WO2015092684A1

WO2015092684A1 - Dispenser device for dishwasher products

Info

Publication number: WO2015092684A1
Application number: PCT/IB2014/066975
Authority: WO
Inventors: Cesarino Galassi
Original assignee: Packaging Imolese S.P.A.
Priority date: 2013-12-18
Filing date: 2014-12-16
Publication date: 2015-06-25
Also published as: ITBO20130691A1; EP3082557B1; EP3082557A1

Abstract

The dispenser device for dishwasher products comprises a container (2) for the products to be dispensed provided with a dispensing portion (6) and a closure member (9) of said dispensing portion (6) of the container (2). The closure member (9) is made of a water dispersible material to allow the opening of the dispensing portion (6) during the washing step. The container (2) shapes on its external surface at least one cavity (10) having longitudinal extension, predisposed to couple with a corresponding prong of the rack of the dishwasher to allow the insertion of the same container (2) into said rack.

Description

DISPENSER DEVICE FOR DISHWASHER PRODUCTS

Technical Field

The present invention concerns a dispenser device of dishwasher products and the like.

Background Art

It has been known the use of dispenser devices suitable to release active products inside a dishwasher. Such dispenser devices are substantially made up of a container which has a dispensing portion for the active product, provided with a closure element composed of water dispersible material, for example paraffin wax; the container is usually made of plastic material. The dispensing portion is generally made up of a cylindrical neck. In use, at a temperature higher than 60°C, the closure element disperses, thus allowing the outflow of the liquid present inside the container. A closure element of this kind is illustrated for example in EP1824755.

According to a known solution, the container has an elongated shape, for example of prismatic shape, to allow its housing inside the cutlery basket of the dishwasher, which is open at its top to allow the insertion of the cutlery from the top. Such shape makes it difficult to position the dispenser device, in particular in the dishwasher designs which do not have the cutlery basket predisposed for the upper insertion.

Patent application WO 2009/095638 discloses a dispenser device for dishwasher products in which the container has the shape of a flattened parallelepiped, having a suitably narrow width. The dispensing neck is arranged at a smaller face of the container. Such narrow extension allows to place the container between the prongs of the rack which typically houses the dishes inside the dishwasher. The narrow shape of the container is anyway a hindrance for an efficient dispensing of the products, during the washing cycle. Therefore, currently there exists the problem of providing a correct positioning of the dispenser device inside the dishwasher. In fact, it is required that the container of the active products is arranged in a position suitable for an efficient dispensing of the products, during the washing cycle, and at the same time in a steady and safe way, in order to prevent damages to the dishes or to the same dishwasher.

Disclosure

The task of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned problems, devising a dispenser device for dishwasher products suitable to be arranged in a tight and safe way inside the dishwasher, in a position fitted for an efficient dispensing of the products.

Within such task, it is a further scope of the present invention to provide a dispenser device for dishwasher products which enables a simple dispensing of the same products. [08] Another scope the present invention is to provide a dispenser device for dishwasher products of simple constructive and functional conception, provided with surely reliable functioning, versatile use, as well as relatively economic costs.

[09] The cited scopes are achieved according to the present invention by the dispenser device for dishwasher products according to claim 1 .

[10] According to a first aspect of the present invention, the dispenser device comprises a container of the products to be dispensed, shaping on its external surface at least one cavity having longitudinal extension, predisposed to couple with a corresponding prong of the rack of the dishwasher to allow the insertion of the same container into said rack.

[1 1 ] Such solution allows to arrange the container in a steady and safe way inside the dishwasher, by inserting it axially into the ordinary rack which holds the dishes inside the same dishwasher, being the container tightly held by the coupling of the longitudinal cavity with a corresponding prong of the rack.

[12] According to another aspect of the invention, the container is provided with a dispensing portion bearing a closure member composed of water dispersible material, to allow the opening of the same dispensing portion in the washing step.

[13] Consequently, a synergy is created with the steady and safe positioning of the container which ensures an efficient dispensing of the products.

[14] Preferably, the container shapes on the external surface a couple of longitudinal cavities, predisposed to couple with a corresponding couple of adjacent prongs of said rack of the dishwasher.

[15] Such feature allows a more steady positioning of the dispensing device into the rack of the dishwasher.

[16] Preferably, said longitudinal cavities are obtained on opposite lateral surfaces of the container so as to lie on a same plane, longitudinal to the same container.

[17] Preferably, said longitudinal cavities have their axes spaced from one another by a tract equal to the distance which exists between adjacent prongs of said rack.

[18] Preferably, said longitudinal cavities shape at one end respective open channels for the insertion of a corresponding prong of the rack.

[19] Preferably, said open ends of said longitudinal cavities come out on a surface of the container from which said dispensing portion extends.

[20] Preferably, at the end which is opposite to said open end, said longitudinal cavities are closed by a bottom wall, predisposed to abut, in use, the tip of the respective prong of the rack coupled with each cavity.

[21 ] Consequently, the container is suitably lifted, in use, with respect to the bottom of the rack, so as to ease the dispensing of the product. Preferably, said longitudinal cavities have longitudinal extension substantially parallel to the axis of said dispensing portion of the container.

In this way, during the use of the dispenser device with the container inserted into the rack of the dishwasher, the dispensing portion results to be turned downwards and consequently the dispensing of the product is enhanced.

The present invention concerns as well the use of a dispensing device for dishwasher products in which the container of the products to be dispensed is inserted into the rack of a dishwasher machine with the dispensing portion turned downwards and with at least one longitudinal cavity, shaped on its outer surface, coupled with a corresponding prong of the same rack.

Description of Drawings

Details of the invention shall be more apparent from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the dispenser device according to the invention, illustrated for indicative purposes in the attached drawings, wherein:

figure 1 shows a perspective view of the dispenser device for dishwasher products according to the invention;

figures 2 and 3 respectively show a side view and a plant view of the dispenser device.

Best Mode

With particular reference to such figures, the dispenser device for dishwasher products according to the present invention has been indicated in its entirely with 1 . The device 1 is substantially made up of a container 2 of the product to be dispensed provided with a dispensing portion 6 of the same product. The dispensing portion 6 is provided with a closure member 9 composed of a water dispersible material for allowing the opening of the same dispensing portion 6 in the washing step. Such dispersible material is made up for example of a paraffin wax. As an alternative, it is possible to provide a closure member made up of a material suitable to melt at the contact with the water inside the dishwasher, by the effect of the heat corresponding to the washing temperature.

In the shown case, the container 2 is provided with a first upper surface 3 and with a second base surface 4 opposed to the first surface 3. A plurality of lateral surfaces 5, suitably joined one with the adjacent others, extend between the first surface 3 and the second base surface 4. In practice, the container 2 has parallelepiped shape extending in vertical way.

The dispensing portion 6 of the container 2 is made up of a cylindrical neck which extends perpendicularly from the first surface 3. As it specified in the following, the neck 6 is preferably obtained in eccentric position on said first surface 3, so as to leave a free portion 7 on the same surface 3. Suitably, the free portion 7 is slightly inclined with respect to the surface 3, where the neck is arranged (see in particular figure 2). The neck 6 is suitably externally ribbed, to allow the screwing of a fitted closure lid, not represented. The container 2 shapes on the external surface at least one cavity 10 having longitudinal extension, suitable to couple with a corresponding prong of the rack of the dishwasher to allow the insertion of the same container 2 into said rack. Preferably, as it is shown, the container 2 has a couple of longitudinal cavities 10, obtained on opposite lateral surfaces 7 so as to lie on a same vertical plane. The axes of such longitudinal cavities 10 are spaced from one another by a tract equal to the distance which normally exists between adjacent prongs of the rack.

The longitudinal cavities 10 shape respective open channels at one end 10a which comes out on the free portion 7 of the first surface 3 of the container, for the insertion into the rack. Such channels have opposite inner surfaces 8 and have an outer rounded rim which, at the open end 10, shapes an inlet tract 1 1 suitable to ease the insertion onto the prongs of the rack. At the opposite end, the channels are closed by a bottom wall 12. As it is specified in the following, such bottom wall 12 of the cavity 1 0 is suitable to abut, in use, the tip of the prong of the rack coupled with the same cavity 10.

The functioning of the dispenser device for dishwasher products is easy to understand from the preceding description.

The container 2 of the products to be dispensed is inserted in suitable position into the rack of the dishwasher, with the neck 6 turned downwards, by inserting the longitudinal cavities 10 in a corresponding couple of adjacent prongs of the same rack. When the insertion has been completed, the tip of the prongs of the rack is in contact with the bottom wall 12 of the longitudinal cavities. In this way, the container 2, in use, is suitably lifted with respect to the bottom of the rack.

The container 2 of the products to be dispensed is therefore substantially aligned with the prongs of the rack, tightly held by the couple of the above mentioned prongs which engage the longitudinal cavities 10 shaped on the lateral opposite surfaces of the same container 2. The neck 6 of the container 2, turned downwards, is substantially aligned with the prongs of the rack.

When operating the dishwasher, the water enters into the washing chamber, reaching also the dispenser device inserted on the rack of the dishwasher. Consequently, at the contact with the water, the closure member 9, composed of water dispersible material, dissolves, thus causing the outflow of the product from the dispensing portion 6.

The dispenser device for dishwasher products according to the invention achieves the scope of allowing a safe and steady positioning inside the dishwasher, in a position suitable for an efficient dispensing of the products. Such a result is obtained thanks to the inventive idea of providing a container for the products to be dispensed shaping on its outer surface at least one cavity with longitudinal extension, suitable to couple with a corresponding prong of the rack of the dishwasher to allow the insertion of the same container inside said rack.

A feature of the invention is the fact that, in use, the container of the products to be dispensed is tightly mounted in a position such as to have the dispensing portion turned downwards, so as to ensure a quick dispensing of the whole dose of product container inside the same container.

Another advantage of the invention is the fact that the shape of the container does not have narrow portions which could hinder the dispensing of the product.

The dispenser device according to the present invention is susceptible of numerous modifications and variants according to the different exigencies. In particular, the shape of the container of the products to be dispensed can be different from the one illustrated for indicative purpose, for example cylindrical, or rounded. Moreover, it is possible to provide that the longitudinal cavities extend for the whole length of the container.

In practice, the embodiment of the invention, the materials used, as well as the shape and dimensions, may vary depending on the requirements.

Should the technical characteristics mentioned in each claim be followed by reference signs, such reference signs were included strictly with the aim of enhancing the understanding the claims and hence they shall not be deemed restrictive in any manner whatsoever on the scope of each element identified for exemplifying purposes by such reference signs.

Claims

1 . Dispenser device for dishwasher products, comprising

a container (2) for the products to be dispensed provided with a dispensing portion (6), and

a closure member (9) for said dispensing portion (6) of the container (2), made of water dispersible material for allowing the opening of the same dispensing portion (6) in the washing step,

characterized in that said container (2) shapes on its outer surface at least one cavity (10) having longitudinal extension, predisposed to couple with a corresponding prong of the rack of the dishwasher for allowing the engagement of the same container (2) with said rack.

2. Device according to claim 1 , characterized in that said container (2) shapes on its external surface a couple of longitudinal cavities (10), suitable to couple with a corresponding couple of adjacent prongs of said rack of the dishwasher.

3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that said longitudinal cavities (10) are made on opposite lateral surfaces (7) of said container (2) so as to lie on a same plane longitudinal with respect to the same container (2).

4. Device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that said longitudinal cavities (10) have their axes spaced from one another by a distance equal to the distance which exists between adjacent prongs of said rack.

5. Device according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that said at least one longitudinal cavity (10) shapes a channel open at one end (10a) for engaging with a corresponding prong of the rack.

6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that said open end (10a) of said longitudinal cavity (10) comes out on a surface (3) of said container (2) from which said dispensing portion (6) extends.

7. Device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that at the end which is opposite to said open end (10a), said longitudinal cavity (10) is closed by a bottom wall (12) suitable to abut, in use, the tip of the prong of the rack coupled with the same cavity (10).

8. Device according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that said dispensing portion (6) is made up of a cylindrical neck having an axis substantially longitudinal to said container (2) and having in its inside said closure member (9) of water dispersible material.

9. Device according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that said at least one cavity (10) has longitudinal extension substantially parallel to the axis of said dispensing portion (6).

10. Use of a device for dispensing dishwasher products according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that said container (2) is inserted into the rack of a dishwasher machine with the said dispensing portion (6) turned downwards and with the said at least one longitudinal cavity (10) coupling with a corresponding prong of the same rack.