DISPENSER LOW QUANTITY INDICATOR

Abstract

A dispenser apparatus comprises a container that maintains and dispenses a product. In one embodiment, a first portion of the product can have a first color and a second portion of the product can have a second color. In this embodiment, the first portion of the product is positioned relative to the second portion of the product within the container, and relative to the outlet of the container, such that a predetermined quantity of the first portion of the product exits the outlet of the container before the second portion of the product exits the outlet of the container. The second portion of the product comprises the product and a marker which changes the color of the product. The second color is visually distinguishable from the first color, and this provides the user with a visual indication that the dispenser is almost empty and needs to be replaced.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various exemplary embodiments of the apparatuses and methods are described in detail below, with reference to the attached drawing figures, in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are cross-sectional schematic representations of a container/dispenser according to embodiments herein;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are cross-sectional schematic representations of a container/dispenser having a dip tube according to embodiments herein;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are cross-sectional schematic representations of a container/dispenser according to embodiments herein;

FIGS. 7-9 are cross-sectional schematic representations of a container/dispenser having a dip tube according to embodiments herein;

FIGS. 10-12 are cross-sectional schematic representations of a container/dispenser according to embodiments herein;

FIGS. 13 and 14 are cross-sectional schematic representations of a container/dispenser having a dip tube according to embodiments herein;

FIGS. 15 and 16 are cross-sectional schematic representations of a container/dispenser according to embodiments herein;

FIGS. 17 and 18 are cross-sectional schematic representations of a container/dispenser having a dip tube according to embodiments herein; and

FIG. 19-22 are flow charts illustrating method embodiments herein.

Claims

1-5. (canceled)

6. An apparatus comprising: a container maintaining a product, said container comprising an outlet, said product comprising a first portion and a second portion; anda divider within said container separating said first portion of said product from said second portion of said product, wherein:said first portion of said product has a first color;said second portion of said product has a second color that is visually distinguishable from said first color, wherein said second portion comprises said product and a coloring agent; andsaid second portion of said product is positioned with respect to said divider and to said first portion such that said first portion of said product exits said outlet of said container before said second portion of said product exits said outlet of said container.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said coloring agent is absent from said first portion of said product.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said first portion of said product is positioned relative to said second portion of said product within said container such that substantially all of said first portion of said product exits said outlet of said container before said second portion of said product exits said outlet of said container.

9. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said container comprises one of a pressurized container and an unpressurized container.

10. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said outlet comprises one of a valve and a pump dispensing said product.

11. An apparatus comprising: a container maintaining a product, said container comprising an outlet,said product comprising a first portion and a second portion; anda divider within said container separating said first portion of said product from said second portion of said product, wherein:said first portion of said product has a first color;said second portion of said product has a second color that is visually distinguishable from said first color, wherein said second portion comprises said product and a coloring agent;said divider comprises a structure that ruptures when a predetermined quantity of said first portion of said product has exited said container; andsaid second portion of said product is positioned with respect to said divider such that said second portion of said product exits said outlet of said container after said divider ruptures.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said coloring agent is absent from said first portion of said product.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said first portion of said product is positioned relative to said second portion of said product within said container such that substantially all of said first portion of said product exits said outlet of said container before said second portion of said product exits said outlet of said container.

14. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said container comprises one of a pressurized container and an unpressurized container.

15. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said outlet comprises one of a valve and a pump dispensing said product.

16. An apparatus comprising: a container maintaining a product, said container comprising an outlet; anda sub-container within said container maintaining a coloring agent, wherein:said product has a first color;said coloring agent comprises a material that changes a color of at least a portion of said product from said first color to a second color that is visually distinguishable from said first color; andsaid sub-container comprises a structure that ruptures when a predetermined quantity of said product has exited said container.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said coloring agent is absent from said product until said sub-container ruptures.

18. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said product comprises a first portion having said first color and a second portion having said second color, and wherein said first portion of said product is positioned relative to said second portion of said product within said container such that substantially all of said first portion of said product exits said outlet of said container before said second portion of said product exits said outlet of said container.

19. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said container comprises one of a pressurized container and an unpressurized container.

20. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said outlet comprises one of a valve and a pump dispensing said product.

21. A method comprising: adding a product to a container; after said adding of said product to said container, sealing said container with a seal; and injecting a coloring agent into said container through said seal to leave a first portion of said product with a first color and a second portion of said product with a second color that is visually distinguishable from said first color, wherein said adding of said product and said injecting of said coloring agent is performed in a process wherein said first portion of said product is positioned relative to said second portion of said product within said container such that a predetermined quantity of said first portion of said product exits an outlet of said container before said second portion of said product exits said outlet of said container.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein said injecting of said coloring agent changes a color of said second portion from said first color to said second color.

23. The method according to claim 21, wherein said predetermined quantity comprises substantially all of said first portion of said product.

24. The method according to claim 21, wherein said injecting of said coloring agent avoids adding said coloring agent to said first portion of said product.

25. The method according to claim 21, wherein said adding of said product and said injecting of said coloring agent is performed to create one of a pressurized environment within said container and an unpressurized environment within said container.

26. A method comprising: adding a first portion of a product having a first color to a container;after said adding of said first portion of said product of said container, sealing said container with a seal; andinjecting a second portion of said product having a second color that is visually distinguishable from said first color into said container through said seal,wherein said second portion comprises said product and a coloring agent, andwherein said adding of said first portion and said injecting of said second portion is performed in a process wherein said first portion of said product is positioned relative to said second portion of said product within said container such that a predetermined quantity of said first portion of said product exits an outlet of said container before said second portion of said product exits said outlet of said container.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein said coloring agent changes a color of said second portion from said first color to said second color.

28. The method according to claim 26, wherein said predetermined quantity comprises substantially all of said first portion of said product.

29. The method according to claim 26, wherein said coloring agent is absent from said first portion of said product.

30. The method according to claim 26, wherein said adding of said first portion and said injecting of said second portion is performed to create one of a pressurized environment within said container and an unpressurized environment within said container.

31. A method comprising: adding a divider to a container;adding a product having a first color to said container; andadding a coloring agent having a second color that is visually distinguishable from said first color to said container such that at least a portion of said product is separated from said coloring agent by said divider,wherein said divider comprises a structure that ruptures after a predetermined quantity of said product has exited said container.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein said coloring agent changes a color of said product from said first color to said second color.

33. The method according to claim 31, wherein said adding of said product and said adding of said coloring agent is performed to create one of a pressurized environment within said container and an unpressurized environment within said container.

34. The method according to claim 31, wherein said adding of said product and said adding of said coloring agent is performed one of sequentially and simultaneously.

35. A method comprising: adding a divider to a container;adding a first portion of a product having a first color to said container; andadding a second portion of said product having a second color that is visually distinguishable from said first color to said container such that said first portion is separated from said second portion by said divider,wherein said second portion comprises said product and a coloring agent, andwherein said divider comprises a structure that ruptures after a predetermined quantity of said first portion has exited said container.

36. The method according to claim 35, wherein said coloring agent changes a color of said second portion from said first color to said second color.

37. The method according, to claim 35, wherein said predetermined quantity comprises substantially all of said first portion of said product.

38. The method according to claim 35, wherein said coloring agent is absent from said first portion of said product.

39. The method according to claim 35, wherein said, adding of said first portion and said adding of said second portion is performed to create one of a pressurized environment within said container and an unpressurized environment within said container.

40. A method comprising: adding a product having a first color to a container;adding a sub-container to said container; andadding a coloring agent having a second color that is visually distinguishable from said first color to said sub-container such that said product is separated from said coloring agent by said sub-container,wherein said sub-container comprises a structure that ruptures after a predetermined quantity of said product has exited said container.

41. The method according to claim 40, wherein said coloring agent changes a color of said product after said sub-container ruptures.

42. The method according to claim 40, wherein said adding of said coloring agent avoids adding said coloring agent to said first portion of said product.

44. The method according to claim 41, wherein said adding of said product and said adding of said coloring agent is performed to create one of: a pressurized environment within said container and said sub-container; andan unpressurized environment within said container and said sub-container.

45. The method according to claim 41, wherein said adding of said product, said adding of said sub-container, and said adding of said coloring agent are performed in any order.