BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a slideable arrangement in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2B is a front view of the slideable arrangement shown in FIG. 2A.
FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the slideable arrangement in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3B is the front view of the slideable arrangement shown in FIG. 3A.
FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the slideable arrangement in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4B is a front view of the slideable arrangement shown in FIG. 4A.
FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a flexible outer portion of the slideable arrangement showing ridges.
FIG. 5B is a front view of the flexible outer portion shown in FIG. 5A.
FIG. 6A is a front view of the container showing a channel in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6B is a side view of the container shown in FIG. 6A.
FIG. 7A is an enlarged perspective view showing a tab and a plurality of notches in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7B is an enlarged front view showing the tab and the plurality of notches shown in FIG. 7A.
FIG. 8 is an illustration showing an axial slot with a seal in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is an enlarged view showing the axial slot with a sealing membrane in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10A is a side view of the container showing plurality of guides in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10B is a top view of the container shown in FIG. 10A.
FIG. 11A is a front view of the container having a non-uniform cross section in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, showing a deformable slideable arrangement.
FIG. 11B is a side view of the container shown in FIG. 11A.
FIG. 12A is a front view of the container having a non-uniform cross section in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, showing a compressible slideable arrangement.
FIG. 12B is a side view of the container shown in FIG. 12A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The present invention, in various embodiments, provides an improved container for dispensing substantially all of flowable materials in the container, including the flowable material adhering to inner walls of the container. The container of the present invention may be of any shape or cross section such as cylindrical, extruded oval, oblong and ellipsoidal. The container may be made up of a solid plastic, glass, flexible materials, or any other material. The flowable material may be highly viscous material such as toothpaste or highly fluid material such as shampoo.
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the container in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention and is designated by the reference numeral 100. Container 100 comprises a main body 102 having a hollow portion 104, where main body 102 has an inner surface 106, an outer surface 108, a dispensing end 110 and a closed end 112. Dispensing end 110 includes a dispensing outlet 114 having an aperture 116 through which the flowable material is dispensed. The container further comprises a slideable arrangement 118 positioned within main body 102 and in contact with inner surface 106 of the main body, an axial slot 120 on outer surface 108 of the main body, extending substantially along the height of main body 102, and a tab 122 connected to slideable arrangement 118, extending outwardly through axial slot 120.
Main body 102 may be of any shape or cross section and is not limited to substantially uniform cross section as shown in FIG. 1. In this embodiment, main body 102 is shown and described herein as substantially cylindrical in shape or cross section. In one embodiment, dispensing outlet 114 is a separate component of the container and is secured to dispending end 110 of main body 102. Dispensing outlet 114 may be of different types such as screw-on, flip, and click open-click close. It will be understood, however, to those skilled in the art that, in various embodiments, dispensing outlet 114 may be an integral part of main body 102. Aperture 116, in various embodiments, may be covered with a cap or some form of lid (not shown) to prevent the flowable material from leaking and to preserve freshness.
Slideable arrangement 118 is movable axially within main body 102. It divides hollow portion 104 of the main body into a filled chamber 124 and an empty chamber 126. The filled chamber is toward dispensing end 110 and holds the flowable material. The slideable arrangement, in various embodiments, may either be a single piece member or a two piece member. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, slideable arrangement 118 is a two piece member.
Tab 122 connected to slideable arrangement 118 and extending outwardly through axial slot 120 is moveable substantially along the height of main body 102. The tab, in various embodiments, may either be a single piece member or a two piece member. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, tab 122 is a single piece member.
The container of the present invention, in various embodiments, further comprises an axial slot seal 128 (shown in FIG. 8 and described below) on outer surface 108 of main body 102 that provides sealing over axial slot 120 and the portion of tab 122 adjacent to inner surface 106 of main body 102.
In operation, the flowable material is filled in filled chamber 124 with slideable arrangement 118 and tab 122 positioned near to closed end 112 of main body 102. Closed end 112 of main body 102 ensures that any amount of the flowable material that escapes from filled chamber 124 to empty chamber 126 will safely and cleanly remain within the closed end. Tab 122 is moved in the direction of dispensing end 110, causing displacement of slideable arrangement 118 axially within main body 102. The movement of tab 122 and slideable arrangement 118 together causes the flowable material held in filled chamber 124, including the flowable material which is adhered to inner surface 106 of main body 102, to flow toward dispensing end 110 and dispenses the flowable material through aperture 116 present in dispensing outlet 114. Also, in one more embodiment, closed end 112 or a portion near the closed optionally includes a one way valve that allows air into empty chamber 126 when the slideable arrangement 118 is displaced.
It will be understood, to those skilled in the art that, the flowable material in the present invention may also be dispensed by other actions such as shaking or squeezing the container. Since such actions, by themselves, do not help in scraping and dispensing the flowable material adhering to inner surface 106 of main body 102, tab 122 may be moved, at any time, to cause adhering flowable material to be dispensed as well.
FIG. 2A shows a perspective view of the slideable arrangement according to the embodiment in FIG. 1. In this embodiment, slideable arrangement 118 is two piece member and is deformable. The slideable arrangement comprises a piston 218A positioned centrally in hollow portion 104 of main body 102 and a peripheral sealing member 218B connected to piston 218A. The piston is substantially rigid and solid and is made of a material such as, for example, rubber or plastic. Peripheral sealing member 218B may be connected to piston 218A, for example, using an adhesive or glue, or through thermal welding, or through pressurized fusing, or any other conventional attaching or fusing process.
The peripheral sealing member 218B, as shown in FIG. 2B, extends substantially radially from the outer surface of piston 218A to inner surface 106 of main body 102 and helps in preventing leakage of the flowable material from filled chamber 124 to empty chamber 126. Peripheral sealing member 218B is made up of a flexible and substantially non-porous material such as a rubber-like material or any other material possessing similar properties and characteristics. The rubber-like material, for example, may be foam, butyl, silicone, nitrile, neoprene, sponge rubber, polyurethane rubber, or polyacrylic rubber.
FIG. 3A shows a perspective view of the slideable arrangement according to another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, slideable arrangement 318 is a two piece member and is compressible. Piston 318A is substantially rigid and solid and is made of a material such as, for example, rubber. Whereas, peripheral sealing member 318B is made of a, for example, sponge-like material so that slideable arrangement 318 can be moved to a narrow portion of the main body. FIG. 3B shows a front view of the slideable arrangement that is compressible.
FIG. 4A shows a perspective view of the slideable arrangement in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, slideable arrangement 418 is a single piece member and is deformable. The slideable arrangement has a rigid central portion 418A and a flexible outer portion 418B. The rigid central portion, as shown in FIG. 4B, is positioned centrally in the hollow portion of the main body and is thicker than flexible outer portion 418B. The flexible outer portion extends substantially radially from rigid central portion 418A to the inner surface of the main body and helps in preventing leakage of the flowable material from the filled chamber to the empty chamber. Rigid central portion 418A and flexible outer portion 418B are made up of a rubber-like material or any other material possessing similar properties and characteristics. The rubber-like material, for example, may be foam, butyl, silicone, nitrile, neoprene, sponge rubber, polyurethane rubber, or polyacrylic rubber. Alternatively, the slideable arrangement may be compressible in nature and made of, for example, natural sponge, synthetic sponge, or any sponge-like material.
In one embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, flexible outer portion 518B may have ridges 530. The ridges provide an enhanced sealing mechanism and also enable in scraping a greater amount of the flowable material, which has adhered to the inner surface of the main body.
FIG. 6A shows a front view of the container in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention and is designated herewith by the reference numeral 600. Each of the components of container 600 described herein with respect to FIG. 6A correspond to the respective components of container 100 described above with respect to FIG. 1 except as denoted below. Container 600 additionally comprises a channel 632 inwardly recessed from outer surface 108 of main body 102 and centrally disposed along axial slot 120. Channel 632 has a width, which is greater than the width of axial slot 120, and extends substantially along the height of main body 102. In this embodiment, tab 622 is retractable and further comprises a web portion 634 connected to slideable arrangement 118, a handle portion 636 extending outwardly through axial slot 120, and a hinge 638 connecting the web portion and the handle portion. This way, handle portion 636 can be retracted and stored in channel 632 when not in use, and extended from channel 632 when in use. Handle portion 636, shown and described in various embodiments, is retracted and stored in channel 632 toward closed end 112 direction. Depending on the requirement, however, handle portion 636 may also be retracted and stored in channel 632 toward the direction of dispensing end 110.
Channel 632 may also include a means for preventing movement of tab 622. This in turn prevents slideable arrangement 118 from sliding, unless external pressure is applied to tab 622. In this embodiment, the means for preventing movement of tab 622 comprises, for example, notches 640 as shown in FIG. 6B. As illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B, notches 640 prevent tab 622 from sliding. However, upon external pressure, tab 622 and notches 640 flex to allow tab 622 to slide.
FIG. 8 shows an illustration of axial slot 120 with axial slot seal 128 in accordance with the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. Axial slot seal 128 is preferably made of plastic or rubber and includes a slit 842 centered in axial slot 120 through which tab 122 extends outward. The axial slot seal acts as a barrier for the flowable material present in the filled chamber (not shown) and prevents any leakage of the flowable material through axial slot 120.
Alternatively in another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 9, a sealing membrane 944 over axial slot 120 is used. The sealing membrane is flexible and durable enough so as to conform or stretch, as tab 922 moves, without tearing. Sealing membrane 944 is preferably made of plastic or rubber and includes the slit (not shown) centered in axial slot 120 through which tab 922 extends outward. In another embodiment, sealing membrane 944 does not include a slit, and instead handle portion 936 is coupled to tab 922 with sealing membrane 944 situated between the two. In this embodiment, handle portion 936 remains in place and coupled with tab 922 via a channel in or around the axial slot 120, into which the handle is snapped into and slides. In this embodiment, handle portion slides in the channel in or around the axial slot, causing the tab to move, while the sealing membrane remains intact and merely flexes or conforms to any protrusions of the tab or handle.
The sealing membrane provides sealing over axial slot 120 and the portion of tab 922 adjacent to the inner surface of the main body. In this embodiment, tab 922 comprises web portion 934 connected to the slideable arrangement (not shown), handle portion 936 extending outwardly through axial slot 120 and having a pair of flanges 946 for retaining handle portion 936 with web portion 934.
FIG. 10A shows a side view of the container in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention and is designated herewith by the reference numeral 1000. Each of the components of container 1000 described herein with respect to FIG. 10A correspond to the respective components of container 600 described above with respect to FIGS. 6A and 6B except as denoted below. Container 1000 additionally comprises a plurality of guides 1048 extending between dispensing end 110 and closed end 112 of main body 102 that provide support to slideable arrangement 118, and a plurality of apertures 1050 (seen in FIG. 10B) in the slideable arrangement through which plurality of guides 1048 pass. The plurality of guides adds stability to slideable arrangement 118 as it slides. A top view of container 1000 is shown in FIG. 10B. Other embodiments are possible, for example a single central guide, or the slideable arrangement may be made thicker so as to add stability.
FIG. 11A shows a front view of the container in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention and is designated herewith by the reference numeral 1100. Each of the components of container 1100 described herein with respect to FIG. 11A correspond to the respective components of container 600 described above with respect to FIGS. 6A and 6B except as denoted below. Container 1100 comprises a main body 1102 having a non-uniform shape or cross section such as ellipsoidal, oblong, or the like. For example, main body 1102 may have a tapered neck and oblong cross section along at least some height of main body 1102. In this embodiment, dispensing outlet 1114 is an integral part of main body 1102 and slideable arrangement 1118 is deformable. Piston 1118A (seen in FIG. 11B) is substantially rigid and solid and made of a material such as, for example, rubber. Peripheral sealing member 1118B (seen in FIG. 11B) has ridges 1130 and conforms substantially to the interior shape or cross section of main body 1102. The peripheral sealing member is made up of a flexible and substantially non-porous material such as a rubber-like material or any other material possessing similar properties and characteristics. The rubber-like material, for example, may be foam, butyl, silicone, nitrile, neoprene, sponge rubber, polyurethane rubber, or polyacrylic rubber. FIG. 11B shows a side view of container 1100.
In FIGS. 11A and 11B, container 1100 with slideable arrangement 1118 in two different positions is shown. As can be seen, as tab 1122 is moved towards dispensing end 110 of the container, the peripheral sealing member is compressed to by greater degrees to conform substantially to interior shape or cross section of main body 1102. Although tab 1122 is same as tab 622, for the purpose of clarity, handle portion 1136 and hinge 1138 are not shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B.
In this embodiment, the diameter of piston 1118A is lesser than the smallest diameter of main body (designated herewith as “Dn”) 1102 and the diameter of peripheral sealing member 1118B is greater than or substantially equal to the largest diameter of main body (designated herewith as “Db”) 1102. In this way, piston 1118A may extend fully into the narrowest part of the main body, and peripheral sealing member 1118B forms a seal with the main body substantially throughout the height of main body 1102 and prevents the flowable material from flowing from filled chamber 124 to empty chamber 126, respectively.
It will be understood to those skilled in the art that many variations to different components of container 1100 are possible and not limited to the one shown and described in this embodiment. For example, dispensing outlet 1114 may be a separate component of container 1100, slideable arrangement 1118 may be a single piece member with or without ridges 1130, and tab 1122 may be connected to slideable arrangement 1118 toward dispensing end 110 or toward closed end 112.
FIG. 12A shows a front view of the container similar to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B and is designated herewith by the reference numeral 1200. In this embodiment, slideable arrangement 1218 of container 1200 is compressible. Piston 1218A (seen in FIG. 12B) is substantially rigid and solid and made of a material such as, for example, rubber. Peripheral sealing member 1218B (seen in FIG. 12B) conforms substantially to the interior shape or cross section of main body 1202 and is made of, for example, a sponge-like material. FIG. 12B shows a side view of container 1200.
The present invention, in one embodiment, may also be adapted to work with pump containers. These pump containers introduced in the background section above have a pump connected to a tube extending through the container and to closed end of the container. In this embodiment, the tube is modified so that it is telescoping in nature, i.e., the tube is collapsible on itself. In this way, as the tab is pushed to move the slideable arrangement, the tube collapses while remaining in close contact with the slideable arrangement and enables in dispensing substantially all of the flowable material present in the container.
Various embodiments of the present invention as described above enable dispensing substantially all of the flowable material in a container, including the flowable material adhering to the inner surface of the container. The invention therefore helps in mitigating the problems associated with the wastage of the flowable material.
The foregoing detailed description has set forth a few of the many forms that this invention can take. It is intended that the foregoing detailed description be understood as an illustration of selected forms that the invention can take and not as a limitation to the definition of the invention. It is only the following claims, including all equivalents that are intended to define the scope of this invention.
Patent Application
20080029552
