Dispensing package for flowable product
A package designed for dispensing a metered amount of flowable product is described. The package includes a storage unit having a chamber for housing the product. A receptacle of the package is capable of receiving a metered amount of product from the chamber and is movable between a first position where it communicates with the chamber of the storage unit and a second position at which the metered amount of product now in the receptacle can be dispensed.
This application relates to a dispensing unit, and more particularly to a dispensing unit comprising a blister package which enable the dispensing of a metered dose of product from the package.
In the pet industry, it is very important that the proper amount of fish food is dispensed when feeding fish that are stored in a conventional tank. Many pet fish owners dispense far too much fish food into the fish tank; as a result, the fish either overeat, which is harmful to their proper biological function, or else fish food waste is accumulated in the tank, thereby requiring the tank to be cleaned far more frequently in order to maintain appropriate aquatic conditions for the pet fish.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONGenerally speaking, in accordance with the invention, a package designed for dispensing a metered amount of flowable product is described. The package includes a storage unit having a chamber for housing the product. A receptacle of the package is capable of receiving a metered amount of product from the chamber and is movable between a first position where it communicates with the chamber of the storage unit and a second position at which the metered amount of product now in the receptacle can be dispensed.
The package of the invention is particularly suitable for dispensing a metered dose of fish food.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved package design for dispensing product.
Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved package design for directly dispensing a metered dose of product.
Yet a further object of the invention is to provide an improved package design which is tamper resistant.
Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the following description.
The invention comprises the features, elements and arrangements of parts described in the following description and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGSFor a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is made to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which
Referring first to
Card assembly 13 of package 11 is also formed with a centrally disposed circular opening 14 for receiving a transparent circularly configured blister unit generally indicated at 25. Blister unit 25 may be made of polyvinylchloride and is defined by top blister 27a and bottom blister 27b which together define an internal chamber 31 for housing fish food 32 or a similar flowable product. Top blister 27a is formed with a circular body 28 overlying chamber 31 having an outside annular wall 30. Blister 27a is also formed with a radially directed handle 29 on top of body 28 for enabling top blister 27a to rotate relative bottom blister 27b, as described in more detail hereinbelow.
Each of blisters 27a and 27b is formed with rim 41a and 41b respectively, each overlying the other and disposed between blister cards 15a and 15b, adjacent circular opening 14 through which blister unit 25 is received in,blister card assembly 13.
Referring now to
As shown in
It is noted that rotation of receptacle 33 is limited between the positions shown in
It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the construction of the invention without departing from its spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the description as shown in the drawings shall be interpreted as illustrated and not in a limited sense.
It is also understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention described herein and that all statements of the scope of the invention, of which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.
Claims
1. An assembly for storing and dispensing a flowable product comprising:
- a storage unit having a chamber for housing said product;
- a receptacle movable between a first position along said storage unit and in substantial alignment with a fill opening such that a metered amount of product is capable of passing from said chamber into said receptacle, and a second position along said storage unit and closed off from said chamber, said receptacle being in substantial alignment with a dispensing opening when in said second position such that said metered amount of product is capable of being dispensed from said receptacle.
2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the storage unit comprises a blister unit.
3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the blister unit includes a first and second blister for defining said chamber.
4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the storage unit comprises first and second members for defining said chamber.
5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein said first member includes said receptacle.
6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein said first member is rotatable with respect to said second member.
7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein said first member includes a handle.
8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein said second member is formed with said fill opening.
9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein said second member is formed with said dispensing opening.
10. The assembly of claim 1, further including an element for preventing movement of said receptacle.
11. The assembly of claim 1, further including a display package for retaining said storage unit.
12. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said display package comprises a blister card.
13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein said blister card includes a slot for selectively receiving a display hanger.
14. The assembly of claim 12, wherein said blister card has an end which is foldable into a stand.
15. The assembly of claim 12, wherein said blister card prevents movement of said receptacle.
16. The assembly of claim 15, wherein at least a portion of said blister card is removable such that said receptacle is movable between said first and second positions.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 11, 2003
Publication Date: Dec 1, 2005
Inventors: Matt Mahon (Hoboken, NJ), Colin Philips (Brooklyn, NY)
Application Number: 10/639,963