EP1494938A1

EP1494938A1 - Effervescent tablet dispenser

Info

Publication number: EP1494938A1
Application number: EP03711776A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Andreas Brenner
Original assignee: Createchnic AG
Current assignee: Medisize Schweiz AG
Priority date: 2002-04-17
Filing date: 2003-04-15
Publication date: 2005-01-12
Anticipated expiration: 2023-04-15
Also published as: CA2480766A1; EP1494938B1; US20060049079A1; DE50304577D1; ATE335681T1; AU2003218589A1; US7207464B2; WO2003086901A1; CH695776A5

Abstract

The effervescent tablet dispenser may be assembled onto the open end of a container tube ( 2 ). It consists of an annular lower part ( 3 ) which may be assembled onto the open end of a container tube ( 2 ). For this there is a lid ( 4 ) for closing the annular lower part ( 3 ). A dispenser tab ( 8 ) extends diametrically in a tongue-like manner in the lower part ( 3 ) in its clear opening This dispenser tab ( 8 ) is integrally formed on the inner edge ( 10 ) of the lower part ( 3 ) in the manner of a film hinge. With respect to the annular lower part ( 3 ) is may be pivoted out in the axial direction by at least 10°. When the container tube is tipped, the dispenser tab under the load of a tablet lying on it pivots approx. 10° downwards and the lowermost tablet may be easily removed with one hand, whilst the remaining ones are held back.

Description

An effervescent tablet dispenser

[0001] This invention relates to an effervescent tablet dispenser. Effervescent tablets are made in a certain size, usually disc-shaped with a diameter in the form of about 30mm and a thickness of about 5mm, to indicate an order of magnitude. However, the dispenser presented here can also be designed and used for tablets of other dimensions. Conventionally, such disc-shaped effervescent tablets are packaged and sold in aluminum tubes of about 10 cm in length, which have a bottom at one end and the open end of which is closed with a plastic closure after filling. This plastic closure can be designed as a pin, so that it is simply pressed into the interior of the open tube. Other closures can be clicked onto the tube rim by a special shape of the tube edge and the closure or can be snapped over the same. Also conceivable are closures which are cap-shaped with an internal thread in the cap and which can be screwed onto the open end of the tube by means of this thread. The plastic closures often have an elastic spiral formed on the inside of the closure, which is directed towards the tube. If the tube has been filled with these by the manufacturer of the tablets, these tablets form a stack in the interior of the tube, but this is still a stack between its upper end and the underside of the mounted closure. leaves a small gap. In order to fill or compensate for this and to prevent the tablets from being thrown back and forth due to this gap during handling and transport and thus being damaged, the end of the elastic spiral presses resiliently onto the upper end of the stack and keeps it compactly compressed. Another lock is designed as a hinge lock. Its lower part is mounted on the open end of the tube, and a pivotable lid is formed on this lower part via a film hinge, which clicks on the lower part when it is pivoted shut. To remove a single tablet, remove the cap or, in the case of a cap with a pivoting lid, open the cap and then tilt the tube with one hand and hold its open end in the hollow other hand. Often you have to shake the tube gently so that the tablets dissolve in the tube and the stack slides outwards. However, two or more tablets usually roll into your cupped hand. One takes a single one and has to put the excess tablets out of the tube back into the tube. The removal of a single tablet is therefore not without problems and in any case is not practically solved. Separating in particular is technically unsolved and involuntarily more tablets fall out of the tube than actually desired.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide an effervescent tablet dispenser which eliminates these problems and enables the safe and practical removal of a single tablet.

The object is achieved by an effervescent tablet dispenser which can be mounted on the open end of a container tube and is characterized in that it consists of an annular lower part which can be mounted on the open end of a container tube, and an associated lid for closing it ring-shaped lower part, in the lower part of which a dispenser tab extends tongue-shaped diametrically into its clear opening, this dispenser tab being shaped like a film hinge on the inner edge of the lower part, so that it can be swung out in the axial direction by at least 10 ° with respect to the annular lower part. In the drawings, an advantageous, but merely for example, execution of this effervescent tablet dispenser is shown in different views and it is described with reference to these drawings and its function is explained.

It shows:

Figure 1: The effervescent tablet dispenser in the closed state, mounted on a container tube, seen from the side, with the snap hinge belonging to the closure and the opposite guarantee band;

Figure 2: The effervescent tablet dispenser in the closed state, mounted on a container tube, rotated by 90 ° with respect to Figure 1, in a view of the front of the closure with the guarantee band;

Figure 3: The effervescent tablet dispenser in the closed state, mounted on a container tube, in a section along the line A-A of Figure 2;

Figure 4: The effervescent tablet dispenser in section C of Figure 3 in an enlarged view;

Figure 5: The effervescent tablet dispenser without a container tube with the open one

Lid seen obliquely from the front in a perspective view;

Figure 6: The effervescent tablet dispenser without a container tube with the open one

Lid seen obliquely from behind in a perspective view;

Figure 7: The effervescent tablet dispenser without a container tube with the open one

Lid of a view seen from the side; Figure 8: The effervescent tablet dispenser without a container tube with the open one

Lid seen from above;

Figure 9: The effervescent tablet dispenser mounted on a container tube, here in the inverted position of the container tube, with the lid open, viewed from the side, partly in section, with a dispensed tablet;

Figure 10: The effervescent tablet dispenser mounted on a container tube, here in the inverted position of the container tube, with the lid open, viewed obliquely from below in a perspective view, with a dispensed tablet.

In Figure 1 you can see the effervescent tablet dispenser 1 in the closed state, mounted on a container tube 2 seen from the side. On the right in the picture, this effervescent tablet dispenser 1, which is designed as a closure 1, shows a snap hinge 6, around which the cover 4 can be pivoted upwards relative to the lower part 3 of the closure 1. On the opposite side, the closure is equipped with a guarantee tape 5. This must be torn away so that the cover 4 can be swung open for the first time. In Figure 2 right next to it you can see the same object rotated by 90 ° so that the guarantee band 5 is now at the front. The cover 4 here has the shape of a truncated cone, but could also be hemispherical or of another design. Finally, FIG. 3 shows the same object in a longitudinal section along the line AA in FIG. 2. The tablets 7 stacked therein can be seen in the container tube 2. The detail C in FIG. 3 is shown enlarged in FIG. It can be seen that a dispenser flap 8 is formed on the left side in the image via a small material bridge 9 on the lower part 3 of the closure 1, which is described in more detail. The snap hinge 6 can be seen on the left of the closure. Furthermore, one recognizes the inwardly projecting edge 13 on the underside of the lower part 3 of the effervescent tablet dispenser 1, and the outwardly projecting edge 14 on the mouth of the container tube 2. This effervescent tablet dispenser 1, which is also a closure for loading forms tube 2, thanks to the design of its lower edge 13 can be snapped over the projecting edge 14 on the container tube 2, so that it is held securely on it. For this purpose, effervescent tablet dispenser may well be made in one piece, but injection molded from two different components. The lower part 3 can for example be made of a softer material than the cover 4. A polyethylene is suitable for the lower part 3, for example, while the film hinge 6 and the cover 4 are injection molded from a harder material such as polypropylene. The tube 2 can consist, for example, of a relatively hard polypropylene or aluminum, onto which the lower part 3 is then bounced or screwed on. It is also conceivable that, for putting the two parts of cover 4 and lower part 3 onto one another, conversely, lower part 3 is made, for example, of a harder material than cover 4. A polypropylene is then suitable for the lower part 3, for example, while the film hinge 6 and the cover 4 are injection molded from a softer material such as polyethylene.

In Figure 5, the effervescent tablet dispenser 1 is shown in the open state in a perspective view seen from the front. On the rear side you can see the snapping film hinge 6 between the ring-shaped lower part 3 and the frustoconical lid 4 of the dispenser closure 1. The snap hinge 6 is designed according to the prior art and pulls the lid 1 in the closed state onto the closure bottom part 3 while it keeps it in this open state when it is swung open. On the side opposite the snap hinge 6, the guarantee band 5 can be seen. This effervescent tablet dispenser 1 according to the exemplary embodiment shown now has, as an essential feature, a dispenser tab 8 which extends in the lower part 3 of the closure 1 from the hinge side in a tongue-like manner diametrically into its clear opening. In the example shown, this dispenser tab 8 is designed so long that it measures the entire clear width of the lower part 3 of the dispenser closure. Its width is approximately 1/3 of the inside diameter of the lower closure part 3. However, it could also be made somewhat narrower and / or shorter, depending on the dimension of the tablets to be dispensed. In a variant, the dispenser flap 8 could also be designed in the shape of a plate and the entire inside width fill in the bottom part 3 of the closure. This dispenser flap 8 is formed on the inner edge 10 of the lower part 3 via at least one film hinge-like, thin material connection 9. In another embodiment, the tongue-shaped or plate-shaped dispenser strap can also be produced as a separate part and then clipped onto the lower closure part 3, for example by forming a hinge pin on its rear side, which can be clicked into a hinge sleeve formed horizontally on the closure lower part 3, which for this purpose has a slot-shaped recess in the axial direction, which allows the associated hinge pin to be clipped in. Conversely, it is of course also possible for the dispenser tab 8 to carry the hinge sleeve which is open on one side and for the hinge pin to be molded onto the lower closure part 3. In both cases, thanks to this connection, the dispenser flap in the lower closure part 3 can be pivoted up and down. The hinge is designed so that the swivel range is limited, for example to approx. 30 °. For this purpose, the outer side of the dispenser strap can have a reinforcing rib, the rear edge of which, when the dispenser strap is pivoted, finds a stop in the lower part 3 of the closure. The reason for the limitation of the swivel range will become clear later. In the example shown, however, the parts which act as a hinge are two material connections 9 arranged next to one another, by means of which the dispenser tab 8 is held on the lower part 3 in a torsionally stable manner about its longitudinal axis. These material connections 9 are made so thin that the dispenser pocket 8 can be swung out in the axial direction with respect to the annular lower part 3 of the closure 1 by at least about 30 °, that is to say can be swung open upwards in the figure. Furthermore, the dispenser strap 8 shown here has a rib 11 running on its top and along its center, which ends in a wedge shape towards the front end of the strap 9. This rib 11 reinforces the dispenser tab 8 and makes it stiff. On its rear side 12, this rib 11 forms a stop with its rear edge. When the dispenser flap 8 is pivoted upward about its hinge-like root connection 9, the vertical rear edge 12 of the rib 11 swings backwards and finally strikes the inner edge 10 of the lower part 3 of the dispenser closure. As a result, the extent to which the dispenser flap 8 is pivoted out is limited. This function is important, as will be explained later. Figure 6 shows the effervescent tablet dispenser 1 in a perspective view obliquely from behind. One can see here the two material bridges 9 and the rear edge 12 of the rib 11, which forms a stop which strikes the inner edge 10 of the lower part 3 when the dispenser flap 8 is pivoted open and thus limits the pivoting movement. Small wedge-shaped guide elements 15 are formed around the inner circumference of the lower part 3. These center the tablets, which pass through the effervescent tablet dispenser from bottom to top, as will become clear below.

In Figure 7 you can see the effervescent tablet closure in the open state seen from the side in a section through its longitudinal center. The lower part 3 can be seen with the cover 4 pivoted around the snap hinge 5 by 180 °. Furthermore, the dispenser flap 8 can be seen, which runs flush with the upper edge of the lower part 3 of the closure, as well as a material bridge 9 and the reinforcing rib 11 with its rear edge 12 which strikes the slightly raised inner edge 10 when the dispenser flap 8 is swung open. In addition, you can see a number of guide elements 15, which serve to center the tablets. FIG. 8 shows a top view of the closure or effervescent tablet dispenser 1 in the open state. As can be seen, the dispenser flap 8 extends over the inside diameter of the lower part 3 and its width measures approximately 1/3 of this diameter. One can see the two material bridges 9 and the rib 11, which serves to stiffen the dispenser strap 8.

FIG. 9 shows a container tube 2 filled with tablets 7 in an inverted position with an effervescent tablet dispenser 1 mounted on its open side with the cover 4 pivoted out, that is to say in the open state. The stack of tablets 7 located in the container tube 2 presses the dispenser slide 8 with its weight. Under the load of this weight, the dispenser flap 8 swivels downwards until the rear side 12 of the rib 11 comes to a stop on the inner edge 10 of the underside 3 of the closure. Then the swivel position of the tab 8 shown here is established. The lowest tablet 7 in the illustration shown is then at the bottom of the stack, but is still full compared to the tablets 7 lying above it lie inside the container tube 2, pivoted downward by approx. 30 °, because the slightly larger inside diameter of the annular lower closure part 3 below the guide elements 15 allows this pivoting of the lowest tablet 7 lying on the dispenser tab 8 Lower closure part 3 centered by the all-round molded guide elements 15. In the slightly swiveled-down state, this tablet 7 can easily be gripped with the thumb and forefinger or middle finger of one hand and pulled out along the dispenser flap 8 in the direction of the arrow shown. As soon as the tablet is pulled out in the direction of the arrow, the dispenser tab 8 catches the next tablet, which is then no longer removed, but is pushed back into the container tube 2 by gently swiveling the dispenser tab 8 back onto the top, after which the lid 4 can be closed , The material bridges 9, by means of which the dispenser flap 8 is formed on the underside of the closure 3, are so thin and weak that they can still be pivoted downwards under the weight of just a single tablet 7 contained in the container tube 2. On the other hand, the material bridges 9 are so strong that they do not break off under the load of the tablet stack under the load of the entire stack, that is to say if the container tube 2 is still completely filled. Rather, the stop 12 formed by the rear edge 12 of the rib 11 then ensures that the dispenser flap 8 is not pivoted down too much and thus ensures that only a single tablet is dispensed for removal in each case. The thin material bridges 9 and the stop 12 thus ensure that the dispenser flap 8 always and reliably swings down to the same extent, regardless of how many tablets 7 are on it when the container tube 2 has fallen.

In Figure 10, finally, the same situation as shown in Figure 9, but in a perspective view obliquely from below. The inner edge of the lower part 3 is slightly raised in the area of the material bridges 9 of the dispenser tab 8, so that the rear edge of the rib 11 finds a stop there. Instead of two material bridges, there can also be a single one, which then extends over part of the rear broad side of the dispenser flap or even over its entire width extends. As already mentioned, the dispenser flap can also be designed to be pivotable in that it is designed as a separate part and is then fastened to the lower part of the closure by means of a hinge with bolts and bushing. However, the hinge then does not develop any restoring force and the dispenser tab must be pushed back into the original position with your finger each time. In addition, the hinge should be so smooth that a single tablet can still swing the dispenser tab down. If the hinge is not smooth enough, a handle, for example in the form of a small hump, can be formed on the outside of the dispenser strap. You can then grab the dispenser tab there and actively swivel it down so that a single tablet is dispensed.

It is clear that such a dispenser closure for effervescent tablets can also be designed as a thread closure, in that the lower closure part 3 has a thread on its outside and the associated cover 4 has a matching internal thread. In this case, the interface between the lower closure part 3 and the cover 4 can be provided with an all-round guarantee band. The lower closure part 3 can be fastened on the container tube 2 in various ways. This can be an internal thread that fits a corresponding external thread on the container tube 2. Or the lower closure part 3 is provided on its lower edge with a slightly inwardly projecting edge 13 which fits over a slight projection 14 on the outer edge of the container tube opening, as shown in FIG.

Claims

claims

1. effervescent tablet dispenser which can be mounted on the open end of a container tube (2), characterized in that it consists of an annular lower part (3) which can be mounted on the open end of a container tube (2), and an associated lid (4 ) for closing this ring-shaped lower part (3), a dispenser tab (8) extending diametrically in its clear opening in the lower part (3), this dispenser tab (8) being formed on the inner edge (10) of the lower part (3) so that it hangs it can be swung out in the axial direction with respect to the annular lower part (3).

2. effervescent tablet dispenser which can be mounted on the open end of a container tube (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that it is injection-molded in one piece, but from two different components, so that either the lower part 3 is made of a softer material than the lid 4 and that Film hinge 6 is made or conversely the lower part 3 made of a harder material than the lid 4 and the film hinge 6.

3. effervescent tablet dispenser which can be mounted on the open end of a container tube (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the lower part (3) the dispenser tab (8) extends diametrically in the clear opening in its tongue, this dispenser tube (8 ) is formed like a film hinge on the inner edge (10) of the lower part (3), so that it can be swung out in the axial direction by at least 10 ° with respect to the annular lower part (3).

4. effervescent tablet dispenser, which can be mounted on the open end of a container tube (2) according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that in the lower part (3) there is a separately manufactured dispenser flap (8) plate-like or tongue-shaped diametrically in its clear opening extends, wherein this dispenser pocket (8) can be clicked in via a hinge made of bolts and bushes on the inner edge (10) of the lower part (3), so that it can be pivoted out at least 10 ° in the axial direction with respect to the annular lower part (3).

5. effervescent tablet dispenser which can be mounted on the open end of a container tube (2) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the tongue-shaped and diametrically extending dispenser tab (8) in the lower part (3) has a width of has a 1/3 of the inner diameter of the lower part (8) and extends with its length over the entire inner diameter of the lower part (3).

6. effervescent tablet dispenser, which can be mounted on the open end of a container tube (2) according to one of claims 1 to 3 or 5, characterized in that the dispenser tab (8) ends at one end via two spaced-apart, thin, film-like material bridges on the inner edge (10) of the Lower part (3) is molded on so that it is molded on its longitudinal axis in a torsionally stable manner.

7. effervescent tablet dispenser, which can be mounted on the open end of a container tube (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dispenser tab (8) has at least one vertically on its standing rib (11) for its reinforcement, and that around Circumference of the inner wall of the lower part (3) is formed on wedge-shaped guide elements (15) for centering a tablet (7) falling through the lower part (3).

8. effervescent tablet dispenser, which can be mounted on the open end of a container tube (2) according to one of claims 1-3, 5 or 7, characterized in that the dispenser tab (8) via a thin, film-hinge-like material bridge on the inner edge (10) of the lower part (3) is molded over a Part or extends over the entire width of the dispenser flap, and that the dispenser flap (8) has at least one rib (11) standing vertically on its rib to reinforce it and the rear edge (12) of this rib (11) when it swings open in the lower part (3) forms a stop on the inner edge (10) of the lower part (3), which limits the pivoting movement.

9. effervescent tablet dispenser which can be mounted on the open end of a container tube (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the annular lower part (3) is equipped with an internal thread so that it can be screwed onto the open end of a container tube (2) or that it has an inwardly projecting edge, by means of which it can be slipped onto an associated container tube with an outwardly projecting bead.

10. effervescent tablet dispenser which can be mounted on the open end of a container tube (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lid (4) via a film hinge-like snap hinge (6) with the lower part (3) of the closure (1) is connected or that the cover (4) is a threaded cover (4) with an internal thread, which can be screwed onto a suitable external thread on the annular lower part (3).