GB2334666A

GB2334666A - Mesh ball containing grains of detergent

Info

Publication number: GB2334666A
Application number: GB9804294A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Shiow Jiuan Freida Leu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-02-27
Filing date: 1998-02-27
Publication date: 1999-09-01
Also published as: GB9804294D0

Abstract

A ball having grains of detergent 2 enclosed within a mesh covering 1 for use in dish washing. The mesh covering 1 may have plastic, nylon or cotton threads which may be elastic. The size of the open spaces in the mesh 1 is smaller than the size of the grains 2.

Description

BALL FOR DISHWASHING The invention relates to a ball used for cleaning dishes, bowls, etc., and more particularly to a scouring ball.

When washing a kitchen utensil, a scouring pad may be used with a synthetic detergent. Before washing, a liquid synthetic detergent is diluted in water in the kitchen utensil to be washed, then a scouring pad is used and rubbed by hand on the kitchen utensil so as to remove dirt from it. Because the hand is dipped in the synthetic detergent during washing, the skin of the hand tends to be irritated by the synthetic detergent. When the waste water is poured down the sink or any waste water outlet, it flows into a river or permeates soil to pollute a water source or the environment. Alternatively, a dish washing machine may be used for washing dishes, bowls, etc. When a dish washing machine is used, a synthetic detergent is also used. However, directly putting a synthetic detergent in water in a dish washing machine for washing dishes and the like produces much waste water that pollutes the environment.

The present invention seeks to ameliorate these problems. According to the present invention, there is provided a ball for use in dishwashing having a mesh covering, the mesh covering enclosing grains of watersoluble detergent. Preferably, the grains are sized so that they cannot pass through the hole of the mesh covering. Because the grains of detergent are enclosed within a container made of the mesh covering, when the ball is put in a dishwashing machine and the dishwashing machine is started, the water soluble grains of detergent are gradually dissolved, enabling dirt to be removed from the dishes and the like by the turbulent flow of water in the washing machine. The same controlled release of detergent can also be achieved if the ball is used in manual dishwashing.

The detergent may be synthetic. The mesh covering can be made out of nylon threads, other plastic threads, or natural threads, such as cotton.

The threads may be elastic in nature. The dishwashing or scouring ball of the present invention can be used for manual washing or alternatively in a dishwashing machine for washing dishes.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a ball according to the present invention; Figure 2 is an extended out view of the mesh covering for the dishwasher ball according to the present invention; Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a part of Figure 2; Figure 4 is an enlarged view of a part of Figure 1; and Figure 5 is a view of the ball of the present invention in use.

Referring to Figure 1, a ball in accordance with the present invention is comprised of a mesh covering 1, and active grains of synthetic detergent 2 packed within the mesh covering 1.

Referring to Figures 2 to 4 and Figure 1 again, the mesh covering 1 is made out of plastic, nylon or cotton threads 11. The size of the open spaces in the mesh covering 1 is smaller than the diameter of the active grains of synthetic detergent 2. The active grains of synthetic detergent 2 are made from chemicals that effectively remove dirt from the device being washed without releasing harmful chemical wastes that pollute the environment. Because the content of the active grains of synthetic detergent 2 is not within the scope of the present invention, it is not described in detail.

As indicated, the active grains of synthetic detergent 2 are packed in the mesh covering 1. When the ball is used to wash a kitchen utensil for example a wok (see Figure 5) by hand, the active grains of synthetic detergent 2 are gradually dissolved in the washing water to clean the kitchen utensil. The ball can also be used with a dishwashing machine for washing dishes, bowls, etc. When the dishwasher ball is put in a dishwashing machine, the water soluble active grains of synthetic detergent are dissolved in the water at a low speed, enabling dirt to be removed from the dishes and the like by turbulent flow of water in the dishwashing machine. Because the water soluble active grains of synthetic detergent is not harmful to the environment, waste water from the dishwashing machine causes little environment problem.

While only one embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be understood that various modifications and changes could be made thereunto without departing from the scope of the invention disclosed. For example, the ball may be arranged in a cuboid or spherical shape.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A ball for use in dishwashing having a mesh covering, the mesh covering enclosing grains of watersoluble detergent.
2. A ball according to claim 1, wherein the grains are sized such that they cannot pass through the holes of the mesh covering.
3. A ball according to either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the detergent is a synthetic detergent.
4. A ball according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mesh is made from elastic threads.
5. A ball according to claim 4, wherein the elastic threads are nylon threads.
6. A ball according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the mesh is made from cotton threads.
7. A ball as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.