Patents by Inventor Iain Christopher SMITH

Iain Christopher SMITH has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11585037
    Abstract: A dosing device or system for dispensing tablets, which can include at least one active ingredient for an automatic washing process, into an automatic washing machine, wherein the dosing device or system is for dispensing one or more, but not all, of the tablets at once into the automatic washing machine, and wherein the dosing device or system can be for dispensing only one tablet at once.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Reckitt Benckiser Finish B.V.
    Inventors: Henry Matthew Lawrence Fletcher, Max William Middleton, Colin Pryor, Simon Burge, Charles Kevin Dillon, Iain Christopher Smith, Mike Andrew Vilhauer, Thomas Murray Fry, Rosanna Elizabeth Parrish, Jörg Peter Pflug, Kai Werner Heppert
  • Publication number: 20220233052
    Abstract: A dosing unit (100) for use in an automatic dosing system (20) of a water-bearing household appliance (1), for automatically dosing a dosing amount (122) of a solid detergent, the dosing unit (100) comprising a dosing cartridge (110) for storing a bulk (112) of the solid detergent and a dosing device (120) for separating the dosing amount (122) from the bulk (112) and releasing the separated dosing amount (122) by linearly displacing a sliding element (124) from a separating position to a release position, wherein the dosing device (120) includes a dosing channel (126), wherein, when the sliding element (124) is in the separating position, the dosing channel (126) is configured for receiving at least the dosing amount (122) from the bulk (112) and intermediately storing the dosing amount (122) in a pre-dosing position, and, when the sliding element (124) is in the release position, the dosing device (120) is configured for releasing the dosing amount (122) intermediately stored in the pre-dosing position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2020
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Applicants: RECKITT BENCKISER (BRANDS) LIMITED, BSH HAUSGERÄTE GMBH
    Inventors: Alberto BUOGO, Jakob SCHULTZ, Alexander SCHIELE, Henry Matthew Lawrence FLETCHER, Iain Christopher SMITH, Joshua CARR, Jelmer Jeroen KUIPER, Bram Alexander NORP, Edwin Petrus Elisabeth VAN OPSTAL, Gerhard Jan PAPE
  • Publication number: 20220233049
    Abstract: The invention relates to a dosing unit (18, 118, 218) for an automatic dosing system of a water-bearing household appliance, in particular a dishwasher or washing machine, configured for dosing at least one of a plurality of detergent tablets stored in a storage cartridge (30, 130, 230), comprising a dosing device (20, 120, 220) configured for picking the at least one detergent tablet from the plurality and releasing the at least one detergent tablet by temporarily switching by a predefined switching mechanism from a closed state to a release state, wherein the dosing device (20, 120, 220) comprises a safety portion (24, 124, 224) for preventing an unwanted switching. Moreover also a water-bearing household appliance comprising the dosing unit and a method of dosing is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Applicants: RECKITT BENCKISER (BRANDS) LIMITED, BSH HAUSGERÄTE GMBH
    Inventors: Alberto BUOGO, Jakob SCHULTZ, Alexander SCHIELE, Hallam COLLINGS, Henry Matthew Lawrence FLETCHER, Iain Christopher SMITH, Jon WHADCOAT
  • Publication number: 20220104683
    Abstract: The invention relates to a dosing device (100) for dosing a detergent tablet (202) provided by a storage cartridge (200) to which the dosing device (100) is attachable, the dosing device (100) comprising a scoop (120) and a plug (130), wherein the scoop (120) is configured to pick up a detergent tablet (202) from the storage cartridge (200), lift the detergent tablet (202) to an opening (124) in the scoop (120) and transport the detergent tablet (202) to a receiving chamber (132) formed in the plug (130) when the scoop (120) is turned in a first turning direction about a rotational axis (X) that crosses a gravitational vector (G), and the plug (130) is configured to release the detergent tablet (202) from the receiving chamber (132). Also a water-bearing household appliance (1) comprising the dosing device (100) along with methods for dosing a detergent tablet (202) are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Applicants: RECKITT BENCKISER (BRANDS) LIMITED, BSH HAUSGERÄTE GMBH
    Inventors: Alberto BUOGO, Jakob SCHULTZ, Alexander SCHIELE, Hallam COLLINGS, Henry Matthew Lawrence FLETCHER, Iain Christopher SMITH, Jon WHADCOAT
  • Patent number: 11124954
    Abstract: Disclosed is an in-the-bowl dispensing device designed to dispense a composition after the flush of the toilet bowl is complete. In this manner the composition is retained in the toilet bowl until the toilet bowl is flushed by the next user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Reckitt Benckiser (Brands) Limited
    Inventors: Kris Carver, Jesse Delgigante, Henry Matthew Lawrence Fletcher, John Kenneth Hainsworth, Iain Christopher Smith, Alim Thawer
  • Publication number: 20200173157
    Abstract: Disclosed is an in-the-bowl dispensing device designed to dispense a composition after the flush of the toilet bowl is complete. In this manner the composition is retained in the toilet bowl until the toilet bowl is flushed by the next user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: Kris CARVER, Jesse DELGIGANTE, Henry Matthew Lawrence FLETCHER, John Kenneth HAINSWORTH, Iain Christopher SMITH, Alim THAWER
  • Patent number: 10472811
    Abstract: Disclosed is an in-the-bowl dispensing device designed to dispense two liquid compositions into a toilet bowl at two separate time intervals. One dispensing action takes place during the flush of the toilet bowl and a second separate dispensing action takes place after the flush of the toilet bowl is complete. In this manner the second liquid composition is retained in the toilet bowl until the toilet bowl is flushed by the next user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: RECKITT BENCKISER (BRANDS) LIMITED
    Inventors: Kris Carver, Jesse Delgigante, Henry Fletcher, John Kenneth Hainsworth, Iain Christopher Smith, Alim Thawer
  • Publication number: 20190307311
    Abstract: A dosing device or system for dispensing tablets, which can include at least one active ingredient for an automatic washing process, into an automatic washing machine, wherein the dosing device or system is for dispensing one or more, but not all, of the tablets at once into the automatic washing machine, and wherein the dosing device or system can be for dispensing only one tablet at once.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: Henry Matthew Lawrence Fletcher, Max William Middleton, Colin Pryor, Simon Burge, Charles Kevin Dillon, Iain Christopher Smith, Mike Andrew Vilhauer, Thomas Murray Fry, Rosanna Elizabeth Wells, Jorg Peter Pflug, Kai Werner Heppert
  • Publication number: 20190032318
    Abstract: Disclosed is an in-the-bowl dispensing device designed to dispense two liquid compositions into a toilet bowl at two separate time intervals. One dispensing action takes place during the flush of the toilet bowl and a second separate dispensing action takes place after the flush of the toilet bowl is complete. In this manner the second liquid composition is retained in the toilet bowl until the toilet bowl is flushed by the next user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Kris CARVER, Jesse DELGIGANTE, Henry FLETCHER, John Kenneth HAINSWORTH, Iain Christopher SMITH, Alim THAWER