A tablet dispenser

Abstract

 The present invention relates to a tablet dispenser (10), specifically to a tablet dispenser (10), for toilet bowl or for an automatic dish washing machine. The tablet dispenser (10) according to the present invention comprises means (11) for holding said tablet dispenser (10) such that a tablet (5) is gradually dissolved in a liquid medium when said tablet dispenser (10) is in use. Said means (11) for holding said tablet dispenser (10) comprises means for covering a tablet and which protects the tablet from the exterior when said tablet dispenser (10) is not in use without any need of an additional secondary package.

Description

Field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a tablet dispenser, like, for example, a dispenser of a solid cleaning and/or 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 medium.

Background of the invention

[0002] Cleaning and/or deodorant compositions formed in solids such as bars or beads or tablets or blocks or briquettes are known in the art. In the following, the term "tablet" will refer to any form of particulate solids. The tablet provides a number of advantages to both the consumer and the manufacturer. Indeed, said tablet prevents spillage of the cleaning and/or deodorant composition. Furthermore, said tablet eliminates the need for the user to estimate the dosage of the cleaning and/or deodorant composition required and ensures that the correct dosage of cleaning and/or deodorant composition is used.

[0003] 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 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.

[0004] 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 dispensers are 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 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-like 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, inter alia, humidity, moisture, perfume loss and/or oxidation of various ingredients of the tablet like perfumes.

[0005] The secondary package, however, has the following disadvantages. In the manufacturing of the finished product the dispenser containing the tablet and the corresponding secondary package have to be produced independently from each other. Indeed, usually two different machines and two different materials are needed to make the dispenser containing the tablet and the corresponding secondary package. Furthermore, the dispenser has to be put into or assembled 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 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 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 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.

[0006] 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

[0007] The present invention is a tablet dispenser comprising means for holding said tablet dispenser such that a tablet is gradually dissolved in a liquid 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.

[0008] In a further aspect of the present invention methods of making a tablet dispenser are disclosed. These methods include the step of thermoforming 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.

[0009] In an even further aspect of the present invention the use of a tablet 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 automatic dish washing machine is disclosed.

Brief description of the figures

[0010] Figure 1a is a perspective front view of a closed tablet dispenser according to the present invention. Figure 1b 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 1a in its open position. Figure 1d illustrates a side view of the tablet dispenser of Figure 1a placed under the rim of a toilet bowl shown in a cross sectional view.

[0011] Figure 2a is a perspective front view of another closed tablet dispenser according to the present invention. Figure 2b is again a perspective front 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.

[0012] Figures 3a to 3e represent a possible manufacturing process of the tablet dispensers of Figures 1 and 2.

[0013] 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 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.

[0014] Figure 5a is a perspective front view of another closed tablet dispenser 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.

[0015] Figures 6a to 6b represent a possible manufacturing process of the tablet dispenser of Figures 5.

[0016] Figure 7a shows in a perspective front view the open position of a 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.

[0017] Figures 8a to 8c show in perspective front views and a side view another tablet dispenser according to the present invention. Figures 8d to 8f show in perspective front views and a side view another tablet dispenser according to the present invention.

[0018] 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 Figure 9a.

[0019] Figure 10a shows the plane view of blank which can be formed into a tablet dispenser according to the present invention. Figure 10b shows in a perspective front view the tablet dispenser formed from Figure 10a in its closed position.

[0020] Figure 11a shows the plane view of blank which can be formed into a tablet dispenser. Figures 11b to 10e show in a perspective plan view the various manufacturing steps to form a tablet dispenser from the blank of Figure 11a.

[0021] Figure 12a 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 12a.

Detailed description of the invention

[0022] 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 holding said tablet dispenser (11) and outer walls (12). Preferably, said outer walls define a rectangularly shaped container (Fig. 1b, 12'). Said outer walls contain the tablet. One half of said outer walls further comprise orifices (14), as shown in Figure 1c. Said orifices allow the dispensing of the dissolved part of the tablet. Said means for holding said 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 that one half of outer walls is completely covered. In this manner, said orifices (Fig. 1c, 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 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.

[0023] At the same time, the dimensions of said clip (11') should correspond 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 1d. Another possibility is to 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 than the width of the rim when said clip is not flexed.

[0024] Preferably, said clip is U-shaped, as shown in Figure 1b. 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 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 tablet dispenser is applied. Figure 1d 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 dispenser.

[0025] Said transition piece (15) is a frame defining a free space (15'). Said free space is such that said outer walls (12) are able to pass at least partially through said free space between said frame. Said transition piece 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 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 get this tablet dispenser in its closed position as shown in Figure 1a 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 again the open position of Figure 1c.

[0026] Preferably, said outer walls (12) 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, 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 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.

[0027] If said outer walls (12) comprise orifices on any other side of said outer 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 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 all the remaining orifices are covered protecting the tablet from the exterior. Said plastic sheet may be provided with an adhesive part such that said sheet may be adhesively attached on said clip or on said plastic sheet again once all the 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 preferably made of glue, 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.

[0028] 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 dispenser when 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.

[0029] There are different options to attach said tablet dispenser with said flexible sheet onto a structure. One possible way is illustrated in Figures 2b and 2c whereby the attachment means is an adhesive part (21). 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 different 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 2g. Said flexible sheet comprises, for example, a simple cut (23) through the thickness 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.

[0030] The flexible sheet (20) may be preferably made of a plastic material. This 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 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 liner of EVOH, for example, works as a barrier for moisture and perfume. Materials other than EVOH which provide a barrier for moisture and perfume 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 thickness of the material for said flexible sheet. Also biodegradable materials, like, for example, 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 toilet once the tablet has been completely dispensed. The means for holding said 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 soluble films Mowiol® 888 by Hoechst, KU HH40® by Soltech and Polyox® by Union Carbide.

[0031] The method 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 thermoforming (Fig. 3b). The thickness of the plastic sheet after thermoforming may be preferably within a range of about 10 µm to about 1 mm, more preferably within a range of about 20 µm to about 500 µm, most preferably within a range of about 20 µm to about 150 µm. In this manner parts of said plastic sheet are very 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 for holding 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 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 the thermoforming 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 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 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 said means for holding the tablet dispenser further comprises means for covering and protecting the tablet from the exterior to avoid deterioration, 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 of said flexible sheet is wrapped around said shells or outer walls closing said orifices.

[0032] 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 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. The pattern 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 (35). The restraining 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 arm remains on the top edge of said supporting structure. We found that this clip ensures the holding of a tablet dispenser.

[0033] The blank (31) is made of a material such that the blank can be resiliently 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 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 package.

[0034] 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 protecting the tablet from the exterior. An example of means for covering and protecting 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. The 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 unfolded clip is also shown in a perspective front view in Figure 5f.

[0035] 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 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, facilitating the unfolding of said means for holding 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.

[0036] 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 thermoforming. The thickness of the blank (31) of plastic of Figure 6a after thermoforming is again variable preferably within a range of about 10 µm to about 1 mm, more preferably within a range of about 20 µm to about 500 µm, most preferably within a range of about 20 µm to about 150 µm. 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 thermoforming 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 of part of blank the means for holding said tablet dispenser as described in Figures 4a and 4b is formed. Now the tablet of detergent and/or 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 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. 6b). When said means for holding the tablet dispenser further comprises means (41) for covering and protecting the tablet from the exterior in form of a flexible sheet, said flexible sheet is wrapped around said shells or outer walls closing said orifices.

[0037] As already discussed before, the means (11) for holding the tablet 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 to adapt to different sizes and dimensions without jeopardising a reliable holding of said tablet dispenser. The means for holding said tablet dispensers described in Figures 2a to 2d and in Figures 4a and 4b are such means fitting any toilet dimensions.

[0038] Another example is shown in Figures 7a and 7b. In this case the means (50) for holding said tablet dispenser comprises a plastic 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 facilitated. This enables an adjustment of the means for holding to the specific dimension of said supporting structure. Figure 7b illustrates 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 means for holding said tablet dispenser described in Figures 7a and 7b achieves a perfect fitting with a reliable holding. Said means for (50) for holding said tablet 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.

[0039] 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 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 (60). Preferably, the thickness of this flexible sheet is in the range of about 20 µm to 70 µm. This flexible sheet is wrapped around the tablet (5) to keep said tablet. 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 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).

[0040] Another possibility for said means for holding is at least a hole 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.

[0041] 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. This blank 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 lines (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 description, like for example in Figures 4a and 4b. Any of the back, bottom, front, top and side walls further comprises orifices (14).

[0042] This blank 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 of the box first the corresponding flaps of the top and bottom walls and then the corresponding side wall with its flap, as illustrated 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 9f).

[0043] 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 releasably attached to said 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.

[0044] 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 formed, 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 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).

[0045] 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 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 by bending 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.

Claims

1. A tablet dispenser (10) comprising means (11) for holding said tablet dispenser in a liquid medium when said tablet dispenser is in use, such that a tablet (5) is gradually dissolved in the liquid medium, characterized in that said means for holding said tablet dispenser comprises means (11, 20) for covering and protecting the tablet from the exterior to avoid deterioration when the tablet dispenser is not in use.

2. A tablet dispenser according to claim 1 characterized in that said means for covering and protecting a tablet is made of plastic film (20) wrapped around said tablet.

3. A tablet dispenser according to claim 2 characterized in that said plastic film (20) is at least partially adhesive.

4. A tablet dispenser according to any of claims 2 and 3 characterized in that said plastic film (20) is made of a shrinkable plastic film.

5. A tablet dispenser according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that said means for covering and protecting a tablet comprises means (36, 37) for tearing off said means for covering and protecting a tablet from said means (11) for holding said package.

6. A tablet dispenser according to claim 5 characterized in that said means for tearing off is a perforation line (37) between said means for covering and protecting a tablet and said means for holding said tablet dispenser.

7. A tablet dispenser according to claim 5 characterized in that said means for tearing off is an adhesive tape (36) between said means for covering and protecting a tablet and said means for holding said tablet dispenser.

8. A tablet dispenser according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that said means for holding said tablet dispenser is made of a plastic sheet, said plastic sheet being at least partially adhesive.

9. A tablet dispenser according to any of claims 1 to 7 characterized in that said means for holding said tablet dispenser is a clip.

10. A tablet dispenser according to claim 9 characterized in that said means for holding said tablet dispenser is made of a plastic sheet comprising cuts through said plastic sheet, said cuts are such that said clip is formed.

11. A tablet dispenser according to claim 9 characterized in that said means (50) for holding said tablet dispenser is made of a plastic sheet which can be bent.

12. A tablet dispenser according to any of claims 1 to 7 characterized in that said means for holding said tablet dispenser comprises at least a recess such that a hook engages said recess to hold said tablet dispenser.

13. A tablet dispenser according to any of the preceding claims characterized in that said tablet dispenser comprises a box, such that at least a tablet is contained in said box, said box comprising orifices through the thickness of said box.

14. A tablet dispenser according to claim 13 characterized in that said box is erected through folding.

15. A method for making a tablet dispenser according to any of the preceding claims comprising the following steps:

- preparing a sheet made of plastic material;

- thermoforming said tablet dispenser comprising shells to insert the tablet, said means for holding and said means for covering and protecting a tablet in one piece;

- cutting off and/or stamping out of orifices (14) in said tablet dispenser;

- inserting a tablet or beads in the shells ;

- sealing said shells together with the tablet contained within said shells; and

characterized in that said means for covering and protecting a tablet from the exterior closes said tablet dispenser.

16. A method for making a tablet dispenser according to any of claims 1 to 14 characterized in that said method comprises the following steps:

- preparing a sheet made of plastic material;

- cutting out said sheet such that a tablet dispenser comprising said means for holding and said means for covering and protecting a tablet can be formed;

- erecting a box from said cut out one piece sheet by folding determined walls and/or flaps along defined folding lines such that a tablet dispenser comprising said means for holding and said means for covering and protecting a tablet is formed;

- inserting at least a tablet(s) in said tablet dispenser; and

- closing said tablet dispenser with said means for covering and protecting, thereby covering and protecting the or every tablet from the exterior to avoid deterioration of the tablet when said tablet dispenser is not used.

17. A method for making a tablet dispenser according to any of claims 1 to 14 characterized in that said method comprises the following steps:

- preparing a sheet made of plastic material;

- cutting off and/or stamping out of orifices (14) in the dispensing unit part of said sheet;

- depositing a tablet or beads on the dispensing unit part of said sheet;

- wrapping and/or sealing said dispensing unit around said tablet or beads; and

- closing said tablet dispenser with said means for covering and protecting, thereby covering and protecting the or every tablet from the exterior to avoid deterioration of the tablet when said tablet dispenser is not used.

18. The use of the tablet dispenser according to any of claims 1 to 14 as a dispenser of a cleaning and/or deodorant product on toilet bowl rim.

19. The use of the tablet dispenser according to any of claims 1 to 14 as a dispenser of a cleaning and/or deodorant product in toilet flushing water tank.

20. The use of the package according to any of claims 1 to 14 as a dispenser of cleaning in an automatic dish washing machine.

Drawing