Apparatus for dispensing moisture-sensitive unit dose packages

• US 5,328,082 A
• Filed: 05/05/1993
• Issued: 07/12/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ecolab, Inc.
• Inventors: Fritz, Barbara L., Gladfelter, Elizabeth J., Outlaw, Tina O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elkins, Gary E.
• Application Number:
  US08/058,158
• Time in Patent Office: 433 Days
• Field of Search: 229/122, 229/122.1, 221/1, 221/302, 221/305, 221/306, 222/527, 222/528, 222/531, 222/534, 222/535, 222/541, 222/547, 222/564
• US Class Current: 229/122.1
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/724 Internal fittings facilitating the discharge of contents, e.g. guiding panels, movable bottoms or lifting strips

Abstract

A unit dose package dispenser (1) including a drawer (13) and ramp (7) such that unit dose packages are urged through an aperture ( 10) and into the drawer ( 13). The ramp ( 7) is elevated from the bottom region (6) of the container (1) so as to isolate the contents of the container from moisture. A cover (14) formed integrally with the container front wall (4) tends to protect the contents of the drawer (13) from moisture in the surrounding environment.

Claims

1. A dispenser and container for moisture-sensitive packages, comprising:

(a) front, rear and side container walls interconnected along parallel fold liens and defining an open ended enclosure, there being a total of at least three container walls;

(b) flap elements forming a closure for an upper end and a lower end of said open ended enclosure, thereby forming an enclosed volume;

(c) a drawer structure, the drawer structure being elevated above the lower end of the container, the drawer structure including an inclined ramp, the entire ramp being spaced above a bottom surface of the container, the ramp being integral with and pivotable with respect to a front drawer wall of the drawer structure;

(d) an aperture, the aperture being formed within the front wall of the container, the aperture being located adjacent to the drawer structure and a lower portion of the ramp; and

(e) an aperture cover, the aperture cover being defined by a transverse score line in the front wall of the container, such that the aperture cover is foldable relative to the front wall by folding the cover along the transverse score line, the cover being capable of substantially obstructing the aperture.

2. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the front drawer wall is being positionable between first and second positions, wherein the first position substantially obstructs the aperture and the second position permits access through the aperture to the packages on the ramp.

3. The dispenser and container of claim 2, further comprising a moisture impermeable liner, the moisture impermeable liner residing within an interior of the container.

4. The dispenser and container of claim 2, further comprising a cover indentation formed within a leading edge of the aperture cover, the cover indentation facilitating movement of the cover.

5. The dispenser and container of claim 4, wherein a wall indentation is formed in the front drawer wall, thereby facilitating movement of the front drawer wall.

6. The dispenser and container of claim 1, wherein the plurality of moisture-sensitive packages each containing a detergent which can be added to a solvent to form a cleaning solution.

7. The dispenser and container of claim 1, wherein the dispenser is made of a cardboard material.

8. The dispenser and container of claim 2, wherein the front drawer wall is substantially flush with said front container wall when in the first position, and the front drawer wall assumes an angle of approximately 30°

to 70°

with respect to the front container wall when in the second position.

9. A dispenser and container for moisture-sensitive packages, the dispenser having surfaces which form an enclosed rectangular volume, comprising:

(a) an inclined ramp between the dispenser surfaces, the entire ramp being spaced above a bottom surface of the dispenser, the ramp having a lower portion proximate an exit aperture;

(b) a drawer wall which is formed integrally with the ramp, the wall substantially completely obstructing the aperture in a first position and permitting access through the aperture to the packages within the dispenser when the wall is pivoted to a second position;

(c) a cover which is formed integrally with a front surface of the container which contains the aperture, the cover being capable of substantially obstructing the aperture when the drawer wall is in the second position.

10. The dispenser and container of claim 9, further comprising a moisture impermeable liner, the moisture impermeable liner residing with an interior of the container.

11. The dispenser and container of claim 9, further comprising a cover indentation formed within a leading edge of the aperture cover, the cover indentation facilitating movement of the cover.

12. The dispenser and container of claim 11, wherein a wall indentation is formed in a front wall, thereby facilitating movement of the front wall.

13. The dispenser and container of claim 9, wherein the dispenser is made of a cardboard material.

14. The dispenser and container of claim 9, wherein a front surface of the drawer wall is substantially flush with a front wall of the container when in the first position, and the front surface of the drawer wall assumes an angle of approximately 30°

to 70°

with respect to the front container wall when in the second position.

15. A dispenser and container, comprising:

(a) front, rear an side container walls interconnected along parallel fold liens and defining an open ended enclosure, there being a total of four container walls;

(b) flap elements forming a closure for an upper ned an a lower end of said open ended enclosure, thereby forming an enclosed rectangular volume;

(c) a drawer structure, the drawer structure being elevated above the lower end of the container, the drawer structure including an inclined ramp, the entire ramp being spaced above a bottom surface of the container, the ramp being integral with and pivotable with respect to a front drawer wall of the drawer wall of the drawer structure;

(d) a plurality of moisture-sensitive packages, each containing a detergent which can be added to a solvent to form a cleaning solution; and

(e) an aperture formed within the front wall of the container, the aperture being located adjacent to the drawer structure and the lower portion of the ramp.