Patent Publication Number: US-6340099-B1

Title: Container with a structural improvement

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a division of Ser. No. 09/334,806 filed Jun. 17, 1999 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,105,819 which claims priority to provisional application, U.S. Ser. No. 60/089,873 filed Jun. 19, 1998. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a container with a structural improvement, wherein the transparent hollow body can contain various decorative items disposed within the colored and/or liquid fluid and can be stationary or floating, thus aesthetically pleasing. It can also achieve an utilitarian purpose by containing cleaning agent disposed within the reservoir. 
     Presently available dispensers for cleansing solution such as shampoo and/or shower gel are predominantly made from blow-molding a disposable dispenser, as shown in FIG.  1 . The dispenser  7  can have a variety of shapes and sizes. It can also have a design printed on the outer surface of the container, or animals or cartoon characters on top of an actuator, to make the dispenser attractive (not shown in FIG.  1 ). However, although one can imprint various designs on the outside surface of dispenser  7 , it is still predictable and boring and is not considered decorative. In addition, when the cleansing solution is exhausted in the dispenser, such dispenser is not reusable and since the designs were only printed on the surface of the container, the thought of using the empty dispenser  7  as a decorative item does not occur to consumers. The end result is that these dispensers will be discarded, creating a large amount of garbage which will adversely affect the environment. 
     Commonly available decorative items are usually a combination of colored liquid with decorative structures. One can fill a glass container with water, at the same time also inject bright-colored oil, then tightly seal the glass container to prevent the water and the bright-colored oil from leaking. Since the bright-colored oil has a higher density than water, the bright-colored oil is positioned below the water.. Because the decorative structure has a higher density than water but less density than the bright-colored oil, the decorative structure floats above the bright-colored oil. As the bright-colored oil and the water are both liquids, this causes the decorative structure to move with the liquids. Although the movement of the liquids together with the decorative structure is aesthetically pleasing, such an item is only for decoration and lacks utility. Accordingly, such commonly available decorative items, though attractive, lack utility. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a novel dispenser, which is aesthetically pleasing yet functional and which does not adversely affect the environment. Accordingly, the applicant of the present invention, motivated by the aforementioned objectives, created a novel dispenser, which in addition to overcoming the shortcomings of the prior art, also provides a functionality that ultimately protects the environment. 
     Accordingly, the main purpose of the present invention is to provide an improved water globe container which comprises: one hollow transparent sleeve, wherein a first top edge surface has a spiral tube; one reservoir containing shower gel, shampoo or other cleansing solution, wherein a second top edge surface has a threaded member and through a base member the hollow transparent sleeve is matingly-fitted to a reservoir with a circular dividing board in between to create a tight seal. The base member has a first surface and a second surface, both the first and the second surfaces having female threaded members at the periphery and the base member having a means for defining an opening in the center of the base. The opening extends upwardly forming a sleeve and a flexible member is formed at an end of the sleeve, the flexible member having a slightly smaller diameter than the sleeve. A water intake opening is positioned between the opening and the female threaded members with the first surface of the base member having male threaded members. The interior of the hollow transparent sleeve can be decorated with various artifacts and through the water intake opening, water is introduced into the hollow transparent sleeve to give the hollow transparent sleeve a crystal-like configuration. An actuator can be installed in the hollow sleeve to withdraw the shower gel, shampoo and other cleansing solution contained within the reservoir. Thus, the present invention provides a design that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. 
     The characteristics and the structure of the present invention can be understood by the detailed description provided below along with accompanying drawings in order to ensure easy understanding of the present invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a three dimensional view of the conventional container. 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the various parts of the device in accordance with the present invention wherein the dispensing tube is matingly fitted on the surface of the circular dividing board. 
     FIG. 3 is a three dimensional view of a dispenser according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the various parts of the device in accordance with the present invention wherein the dispensing tube is matingly fitted on the threaded sleeve of the transparent hollow cavity. 
     FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the device in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view of FIG. 6 wherein the various portions of the dispenser in accordance with the present invention are shown individually. 
     FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the device in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 9 is a second embodiment in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 10 is a partial sectional view of FIG.  9 . 
     FIG. 11 is an exploded view of FIG. 9 wherein the various portions of the dispenser in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention are shown individually. 
     FIG. 12 is a partial sectional view of the second embodiment in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 13 is an exploded view of FIG. 9 in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 14 is a partial sectional view of the third embodiment in accordance of the present invention. 
     FIG. 15 is an exploded view of the fourth embodiment in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       1 . transparent hollow cavity 
       11 . threaded member 
       12 . water intake opening 
       13 . tapered dispensing sleeve 
       2 . circular dividing board 
       21 . dispensing sleeve 
       22 . circular disk 
       23 . threaded opening on the circular dividing board to receive the dispensing tube 
       24 . threaded member on an outer surface of the circular dividing board to matingly-fitted with the reservoir 
       3 . reservoir 
       31 . threaded member on an inner surface of the reservoir to receive and matingly-fitted with the circular dividing board. 
       4 . stopper 
       5 . actuator 
       51 . dispensing tube 
       6 . decorative item 
       7 . conventional container 
     a. water 
     b. colored oil 
     c. cleansing solution 
     Reference is made to FIG. 2, which shows an exploded view of the various components in accordance with the present invention. The dispenser according to the invention comprises: one transparent hollow cavity ( 1 ), one circular dividing board ( 2 ) having a first end and a second end and one reservoir ( 3 ), wherein the transparent hollow cavity ( 1 ) is hollow and has a first end and a second end, and a threaded member ( 11 ) positioned at the first end of the transparent hollow cavity. A water intake opening ( 12 ) is positioned toward the second end of the transparent hollow cavity ( 1 ) and the water intake opening ( 12 ) can be closed and/or sealed with a stopper ( 4 ) or any other commonly available adhesive or microwave technology. The transparent hollow cavity ( 1 ) can be made from plastic or glass or any other material that is transparent. 
     The circular dividing board ( 2 ) comprises a circular disk ( 22 ) fusing with the dispensing sleeve ( 21 ) via microwave, the dispensing sleeve ( 21 ) penetrating the center of the circular disk ( 22 ) which has a first end and a second end. 
     The reservoir ( 3 ) is dome-like and hollow which enables the reservoir to store human body cleansing lotion/solution. The reservoir ( 3 ) has an interior surface, an exterior surface, a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the interior of the reservoir has a threaded member ( 31 ) and is designed to matingly fit with the transparent hollow cavity ( 1 ) and the first end of the circular dividing board ( 2 ). 
     According to the above-described structures, the construction of the present invention is made by placing the circular dividing board ( 2 ) in the interior of the transparent hollow cavity ( 1 ), thus causing the dispensing sleeve ( 21 ) to matingly fit with the threaded member ( 11 ) of the transparent hollow cavity ( 1 ). In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 3, one can first place the decorative item ( 6 ) in the transparent hollow cavity ( 1 ), use microwave adhesion to seal the first end of the circular disk ( 22 ) with the second end of the transparent hollow cavity ( 1 ), and then connect the reservoir ( 3 ) which contains the human cleansing solution/lotion with the second surface of the circular dividing board ( 2 ) which is part of the circular disk ( 22 ). Thus, the second end of the circular dividing board ( 2 ) will matingly fit with the threaded member of the inner surface of the reservoir ( 31 ) to form the construction of the present invention. 
     Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, FIG. 3 shows a three dimensional view of the dispenser according to the present invention and FIG. 4 shows a partial sectional view of FIG.  3 . The dispenser shown is comprised of a transparent hollow cavity ( 1 ), a water intake opening ( 12 ) positioned toward the second end of the transparent hollow cavity ( 1 ), wherein water (a) and colored oil (b) can be injected into the transparent hollow cavity ( 1 ). After liquid (a) and liquid (b) reach a certain pre-determined ratio and when the volume of liquid (a) and liquid (b) completely fill the transparent hollow cavity ( 1 ), the water intake opening ( 12 ) is sealed by a stopper ( 4 ) as shown in FIG. 2 to prevent the exiting of liquid (a) and liquid (b) from the transparent hollow cavity ( 1 ). At this time, since the density of liquid (a), namely water, is smaller than that of liquid (b), namely colored oil, liquid (a) is positioned above liquid (b), and, since the weight of the decorative item ( 6 ) is greater than liquid (a) but smaller than liquid (b) and since the interior of the transparent hollow cavity was specially treated to create a vacuum, the decorative item ( 6 ) sits atop the colored oil, namely liquid (b). When the dispenser is shaken, the decorative item ( 6 ) remains floating on top of liquid (a) which in turns floats above liquid (b). The decorative item ( 6 ) moves with the movement of the fluid, causing a scenic and aesthetically pleasing picture. In addition, an actuator ( 5 ) is positioned on top of the threaded member ( 11 ) which matingly fits with the dispensing tube ( 21 ). Thus, when an user depresses the actuator ( 5 ) which has a dispensing tube connecting the actuator and the reservoir ( 3 ), the user can retrieve the human cleansing solution (c) from the container. The present invention not only provides a utility function, the dispenser itself can also be used as a decorative item, providing hours of entertainment for watching the decorative item move with the liquids. In addition, the dispenser also can be refilled, enabling multiple use and thus decreasing the accumulation of non-biodegradable waste and improving the environment. 
     Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of the various parts of the device in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention wherein the tapered dispensing sleeve ( 13 ) is matingly fitted on the threaded member of the transparent hollow cavity ( 11 ); FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of the device in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 5 shows a second preferred embodiment which differs from FIG. 2 described supra. Particularly, with reference to transparent hollow cavity ( 1 ), the threaded member ( 11 ) of the transparent hollow cavity ( 1 ) extends downwardly through the transparent hollow cavity and the threaded member ( 11 ) includes the tapered dispensing sleeve ( 13 ) having a first end and a second end, wherein the threaded member ( 11 ) and the first end of the tapered dispensing sleeve ( 13 ) merge as one. In addition, in this second embodiment, the circular dividing board ( 2 ) and the circular disk ( 22 ) are two separate and independent entities merged as one, the first end of the circular disk ( 22 ) has a threaded opening ( 23 ) to receive the second end of the tapered dispensing sleeve ( 13 ) and to facilitate the threaded opening ( 23 ) to matingly fit with the second end of the tapered dispensing sleeve ( 13 ). The second end of the circular disk ( 24 ) has a diameter slightly larger than the first end of the circular disk ( 22 ) and provides a threaded threaded surface to facilitate the joining of the second end of the circular disk ( 24 ) with the second end of the transparent hollow cavity ( 1 ) in order to prevent liquid (a) and liquid (b) from seeping out and admixing with the cleansing solution placed in the reservoir ( 3 ). Except for the construction of the dispenser, the second embodiment performs the same function and achieves the same results as the first embodiment. 
     As can be realized from the above description, the dispenser according to the present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the existing prior art. The present invention has a novel and unique construction which, in addition to providing functionality, also is aesthetically pleasing and since it is refillable decreases the global non-biodegradable garbage. These characteristics fully satisfy the requirement of patent statutes; thus, the present application has been submitted in accordance with the patent law regulation, and early and favorable consideration of the present invention is earnestly solicited. 
     The present invention has been described above by way of examples, however, the embodiments described above in by no way limit the present invention since they are just illustrations of methods to practice the present invention. The scope of the present invention will be further defined by the claims of the present application.