Abstract:
A compact liquid container/dispenser shaped and sized with the approximate dimensions of a standard sized credit card. The device includes a flat, generally square container portion capable of holding a small amount of a liquid, such as perfume or cologne. A smaller, flat, generally rectangular, lid portion is attached to the container portion along one edge with flexible hinges. A flat, pump spray dispensing component is fixed on the container portion and extends a suction tube into the liquid contained within the container portion. The lid portion may be closed over the dispensing component so as to cover the mechanism and prevent its inadvertent activation. An alternate embodiment includes a flat, generally square, removable container capsule that may be removed from and replace within the container portion of the device.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to containers and dispensers for liquids. The present invention relates more specifically to a liquid container and dispenser sized and shaped to be carried in a space configured to receive a standard sized credit card or the like. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A wide variety of liquid compounds have been created for use by individuals for a variety of purposes. It is beneficial where, for a number of these liquid compounds, it is possible for an individual to carry a small amount of the liquid with them for use as they might move from place to place. Liquids such as fragrances, colognes, breath fresheners, skin cleansers, etc. all benefit from being packaged in such a way that individuals may carry and dispense small quantities of the liquid as needed. 
     Efforts in the past to provide containers and dispensers for liquids that are carried about by the user have generally focused on simply scaling down the dimensions of a regular sized container/dispenser for the liquid. This usually meant that the user had to accommodate carrying the smaller bottle loosely in a purse or pocket. Such containers/dispensers were subject to both being lost or at best inconvenient to access. In some cases, the dispensers were subject to accidentally being activated while being carried. 
     Further efforts have been made, especially in the area of perfumes and colognes, to provide single application packets or containers that, once used, were disposed of. Although more convenient these packets failed to solve a number of the problems identified above with smaller bottle type containers. Such single application packets could not be re-used and were sometimes subject to being activated or opened accidentally while being carried. There was no convenient place to put them in a purse, pocket, or wallet. Further efforts at creating a container/dispenser that had a more convenient shape (such as might more easily fit into a purse or pocket, failed to provide convenient dispensing systems, relying instead on swab type applicators that often failed to evenly apply the liquid. 
     It would therefore be desirable to have a liquid container/dispenser that was both compact and easy to carry within ordinary dress accessories such as purses, wallets, and pockets. It would be beneficial if the compact container/dispenser was configured to be received into a space already structured in purses and wallets for carrying other objects. It would be beneficial if the dispenser function of the container could provide an even dispensing of the liquid as needed and yet not be subject to accidental activation while being carried. It would be further beneficial if the container/dispenser could be configured into a refillable embodiment that would allow the user to switch out the type of liquid being carried. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In fulfillment of the above objectives the present invention provides a compact liquid container/dispenser shaped and sized with the approximate dimensions of a standard sized credit card. The device includes a flat, generally square container portion capable of holding a small amount of a liquid. A smaller, flat, generally rectangular, lid portion is attached to the container portion along one edge with flexible hinges. A flat, pump spray dispensing component is fixed on the container portion and extends a suction tube into the liquid contained within the container portion. The lid portion may be closed over the dispensing component so as to cover the mechanism and prevent its inadvertent activation. An alternate embodiment includes a flat, generally square, removable container capsule that may be removed from and replace within the container portion of the device. Various liquids may be contained, carried, and dispensed from the device, including perfumes, colognes, breath fresheners, skin cleansers, etc. The device is sized generally the same as a credit card having approximately the same length and width, although having a generally thicker dimension than most credit cards. The device may preferably be constructed of durable but thin plastic molded materials and may include rigid plastic pump mechanism components. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of a first preferred embodiment of the container/dispenser of the present invention, shown in a closed configuration. 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the first preferred embodiment of the container/dispenser of the present invention, shown in an open configuration, ready for dispensing (activation of the pump mechanism). 
         FIG. 3  is a detailed, partial cross-sectional front view, of the pump mechanism of the container/dispenser of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a detailed side view of the hinge attachment feature of the container/dispenser of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a front elevational view of a second preferred embodiment of the container/dispenser of the present invention, having a removable/replaceable liquid container capsule, the device shown in a closed configuration. 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded assembly view of the second preferred embodiment of the container/dispenser of the present invention showing the manner of assembly and disassembly of the device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As indicated in the above summary, various additional embodiments of the present invention are anticipated that adhere to the basic elements and components described in association with the preferred embodiments as follows. The fundamental elements of the invention are characterized in the appended claims and generally include: a credit card sized device having a container, removable or integrated, for storing a liquid that may be dispensed using a simple mechanism such as a pump or a capillary flow structure, all of which may be placed in a closed configuration so as to prevent the inadvertent release of the liquid from the container. The following descriptions therefore characterize a number of preferred embodiments implementing these basic concepts and elements. 
     Reference is made first to  FIG. 1  which is a front plan view of a first preferred embodiment of the credit card sized liquid container/dispenser of the present invention. In  FIG. 1 , container/dispenser  10  is shown in a closed configuration for carrying and/or storage. Container/dispenser  10  is made up primarily of container base  12  and container top/cover  14 . Connecting these two components are hinge members  16   a  &amp;  16   b . In the preferred embodiment, these components may be made from rigid or semi-rigid plastic material that is easily and economically molded into the forms shown. Hinge members  16   a  &amp;  16   b  may simply be heat welded or molded plastic strips that allow container top/cover  14  to be tilted away from container base  12  in the manner described in  FIG. 2 . It may be preferable for the components of container base  12  to be transparent or semi-transparent so as to allow for confirmation of the presence or absence of the liquid to be dispensed. 
     Container base  12  defines container interior volume  18  which, though very thin in one dimension, takes up a very large portion of the profile area of the credit card sized device. The present invention anticipates overall dimensions for the device to be consistent with a standard credit card in its profile configuration, namely, 3% inches long by 2⅛ inches wide. The thickness of the device may vary significantly from that of a typical credit card since accessories designed to hold credit cards are generally capable of receiving multiple cards stacked on top of each other or thicker cards, as the case may be. The present invention anticipates a depth dimension on the order of 3/32 inches, which would not be overly large so as to prevent the use of the product in an accessory typically designed to carry credit cards. This would allow for a 1/32 inch thick wall on either side of a 1/32 inch thick container volume forming the device of the present invention. 
     Positioned within container interior volume  18  is liquid suction tube  20  that extends down from dispenser pump  26  positioned within dispenser body  24 . Dispenser spray nozzle  28  is shown oriented to the front for dispensing of the liquid when the container is held in the hand with a finger on top of dispenser pump  26  as is typical. 
     Reference is next made to  FIG. 2  for a side plan view of the first preferred embodiment of the credit card sized perfume/cologne container/dispenser of the present invention. In this view, container/dispenser  10  is shown in an open configuration ready for use and dispensing of the liquid (perfume/cologne, for example). Container/dispenser  10  is again made up primarily of container base  12  and container top/cover  14  which in this view has been rotated 90° on hinge members  16   a  &amp;  16   b . The thickness dimension of container interior volume  18  containing the liquid to be dispensed is shown in dashed outline form with liquid suction tube  20  likewise shown disposed within interior volume  18  again in dashed outline form. In  FIG. 2 , container top/cover  14  is shown to be constructed to have a top/cover recess volume  22  defined by a thinner profile for a wall portion of the top/cover  14 . This recess volume  22  is sized and positioned to receive dispenser pump  26  and dispenser body  24  when container/dispenser  10  is closed. In the preferred embodiment, container top/cover  14  is designed to be hingedly tilted away from dispenser body  24  and dispenser pump  26  so as to expose dispenser spray nozzle  28  and to otherwise cover it when the container/dispenser  10  is closed. This not only prevents the accidental pumping of dispenser pump  26 , but should any leakage occur from dispenser spray nozzle  28 , it would occur into recess volume  22  and not into any accessory item holding the credit card sized container. 
     Reference is next made to  FIG. 3  for a detailed description of a partial cross-sectional view of the pump and dispensing mechanism of the credit card sized perfume/cologne container/dispenser of the present invention. In this detailed view, only the top of liquid suction tube  20  is seen as it is positioned to be disposed within the container interior volume of the device. Liquid suction tube  20  terminates in a one-way reservoir valve  36  that allows for flow of liquid up from the container into the pump mechanism, but not the reverse. This valve  36  opens into pump exchange reservoir  40  which is an interior volume defined by dispenser body  24  and dispenser pump  26 . This volume changes according to the manner in which dispenser pump  26  is pressed or forced downward by the user. The downward force of the finger of the user on pump  26  is counteracted by oblong return spring  38 . Those skilled in the art will recognize a variety of mechanisms for returning dispenser pump  26  to its original position and for allowing the volume defined by pump exchange reservoir  40  to increase and decrease according to the pumping mechanics utilized. 
     At an opposite end of pump exchange reservoir  40  is positioned one-way pump valve  34  which terminates pump delivery tube  30  which extends in turn up through the interior of dispenser pump  26 . The second (upper) end of pump delivery tube  30  is positioned at dispenser spray nozzle  28 . Operation of the pump is as described above, and therefore provides for a one way flow of liquid from the container into pump exchange reservoir  40  and then out through dispenser spray nozzle  28 . Dispenser pump  26  is maintained within dispenser body  24  by pump slide rails  32   a  &amp;  32   b  and is prevented from extending too far into pump exchange reservoir  40  by way of stop blocks  42 . 
     The use of oblong return spring  38  not only serves its function in the operation of the pump mechanism, but also assists in retaining container top/cover  14  in its closed condition when the device is not in use. As the spring action provided by oblong return spring  38  directs dispenser pump  26  upward to its fullest extent, this allows for a spring loaded mechanism to retain container top/cover  14 . This retention is facilitated by top/cover closure snap  31  which is a protrusion that matches with a recess on the interior top wall of top/cover recess volume  22  positioned in container top/cover  14  (see  FIG. 2  for detail). 
     Reference is next made to  FIG. 4  for a detailed description of the hinge mechanism of the top/cover hinge structure of the credit card sized perfume/cologne container/dispenser of the present invention. Shown in  FIG. 4  is the top part of container base  12  and the bottom part of container top/cover  14 . Connecting these two components is hinge member  16   b  ( 16   a  is hidden in this view). Liquid suction tube  20  is shown in dashed outline form as it extends across the hinge point within dispenser body  24 . Dispenser body  24  is therefore seen to extend downward into container base  12  to an extent and in a manner that prevents dispenser body  24  from rotating away with container top/cover  14 . Top/cover recess volume  22  is shown to encompass (on three sides) dispenser body  24  when rotated into a closed position. 
     Reference is next made to  FIG. 5  for a brief description of an alternate embodiment of the present invention that incorporates a removable liquid container capsule. Most of the components shown in  FIG. 5  duplicate the corresponding components shown in  FIG. 1  with the exception of the structure of the dispenser body and pump, and the added structure of the internal liquid container capsule  58 . Container dispenser  50  is shown to be constructed primarily of container base  52  and container top/cover  54 . Hinge members  56   a  &amp;  56   b  connect the base and top/cover together. Container interior volume  57  in this case, however, is sized and shaped to receive liquid container capsule  58  in a manner described below. Dispenser body  64  now includes a removable extension  70  sized to fit within the upper portion of container interior volume  57  to an extent that is necessary to position liquid suction tube  60  into the liquid container capsule  58 . Pierceable aperture  72  is positioned on a top edge of liquid container capsule  58 . Liquid suction tube  60  is configured with a pointed end to facilitate the insertion of suction tube  60  into pierceable aperture  72 . As indicated above, the remaining components of the device of this second preferred embodiment of the present invention remain essentially the same as those described above in conjunction with  FIG. 1 . 
     Reference is next made to  FIG. 6  which is an exploded view of the second preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 5  disclosing the various components that may be assembled to construct the container/dispenser of the present invention. In  FIG. 6 , container/dispenser  50  is shown to be comprised of three primary components. Container base  52  is shown with the remaining components removed. Container top/cover  54  is hidden in this view as it might be when hingedly rotated back (into the page) away from the top of container base  52  as appropriate for the assembly of the device. 
     Initially inserted into container base  52  is liquid container capsule  58  which is a thin walled flat container that has been pre-filled with the liquid to be dispensed and sealed with the pierceable aperture  72  described above. The user may simply drop the liquid container capsule  58  into container base  52  and thereafter assemble the pump components of the device. Once positioned within container base  52 , liquid container capsule  58  orients pierceable aperture  72  as appropriate for reception of liquid suction tube  60  when dispenser assembly  70  is likewise inserted into the upper portion of container interior volume  57  of container base  52 . Once assembled in the manner described, container/dispenser  50  operates in much the same manner as the first preferred embodiment of the present invention described above. Use of the second preferred embodiment may be made where different liquids (distinct fragrances for perfumes and colognes, as an example) may be loaded at the time the overall disposable product is given to a customer, such as with a free sample or through other marketing means. 
     Various other mechanisms for dispensing liquids from the container described are anticipated. In place of the pump mechanism described in the preferred embodiments above, various capillary flow dispensing mechanisms may be utilized. Capillary flow may direct the flow of a liquid through a very thin tube against gravity to an area apart from the liquid reservoir. Such a flow may be facilitated and increased by the squeezing of the container that contains the first end of the capillary tube. In other words, the structure of the present invention, utilizing a suction tube, may be replaced by a capillary dispensing tube terminating in a soft wicking material or the like that allows the user to dispense liquid from the container by capillary flow or by pressure (squeezing) facilitated capillary flow. Each of these embodiments may be implemented in accordance with the basic structures of the present invention sized, as they are to fit into accessories designed to hold credit cards and the like.