Patent Application
20080223884
The above-identified invention involves the field of a material dispensing devices in general and specifically relates to a cosmetic dispensing device.
The present invention involves the field of dispensing devices in general and specifically relates to a method and device for dispensing an approximately measured amount of material. According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, the device comprises a bristled brush and a conical sifter enclosed within a reservoir container. According to another embodiment of this invention the brush is integrated with a closure element. According to another embodiment of this invention, the reservoir container is translucent. According to another embodiment of this invention, brush is rotatable. According to a preferred embodiment, the invention dispenses power. According to another preferred embodiment, the invention is a cosmetic dispensing device.
The present invention solves the long-standing problem of the need for a dispensing device capable of providing a controlled amount of material onto an applicator device.
Dispensing devices are well known in general and cosmetic dispensing devices are well known in particular. Such devices facilitate the application of a wide variety of materials including liquids, powers and gels. Devices describing integral applicator means are described as are devices having drop-wise means for distribution.
A number of problems arise in the prior art devices, including difficulties in dispensing measured amounts of the material to be applied. This can be important whether the material is a cosmetic powder, a medicinal application or a valuable material, which must be used sparingly and cannot be wasted. Many solutions to such difficulties have been described, which require the user to take action in measuring or controlling the dispensing of the required material and monitoring the amount of material used.
The present invention provides distinct advantages over the prior art and solves numerous problems described and understood in the field.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a material dispenser comprising: (a) a container body having an open container body top end and a closed container body bottom end, wherein the container body is capable of storing a volume of material; (b) a sifter body having a sifter body top end and a sifter body bottom end, wherein the sifter body top end spans the open container body top end; (c) a dispenser cover having a bottom inner cover side and a top outer cover side, manually removable relative to the open container body top end and capable of closing the open container body top end; and (d) an applicator assembly having an applicator assembly top end and an applicator assembly bottom end and an applicator means, wherein the applicator assembly top end is connected to the bottom inner cover side of the dispenser cover, and wherein the applicator assembly bottom end is connected to an applicator means capable of extending into the container body through the open container body top end when the dispenser cover is positioned over the open container body top end of the container body.
The present invention provides a material dispenser comprising: (a) a container body having an open container body top end and a closed container body bottom end, wherein the container body is capable of storing a volume of material; (b) a sifter body having a sifter body top end and a sifter body bottom end, wherein the sifter body top end spans the open container body top end; (c) a dispenser cover having a bottom inner cover side and a top outer cover side, manually removable relative to the open container body top end and capable of closing the open container body top end; and (d) an applicator assembly having an applicator assembly top end and an applicator assembly bottom end and an applicator means, wherein the applicator assembly top end is connected to the bottom inner cover side of the dispenser cover, and wherein the applicator assembly bottom end is connected to an applicator means capable of extending into the container body through the open container body top end when the dispenser cover is positioned over the open container body top end of the container body.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the provided container body is cylindrical. The present invention also contemplates numerous other shapes and forms for the provided container body, including square, rectangular, ovoid, generally spherical and polygonal.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the container body top end is threaded. Threading of the container body top end may be achieved by numerous means well known in the art. According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, the outside of the container body top end is threaded. According to an alternative embodiment of this invention, the insider of the container body top end is threaded. Alternative embodiments utilize other attaching means for connecting the container body top end to a dispenser cover such as friction means, snap means and other means well known in the art.
According to still another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sifter body is conical. The present invention also contemplates numerous other shapes and forms for the provided sifter body, including square, rectangular, ovoid, generally spherical and polygonal. According to a preferred embodiment, the shape and form of the provided sifter body generally matches the shape and form of the provided container body and generally fits therein. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sifter body bottom end comprises a plurality of openings capable of transmitting there through material from the container body to the sifter body. According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, the diameter of the openings is sufficiently small to restrict the volume of material transmitted.
According to a most preferred embodiment, the sifter body top end spans the open container body top end. According to another preferred embodiment of this invention the sifter body bottom end is narrower than the sifter body top end, thereby compressing and focusing the distal tip of the applicator means at the sifter body bottom end. In this way the distal tip of the applicator means can accumulate a measured amount of material transmitted to the sifter body bottom end through the plurality of openings at the sifter body bottom end. The measured amount of material is related to the available area and volume at the sifter body bottom end.
According to still another embodiment of the present invention, the inner cover side of the dispenser cover is threaded. Threading of the dispenser cover may be achieved by numerous means well known in the art. According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, the inner cover side of the dispenser cover is threaded. According to an alternative embodiment of this invention, the outer cover side of the dispenser cover is threaded. Alternative embodiments utilize other attaching means for connecting the container body top end to the dispenser cover such as friction means, snap means and other means well known in the art.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the applicator means is a brush. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the applicator means is a rod. According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the applicator means is a dropper.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the applicator means is capable of rotation in a plane perpendicular to the axis between the applicator assembly top end and the applicator assembly bottom end. There are numerous means described in the art, which may be used to achieve the rotational property described by the present invention such as rotational bearings, ball bearings, reduced friction material, hydrodynamic material, groove differential design, lubrication and the like. According to a preferred embodiment, the applicator means rotates independently of the dispenser cover.
According to still yet another embodiment, the sifter body is removable. Further, according to another embodiment, the applicator is removable. Even further, according to another embodiment, outer cover side further comprises a handle. Even further still, according to another embodiment, the container body is comprised of transparent material. According to this preferred embodiment, the user can visualize the amount of material present in the container body. According to another embodiment, however, the container body is comprised of translucent material. Such an embodiment may be preferred in the case where the material present in the container body is light sensitive and the translucent material comprising the container body reduces the transmission of light through the container body to amounts non-destructive to the material. According to still another embodiment of this invention, the container body is comprised of opaque material. Such an embodiment may be preferred wherein the material present in the container body must be protected entirely from light. According to another embodiment, the container body may be made of material such as plastic, glass, fiberglass, composite, metal and ceramic. According to a certain embodiment the container body may be formed of such matter as to restrict release of gas, liquid, solid, powder material into the environment. According to another such embodiment, the matter shall restrict release of light, heat and radioactive energy into the environment.
According to still yet a further embodiment of the present invention, the material dispenser is further comprising a body collar, positioned between the sifter body and the container body top end. According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, the body collar confirms the position of the sifter body within the container body. According to an embodiment of this invention, the body collar comprises a top body collar end and a bottom body collar end. According to still another embodiment, the top body collar end is threaded. Threading of the top body collar may be achieved by numerous means well known in the art. According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, the outside of the container top body collar is threaded. According to an alternative embodiment of this invention, the inside of the top body collar is threaded. Alternative embodiments utilize other attaching means for connecting the top body collar to a dispenser cover such as friction means, snap means and other means well known in the art.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the material dispenser further comprises a washer positioned on the dispenser cover bottom inner cover side. The present invention also contemplates integration of a interior liner positioned within the container, capable of facilitating flow of container material. According to an alternative embodiment of this invention, the liner is translucent. According to another alternative embodiment of this invention, the liner is opaque and protects the material from lights. According to still another alternative embodiment, the liner is heat resistant, and protects the material from temperature changes.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the container further comprises a snap in fitment capable of locking the dispenser cover assembly in place.
Turning now to the figures.
The container body open top end 101 has a smaller diameter than the closed bottom end 102 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. The open top end 101 has a larger diameter than the closed bottom end 102 according to another preferred embodiment of the invention. According to still another preferred embodiment of the invention, the open top end 101 has the same diameter than the closed bottom end 102. According to still another embodiment, the open top end 101 is threaded. It is specifically contemplated that the container body may be comprised of a wide variety of geometric shapes. It is further specifically contemplated that the container body may be comprised of a wide variety of materials including but not limited to plastic, acrylic, glass, metal, ceramic, and fiberglass.
According to one embodiment, a container body attachment band facilitates the placement of the sifter body within the container body. Material to be dispensed is contained within the container body as a reservoir, but is largely outside the sifter body. The container body attachment band effectively seals the container body “reservoir” within the container body, but outside the sifter body. Accordingly, material may pass into the sifter body only through the plurality of sifter body openings. The diameter of the sifter body openings as well as the number and placement of sifter body openings is varied to control the flow of material.
This invention may be embodied in other forms or carried out in other ways without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present disclosure is therefore to be considered as in all respects illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended Claims, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency are intended to be embraced therein.
The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/863,745 filed on Oct. 31, 2006, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60863745 | Oct 2006 | US |
