WO2011055114A2

WO2011055114A2 - Controlled dose fluid dispenser

Info

Publication number: WO2011055114A2
Application number: PCT/GB2010/002032
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Eggleden
Original assignee: John Eggleden
Priority date: 2009-11-04
Filing date: 2010-11-04
Publication date: 2011-05-12
Also published as: WO2011055114A3; GB0919361D0

Abstract

A container for dispensing material such as shaving foam or other cosmetic material, the container having a deformable portion (5,6) and a non- deformable portion (4). In use the deformable portion (5,6) is compressed to dispense a controlled amount of the material from the dispenser.

Description

Controlled Dose Fluid Dispenser

The present invention relates to a controlled dose fluid dispenser. More especially, the invention relates to a controlled dose fluid dispenser to which can be attached a variety of different applicators; for example a sponge pad, a domed shaped applicator or a brush head, for the purpose of applying a flowable material to a surface such as, for example, a skin surface or a work surface; or to which can be attached a cap with a nozzle outlet for the purpose of dispensing controlled quantities of a flowable material onto surfaces such as the hands. Dependent on the orientation of the dispenser when in use, the dispenser may use a dip tube to facilitate dispensing the contents from the bottom of the container. The dispenser is based on a partially deformable thermo plastic container that is activated by hand pressure to pressurise the system. The container is only partially deformable to give an element of control over the volume dispensed by the user.

Applicant has established a number of viable methods of controlling the amount of deformation of the container that is possible, when normal hand pressure is applied by the user.

Generally containers of flowable materials such as cosmetics, toiletries, shaving lathers, sun creams and moisturisers have walls that are uniform in their shape and thickness. There are many other forms of dispenser for example pump dispensers where the pump is located outside the container; for example on top of the container. To activate these forms of pump dispenser a user usually pushes down on the pump head to dispense material through a nozzle; the outlet of which is generally arranged at right angles to the container.

US Patent No. 3,357,395 (Lorber) discloses an invention using a container having a bellows like wall of resiliently flexible material. The Lorber device includes a throttle bore at the outlet end of his device to restrict the flow. Lorber also discloses that the riser tube employed to feed the water from the bottom of the container is manufactured of flexing material extending substantially to the bottom of the water container when assembled. Lorber suffers from a significant problem in that the riser tube will inevitably come into contact with the bottom of the container when pressure is applied to the top of the cover which may cause the riser tube to bend or buckle and therefore close off the entry of water into the inlet end of the riser tube.

The Applicant's earlier International Patent Application No PCT/GB2003/003717 discloses a dispenser based on a container with a bellows side wall that is characterized by the container being both the container of the material to be dispensed and the dispensing device. The use of the container as the pumping device has been found to be a very efficient form of dispenser.

Prior art to my above application shows bellows type containers but none have previously addressed the importance of the bellows regaining its useful shape when held in the hand. To do this it is necessary for the container to be resiliently flexible with the capability to expand back to close to its original size. The method used in Applicant's earlier patent application is to employ variable wall thicknesses between the inner and outer fold-lines within a range of thicknesses which assists the function of the container as a bellows. Pressure on the top and bottom of the bellows causes the bellows to compress and dispense the contents through the outlet. When the pressure is released the container expands back to its original shape. Compression is assisted by the thickness of the outer fold-lines being suitably thin to be easily flexed. Expansion of the container is assisted by the inner fold-lines being suitably thicker. The outer fold-lines are more flexible and the inner fold-lines are more resilient and the combination works effectively to give both compressibility and spring back.

The advantages of a container with a full set of bellows pleats are that the device can work upright or upside down and dispensing the contents is under the tactile hand pressure control of the user. However these advantages can have disadvantages in certain circumstances. For example if the user requires to dispense the contents of the container with the container upright, as the container becomes progressively more empty, the user has to apply progressively more pressure to collapse the resiliently collapsible bellows container to the point where there is insufficient internal volume in the container to contain the volume of material in the container and the contents are dispensed. Generally the bellows dispenser disclosed can be compressed to less than 50% of its original size. This is where good tactile control is required by the user; to compress the container just enough to dispense the required quantity but not too much such that an excess of material is dispensed.

Recent problems have arisen whereby market regulations have been introduced to the effect that all such containers must now be marked clearly with their material contents and origins. This presents a problem with containers employing a full bellows wall arrangement as described in US Patent No. 3,357,395 and International Patent Application No PCT/GB2003/D03717 because these are difficult to mark given their corrugated wall structure.

The present invention seeks to alleviate the aforementioned problems with prior art dispensers by providing a dispenser in the form of a container which can be pressurised using hand pressure by applying pressure to a part of the container which in turn will expel a proportion of the contents from the container. The invention can both facilitate the ease with which material is dispensed and at the same time control the volume of the material to be dispensed.

Preferably pressure is applied to provide significant localised deformation of the container at the point of depression. However, it is understood that many prior art containers are made from a material which will have some natural deformation when squeezed. It is possible to control the natural deformation of a container for the purpose of the invention.

The invention also provides a container made from a thermo plastic material capable of holding a flowable material where a defined proportion of the walls of the container is deformable such that when the deformable portion is pressed or compressed using hand pressure the container will be pressurised and dispense the flowable material through an outlet formed in one section of the container or where the wall thickness of the container is determined such that the extent the container can be deformed is controlled by the general wall thickness . The outlet can be arranged at the top end of the container or within the bottom of the container by the use of a dip tube substantially dependent on whether the dispenser will be used upright or upside down. Where a dip tube is employed and the dispenser is used upright Applicant has established that it is possible to control the amount of contents dispensed from a container by changing the wall thicknesses in correlation with the capacity of the dip tube and the volume of material to be dispensed.

Applicant has established that the viscosity of the flowable material to be dispensed can influence the force required and the means that can be employed to control the amount dispensed from the container. Generally Applicant has established that with higher viscosity materials, for example shaving lathers, the use of the bellows pleat arrangement, described below, allows greater down force pressure to be applied to force the lather up the dip tube and out of the container. With lower viscosity materials such as, for example, a fake tan lotion, less down force is required and dispensing can be achieved by simply flexing the walls of the container to be able to pressurise the container. In this example control is exerted by governing the wall thickness of the container to inhibit the amount of deformation possible.

Generally the deformable portion of the container described in the specification will be less than 50% of the container, often less than 25% of the container, more appropriately less than 10% of the container and frequently between 0.5% and 5% of the container dependent on the specific application to which the invention is applied.

A variety of different applicators may be attached to the dispenser; for example a sponge pad or a brush head, for the purpose of applying a flowable material to a surface such as, for example, a skin surface; or to which can be attached a cap with a nozzle outlet for the purpose of dispensing controlled quantities of a flowable material onto surfaces such as the hands.

The dispenser has controlled or restricted flexibility arising from the use of resiliently flexible material configured in a way that restricts the user's ability to dispense significant excess material from the container. Generally, the container has non-uniform wails where only a proportion of the container wall is capable of being pressed, compressed or squeezed. Alternatively, the wall thickness of the container can be controlled during manufacture to restrict the natural deformation of the container to facilitate control of the volume of material that can be dispensed by the user. Furthermore, it is possible with the present invention to calculate the equation between the displacement volume obtained from flexing, compressing or squeezing the container, the volume capacity of the riser tube and the preferred volume of material to be dispensed in one dispensing action; to be able to cause a known controlled dose each time the dispenser is activated.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a container for flowable material, the container having non-uniform walls only a part of which can be compressed thereby to dispense a controlled amount of the material from the dispenser.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a container for flowable material, the container having a deformable portion and a non- deformable portion, the container also having a dip-tube, wherein a controlled quantity of material is dispensed through an outlet in the container via the dip- tube when pressure is applied to the deformable portion of the container.

Preferably, the container is moulded from a resiliently flexible thermoplastic. Preferably the deformable portion of the container is a single set of bellows pleats arranged around the vertical wall section of the container. Preferably still the bellows pleats are arranged substantially in the top half of the container.

Alternatively, the deformable portion of the container is a double set of bellows pleats arranged around the vertical wall section of the container, one set substantially in the top half of the container and one set substantially in the lower half of the container.

Preferably, the deformable portion of the container is a moulded pressure pad on the side wall of the container substantially in the top half of the container. Preferably, the wall thickness is controlled to restrict the amount that a container with normal deformation characteristics can flex. Preferably, the deformable portion of the container is less than 50% of the whole container. Preferably still, the deformable portion of the container is less than 25% of the whole container and the deformable portion of the container is less than 10% of the whole container. The deformable portion of the container may be between 0.5% and 5% of the whole container.

Preferably, the container returns substantially to its original size once hand pressure is released.

Preferably the container includes, or has thereon, an applicator. The applicator may take the form of a sponge pad, a brush head. Alternatively, the applicator may be a moulded, dome-shaped applicator made from thermo plastic. In one aspect of the invention a nozzle outlet may be attached to the container.

Preferably, when the bellows pleat arrangement is used the dip tube is shorter in length than the internal height of the container. Alternatively, when the pressure pad or controlled wall thickness container is used the dip tube will extend substantially to the internal base of the container, without closing off the inlet end of the dip tube.

The container may be manufactured from two different materials. It may be manufactured in two or three parts. The parts may be sealed by a compressible gasket to ensure the container is airtight and/or watertight.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which :-

Figure 1 is a section taken through a bellows container in accordance with the invention showing an exploded view of the container shown in Fig 1A. Figure 1A is a section taken through a bellows container in accordance with the invention featuring a bellows section with one set of pleats. In this embodiment the container carries a sponge applicator that is releasably attached to the container. In this embodiment the drawing shows the employment of a dip tube as the outlet means for the fiowable contents of the container.

Figure 2 is a section taken through a deformable container in accordance with the invention featuring a container with controlled wall thicknesses. In this embodiment the container carries a sponge applicator that is releasably attached to the container. In this embodiment the drawing shows the employment of a dip tube as the outlet means for the fiowable contents of the container. The user exerts pressure on the front and back faces of the container to pressurise the container. The amount of pressure is governed by the thickness of the walls moulded at the time of manufacture. With the uses envisaged for this embodiment the wall thickness will preferably be set to restrict the deformation of the container to no more than 10% of its volume when gentle hand pressure is applied. Figure 3 is a section taken through a bellows container in accordance with the invention showing an exploded view of the container shown in Fig 4.

Figure 4A is a section taken through a bellows container in accordance with the invention featuring a bellows section with two sets of pleats, one set substantially arranged at the upper end of the container and one set arranged substantially at the lower end of the container. In this embodiment the container carries a sponge applicator that is releasably attached to the container. In this embodiment the drawing shows the employment of a dip tube as the outlet means for the fiowable contents of the container.

Figure 4B is a section taken through a bellows container in accordance with the invention featuring a bellows made from two different materials.

Figure 5 is a section taken through a bellows container in accordance with the invention featuring a bellows section with two sets of pleats, one set substantially arranged at the upper end of the container and one set arranged substantially at the lower end of the container. In this embodiment the container carries a brush applicator that is releasably attached to the container. In this embodiment the drawing shows the employment of a dip tube as the outlet means for the flowable contents of the container.

Figure 6 is a section taken through a bellows container in accordance with the invention showing an exploded view of the container shown in Fig 5. Figure 7 is a section taken through a bellows container in accordance with the invention described in Fig 1 but with the omission of the dip tube feature shown in Fig 1.

Figure 8 is a section taken through a bellows container in accordance with the invention showing an exploded view of the container shown in Fig 7.

Figure 9A is a front view of a container in accordance with the invention showing a pressure pad arranged substantially in the top half of the container. In this embodiment the container carries a sponge applicator that is releasably attached to the container.

Figure 9B is a side view of a container in accordance with the invention showing the pressure pad arrangement in Fig 9A. Figure 10A is a section taken through a container in accordance with the invention featuring a pressure pad. In this embodiment the container carries a cap with a brush head inserted that is releasably attached to the container.

Figure 10B is a section taken through the side view of a container in accordance with the invention featuring a pressure pad as shown in Fig IOC.

Figure IOC is a plan view of a container in accordance with the invention featuring a pressure pad. In this embodiment the container carries a cap with a brush head inserted that is releasably attached to the container. Figure 11 is a section taken through a beiiows container in accordance with the invention featuring a bellows section with two sets of pleats, one set substantially arranged at the upper end of the container and one set arranged substantially at the lower end of the container. In this embodiment the container carries a cap with a nozzle outlet that is releasably attached to the container. In this embodiment the drawing shows the employment of a dip tube as the outlet means for the flowable contents of the container.

Figure 12 is a section taken through a bellows container in accordance with the invention featuring a bellows section with one set of pleats. In this embodiment the container carries a domed applicator head that is releasably attached to the container. In this embodiment the drawing shows the employment of a dip tube as the outlet means for the flowable contents of the container. Figure 13 is a section view through a bellows dispenser in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment the flexible portion is slightly outwardly projecting near to the base of the container;

Figure 14 is a section view through a bellows dispenser in accordance a further embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment the flexible portion is located within the base of the container; and

Figure 15 is a section view of a bellows dispenser in accordance with a yet a further embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment there is a completely flexible sac that replaces the dip tube present in other embodiments. In the base of the container is an aperture extending therethrough to allow the container to re-flate after compression.

We refer first to Figures land 1A which utilises the invention with an attached cosmetic sponge pad for use as an applicator. In the arrangement of Figures 1 and 1A, the material to be dispensed is contained in a container with a bellows arrangement along only a partial section of the vertical walls of the container.

In the container in Fig 1 there is just one bellows pleat arrangement formed substantially near the top of the container and preferably in the upper half of the W

10 container. The container is extruded from a suitably resilient flexible thermoplastic material such as low density polyethylene and moulded under pressure to form a body closed at one end and including at its other end an open-ended neck portion formed with external screw threads. The bellows arrangement at the top of the container is formed by moulding a plurality of vertically spaced ring-shaped outer fold lines between which is moulded an inner ring-shaped fold line of smaller diameter positioned generally midway between the outer fold lines with annular webs extending between the neighbouring inner and outer fold lines. Below this upper bellows pleat is a straight walled section that is substantially non-deformable such that when pressure is applied to the top or bottom of the container, the container can only flex around the bellows section. In Fig. 1 this is shown as a straight walled section but the walled section below the bellows pleat can be convex, concave or otherwise shaped providing it shows resistance to pressure.

The open neck portion is closed by the insertion of a plug or by the attachment of an internally threaded screw cap or both. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 there is a plug, with a centrally positioned hole formed in the upper surface, inserted in the neck of the container. On the underside of this plug immediately below the hole is a downwardly protruding moulded tube. To this downwardly moulded tube is fitted by interference fit an extension tube extruded from a resiliently flexible material such as low or medium density polyethylene. The tube extends down into the container to a point where when the container is fully compressed the inlet end of the tube is just above the internal floor of the container. The tube is therefore at a length where it cannot foul the bottom of the container when in use but has sufficient reach to allow the inlet end of the tube to be within the remainder of the flowable material when the container becomes low on material left to dispense. In this embodiment the dispenser is designed for use in a substantially upright position.

In this embodiment there is an open cell sponge material adhered to the upper surface of the internally threaded screw cap. The sponge piece has a hole punched in the centre to provide a path through which the flowable material can pass and which also allows for the passage of a sealing spigot moulded to the underside of the overcap. The overcap is used to protect users from contamination from the sponge if wet and to seal the device when not in use. The internally threaded screw cap carrying the sponge is screwed down tightly onto the upstanding neck portion of the container. It is essential that there is an air tight seal between all components.

It is easy to use the dispenser/applicator. Holding upright, simply remove the overcap; compress the partially formable container by applying pressure to the top or bottom or both. In so doing the downward pressure of the air above the flowable material forces the flowable material up the tube and on to the top of the sponge piece until required for use. By releasing pressure on the container air is sucked back into the container via the tube, which clears the tube and primes the system with air for the next use. The user can then apply the material to the skin using the sponge. An example of a specific use for this device would be for the application of a fake tan material.

Applicant has established in his Application No PCT/GB2003/003717 that by ensuring that the thickness of the outer fold lines is less than that of the inner fold lines, the bellows section is enabled to collapse readily when subjected to hand pressure. Also, the increased thickness of the inner fold-lines provides for the bellows the required resilience which enables it to return to substantially its original size once hand pressure is released. This is sufficient to re-inflate the container with air.

Applicant has established in this new invention as described herein that by reducing the number of bellows rings and by having a non deformable section to the side wall of the container it is possible to restrict and exercise control over the compressibility of the container so that it is only partially deformable. This restriction means that it is possible to govern the reduction in the internal volume of the container and in so doing prevent the user expelling excess quantities of material from the container.

The dispenser bellows container illustrated in Figures 1 and 1A is produced from extruded low density polyethylene. The container is closed at its base 1 and is formed at its upper end with an upstanding neck 2. The neck has screw threads 3 around its outer circumference. The container has generally straight sided walls 4 into which is moulded a bellows section 5 and 6 moulded substantially in the top half of the container. The bellows section comprises a plurality of vertically spaced ring-shaped outer fold-lines 5 and a single vertically spaced ring-shaped inner fold-line 6 and a plurality of inclined webs 7 extending between the inner and outer fold-lines.

The partial bellows container is produced by extruding an annulus of low density plastics of a pre-determined thickness into a two-part pressure mould whose internal shape complements the external shape required for the bellows, damping the mould parts together and introducing a gas under pressure into the mould interior to cause the extruded plastics to adopt the internal shape of the mould. The mould parts are then separated and the formed container ejected.

Into the neck of the container is fitted an injection moulded plug 10 into which is formed during moulding a centrally located downward projecting short tube 9 that has an outlet at its upper end 8. The plug is injection moulded from low density polyethylene and there is an interference fit between the plug wall 10 and the internal neck of the container 2. To the downward projecting tube 9 on the underside of the plug 10 is fitted a dip tube 11 extruded from polyethylene that is an airtight interference fit with projecting tube 9. The length of the dip tube 11 is such that when the plug and dip tube assembly is fully pushed home into the neck of the container 2 and the bellows portion 5 and 6 is fully compressed the bottom inlet end of the dip tube 11 will substantially reach the internal base of the container 1 but will not come into contact with the internal base of the container 1.

As will be seen from Fig 1 the neck of the container carries external screw- threads 3 which co-operate with internal threads 12 of a ring shaped cap 14. Around the outer edge of the ring shaped cap 14 is a raised lip 15 used to locate an absorbent pad 17. The absorbent pad 17 can be secured to the upper surface of the ring shaped cap 14 by an adhesive. The ring shaped cap 14 is used to support the absorbent pad 17 and allows the user to remove the absorbent pad from the container for the purpose of cleaning the sponge. The purpose of the plug 10 is to reduce the risk of accidental excess spillage when the cap 14 carrying the absorbent pad 17 is removed for cleaning. It can be seen from Fig 1 that it would be possible to dispense with the plug 10 by moulding the downward projecting tube 9 to the underside of cap 14 and thus reduce the number of components by one. However this would mean that cap 14 would have the dip tube 11 attached when removing the absorbent pad attached to cap 14 for cleaning which would increase the risks of accidental spillage by drips from the dip tube and leave the container 1 with the neck 2 open and at risk of spilling substantial quantities of the contents should it accidentally be knocked over. The introduction of the plug 10 does not affect the performance of the invention but improves the practical usability of the invention.

Ideally the absorbent pad 17 will be an open celled material such as a synthetic or natural sponge. In some instances, for example when dispensing high viscosity materials, it may be preferable to punch a hole 18 through the absorbent pad to allow the dispensed material to easily flow up onto the upper surface of the pad 17.

The thickness of the pad 17 should be sufficient whereby pressure applied to the pad to cause the dispensed material from the container to be rubbed into the skin should not allow the skin to come into contact with the cap 14, lip 15 or other plastic parts of the container. The preferred thickness of the pad will be around 15mm and ideally between 5mm and 25mm. The preferred diameter of the pad will be around 45mm and ideally between 10mm and 65mm.

An overcap 19 for the dispenser described in Fig 1 is shown. The overcap 19 has a centrally downward projecting spigot 21 moulded into the internal underside of the cap 19. The spigot 21 is a tapered spigot with a pointed end 20. The overcap 19 is secured to the cap 14 by a snapfit ring 22. When the overcap 19 is attached to the cap 14 by the snapfit ring 22 the spigot travels through the punched hole in the pad 18, through the formed hole 16 in the centre of cap 14 and mates with the internal walls of the plug 9 at the outlet point 8. This is designed to seal the system for transit and distribution. All component parts are designed to create an airtight fit with one another such that when the container is compressed the air and or contents within the container are pressurised such that the contents of the container are forced up the dip tube and through the outlets onto the top of the absorbent pad applicator.

It can be seen that the invention will be very useful for containing, dispensing and applying materials for example fake tan products, the product material of which users would normally prefer did not come into contact with their hands.

Applicant has established that the invention is particularly useful in avoiding excess material being dispensed from the container on each activation of the invention. In an alternative embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 2 the container employed is a partially deformable thermo plastic container the walls of which have a controlled thickness moulded at the time of manufacture.

The container illustrated in Figure 2 is produced from extruded low density polyethylene or other suitable flexible thermo plastic materials. The container is closed at its base 49 and is formed at its upper end with an upstanding neck 50. The neck has screw threads 51 around its outer circumference. The container in this embodiment, is preferably, but not necessarily, wider, side to side, than it is front to back. Because this embodiment is designed for use in the hand, the width, side to side will be typically 50mm-60mm and the depth, front to back, will be typically 25mm - 30mm. The user will flex the front and back faces of the container to pressurise the container and force contents up the dip tube on to the surface of the sponge pad shown. The sponge pad arrangement is attached to the container in the same manner as shown in the embodiment in Figs. 1 and 1A. The wall thickness across the front and back faces of the container will be controlled during manufacture to restrict the amount of deformation achievable from normal hand pressure to avoid excess material being dispensed when activated. In an alternative embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 3 and 4A the container in Fig. 3 includes two bellows pleat arrangements; one substantially near the top of the container and one substantially near the bottom of the container. The container is extruded from a suitably resilient flexible thermoplastic material such as low density polyethylene and moulded under pressure to form a body closed at one end and including at its other end an upstanding open-ended neck portion formed with external screw threads. The bellows arranged at the top and the bottom of the container are formed by moulding a plurality of vertically spaced ring-shaped outer fold lines between each of which is moulded an inner ring-shaped fold line of smaller diameter positioned generally midway between each pair of outer fold lines with annular webs extending between neighbouring inner and outer fold lines. Between the upper bellows pleat and the lower bellows pleat is a mid walled section that is substantially non-deformable such that when pressure is applied to the top or bottom of the container, the container can only flex around the bellows sections. In Figs. 3 and 4A this mid walled section is shown as a straight walled section but the mid walled section can be convex, concave or otherwise shaped providing it shows resistance to pressure. The open neck portion is closed by the insertion of a plug or by the attachment of an internally threaded screw cap or both. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 3 and 4A there is a plug with a centrally positioned hole in the upper surface inserted in the neck of the container. On the underside of this plug immediately below the hole is a downwardly protruding moulded tube. To this downwardly moulded tube is fitted by interference fit an extension tube extruded from a resiliently flexible material such as low or medium density polyethylene. The tube extends down into the container to a point where when the container is fully compressed the inlet end of the tube is just above the internal floor of the container. The tube is therefore at a length where it cannot foul the bottom of the container when in use but has sufficient reach to allow the inlet end of the tube to be within the remainder of the flowable material when the container becomes low on material left to dispense. In this embodiment the dispenser is designed for use in a substantially upright position. It is a feature that for containers of the same height the dip tube used in Figs. 3 and 4A will be shorter in length than the dip tube employed in Figs. 1 and 2 to accommodate the greater compressibility of the container in Figs. 3 and 4A.

It is easy to use the dispenser/applicator. Holding upright, simply remove the overcap; compress the partially formable container by applying pressure to the top or bottom or both. In so doing the downward pressure of the air above the flowable material forces the flowable material up the tube and on to the top of the sponge piece until required for use. By releasing pressure on the container air is sucked back into the container via the tube, which clears the tube and primes the system for the next use. The user can then apply the material to the skin using the sponge. An example of a specific use for this device would be for the application of a skin moisturiser. The introduction of s second set of bellows pleats will allow the user to exert greater pressure on the container which will be useful when dispensing more viscous but still flowable materials.

Applicant has established that the invention can be used to dispense a wide range of viscosity materials by modifying the wall thicknesses of the container and the outlet capacity of the container. Embodiments of the invention can be used to dispense liquids, lotions and even flowable pastes. This gives rise to a wide range of uses for the invention.

Without deviating from the scope of the invention the Applicant has established that it is possible to manufacture a dispenser according to the invention by using two different materials to form the container. For example the flexible bellows part of the container can be moulded in low density polyethylene and the rigid portion of the container can be moulded in high density polyethylene, ABS, high impact styrene or similar rigid thermo plastic material. In a more extreme example the rigid portion of the container can be formed in glass or metal. The container which can be in two or three parts depending on the preferred form can be joined together by a screw thread arrangement; provided that the parts when assembled form an airtight seal. To overcome any potential risk of leakage of air or material from the joint between the parts of the container a gasket made from a flexible material such as rubber can be introduced between the parts to be compressed under the pressure applied by the screw threads; to ensure an airtight seal.

By reference to the drawing in Fig 4B the container shown is in three parts. The upper and lower parts 51 can be moulded from a flexible thermoplastic material and the central section of the container 52 can be formed in a non flexible thermoplastic material, glass or other rigid material. The three parts in Fig. 4B are joined together by screw thread arrangements 50. If required a gasket 49 of a suitable compressible material, such as rubber compound, can be introduced between the parts, to form an airtight and watertight seal. In an alternative embodiment of the invention applicant has established that the invention can be used with a shaving brush attachment as the applicator means. In Figs. 5 and 6 a shaving brush head is releasably attached to the invention that is formed with a double bellows section container, with one bellows section substantially at the top of the container and one bellows section substantially at the bottom of the container.

By reference to Fig 6 a carrying cap 27 is releasably attached to the container 4 by co-operating screw threads 3 on the container and 28 on the carrying cap. Brush bristles 31 formed in the shape of a shaving brush are glued into a ferrule 29 which has a preformed tube 30 moulded through the centre and which extends into the brush bristle. The ferrule 29 carrying the brush head 31 is releasably secured within the carrying cap by co-operating screw threads 32 on the ferrule and 33 on the carrying cap. When the ferrule 29 is fully engaged with the carrying cap 27 the tapered upper end of tube 34 mates within the preformed tube 30. The dip tube 23 is attached by interference fit to the lower end of tube 34.

Applicant has established that when the container is compressed the shaving father within the container is forced up the riser tube, through the connecting tube 34 into the preformed tube 30 and on into the brush bristles.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention and by reference to Figures 7 and 8 applicant has established that the invention can be used without the riser tube attached. The use of the invention depicted in Figs. 7 and 8 is to use a container according to the invention with just one set of bellows pleats to which is releasably attached a brush head arrangement. The application of this embodiment will be suited to uses where the brush might normally be used upside down. For example, when applying stain to the top of a table. To use this embodiment the user will simply compress the bellows portion of the container with the container upside down to dispense material from the container into the brush bristle or directly onto the work surface.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention and by reference to Figures 9A and 9B applicant has considered that there may be occasions when the pressure applied to the container would preferably be exerted on the side walls of the container in the horizontal plane instead of through the bellows arrangements depicted in Figures 1-8 whereby the pressure applied is through the vertically plane by compression of the bellows pleats.

In this embodiment the invention relates to a container made from a thermo plastic material capable of holding a flowable material where a defined proportion of the walls of the container is deformable such that when the deformable portion is pressed or compressed using hand pressure the container will be pressurised and dispense the flowable material through an outlet formed in one section of the container. The outlet can be arranged at the top end of the container or within the bottom of the container by the use of a dip tube substantially dependent on whether the dispenser will be used upright or upside down. In the containers depicted in Figures 9A, 9B, 10A, 10B and IOC there is formed in the wall section a pressure pad located substantially in the top half of the container. The container is produced by extruding an annulus of low density plastics of a pre-determined thickness into a two-part pressure mould whose internal shape complements the external shape required for the pressure pad and the container, clamping the mould parts together and introducing a gas under pressure into the mould interior to cause the extruded plastics to adopt the internal shape of the mould. The mould parts are then separated and the formed container ejected.

Control of wall distribution is the heart of blow molding. There are two primary techniques in extrusion blow molding for controlling wall distribution : Programming and die shaping. Programming is the control of the wall thickness, from top to bottom, of the parison as it emerges from the die head tooling during extrusion. It is now possible to program the wall thickness using computer controlled technology to mould sections of the wall with different thicknesses.

The containers are extruded from a suitably resilient flexible thermoplastic material such as low density polyethylene and moulded under pressure to form a body closed at one end and including at its other end an open-ended neck portion formed with external screw threads. The pressure pad section of the wall has a reducing domed feature, wider at the join with the main body of the container than at the top of the pressure pad, moulded in sections with connecting flexing points to enable the user to press the pad to pressurise the container and dispense the material contents. Release of pressure on the pad will allow the pad to flex back to its original shape and in so doing re-inflate the container with air. In figures 9A and 9B the invention is used with a dip tube (not shown). In all other respects apart from the horizontal pressure pad instead of the vertical bellows section the arrangement in Figs 9A and 9B is the same as shown in Figs 1 and 2. A sponge pad is releasably attached to the container. By compressing the pressure pad material from the container is forced up the dip tube and through onto the top of the applicator pad. Applicant has established that the pressure pad arrangement described above can be utilised without a dip tube present when the applicator might normally be used upside down, for example, by children when they are painting a picture. To use this embodiment the user will simply compress the pressure pad portion of the container with the container upside down to dispense paint material from the container into the brush bristle or directly onto the work surface.

In this embodiment as shown in Figures 10A, 10B and IOC The container is extruded from a suitably resilient flexible thermoplastic material such as low density polyethylene and moulded under pressure to form a body closed at one end and including at its other end an open-ended neck portion formed with external screw threads. The pressure pad section 36 of the wall 35 has a reducing dome feature, wider at the join with the main body of the container than at the top of the pressure pad, moulded in sections with connecting flexing points 36 to enable the user to press the pad to pressurise the container and dispense the material contents. Release of pressure on the pad will allow the pad to flex back to its original shape and in so doing reflate the container with air. The wall thickness of the pressure pad is thinner in section than the main body of the container section to allow an easy squeeze to pressurise the container chamber. Because in this embodiment the container will be used with the applicator pointing downwards there is no need for a dip tube to extract material from the bottom of the container. Held upside down the flowable material inside the container will flow by gravity across the moulded outlet holes 37 and by pressing the pressure pad will be forced through into the brush bristles 38. The complete brush head 39 is a made from a folded loop of nylon bristle secured into the top body of the container by a staple.

Applicant has established that in this embodiment a side wall pressure pad will be more useful say than the bellows pleat arrangement in Fig 1. By holding the brush dispenser as shown in Fig 10B in the normal manner with the side of the container resting on the middle finger and the body of the container held between the index finger and the thumb, the thumb will naturally rest up against the pressure pad. It is a simple matter to use the brush to paint and at the same time apply pressure to the pad with the thumb to inject paint from the container into the brush without having to remove the brush from the paper.

In an alternative embodiment applicant has shown with reference to Fig 11 that a screw threaded cap carrying a nozzle outlet can be attached to the invention by co-operating screw threads between the neck portion 3 of the container and screw threads 41 of the cap 40. The cap 40 is injected moulded from a suitable thermo plastic material and substantially in the centre of the cap is moulded a tube 42 that upward projects above the cap 40 and downward projects from the underside of cap 40. To the downward projection of moulded tube 42 is fitted by interference fit a dip tube extruded from a suitable thermo plastic material such as polyethylene. The tube extends down into the container to a point at which when the container is fully compressed the inlet end of the tube is just above the internal floor of the container. The tube is therefore at a length where it cannot foul the bottom of the container when in use but has sufficient reach to allow the inlet end of the tube to be within the remainder of the flowable material when the container becomes low on material left to dispense. In this embodiment the dispenser is designed for use in a substantially upright position. To the upright projecting portion of tube 42 is fitted a nozzle outlet 43 attached by interference fit. The plan view of the nozzle has a platform 44 on which the user can apply pressure. By pressing down on the platform 44 the bellows pleats of the container will compress forcing material from the container up through the dip tube, through the interconnecting tube 42 and out through the nozzle aperture of nozzle 43. This embodiment would be suitable for use as a liquid soap dispenser.

In an alternative embodiment the invention is used with a domed shaped apparatus attached in place of the sponge pad applicator described in Figures 1 and 2. In Fig 12 the domed shaped cap 45 is attached to the container 4 by means of co-operating screw threads 3 on the upstanding neck portion of the container 4 and screw threads 46 on the inside of domed shaped cap 45.

To the downward projecting tube 48 on the underside of the cap 45 is fitted a dip tube 11 extruded from polyethylene that is an airtight interference fit with projecting tube 48. The length of the dip tube 11 is such that when the cap and dip tube assembly is fully screwed home onto the neck of the container 2 and the bellows portion 5 and 6 is fully compressed the bottom inlet end of the dip tube 11 will substantially reach the internal base of the container 1 but will not come into contact with the internal base of the container 1.

An overcap 19 for the dispenser described in Fig 12 is shown. The overcap 19 has a centrally downward projecting spigot 21 moulded into the internal underside of the cap 19. The spigot 21 is a tapered spigot with a pointed end 20. The overcap 19 is secured to the cap 45 by a snapfit ring 22. When the overcap 19 is attached to the cap 45 by the snapfit ring 22 the spigot travels through the formed hole in the cap 47, and mates with the internal walls of the tube 48. This is designed to seal the system for transit and distribution. . In this embodiment the dispenser is designed for use in a substantially upright position.

By pushing down on the top of the container the material in the container is forced up the dip tube 11 through the connecting tube 48 onto the surface of the dome 47. At this point the user can wipe-off the material from the dome's surface and apply by hand to the skin or alternatively use the domed surface to apply the material directly to the skin. It can be appreciated that using the dome as the applicator is similar to the experience of using a roll-on device used for applying deodorants and anti-perspirants. The main difference is that the common roll-on device can only work upside down when partially empty and when being used as an applicator continues to dispense yet more material on a constant feed. Whereas the use of my invention allows the user to control the material dispensed and it can be used upright.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 13 the container has slightly outwardly projecting flexible portions 49 near to the base. Compression of these portions causes material within the container to be forced up the dip tube and onto the applicator pad.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 14, flexible portion 50 is formed in the base of the container and is flexed upwardly to pressurise the container and to force material up the dip tube. It the embodiment shown in Figure 15, a flexible sac 51 is located within the container. The flexible sac 51 replaces the dip tube present in other embodiments. This provides an airless system. In this embodiment the container has an aperture 52 extending therethrough to allow the container to re-inflate after compression. During use a user's finger is placed over the aperture while the container is compressed. Compression of the container causes pressurisation within the container which, in turn causes the sac 51 to compress thereby dispensing material through an outlet 53 formed at the upper end of the sac 51. The container is simply re-flated by removing the finger from the aperture.

In each of the embodiments including bellows sections, the bellows section may have a smaller diameter than the rest of the container such that the bellow section is shrouded from view by the cap when the container is viewed from above. The sac is completely flexible and progressively collapses after each activation of compression of the outer container. Because the sac is completely flexible the sac does not re-flate and draw air back into the material contents. The outer container re-flates for subsequent activation. This provides an airless system.

The Applicant has shown a number of uses for the invention to illustrate the practical usefulness of the invention. It will be appreciate that the foregoing are merely exemplary of dispensing and applicator apparatus in accordance with the invention and that various modifications can readily be made thereto without departing from the true scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A container for flowable material, the container having a flexible portion and a non flexible portion whereby the flexible portion is compressed, in use, thereby to dispense a controlled amount of the material from the dispenser.

2. A container according to claim 1, wherein the flexible portion is compressed to reduce the volume of the container by no more than 50%.

3. A container according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising a dip-tube, wherein a controlled quantity of material is dispensed through an outlet in the container via the dip-tube when pressure is applied to the flexible portion of the container.

4. A container according to claim 3, wherein where the dip tube is shorter in length than the internal height of the container.

5. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the container is moulded from a resiliency flexible thermoplastic.

6. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein flexible portion of the container comprises a single set of bellows pleats arranged around the vertical wall section of the container.

7. A container according to claim 6, wherein the bellows pleats are arranged substantially in the top half of the container.

8. A container according to claim 6, wherein the bellows pleats are arranged substantially in the bottom half of the container.

9. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the flexible portion of the container is a double set of bellows pleats arranged around the vertical wall section of the container, one set substantially in the top half of the container and one set substantially in the lower half of the container.

10. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the flexible portion of the container is a moulded pressure pad on the side wall of the container substantially in the top half of the container.

11. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the flexible portion is formed in the base of the container.

12. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the deformable portion of the container is less than 50% of the whole container.

13. A container according to claim 12, wherein the flexible portion of the container is less than 25% of the whole container.

14.A container according to claim 13, wherein the flexible and the portion of the container is less than 10% of the whole container.

15. A container according to claim 14, wherein the flexible portion of the container may be between 0.5% and 5% of the whole container.

16. A container according to any preceding claim, further comprising an applicator.

17. A container according to claim 16, wherein the applicator takes the form of a sponge pad.

18. A container according to claim 16, wherein the applicator takes the form of a brush head.

19. A container according to claim 16, wherein the applicator is a moulded, dome-shaped applicator made from thermo plastic.

20. A container according to any preceding claim further comprising a nozzle outlet attached to the container.

21. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the container is manufactured from two or more different materials.

22. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the container is manufactured in two or more parts

23. A container according to claim 21, wherein the container is manufactured in three parts.

24. A container according to claim 21 or claim 22, wherein the parts are sealed to be airtight and watertight by the use of a compressible gasket.

25. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the base of the container has an aperture extending therethrough.

26. A container as substantially hereinbefore described and referred to in the accompanying figures.