Abstract:
A package for containing and dispensing a multiple-component liquid solution includes a product chamber member movably mounted within the sidewall of a canister, and defining at least first and second separate product chambers for containing liquids to be dispensed. First and second pistons are mounted in fixed positions within the canister and respectively slidably disposed within the first and second chambers. First and second passages extend from the respective pistons for feeding liquids displaced from the chambers through a manifold to a surface applicator mounted on the canister. Cooperating structure on the canister and the chamber member is manipulated by a user to move the chamber member within the canister over the pistons, and thereby to displace liquids from the chambers through the pistons to the manifold, in which the liquids are mixed and fed to the applicator.

Description:
The present invention is directed to packages for containing and dispensing multiple-component liquid solutions, such as a two-component deodorant, and to methods for making such packages. 
     BACKGROUND AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     A general object of the present invention is to provide a package for containing and applying a multiple-component liquid solution, such as a two-component liquid deodorant, in which the liquid components are separated within the package and not mixed until the time of application, and in which the relative quantities of the liquids dispensed at each application are controlled by design of the package. 
     A package for containing and dispensing a multiple-component liquid solution in accordance with a first aspect of the present invention includes a product chamber member movably mounted within the sidewall of a canister, and defining at least first and second separate product chambers for containing liquids to be dispensed. First and second pistons are mounted in fixed positions within the canister and respectively slidably disposed within the first and second chambers. First and second passages extend from the respective pistons for feeding liquids displaced from the chambers through a manifold to a surface applicator mounted on the canister. Cooperating structure on the canister and the chamber member is manipulated by a user to move the chamber member within the canister over the pistons, and thereby to displace liquids from the chambers through the pistons to the manifold, in which the liquids are mixed and fed to the applicator. 
     A package for containing and dispensing a two-component liquid solution in accordance with one presently preferred embodiment of the invention includes a surface applicator mounted over the open end of a canister. An integrally formed product chamber member is movably mounted within the sidewall of the canister, and includes an internally threaded collar and first and second product chambers for containing liquids to be dispensed. A manifold is coupled to the applicator within the canister. The manifold has an outlet coupled to the applicator and a pair of spaced parallel inlets. First and second hollow pistons are suspended from the manifold inlets and respectively slidably disposed within the first and second chambers. A screw has an externally threaded shaft received within the collar and a circular base rotatably supported within the canister. Rotation of the screw within the canister moves the chamber member over the pistons and displaces liquids from the chambers through the pistons and the manifold to the applicator. In the disclosed embodiment, the screw is rotated by a pushbutton mounted within the canister and manipulable by a user from externally of the canister. Alternatively, the periphery of the screw may be accessible to a user through a suitable opening in the canister sidewall. 
     A package for containing and dispensing a two-component liquid solution in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the invention includes a canister and a surface applicator mounted over end open end of the canister. An integrally formed product chamber member is movably mounted within the sidewall of the canister, and includes a gear rack and first and second product chambers for containing liquids to be dispensed. A manifold is coupled to the applicator within the canister, and has a pair of spaced parallel inlets. First and second hollow pistons are suspended from the manifold inlets and respectively slidably disposed within the first and second chambers. A gear wheel is rotatably mounted on the canister sidewall in engagement with the rack for manipulation by a user to move the chamber member over the pistons and thereby displace liquids from the chambers through the pistons to the applicator. 
     A method of making a package for containing and dispensing a multiple-component liquid solution in accordance with another aspect of the invention includes providing a canister having an open end and a sidewall. An integrally formed product chamber member is mounted within the canister, and has at least first and second product chambers and a first element for moving the member with respect to the canister sidewall. A second element is mounted within the canister for engagement with the first element and manipulation by a user to move the product chamber member within the canister. First and second hollow pistons are suspended from a surface applicator. The first and second chambers are filled with first and second liquids to be dispensed, and the surface applicator is assembled over the open end of the canister such that the first and second pistons are respectively disposed in the first and second chambers. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention, together with additional objects, features and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a dual liquid dispensing package in accordance with one presently preferred embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional view laterally bisecting the package of FIG. 1, being taken substantially along the line  2 — 2  in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view bisecting the package of FIG. 2, being taken substantially along the line  3 — 3  in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line  4 — 4  in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line  5 — 5  in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the canister in the package of FIGS. 1-5; 
     FIG. 7 is a sectional view bisecting the canister of FIG. 6, being taken substantially along the line  7 — 7  in FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the product chamber member in the package of FIGS. 1-5; 
     FIG. 9 is a sectional view laterally bisecting the chamber member of FIG. 8, being taken substantially along the line  9 — 9  of FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the pistons in the package of FIGS. 1-5; 
     FIG. 11 is sectional view laterally bisecting the pistons of FIG. 10, being taken substantially along the line  11 — 11  in FIG. 10; 
     FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of the screw for raising the chamber member and dispensing liquid in the package of FIGS. 1-5; 
     FIG. 13 is a bottom perspective view of the screw illustrated in FIG. 12; 
     FIG. 14 is a top perspective view of the surface applicator base in the package of FIGS. 1-5; 
     FIG. 15 is a bottom perspective view of the applicator base illustrated in FIG. 14; 
     FIG. 16 is an elevational view of the dispensing button in the package of FIGS. 1-5; 
     FIG. 17 is a top perspective view of the manifold in the package of FIGS. 1-5; 
     FIG. 18 is a sectional view similar to that of FIG. 3 but illustrating a modified embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 19 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to that of FIG. 2 but illustrating the embodiment of FIG. 18; 
     FIG. 20 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line  20 — 20  in FIG. 18; 
     FIG. 21 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line  21 — 21  in FIG. 20; 
     FIG. 22 is a top plan view of the chamber member in the package of FIGS. 18-21; 
     FIG. 23 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line  23 — 23  in FIG. 22; 
     FIG. 24 is a top plan view of one of the pistons in the package of FIGS. 18-21; 
     FIG. 25 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line  25 — 25  in FIG. 24; 
     FIG. 26 is a top plan view of the second piston in the package of FIGS. 18-21; 
     FIG. 27 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line  27 — 27  in FIG. 26; 
     FIG. 28 is a sectional view laterally bisecting a dual liquid dispensing package in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; and 
     FIG. 29 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line  29 — 29  in FIG.  28 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIGS. 1-17 illustrate a package  30  in accordance with one presently preferred embodiment of the invention. A hollow cup-shaped housing or canister  32  includes a sidewall  34 , a bottom wall  36  and an open upper end. (It will be appreciated that directional adjectives such as “upper” and “lower” are used by way of description and not limitation with respect to the upright orientation of the package illustrated in FIGS. 1-3.) A surface applicator  38  is secured over the open end of canister sidewall  34 . Applicator  38  includes an applicator holder  40  and an applicator body  42 . Holder  40  (FIGS. 2-3 and  14 - 15 ) is of inverted cup-shaped construction, having an upper base wall  44  and a peripheral skirt externally secured over the upper end of canister sidewall  34 . The external surface of base wall  44  has a plurality of ribs  46  (FIG. 14) forming channels or grooves between the ribs to dispense liquid product throughout the upper surface of the applicator holder. The underside of base wall  44  has an annular wall  48  that surrounds an outlet opening  54  that extends through wall  44 , and opposed part-circular walls  50 . 
     A manifold  52  (FIGS. 2-3 and  17 ) is internally secured to the underside of applicator holder base wall  44  between walls  50  against wall  48 , and is thereby suspended in assembly from the underside of the applicator. Manifold  52  is of inverted goalpost-shaped construction, having an upper outlet  54  that communicates through a check valve  56  within opening  58  in applicator holder  40 , and parallel downwardly oriented cylindrical inlet openings  60 ,  62 . Passages  64 ,  66  (FIG. 3) within manifold  52  connect the inlet openings to the outlet opening, at which the liquid products mix prior to delivery to the applicator. A first piston  66  (FIGS. 2-3 and  10 - 11 ) is suspended from manifold inlet  60 , and a second piston  68  is suspended from manifold inlet  62 . Pistons  66 ,  68  are hollow pistons, each having an associated hollow longitudinally extending passage  70 ,  71  and a transversely oriented piston head  72 ,  73 . Pistons  66 ,  68  are thus suspended from inlets  60 ,  62  of manifold  52 . A check valve  74 ,  76  is disposed within the passages of pistons  66 ,  68  respectively to prevent reverse flow of mixed fluid to the product chambers. Piston heads  72 ,  73  are preferably disposed in a common plane in assembly, as best seen in FIG.  3 . Passages  70 ,  71  are parallel to each other. 
     A product chamber member  78  (FIGS. 2-3,  5  and  8 - 9 ) is slidably mounted within sidewall  34  of canister  32 . Chamber member  78  is preferably a one-piece body of integrally molded plastic construction, including a pair of product chambers  80 ,  82 . Each product chamber  80 ,  82  is cup-shaped, having open upper ends disposed adjacent to each other in a common plane transverse to the longitudinal dimension of the canister. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, and as best seen in FIG. 8, chambers  80 ,  82  are non-cylindrical in geometry, chamber  80  being significantly larger than chamber  82  and generally V-shaped as viewed from above. Piston heads  72 ,  73  are correspondingly shaped, as best seen by comparing FIG. 10 to FIG.  8 . An O-ring  84 ,  86  extends around the peripheries of piston heads  72 ,  73  in sliding sealing engagement with the internal wall surfaces of chambers  80 ,  82  respectively. Chamber member  78  also includes an internally threaded collar or sleeve  88 , disposed between chambers  80 ,  82 . Sleeve  88  is so disposed on chamber member  78  as to coincide with the axial centerline of canister  32 , for reasons to be described. An external rib  90  extends longitudinally along each side of chamber member  78 , and is slidably captured between a pair of parallel internal ribs that form an inwardly opening axially extending slot  92  on each side of canister sidewall  34 . Ribs  90  and slots  92  thus guide movement of chamber member  78  within canister  32 . Ribs  90  and slots  92  are preferably disposed in a common plane that includes the axial centerline of the canister. 
     A screw  94  (FIGS. 2-5 and  12 - 13 ) is carried by a pedestal  96  that is upwardly recessed with respect to bottom wall  36  of canister  32 . Screw  94  has an externally threaded shaft  98  that centrally and coaxially projects from a circular base  100 . Externally threaded shaft  98  is threadably received within internally threaded collar  88  of chamber member  78 . Base  100  is loosely secured to pedestal  96  by means of a split lug  102  that extends from base  100  through a central opening in pedestal  96  rotatably to secure the screw to the base while permitting free rotation of the screw with respect to the base. The upper surface of pedestal  96  within canister  32  is provided with a plurality of ramped lugs  104  (FIGS. 6 and 7) disposed in a spaced circumferential array around the periphery of the pedestal. Likewise, the under surface of screw base  100  is provided with a spaced circumferential array of ramped peripheral lugs  106  (FIG.  13 ). Lugs  104 ,  106  are constructed with respect to each other to permit rotation of screw  94  in one direction to raise chamber element  78  within canister  32 , but to prevent rotation of screw  94  in the other direction that would lower chamber element  78  within canister  32 . An arcuate button  108  (FIGS. 1-4 and  16 ) has an apertured center  110  received over a pin  112  that extends upwardly from base  36  of canister  32  adjacent to canister sidewall  34 . One leg  114  of button  108  extends along the inside surface of canister sidewall  34 . A second leg  116  extends along the inside canister surface across an opening  118  in the canister sidewall. A button head  120  is integral with button  108  and projects through sidewall opening  118 . A pawl arm  122  extends radially inwardly from leg  116  opposite head  120 . The inner end of pawl arm  122  engages a circumferential array of rachet teeth  124  that extends around the periphery of screw base  100  (FIGS.  4  and  12 - 13 ). 
     In assembly, button  108  is secured within canister  32  and screw  94  is secured to chamber element  78 . The chamber element and screw subassembly is then inserted into canister  32  so that split lug  102  extends through pedestal  96 . Chambers  80 ,  82  may then be filled with liquids to be dispensed. In the meantime, applicator body  42  is secured to applicator holder  40 , and manifold  52  and pistons  66 ,  68  are suspended from the underside of the manifold. Applicator  38  is then assembled over the open upper end of canister  32  with piston heads  72 ,  73  disposed within chambers  80 ,  82 . When button  108  is resiliently pivoted radially inwardly by a user, screw  94  is rotated to move chamber element  78  upwardly over pistons  66 ,  68 . Such movement displaces liquid product from within chambers  80 ,  82  through piston passages  70  into manifold  52 , and thence through manifold outlet  54  and valve  56  to surface applicator  38 . Each depression of button  108  dispenses an incremental amount of each liquid. When the button is released, the geometry and resiliency of button leg  114  return the button to the position of FIG.  4 . However, screw  94  is prevented from rotating with the movement of button by one-way cam lugs  104 ,  106  on pedestal  96  and screw base  100 . 
     It will be noted in the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 1-17 that chamber  80  is substantially larger than chamber  82 , and piston head  72  is correspondingly larger than piston head  73 . Passage  70  through piston  66  is larger than passage  71  through piston  68 , and manifold passage  64  is larger than manifold passage  66 . Thus, the liquid chambers and passages are designed such that, for each depression of button  108 , more liquid is displaced from chamber  80  than is displaced from chamber  82 , and consequently more liquid from chamber  80  than chamber  82  is dispensed to applicator body  42 . In this way, the relative dosages of the liquids are designed into the dispensing package. If it is desired that the liquids should be dispensed in equal dosages, chambers  80 ,  82  would be of the same size, as would the liquid passages through pistons  66 ,  68  and manifold  52 . As noted above, chamber member  78 , including chamber  80 ,  82 , collar  88  and ribs  90 , is of integrally molded plastic construction. Likewise, canister  32 , applicator holder  40 , screw  94 , button  108 , manifold  52  and pistons  66 ,  68  are of respective integrally molded plastic construction. Surface applicator body  42  may be of suitable foam or sintered plastic construction. 
     FIGS. 18-27 illustrate a package  126  that is a modification of that illustrated in FIGS. 1-17. Reference numerals in FIGS. 18-27 (and  28 - 29 ) that are identical to those employed in FIGS. 1-17 indicate identical components, while reference numerals followed by the suffix “a” (or “b” in FIGS. 28-29) indicate related but modified components. The primary difference between the embodiment of FIGS. 1-17 on the one hand and the embodiment of FIGS. 18-27 on the other is that the chamber member  78   a  has chambers  80   a  and  82   a  that are elongated with respect to the long dimension of the oval cross section of the package. That is, larger chamber  80   a  is again generally V-shaped, but this time the width of the V-shape extends in the direction of the long dimension of the oval container body rather than the short dimension as illustrated in FIG.  8 . Likewise, smaller chamber  82   a  has a long dimension parallel to the long dimension of the container body. Pistons  66   a  and  68   a  are dimensioned and contoured in correspondence with the contours of chambers  80   a ,  82   a  respectively. 
     FIGS. 28 and 29 illustrate a dual liquid dispensing package  128  in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. An applicator  38   b  is received over the open end of a cup-shaped canister  32   b . A manifold  52   b  is suspended from the inside of applicator  38   b , and a pair of hollow pistons  66   b ,  68   b  are suspended from the parallel inlet openings of manifold  52   b . Pistons  66   b ,  68   b  have heads  72   b ,  73   b  slidably disposed in respective chambers  80   b ,  82   b  in a product chamber member  78   b . Product chamber member  78   b  is again of unitary integrally molded plastic construction, and in this embodiment includes a gear rack  130  extending along one side of chamber member  78   b  in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of the chamber member. Gear rack  130  is disposed internally adjacent to the sidewall  34   b  of canister  32   b . Sidewall  34   b  has an opening  132  in which a gear wheel  134  is rotatably mounted. Gear wheel  134  has a circumferential array of external gear teeth that, within canister  32   b , are in meshed engagement with rack  130  of chamber member  78   b , and externally of canister  32   b  are disposed for manual manipulation by a user. Upon rotation of gear wheel  134  counterclockwise in FIG. 29, product chamber member  78   b  is moved upwardly over pistons  66   b ,  68   b . Such movement displaces liquid within chambers  80   b ,  82   b  through the hollow pistons and through manifold  52   b  to applicator  38   b.    
     There have thus been disclosed a package for containing and applying a multiple-component liquid solution, and a method of assembling such a package, that fully satisfy all of the objects and aims previously set forth. The invention has been disclosed in conjunction with presently preferred embodiments thereof, and a number of modifications and variations have been discussed. Other modifications and variations will readily suggest themselves to persons of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the chamber sizes and cross sections laterally of the direction of chamber element movement may be sized to achieve a desired liquid dispensing ratio. The embodiments of FIGS. 1-27 include button-activation of the chamber element lifting screw; however, the screw base could be of larger diameter and extend through slots in the canister sidewall for direct manual rotation of the screw. In the embodiment of FIGS. 28-29, the canister sidewall can be provided with a pawl or other suitable device for permitting rotation of gear wheel  34  in only one direction (counterclockwise in FIG.  29 ). A liquid solution of more than two components may be dispensed by providing additional chambers and pistons mounted to the manifold. The packages may be made refillable by mounting the screw or gear and the chamber element on a removable lower section of the canister. The illustrated embodiments employ O-rings  84 , 86 , etc. as seals between the pistons and the chamber walls. In a production environment, seals may be integrally formed on the peripheries of the pistons to reduce part and assembly costs. It will also be recognized that the packages illustrated in the drawings would normally be marketed with a suitable cover that encloses the applicator during storage and transport, and between times of use by the user. The invention is intended to embrace all such and other modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.