Abstract:
A bottom fill dispenser for solid and gel products includes a dispenser housing, a product platform slidably positioned within the housing, the platform having a product supporting surface and a fill opening passing through the supporting surface; and a plug member positioned within the fill opening. A method is also provided. The dispenser can be used for both gel and solid products, and can be assembled before the filling step.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO PROVISIONAL APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of the filing date of provisional application Ser. No. 60/618,155, filed Oct. 12, 2004. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The invention relates to dispensers for deodorants such as anti-perspirants and gel products.  
         [0003]     Bottom-fill containers are one type of useful dispenser for anti-perspirant products. These containers or packages are typically filled in an upside-down position, with product being poured in from the bottom. Various issues arise when such packages are used. In some instances, assembly must be conducted after the filling of the package. This leads to an extra step, and can also lead to over-pressurization of product within the package that can lead to product breakdown and/or product leakage past the seals in the package.  
         [0004]     Anti-perspirant products also typically require a grid or other type of structure to support the dried product. However, such a grid can interfere with proper flow of a gel there through.  
         [0005]     Further, other differences between anti-perspirant and gel products frequently lead to the need for different types of packages which can increase the cost of product design and manufacture, as well as increased inventory and like issues.  
         [0006]     These and other problems exist in the art.  
         [0007]     It is a primary object of the present invention to resolve these issues.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     In accordance with the present invention, the foregoing objects and advantages have been readily attained.  
         [0009]     In accordance with the invention, a package is provided which can advantageously be filled through the bottom, and which has a structure which can advantageously be used when filling with anti-perspirant or with gel products. Further, the package is substantially fully assembled prior to the filling procedure.  
         [0010]     According to the invention, a bottom fill dispenser for solid and gel products is provided, and comprises a dispenser housing; a product platform slidably positioned within the housing, the platform having a product supporting surface and a fill opening passing through the supporting surface; and a plug member positioned within the fill opening.  
         [0011]     In further accordance with the invention, a method is provided for filling a bottom fill dispenser, which method comprises the steps of providing a dispenser housing; positioning a product platform slidably positioned within the housing, the platform having a product supporting surface and a fill opening passing through the supporting surface; filling product into the housing through the fill opening; and positioning a plug member within the fill opening. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0012]     A detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention follows, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a side sectional view of a package in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a rotated side sectional view of the dispenser of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0015]      FIGS. 3   a - d  are schematic and cross sectional views of a cap for the package of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0016]      FIGS. 4   a - e  are exterior, sectional and enlarged views of a mesh dome for the package of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0017]      FIGS. 5   a - e  are exterior, sectional and enlarged views of the barrel of the package of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0018]      FIGS. 6   a - d  are exterior and sectional views of the elevator assembly of the package of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0019]      FIGS. 7   a - d  are exterior and sectional views of the platform or product support member which is also illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 6 ;  
         [0020]      FIGS. 8   a - d  are exterior and sectional views of the threaded member of the package of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0021]      FIGS. 9   a  and  9   b  further illustrate the rotatable bottom member of the package of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0022]      FIGS. 10   a  and  10   b  illustrate the plug of the package of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0023]      FIGS. 11 and 12  illustrate cross sectional views through a further embodiment of the present invention adapted for use with anti-perspirant product;  
         [0024]      FIGS. 13   a - d  illustrate a removable inner cap member for the package of  FIG. 11 ;  
         [0025]      FIGS. 14   a - d  are exterior and cross sectional views of the barrel member of the embodiment of  FIG. 11 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0026]     The invention relates to a package for anti-perspirant and gel products.  FIG. 1  shows a package  10  in accordance with the present invention. Package  10  as shown in  FIG. 1  is readily adapted for use in connection with gel products. As will be discussed further below, with minor variation, this package can also be used for anti-perspirant product.  
         [0027]     The key difference between gel and anti-perspirant product is the flow quality of the product during filling and after filling. During filling, anti-perspirant product tends to flow more readily, while gel is more viscous in nature. After filling, anti-perspirant product solidifies and does not need further support, while gel remains in a gel state, and is dispensed through a semi-porous applicator.  
         [0028]     The embodiment of this invention as illustrated in  FIG. 1  can readily be adapted to use with anti-perspirant in connection with the embodiment which will be discussed further below.  
         [0029]     Still referring to  FIG. 1 , package  10  advantageously includes a barrel or body member  12 , an inner cap  14 , an outer cap  16  and a product elevator assembly  18  which advantageously includes a platform  20 , a threaded member  22 , an elevator screw  24  and a plug  26 , each of which will be further described below.  
         [0030]     Barrel member  12  can be any substantially hollow or open sleeve member, typically substantially elliptical in shape, and having upper and lower ends  28 ,  30  respectively. Barrel member  12  can advantageously be manufactured of any suitable plastic material which would be well known to a person of ordinary skill in the art. Barrel member  12  defines an inner space for gel or anti-perspirant product, and also houses the components of elevator assembly  18 .  
         [0031]     Inner cap  14  in connection with the embodiment of  FIG. 1  is advantageously a mesh dome-like structure which is adapted to securely fit over the upper end  28  of barrel  12 , and which is provided having a plurality of apertures or openings  32  through which gel product seeps when the elevator assembly  18  is manipulated to dispense product.  
         [0032]     Inner cap  14  can advantageously have a lower skirt portion  34  adapted to slidably engage with the upper end  28  of barrel  12  as shown. Inner cap  14  can be provided with a peelable seal covering openings  32 , and such a seal keeps gel product from passing through openings  32  during filling. In use, the seal is removed and elevator assembly  18  can be used to drive the gel upwardly through openings  32 .  
         [0033]     Outer cap  16  is advantageously adapted to removably engage with either upper end  28  of package  10  or with inner cap  14 . Outer cap  16  advantageously serves to provide a user of package  10  with the means to close package  10  so that product exposed through apertures  32  does not dry out. Outer cap  16  can advantageously engage with either or both of upper end  28  of barrel  12 , or inner cap  14 , and the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  has outer cap  16  slidably engaging with inner cap  14 .  
         [0034]     Elevator assembly  18  in this embodiment is advantageously an assembly which allows for product within barrel  12  to be dispensed or disposed toward inner cap  14  and apertures  32  therein so as to dispense a desired amount of product. In this embodiment, elevator assembly  18  includes platform  20  having a product support surface  36 , a wiper  38  which in this instance is a double wiper, which is adapted to sufficiently slidably seal against the inner wall of barrel  12 , a substantially central opening  40  and a central downwardly depending sleeve  42  which, as illustrated in the drawings, engages with threaded member  22 .  
         [0035]     Threaded member  22  is advantageously a substantially tubular member sized to fit within downwardly depending sleeve  42  of platform  20 , and having an outwardly extending thread  44  adapted to threadedly engage with elevating screw  24 . Threaded member  22  is advantageously hollow since, as will be discussed further below, filling of package  10  advantageously takes place by introducing product through the inner space or interior area of threaded member  22 .  
         [0036]     Elevator screw  24  is also preferably a substantially tubular member, preferably threadedly engaging with threaded member  22  such that rotation of Elevator screw  24  relative to threaded member  22  advances threaded member  22  from lower end  30  toward upper end  28 , and back, depending upon direction of rotation of elevator screw  24 .  
         [0037]     Elevator screw  24  can further advantageously be provided having outwardly extending snap cams  46  which are adapted to snap past and then engage with structure of barrel member  12  so that elevator assembly  18  can be snapped into place.  
         [0038]     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , barrel member  12  has, at lower end  30  thereof, an inwardly extending web  48  which is adapted to a snap fit and rotatable engagement with elevator screw  24  as desired.  
         [0039]     Plug member  26  is advantageously any suitable plug which can be positioned into opening  40  within platform  20 , advantageously after product has been introduced into the package to seal the package against back-flow during and after package handling.  
         [0040]     The views of  FIGS. 3   a - d  further illustrate outer cap  16  in accordance with the invention. Outer cap  16  can be provided having any desired outer contour, which can preferably be driven by desired appearance of the final package. Outer cap  16  has a bottom edge  162  which defines an opening which is preferably sized to slidably engage the top edge of either barrel member  12  or inner cap  14 .  
         [0041]     The views of  FIGS. 4   a - e  further illustrate the structure of inner cap  14  in accordance with the present invention, including specific detail of a preferred structure for engaging with barrel member  12 .  
         [0042]     As shown, inner cap  14  has a dome portion  142  which has perforations  32 , or which is otherwise porous to the gel product, as discussed above. Lower skirt portion  34  is preferably sized to engage with the upper edge of barrel member  12 . An indentation  144  ( FIG. 4   e ) can advantageously be positioned along an inner surface  146  of skirt portion  34 , and is preferably sized to engage with structure on the upper edge of barrel member  12  to hold inner cap  14  in place as desired.  
         [0043]     Also as shown, inner cap  14  can be provided having an upper skirt portion  148  which is slightly smaller in diameter than lower skirt portion  34 , preferably so that upper skirt portion  148  has substantially the same diameter and contour as the upper edge of barrel member  12 . A stepped portion  150  advantageously transitions from upper skirt portion  148  to lower skirt portion  34 . This also serves to define an outer surface on inner cap  14  which is suitably sized to receive outer cap  16 . Further, in this configuration, the upper portion (at least) of barrel member  12 , lower skirt  34  of inner cap  14 , and the skirt portion of outer cap  16  can have substantially the same outer contour so as to provide a clean appearance as desired.  
         [0044]     The views of  FIG. 5   a - e  further illustrate the specific structure of barrel  12  of this embodiment, including upper ridges  122  (best shown in  FIG. 5   e ) which are advantageously adapted to securely engage with inner cap  14 , and a protruding ridge  124 , which may be larger than ridges  122 , for engaging indentation  144  of inner cap  14 .  
         [0045]     Barrel member  12 , as shown, has web  48  which extends radially inwardly along bottom edge  30  of barrel member  12  and defines an opening  126  into which elevator assembly  18  is rotatably positioned. A lip  128  of web  48  defines opening  126 , and lip  128  of snap cams  46  (best shown in  FIG. 1 ) to rotatably hold elevator assembly  18  within barrel member  12 .  
         [0046]     Lower end  30  of barrel member  12  preferably has a cutout area  130  positioned to allow external manipulation of the elevating screw  24  as will be discussed below. As shown, wide-spaced ends  132  of lower end  30  extend downwardly to either side of, and define, cutout area  130 .  
         [0047]     It should be appreciated that web  48  advantageously slopes upwardly and radially inwardly toward lip  128  so as to facilitate proper assembly of elevator assembly  18  into barrel member  12  with snap cams  46  snapped past lip  128 . Specifically, the inward slope of web  48  guides snap cams  46  past lip  126  during assembly of elevator assembly into barrel member  12  from the bottom as desired.  
         [0048]     The views of  FIGS. 6   a - d  illustrate elements of elevator assembly  18 , advantageously including platform  20 , threaded member  22  and plug  26 , each of which is further described below.  
         [0049]      FIGS. 7   a - d  further illustrate the preferred structure of platform  20 .  FIGS. 8   a - d  further illustrate specific preferred structure of threaded member  22  in accordance with the present invention.  FIGS. 9   a - b  further show advantageous details of elevator screw  24 .  
         [0050]     Referring to  FIGS. 7   a - d , platform  20  is further illustrated. As shown, opening  40  is preferably defined by inner walls  202  which can be provided with ridges, bumps or other engaging structure  204  to engage with plug  26 . Wiper  38  has an upwardly extending skirt  382  and a lower-positioned radial protrusion  384 . Axially spaced skirt  382  and protrusion  384  advantageously provide a double-spaced seal against the inner wall of barrel member  12  to prevent leakage past platform  20 .  
         [0051]     A lower portion of inner walls  202  defines axial slots  206  and radial grooves or ridges  208 , and this structure engages with an upper end of threaded member  22  as discussed below.  
         [0052]     It should be appreciated that several components of the present invention have interlocking ridges, grooves or bumps. In each of these instances, while the preferred structure is as illustrated and described, any interlocking structure is sufficient and falls well within the broad scope of the present invention.  
         [0053]      FIGS. 8   a - d  show threaded member  22  having an upper end with structure  50  for non-rotatably engaging with platform  20  such that rotation of elevator screw  24  results in relative rotation of screw  24  as compared to threaded member  22 , which advances threaded member  22  relative to elevator screw  24  as desired. Structure  50  preferably includes axial ridges  502  for engaging with axial slots  206 , and complimentary ridges or grooves  504  for engaging with ridges or grooves  208  of platform  20 .  
         [0054]      FIGS. 9   a - b  further illustrate elevator screw  24  and inwardly extending thread  52  which advantageously engages with threads  44  of threaded member  22  such that relative rotation of elevator screw  24  relative to threaded member  22  results in axial displacement of these elements, one relative to the other. Elevator screw  24  also preferably has a knob or wheel  242  positioned thereon to extend radially from cutout area  130  for manual gripping, rotation or other manipulation by a user to operate the elevator assembly and dispense product.  
         [0055]      FIGS. 10   a - b  further illustrate the preferred structure of plug  26 , which is advantageously adapted to fit within opening  40  of platform  20  and seal same against back-flow of liquid.  
         [0056]     As shown, plug  26  can advantageously have a substantially flat head surface  54  and a sleeve portion  56  which extends from head surface  54 , and sleeve portion  56  advantageously has structure which is adapted to securely engage with an opening  40  of platform  20 . This structure can be provided as complimentary ridges or grooves  262  positioned to engage with ridges or grooves  204  of platform  20 .  
         [0057]     The package of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-10  is advantageously a bottom-fill package adapted for use with a gel product. Specifically, all components of package  10  except for plug  26  are advantageously completely assembled, and package  10  is positioned in an inverted or an upside-down position. In this position, product can be introduced through the opening of threaded member  22  through opening  40  of platform  20  and into the intended product space. Once a desired amount of filling has been conducted, flow stops and package  10  is left in this orientation to allow the gel product to set. At the appropriate time, plug  26  is advanced through threaded member  22  and into opening  40  of platform  20  where it engages with platform  20  to prevent back-flow out of threaded member  22 , and the package is now fully loaded and assembled. Depending upon the gel product, the time required to set may be very small. Some gel products will not change significantly in viscosity, and will therefore need a very short, if any, time to set. Other gel products may set somewhat and require or benefit from a short period of time in the inverted position. Plug  26  can be inserted into platform  20  either immediately following filling, or after the setting time, as desired.  
         [0058]     Turning to  FIG. 11 , an embodiment of the present invention is shown which is readily adapted for use with an anti-perspirant product. This package  60  is substantially the same as package  10  of  FIG. 1 , with the exception being in inner cap  14  and outer cap  16 .  
         [0059]     Since this product is an anti-perspirant product which sets to a relatively hard product, no mesh dome is needed. Instead, inner cap  14  is advantageously provided as a mold member which serves to form and hold the anti-perspirant product during setting, so that removal of inner cap  14  exposes hardened or solidified product having a shape which matches the inner contour of inner cap  14 . Inner cap  14  in this embodiment can advantageously slidably engage with barrel member  12 , in this embodiment through slidable engagement with an inner surface of barrel member  12 .  
         [0060]     Inner cap  14  in this embodiment advantageously has a series of fins  58  positioned thereon, which are readily used for grasping and removing this inner cap  14  before the first use of the package.  
         [0061]      FIGS. 13   a - b  further illustrate inner cap  14  of this embodiment, while  FIGS. 14   a - b  illustrate the structure of barrel member  12  in accordance with this embodiment.  
         [0062]      FIGS. 13   a  and  13   b  show cap  14  having a lower edge  582  and a skirt  584  extending upwardly from edge  582  to define a sliding surface for mounting inside of the upper edge of barrel member  12 . Inner surface  586  of cap  14  serves as a product mold as described above. Mounting of cap  14  in this embodiment in the inside of the upper edge of barrel member  12  allows outer cap  16  to be mounted to the outside of the upper edge of barrel member  12 , which desirably allows inner cap  14  to be removed and discarded for the first use of the package, without interfering with the proper positioning of outer cap  16  relative to barrel member  12  for subsequent storage and use.  
         [0063]     Barrel member  12  ( FIGS. 14   a  and  14   b ) of package  60  of the embodiment of  FIG. 11  advantageously has upper end  28  with a relatively smooth outer surface since the only cap which is mounted to upper end  28  of barrel member  12  in this embodiment is outer cap  16 , which secures with a simple sliding engagement. This is preferred since outer cap  16  is frequently removed by the user during use of the product. The inside surface of the upper end of barrel member  12  can also preferably be substantially smooth, as this allows relatively easy removal of inner cap  14  by the user, when desired.  
         [0064]     During filling, package  60  is filled in substantially the same manner as package  10 . That is, package  60  is positioned in a substantially inverted or upside-down position, and anti-perspirant product is passed through the inner space of threaded member  22  into the inner space of package  60  as desired. This product flows against the inner surface of inner cap  14 , which in this embodiment is a mold, and then sets or forms to the inner contour of inner cap  14 .  
         [0065]     After package  60  is suitably filled, plug  26  is positioned within opening  40  of platform  20 , platform  20  can be advanced into the product if desired, and the package is complete.  
         [0066]     It should readily be appreciated that the present invention provides packages which can readily be used with gel and anti-perspirant products, both reliably with a nearly completely assembled package in a bottom-fill operation with minimal leakage and mostly interchangeable parts for use with both gel and anti-perspirant.  
         [0067]     It should of course be appreciated that the above description is given in terms of several preferred embodiments of the present invention, each of which is susceptible to modification in shape, size, number of parts and the like. Thus, these examples are to be deemed as examples of the present invention, and are not limiting upon the scope of the present invention, which is defined by the following claims.