Patent Abstract:
A dispensing cartridge for holding a product adapted to be inserted into a machine configured to utilize the product. A container has a bottom and at least one side wall. The bottom of the container has an opening configured to cooperate with the machine. A removable cover closes the opening in the container and prevents contact with the product before the dispensing cartridge is inserted into the machine.

Full Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
   This invention relates to dispensing cartridges and, more particularly to dispensing cartridges in which a user does not come into contact with the dispensed product prior to insertion of the dispensing cartridge into a receiving machine, and method therefore. 
   BACKGROUND 
   In industrial environments, it is commonly desirable to be able to insert a product, usable in a machine, into that machine without the user or operator of the machine coming into direct contact with the product. This is particularly true when the product is caustic or corrosive, or when it would otherwise be detrimental for the user or operator to come into direct contact with product. 
   This is particularly true in industrial laundry or washing environments where it is common for detergents and other wash aids, such as rinse aids, to be replenished in washing equipment. 
   Many detergents products are distributed in solid form and are dissolved in use in the machine into which the solid detergent product is utilized. Such dissolvable solid products, of which detergent is just one example, are commonly distributed in containers. 
   A thermoformed blister pack or a package with a lid could be used to distribute dissolvable solid detergents. This would typically require the user to remove the back or lid from the package and drop the solid detergent block into the machine utilizing the detergent. Unfortunately, this technique would expose the user of the machine to direct contact with the solid detergent block which is not desirable. 
   One solid dissolvable detergent block has been distributed in a shrink wrapped plastic film. Small pin holes in the film allow the evacuation of otherwise trapped air as the film shrinks to conform to the shaped of the detergent block as the detergent block is packaged. Unfortunately, these same pin holes allow moisture from the atmosphere to enter the package. The addition of moisture to a detergent block package causes the detergent block package to swell around each of the pinholes resulting in an unsightly product. 
   Plastic, blow molded bottles have also been used as dispensers for this type of material but such plastic, blow molded bottles also suffer from many of the disadvantages of the other packages discussed. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a dispensing cartridge for a product usable in a machine, particularly a dissolvable solid product, which can not easily contact the user during insertion, yet is readily usable by the machine. Also, the dispensing cartridge is economic to construct and is easy to handle by the user. 
   In one embodiment, the present invention provides a dispensing cartridge for holding a product adapted to be inserted into a machine configured to utilize the product. A container has a bottom and at least one side wall. The bottom of the container has an opening configured to cooperate with the machine. A removable cover closes the opening in the container and prevents contact with the product before the dispensing cartridge is inserted into the machine. 
   In one embodiment, the present invention provides a dispensing cartridge for holding a product adapted to be inserted into a machine configured to utilize the product. A container has a bottom and at least one side wall. The bottom of the container has an opening configured to cooperate with the machine. A removable cover closes the opening in the container and prevents contact with the product before the dispensing cartridge is inserted into the machine. 
   In a preferred embodiment, the removable cover is formed within the bottom of the container by perforations in the bottom of the container. 
   In a preferred embodiment, the removable cover is placed over the opening. 
   In another embodiment, the present invention provides a dispensing cartridge for holding a product adapted to be inserted into a machine configured to utilize the product. A container has a bottom and at least one side wall. The bottom of the container has an opening configured to cooperate with the machine. A removable label covers the opening in the container and prevents contact with the product before the dispensing cartridge is inserted into the machine. 
   In a preferred embodiment, the removable label is adhesive backed. 
   In another embodiment, the present invention provides a dispensing cartridge for holding a dissolvable solid product adapted to be inserted into a machine configured to utilize the dissolvable solid product by dissolving the dissolvable solid product from the dispensing cartridge. A container has a bottom, a top and at least one side wall. The bottom of the container has an opening configured to cooperate with the receptacle of the machine when the dispensing cartridge is inserted into the machine. The bottom of the container is formed from at least two angled side walls forming an acute angle at the bottom of the container. The container has a handle for aiding carrying of the dispensing cartridge before the dispensing cartridge is inserted into the machine. A removable, adhesive backed label covers the opening in the bottom of container, hermetically sealing the container, and prevents contact with the dissolvable solid product before the dispensing cartridge is inserted into the machine. 
   In another embodiment, the present invention provides a dispensing cartridge for holding a solid detergent product adapted to be inserted into a machine configured to utilize the solid detergent product by dissolving the solid detergent product from the dispensing cartridge. A container has a bottom, a top and at least one side wall. The bottom of the container has an opening configured to cooperate with the receptacle of the machine when the dispensing cartridge is inserted into the machine. The bottom of the container is formed from at least two angled side walls forming an acute angle at the bottom of the container. The container has a handle for aiding carrying of the dispensing cartridge before the dispensing cartridge is inserted into the machine. A removable, adhesive backed label covers the opening in the bottom of container, hermetically sealing the container, and prevents contact with the solid detergent product before the dispensing cartridge is inserted into the machine. 
   In a preferred embodiment, the container is thermoformed. 
   In a preferred embodiment, the container is a clamshell. 
   In a preferred embodiment, the handle is formed into the top of the container. 
   In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of dispensing a dissolvable solid product into a machine. The dissolvable solid product is held in a dispensing cartridge. The dispensing cartridge is a container having a bottom and at least one side wall, the bottom of the container having an opening configured to cooperate with the machine, and a removable label covering the opening in the bottom of container preventing contact with the dissolvable solid product. The removable label is removed from the opening in the bottom of the container. The dispensing cartridge is inserted into the machine. The dissolvable solid product is dissolved from the dispensing cartridge. 
   In a preferred embodiment, the product is a detergent. 
   In a preferred embodiment, the product is a sanitizer product. 
   In a preferred embodiment, the product is a caustic product. 
   In a preferred embodiment, the product is a corrosive product. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an embodiment of a dispensing cartridge according to the present invention with the cartridge open; 
       FIG. 2  is a top view of the dispensing cartridge of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is an isometric view of an embodiment of a dispensing cartridge according to the present invention with the cartridge closed holding a detergent block; 
       FIG. 4  is a view of the dispensing cartridge of  FIG. 3  closed holding a detergent block showing an opening through which the detergent block may be dissolved; 
       FIG. 5  is a view of the dispensing cartridge of  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  showing the opening through which the detergent may be dissolved covered with a label; 
       FIG. 6  is an alternative embodiment of a dispensing cartridge according to the present invention with an opening created from perforations. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIGS. 1 and 2  show an embodiment of dispensing cartridge  10  of the present invention open and without holding any product. Dispensing cartridge  10  can be thermoformed from a single piece of polyvinylchloride (PVC), polyethylene teraphalate (PET) and, preferably, high density polyethylene (HDPE). It is roughly divided into a first half  12  and a second half  14  along hinge line  16 . First half  12  is formed with a first bubble  18  and second half  14  is formed with a second bubble  20 . Dispensing cartridge  10  is designed to be folded along hinge line  16  using location guides  22 ,  24  as an aid and be sealed around the periphery of dispensing cartridge  10  with the exception of hinge line  16 . First bubble  18  and second bubble  20  form a space, when dispensing cartridge  10  is closed, for holding a product to be dispensed, preferably a dissolvable solid product, such as a detergent block or a sanitizer block. A portion of both first half  12  and second half  14  near hinge line  16  is formed with angled sidewalls  30  and  32 , respectively, forming an acute angle at hinge line  16 . In this embodiment, first half  12  and second half  14  are about 6.625 inches (16.8 centimeters) by 5.75 inches (14.6 centimeters) and 2.139 inches (5.4 centimeters) deep. 
   Handle  26  is formed into one side of second half  14  opposite from hinge line  16 . In this embodiment, handle  26  extends about 1.75 inches (4.45 centimeters) beyond second bubble  20  in second half  14  and extends along the long dimension of second half  14 . Handle  26  allows dispensing cartridge  10  to be easily carried and to be easily inserted into a machine (not shown) into which the product is to be dispensed. 
   An opening  28  is cut into angled sidewalls  30  and  32  at and on either side of hinge line  16 . Opening  28  is small enough to prevent the product to be dispensed from falling from dispensing cartridge  10  but large enough to allow the product to be dispensed from dispensing cartridge  10  when dispensing cartridge  10  is inserted into a receiving machine. In this embodiment, opening  28  is an oval having a longer diameter of approximately 1.75 inches and a shorter diameter of approximately 1 inch. 
   In this embodiment, dispensing cartridge  10  is transparent allowing a user to visually determine the amount of the product to be dispensed remaining in dispensing cartridge  10 . 
     FIGS. 3 and 4  show an embodiment of dispensing cartridge  10  in a closed position holding solid product  34  to be dispensed. In this condition, dispensing cartridge  10  has had opening  28  opened by the user and dispensing cartridge  10  is ready to be inserted into the machine into which solid product  34  is to be dispensed. These figures illustrate the ease with which dispensing cartridge  10  may be carried and inserted into the machine into which solid product  34  is to be dispensed. In operation, once inserted, liquid, preferably water, from the machine is allowed to circulate in the proximity of opening  28 . Solid product  34 , such as a detergent block, being dissolvable by such liquid, is gradually dissolved out of dispensing cartridge  10  and advantageously utilized by the machine, such as a laundry machine. 
     FIG. 5  shows an embodiment of dispensing cartridge  10  having label  36  secured over opening  28 . Label  36  is secured in place over opening  28  with adhesive  38 . It is preferred that label  36  be adhesive backed. In this embodiment, solid product  34  is distributed to the end user with label  36  in place. With label  36  in place, a user can not come into contact with solid product  34 . If solid product  34  were a caustic or a corrosive product, a user would be spared direct contact with such product. 
   A user would remove label  36  from dispensing cartridge  10  prior to inserting dispensing cartridge  10  into the machine into which solid product  34  is to be dispensed. Even though label  36  has been removed, the relatively small surface area of dispensing cartridge  10  through which solid product  34  is exposed and the ease of manipulating dispensing cartridge  10  with handle  26  makes it easy for a user to avoid any direct contact with solid product  34 . 
     FIG. 6  shows an alternative embodiment of dispensing cartridge  10  in which a covering for opening  28  is formed with the material used to formed first half  12  and second half  14 . In this embodiment, instead of directly forming or cutting an opening into angled sidewalls  30  and  32 , a potential opening  40  is created by perforations  42 . Distributed with potential opening  40  still covering solid product  34 , a user may easily tear potential opening  40  into opening  28  by removing the material of angle sidewalls  30  and  32  by tearing at perforations  42 . 
   Various modifications and alterations of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention. It should be understood that this invention is not limited to the illustrative embodiments set forth above.

Technology Classification (CPC): 3