GB2439940A

GB2439940A - Spray bottle with compartment for cloth

Info

Publication number: GB2439940A
Application number: GB0613560A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sheffield Wai Mun Wong
Original assignee: Optoplast PLC
Current assignee: Optoplast PLC
Priority date: 2006-07-07
Filing date: 2006-07-07
Publication date: 2008-01-16
Also published as: GB0613560D0

Abstract

A spray bottle 11 for a fluid cleanser for spectacle lenses has an integral compartment 15 for a lens cleaning cloth 17. The cloth 17 is maintained free of dirt and contamination, and accordingly there is a reduced risk of scratching or otherwise damaging spectacle lenses. The compartment 15 may be located in the bottom of the bottle 11 and is closable by means of screw threading or snap fitting closure 16. The closure 16 may be tethered to the bottle 11 or may take the form of a door which is integral with the bottle 11.

Description

1 2439940 P715459C0 Improvements in Spray Bottles This invention

relates to a spray bottle, and particularly to a spray bottle or spray container for use with lens cleaning solutions of spectacles.

S

Lens cleaning solutions are typically provided in a spray bottle, and are used to mist spectacle lenses prior to cleaning them with a suitable cloth. Typically the spray bottle will include a simple plunger pump activated by pressing the nozzle head down, but pressurised aerosol containers may also be provided.

The user must locate a suitable lens cleaning cloth, but such cloths are easily lost and thus there is a temptation to use a suitable fabric, such as a portion of clothing.

However clothing may be unsuitable, being of an excessively abrasive type, or may include grit which will scratch the lens. Even if an appropriate lens cloth can be found, it may be dirty or otherwise contaminated.

What is required is a solution to the problem of having a suitable lens cloth available at the time of cleaning of spectacle lenses.

According to the invention there is provided a spray container for lens cleaning fluid, said container having a closable compartment therein, and said compartment containing a lens cleaning cloth.

The invention thus provides both cloth and fluid at the time of use, and moreover the cloth is of suitable material and maintained in a clean hygienic condition.

The compartment is in a preferred embodiment closed by a removable closure, for example in the form of a screw-threaded or snap-fitting. The closure may be tethered to prevent loss thereof.

Alternatively the compartment may be closed by an integral part of the container, for example a displaceable door attached by e.g. a living hinge.

More than one cloth may be contained within the chamber so as to permit disposal of a used cleaning cloth whilst maintaining functionality of the container.

Other features of the invention will be apparent from the following description shown by way of example only in which:-Fig. 1 is an elevation of a spray bottle according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a spray section corresponding to Fig. I (without cap) and showing a lens cloth compartment; Fig. 3 is an elevation of an alternative spray bottle, with separated closure, and Fig. 4 is the assembled bottle of Fig. 3.

With reference to Figs. I and 2, an upright circular container 11 for lens cleaning solution has a pump action spray nozzle 12 and a transparent circular cap 13. The mechanism of the pump is not illustrated, and is not important to the invention. The upper part of the container comprises a chamber 14 for lens cleaning fluid.

The base of the container includes a compartment 15 closed by a screw-threaded plug 16 and for housing a lens cleaning cloth 17.

In use the plug 16 us removed and the cloth 17 withdrawn to permit the user to clean spectacle lenses. After use the cloth is stowed back into the compartment and the plug is replaced.

Thus a suitable clean cloth is always available with the cleaning solution at the time of need. A new cloth may be provided with each new container of cleaning solution.

The drawings showing the invention are illustrative. The container may be any suitable size and shape and of any suitable material. The plug 16 may be screw-thieaded, or snap-fit, or retained in any other suitable manner. The plug may be tethered so as to prevent it being lost or misplaced. More than one lens cleaning cloth may be provided.

The plug may be dished so as to provide a receptacle for the cloth before the plug is returned to the container.

A second embodiment is illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. A container 20 of e.g. translucent polythene has a conventional spray pump 21 mounted at the top via a screw-thread, which is covered by a clear plastic cap 22. A somewhat domed diaphragm wall 23 divides the container into a fluid volume 24 and an open ended storage compartment 25. The fluid volume surrounds the compartment except at the mouth thereof.

The open end 26 is closed by a closure 27 comprising an annulus 28 and a snap fitting cap 29 retained by a flexible tether 30; the closure is moulded in one piece of e.g. polythene.

In use the annulus is snapped over a moulded rig 32 of the container, and the open end 26 is closed by hinging the cap 28 in the direction of arrow 31.

The component holds a lens cloth, as in the first embodiment.

Claims

Claims I. A spray container for lens cleaning fluid, said container

having a closable compartment therein, and said compartment containing a lens cleaning cloth.

2. A container according to claim wherein the compartment is closed by a removable closure.

3. A container according to claim 2 wherein said closure is retained by screw-threading.

4. A container according to claim 2 wherein said closure is retained by snap-fitting.

5. A container according to claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the closure is tethered to the container.

6. A container according to claim I wherein the compartment is closed by an integral part of the container.

7. A container according to claim 6 wherein said integral part is a door.

8. A container according to any preceding claim and containing more than one cloth.

9. A container according to any preceding claim wherein said compartment is surrounded by a liquid chamber other than at the mouth thereof,