Receptacles – Container attachment or adjunct – Includes edge for removing excess material
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-18
2001-01-23
Pollard, Steven (Department: 3727)
Receptacles
Container attachment or adjunct
Includes edge for removing excess material
C220S697000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06176389
ABSTRACT:
Under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 119, this application claims priority of French Application No. 9716172, filed on Dec. 19, 1997, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to a container for containing and dispensing fluids. More particularly, the present invention relates to a container that contains and dispenses relatively viscous fluids to an applicator for application to the body. The present invention also relates to a system and a method for dispensing fluids from a container.
Containers are known in the art for containing and mixing fluids of relatively high viscosity, and for dispensing such fluids with an applicator. In particular, containers for mixing and dispensing multiple-component fluids are known. For example, hair dyes comprising an oxidizing agent and a cream dye are commonly mixed and dispensed from containers.
When applying fluids to certain areas of the body, e.g., the hair, consumers need a container that is capable of providing a uniform coating of fluid to an applicator. However, prior attempts to design containers have fallen short of meeting this need. Namely, known containers often do not reliably dispense a uniform coating of fluid to an applicator.
Some prior containers provide for removal of excess fluid from the applicator using the “free-hand” method. Namely, the user wipes the applicator across an edge of the container, guiding the path of the applicator using only his or her hand. Though the “free-hand” method does remove excess fluid from the applicator, it suffers from several drawbacks. Most importantly, wiping the applicator across the edge of the container without a guide produces variable coating of the applicator each time fluid is dispensed from the container. As stated above, a container that produces non-uniform coating of the applicator is unacceptable for many applications, particularly for applying hair dye.
Moreover, for applicators having more than one applicating side, the “free-hand” method requires the user to pass each applicating side of the applicator across the edge of the container. Executing multiple passes of the applicator across the wiping edge of the container can be time consuming and tedious for a user. In sum, the problems associated with the “free hand” method have generated consumer dissatisfaction with prior containers.
By way of example, containers having some of these drawbacks are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,298,561 to McConnie and French Patent No. 1,043,614 to Lointier. The containers disclosed therein lack a guiding portion to guide the applicator as it contacts the wiping edge of the container and thus, produce non-uniform coating of the applicator. Additionally, for applicators having multiple applicating sides, the containers of both McConnie and Lointier require passing the applicator across the wiping edge of the container once for each applicating side. Further, with some of the embodiments described in these references, the wiping portion of the container undesirably inhibits the user's ability to bring the applicator into contact with the fluid in the container.
In light of the foregoing, there is a need in the art for an improved container for dispensing fluids.
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a container that substantially obviates one or more of the short-comings of the related art.
A preferred object of the invention is to provide a container, comprising a member having at least one edge, capable of quickly and uniformly wiping excess fluid from an applicator.
Another preferred object of the invention is to provide a container having a simple design, which is economical to produce.
Preferably, the container is simple and clean to use, has relatively low cost, and allows for maximum user comfort.
It should be understood that the invention could still be practiced without performing one or more of the preferred objects and/or advantages set forth above.
Still other objects will become apparent after reading the following description of the invention.
To achieve these and other advantages, and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the invention includes a container, comprising a body having at least one wall defining an open area for containing fluid. The body has an opening for permitting access to the open area and includes a guiding portion for guiding removal of an applicator from the container along a predetermined path. The container also includes a member having at least one edge. At least part of the at least one edge forms a wiping portion having an open end. The wiping portion is shaped so that as the applicator is removed from the container along the predetermined path, the wiping portion wipes at least two opposed points on a transverse section of the applicator.
In another aspect, the container includes a member above at least a portion of the open area. The member includes a slot having opposed sides spaced from one another for wiping excess fluid from at least two opposed points on a transverse section of the applicator as the applicator is removed from the open area of the body via the slot. The slot is positioned adjacent to the guiding portion of the body so that an applicating surface of the applicator contacts a guiding surface of the guiding portion during removal of the applicator. The guiding surface guides the applicator through the slot and wipes excess fluid from the applicating surface of the applicator.
In another aspect, the container includes a member pivotally connected to the body. The pivotal connection is configured so that the member may be selectively pivoted between a first position, covering at least a portion of the open area of the body and a second position, in which the member is located away from the open area of the body.
In still another aspect, the container includes a releasable fastener for releasably fastening the member in the first position. The releasable fastener includes at least one knob extending from the at least one wall and at least one opening in the member. In the alternative, the releasable fastener includes at least one knob extending from the member and at least one opening on the at least one wall. Under either configuration, the member is fastened by releasably engaging the at least one knob in the at least one opening.
In another aspect, the container and member are constructed of a single piece of thermoformed thermoplastic material. The thickness of the single piece of material between the member and the body is reduced to form a hinge to allow the member to be selectively pivoted between a first position, covering at least a portion of the open area of the body, and a second position, in which the member is located away from the open area of the body. Thermoforming technology is well known in the art and consists of softening a sheet of plastic using heat, deforming it against a mold, and cooling it in the mold until it becomes rigid. By way of example, the thermoplastic material may be chosen from polyethylenes, polypropylenes, polystyrenes, polyvinyl cholorides, polyethylene terephthalates, and polystyrenes.
In yet another aspect, the container includes a bottom wall and at least one side wall. The at least one side wall is inclined with respect to the bottom wall so that the inclined wall and a plane containing the bottom wall form an acute angle. In addition, an inner surface of the at least one side wall is the guiding surface of the guiding portion of the body. Further, the inclined wall extends from the bottom wall to a closed end of the wiping portion of the member.
In a further aspect, the angle between the inclined wall and the plane containing the bottom wall is from about 30° to about 60°. Preferably, the angle is about 45°.
Preferably, the distance from the intersection of the inclined wall and the bottom wall to the top of the inclined wall is at least as long as a diagonal of a lateral side of an applicating portion of the applicator. This configuration assures that the applic
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner L.L.P.
L'Or{acute over (e)}al S.A.
Pollard Steven
LandOfFree
Container, system, and method for dispensing fluid does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Container, system, and method for dispensing fluid, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Container, system, and method for dispensing fluid will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2454898