Patent Application
20170251785
Due to the purported negative affect of some synthesized fragrances and chemical based medicines there a burgeoning homeopathic health industry using natural sources to address basic health concerns. One such natural source of remedy is essential oil which may be used for myriad conditions, ranging from aroma therapy, or fragrances, that help relieve stress, or clear the sinus, or more vigorous regimens such as temporary relief for the symptoms of arthritis. In some cases there can be issues on how to apply the essential oil to a discrete area without, either wasting oil by putting it on an applicator, such as a cotton swab, or by placing the oil on the fingers or hand where it may be transferred to an unwanted area, such to the user's mouth or around the eyes. Essential oils are typically sold in small bottles having a cap configured to fit over a threaded neck. To control distribution, the cap may have an attached dropper, or a reduced orifice plug may be installed. In another configuration, there is a rollerball assembly press fitted within the inside diameter of the bottle neck.
The arrangement using a rollerball assembly also has disadvantages which include, a lack of uniformity of the inside diameter of the bottle neck and chemicals within many essential oils attacking plastic material used to create a rollerball assembly.
Many of the 5 ml to 15 ml bottles that are used for essential oils are manufactured using a blow molding process which creates excellent tolerances on the outside surface and the threaded portion of the neck. However, blow molding does not precisely control the inside tolerance of the bottle, and particularly, the inside diameter of the bottle neck, it is common that inside diameter of the neck varies within a single batch of bottles and the inside diameter may also be formed nonconcentric or as an oval. This problem creates issues when designing a press-fit assembly for the inside diameter of the bottle neck, if the design diameter is small, the assembly will allow leakage around the fitting or the assembly will simply fall out; if design diameter is large for the inside diameter of a particular bottle neck, the assembly may not fit, or may cause the bottle or assembly to break. In cases where the neck is nonconcentric, this may cause a press-fit rollerball assembly to not operate, or roll, due to deformation of the base material.
Both thermal plastic and thermal set materials, such as rubber, can be degraded by chemical compounds in the essential oil, particularly by D-limonene and L-limonene. This degradation may occur as “paneling” where the plastic material shrinks or collapses, or may cause an inverse effect, of swelling due to absorption of the essential oil. In other cases the essential oil will degrade plastic to a degree where oil is allowed to migrate through a fitment such as the orifice plug or cap.
A rollerball assembly typically requires precise tolerances in order to securely hold a ball within a retaining base and still allow enough clearance for the ball to roll freely and transfer liquid from the inside of the bottle to the outside surface of the ball. For the base to the retain the ball it must have a lip formed above the meridian of the rollerball and the base encapsulates greater than half of the rollerball, if the lip is allowed to contract below the meridian or expand to the diameter larger than the meridian, the rollerball will fall out.
What is needed is a rollerball assembly to precisely place essential oils, having a uniform system of attachment, and configured using materials that resist degradation by compounds within the essential oil.
The disclosure of the present invention relates to a rollerball assembly configured to fit on most standard bottle thread, having a secure easy-open cap configuration and manufactured using materials which resist chemical compounds found in many essential oils.
One embodiment of the present invention or, UNIVERSAL ROLLERBALL ASSEMBLY FOR USE WITH ESSENTIAL OILS, comprising, a base fitment, a bottle seal, a ball, a compression seal and a cap. The base fitment having an internal thread configured to mate with standard small diameter bottle thread, the base fitment having a socket formed to receive a ball and including a retaining lip formed to extend above the meridian of the ball, at least two guide ramps formed on the outside diameter of the base fitment. The guide ramps having a decline portion and capture area. The seal assembly such as a base gasket or an O-ring configured to fit between base fitment and the bottle opening. The ball configured as a rollerball fitted within the base fitment socket and movably constrained in place by the retaining lip. It is contemplated that the roller ball may be one of stainless steel, glass or a plastic material. The cap assembly is configured to cover the base fitment and having at least two locking pins, on the inside surface, configured to engage the guide ramps. A compression seal fitted on the inside of the cap and configured to form a liquid tight seal at the retaining lip of the base fitment when the cap is in place. The locking function of the cap such that, when the cap is placed over the base fitment and rollerball, the compression seal will first engage the apex of the rollerball and require the user to apply a down pressure to deform the compression seal over the ball and against the base fitment retaining lip, as the locking pins of the cap are pressed against the guide ramps, the ramps will direct downward pressure into rotation in the clockwise direction and allow the locking pins to enter into the capture areas. The compression seal also acts to bias the locking pins into the capture area of the retaining ramps. Securing the cap on the base fitment is accomplished with less than a full turn of the cap and is in part configured for easy removal with minimal twisting or, torque which that may loosen the base fitment on the bottle thread.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the base fitment is manufactured using materials selected to resist degradation by chemicals found in essential oils, particularly to resist the compounds D-lemonene and L-lemonene. In one embodiment the base fitment is manufactured using materials such as Delrin® acetal M590, Delrin® acetal M90, Delrin® 900 or a polyamide such as nylon 66 having a 30% glass fill. In another embodiment the base fitment is manufactured using a fluorinated base plastic or a polytetrafluoroethylene, such as Teflon®. In other embodiments the base fitment material is a copolymer or homopolymer plastic having a fiberglass fill. It is recognized that the above enumerated materials are “best choice” materials of any configuration of a rollerball assembly used for the distribution of essential oil, including a rollerball assembly which engages an external thread, a rollerball assembly which may be configured to be press-fit into a bottle neck or for other components used with essential oils, including but not limited to, a bottle, a jar, a vessel, a cap, a lid, a seal, or an orifice plug as commonly known the art.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the compression gasket and the base gasket are manufactured using materials selected to resist degradation by the chemical compounds D-lemonene and L-limonene, particularly, they may be manufactured using materials such as Viton®, Teflon® or fluorosilicone.
The following description of the embodiments can be understood in light of the Figures which illustrate specific aspects of the embodiments and are part of the specification. Together with the following description, the Figures demonstrate and explain the principles of the embodiments. In the Figures the physical dimensions of the embodiment may be exaggerated for clarity. The same reference numerals or word descriptions in different drawings represent the same element, and thus their descriptions may be omitted.
It is to be understood that the above mentioned arrangements are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present disclosure. Numerous modifications or alternative arrangements may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure and the appended claims are intended to cover such modifications and arrangements. Thus, while the present disclosure has been shown in the drawings and described above with particularity and detail, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications, including, but not limited to, variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use may be made without departing from the principles and concepts set forth herein.
