# US 4,397,391 A · Feed unit for a detergent and packaging thereof

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- Number: US 4,397,391 A
- Document ID: US4397391A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/257,607
- Filed: 1981-04-27
- Granted: 1983-08-09
- Earliest claimed: 1980-05-01
- Assignees: Akzo N.V.
- Inventors: Emery G. P. Cornelissens; Gerardus J. W. H. Gudden
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4397391A

## CPC

- C11D 17/041: {Compositions releasably affixed on a substrate or incorporated into a dispensing means}
- B65D 33/30: Deformable or resilient metal or like strips or bands {(B65D33/1616 takes precedence)}
- B65D 75/30: Articles or materials enclosed between two opposed sheets or blanks having their margins united, e.g. by pressure-sensitive adhesive, crimping, heat-sealing, or welding
- B65D 77/062: {Flexible containers disposed within polygonal containers formed by folding a carton blank}
- C11D: DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
- B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES

## Abstract

The invention relates to an imposed means of ensuring that the sealing edge(s) of a flat, for instance rectangular, detergent-containing sachets is (are) kept closed. The sealing edge is of the type which is sealed with such a glue that it opens in the water of the washing machine at a temperature above room temperature. The improved means consists in that said sealing edges of the sachets may be bent as they are packaged in a box, as a result of which premature opening of the sachets is prevented during transport or after they have been introduced into the washing machine.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A container for detergent, preferably a box, having at least two parallel walls, characterized in that the box comprises a substantial number of stacked detergent feed units that are each in the form preferably of a substantially flat, rectangular sachet, having one or more compartments containing detergent constituents, at least one edge of a compartment being sealed with a glue or other adhesive, which edge opens after a while upon contact with water in a washing machine, said sachets being so packaged in the box that the sealing edges thereof are bent by said parallel walls of the box.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A container according to claim 1, characterized in that one compartment is provided with one or more special seals such that they open in water of a washing machine at a temperature above room temperature.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A container according to claim 1, characterized in that the special seal is so constructed and arranged that it opens in water of a washing machine at a temperature in the range of from 30.degree. to 60.degree. C.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A container according to claim 1, characterized in that the distance between two opposite parallel box walls is at least 5 to 15 mm smaller than the dimension transverse to the longitudinal direction of said special sealing edge of said flat sachets.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

A container according to claim 3, characterized in that each sachet comprises at least two compartments, one compartment having a water-permeable, water-soluble or water-dispersible outer wall and containing acid, and another compartment containing an alkaline detergent based on alkali metal carbonate, at least one edge of the compartment containing said alkaline detergent forming a sealing edge which is sealed with a glue or other adhesive, and which is so temperature-sensitive that this compartment opens at a temperature in the range of from 30.degree. to 60.degree. C.