EP0653357A1 - Package assembly for granular product - Google Patents
Package assembly for granular product Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0653357A1 EP0653357A1 EP93203509A EP93203509A EP0653357A1 EP 0653357 A1 EP0653357 A1 EP 0653357A1 EP 93203509 A EP93203509 A EP 93203509A EP 93203509 A EP93203509 A EP 93203509A EP 0653357 A1 EP0653357 A1 EP 0653357A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- container
- dispensing device
- package assembly
- assembly according
- external surface
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
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Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D51/00—Closures not otherwise provided for
- B65D51/24—Closures not otherwise provided for combined or co-operating with auxiliary devices for non-closing purposes
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00
- D06F39/02—Devices for adding soap or other washing agents
- D06F39/024—Devices for adding soap or other washing agents mounted on the agitator or the rotating drum; Free body dispensers
Definitions
- the invention relates to a package assembly containing a granular product, said package assembly comprising a reclosable container of thermoplastic material and a device for dispensing said granular product.
- Such packages are often supplied with a measuring device such as a spoon with graduated marking to indicate volumes.
- a measuring device such as a spoon with graduated marking to indicate volumes.
- Such a device may be used to pour the product into the dispensing compartment (such as a dispensing drawer) of a washing machine.
- Dispensing devices are also known; the purpose of these devices being to carry the granular product directly into the washing machine and to release it during the wash cycle itself.
- a package for storing and dispensing granular materials has been described in US5115966, May 26th 1992.
- a corner cap suitable for measuring quantities of the granular material is provided and may be clipped over the corner of the package.
- the package disclosed is made from paperboard, and the corner cap which is intended for use as a measuring or dosing device, is not suited for use as a dispensing device to deliver the granular product into the washing machine during the course of the wash cycle itself.
- German Design Registration MR263444 published on September 30th, 1986.
- This design registration discloses a plastic canister for liquid detergents which has a recess in the middle of one side which can accommodate a dosing ball.
- the present invention offers a solution to this problem.
- the invention is concerned with plastic containers, which are suitable for refilling with product many times.
- the dispensing device is easily removable from the plastic container when required for use, and may then be fitted back on to the outside of the container after use. This may be repeated many times.
- the term "releasably attached” means that the dispensing device and the container can be easily and positively locked together by the consumer, and that the dispensing device and the container can be released from each other, and then reconnected any number of times. A means of positively locking the components together is provided.
- One such means of locking the components together is a projection, or a plurality of projections on the external surface of the container which engage in an opening of the dispensing device.
- the dispensing device can then be "clipped-on" to the external surface of the container.
- the dispensing device may be removed and reattached to the container many times.
- An alternative means of locking the components together is a recess or cavity in the external surface of the container which is shaped to receive the dispensing device.
- the dispensing device is wholly or partly retained within the recess or cavity by frictional interference between said container and said dispensing device. Once again the dispensing device may be removed and reattached to the container many times.
- the figures show a package assembly 10 comprising a reclosable container of thermoplastic material 11 having an internal volume and an external surface, and a device 12 for dispensing said granular product.
- the dispensing device 12 is releasably attached to the external surface of the container. The dispensing device can be removed and replaced repeatedly on the container in such a manner that it never comes into contact with the granular product which is kept in the internal volume of the container 11.
- a dispensing device 12 is shown in figure 2 in more detail.
- the dispensing device 12 comprises a body 13, having an opening 14, said opening being adapted to admit to the body a quantity of granular laundry detergent required for one washing cycle of an automatic washing machine and to release said granular laundry detergent from said body directly into the drum of the automatic washing machine during the washing cycle.
- a package assembly 10 comprising a reclosable container 11 and a dispensing device 12, the reclosable container comprising side walls 20, a bottom surface 21 and a top surface 22 defining an internal volume, wherein the top surface 22 is a removable lid allowing access to the contents of said container 11.
- the dispensing device is releasably attached to the lid of the container 11 and the internal volume of the container 11 is not in direct communication with the releasably attached dispensing device 12 when the lid of the container 11 is closed.
- FIG 3 shows an alternative, and more preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which a removable part of the lid 126 is connected to the reclosable container 11 by means of a hinge device 123, the hinge device 123 being located adjacent to part of the side wall 20.
- the hinge device 123 shown is about the same length as the adjacent, parallel side wall 20. (The dispensing device has been omitted from figure 3 for clarity).
- the dispensing device 13 may be releasably attached to said lid 126 in various ways; two possible ways by which this may be achieved are shown in figures 4 and 5.
- Figure 4 shows a lid 126 with a plurality of projections 124 on it which engage in an opening 14 of said dispensing device 12.
- the projections enable the dispensing device to be "clipped-on" to the lid 126 during storage, and then readily removed when the dispensing device is required. The removal and reattachment of the dispensing device to the lid may be repeated many times. (The dispensing device 12 itself is omitted from this figure for clarity).
- the dispensing device 12 is releasably attached to said container by means of a recess or cavity 125 in the lid 126.
- the recess or cavity is designed such that the body of the dispensing device is wholly or partly retained within the recess or cavity by frictional interference between the container and the dispensing device.
Abstract
The invention is concerned with plastic containers, which may be refilled with granular product many times. A means for fitting a dispensing device (12) to the outside of the plastic container (11) in such a way that it is safely stored and yet cannot come into direct contact with the granular product during storage is provided. The dispensing device (12) is easily removable from the plastic container (11) when required for use, and may then be fitted back on to the outside of the container after use. This may be repeated many times.
In this way, any risk of caking of the granular product caused by the presence of water on a wet dispensing device (i.e. after the device has been removed from the washing machine) is eliminated.
Description
- The invention relates to a package assembly containing a granular product, said package assembly comprising a reclosable container of thermoplastic material and a device for dispensing said granular product.
- In general such packages are often supplied with a measuring device such as a spoon with graduated marking to indicate volumes. Such a device may be used to pour the product into the dispensing compartment (such as a dispensing drawer) of a washing machine. Dispensing devices are also known; the purpose of these devices being to carry the granular product directly into the washing machine and to release it during the wash cycle itself.
- A package for storing and dispensing granular materials has been described in US5115966, May 26th 1992. A corner cap suitable for measuring quantities of the granular material is provided and may be clipped over the corner of the package. The package disclosed is made from paperboard, and the corner cap which is intended for use as a measuring or dosing device, is not suited for use as a dispensing device to deliver the granular product into the washing machine during the course of the wash cycle itself.
- Various dispensing devices have been suggested in the prior art including German Design Registration MR26344, published on September 30th, 1986. This design registration discloses a plastic canister for liquid detergents which has a recess in the middle of one side which can accommodate a dosing ball.
- However it has been common practice in the past to provide granular detergent products in a carton and to encourage the consumer to store a dispensing device inside that carton along with the granular product. This has been the case for both paperboard packages, and more recently for plastic refillable containers. However, this can give rise to problems. The dispensing device is often still damp when it is removed from the washing machine at the end of a completed cycle. If this device is immediately placed inside the package with the granular product, then this dampness can easily cause caking of the product which is clearly undesirable. If the device is not immediately placed inside the package however, there is a risk that it easily becomes lost or damaged.
- The present invention offers a solution to this problem. The invention is concerned with plastic containers, which are suitable for refilling with product many times. A means for fitting a dispensing device to the outside of the plastic container in such a way that it is safely stored and yet cannot come into direct contact with the granular product during storage. The dispensing device is easily removable from the plastic container when required for use, and may then be fitted back on to the outside of the container after use. This may be repeated many times.
- For the purposes of the description of the present invention herein, the term "releasably attached" means that the dispensing device and the container can be easily and positively locked together by the consumer, and that the dispensing device and the container can be released from each other, and then reconnected any number of times. A means of positively locking the components together is provided.
- One such means of locking the components together is a projection, or a plurality of projections on the external surface of the container which engage in an opening of the dispensing device. Preferably the dispensing device can then be "clipped-on" to the external surface of the container. The dispensing device may be removed and reattached to the container many times.
- An alternative means of locking the components together is a recess or cavity in the external surface of the container which is shaped to receive the dispensing device. The dispensing device is wholly or partly retained within the recess or cavity by frictional interference between said container and said dispensing device. Once again the dispensing device may be removed and reattached to the container many times.
- Embodiments of the invention are described in detail below with reference to the drawings which illustrate only preferred embodiments.
- Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a package assembly.
- Figure 2 shows a perspective view with cut-away section of a dispensing device.
- Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a container with the dispensing device omitted.
- Figure 4 shows a cross-section through A-A of one embodiment of a hinged lid for the container.
- Figure 5 shows a cross-section of another embodiment of a hinged lid for the container.
- The figures show a
package assembly 10 comprising a reclosable container ofthermoplastic material 11 having an internal volume and an external surface, and adevice 12 for dispensing said granular product. Thedispensing device 12 is releasably attached to the external surface of the container. The dispensing device can be removed and replaced repeatedly on the container in such a manner that it never comes into contact with the granular product which is kept in the internal volume of thecontainer 11. - A
dispensing device 12 is shown in figure 2 in more detail. Thedispensing device 12 comprises abody 13, having anopening 14, said opening being adapted to admit to the body a quantity of granular laundry detergent required for one washing cycle of an automatic washing machine and to release said granular laundry detergent from said body directly into the drum of the automatic washing machine during the washing cycle. - In a preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in figure 1, a
package assembly 10 comprising areclosable container 11 and adispensing device 12, the reclosable container comprisingside walls 20, abottom surface 21 and atop surface 22 defining an internal volume, wherein thetop surface 22 is a removable lid allowing access to the contents of saidcontainer 11. The dispensing device is releasably attached to the lid of thecontainer 11 and the internal volume of thecontainer 11 is not in direct communication with the releasably attacheddispensing device 12 when the lid of thecontainer 11 is closed. - Figure 3 shows an alternative, and more preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which a removable part of the
lid 126 is connected to thereclosable container 11 by means of ahinge device 123, thehinge device 123 being located adjacent to part of theside wall 20. Thehinge device 123 shown is about the same length as the adjacent,parallel side wall 20. (The dispensing device has been omitted from figure 3 for clarity). - The
dispensing device 13 may be releasably attached to saidlid 126 in various ways; two possible ways by which this may be achieved are shown in figures 4 and 5. - Figure 4 shows a
lid 126 with a plurality ofprojections 124 on it which engage in an opening 14 of saiddispensing device 12. The projections enable the dispensing device to be "clipped-on" to thelid 126 during storage, and then readily removed when the dispensing device is required. The removal and reattachment of the dispensing device to the lid may be repeated many times. (Thedispensing device 12 itself is omitted from this figure for clarity). - In another alternative embodiment of the present invention shown in figure 5, the
dispensing device 12 is releasably attached to said container by means of a recess orcavity 125 in thelid 126. The recess or cavity is designed such that the body of the dispensing device is wholly or partly retained within the recess or cavity by frictional interference between the container and the dispensing device. Again it is the intention that the dispensing device can be removed and reattached to the lid many times.
Claims (10)
- A package assembly (10) containing a granular product, said package assembly comprising a reclosable container (11) of thermoplastic material having an internal volume and an external surface; a device (12) for dispensing said granular product; and a means for the releasable attachment of said dispensing device (12) to the external surface of said container (11), wherein the internal volume of said container (11) is not in direct communication with releasably attached dispensing device (12) when the container is closed.
- A package assembly according to claim 1, wherein said dispensing device (12) comprises a body (13), said body having at least one opening (14), said opening allowing for a quantity of granular laundry detergent required for one washing cycle of an automatic washing machine to be admitted to the body (13) and to release said granular laundry detergent from said body (13) directly into the drum of the automatic washing machine during the washing cycle.
- A package assembly according to claim 2 wherein said means for releasable attachment comprises one projection, or a plurality of projections (124) on the external surface of said container (11) which engage in an opening (14) of said dispensing device (12).
- A package assembly according to claim 2 wherein said means for releasable attachment comprises a recess or cavity (125) in said external surface of said container (11), wherein said body (13) of said dispensing device (12) may be wholly or partly retained within said recess or cavity (125) by frictional interference between said container (11) and said dispensing device (12).
- A package assembly according to claim 1 wherein said reclosable container (11) comprises side walls (20), a bottom surface (21) and a top surface (22) defining an internal volume, wherein at least a substantial part of said top surface (22) is a removable lid (126) allowing access to the contents of said container (11).
- A package assembly according to claim 5 wherein said removable lid (126) is connected to said reclosable container (11) by means of a hinge device (123), said hinge device being located adjacent to, and parallel with, part of said side wall (20).
- A package assembly according to either of claims 5 or 6 wherein said hinge device (123) is at least as long as the adjacent, parallel side wall (20).
- A package assembly according to any of claims 5 to 7 wherein said means for releasable attachment of the dispensing device (12) to the container (11) is present on said lid (126).
- A package assembly according to any of claims 5 to 8 wherein said dispensing device (12) comprises a body (13) having at least one opening (14), said means for releasable attachment comprising one, or a plurality of more projections (124) on the external surface of said container (11) which engage in said opening (14) of said dispensing device (12).
- A package assembly according to any of claims 5 to 8 wherein said means for releasable attachment comprises a recess or cavity (125) in said external surface of said container (11), wherein dispensing device (12) comprises a body (13) having at least one opening (14), said body being wholly or partly retained within said recess or cavity (125) by frictional interference between said container (11) and said dispensing device (12).
Priority Applications (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP93203509A EP0653357A1 (en) | 1993-10-18 | 1993-12-14 | Package assembly for granular product |
PCT/US1994/011760 WO1995011330A1 (en) | 1993-10-18 | 1994-10-14 | Package assembly for granular product |
US08/628,728 US5687588A (en) | 1993-10-18 | 1994-10-14 | Package assembly for granular product |
JP7512125A JPH09505215A (en) | 1993-10-18 | 1994-10-14 | Granular product package assembly |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP93870203 | 1993-10-18 | ||
EP93203509A EP0653357A1 (en) | 1993-10-18 | 1993-12-14 | Package assembly for granular product |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0653357A1 true EP0653357A1 (en) | 1995-05-17 |
Family
ID=8214207
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP93203509A Withdrawn EP0653357A1 (en) | 1993-10-18 | 1993-12-14 | Package assembly for granular product |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0653357A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO1995011330A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP1072716A1 (en) * | 1999-07-19 | 2001-01-31 | The Procter & Gamble Company | A dispensing device for a detergent tablet |
EP1072715A1 (en) * | 1999-07-19 | 2001-01-31 | The Procter & Gamble Company | A dispensing device for a detergent tablet |
EP1072717A1 (en) * | 1999-07-19 | 2001-01-31 | The Procter & Gamble Company | A dispensing device for a detergent tablet |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE8806936U1 (en) * | 1987-08-27 | 1988-10-06 | Henkel Kgaa, 4000 Duesseldorf, De | |
DE8813057U1 (en) * | 1988-10-18 | 1988-12-08 | Jonas, Konrad Hans, 4000 Duesseldorf, De | |
EP0312513A2 (en) * | 1987-10-14 | 1989-04-19 | Akerlund & Rausing Licens Aktiebolag | Powder proof reclosable lid for container |
EP0575694A1 (en) * | 1992-06-23 | 1993-12-29 | Mira Lanza S.P.A. | Carton for powder substances such as washing powders |
Family Cites Families (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US835861A (en) * | 1905-12-16 | 1906-11-13 | Israel W Lyon | Tooth-powder cup. |
FR809365A (en) * | 1935-06-20 | 1937-03-02 | Grassiani Freres | Device for the economical and practical use of blue for laundry |
DE870985C (en) * | 1951-07-14 | 1953-03-19 | Hedwig Heidecker | Device for dissolving the detergents when preparing the washing liquor |
US3048993A (en) * | 1960-10-11 | 1962-08-14 | Procter & Gamble | Detergent dispenser for automatic clothes washing machine |
US3400808A (en) * | 1966-03-01 | 1968-09-10 | Colgate Palmolive Co | Combination dispensing and measuring vessel |
GB1298454A (en) * | 1969-01-07 | 1972-12-06 | Lantor Ltd | Washing powder bags |
US3745871A (en) * | 1972-07-10 | 1973-07-17 | Raymond Lee Organization Inc | Auto pipe musical instrument |
US4249693A (en) * | 1979-10-17 | 1981-02-10 | Michael Diaz | Cardboard container cover |
US4642258A (en) * | 1983-07-05 | 1987-02-10 | Economics Laboratory, Inc. | Treatment of fabrics in machine dryers using treating means containing fabric treating composition having resistance to change in viscosity and release rate with temperature change |
US4835804A (en) * | 1988-03-25 | 1989-06-06 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Multiple compartment container laundering method |
US5115966A (en) * | 1991-12-04 | 1992-05-26 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Package having a formed fitting external plug fit measuring cap |
-
1993
- 1993-12-14 EP EP93203509A patent/EP0653357A1/en not_active Withdrawn
-
1994
- 1994-10-14 WO PCT/US1994/011760 patent/WO1995011330A1/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE8806936U1 (en) * | 1987-08-27 | 1988-10-06 | Henkel Kgaa, 4000 Duesseldorf, De | |
EP0312513A2 (en) * | 1987-10-14 | 1989-04-19 | Akerlund & Rausing Licens Aktiebolag | Powder proof reclosable lid for container |
DE8813057U1 (en) * | 1988-10-18 | 1988-12-08 | Jonas, Konrad Hans, 4000 Duesseldorf, De | |
EP0575694A1 (en) * | 1992-06-23 | 1993-12-29 | Mira Lanza S.P.A. | Carton for powder substances such as washing powders |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO1995011330A1 (en) | 1995-04-27 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
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PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
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AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GB GR IE IT LI LU NL PT SE |
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17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 19951021 |
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17Q | First examination report despatched |
Effective date: 19960320 |
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STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN |
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18W | Application withdrawn |
Withdrawal date: 19970115 |