Abstract:
The fluid dispensing device ( 10 ) includes a container ( 20 ) with an interior fluid storage region ( 22 ) therein. A flexible metering housing ( 26 ) is disposed in fluid communication with the fluid storage region ( 22 ) a first one-way valve ( 30 ) disposed between the container ( 20 ) and the flexible metering housing ( 26 ). One way flow from the interior fluid storage region ( 22 ) of the container ( 20 ) fills the predetermined volume of the metering chamber ( 32 ) with fluid by vacuum action when a button ( 36 ) is depressed and then released. A second valve ( 40 ) is in fluid communication with the metering housing ( 26 ) and permits one-way fluid flow from the metering chamber ( 32 ) to the exterior outer region of the container ( 20 ) when the metering housing ( 26 ) is depressed again. Each time the metering housing ( 26 ) is depressed a substantially equal volume of fluid ( 24 ) is dispensed from the container ( 20 ). An additional foam layer ( 12 ) on the outside of container ( 20 ) facilitates dispersion and delivery of the fluid ( 24 ).

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a divisonial of U.S. Ser. No. 11/074,817, filed on Mar. 8, 2005, which claims priority from prior U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/551,993 filed on Mar. 10, 2004. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates generally to dispensing devices and packages. More specifically, the present invention relates to metering devices that can controllably dispense fluid media from a source of fluid media.  
         [0003]     Various types of fluid material and media are employed for different purposes through commerce and industry. For example, there are various products in the personal care, home care, air care, transportation care, and food industries that require some type of dispensing of a fluid material from a source of such material. When this material is sold in commerce, it must be contained and stored in some type of container. When that product is used, it must be dispensed from its storage container to a location for use.  
         [0004]     In the prior art, there are many different types of dispenses for delivering fluid material. For example, a flexible container body with a nozzle tip is commonly provided for such a purpose. An application of such use is for the dispensing of ketchup where the container body is squeezed by the user to urge the fluid material out from the nozzle tip and accurately to a desired location. The amount of fluid delivered is determined by the how much the user squeezed the container body. However, this yields erratic results where more or less fluid material is delivered on each successive squeeze of the container body. Also, the container must be held upright to avoid leakage because no valves are employed.  
         [0005]     In another example of a prior art dispensing device, a flexible container holds a volume of fluid material to be delivered. A single one-way check valve is provided as an exit port from the flexible container. When the flexible body is squeezed, the material is urged out under pressure through the valve.  
         [0006]     There has also been a desire to not only dispense the fluid material but also to help apply them, such as to a surface. In the prior art, the squeezable container bodies have been equipped with some type of applicator head for this purposes. For example, in the personal care industry, body wash devices commonly include some type of squeezable container body and an abrasive applicator material, such as fabric or foam, applied thereon. Thus, when the fluid material is present outside the container body, the applicator assists in spreading the material on the body of the user by spreading the fluid within the applicator for better and more even distribution thereof. Applicators are particularly useful for even distribution in personal care industry, such as shoe polish, to ensure a quality even and smooth coat.  
         [0007]     There have been attempts in the prior art to provide a dispenser that can easily deliver fluid material to an applicator positioned about a container body. These prior art devices employ, for example, spring-loaded buttons that open up an exit port in the main container body to permit flow to an outer applicator material layer. This is in contrast to requiring the user to squeeze the entire body of the container. However, these devices are incapable of delivering a substantially equal dose of fluid at each dispensing operation because they simply open up the container body and permit the fluid to flow to the applicator material by gravity. As a result, the fluid material must exit at a lower side of the container. Therefore, it is not possible to dispense fluid on more than one side of the container or in a direction opposite to that of gravity. To dispense fluid material without concern for gravity, squeezable container bodies must be employed in the prior art which have all of the disadvantages, as described above.  
         [0008]     In view of the foregoing, the fluid dispensing and devices of the prior art suffer from various disadvantages that make them difficult and awkward to use with unexpected results. Therefore, there is a need for a fluid dispenser to be easy to operate. There is a further need for a fluid dispenser to be capable of delivering a metered dose of fluid upon each dispensing operation for expected flow for better application of the fluid material. There is also a need for such a dispenser to be gravity independent. There is an additional need for the fluid to be capable of being delivered to exit at any point on the surface of container. There is a further need for a dispenser to include an applicator material for even distribution and even application of the fluid material, as desired.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     The present invention preserves the advantages of prior art dispensing devices. In addition, it provides new advantages not found in currently available devices and overcomes many disadvantages of such currently available devices.  
         [0010]     The invention is generally directed to a novel and unique dispenser for delivering a substantially equal metered dose of fluid material upon each dispensing operation with an optional applicator for even distribution of the dispensed fluid material.  
         [0011]     The fluid dispensing device includes a container with an interior fluid storage region therein. A flexible metering housing is disposed in fluid communication with the fluid storage region a first one-way valve disposed between the container and the flexible metering housing. One way flow from the interior fluid storage region of the container fills the predetermined volume of the metering chamber with fluid by vacuum action when the flexible metering housing is depressed and then released. A second valve is in fluid communication with the metering housing output port and permits one-way fluid flow from the metering chamber to the exterior outer region of the container when the metering housing is depressed again. Each time the metering housing is depressed a substantially equal volume of fluid is dispensed from the container. An additional foam layer on the outside of container facilitates dispersion and delivery of the fluid.  
         [0012]     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a fluid dispensing device that can deliver a substantially equal volume of fluid material from each dispensing operation.  
         [0013]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a fluid dispensing device that is insensitive to gravity.  
         [0014]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a fluid dispensing device that includes an applicator to ensure even delivery of the fluid material.  
         [0015]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a fluid dispensing device that can deliver fluid flow at any point from the device.  
         [0016]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a fluid dispensing device that can deliver fluid flow at multiple locations from the device. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]     The novel features which are characteristic of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. However, the invention&#39;s preferred embodiments, together with further objects and attendant advantages, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of the dispensing device of the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  is a bottom perspective view of the dispensing device of the present invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view through the line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0021]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of a first alternative embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 5  is a top plan view of a second alternative embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the dispensing device of the present invention showing flow enhancing notches;  
         [0024]      FIG. 7  is a close-up perspective view of the metering housing with stand-off legs;  
         [0025]      FIG. 8  is a close-up perspective view of the metering housing with coil spring; and  
         [0026]      FIG. 9  is a top plan view on an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0027]     Referring first to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the dispensing device  10  of the present invention is shown to include an outer covering, generally referred to as  12  which serves as an applicator material. This applicator material  12  can be formed of any type of material to suit the application at hand. For example, as seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the cover  12  is preferably formed of two different types of material  12   a ,  12   a  to serve two purposes when in use. Preferably, the top section  12   a  is of a foam material while the bottom section  12   b  is of a mesh or “pouf” material. The top section  12   a  can be secured to the bottom section  12   b  by, for example, welding. A snap-fit cover  14  seals a re-fill port  16 , as will be described in more detail in connection with  FIG. 3 . A hang strap or cord  18  can also be provided. The configuration of the applicator  12  is just one of many different types of applications of the present invention which will be discussed in more detail below.  
         [0028]     Turning now to  FIG. 3 , a cross-sectional view through the line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1  is shown to illustrate the internal construction of the dispensing device  10  of the present invention. A container body  20  is provided which includes a fluid storage region  22  that contains a volume of fluid material  24  therein. The container  20  is preferably made of a flexible material, such as plastic or nylon. Thus, as fluid material  24  is evacuated from within the container body  20 , it will collapses gradually for a compact structure.  
         [0029]     A metering housing  26  is provided at a first opening  28  of the container body  20 . The metering housing  26  includes an intake one-way valve  30 , such as a check valve, to pull fluid  24  from the fluid storage region  22  of the container body  20  into a metering chamber  32  of a predetermined size. Any type of valve can be used to suit the given application. The intake valve  30  is positioned in a base plate  34  of the metering housing  26 . Thus, fluid  24  can only flow in one way from the fluid storage region  22  into the metering chamber  32 . The metering chamber  32  is defined by a flexible membrane  36  in the form of a button or bulb which is accessible and manipulateable through a gap  38  in the applicator material  12 . The button  36  is preferably clear to provide an indicator to the consumer when the metered dosage of fluid material  24  is ready for delivery.  
         [0030]     An output valve  40  is provided in fluid communication with the metering chamber  32  of the metering housing  26 . Thus, the fluid residing in the metering chamber can only exit through the output valve  40 . Also, a fluid conduit  42  is also provided to direct the exit of fluid  24  at any location through the container body. Preferably, as seen in  FIG. 3 , the fluid conduit  42  connects the output valve  40  of the metering housing  26  to an exit port  44  located on the bottom of the container body. This permits the metering housing  26  to be on an opposite side as the side through which the fluid  24  exits. The fluid conduit  42  can be directed and located to exit at any point through the container body  20  depending on the application at hand. Also, the output valve  40  may be located at the exit port  44 , as an alternative depending on the requirements of the application.  
         [0031]     Still referring to  FIG. 3 , the operation of the dispensing device  10  is further explained. The button  36  of the metering housing  26  is depressed to initiate a vacuum operation. More specifically, when the button  36  is further released, fluid  24  is pulled from the fluid storage region  22  of the container body  20  into the metering chamber  32  which is configured to be of a certain known volume. The act of releasing the button  36  fills the metering chamber  32  to substantial capacity. Thus, a metered amount of fluid material  24  is contained within the metering chamber  32  in preparation for delivery. The size of the metering chamber  32  can be selected according to the type of fluid material  24  to be dispensed and the application therefor and the desired dosage volume.  
         [0032]     A further depression of the button  36  urges the measured volume of fluid  24  within the metering chamber  32  to be exiting out through the output valve  40  of the metering housing  26 . This known amount of fluid material  24  is then either directly routed to the applicator  12  for use or through a fluid conduit  42 , as seen in  FIG. 3 , for more targeted introduction into the applicator  12 . In this case, it is preferred that the metered volume of fluid material  24  be routed to the bottom of the container body  20  for dispersion into the applicator portion  12   b  on the bottom surface thereof. For example, this configuration is particularly well-suited for dispensing body wash for bathing purposes. Other applications may require different exit and introduction locations into the applicator material  12 .  
         [0033]     In  FIG. 4  an alternative construction of the container  120  with modified metering housing  126  is shown. In this embodiment, an array of output valves  128  is positioned radially about the periphery of the metering housing  126  to deliver fluid material  124  directly to the applicator material (not shown in  FIG. 4  for ease of explanation) on the same side thereof without employing a fluid conduit  42  that is routed through the interior of the container body  20 . This radial delivery pattern is well-suited for use in application devices requiring simultaneous dispersion of contents around the metering housing, such as for applying skin conditioner.  
         [0034]     Still further,  FIG. 5  illustrates another alternative construction of a container  220  with modified metering housing  226  of the present invention where an array of output valves  228  is positioned linearly across the top surface of the container body  220  to deliver fluid material directly to the applicator material (not shown in  FIG. 5  for ease of explanation) on the same side thereof without employing a fluid conduit. This linear delivery pattern is well-suited for use as an applicator that applies fluid in a linear stroke-based manner along the longitudinal axis of the device.  
         [0035]     In accordance with the present invention, the direction of the delivery of the fluid material  24  can be easily modify to suit the application at hand. In certain applications, it is desirable that the applicator material  12 , located on the top and the bottom of the container body  20 , receive fluid material in an evenly distributed fashion. As shown above, the fluid material  24  can be directed out from any location on the container  20  to deliver the fluid as desired. It is frequently desirable that the fluid  24  be able to passively flow from one side  20   a  of the container  20  to the opposing side  20   b  of the container  20 , particularly at the edges  20   c  thereof.  
         [0036]     Referring back to  FIG. 1 , an efficient method of manufacturing a quality dispensing device  10  is to employ heat welding to construct the container  20  and the applicator material  12  thereon. For example, a top portion  20   a  is typically heat welded to a bottom portion  20   b  about their periphery  20   c  to form a container  20  with an interior fluid storage region  22  therein. The applicator material  12  is similarly secured to the container  20  by heat welding or other similar process, such as gluing, either about its periphery or its entire contact surface with the container  20 .  
         [0037]     If a heat welding seam  20   d  about the periphery  20   c  of the container  20  is employed, it will reduce the flow and wicking action of the fluid  24  in the applicator material  12   a  on one side to the applicator material  12   b  on the other side and vice versa. Thus, fluid  24  must travel over the seam  20   d  of the container and seam  12   d  of the applicator material  12  to be present on the opposing side. This seam  12   d ,  20   d  prevents the fluid  24  from freely flowing from the front of the container  20  to the back and vice versa.  
         [0038]      FIG. 6  illustrates a modification to the container  20  which is within the scope of the present invention to address the problem indicated above. More specifically, a number of notches  46  are formed in the peripheral edge  20   d  of the container  20  to permit flow of fluid material  24  easily from one side of the container  20  to the other. When the applicator material  12  is heat sealed to the container at its peripheral edge to form a seam  12   d , a number of pass-through apertures  48  are formed between the seam  20   d ,  12   d  and the applicator material  12  to permit free flowing travel of fluid material  24  from one side of the device  10  to the other and back without having to travel over the peripheral seam  12   d ,  20   d.    
         [0039]     Turning now to  FIGS. 1, 7  and  8 , further enhancements to the metering housing  26  construction is shown in detail. As seen in  FIGS. 1 and 7 , a number of stand-off legs  50  emanate downwardly from the base plate  34  of the metering housing  26 . These legs  50  prevent the base plate  34  from completely bottoming out and block flow of fluid material  24  into the intake valve  30 . The stand-off legs  50  are particularly useful when the volume of fluid material  24  left in the container  20  is running low and the container  20  is becoming relative flat in configuration. In this situation, there is a possibility that the aforesaid bottoming out may occur. However, the use of the stand-off legs  50  of  FIGS. 1 and 7  prevent this from occurring.  
         [0040]      FIG. 8 , with reference back to  FIG. 1 , illustrates a further modification of the metering housing  26  to ensure that maximum suction is achieved and that the entire metering chamber  32  is filled upon each depression and release of the button  36 . A spring-biasing structure  52  resides within the button or bulb structure  36  of the metering housing  26 . Thus, the button  36  recovers quickly while providing a strong suction or vacuum to fill the interior of the metering chamber  32  with the desired metered volume of fluid material  24 . A coil spring is preferred for the spring-biasing structure  52  but other spring-biasing structures, such as leaf springs and foam material may be employed for this purpose.  
         [0041]      FIG. 9  illustrates a further alternative embodiment  300  of the present invention where a container, such as container  220  or  120 , includes a series of tabs  302  that emanate outwardly from the container  220 . An outer frame or skeleton  304  is connected to the container  220  via the tabs  302 . Applicator material  306 , such as “poof” or fabric material, is then attached to the frame  304  with the container  220  residing therein. This embodiment  300  is particularly well-suited to permit free flowing of fluid material about the dispenser  300 .  
         [0042]     The dispensing device  10  of the present invention has a wide array of applications of use to take advantage of the unique metered dosage capability of the present invention. Virtually any dispenser with any type of applicator material or combinations of applicator materials in different configurations can employ the present invention.  
         [0043]     For example, the personal care industry has particular application in the controlled and metered dispensing of bath and shower gels. Also, medicines, cosmetics, hair care products, such a shampoos, skin care products, such as lotions, insect repellents and sunscreen products can employ the present invention.  
         [0044]     Also, various home products can be delivered in a device  10  according to the present invention. These include products for furniture cleaning and polishing, tub and shower cleaning, floor cleaning and polishing, window cleaning, odor elimination, oven cleaning, laundry cleaning and apparel treatment. Also, air treatment device can employ the present invention.  
         [0045]     Still further, cleaning products can be dispensed in a controlled fashion, such as those for cleaning cars, bikes, planes and trucks. The food industry has numerous potentional applications, particularly for the dispensing of condiments, sauces and vitamins.  
         [0046]     To employ the dispensing device  10  of the present invention, the size and construction of the metering housing  26  as well as the positioning of where the fluid material  24  is delivered to the surface of the device can be easily modified to suit the given application. The materials used for the container  20  and the metering housing  26 , while preferably flexible plastic, can be any suitable material for the application at hand. Also, the container  20  can be made of a different material than the metering housing  26 .  
         [0047]     Most importantly, the modification of the present invention to suit a given application relates particularly to the nature and configuration of the applicator material  12  itself.  
         [0048]     The applicator material  12  can be foam, such as open cell foam, fabric, blended material, co-extruded material and combinations thereof. It should be understood that these materials are just examples of the types of materials that can be used in connection with the dispenser  10  of the present invention. The specific material is determined by the given application and the type of material to be dispensed.  
         [0049]     Thus, when fluid material  24  is dispensed within the foam, the fluid  24  will tend to equilibrate the moisture by moving the moisture from a point of high moisture to a point of low moisture. This wicking action causes the fluid  24  to naturally propagate through the applicator material  12 . Since there is an absence of applicator material  12  at the periphery, the notches  46  and pass-through apertures  48  of  FIG. 6 , facilitates the wicking action from one side of the device  10  to the other, if necessary in that application.  
         [0050]     Non-woven materials or fibers may also be employed as the material for the applicator  12  on one or both sides of the device. For example, reticulated foam may also be employed. These materials would be well-suited as applicators  12  for more harsh chemicals, such as tire cleaner and paint remover where toughness is required.  
         [0051]     Also, more abrasive material can be provided on one side of the device for more aggressive cleaning, for example, while the opposing side has a polishing type surface.  
         [0052]     In general, the size, density and wicking action of the cells and overall size of the applicator  12  can be modified to suit the particular fluid to be applied.  
         [0053]     In summary, a new and novel dispenser  10  is provided that can deliver consistent metered dosages such fluid material  24 . The dispenser  10  has a greatly improved construction where the fluid material  24  is even distributed throughout the applicator material  12  for a more efficient and more effective fluid dispensing.  
         [0054]     It would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made to the illustrated embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention. All such modifications and changes are intended to be covered by the appended claims.