Abstract:
One embodiment of the invention described herein includes a device for dispensing fluid. The device includes a container and a fluid dispensing mechanism, wherein the fluid dispensing mechanism comprises: a main body comprising a deformable portion; a rigid portion annular to the deformable portion; an rigid sidewall, wherein the deformable portion, rigid annular portion and rigid sidewall enclose a mechanism for delivering fluid from the container to a user.

Description:
[0001]    Embodiments of the invention described herein relate to an enclosure for a pressurized spray container. 
       COPYRIGHT 
       [0002]    A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material to which the claim of copyright protection is made. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by any person of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office file or records, but reserves all other rights whatsoever. Copyright 2006, 2007 Coty Inc. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0003]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of an overcap embodiment of the invention. 
           [0004]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of an overcap and container assembly of the invention. 
           [0005]      FIG. 3  illustrates an internal view of an overcap embodiment of the invention. 
           [0006]      FIG. 4  illustrates another perspective view of an overcap embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0007]    In the following detailed description of example embodiments of the invention, reference is made to specific examples by way of drawings and illustrations. These examples are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and serve to illustrate how the invention may be applied to various purposes or embodiments. Other embodiments of the invention exist and are within the scope of the invention, and logical, mechanical, chemical, and other changes may be made without departing from the subject or scope of the present invention. Features or limitations of various embodiments of the invention described herein, however essential to the example embodiments in which they are incorporated, do not limit the invention as a whole, and any reference to the invention, its elements, operation, and application do not limit the invention as a whole but serve only to define these example embodiments. The following detailed description does not, therefore, limit the scope of the invention, which is defined only by the appended claims. 
         [0008]    Embodiments of the invention, one of which is shown at  10  in  FIG. 1 , include an over-cap  12  adapted to be associated with a pressurized dispenser. The pressurized dispenser  14  includes a container  16  upon which is mounted a manually operable dispensing valve  18  provided with a valve stem  20 . The valve stem  20  is actuated by a valve operating member  22 , shown in an interior view of  FIG. 3 . The valve stem, when actuated, causes a discharge of material from the container through the over-cap  12 . 
         [0009]    The over-cap  12  embodiments of the invention are of the type wherein the valve operating member  22  includes a valve stem  24  and has a connection with respect to an internal channel  28  of the over-cap that attaches to the valve stem  24 . The pivotal connection includes an actuation surface  26  that is accessible by a deformable portion  29  of a top wall  30 . 
         [0010]    The over-cap embodiment  12  described herein includes the top wall  30  with the deformable portion  29  and the substantially rigid portion  30  that circumvents the deformable portion  29 . The overcap  12  also includes the annular sidewall  32 . The top wall  30  extends downwardly at an angle. The annular sidewall  32  meets the top wall  30  so as to form a varying height for the annular sidewall  32 . The deformable portion  29  of the top wall  30  covers all but a peripheral area  31  of the top wall. For some embodiments, the peripheral area  31  is substantially rigid. In one embodiment, the deformation portion  29  of the top wall  30  extends into the annular sidewall at  37 . The deformable portion  29  of the top wall  30  and annular sidewall at  37  are, for some embodiments, made of a soft memory membrane. The soft memory membrane is an elastomer and is capable of returning to an undeformed state after being deformed from many cycles of use. 
         [0011]    The over-cap  10  is also provided with an opening  40  in which a valve operating tab  42 , shown in  FIG. 3  is pivotally mounted. This opening  40  is located within the rigid annular sidewall  32  of the overcap  10 . 
         [0012]    Over-cap embodiments described herein provide easy and convenient access of a person&#39;s finger to the deformable top wall  29  or a deformable portion of the sidewall  37  when the container  16  is held in the hand of a user and it is desired to dispense material from the container  16 . 
         [0013]    For one embodiment, when a user presses the deformable portion  29  of the top wall  30 , the downward force is propagated over the deformable top wall to an inner wall  42 , shown in  FIG. 3 . The inner wall  42  is also moved downward. This causes a valve associated with the valve stem  24  to open. When the valve opens, liquid from a dispenser  44  is dispensed. It is contemplated that the overcap  10  is usable with other mechanisms that propagate force from a user&#39;s finger to a liquid dispenser. 
         [0014]    For some embodiments, the overcap  10  is used to dispense antiperspirant. Other embodiments have use in dispensing shaving and moisturizing formulations, shampoos and conditioners, in addition to washes and moisturizers. The overcap  10  embodiments have a wide number of other dispensing applications such as dispensing personal care fluids, home care fluids, industrial and institutional fluids, pharmaceutical fluids, textile fluids, and the like. 
         [0015]    Examples of various personal care fluids that can be dispensed by the overcap  10  include products such as the following: Shampoos, for example Baby Shampoos; Conditioning Shampoos; Bodifying Shampoos; Moisturizing Shampoos; Temporary Hair Color Shampoos; 3-in-1 Shampoos; Anti-Dandruff Shampoos; Hair Color Maintenance Shampoos; Acid (Neutralizing) Shampoos; Salicylic Acid Shampoos; Skin and Body Cleansers, for example Moisturizing Body Washes; Antibacterial Body Washes; Deodorizing Body Washes; Bath Gels; Shower Gels; Hand Soaps; Bar Soaps; Body Scrubs; Bubble Baths; Facial Scrubs; Foot Scrubs; Creams and Lotions, for example Alpha-Hydroxy Acid Lotions and Creams; Beta-Hydroxy Acid Creams and Lotions; Skin Whiteners; Self Tanning I Lotions; Sunscreen Lotions; Barrier Lotions; Moisturizers; Hair Styling Creams; Vitamin C Creams; Liquid Talc Products and Antibacterial Lotions; and other moisturizing lotions and creams; Skin and Hair Gels, for example Facial Masks; Body Masks; Hydroalcoholic Gels; Hair Gels; Body Gels; Sunscreen Gels; and the like, as well as other personal care applications such as permanent hair color, and the like. 
         [0016]    Examples of home care fluids that can be dispensed using the overcap  10  include fluids such as home care and industrial and institutional fluids, such as laundry detergents; dishwashing detergents (automatic and manual); hard surface cleaners; hand soaps, cleaners and sanitizers; polishes (shoe, furniture, metal, etc.); automotive waxes, polishes, protestants, and cleaners, and the like. 
         [0017]    Examples of pharmaceutical fluids that can be dispensed by the overcap  10  include topical formulations in the form of creams, lotions, ointments, or gels, wherein the formulation may be used as a carrier for the pharmaceutically active material, or as a carrier for a skin penetration enhancer, or as a carrier for a phase having an aesthetic effect, or present to enhance the solubility or bioavailability of the pharmaceutically I active material. 
         [0018]    The overcap embodiment  10  also stabilizes the container  14  and pressurized contents within the container during transport. 
         [0019]    Other features of embodiments of the invention, other than those adverted to, will be apparent from the hereinafter detailed description and appended claims, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
         [0020]    The accompanying drawings illustrate one practical embodiment of the invention, but the construction therein shown is to be understood is illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.