AU2008101183A4 - A container adapted for dispensing particulate or other solid material - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Innovation Patent Applicant: AMCOR LIMITED Invention Title: A CONTAINER ADAPTED FOR DISPENSING PARTICULATE OR OTHER SOLID

MATERIAL

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method for performing it known to me/us: P71543.AU Pa1_SetF kVg Appoiction 2008.12.doc (M) 00 2 A CONTAINER ADAPTED FOR DISPENSING PARTICULATE OR OTHER o SOLID MATERIAL SBACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENION The present invention relates to a container for 00 dispensing a metered amount of particulate, granular, _powdered or other solid material. For instance, the Scontainer may be used for dispensing a metered amount of 00 10 the laundry detergent from the container.

FIELD OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Containers for powdered, granular or other solid material are usually dispensed by pouring the material from the container through an opening in the top or a side wall of the container. A difficulty with this approach is that dispensing an accurate amount of material from the box can be difficult to achieve. A typical problem is that an excessive amount of material is dispensed.

To address this problem, it has been common practice to construct the containers so that the top of the box is openable and a scoop or spoon is provided in the box for a user to ladle the desired amount of the material from the container. However, a problem with this approach has proven to be that the scoop may become buried underneath material, making it difficult to find the scoop when the container is opened for the first time. Another problem is that the spoon may be inadvertently lost once the container has been opened, forcing a user to resort back to the former technique of pouring the material from the container through the top the container.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative container for dispensing powder or granular material.

N:\Mlboum \Csc\P atent\7900-79999\P79543.AU\Specis\P7943 AU 3 Dec 200doe 03/12108 00 3 o SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION (1) SAccording to the present invention there is provided a container for dispensing particulate, granular, powdered or any solid material, the container comprising: 00 a bottom wall, a top wall, and side walls that are arranged between the bottom and top walls; a further side wall section that defines or has a 00 10 preformed opening, wherein the bottom wall, the side walls, the top wall, and the further side wall section define a major chamber for storing material in the container; an internal partition located inside the container that extends upwardly from the bottom wall at a spacing from the preformed opening so as to form a minor chamber that can be emptied via the preformed opening, the minor chamber also having an upwardly facing opening that allows material to move from the major chamber into the minor chamber when the container is in an upright orientation and the minor chamber is sized to receive a metered dosage of material from the major chamber and can be dispensed from the container through the preformed opening by tipping the container; and a spout formation that is configured to receive material passing through the preformed opening, wherein the spout formation initially has an intact frangible seal that prevents material from being emptied from the container and by breaking the frangible seal, material can be dispensed form the container in metered dosages.

In an embodiment, the spout formation extends from the container below the preformed opening and can be moved from i) an initial sealed position in which the frangible seal is intact; and ii) an opened position in which the spout is N \Mlboum\Cs\Patt\79000-799 \P79543 AU 3 D" 2008.doc 03/12/08 00 4 0 0 located at an angle to the side wall section to allow o passage of the material through the opening, wherein by Stipping the container so that the spout is oriented at, or Sbelow the horizontal, the contents of the minor chamber is able to be dispensed at the desired dosage under gravity.

00 Once the container has been opened, the spout formation _may be repeatedly moved between the opened and closed positions, or alternatively left in the opened position.

00 In an embodiment, the frangible seal of the spout formation includes a removable panel at an outlet of the spout and when the panel has been detached, material can be dispensed from the container.

In an embodiment, the removable panel includes a finger piercable portion defined by lines of weakness that enables a finger to be inserted behind the removable panel to assist in detaching the removable panel.

In an embodiment, the removable panel while intact, retains the spout formation in a closed position and directly or indirectly interconnects the spout formation to the top and/or side walls of the container, and when the removable panel has been detached, the spout formation is able to be folded downwardly at an angle to the side wall section for dispensing material from the container.

In an embodiment, the preformed opening is defined by the spacing between the side wall section and the bottom wall of the container.

In an embodiment, the internal partition extends upwardly from the bottom wall to a height that substantially equals the spacing between the side wall section and the bottom wall of the container.

N \Mclboume\Cus'\Paent\79000-79999\P79543.AU\Speis\P79543 AU 3 Dec 2008do 03112108 00- 5 O In an alternative embodiment, it is also possible that the o internal partition may extend upwardly from the bottom Swall at a height that is less than, or greater than, the M size of the preformed opening defined by the spacing between the side wall section and the bottom wall.

00 In an embodiment, the container is constructed from a single integral blank having a series of panels and flaps Sthat are interconnected by fold lines or frangible lines 00 10 for forming the bottom, top and side walls, internal partition and spout formation. Alternatively, it is also possible that the container may be constructed from two ro more blanks.

In the instance in which the container includes a removable panel, suitably the removable panel is connected by way of the frangible lines of weakness.

In an embodiment, the bottom wall extends or protrudes past a plane of the side wall section.

In an embodiment, the spout formation joins to, abuts against, or extends from, the bottom wall and side walls of the container and forms a passageway with the side wall section and has an outlet facing upwardly when the container is oriented upwardly.

In an embodiment, the spout formation is integrally formed with the bottom wall of the container and extends from the side walls of the container by way of two or more panels joined by fold lines that at least partially overlap when the spout formation is located in a closed position.

In an embodiment, the spout formation includes a central panel, suitably in the form of a triangle shaped panel having a fold line at the junction with the bottom wall of the container, the central panel being flanked by two side N:\Mclbourc\Case\Ptent\79DO-79999\P79543.ASpeis\P79543 AU 3 Dec 2008.doc 03/ 2/08 00- 6 0 O panels that are joined to the central panel by fold lines o and having fold lines at the junction with the side walls, (1) each side panel is suitably in the form of triangular M shaped panel that have an inverted orientation relative to the central panel, and each side panel includes two subpanels joined together at a fold line. The sub-panels 00 being arranged to concertina, collapse or overlap with each other when the spout formation is moved into a closed Sposition.

00 In an alternative embodiment, the spout may be in the form of a retractable spout that at least in part recedes into inner portions of the container. For example, the spout may be in the form of a substantially rigid material, such as a plastic or metallic spout having a central slide and side panels that extend away from the slide, and wherein the side panels move inwardly into the container when the spout is moved into a closed position.

According to the present invention there is provided a container for dispensing particulate, granular, powdered or any solid material, the container comprising: a bottom wall, three side walls that extend upwardly from the bottom wall and a top wall extending over the side walls; a further side wall section that extends downwardly from the top wall and terminates short of the bottom wall to define an opening between the bottom wall and the side wall section, wherein the bottom wall, side walls, side wall section, and top wall define a major chamber for storing material in the container; an internal partition located inside the container that extends upwardly from the bottom wall at a spacing from the opening between the side wall section and the bottom wall, the partition defining a minor chamber having an upwardly facing opening that allows material to move from the major chamber to the minor chamber when the N-\Melboume\CLsesPaen\790OO-79999\P79543 A\MSpecsP79543 AU 3 Dc 2008.doc 03/12/08 00 7 O container is oriented upwardly, and the minor chamber o being sized to receive a desired amount of the material to Sbe dispensed per dosage; Sa spout formation that extends from the bottom wall and is movable from i) a closed sealed position in which the spout 00 covers the opening so as to prevent material from passing through the opening, to ii) an opened position in which the spout is located 00 10 at an angle to the side wall section to allow passage of the material through the opening, wherein by orienting the container so that the spout at or below the horizontal position, dispenses the desired dosage of material from the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the container have an external spout formation that is located in an open dispensing position; Figure 2 is an underneath view of the container as shown in Figure 1 that is partially assembled in which the top and bottom walls are located in an unassembled position and one of the side walls is folded outward in an unassembled position and with the spout formation located in a closed and sealed position, in addition, the figure shows an interval wall that is configured so that the container dispenses a desired dosage of material on each occasion; Figure 3 is an top perspective view of the container shown in Figure 1 that is partially assembled such that the side walls of the container are shown in an erected position and the top and bottom walls folded outward in an unassembled position, and the spout formation is located in an open dispensing position; N.\Mclboume\Casc\Patent\79 000-79999\P79543 AtJSpcis\P79543 AU 3 Dec 2008.doc 03/I 08 00 8 0 Figure 4 is a cross-sectional schematic o illustration of the container shown Figures 1 to 3 in Swhich the spout formation is located in a sealed closed Sposition as it would appear at a point-of-sale; Figure 5 is a cross-sectional schematic illustration of the container shown Figures 1 to 3 in 00 which the spout formation is located in an opened position Sready for dispensing a metered amount of the material from Othe container; 00 10 Figure 6 is a cross-sectional schematic Sillustration of the container shown Figures 1 to 3 in which the spout formation is located in an opened position and the container tipped so as to discharge a metered amount of the material; Figure 7 is a cross-sectional schematic illustration of the container shown Figures 1 to 3 in which the spout formation is located in the closed but unsealing position; Figure 8 is a blank for making the container shown Figures 1 to 7 from single sheet of paperboard.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to a preferred embodiment that is depicted in the Figures.

Figure 1 is perspective view of a container 10 in the form of paper board carton for storing and dispensing a metered dose of a particulate material such as washing powder.

The container includes a bottom wall, top wall 11, front and back side walls 13 and 14, end walls 15 and 16 and a collapsible spout formation 17 located in the an opened position ready for dispensing material from the container Figure 2 is an underneath view of the container 10 shown N:elboumreCaes\PaLnt\7900-79999\P79543At\pecis\P79543 AU 3 Dec 2008.doe 03/12108 0- 9 00 O in Figure 1 in a partially assembled condition with flaps o 12a and lla that form the top and bottom walls 12 and 11 Srespectively opened and front wall is opened. When M assembled, flap 12a forms a seal between the spout formation 17 and the end wall 16 and the top wall of the container 10 prior to opening the container for a first 00 time. The spout 17 when located in a closed sealed _position has a rectangular or squared outer profile that in essence provides a false outer wall. As can be seen in 00 10 Figure 2, the end wall 16 associated with the spout formation 12 extends downwardly from the top wall 12 and terminates short of the bottom wall 11 or flaps lla that form the bottom wall 11 to provide a preformed opening 18 that communicates with the unopened spout formation. In addition, the container 10 includes an internal partition 19 in the form of a wall that extends upwardly from the bottom wall 11, when located in an assembled position.

The bottom wall 11 also extends beyond the end wall 16 and the preformed opening 18.

As can best be seen in Figure 3, the front wall 13, the back wall 14, and the end walls 15 and 16 including the end wall 16 associated with the spout formation 17 and the top and bottom walls 11 and 12, define a major chamber for storing material in the container The internal partition 19 extends across the width of the container 10 from the front wall 13 to the back wall 14 and defines a minor chamber 21 having an upwardly facing opening 22 (that is best seen in Figure 3) that allows material to flow from the major chamber 21 into the minor chamber 22 when the container 10 is located in an upright orientation. Material in the minor chamber 21 can flow into the spout formation 17 via the preformed opening 18 when the container 10 is tipped in direction toward the spout 17.

N:\MelboureCes\Patent\7900079999\P7943.ALISpecis\7943 AU 3 Dec 2008.doc 03/12/09 00 O Figure 3 also shows the spout formation 17 in an opened o unsealed condition ready for dispensing material from the Scontainer. As can be seen from Figures 1 and 3, the spout M formation 17 includes a central triangular panel 30 and two side triangular panels 31 either side of the central panel that connect to the side walls of the panel by a 00 fold line. Each side panel 31 comprises two sub-panels 31a and 31b joined at fold line 32. When the container Sis located in a closed sealed condition, the fold line 32 00 10 forms the corners of the container Although not shown in detail in Figures 1 to 3, the container 10 also includes a removable panel 40 that is frangibly connected to the upper end of the spout formation 17 and the top 12, front 13 and back 14 side walls of the container 10. The removable panel 40 is best seen in Figure 8 and includes a finger piercable section 41 that is also defined by frangible lines which allow a user to insert their finger behind the removable panel and allow the removable panel 40 to be detached. Upon the removable panel 40 being detached, the spout formation 17 and container 10 is unsealed and the spout 17 can be moved from the closed position to the open position as shown in Figure 3.

Figures 4 to 7 are schematic illustrations of a crosssection of the container shown in Figures 1 to 3 in different configurations ready for use. In particular, Figure 4 shows the container with the removable panel in intact at an opening of the spout 17 forming a closed seal. Figure 5 shows the situation in which the removable panel 40 has been detached from the container 10 and the spout formation 17 moved in the direction of arrow A into an open dispensing position. Figure 1 also illustrates the spout formation 17 in the open dispensing position.

Figure 6 shows the step of tipping the container 10 in the N:\Melbourne\Cises'atent\79000-79999\79543.ALpecis79543 AU 3 Dec 2008+doc 03/12/08 00- 11 O direction of arrow B to position the spout formation 17 o below horizontal and, thereby allow material in the minor chamber 21 to be dispensed from the container via the M spout 17 at a metered dosage. For the purpose of clearly demonstrating the manner in which the container functions, particulate material stored inside the 00 container has been shown by round circles in particular sections only of the container. It will be appreciated Sthat the entire container, save for head space, may 00 10 contain particulate material. When the container 10 has been tipped in the direction of arrow B into a horizontal orientation, the internal partition 19 prevents material inside the major chamber 20 from readily moving to the minor chamber 21 and material in the minor chamber 21 dispenses from the container 10 at a metered dosage based on the size of the minor chamber 21.

Figure 7 illustrates the situation in which the container has been tipped back into an upright orientation and the spout 17 moved back into a substantially closed position. However, it will be appreciated that an account of the removable panel 40 having been previously detached, although the spout formation 17 is closed, the container is not sealed in the sense shown in Figure 4. In addition, when the container 10 is located in an upright orientation, material in the major chamber 20 is able to move into and fill the minor chamber 10 via the opening 22 between the internal partition 19 and the end wall section 16.

Figure 8 is an illustration of a blank made from a single sheet of the paper board that can be folded and glued using conventional folding and gluing technology to form the carton shown in Figures 1 to 7. The blank comprises side wall panels identified by reference numerals 13 and 14 that form the front wall 13, back wall 14 and an end side wall 15 at an end of the container opposite to the N:\MclboumeCacs\Patcn\79000-79999\P79543 AtfSpecis\P79543 AU 3 Dec 2008.doc 03/12/tO 00- 12 O end having the spout formation 17. A series of flaps lla o and 12a are joined by fold lines to the opposite edges of Seach of the side wall panels 13 and 14, which are folded Sinwardly in the conventional manner to form the top and bottom walls 12 and 11 respectively. The section identified by reference numeral 30 and 31 comprises a set 00 of the panels form the spout formation 17. Specifically, _the centralised triangular panel 30 extends from the bottom wall 11 of the container 10 and is flanked by two 00 10 side panels 31, each having sub-panels 31a and 31b joined by a fold line 32. When the blank is assembled into the container, the sub-panels extend from the side walls 13 and 14 of the container.

The removable panel 40 that forms a sealed closure with the spout formation is made up of series of parts of the blank. Located immediate adjacent to the central panel of the spout formation 17 is a finger piercable piece 41 that can be pushed inwardly to allow a finger to placed behind the removable panel 40 to facilitate separation of the removable panel from the container 10. In essence, the sections of the blank identified by the broken lines represent frangible lines of weakness that defined the boundary of the removable panel 40 when assembled together.

Those skilled in the art of the present invention will appreciate that many variations and modifications may be made to the preferred embodiment described above without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, N:\Melboume\CuesPatt\79DDD-79999\P79543.AASpc9is\P79543 AU 3 Dec 2008.doc 03/12108 00 13 i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but o not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

00 00 N:\Melboum\Cses\Patnt\79DDO-79999\P79543.ALASpecis\P79543 AU 3 Doc 2008.doc 03t12IOS

Claims (4)

1. A container for dispensing particulate, granular, Spowdered or any solid material, the container comprising: a bottom wall, a top wall, and side walls that are arranged between the bottom and top walls; 00 a further side wall section that defines or has a preformed opening; wherein the bottom wall, the side walls, the top wall, and the further side wall section 00 10 define a major chamber for storing material in the container; an internal partition located inside the container that extends upwardly from the bottom wall at a spacing from the preformed opening so as to form a minor chamber that can be emptied via the preformed opening, the minor chamber also having an upwardly facing opening that allows material to move from the major chamber into the minor chamber when the container is in an upright orientation and the minor chamber is sized to receive a metered dosage of material from the major chamber and can be dispensed from the container through the preformed opening by tipping the container; and a spout formation that is configured to receive material passing through the preformed opening, wherein the spout formation initially has an intact frangible seal that prevents material from being emptied from the container and by breaking the frangible seal, material can be dispensed form the container in metered dosages.

2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the spout formation is frangibly sealed by a removable panel at the outlet of the spout formation and when the removable panel has been detached, material can be dispensed from the container.

3. The container according to claim 2, wherein the removable panel while intact, retains the spout formation N:\Mcboumr\CcsPant\79OO-79999\P79543 AL\SpecisP79543 AU 3 Dec 2008.doc 03/12./8 00 15 0 in a closed position and, the removable panel directly or o indirectly interconnects to the top and/or side walls of Sthe container, and when the removable panel has been Sdetached, an operative section of the spout formation is able to be folded downwardly at an angle to the side wall section for dispensing material from the container. 00 S4. The container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, 0 wherein the operative section of spout formation includes 00 10 a central panel that is flanked by two side panels that Sare joined to the central panel by fold lines, and the two side panels meet the side walls of the container via further fold lines.

5. The container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the container is constructed from the single integral blank, or alternatively two or more blanks, having a series of panels and flaps that are interconnected by fold lines and form at least the bottom wall, top wall, side walls, side wall sections, internal partition and spout formation. N: clboumc\Cases\Patent\79000-79999\P79543AU\Specis\P79543 AU 3 Dc 2008.doc 03112/08