Coded container

Abstract: The application describes a container which is adapted for suspension by its upper region below a filling head (3) of a dispenser, the container being characterized by register means (348) on a side wall thereof for interengaging with complementary register means (34) on a container support of the dispenser, registration of the register means allowing for alignment of the container below the filling head for filling of the container. The register means can comprise a number of pins or recesses in the side wall of the container for registration with complementary recesses or pins on the container support of the dispenser.

Description: The invention relates to a container for a dispenser for dispensing detergents and other cleaning liquids, for example. In many industrial and semi-industrial situations, for example in large kitchens or in hotels, it is necessary to regularly fill small containers with a cleaning and sanitising liquid from a constant supply or a bulk container of the liquid. Typically this is done by filling the small container from a manually operated tap. A disadvantage of this system is that care needs to be taken by the user to ensure that the container is filled to the correct level but not so much that the liquid overflows, creating a hazard in the working environment. It is commonplace for supplies of different liquids to be provided at the same place. Where this happens, there is an obvious risk that the wrong liquid might be filled into the wrong container. Attempts have been made to overcome this problem by colour coding the sources of liquid and the containers but this does not entirely eliminate the possibility of human error. DE-U-91 13538 discloses a container having a register means on the rim of the neck of the container. This register means is adapted to interengage with complementary register means of a container support of a dispenser in a vertical manner. The present invention is aimed at overcoming or ameliorating one or both of the above-described problems. Accordingly, the invention provides a a container which is adapted for suspension by its upper region below a filling head of a dispenser, said container comprising a body, an inclined shoulder and a neck, said container being characterized by having: two segmental recesses which form a narrowed portion on the container for engaging with a corresponding portion of a container support of the dispenser; and a plurality of slots or pins provided circumferentially across the container, said slots or pins being provided between said segmental recesses for interengaging, by means of a lateral movement, with complementary slots or pins on the container support, registration of both the segmental recesses and the slots or pins allowing for alignment of the container below the filling head for filling of the container, said recesses and said slots or pins being provided on the container in a region selected from the body and the neck. With this arrangement the possibility of the wrong liquid being filled into a given container from the dispenser is avoided. The support is preferably a cradle which holds the container by its upper portion - for example its neck - with the major part of the container depending from the cradle. This arrangement has the advantage that different size bottles can be filled from the same dispenser without adjustment. Embodiments of the invention are described in detail below, by example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a schematic elevational view of a dispenser including a container according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the connection between a first container and the support in the dispenser of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a second container for use with the dispenser of Fig. 1. The dispenser shown in Fig. 1 comprises a support 1 for a container 2 to be filled by liquid through a dispensing head 3. The support 1 carries the weight of the container with the assistance of the action of a spring 4. The support 1 is pivoted about horizontal axis 5. In operation, the support or cradle 1 is lowered manually, against the action of the spring 4, and the container 2 is fitted on the support 1. The force of the spring 4 urges the neck of the container into the dispensing head 3. This action moves magnet 7 upwards. The magnet 7, which replaces the usual coil, is mounted on a solenoid valve 9 and as it moves along the valve stem it causes the valve 9 to open. Water from a source (not shown) can therefore pass along pipe 8, through valve 9, through the backflow preventer 10 and to the venturi 11 where it entrains concentrated chemical fed through pipe 12 in a conventional manner. The diluted liquid is then filled into the container 2 through the filling head 3. With the increasing weight of the container as it fills, the cradle 1 and the container are lowered, thereby allowing the magnet 7, pushed by valve spring 13, to move back down the valve stem. This movement, at a predetermined point, closes the valve and stops the flow of water and chemical to the container. Overflowing of the container is thus automatically prevented. The filled container is then manually released from the support 1, which is pulled back up by the spring 4 but in the absence of another container does not actuate the valve. Also seen in Fig. 1 is a drip container 14 and a slidable drip tray 15, which is urged towards the container position by means of a spring 16. Although in Fig. 1 the cradle 1 is shown to be pivotally mounted, but this is not essential. The cradle could alternatively be mounted for vertical movement against a spring force without a pivotal mounting. Fig. 2 shows the mounting of the smaller container 2 on the cradle 1. The cradle is formed with a pair of forwardly extending arms 30, 30' with a slot 31 defined therebetween. On the inside of each arm is a shoulder 32, 32' with a recess 33, 33' at one point along its length. The recesses are formed opposite each other, across the slot, and each has a generally U-shape which tapers outwardly towards the top. Drip tray 15 is seen at the left hand side of Fig. 2. The drip tray is shown in a retracted position to which it would be pushed by a container. Without the container present in the slot 31, the drip tray 15 would normally be pulled forward by the spring 16 to a position over the recesses 33, 33', i.e. beneath filling head 3 in order to catch drips therefrom. Underneath the drip tray 15, the slot 31 is closed and extending forwardly from the closed end of the slot is a pair of pins 34. The pins are arranged in two of five possible positions. The container 2 has segmental recesses 35 on either side, below shoulder 36 (only one recess 35 is seen in Fig. 2). The narrowed portion formed by recesses 35 has a width just less than the gap between the shoulders 32, 32'. A lug 37 depends from the top of each recess 35. In the side of the container, between the recesses 35, slots 38 are formed, in two of five possible positions (two alternative positions are shown in dashed lines; the third one is out of view). A recess 27 is formed in the shoulder 36 of the bottle, just below the neck 24, for engagement with a depending wing 26 of the dispensing head 3. In use, the cradle 1 is lowered and the container 2 is slotted into the cradle 1, along the slot 31, thereby pushing back drip tray 15. The pins 34 register in the slots 38 and the container 2 can then be allowed to hang on the cradle 1, with its lugs 37 fitting into the recesses 33, 33' on the shoulders 32, 32'. As discussed above, the cradle is then released and the spring 4 lifts it upwards so that the neck 24 actuates the switch which controls its filling. As the cradle pivots upwards, and then downwards again when it fills up, the shape of recesses 33, 33' allows the lugs 37 to pivot, thereby allowing the container to remain vertical. It will be understood that unless the slots 38 of the container are in the correct position, the container cannot be pushed far enough into the cradle for it to actuate the switch. The arrangement of five pin positions and five slot positions allows ten different discrete arrangements for different dispensers filling different chemicals, using two pins. As seen in Fig. 3, with a large neck container the segmental recesses 35, the lugs 37 and the slots 38 are formed immediately below the neck, rather than below the shoulder. Apart from this, the fitting of the container into the cradle is as described with reference to Fig. 2. The large neck container has, for example, a volume of 2 litres. The small neck container has, for example, a volume of 0.75 litres. For the avoidance of any doubt, it should be mentioned that the vertical distance between the lug 37 and the top of the neck 24 of the containers seen in Figs. 2 and 3 is the same in each case. Thus, the same dispenser can be used with both containers, and indeed containers of other sizes, with the appropriate adjustment made to the filling head 3 and to the arrangement of pins 34.

Claims: A container (2) which is adapted for suspension by its upper region below a filling head (3) of a dispenser, said container comprising a body, an inclined shoulder and a neck, said container being characterized by having: two segmental recesses (35) which form a narrowed portion on the container for engaging with a corresponding portion of a container support of the dispenser; and a plurality of slots (38) or pins provided circumferentially across the container, said slots or pins being provided between said segmental recesses (35) for interengaging, by means of a lateral movement, with complementary slots or pins (34) on the container support, registration of both the segmental recesses and the slots or pins allowing for alignment of the container (2) below the filling head (3) for filling of the container, said recesses (35) and said slots (38) or pins being provided on the container in a region selected from the body and the neck. A container according to claim 1, characterized in that a lug (37) is provided on a top wall of each segmental recess (35), the lugs being capable of engaging in recesses (33,33') on the container support of the dispenser to allow suspension of the container. A container according to any claim 1, wherein the slots (38) or pins are vertically elongated. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the recesses (35) and slots (38) or pins are moulded in the container body. A container according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the recesses (35) and slots (38) or pins are provided in the neck of the container. A container according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the recesses (35) and slots (38) or pins are provided on the body immediately below the shoulder (36) of the container.

Inventors: CROSSDALE GARRY WILLIAM, STEVENS MICHAEL JAMES, CROSSDALE, GARRY WILLIAM, STEVENS, MICHAEL JAMES
Applicants: UNILEVER NV, UNILEVER PLC, UNILEVER N.V.
Application year: 1993
Main classification: B67D5
IPC codes: B67D1, B65D1, B65D23, B67D7