Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02237153 1998-05-08
WO 97/17571 PCT/US96J17671
A TABLET DISPENSER
Field of the invention
The present invention relates to a tablet dispenser, like, for example, a
dispenser of a solid cleaning andlor deodorant product in a toilet bowl or
of a cleaning product in an automatic dish washing machine or the like,
which enables the dissolution of these contained tablet(s) in a liquid
25 medium.
Background of the invention
30 Cleaning and/or deodorant con~positions fu,ll,ed in solids such as bars or
beads or tablets or blocks or briquettes are known in the art. In the following,the terrn "labl~,l" will refer to any forrn of particu'-te solids. The tablet provides
a number of adva..lages to both the consumer and the manufacturer. Indeed,
said tablet prevents spillage of the cleani.19 and/or deodorant co"~posilion.
35 Furthermore, said tablet elin-i-,a~es the need for the user to e~li,.,a~ tlhedosage of the cleaning and/or deodorant coro~,osition required and ensures
that the cor,ect dOSa!~e of cle~.r,i"g and/or deodor~nl co""~osition is used.
CA 022371~3 1998-0~-08
WO 97/1 7S71 PCT/US96/17671
For example, cleaning tablets are available on the market for dish washing.
These tablets are generally sold packed in containers in a loose way or
individually wrapped in bags. Separately, dispensing devices enabling to
contain and to dispense these tablets are also available. Indeed, once this
5 dispensing device containing a tablet is placed into an automatic dish
washing machine this dispensing device enables the dissolution of the tablet
in the wash liquor. Such a dispensing device is, for example, described in the
co-pending European patent application No. 95304115.9.
0 Further examples are cleaning and/or deodorant tablets contained in a
cage-like dispenser whereby this dispenser can be attached under the rim of
a toilet bowl or in the flushing water tank of the toilet bowl. These dispensersare placed under the rim of the toilet bowl in such a manner that tablets are
gradually dissolved with each flushing of the toilet. Such a dispenser for toilet
15 bowls is described, for example, in EP-A-166 374. Usually, these dispensers
require an additional secondary package. This secondary package ensures
that the cleaning and/or deodorant tablets contained in the dispensers are
protected from the exterior to avoid deterioration of the tablet before these
tablets are actually placed and used in the toilet bowl. Indeed, these cage-like20 dispensers alone as described in '374 do not protect the tablet from
deterioration during shipment and storing, i.e. when said dispenser is not in
use in the toilet bowl. Possible factors which deteriorate the tablet are, interalia, humidity, moisture, perfume loss and/or oxidation of various ingredients
of the tablet like perfumes.
The secondary package, however, has the following disadvantages. In the
manufacturing of the finished product the dispenser conlaini~,y the tablet and
the corresponding secondary package have to be produced independently
from each other. Indeed, usually two different machines and two different
30 materials are needed to make the dispenser containing the tablet and the
corresponding secondary package. Furthermore, the dispenser has to be put
into or asser,lbled into the secondary package. The additional manufacturing
steps to produce the secondary package and to place the dispenser into said
secondary package complicates the total manufacturing process, adding
35 costs to the package. Another disadvantage of the secondary package is that
this secondary package can not be usually reclosed once it has been
opened, e.g. when the user opens the secondary package by mistake, with
CA 02237153 1998-0~-08
WO 97/17~71 PCT/US96/17671
inevitable deterioration of the tablet. Indeed, the secondary package has
usually no reclosing features such that said dispenser can be stored again in
this secondary package. On the contrary, the secondary package loses its
function once it has been opened. This leads to a further disadvantage which
5 is that the secondary package limits the ability to pack together more than
one tablet dispenser in only one secondary package. Indeed, once the
secondary package is opened to extract one of the tablet dispensers, the
deterioration of the others is not prevented once the secondary package is
opened.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a tablet
dispenser without a secondary package, but nevertheless able to protect
the tablet from deterioration when the tablet dispenser is not in use.
Summary of the invention
The present invention is a tablet dispenser cG",pri:,ing means for holding
said tablet dispenser such that a tablet is gradually dissolved in a liquid
20 medium when said tablet dispenser is in use. Said means for holding said
tablet dispenser comprises means for protecting a tablet from deterioration
when said tablet dispenser is not in use.
In a further aspect of the present invention methods of making a tablet
25 dispenser are disclosed. These methods include the step of thermofo""ing a
tablet dispenser, or of cutting out a sheet such that a tablet dispenser can be
formed out of said sheet, or of wrapping a sheet around a tablet.
In an even further aspect of the present invention the use of a tablet
30 dispenser as a dispenser of a cleaning and/or deodorant product on toilet
bowl rim, or as a dispenser of a cleaning and/or perfume product in a toilet
flushing water tank, or as a dispenser of a cleaning product in an aululnalic
dish washing machine is disclosed.
Brief descrir~tion of the fiqures
CA 022371~3 1998-0~-08
WO 97/17571 PCT/US96/17671
Figure 1 a is a perspective front view of a closed tablet dispenser
according to the present invention. Figure 1 b illustrates the
opening/closing of the tablet dispenser of Figure 1a. Figure 1c is again a
perspective front view of the tablet dispenser of Figure 1 a in its open
5 position. Figure 1 d illustrates a side view of the tablet dispenser of Figure1 a placed under the rim of a toilet bowl shown in a cross sectional view.
Figure 2a is a perspective front view of another closed tablet dispenser
according to the present invention. Figure 2b is again a perspective front
10 view of the tablet dispenser of Figure 2a in its open position. Figure 2c
illustrates a side view of the tablet dispenser of Figure 2a placed under the
rim of a toilet bowl shown in a cross sectional view. Figure 2d shows the
tablet dispenser of Figure 2a with another attachment means.
15 Figures 3a to 3e represent a possible manufacturing process of the
tablet dispensers of Figures 1 and 2.
Figure 4a shows in a perspective front view the closed position of a
means for holding a tablet dispenser, as the tablet dispenser according to
20 the present invention. Figure 4b illustrates again in a perspective front
view the open position of the means for holding the tablet dispenser of
Figure 4a.
Figure 5a is a perspective front view of another closed tablet dispenser
25 according to the present invention. Figure 5b is a detailed front view of
the tablet dispenser of Figure 5a. Figures 5c to 5e illustrate in a side view
the opening of the tablet dispenser of Figure 5a. Figure 5f shows in a
perspective front view of the tablet dispenser of Figure 5a in its open
position.
Figures 6a to 6b represent a possible manufacturing process of the
tablet dispenser of Figures 5.
Figure 7a shows in a perspective front view the open position of a
35 means for holding a tablet dispenser, as the tablet dispenser according to
the present invention. Figure 7b illustrates in a side view the means for
holding the tablet dispenser of Figure 7a.
CA 022371~3 1998-0~-08
WO 97/17571 PCT/US96/17671
Figures 8a to 8c show in perspective front views and a side view
another tablet dispenser according to the present invention. Figures gd to
8f show in perspective front views and a side view another tablet
5 dispenser according to the present invention.
Figure 9a shows the plane view of a blank which can be formed into a
tablet dispenser. Figures 9b to 9f show in a perspective plan view the
various manufacturing steps to form a tablet dispenser from the blank of
10 Figure 9a.
Figure 10a shows the plane view of blank which can be formed into a
tablet dispenser according to the present invention. Figure 1 Ob shows in a
perspective front view the tablet dispenser formed from Figure 10a in its
5 closed position.
Figure 1 1 a shows the plane view of blank which can be formed into a
tablet dispenser. Figures 1 1 b to 1 Oe show in a perspective plan view the
various manufacturing steps to form a tablet dispenser from the blank of
20 Figure 1 1 a.
Figure 1 2a shows the plane view of blank which can be formed into a
tablet dispenser. Figure 12b showing a perspective front view the tablet
dispenser formed from the blank of Figure 1 2a.
Detailed descril)tion of the invention
The tablet dispenser (10) of Figure 1a is shown in a perspective front
view in its closed position. This tablet dispenser comprises a means for
30 holding said tablet dispenser ~11) and outer walls (12). Preferably, said
outer walls define a rectangularly shaped container (Fig. 1 b, 12'). Said
outer walls contain the tablet. One half of said outer walls further
comprise orifices ( 14), as shown in Figure 1 c. Said orifices allow the
dispensing of the dissolved part of the tablet. Said means for holding said
35 tablet dispenser lies upon one half of the outer walls. In this example, the
means for holding said tablet dispenser is a pre-bent clip (Fig. 1b, 11').
This clip corresponds to the shape and form of said outer wall, such l:hat
CA 022371~3 1998-0~-08
WO 97/17571 PCT/US96/17671
one half of outer walls is completely covered. In this manner, said orifices
(Fig. 1 c, 14) are covered by said clip. We found that said clip covering
said orifices provides product and/or perfume protection of said tablet
during shipment and storage without needing any additional secondary
5 package around said tablet dispenser. Therefore, this clip is also the
means for covering a tablet and which protects the tablet from the exterior
when said tablet dispenser is not in use.
At the same time, the dimensions of said clip ~11') should correspond
10 at least to the width of the supporting structure upon which said tablet
dispenser is applied. For example, if this tablet dispenser is used to
dissolve the tablet in a toilet bowl, said clip should correspond to the
width of the rim (100) of a toilet bowl such that said tablet dispenser is
firmly held onto the rim, as shown in Figure ld. Another possibility is to
15 use this - tablet dispenser in an automatic dish washing machine.
Consequently, the dimensions of said clip should correspond the rim of
the cutlery basket, for example. As a preferred option, said clip may be
sufficiently flexible such that said clip may be bent over the rim of a toilet
bowl or a cutlery basket, even if the dimensions of said clip are smaller
20 than the width of the rim when said clip is not flexed.
Preferably, said clip is U-shaped, as shown in Figure 1 b. One end of
said U-shaped clip is free (16), whereby the opposing end (18) is
connected to a transition piece (15). Preferably, the free end (16) of said
25 U-shaped clip is longer than the corresponding opposed end (18). Indeed,
the free end of said U-shaped clip goes over the rim of the supporting
structure upon which said ~ablet dispenser is applied. Figure ld represents
an example of a tablet dispenser held on the rim of a toilet bowl. We
found that a further elongated free end improves the holding of said tablet
30 dispenser.
Said transition piece (15) is a frame defining a free space (15'). Said
free space is such that said outer walls ( 1 2) are able to pass at least
partially through said free space between said frame. Said transition piece
35 is connected to said clip on one end and to said outer walls at the
opposed end. Both connections are hinged such that said clip and said end
walls can at least partially pivot around said frame. The end (18) of said
CA 022371~3 1998-0~-08
WO 97/17571 PCT/US96/17671
clip is connected to the part of said frame opposing the connection
between said frame and said outer walls. Preferably, the connection
between said transition piece and said outer walls is achieved at one
corner of a rectangularly shaped container defined by said outer walls. To
5 get this tablet dispenser in its closed position as shown in Figure 1 a
starting from the open position of Figure 1c, said frame is rotated so that
said frame passes over the outer walls, as shown in Figure 1b. Then the
clip is rotated in such a manner that said clip covers one half of said outer
walls reaching the position of Figure 1a. The reverse is done to achieve
10 again the open position of Figure 1c.
Preferably, said outer walls ( 1 2) may comprise orifices on any other
side or half of said outer walls. This improves the dissolution of the tablet.
Indeed, a liquid medium may enter from one half of said outer walls,
15 dissolve the tablet contained within said outer walls and the dissolved part
of said tablet exits from the opposed side with respect to the entered
liquid medium. For example, when said tablet dispenser is placed in a
toilet bowl, as shown in Figure 1d, orifices may be located towards the
inner wall of said rim to facilitate the entering of liquid medium of the
20 flushing into said outer walls. On the contrary, orifices located opposed to
the previous ones facilitate the exit of the dissolved parts of said tablet
contained within said outer walls.
If said outer walls ~12) comprise orifices on any other side of said outer
25 walls as mentioned before, said clip is not sufficient to cover all orifices of
said outer walls, since said orifices are located in opposite sides of said
outer walls. Therefore, said tablet dispenser may further comprise
additional means to said clip for covering and protecting the tablet from the
exterior to avoid deterioration of the tablet when said tablet dispenser is not in
30 use. This additional means may be a plastic sheet attached to the free end
(16) of said clip. This plastic sheet goes around said outer walls such that allthe remaining Grifices are covered protecting the tablet from the exterior. Saidplastic sheet may be provided with an adhesive part such that said sheet rnay
be adhesively attached on said clip or on said plastic sheet again once all the
35 orifices are covered. This plastic sheet is preferably made of an oxygen
barrier film, like, for example, polyethylene terephthalate (=PET) or ethylene
vinyl alcohol co-polymer (=EVOH). The adhesive part of said plastic sheet is
CA 022371~3 1998-0~-08
WO 97/17571 PCT/US96/17671
preferably made of giue, like, for example Wet-Surface Acrylic #1100 glue
supplied by 3M. As an option, said tablet dispenser may be further packaged
in a secondary package with or without the additional plastic sheet.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the means for holding said
tablet dispenser (11) is completely made of a completely flexible sheet (20),
as shown in Figure 2b. Furthermore, this completely flexible sheet acts also
as means for covering the tablet and protecting the tablet from deterioration
when said tablet dispenser is not in use. Indeed, when said plastic sheet is
wrapped around said outer walls (12), said plastic sheet can cover all the
orifices (14) placed around the axis defined by the attachment between said
flexible sheet and said outer walls. Figure 2a illustrates said tablet dispenserwhen said flexible sheet is wrapped all around said tablet dispenser, i.e.
Figure 2a represents the tablet dispenser in its closed position. The open
position is shown in Figure 2b and Figure 2c illustrates the tablet dispenser
attached over the rim (100) of a toilet bowl. This same tablet dispenser can be
applied also to a cutlery basket in an automatic dish washing machine as the
embodiment described before. We found that this means (11) for holding said
tablet dispenser due to the flexibility of the flexible sheet results in a tight fit
around any supporting structure upon which said tablet dispenser is
applied. Furthermore, said means for holding a tablet dispenser has the
advantage of fitting easily on a non uniform supporting structure, like the
rims of toilet bowls, which differ slightly in dimensions between each
other. As an option, said tablet dispenser may be further packaged in a
secondary package.
There are different options to attach said tablet dispenser with said flexible
sheet onto a structure. One possible way is illusllaled in Figures 2b and 2c
whereby the attacl""e,ll means is an adhesive part (2i). This adhesive part
adheres to the toilet bowl attaching said tablet dispenser under the rim of the
toilet bowl. Another possibility is shown in Figure 2d. In this example the
flexible sheet is engaged into a hook (22). Said hook is preferably attached to
the supporting structure, e.g. to the outside of the toilet rim using, for
example, adhesives or a mechanical suction clip. Said hook may have
diKerent forms, for example, as a hook, as shown in Figure 2e, or as a button
as illustrated in Figure 2f or a cut out hook as shown in Figure 29. Said
flexible sheet comprises, for example, a simple cut (23) through the thickness
CA 022371~3 1998-0~-08
WO 97/17571 PCT/US96/17671
of said flexible sheet corresponding to said hook such that said cut engages
said hook, and consequently holding said tablet dispenser in said toilet bowl.
The flexible sheet (20) may be preferably made of a plastic material. This
5 plastic material should be flexible enough such that said flexible sheet can
wrap around said tablet dispenser in its closed position and conform to the
shape of the rim of a supporting structure, like a toilet bowl when said tablet
dispenser hangs in said toilet bowl. Furthermore, said plastic material should
be resistant to a certain degree of mechanical stresses when holding the
10 tablet dispenser in said toilet bowl to avoid risks of breakings of the flexible
sheet, especially at the cut (23) and at the connection between said flexible
sheet and said outer walls. Preferred plastic materials for said flexible sheet
are PET and oriented PET, polypropylene (=PP), high density polyethylene
(=HDPE) and polyethylene with a layer of EVOH. We found that a layer or
15 liner of EVOH, for example, works as a barrier for moisture and perfume.
Materials other than EVOH which provide a barrier for moisture and perlFume
may be also chosen for the present invention. As a preferred option, said
outer walls are made of the same material as said flexible sheet. In this case,
the thickness of the material for said outer walls may be different from the
20 thickness of the material for said flexible sheet. Also biodegradable materials,
like, for e~ample, polyhydroxy butyrate (=PHB) and polyhydroxy butyrate
valerate (=PHBV), can be considered for this embodiment of the present
invention. This may allow to flush the whole tablet dispenser through the toiletonce the tablet has been completely dispensed. The means for holding said
25 tablet dispenser and the means for covering and protecting the tablet may be
also made of water soluble materials, like, for example, the following water
soll~le films Mowiol0 888 by Hoechst, KU HH40l by Soltech and Polyox~ by
Union Carbide.
30 The ~ lhod to manufacture the tablet dispenser made of plastic material
according to any of the preceding embodiments is described with the help of
Figures 3a to 3f. First step is to form a sheet of plastic (Fig. 3a, 30). In a
second step the outer walls (12) are formed as shells by thermofc,r",i"g (Fig.
3b). The thickness of the plastic sheet after thermoforming may be preferably
35 within a range of about 10 ~m to about 1 mm, more preferably within a range
of about 20 ~lm to about 500 ,um, most preferably within a range of abou~ 20
~m to about 150 ~Lm. In this manner parts of said plastic sheet are \lery
CA 022371~3 1998-0~-08
WO 97/17S71 PCTtUS96/17671
flexible where the thickness is smaller, whereas other parts of the same
plastic sheet are stiffer where the thickness is greater. In case said means forholding said tablet dispenser is a clip, as described, for example, in Figures
1a to 1d, then also said clip is formed by thermoforming or bending. On the
5 contrary, in case of the flexible sheet as a means for holding, as described in
Figures 2a to 2d, said flexible part of said plastic sheet extends away from thethermoforming manufacturing process. After the thermoforming, said orifices
(14) on said outer walls are cut off or stamped out (Fig. 3c) on a support (6).
When said tablet dispenser comprises a flexible sheet as the means for
0 holding, the cut (23) of said flexible sheet is also cut off or stamped out and
said flexible sheet is cut in the desired shape and length. We further found
that through specific cuttings even stiffer parts of said tablet dispenser can
provide flexibility to certain parts of said table dispenser. Now a tablet (5) of
detergent and/or perfume product is placed in one of the shells (Fig. 3d). The
15 product can be extruded in solid form and then placed in the shell. Another
possibility is to inject the product in a liquid form and place the product still in
liquid form in the shell where the product solidifies into the corresponding
shape of the shell. As a further step, the shells or the outer walls can now be
sealed together by heat sealing or with appropriate adhesives (Fig. 3e). When
20 said means for holding the tablet dispenser further comprises means for
covering and protecting the tablet from the exterior to avoid deterioraLion, then
the clip as described, for example in Figure 1a to 1d is pivoted over the outer
walls of said tablet dispenser closing the orifices. Otherwise, at least part ofsaid flexible sheet is wrapped around said shells or outer walls closing said
25 orifices.
Another improved means (30) for holding said tablet dispenser is shown in
Figures 4a and 4b. Figure 4a shows the improved means for holding said
tablet dispenser in the position when said means for holding said tablet
30 dispenser is not used. Said improved means for holding comprises a blank
(31) and a certain pattern of cuts (32) through the thickness of said blank. Thepattern of cuts on said blank are such that a clip (33) can be unfolded as
shown in Figure 4b. The unfolded clip comprises a restraining part (34)
connected to the rest of said blank with at least an arm (3~). The restraining
35 part goes over supporting structure upon which said tablet dispenser is
applied acting like the free end (16) of the U-shaped clip in Figure 1d. The
CA 02237153 1998-0~-08
WO 97/17571 PCT/US96/17671
11 -
arm remains on the top edge of said supporting structure. We found that this
clip ensures the holding of a tablet dispenser.
The blank (31) is made of a material such that the blank can be resiliently
5 deformed to unfold the clip (33) as in Figure 4b. Nevertheless, this same
material has to be sufficiently resistant to be able to hold the corresponding
tablet dispenser. Preferably, said blank is made of plastic materials, and
preferred plastic materials are PET, PP, HDPE and polyethylene with a layer
of EVOH. We found that this means (30) for holding said tablet dispenser due
10 to the resilient deformability of the blank results in a tight fit around the toilet
rim. Furthermore, said means for holding a tablet dispenser has the
advantage of fitting easily on a non uniform supporting structure, like the
rims of toilet bowls, which differ slightly in dimensions. As an option, said
blank formed into a tablet dispenser may be further packaged in a secondary
15 package.
Figure 5a shows the tablet dispenser (40) comprising the means (30) for
holding said tablet dispenser described before in figures 4a and 4b. Said
tablet dispenser further comprises said means (41 ) for covering and
20 protecting the tablet from the exterior. An example of means for covering andprotecting is a flexible sheet. When the tablet dispenser is in its closed
position, the flexible sheet covers all orifices (14) of said tablet dispenser, as
shown in Figure 5a. Said means is attached to said tablet dispenser to keep
said tablet dispenser in closed position covering and protecting the tablet. The25 attachment between said flexible sheet and said tablet dispenser may be
achieved, for example, by an adhesive part on said flexible sheet or tablet
dispenser. Figures 5c to 5e illustrate in a side view that when said flexible
sheet is detached from said tablet dispenser, said flexible sheet also helps to
unfold the clip (33) of Figures 4a and 4b. The unr~'~ed clip is also shown in a
30 perspective front view in Figure 5f.
Said flexible sheet (41) is connected to part of said blank (31). Preferably,
said flexible sheet is connected to the restraining part (34) such that the clip is
unfolded when said flexible sheet is detached from said tablet dispenser. In
35 case said flexible sheet does not cover every orifice of said tablet dispenser,
said flexible sheet may be used only to facilitate the opening and usage of the
tablet dispensing. Indeed, r~cilildling the unfolding of said means for holding
CA 022371~3 1998-0~-08
WO 97/17S71 PCT/US96/17671
12
said tablet dispenser makes said tablet dispenser very user friendly. The
means for covering and protecting said tablet may be then achieved by an
additional secondary package. The connection between said flexible sheet
and said blank may be an adhesive connection (36) as shown in Figure 5e.
Another possible connection is achieved through a perforation line (37)
between said blank and said flexible sheet as shown in Figure 5b. The
adhesive connection and the perforation line may be used to connect any
means for holding the tablet dispenser with any means for covering and
protecting the tablet as described herein before and hereinafter. As an option,
said blank formed in a tablet dispenser may be further packaged in a
secondary package with or without the additional flexible sheet.
The method to manufacture the tablet dispenser made of plastic material
according to any of the embodiments of Figures 4 and 5 (Figures 6a and 6b)
is very similar to the method described above in Figures 3a to 3e. The outer
walls (12) are formed as shells by thermoforrning. The thickness of the blank
(31) of plastic of Figure 6a after thermoforming is again variable preferably
within a range of about 10 ,um to about 1 mm, more preferably within a range
of about 20 ,um to about 500 ~m, most preferably within a range of about 20
,um to about 150 ,um. Then the part of said blank acting as a means (30) for
holding, as described in Figures 4a and 4b, said part of said blank extends
away from the thel "~ofc,r" ,ing manufacturing process. After the
thermoforming, said orifices (14) on said outer walls are cut off or stamped
out. The part of said blank acting as the means for holding is cut in the
desired shape and length. We further found that through specific cuttings
even stiffer parts of said tablet dispenser can provide flexibility to certain parts
of said table dispenser. Indeed, with specific cuttings through the thickness ofpart of blank the means for holding said tablet dispenser as described in
Figures 4a and 4b is formed. Now the tablet of detergent andtor perfume
product can be placed in one of the shells. The product can be extruded in
solid form and then placed in the shell. Another possibility is to inject the
product in a liquid form and place the product still in liquid form in the shellwhere the product solidifies into the cc,r,t:sponding shape of the sheil. As a
further step, the shells or the outer walls can now be sealed together by heat
sealing or with appropriate adhesives (Fig. 6b). When said means for holding
the tablet dispenser further comprises means (41) for covering and protecting
CA 022371~3 1998-0~-08
WO 97/17571 PCT/US96/17671
13
the tablet from the exterior in form of a flexible sheet, said flexible sheet iswrapped around said shells or outer walls closing said orifices.
As already discussed before, the means (11) for holding the tablet
5 dispenser has to be adaptable to non-uniformed sizes and dimensions of the
supporting structure upon which said tablet dispenser is applied. Indeed, the
rim of a toilet bowl (100), for example, differs from country to country, and
even within the same country between different manufacturers. Therefore, it
is desirable to have means for holding said tablet dispensers which are able
10 to adapt to different sizes and dimensions without jeopardising a reliable
holding of said tablet dispenser. The means for holding said tablet dispenser
described in Figures 2a to 2d and in Figures 4a and 4b are such means fitting
any toilet dimensions.
15 Another example is shown in Figures 7a and 7b. In this case the means
(50) for holding said tablet dispenser comprises a piastic sheet which can be
easily bent. Preferably, this plastic sheet which can be bent further comprises
pre-cut scorelines (51) along which at least a slight bending upwards and
downwards is f~cilit~terl. This enables an adjustment of the means for holding
20 to the specific dimension of said supporting structure. Figure 7b illusl~tes the
minimum and maximum adjustability of this means for holding. In particular,
said means for holding a tablet dispenser can be adjusted to the specific
width of a rim of a toilet bowl or of a cutlery basket. We found that this meansfor holding said tablet dispenser described in Figures 7a and 7b achieves a
25 perfect fitting with a reliable holding. Said means for (50) for holding saidtablet dispenser may act also as means for covering and protecting the tablet
when said means (50) for holding is wrapped around said outer walls by
bending said means (50) for holding along said scorelines (51). As an option,
this tablet dispenser may be further packaged in a secondary package.
The tablet dispenser needs to contain the tablet and at the same time has
to allow the dissolution of the tablet in a liquid medium. Usually, this is
achieved with cages thermoformed or injected moulded from plastic
materials. A way to reduce the manufacturing costs of said tablet dispensers
35 would be to reduce the manufacturing costs of the cage enclosing said tablet.A possible way to achieve a reduction in the manufacturing cost is shown in
Figures 8a to 8f. This tablet dispenser is made of a completely flexible sheet
CA 022371~3 1998-0~-08
WO 97117571 PCT/US96/17671
14
(60). Preferably, the thickness of this flexible sheet is in the range of about 20
~lm to 70 ~Lm. This flexible sheet is wrapped around the tablet (5) to keep saidtablet. The part of the flexible sheet wrapping around the tablet defines a
dispensing unit (Fig. 8b, 61) comprising orifices (14) for the dissolution of the
tablet. The wrapped flexible sheet of the dispensing unit is sealed with heat
sealing or with appropriate adhesives after it has been filled with the tablet.
Further flexible sheet extends from this dispensing unit to form the means
(63) for holding the tablet dispenser. Then unnecessary rims around said
flexible sheet are cut off and said means for holding is cut at the right
0 dimensions. Said means for holding the tablet dispenser may comprise an
adhesive part (Fig. 8b,64), as described, for example, in Figure 2b, which
attaches on a supporting structure as, for example, on the outside of a toilet
bowl (Fig. 8c).
Another possibility for said means for holding is at least a hoie or a cut
(Fig. 8e, 65) through the thickness of said flexible sheet to enable the
engagement with a hook (Fig. 8f, 66) as described, for example, in Figures 2e
to 2g. Said means for holding can be wrapped all around said dispensing unit
acting as means for covering and protecting the tablet, as shown in Figures
8a and 8d. An adhesive part (Fig. 8b, 64) fixes this completely wrapped tablet
dispenser in closed position. When the means for holding the tablet
dispenser comprises the holes or cut of Figure 8e, then said flexible sheet
may further comprise an adhesive part (Fig. 8f, 67) to fix the completely
wrapped tablet dispenser in closed position. The other means for holding the
tablet dispenser as described, for example, in Figures 1, 4 and 7, are also
possible for the wrapped tablet as described herein before.
We found that another possible way to contain the tablet is by erecting a
blank (70) with appropriate folding, like the one of Figure 9a for example. Thisblank comprises a back wall (71), a bottom wall (72), a front wall (73), a top
wall (74) and side walls (75). Said blank further comprises side flaps (76) on
the side, bottom and top walls. These walls and flaps are connected to their
corresponding walls and/or flaps by folding iines (77). The top wall (74)
further comprises a top flap (78) which defines the adhesion area of said
blank. The blank (70) further comprises means (11) for holding said tablet
dispenser in any embodiment described so far in this descri,ution, like for
CA 022371~3 1998-0~-08
W O 97117571 PCTrUS96/17671
example in Figures 4a and 4b. Any of the back, bottom, front, top and side
walls further comprises orifices (14).
This ~lank can be folded into a box in the following manner. The top flap is
folded and adhered with glue or heat sealing to the area (79) of said back
wall, as illustrated in Figure 9b. The blank is then pushed up to form a
rectangular shaped box (Fig. 9c). One side of this box is closed by folding
towards the interior o~ the box first the corresponding flaps of the top and
bottom walls and then the corresponding side wall with its flap, as illustrated
10 in Figure 9d. Finally, also the other side is closed in the same manner after a
product in form of a tablet or beads is inserted through this side before
closing (Fig. 9e and 9~.
Figure 10a illustrates the same blank (70) of Figure 8a further comprising
means (41) for covering and protecting the tablet from the exterior to avoid
deterioration connected to said means (11) for holding said tablet dispenser.
Figure 10b shows in a perspective front view and Figure 10c in a side view
the erected box wrapped with said means for covering and protecting. Said
means for covering and protecting the tablet is rele~s~hly attached to said
20 tablet dispenser, preferably by an adhesive part on said means for covering
and protecting and/or on said tablet dispenser. Preferably, said means for
covering and protecting is a flexible sheet as described before. Preferably, a
perforation line (37) connects said means for covering and protecting to said
means for holding said tablet dispenser.
Another example of a tablet dispenser formed by folding up a blank is
shown in Figure 11a to 11e. This blank (80) comprises a main wall (81) which
can be folded into a cage and side walls (82) with side flaps (83). The main
wall comprises cuts (drawn in bold lines) through the thickness of said blank
and folding lines (drawn in punctuation). The cuts are made on said blank in
such a manner that the areas (84) are made at least partially independent
from the neighbouring areas (86). This blank can be folded into a box in the
following manner. The lower end (Fig. 11b, 85) is pushed up in such a
manner that the cage (Fig. 11c, 86) is forrned, as illustrated in Figure 11c.
Subsequently one side of this cage is closed by folding towards the interior
the cage the corresponding side wall and flap. Another possibility is to fold
and seal the same side wall and flap onto the exterior of the cage, as shown
CA 022371~3 1998-0~-08
WO 97/17571 PCT/US96/17671
16
in Figure 11d. Finally, also the other side is closed in the same manner after
a product in form of a tablet is inserted through this side before closing (Fig.11d and 11e).
Figure 12a shows a blank (90) which is a slight variation of the blank (80)
of Figure 11a. Indeed, this blank (90) comprises the cuts as for blank (80),
but only side flaps (91) which can be folded along the folding lines (drawn in
punctuation). These folding lines may also be curved, as illustrated in Figure
12a. When said blank is pushed up forming the cage (92) also said side flaps
0 are at least partially folded towards the interior of said cage as shown in
Figure 12b. In this position said side flaps act as restraining means when a
tablet is inserted into said cage. Indeed, a tablet is inserted into the cage bybending and pushing said side flaps further towards the interior down to the
bottom wall (93). On the contrary, said side flaps impede that the tablet exits
again from inside the cage once the tablet is inserted into the cage. Indeed,
we found that the forces exerted by said tablet are not sufficient to bend the
side flaps outwards to exit from the cage. The forces exerted by said tablet
are due to its weight and/or additional forces acting on the tablet when the
liquid medium in which said tablet is held for dissolution is in movement, as,
for example, the flushing of the water under the rim of a toilet bowl, or the
spraying of water in an automatic dish washing machine. The tablet
dispensers of Figures 9 to 12 may have any of the means for holding as
described before, for example, in Figures 1, 2 and 7. As an option, the tablet
dispensers described in Figures 10, 11 and 12 may be further packaged in a
secondary package with or without the additional means for covering and
protecting the tablet from deterioration.
=
