Coating implements with material supply – Including means to apply material-moving force – Piston-provided reservoir
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-11
2001-04-03
Walczak, David J. (Department: 3751)
Coating implements with material supply
Including means to apply material-moving force
Piston-provided reservoir
C401S174000, C401S171000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06210061
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates primarily to a dispensing apparatus for the dispensing deodorant cream emulsions, antiperspirants and the like, and more particularly, to a novel dispensing apparatus having a dispensing tube assembly encased in an outer housing that minimizes post-dispensing of the product.
2. Description of the Related Art
Prior art deodorant dispensers often dispense the deodorant product by the displacement of a piston elevator advancing upward in response to rotation of a hand-wheel. The consequent pressurization of the deodorant product causes residual pressure to be exerted and thereby cause undesirable weeping of the product.
Efforts to address this problem has led to the development of product dispensers that allow seepage of the deodorant product from between the junction of the base and the sidewalls of the dispenser. In these systems, vent holes that are provided for the depressurization beneath the elevator piston causes the product to leak or exude from the dispensing package onto the surface where the dispenser is stored.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,000,356 discloses a dispensing package designed to relieve the residual pressure on a cream product and also dispense the product in incremental doses. The piston elevator axially advances and retracts as a feed screw is rotated. A plurality of internal cams cause reciprocal motion of the piston elevator. During the advancement of the piston elevator, the product is dispensed and during retraction, the residual pressure is relieved.
None of the prior art dispensing systems accomplishes the objects of the present invention of having an internal dispensing assembly encased in an outer housing that minimizes post-dispensing of the product.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a novel dispensing-package that finds use in dispensing cosmetic creams, lotions and deodorants. This novel designed dispenser provides a product tube situated within an outer housing. Rotation of the product tube dispenses the product in controlled dosage increments while minimizing unwanted weeping of the product.
In typical use, the user manually rotates a propeller, which then causes axial displacement of a piston elevator. The upward advancement of the piston elevator causes the deodorant product to be dispensed through orifices in an application surface where it is subsequently applied to the axillae of the user. The present invention provides means for reciprocal motion of the piston elevator in order to relieve the residual pressure exerted on the product and thereby control undesirable post-dispensing. The present invention also provides means for uniform dispensing of the product by audible and/or tactile sensations.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a dispensing apparatus is provided which comprises a hollow housing having a central longitudinal axis and a container wall; an application cap secured to the container wall at the top of the housing, the application cap having an application surface having a central opening therein and a downwardly extending flange located about the central opening; a hollow product tube having a bottom wall and an open top end, the product tube being received within the housing and being spaced from the container wall, the product tube being disposed about the longitudinal axis and being adapted to contain an associated product; a rotatable threaded spindle disposed along the longitudinal axis, a first end of the spindle being received in a spindle well located in the bottom wall of the product tube; a piston elevator being mounted onto the spindle for axial movement within the product tube; rotational prevention means for preventing rotation of the piston elevator about the spindle; rotatable drive means for rotation of the threaded spindle, the drive means being fixedly secured to a second end of the spindle, the drive means comprising a rotatable propeller and a hollow product head having an upper surface and an open lower end, the product head being affixed to the propeller and rotatable therewith, the open lower end of the product head communicating with the open top end of the product tube and the upper surface of the product head being received within the flange of the application cap; directing means for directing the associated product from the product tube to the application surface, the directing means comprising a plurality of orifices in the upper surface of said product head; and, association means for maintaining a predetermined association between the housing, the product tube and the drive means.
According to another aspect of the invention, the dispensing apparatus further comprises means for reciprocating the product head within the flange of the application cap. The reciprocating means may comprise a cam located at a bottom of the flange; a cam follower being rotatable with the product head and contacting the cam; and, a flexible strip extending between the product head and the propeller, the flexible strip being able to displace axially in response to movement of the cam follower along the cam.
According to another aspect of the invention, the bottom wall of the product tube is integrally molded with the housing.
According to another aspect of the invention, the product tube, the container wall and the base are a single integrally molded member.
According to another aspect of the invention, the bottom wall of the product tube includes a plurality of vent holes therein.
According to another aspect of the invention, the dispensing apparatus includes means for dispensing a uniform dose of said associated product.
One advantage of the present invention is that the deodorant dispenser has very few parts to substantially reduce the manufacturing and assembly costs.
Another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a concealed product tube within a dispenser housing. This arrangement provides for much neater application of product and storage of the dispensing package.
Still other benefits and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains upon a reading and understanding of the following detailed specification.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5000356 (1991-03-01), Johnson et al.
patent: 5025960 (1991-06-01), Seager
patent: 5372444 (1994-12-01), Lhuisset
patent: 5842802 (1998-12-01), Lang et al.
Emerson Roger D.
Emerson & Associates
Skeriotis John M.
Walczak David J.
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