Patent Publication Number: US-7220074-B2

Title: Slender container

Description:
BACKGROUND—FIELD OF INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a small sealed container. More specifically, the present invention relates to a small slender sealed container that may be used to store and dispense fluids such as perfumes. 
   BACKGROUND—DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
   Small containers in the general form of an elongated tube are generally used to distribute small perfume samples to consumers. Such containers are usually made as small as possible because the perfume samples are expensive and only a very small amount is necessary. However, due to the low specific gravity and the high capillary action of the perfume, there is a limitation to how small of a diameter of the container may be used and still allow the perfume to be dispensed from the container. 
   If the diameter of the container is too small, the perfume cannot be dispensed from the container due to the capillary action of the fluid. If the diameter of the container is large, the perfume in the container can be easily dispensed. However, since the perfume is expensive and only a very small amount is necessary for a sample, a large diameter container is not economical or practical. 
   There is a point where the diameter of the container is made as small as possible and yet still allows the perfume in the container to be dispensed with ease. Most perfume sample containers are made with diameters at this minimum diameter. However, even at this minimum diameter, the perfume container is still too large and not economical for dispensing perfume samples. Much more perfume than necessary for a sample must still be filled in the container or the container will have a large void that appears to be left from evaporated perfumes. 
   Although a smaller diameter container is desirable, it has not been possible due to the physical phenomenon of capillary action of the perfume that limits how small a diameter the container may have. The present invention is a simple yet effective means to allow a very small diameter container to be used for dispensing minute amount of perfume samples efficiently and economically. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is a small slender container that may be used to store small quantity of fluid, such as perfume, in a sealed environment and easily dispenses the fluid as desired. The content of the slender container is completely sealed and will not leak or evaporate from the container. The slender container is a small diameter slender container with a member affixed within the slender container. The member affixed within the slender container disrupts the surface tension of the perfume and allows the content to flow easily from the small diameter slender container. The slender container can be used as the body of a swab applicator and also for storing fluids wherein the fluid in the slender container may be released into the absorbent material attached to the ends of the swab applicator when desired. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  shows the preferred embodiment of the slender container. 
       FIG. 2  shows another embodiment of the slender container with an applicator tip on one end. 
       FIG. 3  shows another embodiment of the slender container with an applicator tip on both ends. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1  shows the preferred embodiment of the slender container. The slender container has an elongated housing  1  with two ends that are sealed. An opening means  2  in the form of a score on the slender container is located near one end. An elongated member  3  with a smaller diameter and shorter length than the elongated housing  1  is inserted into the elongated housing  1  and attached to the sealed end opposite the end near the opening means of the elongated housing  1 . The elongated member  3  may optionally be a hollow tube. A fluid  4  is sealed within the elongated housing  1  until released through the opening means  2 . When the slender container is opened by the opening means  2 , the fluid  4  in the slender container is exposed and any physical contact, such as with the user&#39;s skin or with an absorbent material such as cotton, with the exposed fluid  4  will release the fluid  4  from the slender container. 
   An applicator tip  5  made of an absorbent material such as a cotton ball may be attached to the end of the slender container enclosing the opening means  2 . When the slender container is opened by the opening means  2 , the fluid  4  in the slender container will flow directly into and be absorbed by the applicator tip  5  for application. The applicator tip  5  may also be a sponge or a brush. 
     FIG. 2  shows another embodiment of the slender container wherein the elongated housing  1  is divided into two compartments by a divider  6 . In the first compartment, an opening means  2  in the form of a score on the slender container is located near one end of said first compartment. An elongated member  3  with a smaller diameter and shorter length than said first compartment is attached within said first compartment to the sealed end opposite the end near the opening means  2  of said compartment. A fluid  4  is sealed within said first compartment, surrounding the elongated member  3 , until released through the opening means  2 . An absorbent material such as a cotton ball is attached to the second end of the other compartment opposite the end where the elongated member  3  attaches. When the slender container is opened by the opening means  2 , the fluid  4  in the slender container is exposed and when the absorbent material at the end of the second compartment is brought into contact with the exposed fluid  4 , the fluid  4  will be released into the absorbent material. 
     FIG. 3  shows another embodiment of the slender container wherein the elongated housing  1  is divided into two compartments by a divider  6 . In the first compartment, a first opening means  21  in the form of a score on the slender container is located near one end of said first compartment. A first elongated member  31  with a smaller diameter and shorter length than said first compartment is attached within said first compartment to the sealed end opposite the end near the first opening means  21  of said first compartment. A first fluid  41  is sealed within said first compartment, surrounding the first elongated member  31 , until released through the first opening means  21 . A first applicator tip  51  made of absorbent material such as a cotton ball is attached to the sealed end of said first compartment where the first elongated member  31  attaches. 
   In the second compartment, a second opening means  22  in the form of a score on the slender container is located near one end of said second compartment near the first opening means  21  of the first compartment. A second elongated member  32  with a smaller diameter and shorter length than said second compartment is attached within said second compartment to the sealed end opposite the end near the second opening means  22  of said second compartment. A second fluid  42  is sealed within said second compartment, surrounding the second elongated member  32 , until released through the second opening means  22 . A second applicator tip  52  made of absorbent material such as a cotton ball is attached to the sealed end of said second compartment where the second elongated member  32  attaches. 
   When the slender container is opened by the first opening means  21 , the first fluid  41  in the slender container is exposed and when the second applicator tip  53  made of absorbent material at the end of the second compartment is brought into contact with the exposed first fluid  41 , the first fluid  41  will be released into the absorbent material  52 . When the slender container is opened by the second opening means  22 , the second fluid  42  in the slender container is exposed and when the first applicator tip  51  made of absorbent material at the end of the first compartment is brought into contact with the exposed second fluid  42 , the second fluid  42  will be released into the absorbent material  51 . The fluids  41 ,  42  in the two compartments may be of the same type of fluid or of different types of fluids. 
   The slender container of the present invention allows a small amount of fluid  4  that evaporates easily, such as perfumes, to be stored in a sealed environment to prevent evaporation. The fluid  4  may be released easily through the opening means  2  by simply breaking open the housing at the scoring to allow the fluid  4  to be exposed. Without the elongated member  3  in the present invention, the fluid  4  within the slender container will not be released from the slender container due to the small diameter of the slender container and the resulting capillary action surface tension and atmospheric pressure, which will prevent the exit of the fluids  4  from the slender container. 
   Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.