Patent Abstract:
A disposable inverted dispensing system for distributing a fluid for use in a shower is disclosed. The dispensing system includes a removable hooking device that is attachable to a surface which is exposable to moist conditions. A hook integral to the removable hooking device extends from the hooking device on a side opposite the surface when the hooking device is attached to the surface. A deformable container for containing the fluid has an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion defines a through-hole through the container, and the lower portion forms a container mouth through which the fluid is flowable. A dispensing valve and/or a cap is disposed over the mouth of the container for controlling the flow of the fluid. The container is positionable on the hooking device with the hook extending through the through-hole formed by the upper portion of the container so that the container hangs down from the hooking device.

Full Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY AND CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application entitled “Shower Dispenser Bottle,” filed Apr. 16, 2003, and having Serial No. 60/463,628 and U.S. Design application entitled “Suction Cup Mounted Shower Dispenser,” filed Oct. 27, 2003, and having a Ser. No. 29/192,586. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This subject matter concerns a dispensing system for a fluid in general, and more particularly a disposable inverted dispensing system for dispensing shampoo or other liquid materials (such as soap or conditioner, or gel or lotion of any type) for use in a shower.  
           [0003]    The manufacture and sale of hair care and personal hygiene products constitutes an expansive market. As can be seen in almost any household, shampoo, conditioners, liquid soaps, and other materials represent a large portion of this market. Conventionally, such products are sold in plastic containers which stand upright with a capping device on top through which the fluid, for example, shampoo, conditioner, liquid soap, or other lotions is dispensed. The designs of such containers create several different drawbacks and problems from storage to dispensing. Such plastic containers litter the bathroom shower area of many households creating unsightly clutter. Often, the containers are not readily accessible within the shower area which can lead to the spilling of the container&#39;s content. Such clutter, inaccessibility and possible spills can create safety hazards within the shower area, as well as create waste and other disadvantages.  
           [0004]    The upright containers also create a dispensing issue due to the configuration of the container in which it is contained and/or the potentially viscous nature of the content being dispensed. The nature of these containers requires the user to perform several steps to dispense the contents of the container. The user typically must pick up the container, invert it and usually squeeze it by applying the user&#39;s own pressure on multiple sides of the container to extract the fluid of the container. Further, with the dispensing opening of these containers on the upper end of the container when it is in a stored position, the fluid settles in the bottom of the container prior to use. The more the fluid in the container is used, the longer the distance the fluid must travel with less momentum due to the decrease in the mass of the fluid after each use, and the greater the effort and time required to dispense what fluid remains in the container. Often, the user must shake or otherwise manipulate the container to obtain sufficient fluid from the container.  
           [0005]    Other devices and containers have tried to address these problems of the upright containers with varying degrees of success, but all have their own distinct disadvantages. Hanger mechanisms can be attached to upright containers or can hold the upright containers to allow them to be hung upside down on the shower rod or the neck of the showerhead, thereby removing the containers from the floor of the shower and allowing the contents of the containers to settle at the dispensing zone of the container. However, these hanger mechanisms require the user to spend time attaching the hanger mechanism to the container. Some require a hanger to be screwed into the container, creating the opportunity for inadvertent discharge of the fluid. Others require the container to be inserted into a holding mechanism which is then tightened around the container. After the content is dispensed from the container, the holding mechanism is then loosened and the container has to be removed from the hanger mechanism requiring more time consumption.  
           [0006]    Also, such hanger mechanisms impede the shower curtain when hung on the shower curtain rod or crowd the neck of the showerhead which has become an often-used location to otherwise hang personal care items. Further, the user still must grab the container on multiple sides and squeeze to dispense the contents.  
           [0007]    Permanent soap dispensers as seen in many public restrooms may tend to alleviate certain aspects of clutter, but the user has the burden of filling the dispenser on a periodic basis. For these permanent dispensers, containers of shampoo, conditioner, liquid soap, or other liquid material must be purchased in a store and then the contents of these containers must be transferred into the permanent dispensers. The transfer of such fluid is time consuming and, if care is not taken, creates an opportunity to spill (i.e., waste) the fluid, which in many instances may be rather expensive, particularly for “premium” products such as designer hair care formulas. Further, permanent soap dispensers are affixed to a shower wall in such a manner that, upon removal, lasting marks are left on the wall where the dispenser had been attached.  
           [0008]    A need still exists for a dispensing system for shampoos, conditioners, liquid soaps or other consumable personal care fluids that does not add to the clutter around a shower area, is easily accessible in the shower, and decreases the possibility of spillage. A need also exists for the dispensing system to be easily assembled and disassembled to allow for the quick set up (i.e. installation) and disposal of the dispensing system, while still permitting the user to dispense the shampoo, conditioner, soap, or other liquid in a well facilitated fashion without having to shake or manipulate any part of the dispensing system.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    The present subject matter recognizes and addresses the above-briefly discussed drawbacks, and others, of the prior art dispensing systems. Accordingly, one broad aspect of the present subject matter is to provide an improved dispensing system. A further present general object is to provide a dispensing system which can be attached to a shower wall. A still further present more specific object would be to provide a disposable, inverted dispensing system which would allow easy access to and distribution of the fluid in the container, while minimizing the risk of spillage. Additional aspects and advantages of the present subject matter will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the present subject matter.  
           [0010]    Also, it should be appreciated that modifications and variations to the specifically illustrated and discussed features hereof may be practiced in various embodiments and uses of this subject matter without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter. Such variations may include, but are not limited to, substitutions of equivalent features and means for those shown or discussed, and the reversal of various constructions, or the like. Still further, it is to be understood that different embodiments, as well as different presently presented preferred embodiments, of the present subject matter may include various combinations of presently disclosed features, or their equivalents (including combinations of features or steps or configurations thereof not expressly shown or stated).  
           [0011]    One such exemplary embodiment of the present subject matter relates to a disposable dispensing system for dispersing a fluid for use in a shower. The dispensing system comprises a hooking device that is attachable to a surface in the shower. A hook integral to the hooking device is extendable from the hooking device on a side thereof opposite the shower surface. The system also includes a resilient deformable container that holds the fluid. The container has an upper portion and a lower portion with the upper portion defining a through-hole therethrough and the lower portion forming a container mouth through which the fluid can flow. The dispensing system also includes a cap placed over the container mouth. The cap has an aperture that can be operably aligned with the container mouth for dispensing the fluid.  
           [0012]    When such a present exemplary dispensing system is properly installed, the container can be positioned on the hooking device with the hook extending through the through-hole formed by the upper portion of the container so that the container hangs down from the hooking device and the container rests against the surface thereby allowing a user to apply pressure to a side of the container opposite the shower surface, in order to advantageously dispense the fluid within the container.  
           [0013]    In another present exemplary embodiment, the cap can have a dispensing valve which covers the aperture that operably aligns with the container mouth. The dispensing valve holds the fluid in the container until sufficient pressure is applied to the container which in turn applies enough pressure on the dispensing valve to allow the fluid to discharge from the dispensing system. This dispensing valve may be in the form of a silicon membrane forming an exit slit or slits in the membrane portion which covers the aperture. In a resting position, these slits are in a closed position which does not allow the fluid within the container to escape. Once the fluid applies enough pressure on the membrane, the slits are forced opened to allow a flow of the fluid out of the container. This occurs once the user applies enough pressure to the container, so the arrangement advantageously allows the user to very simply and accurately control the fluid flow.  
           [0014]    In other embodiments in which the fluid in the container has a high enough viscosity, the dispensing valve may be an aperture having a small enough cross section to prevent the fluid from coming out of the aperture until sufficient pressure is applied. The cap may be any variety of caps including disk closure, flip-top closure, push-pull closure, or spout closure, etc. In such embodiments as well as with embodiments employing a silicon membrane or embodiments without a dispensing valve, the cap may have a lid which covers the aperture of the cap through which the fluid is dispersed. The lid may be integral to the cap, for example, such as a disk closure cap or a flip-top, or may be removable like a screw-on lid or a snap on lid. In some embodiments, the lid may be folded and snapped on the back of the cap or container to keep the cap in an opened position. In other embodiments, a dispensing valve without a cap is used, such as a reed valve. Further, as is the case of a disk closure, the cap may act as or comprise a dispensing valve.  
           [0015]    In other exemplary embodiments, the hooking device may be a suction cup device from which the hook extends. The suction cup device should create enough suction with the wall to allow the container to hang from the hook until the user is ready to remove the dispensing system. In such an exemplary embodiment, the suction cup device may be a lever action suction cup with the lever comprising the hook from which the container will ultimately hang. Such a lever action suction cup creates a suction force with a surface which is strong enough to hold a container full of a fluid such as shampoo, conditioner, soap, or other liquid for an extended period. At the same time, the lever serves a second function of being the hook from which the container hangs.  
           [0016]    The resilient deformable container in accordance with the present subject matter may take on a variety of shapes as long as the shape allows the user to apply pressure to the side opposite the shower wall (surface of the shower against which the container is hung) to dispense the fluid. In such embodiments, the hooking device and the container should interact with each other in such a manner that the container rests against the shower wall or surface. In a further exemplary embodiment, the resilient deformable container has a front side that faces away from the shower surface and a back side that faces toward the shower surface, and with the back side being more planar than the front side. The back side rests against the shower wall, so as to stabilize the hanging container and better allow the user to apply his own pressure to only the front side of the container to dispense the fluid. Preferably, the container creates this stability by preventing undue rocking or swaying of the container and by minimizing or preventing folding of the container when pressure is applied.  
           [0017]    In a further exemplary embodiment, a deformable bag is used to contain the fluid having an upper portion and a lower portion with the upper portion defining a through-hole therethrough and the lower portion forming a bag mouth through which the fluid can flow. As with the resilient deformable container, the upper portion through-hole is in fact completely sealed to the container portion of the bag, such that no fluid escapes the bag-through such through-hole. Instead, the hook or hanging element passes through the bag, not into the bag.  
           [0018]    The deformable bag can hang from the hooking device with the hook extending through the through-hole of the deformable bag from which the bag hangs. The deformable bag may have a cap as described above attached thereto. However, a dispensing valve may be directly attached to the bag mouth or may be formed by the bag mouth. Before being hung for use, a cover tip of the bag may have to be cut off or otherwise removed to form the mouth of the bag in some embodiments to which a dispensing valve may be applied or, the bag may be sold directly to the user with a dispensing valve connected directly to the mouth.  
           [0019]    Those of ordinary skill in the art will better appreciate the features and aspects of such embodiments, methods, and others, upon review of the remainder of the specification.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]    A full and enabling disclosure of the present subject matter, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the remainder of the specification, which makes reference to the appended Figures, in which:  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a dispensing system according to the present subject matter;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 2 shows a hooking device as shown in FIG. 1 in an unlocked position with an arrow showing the motion of a lever-arm/hook which attaches the hooking device on a shower surface;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIGS. 3, 3A, and  3 B show a front view, a side view, and a bottom view of the embodiment of a container of an exemplary dispensing system as shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of the exemplary dispensing system shown in FIG. 1, in particular, a cap and a dispensing membrane;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 5 shows a front view of the exemplary dispensing system according to the present subject matter as shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 6 shows a side view of the exemplary dispensing system as shown in FIG. 1 hanging from a shower surface according to the intended use of the present subject matter;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 7 shows a back view of the exemplary dispensing system as shown in FIG. 1 according to the present subject matter;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 8 shows a schematic of a side view of the exemplary dispensing system, as shown in FIG. 1, dispensing fluid according to the present subject matter;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 9 shows a front view of another exemplary embodiment of a dispensing system according to the present subject matter;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 10 shows a side view of the exemplary embodiment of a dispensing system as shown in FIG. 9 according to the present subject matter; and  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of a further exemplary embodiment according to the present subject matter, and involving a deformable container.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0032]    Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the present subject matter, one or more examples of which are shown in the Figures. Each example is provided to explain the subject matter, and not as a limitation of the subject matter. In fact, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield still a further embodiment. It is intended that the present subject matter cover such modifications and variations.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a dispensing system  10  having an inverted resilient deformable container  20  and a hooking device  15  used to dispense fluids, especially fluids used in a shower environment, such as shampoos, conditioners, liquid soaps, lotions, or other fluids. The container  20  has an upper portion  27  and a lower portion  29 . The upper portion  27  defines a through-hole  21  through the container  20  having through-hole walls  22 . Through-hole  21  is formed such that fluid stays within container  20  rather than emerge from (or enter into) through-hole  21 . In other words, the through-hole is through the container, collectively, not through a single wall of the container and into its interior. The lower portion  29  of the containers  20  forms a mouth which is covered by a closure cap  25 . The closure cap  25  in this embodiment has a lid  23  covering a cap aperture (not seen in this figure) that provides an outlet for the fluid contained in the container  20 , thereby allowing the fluid to flow out of the mouth of the container  20  and through the aperture of the cap  25 . The lid  23  is removable from the aperture of the cap  25  to permit the flow of the fluid. The inverted positioning of the container  20  (i.e., portion  27  above portion  29  thereof in relation to gravity) relative to the exit (as formed by the mouth of container  20  and the aperture of cap  25 ) provided for the fluid, keeps the fluid in a position to flow easily out of the container  20  due to the fact that the fluid settles at the lower portion  29  of the container  20  adjacent to where the exit is located.  
         [0034]    In the embodiment shown, the hooking device  15  is a suction cup device having a suction element  19  which can be attached to such as a shower surface or a wall through application of suction force and, upon removal, leave no ill or lasting effects on the surface or wall. In particular, a lever-arm suction device having a lever-arm  16  can be used. As is shown in FIG. 2, the lever-arm  16  is attached to the suction cup element  19  of the hooking device  15  by a hinge  14  at a central position of the hooking device  15 . The lever-arm  16  is used to set the suction cup element  19 . The suction cup element  19  is placed against a surface or wall while the lever-arm  16  is in an upward position. With the downward motion V of lever-arm  16  around hinge  14 , suction is created between the suction cup element  19  and the surface or wall, thereby causing the hooking device  15  to stick to the surface or wall. In the set position of the hooking device  15  as seen in FIG. 1, lever-arm  16  extends perpendicularly in a locked position, thereby forming a hook  17  in the center of the hooking device  15 . In the use of the dispensing system  10 , the container  20  hangs from the hook  17  by fitting the through-hole  21  of the container  20  over hook  17 .  
         [0035]    The hooking device can be attached to a shower surface or wall in multiple ways. As discussed earlier, the hooking device may be attached to the surface through suction cups. However, different types of suction cups other than a lever action suction device may be use. Further, other types of attachment mechanisms can be used, for example, tape, glue or, if necessary, screws. For these reasons, the hook  17  does not have to be a lever-arm  16 . Instead, it can be just a plain hook which serves no other function outside of being a hook for receipt of through-hole  21 .  
         [0036]    The positioning of the hook  17  can also be some place other than just extending 90° from the center of the hooking device. For example, it may be lower on the hooking device and/or may have more of a rounded or curved shape. However, the particular height of the dispensing system in a given embodiment may be suggested by or even regulated by the packaging constraints imposed by the market and manufacturing concerns. All such variations are intended to come within the broader aspects of the present subject matter.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIGS. 3, 3A and  3 B show different views of an embodiment of the resilient deformable container  20 . The resilient deformable container  20 , preferably in the form of a bottle, can be made of different material preferably a plastic material such as HDPE, PTE, PVC, Polypropylene, etc. The material used preferably should be flexible enough to allow the walls of the container  20  to deform, but preferably also rigid enough to be resilient, thereby permitting the container  20  to substantially return to its original shape. The particular shape of the container  20  is not critical within the context of the present subject matter other than the container  20  should form a through-hole  21  for hanging the container  20  and the shape should permit the container to rest in a stable position against the surface or wall from which it hangs.  
         [0038]    As illustrate in such Figures, this exemplary embodiment of the container  20  possesses a circumferential neck  34  at the bottom of the lower portion  29 . The neck  34  forms the mouth  28  through which the fluid will flow. In this embodiment, the neck  34  also forms a snap ring  33  to allow a cap  25  (as seen in FIG. 1) to be snapped onto the neck  34  and cover the mouth  28 . However, the cap may be attached to the container in any manner, for example, the cap may be screwed on, attached by an adhesive, or melted onto the container  20 .  
         [0039]    In some embodiments as seen in the side view of FIG. 3A, a front side  24  of the container  20  and a back side  26  of the container  20  converge as they approach the upper portion  27  from the lower portion  29  of the container  20 , thereby forming a tapered shape on such two sides of the container  20 . This convergence of both the back side  26  and the front side  24  of the container  20  creates taper angles α, β with lines planar to the widest part of the lower portion  29  on both sides, respectively. This taper makes the cross-section of lower portion  27  smaller than the cross-section of the lower portion  29 .  
         [0040]    The taper serves several purposes including adding draft or increasing the draft angle to the container  20  to increase the ease with which the container  20  may be removed from a mold in which it is formed. The shape of the upper portion  27  and the angle of the taper on either side of the center of the container also adds stability because it puts the center of gravity generally over the center of the cap. Also, the taper of the upper portion of the container aids in the forming of the through-hole  21  by reducing the distance between the front side  24  of the container  20  and the back side  26  of the container  20 , thereby allowing the walls  22  of the through-hole  21  to be narrower making it easier to create the through-hole  21  and thus easier to manufacture the container  20 .  
         [0041]    In the illustrated embodiment, the back side  26  defines indentions  35  (as seen in FIG. 3A and 3B) in which a lid  23  for a cap  25  (as seen in FIGS. 1, 6 and  7 ) can fit. These indentions  35  allow the lid  23  which is integral to the cap to attach to the container  20  leaving the cap in an open position, while at the same time not letting the lid  23  get in the way of allowing the container  20  to rest in a stable position against the surface or wall. A snap or some other attachment mechanism may be used to hold the lid in the indentions  35 .  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 4 shows a view from the bottom of the dispensing system, in particular, an oval cap  25 . The lid  23  of the cap  25  integral thereto is folded along a hinge  38  and preferably attachable to the back side  26  of the container as referenced above. The lid  23  opens the cap  25  to expose an aperture  39  in the cap  25  which is covered by a dispensing valve  30 . The aperture  39  is aligned with the mouth  28  (as seen in FIG. 3B), so that the fluid contained within the container flows out of the mouth and through the aperture  39  of the cap  25  and the dispensing valve  30 .  
         [0043]    A dispensing valve may be any type of valve which inhibits the flow of fluid in such a manner that the user controls when the fluid in the container flows out of the container. The dispensing valve  30 , in this embodiment a diaphragm membrane  31  made of silicon, prevents the fluid contained in the container from flowing out of the container until sufficient pressure is applied to the container. The diaphragm membrane  31  has a slit  32  which rests in a closed position until sufficient pressure is applied by the fluid to cause the slit  32  to separate, thereby allowing the fluid to exit the container  20 . The slit  32  is a cross slit, however, a single slit or other patterns of slits or openings which prevent the flow of fluid in a resting position can be employed.  
         [0044]    In another embodiment not shown in which the fluid has a higher viscosity, the cap can form a hole with a small cross-section to serve as a dispensing valve. The cap, acting as a dispensing valve, may also employ other methods to prevent a free flow of fluid out of the container such as a disk closure cap, a lever, flip-top, push-pull, or spout closure caps, etc. Further, the cap may be any cross-sectional shape such as an oval, a rectangle or a circle. In a similar manner, the end  18  of the cap  25  (as seen in FIGS. 5 and 6) can be rounded, flat or some other shape at its end. However, it is advantageous for the end  18  of the cap  25  to be flat for containers that have a tapered shape to give the container  20  a surface that permits the container to stand in a vertical position on a corresponding flat surface. With such a design, the container can be set on a shelf of a store or may be removed from the hook of the dispensing system and placed on the floor of a shower or on a shelf within the shower, if need be, while keeping the fluid in the lower portion  29  of the container  20  for easy dispensing.  
         [0045]    In the front and side views of the dispensing system of FIGS. 5 and 6, exemplary views are illustrated of how the dispensing system looks hanging from a surface, or wall,  11 . The hooking device  15  once attached to the surface or wall  11  allows the hook  17  with a hook lip  13  to extend out away from the surface or wall  11  with the hook lip  13  pointing in an upward direction. When container  20  is hung on the hook  17 , the hook lip  13  extends out of the through-hole  21  and curves upward above the through-hole wall  22  of the through-hole  21  to secure the container  20  on the hook  17 .  
         [0046]    The container  20  hangs from hook  17  in a defined inverted position per the present arrangement so that the fluid in the container  20  rests in the lower portion  29  of the container  20  and the container  20  rests in a stable position against the surface or wall  11  in a first contact area P.  
         [0047]    The lid  23  of the cap  25  which is in a closed position can be folded back to leave the cap  25  in an open position as can be seen in FIGS. 6 and 7. The lid  23  of the cap  25  has a raised lip  37  which enters the aperture  39  formed by the cap  25  and can contact the dispensing valve  30 . When the lid  23  is in an opened position and is attached to the back of the container, the raised lip  37  can extend outward to add another contact point Q between the dispensing system and the surface, or wall,  11 , thereby adding to the stability of the hanging container.  
         [0048]    As can be seen in FIG. 5, hooking device  15  in this embodiment is barely exposed above the upper portion  27  of the container  20  when the dispensing system is attached to a surface or a wall. Such position of the hook and container serves several purposes. One reason is to hide the hooking device to make the dispensing system more attractive to a user. Another reason as mentioned earlier pertains to marketing constraints as far as the space provided in a store to sell such a product. A further reason is to aid in the providing of support to the container  20  to ensure that the container  20  rests properly and in a stable position against the surface, or wall,  11 .  
         [0049]    As can be seen in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and  6 , a skirt  12  on the hook  17  can aid in the stability of the dispensing system  10 . The skirt  12  is raised from the hooking device  15 , thereby protruding further out from the suction cup element  19  of the hooking device  15 . The skirt  12  nests in the recessed upper portion  27  formed by the taper of the container  20  and nestled against the through-hole walls  22  to allow the container to rest against the surface  11  as it hangs from hook  17 . The skirt  12  in combination with the center of gravity of the container and the tapered shape of the container aligns the container  20  with the surface or wall  11  so that the back side  26  of the container  20  rests against the shower surface or wall  11  in the first contact area P, when the container  20  is on the hook  17 .  
         [0050]    In some embodiments, the back side  26  of the container  20  may be more planar than the front side, thereby preventing the container from rocking on the hook  17 , thereby making dispensing easier. In other embodiments, the container may be shaped to allow the front side  24  and the back side  26  to be interchangeable. In some embodiments, it can be advantageous for the side facing the surface or wall  11  to contact the surface or wall  11  as much as possible, thereby creating a larger first contact area P. In further embodiments, the tapered shape is not employed. The larger the first contact area P, the more stable the container is during dispensing. Such embodiments lessen the need for a functional skirt  12 .  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 8 demonstrates the dispensing system in use. A force F is applied to the front side  24  of the resilient deformable container  20 . This force F, which represents a user pushing against the front side  24 , presses the back side  26  of the container  20  against the shower surface or wall  11  in the first contact area P, thereby causing the container  20  to deform and create a positive pressure within the interior of the container  20 . This internal pressure pushes the fluid L which is settled in the lower portion  29  of the container  20  against the dispensing valve causing the dispensing valve (within cap  25 ) to dispense the fluid L from the container  20 .  
         [0052]    In most embodiments, it is preferable to have the first contact area P to be located at or below the point where the force F is applied creating optimal stability of the dispensing system during the dispensation of the fluid L to increase the ease of such dispensation. This positioning of the first contact area P is preferable due to the fact that the hooking device  15  with the skirt  12  contacting against the tapered back side  26  of the upper portion  27  of the container  20  form a second contact area. The first contact area P in the lower portion  29  of the container  20  and the second contact area between the container  20  and the hooking device  15  create stabilizing points. When the force F is applied intermittent to these two stabilizing points, the force is distributed between the two points.  
         [0053]    The folding of the container when pressure is applied also detracts from the stability of the dispensing system. Depending on the rigidity of the container, if the contact points are too distant from each other, the container will fold where pressure is applied. The first contact area P should be positioned to prevent folding of the container when pressure is applied to the container to dispense the fluid. This positioning can be accomplished in several ways. In some embodiments, the first contact area P is positioned close enough to the second contact area to greatly minimize the effect of folding. In other embodiments, the first contact area P is large enough to prevent or greatly minimize folding of the container. In still further embodiments, the first contact area P can be strategically placed in an area which aligns with the portion of the container which is pushed to dispense the fluid, thereby preventing undue folding of the container. Further, it should be well understood that the container, cap, and hooking device can create multiple contact areas with a surface or wall. Such multiple contact areas are covered by the present subject matter.  
         [0054]    Once the force F is removed, the resiliency of resilient deformable container  20  allows the container  20  to substantially resume the shape it possessed before the force F was applied. The container  20  regains an internal equilibrium with the dispensing valve, thereby not allowing the fluid to exit the container  20  or the cap  25  until a sufficient internal pressure is again created within the container by applying a force to the outside of the container. Once another sufficient external force is applied to the container  20 , the internal pressure increases, disturbing the internal equilibrium and in turn causing the fluid to flow from the dispensing valve.  
         [0055]    A further embodiment of a dispensing system of the present subject matter is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. A dispensing system  110  is shown having a hooking device  115  and an inverted resilient deformable container  120  which can be hung from a hook  117  integral to the hooking device  115 . The container  120  forms a through-hole  121  in an upper portion  127  of the container  120 . The hooking device  115  attaches to a shower surface or wall  111 , and the container  120  can then be hung by the through-hole  121  from the hook  117 . Attached to a lower portion  129  of the container  120  is a disk closure cap  125 .  
         [0056]    Container  120  possesses a front side  124  which faces away from the surface  111  and a back side  126  which faces toward the shower surface  111 . The container  120  defines a knob  160  on the back side  126  of the container  120 . Once the hooking device  115  is attached to the surface  111  and container  120  is hung from the hook  117 , the knob  160  should contact the surface  111  at a contact area P′, thereby allowing the container  120  to rest against the surface  111 . Knobs, like knob  160 , can be installed on or be an integral part of containers that have shapes that do not allow such containers to rest in a stable position against a surface or wall without aid from the knob. By adding knobs or similar abutments, a container which does not rest in a stable position can now rest in a stable position even when pressure is applied. Such knobs or similar abutments are particularly useful in preventing folding of the container when pressure is applied.  
         [0057]    On such an embodiment, as well as on other embodiments, it may be beneficial to have an indicator  150  to indicate where the optimum location on the front side  124  of the container  120  for the user to apply pressure to distribute the fluid. The indicator  150  may be a raised portion of the container  120 . Also, the indicator may be in the form of a sticker labeled “push” or may be a combination of both a raised portion of the container  120  and a label as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.  
         [0058]    The closure cap  125  can be snapped on or screwed onto the container  120 . In the embodiment shown, the cap  125  has a circular cross-section, however, the cross-section may be elliptical, rectangular, triangular, etc. The closure cap  125  is a disk closure cap having a disk shaped dispensing unit  140 , which individual unit  140  is known in the art, and otherwise in this embodiment combined with the present subject matter. The disk shaped dispensing unit  140  has a central connection which creates a fulcrum allowing two halves  141 ,  142  of the disk shape dispensing unit  140  to be pivotal around this central connection. The cap  125  is opened by pressing down on the disk shaped dispensing unit  140  on a first half  141  which causes a second half  142  of the disk shaped dispensing unit  140  to extend outward from the cap  125 . When the second half  142  is extending outward, a dispensing aperture  143  is exposed through which the fluid contained in the dispensing system  110  can flow. It is advantageous for the disk closure cap  125  to be a dispensing valve that requires a pressure to be applied within the container  120  to force the fluid to flow out of the dispensing aperture  143  when the closure cap  125  is in an open position. As stated above, other types of caps such as screw-ons, lever, flip-top, push-pull, or spout closure caps, etc., may be used. Different types of dispensing valves may also be employed like a silicon membrane, a small cross-sectional hole valve, etc.  
         [0059]    The hooking device  115  as with other embodiments can be attached to the surface  111  in various manners including using suction, glue, tape, etc. In some embodiments, more permanent attachment devices may be used such as screws and nails. However, it is still desirable in most embodiments to use an attachment mechanism which does not leave permanent marks on the surface or wall. In the embodiment shown, the hooking device  115  employs a suction cup element  119  having a lever-arm  116  attached thereto to create a lever action suction with the surface  111  as described above. In this embodiment, hook  117  does not extend perpendicularly from a central portion of the hooking device  115 , but rather extends from an outer perimeter point of the hooking device  115 . The hooking device  115  may or may not possess a skirt  112 . Further, the container  120  does not need to contact the skirt  112  when it is hanging from hook  117  in its resting position against surface  111  as is shown in FIG. 10, since the user pushes the container right over the stabilizing point of contact area P′. This may also be true where there may be another contact area between the container or cap and the wall.  
         [0060]    [0060]FIG. 11 shows a different embodiment of the present subject matter, making use of a container in the form of a deformable bag  220 . The deformable bag  220  defines a through-hole  221  at one end of the bag and a dispensing valve  225  at an opposing end. The bag  220  may be hung on a hooking device as described above so that the dispensing valve  225  faces in a downward position permitting the contents of the bag  220  to rest in the end of the bag  220  from which the dispensing valve  225  extends. To dispense the fluid, the bag  220  should be squeezed, thereby applying pressure on the dispensing valve and allowing the fluid to flow therefrom.  
         [0061]    The bag  220  can be made of different material, but preferably a plastic material such as HDPE, PTE, PVC, Polypropylene, etc. is used. Also, the bag may be constructed of a foil material. The bag  220  can be made of a single section of material or multiple sections. Such sections or sections can by attached together mechanically, thermally, or chemically to form the bag. In the embodiment shown, the bag  220  is formed by two sections, a front section  224  and back section (not shown), which are fused together along a seam  223  forming a body  222  which holds the fluid contained inside. Advantageously, the through-hole  221  is formed in the seam  223  of the bag  220 , separately from the body  222  of the bag  220 .  
         [0062]    In the embodiment shown, the dispensing valve  225  is in an opened state forming an opening  243 . The dispensing valve  225  may form the opening  243  by having a closed tip, which is possibly formed by the seaming of the bag, and then cut-off, or otherwise removed. The tip may be a portion of the bag  220  or may be a separate piece. The dispensing valve  225  combined with the present subject matter may be a reed valve which as a unit is known in the art (shown in FIG. 11). In other embodiments, the dispensing valve may be a separate piece connected to the bag  220 , such as a silicon membrane having slits therein which cover an opening formed in the bag  220 . Other dispensing valves may also be used in conjunction with this bag design. Further, different styles of caps may be used in conjunction with the bag design.  
         [0063]    In use, the deformable bag  220  hangs inverted from a hooking device which is attached to a surface or wall within a shower or some other environment where shampoo, conditioner, liquid soap, or other personal care fluid is used. The user squeezes the deformable bag  220  which creates a pressure within the bag  220 . This pressure forces the fluid contained within the bag  220  to in turn apply pressure against the dispensing valve  225  forcing the dispensing valve  225  to open, thereby allowing the fluid to flow out of the bag and into the user&#39;s hand. The bag  220  is not necessarily made of a resilient material. Therefore, when the bag is squeezed to dispense the fluid, the section or sections of the bag  220  do not necessarily substantially return to their previous position or shape.  
         [0064]    The section or sections which form the walls of the bag  220  have little, if any, rigidity. Therefore, unlike the more resilient deformable containers which have more rigid walls described in other embodiments, applying enough pressure internally by pushing on one side of the bag while another side of the bag rests against a surface will not necessarily cause the dispensing valve to dispense the fluid. When the bag is in a deformed state, the pushing of one side of the bag will only cause the fluid within the bag to disperse to an area of least resistance which is not necessarily the dispensing valve opening, but could be other areas within the body  222  of the bag  220  where the walls of the bag provide less resistance. Therefore, unlike other embodiments, the use of the bag  220  necessitates the user to squeeze the bag  220  in some situations to disperse the fluid contained inside.  
         [0065]    It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present subject matter without departing from the scope of the subject matter. It is intended that the present subject matter include such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1