Container systems having instructional systems and related methods

Abstract

Instructional systems related to providing a recommended dosage amount of a fabric care treatment composition to a fabric load. Container systems with such instructional systems. Automatic washing machines with such instructional systems. Methods related to such instructional systems.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present disclosure relates to instructional systems related to providing a recommended dosage amount of a fabric care treatment composition to a fabric load. The present disclosure further relates to a container system with such instructional systems. The present disclosure further relates to automatic washing machines that include such instructional systems. The present system further relates to methods of using such instructional systems.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]To achieve optimal performance benefits when washing or otherwise treating laundry, the recommended dosage of fabric care treatment composition, such as a conventional detergent, is typically dependent on the size of load to be treated. Small loads require smaller amounts of a treatment composition, while larger loads require larger amounts. However, modern developments in laundry practices and technologies have removed some of the traditional cues that users have used to estimate lo...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present patent is about instructional systems that help consumers select the best washing machine settings for different fabric load levels and provide specific amounts of fabric care treatment compositions. The systems include indicia with information about the washing machine features, load level, and treatment composition amount. The patent also describes container systems that include an instructional system with two or three indicia, with different features and dosage amounts. The automatic laundry machines also have an instructional system with the same indicia as the washing machine. The technical effects of the patent include improved washing efficiency and longer life of clothes by selectively using the best settings and proper amount of fabric care treatment compositions.

Problems solved by technology

However, modern developments in laundry practices and technologies have removed some of the traditional cues that users have used to estimate load sizes and dosage levels, thereby leading to mis-dosing and suboptimal performance.

Changes in modern automatic washing machines have contributed to this problem.

Consumers who grew up with top-loading washing machines may be accustomed to using the agitator and / or the inner wall of the drum of the machine as a visual yardstick when assessing laundry loads from a top-view perspective; however, front-loading machines are becoming more popular and do not offer the same visual cues.

Additionally, the inner volume of laundry machines have, on average, become larger, so that a half-full machine today may actually contain a greater amount of laundry than a half-full machine of yesteryear.

However, it may be challenging for a user to properly correlate his or her actual load size to the load size (and consequent dose) shown on the graphical indicia.

For example, commercially available baskets do not have a standardized volume.

Additionally, modern consumers may not even use a traditional basket.

Finally, modern forms of fabric care compositions may contribute to dosing problems as well.

However, the dosing options offered by such pouches are digital—a consumer can add one, two, three, etc., pouches—and do not allow for intermediate volumes, whereas a consumer who used a traditional liquid detergent with a dosing cap could add a little more or a little less than the recommended dose of detergent, depending on his / her assessment of the load size.

Furthermore, a user may be uncertain as to whether he or she is “allowed” to use more than one pouch for a load, particular in modern high-efficiency washing machines, which employ lower water volumes than traditional machines.

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