Abstract:
A system for mixing two or liquid components for dispensing from a common receptacle. An end member applies pressure to containers containing different liquids or lotions. The containers are housed in the common receptacle. Piercing elements at a dispensing end within the receptacle puncture frangible ends of the containers causing the liquid components to enter the common receptacle and mix prior to eventual dispensing from the receptacle. Various nozzles, valves or tips are used to dispense the mixed components as desired.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims the benefit of prior U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/485,534 filed Jul. 8, 2003. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a dual mixing system for liquid and lotion applicators, and in particular pertains to a dispensing apparatus whereby separately stored constituents of a liquid or lotion are adapted to be premixed prior to the dispensing thereof. 
   2. Prior Art 
   In various instances liquid and lotion applicators may incorporate sponge-type applicators, brush like applicators or even nozzle orifices adapted to store quantities of a particular liquid or lotion or a combination thereof, such as may be body lotions, different types of semi-liquid creams or gels, or a liquid or gel which may be used for various commercial and industrial purposes. The various liquids, lotions, creams or gels may be stored for considerable periods of time prior to their use. 
   At times these liquids, lotions, creams or gels are comprised of two or more components which, when stored in a mixed manner, may separate or change properties over time. It is therefore advantageous that these particular components be sealingly stored in separate containments. 
   Although it is possible to pour and mix the various components, such as two or more liquids or lotions, into a dispensing container them prior to attaching an applicator to the dispensing container and implementing the use thereof the mixture, this entails the storage of separate component containers, which can complicate the admixing process. Locating the various separate containers can increase the time and steps necessary to achieve the desired mixture as well. Moreover, such separately stored components, when poured into a single dispensing container, may not be admixed in the appropriate relative quantities, thereby compromising the consistency and/or other properties the liquid or lotion component mixture was intended to provide. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In order to obviate the limitations encountered in the prior art, the present invention provides a dual mixing system for liquid and lotion applicators that is stored within the housing of an applicator. In particular, each of the liquid or lotion components may be contained in a separately sealed container located in a receptacle. The receptacle is adapted to form a dispenser or applicator for the mixed product. Piercing elements may be provided which, upon the depression of an element, cause frangible ends of the separate containers to be perforated, enabling the liquid or lotion components to flow out therefrom. Upon suitable shaking of the receptacle the liquid or lotion components are admixed prior to being dispensed or applied as desired. 
   Accordingly, the present invention provides for various embodiments of a dual mixing system for liquid and lotion applicators as described and illustrated hereinbelow in order to enable the desired mixture of liquid and lotion components to occur prior to being dispensed or applied. According to the various embodiments described herein, the invention comprsises at least a receptacle having a body portion of an oblong shape of either cylindrical or oval configuration in cross-section. A dispensing end of a tapered conical configuration terminates in a threaded end to which a tapered nozzle may be attached. A tip of the nozzle may be a separable element that is threaded secured to the nozzle, as shown in  FIG. 6  of the drawings, and which upon unscrewing, enables the opening of an orifice to dispense the liquid or lotion contained in the receptacle. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the systems and methods of the inventin will become better understood with regard to the following description, drawings, and appended claims, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of the outer casing of an exemplary receptacle according to the invention. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a nozzle and tip for associating with the receptacle of  FIG. 1  according to the invention. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a front view of the receptacle of  FIG. 1  according to the invention. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates another view of the nozzle of  FIG. 2  for associating with the receptacle of  FIGS. 1 and 3  according to the invention. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a cut-away view of the interior components of the receptacle and nozzle of  FIGS. 1–4  according to the invention. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates the tip disengaged from the nozzle of  FIGS. 2 ,  4  and  5  according to the invention. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a perspective view of another embodiment of a receptacle according to the invention. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a cut-away view of the interior components of the receptacle of  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a perspective view of another embodiment of a receptacle according to the invention. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a dispensing end and cap for associating with the receptacle of  FIG. 9  according to the invention. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates a front view of the receptacle of  FIGS. 9 and 10  according to the invention. 
       FIG. 12  illustrates a front view of the receptacle of  FIG. 11  with a dispensing valve according to the invention. 
       FIG. 13  illustrates a cap configuration for associating with the receptacle of  FIG. 12  according to the invention. 
       FIG. 14  illustrates a cut-away view of the interior components of the receptacle and valve of  FIGS. 9–13  according to the invention. 
       FIG. 15  illustrates a cut-away view of a cap over the valve at a dispensing end of the receptacle of  FIG. 14  according to the invention. 
       FIG. 16  generically illustrates an exploded perspective view of a receptacle, interior containers and a depressing end member according to the invention. 
       FIGS. 17–22  illustrate a method of operation of the dual mixing system according to the invention. 
       FIGS. 23–28  illustrate another embodiment of the dual mixing system according to the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of the outer casing of a receptacle  10  according to one aspect of the invention. The receptacle  10  has a body  12  having an oblong shape of either a cylindrical or oval configuration in cross-section. A dispensing end  14  having a tapered conical configuration terminates in a threaded end  16 . The body  12  extends to an open end opposite the dispensing end  14 . 
     FIG. 2  shows a tapered nozzle  18  that attaches to the threaded end  16  of the receptacle  10 . A tip  20  of the nozzle  18  may be provided, as shown in  FIG. 6 . Where provided, the tip  20  may be a separable element that is threadedly secured to the nozzle  18  by screwing the tip  20  thereto. Upon unscrewing the tip  20  from the nozzle  18  an orifice in the nozzle is exposed enabling liquids or lotions contained in the receptacle  10  to be dispensed therefrom. 
   As shown more particularly in  FIGS. 3 through 6 , the interior of the receptacle body  12  may contain two closed or sealed containers  24  and  26 . The sealed containers  24  and  26  are inter-engaged by means of, respectively, a recess and cooperating protuberance  28 . The artisan will appreciate that the recess and protuberance  28  may be provided on either of the containers to inter-engage the containers appropriately. The containers  24  and  26  are further secured to a plunger or depressable end member  30  within the receptacle  10 . 
   The end member  30  shown in  FIGS. 3-6 , for example, has a flat bottom end plate  36  and cylindrical body side walls  38  extending therefrom. The side walls  38  slide into the receptacle  10  and maintain a closely sealed relationship within the open end of the body  12  of the receptacle  10 . A groove  32  provided on each of the containers  24  and  26  engages a projection  34  provided on the interior surface of the side walls  38  of the end member  30 . A radially projectable flange  37  extends beyond the side walls  38  at the closed end of the end member  30 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 3–6 , the open end of the body  12  has a radially extending flange  40  which is normally in a spaced relationship from the end plate  36 , and is retained in that manner by means of a circular band  42  and outstanding tab portions  44 , as explained hereinafter below. 
   Referring still to  FIGS. 3–6 , the dispensing end  14  of the receptacle body  12  includes the downwardly tapered portion  48  and two piercing elements  50  and  52 . The piercing elements  50  and  52  project within the receptacle from the tapered portions  48  towards flangible closures  54  and  56  located at ends of the closed containers  24  and  26  respectively. 
     FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrate another embodiment of the dual mixing system according to the invention wherein similar parts are identified by the same reference numerals as in the preceding embodiment described with reference to  FIGS. 1–6 . The primary distinction between the embodiment of  FIGS. 1–6  versus the embodiment of  FIGS. 7 and 8  resides in an elongated neck portion  64  provided in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . The elongated neck portion  64  has a threaded orifice  66  adapted to be closed by means of a threaded cap member  68 . For the remainder, all of the internal components are identical to those as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 9 through 15 , in which similar elements of earlier embodiments are identified using similar reference numerals, another embodiment of the dual mixing system according to the invention is described. As shown in  FIGS. 9–15 , the dispensing end of the receptacle  10  extending from the body  12  has a slightly lengthier threaded neck  70  as compared with earlier embodiments. The lengthier threaded neck  70  is adapted to receive a valve  72  through which the liquid and lotion mixture provided in the receptacles is dispensed. A sponge like applicator  74  connects to an exposed outer end of the valve  72 , with the valve being mounted in the neck portion  70 . The valve  72  is adapted to be normally closed by means of a closure cover or cap  76  that threads onto the neck portion  70 . Other components of the embodiment described with reference to  FIGS. 9–15  are generally the same as described with reference to  FIGS. 5 and 14 , unless otherwise noted herein. 
   Referring to  FIG. 16 , which generically illustrates some of the interior components of the dual mixing system according to the invention, the body  12  of the receptacle  10  is shown to receive two sealed containers  24  and  26 . Each container  24  and  26  is understood to contain one of the liquid or lotion components to be mixed with one another and dispensed. The two containers  24  and  26  are to be retained in position relative to each other by means of the complementary groove and projection  28  therebetween, as described earlier with respect to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 . 
   Referring still to  FIG. 16 , extending over the containers  24  and  26  is the plunger or depressable end member  30  having the end plate  36  adjacent the bottom of the containers. Breakaway tabs  44  attached to a ring  42  on an outer surface of the sidewalls  38  of the end member  30  preclude the end plate  36  from moving until the tabs  44  are broken and removed from the end member  30  as described in further detail below with reference to  FIGS. 17–19 . The entry end of the plunger or end member  30  may be equipped with one or a pair of O-rings  33  to provide for sealing when inserted into the body  12 . At the dispensing end  70  of the body  12 , shown in  FIG. 16  to have the sponge like applicator  74  thereon, a larger cover  80  rather than the screw cap  76  may instead be provided. 
     FIGS. 17 through 19  illustrate the operation of the dual mixing system according to the invention, whereby the tabs  44  are removed from the outer surface of the sidewalls  38  of the end member  30  to enable the end plate  36  of the bottom depressing member to be pushed downwardly against the containers  24  and  26  in the direction of arrow A. The downward push of the endplate  36  against the containers  24  and  26  cause the piercing members  50  and  52  to rupture and penetrate the frangible openings  54  and  56  at ends of the respective containers  24  and  26 . As a result, the liquids or lotions contained in the respective containers leave the containers and enter the space  90  within the body  12  of the receptacle  10 . Upon shaking, these liquid and lotion components are admixed prior to reaching the dispensing sponge member  74 , as shown by way of example in  FIGS. 17–19 . Pulling off the cover member  80  provides access to the sponge  74  which has ideally now been saturated or supplied with the admixed liquids. Of course, although the description with reference to  FIGS. 17–19  is shown with reference to the sponge like applicator of  FIGS. 9–15 , the artisan will readily appreciate that the other described embodiments operate in similar fashion wherein the dispensing means may be the nozzle and tip of  FIGS. 1–6 , the elongated neck of  FIGS. 7–8 , or other known or later developed dispensing means suitable to the receptacles described herein. 
   The foregoing is also illustrated on a larger scale in  FIGS. 20 through 22  of the drawings, wherein the ring  42  is removed and the tamper evident tabs  44  are pulled off enabling the plate  30  to be depressed downwardly in a direction of arrows A. Thereupon as shown in  FIG. 21  tips of the piercing elements  50  and  52  will puncture through ends  54  and  56  of the respective containers  24  and  26  enabling the contents thereof to enter into the region  90  within the receptacle  10  for eventual dispensing therefrom through the valve and the sponge  74 , or other appropriate dispensing means. 
   With respect to that embodiment shown in operation in  FIG. 22 , after piercing the containers  24  and  26 , the contents may be mixed by shaking the receptacle  10  and, after removing the cover  80 , the admixed contents may by dispensed in a controlled manner as desired by applying pressure against the sponge  74  as shown in  FIG. 22 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 23 through 28 , wherein like components with respect to previous described embodiments are identified by like reference numerals, the structure attached to the dispensing end of the housing  12  is a long bezel applicator having a bezel  100  with a sponge like applicator  102  having a protrubence  104  extending into the interior of the receptacle  10 , a suitable valve  104  being provided therein. A dust cover  106  is adapted to cover the applicator portion. The valve  104  may be either a spring valve element  110  as shown in  FIG. 26  or a squirt plug applicator valve  114  as shown in  FIG. 27  such valve components being essentially illustrated in co-pending Provisional Patent Application Ser. Nos. 60/343,579, filed Oct. 22, 2001; and 60/348,149, filed Nov. 7, 2001, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. These valves may be interchangeable star-valves, cloverleaf valves and duckbill valves in elastomeric plugs, or spring-biased bucked valves, as described in these applications in detail. For the remainder of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 23–28 , the construction and components are substantially identical to the preceding described embodiments in structure and operation. 
   From the foregoing it becomes readily apparent that the present invention describes a novel system and arrangements for mixing separate components or ingredients of a particular liquid lotion product prior to the dispensing thereof, while during storage such components are sealingly housed in separate sealed containers so as to preserve their life expectancy and properties over extended periods of time. 
   While the invention has been particularly shown and described with respect to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.