Coating implements with material supply – Including tool with blade-like – pad-like – or apertured... – Apertured tool
Reexamination Certificate
2001-02-08
2002-09-10
Huson, Gregory (Department: 3752)
Coating implements with material supply
Including tool with blade-like, pad-like, or apertured...
Apertured tool
Reexamination Certificate
active
06447195
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to the providing of pasty or liquid- to cream-like substances.
2. Background Information
Dispensers for providing washing and skin care lotions, creams, and similar substances are often used in the fields of hygiene and cosmetics. Such dispensers have a container, in which a relatively large amount of the substance is stored. Dispensing of a small amount of the substance takes place through a delivery opening, which is connected with a pump mechanism, for example. In simpler versions of such dispensers the substance is dispensed through the delivery opening by compressing the container.
Dispensers are also known where the delivery opening is closed by means of a rotatably seated spherical closure element, for example. In their operating position, such dispensers are seated with the delivery opening pointing down. Here, the size and fitting of the spherical element in the delivery opening is selected in such a way that the substance cannot run out unintentionally. Operation of the dispenser takes place by touching the closure element, wherein a section of the surface of the closure element, which is moistened by the substance, comes into contact with the hand of the user, or a cloth, a sheet of paper or the like, by being rotated. A small amount of the pasty or liquid- to cream-like substances placed into the container can be dispensed in this manner.
The known dispensers for pasty or liquid- to cream-like substances mostly have a relatively complicated, and therefore expensive structure. Spherical closure elements must be manufactured extremely accurately and fitted, so that sealing is assured. When being touched, for example by a hand or by a flat article, there mostly is only an essentially linear contact. In fact, the spherical closure element could be replaced by one or several roller-shaped elements for achieving a more extensive contact. However, roller-shaped closure elements generally pose larger sealing problems than spherical ones and therefore must be fitted particularly exactly into holders in the delivery opening. The amount of substance which can be dispensed also depends to a large degree on the ability of the surface of the closure element to become wet. Therefore the latter must be manufactured particularly exactly, and damage to its surface must be prevented as much as possible. Often the closure element cannot be simply rotated, because of which the dispensing of the pasty or liquid- to cream-like substances is hampered. Simple dispensers, where the substance is dispensed by compressing the container, are very inexact regarding the amount of substance being dispensed, and are impractical for wetting articles with more extensive areas, such as a sheet of paper or a cloth.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the present invention to overcome these disadvantages of the dispensers for pasty or liquid- to cream-like substances of the prior art. A dispenser in accordance with the species is to be simplified in regard to its construction. In connection with this, the dependability of the seal in the operating position is to be assured, and the dispensed amount of the pasty or liquid- to cream-like substances is to be controllable in a relatively simple way.
The attainment of these objects consists of an apparatus and a method for providing pasty or liquid- to cream-like substances having the apparatus or method characteristics recited in the characterizing portions of the respective independent patent claims of the respective categories. Advantageous embodiment variations and/or further developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent apparatus or method claims, as well as of the use claims.
An apparatus for providing a pasty or liquid- to cream-like substance comprises a container, in which a relatively large supply of the substance is stored, and a closure and dispensing element, which closes a delivery opening of the container. On the one hand, the closure and dispensing element is used for keeping back the substance stored in the container, and on the other hand for dispensing a small amount of this substance when the closure and dispensing element comes into contact with a surface to be wetted. In accordance with the invention, the closure and dispensing element is designed to be planar and is provided with openings arranged in a grid-like manner. On the one hand, the openings are designed in such a way that in the position of use of the apparatus they keep back a pasty or liquid- to cream-like substance arranged inside the container against the pressure exerted by the substance, and on the other hand dispense a small amount of the pasty or liquid- to cream-like substance in a controlled manner when the outside of the closure and dispensing element touches a surface to be wetted.
The provision of a closure and dispensing element, which is designed to be planar and has openings arranged in a grid-like manner noticeably simplifies the construction of the apparatus in accordance with the invention. In place of spherical or possibly roller-shaped closure elements which, for reasons of tightness, must be manufactured highly precisely and fitted into receivers in the delivery opening, a simple screen structure is used. The openings in the closure and dispensing element, which is designed to be planar, are dimensioned in such a way that the retention capability is sufficient to hold back the pasty or liquid- to cream-like substance arranged inside the container against the exerted pressure. The substance cannot leave through the openings in an uncontrolled manner. Instead, as a result of the dimensions of the openings there is only a formation of drops, wherein the drops protrude over the outer surface of the closure and dispensing surface. The substance is dispensed only upon contact with a surface to be wetted, for example the surface of a sheet of paper, or a fabric or a hand. Because of the size of the openings, this does not take place arbitrarily, but controlled, preferably by drops. When dispensing the pasty or liquid- to cream-like substance, the closure and dispensing element designed in accordance with the invention is at rest in respect to the delivery opening. Therefore the simple design of the apparatus in accordance with the invention avoids sealing problems caused by rotatably seated closure elements. The apparatus in accordance with the invention can also be produced more simply and cost-effectively because of the simplified construction.
The closure and dispensing element, which is designed to be planar, can be embodied to be convex or concave. However, it can be particularly simply produced as a flat screen plate. For example, it can be made as a small flat plate of metal or plastic.
In an advantageous embodiment variation of the invention, the openings are designed to be funnel-shaped. To this end, they have a clear cross section at the outer surface of the closure and dispensing element, which is smaller than in an area closer to the container interior. Because of this, the opening can be designed in a way which hampers the flow of the substance as little as possible. The drop formation then only takes place in the area of the openings with the smallest cross section. By means of the cross section of the openings, which tapers toward the outer surface, it is also assured that the formed drops protrude sufficiently far beyond the outer surface of the closure and dispensing element, which is designed to be planar, and are stripped off upon contact with the surface to be wetted.
The dimensioning of the opening must take into consideration the conditions of compatibility set by the liquid to be provided, so that the two goals, the retention capability of the screen structure on the one hand, and the controlled dispensing onto a surface which is in contact with the outer surface of the screen structure, for example a sheet of paper, a web of fabric or the hand, can be achieved on the other hand. Essential factors which are of importance here ar
Burns Doane , Swecker, Mathis LLP
deVore Peter
Dry-Wet System-Dewe AG
Huson Gregory
LandOfFree
Apparatus and process for providing pasty or liquid- to... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Apparatus and process for providing pasty or liquid- to..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Apparatus and process for providing pasty or liquid- to... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2875805