US2710708A

US2710708A - Wick-type liquid retaining and dispensing unit

Info

Publication number: US2710708A
Application number: US247883A
Authority: US
Inventors: Keskitalo Helen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1951-09-22
Filing date: 1951-09-22
Publication date: 1955-06-14
Anticipated expiration: 1972-06-14

Description

H. KESKITALO June 14, 1955 WICK-TYPE LIQUID RETAINING AND DISPENSING UNIT Filed Sept. 22. 1951 INVENTOR. fi s/[25b United States Patent 0 WICK-TYPE LIQUID RETAINING AND DISPENSING UNIT Helen Keskitalo, Republic, Mich.

Application September 22, 1951, Serial No. 247,883

1 Claim. (Cl. 222-187) The present invention relates generally to liquid retaining and dispensing units. More particularly the invention relates to that type of unit which is adapted primarily to retain and dispense liquid and as its components or parts comprises: (1) a cup-shaped container which is adapted to be partially filled with the liquid and consists of a bottom wall and an upstanding side wall with an external screw thread at its upper end; (2) a member which is disposed within the upper portion of the container interior, forms a compartment and has at the upper portion thereof an outwardly extending fiange that rests on the upper edge of the container side wall; (3) a wick which extends downwards from the lower portion of the member into the liquid and serves by capillary action to supply the liquid into the compartment in the member so that it may be absorbed by a pad-like applicator as a preliminary to use of the applicator; and (4) a screw cap which embodies a depending annular skirt with an internal screw thread for connection to the external screw thread at the upper end of the container side wall and is adapted when in place to clamp the flange of the member against the upper edge of the side wall of the container.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a liquid retaining and dispensing unit which is an improvement upon, and has certain advantages over, previously designed units including that forming the subject matter of United States Letters Patent No. 2,554,302, granted to me on May 22, 1951, and is characterized by low cost of manufacture and a novel arrangement of parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a liquid retaining and dispensing unit of the aforementioned type in which the compartment forming member in the upper portion of the cup-shaped container is U-shaped and opensided, and the wick is in the form of an inverted L and consists of a horizontal part which extends transversely across, and is permanently attached to, the bottom wall of the U-shaped member, and a depending vertically extending part which is connected to one end of the horizontally extending part and extends downwards through a single longitudinally extending slot in the adjacent side margin of said bottom wall of the U-shaped member.

A further object of the invention is to provide a liquid retaining and dispensing unit which is generally of new and improved construction.

Other objects of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the present liquid retaining and dispensing unit will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by the claim at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawing which accompanies and forms a part of this specification or disclosure and in which like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

standing side walls 13.

2,710,708 Patented June 14, 1955 Figure l is a vertical section of a liquid retaining and dispensing unit embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view showing the unit without its p;

Figure 3 is a side view of the assembly of open sided U-shaped compartment forming member and inverted L- shaped wick;

Figure 4 is a perspective of the assembly illustrating in detail the construction, arrangement and manner of mounting of the inverted L-shaped wick; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the screw cap.

The unit which is shown in the drawing constitutes the preferred form or embodiment of the invention. It is designed primarily to retain and dispense a liquid and comprises a cup-shaped container, a U-shaped member 6, and inverted L-shaped wick 7, and a screw cap 8.

The container is adapted to be partially filled with the liquid to be dispensed and consists of a fiat circular bottom wall 9 and a cylindrical upstanding side wall 10. These two walls are preferably formed of transparent plastic or other material in order that the amount of liquid in the container may be readily determined. The cylindrical side wall 10 is connected to, and extends upwards from, the bottom wall 9 and embodies an external screw thread 11 at its upper end. It is contemplated that during normal use of the unit the container will be filled to no more than two-thirds full capacity.

The U-shaped member 6 is preferably in the form of a one-piece sheet metal stamping and consists of a fiat horizontally extending bottom wall 12 and a pair of up- It is located in the upper portion of the interior of the container 5 and forms an open sided compartment. The bottom wall 12 of the member 6 is imperforate except for a single longitudinally extending slot 12 in one of its side margins and has straight parallel side edges which are in spaced relation with the adjacent portions of the container side wall 10 in order to provide side openings whereby the liquid to be dispensed may be poured into or out of the container.

The side walls 13 of the U-shaped member 6 are connected to, and extend upwards from, the ends of the bottom wall 12 and are curved or arcuate in cross section. They are provided at the upper ends thereof with integral arcuate outwardly extending flanges 14 and are shaped and arranged so as to fit snugly in the upper portion of the container side wall 10. The arcuate flanges 14 extend at right angles to the side walls 13 of the member 6 and when the member is in place rest on diametrically opposite portions of the upper edge of the side wall 10 of the container. If desired, the flanges may be cemented in place in order that the U-shaped member 6 is in fixed relation with the container.

The inverted L-shaped wick 7 is formed of felt or other suitable absorbent material and consists of a horizontal part 15 and a depending vertical part 16. The horizontal part 15 rests flatly on, and extends transversely across, the bottom wall 12 of the open-sided U-shaped member 6. The depending vertical part 16 of the wick 7 has the upper end thereof connected to one end of the horizontal part 15 and is of such length that its lower end terminates directly above the circular bottom wall 9 of the container 5. As shown in the drawing, the upper end of the vertical part of the wick extends through, and is shaped conformably to, the slot 12 in the bottom wall 12 of the U-shaped member 6. The lower end portion of the wick part 16 is immersed in the liquid in the container interior and serves by capillary action to supply the liquid to the horizontal Wick part 15 in order that the latter is saturated with liquid and, hence, is capable of transferring the liquid to an applicator. The free end of the hori zontal part 15 of the wick is permanently secured in place by way of a pair of staples 18 which extend through said free end of the horizontal part and also the subjacent parts of the bottom wall 12 of the U-shaped member 6.

- The screw cap 8 of the unit constitutes a removable closure for the container. It is preferably of one-piece construction, and consists of an imperforate circular top wall 19 and a depending annular skirt 20. The latter is shaped conformably to the upper end of the container side Wall 10 and embodies an internal screw thread 21 for connection to the external screw thread 11. \Vhen the screw cap 8 is in place the top wall 19 thereof serves to clamp the outwardly extending flanges 14 on the upper end of the side walls 13 of the member 6 against the subjacent portions of the upper edge of the container side wall 10.

In addition to the parts heretofore mentioned, the unit comprises a pair of elastic bands 22 and these serve releasably to hold a stack of pad-like applicators 23 on the top wall 19 of the screw cap 8. The bands 22 are preferably formed of rubber. They are spaced laterally apart and have certain portions thereof cemented to the top wall of the screw cap. The applicators 23 are formed of felt, gauze or absorbent paper and are arranged in a vertical series. They are elongated and have the end portions thereof surrounded by the elastic bands 22. It is contemplated that when the user of the unit is desirous of using an applicator he or she will grasp the central portion of the uppermost applicator and raise it upwards so as to free its end portions from the bands.

When it is desired to use the unit the screw cap 8 is removed from the upper end of the container side wall 10 by turning it in the proper direction. After removal of the screw cap the uppermost applicator 23 is removed from the hand held stack, as previously pointed out, and may be used to transfer liquid from the horizontal part of the inverted L-shaped wick 7 to the desired place. In connection with use, the applicator is pressed against the horizontal part 15 of the wick in order that it will absorb or acquire liquid from such part. After the liquid has been absorbed or acquired the applicator is in condition for use. The depending vertical part 16 of the work serves. as hcreinbefore pointed out, constantly to maintain the horizontal part 15 in a fully saturated condition.

The herein described liquid retaining and dispensing unit is essentially simple in design and, hence, may be manufactured at a low or reasonable cost. It elfectively and ctliciently fulfills its intended purpose and is characterized by the fact that the assembly or U-shaped member 6 and inverted L-shaped wick 7 functions in a most satisfactory manner and eliminates any possibility of displacement of the wick from its normal or operative position.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claim without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

As a new article of manufacture, a liquid retaining and dispensing unit comprising an open top cup-shaped container adapted to have the interior thereof partially filled with the liquid to be dispensed and consisting of a bottom wall and a continuous side wall connected to, and extending upwards from, the bottom wall and having an external screw thread at its upper end, an open-sided U-shaped member disposed in the upper portion of the container, embodying a fiat elongated bottom wall provided with a single longitudinal slot in one of its side margins and having straight side edges in spaced relation with the adjacent portions of the container side wall in order to form side openings whereby the liquid to be dispensed may be poured into or out of the container, and also embodying a pair of side walls of arcuate cross section connected to, and extending upwards from, the ends of thelast mentioned bottom wall and provided at their upper-ends with outwardly extending integral arcuate flanges resting on diametrically opposite portions of the upper edgeof the container side wall, an inverted L-shaped wick consisting of a horizontal part extending transversely across the bottom wall of the member and embodying means for permanently securing it in place and a single depending vertical part connected to the other end of the horizontal part, extending downwards through the slot and adapted by capillary action to supply liquid from the container interior to saidhorizontal part, and a screw cap embodying a top wall and a depending annular skirt with an internal screw thread for connection to said external screw thread and adapted when in place to clamp the flanges of the member side walls against said diametrically opposite portions of the upper edge of the container side wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 254,840 Perry Mar. 14, 1882 2,554,302 Keskitalo May 22, 1951