EP0646088B1

EP0646088B1 - Packaging container for a system comprising a liquid and a solid component

Info

Publication number: EP0646088B1
Application number: EP93912842A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Andrew Neil Brodie; Paul Norman Critchley
Original assignee: Unilever PLC; Unilever NV
Current assignee: Unilever PLC; Unilever NV
Priority date: 1992-06-18
Filing date: 1993-06-01
Publication date: 1996-08-21
Anticipated expiration: 2013-06-01
Also published as: GB9213115D0; EP0646088A1; ES2093431T3; DE69304200T2; DE69304200D1; WO1993025453A1; AU4320693A

Abstract

A packaging container for a detergent system having a liquid and a solid component comprises a bottle (19) for the liquid component and a tray (10) adapted to contain the solid component, the tray being removably connected to the bottle.

Description

This invention relates to a packaging container for a detergent system.
Liquid detergent compositions are well known and widely used for the washing of fabrics particularly in washing machines. It is however well known that a bleach component cannot be successfully incorporated in an aqueous based composition because of reactions which take place during distribution and storage of the detergent. It has therefore been proposed to distribute the bleach component separate from the other component of the system, the bleach component being combined with the other component by the user prior to the washing process. The bleach component can be in any solid form such as particles, granules, flakes or the like but is most conveniently in tablet form having a size corresponding to the required dose for a single wash process.
US Patent Specification No. 2250666 discloses the use of a bottle for liquids corresponding to the preamble of appended claim 1, having a combined label/capsule container mounted on the neck of the bottle. Capsules from the label are added to the bottle before use.
According to the present invention there is provided a packaging container suitable for containing a liquid and a solid component as defined in claim 1, comprising a bottle for containing the liquid component, a plinth on which the bottle can stand, having an upper surface to receive the bottle and a tray for solid component, being located in the plinth and slidably removable therefrom.
There is thus provided a single packaging unit which can contain both the liquid and solid components of the detergent system which greatly facilitates the storage, transport and distribution of the detergent system. Moreover it provides the user with a convenient storage of the system between uses and ensures that the two components do not become separated and mislaid.
The tray can be provided with a plurality of recesses, each of the recesses conveniently being adapted to contain one or more tablets of the solid component.
The plinth can be formed integrally with the bottle but is conveniently snappingly engaged with the base of the bottle. This enables the bottle to be distributed and sold without the plinth so that the user is not provided with a plinth with each and every purchase. The tray can also be provided with a foil layer removably sealed to the tray to close the recesses therein. This not only retains the solid component in the tray during distribution of the packaging container but also allows trays containing the solid component to be distributed and sold separately.
Thus the user is able to purchase a further supply of either the liquid or solid component. The individual components can be sold separately as well as combined together in the packaging container and the user can purchase only that component that they require and thereafter combine that purchase with the plinth and the other component for convenient storage and use.
The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a plinth;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of tray for the plinth of Figure 1; and
Figure 3 is a perspective view showing a packaging container including the plinth of Figure 1 and the tray of Figure 2.

Referring to Figure 1 the plinth is moulded of plastics material and has feet 2 at both ends on which it can stand. The upper surface is provided with an aperture 3 which is adapted to receive the bottom of a bottle. A shelf 4 within the plinth and spaced downwardly from the aperture 3 is provided to support the base of the bottle.
The foot 2 at one end is provided with a window 5 having its upper edge 6 below the underside of the shelf 4. The vertical edges 7 of the window are each provided at the top with a horizontal extension 8. A horizontal rib having its top edge in the plane of the bottom edge 9 of the extension 8 extends substantially the length of the plinth below the shelf 4 on each of the longer interior sides of the plinth.
As shown in Figure 2 the tray 10 has a flat upper surface 11 with recesses 12 formed therein and adapted to contain one or more tablets. As shown on the left there are four recesses whereas at the right an alternative form of recess extends completely across the tray with a small upstanding dividing wall 13 which does not extend to the plane of the upper surface 11. Each of the recesses has a semi-circular base 14 to accommodate cylindrical tablets of solid material.
The openings of the recesses into the upper tray surface are all inwardly spaced from the longitudinal edges of the tray to provide uninterrupted longitudinal side edges 15.
One end of the tray is provided with a flap 16 which is flexibly joined along fold line 17 to the upper surface. Two tabs 18 extend outwardly from the sides of the flap 16.
Referring now to Figure 3, there is shown the bottom portion of a bottle 19 having a handle 20, the base of the bottle having been inserted into the aperture 3 of the plinth until the base of the bottle is in contact with the shelf 4. Preferably the base of the bottle is provided with a slightly outwardly extending ridge or the like on at least a portion of its periphery which can co-operate with a suitable inward projection on the plinth to retain the bottle in position. Lifting the bottle will then lift also the plinth.
Figure 3 shows the tray 10 partially withdrawn from the plinth. The tray can enter the window 5 with the longitudinal edges 15 entering the extensions 8. Within the plinth the longitudinal edges are slidably located between the underside of the shelf and the tops of the horizontal ribs. When the tray is slid fully within the plinth the flap 16 can be folded to a vertical position and the tabs 18 hooked behind respective vertical edges 7 to maintain the tray in position.
As shown in Figure 3, there are provided solid cylindrical tablets 21 in the recesses 12. The recesses can be covered with a foil or the like (not shown) removably sealed to the upper surface of the tray to prevent displacement of the tablets during distribution.
The packaging container is particularly suitable for containing a component of a detergent in liquid from in the bottle 19 and a solid component in tablet form in the recesses 12 of the tray 10. The bottle stands in the plinth and the tray is slid within the plinth to form a packaging container in a single unit for transport, distribution and sale.
When the user wishes to use the contents of the packaging the bottle can be opened by removing a closure cap (not shown) and the contents poured out. This pouring operation can be effected either with or without removing the bottle from the plinth. To use a solid component the tray is slid out of the plinth by disengaging the tabs 18 from the edges 7 and pulling the flap 16. The foil layer, if any, is removed and then the required quantity of tablets.
During uses the packaging remains as a single unit so that both components are readily available when required.
Conveniently the tray with tablets can be made available for purchase alone, as can the liquid component, so that users can replenish either component when it is exhausted without requiring a new plinth on each occasion.

Claims

Packaging container suitable for containing a liquid and a solid component of a detergent system, comprising a bottle for containing the liquid component having a closure cap which is removable to dispense the liquid and a tray adapted to contain the solid component connected to the bottle, characterized in that it has a plinth (1) on which the bottle (19) can stand having an upper surface to receive the bottle (19), the tray (10) for the solid component (21) being located in the plinth (1) and slidably removable therefrom, such that the solid component is separate from the liquid component prior to the washing process.
Packaging container according to claim 1, characterised in that the tray (10) is provided with a plurality of recesses (12) each adapted to contain one or more tablets of the solid component (21).
Packaging container according to claims 1 or 2 characterised in that the plinth (1) is snappingly engaged with the base of the bottle (19).
Packaging container according to claim 2 or 3 characterised in that the recesses (12) in the tray (10) are covered by a foil layer removably sealed to the tray (10).