EP0943039B1

EP0943039B1 - Dispensing device

Info

Publication number: EP0943039B1
Application number: EP97953091A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Guy R. Thompson
Original assignee: SC Johnson and Son Inc
Current assignee: SC Johnson and Son Inc
Priority date: 1996-12-05
Filing date: 1997-12-05
Publication date: 2003-04-09
Anticipated expiration: 2017-12-05
Also published as: DE69720764D1; ATE237039T1; DE69720764T2; GB9625323D0; AU721766B2; EP0943039A1; AU5690498A; WO1998024988A1; ES2195195T3

Abstract

A dispenser (1) suitable for attaching to the rim of a toilet bowl comprising a body (1) adapted to receive a block of product to be dispensed into the toilet bowl and a hook (2) attached to the body for suspending the body (1) from the rim of a toilet bowl. The body comprises first and second body (4, 5) relatively rotatable about a hinge (6) and at least one releasable catch (7, 8, 9) for holding said body parts (4, 5) in a closed position. The dispenser (1) contains a plurality of catches (7, 8, 9) for holding the body parts (4) in a closed position, and at least two first indirect catches (8, 9) are disposed such that pressure on the body (4) on opposed sides of the body (4) in a direction substantially parallel to the hinge (6) is required to release the catches (8, 9), and at least one second indirect catch (7) is disposed on the dispenser (1) opposite the hinge (6), said indirect catch being releasable by pressure on the second body part (5) in a direction substantially at right angles to the hinge (6). The catches (7, 8, 9) are so shaped that all the catches (7, 8, 9) must be released simultaneously to open the dispenser (1).

Description

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a dispenser for dispensing a product into the bowl of a water closet (toilet). In particular, it relates to a dispenser as defined in the preamble of claim 1 adapted to be hooked under the rim of a toilet bowl to interrupt the flow of water as the toilet is flushed and to dispense the product directly into the toilet bowl. Such a dispenser is known from EP-A-0 517 562.

Background Art

The product placed in such a dispenser is in the form of a block of solid material, and is sometimes known as a rim block. The dispenser is sometimes described as a rim block cage.

In the past, rim blocks usually consisted only of fragrancing materials. Refillable rim block dispensers were known, but there was not a great need to provide them with child resistant closures. More recently, rim blocks containing bleaching agents have been put on the market, and the desirability of ensuring the child resistance of any refillable dispensers has increased. A number of refillable dispensers have been placed on the market in some countries. For example, one company markets a bleaching rim block in a dispenser with a catch released by pressing the end of the suspension hook into the cage. Other refillable dispensers currently on the market are not reliably child resistant.

Toilet blocks are relatively low cost products. They are used in dispensers which are attached to the rim of toilet bowls. The dispensers, for reasons of cost, are often produced as a single plastics molding which includes a hook and two body parts joined by a molded hinge. Once the toilet block has been placed in the dispenser by the manufacturer, no one will wish to obtain access to the toilet block within the cage. Any need to open the dispenser will only arise in the case of refillable dispensers when a replacement block will be inserted after the original block has been exhausted.

Child-resistant packages based on containers with a hinged cover are known for other products such as medicines. In such containers, the user needs to gain access to the container at relatively frequent intervals in order to remove the medicine contained within. Hinged containers for medicines in which the catches on one part of the container engage with apertures on another part of the container are disclosed, for example, in US Patent

No. 5,346,069. This patent discloses the use of two types of catches. Both types must be opened before the container itself can be opened. However, the catches are designed to be opened sequentially. The ability to open each set of catches in sequence simplifies the opening procedure, which is desirable for a container intended to be frequently opened. Attempts to operate all the catches simultaneously are stated to be counter-productive.

It has now been found that an improved child resistant dispenser for attachment to toilet bowls can be produced by disposing selected types of catch so that they must be operatec simultaneously in a convenient way.

Disclosure of Invention

According to the present invention, a dispenser comprises the features defined in claim 1.

A catch for use in the present invention will generally comprise an engaging member which projects from one body part and is sufficiently resilient to ride over a locking member associated with the other body part as the body is caused to close, the locking member retaining the engaging member and so holding the body closed until the catch is released.

Catches used in child resistant containers may be classified as direct or indirect catches. Direct catches are opened by manipulating the engaging member directly. Indirect catches are opened by manipulating the body rather than the engaging means itself. It is preferred to use catches which are released by compressive forces applied towards the interior of the body. In other words, it is preferred to open the body by pressing rather than pulling.

The two body parts may be hinged together so that the hinge is at one side of the body (the side carrying the hook being considered as the top). Preferably the hinge is on the lower side of the body opposite the hook, so that the second body part is opened by rotating it downwards.

As discussed above, the indirect catches are opened by exerting pressure on the body rather than on the catches themselves. The catch may be in the form of an engaging means in the form of a lug projecting forwardly from the edge of one body part towards the other body part (when the body is closed) and which carries a outwardly projecting part (outwardly in relation to the surface of the adjacent body part) which engages with a locking member in the other body part. The locking member may be an aperture extending thorough the body part or a recess within the body part. If the body is made of material which is resiliently deformable under pressure, then the body part carrying the lugs can be deformed by pressing on it adjacent to the lugs so as to deform it sufficiently to move the lugs inwardly (towards the interior of the body) to disengage the projecting portions on the lugs from the locking members in the other body part. By making the projecting portions sufficiently small and the lugs sufficiently rigid, the catches can be made resistant to opening by direct pressure on the catches, even if the catches are accessible through apertures in the body.

Alternatively, the indirect catches may be/have forwardly projecting lugs that lie outside the other body part, and inwardly directed projections which engage locking members, e.g. apertures, in the other body part. Such catches will be released by applying pressure on the body part which carries the locking member rather than the part which carries the lugs.

It may be desirable to provide a depression in the outer surface of the body part carrying a projecting portion, said depression being adjacent to the catch so as to facilitate the application of finger pressure on the body part to open the catch.

The second indirect catch may be constructed in a similar way to the first catch. It is preferred to provide only one indirect catch on the second body part, and it may be desirable to make this catch somewhat larger than the first indirect catches. However, because it is an indirect catch, it is not necessary to provide a projecting portion which is as large as would be required if the catch were a direct catch released by direct finger pressure on the projection portion itself. Furthermore, it is not necessary to provide an aperture in the first body part through which the projecting portion can be subjected to direct finger pressure. As a result, it is possible to use a catch which extends forward of the second body part t a lesser extent than would be the case if a direct catch were to be used.

The significance of the ability to use a shorter catch is that toilet blocks are often introduced into dispensers in mechanized filling lines. in such filling lines, the block is placed inside the unfolded open dispenser. The dispenser is then closed by hinging one body-part towards the other. The dispensers are inexpensive plastics moldings and the hinges will not always be perfect. If there are excessively long lugs or the like projecting from one body part towards the other body part, there is a risk that the catches will not engage correctly when the body is closed in the manufacturing process. Thus lugs may extend over the outer surface where they are intended to engage with an inner surface.

Preferably, the first indirect catches are in the form of lugs carrying the projections mounted on the first body part (which carries the hook) which interact with apertures in the second body part. This enables the pressure from opposed sides of the first body part necessary to release the indirect catches to be applied by extending a hand across the length of the dispenser, leaving the other hand free to act from the front to rotate the second body part about the hinge when the direct catch has been released.
If the direct catches are all placed so as to be released by pressure on the same body part, then pressure on that body part parallel to the hinge to release the first catches will tend to deform the opposed sides so that the second catch or catches tend to lock more firmly.

It is thus preferred to have the first catches and the second catch or catches on different body parts. However, there is then a tendency for pressure in directions parallel to the hinge to open not only the first catches which it is intended to release by such pressure, but also to deform the second body part so as to release the second catch.

In order to counteract this tendency, pressure members are provided projecting from one body part and bearing against the other body part, the pressure members being so disposed so as to resist any deformation of a body part which results indirectly from the manipulation of that body part to release a catch of one type (first or second catches) and which tends to release a catch of the other type. These pressure members are to be distinguished from the catches mentioned above in that the pressure members do not engage with a body part so as to resist opening and closing the body by hinging the body parts together.

The pressure members may conveniently be ribs projecting from one body part towards the other body part and which bear against an inner surface of the other body part when the body is closed. The ribs may be provided with curved ends to facilitate the closure of the body when the other body part rides over the curved end of the rib as the body parts are hinged together.

It is preferred to provide a pressure member to counteract the involuntary opening of the second catch or catches resulting from the force applied to open the first catch. Preferably at least two pressure members are provided disposed to bear against an inner surface of the second body part on either side of the second catch. Preferably pressure members, more preferably two for each catch, are provided corresponding to all the catches on the dispenser body.

The catches are so shaped that one catch cannot be released by the application of pressure and left in a released state while the other catches are still engaged. While the body parts are together, the catches are only in a released state when pressure is applied, and return to the engaged position as soon as pressure is released. All catches must therefore be released simultaneously to open the body. The skilled person will be readily able to provide catch arrangements meeting this condition.

The catches are preferably provided with means, such as barbs, which facilitate locking the catches when the body parts are brought together, but which resist release unless pressure is applied to the body to release the catches.

Brief Description of Drawings

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of dispenser in the open position according to the invention, and

Figure 2 is a plan view of a dispenser similar to that shown in Figure 1 in the open position showing the surfaces that form the exterior of the dispenser in the closed position,

Figure 3 is a cross section of an open dispenser taken through the center line of the view shown in Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a view of one end of the molding of Figure 2, and

Figure 5 is a view of the opposite end of the open dispenser of Figure 2.

Modes of Carrying Out the Invention

As can be seen from Figure 1, the dispenser comprises a body (1) for receiving a block of material (not shown) and a hook (2) of conventional form (shown only in part) attached to its upper end by which the dispenser may be attached to the rim of a toilet bowl. The body (1) is provided with apertures (3) by which water may enter and/or leave the body (1) when the toilet bowl is flushed.

As can be seen from Figure 1, the dispenser is a single molding made from a suitable thermoplastics material. The molding comprises a first part which comprises the hook (2) and a first body part (4) which is linked to a second part comprising a second body part (5) by molded hinge portions (6).

The body parts (4,5) carry three locking members (7,8,9) comprising short projecting lugs which terminate in barbs (10,11,12). When the first and second body parts are brought together by rotation about the hinges (6), the lugs and barbs in body part (4) (8,9,11,12) engage with two apertures (13) in body part (5) (only one of which is visible in the drawing), and the lug and barb in body part (5) engage with a recess (14) (not visible in Figure 1). The body parts and projections are sufficiently flexible to allow the barbs to enter the corresponding apertures so as to hold the body (1) dosed. The barbs, however, resist separation of the two body parts (4) and (5).

The catches (8,9) in body part (4) are provided in extensions (15,16) of the body part which are dished so as to facilitate the application of finger pressure to the body part in the vicinity of the lugs and barbs (8,11,9,12). When the body is dosed, these extensions dose corresponding spaces (17,18) provided in the body part-(5). A dished portion (19) in body part (5) facilitates the application of finger pressure in the vicinity of barb (10).

Two projecting ribs (20) are provided extending from body part (4). The ends (21) of these ribs are curved on their upper sides.

When the two body parts are hinged together to close the body, the inner surface of the body part (5) will ride over the curved ends of the ribs (21). The barb (10) on catch (7) will ride over the inner surface of body part (4) until it engages the internal recess in body part (4) and is held in engagement. Similarly, the catches (8,9) engage with apertures (13) in body part (5).

It will be apparent that the body (1) cannot be opened by releasing only catch (7) or catches (8) and (9). All the catches must be released simultaneously to allow the body to be opened. This requires pressure to be applied simultaneously in two directions at right angles. In practice it will be found that if one hand is required to release catch (7), then the catches (8) and (9) will require simultaneous pressure from opposed fingers of the other hand. This will be difficult for a small child.

Pressure on the dished portions of body part (4) to press the side walls inward to release catches (8,9) will tend to cause the top and bottom walls to deform outwards. This would tend to release the catch (7). However, any outward movement of the top wall of the body part (4) will cause the ribs (20) to exert pressure on body part-(5) so as to counteract any tendency of the catch (7) to open.

The embodiment shown in Figures 2,3,4 and 5 is similar to that shown in Figure 1, and the same numbers are used to identify the same parts as in Figure 1. The embodiment shown in Figures 2 to 5 has projecting ribs (22) with curved ends (23) (similar to ribs (20)) in body part (5) on either side of the apertures (13). The edge of the body part (4), which faces towards a corresponding edge of body part (5) in the closed position, has a barb (24) over which the barb (10) can ride when the body parts are rotated towards each other to close the body and which retains the barb (10) in recess (14) so as to hold the body parts together.

The body part (4) has an aperture (25) communicating with the recess (14). This aperture is provided for convenience in molding the dispenser but plays no part in the use of the dispenser. The body part (5) has a recess (26) which is also provided for convenience in molding but plays no part in the use of the dispenser.

Industrial Applicability

The dispenser of the present invention may be manufactured utilizing inexpensive molding, without compromising the ability of the unfolded open dispensers to be filled with toilet block product and successfully closed by hinging one body part towards the other on mechanized filling lines.

Claims

A dispenser suitable for attachment to the rim of a toilet bowl which comprises a body (1) adapted to receive a block of product to be dispensed into the toilet bowl and a hook (2) attached to the body (1) for suspending the body (1) from the rim of a toilet bowl, said body (1) comprising first and second body parts (4; 5) relatively rotatable about a hinge (6) and at least one releasable catch (7; 8, 9) for holding the said body parts (4; 5) in a closed position, said hook (2) being attached to said first body part (4), characterised in that the dispenser has a plurality of catches (7; 8, 9) for holding the body parts ( 4; 5) in a closed position, at least two first indirect catches (8, 9) being disposed such that pressure on the body (1) on opposed sides of the body substantially parallel to the hinge (6) is required to release the catches (8, 9), and at least one second indirect catch (7) is disposed on the dispenser opposite the hinge (6), said second indirect catch (7) or catches being releasable by pressure directly on the second body part (5) in a direction substantially at right angles to the hinge (6), said catches (7; 8, 9) being so shaped that all the catches (7; 8, 9) must be released simultaneously to open the body (1), and pressure members (20; 23), projecting from one body part (4; 5), are provided for bearing against the other body part (4; 5) in the closed position, the pressure members (20; 23) being so disposed as to resist deformation of a body part (4; 5) which results indirectly from the manual manipulation of that body part (4; 5) to release a catch or catches of one type (7; 8, 9) and which involuntarily tends to release a catch (7; 8, 9) of the other type.
A dispenser according to claim 1 wherein the pressure members are ribs (20; 23) projecting from one body part (4; 5) towards the other body part (4; 5) and which bear against an inner surface of the other body part (4; 5) when the body (1) is closed.
A dispenser according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein a pressure member (20) is provided to counteract opening of the second catch (7) or catches resulting from the force applied to open the first catches (8, 9).
A dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the hinge (6) is on the lower side of the body (1) opposite the hook (2), when the body (1) is suspended.
A dispenser according to any of the preceding claims wherein the catches (7; 8, 9) are in the form of a lug projecting forwardly from a body part and carry a projection (10; 11; 12) engaging with a locking member (13; 14) in the other body part.
A dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the first indirect catches (8, 9) comprise lugs mounted on said first body part (4) and carrying projections (11; 12) interacting with apertures (13) in said second body part (5).
A dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the second indirect catch (7) comprises a lug mounted on said second body part (5) engaging with the first body part (4).
A dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the hinge (6) is on the lower side of the body (1) opposite the hook (2) when the body (1) is suspended, so that the body (1) is opened by rotating the second body part (5) downwards.
A dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a depression is provided in the outer surface of the body part (4) carrying a projecting portion (15; 16), said depression being adjacent to the catch (8, 9) so as to facilitate the application of finger pressure on the body part (4) to open the catch (8, 9).