Patent Application
20090202288
A. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for covering an article with a coating material. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a dispenser for a coating material that is applied as a liquid or as a powder to the exterior of an article, either directly by the dispenser, or indirectly by an applicator associated with the dispenser.
B. Background of the Invention
Many are the situation in which an individual is required to cover an article with a coating material that takes the form of a liquid or a powder.
Polishes, cleansers, sanitizers, lubricants, and protective coverings are routinely applied to the exterior of familiar articles, such as furniture, work surfaces, vehicles, machinery, and implements of diverse types ranging from surgical equipment to kitchen utensils and garage tools. Lotions, oils, sunscreens, and antiseptics are regularly used as coating materials to cover the skin or hair of persons or the hides and fur of pets and livestock.
Often such processes are wasteful of the coating material employed. The utility of large quantities of coating material is squandered, when that coating material becomes dispersed onto the hands or clothing of a user or is distributed inadvertently into the air or onto incidental surfaces in the environment in which the application of the coating material is undertaken. Applicators saturated by or laden with coating material are frequently discarded after use, without consideration being given to the loss occasioned thereby of potentially useful coating material.
The present invention facilitates the covering of articles with liquid and powdered coating materials. In so doing, the present invention contributes to user convenience, workplace orderliness, and the conservation of coating materials.
Thus, in one aspect of the present invention, a dispenser for a coating material is provided that segregates from the general environment the article being covered by the coating material.
The present invention provides such a dispenser in which any coating material not retained on the article being covered is conserved for future use.
In another aspect of the present invention, an applicator of a coating material becomes saturated or laden with a coating material in a confined environment, and coating material not retained on the applicator is conserved for future use.
The present invention also provides for the secure confinement of a supply of a coating material before and following use of the coating material to cover an article or to saturate or laden an applicator.
In some embodiments of the present invention, secure confinement is provided for an applicator of a coating material, and the applicator may, therefore, be reused on successive occasions.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the following description, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by the practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
Reference will be made to embodiments of the present invention, examples of which will be illustrated in the accompanying figures. These figures are intended to be instructive, rather than limiting. Although the present invention is generally described in the context of those embodiments, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the particulars observable in those embodiments.
In the following description of embodiments of the present invention, various specific details are set forth to facilitate an understanding of the teachings of the present invention. The present invention may, however, be practiced without some or all of those details. The embodiments of the present invention illustrated or described herein may be incorporated into a number of different systems and may find utility in a wide variety of circumstances. Structures and devices shown are illustrative of exemplary elements of embodiments of the present invention and are not included so as to afford detractors pretexts by which to attempt to obscure any broad teachings of the present invention. Furthermore, connections between components within the figures are not intended to be limited to direct connections. Rather, connections between components may be modified, reconfigured, or otherwise changed by the interposition of intermediary components.
The use in the specification of the expressions “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” indicates that a particular feature, structure, characteristic, or function described in connection with the inventive embodiment being discussed is included in at least one embodiment incorporating at least some of the teachings of the present invention. The use of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various locations in the specification does not necessarily constitute a plurality of references to a single embodiment of the present invention.
The coating material in dispenser 10 may be a powder or a liquid, depending on the intended purpose thereof. Applicator 18 becomes saturated by a liquid coating material or laden with a powdered coating material while applicator 18 is inside of dispenser 10. Coating material in excess of that deemed useful in or on applicator 18 is removed from applicator 18 by user 12 by wringing or shaking applicator 18 while applicator 18 is yet enclosed by applicator 18. Any such excess coating material that is shed from applicator 18 in this manner is accordingly captured inside dispenser 10 and retained there for possible future use. In the context of maintaining the exterior of vehicle 14, the coating material in dispenser 10 is likely to be a liquid, such as a cleaner, a polish, or a wax.
The structure and use of dispenser 10 will be more thoroughly understood by reference to
Although applicator 18 can assume a variety of non-planar configurations and shapes, as seen in
Dispenser 10 assumes the from of a receptacle 24 having a closed end 26 and an open end 28 remote therefrom through which applicator 18 can be entered into or removed from dispenser 10. Receptacle 24 may be endowed with various degrees of rigidity depending on the nature of the coating material to be dispensed therefrom. Nonetheless, as presented in
A sidewall, such as sidewall 30, in a coating material dispenser incorporating teachings of the present invention takes the form of a unitary sleeve of material that is permanently sealed at one end thereof to create a sack with an open end. Alternatively, the sidewall may also take the form of a front wall and a back wall that are contiguous portions of a unitary sheet of material. The sheet of material is folded between the front wall and the back wall, bringing the front wall and the back wall into a parallel abutment, following which a sealing attachment is effected between various of the opposed peripheral edges of the front wall and the back to produce a receptacle, such as receptacle 24, having a closed end and an open end remote therefrom. In both constructions, the walls of receptacle 24 will be made of the same material possessed of the identical physical properties, such as flexibility, vapor permeability, and opacity.
Alternatively, as shown in
A short flap 52 of back wall 42 extends beyond upper edge 40 of front wall 32 at open end 28 of receptacle 24. Nonetheless, flap 52 does not detract from what is characterized above as a substantially coextensive relationship existing between front wall 32 and back wall 42 in a dispenser incorporating teachings of the present invention. Similarly, portions of front wall 32 other than at open end 28 of receptacle 24 can be larger or smaller in extent than the correspondingly opposed portions of back wall 34, and front wall 32 and back wall 34 while still being substantially coextensive within the context of the present invention. For example, back wall 42 may be a relatively rigid planar substrate to which a larger, but very flexible front wall 32 is secured to form an expansive open-ended pouch mounted on a supportive backing.
A continuous attachment seal 54 is created between front wall 32 and back wall 34 along a contiguous series of respective edges of each. Attachment seal 54 can be created by continuous heat or ultrasonic tacking, by adhesive attachment, by continuous stitching, or by uninterrupted crimping.
Thus, first side edge 34 of front wall 32 is sealed to first side edge 44 of back wall 42, while lower edge 36 of front wall 32 is sealed to lower edge 46 of back wall 42, and second side edge 38 of front wall 32 is sealed to second side edge 48 of back wall 42. An upper end 58 of first side edge 34 of front wall 32 and an upper end 60 of first side edge 44 of back wall 42 together form a first end 56 of attachment seal 54. Similarly, an upper end 64 of second side edge 38 of front wall 32 and an upper end 66 of second side edge 44 of back wall 42 together form a second end 62 of attachment seal 54. In this manner, defined between first end 56 and second end 62 of attachment seal 54 is an opening 68 at open end 28 of receptacle 24 through which access is securable to an interior space within receptacle 24 between front wall 32 and back wall 34.
For circumstances like those served by dispenser 10, front wall 32 and back wall 42 of sidewall 30 of receptacle 24 are made from thin thermoplastic sheeting and are about 5.0 inches wide and 9.0 inches tall. By way of example, composite sheeting that includes a 0.4 millimeters thick layer of aluminum sandwiched between respective 2.0 millimeter and 1.5 millimeter layers of high density polypropylene provides a secure moisture barrier for coating material 70 and functions well as front wall 32 and back wall 42. Also useful as front wall 32 and back wall 42 are any of various types of biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate polyester film, such as Mylar® brand film manufactured by DuPont Teijin Films U.S. Ltd. of Hopewell, Va., U.S.A. Gusset 126 is installed in receptacle 24 about 4.0 inches from closed end 26 thereof. Optionally, coating material 70 and applicator 18 are provided in receptacle 24 by the manufacturer. Applicator 18 is a square absorbent pad of approximately 4.0 inches on a side.
The portion of receptacle 24 adjacent to closed end 26 thereof houses a supply of a coating material 70 that is shown, by way of example, to be a liquid. A selectively resealable closure 72 is provided at open end 28 of receptacle 24. Using closure 72, receptacle 24 may be sealed at the discretion of a user to prevent the escape of coating material 70, even when receptacle 24 is inverted from the orientation thereof shown in
The interior structure of receptacle 24 of dispenser 10 will be explored initially relative to the elevation cross-sectional views of receptacle 24 presented in
Traversing opening 68 on the abutting interior surfaces of front wall 32 and back wall 42, respectively, are the mechanically-cooperating elements of closure 72. These include an elongated, resilient, female first closure element 72a on the interior surface of back wall 42 and, on the interior surface of front wall 32, an elongated, resiliently-mating, male second closure element 72b that appears only in
As applicator 18 is withdrawn from receptacle 24 between first closure element 72a and second closure element 72b, applicator 18 can be rid of unwanted excess coating material 70 by imposing mutually opposed compressive forces on the outside of receptacle 24 in the vicinity of the elements of closure 72. Such exemplary compressive forces are illustrated in
According to one aspect of the present invention, a dispenser of coating material, such as dispenser 10, is provided with a barrier within the receptacle of the dispenser intermediate the closed end and the open end of the receptacle. The barrier is traversable by the coating material, thereby separating the space interior of the receptacle into a reservoir for the coating material at the closed end of the receptacle and a receiving pocket at the open end of the receptacle. Accordingly, by way of example and as shown to best advantage initially in
In a first embodiment of an interior construction aspect of a dispenser incorporating teachings of the present invention, a barrier, such as barrier 74, is constructed by staking together opposed portions of the walls of receptacle 24. Thus, barrier 74 includes a plurality of spaced-apart staking sites 76 at which the interior of front wall 32 is secured directly to the interior of back wall 42. If front wall 32 and back wall 42 are made in whole or in part from a thermoplastic material, staking is accomplished by thermally or ultrasonically discontinuously heat-staking front wall 32 and back wall 42 together through the exteriors thereof. If formed in this manner, barrier 74 is considered to be integrally formed with front wall 32 and back wall 42 of receptacle 24.
Arising between adjacent of staking sites 76 in barrier 74 are apertures 78 at which the interior surface of front wall 32 is free of the opposed, abutting interior surface of back wall 42. Where staking sites 76 are regularly-spaced, apertures 78 are of a single size. Alternatively, and yet within the teachings of the present invention, staking sites 76 may be irregularly-spaced, in which case apertures 78 will accordingly be of various sizes. Between seal 54 and each of the staking sites 76 at the remote ends of barrier 74 is formed a de facto aperture 78a that has a size that is not determined by the spacing of staking sites 76 within barrier 74.
The range of size appropriate in apertures 78 is governed at the lower extreme and at the upper extreme by differing considerations.
At the lower extreme, apertures 78 are large enough to permit coating material 70 to traverse barrier 74 in either direction, whether coating material 70 is a liquid as shown in
Barrier 74 thus functions as a sieve capable of separating coating material 70 from applicator 18 and from any article in receptacle 24 being covered with coating material 70. In this manner, a barrier, such as barrier 74, in a dispenser incorporating teachings of the present invention separates the space within receptacle 24 into a reservoir 80 for coating material 70 at closed end 26 of receptacle 24 and a receiving pocket 82 for applicators and articles at open end 28 of receptacle 24. Reservoir 80 is so sized and configured as to comfortably house an intended supply of coating material 70, which is entered into receptacle 24 through open end 28 thereof. Thereafter, coating material 70 traverses barrier 74 to reside in reservoir 80. Receiving pocket 82 is so sized and configured as to enclose a coating material applicator, such as applicator 18, or any article that is inserted through open end 28 into receptacle 24 to be covered by coating material 70.
A closer examination of the structure of barrier 74 will be undertaken in relation to
As staking sites 76 are of substantially similar construction, each staking site 76 has a corresponding, substantially equal length L76. Nonetheless, it is yet within the teachings of the present invention that a barrier, such as barrier 74, be constructed as needed of staking sites 76 having a plurality of distinct corresponding lengths. Staking sites of differing lengths may be arranged within barrier 74 in any sequence needed or preferred.
The physical extent of each staking site 76 is fixed once the manufacture of barrier 74 has been completed. While the sizes of apertures 78 are characterized above as being substantially similar, apertures 78 are capable of being varied individually in shape and in cross-sectional area during use, depending on the flexibility of each of front wall 32 and back wall 42 and the nature of any stresses applied to the structure of barrier 74 during use.
By way of example, typical such compressive stresses are represented in
External forces, such as the compressive stresses represented by arrows E, produce two related forms of deformation in the walls that surround and define aperture 78. For the purpose of an analysis of those deformations, a point P at the right end of the staking site 76 in
First, the compressive stresses represented by arrows E cause the staking site 76 the end of aperture 78 opposite from point P to move toward point P. Front wall 32 and back wall 42 undergoing a compressive strain S32-42 that is oriented generally parallel to the longitudinal extent of barrier 74. Correspondingly, aperture 78 is compressed longitudinally, assuming an actual length X78 that is less than nominal length L78 of aperture 78.
Second, in accommodating compressive strain S32-42, medial portions of front wall 32 between staking sites 76 bulge outwardly in a direction normal to the direction of compressive strain S32-42, exhibiting a shear strain S32. Medial portions of back wall 42 between staking sites 76 also bulge outwardly, but in the opposite direction, exhibiting a shear strain S42. The relative amount of shear strain S32 and shear strain S42 depends on the relative flexibility of front wall 32 and back wall 42, respectively As a result of shear strain S32 and shear strain S42, the inner surfaces of front wall 32 and back wall 42 separate, no longer remaining in abutment, and aperture 78 assumes a non-zero actual width Y78 measured normal to actual length X78 thereof.
Consequently, aperture 78 then exhibits the positive cross-sectional area of an open passageway. When that cross-sectional area is sufficiently large, coating material 70 will traverse barrier 74 in either direction through aperture 78, depending on the gravitational orientation of receptacle 24. For fluid coating materials of low viscosity, the deformation of aperture 78 into an open passageway may not be required to enable that coating material to traverse barrier 74 in either direction through aperture 78.
Barrier 84 is constructed by adhering together the interior surfaces of opposed portions of the sidewall 30 of receptacle 83. Thus, barrier 84 includes a plurality of spaced-apart adhesion sites 86 at which a quantity of an adhesive 87 is secured to and between the interior surface of front wall 32 and the interior surface of back wall 42. Adhesion sites 86 have equal associated lengths L86 that correspond to the length of adhesive 87 deposited there. Nonetheless, it is yet within the teachings of the present invention that a barrier, such as barrier 84, may be constructed as needed of adhesion sites 86 that exhibit a plurality of distinct corresponding lengths. Adhesion sites of differing lengths may be arranged within barrier 84 in any sequence needed or preferred.
Each deposition of adhesive 87 has a designer-controllable, non-zero thickness that contributes to maintaining the interior surface of front wall 32 in a spaced-apart relationship relative to the interior surface of back wall 42.
Arising between adjacent adhesion sites 86 in barrier 84 are apertures 88 at which the interior surface of front wall 32 is free of the opposed interior surface of back wall 42. Where adhesion sites 86 are regularly-spaced, apertures 88 are of a single size. Alternatively, and yet within the teachings of the present invention, adhesion sites 86 may be irregularly-spaced, in which case apertures 88 will be of various sizes. The range of the size of apertures 88 is governed at the lower extreme and at the upper extreme by the differing considerations discussed above relative to barrier 74 in
The physical extent of each adhesion site 76 is fixed once the manufacture of barrier 84 has been completed. While the sizes of apertures 88 are characterized above as being substantially similar, apertures 88 are capable of being varied individually in shape and in cross-sectional area during use, depending on the flexibility of each of front wall 32 and back wall 42 and the nature of the stresses applied to the structure of barrier 84 during use.
By way of example, compressive stresses are represented in
When external forces, such as the compressive stresses represented by arrows E, are applied to the structure of a typical aperture 88 in barrier 84, two related deformations occur in the walls that surround and define aperture 88. For the purpose of an analysis of those consequent deformations, a point P at the right end of adhesive 87 at the left adhesion site 86 in
First, the compressive stresses represented by arrows E cause the adhesion site 76 at the end of aperture 88 opposite from point P to move toward point P. Front wall 32 and back wall 42 undergo a compressive strain S32-42 that is oriented generally parallel to the longitudinal extent of barrier 84. Correspondingly, aperture 88 is compressed longitudinally, assuming an actual length X88 that is less than nominal length L88 of aperture 88.
Second, in accommodating compressive strain S32-42, medial portions of front wall 32 between adhesion sites 76 bulge outwardly in a direction normal to the direction of compressive strain S32-42, exhibiting a shear strain S32. Medial portions of back wall 42 between adhesion sites 76 bulge outwardly in the opposite direction, exhibiting a shear strain S42. The relative amount of shear strain S32 and shear strain S42 depends on the relative flexibility of front wall 32 and back wall 42, respectively As a result of shear strain S32 and shear strain S42, the inner surface of front wall 32 is no longer separated from the interior surface of back wall 42 only by a distance equal to nominal width M88 of aperture 88. Front wall 32 and back wall 42 bulge outwardly in opposite directions, and aperture 88 assumes an actual width Y88 measured normal to actual length X88 thereof that is greater than nominal width M88 of aperture 88.
Aperture 88 then exhibits a positive cross-sectional area that is likely to be greater than the nominal cross-sectional area of aperture 88 set forth above. When that cross-sectional area is sufficiently large, a coating material will traverse barrier 84 in either direction through aperture 88, depending on the gravitational orientation of receptacle 83. For fluid coating materials of low viscosity and for powdered coating materials comprised of very fine particles, the deformation of aperture 88 into an enlarged, open passageway may not be necessary to permit that coating material to traverse barrier 84 in both directions through aperture 88. consequent deformations, a point P at the right end of adhesive 78 at the left adhesion site 86 in
First, the compressive stresses represented by arrows E cause the adhesion site 76 at the end of aperture 88 opposite from point P to move toward point P. Front wall 32 and back wall 42 undergo a compressive strain S32-42 that is oriented generally parallel to the longitudinal extent of barrier 84. Correspondingly, aperture 88 is compressed longitudinally, assuming an actual length X88 that is less than nominal length L88 of aperture 88.
Second, in accommodating compressive strain S32-42, medial portions of front wall 32 between adhesion sites 76 bulge outwardly in a direction normal to the direction of compressive strain S32-42, exhibiting a shear strain S32. Medial portions of back wall 42 between adhesion sites 76 bulge outwardly in the opposite direction, exhibiting a shear strain S42. The relative amount of shear strain S32 and shear strain S42 depends on the relative flexibility of front wall 32 and back wall 42, respectively As a result of shear strain S32 and shear strain S42, the inner surface of front wall 32 is no longer separated from the interior surface of back wall 42 only by a distance equal to nominal width M88 of aperture 88. Front wall 32 and back wall 42 bulge outwardly in opposite directions, and aperture 88 assumes an actual width Y88 measured normal to actual length X88 thereof that is greater than nominal width M88 of aperture 88.
Aperture 88 then exhibits a positive cross-sectional area that is likely to be greater than the nominal cross-sectional area of aperture 88 set forth above. When that cross-sectional area is sufficiently large, a coating material will traverse barrier 84 in either direction through aperture 88, depending on the gravitational orientation of receptacle 83. For fluid coating materials of low viscosity and for powdered coating materials comprised of very fine particles, the deformation of aperture 88 into an enlarged, open passageway may not be necessary to permit that coating material to traverse barrier 84 in both directions through aperture 88.
Barrier 94 is constructed by alternate-side offset-staking together the interior surfaces of opposed portions of sidewall 30 of receptacle 93. Thus, barrier 94 includes a plurality of spaced-apart staking sites 96 at which the interior surface of front wall 32 is secured directly to the interior surface of back wall 42, whereby barrier 94 is considered to be integrally formed with front wall 32 and back wall 42 of receptacle 24. Staking is accomplished by thermally or ultrasonically discontinuously heat-staking front wall 32 and back wall 42 together through the exteriors thereof.
Staking sites 96 have equal associated lengths L96. Nonetheless, it is yet within the teachings of the present invention that a barrier, such as barrier 94, be constructed as needed of staking sites 96 having a plurality of distinct corresponding lengths. Staking sites of differing lengths may be arranged within barrier 94 in any sequence needed or preferred.
One of the opposed the walls of receptacle 93 between each adjacent pair of staking sites 96 is longer than the other of the opposed walls between that same adjacent pair of staking sites 96. This in
Arising between adjacent of staking sites 96 of barrier 94 are apertures 98 at which the interior surface of front wall 32 is free of the opposed interior surface of back wall 42. Where staking sites 96 are regularly-spaced, apertures 98 are of a single size. Alternatively, and yet within the teachings of the present invention, staking sites 96 may be irregularly-spaced, in which case apertures 98 will accordingly be of various sizes. The range of the size of apertures 98 is governed at the lower and upper extremes by the differing considerations discussed above relative to barrier 74 in
The physical extent of each staking site 96 is fixed once the manufacture of barrier 94 has been completed. While the sizes of apertures 98 are characterized above as being substantially similar, apertures 98 are capable of being varied individually in shape and in cross-sectional area during use, depending on the nature of stresses applied to the structure of barrier 94 during use and the flexibility of each of front wall 32 and back wall 42. In view of the earlier discussion of the effects of typical of such stresses on to the structures shown in
Upon manufacture, and in the absence of such stresses, each aperture 98 has a first nominal length L98-1 that is equal to the distance between the staking sites 96 at each end of aperture 98 measured along the interior surface of the shorter of the opposed walls of receptacle 93 between that same adjacent pair of staking sites 96. As first nominal length L98-1 of aperture 98 is less than the second nominal length L98-2 of aperture 98 measured along the interior surface of the longer of the opposed walls of receptacle 93 between those same adjacent pair of staking sites 96, one side of aperture 98 bulges outwardly, and each aperture 98 exhibits a nominal width M98. Aperture 98 correspondingly then has a positive nominal cross-sectional area that is somewhat less than the product of nominal width M98 and first nominal length L98-1. When that cross-sectional area is sufficiently large, a chosen coating material will traverse barrier 94 through aperture 98 in both directions.
Barrier 104 is constructed by the same-side offset-securing together of opposed portions of sidewall 30 of receptacle 103. Thus, barrier 104 includes a plurality of spaced-apart securement sites 106 at which front wall 32 is secured to back wall 42. As shown by way of example, the securement of front wall 32 and back wall 42 at securement sites 106 is effected using a rivet 107 that passes through front wall 32 and back wall 42 at securement site 106 and urges the interior surface there of front wall 32 into sealing engagement with the interior surface of back wall 42.
Securement sites 106 have equal associated lengths L106, a dimension determined primarily by the configuration of rivet 107. Nonetheless, it is yet within the teachings of the present invention that a barrier, such as barrier 104, may be constructed as needed of securement sites 106 having a plurality of distinct corresponding lengths determined by the distinct particular size of the rivet at each securement site. Securement sites of differing lengths may be arranged within barrier 104 in any sequence needed or preferred.
Back wall 42 of receptacle 93 between each adjacent pair of securement sites 106 is longer than front wall 32 between that same pair of securement sites 106. Thus, in
Arising between adjacent securement sites 106 in barrier 104 are apertures 108 at which the interior surface of front wall 32 is free of the opposed interior surface of back wall 42. Where securement sites 106 are regularly-spaced, apertures 108 are of a single size. Alternatively, and yet within the teachings of the present invention, securement sites 106 may be irregularly-spaced, in which case apertures 108 will accordingly be of various sizes. The range of the size of apertures 108 is governed at the lower and upper extremes by the differing considerations discussed above relative to barrier 74 in
The physical extent of each securement site 106 is fixed once the manufacture of barrier 104 has been completed. While the sizes of apertures 108 are characterized above as being substantially similar, apertures 108 are capable of being varied individually in shape and in cross-sectional area during use, depending on the nature of the stresses applied to the structure of barrier 104 during use and the flexibility of each of front wall 32 and back wall 42. In view of the earlier discussion of the effects of typical of such stresses relative to the structures shown in
Upon manufacture, and in the absence of such stresses, each aperture 108 has a first nominal length L108-1 that is equal to the distance between the securement sites 106 at each end of aperture 108 measured along the interior surface of front wall 32, the shorter of the opposed walls of receptacle 103 between that same pair of securement sites 106. As first nominal length L108-1 of aperture 108 is less than the second nominal length L108-2 of aperture 108 measured along the interior surface of back wall 42, the longer of the opposed walls of receptacle 103 between that same adjacent pair of staking sites 106 bulges outwardly, and aperture 108 exhibits a nominal width M108. Aperture 98 correspondingly exhibits a positive nominal cross-sectional area that is somewhat less than the product of nominal width M108 and first nominal length L108-1. When that cross-sectional area is sufficiently large, a chosen coating material will traverse barrier 104 through aperture 108 in either direction.
A barrier that is traversable by a coating material, but impassible to an applicator of the coating material or an article being covered with the coating material, extends across the interior of receptacle 24 between non-adjacent locations along attachment seal 54. The barrier takes the form of a flexible perforated gusset 112 that is attached about the periphery thereof to front wall 32 and back wall 42 of receptacle 24. The portion of dispenser 110 interposed between gusset 112 and a viewer of
The interior structure of receptacle 24 of dispenser 110 will be explored further by reference to the cross-sectional views of receptacle 24 presented in
The range of the size apertures 114 in gusset 112 is governed at the lower and upper extremes by differing considerations. Apertures 114 are large enough to permit a coating material, be it a liquid as shown in
According to one perspective, a dispenser for a coating material, such as dispenser 110, includes a lower compartment 116 having an open upper end 118 and a closed lower end, which in
Lower compartment 116 is so sized and configured as to house an intended supply of a coating material, which is placed in receptacle 24 through open end 28 thereof and then traverses gusset 112 to reach lower compartment 116. Upper compartment 120 is so sized and configured as to enclose a coating material applicator or an article that is inserted into open end 28 of receptacle 24 and there covered by the coating material from lower compartment 116. The later situation will be illustrated and discussed subsequently herein.
Upper compartment 120 and lower compartment 116 together from a tubular structure with thin sidewalls and a closed end opposite from the upper end of upper compartment 120. When constructed of suitable flexible sidewalls, upper compartment 120 is collapsible against an applicator for the coating material, whereby excess coating material can be wrung from the applicator preparatory to removing the applicator from upper compartment 120 through the upper end thereof.
Dispenser 120 takes the form of rectangular receptacle 24 with closed end 26 and open end 28 remote therefrom. Receptacle 24 includes continuous encircling sidewall 30 that has front wall 32 and back wall 42. A continuous attachment seal 54 is created between front wall 32 and back wall 34 along a contiguous series of respective edges of each. Access to the interior of receptacle 24 is afforded by way of opening 68 between the ends of attachment seal 54. Selectively resealable closure 72 is provided at opening 68.
A barrier that is traversable by spice mixture 124, but that is impassible to meat 122, extends across the interior of receptacle 24 between non-adjacent locations along attachment seal 54. The barrier takes the form of a rigid perforated gusset 126 that is attached about the periphery thereof to front wall 32 and back wall 42 of receptacle 24. Formed through gusset 126 is a plurality of apertures 128. The interior structure of receptacle 24 of dispenser 120 will be explored further by reference to the cross-sectional views of receptacle 24 presented in
Apertures 128 in gusset 126 are large enough to permit spice mixture 124 to traverse gusset 126 in either direction. This is suggested in
Thus dispenser 120 includes a lower compartment 130 having an open upper end 132 and a closed lower end, which in
Lower compartment 130 is so sized and configured as to house an intended supply of spice mixture 124, which is placed in receptacle 24 through open end 28 thereof and then traverses gusset 126 to reach lower compartment 130. Upper compartment 134 is so sized and configured as to enclose meat 122.
Upper compartment 134 and lower compartment 130 together from a tubular structure with a closed end opposite from the upper end of upper compartment 134. When constructed of suitable flexible sidewalls, upper compartment 134 is collapsible against meat 122, whereby spice mixture 124 can be urged into the surface of meat 122 preparatory to removing meat 122 from upper compartment 120 through opening 68.
Typically, for circumstances such as those served by dispenser 120 in
The foregoing description of the present invention has been provided to enhance clarity and to promote understanding and is not intended to limit the present invention to the precise form or forms disclosed. Various modifications to the disclosed embodiments are possible without departing from the scope and equivalence correctly attributable to the appended claims.
