Abstract:
A dispensing system for dispensing a viscous, flowable product such, for example, as a spin-art paint solution, comprises an axially extending container that defines an opening and an interior chamber for receiving and storing the flowable product. A discharge assembly is coupled to the container, the discharge assembly being dimensioned and arranged to spin, relative to the container, as it receives the flowable product from the interior chamber. The spinning motion of the discharge assembly, which may be accompanied by a linear movement of the container itself relative to a target surface, allows the user to cleanly and evenly distribute the flowable material onto a target substrate in an attractive, curvilinear deposit pattern. Optionally, the discharge assembly may be configured with a pivoting nozzle that can be moved from a position for obtaining a helical (curvilinear) deposit pattern to a position for obtaining a rectilinear deposit pattern.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/230,143 which is now U.S. Pat. No. 7,374,069, filed on Sep. 19, 2005 and entitled Edible Food Product Dispensing System and Methods of Using the Same. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to the dispensing of viscous material and, more particularly, to the use of a rotatable discharge assistant operative to dispense, from a container such as a squeeze bottle, a viscous material along an arcuate path as the container is moved linearly. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Squeeze bottles for storing and dispensing viscous, flowable materials such as food products like syrups, jellies, and condiments, liquid paints used to produce “spin art”, and other liquid and/or granular materials such as detergents, cleansers and the like are well known. Generally, such bottles include a container made of a plastic or other easily deformable material and define an interior cavity for receiving and storing the product. The container may further define a neck portion disposed at one end of the container that is attached to a dispensing closure assembly. A typical dispensing closure assembly includes a cap that is threadedly connected to the neck of the container at one end, and has a single outlet tip that faces outwardly from the container at the other end. During use, the container is inverted and squeezed to dispense the viscous product from the tip orifice onto a target surface as a directed stream. 
   Conventional dispensing closures define an orifice having a circular cross section sized to provide the user with flexibility to apply a desired amount of product to the target surface. A softer squeezing of the container will yield a lower mass flow rate out of the tip. Accordingly, in order to accommodate those who wish to apply only a small amount of material to the target surface, the tips are generally designed with a small cross section. Those who desire an additional amount of material can squeeze harder. In the context of a child&#39;s spin art toy environment, the target surface consists of a sheet of paper or other material temporarily secured to a turntable adapted to rotate at a controlled rate. As the sheet rotates, the child squeezes the container and the expelled material moves outwardly through the exertion of centrifugal forces. Although the spin art amusement device continues to enjoy a degree of popularity after several decades, its reliance upon a powered rotary mechanism comes at a considerable cost and complexity. 
   A need therefore exists for a discharge assistant usable in combination with a conventional container that enables one to apply a sufficient and consistent amount of a flowable material, such as a spin art paint solution, to a target surface. 
   A further need exists for a spin art amusement system that avoids the cost and complexity of prior art systems. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The aforementioned need is addressed, and an advance is made in the art, by a dispensing system that is configured to dispense a viscous, flowable product such, for example, as a conventional spin-art paint solution, a condiment, a liquid or granular detergent or other material, and the like. The dispensing system comprises an axially extending container that defines an opening and an interior chamber for receiving and storing the flowable product. A discharge assembly is coupled to the container, the discharge assembly being dimensioned and arranged to spin, relative to the container, as it receives the product from the interior chamber. The spinning motion of the discharge assembly, accompanied by a linear movement of the container itself relative to a target surface, allows the user to distribute the flowable material onto a target surface in an attractive, helical (or more broadly speaking, curvilinear) deposit pattern. 
   An illustrative embodiment of the discharge assembly includes a first section defining an interior cavity, the first section also defining both an inlet opening dimensioned and arranged to establish fluid communication between the interior cavity and the interior chamber, and an outlet opening dimensioned and arranged to allow food product flowing under pressure to exit the interior cavity as a stream as said first section spins. 
   A spin-art amusement system configuration constructed in accordance with the present invention includes a tray dimensioned and arranged to receive and retain a suitable target surface, such as a sheet of paper or other substrate, and further comprises a dispensing system constructed in accordance with the present invention and containing a commercial painting solution. As will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, it is a discharge opening of the dispensing system, rather than the paint-receiving substrate, that is rotated during use. The effect is unique, aesthetically pleasing, and is produced without the cumbersome electrically motorized drive system associated with prior art systems. In a typical configuration, a squeeze bottle is employed as the container. By squeezing the deformable sidewall of the container, the paint solution flows from the interior chamber into the interior cavity of the discharge assembly. In accordance with an especially preferred embodiment of the invention, the same squeezing force which causes the material to flow is also used to produce rotary motion of the discharge assembly. To this end, the discharge assembly may include a plurality of vanes disposed within the interior cavity, the vanes being dimensioned and arranged to convert energy imparted by flowing flowable product impinging thereon into forces driving rotary motion of the discharge assembly. 
   The discharge assembly may be further configured with a pivotably movable nozzle member having a distal section defining a nozzle orifice and having a substantially spherical proximal section retained in fluid communication with the outlet opening, whereby a user can control at least one of a diameter and a pitch of said helical deposit pattern by selecting an appropriate angular position of the nozzle member. The location of the nozzle member may be offset relative to a central axis of rotation of the discharge assembly. Alternatively, the nozzle member may be positioned coaxially with the central axis of rotation, the latter configuration having the advantage of permitting the user to select between an angled orientation suited for producing helical deposit patterns on a target surface and a non-pivoted orientation which enables the consumer to direct the flow along a rectilinear deposit path. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The details of the present invention, both as to its construction and operation can best be understood with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts, and in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a side elevation view depicting a flowable product dispensing system in accordance with an illustrative squeeze bottle embodiment of the present invention, the system being equipped with a discharge assembly adapted to rotate automatically, as the flowing material is discharged, to produce a helical deposit pattern; 
       FIG. 2  is a partial, side elevation view, in cross section, depicting the internal construction of an illustrative embodiment of a rotatable discharge assembly; 
       FIG. 3A  is broken apart, perspective view depicting the internal construction of an exemplary, rotating discharge assembly for use in realizing the illustrative embodiment of  FIG. 2 ; and 
       FIG. 3B  is a perspective view depicting final assembly of the exemplary rotating nozzle assembly of  FIG. 3A . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The accompanying Figures and this description depict and describe embodiments of a discharge assistant adapted for use with a conventional container in accordance with the present invention, and features and components thereof. The present invention also encompasses a method of making and using embodiments of the discharge assistant. As used herein, the phrases or terms “discharge assistant,” “dispensing closure assembly,” “discharge assembly” and the like are intended to encompass a structure or structures configured to dispense a flowable, viscous material such, for example, as a spin art paint solution, onto a target surface in a manner other than as a continuous rectilinear (“straight-line”) deposit pattern or as a series of brief pulses. It is important to note, however, that viscous flowable product dispensing systems in accordance with the present invention can, if an optional mode of operation is desired, be configured to dispense product in a continuous or broken rectilinear deposit pattern if the consumer so selects. It should also be noted that any references herein to front and back, right and left, top and bottom and upper and lower are intended for convenience of description, not to limit the present invention or its components to any one positional or spacial orientation. 
   With regard to fastening, mounting, attaching or connecting components of the present invention to form the dispensing system as a whole, unless specifically described otherwise, such are intended to encompass conventional fasteners such as threaded connectors, snap rings, detent arrangements, pins and the like. Components may also be connected by adhesives, glues, welding, ultrasonic welding, and friction fitting or deformation, if appropriate, and appropriate liquid and/or airtight seals or sealing devices may be used. Electronic portions of the device may use conventional, commercially available electronic components, connectors and devices such as suitable wiring, connectors, printed circuit boards, microchips, pressure sensors, liquid level sensors, inputs, outputs and the like. Unless specifically otherwise disclosed or taught, materials for making components of the present invention may be selected from appropriate materials such as metal, metallic alloys, natural and man-made fibers, vinyls, plastics and the like, and appropriate manufacturing or production methods including casting, pressing, extruding, molding and machining may be used. 
   With regard to the manner in which viscous material is urged to flow toward a discharge opening, it should be borne in mind that although the various embodiments described herein incorporate a squeeze bottle configuration in which material flows when a deformable sidewall of a flexible container is squeezed, the invention is not limited to such configurations. For example, rigid container in conjunction with a motorized or manual pump mechanism may be used. It suffices to say that the manner in which forces for causing the edible product to be ejected from the container is of no particular consequence to the inventor herein except insofar as manufacturing cost, simplicity and ease of use are always considerations to be borne in mind. 
   Turning now to  FIG. 1 , an illustrative embodiment of a viscous material dispensing system  10  in accordance with the present invention is depicted. The depicted squeeze bottle embodiment includes an axially extending container  12  having an elongated cylindrical side wall  14  extending axially along axis of extension A-A. A base  16  is disposed at the one axial end of the side wall  14  that seals the bottom of the container  12 . A neck  28  ( FIG. 2 ) is integrally connected to the axially upper end of the container  12 , and is defined by a reduced diameter compared to that of side wall  14 . Neck  28  includes a threaded outer surface  29  ( FIG. 2 ). An internal void or chamber  22  is thus collectively defined by side wall  14  and base  16  for housing a volume of flowable liquid material. Examples of such flowable liquid material include a spin-art paint solution, as is employed in connection with a spin-art amusement device realization of the present invention, a condiment such as ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, relish, or the like, or any other liquid or granular material that may be poured into the neck  28  of container  12 . 
   Container  12  can be made of a transparent or translucent plastic such as polypropylene or polyethylene to enable the user to gauge the amount and type of material in the container to determine when the container  12  is to be refilled (or discarded, as the case may be). Alternatively, the plastic may be color coded to identify the type of material. The plastic is also preferably resilient so as to enable the user to squeeze the container  12  and thus provide an internal pressure suitable to force a directed stream of material out of the container and towards a desired substrate. As noted previously, it should be understood that other means for urging the material toward a discharge opening may be employed. 
   With reference to both  FIGS. 1 and 2 , it will be seen that a discharge assembly  30  is removably connected to the neck  28 , and includes a first section indicated generally at  32 , and a second section indicated generally at  34 . Second section  34  is adapted for fixed connection to container  12  and, to that end, includes a cylindrical flange  36  that extends axially inwardly from the radially outer edge of a substantially radially extending plate  38 . The inner surface  42  of flange  36  is threaded and is configured to be removably connected to the container  12  by the threaded outer surface of neck  28  once the container  12  has been filled with the desired material. The outer surface  43  of flange  36  is preferably textured to enable a user to easily grip discharge assembly  30  for attaching the same to, and removing the same from, container  12 . As best seen in  FIG. 2 , second section further includes a first conduit assembly indicated generally at reference number  46 . The axially upper surface  47  of first conduit assembly  46  is seated on the axially lower surface of plate  38  and defines a central flow conduit  48  dimensioned and arranged to receive and transport the flowable liquid material into the first section  32 , as will now be described in greater detail. 
   Unlike second section  34 , which is adapted to be fixed, i.e., secured to container  12 , first section  32  of discharge assembly  30  is dimensioned and arranged to rotate relative to container  12 . First section  32  is also referred to as a discharge assembly section  32  and produces a helical deposit effect in a variety of ways. By way of illustrative example, an illustrative discharge assembly constructed in accordance with motorized embodiments of the invention may include a motorized drive assembly (not shown) responsive to depression of a trigger or, alternatively, to actuation of an on/off selector switch, and drivingly engageable with appropriate gearing coupled to first section  32   
   In accordance with an especially preferred embodiment of the present invention, however, the force for discharge assembly section  32  is provided via the pressurized material traversing flow conduit  48 . An exemplary structure adapted to utilize this force is depicted in  FIGS. 2-3B  and will now be described in detail. As seen in  FIG. 2 , first section  32  of discharge assembly  30  comprises a first half  56  and a second half  58  which, when assembled into the configuration shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , define an interior cavity  50  ( FIGS. 2 and 4 ) within which is disposed a flow diverter assembly indicated generally at  52 . 
   With reference to both  FIGS. 2 and 3A , it will be seen that flow diverter assembly  52  has a proximal end  60  dimensioned and arranged to be received and retained within conduit  48  of first conduit assembly. First conduit assembly  46  and flow diverter assembly  52  are fastened together in a conventional manner such, for example, as by a suitable adhesive. Accordingly, fluid diverter assembly  52  is not a moving part but, rather, is stationary despite being disposed within interior cavity  50 . Fluid material exiting the discharge orifice  48  of first conduit assembly  46  enters an inlet  68  ( FIG. 3A ) defined at the proximal end  60  of flow diverter assembly  52 . The center of first half  56  defines an axial opening  57  through which proximal end  60  is inserted. To prevent fluid material from leaking out of interior cavity  50 , O-rings or other suitable gaskets (not shown) may be utilized in a conventional manner at the interface between moving parts and bushings may be incorporated as required to prevent axial movement of rotatable first section  32  relative to the second section  34  of discharge assembly  30 . 
   In any event, and with particular reference to  FIG. 3A , it will be seen that defined within the interior axial surface  59  of second half  58  are a plurality of vanes  70 . As best seen in  FIG. 3A  liquid entering inlet opening  68  of flow diverter assembly  52  exits via a pair of exit openings indicated generally at  72  and  74 . As will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, exit opening  72  and  74  are dimensioned and arranged so as to cause corresponding jets of liquid to impinge upon the surfaces of vanes  70 , thereby initiating rotation of first section  32  relating to second section  34 . 
   With particular reference to  FIG. 3B , it will be seen that spinning of first section  32  in the direction of arrow R and about a rotational axis parallel to axis A-A of container  12  ( FIG. 1 ), enables the contents of container  12  to be deposited along a helical deposit path while the container is held stationary or moved linearly. As used herein, the phrase helical deposit path is intended to encompass any path having a curvilinear component which is transverse to the direction in which the container, as container  12 , is moved. An illustrative deposit pattern is indicated generally at P in  FIG. 3B . 
   In any event, and with continued reference to  FIGS. 1-3B , it will seen that discharge assembly  30  further includes a pivotably movable nozzle member  80  having a distal section defining a nozzle orifice  82  and having a substantially spherical proximal section  84  retained in fluid communication with interior cavity  50  of first section  32 . Such a structure is advantageous in that it gives the user a high degree of flexibility and creativity. As will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, the closer the nozzle tip is to the center of rotation, the smaller the arc covered during each period of rotation. Of course, if such flexibility is not a design constraint, then it is of course possible to integrally form a nozzle member directly as part of second section  32 . In that regard, it is contemplated that a nozzle member so constructed may be configured to extend forward at any desired angle relative to the axis of rotation of rotatable discharge assembly  30 . It is further contemplated that multiple nozzle members may be included so as to cause to simultaneous streams to be helically wound about the axis of nozzle assembly rotation. 
   Finally, although the nozzle member  80  depicted in the illustrative embodiment is shown in a position that is offset relative to the axis of rotation of first section  32 , it should be emphasized that by placing the nozzle member  80  at the center of rotation would allow a dual mode of dispensing. That is, by aligning the discharge opening  82  so that it is coaxial with the axis or rotation (axis A-A in  FIG. 1 ), it is possible to obtain a rectilinear mode of operation in which linear movement of the system  10  yields a rectilinear deposit path notwithstanding rotation of first section  32 . Conversely, pivoting nozzle member out of axial alignment with the rotational axis of first section  32  will produce the helical/curvilinear deposit path as previously described. 
   From the foregoing, it will be understood that when the user inverts the container  12  containing a flowable liquid material and directs the nozzle  80  at a flowable product and applies a squeezing pressure to container  12 , the material will be forced through outlet channel  82  and dispensed as a spiral or straight line stream. 
   While the particular flowable product dispensing system and methods as herein shown and described in detail are fully capable of attaining the above-described objects of the invention, it is to be understood that they are merely illustrative embodiments of the present invention and are thus merely representative of the subject matter which is broadly contemplated by the present invention, that the scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments which may become obvious to those skilled in the art, and that the scope of the present invention is accordingly to be limited by nothing other than the appended claims.