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).
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Patent number: 12268349Abstract: A dosing unit for use in an automatic dosing system of a water-bearing household appliance, for automatically dosing a dosing amount of a solid detergent, the dosing unit comprising a dosing cartridge for storing a bulk of the solid detergent and a dosing device for separating the dosing amount from the bulk and releasing the separated dosing amount by linearly displacing a sliding element from a separating position to a release position, wherein the dosing device includes a dosing channel, wherein, when the sliding element is in the separating position, the dosing channel is configured for receiving at least the dosing amount from the bulk and intermediately storing the dosing amount in a pre-dosing position, and, when the sliding element is in the release position, the dosing device is configured for releasing the dosing amount intermediately stored in the pre-dosing position.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2020Date of Patent: April 8, 2025Assignees: Reckitt Benckiser (Brands) Limited, BSH Hausgeräte GMBHInventors: 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
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Patent number: 12042114Abstract: The invention relates to a dosing device for dosing a detergent tablet provided by a storage cartridge to which the dosing device is attachable, the dosing device comprising a scoop and a plug, wherein the scoop is configured to pick up a detergent tablet from the storage cartridge, lift the detergent tablet to an opening in the scoop and transport the detergent tablet to a receiving chamber formed in the plug when scoop is turned in a first turning direction about a rotational axis that crosses a gravitational vector, and the plug is configured to release the detergent tablet from the receiving chamber.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2020Date of Patent: July 23, 2024Assignees: Reckitt Benckiser (Brands) Limited, BSH Hausgeräte GmbHInventors: Alberto Buogo, Jakob Schultz, Alexander Schiele, Hallam Collings, Henry Matthew Lawrence Fletcher, Iain Christopher Smith, Jon Whadcoat
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Patent number: 11585037Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 28, 2017Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: 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
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Publication number: 20220233052Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 3, 2020Publication date: July 28, 2022Applicants: RECKITT BENCKISER (BRANDS) LIMITED, BSH HAUSGERÄTE GMBHInventors: 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
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Publication number: 20220233049Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2020Publication date: July 28, 2022Applicants: RECKITT BENCKISER (BRANDS) LIMITED, BSH HAUSGERÄTE GMBHInventors: Alberto BUOGO, Jakob SCHULTZ, Alexander SCHIELE, Hallam COLLINGS, Henry Matthew Lawrence FLETCHER, Iain Christopher SMITH, Jon WHADCOAT
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Publication number: 20220104683Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2020Publication date: April 7, 2022Applicants: RECKITT BENCKISER (BRANDS) LIMITED, BSH HAUSGERÄTE GMBHInventors: Alberto BUOGO, Jakob SCHULTZ, Alexander SCHIELE, Hallam COLLINGS, Henry Matthew Lawrence FLETCHER, Iain Christopher SMITH, Jon WHADCOAT
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Patent number: 11124954Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 5, 2018Date of Patent: September 21, 2021Assignee: Reckitt Benckiser (Brands) LimitedInventors: Kris Carver, Jesse Delgigante, Henry Matthew Lawrence Fletcher, John Kenneth Hainsworth, Iain Christopher Smith, Alim Thawer
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Publication number: 20200173157Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2018Publication date: June 4, 2020Inventors: Kris CARVER, Jesse DELGIGANTE, Henry Matthew Lawrence FLETCHER, John Kenneth HAINSWORTH, Iain Christopher SMITH, Alim THAWER
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Patent number: 10472811Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 19, 2017Date of Patent: November 12, 2019Assignee: RECKITT BENCKISER (BRANDS) LIMITEDInventors: Kris Carver, Jesse Delgigante, Henry Fletcher, John Kenneth Hainsworth, Iain Christopher Smith, Alim Thawer
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Publication number: 20190307311Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 28, 2017Publication date: October 10, 2019Inventors: 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
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Publication number: 20190032318Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2017Publication date: January 31, 2019Inventors: Kris CARVER, Jesse DELGIGANTE, Henry FLETCHER, John Kenneth HAINSWORTH, Iain Christopher SMITH, Alim THAWER