A tablet dispenser

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tablet dispenser comprising an outer hollow housing (1), an inner section (16) located within the housing (1) and a plunger (2) slidable with respect to the housing (1) and inner section (16). The plunger (2) and inner section (16) co-operate to define a cavity for storing a plurality of tablets from which a single tablet can be dispensed by activating the plunger (2). The plunger (2) is biased into a closed position by an integrally moulded plastic spring means (6) and there is also a plastic mechanism (9,10) which provides an audible sound when the plunger (2) is actuated.

Description: The present invention relates to a tablet dispenser, in particular, a dispenser which releases a single tablet when the dispensing mechanism is activated. There are many types of tablet dispensers currently available. Dispensers which release a single tablet each time the dispenser is activated are particularly common containers for sweetening tablets which are the substitute for sugar in coffee and tea, for example. The user is able to repeatedly activate the dispenser, which usually comprises a plunger mechanism, as required until the chosen level of sweetness is reached. Tablet dispensers are known for use in dispensing sweetening tablets which comprise a plastic housing and a plunger mechanism which must be activated to release a tablet. The plunger mechanism comprises a fixed part and a moving part which are configured such that the tablets are held within a cavity from which a single tablet can be released when the moving part slides over the fixed part. The tablets move through a system of channels between the cavity and outlet from the dispenser. The dispenser is provided with a metal spring which biases the moving part into a closed position in which the tablets are sealed within the dispenser. When the moving part is pressed, the spring allows movement with respect to the fixed part and a tablet is released. The spring then pulls the moving part back into a closed position In this type of dispenser, the spring can also serve a further purpose in that when the moving part is pressed, the spring, if configured in a certain manner, will blend and makes an audible "click" which indicates to the user that a tablet is being released. In general, the known dispensers are manufactured in plastic but the spring is metal. The combination of materials complicates the manufacturing process since, whilst the plastic parts can be injection moulded, the metal spring must be assembled separately and often manually. A further disadvantage with the combination of materials is that the dispenser is not easy to recycle after use. The dispenser must be either disassembled or broken to remove the metal part before recycling - a time consuming procedure which reduces the benefits of recycling because costs increase. Reference should be made to EP-A-236 039 which describes a tablet dispenser having a steel spring member configured so that it produces the required audible "click" during actuation of the plunger. DE-A-3 716 307 discloses a container for dispensing tablets which comprises an integrally formed spring member. However, the structure of the container makes no provision for an audible "click" to indicate to the user that a tablet has been released. A further complication found with metal parts is that they can rust and could contaminate the contents of the dispenser as well as jamming the dispensing mechanism. Clearly, with the increasing popularity of environmentally friendly products, there is a demand for a tablet dispenser which is 100% recyclable. According to the present invention, there is provided a tablet dispenser comprising an outer hollow housing, an inner section located within the housing and a plunger slidable with respect to the housing and inner section, the plunger and inner section co-operating to define a cavity for storing a plurality of tablets from which a single tablet can be dispensed by activating the plunger, characterised in that the plunger is biased into a closed position by an integrally moulded plastic spring means and wherein the dispenser further comprises a plastic mechanism which provides an audible sound when the plunger is actuated. Preferably, the dispenser is injection moulded entirely in plastic. Preferably, the plunger and housing are provided with interfering parts which produce the audible sound when the plunger moves with respect to the housing. Preferably, the plunger comprises an integrally moulded projection which co-operates with a stem extending from the base of the housing. Preferably, the plunger and the inner section are provided with interfering parts which produce the audible sound when the plunger moves with respect to the inner section. Preferably, the plastic spring means is a flexible plastic leaf extending between the plunger and a fixed seat on the housing. Preferably, the dispenser is manufactured entirely in polystyrene. A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tablet dispenser according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the dispenser in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a view of the dispenser in Figure 1 with part of the outer housing broken away; Figure 4 is a view of the face of the plunger in Figure 3 which carries the spring: Figure 5 is a view of the opposite face of the plunger to that in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a cross sectional view of the outer housing only in direction X-X in Figure 1; Figure 7 is a perspective view of the inner section; Figure 8 is a view in direction A of the inner section; Figure 9 is a view in direction B of the inner section; Figures 10a and 10b depict the plunger and inner section showing how these parts co-operate in different positions; Figure 11 is a perspective view of the cap of the plunger; Figure 12 is a view in direction C of the cap in Figure 11; Figure 13 is a view from below of the dispenser in Figure 1. Figure 1 shows a tablet dispenser as would be seen by the user comprising an outer hollow housing 1 and a cap 24 which forms part of a plunger 2 which is pressed to activate the dispensing mechanism. The outer housing 1 would be covered in surface graphics indicating to the user the name of the product and the manufacturer as well as other required details. Figure 2 is a side view of the dispenser in Figure 1 which indicates how the cap 24 and housing 1 slope in the upper portion. Figure 3 depicts the dispenser in Figure 1 with part of the outer housing 1 broken away to reveal the internal dispensing mechanism. In this view, most of the parts which are visible are located on the plunger 2. Comparison with Figures 4 and 6 reveals that the remaining parts form part of the outer housing 1. Figure 3 shows that the plunger 2 comprises an upper half-cylindrical portion 3 and a lower plate 4 which are joined by a sloped surface 5. The sloped surface 5 slants downwardly and inwardly from the outer housing 1. The plunger 2 also comprises a spring 6 which is integrally moulded with the plunger. The spring 6 extends from the sloped surface 5 to a fixed seat 7 which forms part of the base 8 of the outer housing 1. A fixed stem 9 is also shown which forms part of the base 8 (see also Figure 6). The lower plate 4 is provided with a projecting ridge 10 which interferes with stem 9 when the plunger 2 is activated by pressing downwardly to provide an audible "click". The plunger 2 can slide in outer housing 1 and the spring 6 will ensure that the plunger returns to its original closed position as soon as a tablet has been dispensed. Figure 4 shows the parts located on one face of plunger 2 without the outer housing 1. A lower tab 11 can also be seen which will sit in a co-operating recess 28 in the base 8 of outer housing 1. Figure 5 shows the other face of plunger 2 to that visible in Figures 3 and 4. In this Figure, a system of channels 12 is visible through which tablets stored in the cavity formed by half-cylinder 3 and sloped surface 5 can be dispensed and released through outlet 13. Figure 6 is a cross sectional view in direction X-X in Figure 1 of the outer housing 1. The outer housing is essentially a hollow cylindrical construction open at its upper end and provided with a base 8 at its lower end. A stem 9 extends from the base 8 which interferes with ridge 10 on the plunger 2 to provide the audible "click". Two longitudinal ribs 14 and 15 spaced by 180° are located on opposite sides of the inner surface of the outer housing 1 which serve to locate the plunger 2 and inner section 16 (see Figures 7, 8 and 9). Figure 7 is a perspective view of the inner section 16 of the dispenser. The inner section 16 is constructed such that it co-operates with plunger 2 to define an inner cavity for storing and dispensing the tablets. The inner section 16 comprises a sloped surface 17 and a lower plate 18. When the plunger 2 and inner section 16 are correctly assembled within outer housing 1, the sloped surfaces 5 and 17 will form a "V" shape and tablets will be released from the apex of the "V" shape into the system of channels 12. There is an integrally moulded fin 19 which makes the construction more rigid and serves to locate the inner section 16 on the base 8 of the housing 1. A hooked portion 20 extends from the lower plate 18 which is constructed to be a "snap-fit" in a recess 21 in base 8 of the housing 1 (see Figure 13). Figure 8 is a view of one face of inner section 16 in direction A in Figure 7 and Figure 9 is a view of the other face in direction B in Figure 7. In Figure 9, four stops 22a, 22b, 22c and 22d can be seen on plate 18. These stops co-operate with the system of channels 12 on plunger 2 (see Figure 5). Figures 10a and 10b show clearly the relationship between each stop and the channel system 12. It can be seen that when the plunger 2 is not activated (Figure 10a) the stops 22a and 22b block the passage of tablets X,Y,Z, etc., from the outlet 13 and when the plunger 2 is activated (Figure 10b) by pressing downwardly the passage of the tablets is unblocked and a single tablet Z will be released from outlet 13. Stops 22c and 22d abut with a ridge 23 on plunger 2 which prevents excessive movement of plunger 2 during activation. The plunger 2 is shown linearly whereas the stops 22a, 22b, 22c and 22d on inner section 16 are shown hatched to distinguish the moving parts. Only one table Z can be released when the plunger 2 is activated, the second tablet Y will fall and sit in contact with stop 22b until the plunger 2 is activated again. Figure 11 is a perspective view of the cap 24 which forms the top of the plunger 2. The inner surface of the cap 24 is provided with three lugs 25 which are tapered slightly and will form an interference fit with the upper portion 2a of plunger 2 (see Figures 4 and 5). Upper portion 2a comprises an annular rim which will slide between the outer wall 26 and inner wall 27 of cap 24. Figure 13 is a view from below of the base 8 of outer housing 1 which depicts the outlet 28 from the dispenser and the recess 21 within which hooked portion 20 of the inner section 16 is a "snap-fit". The seat 7 upon which spring 6 sits can also be seen. The tablet dispenser is assembled by first pressing inner section 16 inside housing 1 until the hooked portion 20 "snaps" into recess 21. Plunger 2 is then pressed into the housing 1, the positions of the inner section 16 and plunger 2 being defined by the longitudinal ribs 15. The dispenser is then filled with tablets and the cap 24 placed on the upper portion 2a of plunger 2. The interference fit will ensure that the cap 24 does not become dislodged if the dispenser is dropped, for example. The entire dispenser is injection moulded in a plastic material, preferably polystyrene. Clearly, this will simplify the manufacturing and assembly of the dispenser and has the added advantage that the dispenser can be recycled when empty. It is envisaged that various alternative embodiments would be equally as effective. For example, the audible "click" could be produced by interfering parts on the plunger 2 and inner section 16 rather than the plunger 2 and the housing 1. The present invention is likely to have widespread application in the field of dispensing devices which are now required to meet high standards of recyclability and also to satisfy the general demand for products which are environmentally friendly.

Claims: A tablet dispenser comprising an outer hollow housing (1), an inner section (16) located within the housing (1) and a plunger (2) slidable with respect to the housing(1) and inner section (16), the plunger (2) and inner section (16) co-operating to define a cavity for storing a plurality of tablets (X,Y,Z) from which a single tablet can be dispensed by activating the plunger (2), characterised in that the plunger (2) is biased into a closed position by an integrally moulded plastic spring means (6) and in that the dispenser further comprises a plastic mechanism (9,10) which provides an audible sound when the plunger (2) is actuated. A tablet dispenser as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the dispenser is injection moulded entirely in plastic. A tablet dispenser as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the plunger (2) and housing (1) are provided with interfering parts (9,10) which produce the audible sound when the plunger (2) moves with respect to the housing (1). A tablet dispenser as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the plunger (2) comprises an integrally moulded projection (10) which co-operates with a stem (9) extending from the base (8) of the housing (1). A tablet dispenser as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the plunger (2) and the inner section (16) are provided with interfering parts which produce the audible sound when the plunger (2) moves with respect to the inner section (16). A tablet dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the plastic spring means (6) is a flexible plastic leaf extending between the plunger (2) and a fixed seat (7) on the housing (1). A tablet dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the dispenser is manufactured entirely in polystyrene.

Inventors: EVANS LYN TREVOR, EVANS, LYN TREVOR
Applicants: MANUPLASTICS LTD, MANUPLASTICS LIMITED
Application year: 1993
Main classification: B65D83
IPC codes: B65D83