Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a reinforced child resistant spout of a
package.
Background of the Invention
Child resistant packaging is understood to be an important concept for
preventing inadvertent access by children, for example, to potentially
dangerous liquid or dry products. The packaging industry is in need to
prevent children the access to detergent tablets which may be ingested by
children. This means that especially the apertures to the interior of the
packages have to be protected from opening by children. Detergent
compositions formed in non particulate solids such as bars or tablets or
briquettes are known in the art. In the following, the term "tablet" will refer to
any form of non particulate solids. The detergent tablets available on the
market are generally sold packed in containers in a loose way or individually
wrapped in bags.
Due to the difficulty in opening child resistant packages, many persons,
especially elderly adults which may also have impaired strength and
dexterity, tend to prefer a non-child resistant package. Alternatively, when
dangerous products are purchased in child resistant packages by adults, the
child resistant package is often not reclosed in order to defeat the child
resistant feature. As a result, the danger of child poisonings may increase in
the homes.
The aforementioned problems are generally recognised in the packaging
industry. The co-pending European patent application No. 95308468.8
describes a package for containing and dispensing detergent tablets. The
dispensing of the tablets is foreseen through a dispensing opening
comprising a hinged spout. Child resistant features on the hinged spout are
also foreseen to prevent the opening of the hinged spout by children. Such
child resistant spouts are obtained by a double or coordinated action on the
spout to open the spout itself. This child resistant spout is simple to use for
adults and a good deterrent to opening for children.
Nevertheless, it has been found that by applying a sufficient force and by
performing a different opening movement, instead of the recommended
actions, it is possible to open the child resistant spout. For example, it has
been found that by applying a twisting force on some spouts, the spouts can
be opened without performing the double or coordinated actions. This
twisting force may be applied by some children by trial and error succeeding
eventually to open the spout.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a hinged spout
for dispensing tablets providing an improved child resistance against the
opening of the spout.
Summary of the Invention
The present invention provides a package for containing tablets. The
package comprises a dispensing opening. The dispensing opening further
comprises a hinged spout for dispensing the tablets, whereby the hinged
spout provides a child resistant closure to the dispensing opening. A hinge
connects the hinged spout with the dispensing opening. The package further
comprises a rib engaging a corresponding groove when the hinged spout is
in its closed position. The engagement between the rib and the
corresponding groove is achieved between the hinged spout and the part of
the package immediately surrounding the dispensing opening opposite the
hinge of the hinged spout.
Brief Description of the Figures
Figure 1a is a perspective front view of an embodiment of the package
according to the present invention. Figure 1b is a perspective front view of
the top part of the package of Figure 1a.
Figures 2a and 2b are cross sectional side views of further embodiments
of the child resistant means according to the present invention.
Figures 3a and 3b are cross sectional top views of an embodiment of the
package according to the present invention.
Figure 4a is a top view and Figure 4b is a side view of a hinged spout for
the package according to the present invention.
Figures 5a, 5b, 6a and 6b are front views of an embodiment of the
package according to the present invention without the hinged spout.
Figures 7a and 7b are perspective front views of a detergent tablet which
may be used in any of the embodiments of packages according to the
present invention.
Detailed Description of the Invention
Figure 1a shows a package (10) according to the present invention. The
package comprises a hollow body (11) and a dispensing opening (12). The
hollow body preferably comprises a top wall (14), a bottom wall (15) opposed
to the top wall and a surrounding wall (16) surrounding the hollow body and
connected to the top and the bottom wall. The bottom wall is the part of the
package upon which the package stands in its upright position. Preferably,
the external shape of the hollow body may be substantially rectangular.
Preferably, when the package stands in its upright position, the dispensing
opening is located on the upper portion of the surrounding wall, as shown in
Figure 1a, or on the top wall.
Preferably, the inside of the hollow body (11) is filled with tablets. In the
following any form of non particulate solids such as bars or tablets or
briquettes will be encompassed by the term "tablet" (1). Pharmaceuticals in
tablet form are, for example, tablets according to the present invention.
Preferably, the tablet is made of a detergent composition, specifically a
detergent composition for washing of laundry or dishes. The tablet may have
any shape or dimension. Preferably, the solid, non particulate tablet is
symmetrical to ensure the uniform dissolution of the tablet in the wash liquor
or in other specific environments.
According to the present invention the detergent tablet (1) may comprise
any ingredients known in the art. Such ingredients may include surfactants,
suds suppressers, beaches, chelants, builders, enzymes, fillers and
perfumes.
Preferably, the detergent composition of the tablet (1) is prepared in its
granular or particulate form and then formed into tablets of the desired
shape and size by any one of the methods known in the art. Suitable
methods include compression, extrusion and casting. The detergent
composition may be homogeneously distributed throughout the tablet or may
comprise distinct layers of certain detergent ingredients. Preferably, the
shape of the detergent tablet is cylindrical, as shown, for example, in Figure
7a. In this case the dimensions of the detergent tablet are defined by the
diameter (d) and by the height (h). Usually, detergent tablets have a
cylindrical shape with the diameter being greater than the height of the
tablet. Another possible shape of the tablet is rectangular, as shown, for
example in Figure 7b. In this case the dimensions of this detergent tablet are
defined by the length (L), by the width (w) and by the height (h). Usually, in a
rectangular tablet the length is the greatest dimension and the width is equal
to the height.
As a preferred option, the top wall (14) of the hollow body (11) comprises
a refilling opening. The refilling opening allows to refill the hollow body with
new tablets (1) once the package is emptied. Therefore, the dimension of the
refilling opening corresponds at least to the dimension of a tablet. As a
preferred option, the refilling opening is closed by a closure, more preferably
by a child resistant closure. The child resistant closure is adapted to prevent
the removal of the tablet (1) through the refilling opening by infants and
children. In particular, as used herein, the wording "child resistant closure"
refers to any mechanism whereby access to the tablet is reduced so that the
tablet cannot be readily removed, especially by infants and children. An
example of a child resistant closure is a closure on which the user has to
apply a double or co-ordinated action on the closure to open the closure. For
example, such child resistant closures are press-and-turn or press-and-pull
closures known by the person skilled in the art.
The dispensing opening (12) is dimensioned in such a manner to enable
the passage of at least one tablet. Preferably, the dispensing opening is
made of a rectangular cut through the thickness of the surrounding wall (16)
and/or top wall (14). For a cylindrical tablet as described above, the
dispensing opening is made preferably of a cut having the length equal or
greater than the diameter (d) and the width equal or greater than the height
(h) of a cylindrical tablet. For a rectangular tablet as described above, the
dispensing opening is made preferably of a cut. This cut has the length equal
or greater than the length (L) of a rectangular tablet, whereby the width of
this cut is equal or greater than the width (w) or height (h) of a rectangular
tablet. Most preferably, the dispensing opening is located on that part of the
surrounding wall having the smallest dimension, as shown in Figure 1a.
As a preferred option, the hollow body (11) of the package comprises a
funnel around the dispensing opening (12) to convey the tablets from the
interior of the hollow body towards the dispensing opening. This funnel
should be made in such a manner that the tablets are prevented to jam in
the interior of the hollow body and in front of the dispensing opening blocking
the exit through the dispensing opening for other tablets. This funnel may be,
for example, conically shaped located in the interior of the hollow body
having the smallest dimension in front of the dispensing opening. This funnel
directs the tablets towards the dispensing opening in such a manner that the
tablets pass through the dispensing opening without blocking each other.
As another preferred option, the internal dimension of the hollow body
(11) is such that the tablets are orderly spaced one to each other. This also
prevents that the tablets jam in the interior of the hollow body and in front of
the dispensing opening blocking the exit through the dispensing opening for
other tablets. This is achieved by limiting the internal width (Fig. 3a, Wi) of
the hollow body to a width which is smaller than the largest dimension of the
tablets. The "internal width" is hereinafter defined to be shortest distance
between adjacent walls in a direction along the drawn line (5) in Figure 3a.
Figure 3a is a cross sectional cut of a package according to the present
invention on a plane parallel to the bottom wall (15) of the package.
For example, when the tablet (1) has a cylindrical-type of shape as
described above, such a detergent tablet may only enter into the hollow body
(11), if the tablet is placed onto the bottom wall (15) standing on the surface
having the smallest dimension, i.e. its height (Fig. 7a, h). This means that the
tablet can never lay on the surface defining the diameter (d) of the tablet.
Consequently, the tablets are ordered in a row, as shown, for example, in
Figure 3a. As hereinafter referred to, a "row of tablets" is meant to be a row
of tablets standing upon the bottom wall (15) or upon another row of tablets
whereby each tablet stands on the part of the tablet having the smallest
dimension, i.e. on the height (h) for the tablets defined before. Therefore, the
internal width is a distance perpendicular to the row.
It has been found that this way of positioning the tablets (1) reduces the
friction forces acting onto the tablets. Reducing the friction forces permits an
easy dispensing of tablets from the package avoiding that tablets block each
other from exiting the package. This is particularly important when the tablets
are big and/or heavy where the friction forces between the tablets are
substantially high. For example, friction forces between tablets may influence
the dispensing of the tablets from the package when the largest dimension of
the tablet is greater than 1 cm and/or the weight of the tablet is greater than
10 g. The roughness of the external surfaces of the tablets also contributes
to increase the friction forces between the tablets.
The friction forces between the tablets (1) are reduced in the package
according to this embodiment of the present invention. Indeed, only the
smallest surface of a tablet interacts with other tablets and/or with the end
wall. Furthermore, when the tablet is cylindrically shaped as described
before, the tablet is able to roll towards the dispensing opening which further
reduces the friction. Therefore, the tablet in the hollow body cannot block
other tablets contained in the hollow body from exiting through the
dispensing opening.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the tablets (1) are
orderly held in the hollow body (11) in one row within its internal width (Wi).
Other single rows may be placed on top of the lowest row starting from the
row standing on the bottom wall (15) until the hollow body is filled up to the
top wall (14). As another possibility, the hollow body may be such to contain
more than one row of tablets parallel to each other within the internal width
(Wi), when the diameter (d) or the length of the tablet is greater than twice
the height of the tablet. Indeed, the hollow body may contain, for example,
two parallel rows of tablets within the internal width (Wi), as shown in Figure
3a. Also in this case, the diameter (d) or the length of a tablet is greater than
the width (Wi) of the hollow body, the width (Wi) being now equal or slightly
greater than twice the height of a tablet. Again, these double rows of tablets
are placed each over another filling up the hollow body to the top wall (14)
starting from the bottom wall (15). It has been found that when the tablets
are placed inside the hollow body, the tablets automatically get ordered in
these single or double rows. Indeed, the tablets are forced into one of the
rows by the weight of the tablets of the above rows. The same applies for
more than two parallel rows of tablets when the diameter of the tablet (d) is
greater than n-times the height (h) of the tablet, n being greater or equal to
2.
As a further preferred option, when two or more rows of tablets (1) are to
be placed inside the hollow body, the hollow body comprises preferably at
least one divider (30), as shown in Figure 3b. Figure 3b is again a cross
sectional cut along a plane parallel to the bottom wall (15). The divider is
perpendicular to the direction drawn by line (31) in Figure 3b. The divider
starts from the bottom wall (15) up to the top wall (14). The hollow body may
comprise more than one divider to contain several rows of tablets. The width
(w) between the surrounding wall (16) and the divider or between each
divider is smaller than the largest dimension, i.e. the diameter or the length,
of the tablet. Consequently, the dividers divide the parallel rows of tablets
from each other. In this manner, the friction between parallel rows is reduced
to achieve an easy and readily dispensing of the tablets. When the hollow
body comprises the dividers (30), the package may preferably comprise one
dispensing opening (12) enabling the tablets of each divided row to exit the
package.
The dispensing opening (12) further comprises a hinged spout (20). In a
preferred embodiment, as shown in Figure 4a, the hinged spout comprises a
supporting wall (21). One end edge (26) of the supporting wall is connected
to the package, specifically at the dispensing opening. The connection
between the end edge (26) of the hinged spout and the dispensing opening
is a hinge. The other edges of the supporting wall, i.e. the side edges (28)
and (29) and end edge (27), are free from any attachments to the package.
The hinged spout (20) is attached to the dispensing opening (12) in such a
manner that a tablet exiting the dispensing opening is received by the hinged
spout when the hinged spout is in its open position. For example, when the
dispensing opening is located on the surrounding wall (16), the supporting
wall (21) is located under the dispensing opening when the package stands
in its upright position and the hinged spout is in its open position, as shown
in Figure 1a.
Preferably, the hinged spout further comprises two side walls (22), more
preferably two side walls and an end wall (25). The side walls and the end
wall, if present, are all located on one side of the supporting wall. The two
side walls are preferably located along the side edges (28) and (29) of the
supporting wall. The side walls are opposed to each other along the side
edges (28) and (29). The side walls may remain at the same distance from
each other or the distance between the side walls may become narrower or
broader towards the end wall.
The end wall, if present, is located opposed to the dispensing opening
and is placed parallel to the end edge (27) or the width (Ws) of the
supporting wall, i.e. the end wall is located at least partially along the width
(Ws) of the supporting wall. For example, the end wall may be a bar,
whereby each end of the bar is connected to a side wall (22). Preferably, the
end wall is connected to the supporting wall and located along the end edge
(27). The end wall and the side walls are inclined walls with respect to the
supporting wall, and the end wall may also be inclined to the side walls. In a
preferred embodiment of the hinged spout, the end wall and the side walls
are perpendicular to each other and to the supporting wall. In another
preferred embodiment of the hinged spout, the end wall and the side walls
are connected to each other, therefore leaving no interspaces between the
end wall and the adjacent side walls.
The shape and the dimensions of the hinged spout (20) are such to
enable the receiving of a tablet (1) contained in the package. For example,
when the package contains cylindrical tablets, as described above, and the
dispensing opening (12) has a rectangular shape the hinged spout has
preferably following dimensions shown in Figures 4a and 4b. The width (Ws)
of the supporting wall (21) is preferably slightly greater than the height (h) of
the tablet. This allows the tablet to stand on the surface of the tablet having
the smallest dimension, i.e. its height (Fig. 7a, h). Consequently, the tablet is
facilitated to exit the dispensing opening by rolling onto the supporting wall.
Preferably, the width (Ws) of the supporting wall is between about 1 times
the height (h) of the tablet and 1.5 times the height (h) of the tablet, more
preferably about 1.2 times the height (h) of the tablet.
The dimensions of the preferred embodiment of the hinged spout (20)
further comprising the end wall (25) and the side walls (22) are such that a
tablet is held onto the hinged spout. The end (25) and the side walls (22) of
the hinged spout prevents that the tablet (1) exiting from the dispensing
opening (12) falls from the hinged spout. Furthermore, until the tablet
remains on the hinged spout, the exit of other tablets through the dispensing
opening may be prevented. Indeed, the dimensions of the hinged spout may
allow only one tablet to stay on the hinged spout. Consequently, other
tablets are prevented to exit the dispensing opening by the tablet already
staying on the hinged spout. Therefore, the hinged spout enables a one-by-one
dispensing of the tablets through the dispensing opening. Furthermore,
the additional end wall prevents that tablets fall uncontrolled from the
dispensing opening. The user has only to grasp the tablet which is held on
the hinged spout. This avoids messiness in the dispensing of tablets.
The height (Hs) and lengths (Ls,2) and (Ls,3) of the side walls (22) and the
end wall (25) respectively, if present, should provide a sufficient barrier
which impedes the falling of the tablet from the supporting wall of the hinged
spout. Consequently, the tablet is held onto the hinged spout with the help of
the end and side walls. On the contrary, the height (Hs) of the end and side
walls should not impede an easy grasping of the tablet by a user. The height
is the minimum distance between the supporting wall and the upper edge of
the end wall or side walls. For, example, when the end wall is a bar as
described above, the height is the distance between the supporting wall and
the upper edge of the bar. The length, however, is measured parallel to the
end edge (27) or side edges (28) and (29), i.e. perpendicular to the height.
Preferably, the height (Fig. 4b, Hs) of the side walls and the end wall is
between about 0.2 times the diameter (d) of the tablet and about 1 times the
diameter (d) of the tablet. Most preferably, the height (Hs) of the side walls
and the end wall is about 0.5 times the diameter (d) of the tablet. As a
preferred option, the height (Hs) of the end wall is equal to the height of the
side walls. As another preferred option, the height (Hs) of the side walls is
not constant. For example, the height (Hs) of the side walls is curved
increasing the height (Hs), as shown for example in Figure 4b. In this case,
the maximum height (Hs, max) is still within the range described before. The
side walls may curve only at one end or at both ends of the side walls. The
curvature may also be such to decrease the height (Hs) of the side walls, but
still within the range of the height (Hs) as described before. The length (Ls,2)
of the side walls is preferably between about 0.5 times to 1 times the length
(Ls,1) of the supporting wall (21). The length (Ls,3) of the end wall is
preferably between 0.5 times to 1 times the width (Ws) of the supporting wall
(21).
The distance between the end edge (26) and the end wall (25), if present,
is preferably such that substantially a complete tablet has a sufficient space
on the hinged spout. In this arrangement the tablet can easily exit from the
dispensing opening (12) and can be easily grasped by the user. Preferably,
the distance between the end edge (26) and the end wall is between about
0.8 times the diameter (d) of the tablet and about 2 times the diameter (d) of
the tablet, more preferably between about 1 times the diameter (d) of the
tablet and about 1.6 times the diameter (d) of the tablet.
The hinged spout (20) closes the dispensing opening (12). This may be
achieved, for example, when the hinged spout pivots around the end edge
(26) hingedly connected to the package. The hinged spout is therefore
closed by pushing the hinged spout into the dispensing opening (12), the
hingedly connected end edge (26) acting as a hinge. The hinged spout is
retained in the dispensing opening through a closing mechanism between
the hinged spout and the lip of the dispensing opening. The closing
mechanism keeps the hinged spout inside the dispensing opening in a
closed position. An example of a closing mechanism is a snapping
engagement between the hinged spout and the lip of the dispensing
opening.
The hinged spout (20) according to the present invention closes the
dispensing opening (12) in a child resistant manner. The child resistant
means of the hinged spout is adapted to prevent the removal of the tablet (1)
through the dispensing opening by infants and children. In particular, as
used herein, the wording "child resistant" refers to any mechanism whereby
access to the tablet is reduced so that the tablet cannot be readily removed,
especially by infants and children. An example of a child resistant means is a
closure on which the user has to apply a double or coordinated action on the
closure to open the closure.
For example, such a child resistant means is shown in Figures 1a, 1b, 2a
and 2b. The hinged spout (20) comprises a child resistant means located
between the end wall (25) and the top wall (14). Preferably, the child
resistant means comprises a hook (31) and holding means (32). The holding
means engages with the hook in such a manner that the hook is retained by
the holding means until the hook is disengaged or unhooked from the
holding means. Preferably, the holding means (32), located on the end wall
(25) of the hinged spout, comprise a slot (33) in which the hook (31), located
on the top wall (14), at least partially snaps into. The location of the hook and
the holding means may also be reversed to each other, as shown in Figure
2a, i.e. the hook on the end wall and the holding means on the top wall. To
disengage the hook from the slot, the hook is pressed until the hook exits
from the slot. Furthermore, to completely open the hinged spout, the hinged
spout has to disengage from the closing mechanism described before
between the hinged spout (20) and the surrounding wall (16) of the package
(10).
The holding means (32) may alternatively comprise a counter-hook (34),
as shown in Figure 2b. The hook and counter-hook are located in opposition
to each other, whereby the hook or counter-hook may be located on the end
wall or the top wall. Preferably, the hook or the counter-hook may bent in
such a manner that it conform to the rest of the outermost surface of the end
wall or the top wall, as shown in Figure 2b. Indeed, the hook (31) of Figure
2b located on the top wall (14) comprises a bent wall (35) uniting the hook to
the outermost surface of the top wall. By pressing on the top wall, the hook
can be disengaged from the counter-hook (34). This child resistant means
can be foreseen also for other types of closures, like screw-on or snap-on
caps. The hook/holding means combination is only an example of a child
resistant means according to the present invention. Other possible child
resistant means suitable for the package according to the present invention,
like where the spout has to be first pressed on the side wall of the spout and
then pulled, are described in the co-pending European patent application No.
95308468.8.
To further improve the child resistance against the opening of the hinged
spout (20) according to the present invention, the package (10) further
comprises a rib (41) engaging a corresponding groove (42) when the hinged
spout (20) is in its closed position. The engagement between the rib and the
corresponding groove is achieved between the hinged spout and the part of
the package immediately surrounding the dispensing opening (12) opposite
the hinge of the hinged spout. The engagement of the rib and the groove
may simply be a fitting of the rib into the groove without further engaging
means. As a preferred option, to further improve the child resistance, the rib
may engage into the groove with a clipping mechanism into the groove. The
positioning of the rib and the groove is such that the opening of the hinged
spout is prevented when the spout is twisted. Indeed, the rib engaged in the
groove prevents that the hinged spout is opened in another direction
different from the pivoting direction of the hinge of the hinged spout.
Preferably, the free end edge (27) of the hinged spout comprises the rib
(41) engaging into the groove (42) located on the surrounding wall (16) when
the hinged spout (20) is in its closed position. Alternatively, the positioning of
the rib and the groove may be interchanged with respect to the previous
configuration. When the hinged spout comprises the child resistant means
given by the hook/holding means arrangement, the engagement between
the rib and the groove is preferably obtained at least on one side of the
hook/holding means engagement. More preferably, the hinged spout
comprises two ribs or grooves on opposite sides with respect to the
hook/holding means engagement. In this manner, the resistance to opening
by children with a twisting movement is further improved.
The groove (42) is at least a partial cut through the thickness of the
package or of the hinged spout (20). The dimensions of the groove (42)
correspond to the dimensions of the rib (41) so that the rib goes completely
into the groove. The groove may be located on the outermost or innermost
surface of the package or on the upper or lower surface of the hinged spout.
More than one groove with corresponding rib can be foreseen on the
package according to the present invention. For example, the package may
comprise succeeding ribs engaging into corresponding succeeding grooves.
As a preferred option, the hinged spout (20) further comprises a stopping
notch (1a, 45). The stopping notch stops the opening of the hinged spout to
a partial opening position of the hinged spout, as show in Figure 1a. Several
stopping notches can be foreseen, each of the stopping notches determining
a different partial opening position of the hinged spout. Preferably, in a first
opening position only one tablet is able to exit onto the hinged spout. This
means that specifically this stopping notch ensures that tablets are
dispensed one by one from the container. This is due to the inclination of the
supporting wall with respect to the full opening of the hinged spout. Indeed,
the higher inclination limits the available space for the tablets. It has been
found that the one by one dispensing of tablets can be made independent,
with the help of the stopping notch, from the length of the supporting wall of
the hinged spout. Indeed, it has been found that the length of the supporting
wall may be greater than 1 time the diameter (d) of the tablet, and still only
one tablet is able to exit on the hinged spout when the stopping notch stops
the opening of the hinged spout to a partial opening position. When the
hinged spout is further opened passing over the stopping notch, the hinged
spout may be stopped by another stopping notch or, finally, the hinged spout
is completely opened.
The stopping notch (45) may be located in any place of the hinged spout
(20) such that the hinged spout interacts with the opening (12) and stops the
opening of the hinged spout to a partial opening position. Preferably, the
stopping notch is positioned on the outermost surface of at least one of the
side wall (22) of the hinged spout (20). Specifically, the stopping notch is an
extension protruding away from the outermost surface of at least one side
wall. As a preferred option, both side walls (22) may comprise each a
stopping notch. As another preferred option, several stopping notches may
be provided on each of the side walls. The position of the stopping notch
may also be such that the stopping notch interacts with the upper or lower
portion of the opening when the package stands in its upright position.
When the package comprises divided rows of tablets, as described
before with or without the dividers (30), the package may preferably
comprise a hinged spout (20) for each divided row of tablets. More
preferably, the hinged spouts are attached to the neighbouring hinged spout
corresponding to another row of tablets forming a single hinged spout
capable to dispense a multiple of tablets at the same time, as shown in
Figure 1a. As an option, the opening comprises a retaining barrier (46), as
shown in Figure 1a. As described before, the stopping notch (45) on the
hinged spout stops the hinged spout to a partial opening position. The partial
opening position of the hinged spout allows only one tablet at a time to exit
onto the hinged spout from one row. At the same time, the retaining barrier
(46) on the opening prevents that another tablet of another row exits on the
hinged spout. The retaining barrier may, for example, be a flap extending
from the top edge of the opening (12) downwards, as shown in Figure 1a.
Consequently, the tablets of only one row are allowed to exit onto the hinged
spout.
When the tablets of one row are finished, the hinged spout (20) may be
opened further until the hinged spout is again stopped by another stopping
notch (45) or the hinged spout is completely opened. In one of these opening
positions, the hinged spout is sufficiently opened that the tablets of the other
row are able to pass under the retaining barrier (46). The retaining barrier
may also be a flap (47) hinged on a divider in the opening region, as shown
in Figures 5a and 5b. The hinged flap (47) extending into the opening of the
tablets of a row prevents the exit of these tablets (Fig. 5a). Once one row is
emptied, the hinged flap (47) is turned to the empty row, as illustrated in
Figure 5b enabling the tablets of the other row to exit on the hinged spout.
Another possibility is a removable cover (48) which can be applied in the
opening region of one row of tablets, as shown in Figures 6a and 6b. The
removable cover may be anything which impedes the exit of tablets through
the opening. For example, a removable cross, as illustrated in Figure 6a, or
a adhesive sticker, as illustrated in Figure 6b may be used as a removable
cover.
Preferably, the package (10) and the hinged spout are made of
thermoplastic material. Such thermoplastic materials have been extensively
described in the art and include vinyl chloride based resins, polymers and
co-polymers derived from olefins, acrylic polymers and co-polymers,
polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate,
polyethylene terephthalate glycol, or mixtures thereof. The container can be
made of single or multi-layer extrusion of such materials. It can also
comprise recycled thermoplastic materials. A preferred thermoplastic
material used herein is polyethylene. Preferably the package is made of low
cost thermoplastic material such as polypropylene and formed by injection
moulding Alternatively, the package may be made of cardboard based
material. The cardboard based material may be a multi-layer material
comprising cardboard carton as the material giving rigidity to the package. In
this case, the hinged spout may be made also of cardboard material or of
other materials like a thermoplastic material as described before or of a
metal material. Aluminium is a possible metal material for the hinged spout.