Abstract:
A dual dispenser for personal products such as cosmetics has two dispensers, one at either end of a tubular body. A wall divides the barrel into two chambers, which are filled with the respective products. One of the dispensers may be a sprayer and the other may be a lipstick-type dispenser, so that products of different types can be conveniently carried in a single pen-shaped article.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to a dual dispenser pen for products such as cosmetics. 
   Different types of cosmetics dispensers are well known, including liquid sprayers, lipstick dispensers and the like. Many people carry a substantial number of different dispensable products, each in its own container. It would be more convenient for them to have to carry fewer articles, without giving up the number of products on hand. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An object of the invention is to provide a product which can be used to contain two different products—especially products of different types, such as lip balm and a sun-blocking liquid—and to dispense the products in a way appropriate to each. 
   Another object is to provide a two-product dispenser having substantially a cylindrical pen-like shape, and adapted to dispense alternative products from either end. 
   These and other objects are attained by a dual dispenser pen as described and claimed below. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the accompanying drawings, 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a dual dispenser pen embodying the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view thereof; 
       FIG. 3  is a sectional view showing details of a screw-type product dispenser contained within the dispenser pen; and 
       FIG. 4  is another sectional view from a different angle, showing certain components of the device at a greater scale. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   A dual dispenser pen embodying the invention comprises a barrel  10  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) which is divided into two open-ended chambers  12 ,  14  ( FIG. 3 ) by a septum or wall  16  situated between the two ends  18 ,  20  of the barrel. In the example shown in the drawings, the wall is closer to the end  18  than to the end  20 , but the wall could moved to another position if desired. A short tab  22  ( FIG. 4 ) extends from its center of the septum into the chamber  12 , for a purpose described below. 
   A first dispenser for a first fluent product is installed in the shorter chamber  12 . The word “fluent”, as used below, means a material capable of flowing, such as, but not limited to, a liquid, gel, wax or powder. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the first dispenser  30  includes a plastic screw  32 , a piston  34  mounted on the screw, and a rotatable sleeve  36  containing the piston. The screw is pressed, head  38  first, into the barrel until the head snaps behind a circumferential rib  40  formed on the inside of the barrel near the septum. The head has a slot  42  which receives the tab  22  extending from the septum. This positively prevents rotation of the screw. The piston has internal threads (not shown) which mate with the external threads on the shaft of the screw. The piston is slidable within the sleeve  36 , but is prevented from rotating with respect to the sleeve by vanes  44  on the outside of the piston, which slide in axial grooves  46  on the inside surface of the sleeve. 
   The sleeve  36  is retained in the barrel by a first circumferential external rib (see  FIG. 4 ) on the sleeve, which snaps into a complementary circumferential groove on the inside surface of the barrel. The rib and groove keep the sleeve within the barrel, but allow the sleeve to rotate with respect to the barrel. Just outboard of the first rib, the sleeve has a broad integral collar  52 , having about the same outside diameter as the barrel. This provides a surface which can be grasped to turn the sleeve and thus the piston. Since the screw cannot turn, the piston—which rotates with the sleeve—moves up or down in the sleeve as the sleeve is turned. 
   The mouth of the sleeve outboard of the collar is sized to receive a cap  56  (see  FIG. 1 ) which may be easily pushed on or pulled off the mouth. A second external circumferential bead ( FIG. 4 ) around the mouth provides a fluid seal against the cap, and small projections (not shown) on the inside of the cap engage behind the bead  58  when the cap is installed. 
   During manufacture, the piston is initially placed at the bottom of the chamber, and a mass of fluent material such as lip balm (not shown) is inserted into the sleeve over the screw. The mass can be advanced as it is used up by turning the collar while holding the barrel. 
   The other chamber  14 , in the illustrated example, is adapted to contain a liquid such as cologne, breath spray, glitter or water. Its reduced-diameter end has external threads  62  for retaining a second product dispenser, preferably a spray pump. The internally threaded body  64  of the spray pump assembly is screwed onto the threaded mouth. The pump assembly includes a downtube  66  which extends nearly to the wall  16  defining the bottom of the chamber  14 , and is connected at its upper end to a pump within the body of the device. Internal details of the pump mechanism are not shown, inasmuch as such devices are well known and commercially available. The selection and/or design of a suitable pump is a matter of ordinary skill. 
   At the other end of the applicator there is a dispensing button  68  having a nozzle  69  in communication with the pump. Depressing the button causes the pump to deliver liquid from the chamber  14  to the nozzle. A spring (not shown) returns the button to its upward position. 
   The chamber  14  may be filled with a liquid such as sun block during manufacture, or it may be left empty so that the purchaser can fill the chamber  14  with a product of his/her choice. 
   The barrel has generally the shape of a large pen, and most preferably, a removable pen top  70  ( FIG. 1 ) having an external pocket clip  72  is pushed over one end of the device. 
   It is contemplated that the products in the two chambers will be complementary, e.g., two products for application to the face, but the invention in its broadest sense is not limited to any particular products and other uses such as for food products may also be found useful. 
   Preferably, all the components described above, except for the return spring, are made of moldable plastics such a polyethylene, polypropylene or a polycarbonate. Most preferably, the barrel is transparent or translucent, for aesthetic reasons. However, the components could be made or metal or other materials, without departing from the scope of this invention. 
   The drawings illustrate the best mode of the invention presently known; however, the invention may be modified to suit particular needs. For example, the size, proportions and shapes of the various parts may be changes without departing from the inventive concept. 
   Since the invention is subject to modifications and variations, it is intended that the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as only illustrative of the invention defined by the following claims.