Abstract
A total-use dispenser for dispensing a fluid product therefrom. A total-use dispenser may have a body forming an enclosure having both a top opening and a bottom outlet and a tapering portion that tapers down toward the bottom outlet and a pump configured in the top opening to dispense the fluid product from the dispenser. The pump may be configured in the top opening to pump air into the rigid body to force fluid product therefrom. The fluid product may be dispensed from a bottom outlet or from a spout coupled with a spout conduit that extends into the squeezable body of the total-use dispenser. The total-use dispenser enables substantially all the fluid product to be dispensed from the enclosure, such as at least 90% by weight, at least 97% by weight and most preferably 99% or more by weight.
Claims
1. A total-use dispenser for dispensing a fluid product therefrom, said total-use dispenser comprising: a) a body forming an enclosure and comprising: i) a top opening having male threads configured around said top opening; ii) a bottom outlet; iii) a longitudinal axis extending along iv) a retainer portion; v) a tapering portion configured between said retainer portion and said bottom outlet that tapers in cross sectional area toward the bottom outlet; wherein the tapering portion has a smooth interior surface to allow the fluid product to flow therethrough; and wherein an interior surface of the body proximal to the top opening is smooth comprising no threads; b) a top closure comprising female threads configured to detachably attach to the male threads configured around the top opening of the body; c) a pump configured in the top closure that pumps air into the body to dispense said fluid product therefrom, the pump comprising a stem extending at a stem offset angle of between 10 and 45 degrees from the vertical axis of the body; and wherein the total-use dispenser is configured to dispense at least 90% of the fluid product therefrom.
2. The total-use dispenser of claim 1, further comprising an outlet extension that extends horizontally away from the retainer portion, wherein the bottom outlet is extended horizontally an offset distance from the body of the retainer portion.
3. The total-use dispenser of claim 2, further comprising a bottom outlet cover and wherein the bottom outlet cover is a bottom outlet plug configured to bottom outlet.
4. Total-use dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a bottom outlet cover and wherein the bottom outlet cover comprises a bottom cap that is configured to open and close the bottom outlet.
5. The total-use dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a product cup configured to extend over the bottom outlet, wherein the product cup is detachably attachable to the body.
6. The total-use dispenser of claim 5, wherein the product cup has female threads and wherein the body has bottom outlet threads that are male threads for engagement with the product cup female threads.
7. The total-use dispenser of claim 1, further comprising an inlet air valve that is a one-way valve configured to allow air to flow into the body to equalize air pressure when vacuum is formed in the body.
8. The total-use dispenser of claim 1, wherein the pump further comprises a fluid conduit that extends down through the enclosure to a fluid conduit inlet configured proximal to the bottom outlet.
9. The total-use dispenser of claim 8, further comprising a product cup configured to extend over the bottom outlet, wherein the product cup is detachably attachable to the body.
10. The total-use dispenser of claim 9, wherein the fluid conduit extends down through the body and into the product cup.
11. The total-use dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a spout conduit having a spout conduit inlet configured in the fluid product and configured to direct a flow of fluid product therethrough to a spout outlet to dispense said fluid product from said spout outlet.
12. The total-use dispenser of claim 11, wherein the spout conduit extends through the top cover to said spout outlet that is coupled with the stem.
13. The total-use dispenser of claim 11, further comprising a bottom outlet cover and wherein the spout conduit inlet is configured in the bottom outlet cover.
14. The total-use dispenser of claim 13, wherein the bottom outlet cover comprises a bottom cap that is configured to open and close the bottom outlet.
15. The total-use dispenser of claim 14, wherein the bottom outlet cover comprises an angled fluid deflector extending over the bottom outlet that angles from an upper side to a lower side.
16. The total-use dispenser of claim 15, wherein the bottom outlet cover further comprises a diaphragm configured on the lower side of the angled fluid deflector.
17. The total-use dispenser of claim 16, wherein the diaphragm is an elastomeric material having a plurality of slits to allow the diaphragm to open to dispense the fluid product when the fluid product is pressurized and then close after dispensing the fluid product.
18. The total-use dispenser of claim 16, wherein the spout conduit inlet is configured above the lower side of the angled fluid deflector.
19. The total-use dispenser of claim 11, wherein the spout conduit extends along the outside wall of the body.
20. The total-use dispenser of claim 1, wherein the retainer portion is cylindrical in shape and has a diameter of at least 50 mm.
21. The total-use dispenser of claim 1, wherein the body is a resilient-deformable body configured to dispense fluid product by squeezing and deforming the body to increase pressure in a head space over the fluid product.
22. The total-use dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of legs coupled to the body to support the body in an upright configuration.
23. The total-use dispenser of claim 22, wherein the plurality of legs are detachably attachable to the body.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.
(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an exemplary total-use dispenser having a rigid body and a pump configured on the top opening and a bottom outlet with an outlet cover.
(3) FIG. 2 shows a side view of an exemplary total-use dispenser having a rigid body and a dispenser pump configured on the top opening and a spout outlet extending from the side of the body of the dispenser for dispensing the fluid product therefrom; a spout conduit extends down to the bottom of the enclosure.
(4) FIG. 3 shows a top partial cross-sectional view of an exemplary body and the spout conduit configured along the outside surface of the body.
(5) FIG. 4 shows a top partial cross-sectional view of an exemplary body and the spout conduit configured along the inside surface of the body.
(6) FIG. 5 shows a side view of an exemplary total-use dispenser having a rigid body and a pump configured on the top opening and a bottom outlet with an outlet cover that forms a product cup.
(7) FIG. 6 shows a side view of an exemplary total-use dispenser having a rigid body and a dispenser pump configured on the top opening and a bottom outlet with an outlet cover that forms a product cup; the pump fluid conduit extends down to the product cup.
(8) FIG. 7 shows a side view of an exemplary total-use dispenser that is a deformable and resilient squeeze bottle having a vent configured with the top closure and a diaphragm configured in the bottom outlet cover.
(9) FIG. 8 shows a side view of an exemplary total-use dispenser that deformable and resilient squeeze bottle having a spout coupled with a spout conduit that extends down to the bottom outlet cover.
(10) FIG. 9 shows a side view of an exemplary total-use dispenser that is a deformable and resilient squeeze bottle having a bottom spout coupled to a bottom outlet extension and an outlet plug configured to seal the bottom spout.
(11) FIG. 10 shows a cross sectional view of a bottom outlet cover coupled to the bottom outlet of the body and wherein the bottom outlet cover has a diaphragm and a bottom cap.
(12) FIG. 11 shows a top view of an exemplary diaphragm having diaphragm slits to allow the resilient diaphragm to open and dispense the fluid product.
(13) FIG. 12 shows a cross sectional view of a bottom outlet cover coupled to the bottom outlet of the body and wherein the bottom outlet cover has a diaphragm coupled to an angled fluid deflector with the spout conduit extending into the bottom outlet cover.
(14) Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the figures. The figures represent an illustration of some of the embodiments of the present invention and are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. Further, the figures are not necessarily to scale, some features may be exaggerated to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
(15) As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” “including,” “has,” “having” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Also, use of “a” or “an” are employed to describe elements and components described herein. This is done merely for convenience and to give a general sense of the scope of the invention. This description should be read to include one or at least one and the singular also includes the plural unless it is obvious that it is meant otherwise.
(16) Certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described herein and are illustrated in the accompanying figures. The embodiments described are only for purposes of illustrating the present invention and should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention. Other embodiments of the invention, and certain modifications, combinations and improvements of the described embodiments, will occur to those skilled in the art and all such alternate embodiments, combinations, modifications, improvements are within the scope of the present invention.
(17) A pump is shown in the figures and the pump may be an inline piston air pump. It is to be understood that the pump may include a piston, piston rod, cylinder, a spring, and/or one-way air valves; therefore, these components are not depicted or labeled in the figures. The external components are depicted and labeled however.
(18) As shown in FIG. 1, an exemplary total-use dispenser 10 includes a rigid dispenser 11 with a pump 41 configured on the top opening 32 and a bottom outlet 50 configured on the end of the tapering portion 38 and outlet extension 39, with an outlet cover 52. The total-use dispenser has a rigid body 30 forming an enclosure 31 with a geometry to enable the fluid product 20 contained with the enclosure 31 to flow out of the bottom outlet 50 through a bottom spout 51 when the pump 41 is pumped to produce air pressure in the head space 18 above the fluid. The body 30 forms a rigid enclosure for the fluid product and has a retainer portion 36 that has a cross-sectional area that is larger than the tapering portion 38. The retainer portion of the body may be cylindrical in shape having a diameter 37. The tapering portion has a tapering cross-section area toward the bottom outlet and is configured between the retainer portion and the bottom outlet 50. The body may also have an outlet extension 39 that is part of the tapering portion or extends from tapering portion to the bottom outlet 50. The bottom outlet has an outlet cover 52 with a bottom outlet plug 54 that fits into the bottom spout 51 wherein the fluid product 20 is dispensed. The tapering portion and outlet extension may extend horizontally from the retainer portion an offset distance 156. The offset distance may enable a user to more easily access the dispensing fluid from the outlet when the total-use dispenser 10 is resting on a horizontal surface, such as a counter. The total-use dispenser may comprise a plurality of legs 16 that extend out from the body to enable the total-use dispenser to be free standing on a horizontal surface. The legs may be coupled to a detachable stand 17 that enables the total-use dispenser to be detached and held in a person's hands for dispensing. The body of the total-use dispenser 10 has a height 34 from the top 33, or top opening 32, to the bottom 35 of the body or bottom outlet 50. The bottom outlet 50 may be lowest part of the body 30 and form the bottom of the body.
(19) The pump 41 is configured in the top closure 40 and extends through the top opening 32 and comprises a pump stem 42 that extends from an insert end that is configured inside of the enclosure 31 to an extended end 48 where the pump handle 46 is coupled. The pump stem has a pump valve inlet to allow air into the pump to equalize the pressure. The pump stem extends along a stem axis 43 that is at a stem offset angle 44 from a vertical axis 45. The vertical axis is along the longitudinal axis of the bottle from the bottom to the top. This enables a person to operate the pump more easily with their thumb when holding the body in their hand. The pump stem extends down into the body at the pump outlet 29 where air is pumped into the body to dispense the product. The body may have a grip portion 70 comprising a plurality of indentations 72 configured to receive a person's fingers along the neck 76 of the body. The neck of the body may also be smaller in cross-sectional area than the retainer portion. This reduced cross-section may facilitate gripping the grip portion while pumping the fluid from the bottom outlet via the pump.
(20) As shown in FIG. 2, an exemplary total-use dispenser 10 has a rigid dispenser 11, and dispenser pump 40, as shown and described in FIG. 1, configured over the top opening 32, and a spout 60 extending from the side of the body of the enclosure. The exemplary spout has a stop-cock 67 that is operated by rotating the spout up or down. The spout outlet 64 may have a spout conduit outlet 64 with a spout outlet cover 68 to prevent fluid product from drying out between use. A rotatable spout valve 61 is coupled to the end of the spout and can be rotated to close the spout or open the spout. As described herein, there may be two or more dispensing options, such as flow and spray. The spout is coupled with a spout conduit 63 that extends from the spout down to the bottom of the body 30. The spout inlet 65 to the spout conduit may be configured above a diaphragm 91 in the bottom outlet cover 52. In this way, almost all of the fluid product 20 can be drawn up into the fluid conduit. The bottom outlet cover may be as shown in FIG. 12, wherein the bottom outlet cover has an angled fluid deflector that causes the fluid product to flow down to the lower end of the angled fluid deflector for collection into the spout conduit. Also, note that the bottom outlet cover or the body may comprise a diaphragm 91 that allows the fluid product to be dispensed out of the bottom outlet 35 of the body or the bottom outlet 50 of the bottom outlet cover. The bottom outlet cover 52 may have a bottom cap 55 that is configured to open for dispensing the fluid product through the bottom outlet cover, also shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. Also note that the bottom outlet cover may have bottom outlet cover threads 155 that enable the bottom outlet cover to be removed from the body, such as by unthreading from the bottom threads 135 on the body 30 to enable use of the very last bit of the fluid product and/or for cleaning the dispenser.
(21) As shown in FIG. 3, the spout conduit extends along an outside surface of the body 30 or enclosure 31 and has a spout conduit wall 66 that forms smoothed curved transitions with the outside wall of the body. The conduit diameter may be determined by the viscosity of the fluid content. This geometry may be more conducive for manufacturing, such as by injection molding.
(22) As shown in FIG. 4, the spout conduit extends along an inside surface of the body 30 or enclosure 31 and has a spout conduit wall 66 that forms smoothed curved transitions with the wall of the body to prevent fluid product from collecting between the body and the spout conduit. This geometry may promote the fluid product to flow down to the bottom for collection.
(23) As shown in FIG. 5, an exemplary total-use dispenser 10 has a rigid dispenser 11 with a pump 41 on a top closure 40 configured over the top opening 32. There is a bottom outlet 50 with an outlet cover 52 that forms a product cup 53. The pump 41 is configured in the top opening 32 and comprises a curved pump stem 42 that extends from an insert end that is configured inside of the enclosure 31 to an extended end 48 where the pump handle 46 is coupled. There is an inlet air valve 21, such as a one-way valve, on the pump stem 42 under the pump handle 46. The pump stem extends along a stem axis 43 that is at a stem offset angle 44 from a vertical axis 45. This enables a person to operate the pump more easily when holding the body. The bottom outlet cover may have a bottom cap 55 that is configured to open for dispensing the fluid product through the bottom outlet cover. The bottom cap 55 may have a hinge 57 and the bottom cap may rotate about the hinge. A diaphragm 91 may be configured over the bottom opening of the rigid body 30 and be coupled with the bottom outlet cover. The diaphragm may be as shown in FIG. 11, with a plurality of slits 92 to allow the diaphragm to open to dispense the fluid product 20. Also note that the bottom outlet cover may be removed from the body, such as by the bottom threads 135 to enable use of the very last bit of the fluid product and/or for cleaning the dispenser.
(24) As shown in FIG. 6, the exemplary total-use dispenser 10 utilizes a rigid dispenser 11 with a dispenser pump 80 that forms the top cap 81 over the top opening of the body 30. The pump stem 82 is angled to provide better ergonomics during use when the user's thumb depresses the pump 80. The dispenser pump has a spout conduit 63, a type of spout conduit that is configured in the top closure, and extends down through the body and down through the tapering portion 38 to a position proximal to the bottom outlet 35 of the body having a bottom outlet cover 52 thereon. The spout inlet 65 for the fluid product may have a concave in shape around the end edge to ensure that fluid product 20 from within the body can enter into the spout conduit 63 even when configured with a small offset gap 87 with the bottom cap 55. As described herein, the small offset gap may be no more than 10 mm, or no more than 5 mm, or even no more than 3 mm and any range between and including the gap distances listed. The dispenser pump forces air from outside of the body 30 into the body through the pump air conduit 89. The increased air pressure inside the body forces the fluid product up through the spout conduit 63 for dispensing through the pump outlet 84. The bottom outlet cover 52 may be detachable by the threads 135, female threads, to form a product cup 53 that has a hinged bottom cap 55 that can be opened and closed. The bottom 35 of the body 30 may have male threads 135 for coupling with the bottom outlet cover threads 155 of the bottom outlet cover. A diaphragm 91 may be configured to allow product to be dispensed from the bottom outlet 50 when the bottom cap 55 is opened. This exemplary total-use dispenser 10 has two methods of dispensing product, one through the top pump outlet 84 and two, through the diaphragm 91 and bottom outlet 50. The cover 52 may need to be closed when dispensing product from through the bottom outlet. The inlet air valve 21 may allow air into the interior of the body to allow product to dispense through the bottom outlet 50. Depressing the top pump dispenses product by the shortening of the pump stem 82. The dispenser pump 80 is coupled to the enclosure 31 or body 30, by a top closure 40, or top cap 81 configured over the top 33 of the body 30. The top cap 81 has threads 141, female threads, configured to thread onto threads 133 configured on the top 33 of the body 30 or enclosure 31.
(25) Referring now to FIGS. 7, an exemplary total-use dispenser 10 utilizes a squeezable dispenser 12 that has a detachably attachable screw-on top closure 40 that has an airflow vent inlet 26 configured on the top opening 32 and a bottom outlet 50 with an outlet cover 52 that forms a product cup 53 for removal and use of the fluid product therein. The fluid product 20, such as a liquid, gel, lotion or cream is configured within the body, a squeezable dispenser 12, and squeezing the resilient-deformable body 75, or bottle, forces the fluid product out through the bottom outlet 50 through a diaphragm 91 that is part of the bottom outlet cover 52. The bottom outlet cap 55 opens at a hinge 57 to allow product to be dispensed and is closed to prevent further dispensing of product. Once the body 30 is squeezed to dispense product, the user releases the pressure on the body, which allows the resilient-deformable body to go back to its original shape because air flows through the vent 26 and one-way valve assembly 22 to equalize the pressure inside the body. The one-way valve assembly 22 has a vent cover coupled to the vent conduit by a vent hinge 25. The vent outlet 27 allows air to be drawn from outside the dispenser through the airflow vent inlet 26, through the vent conduit 23 and out the vent outlet 27 into the interior of the deformable body 75. The vent cover 24 is configured at a vent cover offset angle 28 to prevent fluid product 20 from clogging the vent.
(26) As shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, an exemplary vent assembly 22 may be configured with a squeezable dispenser 12. The exemplary vent assembly has a vent opening 26 and vent conduit 23 that extends down into the body 30, and a vent cover 24 that is configured at a vent cover offset angle 28 when it may be closed by gravity. The vent cover may be configured over the vent outlet 27 by a vent hinge 25. When the body is squeezed, the vent remains closed due to gravity to prevent air from coming into the body from outside. When the user releases the pressure on the body, air is then drawn in through the vent inlet 26, through the vent conduit 23 and into the interior of the body through the hinged vent cover 24 at the vent outlet 25. The vent assembly 22 then acts as a one-way valve to let air into the body any time there is a negative air pressure within the body to equalize the pressure with the outside.
(27) As shown in FIG. 7, the total-use dispenser has a bottom outlet cover 52 having a diaphragm 91 to allow the fluid product 20 to be dispensed therethrough. The bottom cap 55 may be opened by the bottom cap hinge 57 and the body may be squeezed to dispense the fluid product. The bottom outlet cover may be coupled to the body by threads 135. The body may have male threads and the bottom outlet cover may have corresponding female threads.
(28) As shown in FIG. 8, an exemplary total-use dispenser 10 is a squeeze bottle having a spout 60 coupled with spout conduit 63 that extends down to the bottom outlet cover 52. The body 30 may be squeezed to dispense the product through the spout or through the bottom outlet 50. The bottom outlet cover may be configured like that shown in FIG. 12, wherein the spout conduit inlet 65 is configured over the angled fluid deflector 59 and bottom diaphragm 91. Also, as shown in FIG. 8, the total-use dispenser has a vent assembly 22 as described, herein.
(29) As shown in FIG. 9, an exemplary total-use dispenser 10 is a squeeze bottle having a shape that facilitates squeezing the body for dispensing the fluid product at the smaller diameter 37. The top portion of the body is larger in cross section diameter along a vertical axis 45 than a lower portion. The lower portion may be easily held and squeezed and the larger upper portion may prevent the body from slipping through the person's hand during use. The total-use dispenser 10 has a bottom spout 51 coupled to a bottom outlet extension 39 and having a bottom outlet plug 54 configured to seal the bottom spout. Also, as shown in FIG. 9, the total-use dispenser has a vent assembly 22 as described, herein. The bottom outlet 50 is configured a lateral offset distance 156 from the body 30 to facilitate dispensing product from the body.
(30) As shown in FIG. 10, an exemplary bottom outlet cover 52 is coupled to the bottom outlet 50 of the body 30. The bottom outlet cover has a diaphragm 91 and a bottom cap 55 that is coupled to and rotates about the bottom outlet cover by a hinge 57. The body has bottom threads 135 that engage with the bottom outlet cover threads 155 of the bottom outlet cover to allow the bottom outlet cover to be removed and attached to the body. To restate, all threaded top and bottom closures may have the bottle threads on the outside of the body 30 so that the inside of the bottle outlets 50 and top openings 32 with or without pumps may have smooth walls inside the body. This is important for ensuring the near totality of the fluid products easily flow through the outlets and the bottles are easier to clean for reuse.
(31) As shown in FIG. 11, an exemplary diaphragm 91 has diaphragm slits 92 to allow the resilient diaphragm to open and dispense the fluid product. The viscosity of the fluid product may determine the slit size, diaphragm thickness (determines the amount of resistance to fluid flow), and whether a diaphragm is required to prevent product leakage when the cap 55 is opened. In general, a diaphragm will be used as a component of the bottom outlet cover 52 because it may better control fluid product flow based on pump pressure in rigid bottles and pressure from squeezing in deformable bottles.
(32) As shown in FIG. 12, an exemplary bottom outlet cover 52 is coupled to the bottom outlet 50 of the body 30. The bottom outlet cover has a diaphragm 91 coupled to an angled fluid deflector 59 with the spout conduit 30 extends down into the bottom outlet cover to the lower edge of the angled fluid deflector. The surface of the angled fluid deflector is curved to provide a substantially flat area for the diaphragm 91. This configuration enables almost all of the fluid product to be drawn up into the spout fluid conduit inlet 65. As shown, the spout fluid conduit inlet has a concave shape inlet 86. The body has bottom threads 135 that engage with the bottom outlet cover threads 155 of the bottom outlet cover to allow the bottom outlet cover to be removed and attached to the body. The bottom outlet cover 52 has a bottom cap 55 that is coupled by a hinge 57 with the bottom outlet cover. Therefore, fluid product may be drawn up into the spout conduit 63 or dispensed through the diaphragm and out the bottom outlet 50 of the body.
(33) The total-use dispenser as shown in FIGS. 1 to 9 may have legs 16 to support the body 30 in an upright position and these legs may form a stand 17 that is detachably attachable to the body. The legs and/or stand may also be attached to the body whereby they cannot be removed. The legs or stand and body may be a monolith, formed from a single piece of material, such as a molded product.
(34) It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications, combinations and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention. Specific embodiments, features and elements described herein may be modified, and/or combined in any suitable manner. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications, combinations and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
