Abstract:
An apparatus for dispensing cream products such as deodorants and the like from a concealed product tube. A rotatable propeller drives a threaded spindle having a piston elevator mounted thereon. As the spindle rotates, the piston elevator rides upward, pushing the product toward an application surface.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates primarily to a dispensing apparatus for the dispensing deodorant cream emulsions, antiperspirants and the like, and more particularly, to a novel dispensing apparatus having a dispensing tube assembly encased in an outer housing that minimizes post-dispensing of the product. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Prior art deodorant dispensers often dispense the deodorant product by the displacement of a piston elevator advancing upward in response to rotation of a hand-wheel. The consequent pressurization of the deodorant product causes residual pressure to be exerted and thereby cause undesirable weeping of the product. 
     Efforts to address this problem has led to the development of product dispensers that allow seepage of the deodorant product from between the junction of the base and the sidewalls of the dispenser. In these systems, vent holes that are provided for the depressurization beneath the elevator piston causes the product to leak or exude from the dispensing package onto the surface where the dispenser is stored. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,000,356 discloses a dispensing package designed to relieve the residual pressure on a cream product and also dispense the product in incremental doses. The piston elevator axially advances and retracts as a feed screw is rotated. A plurality of internal cams cause reciprocal motion of the piston elevator. During the advancement of the piston elevator, the product is dispensed and during retraction, the residual pressure is relieved. 
     None of the prior art dispensing systems accomplishes the objects of the present invention of having an internal dispensing assembly encased in an outer housing that minimizes post-dispensing of the product. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a novel dispensing-package that finds use in dispensing cosmetic creams, lotions and deodorants. This novel designed dispenser provides a product tube situated within an outer housing. Rotation of the product tube dispenses the product in controlled dosage increments while minimizing unwanted weeping of the product. 
     In typical use, the user manually rotates a propeller, which then causes axial displacement of a piston elevator. The upward advancement of the piston elevator causes the deodorant product to be dispensed through orifices in an application surface where it is subsequently applied to the axillae of the user. The present invention provides means for reciprocal motion of the piston elevator in order to relieve the residual pressure exerted on the product and thereby control undesirable post-dispensing. The present invention also provides means for uniform dispensing of the product by audible and/or tactile sensations. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a dispensing apparatus is provided which comprises a hollow housing having a central longitudinal axis and a container wall; an application cap secured to the container wall at the top of the housing, the application cap having an application surface having a central opening therein and a downwardly extending flange located about the central opening; a hollow product tube having a bottom wall and an open top end, the product tube being received within the housing and being spaced from the container wall, the product tube being disposed about the longitudinal axis and being adapted to contain an associated product; a rotatable threaded spindle disposed along the longitudinal axis, a first end of the spindle being received in a spindle well located in the bottom wall of the product tube; a piston elevator being mounted onto the spindle for axial movement within the product tube; rotational prevention means for preventing rotation of the piston elevator about the spindle; rotatable drive means for rotation of the threaded spindle, the drive means being fixedly secured to a second end of the spindle, the drive means comprising a rotatable propeller and a hollow product head having an upper surface and an open lower end, the product head being affixed to the propeller and rotatable therewith, the open lower end of the product head communicating with the open top end of the product tube and the upper surface of the product head being received within the flange of the application cap; directing means for directing the associated product from the product tube to the application surface, the directing means comprising a plurality of orifices in the upper surface of said product head; and, association means for maintaining a predetermined association between the housing, the product tube and the drive means. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the dispensing apparatus further comprises means for reciprocating the product head within the flange of the application cap. The reciprocating means may comprise a cam located at a bottom of the flange; a cam follower being rotatable with the product head and contacting the cam; and, a flexible strip extending between the product head and the propeller, the flexible strip being able to displace axially in response to movement of the cam follower along the cam. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the bottom wall of the product tube is integrally molded with the housing. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the product tube, the container wall and the base are a single integrally molded member. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the bottom wall of the product tube includes a plurality of vent holes therein. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the dispensing apparatus includes means for dispensing a uniform dose of said associated product. 
     One advantage of the present invention is that the deodorant dispenser has very few parts to substantially reduce the manufacturing and assembly costs. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is the provision of a concealed product tube within a dispenser housing. This arrangement provides for much neater application of product and storage of the dispensing package. 
     Still other benefits and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains upon a reading and understanding of the following detailed specification. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dispensing apparatus according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a line perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the dispensing apparatus having the applicator cap removed and showing the internal structure; 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view of one embodiment of the present invention taken along line  3 — 3  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4A is a fragmentary perspective view of a preferred embodiment showing an advanced position of the product head; 
     FIG. 4B is a fragmentary perspective view similar to FIG. 4A showing a retracted position of the product head; 
     FIG. 5A is a graphical depiction showing the product dosage dispensed vs. rotation of the propeller; 
     FIG. 5B is a graphical depiction showing the axial displacement of the piston elevator as a function of the propeller rotation; 
     FIG. 6 is a break-away line perspective plan view of a preferred embodiment of the deodorant dispenser; 
     FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view detailing one embodiment of the spindle and spindle head; 
     FIG. 8 is a sectional view of one embodiment of the product head showing the spindle well; 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of the present is illustrated wherein a deodorant or other product is enclosed in a dispensing apparatus  10 . The apparatus  10  comprises a housing  24  that is made of a suitable material, such as molded polypropylene. The dispensing apparatus  10  further includes a removable cap  80  which allows selective access to an application surface (not shown in this view). Cap  80  performs the conventional functions of protecting the product from contaminants and retaining the product within the dispensing apparatus  10  when not in use. The product is dispensed through rotation of a propeller  60  having a partially exposed region  70  for access by the user through the housing  24 . In the embodiment shown in the Figure, the exposed region  70  is located near the bottom of the dispensing apparatus  10 . However, the dispensing apparatus  10  may incorporate other designs modifying the location of access to the propeller  60  without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, it is within the scope of the present invention to provide access to the propeller  60  near the junction of the dispenser housing  24  and application cap  26 . Propeller  60  may be accessed anywhere along its length by providing a cut-out in the dispenser housing  24 . The length of the propeller  60  may be adjusted accordingly. The dispenser housing  24  provides a fixed element for the user to hold while propeller  60  is rotated. 
     A more detailed view of the preferred embodiment is shown in FIG.  2 . In the preferred embodiment, housing  24  conceals nearly all of the propeller  60  which rotates within housing  24  as will be described in greater detail below. Propeller  60  includes an axially disposed hollow cylindrical region  100  which extends from the base  70 . The base  70  may be ribbed, flared or otherwise adapted to be easily grasped by a user. A hollow product tube  16  is concealed within the hollow cylindrical region  100 , and holds the product to be dispensed. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, rotation of propeller  60  allows for the convenient dispensing of a desired dose of product. One or more audible clicks may be heard, and tactile feedback may be felt. 
     The dispensing apparatus  10  further includes an application cap  26  located at the top of the dispenser housing  24 . This application cap  26  preferably snaps onto the top of the dispenser housing  24  by engagement with protrusions  91 . The application cap  26  includes an upper application surface  28  having a centrally located opening  30  therein. A downwardly extending flange  32  follows the contour of the opening  30 . The preferred opening  30  is circular and the application cap  26  is ovate and its application surface is ovate. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the bottom surface of the flange  32  forms a cam  55  that is useful to provide reciprocal motion of the product head  120  as will be explained in further detail below. The invention may be successfully practiced, however, without provision of a cam  55 . The removable cap  80 , not shown in this view, covers the application cap  26  when it is in place as is well known in the art. 
     The dispensing apparatus  10  further includes a product head  120  which is adapted to be received within the flange  32 . Product head  120  includes a plurality of dispensing orifices  122  located within an upper surface  124 . The orifices may be of any arbitrary shape, such as round or square, but preferably elliptical. It is further within the scope of the present invention to provide downwardly extending flanges (not shown) at the orifices  122  to assist in directing the product toward the application surface  28  while the product is being dispensed. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the base of the product head  26  is surrounded by a collar  140  which comprises one or more cam followers  144 . The collar  140  is affixed to one or more flexible strips  150  which are secured at the outer ends to the upper end of cylindrical region  100  of propeller  60 . As shown in FIG. 4A and 4B, the flexible strips  150  support the product head  120  for reciprocal movement relative to propeller  60 . When application cap  26  is snapped in place over the dispenser housing  24 , the product head  120  is received within flange  32 . In this embodiment, rotation of the propeller  60  causes the cam follower(s)  144  to ride along cam  55 . The product head  120  is axially displaced upwardly or downwardly with respect to the application surface  28  by the movement of the flexible strip(s)  150 . During dispensing of the product, the product head  120  is axially displaced upwardly until the upper surface  124  is generally flush with application surface  28 . It should be noted that the product head  120  is rotating along with propeller  60 . In a preferred embodiment, the residual pressure on the product may be relieved by reciprocation of the product head  120  by the action of the cam follower  144  against cam  55 . The depth of the cam  55 , the height of the cam follower  144 , the properties of the flexible strip  150 , or the height of the product tube  16  may be adjusted in order to achieve the desired axial displacement of the product head  120  in accordance with the properties of the dispensed product. It is within the scope of the present invention to allow the cam follower  144  to remain stationary while the cam is rotated by interchanging the locations. In the preferred embodiment, the cam  55  includes sawteeth  33  which are angled so as to allow rotation of the product head  120  in only one direction. Tactile feedback is provided to the user as the propeller  60  is rotated due to the rotation of product head  120  which causes cam follower(s)  144  to ride along cam  55 . The sawteeth  33  engage the cam follower(s)  144  and then disengage upon rotation of the product head. A predetermined amount of product is dispensed in relation to each click or tactile feedback signal and thereby a user may determine a correct dosage of product. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, the cam  55 /cam follower  144  arrangement is eliminated. However, rotation of the propeller  60  still causes rotation of the product head  120  in order to dispense the product. This embodiment does not provide for the reciprocal motion of the product head  120  and therefore does not allow relief of the residual pressure on the product. 
     With reference to FIG. 3, a preferred arrangement of dispenser housing  24 , propeller  60 , product tube  16 , application cap  26  and removable cap  80  is shown. Located within product tube  16  is a piston elevator  22  which is mounted onto a threaded spindle  18  for axial displacement within product tube  16 . Spindle  18  is affixed at an upper end to the product head  120 . As the propeller  60  is rotated, product head  120  rotates as does spindle  18 . The rotation of spindle  18  causes upward axial displacement of the piston elevator  22 . It is an important aspect of the present invention that piston elevator  22  be prevented from rotating within the product tube  16  as it advances axially. Because the end of the spindle  18  is fixedly secured to product head  120 , if reciprocal motion of the product head is provided for, as in the preferred embodiment, spindle  18  will likewise reciprocate. Piston elevator  22  therefore also reciprocates with the reciprocation of the product head  120 . It is this slight downward movement of the piston elevator  22  that relieves the residual pressure within the product tube  16  to minimize undesirable oozing of the product. Spindle well  19  is provided in the bottom wall  57  of the product tube  16 . Spindle well  19  receives one end of spindle  18  and allows slight axial displacement of the spindle  18  while maintaining its longitudinal positioning. 
     The product tube  16  encompasses a first cross-sectional shape that allows the axial displacement of piston elevator  22  while substantially preventing any rotation of piston elevator  22 . The product tube interior may be ovate, octagonal, or the like. The exterior is round for simplicity, this feature is shown only in FIG.  7 . The cross-sectional shape of the interior of the product tube  16  cooperates with the cross-sectional shape of the piston elevator  22  to effectively provide means to prevent rotation of the piston elevator  22  within the product tube  16 . In the preferred embodiment, the products tube is octagonal in cross-sectional shape, while the piston elevator  22  is round or ovate. The piston elevator has resilient peripheral edges. As shown in FIG. 3, the piston elevator  22  has minimal surface area contact with the interior of product tube  16  along the top and bottom edges only of piston elevator  22 . These edges provide contact bands  23  which also serve to seal the product in the product tube  16 . The piston elevator  22  has a frictional fit within product tube  16  which allows upward and downward axial movement of the piston elevator with a predetermined frictional resistance. A similar frictional fit exists between the product head  120  and the product tube  16 . The top of the product tube  16  is flared or flanged, as best shown in FIG. 7, so that there is minimal contact between the product tube  16  and the interior of the product head  120 . The product head  120  may rotate about product tube  16  and be axially displaced relative thereto, while a seal is maintained between the product head  120  and the product tube  16 . The edge around orifice  121  of the product tube  16  acts as a cleaning blade and product back flow is prevented. 
     With respect to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the reciprocal nature of the product head  120  is illustrated. Initial counterclockwise rotation of the propeller  60  causes movement of the cam follower  144  along cam  55  and upward axial displacement of the product head  120  until upper surface  124  is generally flush with application surface  28  (FIG.  4 A). Further counterclockwise rotation of the propeller  60  causes movement of the cam follower downward, which causes the flexible strip  150  to bend downwardly. The accompanying axial reciprocation of the product head  120  causes a slight retreat of the piston elevator  22 . 
     FIG. 5A depicts graphically the product dosage dispensed as a function of the rotation of propeller  60 . 
     FIG. 5B depicts graphically the displacement of the piston elevator  22  as a function of rotation of propeller  60 . In the preferred embodiment, the piston elevator  22  axially advances, then slightly retracts, with each rotation of the propeller  60 . This movement of the piston elevator allows even dispensing of the product with each cycle of rotation of the propeller  60 . 
     With reference to FIGS. 6,  7  and  8 , the final assembly of the members of the present invention will be discussed. Product head  120  includes a centrally located spindle well  40 . At the bottom of the spindle well  40  are a plurality of protrusions  41  which interact with the rudders  39  found at the upper end of the threaded spindle  18 . Upon assembly of the dispensing apparatus  10 , the upper end of the spindle  18  is snapped into spindle well  40 . As product head  120  rotates, the protrusions  41  act upon rudders  39  to cause rotation of the spindle  18 . A preferred embodiment of the spindle  18  and product head  120  has been described, but other configurations that accomplish the same purposes are within the scope of the present invention. 
     As shown further, the product tube  16  has a plurality of vent holes  43  in the closed bottom wall  57  in order to alleviate pressurization when inserting the piston elevator  22  and spindle  18  axially downward through the product tube  16 . These vent holes  43  permit the entrapped air to be displaced while equalizing the internal air pressure in the interior of the product tube  16 , when positioning the piston elevator  22 . In addition, these vent holes  43  prevent the formation of a vacuum under the piston elevator  22  as it moved upwardly, thereby alleviating drawing the product around the piston into the spatial vacuum. 
     In one embodiment, the housing  24  includes a base  154  that is snap fitted onto the container wall by engagement of prongs  156  in openings  160 . In another preferred embodiment, the base  154  is integrally molded with the container wall. Also, in a preferred embodiment, the container wall, base  154 , and product tube  16  are all integrally molded, as shown in the embodiment illustrated in FIG.  3 . Therefore, the bottom wall  57  of the product tube  16  also functions as the base  154  of the housing  24 . 
     One preferred method of assembling the dispenser apparatus  10  includes positioning the product tube  16  onto base  154 , if these are separate components. Also, the housing  24  may be properly positioned now, or after the product tube is filled. The piston elevator  22  is then positioned in the bottom of product tube  16  . As stated above, the vent holes  43  prevent air from being trapped beneath the piston elevator  22 . The product tube  16  may then be filled with appropriate product. The spindle  18  may be inserted into the product tube  16 , and rotated to engage the piston elevator  22  and inserting the end of the spindle  18  into spindle well  19 . The propeller  60 /product head  120  assembly is then fixedly secured to the top of spindle  18  by engagement of the top of the spindle  18  into spindle well  40 . It is also possible to position the housing  24  after the propeller  60 /product head  120  assembly is positioned. The application cap  26  is then securely fastened to housing  24 . The assembly of the dispensing apparatus  10  is simplified if the housing  24 , base  154 , and product tube  16  are integrally molded. It also within the scope of this invention that the spindle  18 , piston elevator  22  are preassembled and installed within the product tube  16  prior to filling of tube  16 . 
     Cylindrical region  100  and propeller  60  rotatably relate to a single thread at the base of housing  24  and maintain association to the product tube base  154 , which forms a bottom closure. 
     While the invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments and applications, no intention to restrict the invention to the examples shown is contemplated. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above methods may incorporated changes and modifications without departing from the general scope of the invention. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations in so far as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.