WO2007125353A1

WO2007125353A1 - Tablet dispenser

Info

Publication number: WO2007125353A1
Application number: PCT/GB2007/001584
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jon Grant
Original assignee: Bw Technologies Limited
Priority date: 2006-04-28
Filing date: 2007-04-30
Publication date: 2007-11-08
Also published as: GB0608465D0

Abstract

A dispensing device (10) for a tablet having first and second internal chambers (14, 16).

Description

TABLET DISPENSER

This invention relates to a tablet dispenser. More especially, it relates to a dispenser for dispensing disinfection tablets such as chlorine or iodine tablets or other disinfectants.

Disinfectant tablets, such as chlorine and iodine tablets, are often a requirement for persons travelling through other countries where clean drinking water is not readily available. Disinfectant tablets are also a vital necessity for soldiers and other army personnel out in the field.

Presently, such tablets are stored and carried in foil blister packs or air-tight bottles. In both cases, retrieval of a tablet from storage can be a fiddly and often infuriating process. Moreover, the majority of disinfectant tablets are hygroscopic and, as such, will absorb moisture as soon as they are exposed to the atmosphere. Any delay in retrieval of a tablet can cause that tablet, and any other tablets exposed during that time, to rapidly absorb fluid.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved tablet dispenser suitable for disinfectant tablets, which is quick and easy to use and which is water-tight such as to overcome or at least alleviates the aforementioned disadvantages of present dispensers.

Tablet dispensers are known which comprise a housing forming a single compartment for storage of the tablets and a push button to open one end of the housing through which a tablet can be dispensed. These dispensers are suitable for, for example, artificial sweeteners and other sweets in tablet form. Such dispensers are not designed to be moisture- proof and would not be suitable for hygroscopic disinfectant tablets. In one aspect, the invention provides a dispensing device for inter alia a tablet, comprising a main housing having first and second internal chambers, the chambers being separated from one another by a seal, the seal being such as to allow, in use, a tablet to pass from the first chamber to the second chamber while at the same time allowing minimal fluid from the second chamber into the first chamber, the second chamber having a an opening through which the tablet can pass thereby to be dispensed from the housing.

By "minimal" it is intended to mean no fluid, or an amount of fluid that does not cause contamination of the tablet.

Preferably the dispensing device is sized so as to be hand-held and hand-operated.

Preferably the housing of the device is shaped in the form of a pen.

Preferably, the first and second chambers are separated by an o- ring seal.

Preferably, the housing comprises a release means which is activated to allow the passage of one tablet from the first chamber to the second chamber. Preferably, the release means is a button which is activated by depression.

Preferably, the first chamber is fluid-sealed from the second chamber when the button is not depressed.

Preferably the second chamber is slidable within the first chamber and depression of the button causes the second chamber to slide out of the first chamber thereby to form an opening through which a tablet is dispensed.

Preferably the button is located at the top of the housing. Preferably still, the button is spring-loaded.

The invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing which is a schematic view of a tablet dispenser constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 1 shows a tablet dispenser 10 of the present invention. The dispenser 10 comprises an outer housing 12 shaped in the form of a pen. A preferred length of the housing 12 is around 120 mm to allow the dispenser 10 to be held in a clenched hand of a user.

The housing 12 comprises a first inner chamber 14 in which, during use, a disinfectant tablet (not shown), such as a chlorine or iodine tablet, is stored. The housing 12 also includes a second chamber 16 that is slidable within the bottom end of the first chamber 14. The second chamber 16 has an outlet aperture 18 through which a tablet, located within the second chamber 16 during use, can be dispensed.

The housing 12 includes an activating button 20 located at the top thereof which can be depressed by a user to lower the second chamber 16 beyond the end of the first chamber 14 by a push rod 22 extending through the housing 12. Figure 1 shows the dispenser 10 in an activated state wherein the button 20 is depressed. The top of the housing 12 includes a spring 24 to bias the button 20 upwardly when not in use.

In an alternative embodiment (not shown) the button is located on the side of the housing 12. The first and second chambers 14, 16 are separated by an O-ring seal 26. A further seal 28 is provided near the top of the first chamber 14. When not in use, the seals 26, 28 prevent any flow of air into the first chamber 14. Consequently, the first chamber 14 is moisture-proof such that any hygroscopic tablets stored within the chamber 14 are kept dry and thus remain un-contaminated by fluid.

The O-ring seal 28 between the first and second chambers 14, 16 allows for a single tablet to pass from the first chamber 14 into the second chamber 16 when the dispenser 10 is activated by depression of the button 10. At this time, the O-ring seal prevents, or at least minimises, any flow of fluid from the second chamber 14 back up into the first chamber 14. Consequently, the contents of the second chamber 16 remains moisture free.

The first chamber 14 has a angled floor 30 to facilitate the passage of one tablet into the second chamber 16 when the button 20 is depressed.

The size of the outlet 18 of the second chamber 16 can be varied depending on the size of the tablets that are to be stored within the dispenser 10. The size of the outlet 18 is approximately the size of the tablet.

The button 20 is preferably made from a rubber material to aid grip and use of the dispenser 10. The button 20 may be formed as an attachment to the top of the housing 12 whereby removal of the button section allows access to the inside of the first chamber 14 to allow for insertion of tablets. The button section may be mounted and secured to the top of the housing 12 using a twist-lock mechanism. The chambers 14, 16 may be lined with a chemical and/or mechanical filter to prevent gas and/or fluid passing through the walls of the housing 12.

It will be appreciated that the foregoing is merely exemplary of tablet dispensers in accordance with the invention and that modifications can readily be made thereto without departing from the true scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A dispensing device for inter alia a tablet, comprising a main housing having first and second internal chambers, the chambers being separated from one another by a seal, the seal being such as to allow, in use, a tablet to pass from the first chamber to the second chamber while at the same time allowing minimal fluid from the second chamber into the first chamber, the second chamber having a an opening through which the tablet can pass thereby to be dispensed from the housing.

2. A dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the device is sized so as to be hand-held and hand-operated.

3. A dispensing device according to claim 2, wherein the housing is shaped in the form of a pen.

4. A dispensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first and second chambers are separated by an o-ring seal.

5. A dispensing device according to any preceding claim, wherein the housing comprises a release means which is activated to allow the passage of one tablet from the first chamber to the second chamber.

6. A dispensing device according to claim 5, wherein the release means is a button which is activated by depression.

7. A dispensing device according to claim 6, wherein the first chamber is fluid-sealed from the second chamber when the button is not depressed.

8. A dispensing device according to claim 7, wherein the second chamber is slidable within the first chamber and depression of the button causes the second chamber to slide out of the first chamber thereby to form an opening through which a tablet is dispensed.

9. A dispensing device according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the button is located at the top of the housing.

10. A dispensing device according to claim 9, wherein the button is spring-loaded.

11. A dispensing device as hereinbefore described and referred to in the accompanying figure.