WO1996006787A1

WO1996006787A1 - A dispenser for tablets

Info

Publication number: WO1996006787A1
Application number: PCT/US1995/009808
Authority: WO
Inventors: Anne Angele Jacqueline Guillou; Tanya Cecile Corneel Van Rompuy; Steven Frederick Kelsey
Original assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
Priority date: 1994-08-30
Filing date: 1995-08-03
Publication date: 1996-03-07
Also published as: EP0699595A1

Abstract

The present invention provides a tubular container (10) for holding tablets (25). Said tubular container (10) comprises a dispensing opening (14) on the side wall (11) of said tubular container (10). The location and the dimension of said dispensing opening (14) allows to dispense the contained tablets (25) one by one, for example into a dish or laundry machine dispenser or into a suitable dispensing device without the user touching said tablet (25) with its fingers.

Description

A dispenser for tablets

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a container and dispenser for tablets.

Background of the Invention

Detergent compositions formed in non particulate solids such as bars or tablets or briquettes are known in the art. In the following, the term "tablet" will refer to any form of non particulate solids. The tablet provides a number of advantages to both the consumer and the manufacturer. Indeed, said tablet prevents spillage of the detergent composition. Furthermore, said tablet eliminates the need for the user to estimate the dosage of detergent composition required and ensures that the correct dosage of detergent •composition per wash cycle is used by the user.

The tablets available on the market are generally sold packed in containers in a loose way or individually wrapped in bags. Therefore, the user needs if necessary to unwrap said tablet, to take a tablet between the fingers and eventually to put said tablet in the machine, perhaps also by means of a separate dispensing device, or directly in the liquid for hand washing. We found that small granules or particulate and/or fine dust of detergent are present on the tablets themselves or lying in the container. We also found that the granules or particulate and/or dust are created by the friction between said tablet and the other tablets and/or the inner side walls of the container or bag.

In this manner, the fingers get in contact with the dust and/or small particulate of detergent composition of the tablets. Small granules or particulate and/or fine dust of detergent may remain stuck on the fingers or in between the nails of the fingers during this handling. This is not very convenient for the user, since it is an unpleasant feeling. Indeed, after every handling the user may need to wash its hands to eliminate said detergent particulate or dust.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a packaging for tablets of a detergent composition which prevents the direct contact of said detergent with the fingers of the user.

Another object of the present invention, which is not only relevant for detergents, is to provide a packaging for tablets which allow for a controlled dispensing of the tablets, one by one. For instance, various pharmaceuticals are sold in tablet form usually contained in tubular containers. These containers have along the elongated direction an open end. The problem of these containers is that the user has to be careful during the dispensing action. Indeed, when the user inverts such a container to direct the tablets to the open end, not only one, but all tablets are able to fall out from said container without an appropriate control by the user. Therefore, it is another object of the present invention to provide a packaging, which enables and facilitates the dispensing of the contained tablets one by one from said packaging.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention provides a tubular container for tablets. Said container comprises a tubular side wall (11 ). The upper and lower end of said tubular side wall are closed with substantially parallel walls (12a) and (12b). Said tubular side wall comprises an opening (14). Said opening (14) allows a controlled passage inwards or outwards of said tubular container for at least one of said tablets.

Brief Description of the Figures

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the container according to the present invention. Figure 2 shows a side view of the container in another embodiment of the present invention

Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of a container of another embodiment of the present invention in its open position

Detailed Description of the Invention

In the following any form of non particulate solids such as bars or tablets or briquettes will be encompassed by the term "tablet" Said tablet may be made of a detergent composition for laundry or dish washing, or of a pharmaceutical composition Said tablet may have any shape Preferably, said solid, non particulate tablet is symmetrical to ensure the uniform dissolution of the tablet The dimension of said tablet are such to allow an easy handling depending from the specific use of said tablets For instance, the dimension of said tablet should allow to be placed in the dispenser of a laundry or dish washing machine or through the opening of a dispensing device

According to the present invention the detergent tablet may comprise any ingredients known in the art Such ingredients may include surfactants, suds suppressers, bleaches, chelants, builders, enzymes, fillers and perfumes For tablets made of a pharmaceutical composition, the ingredients can be selected from all those pharmaceutical ingredients able to be prepared in tablet form.

According to the present invention the detergent or pharmaceutical composition of the tablet is prepared in its granular or particulate form and then formed into tablets of the desired shape and size by any one of the methods known in the art Suitable methods include compression, extrusion and casting The detergent or pharmaceutical composition may be homogeneously distributed throughout the tablet or may comprise distinct layers of certain detergent or pharmaceutical ingredients.

The perspective view of Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the container according to the present invention. The container (10) is formed by a tubular side wall (11 ). The cross section of said tubular side wall may be of any shape, rounded or rectangular, corresponding to the shape of the detergent tablet. The dimension of said tubular container is also correspondent to the dimension and the number of tablets contained in one container (10). The dimension of said tablet defines the width (W) and length (L) of said tubular container. On the contrary, the number of tablets defines the height (H) of said tubular container. In the following the height (H) defines also the longitudinal direction of said tubular container. The upper and lower end in the longitudinal direction of said tubular container is closed by the corresponding walls (12a) and (12b). Said walls are substantially parallel to each other. Therefore, said side wall (11 ) together with said walls (12a) and (12b) define the hollow body (18) of said container

A dispensing opening (14) is foreseen in said tubular container. Said dispensing opening (14) is on the side wall, preferably in the proximity of the upper or lower end of said tubular container. The dimension of said dispensing opening corresponds to the width (w_τ) and height (h_τ) of at least one contained tablet. Preferably, width w_τ and height h_τ correspond to only one tablet. The position and the dimension of said dispensing opening ensures therefore that only one tablet at a time is in any case able to fall out from said container through said opening By increasing the height (h_τ) of said opening, two or more tablets in a time are able to be dispensed from said container

When said dispensing opening (14) is directed in the same direction of gravity, a tablet is able to fall outwards from the inside of said container through said opening Therefore, a tablet is introduced in an open dispenser of a dish or laundry washing machine by holding said dispensing opening of said tubular container right above said open dispenser To fill a dispensing device for dish or laundry washing machines, said dispensing device can be held right under said dispensing opening of said container Therefore the user has the capacity to deposit a tablet in any place without using fingers to extract a tablet from the inside of said container

In a preferred embodiment, at least the part of said side wall (11 ) opposite to said dispensing opening (14) is flexible By pressing on this part, the tablet inside said tubular container in front of said dispensing opening (14) is forced to the exterior of said tubular container itself This flexible part helps in an easy dispensing of said tablet without a direct contact with the fingers of the user The flexible part may be achieved by having a thinner side wall (11 ) or by using a more flexible material The flexible part may be located on said side wall (11) mainly in the region opposite said dispensing opening and at the same height as said dispensing opening Said side wall (11 ) may be also made flexible in its entirety Another possibility is shown in Figure 2 The part (15) is delimited by the dashed line (15a) and the cuts (15b) to (15d) Said part (15) is connected to said side wall (11 ) at (15a) Said part (15) is located on said side wall (11 ) opposite to said dispensing opening Said part (15) is rendered independent from the rest of said side wall (11 ) through said cuts (15b) to (15d). Indeed, said cuts are made completely through said side wall itself. In this manner, said part (15) can be partially inserted inside said tubular container thereby pushing a tablet through said dispensing opening to the exterior of said container.

As another preferred option, said dispensing opening (14) is closed by a cap to protect said tablets against moisture from the exterior of said container. Said cap may only cover the immediate region of said opening itself or the upper or lower end of said tubular container may be inserted into said cap whereby the cap covers said dispensing opening Said cap may also cover the complete side wall (11 ) together with said dispensing opening. Various closing system attaching said cap on said dispensing opening itself or on said tubular container are possible. As a preferred option, this attachment system between said tubular container and said cap may comprise a child resistant restraint means to limit the possibility of a child removing a tablet from said container and accidental ingestion of the tablet itself For example, caps which have to be at the same time pressed and screwed in order to detach them from a container may be used in the present invention.

As another preferred option, said tubular container (10) may further comprise a spring. Said spring may be preferably located on the inside of said container onto said wall (12a), i.e. at the opposite end in respect of said dispensing opening (14) This spring may help to force the contained tablets towards said dispensing opening. Furthermore, said spring may prevent that the contained tablets are moved during the transportation and the handling of said tubular container itself. The filling and refilling of said tubular container (10) can be made through said dispensing opening (14) itself In this case, any tablet is singularly inserted into said dispensing opening A completely inserted tablet is able to fall inside said hollow body (18) through the action of gravity by properly inverting or keeping inverted said container In order to improve this filling and refilling procedure, said side wall (11 ) of said container is preferably able to be opened along a longitudinal direction as illustrated in Figure 3 This can be accomplished by hinging two halves of a side wall (11 ) together along a longitudinal line (20) This allows a complete filling or refilling in only one operation The necessary quantity of tablets (25) can be inserted in one half of said side wall (11 ), thereafter closing the empty half over the other This also reduces the contact between the fingers and said tablets to a minimum As above for the cap, any closing system attaching the two halves of said side wall (11 ) together are possible Nevertheless, it is a preferable option for safety reasons to have between the two halves of said wall an attachment system comprising a child resistant restraint means

A child resistant restraint means may be given, for example, by at least a protrusion (16a) as shown in Figure 3 This protrusion is located on the outer surface of said walls (12a) and/or (12b) of one half of said side wall (11 ) The other half of said side wall comprises, correspondent to said protrusion of the other half, a hole (16a') on the wall (12a) and/or (12b) When closing said two halves together, this protrusion (16a) engages in the corresponding hole (16a') In this manner, said side wall (11 ) can be opened again in two halves, if said protrusion is previously pressed inside the corresponding hole to disengage said protrusion from said corresponding hole Suitable materials for said tubular container (10) and said cap are preferably chosen to have moisture barrier properties Plastic materials like high or low density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate or polyvmyl chloride are, for example, suitable plastic materials Also cardboard is another possible material for said container and said cap The moisture barrier properties of the cardboard may be increased by adding at least a moisture barrier layer, like for example polypropylene or others, to said cardboard through lamination or extrusion

Claims

A tubular container for tablets, said container comprising a tubular side wall (11 ), the upper and lower end of said tubular side wall are closed with substantially parallel walls (12a) and (12b) characterized in that said tubular side wall comprises an opening (14), said opening (14) allowing an passage inwards or outwards of said tubular container for at least one of said tablet

A tubular container according to claim 1 characterized in that at least a part of said side wall (11 ) opposed to said opening (14) is flexible

A tubular container according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that said opening (14) is closed by a reversibly detachable cap

A tubular container according to claim 3 characterized in that the attachment system between said cap and said tubular container comprises a child resistant restraint means

A tubular container according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that said tubular container is able to be opened along its longitudinal direction

A tubular container according to claim 5 characterized in that said tubular container is formed by two hinged halves of said side wall (11 )

7. A tubular container according to claim 5 or 6 characterized in that the attachment system between said two halves of said side wall (11 ) comprises a child resistant restraint means.

8. A tubular container according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that said tubular container comprises at least one tablet.