Aspects described herein generally relate to a cap dispenser assembly. More specifically, one or more aspects described herein provide for a cap dispenser assembly having an actuator configured to regulate the flow of contents through the cap dispenser assembly.
Certain granular compositions, such as salon concentrate, powdered shampoo, and the like, may be dispensed from a bottle through a cap assembly into a user's hand. Bottles and/or caps currently known in the field expose the contents of the bottle to moisture, which may impede the flow of the contents from the bottle or may impact the quality of the composition through such exposure. For example, bottles and/or caps current known in the field have their opening at the top of the bottle, exposing contents to moisture. Known bottles and/or caps often cause a user's hand to come in contact with the bottle opening, exposing the contents to moisture or dirt and/debris.
The following presents a simplified summary of the disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosure. This summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure. It is not intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. The following summary merely presents some concepts of the disclosure in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description provided below.
As described in more detail herein, this application sets forth a cap dispenser assembly comprising an inner frame (or a first frame), an outer frame (or a second frame), and an actuator. The actuator may be configured to regulate the flow of contents through the cap dispenser assembly while shielding the contents of a dispenser bottle from a moist or wet environment while not in use. The actuator may be configured to reciprocate along a dispensing shaft from a first position to a second position. The actuator may be configured to move with the inner frame relative to the outer frame providing an opening to allow contents to be dispersed from the assembly.
An example cap dispenser assembly may comprise an outer frame, a dispensing shaft comprising a first surface, an inner frame comprising a first end and a second end, and an actuator disposed between the outer frame and the inner frame and configured to reciprocate along the dispensing shaft from a first position to a second position. The first end of the inner frame may be configured to extend past the first surface of the dispensing shaft when the actuator is in the second position. In the first position the actuator may contact a first edge of the dispensing shaft. In the second position the actuator may expose at least a portion of the dispensing shaft. The inner frame may be coupled to the actuator. A force applied to the inner frame may cause the actuator to reciprocate from the first position to at least one of the plurality of intermediate positions or the second position.
Another example cap dispenser may comprise an outer frame, a dispensing shaft comprising a first surface, an inner frame comprising a first end, and an actuator disposed between the outer frame and the inner frame and configured to reciprocate along the dispensing shaft from a first position to a second position. The first end of the inner frame may be configured to extend past the first surface of the dispensing shaft when the actuator is in the second position.
These as well as other novel advantages, details, examples, features and objects of the present disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from following the detailed description, the attached claims and accompanying drawings, listed herein, which are useful in explaining the concepts discussed herein.
Some features are shown by way of example, and not by limitation, in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like numerals reference similar elements.
In the following description of the various examples, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration various examples in which aspects may be practiced. References to “embodiment,” “example,” and the like indicate that the embodiment(s) or example(s) of the invention so described may include particular features, structures, or characteristics, but not every embodiment or example necessarily includes the particular features, structures, or characteristics. Further, it is contemplated that certain embodiments or examples may have some, all, or none of the features described for other examples. And it is to be understood that other embodiments and examples may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
Unless otherwise specified, the use of the serial adjectives, such as, “first,” “second,” “third,” and the like that are used to describe components, are used only to indicate different components, which can be similar components. But the use of such serial adjectives is not intended to imply that the components must be provided in given order, either temporally, spatially, in ranking, or in any other way.
Also, while the terms “front.” “back.” “side,” and the like may be used in this specification to describe various example features and elements, these terms are used herein as a matter of convenience, for example, based on the example orientations shown in the figures and/or the orientations in typical use. Nothing in this specification should be construed as requiring a specific three dimensional or spatial orientation of structures in order to fall within the scope of the claims.
Cap assembly 100 may be configured such that inner frame 104 is able to be actuated towards outer frame 102. Actuation of inner frame 104 towards outer frame 102 may expose an opening in a dispensing shaft (discussed in greater detail with respect to
As shown in
Outer frame 102 and/or inner frame 104 may be coupled to actuator 210. Actuator 210 may include top appendage 304 which may be configured to couple to outer frame 102. In an example, top appendage 304 may be configured as a ring-line structure or a gasket-like structure. Top appendage 304 may couple with a corresponding channel of outer frame 104 and may securely couple outer frame 102 to actuator 210 (shown in greater detail with respect to
As shown in
Outer frame 102 may include central dispensing shaft member 404 (hereinafter referred to as “shaft 404” or “dispensing shaft”). Shaft 404 may be integrally molded to outer frame 102 and/or support ribs 208. Shaft 404 may be constructed according to a number of geometries. In an example, shaft 404 may be substantially cylindrical. Shaft 404 may gradually widen toward surface 405. Shaft 404 may include a plurality of fins 403 that may be integrally molded to shaft 404 or ribs 208. Fins 403 may extend from support ribs 208 through substantially the entirety of the length of shaft 404 to surface 405. Fins 403 may be configured similarly as support ribs 208 in that they may be radially oriented about the center, or midpoint, of outer frame 102. Fins 403 may be configured with a gradually decreasing width (as measured from the center, or midpoint, of outer frame 102) from support ribs 208 through substantially the entirety of the length of shaft 404. Fins 403 may merge with surface 405 of shaft 404. Fins 403 may define openings, or troughs (not shown), that extend from support ribs 208 through substantially the entirety of the length of shaft 404. The number of troughs may correspond to the number of support ribs 208 and/or fins 403. The troughs may be configured to allow passage of contents from a bottle through an opening between shaft 404 and actuator 210 to, for example, a user's hand(s), based on a force being applied to actuator 210 as discussed herein.
In
Actuator 210 may respond to a force 104f to inner frame 104. A sufficient force 104f may cause an upward vertical displacement of inner frame 104. As inner frame 104 becomes vertically displaced, actuator 210 becomes deformed and transitions into an actuated state or position. Consequently, the junction (or seal) of bottom appendage 306 and the sidewalls of shaft 404 near surface 405 begins to break and exposes an opening between shaft 404 and actuator 210, such as one or more of the troughs of shaft 404. As the inner frame is vertically displaced (i.e., towards end 102b′ of outer frame 102) by force 104f, appendage 306 of actuator 210 may retain a diameter defined by shaft 404 and/or fins 403. The configuration of shaft 404 and/or fins 403 may help appendage 306 maintain a uniform diameter when translating from a first position (i.e., a closed, or non-actuated position) to a second position (i.e., an “open” or fully-actuated position) through any number of intermediate positions. Based on a user applying a sufficient force 104f to cause actuation of actuator 210, the contents of a bottle may be dispensed through cap assembly 100 into, for example, a user's hands. The flow of the contents may be aided by the force of gravity.
Cap assembly 100 may be configured to help prevent bottom surface 405 of shaft 404 and/or actuator 210 from contacting a wet or moist surface. The length of shaft 404 or the total height of inner frame 104, alone or in combination, may be configured to help prevent bottom surface 405 and/or actuator 210 from contacting the surface environment. The resiliency (i.e., resistance to deformity) and specific geometry of actuator 210 may restrict the upward vertical displacement of inner frame 104 to a predetermined distance relative to surface 405 of shaft 404. At full actuation, i.e., the maximum opening between shaft 404 and actuator 210, distance 404d between surface 405 and/or actuator 210 and end 104a′ of inner frame 104 may be less than the total height 104d of inner frame 104. In other words, end 104a′ of inner frame 104 may be the only point of contact with the surface environment. Surface 405 of shaft 404 and/or actuator 210 may therefore be appreciably elevated above the surface environment when actuator 210 is at partial or full actuation.
Cap and bottle assembly 500 may be configured to be used and stored in an orientation wherein inner frame 104 supports cap and bottle assembly 500 on a surface, such as a user's hands, a shower cabinet, a countertop, etc. As shown in
Actuator 210 may be configured to respond to a sufficient force to enable the flow of contents from bottle 502 through shaft 404 while exhibiting sufficient resiliency to prevent the unwanted flow of contents from bottle 502 when cap and bottle assembly 500 is being stored on a surface, such as, for example, a shower cabinet, a countertop, and the like. The resiliency (i.e., resistance to deformity or actuation) of actuator 210 (which may be in part due to the composition of actuator 210), the specific geometry of actuator 210, and/or the dimensions of actuator 210, such as thickness, may help enable cap assembly 100, and particularly inner frame 104, to support the weight of bottle 502 and its contents while being stored (i.e., not in use) without disturbing actuator 210 from a non-actuated position or state. Cap assembly 100 may include a locking mechanism (not shown) that may prohibit the movement of inner frame 104 relative to outer frame 102 to prevent inadvertent dispensation. In an example, the locking mechanism may be integral to inner frame 104 and/or outer frame 102. In an example, the locking mechanism may couple to outer frame 104 and may seal end 104a′. The locking mechanism may contact end 102a′ and may prevent activation of actuator 210 by restricting movement of inner frame 104 relative to outer frame 102. In other examples, the locking mechanism may include a cap or end piece that couples to inner frame and prevents content from exiting the cap assembly.
A cap assembly may comprise an inner frame, a dispensing shaft, and an actuator coupled to the inner frame and disposed above the inner frame. The actuator may be configured to reciprocate along the dispensing shaft from a first position to a second position. In the first position the actuator may form a seal with a first edge of the dispensing shaft. In the second position the actuator may provide an opening between the inner frame and the dispensing shaft. The dispensing shaft may comprise a plurality of support arms which may extend outwardly from a midpoint of the dispensing shaft and may be disposed above the actuator. The dispensing shaft may comprise a trough formed by a first support arm and a second support arm. The first support arm and the second support arm may be integrally formed with the dispensing shaft and may extend outwardly from a midpoint of the dispensing shaft. The dispenser cap may further comprise an outer frame coupled to the actuator, wherein the actuator may be disposed between the inner frame and the outer frame, and wherein the outer frame may comprise a threaded end. The inner frame may be nested inside the outer frame. The actuator may comprise silicone. The cap assembly may comprise a bottle configured to removably couple to the outer frame. The bottle may comprise a first engaging end and a second arcuate end. The actuator may comprise a spring.
A cap assembly may comprise an outer frame, a dispensing shaft comprising a first surface, an inner frame comprising a first end, and an actuator disposed between the outer frame and the inner frame and configured to reciprocate along the dispensing shaft from a first position to a second position. The first end of the inner frame may be configured to extend past the first surface of the dispensing shaft when the actuator is in the second position. In the first position the actuator may form a seal with an edge of the dispensing shaft. In the second position the actuator may provide an opening between the actuator and the dispensing shaft. The inner frame may be coupled to the actuator. A force applied to the inner frame may cause the actuator to travel from the first position to at least one of the plurality of intermediate positions or the second position. The outer frame may be coupled to the actuator. The dispensing shaft may comprise a plurality of support arms which may extend outwardly from a midpoint of the dispensing shaft and may be disposed above the actuator. The dispensing shaft may comprise a trough formed by a first support arm and a second support arm, wherein the first support arm and the second support arm may extend outwardly from a midpoint of the dispensing shaft. The outer frame may comprise a threaded end. The actuator may comprise silicone. The dispenser cap may further comprise a bottle configured to couple to the outer frame. The bottle may comprise a first engaging end and a second arcuate end.
In the foregoing specification, the present disclosure has been described with reference to specific exemplary examples thereof. Although the invention has been described in terms of a preferred example, those skilled in the art will recognize that various modifications, examples or variations of the invention can be practiced within the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The specification and drawings are, therefore, to be regarded in an illustrated rather than restrictive sense. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited except as may be necessary in view of the appended claims.
Application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/525,481, filed on Jul. 7, 2023.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63525481 | Jul 2023 | US |