WO2008145962A1 - Tablet dispenser - Google Patents
Tablet dispenser Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2008145962A1 WO2008145962A1 PCT/GB2008/001726 GB2008001726W WO2008145962A1 WO 2008145962 A1 WO2008145962 A1 WO 2008145962A1 GB 2008001726 W GB2008001726 W GB 2008001726W WO 2008145962 A1 WO2008145962 A1 WO 2008145962A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- dispenser
- arm
- tablet
- outlet
- tablets
- Prior art date
Links
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 9
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 10
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000000465 moulding Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 230000003442 weekly effect Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims 3
- 210000002105 tongue Anatomy 0.000 description 16
- -1 polyethylene Polymers 0.000 description 7
- 229920003266 Leaf® Polymers 0.000 description 6
- 239000004698 Polyethylene Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000004743 Polypropylene Substances 0.000 description 3
- 229920000573 polyethylene Polymers 0.000 description 3
- 229920001155 polypropylene Polymers 0.000 description 3
- 229920001903 high density polyethylene Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 239000004700 high-density polyethylene Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229920001684 low density polyethylene Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 239000004702 low-density polyethylene Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- VGGSQFUCUMXWEO-UHFFFAOYSA-N Ethene Chemical compound C=C VGGSQFUCUMXWEO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000004677 Nylon Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004676 acrylonitrile butadiene styrene Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004480 active ingredient Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000007844 bleaching agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003086 colorant Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920001577 copolymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000006260 foam Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000002347 injection Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007924 injection Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920001778 nylon Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 238000004806 packaging method and process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000004417 polycarbonate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920000515 polycarbonate Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920000642 polymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004800 polyvinyl chloride Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920000915 polyvinyl chloride Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 230000002265 prevention Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000004094 surface-active agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000009182 swimming Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D83/00—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents
- B65D83/04—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for dispensing annular, disc-shaped, or spherical or like small articles, e.g. tablets or pills
- B65D83/0409—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for dispensing annular, disc-shaped, or spherical or like small articles, e.g. tablets or pills the dispensing means being adapted for delivering one article, or a single dose, upon each actuation
- B65D83/0436—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for dispensing annular, disc-shaped, or spherical or like small articles, e.g. tablets or pills the dispensing means being adapted for delivering one article, or a single dose, upon each actuation the articles being dispensed by pinching action on a flexible tube
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D83/00—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents
- B65D83/04—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for dispensing annular, disc-shaped, or spherical or like small articles, e.g. tablets or pills
- B65D83/0409—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for dispensing annular, disc-shaped, or spherical or like small articles, e.g. tablets or pills the dispensing means being adapted for delivering one article, or a single dose, upon each actuation
-
- 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
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a dispenser for dispensing articles.
- the invention is particularly useful for dispensing articles such as tablets of material, more particularly disc-shaped and of moderate size, a few centimetres in diameter, but is also suitable for other shapes and dimensions.
- FR-A-268579 shows a dispenser in which disc shaped tablets are stacked flat, one on top of another.
- Diametrically opposed resilient support tongues support a lower, bottom most tablet and are withdrawn, to release the tablet from the dispenser, by pressing the dispenser in the transverse direction to deform the dispenser and move the tongues outward.
- two holding tongues are pressed on to the next, upper, tablet, to grip it.
- the support tongues move back and the holding tongues release the upper tablet to drop on to the support tongues.
- This arrangement requires a substantial footprint for the dispenser as the tablets are stored flat, and also applies pressure to the upper tablet to hold it in place while dispensing the lower tablet.
- tablets enter the dispenser mechanism side on, but otherwise the device is similar in operation to that of FR-A-2686579.
- the support tongues support the lower tablet at the side, and the upper tablet is squeezed at its flat faces.
- EP-A- 393573 is similar, but is for spherical tablets.
- US2006/0255058 describes a dispenser for spherical tablets.
- the dispenser has an oval cross-section outlet neck at the bottom of a chamber which is squeezed along its length to adopt a round shape which the tablet will drop through.
- Support nibs at an upper end of the chamber above the outlet are moved inward as the chamber is squeezed, to prevent an upstream tablet dropping into the chamber while a tablet is dispensed through the outlet.
- One aspect of our invention provides a dispenser comprising a container and a dispenser mechanism having a pivotable arm at an outlet of the dispenser.
- a lower end of the arm prevents an article passing through the dispenser outlet.
- the arm is pivoted to a second position, the lower end of the arm moves to release the article from the dispenser.
- an upper end of the arm moves to prevent an upstream article passing to the dispenser outlet.
- the arm upper end prevents passage of the article immediately upstream of the released article.
- the articles may rest one on another while in the container, so that downward movement of an article being dispensed allows downward movement of the successive articles, subject to any prevention by the arm upper end.
- the upper end of the arm may project into the path of the upstream article to prevent its downward movement to the dispenser outlet.
- the arm returns to the first position, the upper end releases the upstream article, for it to drop down to engage the lower end of the arm.
- the arm movement automatically ensures that the path to the container outlet is always blocked, ensuring that articles cannot be dispensed continuously.
- the arm movement allows only one article to be dispensed at a time.
- the arm may be biased to the first position.
- the arm is biased by a hinge formed integrally with the arm and a frame which supports the arm.
- the dispenser mechanism is integrally formed in a single moulding.
- Two arms may be provided.
- the arms may be diametrically opposed across the dispenser outlet.
- the frame may also carry a cap to close the dispenser outlet.
- the arm may extend adjacent a side wall of the container, the container being squeezed to cause the arm to pivot from the first position to the second position.
- the sleeve may be slit in a region adjacent the arms, to facilitate flexing of the sleeve when the container is squeezed.
- the articles to be dispensed may be disc shaped.
- the articles may be stacked edge on in the sleeve.
- the articles may be blocks, pucks or tablets of material.
- the articles may be lavatory cleansing blocks, tablets for bath water, for swimming pools or hot tubs and other water treatment tablets.
- the dispenser By providing an arm which pivots to release an article while retaining another one upstream, the dispenser need flex only in one plane and a reduced force can be used to reduce the risk of crushing the article. Also, by stacking disc shaped articles edge on, the dispenser footprint can be reduced.
- the arm may be formed on a side wall of the frame, the wall flexing to pivot the arm.
- the arm may be mounted on an integral hinge extending from a frame side wall.
- a dispenser containing from two to six lavatory cleansing blocks.
- Four blocks in particular, may be provided.
- Each block may have an expected in-use lifetime of about one week.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dispenser in accordance with the invention:
- Figure 2 is a perspective view of a dispenser mechanism of the dispenser of Figure 1;
- Figure 3 is a cross-section along the line IH-III of Figure 2, and
- Figure 4 is a cross-section through the dispenser of Figure 1 along line FV-IV, showing a tablet being dispensed.
- a dispenser 2 comprises a container 3 in the form of a cylindrical sleeve 4 having a generally rectangular cross-section and being formed of polyethylene or polypropylene material.
- Sleeve 4 may be of other material, such as cardboard, depending on the articles to be dispensed.
- the articles 6 being dispensed are toilet cleansing blocks or tablets which are disc shaped, of circular plan view and typically between 3 and 5 cm. in diameter and 1 to 2 cm. thick.
- the blocks may be formulated of various active ingredients such as surfactants, bleach and colourant and wrapped in a water soluble covering. Other types and size of article may be dispensed.
- Sleeve 4 is closed at its upper end 4a by a flap 8 as well known in the art of packaging.
- a dispenser mechanism 10 which is integrally moulded as a single moulding of polypropylene or polyethylene material, for example, closes the bottom end 4b of the sleeve 4.
- polymers may be used as well as polypropylene and polyethylene, for example, polycarbonate, nylon, polyvinylchloride, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), high density and low density polyethylene (HDPE, LDPE), or co-polymers thereof, which can be injection moulded and provide suitable flexibility at the pivot region as described hereinafter.
- ABS acrylonitrile butadiene styrene
- HDPE high density and low density polyethylene
- LDPE low density polyethylene
- Dispenser mechanism 10 comprises a generally rectangular frame 12 which defines a dispenser outlet 15 and is closed at its lower edge 17 (i.e. distal of the sleeve 4) by a lid or cap 14 which is pivotally attached along a rear edge of the frame 12 by an integral hinge. Cap 14 is held closed in the frame by nibs, not shown, as well known in the art. A lip 16 allows a user to open the cap 14.
- the sleeve 4 is mounted on the upper edge 18 of the frame 12.
- a peripheral wall 20 extends up from the edge 18 and sleeve 4 fits closely around the wall 20 and is held in place by nibs 22 which extend out from the wall 20 and through apertures 24 in the sleeve 4.
- Apertures 23 in the wall 20, below the nibs 22, are provided to facilitate moulding.
- peripheral wall 20 extends upwardly at its narrow ends 26, 28 to form vertical tongues 30.
- Tongues 30 can flex inwardly, as will be described herein after, and provide a resilient biasing force to bias arms 32 into a first position as shown in Figure 3.
- the arms 32 are mounted at the upper ends 30a of the tongues 30, and form a particular feature of this invention.
- Arms 32 each extend vertically, extending generally in the axial direction of the dispenser and container 3, and comprise leafs 38 and a cantilever 40 which attaches a leaf 38 at its mid region to the upper end 30a of a respective tongue 30.
- the cantilever 40 and the tongue 30 form a pivot for the arm 32.
- a fillet or rib 42 extends between an upper leaf part 38a of the arm 32 and the cantilever 40.
- a stiffening rib 44 is provided on an underside of the lower leaf part 38b.
- the sleeve 4 has slits 50 in side walls 4c near its edges 4d at the region of the fillets 42.
- a user squeezes the container sidewalls 4c together at the region of the slits 50 to press the sleeve sidewalls 4c inwards and so press on the fillets 42 to pivot the arms 32.
- Figures 1 to 3 show the dispenser mechanism with the arms 32 in their first position.
- a bottom tablet 6a rests on the lower leaf portions 38b of the arms 32, just clear of the cap 14 and the next, upper tablet 6b rests on the bottom tablet 6a.
- Figure 4 shows the operation of the dispensing mechanism when the arms 32 have been pivoted to their second position.
- a user squeezes together the side wall portions 4e which are between pairs of slits 50.
- this bears on the fillets 42 to urge the upper leg portions 38a inwards, causing the tongues 30 to bend and so the legs 32 pivot or tilt inwards, the lower leg portions 38b moved outwards and allow the lower block 6a to drop through the outlet 15, cap 14 being open.
- the upper block 6b, which was supported on the lower block 6a is prevented from falling through to the outlet 15 by the upper ends 38c of the legs 38.
- the lower arm portions 38b support the lower tablet 6a at a region below its diameter.
- the upper ends 38a of the arms 38 extend above the tablet diameter and in the first position are wider apart than the tablet diameter.
- the lower tablet 6a is not released until the distance between the upper ends 38c of the arms is less than the diameter of the succeeding tablet 6b.
- the second tablet 6b thus rests on the upper ends 38c of the arms 38.
- only one tablet can be dispensed at a time past the lower arm portions 38b.
- the upper ends 38c spring apart to allow a tablet 6b to drop down on to the lower arm portions 38b..
- cap 14 After dispensing a tablet, the user closes cap 14 and can store the dispenser for later use.
- the dispenser is particularly suited to use with blocks or tablets for water treatment which are to be dispensed at regular intervals by a user, for example lavatory cleansing blocks which are deposited in the toilet cistern.
- a user will dose the water with a new block at regular intervals, or when a block is used up.
- the end of life of an in-cistern block can be determined by a lack of colorant or foam in the toilet bowl after it is flushed.
- the blocks are typically covered with a water soluble wrapper, by using the dispenser of this invention, a user does not have to handle the blocks at all.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Public Health (AREA)
- Epidemiology (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Hydrology & Water Resources (AREA)
- Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
- Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)
- Closures For Containers (AREA)
Abstract
A dispenser (2) has an arm (32) at an outlet of the dispenser. The arm (32) is pivotable between a first position in which a lower end (38b) of the arm prevents an article (6a) passing through the dispenser outlet and a second position in which the lower end (38b) of the arm moves to release the article (6a) from the dispenser and an upper end (38a) of the arm moves to prevent an upstream tablet (6b) passing to the dispenser outlet.
Description
Tablet Dispenser
The present invention relates to a dispenser for dispensing articles. The invention is particularly useful for dispensing articles such as tablets of material, more particularly disc-shaped and of moderate size, a few centimetres in diameter, but is also suitable for other shapes and dimensions.
FR-A-268579 shows a dispenser in which disc shaped tablets are stacked flat, one on top of another. Diametrically opposed resilient support tongues support a lower, bottom most tablet and are withdrawn, to release the tablet from the dispenser, by pressing the dispenser in the transverse direction to deform the dispenser and move the tongues outward. As the dispenser is pressed, two holding tongues are pressed on to the next, upper, tablet, to grip it. When the dispenser is released, the support tongues move back and the holding tongues release the upper tablet to drop on to the support tongues.
This arrangement requires a substantial footprint for the dispenser as the tablets are stored flat, and also applies pressure to the upper tablet to hold it in place while dispensing the lower tablet.
In WO 00/68109, tablets enter the dispenser mechanism side on, but otherwise the device is similar in operation to that of FR-A-2686579. The support tongues support the lower tablet at the side, and the upper tablet is squeezed at its flat faces. EP-A- 393573 is similar, but is for spherical tablets.
US2006/0255058 describes a dispenser for spherical tablets. The dispenser has an oval cross-section outlet neck at the bottom of a chamber which is squeezed along its length to adopt a round shape which the tablet will drop through. Support nibs at an upper end of the chamber above the outlet are moved inward as the chamber is squeezed, to
prevent an upstream tablet dropping into the chamber while a tablet is dispensed through the outlet.
One aspect of our invention provides a dispenser comprising a container and a dispenser mechanism having a pivotable arm at an outlet of the dispenser. In a first position a lower end of the arm prevents an article passing through the dispenser outlet. When the arm is pivoted to a second position, the lower end of the arm moves to release the article from the dispenser. As the arm pivots to the second position, an upper end of the arm moves to prevent an upstream article passing to the dispenser outlet. Preferably the arm upper end prevents passage of the article immediately upstream of the released article. The articles may rest one on another while in the container, so that downward movement of an article being dispensed allows downward movement of the successive articles, subject to any prevention by the arm upper end.
In the second position of the arm, the upper end of the arm may project into the path of the upstream article to prevent its downward movement to the dispenser outlet. When the arm returns to the first position, the upper end releases the upstream article, for it to drop down to engage the lower end of the arm. Thus, the arm movement automatically ensures that the path to the container outlet is always blocked, ensuring that articles cannot be dispensed continuously. Preferably the arm movement allows only one article to be dispensed at a time.
The arm may be biased to the first position. Preferably the arm is biased by a hinge formed integrally with the arm and a frame which supports the arm.
Preferably the dispenser mechanism is integrally formed in a single moulding.
Two arms may be provided. The arms may be diametrically opposed across the dispenser outlet.
The frame may also carry a cap to close the dispenser outlet. The arm may extend adjacent a side wall of the container, the container being squeezed to cause the arm to
pivot from the first position to the second position. The sleeve may be slit in a region adjacent the arms, to facilitate flexing of the sleeve when the container is squeezed.
The articles to be dispensed may be disc shaped. The articles may be stacked edge on in the sleeve.
The articles may be blocks, pucks or tablets of material. In particular, the articles may be lavatory cleansing blocks, tablets for bath water, for swimming pools or hot tubs and other water treatment tablets.
By providing an arm which pivots to release an article while retaining another one upstream, the dispenser need flex only in one plane and a reduced force can be used to reduce the risk of crushing the article. Also, by stacking disc shaped articles edge on, the dispenser footprint can be reduced.
In one embodiment the arm may be formed on a side wall of the frame, the wall flexing to pivot the arm.
The arm may be mounted on an integral hinge extending from a frame side wall.
In one embodiment we provide a dispenser containing from two to six lavatory cleansing blocks. Four blocks, in particular, may be provided. Each block may have an expected in-use lifetime of about one week.
Other aspects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying claims.
The invention will be further described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a dispenser in accordance with the invention:
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a dispenser mechanism of the dispenser of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a cross-section along the line IH-III of Figure 2, and
Figure 4 is a cross-section through the dispenser of Figure 1 along line FV-IV, showing a tablet being dispensed.
Referring to Figure 1, a dispenser 2 comprises a container 3 in the form of a cylindrical sleeve 4 having a generally rectangular cross-section and being formed of polyethylene or polypropylene material. Sleeve 4 may be of other material, such as cardboard, depending on the articles to be dispensed. In this embodiment, the articles 6 being dispensed are toilet cleansing blocks or tablets which are disc shaped, of circular plan view and typically between 3 and 5 cm. in diameter and 1 to 2 cm. thick. As well known in the art of toilet cleansing blocks, the blocks may be formulated of various active ingredients such as surfactants, bleach and colourant and wrapped in a water soluble covering. Other types and size of article may be dispensed. The dimensions of the container and dispenser mechanism are tailored to the article being dispensed, as will become apparent hereinafter. Sleeve 4 is closed at its upper end 4a by a flap 8 as well known in the art of packaging. A dispenser mechanism 10 which is integrally moulded as a single moulding of polypropylene or polyethylene material, for example, closes the bottom end 4b of the sleeve 4. Various polymers may be used as well as polypropylene and polyethylene, for example, polycarbonate, nylon, polyvinylchloride, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), high density and low density polyethylene (HDPE, LDPE), or co-polymers thereof, which can be injection moulded and provide suitable flexibility at the pivot region as described hereinafter..
Dispenser mechanism 10 comprises a generally rectangular frame 12 which defines a dispenser outlet 15 and is closed at its lower edge 17 (i.e. distal of the sleeve 4) by a lid or cap 14 which is pivotally attached along a rear edge of the frame 12 by an integral hinge. Cap 14 is held closed in the frame by nibs, not shown, as well known in the art. A lip 16 allows a user to open the cap 14.
The sleeve 4 is mounted on the upper edge 18 of the frame 12. A peripheral wall 20 extends up from the edge 18 and sleeve 4 fits closely around the wall 20 and is held in
place by nibs 22 which extend out from the wall 20 and through apertures 24 in the sleeve 4. Apertures 23 in the wall 20, below the nibs 22, are provided to facilitate moulding.
Referring in particular to Figures 2 and 3, peripheral wall 20 extends upwardly at its narrow ends 26, 28 to form vertical tongues 30. Tongues 30 can flex inwardly, as will be described herein after, and provide a resilient biasing force to bias arms 32 into a first position as shown in Figure 3. The arms 32 are mounted at the upper ends 30a of the tongues 30, and form a particular feature of this invention. Arms 32 each extend vertically, extending generally in the axial direction of the dispenser and container 3, and comprise leafs 38 and a cantilever 40 which attaches a leaf 38 at its mid region to the upper end 30a of a respective tongue 30. The cantilever 40 and the tongue 30 form a pivot for the arm 32. A fillet or rib 42 extends between an upper leaf part 38a of the arm 32 and the cantilever 40. A stiffening rib 44 is provided on an underside of the lower leaf part 38b.
Referring to Figure 3, when an inward force is applied by a user to the fillets 42, in the direction of arrow A, the arms 32 will pivot as the tongues 30 are forced to flex inwards and there is some flexing also at the junction of the cantilever 40 and the upper end 30a of the tongue, as shown in Figure 4.
Referring back to Figure 1 , the sleeve 4 has slits 50 in side walls 4c near its edges 4d at the region of the fillets 42. A user squeezes the container sidewalls 4c together at the region of the slits 50 to press the sleeve sidewalls 4c inwards and so press on the fillets 42 to pivot the arms 32.
Figures 1 to 3 show the dispenser mechanism with the arms 32 in their first position. A bottom tablet 6a rests on the lower leaf portions 38b of the arms 32, just clear of the cap 14 and the next, upper tablet 6b rests on the bottom tablet 6a. Figure 4, shows the operation of the dispensing mechanism when the arms 32 have been pivoted to their second position. A user squeezes together the side wall portions 4e which are between pairs of slits 50. In turn, this bears on the fillets 42 to urge the upper leg portions 38a inwards, causing the tongues 30 to bend and so the legs 32 pivot or tilt inwards, the
lower leg portions 38b moved outwards and allow the lower block 6a to drop through the outlet 15, cap 14 being open. The upper block 6b, which was supported on the lower block 6a is prevented from falling through to the outlet 15 by the upper ends 38c of the legs 38.
When the user releases the pressure on the fillets 42, the arms 38 spring back to the first position under the resilience or biasing force of the tongues 30 and the second tablet 6b drops between the upper arm edges 38c to rest on the lower arm leafs 38b, as with tablet 6a in Figure 3.
The lower arm portions 38b support the lower tablet 6a at a region below its diameter. The upper ends 38a of the arms 38 extend above the tablet diameter and in the first position are wider apart than the tablet diameter. As the arms 38 move between the first and second positions, Figures 3 and 4, the lower tablet 6a is not released until the distance between the upper ends 38c of the arms is less than the diameter of the succeeding tablet 6b. The second tablet 6b thus rests on the upper ends 38c of the arms 38. Hence, only one tablet can be dispensed at a time past the lower arm portions 38b. When the arms are released, the upper ends 38c spring apart to allow a tablet 6b to drop down on to the lower arm portions 38b..
After dispensing a tablet, the user closes cap 14 and can store the dispenser for later use.
The dispenser is particularly suited to use with blocks or tablets for water treatment which are to be dispensed at regular intervals by a user, for example lavatory cleansing blocks which are deposited in the toilet cistern.
A user will dose the water with a new block at regular intervals, or when a block is used up. Typically, the end of life of an in-cistern block can be determined by a lack of colorant or foam in the toilet bowl after it is flushed. However, we have found that many users prefer to dose the cistern as part of their regular household cleaning routine, and so we provide a dispenser which can be used to drop a toilet block into the cistern at weekly intervals. Although the blocks are typically covered with a water soluble
wrapper, by using the dispenser of this invention, a user does not have to handle the blocks at all.
Claims
1. A dispenser having an arm at an outlet of the dispenser, the arm being pivotable between a first position in which a lower end of the arm prevents an article passing through the dispenser outlet and a second position in which the lower end of the arm has moved to release the article from the dispenser and an upper end of the arm has moved to prevent an upstream article passing to the dispenser outlet.
2. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1, in which, in the second position of the arm, the upper end of the arm projects into the path of the upstream article.
3. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the arm is resiliency biased to the first position.
4. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 , 2 or 3, further comprising a cylindrical container.
5. A dispenser as claimed in claim 4, 5 or 6, in which the arm extends adjacent a side wall of the container.
6. A dispenser as claimed in claim 5, in which, the container wall is squeezable to cause the arm to pivot from the first position to the second position.
7. A dispenser as claimed in claim 6, in which the container wall has a slit in a region adjacent the arm.
8. A dispenser as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the arm is provided on a frame at an outlet of the dispenser.
9. A dispenser as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, in which the arm is integrally formed with the frame as a single moulding.
10. A dispenser as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, in which two arms are provided.
11. A dispenser as claimed in claim 10, in which the arms are diametrically opposed across the or an outlet of the dispenser.
12. A dispenser as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, in which the articles to be dispensed are disc shaped.
13. A dispenser as claimed in claim 12, in which the articles are be stacked edge on in the dispenser.
14. A dispenser as claimed in claim 12 or 13, in which the article is a tablet.
15. A dispenser as claimed in claim 14, in which the tablet is tablet of material for water treatment.
16. A dispenser as claimed in claim 15, in which the tablet is a lavatory cleansing block.
17. A dispenser as claimed in claim 14, 15 or 16, in which the dispenser contains from 2 to 6 tablets.
18. A dispenser as claimed in claim 17, in which the dispenser contains 4 tablets.
19. A method of water treatment comprising providing a dispenser as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 18 with a plurality of tablets contained in the dispenser, and actuating the arm or arms of the dispenser to dose a tablet into the water.
20. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the tablets are dispensed at weekly intervals.
21. A method as claimed in claim 19 or 20,wherein the tablets are lavatory cleansing blocks and the water is contained in a toilet cistern.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB0710112.4 | 2007-05-25 | ||
GB0710112.4A GB2449505B (en) | 2007-05-25 | 2007-05-25 | Tablet dispenser |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2008145962A1 true WO2008145962A1 (en) | 2008-12-04 |
Family
ID=38265397
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/GB2008/001726 WO2008145962A1 (en) | 2007-05-25 | 2008-05-20 | Tablet dispenser |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
GB (1) | GB2449505B (en) |
WO (1) | WO2008145962A1 (en) |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20150345123A1 (en) | 2014-05-27 | 2015-12-03 | As Ip Holdco, Llc | Sanitaryware cleaning system |
WO2017057518A1 (en) * | 2015-09-29 | 2017-04-06 | 公一 大塚 | Tablet case |
US10465366B2 (en) | 2014-05-27 | 2019-11-05 | As America, Inc. | Sanitaryware cleaning system |
USD914838S1 (en) | 2015-05-27 | 2021-03-30 | AS America Inc. | Cartridge |
JP2021122317A (en) * | 2020-01-31 | 2021-08-30 | 株式会社吉野工業所 | Tablet container |
US11105081B1 (en) | 2021-03-10 | 2021-08-31 | Photios Noutsis | Tablet dispenser for sanitizing a flush toilet |
Families Citing this family (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2464463B (en) * | 2008-10-14 | 2013-03-06 | Alan John Taylor | Sealed dispensing cap |
JP2015514045A (en) | 2012-03-20 | 2015-05-18 | シーエスピー テクノロジーズ,インコーポレイティド | Dispenser |
CA2890206C (en) * | 2012-12-04 | 2021-04-13 | Csp Technologies, Inc. | Dispenser |
US9975670B2 (en) | 2013-04-17 | 2018-05-22 | Csp Technologies, Inc. | Container with button release |
US9834341B2 (en) | 2013-06-19 | 2017-12-05 | Csp Technologies, Inc. | Cap and container assemblies |
US10961030B2 (en) | 2017-04-24 | 2021-03-30 | Csp Technologies, Inc. | Slidably openable child resistant container |
US10889416B2 (en) | 2017-04-24 | 2021-01-12 | Csp Technologies, Inc. | Child resistant container and method of opening same |
PL3587685T3 (en) * | 2018-06-26 | 2022-08-16 | Geberit International Ag | Carrier element for a cleaning element to be inserted in a flush tank |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2824667A (en) * | 1956-10-31 | 1958-02-25 | Harry E Barnett | Portable combination container and dispenser |
CH380300A (en) * | 1960-11-14 | 1964-07-31 | Luchetta Marco | Container with dispenser for tablets and pills |
US4653668A (en) * | 1980-11-10 | 1987-03-31 | Merck & Co., Inc. | Medicament dispensing container |
US20070000938A1 (en) * | 2005-04-26 | 2007-01-04 | Renaud Michel C | Tablet dispenser |
Family Cites Families (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE3027185A1 (en) * | 1980-07-18 | 1982-02-11 | Egon 5650 Solingen Eickenberg | Tablet container with dispensing opening - which is closed by tongue of spring arm, with prongs holding next tablet when arm pressed to release first one |
FR2494229A1 (en) * | 1980-11-14 | 1982-05-21 | Gay Louis | Pill dispensing package - includes lever shaped to block exit of trailing pills |
US5351858A (en) * | 1992-11-23 | 1994-10-04 | Log-Plastic Products | Tablet dispenser |
-
2007
- 2007-05-25 GB GB0710112.4A patent/GB2449505B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2008
- 2008-05-20 WO PCT/GB2008/001726 patent/WO2008145962A1/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2824667A (en) * | 1956-10-31 | 1958-02-25 | Harry E Barnett | Portable combination container and dispenser |
CH380300A (en) * | 1960-11-14 | 1964-07-31 | Luchetta Marco | Container with dispenser for tablets and pills |
US4653668A (en) * | 1980-11-10 | 1987-03-31 | Merck & Co., Inc. | Medicament dispensing container |
US20070000938A1 (en) * | 2005-04-26 | 2007-01-04 | Renaud Michel C | Tablet dispenser |
Cited By (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20150345123A1 (en) | 2014-05-27 | 2015-12-03 | As Ip Holdco, Llc | Sanitaryware cleaning system |
US10294643B2 (en) | 2014-05-27 | 2019-05-21 | As Ip Holdco, Llc | Sanitaryware cleaning system |
US10465366B2 (en) | 2014-05-27 | 2019-11-05 | As America, Inc. | Sanitaryware cleaning system |
USD914838S1 (en) | 2015-05-27 | 2021-03-30 | AS America Inc. | Cartridge |
WO2017057518A1 (en) * | 2015-09-29 | 2017-04-06 | 公一 大塚 | Tablet case |
JP2021122317A (en) * | 2020-01-31 | 2021-08-30 | 株式会社吉野工業所 | Tablet container |
JP7433706B2 (en) | 2020-01-31 | 2024-02-20 | 株式会社吉野工業所 | pill container |
US11105081B1 (en) | 2021-03-10 | 2021-08-31 | Photios Noutsis | Tablet dispenser for sanitizing a flush toilet |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB2449505B (en) | 2012-02-15 |
GB2449505A (en) | 2008-11-26 |
GB0710112D0 (en) | 2007-07-04 |
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