Skin lotion dispenser

Abstract

A refillable skin lotion dispenser includes a refillable lotion housing having an openable collar located at or adjacent a first end thereof. The collar includes a dispensing valve configured to dispense lotion therethrough under gravity; and an annular sponge permanently secured to the collar and configured to surround the dispensing valve so as to be operative to spread dispensed lotion over an area of skin.

Claims

1. A refillable skin lotion dispenser comprising: a refillable lotion housing comprising (i) a collar and a (ii) second opposed end, wherein the second opposed end is shaped to be received in a user's hand, wherein the collar includes a (i) threaded end portion and (ii) a collar opposite end that comprises a dispensing valve, the threaded end portion comprising threads for threaded engagement with the second opposed end, wherein a circumference of a point at which the threads of the threaded end portion are engaged with the second opposed end, is greater than a circumference of the collar opposite end and greater than a distal end of the second opposed end; the dispensing valve configured to dispense lotion therethrough under gravity; and an annular sponge disposed on the second opposed end and permanently secured to the collar and configured to surround the dispensing valve so as to be operative to spread dispensed lotion over an area of skin.

2. A refillable skin lotion dispenser as claimed in claim 1, in which the annular sponge comprises a first end configured to be permanently secured to the collar and an opposed second end defining an application surface, and side portions extending therebetween defining an opening within which the dispensing valve is located.

3. A refillable skin lotion dispenser as claimed in claim 1, in which the collar comprises a mounting portion for permanent engagement to the annular sponge.

4. A refillable skin lotion dispenser as claimed in claim 1, in which the annular sponge is permanently secured to the collar by adhesive.

5. A refillable skin lotion dispenser as claimed in claim 1, in which the annular sponge extends around a periphery of the dispensing valve.

6. A refillable skin lotion dispenser as claimed in claim 1, in which the dispensing valve is a roller ball in communication with a part-spherical roller ball capture seat allowing for rotation of the ball to dispense lotion under gravity from the housing onto the skin of a user.

7. A refillable skin lotion dispenser as claimed in claim 6, in which the roller ball comprises a contact point configured in use to be in contact with the skin of a user, and in which the annular sponge provides an annular application surface defining a plane which is aligned with or passes through the contact point of the roller ball.

8. The refillable skin lotion dispenser of claim 6 wherein the roller ball comprises a diameter that greater than a thickness of the annular sponge.

9. The refillable lotion dispenser as claimed in claim 1, in which the housing defines an internal cavity configured to receive lotion therein.

10. The refillable lotion dispenser as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a valve closure cap configured to be releasably mounted on the collar.

11. The refillable lotion dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second opposed end is ergonomically shaped to be held by a single hand of a user during application of the lotion.

12. The refillable skin lotion dispenser of claim 1, wherein the second opposed end is shaped to be received within, and to contact, the palm of a hand of a user such that the fingers extend across the second opposed end and are received within a recess located between the collar and the distal end of the second opposed end.

13. A method for manufacturing a refillable skin lotion dispenser as claimed in claim 1, in which the method comprises: permanently securing the annular sponge to the collar comprising a dispensing valve, such that the annular sponge surrounds the dispensing valve; and releasably mounting the collar comprising a dispensing valve on a first end of the second opposed end.

14. A refillable skin lotion dispenser comprising: a refillable lotion housing comprising (i) a collar and a (ii) second opposed end, wherein the second opposed end is shaped to be received in a user's hand, wherein the collar includes a (i) threaded end portion and (ii) a collar opposite end that comprises a dispensing valve, the threaded end portion comprising threads for threaded engagement with the second opposed end, wherein a circumference of a point at which the threads of the threaded end portion are engaged with the second opposed end, is greater than a circumference of the collar opposite end and greater than a distal end of the second opposed end, wherein the housing increases in diameter from the collar opposite end to the second opposed end, and wherein the second opposed end increases in diameter from a recess to the collar wherein the recess is located between the collar and the distal end of the second opposed end; the dispensing valve configured to dispense lotion therethrough under gravity; and an annular sponge disposed on the second opposed end and permanently secured to the collar and configured to surround the dispensing valve so as to be operative to spread dispensed lotion over an area of skin.

15. The refillable skin lotion dispenser of claim 14, wherein second opposed end is shaped to be received within, and to contact, the palm of a hand of a user such that the fingers extend across the second opposed end and are received within the recess located between the collar and the distal end of the second opposed end.

16. The refillable skin lotion dispenser of claim 14 wherein the dispensing valve is a roller ball in communication with a part-spherical roller ball capture seat allowing for rotation of the ball to dispense lotion under gravity from the housing onto the skin of a user and wherein the roller ball comprises a diameter that greater than a thickness of the annular sponge.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refillable skin lotion dispenser according to one embodiment of the present invention; and

(2) FIG. 2 is a view from above of the openable collar, dispensing valve and annular sponge of the refillable skin lotion dispenser of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(3) With reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the refillable skin lotion dispenser 1 comprises a refillable lotion housing 2 having an openable collar 4 located at a first end 6 thereof.

(4) The housing is composed of polypropylene. It is however to be understood that the housing may be composed of any suitable materials, such as for example other polymeric materials/mixtures thereof and/or non-polymeric materials (such as for example eco friendly materials).

(5) The refillable lotion housing 2 defines an internal cavity (not shown) configured to receive lotion. The skin lotion may include, for example, lotions, gels, sunscreens, or any combination thereof.

(6) The refillable lotion housing 2, and in particular the cavity (not shown) of the refillable lotion housing, is sized to receive a predetermined volume of lotion, such as for example 100 ml. The cavity is sized to receive a volume of lotion intended to be used within a single day. The refillable skin lotion dispenser of the present invention is therefore more transportable (i.e. smaller and lighter) than conventional dispensers which contain far larger quantities of lotion.

(7) The first end 6 of the housing 2 provides a threaded portion for complementary threaded engagement with a threaded bore provided on a first end 8 of the collar 4.

(8) The collar 4 comprises a dispensing valve 10 configured to dispense lotion therethrough under gravity. In the illustrated embodiment; the dispensing valve 10 is roller ball 12 in communication with a part-spherical roller ball capture seat allowing for rotation of the ball 12, relative to the seat, to dispense lotion under gravity from the housing 2 onto the skin of a user.

(9) The collar 4 further comprises an annular mounting portion 14 extending around the periphery 16 of the collar 4. In the Figures, it can be seen that the annular mounting portion 14 provides a recess.

(10) The collar 4 further comprises an annular sponge 20 permanently secured, by hot adhesive 18, to the collar 4. The sponge 20 is configured to surround the dispensing valve 10 so as to be operative to spread dispensed lotion over an area of skin.

(11) The annular sponge 20 comprises a first end 22 which is permanently secured by glue 18 within the recess of the annular mounting portion 14 of the collar 4, and an opposed second end 24 defining an application surface 26. The annular sponge 20 comprises inner and outer side portions 28a,b extending between the first and second ends 22, 24 of the sponge 20. An opening 30 is defined by the inner side portion 28a. The dispensing valve 10 is located, substantially centrally, within this opening 28a. The annular sponge 20 extends around the entire periphery of the dispensing valve 10.

(12) The height of the sponge 20 (as measured from the point of attachment of the first end 22 to the collar 4) is equal to or slightly less than the height at which the roller ball 12 extends from the collar 4.

(13) It can be seen that the roller ball 12 comprises a contact point 32 configured in use to be in contact with the skin of a user. The application surface 26 of the annular sponge 14 can be seen to define a plane which is aligned with or passes through the contact point 32 of the roller ball 12.

(14) The refillable lotion dispenser 1 further comprises a valve closure cap 34 configured to be releasably mounted on the collar 14. The closure cap 34 may provide a push fit engagement feature for releasably engaging a complementary feature on the collar 14. In one embodiment, the closure cap 34 may comprise a threaded portion for threaded engagement with a complementary feature on the collar 14.

(15) The housing 2 has a second opposed end 36 which is ergonomically shaped to be grasped and held by a single hand of a user during application of the lotion.

(16) In use, the user removes the collar 4 from the housing 2 by unthreading the threaded portions. The user can then insert the required amount of lotion into the internal cavity (not shown) of the housing 2. The user then re-engages the collar 4 and the housing 2, preferably by threaded engagement of the threaded portions.

(17) The user then removes valve closure cap 34, preferably by pulling, from engagement with the collar 14 and inverts the housing 2 such that the application surface 26 of the annular sponge 20 and the roller ball 10 of the dispensing valve 10 contact the skin of the user. As the user moves the dispenser 1 along the surface of the skin, frictional forces cause rotation of the roller ball 10 causing the lotion to be dispensed under gravity from the internal cavity, onto the roller ball and in turn onto the skin of the user. The annular sponge 20, and in particular the application surface 26, contacts the deposited lotion and with the movement of the dispenser 1 rubs the lotion into the skin of the user in a smooth manner ensuring that all parts of the skin have been covered evenly with the lotion.

(18) The permanent engagement between the sponge 20 and the collar 14 is stronger than the repeated frictional forces applied during use of the dispenser 1. Furthermore, the sponge, collar and adhesive are resistant to breakdown as a result of contact with the lotion, or lotion components, within the dispenser 1, therefore ensuring the dispenser 1 has a long lifespan and can be reused for many applications of lotion without breakage.