Reusable Temperature-Retaining Personal Care Dispensing Device

Abstract

A personal care dispensing device for the hygienic and temperature-controlled application of gel-based or gelatinous compositions such as aloe vera is disclosed. The device includes a hollow, elongated housing with an internal cavity lined with an insulating layer to retain a reduced temperature, enabling use with frozen or semi-solid compositions. A rotatable dial positioned at the bottom end of the housing actuates a threaded rod, which incrementally advances a plunger platform within the cavity. The plunger platform pushes the gel-based or gelatinous composition toward a dispensing membrane located at the top end of the housing, enabling controlled application to the skin. The membrane may be removable or pierceable, enabling for easy refilling and reuse. The device is portable, ergonomically designed for one-handed use, and especially suited for post-sun exposure or therapeutic skin care.

Claims

1. A personal care product and dispensing device comprising: a dispensing device having a housing including an external surface and a rotating dial within said housing, and a removable cap; wherein said housing having an insulating layer and an internal cavity for storing a personal care product; wherein said personal care product is freezable; wherein said housing extends from a closed bottom end to a top end; wherein said rotating dial disposed at said bottom end of said housing; wherein said rotating dial manually actuable to rotate along a central axis of said housing; wherein actuating said rotating dial pushes said personal care product upwards through said housing; wherein said top end having a dispensing membrane for dispensing said personal care product; wherein said removable cap selectively sealable to said top end of said housing; and further wherein said personal care product is a gelatinous product.

2. The personal care product and dispensing device of claim 1, wherein said personal care product is an aloe product.

3. The personal care product and dispensing device of claim 2, wherein said aloe product is refrigeratorable.

4. The personal care product and dispensing device of claim 3, wherein said insulating layer is integrated into said housing.

5. The personal care product and dispensing device of claim 4, wherein said insulating layer is selected from the group consisting of a laminated barrier and a foam fill.

6. The personal care product and dispensing device of claim 4, wherein said insulating layer is selected from the group consisting of one or more of a closed-cell polyurethane foam, an expanded polystyrene, and a metalized Mylar film.

7. The personal care product and dispensing device of claim 6, wherein said dispensing membrane is a thin plastic film.

8. The personal care product and dispensing device of claim 7, wherein said dispensing membrane is selectively removable for refilling said housing with said personal care product.

9. The personal care product and dispensing device 7, wherein said thin plastic film is piercable for controlling the dispensing of said personal care product.

10. A personal care product and dispensing device comprising: a dispensing device having a housing including an external surface, a threaded rod rotatable within said housing, a plunger platform, and a removable cap; wherein said housing having an insulating layer and an internal cavity for storing a personal care product; wherein said personal care product is freezable; wherein said housing extends from a closed bottom end to a top end; wherein said threaded rod manually actuable with a rotating dial to rotate along a central axis of said housing; wherein actuating said threaded rod pushes said plunger platform and said personal care product upwards through said housing; wherein said top end having a dispensing membrane for dispensing said personal care product; wherein said removable cap selectively sealable to said top end of said housing; and further wherein said personal care product is a gelatinous product.

11. The personal care product and dispensing device of claim 10, wherein said plunger platform slidably mounted within said internal cavity and movable in a longitudinal direction along a length of said housing.

12. The personal care product and dispensing device of claim 11, wherein said plunger platform moves between a retracted position proximal to said closed bottom end of said housing and an extended position where the plunger platform proximal to said top end of said housing.

13. The personal care product and dispensing device of claim 12, wherein said personal care product is an aloe product.

14. The personal care product and dispensing device of claim 13, wherein said insulating layer is integrated into said housing.

15. The personal care product and dispensing device of claim 14, wherein said insulating layer is selected from the group consisting of one or more of a closed-cell polyurethane foam, an expanded polystyrene, and a metalized Mylar film.

16. The personal care product and dispensing device of claim 15, wherein said dispensing membrane is a thin plastic film.

17. The personal care product and dispensing device of claim 16, wherein said dispensing membrane is selectively removable for refilling said housing with said personal care product.

18. The personal care product and dispensing device 17, wherein said thin plastic film is pierceable for controlling the dispensing of said personal care product.

19. A personal care product and dispensing device comprising: a dispensing device having a housing including an external surface and a rotating dial within said housing, and a removable cap; wherein said housing having an insulating layer and an internal cavity for storing a personal care product; wherein said personal care product is freezable; wherein said housing extends from a closed bottom end to a top end; wherein said rotating dial disposed at said bottom end of said housing; wherein said rotating dial manually actuable to rotate along a central axis of said housing; wherein actuating said rotating dial pushes said personal care product upwards through said housing; wherein said top end having a dispensing membrane for dispensing said personal care product; wherein said removable cap selectively sealable to said top end of said housing; wherein said personal care product is an aloe product; wherein said dispensing membrane is a thin plastic film; further wherein said dispensing membrane is selectively removable for refilling said housing with said personal care product.

20. The personal care product and dispensing device 19, wherein said thin plastic film is pierceable for controlling the dispensing of said personal care product.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which:

[0018] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the personal care dispensing device of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed structure;

[0019] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the dispensing device in its closed and fully assembled configuration in accordance with the disclosed structure;

[0020] FIG. 3 illustrates an internal view of the dispensing device of the present invention showing the internal dispensing mechanism in accordance with the disclosed structure;

[0021] FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view showing the refilling process of the dispensing device for reuse in accordance with the disclosed structure; and

[0022] FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view demonstrating the application process of the frozen aloe vera dispensing device of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0023] The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.

[0024] As noted above, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a personal care dispensing device that enables users to apply gel-based or gelatinous products, such as aloe vera, in a hygienic, mess-free, and temperature-retaining manner. There is a long-felt need for an applicator that eliminates the inconvenience and contamination risks associated with traditional squeeze bottles and tubes. Furthermore, there is a long-felt need for a device that provides a controlled, pressure-free application of chilled aloe to soothe irritated or sun-exposed skin without requiring the use of fingers. Additionally, there is a long-felt need for a reusable, refillable dispenser that is easy to operate, especially in outdoor or travel settings, and that minimizes product waste while enhancing the effectiveness of topical treatment. Finally, there is long-felt need in the art for a dispensing tool that can be chilled and/or frozen and offers a much cleaner and effective method of aloe application for treating different skin conditions like sunburn, rashes, and more.

[0025] The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is a reusable and portable dispensing device for applying a gel-based or gelatinous personal care composition. The device includes a cylindrical housing defining an internal cavity lined with an insulating layer for thermal retention, a gel-based or gelatinous composition is retained within the cavity, the composition being in a frozen or semi-solid state, a mechanical extrusion mechanism comprising a rotatable dial, a threaded rod, and a plunger platform, wherein rotation of the dial advances the plunger platform and moves the composition toward a top end of the housing, wherein the device is configured for direct contact with the skin and enables pressure-free, hygienic, and temperature-maintained application of the gel-based or gelatinous composition.

[0026] Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

[0027] The dispensing device of the present disclosure, also referred to as Aloe Pop, enables clean, convenient, and temperature-controlled application of aloe vera gel and other gel-based or gelatinous compositions directly to the skin. The device is designed for personal use and incorporates reusable and refillable housing with an integrated insulating layer that retains a chilled or frozen state of the contents for extended periods. A manually operated rotating dial advances an internal plunger platform to deliver the gel upward in a controlled manner through a top dispensing surface. The device eliminates the need for direct hand contact, promoting hygiene and case of use. The compact, portable form factor of the device makes it suitable for post-sun exposure care, daily skincare, or therapeutic use on irritated skin.

[0028] Referring initially to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the personal care dispensing device of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed structure. The personal care dispensing device 100 of the present invention is designed for convenient application of personal care products such as aloe and other gelatinous products. The personal care dispensing device 100 is portable, can be kept in a refrigerator or freezer, reusable, and can be easily used to apply a personal care product.

[0029] More specifically, the personal care dispensing device 100 includes a housing 102 having an external surface 104. The housing 102 is hollow and an internal cavity 106 is defined within the housing 102. The internal cavity 106 is configured to store a gel-based or gelatinous composition 105 therein and is lined with an insulating layer 107 to help retain the cool temperature of the gel-based or gelatinous composition 105. The gel-based or gelatinous composition 105 is freezable and can be in the form of frozen aloe. The housing 102 extends from a closed bottom end 108 to an open top end 110 and is preferably shaped to in the form of an elongated sleeve. The external surface 104 has various logos (shown in FIG. 2) thereon for marketing and branding purposes and the logos can be embossed or printed in various languages.

[0030] A rotating dial 112 is disposed at the bottom end 108 of the housing 102 and is manually actuable to rotate along the central axis 114 of the housing 102. The rotating dial 112 has a grip-friendly outer surface 116 to enable a user to rotate the rotating dial 112 easily. In use, when the rotating dial 112 is rotated in a specific direction (such as clockwise 118), the gel-based or gelatinous composition 105 is pushed upwards (shown through arrow A) and is dispensed through a dispensing membrane 120 which is disposed proximate the top end 110 of the housing 102. A removable cap 122 is configured to sealingly engage the top end 110 of the housing 102 to enclose the gel-based or gelatinous composition 105 when the device 100 is not in use.

[0031] The insulation layer 107 preserves the low temperature of the gel-based or gelatinous composition, such as after removal from a freezing environment such as a household freezer. Preferably, the insulating layer 107 is integrated into the housing 102 of the personal care dispensing device 100 and can be in the form of a laminated barrier or foam fill. The insulation layer 107 can be formed from one or a combination of closed-cell polyurethane foam or expanded polystyrene, metalized films such Mylar or a phase change material. The insulation layer 107 maintains the sub-zero or cool temperature of the aloe gelatinous composition 105 for an extended period and minimizes heat transfer from ambient air and from the user's hand during handling.

[0032] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the dispensing device in its closed and fully assembled configuration in accordance with the disclosed structure. As illustrated, the device 100 resembles a traditional stick-type applicator, such as a deodorant container. A label panel 202 on the exterior surface 106 of the housing 102 includes a plurality of product attributes 204 and at least a logo 205.

[0033] The rotating dial or knob 112 includes a directional indicator 206 (in the form of an arrow) to indicate to a user the direction to turn to actuate the internal dispensing mechanism of the device 100 to push the gel-based or gelatinous composition upward to eject from the top end 110 of the housing 102.

[0034] The membrane 120 is in the form of a thin plastic film that can control the aloe output from the device 100. The membrane 120 can be selectively removed for refilling the device 100 with gel-based or gelatinous composition. The membrane 120 may be pierced or has slits and provides a controlled dispensing of aloe or similar composition.

[0035] FIG. 3 illustrates an internal view of the dispensing device of the present invention showing the internal dispensing mechanism in accordance with the disclosed structure. The device 100 includes a plunger platform 302 slidably mounted within the internal cavity 106 of the housing 102. The plunger platform 302 is movable in a longitudinal direction along the length of the housing 102 and supports the gel-based or gelatinous composition 105. The plunger platform 302 is configured to move between a retracted position where the plunger platform 302 is adjacent to the bottom end 108 of the housing 102 and an extended position where the plunger platform 302 is adjacent to the top end 110 of the housing 102.

[0036] A threaded rod 304 is disposed axially within the housing 102 and is operatively coupled to the plunger platform 302. The threaded rod 304 has a proximal end 306 coupled to the plunger platform 302 and a distal end 308 extends through the closed bottom end 108 of the housing 102 such that the distal end 308 is operatively coupled to the rotating dial 112.

[0037] The rotating dial 112 is exposed through the bottom of the housing 102 as illustrated earlier in the disclosure and when the rotating dial 112 is rotated or turned, the threaded rod 304 is rotated to incrementally advance the plunger platform 302 in the longitudinal direction toward the top end 110 of the housing 102. On the upward movement of the plunger platform 302, the gel-based or gelatinous composition 105 stored inside the housing 102 moves upward and is dispensed through the dispensing membrane 120. It should be noted that size of the plunger platform 302 and the threaded rod 304 can be designed based on shape and size of the housing 102.

[0038] FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view showing the refilling process of the dispensing device for reuse in accordance with the disclosed structure. The device 100 is reusable and the gel-based or gelatinous composition 105 can be refilled inside the housing 102 for reuse. As illustrated, for refilling the composition 105, the top cover 122 is removed to make the top end 110 accessible and a frozen or semi-solid composition 105 such as aloe gel mixture is poured or transferred into the internal cavity 106. The composition 105 is sized as per the housing 102 and is stored in the cavity 106. In use, the rotating dial 112 is rotated to activate the threaded rod and the plunger as described in FIG. 3, to dispense at least a portion of the composition 105 for applying directly to the skin.

[0039] FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view demonstrating the application process of the frozen aloe vera dispensing device of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed structure. As illustrated, a user 502 can apply the frozen gel-based or gelatinous composition 105 from the dispenser device 100 directly onto the skin, such as the upper shoulder area, for soothing sun-exposed skin. In use, the top end 110 of the housing 102 is moved towards the skin such that the composition 105 contacts the skin. The device 100 is ergonomically designed for a comfortable grip and supports one-handed use for self-application.

[0040] Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein insulated personal care dispenser device, reusable temperature-retaining applicator device, personal care dispensing device, dispensing device, and device are interchangeable and refer to the reusable temperature-retaining applicator device 100 of the present invention.

[0041] Notwithstanding the forgoing, the reusable temperature-retaining applicator device 100 of the present invention can be of any suitable configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that it accomplishes the above stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the reusable temperature-retaining applicator device 100 as shown in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other configurations of the reusable temperature-retaining applicator device 100 are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the reusable temperature-retaining applicator device 100 are important design parameters for user convenience, the reusable temperature-retaining applicator device 100 may be of any size that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user's needs and/or preferences.

[0042] Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.

[0043] What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term includes is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term comprising as comprising is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.