Patent Application
20210268530
The present invention relates to pump dispensers for household products. In particular, examples of the present invention relate to an intake boot which may be applied to the intake tube of pump dispensers to aid in dispensing viscous fluids such as lotions and creams.
Many toiletries such as lotions or creams are non-Newtonian fluids. These fluids do not dispense well from pump dispensers when the dispenser bottle is nearing empty. In many instances, a significant amount of product remains in the dispenser bottle when the pump begins to draw air from the container. For more expensive designer toiletries, the amount of product left in the bottle when it becomes difficult to dispense the product can be a significant cost.
Non-limiting and non-exhaustive examples of the present invention are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings. Unless otherwise noted, the drawings have been drawn to scale. Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of various examples of the present invention. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of the present invention.
It will be appreciated that the drawings are illustrative and not limiting of the scope of the invention which is defined by the appended claims. The examples shown each accomplish various different advantages. It is appreciated that it is not possible to clearly show each element or advantage in a single figure, and as such, multiple figures are presented to separately illustrate the various details of the examples in greater clarity. Similarly, not every example need accomplish all advantages of the present disclosure.
In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one having ordinary skill in the art that the specific detail need not be employed to practice the present invention. In other instances, well-known materials or methods have not been described in detail in order to avoid obscuring the present invention.
In the above disclosure, reference has been made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific implementations in which the disclosure may be practiced. It is understood that other implementations may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. References in the specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an example embodiment,” etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, such feature, structure, or characteristic may be used in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described. The particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable combination and/or sub-combinations in one or more embodiments or examples. It is appreciated that the figures provided herewith are for explanation purposes to persons ordinarily skilled in the art.
As used herein, “adjacent” refers to near or close sufficient to achieve a desired effect. Although direct contact is common, adjacent can broadly allow for spaced apart features.
As used herein, the singular forms “a,” and, “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
As used herein, the term “substantially” refers to the complete or nearly complete extent or degree of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. For example, an object that is “substantially” enclosed would mean that the object is either completely enclosed or nearly completely enclosed. The exact allowable degree of deviation from absolute completeness may in some cases depend on the specific context. However, generally speaking the nearness of completion will be such as to have the same overall result as if absolute and total completion were obtained. The use of “substantially” is equally applicable when used in a negative connotation to refer to the complete or near complete lack of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. For example, a composition that is “substantially free of” particles would either completely lack particles, or so nearly completely lack particles that the effect would be the same as if it completely lacked particles. In other words, a composition that is “substantially free of” an ingredient or element may still actually contain such item as long as there is no measurable effect thereof.
As used herein, the term “about” is used to provide flexibility to a number or numerical range endpoint by providing that a given value may be “a little above” or “a little below” the number or endpoint.
As used herein, a plurality of items, structural elements, compositional elements, and/or materials may be presented in a common list for convenience. However, these lists should be construed as though each member of the list is individually identified as a separate and unique member. Thus, no individual member of such list should be construed as a de facto equivalent of any other member of the same list solely based on their presentation in a common group without indications to the contrary.
Dimensions, amounts, and other numerical data may be expressed or presented herein in a range format. It is to be understood that such a range format is used merely for convenience and brevity and thus should be interpreted flexibly to include not only the numerical values explicitly recited as the limits of the range, but also to include all the individual numerical values or sub-ranges encompassed within that range as if each numerical value and sub-range is explicitly recited. As an illustration, a numerical range of “about 1 to about 5” should be interpreted to include not only the explicitly recited values of about 1 to about 5, but also include individual values and sub-ranges within the indicated range. Thus, included in this numerical range are individual values such as 2, 3, and 4 and sub-ranges such as from 1-3, from 2-4, and from 3-5, etc., as well as 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, individually.
Turning now to
The pump dispenser 10 is shown with a few ounces of product 18 remaining in the bottle 14. The illustrated product 18 is a lotion or moisturizing cream. These products 18 are typically non-Newtonian fluids which behave as Bingham plastics that do not flow until a sufficient pressure is applied to them. Accordingly, most do not self-level under the force of gravity. Additionally, bottles 14 are manufactured with a concave indentation 46 at the bottom which forms a convex projection in the interior of the bottle 14. This indentation 46 ensures that the bottle 14 does not rock while resting on a flat surface. The supply tube 42 is spaced above the indentation 46. When the level of the product 18 is reduced, dispensing the product 18 results in withdrawal of the product 18 immediately around the supply tube 42 while leaving product around the perimeter of the bottle 14. Once air enters the supply tube 42, the product 18 typically remains as shown and ceases to be dispensed. This often occurs with about one to three ounces of product 18 remaining the bottle 14. For inexpensive lotions in a larger bottle, about two or three ounces of the product 18 may remain. This may be about five to ten percent of the bottle. More expensive designer lotions and creams are often sold in smaller quantities and smaller bottles 14. For these products, one ounce of product 18 remaining in the bottle may be about ten to twenty percent of the product. Waste of this product can be a significant economic cost while use of the product is now inconvenient and dissatisfying.
Referring now to
The intake boot 50 includes a body 54 with a first body section 58, a second body section 62, and a third body section 66. A lumen 70 extends lengthwise through the body 54 and is open to each end of the body. The body 54 changes diameter along its length. The proximal end 74 of the body is a larger diameter than the distal end of the body 78. The lumen 70 also changes diameter along its length and the proximal end of the lumen 70 is a larger diameter than the distal end of the lumen 70. The body 54 includes a first step 82 between the first body section 58 and the second body section 62 and a second step 86 between the second body section 62 and the third body section 66. The body 54 and the lumen change diameter at the steps 82, 86; reducing diameter towards the distal end of the body 54.
The body 54 and the lumen 70 taper along their length. The first body section 58 is larger in diameter at its proximal end and smaller in diameter at its distal end. The second body section 62 is larger in diameter at its proximal end and smaller in diameter at its distal end. The third body section 66 is larger in diameter at its proximal end and smaller in diameter at its distal end. The section of the lumen 70 through the first body section 58 is larger in diameter at its proximal end and smaller in diameter at its distal end. The section of the lumen 70 through the second body section 62 is larger in diameter at its proximal end and smaller in diameter at its distal end. The section of the lumen 70 through the third body section 66 is larger in diameter at its proximal end and smaller in diameter at its distal end.
The intake boot 50 is preferably formed from an elastomer such as a thermoplastic elastomer. The intake boot 50 may be formed from santoprene. The intake boot 50 is flexible and the example intake boot 50 is formed from a material having a Shore A hardness which is between about 40 and about 60, and preferably having a Shore A hardness of about 60.
In use, the distal end 78 of the intake boot 50 remains in the corner of the bottle 14. The product 18 remaining in the bottle 14 can be easily moved into this corner of the bottle 14 by tapping the bottle against a surface. In contrast, this product is not easily extracted by a simple supply tube 42 because the supply tube is positioned above the convex projection formed in the bottom of the bottle 14 and tapping the bottle 14 will not position the product 18 in a position where it is retrieved by the supply tube. The side port 90 helps draw product into the intake boot 50 and ensures that the lumen 70 is not blocked against the side of a bottle 14. The intake boot 50 allows a user to dispense nearly all of a thick fluid such as a lotion or cream from a pump dispenser easily. Product waste is eliminated and the user experience is improved.
The above description of illustrated examples of the present invention, including what is described in the Abstract, is not intended to be exhaustive or to be limiting to the precise forms disclosed. While specific examples of the invention are described herein for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible without departing from the broader scope of the present claims. Indeed, it is appreciated that specific example dimensions, materials, etc., are provided for explanation purposes and that other values may also be employed in other examples in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.
The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/983,454, filed Feb. 28, 2020, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62983454 | Feb 2020 | US |
