FR2502483A1 - APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DISPENSING LIQUID SOAP - Google Patents

Abstract

THIS CONTAINER DESIGNED FOR DISPENSING VISCOUS LIQUIDS, SUCH AS LIQUID SOAP OR OTHER BODY CARE PRODUCT, HAS A BOTTLE WITH A SIDE WALL 22, PREFERABLY WITH AN OVAL CROSS SECTION, IS ELASTIC AND HAS AN END CAP 30 PROVIDED WITH A VALVE WHICH, ADVANTAGEOUSLY, OPENS IN RESPONSE TO THE APPLICATION OF AN INTERNAL PRESSURE CAUSED BY A MANUAL COMPRESSION OF THE BOTTLE AND CLOSES AS SOON AS THE PRESSURE IS RELEASED. THE BOTTLE IS PROVIDED WITH A HOOK 14 WITH A HOOK WHICH CAN BE ADAPTED BY A SNAP ON ITS BOTH ENDS TO BE USED AS A STORAGE CAP OR A SUSPENSION HOOK.

Description

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DISPENSING LIQUID SOAP

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  The present invention relates, in general, to

  pients and it relates more particularly to a container which is exceptionally well suited for dispensing liquid soap, liquids for skin care or other products for body care or for household purposes. One of the main applications envisaged for this

  invention is the production of a liquid soap dispenser container

  intended to be used for showering. Using conventional soap bars in showers tends to be wasteful

  and also cause some "mess". A large amount of his-

  von is lost as a result of the spread of the shower head jet reaching the soap dish in which the soap is placed. This causes the soap to soften and make it sticky. This also causes a significant percentage of the soap to be lost, since the soap is eroded and washed away from the bread by spreading the jet of water during the shower. In addition, the slippery nature of bar soap in such

  conditions results in making them, in a frustrating way, diff-

  easy to use. They tend to "walk around" frequently.

so much on the shower floor.

  Although the use of liquid soap in a container can

  tributor with a pusher on top, can alleviate some of these problems, this job tends to create a different set of

  problems. Such containers do not usually fit

  classic soap used in shower stalls. We have to place them

  cer on the shower floor which is inconvenient.

  The present invention aims to avoid these drawbacks.

  The invention thus relates to a new and original apparatus and method for dispensing a liquid. Although this device and this process are mainly intended for dispensing liquid soap in a shower-type environment, it is considered that they should not be

  limited to such an application. However, in this application, the in-

  vention provides a structure and process for storing

  conveniently take liquid soap for shipping, mount conveniently

  a dispenser container in a shower enclosure or other

  similar facility and conveniently distribute with one hand the

liquid in the container.

  The invention thus relates in particular to a container having the shape of a bottle. The bottle is preferably constructed in

  elastic material so that the side walls can be compressed

  bottle rales to generate internal pressure inside the bottle. The bottle has a cap which has a valve. In certain embodiments of the invention, the valve

  can open in response to internal pressure caused by the compression

  bottle and close when the compressive force is released

  if we; then an air intake causes an equalization of the pressure

  inside the bottle. -

  The bottle is also fitted with a storage cap and

  suspension. In the preferred embodiment, this cap is a ca-

  hook-shaped cap which is mounted over the cap

  pope during transport and storage but which can also be attached to the bottom end of the bottle to allow the bottle to be hung, in an inverted arrangement, from the apple pipe

  shower, a shower curtain rod or any other place

appropriately.

  Such a container makes it possible to sell a product based on liquid soap.

  contained in a container forming a complete unit which

  wears the hanger as a protective cap.

  For use, the user removes the storage and hanging cap

  board, fixes it to the bottom of the bottle or container, mounts the bottle or container to any suitable location by means of the suspension cap, and the container is then ready for use. It is then used by compressing its flexible or elastic side walls to

  dispense liquid soap or other material through the valve cap.

  In some embodiments, the valve cap includes

  carries a valve which allows dispensing with one hand and which opens and closes in response to the internal pressure of the

  bottle generated by the compression action.

  Various other advantages and new elements which characterize

  the invention are set out in detail in the claims

  which are part of this patent application. However, to better understand the invention, its advantages and the goals that can be achieved

  when using it, the reader should refer to the drawings which are

  part of this application and the description relating thereto of

  certain preferred embodiments of the present invention.

  In the drawings, in all the figures of which the same references have been used to designate the same elements:

  Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus constructed

  formally to an embodiment of the present invention, this view

  showing the hanging cap hanging from a riser bar

  shower water only partially shown; Fig. 2 is an exploded view, in elevation, of the structure of FIG. 1, this view showing the embodiment of FIG. 1 in its storage or shipping configuration; Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, with parts broken away and others shown in dotted lines, this view showing the storage of the liquid and the fixing of the storage and suspension cap to the bottle in a dispensing configuration; Fig. 4 is a view of the structure of FIG. 2 which shows a

  particular type of valve structure usable in a reaction mode

  reading of the present invention; Fig. 5-is a sectional view of the structure of FIG. 4, taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4; Fig. 6 is a partial sectional view, taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

  Fig. 7 is a top plan view of a cap structure

  chon according to an embodiment of the present invention, taken ap-

  approximately along line 7-7 of FIG. 2; Fig. 8 is a top plan view of another structure of

  valve cap designed for use with the present invention

  tion; and Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the. structure of FIG. 8,

  taken approximately along line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

  Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the figures briefly described above. Good,

  that these figures and the description which follows illustrate a mode of

  preferred embodiment of the present invention, they are not intended

  in any way limit or restrict the scope of the invention.

  It will be clear to those skilled in the art that a number of modifications and changes could be made to

  the invention, as defined by the appended claims, without

  deviate in any way from the spirit and purpose of the invention

  tion. The following description is intended to explain more fully

  the invention and to facilitate its use and it is not intended to be interpreted as limiting the invention to the precise structure which has been

  shown in the drawings and is described below.

  In the drawings to which reference will be made, an apparatus has been represented.

  reil, designated by the general reference 10, to distribute a li-

  which and which, in the characteristic application of the present invention, will probably be a container used for dispensing liquid soap

  in a shower. The apparatus or container 10 comprises a container or bou-

  teille, designated by the general reference 12, to which the other elements of the apparatus of the invention object of this patent application are attached. The bottle 12 is an elongated bottle with cross section

  approximately oval. It is made of an elastic material.

  In the preferred embodiment, the material is a plastic formed from a polymer which has a sufficiently rapid memory or reaction

  to cause an immediate abrupt return of the bottle to its original form

  when you release the manual compression force. We choose

  the oval cross section to facilitate the quick-desired response.

  Although it is possible to use polyethylene and other plastics to make the bottle 12, the material currently preferred is _

  d is polyvinyl chloride (PVC) molded by blow molding.

  In an embodiment which has been constructed, polyvinyl chloride

  The nylon used was approximately 1.5 mm thick.

  The apparatus or container 10 has been shown in FIG. 1 in a dispensing position with a hanging and storage cap,

  designated by the general reference 14, fixed to the bottom of the bottle 12.

  The combined assembly formed by the inverted bottle 12 and the cap 14 is shown suspended from a part of a shower curtain support bar, designated by the reference 16 in the figure. Although the container 10 is shown hanging from a shower curtain support bar, it could also be conveniently suspended from the supply hose of the shower head, from an extension of the tap hose, from a bar

  towel holder or any other element that projects into a case

  shower box or other location.

  Fig. 2 is an exploded view in elevation which represents the

  different parts of an embodiment of the present invention.

  At the top of Fig. 2 shows the storage and suspension cap 14. The cap 14 is preferably a hollow cap constructed of an elastic plastic material. It has a fixing opening 18. In the preferred embodiments of the invention, the fixing opening has an approximately oval dimensioned shape.

  so as to adapt to the shape and dimensions of the cross-section

  side of the bottle 12. The cap 14 is provided with a lip 20 direct

  inwardly stretched inwardly around

  from the periphery of the fixing opening 18.

  In the embodiment shown, the bottle 12 has a part

  lateral king 22 with roughly approximately oval cross section-

  uniformly uniform. The oval transverse wall 22 is interrupted in the vicinity

  swimming from its top and its base by upper fixing grooves 24 and lower 26. These grooves are parts of smaller diameter of the side wall 22 which also have a generally oval shape. These grooves are dimensioned to receive the lip 20 of the cap 14 in

  a snap coupling. The cap 14 fits in by-

  abrupt latching on the top of the bottle 12 while extending elasti-

  only from above and in the groove 24. In this position, the cap

  chon covers and protects the top of the bottle 12 and its cap

  valve which has been designated by the general reference 30.

  As more particularly shown in FIG. 2, the bottle

  12 has a bottom wall 32 which extends across the transverse assembly

  side wall 22 with an oval cross section and which is placed

  created near the fixing groove 26 to close the bottle and

  form a cavity intended to contain a liquid.

  At the upper end of the bottle 12 is formed a portion of a circular cylindrical wall 34 for receiving the cap. The cap-receiving wall portion 34 is provided with means suitable for fixing a valve cap 30. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the wall portion 34 for receiving the cap carries an external thread which adapts to an internal thread of the cap

  with valve. The valve cap 30 fits over an opening or

  fice 36 formed in the bottle 12. The orifice is sealed during the storage of the bottle by the cap 30 and by the

  cap 14. An inclined upper wall 40 extends between the wall la-

  22 and the wall portion 34 for receiving the cap. The inclined wall portion 40 has an approximately frustoconical shape on the

  most of its surface. It rounds in an approximate part

  matively in the form of a circular cylinder in the vicinity of the wall portion 34 for receiving the cap. In the vicinity of the side wall, it forms one of the sides which limit the upper fixing groove 24.

  Figs. 4 to 7 represent a preferred embodiment of the

  puchon 30 with valve. The valve cap 30, as shown in these figures, comprises a threaded base 42, a storage cap 44, an interposed storage valve plug 46 and a membrane 48. A valve of this general type has been described in the patent of EU No. 4.226. 342 issued October 7, 1980. The structure shown on the

  Fig. 4 to 7 includes a closure device for the storage

  killed by storage cap 44 and storage valve shutter

  inserted 46. The storage cap 44 is an external cap, rotated

  tif. As shown in Fig. 7 it has two pre-

  arched hension 50 arranged on opposite sides of its periphery. This-

  This is intended to facilitate the rotation and understanding of the operation of the storage valve by a user. The storage cap 44 is provided with a pair of openings 52, 52 positioned on a diameter of the cap 44. The cooperating storage valve shutter 46 comprises a pair of internal openings 54, 54 positioned so as to s' align or come into coincidence with the openings 52, 52 following an appropriate rotation of the cap 44. As shown in particular

  in Fig. 5, the storage valve shutter 46 has a central portion

  raised trale 56 which fits firmly against an internal surface of the storage cap 44. It is expected that, when using the apparatus of the invention, the tap formed by the cap 44 and the shutter 46

  will be initially opened by a user and will not be closed during

  for the entire duration of use of the product unless the product is

moved or stored.

  A demand valve for distributing the liquid contained in the 5. tool 12 during normal use is formed by the membrane structure 48 mounted in the upper part of the threaded base 42. The

  diaphragm 48 e; t a generally cylindrical membrane in the-

  which a central passage 60 is formed. The central passage 60 has the shape of a circular cylinder and it has a cylindrical wall part 62. In the relaxed state, the membrane 48 has a part of the periphery of the cylindrical wall part 62 in contact with a central disc 64 . The

  membrane 48 is biased in a direction which causes this contact.

  When the compression of the bottle creates a pressure

  internal sion which acts against the membrane 48, the membrane 48 moves in a direction (down in Fig. 5) which spreads the part of

  cylindrical wall 62 of disc 64 and thus opens the valve.

  As more particularly shown in FIG. 4, the disc 64 is carried by means of three branches 66 which extend at angles of 1200. Each of the branches 66 extends from the periphery or skirt of the threaded base 42 inwards so as to join the

  disc 64. In the structure shown, the venting is effective

  -fected by means of a small hole 70 and a passage 74 which allows air to enter the bottle through the small hole 70 following the

  release of manual pressure and closing of the membrane 48.

  The passage 74 is formed in a part of the top of the threaded base 42.

  Another valve structure has been shown in Figs. 8 and 9. This structure comprises a threaded base 80 which has an upper wall 82 of generally circular shape. The upper wall 82 closes the opening of the bottle on which the cap is placed, except

  of a passage formed by a tube 84. The tube 84 extends in the entire assembly

  pendulum binds to the surface of the upper wall 82. A member 88 forms

  denier spout is mounted by means of a pivot pin 86 on the threaded base

  80. The member 88 forming a beak has a passage 90 which extends longitudinally.

  nally from the tip of the beak, at one end, to a point

  near the top of the tube 84. At the end of the passage 90 near the top

  puts tube 84, a shutter plug 92 is formed. The plug 92

  tends downward in the tube 84 to close it off when the member 88 forms

  miant beak is pivotally moved to a closed position in which

2502483.

  : If it is approximately level with the top of the threaded base 80. To open the spout, a user presses on a tab 94. This rotates the spout 88 around the pivot 86 and establishes a free passage

  passing through the passage 90 and the tube 84 into the bottle. In-

  the embodiment of FIGS. 8 and 9, it is expected that the material

  tributed will be viscous enough to prevent leakage through the

  wise when the bottle is placed in an inverted arrangement, or when the spout member is closed after use so as to prevent such leaks. It will be clear to those skilled in the art that the embodiment of Figs. 4 to 7, due to the structure of its valve, ensures an automatic closing function following the release of the applied manual compression force

by the bottle.

  We will now explain the operation of the device, the

  structure has been described above.

  The container of the present invention is designed to be sold

  and shipped under the configuration shown in FIG. 2 with capu-

  suspension and storage chon 14 functioning to protect the capu-

  chon 30 with valve and serving as protective closure for the

  teille 12. When you start using the bottle, you remove the

  suspension and storage plug 14 from its position coupled by

  abrupt latching on one end of the bottle 12 and it is placed on the opposite end with the lip 20 engaged in the groove 26 for fixing the cap. The bottle is then turned over and placed on a shower curtain support bar, on the stem of a tap or on another suitable projecting element. Assuming that the structure shown in Figs. 4 to 7 is used as a valve cap 30,

  the cap 44 is rotated to bring the openings 52, 52 in line

  gment with the internal openings 54, 54. The bottle is then in position so that one can cause with one hand the distribution of liquid soap or other material contained in the bottle. Following application of manual compressive force to the side wall

  22 is oval in shape, the internal pressure generated in the bottle

  places the membrane 48 away from the disc 64. This allows the fluid to flow through the central passage 60 and the openings 52, 52 and 54,

  54 out of the bottle to be dispensed.

  After releasing the pressure, the membrane 48 returns to a position bearing on its seat and closes the valve. The entry of air into the bottle to replace the dispensed material occurs through the

small hole 70 and through passage 74.

  Although it has been described in the description of this de-

  patent application, the details of the construction and operation of the invention for purposes of illustration and to allow understanding, it is understood that technicians in this area can make many modifications without departing from the scope nor s deviate from the spirit of the present invention. Such modifications may involve the use of other types of valve, other general forms

  suspension device, different bottle shapes,

  different thirds and different specific parts to fill

  the functions of the various elements of the invention.

Claims (11)

CLAIMS l - Dispensing container (10) for viscous liquids characterized in that it comprises: (a) a bottle (12) having end walls (32, 34, 40) and elastic side walls ( 22) and having an opening (36) in one of the end walls; (b) valve means (30) mounted on the opening for allowing the liquid to be selectively dispensed from the bottle; (c) a storage cap (14) for the bottle; (d) means provided on the storage cap forming a hook-like structure for support purposes; and (e) means (24, 26, 20) provided on the bottle and on the cap to allow the cap to be fixed both over one and over the other of the end walls so that that the cap can protect the valve and opening from damage or leakage during storage and can be used to mount the bottle in an inverted arrangement to facilitate dispensing of the liquid.   2 - Dispensing container according to claim 1, characterized in that   that the bottle has a generally oval side wall.   3 - Dispenser container according to claim 1, characterized in that the storage cap (14) has a hook-type structure   formed in the vicinity of one of its ends, an opening (18) for-   mé at its opposite end and a lip (20) formed around the peri   the opening of said opening; and in that the bottle (12) has reasons   cooperating nures (24, 26) formed in the vicinity of its end walls   tee (32, 40) to allow the fixing of the cap as well on one   than on the other of its ends.   4 - Dispensing container according to any one of claims 1 or   3, characterized in that the valve means (Fig. 4-7) are cons-   trout so as to open and close in response to changes in   the internal pressure of the bottle.   5 - A dispensing container according to any one of claims 1 or   3, characterized in that the valve means (Fig. 8, 9) are cons-   trouts so that they can be opened and closed manually by the user   and that they have an opening sized relative to the viscosity of the liquid with which they are to be used so that it is not necessary for said valve means to be closed to prevent the drip of liquid when the   bottle is mounted in an inverted arrangement on a support.   6 - A dispenser container according to claim 1, characterized in that   that the bottle (12) is made of polyvinyl chloride.   7 - A dispensing container according to claim 6, characterized in that the side wall (22) has an approximately uniform cross section over its entire longitudinal dimension, this section being of approximately oval shape. 8 - Process for supplying liquid soap intended for use in showers and similar installations, this process being characterized in that it consists: (a) of filling a container (10) provided with a valve and   having an elastic body (12) of soap to be dispensed; (b) placing a card   removable storage cap (14) on the top of the container; (c) to reti-   remove the cap from the top of the container; (d) attaching the cap to the bottom of the container; (e) invert the container to place it in a   position in which the valve is directed downwards; and (f) to my-   ter the container in a shower enclosure by means of the cap   hook shape to allow dispensing of liquid soap from shot of the container turned over.   9 - Method according to claim 8, characterized in that the step of   filling is preceded by the step of building a reci-   pient having an opening provided with a valve which opens and closes in response to the internal pressure generated by manual compression of the container.   - Liquid soap dispenser for showers, characterized in that it comprises: (a) a hollow bottle (12) of plastic material having side walls of a sufficiently elastic nature to deform following the application of manual pressure and having a top   perforated and a closed bottom; (b) a valve cap (30) mounted on the   opening for selectively closing the bottle; and (c) a hook-shaped cap (14) designed to be able to be attached also   well over the top than over the bottom of the bottle.   11 - Dispenser according to claim 10, characterized in that the side walls (22) have approximately the same shape in cross section in the vicinity of the top and bottom of the bottle and in that the cap (14) in hook form has a shape suitable for its open end (18) to generally adapt to the shape   side walls near the top and bottom of the bottle.   12 - Dispenser according to claim 10, characterized in that one of the two elements which respectively constitute the cap (14) and the   bottle (12) has a peripheral groove (24, 26) and the other element   ment has a peripheral lip (20), the lip and the groove   both to each other to achieve a snap coupling   abrupt between the bottle and the cap.   13 - Distributor according to claim 12, characterized in that the cap (14) has a lip (20) directed inward and the   bottle (12) has two grooves (24, 26) facing outwards   laughing, one located near the upper end and the other   located in the vicinity of the lower end of the side wall (22).   14 - Distributor according to claim 13, characterized in that the   side wall (22) has an oval shape in cross section.