Patent Abstract:
One embodiment of a dispensing device for viscous products which includes a container, a screw-feed advancing assembly, and a hub assembly. Rotation of the screw-feed assembly causes the hub assembly to advance upwards and thereby advance the product upwards inside the container. The device maintains a separation of the screw-feed advancing assembly below from the product above and allows the user easier access to the product inside the container.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Not Applicable 
   FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
   Not Applicable 
   SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM 
   Not Applicable 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of Invention 
   This invention generally relates to a dispensing device, and specifically to a dispensing device that can be used with viscous products. 
   2. Related Inventions 
   Previously, other types of dispensing devices have been designed to advance a product upwards in a container, but none have the advantages in design as stated in the present invention. 
   The present application applies where the value of the product is such that the user desires a large quantity of a viscous product in a vertical container. The larger, taller container is desired because viscous product inside a smaller, shallower container would be easily accessible to the user, but not as economical to buy. In a taller container, as the user manually removes the product, the level of the top of the product lowers inside. As the product level gets lower inside the container, the user tends to soil their hands and the handles of utensils they use while attempting to extract the product. 
   There are previous dispensing devices where a push top pump acts to dispense the product, but those designs are not practical where the product has a high viscosity, such as with peanut butter. A flexible squeeze tube design is also not practical for most users of large vertical containers of viscous product. An advancing plunger design would perform better in this application for moving a viscous product. 
   There are elongated plunger designs, such as those used for cookie presses, where the plunger stem and handle are external, below the product container. However, for those designs, the elongated stem of the plunger would take up a great deal of vertical shelf space. Also, when the container is full of product, the device would be top heavy. The high center of gravity in the container would make the device susceptible to tipping over. An elongated plunger would be awkward to use and to store in this type of application. 
   There are screw-feed assembly devices, such as those commonly used for dispensing solid sticks of deodorant or lipstick. Examples of these patents include U.S. Pat. No. 5,275,496 and 6,435,748. These devices are used with solid or gel products, and they have a central threaded member that rotates and thereby moves a plunger and the product upwards inside the container. However, the central threaded member rotates through and is in direct contact with the product. 
   There are viscous products such as peanut butter, where it is desired that the integrity and purity of the product be maintained. If the central threaded member was in direct contact with the product, it would provide an avenue for contamination to be communicated from the area below the plunger to the product chamber above. The object is to keep the product above the plunger separate from the feeding mechanism below. The design objective is to have a screw-feed assembly where the central threaded member does not penetrate the plunger, nor contact the product above, but such assembly would provide sufficient advancement elevation of the plunger inside the container. 
   SUMMARY 
   In accordance with one embodiment, the present design involves a dispensing device comprising a container, a screw-feed advancing assembly, a hub assembly, and a base plate. The container can be filled with a viscous product, and the user can rotate the screw-feed advancing assembly, causing the hub assembly to advance upwards and thereby advance the product upwards inside the container. The present design maintains a separation of the product above from the moving parts of the screw-feed advancing assembly below. The present design allows the user to keep the product level near the top of the container so the user does not soil their hands or utensils while attempting to access the product remaining in the bottom level of the container. 

   
     DRAWINGS 
     Figures 
       FIG. 1  is a vertical cross-sectional view along the long side of a device incorporating the design features of a first embodiment of the present invention with the vertical segments of the upper threaded member in the open position. 
       FIG. 2  is a vertical cross-sectional view along the short side, similar to  FIG. 1 , with the vertical segments of the upper threaded member in the open position. 
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of the plunger recess of  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 4  is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 5  is a vertical cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 1 , with the vertical segments of the upper threaded member in the intermediate position. 
       FIG. 6  is a vertical cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 1 , with the vertical segments of the upper threaded member in the closed position. 
       FIG. 7  is a horizontal cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 4 , showing an alternate embodiment for the fins. 
       FIG. 8  is a vertical cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 1 , showing an alternate embodiment using a hinged upper threaded member in the open position. 
       FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 8 , with the hinged upper threaded members in the intermediate position. 
       FIG. 10  is an elevation view of the long side of the device shown in  FIG. 1  and in  FIG. 8 . 
   

   DRAWINGS 
   Reference Numerals 
   
     
       
             
             
           
         
             
                 
             
           
           
             
               10 
               container 
             
             
               11 
               container inner surface 
             
             
               12 
               container outer surface 
             
             
               13 
               container upper end 
             
             
               14 
               container lower end 
             
             
               15 
               product 
             
             
               16 
               support flange 
             
             
               17 
               support flange upper surface 
             
             
               18 
               knob handle access opening 
             
             
               19 
               removable closure 
             
             
               20 
               gasket 
             
             
               21 
               gasket outer edge 
             
             
               22 
               gasket lower surface 
             
             
               23 
               gasket upper surface 
             
             
               30 
               plunger assembly 
             
             
               31 
               plunger recess 
             
             
               32 
               plunger upper surface 
             
             
               33 
               plunger lower surface 
             
             
               34 
               plunger outer edge 
             
             
               35 
               plunger tabs 
             
             
               40 
               hub assembly 
             
             
               41 
               threaded coupling sleeve 
             
             
               42 
               sleeve inner surface 
             
             
               43 
               sleeve outer surface 
             
             
               44 
               long fin 
             
             
               47 
               short fin 
             
             
               50 
               base plate 
             
             
               52 
               retainer tabs 
             
             
               53 
               base plate opening 
             
             
               60 
               screw-feed advancing assembly 
             
             
               61 
               knob handle 
             
             
               62 
               thickened region 
             
             
               63 
               lip 
             
             
               70 
               lower threaded member 
             
             
               71 
               lower threaded member lower end 
             
             
               72 
               lower threaded member upper end 
             
             
               80 
               upper threaded member 
             
             
               81 
               upper threaded member lower end 
             
             
               82 
               upper threaded member upper end 
             
             
               83 
               vertical segments 
             
             
               84 
               lower threaded portion 
             
             
               85 
               upper non-threaded portion 
             
             
               90 
               central rod 
             
             
               91 
               elongated member 
             
             
               92 
               central rod retaining plate 
             
             
               93 
               central rod head 
             
             
               100 
               alternate fin 
             
             
               110 
               alternate screw-feed advancing assembly 
             
             
               120 
               alternate upper threaded member 
             
             
               121 
               alternate lower end 
             
             
               122 
               alternate upper end 
             
             
               123 
               alternate vertical segments 
             
             
               130 
               alternate central rod 
             
             
               135 
               rod top plate 
             
             
               140 
               segment hinge 
             
             
               150 
               spacer ring 
             
             
               155 
               spacer tabs 
             
             
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   First Embodiment—FIGS.  1 - 6  and FIG.  10   
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , a first embodiment of the present invention comprises container  10 , screw-feed advancing assembly  60 , hub assembly  40 , and base plate  50 . 
   Container  10  is preferably open ended and preferably tubular in shape, and the cross section is preferably rectangular shaped, with preferably rounded corners. Container  10  has upper end  13 , lower end  14 , inner surface  11  and outer surface  12 . 
   Upper end  13  has removable closure  19 . Lower end  14  has support flange  16  and a plurality of knob handle access openings  18  (refer to  FIG. 2  vertical section and  FIG. 10  elevation). 
   Support flange  16  is preferably formed along the circumference of container inner surface  11 . Support flange  16  is made a predetermined thickness and width as required to provide support for base plate  50 . 
   Knob handle access openings  18  (refer to  FIG. 2  section and  FIG. 10  elevation) are located at the bottom of container lower end  14 . Access openings  18  are preferably cut-outs of predetermined width and height as required to allow the user access to turn knob handle  61 . 
   Container  10  is preferably made of plastic, but could be made of other materials such as metal or rubber, as long as the strength and rigidity of the members are not compromised. 
   Container  10  is made a predetermined height, width, and depth as required to accommodate a predetermined quantity of product  15 . The cross section of container  10  and other corresponding members can also have other shapes such as oval or circular. 
   Screw-feed advancing assembly  60  comprises knob handle  61 , thickened region  62 , lip  63 , lower threaded member  70 , upper threaded member  80 , and central rod  90 . 
   Thickened region  62  is formed centrally on the upper surface of knob handle  61 . Lip  63  is formed centrally on the upper surface of thickened region  62 . Lower threaded member  70  has a lower end  71  and an upper end  72 . Lower threaded member  70  is formed centrally with lower end  71  positioned centrally on the upper surface of lip  63 . Lower threaded member  70  is preferably hollow and has a substantially helical camming surface, which is male threaded. 
   Upper threaded member  80  has a lower end  81 , an upper end  82 , a plurality of vertical segments  83 , a lower threaded portion  84 , and an upper non-threaded portion  85 . Upper threaded member lower end  81  is securedly attached axially to lower threaded member upper end  72 . This can be accomplished preferably by use of adhesives, but can also be by other means provided the strength and rigidity of the screw-feed advancing assembly  60  are not compromised. 
   Upper threaded member  80  is preferably hollow and lower threaded portion  84  has a substantially helical camming surface, which is male threaded. 
   Upper threaded member  80  is preferably equally divided axially into a plurality of vertical segments  83 . Vertical segments  83  are capable of deflection and have a closed, vertical position, translate into an intermediate, partially compressed position, and have a fully opened, compressed position. 
   Upper threaded member  80  is preferably constructed of a flexible material which enables axial compression of vertical segments  83  into a fully opened, compressed position, corresponding to container  10  being fully loaded with product  15 . 
   Vertical segments  83  are capable of regaining substantial vertical elevation in transition to the closed, vertical position, as product  15  is removed from container  10 . Thus, the design of upper threaded member  80  provides the unexpected result of functioning as both a spring advancing means and as a screw-feed advancing means. 
   Lower threaded member  70  and upper threaded member  80  are preferably in substantially no contact with product  15 . 
   Central rod  90  comprises elongated member  91 , central rod retaining plate  92 , and central rod head  93 . 
   Elongated member  91  is capable of sliding, axial movement within lower threaded member  70  and upper threaded member  80 . Central rod retaining plate  91  is capable of fitting within lower threaded member  70 , while preferably being incapable of fitting within upper threaded member  80 , such that plate  91  preferably acts as a lower retaining means for central rod  90 . 
   Central rod head  92  is preferably incapable of fitting within upper threaded member  80 , such that rod head  92  preferably acts as an upper retaining means for central rod  90 . 
   Knob handle  61 , thickened region  62 , lip  63 , lower threaded member  70 , and central rod  90  are preferably made of plastic, but could be made of other materials such as metal or rubber, as long as the strength and rigidity of the members are not compromised. 
   Screw-feed advancing assembly  60  is made a predetermined height to maintain a predetermined ratio of height of container  10  over height of assembly  60 . 
   Hub assembly  40  comprises threaded coupling sleeve  41 , a plurality of long fins  44 , a plurality of short fins  47 , plunger  30 , and gasket  20 . 
   Threaded coupling sleeve  41  has sleeve inner surface  42 , sleeve outer surface  43 , and is preferably hollow. 
   Plunger  30  is planar and positioned perpendicular to container inner surface  11 . It is preferably rectangular shaped with preferably rounded corners and made to fit within container  10 . Plunger  30  is made a predetermined depth as required for support and advancement of product  15  above. Plunger  30  has upper surface  32 , lower surface  33 , and outer edge  34 . 
   Sleeve inner surface  42  has a substantially helical camming surface which is female threaded and is capable of engaging lower threaded member  70  and upper threaded member  80 . Sleeve inner surface  42  is capable of engaging upper threaded member  80  when upper threaded member  80  is in its closed, vertical position. 
   Long fins  44  are planar and positioned parallel and opposite to each other. They are formed preferably at an angle from sleeve outer surface  43  to plunger outer edge  34  and plunger lower surface  33 . 
   Short fins  47  are planar and positioned parallel and opposite to each other. They are formed preferably at an angle from sleeve outer surface  43  to plunger outer edge  34  and plunger lower surface  33 . Short fins  47  are each preferably located perpendicular to and in between each long fin  44 . 
   Plunger lower surface  33  has centrally located plunger recess  31 . Recess  31  has a plurality of centrally located plunger tabs  35 . Plunger tabs  35  are capable of releasable engagement with central rod head  92 . Central rod head  92  is preferably capable of a friction fit inside plunger tabs  35 . Plunger tabs  35  are formed of a predetermined shape and size to provide support for central rod head  92 . 
   Threaded coupling sleeve  41 , long fins  44 , short fins  47 , and plunger  30  are preferably made of plastic, but could be made of other materials such as metal or rubber, as long as the strength and rigidity of the members are not compromised. 
   Gasket  20  is planar and capable of releasable attachment to plunger upper surface  32 . Gasket  20  is preferably rectangular shaped with preferably rounded corners and is made to fit within container  10 . Gasket  20  is capable of maintaining a seal along its perimeter between container inner surface  11  and product  15 . 
   Gasket  20  is preferably made of silicone, but could be made of other materials such as rubber or other plastics, as long as the strength, rigidity and sealing ability of the member are not compromised. 
   Base plate  50  has central base plate opening  53  and a plurality of retainer tabs  52 . Base plate  50  is planar and positioned perpendicular to container inner surface  11 . Base plate  50  is preferably rectangular shaped with preferably rounded corners and is made to fit within container  10 . It is made a predetermined depth as required to provide support for screw-feed advancing assembly  60 . 
   Retainer tabs  52  are centrally located around the perimeter of central base plate opening  53 . Central base plate opening  53  is sized to accommodate the insertion of upper threaded member  80 , lower threaded member  70 , lip  63 , and thickened region  62  of screw-feed advancing assembly  60 . 
   Retainer tabs  52  are preferably capable of deflection such that lip  63  can pass upward through tabs  52  and be retained substantially in position. Retainer tabs  52  are formed of a predetermined shape and size to provide support for lip  63 . 
   Base plate  50  is preferably capable of releasable attachment to support flange upper surface  17  in container lower end  14 . Base plate  50  can also be made an integrally formed part of container  10 . Base plate  50  is preferably made of plastic, but could be made of other materials such as metal or rubber, as long as the strength and rigidity of the members are not compromised. 
   OPERATION 
   First Embodiment—FIGS.  1 - 6  and FIG.  10   
   The dispensing device is constructed by base plate  50  being inserted through container upper end  13  and set down on top of support flange upper surface  17 . Thereafter, screw-feed advancing assembly  60  can be inserted through container lower end  14 . Upper threaded member  80  with central rod  90  positioned within can then be inserted up from below into base plate opening  53 , with lip  63  pushing up past retainer tabs  52 , after which retainer tabs  52  resume their normal position and retain said lip  63  in position above. 
   Thereafter, hub assembly  40  can be inserted through container upper end  13 , then moved down towards container lower end  14  and positioned on top of screw feed advancing assembly  60  upper threaded member  80 . 
   Thereafter, knob handle  61  can be rotated and upper threaded member  80  shall be rotatable relative to hub coupling sleeve  41 , such that relative rotation between the members will cause an axial displacement therebetween and a corresponding downward movement of coupling sleeve  41  and plunger  30 . 
   Thereafter, coupling sleeve  41  can engage lower threaded member  70 , and plunger lower surface  33  can exert a downward force on upper threaded member upper end  82 . Downward movement of plunger  30  then acts to compress vertical segments  83  of upper threaded member  80 . 
   Thereafter, coupling sleeve  41  shall continue to move downward axially onto lower threaded member  70  until setting on top of lip  63 . As upper threaded member  80  reaches its fully open, compressed position, central rod head  92  shall push up through plunger tabs  35 , and rod head  92  shall be retained. 
   Thereafter, product  15  shall be introduced into container  10 , filling until reaching a predetermined level, after which removable closure  19  can be secured to container upper end  13 . 
   The user can thereafter remove closure  19  to access product  15 , and elect to rotate knob handle  61  in order to advance coupling sleeve  41  upwards axially along lower threaded member  70 , thereby advancing plunger  30  and product  15  upwards inside container  10 . 
   Thereafter, vertical segments  83  of upper threaded member  80  are decompressed, resuming the closed position, and are available for helical engagement. Coupling sleeve  41  can then advance upwards along upper threaded member  80 , until reaching upper threaded member upper non-threaded portion  85 , which preferably acts as a limit stop when plunger  30  reaches a predetermined limit elevation. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION 
   Second Embodiment—FIG.  7   
   As shown in  FIG. 7 , an alternate embodiment of the present invention uses a hub assembly  40  with a plurality of alternate fins  100 , in lieu of a plurality of long fins  44  and short fins  47 . The alternate fins  100  would be of equal length, and each preferably positioned to align with the four corners of container  10 . 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Third Embodiment—FIGS.  8 - 10   
   As shown in  FIG. 8 , an alternate embodiment of the present invention comprises container  10 , alternate screw-feed advancing assembly  110 , hub assembly  40 , and base plate  50 . Container  10 , hub assembly  40 , and base plate  50  are as shown and described in  FIGS. 1-6  above. 
   Alternate screw-feed advancing assembly  110  comprises knob handle  61 , thickened region  62 , lip  63 , lower threaded member  70 , alternate upper threaded member  120 , and alternate central rod  130 . 
   Knob handle  61 , thickened region  62 , lip  63 , and lower threaded member  70  are as shown and described in  FIGS. 1-6  above. 
   Alternate upper threaded member  120  has an alternate lower end  121 , an alternate upper end  122 , a plurality of alternate vertical segments  123 , a lower threaded portion  84 , and an upper non-threaded portion  85 . 
   Alternate central rod  130  comprises elongated member  91 , central rod retaining plate  92 , spacer ring  150 , rod top plate  135  and central rod head  93 . Rod top plate  135  is planar, preferably circular, and formed just below central rod head  93 . 
   Alternate vertical segments  123  are each securedly attached at their upper end to rod top plate  135  by segment hinge  140 . This can be accomplished preferably by use of adhesives, but can also be by other means provided the strength and rigidity of the screw-feed advancing assembly  60  are not compromised. 
   Alternate upper threaded member  120  is preferably hollow and lower threaded portion  84  has a substantially helical camming surface, which is male threaded. 
   Alternate upper threaded member  120  is preferably totally equally divided axially into a plurality of alternate vertical segments  123 . Alternate vertical segments  123  are preferably rigid material, and have a closed, vertical position, translate into an intermediate, partially open position, and have a fully opened position. 
   Alternate upper threaded member  120  is preferably hinged into a fully opened position when container  10  is fully loaded with product  15 . 
   Alternate vertical segments  123  are capable of regaining substantial vertical elevation in transition to the closed, vertical position, as product  15  is removed from container  10 . As alternate vertical segments  123  reach the closed position, upper threaded member  120  alternate lower end  121  aligns and meets with lower threaded member upper end  72 . 
   Alternate upper threaded member  120  is preferably in substantially no contact with product  15 . 
   Spacer ring  150  is planar and has a plurality of spacer tabs  155 . Spacer ring  150  is preferably circular and made to fit loosely around central rod elongated member  91 . Ring  150  can preferably set in a stationary position on top of lower threaded member upper end  72 . 
   Spacer tabs  155  are located along the periphery of spacer ring  150 , are preferably flexible, and are made a predetermined size to maintain a clearance distance between alternate vertical segments  123  and lower threaded member upper end  72 . 
   Alternate members from the second embodiment are preferably made of plastic, but could be made of other materials such as metal or rubber, as long as the strength and rigidity of the members are not compromised. 
   OPERATION 
   Third Embodiment—FIGS.  8 - 9  and FIG.  10   
   The dispensing device is constructed by base plate  50  being inserted through container upper end  13  and set down on top of support flange upper surface  17 . Thereafter, alternate screw-feed advancing assembly  110  can be inserted through container lower end  14 . Alternate upper threaded member  120  with alternate central rod  130  positioned within can then be inserted up from below into base plate opening  53 , with lip  63  pushing up past retainer tabs  52 , after which retainer tabs  52  resume their normal position and retain lip  63  in position above. 
   Thereafter, hub assembly  40  can be inserted through container upper end  13 , then moved down towards container lower end  14  and positioned on top of alternate screw feed advancing assembly  110  upper threaded member  120 . 
   Thereafter, knob handle  61  can be rotated and alternate upper threaded member  120  shall be rotatable relative to hub coupling sleeve  41 , such that relative rotation between the members will cause an axial displacement therebetween and a corresponding downward movement of coupling sleeve  41  and plunger  30 . 
   Thereafter, coupling sleeve  41  engages lower threaded member  70 , and alternate vertical segments  123  of upper threaded member  120  are free to separate out from alternate central rod  130  via segment hinges  140 . Spacer tabs  155 , which were compressed while alternate vertical segments  123  were in their closed position, are then released to maintain clearance between segments  123  and lower threaded member upper end  72 . 
   Thereafter, coupling sleeve  41  shall continue to move downward axially onto lower threaded member  70  until setting on top of lip  63 . As alternate upper threaded member  120  reaches its fully open position, central rod head  92  shall push up through plunger tabs  35 , and rod head  92  shall be retained. 
   Thereafter, product  15  shall be introduced into container  10 , filling until reaching a predetermined level, after which removable closure  19  can be secured to container upper end  13 . 
   The user can thereafter remove closure  19  to access product  15 , and elect to rotate knob handle  61  in order to advance coupling sleeve  41  upwards axially along lower threaded member  70 , thereby advancing plunger  30  and product  15  upwards inside container  10 . 
   Thereafter, as plunger  30  and alternate upper threaded member  120  advance upwards, alternate vertical segments  123  fold inward, compressing spacer tabs  155 , and resume the closed position, and are available for helical engagement. Coupling sleeve  41  can then advance upwards along alternate upper threaded member  120 , until reaching upper threaded member upper non-threaded portion  85 , which preferably acts as a limit stop when plunger  30  reaches a predetermined limit elevation. 
   SCOPE 
   There can be various alternate embodiments of the dispensing device that employ alternate upper threaded members to achieve the design objective. The upper threaded member can be jointed or hinged at some point along the vertical segments, and designed to fold when the container is full, and to unfold for helical engagement. Also, the lower and upper threaded members could be a one piece single element. The single threaded member could have an upper portion that functions as the upper threaded member described previously. Also, the single threaded member could be of a telescoping design where all layers are nested when the container is full, and each layer successively deploys vertically as product is removed from the container. 
   Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, and not by the examples given.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0