U.S. patent number 3,616,970 [Application Number 04/774,834] was granted by the patent office on 1971-11-02 for container construction for dispensing a pasty mass or the like.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Baumann AG. Invention is credited to Manfred Baumann, Alois Stahl.
United States Patent |
3,616,970 |
Baumann , et al. |
November 2, 1971 |
CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION FOR DISPENSING A PASTY MASS OR THE LIKE
Abstract
There is disclosed a container construction for storing and
discharging a pasty mass which incorporates a sleeve member for the
pasty mass and a piston mounted in the sleeve member. A threaded
spindle serves to axially displace the piston. Such sleeve member
possesses a cover member at the end thereof from which the pasty
mass is discharged. An applicator element is situated at such
discharge end of the sleeve member for distributing the pasty mass.
The cover member is equipped with at least one discharge opening
for the pasty mass and this discharge opening is narrow in relation
to the diameter of the sleeve member.
Inventors: |
Baumann; Manfred (Heerbrugg,
CH), Stahl; Alois (Diepoldsau, CH) |
Assignee: |
Baumann AG (Diepoldsau,
CH)
|
Family
ID: |
4225742 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/774,834 |
Filed: |
November 12, 1968 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Feb 13, 1968 [CH] |
|
|
2094/68 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
222/187; 222/390;
401/172; 401/266; 401/175 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
47/42 (20130101); B65D 83/0011 (20130101); A45D
40/04 (20130101); A47L 23/05 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A45D
40/02 (20060101); A45D 40/04 (20060101); A47L
23/00 (20060101); A47L 23/05 (20060101); B65D
47/42 (20060101); B65D 47/00 (20060101); B65D
83/00 (20060101); B67d 003/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;401/175,262
;222/187,390,563 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Reeves; Robert B.
Assistant Examiner: Stack, Jr.; Norman L.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A container construction for storing and discharging a pasty
mass therefrom, comprising a sleeve member for storing a pasty
mass, a piston within said sleeve member, a threaded spindle for
axially displacing said piston within said sleeve member, a
rotatable knob connected for rotation with said threaded spindle,
means for securing said axially displaceable piston in said sleeve
member against rotation, said sleeve member having a cover member
at the end thereof from which the pasty mass is discharged, an
applicator element situated at the discharge end of said sleeve
member for distributing the pasty mass, said cover member being
provided with at least one discharge opening for the pasty mass,
said discharge opening being narrow in relation to the diameter of
said sleeve member, said applicator element being provided with a
discharge opening, said discharge opening of said cover member and
said discharge opening of said applicator element being in flow
communication with the internal compartment of said sleeve member
storing the pasty mass, and a detachably mountable cap member
provided with plug means piercingly insertable through said
discharge openings of said applicator element and said cover
member, respectively, for the purpose of preventing undesired
accumulations of the pasty mass at said discharge openings which
might tend to obstruct flow of the pasty mass from said sleeve
member to said applicator element, said rotatable knob possessing a
bore means provided with riffles, said sleeve member possessing a
marginal bead means engaging with said riffled bore means of said
rotatable knob, and at least said rotatable knob or said sleeve
means being elastically deformable to such an extent that said
rotatable knob can be subsequently pressed onto said sleeve means.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improved dispensing device and,
in its more specific aspects, concerns a new and improved container
construction incorporating a sleeve member in which there is
mounted a piston which can be axially displaced therein by a
threaded spindle.
Containers or receptacles of this type are already known to the art
for storing sticklike cosmetic products, wherein the cosmetic
stick, after having been used, is again threadably retracted into
the sleeve member. However, such type containers or receptacles are
not suitable when dealing with pastylike products.
On the other hand, there are also know to the art tubes formed of
plastic or flexible or soft plastic containers which are provided
at their front region with a sponge or the like. The material or
mass which is to be applied by means of such sponge is pressed into
the sponge by compressing the container or the like. Upon releasing
the container the latter again assumes its original shape, whereby
the volume of the expelled material is replenished by drawn-in air.
However, this has the drawback that the dosing of the material is
inaccurate, since when the container is again compressed initially
the air must escape before new material will flow. But if the
container is held at an inclination during such time as material is
being pressed out then--upon the position of the
container--material admixed with air will be discharged through the
dispensing opening. Furthermore, it is practically impossible to
dispense a residual quantity or material in the container.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to
provide an improved container construction which effectively
overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art
structures.
Another, more specific object of the present invention concerns
itself with the provision of an improved dispensing container for a
pasty mass or the like which allows for accurate dispensing of such
mass in a quick, reliable, and efficient manner.
Still a further significant object of the present invention relates
to an improved container construction or the like for dispensing a
desired material contained therein, such container construction
being relatively simple to operate, economical to manufacture, and
extremely reliable in operation, also capable of being mass
produced.
Yet a further significant object of the present invention relates
to an improved container construction for dispensing materials in
quick, reliable, and accurate fashion, and wherein the entire or
practically the entire container contents can be dispensed.
Now, in order to implement these and still further objects of the
invention, which will become more readily apparent as the
description proceeds, the invention contemplates securing an
applicator element at the discharge end of the sleeve member at the
inside of which there is housed or stored the pasty mass, and
further wherein, the cover for the sleeve member possesses at least
one discharge opening for the pasty mass which is narrow in
relation to the diameter of the sleeve member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be better understood and objects other than
those set forth above, will become apparent when consideration is
given to the following detailed description thereof. Such
description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a first embodiment
of container constructed according to the teachings or the present
invention;
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through a second embodiment
of inventive container;
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through a third embodiment
of inventive container;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken through the sleeve member of
the container depicted in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view through a further
embodiment of inventive container construction in which the
applicator element is disposed at an inclination to the axis of the
sleeve member;
FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the container construction depicted in
FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view through still a further
embodiment of container construction equipped with a wormlike drive
for displacing the feed piston member of such container
construction; and
FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the sleeve member used in the
container construction of FIG. 7.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Describing now the drawings, the exemplary embodiment of inventive
container depicted in FIG. 1 incorporates a cylindrical sleeve
member 1, preferably formed of a suitable plastic material, at the
inner compartment 6 of which there is disposed a piston member 2.
This piston member 2 can be displaced in axial direction through
the agency of a threaded spindle 3. Furthermore, piston member 2 is
secured against rotation with respect to the sleeve member 1 in
that, in this embodiment, the outer skirt or wall of the piston 2
and the inner wall of the cylindrical sleeve member 1 possess a
corresponding polygonal configuration, or else, there can be, if
desired, a wedge or key which slides in a keyway. In fact, any
other suitable expedient to prevent relative rotation between the
piston member 2 and the sleeve member 1 can be provided.
Furthermore, it is also possible to configure the outside of the
sleeve member 1 so as to be round or circular and the provide at
the inside a number of bevels.
Continuing, it should be appreciated that the rotation of the
threaded spindle 3 is undertaken by means of a rotary knob or
bottom cap member 4 which is seated at the lower end of the sleeve
member 1 and rotatably supported by such sleeve member. Moreover,
in order to ensure against an unintentional detachment of the
rotary knob or bottom cap member 4 from the sleeve member 1 the
lower end of this sleeve member is advantageously equipped with a
marginal bead portion 5 which engages in an appropriate groove
means or riffling 4a provided at the bore of the rotary knob or
bottom cap 4. This rotary knob 4 is likewise preferably formed of a
suitable plastic. The dimensions of the annular or marginal bead 5
are chosen such that this rotary knob or bottom cap 4 can be
subsequently mounted onto the sleeve member 1 and then such annular
bead 5 engaged with the riffling 4a. In fact, it is desirable that
one of both components, namely either the sleeve member 1 or the
rotary knob 4 be elastically deformable to such an extent that the
rotary knob can subsequently be pushed onto the sleeve member.
Proceeding with the description of this embodiment it will be
recognized that between the cover member 7 of the sleeve member 1
and the inner walls 1a of such sleeve member and the piston member
2 there is located the internal space or compartment 6 serving to
receive and accommodate a pasty mass or the like, for instance,
preferably a shoe cream. However, it would be obviously possible to
fill this inner compartment 6 with other pasty or similar type
masses such as adhesives, cosmetic products, shaving cream,
coloring material or dyes, or the like. Furthermore it will be seen
that an applicator element, here shown in the form of a small
sponge 8 is nondetachably secured to the cover member 7 of the
sleeve member 1. This sponge 8 is preferably formed of plastic and
possesses an open-celled structure. Instead of using a sponge 8 as
the applicator element it would obviously also be possible to use a
felt, a small brush, a brush or spatula, or other equivalent type
of expedients. This sponge 8 is covered by a protective closure cap
9 during the nonuse of the container structure. This cover cap 9 is
either mounted or pushed onto the discharge end of the sleeve
member 1 or threaded thereon by means of a short threading. At the
central region of this protective cover or closure cap 9 there
depends downwardly a mandrillike or pluglike protrusion 10 which
extends piercingly through a central opening 14 of the applicator
sponge and furthermore through a material discharge opening 15
provided at the cover member 7, as best evidenced by referring to
FIG. 1.
The threaded spindle 3 is fixedly retained for rotation at its
lower end by means of a multiple-edge projection 12, for instance a
square or hexagonal projection, in a hub 16 of the rotary knob or
bottom cap 4. Above this projection 12 there is located at the
threaded spindle 3 a disk member 11 possessing a greater diameter
than that of the projection or shoulder 12. After insertion or
mounting of the rotary knob 4 the threaded spindle 3 is
nondetachably connected with this rotary knob 4 by means of a head
member 13 or equivalent fastening device. For instance, this could
be achieved by upsetting the projection 12 of the threaded spindle
3 or in the case of plastic by flatly pressing the head member 13
under the action of heat. Finally, it is also mentioned that the
applicator element 8, in the exemplary embodiment illustrated,
extends substantially throughout the entire cross-sectional area of
the cover member 7 and its opening 14 is here shown substantially
centrally located in order to receive the depending plug or
projection 10 of the protective cap 9.
It might here be mentioned that throughout the remaining Figures
there has generally been conveniently used the same reference
characters for similar or analogous components. Thus, turning
attention now to the modified form of inventive container
construction as shown in FIG. 2, it should be recognized that such
possesses a larger diameter and, therefore, has a somewhat greater
capacity than the arrangement of the container of FIG. 1. In
contrast to the embodiment of FIG. 1, in this instance, the central
hub 22 of the rotary knob or bottom cap 4 is externally constructed
as a multiple-edge projection or shoulder, which for instance has
six edges and engages into a hollow spindle 20 provided with the
threading 21. The inside of this hollow spindle 20 possesses a
similar cross-sectional shape as that of the hub 22, so that both
elements fit tightly in one another and therefore provide a rigid
rotatable connection between such elements. Furthermore, it will be
recognized that at the upper end face of the hollow threaded
spindle 20 there are located at least two pinlike projections 25
which come to bear with some play against the cover member 7, so
that the upper end face, in each instance, is spacedly retained
somewhat from the cover member 7. As far as the mode of operation
of this embodiment it is analogous to the embodiment considered in
conjunction with FIG. 1.
Turning now to the variant container structure shown in FIGS. 3 and
4, here the sleeve member 1 will be seen to possess a substantially
square cross-sectional shape and, in contrast to the previous
embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2, the rotary knob 4 does not extend
over the external surface of the sleeve member 1.
The remaining embodiments of container construction shown in FIGS.
5 and 6 and 7 and 8, respectively, are carried out such that the
applicator element 8 is located upon an inclined surface 30 which
is tilted or inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the
associated threaded spindle 3. In the case of the construction of
container of FIGS. 5 and 6 the rotary knob 28 is situated at the
upper end of the threaded spindle 3 and extends past the width or
sidewalls of the sleeve member 1, which in cross section is shown
to be substantially rectangular in FIG. 6, so that this rotary knob
28 passes through lateral slots 21a at the side walls of the sleeve
member 1. Rotation of the threaded spindle 3 can also be undertaken
by means of a wormlike drive transmission which, as best shown in
the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8, incorporates the gears 32 and 33.
This has the advantage of providing a large transmission ratio and
therefore a fine dosing of the material to be dispensed.
The mode of operation of the preceding considered exemplary
embodiments of inventive container construction for dosing or
dispensing a pastylike mass or the like will be apparent from the
following description. It may be assumed that the container
contains a shoe cream which is to be dispensed and is of a size so
that it can be easily and comfortably held in a hand of the user.
During nonuse of the container the protective closure cap 9 is
mounted at the upper region of the sleeve member 1 and prior to use
of the container would be removed. The internal compartment 6 of
the sleeve member 1 is filled with a pastylike or viscous shoe
polish or cream for instance. By rotating the bottom cap or rotary
knob 4 relative to the sleeve member 1 the piston member 2 will be
advanced upwardly by the action of the threaded spindle 3, in other
words will be pushed into the interior of the internal compartment
6. Consequently, a portion of the material located in the internal
compartment 6 will be pushed upwardly through the discharge opening
15 so that a thin pastylike strand arrives at the upper surface of
the sponge 8. Now, with the aid of this sponge 8 containing the
expelled material the shoe cream can be wiped onto the shoe,
whereafter such can be polished. Upon having finished the
application of the shoe polish to the shoe the closure cap 9 is
again placed back onto the sleeve member 1 or threaded thereon, so
that the plug 10 prevents any formation of crusty material at the
discharge openings 14 and 15 and also prevents any drying out or
the material filled into the container.
Naturally, instead of providing a single central opening 15 at the
sleeve cover member 7 it would also be possible to provide a number
of relatively small openings distributed over the cover member 7,
so that the pasty mass can be pressed from the cover member 7 into
the applicator sponge 8 which, then, must possess an open-celled
structure.
Furthermore, it would be possible to mount the applicator element 8
together with the cover member 7 so as to be detachable and
exchangeable upon the upper portion of the sleeve member 1.
It should be apparent from the foregoing detailed description, that
the objects set forth at the outset to the specification have been
successfully achieved.
ACCORDINGLY,
* * * * *