Dispensing – With casing or support – Body carried and/or operated type
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-30
2001-05-22
Kaufman, Joseph A. (Department: 3754)
Dispensing
With casing or support
Body carried and/or operated type
C222S181100, C222S212000, C222S494000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06234357
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to dispensers which contain and dispense a predetermined viscous liquid. More particularly, the invention relates to an arrangement that permits a viscous liquid container to be mounted in various desirable locations, including the body of an individual user.
Many professions and occupations require the use of hand cleaners or other skin care products on a frequent basis. For example, health care providers such as nurses must sanitize their hands after each patient. Often, the nurse must return to the nurses' station to perform this hand sanitizing, which can cause additional time pressure in an already busy schedule.
Similarly, the hands of an employee working in a printing, manufacturing or other such industry can become soiled at the work station. Frequent trips to the washroom for the purpose of hand cleaning are inefficient and unproductive. In other situations, such as in the case of a utility or similar outside worker, there may be no washroom facility available if the worker's hands become soiled.
In other situations, it may be desirable to mount a viscous liquid container at various convenient locations. For example, a viscous liquid container could be mounted on a medical cart, or near a workstation in an industrial environment. Such an arrangement would permit the worker to use the viscous liquid without the need to walk to a nurses station, washroom or the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention recognizes and addresses the foregoing disadvantages, and others, of the prior art. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel product dispenser arrangement.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a product dispenser arrangement having a multipurpose carrying device.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a product dispenser arrangement that allows viscous liquid to be dispensed without removing the product container from the carrying device.
It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide a product dispenser arrangement that is wearable on the body of a user.
It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide a product dispenser arrangement that is mountable to a surface.
Some of these objects are achieved by a dispenser arrangement for dispensing viscous liquid comprising a product container having therein a quantity of a predetermined viscous liquid. The product container has a container opening located at one end thereof. The product container further includes a flexible sidewall such that depression of the flexible sidewall will cause the viscous liquid to be forced through the container opening. A holster device is adapted to support the product container in an inverted orientation. The holster device has mounting means located at an upper portion thereof.
In exemplary embodiments, the holster device comprises a lower support element having a fully circumferential structure and an upright element extending up from the lower support element. Often, the mounting means may comprise a mounting clip formed as an integral extension of the upright element. Alternatively, a mounting clip may include a clip portion pivotally connected to the upright element.
In some cases, the dispenser arrangement further includes an adapter element mountable to a surface. The adapter element is configured to mate with the mounting means and thereby retain the holster device.
Preferably, the holster device may further comprise a stabilizing element spaced apart from the lower support element. For example, the stabilizing element may comprise a pair of arcuate arms extending laterally out from the upright element. When the product container has a flattened cross section, the arcuate arms will have a similar shape.
Often, an outer surface of the product container and an inner surface of the lower support element may define generally complementary tapers to inhibit the product container from passing through the lower support element. A bottom edge of the lower support element may define a configured recess to facilitate access to the product container for opening and closing of the container opening. The container opening itself may include a normally-closed valve, the valve being opened when the flexible sidewall is depressed.
Other objects of the present invention are achieved by a dispenser arrangement comprising a product container and a holster device adapted to support the product container. The holster device includes an upright element and a lower support element, located at a lower portion of the upright element and having a fully circumferential structure. The holster device further includes a mounting clip located at an upper portion of the upright element. A pair of arcuate arms extend laterally out from the upright element at an intermediate location thereof. Often, the holster device may be formed as a unitary piece of a predetermined plastic material, and may be advantageously formed of clear plastic material.
Other objects, features and aspects of the present invention are achieved by various combinations and subcombinations of the disclosed elements, which are discussed in greater detail below.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 291168 (1987-08-01), Cranford
patent: 899290 (1908-09-01), Bricker
patent: 1445642 (1923-02-01), O'Neill
patent: 1611275 (1926-12-01), Lewis
patent: 1646562 (1927-10-01), Snow
patent: 1825897 (1931-10-01), Brooke
patent: 2289701 (1942-07-01), Engel et al.
patent: 2532244 (1950-11-01), Pasmore
patent: 2550554 (1951-04-01), Griffin
patent: 2729913 (1956-01-01), Holwerda
patent: 3160304 (1964-12-01), Peacock
patent: 4228928 (1980-10-01), Hocker et al.
patent: 4363432 (1982-12-01), Warthen
patent: 4463859 (1984-08-01), Greene
patent: 4606523 (1986-08-01), Statz et al.
patent: 4708273 (1987-11-01), Grant
patent: 5056696 (1991-10-01), Lahr
patent: 5476194 (1995-12-01), Hippey et al.
patent: 5499748 (1996-03-01), Iaia et al.
patent: 5971232 (1999-10-01), Rohr et al.
patent: 5984557 (1999-11-01), Fennell
patent: 6062435 (2000-05-01), Hess, III
International Search Report dated Jan. 23, 2001.
Dority & Manning
Kaufman Joseph A.
Kimberly--Clark Worldwide, Inc.
LandOfFree
Multipurpose carrying system for dispensing viscous liquid... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Multipurpose carrying system for dispensing viscous liquid..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Multipurpose carrying system for dispensing viscous liquid... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2553489