GB1601124A

GB1601124A - Space fillers

Info

Publication number: GB1601124A
Application number: GB3199277A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Johnsen and Jorgensen Plastics Ltd
Current assignee: Johnsen and Jorgensen Plastics Ltd
Priority date: 1977-07-29
Filing date: 1977-07-29
Publication date: 1981-10-28
Also published as: BE892794Q

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO SPACE FILLERS (71) We, JOHNSEN & JORGENSEN (PLASTICS) LIMITED, a British Company, of Grinstead Road, London S.E.8. 5AB, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: In order to enable pills, tablets and other small articles to be sold in groups of predetermined differing numbers it is often necessary to provide several sizes of containers.

For example, pills may be sold in groups of 25, 50, and 100 and if three sizes of container are not used the pills will rattle about in the two smaller groups. To provide three sizes of container increases the cost and so it has been proposed to pack the containers with a padding such as expanded polyurethane but that sometimes discolours the pills.

It has also been proposed to use a packing of cotton wool but that is not wholly satisfactory because the cotton wool sometimes becomes trapped between the cap of the container and the container body thus forming a wick along which moisture can enter the container. It has also been proposed to provide an insert adapted to be used in vessels for tablets, pills or similar articles and adapted to be removably positioned over the contents of the vessel, the insert being made of resilient material and comprising a central body with arms extending therefrom of such length that the insert can be introduced through the mouth of the vessel only after bending of its arms against their resilient action. In practice however such an insert can be used only with a shouldered vessel so that the shoulder can be used to retain the insert in position while capping takes place.

An object of the present invention is to provide what we call a space filler to fill the space between the top of a group of small articles and the lid of a container.

In this specification reference to a platelike base member means a plate with an upper surface and a lower surface, the plate being substantially planar at least on its lower surface so that when in use the lower surface of the base member of the space filler can rest upon the top of the articles within a container.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a space filler designed to be disposed within a space in a filled container between the contents of the container and a closure cap for the container wherein before insertion into the container the space filler comprises a plate like base member as herein defined and a plurality of resilient spacerarms projecting upwardly from the base member so as to extend over a part of the upper surface of the base member while being spaced therefrom, whereby when in use the lower surface of the base member rests upon the contents of the container and the arms make contact with an inner surface of the closure cap of the container so that the space filler minimises unwanted movement of the contents of the container.

This aspect of the invention includes a space filler designed to be disposed within a space in a filled container between the contents of the container and a closure cap for the container wherein before insertion into the container the space filler comprises a plate-like base member as herein defined and a plurality of resilient spacer arms projecting upwardly and inwardly from the outer periphery of the base member so as to extend over a part of the upper surface of the base member while being spaced therefrom, whereby when in use the lower surface of the base member rests upon the contents of the container and the arms make contact with an inner surface of the closure cap of the container so that the space filler mirnlnises unwanted movement of the contents of the container.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a container comprising a body with a top end and a bottom end, the body being closed at the bottom end and open at the top end to receive a group of articles, a container closure to close the open end of the container and a space filler separate from the container body and from the closure for disposal between the top of the group of articles and the closure when the container has been filled wherein before insertion into the container the space filler has a plate like base member as herein defined and a plurality of resilient spacer arms projecting from the upper surface of the base member to extend over a part of the upper surface of the base member to extend over a part of the upper surface of the base member while being spaced therefrom so as to be compressed when in use between the closure and the base member when the closure is in position on the container.

The invention also includes a container comprising a body with a top end and a bottom end, the body being permanently closed at the bottom end and open at the top end and containing a group of articles, a removable container closure closing the open end of the container and a space filler separate from the container body and from the closure disposed between the top of the group of articles and the closure wherein before insertion into the container the filler has a plate4ike base member as herein defined and a plurality of resilient spacer arms projecting from the upper surface of the base member so as to extend over a part of the upper surface of the base member while being spaced therefrom and when in use being compressed between the base member and the closure.

In this way any free space between the articles and the closure of the container is taken up by the space filler and the articles do not rattle when the container is moved.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood reference is now directed to the accompanying drawings, given by way of example in which Figure 1 comprises a perspective view and a side elevation of the first embodiment, Figure 2 comprises a perspective view and side elevation of a second embodiment, Figure 3 comprises a perspective view and a side elevation of a third embodiment, Figure 4 comprises a perspective view and a sectional side elevation of a fourth embodiment, In the drawings, which illustrate a number of embodiments of the invention, the base member is indicated at 1 and a plurality of spacer arms are indicated at 2.

In Figure 1 two arms 2 are provided in the form of ridge members and in figure 2 there are four arms 2 connected to the base at its periphery and bent over towards the centre.

Figure 3 illustrates an arrangement more or less opposite to that shown in figure 2, the arms 2 being connected to the base near to the centre and being inclined upwardly and outwardly.

In figure 4 the arms 2 are connected to the underside of the base member 2 and are bent over towards the centre. In this embodiment the arms wili project outwardly until the filler is inserted into a container.

The preferred embodiment is that shown in Figure 2 which is easy to make and effective to use.

In operation, we provide a standard size of container. We feed into the container a predetermined number of articles forming a specified group. Then we insert the space filler on the top of the articles and close the lid or cap down into the open top of the container so that the arms 2 are compressed between the lid or cap and the base 1. In this way the bottom of the base 1 can rest on the top of the contents of the container and the top of the arms is in contact with the underside of the cap.

The filler may be made of any suitable material, preferably a substantially inert plastics material such as polyethylene or between still polypropylene which tends to retain its 'spring' very well.

In constructions such as that illustrated in Figure 4 the arms are preferably not stamped out of the plastics base, the slots or holes in the base below the arms being simply aids to manufacture. However if desired it may be possible to stamp out the arms where a suitable material is used.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A space filler designed to be disposed within a space in a filled container between the contents of the container and a closure cap for the container wherein before insertion into the container the space filler comprises a plate-like base member as herein defined and a plurality of resilient spacer arms projecting upwardly from the base member so as to extend over a part of the upper surface of the base member while being spaced therefrom, whereby when in use the lower surface of the base member rests upon the contents of the container and the arms make contact with an inner surface of the closure cap of the container so that the space filler minimises unwanted movement of the contents of the container.

2. A space filler designed to be disposed within a space in a filled container between the contents of the container and a closure cap for the container wherein before insertion into the container the space filler comprises a plate-like base member as herein defined and a plurality of resilient spacer arms projecting upwardly and inwardly from the outer periphery of the base member so as to extend over a part of the upper surface of the base member while being spaced therefrom, whereby when in use the lower surface of the base member rests upon the contents of the container and the arms make contact with an inner surface of the closure cap of the container so that the space filler minimises unwanted movement of the contents of the container.

3. A container comprising a body with a top end and a bottom end, the body being closed at the bottom end and open at the top end to receive a group of articles, a container closure to close the open end of the container and a space filler separate from the container body and from the closure for disposal between the top of the group of articles and the closure when the container has been filled wherein before insertion into the container the space filler has a plate-like base member as herein defined and a plurality of resilient spacer arms

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. to extend over a part of the upper surface of the base member while being spaced therefrom so as to be compressed when in use between the closure and the base member when the closure is in position on the container. The invention also includes a container comprising a body with a top end and a bottom end, the body being permanently closed at the bottom end and open at the top end and containing a group of articles, a removable container closure closing the open end of the container and a space filler separate from the container body and from the closure disposed between the top of the group of articles and the closure wherein before insertion into the container the filler has a plate4ike base member as herein defined and a plurality of resilient spacer arms projecting from the upper surface of the base member so as to extend over a part of the upper surface of the base member while being spaced therefrom and when in use being compressed between the base member and the closure. In this way any free space between the articles and the closure of the container is taken up by the space filler and the articles do not rattle when the container is moved. In order that the invention may be more clearly understood reference is now directed to the accompanying drawings, given by way of example in which Figure 1 comprises a perspective view and a side elevation of the first embodiment, Figure 2 comprises a perspective view and side elevation of a second embodiment, Figure 3 comprises a perspective view and a side elevation of a third embodiment, Figure 4 comprises a perspective view and a sectional side elevation of a fourth embodiment, In the drawings, which illustrate a number of embodiments of the invention, the base member is indicated at 1 and a plurality of spacer arms are indicated at 2. In Figure 1 two arms 2 are provided in the form of ridge members and in figure 2 there are four arms 2 connected to the base at its periphery and bent over towards the centre. Figure 3 illustrates an arrangement more or less opposite to that shown in figure 2, the arms 2 being connected to the base near to the centre and being inclined upwardly and outwardly. In figure 4 the arms 2 are connected to the underside of the base member 2 and are bent over towards the centre. In this embodiment the arms wili project outwardly until the filler is inserted into a container. The preferred embodiment is that shown in Figure 2 which is easy to make and effective to use. In operation, we provide a standard size of container. We feed into the container a predetermined number of articles forming a specified group. Then we insert the space filler on the top of the articles and close the lid or cap down into the open top of the container so that the arms 2 are compressed between the lid or cap and the base 1. In this way the bottom of the base 1 can rest on the top of the contents of the container and the top of the arms is in contact with the underside of the cap. The filler may be made of any suitable material, preferably a substantially inert plastics material such as polyethylene or between still polypropylene which tends to retain its 'spring' very well. In constructions such as that illustrated in Figure 4 the arms are preferably not stamped out of the plastics base, the slots or holes in the base below the arms being simply aids to manufacture. However if desired it may be possible to stamp out the arms where a suitable material is used. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A space filler designed to be disposed within a space in a filled container between the contents of the container and a closure cap for the container wherein before insertion into the container the space filler comprises a plate-like base member as herein defined and a plurality of resilient spacer arms projecting upwardly from the base member so as to extend over a part of the upper surface of the base member while being spaced therefrom, whereby when in use the lower surface of the base member rests upon the contents of the container and the arms make contact with an inner surface of the closure cap of the container so that the space filler minimises unwanted movement of the contents of the container.

projecting from the upper surface of the base member so as to extend over a part of the upper surface of the base member while being spaced therefrom so as to be compressed when in use between the closure and the base member when the closure is in position on the container.

4. A container comprising a body with a top end and a bottom end, the body being permanently closed at the bottom end and open at the top end and containing a group of articles, a removable container closure closing the open end of the container and a space filler separate from the container body and from the closure disposed between the top of the group of articles and the closure wherein before insertion into the container the filler has a plate4ike base member as herein defined and a plurality of resilient spacer arms projecting from the upper surface of the base member so as to extend over a part of the upper surface of the base member while being spaced therefrom and when in use being compressed between the base member and the closure.

5. A container according to claim 3 or 4 wherein the filler has two arms in the form of ridge members.

6. A container according to claim 3 or 4 wherein the filler has four arms connected to the base member at its periphery and bent over towards the centre.

7. A container according to claim 3 or 4 wherein the filler has arms connected to the base member near to its centre and included upwardly and outwardly.

8. A container as set forth in any of claims 5 to 7 wherein the filler is made of polypropylene, polyethylene, or any suitable resilient or deformable material.

9. A container according to claim 3 or 4 including a space filler substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any of the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings.