EP0195170A2 - Storage and distribution device for elongated objects - Google Patents

Abstract

1. A device containing substantially uniform elongate articles, in particular sticks provided with cotton wool at both ends thereof, and enabling said articles to be dispensed, said device comprising a parallelepipedal container (1) which is provided with a detachable lid (4), one side of which, in particular a short side (6), is of a length corresponding to that of mutually parallel elongate articles (5) to be contained therein, said device also comprising a rigid accommodating support (2) having a receptacle (3) in which the container (1) provided with its lid (4) can slide, the accommodating support (2) being provided with a base (12), the receptacle (3) of the accommodating support (2) comprising a lower surface or abutment surface (7) intended to receive a surface or rest surface (8) of the container (1) and also a front or gripping surface (9) which, at a lower portion disposed level with the abutment surface (7), is provided with a slot (11) for the passage of the elongate articles (5), said slot assisting in allowing the elongate articles (5) one at a time to be grasped on either side between the thumb and the index finger, and to be released by causing them to slide outwards, the elongate articles (5) being disposed in the container (1) fitted into the receptacle with gripping members formed, firstly, by a first recess (13) provided in the rest surface (8) of the container (1) and, secondly, by a second recess (14) adjoining the slot (11) for the passage of the elongate articles (5) and provided in the abutment surface (7) of the receptacle (3), and also by a longitudinal opening (15) provided in the front surface (9) of the receptacle (3) substantially perpendicularly to the passage slot (11) at right angles to the second recess (14), the first and second recesses (13, 14) coming into alignment, when the container (1) is fitted into the receptacle (3), so as to enable an elongate article (5) to be grasped with the hand, said device being characterised in that the elongate articles (5) are automatically disposed under the effect of gravity opposite the passage slot (11), in that the second recess (14) is of the same size as the first recess (13), in that the longitudinal opening (15) extends along the base (12), and in that the lid (4) is provided with a lip (40) on three of its sides, whereas the fourth side (41 ) corresponding to the rest surface (8) of the container (1) is left free so as to enable the lid (4) to slide on the container and cooperate with stop members (90, 91) which, during sliding of the lid (4), are able to maintain it above the passage slot (11).

Description

The present invention relates to a device for packaging and dispensing similar elongated objects, in particular sticks filled with cotton wool at their two ends.

Padded sticks have been widely used for many years, especially for washing children. These sticks are, generally, presented in plastic boxes of parallelepiped or cylindrical shape whose storage in the bathrooms is not always the easiest.

Indeed, this is an article whose very common use requires, constantly, to open or close the lid of the boot containing it, which is not always very satisfactory from the point of view of hygiene and involves frequent risks of falling, forcing the user to a long and painful repositioning, since the sticks, to be able to all be placed in the box containing them, must always be stored exactly parallel to each other other.

To overcome this drawback, a packaging and distribution device has already been proposed consisting of two coaxial cylinders movable in rotation relative to one another. Each of these cylinders is provided with a vertical slit large enough for a user to pass their fingers through; when both notches are facing each other, it is therefore possible to grasp the sticks located inside the device. This is a relatively sophisticated device, therefore expensive, which cannot be entirely satisfactory, given that, when there are no longer many rods inside the cylinders, these tend to lie down, and their grip is quite inconvenient and requires the use of both hands.

The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks by proposing a device for packaging and dispensing similar elongated objects, in particular sticks filled with cotton wool at their two ends which is extremely simple and therefore inexpensive, and the use is very practical, even when there are not many sticks left.

To this end, the device which is the subject of the invention is characterized in that it consists of a parallelepipedic box provided with a removable cover, one side of which, in particular the short side, has a length corresponding to that of the elongated objects which '' it is intended to contain, parallel to each other, as well as a rigid receiving support comprising a receptacle for the open box or, if necessary, provided with its cover, a base and a slot for the passage of elongated objects , the box as well as the receiving support being provided with gripping members cooperating with each other to allow manual grasping, in particular between the thumb and the index finger, of the elongated objects located in the box placed in the receptacle for slide them out through the passage slot.

Therefore, in accordance with the invention, to use the device for distributing the sticks, it suffices to remove the cover of the box and to slide it, with its contents, into the receptacle of the receiving support.

According to the most usual configuration of the device object of the invention, the passage slot of the rods is substantially horizontal, and therefore, as and when the box is empty, they fall in front of the slot under the effect of their gravity. So the sticks are as easy to grip when the box is almost empty as when it is full.

In addition, for packaging and presentation for sale, it is possible to set up the box closed by its cover, inside the receptacle, thus making it possible to reduce the volume and reduce the cost linked to transport, and therefore, to propose parallel receiving supports furnished with a box and boxes acting as "refill". This constitutes an essential advantage over the devices according to the prior art which can only be used once.

Of course, the material constituting the device which is the subject of the invention may be any; that used, in the general case, is a colored or transparent molded plastic material.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the receptacle of the reception support comprises a lower face or bearing face intended to receive a face or rest face of the box, as well as a front or gripping face carrying the passage slot elongated objects at its lower part, located at the level of the bearing face.

Therefore, in accordance with this characteristic, the passage slot for the rods is located at the bottom of the box placed in the support.

Of course, the base on which the support face of the receptacle rests can be arbitrary without departing from the scope of the invention, and can even, in certain cases, be constituted by the support face itself; however, in the general case, it is constituted by a tubular strip, in particular of rectangular section.

According to a preferred characteristic of the invention, the gripping members consist, on the one hand, of a first notch provided on the rest face of the cabinet and, on the other hand, of a second notch of the same dimensions as the first and contiguous to the slot for the passage of elongated objects, provided on the support face of the receptacle as well as by a longitudinal notch provided on the front face of the receptacle, substantially perpendicular to the passage slot to the right of the second notch and extending on the base, the first and second notches corresponding when the box is placed in the receptacle to allow manual grasping of the elongated object between the thumb and forefinger, placed, for this purpose, in the notch on either side of the notches.

Preferably, the notches are placed in the central part of the device, in order to be able to grip the sticks by their middle part without risking soiling their padded ends; this characteristic is very advantageous from the point of view of hygiene.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the notch extends over the entire length of the front face of the receptacle. This characteristic makes it possible to give the receptacle a certain elasticity which can favor the positioning of the box, in particular during transport, when it is still provided with its cover.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the bearing face of the receptacle extends outwardly beyond the passage slot by a flange for receiving the elongated objects, interrupted by the second notch.

The presence of this rim makes it possible to maintain the rods during their gripping; this retention is further improved if the end of the rim is raised.

When in use, the device according to the invention can be simply placed on a flat support; it can also be hung on a vertical wall by means of a tab provided with an orifice provided for this purpose at its upper part, or also to be provided with, at its rear part, self-adhesive members allowing it to be fixed.

The advantage of the device described above is that it is very simple and very practical to use; we can nevertheless criticize him for forcing him to remove the cover of the box before sliding the latter, with its contents, into the receptacle of the receptor support. However, experience has shown that this operation is, in reality, not the most convenient, and that it is frequent to overturn the sticks before their introduction into the receptacle.

To remedy this drawback, the invention also relates to a variant of the device which can be used for the distribution of sticks without having to remove the cover of the box.

According to this variant, the cover is provided with a rim on three of its sides, while the fourth, corresponding to the rest face of the box, is left free so as to allow the cover to slide on the box.

Thus, after introduction of the box into the receptacle, it suffices to lift the cover at its upper part and to slide it outwards to release the passage slot, and therefore allow the user to manually grasp the sticks.

In order for this device to be entirely satisfactory, it is necessary to provide a means for holding, during sliding, the cover above the passage slot, without the user having to hold it manually in this position.

To this end, and according to another characteristic of the invention, the device is provided, at its internal part, with stops capable, during the sliding of the cover, of keeping it above the passage slot.

These stops can be constituted by two angled beads provided on the lateral edges of the internal part of the gripping face of the receptacle.

These stops may also be constituted by two lateral trapezoidal lugs located on the edges of the cover opposite its side not carrying a rim.

When the cover slides, these lugs automatically come into abutment against the ends of the side faces of the receptacle to hold the cover above the passage slot.

Of course, the stops could have a different configuration without departing from the scope of the invention.

Experience has, however, shown that, for the device to be used optimally, the stops must be arranged so as to maintain the cover about two centimeters from the bearing face of the receptacle.

The characteristics defined above should not be considered as limiting the invention and could undergo a certain number of modifications such as, for example, the provision, in the cover, of a slot corresponding to the slot for the passage of the sticks. of the receiving support and allowing the distribution of the latter when the cover is placed on the housing.

• - les figures la et lb sont respectivement des vues en perspective de deux variantes de ce dispositif,
• - la figure 2 représente le support de réception,
• - la figure 3 représente le coffret contenant les bâtonnets,
• - la figure 4 représente une variante du couvercle.

The characteristics of the device which is the subject of the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

• FIGS. 1a and 1b are respectively perspective views of two variants of this device,
• FIG. 2 represents the reception support,
• FIG. 3 represents the box containing the sticks,
• - Figure 4 shows a variant of the cover.

According to Figure la, the device object of the invention consists of a box 1 as well as a rigid support 2 containing a receptacle 3 capable of allowing the box 1 to be introduced.

According to FIG. 3, the box 1 is of rectangular shape, and is provided with a removable cover 4.

This box is intended to contain, parallel to each other, sticks 5 filled with cotton wool at their two ends, of which only two have been shown in the figure for the purpose of simplification.

These rods 5 are arranged along the short sides 6 ₁ , 6 ₂ of the box 1 which have a corresponding length.

According to Figure 2, the receptacle 3 of the receiving support 2 has a parallelepiped shape corresponding to that of the box 1, and its dimensions are chosen so as to be able to introduce the box 1 open, or if necessary, with its cover 4 .

This possibility is notably used for transport and. sale of the device.

According to Figure 2, the receptacle 3 of the support 2 has a lower face 7 or support face intended to receive a rest face 8 of the cabinet 1, as shown in Figure la. This receptacle 3 also includes a front or gripping face 9 intended to correspond with the open face 10 (provided with the cover 4) of the full box 1. This gripping face 9 is provided, at its lower part situated at the level of the bearing face 7, with a horizontal slot 11 allowing the passage of the sticks 5 as indicated in FIG.

The bearing face 7 rests, moreover, on a base 12 constituted by a tubular strip with rectangular section of shape corresponding to that of the receptacle 3.

So, to use the device as a distributor, it is enough to remove the cover 4 of the box 1 then to introduce the latter by sliding into the receptacle 3 of the receiving support 2 to arrive at the position shown in Figure la.

In this position, the rods 5 contained in the box 1 are directed, under the effect of their gravity, towards the lower part of the receptacle 3, according to arrow A, until they are opposite the passage slot 11 where it only remains for the user to enter them manually.

To facilitate handling of the rods 5, in particular between the thumb and the index finger, the rest face 8 of the box 1 is provided with a first notch 13, coinciding, in the position shown on the figure 1a, with a second notch 14 of the same dimensions, provided on the bearing face 7 of the receptacle 3.

The second notch 14 is constiguated to the passage slot 11 of the rods 5 and is located approximately at the middle part of the latter.

According to Figures la and 2, the notches 13 and 14 cooperate with a longitudinal notch 15 provided on the front face 9 of the receptacle 3, substantially perpendicular to the passage slot 11, to the middle part of the latter. The notch 15 extends beyond the passage slot 11 at the base 12.

Thus, according to FIG. 1 a, when a user wants to grasp a stick 5, he need only introduce his thumb and index finger into the notch 15, respectively on either side of the passage slot 11, and pull perpendicularly along arrow B, a stick 5 on either side of the two notches 13 and 14. We see that this is an extremely simple movement, even when the box 1 is almost empty, given that, as already indicated, as and when the box 1 empties, the sticks 5 which it contains, fall in line with the passage slot 11 under the effect of their gravity in accordance with arrow A.

According to Figure 2, to ensure the maintenance of the rods 5 during their gripping, the bearing face 7 of the receptacle 3 extends outwardly beyond the slot passage 11 by a flange 16 whose end 17 is raised.

The device also comprises, at its upper part, a hooking lug 18 provided with an orifice 19 allowing it to be hooked, in particular to a nail. Its rear face 20 may, pan elsewhere, be provided with self-adhesive members, not shown, allowing it to be fixed to a vertical wall.

The device described above with reference to the figure forces it to remove the cover 4 from the box 1 before use. The variant shown in Figure 1b overcomes this obligation.

According to Figures 1b and 3, the cover 4 is provided with a flange 40 on three of its sides, while the fourth 4 ₁ corresponding to the short side 6 ₁ and the rest face 8 of the box 1 is left free so allow the cover 4 to slide on the box 1, as shown in FIG. 3.

This characteristic makes it possible to set up, in the receptacle 3, the box 1 - cover 4 assembly, then, in a second step, to release the passage slot 11 by manually lifting the cover 4 according to arrow C as shown in the Figure 1b.

It should be noted that in accordance with the invention, the face 4 ₂ of the cover 4 opposite the face 4 ₁ could also be devoid of flange 40.

To allow the cover to be retained in this position, according to a first variant of the device, the gripping face 9 of the receptacle 3 is provided, at its internal part and on its lateral edges, with two angled beads 90 acting as a stop so to maintain, after sliding of the cover 4, its side 4, devoid of flanges 40 above the passage slot 11.

According to Figure 2, the distance d between the beads 90 and the bearing face 7 of the receptacle 3 is approxima equal to two centimeters.

As has already been indicated above, this configuration has the advantage of allowing the introduction of the box with its cover, and therefore of avoiding any risk of overturning of the box 1 at the time of this introduction.

According to Figure 4, and in accordance with a second variant of the device, the cover 4 is provided, on the edges of its side 4 ₂ opposite the side 4 ₁ not carrying a rim 40, with two lateral lugs 91 of trapezoidal shape acting stops when the box 1 and the cover 4 slide inside the receptacle 3 as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1b, for retaining the cover 4 above the passage slot 11 for the elongated objects 5.

Experience has shown that to obtain correct operation of the device, the length d of the lateral pins 91 must be of the order of two centimeters.

Claims (16)

1 °) Device for packaging and dispensing similar elongated objects, in particular sticks filled with cotton wool at their two ends, characterized in that it consists of a rectangular box (1) provided with a removable cover ( 4), one side of which, in particular the short side (6 _i , 6 ₂ ) has a length corresponding to that of the elongated objects (5) which it is intended to contain, parallel to one another, as well as of a support rigid receiving (2) carrying a receptacle (3) for the open box (1), or if necessary, provided with its cover (4), a base (12) and a slot for passage (11) of the elongated objects ( 5), the box (1) and the receiving support (2) being provided with gripping members (13, 14, 15) cooperating with each other to allow manual grasping, in particular between the thumb and the index finger, the elongated objects (5) located in the box (1) placed in the receptacle (3) to slide them outwards through the passage slot (11) . 2) Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the passage slot (11) of the elongated objects (5) is substantially horizontal. 3 °) Device according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the receptacle (3) of the receiving support (2) has a lower face or bearing face (7) intended to receive a face or face rest (8) of the box (1) as well as a front or gripping face (9) carrying the passage slot (11) of the elongated objects (5) at its lower part, located at the level of the bearing face (7). 4 °) Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the base (12) is constituted by a tubular strip, in particular of rectangular section on which rests the bearing face (7) of the receptacle (3 ). 5 °) Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the gripping members consist, on the one hand, by a first notch (13) provided on the rest face (8) of the box ( 1) and, on the other hand, by a second notch (14) of the same dimensions as the first and contiguous with the passage slot (11) of the elongated objects (5) provided on the bearing face (7) of the receptacle (3), as well as by a longitudinal notch (15) provided on the front face (9) of the receptacle (3) substantially perpendicular to the passage slot (11) in line with the second notch (14) and extending over the base (12), the first and second notches (13, 14) corresponding when the box (1) is placed in the receptacle (3) to allow manual entry of the elongated object (5). 6 °) device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the notch (15) extends over the entire length of the front face (9) of the receptacle (3). 7 °) Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the bearing face (7) of the receptacle (3) extends outwardly beyond the passage slot (11) by a flange (16) for receiving the elongated objects (5) interrupted by the second notch (14). 8 °) Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the end (17) of the flange (16) for receiving the elongated objects (5) is raised. 9 °) Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it is provided with members (18, 19) allowing its attachment to a vertical wall. 10 °) Device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it is provided with self-adhesive members allowing its attachment to a vertical wall. 11 °) Device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the cover (4) is provided with a rim (40) on three of its sides, while the fourth (4 ₁ ) corresponding to the rest face (8) of the box (1) is left free so as to allow the cover (4) to slide on the box (1). 12 °) Device according to claim 11, characterized in that it is provided with stops (90, 91) capable, during the sliding of the cover (4), to maintain its side (4 ₁ ) above the slot passage (11). 13 °) Device according to any one of claims 11 and 12, characterized in that the stops are constituted by two angled beads (90) provided on the edges, lateral to the internal part of the gripping face (9) of the receptacle (3). 14 °) Device according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the stops are arranged about two centimeters from the bearing face of the receptacle (3). 15 °) Device according to any one of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that the stops consist of two lateral lugs (91) of trapezoidal shape located on the edges (40) of the cover (4) at the opposite on the side (41). 16 °) Device according to claim 15, characterized in that the pins (91) have a length of about two centimeters.

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