Patent Application
20070007302
Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a device for dispensing controlled doses of a flowable material, and more particularly to a device for applying controlled doses of a flowable adhesive material to a surface.
2. Description of the Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 6,667,286 describes a viscous gel-like substance that may be applied directly to the inner surface of a toilet bowl for cleaning and/or disinfecting and/or fragrancing the toilet bowl. The substance can be applied from a suitable applicator directly onto the inner surface of the toilet bowl, to which the substance adheres. The substance remains on the inner surface of the toilet bowl even after being contacted with flush water, and typically the substance is only flushed away completely after a large number of flushes. The substance is also suitable for application to other surfaces such as urinals, lavatory or industrial sinks, showers, bathtubs, dishwashing machines and the like.
Various applicators for such adhesive gel-like substances have been proposed. For example, PCT International Patent Application WO 03/043906 discloses a syringe-type dispensing device suitable for use in applying such adhesive gel-like substances to a surface. PCT International Patent Application WO 2004/043825 also discloses a syringe-type dispensing device for applying such adhesive gel-like substances to a surface.
While these applicators do succeed in applying the adhesive gel-like substances to a surface, some users of these applicators have difficulty deciding when to stop applying the adhesive gel-like substances to a surface. For instance, some users continue pressing on the plunger of the syringe and apply a bead of the adhesive gel-like substance around the entire circumference of the inner surface of the toilet bowl. This leads to overuse of the adhesive gel-like substance and an unnecessarily quick need for refill of the syringe or replacement purchase in the case of a disposable device. Another problem is that some users do not apply enough of the substance which minimizes efficacy of substance.
Thus, there is a need for an improved device for applying a flowable adhesive material to a surface such that a user can apply a unitized discrete controlled dose accurately and thereby avoid (i) overuse and waste of the adhesive material or (ii) underuse and decreased efficacy of the material.
The foregoing needs are met by a device according to the invention for applying controlled and accurate doses of a flowable adhesive material to a surface. The device includes a tubular body and a plunger. The body has a wall defining a cavity, and the body has a first open end and an opposite second end having a dispensing orifice. A flowable adhesive material is contained in the cavity of the body filled between the dispensing orifice and the first end. The plunger has an outer sleeve dimensioned for surrounding at least a section of the body and an inner pushing structure dimensioned for axial movement in the cavity of the body. The device has means for indexed positioning of the second end of the body and an inner end of the inner pushing structure of the plunger relative to each other to provide controlled doses of the flowable adhesive material such that the controlled unitized doses of the flowable adhesive material may be applied to the surface when the plunger (also called the “holder”) is moved toward the body by a user.
An end of the outer sleeve of the plunger may be outwardly flaring to provide for a shield for the user's hand and a good grip. The second end of the body may have an end wall having a concave inner surface, and the inner end of the pushing structure of the plunger may have a convex outer surface that substantially conforms to the concave inner surface of the end wall of the second end of the body such that substantially all material is extruded from the body and out of the dispensing orifice. The inner end of the pushing structure may comprise a piston head.
The means for indexed positioning of the body and plunger during use may comprise a guide track and a guide pin that travels stepwise in the guide track. One of the guide track and the guide pin may be located on an outer surface of the body, and the other of the guide track and the guide pin may be located on an inner surface of the outer sleeve of the plunger. In one form, the guide pin is located on an inner surface of the outer sleeve of the plunger, and the guide track is located on the outer surface of the body. In another form, the means for indexed positioning comprises a guide track and a guide pin that travels stepwise in the guide track wherein the guide pin is located on an inner surface of the body and the guide track is located on the plunger. In another form, the means for indexed positioning comprises a guide track and a guide pin that travels stepwise in the guide track where the guide track has a serpentine path. The guide track may include at least one resilient arm for moving the guide pin laterally along a length of the guide track after the guide pin has been stopped in the guide track at the end of a dose. Specifically, each resilient arm moves the guide pin laterally after the guide pin contacts a shoulder at a perimeter region of the guide track. In another form, the means for indexed positioning comprises a guide track and a guide pin that travels stepwise in the guide track wherein the guide pin is movably located on an outer surface of the body and the guide track is located on the plunger wherein the guide track comprises a plurality of aligned throughholes dimensioned to receive the guide pin. The means for indexed positioning provides for delivery of controlled accurate unitized doses of material as the body and plunger move in an axial indexed stepwise controlled manner in relation to each other.
The device may further include means for creating a sound for audible feedback as the guide pin travels stepwise in the guide track. In one form, the means for creating a sound comprises a click pin and at least one click slot. The click pin may be located on the outer sleeve of the plunger and each click slot may be located in the wall of the body. Each click slot allows the click pin to spring inward to cause a clicking sound from contacting the body as the guide pin travels stepwise in the guide track. Each clicking sound is synchronized with the end of each dose of the material.
In one form, the pushing structure of the plunger includes a pushing frame and a separate piston head, and the pushing frame engages the piston head. In another form, the pushing structure includes a separate piston, and an inner surface of the pushing structure engages the piston.
The body may include a shroud that extends away from the second end of the body and surrounds the dispensing orifice. The shroud restricts the outward spread of the material inside the shroud when the material is applied to a surface. The bottom edge of the shroud provides for contact with the surface on which the material is being dispensed, and the distance between the dispensing orifice and the bottom edge of the shroud defines the thickness and diameter of flowable material dispensed onto the surface.
In another aspect, the invention provides a refill for the device for dispensing controlled doses of a flowable material wherein the device includes a plunger having an outer sleeve with an inwardly directed guide pin. The refill includes a tubular body having a wall defining a cavity. The body has a first open end and an opposite second end having a dispensing orifice, and the body has a guide track in an outer surface of the body. In the refill, a flowable material is contained in the cavity, and a piston head is optionally located in the first open end of the cavity depending on the structure of the plunger. The guide track is structured such that the guide pin travels stepwise in the guide track. The flowable material may be an adhesive gel suitable for application to a hard surface that can be cleaned with water washing over the hard surface, or an adhesive gel suitable for application to a toilet, urinal, bathtub or shower. The guide track may have a serpentine path, and may include at least one resilient arm for moving the guide pin laterally along a length of the guide track. The body may include a shroud that extends away from the second end of the body and surrounds the dispensing orifice. The first open end of the body and/or the dispensing orifice may be covered with a removable seal, and preferably the dispensing orifice is circular for ease of application of a circular disc of material to a surface.
In yet another aspect, the invention provides a refill for the device for dispensing controlled doses of a flowable material wherein the device includes a plunger having an outer sleeve with a guide track comprising throughholes in the outer sleeve of the plunger. The refill includes a tubular body having a wall defining a cavity. The body has a first open end and an opposite second end having a dispensing orifice. The body has a guide pin movably attached to an outer surface of the body, and a flowable material in the cavity. The guide pin is dimensioned to be received in the throughholes of the guide track.
In one example embodiment, the dispensing device has a body, a plunger, a piston head and a cap. The body has two sets of tracks at a certain pitch to give the desired dosage. Each set has two tracks of different configuration, first, a serpentine track with shoulders to stop the plunger when the plunger is pushed, and second, a channel to provide an audible feedback (a click) to the user. The body also has a piston head inserted within the body such that a convex outer surface of the piston head is in phase with a concave shape of the inside of the dispensing orifice. In addition to the dispensing orifice, there is a shroud around the orifice with a flat contact surface that comes in contact with the hard surface to apply against. The distance between the contact surface of the shroud and the dispensing orifice is important in defining the diameter and thickness of the material applied to the surface, which in turn defines length of life and efficacy of the material applied to the surface. The piston head is structurally configured to accept a pushing structure of the plunger. The plunger has two sets of three spring loaded pins that are spaced twice the pitch of the guide tracks such that when the plunger is pushed against the hard surface, one set of pins mates with the corresponding set of tracks, giving 3×2=6 doses of material.
In a second example embodiment, the dispensing device has a body, a plunger, a piston head and a cap. The plunger has a guide track at a certain pitch to give the desired dosage. The guide track has a serpentine track with six shoulders to stop a guide pin on the body when the plunger is pushed. When an inner sleeve of the plunger is inserted in the body, the guide pin enters the guide track. The user will butt the contact surface of the shroud of the body against the hard surface and push the plunger causing the guide pin to move and stop at the next shoulder in the guide track to complete one dose.
In a third example embodiment, the dispensing device has a body, a plunger, a piston head and a cap. The outer sleeve of the plunger has six throughholes at a pitch to give the desired dose of material. When an inner sleeve of the plunger is inserted in the body, a spring loaded pin of the body snaps into a first throughhole in the plunger. The user will butt the contact surface of the shroud of the body against the hard surface and push the plunger while pressing the head of the pin and causing the pin to move and snap into the next throughhole to complete one dose.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood upon consideration of the following detailed description, drawings, and appended claims.
a-10g are cross-sectional views similar to
a-13c are detailed views showing the movement of the guide pin in the guide track of the means for indexing the plunger on the flowable material containing body of the dispensing device.
a-15d shows the steps in using the dispensing device to apply a controlled dose of a cleaning, disinfecting and/or fragrancing adhesive gel to the inner surface of a toilet bowl.
a-20f are detailed views showing the movement of the guide pin in the guide track of the means for indexing the plunger on the flowable material containing body of the dispensing device of
Like reference numerals will be used to refer to like parts from Figure to Figure in the following description of the drawings.
Referring first to FIGS. 1 to 13c, there is shown one embodiment of a dispensing device 10 according to the invention. The device 10 can accurately apply controlled unitized doses of a flowable adhesive material to a surface. In one example use, the device 10 may be used for applying controlled doses of a cleaning, disinfecting and/or fragrancing flowable adhesive gel to the surface of a toilet, urinal, bathtub, shower or the like. One example gel is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,667,286, which is incorporated herein by reference along with all other documents cited herein. Such a gel has a viscosity of at least 15,000 mPa. The device 10 includes a tubular body 20 that contains the flowable material and a plunger 60 that pushes the flowable material from the tubular body 20 onto the surface. A cap 54 covers the tubular body opening during storage. Typically, all of the components of the device 10 are constructed from a polymeric material such as translucent or opaque polyethylene or polypropylene.
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The device 10 is structured such that accurate unitized discrete controlled doses of the flowable material can be applied to a surface. In this regard, the device includes means for indexed stepwise positioning of the end 26 of the body 20 and the inner end wall 88 (and attached piston head 50) of the inner pushing structure 80 of the plunger 60 relative to each other to provide controlled doses of the flowable adhesive material. One component of the means for indexed stepwise positioning is a guide track 30 in the outer surface 23 of the body 20. Another component of the means for indexed stepwise positioning is the set of guide pins 72a, 72b and 72c described above.
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After a user engages the guide pin 72c in the converging open section 31 of the guide track 30 as shown in the left hand illustration in
Referring to the right hand illustration of
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When the user the desires to apply a fourth dose, the user moves the plunger in direction D (see
In order to provide additional indication that a single dose has been applied to a surface, the device 10 also includes a means for creating a sound when the guide pins 72a or 72b or 72c contact the first shoulder 34 or the second shoulder 37 in the guide track 30. Looking at
As the user moves the plunger 60 in direction D such that the guide pin 72c moves in the first straight section 32 of the guide track 30, the click pin 69c rides over slat 42 of the wall 21 of the body 20. When the guide pin 72c contacts the first shoulder 34 as described above, the click pin 69c has completed riding over the slat 42 and moves into click slot 43 and thereafter contacts the outer surface 23 body 20 creating a clicking sound (see
As the user moves the plunger 60 in direction D such that the guide pin 72c moves in the second straight section 35 of the guide track 30, the click pin 69c rides over slat 44 of the wall 21 of the body 20. When the guide pin 72c contacts the second shoulder 37 as described above, the click pin 69c has completed riding over the slat 44 and moves into click slot 45 and thereafter contacts the outer surface 23 body 20 creating a clicking sound (see
As the user again moves the plunger 60 in direction D, the click pin 69b rides over slat 42 of the wall 21 of the body 20. When the click pin 69b has completed riding over the slat 42, it moves into click slot 43 and thereafter contacts the outer surface 23 body 20 creating a clicking sound (see
As the user again moves the plunger 60 in direction D, the click pin 69b rides over slat 44 of the wall 21 of the body 20. When the click pin 69b has completed riding over the slat 44, it moves into click slot 45 and thereafter contacts the outer surface 23 body 20 creating a clicking sound (see
As the user again moves the plunger 60 in direction D, the click pin 69a rides over slat 42 of the wall 21 of the body 20. When the click pin 69a has completed riding over the slat 42, it moves into click slot 43 and thereafter contacts the outer surface 23 body 20 creating a clicking sound (see
As the user again moves the plunger 60 in direction D, the click pin 69a rides over slat 44 of the wall 21 of the body 20. When the click pin 69a has completed riding over the slat 44, it moves into click slot 45 and thereafter contacts the outer surface 23 body 20 creating a clicking sound (see
Turning now to
In the example device 10, six equal doses of the material are applied to a surface. Of course, the device 10 can be configured by way of a different guide track or guide pins to apply a different number of doses of material or to apply unitized doses of varied volume. After the body 20 is emptied of material, a user can simply obtain a refill body 20 that may be assembled to the plunger 60 as described above. The refill body 20 contains gel and optionally a piston head in the body. Typically, removable seals are provided on each end the refill to prevent loss or degradation of the gel in the refill body. Alternatively, after the body 20 is emptied of material, the entire device 10 can be discarded.
Turning now to FIGS. 15 to 20f, there is shown a second embodiment of a dispensing device 110 according to the invention. The device 110 can apply controlled unitized doses of a flowable adhesive material to a surface. In one example use, the device 110 may be used for applying controlled doses of a cleaning, disinfecting and/or fragrancing flowable adhesive gel 114 to the surface of a toilet, urinal, bathtub, shower or the like. One example gel is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,667,286. The device 110 includes a tubular body 120 that contains the flowable material 114 and a plunger 160 that pushes the flowable material from the tubular body 120 onto the surface. A cap 135 covers the tubular body opening during storage. Typically, all of the components of the device 110 are constructed from a polymeric material such as translucent or opaque polyethylene or polypropylene. A piston 150 is positioned for sealing sliding movement within the cavity 124 of the body 120. The piston 150 has an outwardly extending piston shaft 152 and a convex domed piston head 151. The piston shaft 152 ends in a bearing surface 153.
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The device 110 is structured such that unitized discrete controlled doses of the flowable material can be applied to a surface. In this regard, the device 110 includes means for indexed stepwise positioning of the end 126 of the body 120 and the plunger 160 relative to each other to provide controlled doses of the flowable adhesive material. One component of the means for indexed stepwise positioning is a guide track 176 in the outer surface 170 of the inner sleeve 169 of the plunger 160. Another component of the means for indexed stepwise positioning is the guide pin 130 of the body 120.
As shown in FIGS. 19 to 20f, the guide track 176 includes a first straight section 178, a first resilient arm 179, a first shoulder 180, a second straight section 181, a second resilient arm 182, a second shoulder 183, a third straight section 184, a third resilient arm 185, a third shoulder 186, a fourth straight section 187, a fourth resilient arm 188, a fourth shoulder 189, a fifth straight section 190, a fifth resilient arm 191, a fifth shoulder 192, a sixth straight section 193, a sixth resilient arm 194, a sixth shoulder 195, a seventh straight section 196, a seventh resilient arm 197, an eighth straight section 198, and a straight exit section 199 that extends from the eighth straight section 198 to an open end 172 of the inner sleeve 169. The first straight section 178, the first shoulder 180, the second straight section 181, the second shoulder 183, the third straight section 184, the third shoulder 186, the fourth straight section 187, the fourth shoulder 189, the fifth straight section 190, the fifth shoulder 192, the sixth straight section 193, the sixth shoulder 195, the seventh straight section 196, the eighth straight section 198, and the straight exit section 199 are configured by way of a groove in the outer surface 170 of the inner sleeve 169. The first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh curved resilient arms 179, 182, 185, 188, 191, 194, 197 are configured by way of slits that go through the inner sleeve 169.
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After a user engages the guide pin 130 in the first section 178 of the guide track 176 as shown in
When the user again moves the plunger 160 in direction D, the guide pin 130 moves in the second straight section 181 of the guide track 176 (see
It can be appreciated that the sequence described in the preceding paragraph can be repeated for movement of the guide pin 130 with respect to: (i) the third straight section 184, the third shoulder 186 and the third resilient arm 185 for providing a second dose of the flowable material, (ii) the fourth straight section 187, the fourth shoulder 189 and the fourth resilient arm 188 for providing a third dose of the flowable material, (iii) the fifth straight section 190, the fifth shoulder 192 and the fifth resilient arm 191 for providing a fourth dose of the flowable material, (iv) the sixth straight section 193, the sixth shoulder 195 and the sixth resilient arm 194 for providing a fifth dose of the flowable material, and (v) the seventh straight section 196 and the seventh resilient arm 197 for providing a sixth dose of the flowable material. Thus, the dispensing device 110 can accurately apply six unitized, controlled doses of an adhesive gel 114 to a toilet bowl in the manner described above with reference to
In the second example device 110, six doses of the material are applied to a surface. Of course, the device 110 can be configured by way of a different guide track or guide pins to apply a different number of doses of material or to apply variable volume unitized doses. After the body 120 is emptied of material, a user can simply obtain a refill body 120 with a piston 150 that may be assembled to the plunger 160 as described above. Typically, removable seals are provided on each end the refill to prevent loss or degradation of the gel in the refill body. In an alternative arrangement, the piston shaft 152 may be integral with the plunger 160 and only a domed piston head 151 may be in refill bodies.
Turning now to
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The device 210 is structured such that unitized discrete controlled doses of the flowable material can be applied to a surface. In this regard, the device 210 includes means for indexed stepwise positioning of the end 226 of the body 220 and the plunger 260 relative to each other to provide controlled doses of the flowable adhesive material 214. One component of the means for indexed stepwise positioning is a group of throughholes 268a, 268b, 268c, 268d, 268e, 268f, 268g in the outer sleeve 262 of the plunger 260. Another component of the means for indexed stepwise positioning is the inwardly movable guide pin 230 of the body 220.
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When the user again moves the plunger 260 in direction S, the guide pin 230 flexes inward and moves toward and then enters the throughhole 268b. In this manner, the throughhole 268a and the throughhole 268b provide a set distance for movement of the plunger 260 in relation to the body 220. As a result, the piston head 250, which forms the end of the pushing structure, moves the set distance in relation to the end 226 of the body 220 thereby forcing out a set amount of flowable material 214 from the orifice 228 of the body 220 and onto the surface. Because of the resistance provided by the guide pin 230 entering the throughhole 268b, the user knows to stop pressing in direction S on the plunger 260.
It can be appreciated that the sequence described in the preceding paragraph can be repeated for movement of the guide pin 230 into the throughhole 268c for providing a second dose of the flowable material, the throughhole 268d for providing a third dose of the flowable material, the throughhole 268e for providing a fourth dose of the flowable material, the throughhole 268f for providing a fifth dose of the flowable material, and the throughhole 268g for providing a sixth dose of the flowable material. Thus, the dispensing device 210 can accurately apply six unitized, controlled doses of an adhesive gel 214 to a toilet bowl in the manner described above with reference to
In the third example device 210, six doses of the material are applied to a surface. Of course, the device 210 can be configured by way of a different number of throughholes to apply a different number of doses of material or by differently spaced throughholes to apply variable volume unitized doses. After the body 220 is emptied of material, a user can simply obtain a refill body 220 with flowable material 214 and a piston head 250 that may be assembled to the plunger 260 as described above. Typically, removable seals are provided on each end the refill to prevent loss or degradation of the gel in the refill body. In an alternative arrangement, the piston head 250 may be integral with the plunger 260.
Thus, the invention provides devices for applying controlled doses of a flowable adhesive material to a surface. The devices have many advantages. For example, the device 10 provides for controlled equal unitized dosing volume by way of a plunger 60 with integrated guide pins 72a, 72b and 72c and click pins 69a, 69b, 69c, and a body 20 with integrated click slots 41, 43, 45 and guide track 30 that control indexed stepwise movement of the plunger 60. Also, by having a combination of three click pins/guide pins and two click slots/stop tracks, six doses can be achieved with the minimum length of features that would otherwise reduce the volume of gel in body. Further, the same dimensioned pin is used on both sides of the plunger 60 for the guide pins 72a, 72b and 72c and click pins 69a, 69b, 69c to allow 180 degrees rotation thereby enabling the applicator to be assembled in both orientations.
In addition, the flared end 66 of the plunger 60 acts as a feature to keep the user's hand away from toilet bowl and to provide good control and grip of the plunger 60. Also, by providing the piston head with a convex domed outer surface 51, 151, 251 substantially all of the gel is extruded out of the body 20, 120, 220 thereby avoiding waste. In addition, the “inverted syringe” operation of the device provides for more control.
Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain embodiments, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be practiced by other than the described embodiments, which have been presented for purposes of illustration and not of limitation. Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the embodiments contained herein.
The invention relates to a device for accurately applying controlled unitized doses of a flowable adhesive material to a surface. In one use, the device may be used for applying controlled doses of a cleaning, disinfecting and/or fragrancing adhesive gel to the surface of a toilet, urinal, bathtub or shower.
