treatment composition, comprising:
a light source configured for emission of light for activation of the one or more photoactive components,
a controller, and
a motion sensing unit, wherein:
the controller is configured to control the light source responsive to signals received from the motion sensing unit, and
the controller is configured to reduce light emitted by the light source when the signals received from the motion sensing unit correspond to a spin cycle of the washing machine indicated by a centrifugal acceleration measured by the motion sensing unit of at least 80 m/sec 2 .

2. The photoactivating device according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to reduce light emitted by the light source when the signals received from the motion sensing unit are indicative of a fixed position and/or orientation of the photoactivating device relative to one or more laundry articles in the washing machine.

3. The photoactivating device according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to reduce light emitted by the light source when the signals received from the motion sensing unit correspond to a period of non-activation of a washing machine agitation unit configured to induce movement of laundry articles in the washing machine.

4. The photoactivating device according to claim 1 , wherein the motion sensing unit comprises one or more accelerometers and/or one or more orientation sensors.

5. The photoactivating device according to claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes, LEDs.

6. The photoactivating device according to claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes, LEDs, wherein at least some of the LEDs are external emitters arranged to emit light into an exterior space.

7. The photoactivating device according to claim 6 , wherein at least one of the external emitters is disposed in a region, a PT region, occupying ≤50% of an outside surface of the photoactivating device, optionally in a base of the photoactivating device.

8. The photoactivating device according to claim 1 , further comprising a power source, optionally wherein the power source comprises a non-rechargeable battery, a rechargeable battery, a capacitor, an inductive coil, or a dynamo.

9. The photoactivating device according to claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises at least 2 LEDs each emitting light of a different wavelength range.

10. A photoactivating device for deployment in a washing machine for holding a laundry treatment composition comprising one or more photoactive components, comprising:
a body defining a cavity for receiving and retaining the laundry treatment composition,
an opening to the cavity configured for receiving the laundry treatment composition,
a light source configured for emission of light for activation of the one or more photoactive components,
a controller, and
a motion sensing unit, wherein:
the controller is configured to control the light source responsive to signals received from the motion sensing unit, and
the controller is configured to reduce light emitted by the light source when the signals received from the motion sensing unit correspond to a spin cycle of the washing machine indicated by a centrifugal acceleration measured by the motion sensing unit of at least 80 m/sec 2 .

11. The photoactivating device according to claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to reduce light emitted by the light source when the signals received from the motion sensing unit are indicative of a fixed position and/or orientation of the photoactivating device relative to one or more laundry articles in the washing machine.

12. The photoactivating device according to claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to reduce light emitted by the light source when the signals received from the motion sensing unit correspond to a period of non-activation of a washing machine agitation unit configured to induce movement of laundry articles in the washing machine.

13. The photoactivating device according to claim 11 , wherein the motion sensing unit comprises one or more accelerometers and/or one or more orientation sensors.

14. The photoactivating device according to claim 10 , wherein the light source comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes, LEDs, wherein at least some of the LEDs are internal emitters arranged to emit light into the cavity.

15. The photoactivating device according to claim 10 , wherein the light source comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes, LEDs, wherein at least some of the LEDs are external emitters arranged to emit light into an exterior space.

16. The photoactivating device according to claim 15 , wherein at least one of the external emitters is disposed in a region, a PT region, occupying ≤50% of an outside surface of the photoactivating device, optionally in a base of the photoactivating device.

17. The photoactivating device according to claim 10 , further comprising a power source, optionally wherein the power source comprises a non-rechargeable battery, a rechargeable battery, a capacitor, an inductive coil, or a dynamo.

18. The photoactivating device according to claim 10 , wherein the light source comprises at least 2 LEDs each emitting light of a different wavelength range.

19. A kit comprising:
a photoactivating device for deployment in a washing machine for activating one or more photoactive components in a laundry treatment composition, comprising:
a light source configured for emission of light for activation of the one or more photoactive components,
a body defining a cavity for receiving and retaining the laundry treatment composition,
an opening to the cavity configured for receiving the laundry treatment composition,
a controller, and
a motion sensing unit, wherein:
the controller is configured to control the light source responsive to signals received from the motion sensing unit, and
the controller is configured to reduce light emitted by the light source when the signals received from the motion sensing unit correspond to a spin cycle of the washing machine indicated by a centrifugal acceleration measured by the motion sensing unit of at least 80 m/sec 2 ,
and further comprising:
a container unit for storage and dispensing of the laundry treatment composition comprising one or more photoactive components,

and/or
the laundry treatment composition comprising one or more photoactive components, optionally contained within the container unit.

20. The kit according to claim 19 , wherein the one or more photoactive components is selected from riboflavin, phloxine B, erythrosine, or salts thereof.

Assignees

• Procter & Gamble

Inventors

• Chieffi Andre
• Fuller Linsey Sarah
• Gorczynska-Costello Katarzyna
• Moon Andrew Philip
• Scialla Stefano
• Wagner Matthew Scott

Classifications

• C11D2111/12

  Soft surfaces, e.g. textile · CPC title

• C11D17/046

  Insoluble free body dispenser · CPC title

• C11D3/28

  Heterocyclic compounds containing nitrogen in the ring · CPC title

• C11D3/24

  containing halogen {(C11D3/162, C11D3/164, C11D3/166, C11D3/168 take precedence)} · CPC title

• C11D3/2096

  Heterocyclic compounds · CPC title