GB2466248A

GB2466248A - A dispenser

Info

Publication number: GB2466248A
Application number: GB0822878A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bernard O'farrell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-12-16
Filing date: 2008-12-16
Publication date: 2010-06-23
Also published as: GB0822878D0

Abstract

A dispenser 10 is disclosed for dispensing contents of a sachet or pouch. The dispenser comprises a support 12 for supporting a sachet, and a frame 13. The frame 13 is moveably mounted with respect to the support 12 and arranged to move preferably by pivoting about a hinge, between an open configuration in which the dispenser 10 can receive a sachet and a closed configuration in which the sachet is clamped to the support 12. The dispenser 10 further comprises means 21 which extends across the support 12 and which is arranged to move along the support 12 to compress a sachet onto the support 12, thereby dispensing the contents of the sachet. The means 21 is preferably a roller which maybe covered by a shroud 26. Serrations 20 may be present to aid the user in opening the sachet.

Description

Dispenser The present invention relates to a dispenser and particularly, but not exclusively to a dispenser for dispensing food from sachets.

When removing the contents, for example cat food, of a sachet it is necessary to first open the sachet and this is typically achieved by cutting or ripping a side edge of the sachet. This often results in some of the contents passing over a person's hands.

The contents are subsequently removed by squeezing the sachet to force the contents to move out from the open edge. However, during this process, it is often difficult to completely remove the contents.

I have now devised a dispenser which alleviates the above-mentioned problems.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a dispenser for dispensing contents of a sachet, -the dispenser comprising a support for supporting a sachet and a fra me, the frame being moveably mounted with respect to the support and arranged to move between an open configuration in which the dispenser can receive a sachet and a closed configuration in which the sachet is clamped to the support, the dispenser further comprising means which extends across the support and which is arranged to move along the support to compress a sachet onto the support.

As the means which extends across the support, moves along the support, the contents within the sachet become squeezed along the sachet to be dispensed through an open end thereof.

Preferably, the means which extends across the support comprises a roller which is arranged to roll over the support.

The roller is preferably mounted upon an axle that extends to opposite sides of the frame.

Preferably, the dispenser further comprises a shroud which partially shrouds the roller and which enables a user to move the roller along the frame by pushing and pulling the shroud.

Preferably, the shroud is pivotally coupled to the axle of the roller.

The frame preferably comprises a first arm and a second arm that are coupled together at a proximal end thereof by a cross-member which extends between the first and second arm. Each arm preferably comprises a channel formed therein for separately receiving one end of the axle, such that the movement of the roller is confined to movement along the frame between the first and second arms. Preferably, the channel extends substantially along the length of the respective arm.

Preferably, the roller extends substantially perpendicularly to the first and second arms.

Preferably, the support comprises a base, and a first and second wall which extend substantially transversely to a plane of the base, from a position that is along opposite sides of the base.

The frame is preferably pivotally coupled to the support, between the first and second walls of the support at a proximal side thereof, such that the first and second arms of the frame can pivot with respect to the support to open and close the dispenser.

Preferably, the distal end of the support comprises a plurality of teeth formed in the base, which extend between the first and second walls, for cutting a sachet.

Preferably, the first and second arms are arranged to extend along opposite sides of the support, between the first and second walls of the support.

Preferably, the distal end of the first and second arms of the frame comprise a tab that is arranged to locate within a recess disposed on the first and second walls at the distal end of the support, to clamp the frame to the support. Upon placing a sachet on the support and pivoting the first and second arms onto the base of the support, the sides of the sachet thus become clamped between the arms and the base.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2a is a perspective view of the dispenser of figure 1 in an open configuration for receiving a sachet; Figure 2b is a perspective view of the dispenser of figure 1 illustrating the positioning of a sachet; Figure 2c is a schematic illustration of the dispenser of figure 1 in a closed configuration, with a sachet suitably clamped therein; Figure 3 is a schematic illustration of the dispenser of figure 1 illustrating the cutting of a sachet using the serrated edge; and, Figure 4 is a schematic illustration of the dispenser of figure 1 during use.

Referring to figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown a dispenser 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, for dispensing the contents (not shown) of a sachet 11. The dispenser 10 comprises a support 12 for holding a sachet 11 and a frame 13 pivotally coupled to the support 12.

The support 12 comprises a substantially planar, rectangular base 14 and a first 15a and second wall 15b upstanding from the base 14. The first and second wall 15a, 15b separately extend along opposite longitudinal sides of the base 14, substantially along the length of the base 14.

The frame 13 comprises a first and second arm 1 6a, 1 6b rigidly coupled together via a cross-member 17, at a proximal end of the first and second arms 16a, 16b. The cross-member 17 extends between the first and second arm 16a, 16b and is rigidly secured thereto. The cross-member 17 is pivotally coupled to a proximal end of the first and second walls 15a, lSb of the support 12 such that the first and second arms 16a, 16b can pivot with respect to the support 12 between an open configuration, in which the first and second arms 16a, 16b extend at an acute angle with respect to the base 14, and a closed configuration in which the first and second arms 16a, 16b extend between the first and second walls 1 5a, 1 5b of the support 12, substantially parallel to the base 14 of the support 12.

The first and second arms iSa, 16b are sized such that when the dispenser 10 is arranged in the closed configuration, the distal end of the first and second arms 16a, 16b separately extend substantially adjacent a distal end of the first and second walls 15a, 15b, respectively, of the support 12. The distal end of the first and second arm ISa, 16b comprise a projection 18 that is turned outwardly to engage around the distal end of the respective wall 1 5a, 1 5b of the support 12. The projections 18 engage with a recess 19 formed within the end of the first and second walls 15a, 15b to secure the arms iSa, 16b adjacent the base 14 of the support 12.

The base 14 of the support 12 comprises a plurality of teeth 20 formed at the side of the base 14 that is opposite the side to which the frame 13 is pivotally coupled. The teeth 20 form a serrated edge to the base 14 for cutting open a sachet 11 whose contents (not shown) are to be removed.

The dispenser 10 further comprises a roller 21 which extends substantially across a width of the base 14, substantially perpendicular to the first and second arm 16a, 16b.

The roller 21 is rotatably coupled to the frame 13 by an axle 22, which passes along a central axis of the roller 21 and which extends into a channel 23 formed within the first and second arm 16a, 16b. As a result, the movement of the roller 21 is restricted to movement along the frame 13 between the first and second frame arms 16a, 16b.

Each channel 23 extends substantially along the length of the respective arm 1 6a, 1 6b such that the roller 21 can move substantially along the full length of the base 14. The radius of the roller 21 is chosen such that the surface 24 of the roller 21 extends in close proximity with an upper surface 25 of the base 14 when the dispenser 10 is arranged in the closed configuration.

The roller 21 is partially surrounded by a shroud 26 which comprises an arcuate cover 27 that extends through an angular range of approximate'y 60° around the outer surface 24 of the roller 21. The shroud 26 further comprises a pair of side walls 28 which hold the cover 27 in spaced relation to the roller 21 and which separately extend from opposite sides of the cover 27 to the axle 22, either side of the roller 21. The axle 22 is arranged to pass through an aperture (not shown) formed within each side vvall 28 of the shroud 26, such that the cover 27 can rotate upon the axle 22.

During use, the roller 21 is moved to the proximal end of the dispenser 10, substantially adjacent the cross-member 17, by pushing against the shroud 26 to cause the roller axle 22 to move within the channels 23 of the first and second arm 16a, 16b. With the roller 21 suitably positioned at the proximal end, the frame 1 3 is pivoted away from the support 12 as shown in figure 2a and a sachet 11, whose contents (not shown) are to be removed, is positioned upon the support 12 between the side walls 15a, 15b, as shown in figure 2b. The dispenser 10 is then closed by pivoting the frame 13 toward the support 12 such that the first and second arms 16a, 16b clamp opposite side edges of the sachet 11 to the base 14 of the support 12. In this configuration, the projections 18 formed at the distal end of the first and second arm 16a, 16b engage around the distal edge of the first and second walls 1 5a, 1 Sb of the support 12 and snap-locate' within the recess 19 formed therein. The end of the sachet 11 that extends over the serrated edge 20 of the base 14 is then forced downwardly over the edge to cut the sachet 11 and thus open the sachet 11, as shown in figure 3.

Referring to figure 4 of the drawings, the shroud 26 is then rotated to the other side of the roller 21 about the axle 22 to enable the roller 21 to be pushed along the sachet 11, over the base 14 of the support 12 toward the distal end of the support 12. The movement of the roller 21 is confined within the channels 23 formed in the first and second arm ISa, 16b of the frame 13, so that as the roller 21 is moved over the base 14 of the support 12, the sachet 11 becomes squeezed along the width of the sachet 11 between the roller 21 and the base 14. In this manner, the contents (not shown) of the sachet 11 become squeezed along the sachet 11 to the open side thereof and can be dispensed from the sachet 11 by moving the roller 21 to the distal end of the frame 13. Once the contents (not shown) have been removed, the projections 18 can then be urged from the recesses 19 in the side walls 15a, 15b and the frame 13 can be pivoted away from the support 12 to release the sachet 11 into a waste disposal bin (not

shown), for example.

From the foregoing therefore, it is evident that the dispenser of the present invention enables the contents of a sachet to be easily and completely removed therefrom, without coming into contact with a person's hands. /

Claims

Claims 1. A dispenser for dispensing contents of a sachet, the dispenser comprising a support for supporting a sachet and a frame, the frame being moveably mounted with respect to the support and arranged to move between an open configuration in which the dispenser can receive a sachet and a closed configuration in which the sachet is clamped to the support, the dispenser further comprising means which extends across the support and which is arranged to move along the support to compress a sachet onto the support.
2. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the means which extends across the support comprises a roller which is arranged to roll over the support.
3. A dispenser according to claim 2, wherein the roller is mounted upon an axle that extends to opposite sides of the frame.
4. A dispenser according to claim 3, further comprising a shroud which is pivotally coupled to the axle of the roller.
5. A dispenser according to claim 4, wherein the shroud partially shrouds the roller and enables a user to move the roller along the frame by pushing and pulling the shroud.
6. A dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein the frame comprises a first arm and a second arm that are coupled together at a proximal end thereof by a cross-member which extends between the first and second arm.
7. A dispenser according to claim 6 as appended to claim 3, wherein each arm comprises a channel formed therein for separately receiving one end of the axle, such that the movement of the roller is confined to movement along the frame between the * * * first and second arms. *S* *
S ****

* *. 8. A dispenser according to claim 7, wherein each channel extends substantially * S *S * along the length of the respective arm. * .5 * S 5** 0'
9. A dispenser according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the roller extends substantially perpendicularly to the first and second arms.
10. A dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein the support comprises a base, and a first and second wall which extend substantially transversely to a plane of the base, from a position that is along opposite sides of the base.
11. A dispenser according to claim 10 as appended to claim 6, wherein the frame is pivotally coupled to the support, between the first and second walls of the support at a proximal side thereof, such that the first and second arms of the frame can pivot with respect to the support to open and close the dispenser.
12. A dispenser according to any of claim 11, wherein the first and second arms are arranged to extend along opposite sides of the support, between the first and second walls of the support.
13. A dispenser according to any of claims 10 to 12, wherein a distal end of the support comprises a plurality of teeth formed in the base which extend between the first and second walls, for cutting a sachet.
14. A dispenser according to any of claims 10 to 13, wherein a distal end of the first and second arms of the frame comprise a tab that is arranged to locate within a recess disposed on the first and second walls at a distal end of the support, to clamp the frame to the support.S * .1 1 * * **S * ** * * * * *� *S * S **S*