Abstract:
A fluid heating and dispensing device and method of using the device, is provided. The device has a first reservoir, a second reservoir, a pump device, a heating device, and a delivery device. The first reservoir is in thermal communication with the heating device, the second reservoir is in substantial thermal isolation from the heating device, the first reservoir is substantially smaller than the second reservoir and the pump device selectively causes fluid to flow between the reservoirs and to the atmosphere. The device can have a removable supply container for refilling.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application is related to and claims priority in, copending U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/250,903, filed Dec. 2, 2000, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates to an apparatus or device that warms or heats lotion. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus that warms or heats and dispenses, either manually or electrically, a warmed lotion, such as, but not limited to, a hand or body lotion.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0005]    There are devices that are commercially available that dispense liquids, such as lotions. There are devices commercially available that heat fluids. There are also devices commercially available that heat and dispense fluids from containers having a propellant. However, heretofore, there has been a need for a device that efficiently warms and dispenses a lotion, such as a hand or body lotion, from a container. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0006]    [0006]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a warmer and dispenser device of the present invention;  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the device of FIG. 1 taken along line  2 - 2  of FIG. 1;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 3 is a plan view of the removable container of the device of FIG. 1;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the container of FIG. 3 taken along line  4 - 4  of FIG. 3;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 5 is a plan view of the container top of the device of FIG. 1;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the device of FIG. 1 taken along line  2 - 2  of FIG. 1;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternative warming system of the device of FIG. 1;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an alternative warming system of the device of FIG. 1;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an alternative warming system of the device of FIG. 1;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an alternative warming system of the device of FIG. 1; and  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 11 is a flow chart depicting a method for warming and dispensing lotion according to the device of FIG. 1. 
     
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a fluid warmer and dispenser device.  
         [0018]    It is another object of the present invention to provide such a device that warms and/or heats lotions, such as hand and body lotions.  
         [0019]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such a device that dispenses the lotion by a pump.  
         [0020]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a device that simplifies the lotion filling process.  
         [0021]    It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide such a device with a more efficient heating process.  
         [0022]    These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are achieved by the lotion warmer and dispenser or system of the present invention (hereinafter “warmer”) that provides a lotion to the user at a desired temperature. The warmer includes a delivery system, a supply or reservoir, and a warming or warmer system. Preferably, the delivery system, supply, and warming system form an assembled unit.  
         [0023]    In a preferred embodiment, the warmer of the present inventions heats only a small amount of the lotion in the aluminum tube in line between the output and the lotion supply. Since the warmer does not have to provide heat to the entire reservoir of the lotion, a rapid heat up time is provided. Additionally, it is important that the lotion not be overheated as the formula of most lotions will degrade and/or separate when overheated. The temperature controller of the present invention also allows for almost no temperature overshoot, further reducing the likelihood of degrading the lotion. Moreover, the present invention isolates the electrical components, thus reducing the likelihood of injury if the warmer is accidentally exposed to wet conditions.  
       DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0024]    Referring to the figures and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is provided a system or warmer generally designated by reference numeral  10  is shown. Warmer  10  has a delivery system  20 , a supply or reservoir  40 , and a warming or warmer system  50 . Preferably, delivery system  20 , supply  40 , and warming system  50  form an assembled unit  12 .  
         [0025]    Warmer  10  dispenses lotion at a desired temperature. The desired temperature is preferably in a range from about 30° to about 60° C. More preferably, the desired temperature is about 45° C. Warmer  10  also has a mechanism to allow the consumer to turn on or shut off power to the warmer. In a preferred embodiment, warmer  10  automatically shuts off after it has been “on” for about 1 hour.  
         [0026]    As shown in FIG. 2, delivery system  20  has a pump mechanism, such as, for example, a manual pump  22 . The pump  22  delivers lotion from supply  40  to lotion warming system  50  and, then, to the user via an output section  60 . In the preferred embodiment, output section  60  is a downwardly directed spout. A power cord (not shown) delivers power from a standard household electrical supply to warmer  10 . Alternatively, warmer  10  has a battery (not shown) that delivers power to the warmer. The pumping mechanism is either manual (as in the preferred embodiment) or electric.  
         [0027]    Referring to FIGS. 2 through 5, supply  40  has a container  42  for holding lotion. Preferably, container  42  is refillable. More preferably, container  42  has a removable container top  44 . By way of example, container  42  holds between about 2 to about 20 fluid ounces of lotion, and preferably between about 6 to about 16 fluid ounces of lotion. Top  44  removably seals container  42 . Container  42  and top  44  are preferably made of dishwasher safe material, such as plastic, aluminum, metal or any combination thereof.  
         [0028]    Referring to FIGS. 3 through 5, assembly  49  (by way of top  44 ) is adapted to be connected to container  42 . Preferably, top  44  is adapted to be connected to container  42  by a connector  47 . In a preferred embodiment, connector  47  of container  42  engages with tab  147  of container top  44 . This allows a quick connection that requires the user to only rotate container  42  not more than 180 degrees with respect to enclosed assembly  49 . The removability of container  42  is a further advantage of the present invention since it allows for easy refilling of warmer  10 .  
         [0029]    Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, warmer  10  also has an upper lid  46  and a lower lid  48 . Upper lid  46  and lower lid  48  are joined to form enclosed assembly  49 . Assembly  49  also has one or more seals  49 ′, preferably two or more seals  49 ′, that ensure that enclosed assembly  49  is water tight to prevent injury in the event warmer  10  is exposed to wet conditions.  
         [0030]    Warming system  50  has a heat transfer section  51  and a temperature controller  57 . Heat transfer section  51  has a coil of tubing  52  and a resistance heater  54 . Tubing  52  can be made of aluminum, metal, or plastic that withstands high temperatures. Preferably, tubing  52  is made of aluminum. As shown in FIG. 2, tubing  52  has a flat coil configuration. Preferably, tubing  52  is wound a number of times, preferably about five times.  
         [0031]    Resistance heater  54  is preferably flat. Heater  54  preferably is made of mica. In this embodiment, heater  54  has a heater cover  55 . Cover  55  directs heat from heater  54  towards tubing  52 , thus heating the fluid in the tubing. Further, cover  55  directs heat away from controller  57  which is described below in more detail. Thus, controller  57  is substantially in thermal isolation from heater  54 . Also, the one or more seals  49 ′ cause controller  57  to be in fluid isolation from tubing  52  and supply  40 .  
         [0032]    Resistance heater  54  is connected to, or part of, heat transfer section  51  in a manner that maximizes the surface contact between the resistance heater and the heat transfer section. In a preferred embodiment, heater  54  is connected to tubing  52  and enclosed by cover  55  to maximize the surface contact between the heater and the tubing and thereby reduce heat loss. Accordingly, warmer  10  maximizes the heat conducted from heater  54  to tubing  52  and ensures a rapid heat up cycle. Further, the volume of tubing  52  is substantially smaller than the volume of container  42 . Typically, warmer  10  provides lotion at the desired temperature in about 1 to about 2 minutes.  
         [0033]    Warming system  50  also has a temperature controller  57 . Controller  57  controls the temperature of lotion warming system  50  so as to provide a rapid heat up cycle, yet avoid overshoot of the desired temperature. Controller  57  is preferably connected to heater  54 . For embodiments using an electric pump, controller  57  is connected to pump  22 . In a preferred embodiment, controller  57  is an NTC controller having a printed circuit board  56  (hereinafter “PCB”) operatively connected to two or more controls  58  (described in detail below). Controller  57  is commonly used in electric curling irons and the like. Alternative control devices can also be utilized such as a thermostat.  
         [0034]    Controller  57  has a controller housing  200  sealingly engaged with heater cover  55  through seals  49 ′. This sealing engagement further ensures that controller  57  and all electrical components (or other control devices such as a thermostat) contained therein, are substantially thermally isolated from heater  54 , and in fluid isolation from supply  40  and tubing  52 .  
         [0035]    Preferably, controller  57  controls the temperature of heater  54  to the desired temperature in a range from about 30° to about 60° C. More preferably, controller  57  controls the temperature of heater  54  to the desired temperature of about 45° C.  
         [0036]    Controls  58  include preferably an on button, an off button, a red light emitting diode (hereinafter LED), and a green LED. The red LED is used to indicate that warmer  10  is provided with power, e.g., the warmer is plugged in. The red LED and green LED blink to indicate to the user that warmer  10  is warming up the fluid. When the fluid is ready for dispensing at the desired temperature, the red LED turns off and the green LED is on continuously. In the preferred embodiment, controls  58  are located at the top of upper lid  46  and under a membrane keypad (not shown) to ensure that enclosed assembly  49  remains sealed.  
         [0037]    Controls  58  also preferably have a temperature control dial (not shown). The temperature control dial is connected to controller  57  to allow the user to vary the desired temperature of warming system  50  within the ranges provided above. In a preferred embodiment, the temperature control dial is a potentiometer.  
         [0038]    Alternative positioning of controls  58 , as well as methods of control indication, may also be utilized. Controls  58  can also include a red LED, an on/off button and a temperature switch (not shown). The red LED can blink to alert the user that warmer  10  is on, and remains on once the warmer is ready to use. The temperature switch can be a three-position rocker switch that is adapted to set the temperature of heater  54  at one of three positions, such as HI, MEDIUM or LOW.  
         [0039]    Controller  57  controls heater  54  to warm the lotion to the desired temperature while minimizing the overshoot of the desired temperature. Preferably, controller  57  controls heater  54  via an analog circuit, a digital circuit or the like.  
         [0040]    While the preferred embodiment describes a manual pump device, alternatively an electric device can be utilized. In an alternate embodiment shown in FIG. 6, lotion delivery system  20  has a typical hand operated pump  22 ′ for delivering lotion from lotion supply  20  to lotion warming system  50  and to the user via output section  60 . Hand pump  22 ′ has a dispenser plunger  23 , a spring return  24 , one or more check valves  25  and a dip tube  26 . In this embodiment, tubing  52 , preferably aluminum, has a vertical or stacked coil configuration and the resistance heater is a wire heater  54 ′ wound about tubing  52 .  
         [0041]    Controller  57 , heater  54 ′ and aluminum tube  52  are sealed from water within enclosed assembly  49 . The sealing is achieved preferably by a silicone gasket material  49 ′. The assembly  49  is stationary as dispense plunger  23  is actuated to dispense lotion from warmer  10 . Preferably, assembly  49  is adapted to be connected to container  42  by a connector  47 . In a preferred embodiment, connector  47  is a quick connection that simply requires the user to rotate the container not more than 180 degrees with respect to assembly  49 .  
         [0042]    In alternative embodiments, heater  54  and tubing  52  can be replaced with a heat sink  100  and a heating wire  150  in contact with the heat sink. Referring to FIGS. 7 through 10, heat sink  100  is shown as cylindrical heat sinks  110 ,  120  and rectangular heat sinks  130 ,  140 , respectively. However, other alternative shapes may also be utilized for heat sink  100  including cubical or triangular heat sinks. Heat sinks  110 ,  120 ,  130 ,  140  have an axial channel  102  in which the fluid is contained while being heated, and through which the fluid passes when being dispensed. Heat sinks  110 ,  130 ,  140  have channels  105  formed longitudinally therein. Channels  105  house heating wire  150 , and maximize heat transfer surface area by partially surrounding the heating wire. Heat sink  120  has channels  107  formed circumferentially therein, preferably in a spiral manner, which also maximizes the heat transfer surface area by partially surrounding heating wire  150 . These alternative embodiments that replace heater  54  and tubing  52  reduce the required volume for housing warming system  50  in warmer  10 . Further, these alternative embodiments also have the advantage of allowing for heating of the entire warming system including output section  60 , shown in FIG. 2. This causes faster heat up times and more efficient use of energy. Heat sink  100  is preferably made of aluminum. More preferably heat sink  100  is made of extruded aluminum.  
         [0043]    In the embodiment shown, controller  57  controls heater  54  by using one of three cycles to heat the lotion in tubing  52 . Namely, controller  57  includes an initial heat up cycle, an over shoot protection cycle and a maintenance cycle.  
         [0044]    Referring to FIG. 11, controller  57  begins the initial heat up cycle when warmer  10  is turned “on”, as in step  500 . During the initial heat up cycle, controller  57  provides full power to heater  54 , as in step  510 . The amount of power is about 5 watts to about 50 watts, preferably about twenty-seven watts. Controller  57  then determines the fluid temperature in tubing  52 , as in step  520 . Controller  57  then determines if the fluid temperature in tubing  52  is at or above the anticipation temperature, as in step  530 . If the fluid temperature in tubing  52  is at or above the anticipation temperature then the overshoot protection cycle commences, as in step  540 . The preset anticipation temperature preferably is between approximately 5° C. to approximately 15° C. less than the desired temperature.  
         [0045]    During the overshoot protection cycle, controller  57  provides reduced power to heater  54 , as in step  550 . Preferably, the power to the heater is reduced by approximately fifty percent (or preferably to approximately thirteen and one half watts in the preferred embodiment). The power reduction slows the temperature increase as the temperature approaches the desired temperature and, thus, reduces the instance of heater  54  heating the lotion above the desired temperature.  
         [0046]    Controller  57  then determines the fluid temperature in tubing  52 , as in step  560 . Controller  57  determines if the fluid temperature in tubing  52  is at or above the desired temperature, as in step  570 . If the fluid temperature in tubing  52  is at or above the desired temperature then the maintenance cycle commences, as in step  580 .  
         [0047]    In step  590 , the controller measures the length of time that the heater has been activated. Controller  57  then determines if the activation time is at or above the automatic shut off time period, as in step  600 . If the activation time is at or above the automatic shut off time period then controller  57  shuts off all power, as in step  605 .  
         [0048]    In step  610 , if the automatic shut off time period has not been met or exceeded, then controller  57  shuts off power to heater  54 . Controller  57  determines the fluid temperature in tubing  52 , as in step  620 . The controller then determines if the fluid temperature in tubing  52  is at or below the low-level maintenance temperature, as in step  630 . Preferably, the preset low-level maintenance temperature is between about 0.5° C. to about 10.0° C. less than the desired temperature. More preferably, the preset low-level maintenance temperature is between about 1.0° C. to about 1.5° C. less than the desired temperature. If the fluid temperature in tubing  52  is at or below the low-level maintenance temperature then controller  57  provides reduced power to heater  54 , as in step  640 . Preferably, the reduced power to heater  54  is approximately one-half, e.g., thirteen and one-half watts in the preferred embodiment. Accordingly, during the maintenance cycle, controller  57  maintains the temperature of heater  54  at a point approximately between the low-level maintenance temperature and the desired temperature.  
         [0049]    Controller  57  continues to determine the fluid temperature in tubing  52 , as in step  650 . Controller  57  determines if the fluid temperature in tubing  52  is at or above the desired temperature, as in step  660 . If the fluid temperature in tubing  52  is at or above the desired temperature then the controller repeats the steps of the maintenance cycle.  
         [0050]    In use, the user activates pump  22  to deliver lotion from container  42  into tubing  52 . Tubing  52  is preferably primed with lotion prior to activating heater  54  via control button  58 . To active pump  22 , the user simply depresses enclosed assembly  49  down with respect to container  42 . To deactivate the pump, the user releases enclosed assembly  49 , which returns to its up position. Preferably about three cubic centimeters (3 cc) of lotion heated to about the desired temperature is dispensed each time the user depresses enclosed assembly  49 .  
         [0051]    It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the present invention. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances that fall within the scope of the appended claims.