EP-4739598-A1 - HOUSING FOR A DISPENSING CAPSULE

Abstract

A housing 100 for releasably retaining a dispensing capsule 102 comprises a capsule-receiving region having a first, closed end and a second, open end; a housing end for closing the closed end of the capsule-receiving region; and a housing side extending from the housing end to the open end of the capsule-receiving region. The housing further comprises at least one retaining element 106 arranged to engage the capsule when the capsule is received in the capsule-receiving region in use, the or each retaining element being operable to disengage from the capsule, and the housing end comprises at least one press region 108 operable to be displaced into the capsule-receiving region for ejecting the capsule from the capsule-receiving region.

Inventors

• TURNER, JEREMY

Assignees

• Tristel PLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260513

Application Date

20240704

Claims (20)

1. 1. A housing for releasably retaining a dispensing capsule, the capsule having a capsule body defining at least one chamber and a sealing element for closing a dispensing end of the chamber, the housing comprising: a capsule-receiving region having a first, closed end and a second, open end; a housing end for closing the closed end of the capsule-receiving region; and a housing side extending from the housing end to the open end of the capsule-receiving region; wherein the housing further comprises at least one retaining element arranged to engage the capsule when the capsule is received in the capsule-receiving region in use, the or each retaining element being operable to disengage from the capsule; and wherein the housing end comprises at least one press region operable to be displaced into the capsule-receiving region for ejecting the capsule from the capsule-receiving region.
2. 2. The housing of Claim 1 , wherein the housing side comprises the or each retaining element.
3. 3. The housing of Claim 2, wherein the housing side comprises at least one housing side wall, and the or each retaining element is integral with the or one of the housing side walls.
4. 4. The housing of any preceding claim, wherein the at least one retaining element comprises a capsule-engaging projection extending into the capsule-receiving region.
5. 5. The housing of Claim 4, wherein the capsule-engaging projection comprises a first side disposed generally parallel to and facing the housing end, and an opposite second side having a bevelled edge.
6. 6. The housing of Claim 4 or Claim 5, wherein the or each retaining element is moveable to retract the capsule-engaging projection from the capsulereceiving region, thereby to disengage the retaining element from the capsule.
7. 7. The housing of any preceding claim, wherein the or each retaining element is resi liently displaceable upon operation of the retaining element to disengage from the capsule.
8. 8. The housing of any preceding claim, wherein at least two retaining elements are provided, with a first one of the retaining elements and a second one of the retaining elements being disposed on opposite sides of the capsule-receiving region.
9. 9. The housing of any preceding claim, wherein the or each press region is defined at least in part by a cut-out in the housing end.
10. 10. The housing of any preceding claim, wherein the or each press region comprises a tab formed in the housing end.
11. 11 . The housing of any preceding claim, wherein at least two press regions are provided, with a first one of the press regions and a second one of the press regions being disposed on opposite sides of the capsule-receiving region.
12. 12. The housing of any preceding claim, wherein the or each of the press regions is generally aligned with the or a corresponding one of the retaining elements.
13. 13. The housing of Claim 12 when dependent on Claim 11 and comprising at least two retaining elements, wherein the first one of the press regions is aligned with a first one of the retaining elements, and the second one of the press regions is aligned with a second one of the retaining elements.
14. 14. The housing of any preceding claim, wherein the housing comprises an orientation feature for orienting the housing with respect to the capsule when the capsule is inserted into the capsule-receiving region in use.
15. 15. The housing of any preceding claim, wherein the housing side comprises a shoulder in the capsule-receiving region to provide an insertion stop for the capsule.
16. 16. The housing of Claim 15, wherein the shoulder is spaced from the housing end such that, when a capsule is received in the capsule-receiving region, the sealing element of the capsule is spaced apart from the housing end.
17. 17. The housing of any preceding claim, wherein the housing end comprises a rim extending away from the capsule-receiving region, the rim being arranged to locate in a second end of an adjacent capsule opposite the dispensing end of the adjacent capsule.
18. 18. The housing of Claim 17, wherein the housing end further comprises a support face for abutting the second end of the adjacent capsule.
19. 19. In combination, a capsule having a capsule body defining at least one chamber and a sealing element for closing a dispensing end of the chamber, and a housing according to any preceding claim for releasably retaining the capsule.
20. 20. The combination of Claim 19, further comprising an insert for insertion between the sealing element of the capsule and the housing end of the housing.

Description

HOUSING FOR A DISPENSING CAPSULE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a housing for a dispensing capsule. In particular, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a housing for releasably retaining a dispensing capsule of a type that contains one or more liquids sealed in one or more chambers. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Many liquid preparations include active ingredients which degrade over time, limiting product shelf life. This is particularly true for disinfectants or sterilising agents such as chlorine dioxide, where the active ingredient is formed in situ when required by mixing two reagents. Examples are disclosed in WO 2005/011756. Chlorine dioxide, for example, may be formed by mixing a chlorite solution and an acid. WO 2017/060677 discloses a dispensing capsule suitable for storing the two reagents of a two-part disinfectant composition and dispensing the reagents for mixing at the point of use in a way that limits a user’s contact with the reagents and the resulting composition, and so that the disinfectant composition can be prepared easily whilst wearing protective gloves and other protective equipment. The dispensing capsule disclosed in WO 2017/060677 has a body that provides two chambers or cavities, separated from one another by a partition. Each chamber is defined by a collapsible wall and has an opening at a first end of the body of the capsule. At a second end, opposite the first end, a closed end of each chamber carries a burst pin that extends towards the first end. A peripheral wall extends around the periphery of the first end of the body. A flexible seal is bonded to the peripheral wall and to the partition to seal each of the first and second chambers. The contents of the capsule can be dispensed by applying a force to the collapsible walls from the second end of the capsule to increase the pressure in the chambers, and a suitable mechanism (such as a plunger or lever) can be provided to apply the force. This may cause the seal to detach from the partition and/or the peripheral wall, and subsequently the burst pins contact the seal and help to break the bond between the seal and the peripheral wall and/or to rupture the seal, releasing the contents of the capsule. Capsules of the type described in WO 2017/060677, and other similar dispensing capsules that contain one or more liquids or other flowable materials, require care during storage, transport and handling to avoid damage to the capsule. In particular, the flexible seal can be vulnerable to mechanical damage either directly, or through a mechanical shock or impact to the capsule body that causes the seal to break or become detached. Failure of the seal can lead to leakage of the contents, and/or to premature mixing of the contents where the capsule contains two or more reagents. Leakage and/or premature mixing may be particularly undesirable where the capsule contains concentrated reagents that react to form a powerful disinfectant composition, since the reagents and/or the resulting composition may be unsuitable for skin contact without due precautions. Against that background, it would be desirable to provide means for protecting a dispensing capsule during transport, storage and handling. It would also be desirable to provide means for protecting a dispensing capsule that allows for easy handling of the capsule whilst wearing protective gloves. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Aspects of the invention are specified in the independent claims. Preferred features are specified in the dependent claims. In a first aspect, the invention provides a housing for releasably retaining a dispensing capsule, the capsule having a capsule body defining at least one chamber and a sealing element for closing a dispensing end of the chamber. The housing comprises a capsule-receiving region having a first, closed end and a second, open end, a housing end for closing the closed end of the capsulereceiving region, and a housing side extending from the housing end to the open end of the capsule-receiving region. The housing further comprises at least one retaining element arranged to engage the capsule when the capsule is received in the capsule-receiving region in use, the or each retaining element being operable to disengage from the capsule. The housing end comprises at least one press region operable to be displaced into the capsule-receiving region for ejecting the capsule from the capsule-receiving region. With this arrangement, a housing is provided that can protect a dispensing capsule during transport, storage and handling. The capsule can be securely retained in the capsule-receiving region by the retaining elements, and when it is desired to remove the capsule from the housing, a user can operate the retaining elements and the press regions to eject the capsule without difficulty. Preferably, the housing side comprises the or each retaining element. For example, the housing side may comprise at least one housing side