Applicator dispenser

Abstract

An applicator dispenser is provided that includes a flexible pouch having a quantity of material therein that is to be dispensed or discharged, and wherein the pouch has a fitment or fitting secured thereto. A probe is adapted to be arranged in engagement with the fitment and wherein a puncturing element is provided for puncturing or engaging the pouch when the material is to be dispensed therefrom.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention retlates to an applicator dispenser, and more particularly to an applicator dispenser of the disposable, throw-away type.

2. Summary of the Invention

An applicator dispenser is provided whereby the desired quantity of a substance such as a liquid or fluid can be applied to a particular area. In one use of the device, the device can be used as a douche so that a desired substance can be applied to the vagina or other area. The applicator dispenser includes a flexible pouch having a quantity of material therein that is to be dispensed, and wherein the pouch has a fitment affixed thereto. A probe or tubular member is adapted to be selectively arranged in engagement with the fitment whereby a puncturing element will puncture the pouch so that the pouch can be manually squeezed in order to cause the contents of the pouch to be applied to the desired area or locality.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an applicator dispenser that can be made or used as a single use device, or wherein the applicator dispenser can be provided with a reclosable cap or stopper so that after a desired quantity of material has been dispensed, the applicator dispenser can be closed off until it is again needed.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an applicator dispenser that includes a pouch having a fitment thereon, and wherein there is provided a probe that may screw onto the fitment, and wherein in one form of the invention the probe has a plurality of apertures or openings for the discharge therethrough of the material being dispensed, and while in another form of the invention, the probe has a brush on an end thereof so that the material can be brushed on the desired surface.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an applicator dispenser that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and which is durable in form and efficient to use.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following specification when considered in the light of the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of one form of the applicator dispenser of the present invention and showing the probe in place on the pouch.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view on an enlarged scale showing the probe separated from the fitment.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken generally on the line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of a modified probe showing a brush mounted on an end thereof.

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of another modification of the probe showing a reclosable cap on an end thereof.

FIGS. 6, 6A and 6B are end elevational views showing modified tips for the end of the probe whereby various types of decorations and the like can be discharged as, for example, when the device is being used for decorating cakes with cake decorating material.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal, sectional view illustrating a modified probe assembly.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the assembly of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the lance of the assembly of FIGS. 7 and 8.

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal, sectional view illustrating a further modification and showing a different type of probe assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures, the numeral 10 indicates the applicator dispenser of the present invention that includes a pouch 11 that is adapted to be made of flexible material such as relatively thin plastic material, and the pouch 11 is adapted to hold a quantity of antiseptic or other material to be dispensed. The material to be dispensed in the pouch 11 may be in liquid or other form, and the pouch 11 is adapted to be squeezed as later described in the application when the material is to be applied or dispensed.

The pouch 11 is normally closed, and a fitment 12 is suitably affixed to a portion such as an end portion of the pouch 11. The fitment 12 includes a generally circular flange 13 that is suitably affixed to the pouch 11, and the fitment 12 further includes a cylindrical collar 14 that has external threads 15.

The numeral 17 indicates a probe or tubular member, and the probe 17 includes an annular sleeve 18 that has inner threads 19 for selectively engaging the threads 15 on the collar 14. The probe 17 is of hollow construction. A fluid tight seal is provided between the probe and the pouch whereby the liquid or other contents of the pouch 11 will be dispensed from the pouch in the desired manner.

The probe 17 further includes an elongated portion 21, and the portion 21 is provided with a plurality of apertures or openings 22 whereby with the probe properly mounted on the pouch, the pouch can be squeezed to cause the material to be dispensed out through the apertures or openings 22 onto the desired location or area.

As shown in FIG. 4, a modified probe 17' can be used instead of the probe 17, wherein the probe 17' may have a brush 23 mounted on an open end portion of the probe so that by selectively, manually squeezing the pouch 11, the material can be dispensed out through the brush 23 onto the desired area.

The probe is provided with a puncturing element 24 that has an inclined cutting edge 25 that terminates in a tip 26 so that when the probe is screwed down onto the collar 14, the puncturing element 24 will cut or puncture the portion of the pouch 11 in the vicinity of the fitment 12 so that the material can be dispensed from the pouch through the probe 17 or 17' onto the desired area.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that there has been provided an applicator dispenser, and in use with the parts arranged as shown in the drawings of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the applicator dispenser 10 consists of the flexible, squeezable pouch 11 having the desired quantity of material to be applied to the vagina, rectum or other areas, as when the device is being used as a douche. When the applicator dispenser is to be used, the probe 17 is arranged on the pouch as shown in FIG. 1 and with the parts in the position of FIG. 1, the puncturing element 24 will have its cutting edge 25 and tip 26 puncture or cut the portion of the plastic of the pouch in the vicinity of the fitment 12 so that by applying manual pressure to the flexible pouch 11, the desired quantity of liquid or other material in the pouch 11 can be discharged out through the pouch, through the puncturing element 24, then through the hollow interior of the probe 17, and then out through the openings 22.

Instead of using the probe 17, the probe 17' can be used as shown in FIG. 4 whereby the material can be dispensed out through the brush 23 so that the material can be brushed onto a desired surface.

FIG. 5 illustrates a further modified probe that is indicated generally by the numeral 30, and wherein a reclosable cap 31 has a shank or portion 32 that threadedly engages a correspondingly threaded portion in the probe so that when it is desired to only dispense a portion of a contents of the pouch, the cap 31 can be removed and then the cap 31 can be replaced when desired.

The fitment 12 includes the flange 13 that is suitably bonded or otherwise secured to the end of the pouch, and a fluid tight seal is provided between the probe and pouch.

It is to be understood that the parts can be made of any suitable material and in different shapes or sizes as desired or required.

With further reference to the probe 17, when the device is being used as a douche, the portion 21 may be of reduced size so that it can be conveniently inserted into the vagina, rectum or the like to accomplish the desired results.

The applicator dispenser can be made as a disposable device, or the device can be made so that it can be used more than one time. An important aspect of the present invention is the provision of the fitment 12 on the pouch 11. The applicator dispenser can include the probe or tube with a brush, and wherein the user can squeeze the product out through the probe so that various viscous material can be dispensed. If the user only wishes to use a portion of the material such as half of the product, a reclosable cap such as the cap 31 of FIG. 5 can be provided. The material can be dispensed in various manners such as in the form of a spray, as well as being applied with the brush 23 shown in FIG. 4. It will be noted that the probe is constructed so that as the probe is screwed down onto the fitment 12, the element 24 will penetrate or puncture the pouch to open the pouch. Thus, a bayonet type of arrangement is provided for a variety of attachments such as in conjunction with a gun-type unit.

Attention is directed to FIG. 6 wherein there is illustrated an alternative or modified end portion of the probe that is indicated by the numeral 36 wherein a star shaped opening 37 is provided so that, for example, when material is being dispensed for decorating cakes, the material issuing through the star shaped opening 37 can have a fanciful or decorative design. In FIG. 6A, the numeral 38 indicates a further modified tip of the probe having a criss-cross opening or slot formation 39 for forming a different decorative design of material on a cake or the like. FIG. 6B indicates by the numeral 40 a further modified tip of the probe that has a flower shaped design or opening 41 for the discharge therethrough of fanciful material for design type purposes.

Attention is directed to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 wherein there is illustrated a further modification of the present invention wherein an applicator dispenser is shown that is indicated generally by the numeral 42 and wherein the applicator dispenser includes a probe 43. The numeral 52 indicates an elongated hollow sleeve that includes a tapered portion 53 that has a flange 44 thereon. The numeral 45 indicates a flexible pouch that is adapted to be punctured by the tip 54 of a lance 46, and the lance 46 includes an outer end portion 47 that can be manually engaged in order to actuate the device. The lance 46 includes an elongated portion that extends through an opening 48 in an end of the probe, and the sleeve has an inner recessed portion 49 for engagement by inclined portions 50 of the lance. The lance 46 is provided with spaced apart ribs or flanges 51 as shown in FIG. 9.

Attention is directed to FIG. 10 of the drawings wherein the numeral 56 indicates a further modified applicator dispenser that includes a fitting 57 that has a flange 58 that may be heat sealed to the film 59 of the pouch. The device of FIG. 10 further includes a hollow discharge tube 60 having discharge ports or openings 61 therein. The fitting 57 is provided with a locking tab 62 as well as a gland seal 63. The tube 60 is provided with a stop 64 as well as a lock 65, and the numeral 66 indicates bayonet-type cutting edges on the inner end of the movable hollow tube 60.

When using the device of FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, when it is desired to discharge a quantity of material from a pouch such as the pouch 45, the device 42 can be moved adjacent to the pouch 45 and then by manually pressing inwardly on the end 47 of the lance 46, the cutting tip 54 will puncture the film 45 to form an opening in the pouch so that the material can be readily discharged out through the pouch through the opening that is formed therein.

When using the device of FIG. 10, the fitting 57 can have its flange 58 secured as by means of a heat seal to the film 59 of the pouch. Then, when it is desired to discharge the material from the pouch 59, the tube 60 can be manually pushed inwardly to cause the bayonet edges 66 to cut the film whereby upon squeezing the pouch, the material will flow out through the hollow tube 60 and then through the discharge openings or ports 61 onto the desired area. The portions such as the portions 62 and 65 and 63 interfit to co-act with the stop 64 whereby the parts will be maintained in their proper position as they are actuated or used.

Additional embodiments of the invention in this specification will occur to others and, therefore, it is intended that the scope of the invention be limited only by the appended claims and not by the embodiments described hereinabove. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following claims in determining the full scope of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. In an applicator dispenser, a normally closed pouch of flexible material having a quantity of material therein to be dispensed, a fitment mounted on an end of said pouch and said fitment including a generally circular flange portion secured to said pouch, said fitment including a threaded cylindrical collar having interrupted teeth thereon, a hollow probe including an annular sleeve having inner threads for selectively engaging the threaded collar, there being a fluid tight seal provided between the probe and the pouch, serrations on the inner end portion of said sleeve for engaging said interrupted teeth, said probe including an elongated portion of reduced size, and discharge means on said probe, said probe being provided with a puncturing element that has an inclined cutting edge that terminates in a tip so that when the probe is screwed down onto the collar, the puncturing element will puncture the portion of the pouch in the vicinity of the fitment so that material can be dispensed from the pouch through the probe onto the desired area.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said discharge means comprises a plurality of openings in said probe.

3. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said discharge means embodying a brush mounted on an end of the probe.