Abstract:
The dispenser has a rotary dispenser roller mounted on a reservoir with a telescoping handle. The dispensing head preferably has a valve in its supply channel to control and stop dispensing of cream, lotion, gel or liquid fluids for application to the body surfaces. The dispensing head is angled to conveniently apply fluids to most body surfaces. The dispensing head may carry tools thereon for working with the dispensed fluids.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE 
   This application relies upon Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/461,764, filed Apr. 11, 2003, for priority. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention is directed to a dispenser for the dispensing of fluid material, particularly fluid materials for application to the body surface, with the dispenser having an extended handle for hard-to-reach surfaces such as on the users back. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Body lotions, creams and other fluids are often applied by simple dispensing from a container onto the user&#39;s hands, and then the user distributes it over the body. The fluid material is applied to the body, as required, in accordance with the character of the fluid material and its function. 
   It is desirable to have an improved system wherein a rotary dispenser applies the fluid material to the surface. In addition, in order to aid in the distribution of the fluid over parts of the body which are more difficult to reach, an extended handle is provided. Thus, improved distribution is achieved. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In order to aid in the understanding of this invention, it can be stated in essentially summary form that it is directed to an improved rotary dispenser with extended handle for the external body application of body-treating fluid materials including cream, lotion, gel and liquid. 
   It is, thus, a purpose and advantage of this invention to provide an improved rotary dispenser for dispensing body-treating fluids to the external surface of the human 
   It is a further purpose and advantage of this invention to provide a dispenser structure which includes a reservoir and an extended handle on the reservoir so that the fluid in the reservoir for body application can be more readily applied to all body surfaces. 
   It is another purpose and advantage of this invention to provide various valves which are configured to control the flow of the fluid from the reservoir. 
   It is another purpose and advantage of this invention to provide rotary structures, such as rollers in roller baskets in order to properly distribute the fluid onto the body surface. 
   It is another purpose and advantage of this invention to provide a roller head which carries thereon other implements to aid in distribution of fluid onto the body surface at any location on the body. 
   These and other purposes and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a study of the following portion of the specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an isometric view of the preferred embodiment of the improved rotary dispenser with extended handle, in accordance with this invention. 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view showing the reservoir and the extended handle in exploded position. 
       FIG. 3  is a section through the reservoir and extended handle on a central axial plane. 
       FIG. 4  is a similar section on a plane at a right angle with respect to the plane of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIG. 1 , but showing the handle extended. 
       FIG. 6  is a side view through the dispensing head showing a first valve for controlling the flow of fluid from the reservoir into the dispensing head. 
       FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 6 , showing a second embodiment of the valve. 
       FIG. 8  is a view similar to  FIG. 6  showing a third embodiment of the valve. 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the dispensing head. 
       FIG. 10  is a similar view of the dispensing head, shown in the exploded position. 
       FIG. 11  shows the basket of the dispensing head, with the parts separated. 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a ribbed dispensing roller. 
       FIG. 13  is a transverse section through the dispensing head showing the roller of  FIG. 12  therein. 
       FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the dispensing head of  FIG. 9 , shown from the roller side and shown with a razor-mounting structure removably mounted in a mounting slot. 
       FIG. 14   a  shows an end-stop detail in the slot receiving the razor blade carrier. 
       FIG. 15  is a view similar to  FIG. 14  showing a comb removably installed in the mounting slot. 
       FIG. 16  is a view similar to  FIG. 14 , showing a sponge and a sponge carrier mounted in the mounting slot. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The dispenser for dispensing fluids including cream, lotion, gel or liquid is generally indicated at  10  in  FIG. 1 . The dispenser  10  has three principal parts: reservoir  12  for containing the fluid; extended handle  14  for extending the length of the dispenser; and roller head  16  mounted on the top of the reservoir for providing the control of flow and distribution of the fluid onto the body surface. The fluid is a cosmetic or medically active fluid for human dermatological or topological use. 
   The reservoir  12  is preferably a hollow polymer structure such as a blow-molded bottle. Its side walls  18  are principally in the form of a tubular right circular cylinder. It has a closed bottom  20 , which is integrally formed with the sidewalls. The top of the reservoir has a radially outward extending shoulder  22 . The shoulder carries top  24  and the top carries spout  26 . The spout has exterior threads  28  upon which a rotary dispenser can be threadedly attached and sealed. 
   The extension handle  14  is also made of a synthetic polymer composition structure. Its upper portion is a right circular cylindrical tube. It may have a flare  30  toward its bottom. The flare provides a wider base to increase stability when the dispenser  10  is standing on the bottom  32  of the extension handle. On its exterior, toward the top of the flare, the handle has ribs  34  which extend all the way around the rotary handle. These ribs are to aid in secure grasp of the extension handle. 
   Interengagement between the reservoir  12  and handle  14  is provided in the form of threads  46 , which are formed on the interior of the handle near its top, see  FIG. 2 . The threads are highly angular and are multiple start threads. The axial length of the threads and the pitch of the threads is such that they can be disengaged in about a quarter turn of the extension handle  14  with respect to reservoir  12 . The interior surface of the threads has a sliding fit with respect to the sidewalls  18  of the reservoir. 
   Reservoir  18  has corresponding threads, but on the reservoir, the threads are in interrupted sections.  FIGS. 2 and 5  show sections  38  and  40  of upper interrupted threads. There may be two or three such thread sections around the circumference of the reservoir. Two is a sufficient number and is shown. The threads sections  38  and  40  are sized to threadedly engage with the threads  36 . Thus, when the extension handle  14  is in the raised position on reservoir  12  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the threads are engaged to hold the extension handle in place. 
   The reservoir  12  also has lower thread sections  42  and  44  thereon. These are the same as thread sections  38  and  40 , but are placed adjacent the bottom of the reservoir. This structure permits the threads  36  to be unscrewed with respect to the thread sections  38  and  40  by clockwise rotation of the extension handle looking down with respect to the reservoir. The extension handle is then pulled down and rotated so that the threads  36  engage with the lower thread sections  42  and  44 . The handle is, thus, in the extended position shown in  FIG. 5 . 
   In order to control the extension handle with respect to the reservoir, upper detent  46  and lower detent  48  are provided on the exterior of the reservoir. These are engaged by extension handle detent  50  seen in full lines in  FIG. 4 . The extension handle detent is also shown in dashed lines in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  5  because it is on the inside of the extension handle. These detents are sized and shaped so that they releasably retain the extension handle with respect to the reservoir. In addition, the reservoir carries a stop  52  which is higher than the detents  46  and  48 . It is sufficiently high that it stops the extension handle from being unscrewed off of the bottom of the reservoir. In this way, the extension handle is maintained in place. The structure provides a reservoir/handle combination which can be employed to carry dermatological fluids to the skin. The handle lengthens the structure so that the disposition can be easily accomplished and hard-to-reach areas such as on the users back. 
   The preferred embodiment of the rotary dispensing head is generally indicated at  16  in  FIGS. 6 ,  9 ,  10  and  11 . The dispensing head has a mounting body  54 , which has an internally threaded collar  56 . The internally threaded collar  56  may be integrally formed with the mounting body or may be a separate collar which rotates thereon. The collar threads onto the spout  26  and engages on threads  28 . The mounting body thus is sealed against the spout to avoid the loss of fluid. The mounting body has a neck  58  thereon. Roller carrier basket  60  is mounted on the neck. There is an interior passage  62  through the neck which terminates in the basket  60 , see  FIGS. 6 and 11 . Fluid product can be delivered up the passage  62  from the reservoir into the roller carrier basket. Channel  64  intersects passage  62  to extend substantially the interior length of the roller basket. The depth and width of the channel is dependent upon the viscosity of the fluid which is to be dispensed and distributed. More viscous fluid requires larger channels. 
   The ends of the roller basket terminate in walls  66  and  68 . Within the end walls are pivot pin slots, one of which is seen at  70  in  FIG. 11 . There is a pair of these slots, one on the inside of each inner wall. The slots are directed down into the basket in the direction of the channel  64  and passage  62 . 
   Roller  72  is sized to fit into the basket  60 . Roller  72  is of any convenient material which is wetted by the fluid. The roller has a pivot pin on each end. Pivot pin  74  is in  FIG. 10 . There is a similar pivot pin on the opposite end. The pivot pins engage in the slots, of which slot  70  is an example. The roller  72  can move toward and away from the passage  62  by virtue of the direction of the slots. When the roller is pressed toward the passage  62 , it closes off the channel  64  and passage  62 . Roller  72  is not cylindrical, but is in the general curve so that it is of larger diameter at the center than at the ends. It is an oblate spheroid truncated at both ends. The structure is such that, when fluid is dispensed from the passage  62  into channel  64 , it is distributed onto the back of the roller. Then, when the roller is pressed against the skin and the dispenser  10  is moved, the roller rotates to distribute the fluid onto the skin. In order to provide maximum roller area accessible to touch to the skin, the sides of the basket are below a plane through the pivot pins on the roller. As is best seen in  FIG. 11 , the sides of the basket are below the rotational axis of the roller. 
   Cover  76  is sized to fit over the roller  72 . It has ears  78  and  80  which slip into corresponding recesses in the end of the basket. Recess  82  is seen in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . Furthermore, the ears have holes therein, such as hole  84  in ear  78 . These holes snap over the projections in the recess, such as projection  86  in recess  82 . This permits the cover to snap on and off of the basket. The cover is sized so that its internal ribs  88  engage on roller  72 . Thus, when the cover is in place, the roller  72  is pushed down over channel  64  to close the channel. This prevents evaporation and hardening of the fluid material. In order to enhance the seal, there is an overlapping step  90  around the edge of the basket and a corresponding step in the cover. These steps interengage when the cover is in place to maintain the alignment of the cover. The cover can be snapped off by engagement on ridge  92 . 
   The roller  72  is a moderately hard and rigid roller, which is wettable by the fluid being distributed. An alternative roller  92 , shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , is of somewhat different construction and is more suitable for body application fluids of lighter viscosity. It has a fairly firm interior and has a cover  94  thereon of elastomeric material. The cover is provided with ribs  96 , which sweep through the roller carrier basket  60 . The ribs both seal the passage  62  when the roller is not rotating and permit the distribution of fluids of higher viscosity when the dispenser is in use and the roller is being rolled on the skin for the deposition of skin care products thereon. 
   Control of the outflow of fluid from the reservoir can be accomplished by pressing the roller back into its basket. For fluids of lighter viscosity, it may be helpful to have an additional valve which closes fluid flow.  FIG. 6  shows a boss  98  which is formed of part of the mounting body  54 . Collar  100  slides on boss  98 . Plug  102  is carried on webs within the boss  98 . When the neck  98  is raised to the open position shown in  FIG. 6 , the plug is away from the passage  62 . When the collar is pressed down, the plug  102  enters the passage  62  to plug the passage and close off flow. The neck can be raised again to the position shown for restoration of flow. Suitable detents are provided to limit the motion in collar  100  on boss  98  to functional limits. 
     FIG. 7  shows a valve dispenser head wherein the collar  104  engages around the neck  106  on the reservoir  12 . The neck contains a disc  108  which has a plurality of fluid passages  110  therein. When the roller basket is in the raised position shown, the fluid passages  110  are uncovered. When a roller basket is pressed down, the circular nose  112  covers all of the fluid passages  110 . The neck and roller-carrying basket can be raised to the position shown to permit flow and can be lowered so that the nose  112  covers the fluid passages  110  to prevent flow. Valving is thus achieved by up and down motion of the roller basket with respect to the reservoir. 
     FIG. 8  shows a cup  104  attached onto the neck of the reservoir. Attachment can be by snap-on fit with detent, as shown. On the other hand cup may have screw threads thereon to permit threaded attachment to the reservoir. The bottom of the cup has an eccentric hole  116 . The neck  118  extends down into the cup and contains an eccentric hole  120 . When the dispensing head is in the position shown, the eccentric holes are out of alignment and, thus, the valve is shut. When the roller carrier basket and its neck are rotated 180 degrees from the position shown in  FIG. 8 , the holes are in alignment so that fluid products can be dispensed from the reservoir into the roller carrier basket. The upper structure of the dispenser is the same as that described with respect to  FIGS. 9 through 11 . 
   The dispenser head  122 , shown in  FIGS. 14 ,  15  and  16  is the same as the dispensing head  16  and has the same roller mounting and cover structure. It may have any of the valves of FIGS.  6 , 7  and  8 . The roller carrier basket is seen at  124 . The difference in this structure is that a bar  126  having a T-slot  128  therein is mounted on the outside of the basket. The T-slot is configured to receive a T-bar. In  FIG. 14 , T-bar  130  carries razorblade  132 .  FIG. 14   a  shows a stop  134  at the end of the T-slot to limit entry motion of the T-bar into the T-slot. In  FIG. 15 , the T-bar  136  carries comb  138 . In  FIG. 16 , T-bar  140  carries sponge  142 . One of these instruments can be inserted into the T-slot for use immediately after the application of fluid to the skin. For example, the dispenser of  FIG. 14  can dispense lubricant to aid in shaving, and the dispensing head is then turned around in the hand. Shaving is in proportion with the razorblade  132 . Similarly, material can be applied to the hair by the dispensing head of  FIG. 15 . Thereupon, the comb  138  is used to comb the material into the hair. The fluid material dispensed in this case can be a hair conditioning or coloring agent. 
   With respect to the structure of  FIG. 16 , a fluid cleansing material can be dispensed by the dispensing head and applied by the roller. Immediately after dispensing, the sponge  142  can be applied to rub the fluid material into the skin. Thus, dispensing and distributing fluid material onto the skin can be achieved and thereafter followed with sponging. 
   This invention has been described in its presently preferred embodiment, and it is clear that it is susceptible to numerous modifications, modes and embodiments within the ability of those skilled in the art and without the exercise of the inventive faculty. Accordingly, the scope of this invention is defined by the scope of the following claims.