Dispensing – With cutter and/or punch – To form dispensing opening in container
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-28
2003-05-27
Maust, Timothy L. (Department: 3751)
Dispensing
With cutter and/or punch
To form dispensing opening in container
C222S129000, C222S383100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06568562
ABSTRACT:
RELATED APPLICATIONS
The following related U.S. patent applications, having the same inventors as the present application, are herein fully incorporated by reference:
1) U.S. patent application entitled “Plastic Blow Molded Bottle”, Ser. No. 09/009,739, filed Jan. 20, 1998;
2) U.S. patent application entitled “Rechargeable Dispensers”, Ser. No. 08/963,913, filed Nov. 4, 1997;
3) U.S. patent application entitled “Rechargeable Dispensers”, Ser. No. 08/507,691, filed Jul. 25, 1995, now abandoned;
4) U.S. patent application entitled “Rechargeable Dispensers”, Ser. No. 08/485,254, filed Jun. 7, 1995;
5) U.S. patent application entitled “Rechargeable Dispensers”, Ser. No. 08/279,978, filed Jul. 25, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,529,216;
6) U.S. patent application entitled “Multiple Neck Spray Bottle, and Methods of Making and Using”, Ser. No. 08/808,575, filed Feb. 28, 1997;
7) U.S. design application entitled “Spray Bottle”, Ser. No. 29/056,103, filed Jun. 21, 1996.
8) U.S. patent application entitled “Rechargeable Dispensers”, Ser. No. 08/852,736, filed May. 7, 1997;
9) U.S. patent application entitled “Rechargeable Containers and Dispensers”, Ser. No. 08/897,838, filed Jul. 21, 1997.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to rechargeable dispensers, in particular, rechargeable spray bottle dispensers, that can be recharged or refilled. Specifically, the present invention is directed to spray bottle dispensers having one or more reservoirs containing chemical associated with the spray bottle dispensers so that the spray bottle dispensers can be recharged by simply adding water or some other suitable solvent, and accessing one or more of the chemical reservoirs to form a diluted chemical reagent.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The use of spray bottles for dispensing chemical reagents (e.g., water, cleaners, soaps, insecticides, hair spray, etc.) is well known. Due to regulations limiting the amount of volatile organic carbons (VOC) released in the atmosphere, products originally contained and dispensed through aerosols are currently being replaced with spray bottles.
Bottlers of chemical reagents typically market their products by purchasing separately empty plastic container bottles and spray heads. The bottlers then fill, assemble, and label the completed spray bottle packages for delivery to retailers. Consumers purchase the filled spray bottles at the point-of-sale, and then use the chemical contents of the spray bottle. Most consumers dispose of the spray bottle upon the one time use of the contents of the spray bottles. However, the spray bottles are still fully functional with respect to containing and dispensing chemical reagents, since the plastic bottles are substantially chemically resistant and the spray heads remain fully functional after using the contents. Conventional point-of-sale type spray bottles can be recharged numerous times with chemical concentrate and water (i.e., at least 10 times, possibly 100 times while maintaining full operation). Thus, consumers dispose large quantities of reusable product (i.e, empty spray bottles) having high utility value.
In today's environment of numerous regulations to control pollution, and consumer and industrial awareness for conserving resources and reducing landfill waste, it is highly desirable to promote the reuse of products that maintain their utility, and dispose of only products that no longer have any utility. Many bottlers are currently selling concentrate in various sized containers to allow consumers to recharge point-of-sale type spray bottles with their particular concentrates. However, many consumers are unwilling to adopt such methods apparently due to some inconvenience in the steps involved with the recharging process of the spray bottles. In particular, there is some inconvenience in removing the spray head, opening the chemical concentrate container, pouring the chemical concentrate into the empty spray bottle, adding water, and reattaching the spray head to the bottle. Further, consumers apparently lack interest in recharging spray bottles due to some reluctance based on their inexperience and knowledge in mixing and diluting liquids, which is done by processing chemists for the bottlers. In addition, recharging is usually a messy undertaking due to spillage of chemical concentrate while pouring from one container to the other, overfilling, accidentally knocking over the bottle being filled due to its instability when unfilled, and other undesirable mishaps that can occur, that provide substantial inconveniences.
Importantly, sizeable containers (e.g., pint, quart, gallon, liter sizes) of chemical concentrate can be significantly hazardous to transport and handle by consumers unaware of the potent chemical properties of the chemical concentrates. Specifically, chemical spills of concentrate can damage items around the home including flooring, carpeting, counter top in kitchens and bathrooms, shelves, and other items the chemical concentrate could potentially come into contact with. Further, chemical concentrate can impose a significantly greater health risk to persons coming into accidental contact therewith potentially causing tissue burns and other damages.
Most importantly, chemical concentrate imposes a great risk to children who may accidentally ingest the chemical concentrate and become poisoned. Chemical concentrate greatly increases the chance of permanent injury or death in this regard to children versus current diluted chemical reagents contained in point-of-sale type spray bottles.
Our related, co-pending patent application Ser. No. 08/852,736, filed May 7, 1997 and entitled “Rechargeable Dispensers,” discloses a bayonet (probe) for puncturing reservoirs of chemical concentrate contained within a spray bottle dispenser. In that patent application, the probe is attached to the downtube, which in turn is attached to the spray head. In the present invention, the probe is attached directly to the spray head.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a rechargeable dispenser, in particular a spray bottle having one or more chemical concentrate reservoirs disposed within the spray bottle dispenser.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a rechargeable dispenser, in particular a spray bottle having one or more chemical concentrate reservoirs disposed within the spray bottle dispenser, and accessible by puncturing.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a probe for puncturing a chemical concentrate reservoir.
Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a probe for puncturing a chemical concentrate reservoir wherein the probe is connected to the spray head rather than the downtube.
Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide an adapter so that large neck spray bottles may receive spray heads having small couplers.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a diluent filter for a rechargeable dispenser so that diluent is filtered as it is added to the dispenser.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a probe for simultaneously puncturing more than one chemical concentrate reservoir.
Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus that can function as both a downtube and a probe to puncture an insert.
These and other objects of the invention are achieved by an apparatus for use with rechargeable dispensers comprising a spray head having a barrel and a probe connected to the spray head. The probe comprises a connecting portion for attaching the probe to the barrel; a disc portion, the connecting portion and the disc portion defining a through hole; and a shaft portion connected to the disc portion at one end and defining a tip end at another end.
In one embodiment, the spray head includes a movable piston and the connecting portion comprises a first cylindrical portion having an outside diameter, the first cylindrical portion being inserted into the barrel to form a non-locking press fit with an interior of the barrel; and a second cylindrical portion
Klima William L.
Klima, Jr. Walter F.
Law Offices of William L. Klima, P.L.C.
Maust Timothy L.
Sunpat L.L.C.
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