EP0699410A1

EP0699410A1 - A dispensing device for detergent tablet

Info

Publication number: EP0699410A1
Application number: EP94306373A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Joris Josef Gustaaf Tack; Anne Angele Jacqueline Guillou; Tanya Cecile Corneel Van Rompuy; Steven Frederick Kelsey
Original assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
Current assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
Priority date: 1994-08-30
Filing date: 1994-08-30
Publication date: 1996-03-06
Also published as: WO1996006666A1

Abstract

The present invention provides a dispensing device (10) for detergent tablets with means (20) which allows to take said detergent tablet from outside said device and introduce said tablet into said dispensing device without touching said detergent tablet with the fingers. The means are for example pincer (22) or shovel (26) elements which can pick or convey a detergent tablet into said dispensing device.

Description

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a dispensing device for detergent tablet for use in dish and laundry washing machines.

Background of the Invention

Detergent compositions formed in non particulate solids such as bars or tablets or briquettes are known in the art. In the following, the term "tablet" will refer to any form of non particulate solids. The tablet provides a number of advantages to both the consumer and the manufacturer. Indeed, said tablet prevents spillage of the detergent composition. Furthermore, said tablet eliminates the need for the user to estimate the dosage of detergent composition required and ensures that the correct dosage of detergent composition per wash cycle is used by the user.
To further simplify handling and in order to maximize dissolution, thus performance of the detergent tablet, many detergent compositions manufacturers provide the consumer with dispensing devices in which to place the detergent tablet prior to being placed in the washing machine. As a result, dispensing devices in the form of baskets or cradles are often utilized for example in automatic dish or laundry washing machines to maximize the performance of the tablet.
The tablets available on the market are generally sold packed in containers in a loose way or individually wrapped in bags. Therefore, the user needs if necessary to unwrap said tablet, to take a tablet between the fingers and eventually to put said tablet in the separate dispensing device. We found that small granules or particulate and/or fine dust of detergent are present on the tablets themselves or lying in the container. We also found that the granules or particulate and/or dust are created by the friction between said tablet and the other tablets and/or the inner side walls of the container or bag.
In this manner, the fingers get in contact with the dust and/or small particulate of detergent composition of the tablets. Small granules or particulate and/or fine dust of detergent may remain stuck on the fingers or in between the nails of the fingers during this handling. This is not very convenient for the user, since it is an unpleasant feeling. Indeed, after every handling the user needs to wash its hands to eliminate said detergent particulate or dust.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a dispensing device for tablets of a detergent composition which can be filled with such a detergent tablet without the user having to take said detergent tablet in between the fingers.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention provides a liquid permeable dispensing device (10) adapted to retain a detergent tablet. Said dispensing device comprises a hollow body (12) having an opening (14) to allow the introduction of said tablet into said device. Said dispensing device further comprises means (20) to take said detergent tablet from outside said device and introduce said tablet into said dispensing device.

Brief Description of the Figures

Figures 1a is a perspective view and Figure 1b is a partial detail side view of a dispensing device of a first embodiment of the present invention.
Figures 2a to 2c show the sequence of handling and use of the embodiment of Figure 1 in a side view.
Figures 3a and 3b are a front view of a dispensing device in a second embodiment of the present invention.
Figures 4a and 4b illustrates in side view the third embodiment of the present invention with its sequence of handling.
Figure 5a is a partial detail cross sectional front view and Figure 5b is a top view of a dispensing device according to the present invention with a child resistant restraint means.

Detailed Description of the Invention

In the following any form of non particulate solids such as bars or tablets or briquettes will be encompassed by the term "tablet". Said tablet is made by a detergent composition for laundry or dish washing. Said tablet may have any shape or dimension. Preferably, said solid, non particulate tablet is symmetrical to ensure the uniform dissolution of said tablet in the wash liquor.
According to the present invention the detergent tablet may comprise any ingredients known in the art. Such ingredients may include surfactants, suds suppressers, bleaches, chelants, builders, enzymes, fillers and perfumes.
According to the present invention the detergent composition of the tablet is prepared in its granular or particulate form and then formed into tablets of the desired shape and size by any one of the methods known in the art. Suitable methods include compression, extrusion and casting. The detergent composition may be homogeneously distributed throughout the tablet or may comprise distinct layers of certain detergent ingredients.
Figure 1 shows a dispensing device (10) in a first embodiment of the present invention. Said dispensing device (10) comprises a hollow body (12) and an opening (14). Preferably said opening and said hollow body correspond to the configuration of the detergent tablet. This means that the shape and dimension of said opening is such that said tablet is able to be readily inserted into said device through said opening. Whereas the shape and dimension of said hollow body (12) is adapted to retain the detergent tablet.
The dispensing device (10) of the present invention is liquid permeable. This means that said device allows liquid to enter inside said device itself. Therefore a detergent tablet contained in said device can be dissolved during a wash cycle, for example, by water. The dissolved detergent tablet forms a wash liquor. This wash liquor is able then to exit the liquid permeable dispensing device to be available in the wash cycle of the washing machine. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention said hollow body (12) is a cage or a mesh or a perforated sheet structure, so that the device has multiple orifices. Said orifices are preferably evenly distributed throughout said hollow body of said device. The orifices are such that the detergent tablet cannot be removed from said dispensing device through said orifices. Nevertheless, said orifices are such to allow water to enter said dispensing device for dissolving the detergent tablet during the wash cycle of the washing machine, making said dispensing device liquid permeable. Preferably, said hollow body of said device has a cage structure. In this case, said hollow body (12) of said dispensing device (10) comprises a rigid frame having a base (15) and sides (16). Preferably, said sides are substantially perpendicular to said base. Said opening (14) is preferably opposite to said base (15).
According to the present invention another essential feature of said dispensing device (10) is a means (20) which allows to take said detergent tablet from outside the device, usually a container containing a plurality of tablets, and introduce said tablet into said dispensing device without having a contact between the fingers of a user and said detergent tablet. Therefore said dispensing device comprising said means is able, for example, to grip or scoop a detergent tablet and to insert said tablet directly into said dispensing device. It is believed that the present invention will be better understood with reference to a number of preferred embodiments of the invention and the associated drawings thereof. According to the present invention the means (20) of the first preferred embodiment comprises at least a pair of pincer elements (22). Said pincer elements are preferably attached to said side (16) of said dispensing device (10), opposing each other, elongated and extending beyond said opening (14) of said dispensing device (10). Said pincer elements are flexible, i.e. they are able to be bent approaching each other by exerting a slight force on said elements. Preferably, the part of both pincer elements (22) extending beyond said opening has at least partially a flat surface. Preferably, said flat surfaces of said pincer elements correspond to each other.
The dispensing device (10) comprising said pincer elements (22) can be used in the following manner. Said dispensing device is held in a hand, in a manner that said opening (14) remains always unobstructed and at least two fingers are able to press onto the part of said pair of pincer elements (22) extending over said opening(14). In this manner, a detergent tablet can be grabbed and held in between said pair of pincer elements by squeezing the part of said pair of pincer elements (22) extending over said opening(14), as shown in Figure 2a. Afterwards, said dispensing device is rotated so that the tablet is held in between said pincer elements over said opening, as illustrated in Figure 2b.
Then, by releasing the squeezing force exerted on said pincer elements, the tablet automatically falls inside said dispensing device through said opening (14), as shown in Figure 2c. It is clear from the previous description, that a detergent tablet can be picked up and inserted into said dispensing device without the contact of the fingers with this detergent tablet avoiding unnecessary soiling of the fingers. The filled dispensing device can now be inserted into a washing machine. The form and the dimension of said pincer elements (22) may be variably chosen.
As a preferred option, said dispensing device (10) further comprises a child resistant restraint means (Fig. 1b, 24). Said restraint means is adapted to prevent the removal of said tablet through said opening (14) prior to the dissolution of the tablet in the wash liquor. In particular, as used herein, the wording child resistant restraint means refers to any mechanism whereby access to the tablet, once inserted in the dispenser, is reduced so that the tablet cannot be readily removed, especially by infants and children.
A possible child resistant restraint means (24) may be located onto and between said pincer elements (22) themselves. A possible execution of such a child resistant restraint means is illustrated in Figure 1b. Each of said pincer element (22) comprises a protrusion (23) in form of a hook. These hooks protrusions (23) are located on the sides of said pincer elements which approach each other by squeezing said pincer elements and opposing each other. As illustrated in the detail side view in Figure 1b, said hook protrusions are engaged to each other. In this manner, said opening (14) is partially closed, so that the access to the tablet, once inserted into the dispenser, is reduced. In this manner, the tablet cannot be readily removed from said dispensing device (10).
Another possible child resistant restraint means (24) may be at least a resiliently hingeable (25a) or deformable element (25b) located in the region of said opening (14) as illustrated in detail in Figures 5a and 5b. Said resiliently hingeable or deformable element is displaced from its rest position within said hollow body (12) of said dispensing device (10) by the insertion of the tablet. Said element has minimal, preferably no opposite hingeable motion or deformability beyond its rest position, so that the tablet cannot be removed from said hollow body once inserted therein. According to the present invention said resiliently hingeable or deformable element may entirely close or partially close said opening of said dispensing device. Any number and any positioning with any configuration of said resillently hingeable or deformable elements around said opening (14) may be variably chosen.
In a second preferred embodiment of the present invention said dispensing device (10) has to be squeezed in order to separate said pincer elements (22) from each other. The squeezing force may be exerted on part of the sides (16) of said dispensing device or on the part of said pincer elements extending beyond said opening of said dispensing device. After having separated through squeezing said pincer elements from each other, the user is able to pick up a tablet, as illustrated in Figure 3a. This tablet falls into said dispensing device (10) by releasing the squeezing force on said pincer elements, as shown in Figure 3b. As for the first preferred embodiment, also this embodiment may comprise any of the child resistant restraint means described before.
In a third embodiment of the present invention (Figures 5a and 5b) said dispensing device comprises a shovel element (26). Said shovel element (26) is preferably hinged to a side of said hollow body (12) in the region of said opening (14) of said dispensing device. Said shovel element preferably is able to close said opening (14) by pivoting along a hinged part (Fig. 5b, 26a). Figure 5a shows said shovel element (26) in its open position. In this open position, said shovel element is able to scoop a tablet directly into said dispensing device through said opening (14). As a preferred option, said shovel element comprises a means (27) to improve the conveying of said scooped tablet into said dispensing device. This means (27) is preferably attached to said shovel element (26) beneath said opening (14). Indeed, said means (27) helps in avoiding that said scooped tablet falls sideways, therefore avoiding a tedious filling of said dispensing device (see Figure 5a). This means (27) may be a structure of crossed rods or a panel. Rotating said dispensing device upwards so that said scooped tablet is brought above said opening (14), said tablet is free to fall through said opening into said dispensing device, as shown in Figure 5b. Thereafter, said opening (14) can be closed by said shovel element (26) pivoting along said hinged part (26a). Thereby, also said means (27) slides inside said dispensing device.
As a preferred option, said shovel element closes said opening (14) of said dispensing device by any child resistant restraint means. For example, a hook device which snaps locks on the body portion defining said opening is usable on this embodiment of the present invention. This hook device is secured by the exertion of manual force, causing the closure to expand and pass over the body portion. Subsequent contraction of the closure to its original size results in its inability to pass over the body portion without the application of force. Also the hingeable (25a) or deformable element (25b) as described above is usable as a child resistant restraint means in this embodiment of the present invention.
The dispensing device of the present invention may be formed from any water resistant material that can withstand moderately elevated temperatures, such as those reached in automatic washing machines, e.g. about 95° C, for a relatively long period of time (about 3 hours) and which can be formed into the desired shape. Preferably the dispensing device is made of low cost thermoplastic material such as polypropylene and formed by injection molding.The means (20) which allows to take said detergent tablet and introduce said tablet into said dispensing device without having a contact between the fingers of a user and said detergent tablet is preferably formed from the same material as the body of said dispensing device.
According to the present invention the hollow body (12) of said dispensing device (10) may be of any shape such that it can readily accomodate the detergent tablet. Preferably said dispensing device is substantially rectangular.
In a preferred optional embodiments of the present invention, said dispensing device comprises a fastening means (Fig. 1b, 29). As used herein fastening means refers to any means which can be adapted to secure the dispensing device to the interior of an automatic dish or laundry washing machine such that it can be released therefrom when required. Said fastening means is prefereably made of similar or identical material to that of said dispensing device itself. The fastening means may preferably located on said side wall (16) of said dispensing device. The fastening means preferably comprises at least a hook, which extends along said side wall (16).
The dispensing device of the present invention may be located anywhere within the interior of the automatic dish or laundry washing machine. The dispensing device is preferably attached to the exterior of the cutlery or crockery basket or the base tray in an automatic dish washing machine.
The present invention may be used in the following way:

a detergent tablet is picked up or shoveled with the dispensing device (10) according to the present invention;
said dispensing device is rotated holding said detergent tablet so that the opening (14) of said dispensing device is under said detergent tablet;
the detergent tablet is let to fall into said dispensing device through said opening;
if necessary, the opening (14) is closed with the means (20) itself;
the filled dispensing device is placed in an automatic dish or laundry washing machine.

Claims

A liquid permeable dispensing device (10) adapted to retain a detergent tablet, said dispensing device (10) comprising a hollow body (12) having an opening (14) to allow the introduction of said tablet into said device characterized in that said dispensing device further comprises means to take said detergent tablet from outside said device and introduce said tablet into said dispensing device.
A liquid permeable dispensing device according to claim 1 characterized in that said means comprises pincer elements (22).
A liquid permeable dispensing device according to claim 2 characterized in that said pincer elements are flexible.
A liquid permeable dispensing device according to any of the claims 2 to 3 characterized in that said pincer elements comprise a protrusion (23) in form of a hook.
A liquid permeable dispensing device according to claim 1 characterized in that said means comprises a shovel element (26).
A liquid permeable dispensing device according to claim 5 characterized in that said shovel element pivots along a hinged part (26a) in the region of said opening, whereby said opening can be closed.
A liquid permeable dispensing device according to any of the claims 5 to 6 characterized in that said shovel element (26) further comprises at least a side panel (27).
A liquid permeable dispensing device according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that said dispensing device comprises a child resistant restraint means (24).
A liquid permeable dispensing device according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that said dispensing device comprises a fastening means (29) adapted to secure said dispensing device in a releasable manner to the interior of an automatic washing machine.
A liquid permeable dispensing device according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that said hollow body (12) of said dispensing device (10) is a cage or a mesh or a perforated sheet structure.