EP0773330A1 - Distributeur de tablettes - Google Patents

Distributeur de tablettes Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0773330A1
EP0773330A1 EP95117562A EP95117562A EP0773330A1 EP 0773330 A1 EP0773330 A1 EP 0773330A1 EP 95117562 A EP95117562 A EP 95117562A EP 95117562 A EP95117562 A EP 95117562A EP 0773330 A1 EP0773330 A1 EP 0773330A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
tablet
tablet dispenser
dispenser
holding
covering
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Withdrawn
Application number
EP95117562A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Kirk Wallace Lake
Jean-Luc André Patrick Varlet
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Procter and Gamble Co
Original Assignee
Procter and Gamble Co
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Procter and Gamble Co filed Critical Procter and Gamble Co
Priority to EP95117562A priority Critical patent/EP0773330A1/fr
Priority to AU76060/96A priority patent/AU7606096A/en
Priority to CA 2237153 priority patent/CA2237153A1/fr
Priority to PCT/US1996/017671 priority patent/WO1997017571A1/fr
Publication of EP0773330A1 publication Critical patent/EP0773330A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E03—WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE
    • E03D—WATER-CLOSETS OR URINALS WITH FLUSHING DEVICES; FLUSHING VALVES THEREFOR
    • E03D9/00—Sanitary or other accessories for lavatories ; Devices for cleaning or disinfecting the toilet room or the toilet bowl; Devices for eliminating smells
    • E03D9/02—Devices adding a disinfecting, deodorising, or cleaning agent to the water while flushing
    • E03D9/03—Devices adding a disinfecting, deodorising, or cleaning agent to the water while flushing consisting of a separate container with an outlet through which the agent is introduced into the flushing water, e.g. by suction ; Devices for agents in direct contact with flushing water
    • E03D9/032—Devices connected to or dispensing into the bowl
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47K—SANITARY EQUIPMENT NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TOILET ACCESSORIES
    • A47K17/00—Other equipment, e.g. separate apparatus for deodorising, disinfecting or cleaning devices without flushing for toilet bowls, seats or covers; Holders for toilet brushes

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a tablet dispenser, like, for example, a dispenser of a solid cleaning and/or deodorant product in a toilet bowl or of a cleaning product in an automatic dish washing machine or the like, which enables the dissolution of these contained tablet(s) in a liquid medium.
  • tablette will refer to any form of particulate solids.
  • the tablet provides a number of advantages to both the consumer and the manufacturer. Indeed, said tablet prevents spillage of the cleaning and/or deodorant composition. Furthermore, said tablet eliminates the need for the user to estimate the dosage of the cleaning and/or deodorant composition required and ensures that the correct dosage of cleaning and/or deodorant composition is used.
  • cleaning tablets are available on the market for dish washing. These tablets are generally sold packed in containers in a loose way or individually wrapped in bags. Separately, dispensing devices enabling to contain and to dispense these tablets are also available. Indeed, once this dispensing device containing a tablet is placed into an automatic dish washing machine this dispensing device enables the dissolution of the tablet in the wash liquor. Such a dispensing device is, for example, described in the co-pending European patent application No. 95304115.9.
  • FIG. 1 For example, in EP-A-166 374.
  • FIG. 1 For example, in EP-A-166 374.
  • FIG. 1 For example, in EP-A-166 374.
  • FIG. 1 For example, in EP-A-166 374.
  • FIG. 1 For example, in EP-A-166 374.
  • FIG. 1 For example, in EP-A-166 374.
  • FIG. 1 For example, in EP-A-166 374.
  • these dispensers require an additional secondary package. This secondary package ensures that the cleaning and/or deodorant tablets contained in the dispensers are protected from the exterior to avoid deterioration of the tablet before these tablets are actually placed and used in the toilet bowl.
  • the secondary package has the following disadvantages.
  • the dispenser containing the tablet and the corresponding secondary package have to be produced independently from each other. Indeed, usually two different machines and two different materials are needed to make the dispenser containing the tablet and the corresponding secondary package.
  • the dispenser has to be put into or assembled into the secondary package. The additional manufacturing steps to produce the secondary package and to place the dispenser into said secondary package complicates the total manufacturing process, adding costs to the package.
  • Another disadvantage of the secondary package is that this secondary package can not be usually reclosed once it has been opened, e.g. when the user opens the secondary package by mistake, with inevitable deterioration of the tablet. Indeed, the secondary package has usually no reclosing features such that said dispenser can be stored again in this secondary package.
  • the secondary package loses its function once it has been opened.
  • the present invention is a tablet dispenser comprising means for holding said tablet dispenser such that a tablet is gradually dissolved in a liquid medium when said tablet dispenser is in use.
  • Said means for holding said tablet dispenser comprises means for protecting a tablet from deterioration when said tablet dispenser is not in use.
  • methods of making a tablet dispenser include the step of thermoforming a tablet dispenser, or of cutting out a sheet such that a tablet dispenser can be formed out of said sheet, or of wrapping a sheet around a tablet.
  • a tablet dispenser as a dispenser of a cleaning and/or deodorant product on toilet bowl rim, or as a dispenser of a cleaning and/or perfume product in a toilet flushing water tank, or as a dispenser of a cleaning product in an automatic dish washing machine is disclosed.
  • Figure 1a is a perspective front view of a closed tablet dispenser according to the present invention.
  • Figure 1b illustrates the opening/closing of the tablet dispenser of Figure 1a.
  • Figure 1c is again a perspective front view of the tablet dispenser of Figure 1a in its open position.
  • Figure 1d illustrates a side view of the tablet dispenser of Figure 1a placed under the rim of a toilet bowl shown in a cross sectional view.
  • Figure 2a is a perspective front view of another closed tablet dispenser according to the present invention.
  • Figure 2b is again a perspective front view of the tablet dispenser of Figure 2a in its open position.
  • Figure 2c illustrates a side view of the tablet dispenser of Figure 2a placed under the rim of a toilet bowl shown in a cross sectional view.
  • Figure 2d shows the tablet dispenser of Figure 2a with another attachment means.
  • Figures 3a to 3e represent a possible manufacturing process of the tablet dispensers of Figures 1 and 2.
  • Figure 4a shows in a perspective front view the closed position of a means for holding a tablet dispenser, as the tablet dispenser according to the present invention.
  • Figure 4b illustrates again in a perspective front view the open position of the means for holding the tablet dispenser of Figure 4a.
  • Figure 5a is a perspective front view of another closed tablet dispenser according to the present invention.
  • Figure 5b is a detailed front view of the tablet dispenser of Figure 5a.
  • Figures 5c to 5e illustrate in a side view the opening of the tablet dispenser of Figure 5a.
  • Figure 5f shows in a perspective front view of the tablet dispenser of Figure 5a in its open position.
  • Figures 6a to 6b represent a possible manufacturing process of the tablet dispenser of Figures 5.
  • Figure 7a shows in a perspective front view the open position of a means for holding a tablet dispenser, as the tablet dispenser according to the present invention.
  • Figure 7b illustrates in a side view the means for holding the tablet dispenser of Figure 7a.
  • Figures 8a to 8c show in perspective front views and a side view another tablet dispenser according to the present invention.
  • Figures 8d to 8f show in perspective front views and a side view another tablet dispenser according to the present invention.
  • Figure 9a shows the plane view of a blank which can be formed into a tablet dispenser.
  • Figures 9b to 9f show in a perspective plan view the various manufacturing steps to form a tablet dispenser from the blank of Figure 9a.
  • Figure 10a shows the plane view of blank which can be formed into a tablet dispenser according to the present invention.
  • Figure 10b shows in a perspective front view the tablet dispenser formed from Figure 10a in its closed position.
  • Figure 11a shows the plane view of blank which can be formed into a tablet dispenser.
  • Figures 11b to 10e show in a perspective plan view the various manufacturing steps to form a tablet dispenser from the blank of Figure 11a.
  • Figure 12a shows the plane view of blank which can be formed into a tablet dispenser.
  • Figure 12b showing a perspective front view the tablet dispenser formed from the blank of Figure 12a.
  • the tablet dispenser (10) of Figure 1a is shown in a perspective front view in its closed position.
  • This tablet dispenser comprises a means for holding said tablet dispenser (11) and outer walls (12).
  • said outer walls define a rectangularly shaped container (Fig. 1b, 12').
  • Said outer walls contain the tablet.
  • One half of said outer walls further comprise orifices (14), as shown in Figure 1c.
  • Said orifices allow the dispensing of the dissolved part of the tablet.
  • Said means for holding said tablet dispenser lies upon one half of the outer walls.
  • the means for holding said tablet dispenser is a pre-bent clip (Fig. 1b, 11'). This clip corresponds to the shape and form of said outer wall, such that one half of outer walls is completely covered.
  • said orifices (Fig. 1c, 14) are covered by said clip.
  • said clip covering said orifices provides product and/or perfume protection of said tablet during shipment and storage without needing any additional secondary package around said tablet dispenser. Therefore, this clip is also the means for covering a tablet and which protects the tablet from the exterior when said tablet dispenser is not in use.
  • the dimensions of said clip (11') should correspond at least to the width of the supporting structure upon which said tablet dispenser is applied.
  • said clip should correspond to the width of the rim (100) of a toilet bowl such that said tablet dispenser is firmly held onto the rim, as shown in Figure 1d.
  • the dimensions of said clip should correspond the rim of the cutlery basket, for example.
  • said clip may be sufficiently flexible such that said clip may be bent over the rim of a toilet bowl or a cutlery basket, even if the dimensions of said clip are smaller than the width of the rim when said clip is not flexed.
  • said clip is U-shaped, as shown in Figure 1b.
  • One end of said U-shaped clip is free (16), whereby the opposing end (18) is connected to a transition piece (15).
  • the free end (16) of said U-shaped clip is longer than the corresponding opposed end (18). Indeed, the free end of said U-shaped clip goes over the rim of the supporting structure upon which said tablet dispenser is applied.
  • Figure 1d represents an example of a tablet dispenser held on the rim of a toilet bowl. We found that a further elongated free end improves the holding of said tablet dispenser.
  • Said transition piece (15) is a frame defining a free space (15'). Said free space is such that said outer walls (12) are able to pass at least partially through said free space between said frame.
  • Said transition piece is connected to said clip on one end and to said outer walls at the opposed end. Both connections are hinged such that said clip and said end walls can at least partially pivot around said frame.
  • the end (18) of said clip is connected to the part of said frame opposing the connection between said frame and said outer walls.
  • the connection between said transition piece and said outer walls is achieved at one corner of a rectangularly shaped container defined by said outer walls.
  • this tablet dispenser in its closed position as shown in Figure 1a starting from the open position of Figure 1c, said frame is rotated so that said frame passes over the outer walls, as shown in Figure 1b. Then the clip is rotated in such a manner that said clip covers one half of said outer walls reaching the position of Figure 1a. The reverse is done to achieve again the open position of Figure 1c.
  • said outer walls (12) may comprise orifices on any other side or half of said outer walls.
  • a liquid medium may enter from one half of said outer walls, dissolve the tablet contained within said outer walls and the dissolved part of said tablet exits from the opposed side with respect to the entered liquid medium.
  • orifices may be located towards the inner wall of said rim to facilitate the entering of liquid medium of the flushing into said outer walls.
  • orifices located opposed to the previous ones facilitate the exit of the dissolved parts of said tablet contained within said outer walls.
  • said tablet dispenser may further comprise additional means to said clip for covering and protecting the tablet from the exterior to avoid deterioration of the tablet when said tablet dispenser is not in use.
  • This additional means may be a plastic sheet attached to the free end (16) of said clip. This plastic sheet goes around said outer walls such that all the remaining orifices are covered protecting the tablet from the exterior. Said plastic sheet may be provided with an adhesive part such that said sheet may be adhesively attached on said clip or on said plastic sheet again once all the orifices are covered.
  • the adhesive part of said plastic sheet is preferably made of glue, like, for example Wet-Surface Acrylic #1100 glue supplied by 3M.
  • said tablet dispenser may be further packaged in a secondary package with or without the additional plastic sheet.
  • the means for holding said tablet dispenser (11) is completely made of a completely flexible sheet (20), as shown in Figure 2b.
  • this completely flexible sheet acts also as means for covering the tablet and protecting the tablet from deterioration when said tablet dispenser is not in use.
  • said plastic sheet when said plastic sheet is wrapped around said outer walls (12), said plastic sheet can cover all the orifices (14) placed around the axis defined by the attachment between said flexible sheet and said outer walls.
  • Figure 2a illustrates said tablet dispenser when said flexible sheet is wrapped all around said tablet dispenser, i.e.
  • Figure 2a represents the tablet dispenser in its closed position. The open position is shown in Figure 2b and Figure 2c illustrates the tablet dispenser attached over the rim (100) of a toilet bowl.
  • This same tablet dispenser can be applied also to a cutlery basket in an automatic dish washing machine as the embodiment described before.
  • this means (11) for holding said tablet dispenser due to the flexibility of the flexible sheet results in a tight fit around any supporting structure upon which said tablet dispenser is applied.
  • said means for holding a tablet dispenser has the advantage of fitting easily on a non uniform supporting structure, like the rims of toilet bowls, which differ slightly in dimensions between each other.
  • said tablet dispenser may be further packaged in a secondary package.
  • FIGs 2b and 2c There are different options to attach said tablet dispenser with said flexible sheet onto a structure.
  • the attachment means is an adhesive part (21).
  • This adhesive part adheres to the toilet bowl attaching said tablet dispenser under the rim of the toilet bowl.
  • FIG 2d Another possibility is shown in Figure 2d.
  • the flexible sheet is engaged into a hook (22).
  • Said hook is preferably attached to the supporting structure, e.g. to the outside of the toilet rim using, for example, adhesives or a mechanical suction clip.
  • Said hook may have different forms, for example, as a hook, as shown in Figure 2e, or as a button as illustrated in Figure 2f or a cut out hook as shown in Figure 2g.
  • Said flexible sheet comprises, for example, a simple cut (23) through the thickness of said flexible sheet corresponding to said hook such that said cut engages said hook, and consequently holding said tablet dispenser in said toilet bowl.
  • the flexible sheet (20) may be preferably made of a plastic material.
  • This plastic material should be flexible enough such that said flexible sheet can wrap around said tablet dispenser in its closed position and conform to the shape of the rim of a supporting structure, like a toilet bowl when said tablet dispenser hangs in said toilet bowl.
  • said plastic material should be resistant to a certain degree of mechanical stresses when holding the tablet dispenser in said toilet bowl to avoid risks of breakings of the flexible sheet, especially at the cut (23) and at the connection between said flexible sheet and said outer walls.
  • a layer or liner of EVOH works as a barrier for moisture and perfume.
  • Materials other than EVOH which provide a barrier for moisture and perfume may be also chosen for the present invention.
  • said outer walls are made of the same material as said flexible sheet.
  • the thickness of the material for said outer walls may be different from the thickness of the material for said flexible sheet.
  • the means for holding said tablet dispenser and the means for covering and protecting the tablet may be also made of water soluble materials, like, for example, the following water soluble films Mowiol® 888 by Hoechst, KU HH40® by Soltech and Polyox® by Union Carbide.
  • First step is to form a sheet of plastic (Fig. 3a, 30).
  • the outer walls (12) are formed as shells by thermoforming (Fig. 3b).
  • the thickness of the plastic sheet after thermoforming may be preferably within a range of about 10 ⁇ m to about 1 mm, more preferably within a range of about 20 ⁇ m to about 500 ⁇ m, most preferably within a range of about 20 ⁇ m to about 150 ⁇ m. In this manner parts of said plastic sheet are very flexible where the thickness is smaller, whereas other parts of the same plastic sheet are stiffer where the thickness is greater.
  • said means for holding said tablet dispenser is a clip, as described, for example, in Figures 1a to 1d, then also said clip is formed by thermoforming or bending.
  • said flexible sheet as a means for holding, as described in Figures 2a to 2d
  • said flexible part of said plastic sheet extends away from the thermoforming manufacturing process.
  • said orifices (14) on said outer walls are cut off or stamped out (Fig. 3c) on a support (6).
  • said tablet dispenser comprises a flexible sheet as the means for holding, the cut (23) of said flexible sheet is also cut off or stamped out and said flexible sheet is cut in the desired shape and length.
  • a tablet (5) of detergent and/or perfume product is placed in one of the shells (Fig. 3d).
  • the product can be extruded in solid form and then placed in the shell.
  • Another possibility is to inject the product in a liquid form and place the product still in liquid form in the shell where the product solidifies into the corresponding shape of the shell.
  • the shells or the outer walls can now be sealed together by heat sealing or with appropriate adhesives (Fig. 3e).
  • said means for holding the tablet dispenser further comprises means for covering and protecting the tablet from the exterior to avoid deterioration, then the clip as described, for example in Figure 1a to 1d is pivoted over the outer walls of said tablet dispenser closing the orifices. Otherwise, at least part of said flexible sheet is wrapped around said shells or outer walls closing said orifices.
  • FIGs 4a and 4b Another improved means (30) for holding said tablet dispenser is shown in Figures 4a and 4b.
  • Figure 4a shows the improved means for holding said tablet dispenser in the position when said means for holding said tablet dispenser is not used.
  • Said improved means for holding comprises a blank (31) and a certain pattern of cuts (32) through the thickness of said blank.
  • the pattern of cuts on said blank are such that a clip (33) can be unfolded as shown in Figure 4b.
  • the unfolded clip comprises a restraining part (34) connected to the rest of said blank with at least an arm (35).
  • the restraining part goes over supporting structure upon which said tablet dispenser is applied acting like the free end (16) of the U-shaped clip in Figure 1d.
  • the arm remains on the top edge of said supporting structure. We found that this clip ensures the holding of a tablet dispenser.
  • the blank (31) is made of a material such that the blank can be resiliently deformed to unfold the clip (33) as in Figure 4b. Nevertheless, this same material has to be sufficiently resistant to be able to hold the corresponding tablet dispenser.
  • said blank is made of plastic materials, and preferred plastic materials are PET, PP, HDPE and polyethylene with a layer of EVOH.
  • this means (30) for holding said tablet dispenser due to the resilient deformability of the blank results in a tight fit around the toilet rim.
  • said means for holding a tablet dispenser has the advantage of fitting easily on a non uniform supporting structure, like the rims of toilet bowls, which differ slightly in dimensions.
  • said blank formed into a tablet dispenser may be further packaged in a secondary package.
  • FIG. 5a shows the tablet dispenser (40) comprising the means (30) for holding said tablet dispenser described before in figures 4a and 4b.
  • Said tablet dispenser further comprises said means (41) for covering and protecting the tablet from the exterior.
  • An example of means for covering and protecting is a flexible sheet. When the tablet dispenser is in its closed position, the flexible sheet covers all orifices (14) of said tablet dispenser, as shown in Figure 5a.
  • Said means is attached to said tablet dispenser to keep said tablet dispenser in closed position covering and protecting the tablet.
  • the attachment between said flexible sheet and said tablet dispenser may be achieved, for example, by an adhesive part on said flexible sheet or tablet dispenser.
  • Figures 5c to 5e illustrate in a side view that when said flexible sheet is detached from said tablet dispenser, said flexible sheet also helps to unfold the clip (33) of Figures 4a and 4b.
  • the unfolded clip is also shown in a perspective front view in Figure 5f.
  • Said flexible sheet (41) is connected to part of said blank (31).
  • said flexible sheet is connected to the restraining part (34) such that the clip is unfolded when said flexible sheet is detached from said tablet dispenser.
  • said flexible sheet may be used only to facilitate the opening and usage of the tablet dispensing. Indeed, facilitating the unfolding of said means for holding said tablet dispenser makes said tablet dispenser very user friendly.
  • the means for covering and protecting said tablet may be then achieved by an additional secondary package.
  • the connection between said flexible sheet and said blank may be an adhesive connection (36) as shown in Figure 5e. Another possible connection is achieved through a perforation line (37) between said blank and said flexible sheet as shown in Figure 5b.
  • the adhesive connection and the perforation line may be used to connect any means for holding the tablet dispenser with any means for covering and protecting the tablet as described herein before and hereinafter.
  • said blank formed in a tablet dispenser may be further packaged in a secondary package with or without the additional flexible sheet.
  • the method to manufacture the tablet dispenser made of plastic material according to any of the embodiments of Figures 4 and 5 ( Figures 6a and 6b) is very similar to the method described above in Figures 3a to 3e.
  • the outer walls (12) are formed as shells by thermoforming.
  • the thickness of the blank (31) of plastic of Figure 6a after thermoforming is again variable preferably within a range of about 10 ⁇ m to about 1 mm, more preferably within a range of about 20 ⁇ m to about 500 ⁇ m, most preferably within a range of about 20 ⁇ m to about 150 ⁇ m.
  • the part of said blank acting as a means (30) for holding, as described in Figures 4a and 4b, said part of said blank extends away from the thermoforming manufacturing process.
  • said orifices (14) on said outer walls are cut off or stamped out.
  • the part of said blank acting as the means for holding is cut in the desired shape and length.
  • stiffer parts of said tablet dispenser can provide flexibility to certain parts of said table dispenser. Indeed, with specific cuttings through the thickness of part of blank the means for holding said tablet dispenser as described in Figures 4a and 4b is formed.
  • the tablet of detergent and/or perfume product can be placed in one of the shells.
  • the product can be extruded in solid form and then placed in the shell.
  • Another possibility is to inject the product in a liquid form and place the product still in liquid form in the shell where the product solidifies into the corresponding shape of the shell.
  • the shells or the outer walls can now be sealed together by heat sealing or with appropriate adhesives (Fig. 6b).
  • said means for holding the tablet dispenser further comprises means (41) for covering and protecting the tablet from the exterior in form of a flexible sheet, said flexible sheet is wrapped around said shells or outer walls closing said orifices.
  • the means (11) for holding the tablet dispenser has to be adaptable to non-uniformed sizes and dimensions of the supporting structure upon which said tablet dispenser is applied.
  • the rim of a toilet bowl (100) for example, differs from country to country, and even within the same country between different manufacturers. Therefore, it is desirable to have means for holding said tablet dispensers which are able to adapt to different sizes and dimensions without jeopardising a reliable holding of said tablet dispenser.
  • the means for holding said tablet dispensers described in Figures 2a to 2d and in Figures 4a and 4b are such means fitting any toilet dimensions.
  • the means (50) for holding said tablet dispenser comprises a plastic sheet which can be easily bent.
  • this plastic sheet which can be bent further comprises pre-cut scorelines (51) along which at least a slight bending upwards and downwards is facilitated.
  • This enables an adjustment of the means for holding to the specific dimension of said supporting structure.
  • Figure 7b illustrates the minimum and maximum adjustability of this means for holding.
  • said means for holding a tablet dispenser can be adjusted to the specific width of a rim of a toilet bowl or of a cutlery basket. We found that this means for holding said tablet dispenser described in Figures 7a and 7b achieves a perfect fitting with a reliable holding.
  • Said means for (50) for holding said tablet dispenser may act also as means for covering and protecting the tablet when said means (50) for holding is wrapped around said outer walls by bending said means (50) for holding along said scorelines (51).
  • this tablet dispenser may be further packaged in a secondary package.
  • the tablet dispenser needs to contain the tablet and at the same time has to allow the dissolution of the tablet in a liquid medium. Usually, this is achieved with cages thermoformed or injected moulded from plastic materials. A way to reduce the manufacturing costs of said tablet dispensers would be to reduce the manufacturing costs of the cage enclosing said tablet. A possible way to achieve a reduction in the manufacturing cost is shown in Figures 8a to 8f.
  • This tablet dispenser is made of a completely flexible sheet (60). Preferably, the thickness of this flexible sheet is in the range of about 20 ⁇ m to 70 ⁇ m. This flexible sheet is wrapped around the tablet (5) to keep said tablet. The part of the flexible sheet wrapping around the tablet defines a dispensing unit (Fig.
  • Said means for holding the tablet dispenser may comprise an adhesive part (Fig. 8b,64), as described, for example, in Figure 2b, which attaches on a supporting structure as, for example, on the outside of a toilet bowl (Fig. 8c).
  • said means for holding is at least a hole or a cut (Fig. 8e, 65) through the thickness of said flexible sheet to enable the engagement with a hook (Fig. 8f, 66) as described, for example, in Figures 2e to 2g.
  • Said means for holding can be wrapped all around said dispensing unit acting as means for covering and protecting the tablet, as shown in Figures 8a and 8d.
  • An adhesive part (Fig. 8b, 64) fixes this completely wrapped tablet dispenser in closed position.
  • said flexible sheet may further comprise an adhesive part (Fig. 8f, 67) to fix the completely wrapped tablet dispenser in closed position.
  • the other means for holding the tablet dispenser as described, for example, in Figures 1, 4 and 7, are also possible for the wrapped tablet as described herein before.
  • a blank (70) with appropriate folding, like the one of Figure 9a for example.
  • This blank comprises a back wall (71), a bottom wall (72), a front wall (73), a top wall (74) and side walls (75).
  • Said blank further comprises side flaps (76) on the side, bottom and top walls. These walls and flaps are connected to their corresponding walls and/or flaps by folding lines (77).
  • the top wall (74) further comprises a top flap (78) which defines the adhesion area of said blank.
  • the blank (70) further comprises means (11) for holding said tablet dispenser in any embodiment described so far in this description, like for example in Figures 4a and 4b. Any of the back, bottom, front, top and side walls further comprises orifices (14).
  • This blank can be folded into a box in the following manner.
  • the top flap is folded and adhered with glue or heat sealing to the area (79) of said back wall, as illustrated in Figure 9b.
  • the blank is then pushed up to form a rectangular shaped box (Fig. 9c).
  • One side of this box is closed by folding towards the interior of the box first the corresponding flaps of the top and bottom walls and then the corresponding side wall with its flap, as illustrated in Figure 9d.
  • the other side is closed in the same manner after a product in form of a tablet or beads is inserted through this side before closing (Fig. 9e and 9f).
  • Figure 10a illustrates the same blank (70) of Figure 8a further comprising means (41) for covering and protecting the tablet from the exterior to avoid deterioration connected to said means (11) for holding said tablet dispenser.
  • Figure 10b shows in a perspective front view and Figure 10c in a side view the erected box wrapped with said means for covering and protecting.
  • Said means for covering and protecting the tablet is releasably attached to said tablet dispenser, preferably by an adhesive part on said means for covering and protecting and/or on said tablet dispenser.
  • said means for covering and protecting is a flexible sheet as described before.
  • a perforation line (37) connects said means for covering and protecting to said means for holding said tablet dispenser.
  • FIG. 11a to 11e Another example of a tablet dispenser formed by folding up a blank is shown in Figure 11a to 11e.
  • This blank (80) comprises a main wall (81) which can be folded into a cage and side walls (82) with side flaps (83).
  • the main wall comprises cuts (drawn in bold lines) through the thickness of said blank and folding lines (drawn in punctuation). The cuts are made on said blank in such a manner that the areas (84) are made at least partially independent from the neighbouring areas (86).
  • This blank can be folded into a box in the following manner.
  • the lower end (Fig. 11b, 85) is pushed up in such a manner that the cage (Fig. 11c, 86) is formed, as illustrated in Figure 11c.
  • Figure 12a shows a blank (90) which is a slight variation of the blank (80) of Figure 11a.
  • this blank (90) comprises the cuts as for blank (80), but only side flaps (91) which can be folded along the folding lines (drawn in punctuation). These folding lines may also be curved, as illustrated in Figure 12a.
  • said side flaps act as restraining means when a tablet is inserted into said cage. Indeed, a tablet is inserted into the cage by bending and pushing said side flaps further towards the interior down to the bottom wall (93).
  • the side flaps impede that the tablet exits again from inside the cage once the tablet is inserted into the cage. Indeed, we found that the forces exerted by said tablet are not sufficient to bend the side flaps outwards to exit from the cage.
  • the forces exerted by said tablet are due to its weight and/or additional forces acting on the tablet when the liquid medium in which said tablet is held for dissolution is in movement, as, for example, the flushing of the water under the rim of a toilet bowl, or the spraying of water in an automatic dish washing machine.
  • the tablet dispensers of Figures 9 to 12 may have any of the means for holding as described before, for example, in Figures 1, 2 and 7. As an option, the tablet dispensers described in Figures 10, 11 and 12 may be further packaged in a secondary package with or without the additional means for covering and protecting the tablet from deterioration.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Epidemiology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Hydrology & Water Resources (AREA)
  • Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
EP95117562A 1995-11-08 1995-11-08 Distributeur de tablettes Withdrawn EP0773330A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP95117562A EP0773330A1 (fr) 1995-11-08 1995-11-08 Distributeur de tablettes
AU76060/96A AU7606096A (en) 1995-11-08 1996-11-05 A tablet dispenser
CA 2237153 CA2237153A1 (fr) 1995-11-08 1996-11-05 Distributeur de comprimes
PCT/US1996/017671 WO1997017571A1 (fr) 1995-11-08 1996-11-05 Distributeur de comprimes

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP95117562A EP0773330A1 (fr) 1995-11-08 1995-11-08 Distributeur de tablettes

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0773330A1 true EP0773330A1 (fr) 1997-05-14

Family

ID=8219793

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP95117562A Withdrawn EP0773330A1 (fr) 1995-11-08 1995-11-08 Distributeur de tablettes

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0773330A1 (fr)
AU (1) AU7606096A (fr)
CA (1) CA2237153A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO1997017571A1 (fr)

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0913533A1 (fr) * 1997-10-31 1999-05-06 The Procter & Gamble Company Film souple comme emballage pour distributeur de produit de nettoyage dans une cuvette de toilette
GB2339212A (en) * 1998-07-06 2000-01-19 Reckitt & Colman France Container for toilet bowl with improved hook
WO2001027398A1 (fr) * 1999-10-13 2001-04-19 Reckitt Benckiser France Contenants pour produits de traitement de l'eau
WO2001044589A1 (fr) * 1999-12-14 2001-06-21 Falp S.R.L. Distributeur de liquides d"agents de surface desinfectants / desodorisants, notamment pour cuvettes de wc
FR2850407A1 (fr) * 2003-01-27 2004-07-30 Andre Cluzel Dispositif de surete associe a un support de produit fixe au-dessus d'un reservoir telle une cuvette de w-c et support de produit adapte
WO2008135765A1 (fr) * 2007-05-04 2008-11-13 Reckitt Benckiser Inc Emballage combiné et dispositif distributeur de composition de traitement de toilettes,
WO2014072677A1 (fr) * 2012-11-09 2014-05-15 Reckitt Benckiser Llc Distributeur pliable à usage unique pour une composition de traitement de toilettes adhésive
WO2015072848A1 (fr) * 2013-11-12 2015-05-21 Investoro B.V. Dispositif de nettoyage pour toilettes
US20210025153A1 (en) * 2018-03-09 2021-01-28 Buck-Chemie Gmbh Container for a toilet rim block cage
DE102021111042A1 (de) 2021-04-29 2022-11-03 Henkel Ag & Co. Kgaa WC-Körbchen mit einer bügelförmigen Haltevorrichtung
RU2783614C2 (ru) * 2017-12-22 2022-11-15 Фламко Б.В. Узел для очистки и/или защиты системы жидкостных трубопроводов

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10465366B2 (en) 2014-05-27 2019-11-05 As America, Inc. Sanitaryware cleaning system
EP3696334B1 (fr) 2014-05-27 2021-09-22 AS America, Inc. Appareil sanitaire
MX2019008588A (es) 2017-01-25 2019-09-19 As America Inc Sistema de limpieza de sanitarios.
DE102022119761A1 (de) * 2022-08-05 2024-02-08 Henkel Ag & Co. Kgaa WC-Körbchen, zweidimensionaler Materialzuschnitt zur Ausbildung eines WC-Körbchens sowie Verfahren zur Herstellung eines WC-Körbchens aus einem zweidimensionalen Materialzuschnitt

Citations (7)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB983147A (en) * 1960-09-23 1965-02-10 Reckitt & Sons Ltd Improvements in or relating to supports for solid materials
DE2324185A1 (de) * 1973-05-12 1974-11-28 Henkel & Cie Gmbh Behaelter fuer duftsteine fuer haushaltsgeschirrspuelmaschinen
US3869069A (en) * 1970-06-15 1975-03-04 Days Ease Home Prod Corp Suspended dissoluble disinfectant container
EP0166374A2 (fr) 1984-06-28 1986-01-02 Henkel Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien Panier pour WC
DE8906140U1 (de) * 1988-07-01 1989-11-09 Polyfilm AG, Rorschach WC-Geruchsverbesserungs- und -Reinigungsmittel zum Befestigen am Rand von WC-Schüsseln
US5335379A (en) * 1993-08-03 1994-08-09 Waldo David L Toilet bowl flushing attachment
DE9420824U1 (de) * 1994-12-28 1995-03-02 Globol Gmbh, 86633 Neuburg Einhängevorrichtung für WCs

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2111025A (en) * 1936-07-30 1938-03-15 Reefer Galler Inc Moth prevention
US3294224A (en) * 1964-11-04 1966-12-27 Horwitz Harold Package of powdered ingredients for water-base paint

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB983147A (en) * 1960-09-23 1965-02-10 Reckitt & Sons Ltd Improvements in or relating to supports for solid materials
US3869069A (en) * 1970-06-15 1975-03-04 Days Ease Home Prod Corp Suspended dissoluble disinfectant container
DE2324185A1 (de) * 1973-05-12 1974-11-28 Henkel & Cie Gmbh Behaelter fuer duftsteine fuer haushaltsgeschirrspuelmaschinen
EP0166374A2 (fr) 1984-06-28 1986-01-02 Henkel Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien Panier pour WC
DE8906140U1 (de) * 1988-07-01 1989-11-09 Polyfilm AG, Rorschach WC-Geruchsverbesserungs- und -Reinigungsmittel zum Befestigen am Rand von WC-Schüsseln
US5335379A (en) * 1993-08-03 1994-08-09 Waldo David L Toilet bowl flushing attachment
DE9420824U1 (de) * 1994-12-28 1995-03-02 Globol Gmbh, 86633 Neuburg Einhängevorrichtung für WCs

Cited By (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0913533A1 (fr) * 1997-10-31 1999-05-06 The Procter & Gamble Company Film souple comme emballage pour distributeur de produit de nettoyage dans une cuvette de toilette
WO1999023318A1 (fr) * 1997-10-31 1999-05-14 The Procter & Gamble Company Film souple faisant office d'emballage destine a un distributeur pour cuvette de w.c.
GB2339212A (en) * 1998-07-06 2000-01-19 Reckitt & Colman France Container for toilet bowl with improved hook
WO2001027398A1 (fr) * 1999-10-13 2001-04-19 Reckitt Benckiser France Contenants pour produits de traitement de l'eau
WO2001044589A1 (fr) * 1999-12-14 2001-06-21 Falp S.R.L. Distributeur de liquides d"agents de surface desinfectants / desodorisants, notamment pour cuvettes de wc
US6519783B2 (en) 1999-12-14 2003-02-18 Falp S.R.L. Dispenser for sanitizing/deodorant surfactant liquids, particularly for toilet bowls
FR2850407A1 (fr) * 2003-01-27 2004-07-30 Andre Cluzel Dispositif de surete associe a un support de produit fixe au-dessus d'un reservoir telle une cuvette de w-c et support de produit adapte
WO2008135765A1 (fr) * 2007-05-04 2008-11-13 Reckitt Benckiser Inc Emballage combiné et dispositif distributeur de composition de traitement de toilettes,
WO2014072677A1 (fr) * 2012-11-09 2014-05-15 Reckitt Benckiser Llc Distributeur pliable à usage unique pour une composition de traitement de toilettes adhésive
US9376793B2 (en) 2012-11-09 2016-06-28 Reckitt Benckiser Llc Single use, foldable dispenser for an adhesive lavatory treatment composition
WO2015072848A1 (fr) * 2013-11-12 2015-05-21 Investoro B.V. Dispositif de nettoyage pour toilettes
RU2783614C2 (ru) * 2017-12-22 2022-11-15 Фламко Б.В. Узел для очистки и/или защиты системы жидкостных трубопроводов
US20210025153A1 (en) * 2018-03-09 2021-01-28 Buck-Chemie Gmbh Container for a toilet rim block cage
US11686079B2 (en) * 2018-03-09 2023-06-27 Buck-Chemie Gmbh Container for a toilet rim block cage
DE102021111042A1 (de) 2021-04-29 2022-11-03 Henkel Ag & Co. Kgaa WC-Körbchen mit einer bügelförmigen Haltevorrichtung
WO2022228816A1 (fr) 2021-04-29 2022-11-03 Henkel Ag & Co. Kgaa Cage de bloc de rebord de wc dotée d'un dispositif de retenue à pince

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU7606096A (en) 1997-05-29
CA2237153A1 (fr) 1997-05-15
WO1997017571A1 (fr) 1997-05-15

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