GB2347669A

GB2347669A - Dispensers

Info

Publication number: GB2347669A
Application number: GB0005748A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Errol Clive Campbell
Original assignee: Reckitt and Colman South Africa Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Reckitt and Colman South Africa Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1999-03-11
Filing date: 2000-03-10
Publication date: 2000-09-13
Also published as: AU3174400A; WO2000053061A1; GB0005748D0; GB9905555D0

Abstract

A gravity dispenser, suitable for dispensing stackable disc-like products comprises sides 12-16 and<BR> a floor 34 defining an internal cavity, the floor 34 being capable of supporting a stack of products when in use, and<BR> an elongate horizontal slot 22 allowing withdrawal of one disc-like product at a time. The slot 22 extends partially into the adjacent sides 14,16 and is defined by opposed and substantially parallel upper and lower edges, the lower edge being at floor level and each edge containing a recess 28,30 for insertion of at least one digit by a user,<BR> the recesses 38,30 being located opposite each other. The floor 34 is spaced from the bottom of the dispenser and means 40 may be provided for suspension. The dispenser is preferably folded from a cardboard blank.

Description

2347669 A GRAVITY DISPENSER

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to packaging for a dispensable product and in particular to a gravity dispenser comprised of such packaging.

BACKGROUND

Various types of packaging configurations for products are known in the art. Some combine a dispensing function, once the initial sealing arrangement has been broken so as to allow access to the contents.

A need has been identified for a container that dispenses through gravity assistance and can be used at point of sale in supermarkets.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to the invention a gravity dispenser suitable for dispensing stackable disc-like products comprises: a base, a front, at least one side and a floor, the front, side and floor defining an internal cavity, the floor being spaced above by the base and being capable of supporting a stack of the products in use; the front including an elongate horizontal slot extending partially into the side and allowing withdrawal of one disc-like product at a time; the slot being defined by opposed and substantially parallel upper and lower edges, the lower edge being at floor level and each edge containing a recess allowing partial insertion of at least one digit by a user; the recesses being located opposite each other.

In a preferred form of the invention the recess in the upper edge of the slot extends for at least about the thickness of a man's digit above the upper edge.

The recess in the upper edge may taper upwards.

Furthermore, the recess in the upper edge may have a rounded apex.

In a further preferred form of the invention the recess in the lower edge of the slot extends by no more than about the thickness of a man's digit below the lower edge.

The recess in the lower edge preferably is generally thumbnail shaped.

In a still further preferred form of the invention, the recesses are substantially centrally located along the slot.

In a further preferred form of the invention, the front comprises a front panel and, adjacent to it, the at least one side comprises a side panel, the slot being located in the front panel and extending partially into the side panel.

In a most preferred embodiment of the present invention, the container comprises a front panel and two side panels, the slot being located in the front panel and extending partially into both side panels. 5 In a preferred embodiment, the container has a substantially rectangular cross section in plan view.

Further preferably, the cross section is substantially square.

In a yet further preferred form of the invention, the container comprises an openable top panel.

The top panel may be retainable in a closed position by means of a folding flap attached to it.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the container has features of shape allowing it to rest stably on a generally flat surface.

These features may include the base comprising a base panel.

In this embodiment, the floor may be located to be spaced above the base panel by a distance of about the thickness of a man's digit.

Accordingly the floor preferably includes a recess located to be adjacent to the recess in the lower edge of the slot.

Still further according to the invention the dispenser may have means enabling it to be suspended.

These means may comprise an extended side portion or rear 5 portion having an aperture therein.

The aperture may comprise a slot.

The invention extends also to a blank form which a dispenser, as defined above, is able to be assembled by folding, the blank being marked with appropriate fold lines and lines of controlled weakness for defining rupture lines.

For the avoidance of doubt, the thickness of a man's digit is considered to be from 30mm to 15mm, most preferably 25mm to 18mm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Figure 1 provides front, side and top views of an embodiment of the invention. Figure 2 illustrates a cardboard blank from which the product dispenser of the invention may be formed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The container of the invention is generally of box-like proportions, whether it is round cylindrical, square cylindrical or any other cross-sectional shape in the vertical direction that may be chosen according to the dictates of the shape of the article to be dispensed therefrom. It may be adapted to stand, self-supporting on a suitable surface, or to be suspended by way of a hook or other means.

In a preferred embodiment it is made of cardboard. However, other materials may be used, for example plastics.

The container has an access portal through which it may be loaded with the articles to be dispensed. In a preferred embodiment, access is via a lid at the top of the container and is in the form of a flap that may be lifted to open and lowered to close. This allows repeated recharging of the container when the contents are depleted.

Dispensing of the articles is by way of gravity bringing successive stacked articles alongside and to be available for withdrawal singly from a slot in a front of the container.

The slot has upper and lower edges and extends across the width of the container. The lower edge should be in alignment with the floor, so that the bottom most stacked article is available for withdrawal.

In a preferred embodiment in which the dispenser is shaped to stand, selfsupporting, on a flat surface such as a shelf or counter top at point-ofsale, the lower edge of the slot, and thus, also the floor of the container, should be at least about a thumb's or digit's width (about 15-30mm) above the surface or, that is to say, the base of the dispenser. This arrangement prevents any of the articles from dropping below a level where withdrawal is no longer comfortable for the user.

If the floor is raised more than a large thumb's width above the base of the container, unnecessary sacrifice and wastage of container volume results.

Because the slot is no more than a little wider than the thickness of the article to be dispensed, only one article may be withdrawn at a time. After withdrawal the remaining articles in the stack drop down one position so that the next lowest occupies the vacant lowest space and is made available for next withdrawal.

To facilitate user access to the lowest article in the stack, opposed upper and lower recesses are provided in the upper and lower edges of the slot to allow for partial insertion of a finger above and a thumb below the article. This configuration increases the width of the slot locally and enables the user to take hold of the article in a pincer-like grip.

The recesses preferably have rounded corners. In a preferred embodiment the upper recess is deeper than the lower and, further, tapers to a rounded apex. The lower recess preferably is thumb- nail shaped.

Where the container is of rectangular cross section, the slot extends across a front side and continues partially into each of the adjoining left and right sides. The slot terminates at either end with the upper and lower edges being connected by a side edge which preferably follows a curved path.

A preferred embodiment of the dispenser will be described with reference to figure 1. Here a container 10, having squared box-like proportions, has front side 12 and left and right sides 14 and 16. It is further defined by a top 18 and base 20.

Extending from left side 14 to right side 16 is slot 22, which has upper and lower edges 24 and 26. Centrally located along the slot are semicircular extended width areas 28 (upper) and 30 (lower) in the form of recesses.

The upper recess 28 is shaped to allow insertion of a forefinger while lower recess 30 is large enough for partial insertion of a man's thumb. The width of the remainder of the slot is sufficient to allow withdrawal sidewise of a disc-like article of similar thickness, in this instance a mosquito repellent coil (not shown). The distance of the lower edge 26 from base 20 is just a little more than the extended length of recess 30.

Clearly the dispenser could be used for other products of similar shape for example compact disc cases, or 'floppy' disks for computers, by suitable adjustment of dimensions.

A further feature of the container is the raised floor 34, located to be in alignment with the lower edge 26 of slot 22. The floor 34 has a cut-back or recess 32, allowing for insertion of the thumb below the lowermost mosquito coil being supported by the floor so that it can grip the disc- like product for withdrawal.

In addition, to allow for suspension of container 10 from a suitable hook or horizontal bar (not shown), there is provided a tab 36 extending from the back wall 38 and having in it a slot 40 of conventional design.

It will be apparent that the withdrawal slot of the invention may be applied to containers of various shapes.

A cardboard blank from which the container may be manufactured is illustrated in figure 2. Numbering of corresponding parts is the same as in figure 1.

The side, top and base panels (12, 14, 16, 18, 20 and 38) have associated foldable tabs for friction interlocking.

The lines defining the upper 24 and lower 26 edges and the recesses 28 and 30 are lines of controlled weakness, for facilitating the punching out of the slot from the blank. Similarly, the lines defining the suspension slot 40 are also of controlled weakness, as are those defining recess 32. This allows the cardboard portions within these lines to be punched out on the rupturing thereof.

Claims

1. A gravity dispenser suitable for dispensing stackable disc-like products comprising:

a base, a front, at least one side and a floor, the front side and floor defining an internal cavity, the floor being spaced above the base and being capable of supporting a stack of the products in use; the front including an elongate horizontal slot extending partially into the side and allowing withdrawal of one disc-like product at a time; the slot being defined by opposed and substantially parallel upper and lower edges, the lower edge being at floor level and each edge containing a recess allowing partial insertion of at least one digit by a user; the recesses being located opposite each other.

2. A dispenser as in claim 1 wherein the recess in the upper edge of the slot extends for at least about the thickness of a man's digit above the upper edge.

3. A dispenser as in claim 2 wherein the recess in the upper edge tapers upwards.

4. A dispenser as in claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the recess in the upper edge has a rounded apex.

S. A dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the recess in the lower edge of the slot extends by no more than about the thickness of

5 a man's digit below the lower edge.

6. A dispenser according to claim 5 in which the recess in the lower edge is generally thumb-nail shaped.

7. A dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the recesses are substantially centrally located along the slot.

8. A dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the front comprises a front panel and, adjacent to it, the at least one side comprises a side panel, the slot being located in the front panel and extending partially into the side panel.

9. A dispenser according to claim 8 wherein the container comprises a front panel and two side panels, the slot located in the front panel and extending partially into both side panels.

10. A dispenser according to claim 8 or claim 9 wherein the container has a substantially rectangular cross section in plan view.

11. A dispenser according to claim 10 wherein the cross section is substantially square.

- I I -

12. A dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the container comprises an openable top panel.

13. A dispenser according to claim 12 wherein the top panel is retainable in a closed position by means of a folding flap attached to it.

14. A dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the container has features of shape allowing it to rest stably on a generally flat surface.

15. A dispenser according to claim 14 wherein the features of shape include the base comprising a base panel.

16. A dispenser according to claim 15 wherein the floor is located to be spaced above the base panel by a distance of about the thickness of a man's digit.

17. A dispenser according to claim 16 wherein the floor includes a recess located to be adjacent to the recess in the lower edge of the slot.

18. A dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims having means enabling it to be suspended.

19. A dispenser according to claim 18 wherein the means enabling suspension comprises an extended side or rear portion having an aperture therein.

20. A dispenser according to claim 19 wherein the aperture comprises a slot.

21. A blank from which a dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims is able to be assembled by folding, the blank being marked with appropriate fold lines and lines for controlled breaking.

22. A gravity dispenser substantially as described herein, with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.