U.S. patent application number 11/722313 was filed with the patent office on 2009-12-10 for device for storing and dispensing in single units objects in the form of sheets or thin strips.
This patent application is currently assigned to AIRSEC. Invention is credited to Roger Nobilet, Benoit Portier.
Application Number | 20090302048 11/722313 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34952642 |
Filed Date | 2009-12-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090302048 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nobilet; Roger ; et
al. |
December 10, 2009 |
DEVICE FOR STORING AND DISPENSING IN SINGLE UNITS OBJECTS IN THE
FORM OF SHEETS OR THIN STRIPS
Abstract
The invention concerns a device, such as a box, for storing and
dispensing in single-units objects in the form of sheets, wafers,
thin strips or platelets, with planar geometry in particular
square, rectangular, polygonal, circular, elliptical, enabling said
objects to be dispensed individually in single units, comprising:
a) storage means such as a container with a lid, containing the
objects to be dispensed, stored stacked on one another on a storage
surface, said storage means including a surface for guiding the
objects to be dispensed and a dispensing opening enabling the
objects to be dispensed individually in single units; b) dispensing
means bade of a flexible, deformable, mobile driving element,
having one of its ends in contact with the object to be driven,
along at least one transverse tangential contact line, and whereof
the longitudinal cross-section is S- or nearly U-shaped.
Inventors: |
Nobilet; Roger; (Chelles,
FR) ; Portier; Benoit; (Bourges, FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz PC;Att: Docketing Sixth Floor
555 11th Street N.W.
Washington
DC
20004
US
|
Assignee: |
AIRSEC
|
Family ID: |
34952642 |
Appl. No.: |
11/722313 |
Filed: |
December 21, 2001 |
PCT Filed: |
December 21, 2001 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/FR2005/003221 |
371 Date: |
August 4, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
221/1 ;
221/259 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 83/0829 20130101;
B65D 83/087 20130101; B65D 2583/0481 20130101; A61F 15/002
20130101; B65D 81/264 20130101; B65D 2215/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
221/1 ;
221/259 |
International
Class: |
B65D 83/08 20060101
B65D083/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 21, 2004 |
FR |
0413639 |
Claims
1. A box-type storage and dispensing device for objects in the form
of sheets, small plates, strips or thin bands having a planar
geometry, the device capable of dispensing said objects one-by-one,
comprising: a container-type storage means with a lid, containing
the objects to be dispensed, stored stacked on top of one another
on a storage surface, said storage means including a guide surface
for guiding objects to be dispensed and a dispensing opening
enabling the objects being dispensed to pass through one-by-one,
and a dispensing means, wherein said dispensing means comprises a
flexible, deformable and movable drive element, the contact of an
end of the flexible, deformable and movable drive element with the
upper face of the object to be dispensed being a transverse
surface-to-surface contact along at least one tangential line,
having a static friction coefficient higher than the static
friction coefficient existing between two facing surfaces of two
contiguous objects to be dispensed, and a longitudinal cross
section of the flexible, deformable and movable drive element being
"S" shaped or nearly "U" shaped.
2. The storage and dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the
flexible, deformable drive element takes the shape of a finger
having a circular, elliptical or polygonal cross section, the
downstream end of which is equipped with a transverse bar
perpendicular to a longitudinal axis, ensuring transverse
surface-to-surface contact with the object to be dispensed, along
at least one tangential line.
3. The storage and dispensing device of claim 2, wherein the
flexible, deformable drive element is a thin blade, of a constant
width over the entire length of said flexible element, or having an
even or uneven narrowing.
4. The storage and dispensing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the flexible, deformable, movable drive element is preferably
triangular, rectangular or "T" shaped.
5. The storage and dispensing device of claim 4, wherein, when the
flexible, deformable, movable drive element has a rectangular
shape, and a width at most equal to a value very slightly lower
than the width L of the container.
6. The storage and dispensing device of claim 4, wherein, when the
flexible, deformable, movable drive element has a triangular shape,
the base of the triangle forming a transverse contact with the
object to be extracted.
7. The storage and dispensing device of claim 4, wherein, when the
flexible, deformable, movable drive element has a "T" shape, a
transverse bar of the "T" forms a transverse contact with an object
to be dispensed, wherein the bar has a length at most equal to a
value very slightly lower than the width L of the container.
8. The storage and dispensing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the transverse contact surface with an object to be dispensed has a
width between 0.25 times the width L of the container and a length
very slightly less than said width L of the container.
9. The storage and dispensing device of claim 8, wherein the length
is preferably between 0.6 L and a length very slightly less than
said width L of the container.
10. The storage and dispensing device as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the container-type storage means comprises a bottom formed
by the combination of two contiguous surfaces, one being the
storage surface and the other being the guide surface.
11. The storage and dispensing device as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the storage surface, forming a supporting surface on which
the objects to be dispensed are stacked, is a generally planar
inclined surface forming an acute angle with the plane formed by
the lid, and is contiguous with the guide surface.
12. The storage and dispensing device as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the storage surface forming a supporting surface on which
objects to be dispensed are stacked is a surface parallel to the
plane of the lid and is contiguous with the guide surface.
13. The storage and dispensing device as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the guide surface is a developable curvilinear surface
forming an exit ramp and ending at the dispensing opening.
14. The storage and dispensing device as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the guide surface consists of one or more inclined planes
in relation to the plane formed by the lid at the dispensing
opening, so as to form a hopper.
15. The storage and dispensing device as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the container comprises two substantially parallel vertical
walls and a third vertical wall substantially perpendicular to the
two lateral walls, the third vertical wall positioned on a side
opposite the dispensing opening.
16. The storage and dispensing device as claimed in claim 15,
wherein the two walls and are converging.
17. The storage and dispensing device as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the container is closed at an upper portion by a fixed lid
equipped with a slide opening so as to enable the flexible,
deformable, movable drive element of the object to be dispensed to
be moved in translation inside of the slide opening.
18. The storage and dispensing device as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the container is closed at an upper portion by a lid
movable in translation in relation to the container.
19. The storage and dispensing device of claim 18, wherein the
device is equipped with a system for returning the lid to its
initial position, the system being located between the lid and the
container.
20. The storage and dispensing device of claim 18, wherein the lid
movable in translation in relation to the container comprises a
protuberance on an upper end surface, enabling the user to slide
the lid in relation to the container.
21. The storage and dispensing device as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the container is closed at an upper portion by a lid
movable in rotation in relation to the container.
22. The storage and dispensing device of claim 21, wherein the lid
is hinged completely, an axis of rotation being placed on one end
of the container.
23. The storage and dispensing device of claim 21, wherein the lid
is partially hinged, a portion of the lid being fixed in relation
to the container, and another portion of the lid rotating in
relation to the container, the axis of rotation being placed at a
location between two ends of the lid.
24. The storage and dispensing device as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the lid comprises a rib on an inside face, so as to hold
the flexible, deformable, movable drive element in contact with an
upper face of an object to be dispensed.
25. The storage and dispensing device of claim 18, wherein the lid
is assembled onto the container by a system for snapping on and
sliding along tracks with a stop limit device, the system capable
of fastening the lid and the container together without restricting
the ability of the lid to translate on the container.
26. The storage and dispensing device of claim 17, wherein the
fixed lid is assembled onto the container by a snap-on system.
27. The storage and dispensing device as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the storage and dispensing device comprises a slot-type
dispensing opening having edges forming open lips enabling objects
to be dispensed to pass through one-by-one.
28. The storage and dispensing device of claim 27, wherein the lips
of the dispensing opening are in the form of a chamfer, a bevel or
an offset of one of the lips in relation to the other.
29. The storage and dispensing device as claimed in claim 27,
wherein the slot-type dispensing opening is either an integral part
of the container, or an integral part of the lid, or is formed at
the intersection of the container and lid, during the assembly
thereof.
30. The storage and dispensing device as claimed in claim 1,
wherein a flexible flap is capable of concealing the dispensing
opening.
31. The storage and dispensing device as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the container and the lid are made of polymer materials
selected from the group of materials consisting of thermoplastic
polymers, polyolefins, polyethylenes, polypropylenes,
ethylene/propylene copolymers, polyamides (PA), polystyrenes (PS),
acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) copolymers,
styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN) copolymers, polymethyl methacrylates
(PMMA), polyethylene terephthalates (PET), polybutylene
terephthalates (PBT), polyacetals (POM), polyvinyl chlorides (PVC),
and polycarbonates (PC).
32. The storage and dispensing device as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the flexible, deformable, movable drive element is integral
with the movable portion of the lid when said lid is movable.
33. The storage and dispensing device of claim 17, wherein the
flexible, deformable, movable drive element is independent from the
lid when said lid is fixed.
34. The storage and dispensing device of claim 33, wherein the
flexible, deformable, movable drive element is equipped with a shoe
sliding inside an opening of the fixed lid.
35. The storage and dispensing device as claimed in claim 32,
wherein the flexible, deformable, movable drive element is made
with at least one material selected from the group of materials
having the characteristics peculiar to elastomeric
compositions.
36. The storage and dispensing device as claimed in claim 32,
wherein the flexible, deformable, movable drive element is a
mono-material formed from a single formulated elastomeric
thermoplastic material the thermoplastic material comprising at
least one thermoplastic elastomer and a rigid thermoplastic
compound.
37. The storage and dispensing device as claimed in claim 32,
wherein the flexible, deformable, movable drive element (14) is a
multi-material, and further comprises a core and a skin comprising
an elastomeric-type material.
38. The storage and dispensing device (1) as claimed in claim 36,
wherein elastomer material or materials are preferably selected
from the group consisting of elastomers of natural rubber,
synthetic rubber, mono-olefin rubbers, diene rubbers, condensation
product-based rubbers styrenic rubbers, and other block copolymers,
used alone or in a mixture, formulated or not.
39. The storage and dispensing device as claimed in claim 1,
wherein a child safety opening system is associated with the device
for storing and dispensing objects.
40. The storage and dispensing device of claim 39, wherein the
child safety opening system is a pushbutton forming an integral
part of a lid capable of combining a sustained vertical pressure
and a simultaneous translational movement to unlock the safety
system and to ensure operation of the dispensing device.
41. The storage and dispensing device as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the container and the lid are between said container and
said lid with an indicator of the container having been opened
prior to the first opening.
42. The storage and dispensing device as claimed in claim 39,
wherein the child safety opening system comprises separable
micro-points indicating a first opening, the micro-points
positioned between the pushbutton and a pushbutton housing.
43. The storage and dispensing device as claimed in claim 1,
wherein said storage and dispensing device is made desiccant by at
least one of the means comprising an internal coating of the bottom
of the container and/or of the internal surface of the wall of the
container and/or of the lid by means of a desiccant thermoplastic
polymer composition, the introduction of an insert into said
storage and dispensing device, the coating of the flexible,
deformable, movable drive element with an desiccant elastomeric
composition, and/or the introduction of a desiccant material placed
inside a special housing on the inside surface of the container
and/or the lid.
44. A method for dispensing objects comprising: obtaining the
storage and dispensing device as claimed in claim 1; and using the
device to dispense the objects in the form of sheets, small plates,
strips or thin bands, in the form of rigid strips or bands.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to a device for storing and dispensing
in single units singularized objects ranging from rigid to
flexible, objects in the form of sheets, small plates, thin strips
or bands, and the container for singularized objects equipped with
such a dispensing device.
[0002] Numerous objects in the form of sheets, small plates, thin
strips or bands are used as consumables. In particular, such
objects are test "strips" in the form of rigid strips or bands
used, for example, in the medical field for diagnostic or
monitoring purposes. Other relatively flexible objects to be
dispensed, having a square or rectangular shape, can also be in the
form of a thin sheet, either alone or along with their protective
packaging, e.g., bandages, transdermal patches or food products
such as chewing gum or the like.
[0003] For obvious reasons, hygiene in particular, but also to
prevent any degradation and to thus improve the shelf life of the
objects, the latter are placed away from outside pollution and/or
physicochemical attacks resulting from the level of relative
humidity, from light, in particular from UV rays, and other
chemical substances, or else degradation due to a mechanical
effect.
[0004] Likewise for reasons of hygiene, preservation and
protection, numerous storage and dispensing devices have been
devised in order to enable one-by-one dispensing of objects in the
form of sheets, small plates, thin strips or bands, so as to
dispense the exact number of objects required and to thereby
prevent any contamination due to an involuntary discharge of
objects.
[0005] When these objects are already prepackaged, the only
function to be fulfilled by these storage and dispensing devices is
that of containing a specific number of objects and of being
capable of dispensing them one at a time without having to open a
box constituting the most conventional form of packaging.
[0006] Such object-dispensing devices must be simple, inexpensive
to produce and easy to use.
PRIOR ART
[0007] Numerous devices for storing and dispensing objects having a
substantially flat shape are described in technical literature, in
particular in that consisting of published patent applications
and/or patents.
[0008] The simplest of systems for storing and dispensing, which
are specifically adapted to sheets or thin bands, operates by
combining pressure exerted on the stock of stacked sheets, from the
bottom to the top, and by partial opening of a lid, releasing a
portion of the sheets to be extracted, extraction of the sheets,
one-by-one, being performed manually by one of the user's fingers,
which causes the top sheet to slide onto the pack of sheets located
in the dispensing device.
[0009] Such a device increases the risk of contamination. When
grasping on to a sheet or, for example, a test strip, the user's
fingers come into contact with this strip or with the immediately
adjacent strip, at the risk of degrading or contaminating the
active surfaces of these sheets or strips by external
pollution.
[0010] According to a first document of the prior art (U.S. Pat.
No. 4,240,564) a device is described for storing and dispensing
leaves of soap in single units.
[0011] The storage and dispensing device appears to be composed of
a container, a lid with a dispensing slot, a spring device, making
it possible to hold the leaves stacked one on top of the other in a
position bearing against the lower face of the lid, an ejection
system coming to bear against the leaf of soap to be dispensed and
actuated by a pushbutton located on the upper face of the lid.
[0012] Each leaf is partially translated towards the exterior of
the container by means of the ejection system, so as to enable it
to be grasped by the user.
[0013] This dispensing device has numerous technical drawbacks, one
of which, for example, is the fact that it seems incapable of
dispensing objects in the form of very thin and/or flexible sheets;
because, in this case, several sheets can be pushed out of the
container simultaneously.
[0014] Furthermore, this device is also complex and relatively
costly to produce because it requires the use of a device for
extracting the leaves by means of a sliding system, which is
equipped with a sliding blade of small thickness, pressing on the
leaf to be dispensed, with a spring system for holding the leaves
in a position bearing against one another, and with a lid having
complex kinematics.
[0015] Finally, if several leaves are extracted simultaneously,
without being able to control the number thereof, there is some
risk of damaging them when they are reintegrated into the
container, making the dispensing system even more random.
[0016] None of the devices derived from or similar to those of the
prior art provide satisfactory results, because these devices do
not make it possible to control the number of sheet objects
extracted from the container when they are of a very fine
thickness. Furthermore, such devices do not make it possible to
guarantee the absence of pollution or soiling of sheets extracted
unexpectedly and then reintroduced into the container, because, due
to their excess number they are unused, thereby deteriorating the
quality of the stored sheets.
[0017] Another document (FR 2 709 475) describes a card dispenser
the card discharge of which is carried out by means of a push-type
pin, sliding into a longitudinal opening of the dispenser lid. Said
push-type pin is integral with a blade having an elastic memory
effect, which is in a near linear position, with an almost infinite
radius of curvature when the stack of cards is at its maximum, and
which takes the shape of an arc of circle with an increasingly
shorter radius of curvature and oriented towards the bottom of the
receptacle, when the stack of cards disappears. The end of this
blade is provided with an end-piece having a high friction
coefficient, and being in contact with the stack of cards.
[0018] Thus, the plate equipped with an end-piece having a high
coefficient of friction is composed of two materials, and has a
relatively pronounced arc of circle shape depending on the
thickness of the stack of cards.
[0019] Another document (GB 2 210 603) describes a card dispenser,
the discharging of which is carried out by means of a flexible
movable drive element, which is composed of a spring-blade and a
rubber end-piece, integral with said blade. This flexible movable
drive element is actuated by a movable pin sliding in a guide
opening of the lid, in a horizontal longitudinal motion. Said
spring-blade and the rubber end-piece to which it is joined both
bear against the stack of cards, and ensure the extraction of one
card on demand.
[0020] It can be made noticed that the flexible movable drive
element is made from two materials, one of which is rubber. The
flexible movable drive element, namely the spring-blade associated
with a rubber end-piece, is in a straight position between the
stack of cards and the inside face of the lid, the curvature of the
spring-blade being pointed in the direction opposite the discharge
direction of the cards.
[0021] Another document (WO 2004/024593) describes a dispenser for
thin sheets, the extraction of which, in single units, is carried
out by means of an ejector, formed by a longitudinally movable lid,
a flexible portion in the form of a hollow half-sphere integral
with said movable lid, and an appendage inside of and integral with
said hollow half-sphere. In order to cause a sheet to be dispensed,
the user acts by pressing on the ejector, the hollow half-sphere of
which, under action of this pressure, is crushed and pushes the
appendage out vertically. The downstream end of this appendage
comes into contact with the stack of sheets, is deformed thereon,
taking an "L" shape in the direction of discharge, thereby pulling
along a sheet, owing to the translational movement of the lid,
which simultaneously closes the container again.
[0022] Originally vertical, it appears that the movable drive
element is not in permanent contact with the object being pulled
along, that it takes the shape of the letter "L," as soon as it is
in contact with said object, and that it requires two simultaneous
movements in order to extract the sheet, one vertical and the other
horizontal.
[0023] Finally, a last document (U.S. Pat. No. 3,517,855) describes
a complex dispensing system implementing multiple assembled
mechanical parts. A vertically downward movement of a pushbutton is
transformed into a horizontal movement, owing to a rack and pinion
system. A spring enables the backward return of the pushbutton by
exercising a spring force in the upward vertical direction. In this
document, it is a matter of a complex mechanical system and not a
deformable movable element.
[0024] Thus, the prior art reveals that the flexible movable drive
element can either be made of several types of materials, or
consist of a complex mechanical system. But, these
object-dispensing devices appear to be complex in design, expensive
to produce, and difficult to handle when the sheets being extracted
are of a small thickness and flexible.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0025] The problem is to produce a device for dispensing objects in
the form of sheets, small plates, strips or thin bands, which can
be rigid as well as semi-rigid to flexible, having a planar
geometry, in particular substantially square, rectangular,
polygonal, circular or elliptical, which makes it possible not only
to dispense these objects one-by-one, but also to resolve all or
some of the previously stated drawbacks.
[0026] As a matter of fact, such objects, by reason of their
geometry (small thickness) and their mechanical properties (modulus
of rigidity) cannot be dispensed by the devices described in the
prior art, i.e., by devices pushing such objects via the rear
section in order to ensure the movement thereof.
[0027] By small thickness, it is understood to mean objects the
thickness of which is less than 2 mm, preferably less than 1 mm and
very preferably less than 0.5 mm.
[0028] These objects are in the form of a stack arranged inside a
storage container and have the ability to slide over one another.
They have a static friction coefficient, which is constant and
known and of a relatively low value, between the upper surface of
one and the lower surface of the other which is immediately
adjacent to it.
[0029] By static friction coefficient it is understood to mean the
force initially measured for horizontally moving a body of a given
weight, which is coated with a particular surface, over another
surface, whereas the dynamic friction coefficient corresponds to
the measurement of this same force when the sliding movement is
initiated. These coefficients vary on the basis of the types of
material and the surface states, but also on the basis of
temperatures, the time during which the two materials were in
contact and the pressure exerted by the moving body on the planar
sliding surface. The dynamic friction coefficient is generally
lower than the static friction coefficient.
[0030] Such a dispensing device can be designed to be able to be
operated with a single hand, thereby facilitating its operation,
the other hand being free to ensure grasping of the dispensed
object. However, in the case where a child safety device might be
present, this arrangement does not apply, because both hands are
required for the operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0031] Consequently, the invention relates to a box-type storage
and dispensing device for objects in the form of sheets, small
plates, strips or thin bands which can be rigid as well as
semi-rigid to flexible, having a planar geometry, in particular
substantially square, rectangular, polygonal, circular or
elliptical, making it possible to dispense said objects to be
dispensed one-by-one, comprising: [0032] a container-type storage
means with a lid, containing the objects to be dispensed, stored
stacked on top of one another on a storage surface, said storage
means including a surface for guiding the objects to be dispensed
and a dispensing opening enabling the objects being dispensed to
pass through one-by-one, [0033] and a dispensing means,
characterized in that said dispensing means consists of a flexible,
deformable and movable drive element, one of the ends of which is
in contact with the object being driven, along at least one
tangential transverse line of contact in relation to the
longitudinal axis of discharge of the object, and the longitudinal
cross section of which is "S" shaped or nearly "U" shaped.
[0034] Another object of the invention is the use of the storage
and dispensing device for dispensing objects in the form of sheets,
small plates, strips or thin bands, such as test "strips" in the
form of rigid strips or bands used, for example, in the medical
field for diagnostic or monitoring purposes, or for square or
rectangular objects to be dispensed, also possibly being in the
form of a thin sheet, either alone or along with their protective
packaging, in particular bandages, transdermal patches, or food
products, in particular chewing gum or the like. Thus, this
object-dispensing device is used for separating and dispensing
one-by-one a stock of objects to be dispensed which are stored
stacked, awaiting use and protected from the outside
environment.
[0035] The container-type storage means, hereinafter designated as
a container, comprises a bottom formed by the combination of two
contiguous surfaces, one being the storage surface and the other
being the guide surface.
[0036] The storage surface, consisting of a supporting surface on
which the objects to be dispensed are stacked, is a generally
planar surface which can be inclined, then forming an acute angle
with the plane formed by the lid when extended in the direction of
the dispensing opening or parallel to the plane of the lid; the
storage surface is contiguous with the guide surface. This storage
surface is preferably inclined so as to pre-orient the objects to
be dispensed in relation to the guide surface.
[0037] The guide surface is preferably a developable curvilinear
surface, constituting a discharge ramp ending at the dispensing
opening, and is more particularly a cylinder segment whose plane of
tangency at the connection of the guide surface with the dispensing
opening forms an angle with the plane formed by the lid at the
opening, of between 10.degree. and 90.degree. and preferably
between 45.degree. and 60.degree..
[0038] The guide surface can also consist of one or more planes
inclined in relation to the plane formed by the lid at the
dispensing opening, so as to form a hopper making it possible to
guide the object being dispensed. When the guide surface forms a
single dihedral having a sharp edge consisting of the dispensing
slot, the angle of inclination of the guide surface in relation to
the plane formed by the lid and passing through the dispensing slot
is then generally between 20.degree. and 60.degree. and preferably
45.degree..
[0039] The guide surfaces can have any other shapes enabling the
function of guiding the objects in the direction of the dispensing
slot.
[0040] In order to promote the guide function, the guide surfaces
are preferably made of rigid materials which enable easy sliding of
the objects being dispensed. The guide surfaces for the objects
being dispensed can also be treated, e.g., by graining, so that the
coefficient of friction measured between the lower surface of the
object being dispensed and the inner face of the container also
makes it possible for the last object being dispensed to slide over
the inside surface of the container.
[0041] The container also comprises two substantially parallel
vertical walls making it possible to partially close the container
and to position the objects to be dispensed laterally. The
container also comprises a third vertical wall substantially
perpendicular to the two lateral walls, depending on aesthetic
considerations for the container-dispenser, which is positioned on
the side opposite the dispensing opening against which the objects
to be dispensed come to bear via their edge.
[0042] According to another embodiment, the two walls making it
possible to partially close the container and to position the
objects to be dispensed laterally are converging.
[0043] Furthermore, the third wall, which is perpendicular to the
two lateral walls, can either form a right angle with the plane of
the lid, or form an acute or obtuse angle with the plane of the
lid.
[0044] Such a container will advantageously be produced by any
injection or thermoforming technique, from thermoplastic materials
having a certain degree of rigidity.
[0045] The container is closed at its upper portion by a lid:
[0046] which can be fixed and is then equipped with a slide slot so
as to enable the flexible, deformable, movable drive element of the
object to be dispensed to be moved in translation inside of this
guide opening, [0047] which can be movable in rotation or in
translation in relation to the container.
[0048] In the case where the lid is movable in rotation, it can be
hinged completely or partially along an axis positioned on the
container. [0049] When the lid is hinged completely, the axis of
rotation, for example of the integral hinge-type, can be placed at
one of the ends of the container, on the side of the dispensing
opening. [0050] When the lid is partially hinged, i.e., a portion
of the lid is fixed in relation to the container, and the other
portion rotates in relation to this container, the axis of
rotation, for example of the integral hinge-type, can be placed at
a location between the two ends of the lid.
[0051] In the case of a lid movable in rotation, the object to be
extracted from the container can be extracted at one or the other
of the ends of said container.
[0052] A system for returning the movable part of the lid in
rotation may be present in the form of an appropriate means such
as, for example, a spring or a deformable integrated strip or
others.
[0053] When the lid is movable in translation, it may possibly
comprise a protuberance on its upper end surface, enabling the user
to slide the lid in relation to the container.
[0054] A system, such as for example a return spring, for returning
the movable in translation lid to its initial position, may
possibly be present between the lid and the container.
[0055] The lid, whether it be fixed or movable, may possibly
comprise a rib on its inside face, so as to hold the flexible,
deformable, movable drive element in contact with the upper face of
the object to be dispensed. The flexible, deformable, movable drive
element may also be permanently held in contact with the upper face
of the object to be dispensed owing to its own weight, in
particular in the absence of a rib.
[0056] In the case of a fixed lid, the lid may be assembled onto
the container by any fast assembly technique, such as by snapping
on or by any other assembly means, e.g., a weld seam. In the case
of a movable lid, the fast assembly means, such as snapping on or
the like, is associated with a system for guiding in relation to
the container.
[0057] A system for snapping on and sliding along tracks with a
stop limit device makes it possible to firmly fasten the lid and
the container together without thereby restricting the ability of
the lid to translate on the container.
[0058] The lid is preferably made of an injection-molded or
thermoformed rigid polymer material.
[0059] Desirable polymer materials for producing the container and
the lid are generally and not exclusively selected from the group
of materials consisting of thermoplastic polymers, including, in
particular, polyolefins such as polyethylenes, polypropylenes,
ethylene/propylene copolymers and their mixtures, polyamides (PA),
polystyrenes (PS), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS)
copolymers, styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN) copolymers, polymethyl
methacrylates (PMMA), polyethylene terephthalates (PET),
polybutylene terephthalates (PBT), polyacetals (POM), polyvinyl
chlorides (PVC), polycarbonates (PC).
[0060] The container and the lid may also accommodate, between said
container and said lid, an indicator of the container having been
opened prior to the first opening. This tamperproof means or else
tamperproof seal, consists, for example, of micro-ties joining all
or a portion of the lower peripheral surface of the lid to all or a
portion of the upper peripheral surface of, for example, a ring or
collar or any anchoring system fastening the lid onto the
container. These micro-ties are micro-points of connection,
separate from one another, but which form a periphery or a single
toothed connecting area between the movable lid and the ring or
collar or system fastening the lid to the container or between the
flexible movable drive element and the container or the integral
lid.
[0061] These micro-points are broken during the first opening via
application of a tearing force exerted in the horizontal direction
on the lid or on the flexible, deformable, movable drive
element.
[0062] The flexible, deformable, movable drive element is made of
at least one flexible material and is capable of bending without
permanent deformation. It may have an "S" or near "U" shape when
viewed as a longitudinal cross section. It may have various shapes
such as, for example: [0063] that of a finger having a circular,
elliptical or polygonal cross section, the downstream end of which
being provided with a transverse bar perpendicular to its
longitudinal axis, [0064] or that of a thin blade. The length of
said transverse bar or the width of said thin blade can be at most
equal to that of the container.
[0065] When the flexible, deformable, movable drive element is a
thin blade, the width of the thin blade can be constant over the
entire length of the flexible element or else have an even or
uneven narrowing.
[0066] The shapes of the flexible element are preferably
rectangular, triangular, or "T" shaped. [0067] When the flexible
element is a rectangle, its width providing the transverse
tangential contact is at most equal to a value very slightly lower
than the width L of the container, [0068] When the flexible element
is a triangle, the large base of the triangle at least forms the
transverse tangential line of contact with the object to be
extracted, [0069] When the flexible element has the shape of the
letter "T," the transverse bar of the "T" at least forms the
transverse tangential line of contact with the object to be
dispensed, and this bar has a length at most equal to a value very
slightly lower than the width L of the container.
[0070] This flexible, deformable, movable drive element has the
characteristic of being in permanent contact with the object to be
driven, during the movement along at least one transverse
tangential line of contact in relation to the longitudinal axis of
discharge of said object, and of thereby having the ability to
translate the object to be dispensed, while continuing to bear
against its surface.
[0071] According to the invention, the transverse tangential
contact in relation to the longitudinal axis of discharge of the
object may be extended to a contact surface with the object to be
dispensed, according to the "surface-to-surface" mode.
[0072] Thus, the transverse tangential line of contact or the
"surface-to-surface" type transverse tangential contact surface
with the object to be dispensed, in relation to the longitudinal
axis of discharge of the object, have a length of between 0.25
times the length L of the container and a length very slightly less
than the width L of the container. Said length is preferably
between 0.6 L and 1 L.
[0073] The surface of the flexible, deformable, movable drive
element also has the characteristic of having a static friction
coefficient, when determined with respect to the upper face of the
object to be driven, which is greater than the static friction
coefficient existing between the two opposing surfaces of the two
contiguous objects (n) and (n-1) to be dispensed. It may or may not
be integral with the lid, depending on whether the latter is
movable or not, i.e., the flexible, deformable, movable drive
element is integral with the lid when said lid is movable and is
independent from the lid when said lid is fixed.
[0074] In the case of a lid movable in rotation in relation to the
container, the flexible, deformable, movable drive element is
integral with the movable portion of the lid.
[0075] In the case of a lid movable in translation in relation to
the container, the flexible, deformable, movable drive element is
integral with the movable lid.
[0076] When the flexible, deformable, movable drive element is
independent from the lid, it is then equipped with a shoe sliding
inside the opening of the fixed lid, the shoe being moved manually
via a back-and-forth movement of the user's finger.
[0077] The flexible, deformable, movable drive element may be made
from at least one material coming from the group of materials
having characteristics peculiar to elastomeric compositions, i.e.,
having a modulus of rigidity close to those of elastomers, an
ability to recover its initial shape without hysteresis, a
coefficient of friction greater than that generally obtained on
rigid thermoplastics, and a "Shore" hardness also less than those
considered for rigid thermoplastics.
[0078] The flexible, deformable, movable drive element may be a
mono-material, i.e., formed from a single formulated elastomeric
thermoplastic material, in the form of a suitable composition, in
terms of mechanical properties and coefficient of friction
properties, using at least one thermoplastic elastomer and another
rigid thermoplastic compound, preferably of the olefinic type or
may be multi-material, i.e., including a core made of one type of
material and a skin made of another type of elastomeric-type
material, so as to separate the mechanical properties from the
surface properties, and thus be capable of possibly being obtained
via other techniques such as coating. The areas made of elastic
materials may then be formed from at least one thermoplastic
elastomer of natural or synthetic origin. The elastomer or
elastomers used may be selected preferably from the group
consisting of elastomers of the natural rubber type, synthetic
rubber, in particular mono-olefin rubbers, e.g., such as
isobutylene/isoprene polymers, ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA),
ethylene propylene (EPR), ethylene-propylene-diene (EPDM),
ethylene-acrylic esters (EMA-EEA), fluoro-polymers, diene rubbers,
e.g., such as polybutadiene, styrene-butadiene rubber copolymers
(SBR), condensation product-based rubbers, e.g., such as polyester
and polyurethane thermoplastic rubbers, silicones, styrenic
rubbers, such as styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS),
styrene-isoprene-styrene (SIS), styrene-ethylene-butadiene-styrene
(SEBS) and other block copolymers, used alone or in a mixture,
formulated or not.
[0079] The mode of production may also be that of the injection
molding of thermoplastics or the extrusion and cutting out of a
sheet via any extrusion or calendaring technique.
[0080] However, and in one preferred embodiment, when the flexible,
deformable, movable drive element is integral with the movable lid,
it is then preferable to consider the bi-material injection molding
techniques for producing, in a single operation, the assembly
consisting of the flexible, deformable, movable drive element and
the lid. The lid is then made of a rigid thermoplastic material,
and the flexible movable drive element of a composition formulated
from thermoplastic elastomers combined with polyolefins, for
example.
[0081] When the flexible, deformable, movable drive element is
independent from the fixed lid and has a guide shoe, then the shoe
is made of a rigid material and a part such as this is obtained via
bi-material injection molding; it may also be made of a
mono-material formulated so as to obtain a compromise between the
need to slide the shoe inside its groove and the need for a
suitable coefficient of friction with respect to the object to be
dispensed, which it must drive along.
[0082] The dispensing opening enabling the objects to be dispensed
to pass through one-by-one is preferably a slot-type opening the
edges of which form open lips, possibly having the ability of being
concealed by a flexible flap, for the purpose of making the entire
device reasonably tight, without requiring a high pressing force in
order to open it.
[0083] The geometry of the lips of the dispensing opening may be
such that it promotes the discharge of the object to be dispensed,
i.e., that it is in the form of a chamfer, a bevel or an offset of
one of the lips in relation to the other.
[0084] The dispensing opening preferably has a slot shape, with
dimensions that enable the passage of a single object at a time.
However, when the lid is pulled back in order to then be closed
again, the dispensing opening may be formed by this gap between the
container and lid in the process of being closed. When the
dispensing opening is of the slot type, its width and its thickness
are generally slightly greater than the width and the thickness of
the object to be dispensed.
[0085] The slot-shaped opening can be an integral part of the
container, an integral part of the lid or be formed at the
intersection of the two portions of the container-dispenser,
container and lid, during the assembly thereof.
[0086] When a flexible flap of small thickness conceals the
dispensing slot, the flexible flap will advantageously be formed
from molded elastomeric materials, via bi-material injection
molding techniques, at the same time as may be the flexible,
deformable, movable drive element.
[0087] A child safety opening system may possibly be associated
with the device for storing and dispensing objects in single
units.
[0088] Said child safety opening for making the lid closure
difficult or even impossible for children to open, may be installed
plumb over the lid. This device may be a pushbutton forming an
integral part of the lid and making it possible, by combining a
sustained vertical pressure and a simultaneous translational
movement, to unlock the safety system and to ensure operation of
the dispenser. The pushbutton is in perfect alignment with the lid
when said button is in locked position, and is slightly protruding
in relation to the upper end surface of the lid when it is in
unlocked position.
[0089] In the case where a child safety opening system is present,
the user unlocks it by exerting vertical pressure on the
pushbutton. The system can also comprise separable micro-points
indicating a first opening, which are positioned between the
pushbutton and its housing.
[0090] Products particularly sensitive to ambient moisture are
numerous and may more precisely be for example, medicated materials
which may also be in the form of test strips or the like.
[0091] The device may then comprise a desiccant container and/or a
desiccant lid and/or a desiccant flexible, deformable, movable
drive element to the extent that a certain degree of leak-tightness
for storing products sensitive to ambient moisture is possible when
the dispensing opening has the capability of being re-closed either
by means of a flap or when closed by a closure made integral or not
with the device.
[0092] These containers are made desiccant by at least one of the
means consisting of an internal coating of the bottom of the
container and/or of the internal surface of the wall of the
container and/or of the lid by means of a desiccant thermoplastic
polymer composition, the introduction of an insert into said
container-dispenser, the coating of the flexible, deformable,
movable drive element with a desiccant elastomeric composition,
and/or the introduction of a desiccant material placed inside a
special housing on the inside surface of the container and/or the
lid.
[0093] All of these desiccant means are installed separately or
simultaneously, in order to increase the effectiveness of their
dehydrating action by mass effect.
[0094] During the dispensing operation, by exerting a translational
movement on the flexible, movable drive element, in relation to the
container, either directly, if the lid is fixed, or by means of the
movable lid, when said flexible means is integral with the lid, the
object n which is situated at the top of the stack will be enabled
to slide over the object positioned immediately underneath n-1, the
object n thus selected being guided to the discharge slot, owing to
the guide surface formed by the curvilinear bottom of the
container. The selected object n thus guided is pushed partially
outward from the slot in order to enable the user to grasp on to
it.
[0095] By reversing the direction of translation of the flexible,
deformable, movable drive element, the drive element resumes its
initial position, but cannot move the object n-1 because the object
n-1 abuts against the wall of the container opposite the side on
which the dispensing slot is situated. The dynamic friction
coefficient between the flexible movable drive element and the
upper face of the object n-1 is sufficiently low so as to not cause
a risk of deforming the object n-1, when the latter abuts against
the wall of the container.
[0096] Other advantages of the dispenser for objects in the form of
very thin, rigid, semi-rigid or flexible sheets, small plates,
strips or small strips or bands according to the invention, will
become apparent upon reading the detailed exemplary embodiment of
the invention, while referring to the drawings given for
illustrative purposes, in which:
[0097] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a storage and dispensing
device equipped with its dispensing device;
[0098] FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of a storage and dispensing
device in its neutral position;
[0099] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of a storage and dispensing
device in its open position;
[0100] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of a storage and dispensing
device in its once again closed position, after translation of the
object being dispensed.
[0101] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a storage and dispensing
device according to another embodiment.
[0102] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a storage and dispensing
device according to another embodiment.
[0103] FIG. 7 shows a sectional view of a storage and dispensing
device according to the embodiment of FIG. 6, in its neutral
position.
[0104] FIG. 8 shows a sectional view of a storage and dispensing
device according to the embodiment of FIG. 6, in its actuated
position.
[0105] FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the storage and
dispensing device according to another embodiment.
[0106] FIG. 10 shows a sectional view of the storage and dispensing
device of FIG. 9, in its actuated position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0107] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the storage and
dispensing device 1 including a container 2, a lid 3 equipped on
its upper end surface with a protuberance 4 enabling the user to
slide the lid, and with a child safety opening system 5.
[0108] This storage and dispensing device 1 consists of a open
container-type storage means 2 including a bottom 6 formed by a
inclined planar storage surface 7 inside the container, on which
the objects to be dispensed 8 are stacked, and by a so-called guide
surface 10 still inside the container and contiguous with the
storage surface 7. This storage surface 7, forming a supporting
surface for the objects to be dispensed 8, is inclined so as to
pre-orient the objects to be dispensed in relation to the
developable, curvilinear guide surface 10, forming a sort of exit
ramp.
[0109] The container also comprises two parallel vertical walls 11
and 12 making it possible to partially close the container and to
position the objects 8 laterally. The container also comprises a
third vertical wall 13 perpendicular to the first ones, positioned
on the side opposite the slot-shaped dispensing opening 9 on which
the objects to be dispensed come to bear via their edge.
[0110] As mentioned previously, the objects to be dispensed 8 are,
in this particular descriptive case, test strips frequently used in
the field of medical diagnostics or chemical analyses.
[0111] FIGS. 2 to 4 show the various steps resulting in the
extraction of a thin strip.
[0112] According to the invention, FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of
the storage and dispensing device in its neutral position; the
storage and dispensing device 1 including a container 2 containing
the objects 8 to be dispensed through the dispensing slot 9, a lid
3 and a flexible, deformable, movable drive element 14 integral
with the lid 2.
[0113] The storage and dispensing device 1 comprises a rib 15 on
the inside face of the lid, so as to hold the flexible, deformable,
movable drive element 14 in contact with the upper face of the
object to be dispensed 8.
[0114] The flexible, deformable, movable drive element 14 consists
of a tongue made of a flexible material and is capable of bending
without permanent deformation. It has the shape of an "S" when
viewed as a cross section. This flexible movable drive element 14
has the characteristic of being in contact with the object to be
driven 8, and of having the capability of translating while at the
same time remaining pressed against the surface of the object to be
dispensed. It also has the characteristic of possessing a surface
having a static friction coefficient, when determined with respect
to the upper face of the object to be driven, which is higher than
the static friction coefficient existing between the two surfaces
opposite the two contiguous objects n and n-1 to be dispensed. It
is integral with the movable lid.
[0115] The storage surface forming a supporting surface on which
the objects to be dispensed are stacked 7, is an inclined planar
surface and is contiguous with a preferably developable curvilinear
so-called guide surface 10. This storage surface is inclined so as
to pre-orient the objects to be dispensed in relation to the
preferably developable curvilinear guide surface 10, itself forming
a sort of exit ramp for the objects to be dispensed 8.
[0116] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of a storage and dispensing
device 1 in its open position, after unlocking of the child safety
opening system. The lid 3 is then translated in the opposite
direction from the side where the dispensing slot is located,
driving the flexible, deformable, movable drive element 14, which
is integral with it, the flexible, deformable, movable drive
element 14 still remaining in contact with the upper face of the
object to be dispensed 8, owing to the presence of a rib 15
situated on the inside face of the lid.
[0117] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of a storage and dispensing
device 1 in its once again closed position after translation of the
object to be dispensed. Thus, by reversing the direction of the
translational movement exerted on the lid 3 integral with the
flexible, deformable, movable drive element 14, the lid 3 resumes
its initial closed position and the flexible movable drive element
14 drives the object to be dispensed n towards the dispensing slot
9. When the flexible movable drive element 14 arrives at end of
travel, the selected object to be dispensed n is pushed partially
outward from the slot 9, in order to enable the user to grasp on to
it.
[0118] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the storage and
dispensing device 1 including a container 2, a lid equipped on its
upper surface with a shoe having a handling knob 16, which slides
inside the opening 17 and enables the user to translate the
flexible deformable movable drive element. The container 2
comprises a guide surface 10, not shown on the inside, its external
shape being parallelepiped.
[0119] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the storage and
dispensing device 1 including a container 2, a lid 3 hinged along
an axis 18 positioned on one of the ends of the container 2, on the
dispensing opening side 9, this axis of rotation being of the
integral hinge type, for example.
[0120] FIG. 7 shows a sectional view of the storage and dispensing
device 1 according to the embodiment of FIG. 6, in its neutral
position.
[0121] FIG. 8 shows a sectional view of the storage and dispensing
device 1 according to the embodiment of FIG. 6, in its actuated
position. According to this embodiment, the lid 3 is hinged
completely, the axis of rotation 18, for example of the integral
hinge-type, being placed on one of the ends of the container 2, on
the dispensing opening side 9.
[0122] Thus, pressure exerted by the user's hand on the hinged lid
3, on the side opposite the side comprising the dispensing opening
9, makes it possible to move the flexible, deformable, movable
drive element 14 and to drive the object to be dispensed 8 in the
direction of the dispensing opening 9, said slot-type dispensing
opening 9 itself also having a beveled form facilitating the
guiding of the object to be dispensed 8 towards the exit.
[0123] FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the storage and
dispensing device 1 according to another embodiment. According to
this other embodiment, the lid is partially hinged, i.e., one
portion of the lid 3 is fixed in relation to the container 2, and
the other portion rotates in relation to this container 2, the axis
of rotation 18, for example of the integral hinge-type, being
placed at a location between the two ends of the lid.
[0124] FIG. 10 shows a sectional view of the storage and dispensing
device 1 according to the embodiment of FIG. 9, in its actuated
position. The user opens the movable portion of the lid 3 by
rotating it upward, thereby releasing the dispensing opening 9 of
the container 2. The rotating movement of the movable portion of
the lid 3, integral with the flexible, deformable, movable drive
element 14, will enable the object 8 situated at the top of the
stack to be pulled and guided up to the discharge opening 9.
* * * * *