US2942762A - Dispenser for toilet lotions - Google Patents

Description

June 28, 1960 M FAHR DISPENSER FOR TOILET LOTIONS Filed April 8, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

June 28, 1960 M. FAHR DISPENSER FOR womsw muons 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 8, 1957 IN VEN TOR.

June 28, 1960 M. FAHR 2,942,762

DISPENSER FOR TOILET LOTIONS Filed April 8, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ynla/ INVENTOR.

United States Patent DISPENSER FOR TOILET LOTIONS Morris Fahr, Los Angeles, Calif. (15831 Vanowen St., Van Nuys, Calif.)

Filed Apr. 8, 1957, Ser. No. 651,285

4 Claims. (Cl. 222207) The present invention relates to the general field of dispensers of viscous liquids. It finds particular, although not necessarily exclusive, utility when employed for dispensing lotions, cold cream, and other skin preparations.

A wide variety of dispensers abound in the teachings of the patent literature. By far the majority of these units employ a plurality of machined parts as their basic components. Such construction requires relatively close tolerances and a number of machine operations. In those instances where plastic has been employed, close tolerances are also evident. Such devices, although they may operate satisfactorily, are relatively expensive to manufacture and susceptible of breakdown from clogging and wear.

In this state of the art, the present invention has as its general object to provide a dispenser for viscous liquids which is simple, eflicient, and susceptible of economic manufacture from a limited number of plastic parts.

A related and important object of the invention is to furnish a dispenser for viscous liquids which accurately measures out the quantity required in proportion to its manipulation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser for viscous liquids which, when incorporated in a common cold cream or lotion jar, may be actuated by one hand. A further object of the invention is to provide a dispenser which incorporates self-cleaning features and is a substantial non-fouling construction.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser which can be manufactured from a minimum number of moving parts which do not require close tolerances thereby limiting manufacturing costs to an irreducible Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following specification proceeds, taken in conjunction with the accompanying descriptive drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a typical lotion bottle fitted with the preferred embodiment dispenser illustrating one application of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the dispenser mechanism which is threaded to the bottle shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the dispenser mechanism shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a cross section in enlarged scale taken along section line 44 of Fig. 1 of the dispenser cap.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the dispenser cap assembly taken along section line 44 of Fig. 1 showing the dispenser cap assembly in its empty condition.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the dispenser cap assembly identical with that of Fig. 5 except that it illustrates the flow of the reservoir contents into the dispenser cap in response to the flexing action as shown in Fig.5.

Fig. 7 shows the dispenser cap assembly identical with Fig. 5 but illustrating how the contents are discharged through the opening at the top of the cap.

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Fig. 12 is a plan view of the plastic disk and associated tube shown at the left portion of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a bottom view of the flexible cap shown at the right central portion of Fig. 11.

Fig. 14 is a sectional View in front elevation of the plastic disk and associated tube shown in Fig. 12 and taken along section 14-14 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 15 is a sectional view in front elevation of the flexible cap shown in Fig. 13 taken along section 15-15 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 16 is an enlarged sectional view in front elevation of the dispenser and associated cold cream jar diagrammatically illustrating the relationship between the cold cream and the dispenser at the time of purchase.

Fig. 17 illustrates the first step in operation of the dispenser as shown in Fig. 9 as the flexible cap is depressed.

Fig. 18 illustrates the second step in operation of the dispenser as the cap is released from the position shown in Fig. 17 illustrating how the cold cream migrates into the cap reservoir.

Fig. 19 illustrates the action of the dispenser in discharging a portion of the contents of the reservoir onto the top of the flexible cap when depressed again in the manner illustrated in Fig. 17.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in Fig. 1 as a dispenser cap assembly 10 which is fixed to a lotion bottle 11 or other similar primary reservoir. The dispenser cap assembly, as will be seen in Fig. 2, contemplates a delivery tube which extends down into the contents of the primary reservoir 11, a coupling 14, shown in the form of a modified threaded cap, and a flexible cap 15. Generally the dispenser cap assembly 10 contemplates a check valve assembly at the head of the delivery tube 12 which prevents any back-out of fluid which is pumped into the cap reservoir 16. In addition, the flexible cap 15 is provided with a unique slitted discharge opening or check valve 18. In operation, the user need only repeatedly depress the top 19 of the cap 15 and the contents of the primary reservoir 11 are discharged in measured amounts through the slotted discharge opening 18.

The details of the construction of the preferred embodiment dispenser assembly 10 will be more fully appreciated as their assembled relationship is shown in Fig. 3. There it will be seen that the delivery tube 12 is proportioned for a mating fit with the lower extension 20 of the check valve housing 21. A lock ring 22 is provided to secure the check valve body 21 within the threaded coupler 14. A check valve ball 24 is retained within the check valve body 21 by means of a cross pin 25. The flexible cap 15 is coupled to the check valve body 21 by means of the check valve body upper rim 26.

The assembled relationship of the components shown.

in the exploded form in Fig. 3 is best illustrated in Fig. 5. There it will be seen that the upper ring 26 of the check valve body 21 abuts the mounting shoulder 28 provided internally of the flexible cap 15. The lower rim 29 of the flexible cap 15 abuts the flexible cap mounting shoulder 30 provided internally of the threaded cap coupler 14. The lock ring 22 is proportioned to wedging- 1y secure the check valve body 21 within the threaded cap 14 where it abuts the internal threads 31 of the threaded cap 14. r

I A check valve ball seat 32 is provided by a tapered lowerportion of the check valve housing 21,'and leads directly to the'delivery tube mounting extension 29 which in turnis'insertediritkr the delivery tube 12;

1 Referring rr'ow toFig. 4, it will be seen that'the unique the c p- 15i As shown in FigsyI and 2, two crossing slits'BS-define four valve flaps 36 which-1 meet at the can ter of the cap top 19; V

discharge opening "13" contemplates a re -enforcing ring n '34 at the lower centralfportion of the flexible top ii of advantages of the; construction just described be come even more apparent as a typical oper'ationali cycle the dispenser'capassembly leis ern' ty as'shownin Fig.

7 through thebpening of the itlapsiuiitiz I Whm-the-fin'ger is released, however, the check va'lve ball"'24 raises suf ficiently off its seat $2 iniorder to incite a 'purnpingy action which slowly brings thecontents of the nm'ny r 2-; ervoir '11 up the delivery tube 12.

the Vuppe'r check valve assembly 18' is less than that re;- quired to by-passth'eiba' ll check 24; subsequent; pumping will; release; the contents'of'the reservoir 1110 the-"top" 19 ofthe'fliexible-cap 1 5 (s' e"e Fig'."7i*). Whenthe in g has ceased a srnalli portion of the' contents ot -g reservoir 11', for example,- hand lotion; appears on maybe-easily wiped off by the'userl- In; operation it will'be appreciated that-a wide variety:

offluids can be dispensed throhghth'unique dispenser capJ Once the reservoir 16 has beenfilled, the contents are constantly ready for use 1 There isno necessityi'to V screw or unscrew a caprrem the bottle; in additionjif the reservoir- 111' should? be knocked over, th1"e"iS I: danger of'spillor splatter; heapasaemnsiclean-' As better seeri n" Figl fl fluid lay-passes the cheek valveze and'ultimateiy' fills the eapi reservoir lfiifl V Because the hydrostatic pressure' reciuired to actuate h r 7 th V top 19 of the flexible cap as illustrated in Fig: This cold cream 116. When the flexible cap 114 is depressed, n as illustrated in Fig. 17, the reservoir area 118 beneath 'the flexible cap 114 is reduced substantially in size.

Upon releasing the flexible cap 114, thereby permitting it to return to its normal position as shown in Fig. 18, the check valve in'the delivery tube assembly 115 permits the cream to rise upwardly 1310:1116 reservoir area 118,

in order to satisfy the partial vacuum created after the release. When-the flexiblecap1'14- -is agaifi'dpressed, as shown in thedischarge rcheele vflve assembly 119 in the flexible, cap permits aporti'omofithe cold cream 146, formerly within the reservoir'118,to be expelled onto th=-top-of--the cap, the checli valve assembly within the delivery assembly preventing the cream from backing into the jar 111. Themore intimate details of the operation of the unit and its theory will become more fully apparent as the details of the various constructional elernents are outlined hereinafter.

Refefiringbach to Fig. llj'll Will-;be -seen"th%itfthe delivery assembly 115 'icontemplates an annular dislel-zll" and an-assoeiated 'delivery tube-121.i The delive'ry'tube 121- has-ari enlarged collar 12-2- at the portions vt he'e re' it joins-the disle 120- to accommodatean irrternal check valves The check valve is made up of aball124 which" is held in-place in the'inside of the collar 122 byline of a' transverse pin 125; It will-be noted' that-the d1 ametr of the-annular disk 120 closely approximates the 7 overall diameter of the-flexible cap "114: The cap 114 becausegthe use ofqthe unique dispensenvalve 18 p'r'e supposes that the dischargedlcontefits willr'belwiped' ofi' in use. As the description ofanalternativeetnbodiment 'll' become 'apparentithat 1 the" basic principles of the invention may be appliedi'tol of the invention proceeds, it;

a wide variety oflphysicalembodime'nt's, r

In broadest outline the alternative embodiment of the,

invention, to be described hereinafter in greater detail, contemplates a flexible cap withaunique discharge and a check valve, a disk which: cooperates with the cap to V trated'irr Fig; 15. There it Willbe'seen'thatthe flexible form a reservoir, and the delivery tube coupled withthe" disk and' asecond check valve; penser may be attached toa cold creamjar orthe' li In operation the dis-1 To actuate 'thedispense'r', the1flexible cap is depressed causing a pumpingiactionto'jtake place which deliverslthei cold cream to the top ofthe cap in'a quantity p oper tio'nedto the intensityand-frequency"of the flexing As Will'be seen frorn refer'rin'gfltoiFig'; 9,1theTdisp'ense'r' itsi contents; H

The details of the V ciated after thej operational cycl'elof thej dispenser has;

been reviewed. The stages of operation are illustrated, ,7

the jar, 1111 seeksia rel both operation and manufacture.

'hasa crowned head 113 and;aba's'e lilange126f the'di aniete r' of the base "flange: 126" being proportioned to locking-1y engage the threads 128 of the jarcoverl-lZf! The details of the delivery assembly are shown'in" theirxassembled relationship inFig: 14: There I be seen that the annular diskhas a hollow-central? bored portion- 129 which receives a cylindrical extensioh" 131 ofthe collar 122. At the juncture 'between the cy-" lindricalextension and the'collar 122 a diametrical'groove is provided in which to secure the check'valveretaining' pin 125. The check valve ball 124;"which may'be's e lected from a standard size bearing ball is proportioned" to the remainder'of the'structureso thatin 'its seated position as shown in" Fig. 14 it rests at the'niouthofthe delivery tube 121. Thediameter of the-'check valve chamber 131 is' such-that the check valveretaining V125- will prevent the check valve 124 from escaping froin" the check valve chamber after assembly. g F The" construction of the flexible cap'114 is best illus;

cap-has a peripheral flange 126 and dome-shaped'ceritral portion 113 terminating-in'a support ringfl'portibir lfigif. It will be noted thatthe outer edge ofthe'; support ring 132' tapers downwardly and inwardly along its periphery 134." This taper assists in securing the"fleXible capwith{ in' the opening in' the lid 1121", The 'dischargecheck" valve assembly 119 contemplatesaidownwardlyexteriding ringf135; shown as' molded integral With -flexible cap 114: Slits' 141 are made in the portiomof the flexible cap dome 113 which arecentraltothiering135. Four su'chslits -141 defining flaps 145' have been shown lintersecting it'at 'th'e centenof dome 1131 Althoughmthh slitting patterns are contemplated, four are preferablein Referring again-to Fig: l6; it will be seen thatin the assembled relationship all of the ele'ments whenblehded find a unique co action. The flexible cap-n4 and peripheral flange -portion- 126 serve-the two-'fold 'pu'rpos'e"- of anchoring the fiexib1e cap 114 tonthei jar cover 1122-- V The tapered shoulder portion: 134 of'the "rfleXible-cap serves. to lo'ckxthe flexible cap Withiiiithe'cover'112: in?

the event thecover is removed'to insert additioriahcream:

into the, jar. The-:deliv'ery' to assembly-disk 1291s -pro.- vided with a peripheral flange portion 142 which abuts;

sealinglyagainst the jar-top ledge 144. -Anair vent 14;i)

its-provided v in the form V of V anotch along. theedge-of the 75 jar 111'.

In review it will be seen that the dispenser of both the preferred and alternative embodiments are made up of a minimum number of elements. Each is relatively inexpensive and easy to mold and assemble with wide dimensional tolerances being allowable. The only moving part is the ball check valve, although the other check valve assemblies may be employed beneath the cap reservoir. Because springs and pistons have been eliminated, the units are insured against the possibilities of sticking, plugging, and corroding. The unique self-closing flap type body valve preserves the moisture content of the fluid in the cap reservoir.

In the event that solutions which require shaking before use are emplo ed, the entire unit can be shaken with the result that the materials in the top reservoir as well as the primary reservoir will be fully mixed before using. The molded nature of the dispenser assembly is inherently lightweight, and consequently will not tend to make the combination with the primary reservoir top heavy. In addition, since the principal part is molded of plastic, a wide variety of colors and decor or shapes may be employed.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in full here, there is no intention to thereby limit the invention to the details of such embodiments. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative embodiments, usages and equivalents of the dispenser as fall Within the spirit and scope of the invention, specification, and appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A dispenser for attachment to a primary reservoir having a threaded top comprising, in combination, a flexible cap characterized by a convex circular top and generally cylindrical side wall portions defining an internal cap reservoir, intersecting slits in the top of the cap defining flaps, a reinforcing ring integral with the cap top and ringing the flap bases, an internal mounting shoulder at the base of the cap side walls, a check valve housing with an upper ring to engage the cap mounting shoulder, a threaded coupler defining a flexible cap receiving opening at its top, a cap lock ring within the coupler which cooperates with the check valve ring to lock the cap in place, a one way check valve within the check valve housing, a lock ring Wedgedly securing the check valve housing against upward movement relative to the coupler, and a delivery tube extending into the primary reservoir from the check valve housing which delivers the contents of the primary reservoir into the cap reservoir and through the discharge flaps responsive to the pumping action eflfected by flexing the cap top.

2. A dispenser comprising, in combination, a body defining a central opening, a flexible cap proportioned to fit within said body opening and defining a supply cham ber below its top, said cap having a convex circular top with slit flaps therein for discharging the contents of said supply chamber, an internal reinforcing ring integral with said cap top and ringing, the bases of said slit flaps, means proportioned to close off the supply chamber defined beneath the flexible cap having a port in its face, a conduit extending downwardly from the supply chamber, a check valve Within the conduit, and a lock ring for securing said conduit to said body.

3. A dispenser comprising, in combination, a body defining a central opening, a flexible cap proportioned to fit within the body opening and defining a supply chamber below its top, a check valve housing proportioned to close off the supply chamber defined beneath the flexible cap and having a port in its upper portion, a tube extending downwardly from the check valve housing, a ball check valve within the check valve housing, a combination check and delivery valve in the flexible cap characterized by flaps in the cap defined by intersecting slits, an internal reinforcing ring integral with said cap and ringing the bases of said slit flaps, and a lock-ring for securing said check valve housing to said body.

4. A dispenser comprising, in combination, a threaded jar lid body defining a central opening, a flexible cap having an oflset shoulder proportioned to fit within the body opening and defining a supply chamber below its top, a plate proportioned to close off the supply chamber defined beneath the flexible cap having a port in its face, the plate being proportioned to engage the jar lid threads, a tube extending downwardly from the plate and connecting with the plate port, a check valve within the tube, combination check and delivery valve in the flexible cap characterized by intersecting slits defining discharge flaps, an internal reinforcing ring integral with said cap and ringing the bases of said slit flaps, and a lock-ring for securing said check valve housing to said body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 136,098 Hartman Aug. 3, 1943 2,143,661 Schrader Jan. 10, 1939 2,275,051 Maloney Mar. 3, 1942 2,441,649 Sprague May 18, 1948 2,718,987 Kimball Sept. 27, 1955 2,772,817 Jauch Dec. 4, 1956

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