Abstract:
An implement usable by a woman to protect herself against someone depositing a date rape drug in her beverage. The inventive implement includes a wet reservoir and a dry plenum in which products that are typically dispensed by the implement are stored.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention deals broadly with structures, used by women, which are typically employed in applying cosmetics. More narrowly, however, the invention is directed to a dispenser by which one of various cosmetic products can be stored and applied by the user, and which reminds the woman, mindful of the hazards of a social environment where alcoholic beverages may be served, to take action to protect herself from the potential consequences of her beverage being spiked without her knowledge. The invention deals with protecting women of all ages who go anywhere where alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages are served. It allows and encourages a woman to be beautiful and confident that she is not being victimized. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Women go to parties, dance clubs, bars, campus parties, house parties, and travel and go on dates. A terrible problem of drink spiking, known by the slang word “roofie”, has developed in society. Most women use lip gloss, lipstick or other applications and carry a dispenser of such a product with them in their purse. Many, however, are not sufficiently attentive to taking precautions against being victimized by a ruthless perpetrator using a drink-spiking agent. 
         [0003]    A typical scenario is one in which one or more date rape drugs are administered to a victim either surreptitiously or where the victim has been disposed in a condition wherein she is unable to resist sexual assault. The encounter between the victim and the perpetrator may have been a casual first meeting between the two, a tryst between two people who have an established relationship or even with a total stranger. 
         [0004]    In any case, the woman may be confronted by an event that requires her leaving her drink unattended for a short period of time for one of a variety of reasons. Typical are a desire to dance, respond to a page, or answer a phone call, or even merely turn her head. Also common is a desire to apply cosmetics. There are various treatment products and apparatus involved in applying cosmetics. These include a mascara-applying brush with a curved distal portion, a perfume applicator which includes an elongated applicator shaft, the end of which is dipped in a perfume reservoir, and various tools for the application of a product to one&#39;s lips. These include lipstick applicators, lip balm applicators, a shaft at the distal end of which a lip gloss pillow is attached, and a roller ball lip gloss applicator. Regardless of what tool is being used, however, there is the distraction of the primary objectives of safety and security. 
         [0005]    As a result, her beverage is left unattended, perhaps even momentarily. She eventually returns to the bar or table, or redirects her attention to a man with whom she has been engaging in conversation. The man may, however, have ideas different than the woman. As he has been getting to know the woman, he recalls that one of his acquaintances had given him a tablet of Rohypnol, and he sees the woman&#39;s excusing herself as an opportunity to spike the beverage left unattended by her. When she returns she resumes drinking her beverage which has been spiked with any chemical agent having one or more of the consequences listed hereafter. 
         [0006]    The effects of such drugs are felt relatively quickly. These can include, among others, sleepiness, dizziness, slurred speech and loss of memory of the events. In a relatively large number of such encounters, non-consensual sex does occur. 
         [0007]    Rohypnol is only one of a number of agents which fall within the characterization of a date rape drug. There are other chemical agents which can also be so characterized. Flunitrazepam, also known as Narcozep, and others are available. 
         [0008]    The present invention, as will be seen, is an improved dispenser for both cosmetics and means for testing whether a beverage has been spiked without the knowledge of the person whose beverage it is. More specific features and advantages obtained in view of those features will become apparent with reference to the summary of the invention. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention is a dispenser for holding and dispensing two different products. The inventive implement includes an elongated body which defines, at a first end, a liquid reservoir and, at a second end, a dry plenum. Means are provided to interconnect the reservoir and the plenum. Typically, a yoke structure is used to interconnect the reservoir portion and the plenum portion. The yoke employs generally oppositely extending fittings which are matable to corresponding nipples defined at proximal ends of the liquid reservoir and the dry plenum. It is envisioned that, when the implement is in an assembled configuration, the fittings of the yoke and corresponding nipples are substantially coaxial. 
         [0010]    It is envisioned that the plenum and reservoir, together, form an elongated structure. The plenum portion of the structure is sized so as to enable it to receive drink-spike detector test strips. Such strips are of a type that are chemically impregnated, and, when dipped in a beverage, for example, project a conclusion as to whether the drink possesses any chemical agent known as a “date rape” drug. 
         [0011]    The present invention is thus an improved structure for assisting a woman in knowing whether a beverage she is consuming has had any drugs deposited therein. More specific features and advantages obtained in view of those features will become apparent with regard to the Detailed Description of the Invention and the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a side view section thereof taken along line  2 - 2  in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a view similar to that of  FIG. 2  with the plenum portion containing test strips disconnected; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a view thereof with the dispenser angled downward to dispense test strips, and one test strip shown removed in close proximity thereto. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    Referring now to the drawing figures wherein like reference numerals denote like elements throughout the several views,  FIGS. 1-4  show an implement  10  in accordance with the present invention. The implement  10  is a dispenser  11  for cosmetics. Unlike dispensers known in the prior art, however, it includes separate spaces, typically aligned along an axis, for storing defined materials. 
         [0017]    As illustrated in the figures, the overall implement  10  is elongated with respect to an axis  12  which extends along the elongated dimension. As best seen in  FIG. 1 , the overall implement  10  can be generally circularly cylindrical when assembled. When in such a configuration, the diameter of the implement  10  is substantially less than the elongated dimension. This enables facile storage in a purse or other compact container (not shown). 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIGS. 2-4 , it will be seen that structurally the implement  10  includes a yoke  14  generally central with respect to the axial dimension. The yoke  14  defines a portion of a liquid reservoir section  16  of the implement  10  and a portion of a plenum section  18  for typically holding dry materials (as at  20 ). It is intended that an inner wall  22  defining each of these sections  16 ,  18  of the reservoir  24  and plenum  26  be internally threaded (as at  28 ,  30 ) so as to enable receipt of major walls  32 ,  34  defining the reservoir  24  and plenum  26  respectively. 
         [0019]    The reservoir  24  and plenum  26  include portions which are externally threaded (as at  36 ,  38 ) so as to enable them to be mated with their respective sections of the containment spaces  24 ,  26 . Neck portions  42 ,  44  define access ports through which a material, such as lip gloss, can be dispensed. With the reservoir  24  substantially full, the neck  42  of the reservoir component is screwed tightly into the small axial neck  42  defined by the yoke  14 . 
         [0020]    In the case of the reservoir  24 , the neck portion  42  thereof includes, extending generally along the axis, a shaft  46  which, when the reservoir  24  is attached to the yoke  14 , has a distal end  48  which extends substantially the full axial length of the reservoir  24 . Such a construction will facilitate access to any fluid at the distal end  48  of the reservoir. 
         [0021]    Section  18  of the dispenser  11  will, through its neck portion  44 , enable insertion and removal of a typically constructed chemical test strip  50 . In fact, multiple strips  50  can be allowed to be received within the plenum  26 . Access to the strips  50  is afforded through the neck  44  of the plenum component  26  when the neck thereof has been unthreaded from the internal threading in the yoke  14 . 
         [0022]    With regard to use of the dispenser  11 , a user of the invention, if she, for example, excuses herself to visit the ladies&#39; room in order to apply a cosmetic to freshen up, she can feel secure when she returns by using a test strip  50  removed from the dry plenum  26  and inserting all or part of the strip  50  into a drink (not shown) which she has left on the bar during her absence. While in the ladies&#39; room, she has obtained access to the liquid reservoir  16  of the implement  10  by unthreading threads  28 . Distal end  48  of shaft  46  became exposed and permitted application of the cosmetic. Now, having performed the beautification function, the testing of her beverage can be performed. Access to the dry plenum section  18  is performed by unthreading neck portion  44  from the threads  28  in the yoke  14 . Testing using the strip can be performed either surreptitiously or demonstratively. In either case, having performed the testing can give the woman a certainty as to the status of her beverage. 
         [0023]    It will be understood that this disclosure, in many respects, is only illustrative. Changes may be made in details, particularly in matters of shape, size, material, and arrangement of parts without exceeding the scope of the invention.