Patent Grant
12133586
The present disclosure relates to a dropper package for applying and dispensing a fluid product, such as cosmetic product, pharmaceutical products etc. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a dropper package having an applicator tip for a controlled delivery of a fluid product onto the keratinous surface of the user.
In the personal and beauty care application space, dispensers are often used to dispense products used on a user's skin, such as make-up products, beauty enhancers, serums, and other liquids. In some instances, such products may be dispensed with a conventional bulb-dropper dispenser. Conventional bulb droppers generally include a flexible bulb attached to one open end of a rigid tube. To use such a device, a user may squeeze the deformable bulb and insert the opposite open end of the rigid tube into a liquid or fluid product and release the deformable bulb. Upon release of the deformable bulb, a vacuum is formed, resulting in the drawing of liquid into the ridged tube. To dispense the liquid from the rigid tube, the user may again squeeze the deformable bulb, forcing the liquid or fluid out of the rigid tube and onto a desired surface such as the user's skin, a cloth, or other substrate. Conventional bulb-droppers have also been adapted for use with containers or bottles such that the deformable bulb-dropper also includes a collar capable of being attached to a container or bottle for storage and shipping.
Many of such dropper packages include an applicator attached to a tube for drawing product from the applicator and applying product to the user's skin, hair, etc. During, use, the dropper squeezes out the product onto the applicator's surface.
U.S. patent application “US20200288842A1” discloses a dropper including a cap connectable to a bottle; a depressible actuator coupled to the cap, a shaft coupled to the depressible actuator, wherein the shaft includes a thermal tip; wherein liquid cosmetic product is introduced into an opening in the thermal tip by depressing and releasing the depressible actuator.
In such dropper packages, when the liquid product flows out, sometimes it is difficult to control the flow of the low viscosity fluid product and they may easily drip from the applicator.
Alternative approaches to such applicators are desired. So, there is a need for a dropper package that includes an applicator that retains the fluid product, avoids dripping of the fluid product during application, and provides treatment to user's skin on both a smaller and a larger application area effectively.
It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a dropper package for dispensing and applying a fluid product including a cosmetic, care, or pharmaceutical product.
It is an object of the present disclosure to provide an applicator tip that avoids dripping of the fluid product during application, offers a controlled fluid flow, is simple to use, aesthetically pleasing, and can offer massage to the keratinous surface.
Further, an applicator tip is desired which is comfortable, easier to handle and have controlled delivery onto the skin.
Accordingly there is provided a dropper package comprises a container body and a dropper assembly secured to the container body. The dropper assembly includes a cap that is connectable to the container body, a deformable bulb coupled to the cap and defining an interior chamber; a tube coupled to the deformable bulb, an applicator tip coupled to a distal end of the tube; wherein the tube has a channel that is in fluid communication with the interior chamber of the deformable bulb, the applicator tip comprises a shank portion at its upper portion and a applying member at its lower portion; wherein the shank portion is configured to connect to the tube either directly or through a connector in order to couple the applicator tip to the tube; wherein the applicator tip includes groove that extends from an upper end of the shank portion to at least along a length of the applying member of the applicator tip; the groove of the shank portion at least partially defines a dispensing channel that is in fluid communication with the channel of the tube, and wherein the dispensing channel defined by the groove terminates in a dispensing orifice formed at a proximal end of the applying member.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the dropper package comprises the container body and the dropper assembly secured to the container body. The dropper assembly includes the cap configured to be coupled to the container body when the cosmetic package is not in use. This dropper package extends along a longitudinal axis. The container body comprises a hollow reservoir for containing a fluid product including a cosmetic, care, or pharmaceutical product. The cosmetic, care or pharmaceutical product includes fluidic cosmetics, gloss, serum, skincare, under-eve cosmetics, pharmaceutical, and like products.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the dropper assembly includes a push button, the cap, an inner screw member, the deformable bulb, the tube, a connector, and the applicator tip. The tube and the applicator tip are adapted to be inserted into the container body containing the fluid product when the cap is engaged onto the container body.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an upper portion of the container body forms a neck portion and defines an opening at its upper end, The neck portion of the container body has screw threads formed on an outer peripheral surface thereof. The screw threads of the container body are configured to be screwed with the inner screw member of the dropper assembly to seal the container body. The inner screw member is provided at a lower inner side of the cap and has screw threads formed at an inner circumferential surface thereof The screw threads of the inner screw member are screwed with the screw threads of the container body to open and close the container body.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the push button is coupled to an inner upper side of the cap. The cap has an opening defined at the center of a top surface of the cap, and wherein the top surface of the cap is formed as a locking surface that surrounds the opening. When the push button is coupled to the upper inner side of the cap, the locking surface does not allow the push button to be separated from the cap. More particularly, the push button has a cylindrical upper wall and a cylindrical lower wall that is stepped out from the cylindrical upper wall. The cylindrical upper wall of the push button has a diameter lesser than the opening of the cap so that the cylindrical upper wall projects out from the opening of the cap, and the cylindrical lower wall has a diameter greater than the diameter of the opening of the cap so that the cylindrical lower wall of the push button is retained inside the cap and the push button cannot be separated from the cap.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a wiper is fitted into the opening of the container body. The wiper is preferably cylindrical including a central cavity. The wiper is attached to an inner periphery of the neck portion of the container body member. A wiper lip is formed at a lower end of the wiper through which the tube and the applicator tip enter and exit the reservoir, and the wiper lip serves to sweep off the extra product adhering to the tube, the connector, and the applicator tip. The wiper may include a plurality of incisions extending either radially or longitudinally or both.
In an embodiment, the wiper is made of plastic material. In various embodiments, the plastic material is selected from low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polyethylene (PE). In alternative embodiments, the wiper may be made of any other suitable material known in the art.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the deformable bulb is housed inside the cap, and the tube is coupled to a lower portion of the deformable bulb. The deformable bulb is preferably made of a material that is deformed by a pressing operation of the push button and then restored to its original state, in particular, natural rubber, elastomer, NBR (acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber), or silicone. The deformable bulb may be formed of one or more materials of rubber. More particularly, the deformable bulb is made of any standard appropriate oil-resistant elastic material for supporting the tube. The elastic material should exhibit a predetermined strength or elasticity and is selected from nitrile-butadiene-rubber or acrylonitrile butadiene rubber, polycarbonate, acrylic resin, or the like.
The deformable bulb is housed inside the cap such that an upper portion of the deformable bulb is located inside the push button. An upper portion of the tube is received inside the deformable bulb. The deformable bulb has a fastening groove formed in an inner side thereof at a lower portion of the deformable bulb and a locking projection is formed at an outer surface of the tube on its upper portion, and wherein the locking projection is fixedly received within the fastening groove of the deformable bulb so that the tube is not separated from the deformable bulb. More desirably, the tube is fixedly and air-tightly coupled inside to the deformable bulb.
According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the applicator tip is at a lower end of the tube. The applicator tip is designed to dispense, and apply the fluid product in a controlled manner as well as massage the user's surface. In an embodiment the applicator tip is connected to the lower end of the tube through the connector for fluid product delivery onto the user keratinous surface. Further, the tube is an elongated hollow cylinder defining a channel there through for storing a predetermined amount of fluid product from the reservoir therein. The channel may be in fluid communication with an interior chamber in the deformable bulb, with a channel formed between the connector and the applicator tip, and a dispensing orifice.
According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the applicator tip is elongated along the longitudinal axis of the dropper package. The applicator tip comprises an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion of the applicator tip is formed as a shank portion and the lower portion of the applicator tip is formed as applying member that is intended to come in contact with the skin of a user for application of the fluid product. The applying member includes at least two opposing main application faces. The applicator tip further includes a groove on its outer surface that extends from a proximal end of the shank portion to at least a length of the applying member on one of the two opposing main application faces. The groove is formed in the middle of the one of the two opposing main faces.
Further, the applying member includes two opposing main application faces namely a first application face and a second application face. The first and second application faces are intended to come into contact with the skin during the use of the applicator tip in order to apply the fluid product. The groove is formed in the middle of the first application face of the applying member. The applicator tip further includes two lateral sides, namely a first lateral side and a second lateral side. The first lateral side is concavely curved along a longitudinal direction of the applying member and the second lateral side is convexly curved along the longitudinal direction of the applying member.
Furthermore, the applying member has two ends, namely a proximal end adjacent to the tube, and a distal end that is a free end. Both proximal and distal ends have a rounded shape, the radius of curvature of the proximal end being larger than the radius of curvature of the distal end.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the first lateral side is concave and the second lateral side is convex. The radius of curvature of the first lateral side is greater than the radius of curvature of the second lateral side. This makes it possible to obtain good convergence of the lateral sides towards the free distal end of the applying member.
Further, the applying member has a rounded cross-section extending along at least a major portion of the length of the applying member to provide increased comfort during application. The rounded cross-sections of the applying member has a circular shape, an oval, or an elliptical shape with or without a notch that is defined by the groove. The rounded cross-sectional area of the applying member extends along substantially the entire longitudinal length of the applying member. The rounded cross-sectional area extends from a large cross-sectional area adjacent proximal/upper end portion, e.g., large cross-sectional area a on the applying member, to a relatively small cross-sectional area adjacent the distal/lower end portion, e.g. small cross-sectional area on the applying member. The applicator tip may have any suitable shape and size as long as it has a groove that extends from the shank portion to at least a length of the applying member on one of the two opposing main application faces.
The applying member has axially asymmetrical smooth curves, that is to say, may be selected to have an offset towards one side, having a shape like a mango. The body of the applying member tapers towards the distal end of the applying member and wherein a distal end portion of the applying member makes an angle with the longitudinal axis of the package. In other words, the distal end of the applying member does not lie on the longitudinal axis and is off-centered.
Further, the outer edges of the groove form a curved profile that is curved longitudinally. The groove tends accumulate the product dispensed out from the tube to prevent dripping of the fluid product from the applying member. In alternate embodiments, the groove may be of any shape and may or may not extend rectilinearly on the applying member. Further, the groove preferably may have a C-shaped or a J-shaped cross-sectional shape. In alternate embodiments, the groove may have any other desirable cross-sectional shape.
In a preferred embodiment, the applicator tip is made of a thermal material that can retain heat and provide a cooling sensation upon contact with the user's skin. The thermal material preferably is ceramic. In alternate embodiments, the applicator tip may be made of glass, steel, ceramic, stone, or metals, wherein the metal is selected from but not limited to silver, stainless steel, platinum, aluminum, gold, copper, brass, nickel, and alloys thereof in yet another alternate embodiment, the applicator tip may not be made from a thermal material and may be made of a plastic or any other suitable material known in the art. Further, in exemplary embodiment, the applying member is free from flocking. However, in alternate embodiments, the applying member may be at least partially flocked.
According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the groove extends over more than a quarter of the width of the applying member as well as over more than a quarter of its length. This dimension is suitable for storing the fluid product. The groove is spaced from the distal end of the applying member. It has a maximum depth on the applying member of dimension such that it is easier to empty the groove on contact with the skin. The maximum depth of the groove on the applying member is less than 3 mm, preferably between 1 mm to 2.5 mm. The dimensions of the groove can be chosen as a function of the quantity of fluid product which it is desired to have optionally retained. Preferably, the dimensions of the groove and of the applying member are the following, the maximum width of the groove on the first application face, measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the applicator tip, is between 1 mm and 4 mm, and preferably between 2 mm and 4 mm, the maximum length of the groove on the first application face, measured along the longitudinal axis of the applicator tip is between 5 mm and 12 mm, and preferably between 6 mm and 10 mm. The maximum width of the applying member, measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the applicator tip on one of the two opposing main application face is between 5 mm and 15 mm, and preferably between 7 mm and 10 mm, the length of the applying member, measured along the longitudinal axis of the applicator tip, is between 10 mm and 18 mm, and preferably between 11 mm and 15 mm. The maximum thickness of the applying member, measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the applicator tip from one of the two opposing main application faces to other of the two opposing main application faces is between 5 mm and 15 mm, and preferably between 7 mm and 10 mm.
Further, the shank portion of the applicator tip is cylindrical and includes a protrusion structure on an outer periphery for coupling with the connector,
According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the connector includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion and the lower portion both are cylindrical. The upper portion has a diameter lesser than the diameter of the lower portion of the connector. The upper portion of the connector is coupled to a lower portion of the tube and the lower portion of the connector is coupled to a shank portion of the applicator tip. The connector is hollow that defines a channel to allow the fluid product to flow through it. The fluid product can flow in and discharge out from the longitudinal channel of the tube through the channel of the connector.
Further, the connector includes at least one coupling groove and one coupling protrusion, wherein the at least one coupling groove is provided on an inner circumferential surface of the lower portion, and the coupling protrusion is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the upper portion of the connector. Additionally, both the coupling groove and protrusion can be constructed of any diameter and depth. Further, the connector may be of any shape or include various structures.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the applicator tip may be secured to the connector, for example, by a press-fit, snap-fit, adhesive, and/or engagement by one or more engagement features or by any other means of engagement known in the art. In the exemplary embodiment, the shank portion of the applicator tip includes at least one coupling protrusion that is received in the at least one coupling groove present on the inner circumferential surface of the lower portion of the connector, in order to snap couple the applicator tip with the connector.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the tube includes at least one coupling groove formed on an inner periphery near the lower end portion of the tube. Further, the coupling protrusion present on the upper portion of the connector is received and fitted into the coupling groove of the tube for coupling the connector to the tube. In various embodiments, the connector may be secured to the tube by a press-fit, snap-fit, adhesive, and/or engagement by one or more engagement features or by any other means of engagement known in the art.
According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the groove in the shank portion creates an inner gap between an inner side of a lower portion of the tube and the shank portion, and wherein the inner gap creates a dispensing channel between the tube and the shank portion. The dispensing channel terminates in the dispensing orifice formed at the proximal end of the applying member. The dispensing orifice is thus partially defined the connector and partially by an interface between the shank portion and the applying member of the applicator tip. The fluid product in the longitudinal channel of the tube is in fluid communication with the channel formed at the upper portion of the connector and with the dispensing channel.
Intake of the fluid product inside the dispensing channel as well as the release of the fluid product is done through the dispensing orifice of the dropper assembly. Further, the fluid product released from an orifice of the applicator tip is held within the groove so that it can be applied to the skin of the user.
While using, when the push button is pressed slowly towards its lowest position, it causes the deformable bulb to deform reducing the interior volume of the chamber of the deformable bulb and ready the dropper assembly for drawing fluid product out of the container body. Releasing the push button allows the chamber of the deformable bulb to return to its original volume and shape, drawing the fluid product into the dispensing orifice and up into the channel in the tube through the dispensing channel and the channel of the connector. To dispense the drawn-in product, when the channel of the tube is already filled with a predetermined quantity of fluid, in that case, the push button is pressed slowly towards its lowest position, causing the deformable bulb to deform as a result the fluid product discharges out in a controlled manner from the dispensing orifice on the applicator tip. More particularly, when pressure is applied by the squeezing action to the deformable bulb, the fluid product in the tube is forced to dispense out through the dispensing orifice via dispensing channel for application to the user's skin. The fluid product released from the dispensing orifice comes directly onto the groove of the applicator tip that prevents the fluid product from dripping and wasting.
A dropper package according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure may comprise an applicator tip that is directly connected to the tube without the use of an intermediate connector.
The container body that defines a reservoir for filling with fluid may be made of a rigid material like glass, metal, hard plastic, or any other material known in the art. However, in alternate embodiments, the container body is made of glass material. The container body material is non-reactive with the fluid product stored in the reservoir. In other implementations, the container body may be made of virtually any other material that is non-reactive or resistant to the fluid product being dispensed, such as various metals, plastics, glass, composites, or the like.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the cosmetic package, is of an elongated cylindrical configuration. However, in alternate embodiments, the cosmetic package, may be of an elongated square, polygonal configuration, oval, triangular, heart, or any other configuration known in the art.
According to an embodiment, the cap may be made of a rigid material like metal, hard plastic, or any other material known in the art. However, in alternate embodiments, the cap may be made of a rigid thermoplastic material like acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS); polyethylene (PE); polypropylene (PP), or any other material known in the art.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the connector is made of plastic, wherein the plastic may be selected from the following list: thermoplastic materials; polyethylene (PE) polyethylene terephthalate (PET); polypropylene (PP); this list not being limiting. In an alternate embodiment, the connector can be made of a material selected from plastic, steel, and metal.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the tube, is made of plastic, wherein the plastic may be selected from the following list: thermoplastic materials; polyethylene (PE); polyethylene terephthalate (PET); polypropylene (PP); this list not being limiting. In an alternate embodiment, the tube, can be made of a material selected from glass, metal, steel, or plastic.
The present disclosure is not limited to, the broadest in accordance with the basic idea disclosed herein. It should be interpreted as having a range. Skilled artisans may implement the pattern of the non-timely manner by combining, replacement of the disclosed embodiments shape, this would also do not depart from the scope of the disclosure. In addition, those skilled in the art may readily change or modify to the disclosed embodiments, based on the present specification, such changes or modifications also belong to the scope of the present disclosure will be apparent.
A more complete appreciation of the present disclosure and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
As shown throughout the drawings, like reference numerals designate like or corresponding parts. While illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure have been described and illustrated above, it should be understood that these are exemplary of the disclosure and are not to be considered as limiting. Additions, deletions, substitutions, and other modifications can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the present disclosure is not to be considered as limited by the foregoing description.
Throughout this specification, the terms “comprise,” “comprises,” “comprising” and the like, shall consistently mean that a collection of objects is not limited to those objects specifically recited.
In the description of embodiments of the disclosure disclosed herein, any reference to direction or orientation is merely intended for convenience of description and is not intended in any way to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Relative terms such as “proximal,” “distal,” “lower,” “upper,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” “above,” “below,” “up,” “down,” “top” and “bottom” as well as derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description only and do not require that the package be constructed or operated in a particular orientation unless explicitly indicated as such.
Referring to
Referring back to
A wiper 132 is fitted into the opening 211 of the container body 200, as seen in
In an embodiment, the wiper 132 is made of plastic material. In various embodiments, the plastic material is selected from low-density polyethylene LDPE), polyethylene (PE) or any other suitable material.
Further, as shown in
The deformable bulb 125 is housed inside the cap 120 such that an upper portion of the deformable bulb 125 is located inside the push button 110. An upper portion of the tube 121 is received inside the deformable bulb 125. The deformable bulb 125 has a fastening groove 155 formed on an inner side thereof at a lower portion of the deformable bulb 125 and a locking projection 160 is formed at an outer surface of the tube 121 on its upper portion, and wherein the locking projection 160 is fixedly received within the fastening groove 155 of the deformable bulb 125 so that the tube 121 is not separated from the deformable bulb 125. More desirably, the tube 121 is fixedly and air-tightly coupled inside to the deformable bulb 125.
As seen in
Referring to
As shown in
As shown in
The first lateral side 126c is concave and the second lateral side 126 is convex. In the illustrated embodiment, the radius of curvature of the first lateral side 126c is greater than the radius of curvature of the second lateral side 126d. This makes it possible to obtain good convergence of the lateral sides 126c, 126d towards the free distal end 126f of the applying member 126.
As shown in
The applying member 126 has axially asymmetrical smooth curves, that is to say, may be selected to have an offset towards one side, having a shape like a mango, as seen in
Further, as shown in
In the present embodiment, the applicator tip 127 is made of a thermal material that can retain heat and provide a cooling sensation upon contact with the user's skin. The thermal material preferably is ceramic. In alternate embodiments, the applicator tip 127 may be made of glass, steel, ceramic, stones, or metals, wherein the metal is selected from but not limited to silver, stainless steel, platinum, aluminum, gold, copper, brass, nickel, and alloys thereof. In yet another alternate embodiment, the applicator tip 127 may not be made from a thermal material and may be made of a plastic or any other suitable material known in the art. Further, in exemplary embodiment, the applying member 126 is free from flocking. However, in alternate embodiments, the applying member 126 may be at least partially flocked.
As seen in
Referring to
Referring to
Further, the connector 122 includes at least one coupling groove 210 and one coupling protrusion 350, wherein the at least one coupling groove 210 is provided on an inner circumferential surface of the lower portion 326, and the coupling protrusion 350 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the upper portion 325 of the connector 122. Additionally, both the coupling groove 210 and protrusion 350 can be constructed of any diameter and depth. Further, the connector 122 may be of any shape or include various structures.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the applicator tip 127 may be secured to the connector 122, for example, by a pess-fit, snap-fit, adhesive, and/or engagement by one or more engagement features or by any other means of engagement known in the art,. In the exemplary embodiment, referring to
Referring to
Further as seen in FIGS, 11 and 12, the dispensing channel 310 is formed by an inner gap between the inner side of the lower portion 326 of the connector 122 and the surface of groove 450 extending on the shank portion 128. The dispensing channel 310 terminates in the dispensing orifice 150 formed at the proximal end 126e of the applying member 126. The dispensing, or 150 is thus partially defined the connector 122 and partially by an interface between the shank portion 128 and the applying member 126 of the applicator tip 127. The fluid product in the longitudinal channel 330 of the tube 121 is in fluid communication with the channel 320 formed at the upper portion 325 of the connector 122 and with the dispensing channel 310.
Intake of the fluid product inside the dispensing channel 310 as well as the release of the fluid product is done through the dispensing orifice 150 of the dropper assembly 300. Further, the fluid product released from an orifice 150 of the applicator tip 127 is held within the groove 450 so that it can be applied to the skin of the user.
Whole in use, when the push button 110 is pressed slowly towards its lowest position, it causes the deformable bulb 125 to deform reducing the interior volume of the chamber 111 of the deformable bulb 125 and ready the dropper assembly 300 for (hawing fluid product out of the container body 200. Releasing the push button 110 allows the chamber 111 of the deformable bulb 125 to return to its original volume and shape, drawing the fluid product into the dispensing orifice 150 and up into the channel 330 in the tube 121 through the channel 310, the channel 320 of the connector 122. To dispense the drawn-in product, when the channel 330 of the tube 121 is already filled with a predetermined quantity of fluid, in that case, the push button 110 is pressed slowly towards its lowest position, causing the deformable bulb 125 to deform as a result the fluid product discharges out in a controlled manner from the dispensing orifice 150 on the applicator tip 127. More particularly, when pressure is applied by the squeezing action to the deformable bulb 125, the fluid product in the tube 121 is forced to dispense out through the dispensing orifice 150 via dispensing channels 310 and 320 for application to the user's skin. The fluid product released from the dispensing orifice 150 conies directly onto the groove 450 of the applicator tip 127 that prevents the fluid product from dripping and wasting.
The container body 200 that defines a reservoir 201 for filling with fluid may be made of a rigid material like glass, metal, hard plastic, or any other material known in the art. However, in alternate embodiments, the container body 200 is made of glass material. The container body material is non-reactive with the fluid product stored in the reservoir 201. In other implementations, the container body 200 may be made of virtually any other material that is non-reactive or resistant to the fluid product being dispensed, such as various metals, plastics, glass, composites, or the like.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the cosmetic package 100, 1000 is of an elongated cylindrical configuration. However, in alternate embodiments, the cosmetic package 100, 1000 may be of an elongated square, polygonal configuration, oval, triangular, heart, or any other configuration known in the art.
According to an embodiment, the cap 120 may be made of a rigid material like metal, hard plastic, or any other material known in the art, However, in alternate embodiments, the cap 120 may be made of a rigid thermoplastic material like; acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS); polyethylene (PE); polypropylene (PP), or any other material known in the art.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the connector 122 is made of plastic, wherein the plastic may be selected from the following list: thermoplastic materials; polyethylene (PE); polyethylene terephthalate (PET); polypropylene (PP); this list not being limiting. In an alternate embodiment, the connector 122 can be made of a material selected from plastic, steel, and metal.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the tube 121, 1121 is made of plastic, wherein the plastic may be selected from the following list: thermoplastic materials; polyethylene (PE); polyethylene terephthalate (PET); polypropylene (PP); this list not being limiting. In an alternate embodiment, the tube 121, 1121 can be made of a material selected from glass, metal, steel, or plastic.
It will be understood that: the foregoing is only illustrative of the principles of the disclosure, and that various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. For example, the shapes and/or sizes of various components can be different from the shapes and sizes shown herein. As another example, the materials used for various components can be different from those mentioned specifically herein.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20140023425 | Bonnin | Jan 2014 | A1 |
| 20170079407 | Chen | Mar 2017 | A1 |
| 20170238673 | Caulier | Aug 2017 | A1 |
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| 20200288842 | Maurin et al. | Sep 2020 | A1 |
| 20220087396 | Bianco | Mar 2022 | A1 |
| 20220338608 | Kingswell | Oct 2022 | A1 |
| 20230255339 | Zheng | Aug 2023 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20230276921 A1 | Sep 2023 | US |
