Twist-open dispenser with applicator & method of applying skin care products & method of merchandising paint

• US 20060285913A1
• Filed: 06/16/2005
• Published: 12/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Platinum Innovations, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Platinum Innovations, Inc.
• Inventors: Koptis, Kurt
• Granted Patent: US 7,563,048 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 401/205
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/26 Appliances specially adapted for applying pasty paint, e.g. using roller, using a ball
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/28 Appliances specially adapted for spreading already applied paint
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/0041 Flexible or deformable reservoirs, e.g. resilient bulbs, compressible tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/1046 Brush used for applying cosmetics bristles arrangements for cosmetic brushes A46B9/021
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/306 Shoe cleaning or polishing brush
• CPC Class Codes: B43M 11/06 Hand-held devices
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 35/36 for applying contents to surfaces brushes combined or associated with tubular containers A46B11/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/242 moving helically

Abstract

A dispenser cap with an applicator is connected to a container and a detachable enclosure protects the applicator when the dispenser is not in use. When attached to the cap, the enclosure has a pin that blocks an opening in the cap. The container may hold any fluid material, for example, a skin care product, deodorant, paint, etc. The container may contain various means of identifying the color of paint contained therein, and only a small amount of paint is within the container. This enables a consumer to obtain a number of containers each holding a paint of a different color to apply to a test surface.

Claims

1. A dispenser comprising

a container adapted to hold a fluid material having an end from which said material is dispensed,

a cap attached to the container including a passageway through which the material flows, said cap comprising a base member attached to the end of the container and a cover member having at an exterior thereof an applicator element onto which flows the material exiting the container,

said base and cover members being mounted to each other to rotate relative to each other and move between a closed position preventing the flow of the fluid material through the passageway and an open position allowing the flow of material from the container and through the passageway onto the applicator element, and

a detachable enclosure mounted to the cap that covers the applicator element and at least partially blocks the passageway.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 where the applicator element comprises a plurality of bristle elements projecting outward from a support member.

3. The dispenser of claim 2 where the support member has an exterior surface with an adhesive thereon covered by a removable sheet that is removed prior to attaching the applicator element to the cap.

4. The dispenser of claim 2 where the base member includes a top with a receptacle portion and the support member is configured to fit snugly into the receptacle portion yet enabling the applicator to be detached.

5. The cap of claim 2 where at least some of the bristle elements have a triangular cross-sectional configuration.

6. The dispenser of claim 1 where the applicator element comprises an absorbent material.

7. The dispenser of claim 6 where the applicator element has an exterior surface with an adhesive thereon that adheres to a surface of the cover member.

8. The dispenser of claim 1 where the applicator element is detachably connected to the cover member and the enclosure includes an auxiliary applicator element that is used to replace the applicator element initially attached to the cover member.

9. The dispenser of claim 8 where the auxiliary applicator element includes an exterior surface with an adhesive thereon covered by a removable sheet that is removed prior to attaching the auxiliary applicator element to the cap.

10. The dispenser of claim 1 where the applicator element comprises a dome member with a plurality of orifices therein that form at least in part the passageway and the enclosure includes a plurality of pins therein, each individual pin being aligned with one of the individual orifices to block the orifices upon attaching the enclosure to the cap.

11. The dispenser of claim 1 where the enclosure includes a closed top end with an external abrasive surface.

12. A dispenser comprising

a container adapted to hold and dispense a fluid material,

a cap attached to the container including a base member and a cover member attached to the base member, each said member having an opening therein,

said base and cover members being mounted to move relative to each other so that in a first position the flow of material through said openings is prevented and in a second position the flow of material through said openings is allowed,

an applicator element attached to the cover member onto which flows the fluid material, said applicator element having a passageway therethrough, and

a detachable enclosure that has an open end having a configuration that enables the enclosure to fit snugly onto said cap and an internal pin element that, with the enclosure fitting snugly on the cap, extends into the passageway in the applicator element to block the opening in at least the cover member.

13. The dispenser of claim 12 where said openings in the base and cover members are aligned and said base and cover members are mounted to rotate relative to each other to move between the first and second positions, maintaining said alignment of the openings during rotational movement.

14. The dispenser of claim 12 where the cover member includes a raised peripheral element surrounding the applicator element.

15. The dispenser of claim 12 where the enclosure includes a closed top end with an external abrasive surface.

16. The dispenser of claim 12 where the enclosure includes a closed top end, an open bottom end, a sidewall of predetermined length connecting the top and bottom ends, and an inward projecting retainer element at the bottom end enabling the enclosure to be detachably connected to an edge of the cover member or the base member, said internal pin element having a length that is less than the length of the sidewall yet of sufficient length to block the opening in at least the cover member when the enclosure is connected to an edge of the cover member or the base member.

17. The dispenser of claim 16 where the enclosure includes at least one vent opening.

18. The dispenser of claim 12 where the applicator element comprises a sponge.

19. The dispenser of claim 12 where the applicator element includes an exposed flocked surface.

20. The dispenser of claim 12 where the applicator element has a slanted top surface.

21. The dispenser of claim 12 where the applicator element comprises a plurality of bristle elements projecting outward from a support member.

22. A dispenser comprising

a container adapted to hold a fluid material having an end from which said material is dispensed,

a cap attached to said end of the container, said cap including a plug element, a base member having an opening therein, and a cover member having an opening therein, said openings being aligned and the base and cover members being mounted to rotate relative to each other so that in a first position the plug element is inserted into at least one opening to prevent the flow of material from the cap and in a second position is withdrawn from said one opening to allow the flow of material from the cap,

an applicator element attached to the cover member onto which the fluid material flows when said base and cover members are in the second position, said applicator element having a passageway therethrough aligned with said openings in the base and cover members, and

a detachable enclosure that has an open end having a configuration that enables the enclosure to fit snugly onto said cap and an internal pin element that, with the enclosure fitting snugly on the cap, extends through the passageway in the applicator element to block the opening in at least the cover member.

23. The dispenser of claim 22 where said plug element is positioned within the cap and is attached to the base member.

24. The dispenser of claim 22 where the cover member includes a raised peripheral element surrounding the applicator element.

25. The dispenser of claim 22 where the enclosure includes a closed top end with an external abrasive surface.

26. The dispenser of claim 22 where the enclosure includes a sidewall of predetermined length connecting a closed top end and the open end of the enclosure, said internal pin element having a length that is less than the length of the sidewall yet of sufficient length to block the opening in at least the cover member when the enclosure is connected to the cap.

27. The dispenser of claim 26 where the enclosure includes at least one vent opening.

28. The dispenser of claim 22 where the applicator element comprises a sponge-type material.

29. The dispenser of claim 22 where the applicator element includes an exposed flocked surface.

30. The dispenser of claim 22 where the applicator element has a slanted top surface.

31. The dispenser of claim 22 where the applicator element comprises a plurality of bristle elements projecting outward from a support member.

32. A dispenser comprising

a container blow molded to provide a flexible fluid retaining structure including a dispensing end from which a fluid material is dispensed, said dispensing end having an exterior threaded surface and an interior cavity with a wall element having at least one opening therein through which fluid material may flow,

a cap attached to said end and including a rigid member having at least one opening therein and a cover member having an applicator element onto which flows the fluid exiting the container,

the rigid member being inserted into the interior cavity in the dispensing end of the container with said opening in the cavity aligned with the opening in the wall element of the cavity, said rigid member being configured to fit snugly within said cavity to maintain the alignment of the openings and provide rigidity to said dispensing end,

said cover member having an internal threaded surface that engages the exterior threaded surface at said dispensing end upon attaching the cover member to said dispensing end,

said cover member being mounted to rotate relative to the rigid member and move between a closed position preventing the flow of the fluid material through the aligned openings and an open position allowing the flow of fluid material through the aligned openings and from the container onto the applicator.

33. The dispenser of claim 32 including

a passageway extending through the applicator and the cap and including the aligned openings and

a detachable enclosure mounted to the cap that covers the applicator and includes an internal pin element that, upon attaching the enclosure to the cap, at least partially blocks the passageway.

34. The dispenser of claim 32 where the applicator comprises a plurality of bristle elements projecting outward from a support member.

35. The dispenser of claim 32 where the applicator comprises an absorbent material.

36. A dispenser comprising

a container adapted to hold a fluid material having an open end from which said material is dispensed,

a cap attached to said open end of the container including a cover member having an opening therein,

said cover member being mounted to rotate relative to the open end so that in a first position the flow of material from the container is prevented and in a second position the flow of material from the container is allowed,

said cover member having a receptacle portion therein with a wall including an opening through which fluid material is dispensed and an applicator element configured to fit snug with the receptacle portion, said applicator element being inserted into the said receptacle portion to form a chamber that holds fluid dispensed through the opening, said chamber having a top wall with a plurality of orifices therein, and

an enclosure member including a plurality of pin elements therein in a predetermined arrangement so that, upon attaching the enclosure member to the cap, each individual pin element is aligned with one of the individual orifices and block the orifices.

37. In combination, a cap for a dispenser of fluid material and an enclosure therefor, wherein

said cap includes

a base member adapted to be attached to an open end of a dispenser and having an outer edge and a centrally located plug element,

a cover member having a top surface with an opening centrally located therein, an outer edge, and a raised element on the top surface along a periphery of said top surface, said opening and plug element being aligned,

said cover member being mounted to rotate relative to the base member when said base member is attached to an open end of a dispenser, said cover member upon rotation in one direction moving between a closed position with the plug element inserted into the opening to prevent the flow of material from the cap and an open position with the plug element withdrawn from said opening to allow the flow of material from the cap, and upon rotation in a direction opposite to said one direction, moving between the open position and the closed position,

an applicator element seated on the top surface and having an inside surface attached to the top surface with said raised element substantially surrounding at least a lower portion of the applicator element, said applicator element having a passageway therethrough aligned with said opening in the cover member, and

said enclosure includes

a closed top end, an open bottom end, an inward projecting retainer element at the bottom end enabling the enclosure to be detachably connected to the outer edge of the cover member or the base member, and an internal pin element attached to the top end and projecting inward towards the open bottom,

said internal pin element having a predetermined length such that, with the enclosure attached to the cap and the retainer element engaging said outer edge of the cover member or the base member, the pin element extends through the passageway in the applicator element and blocks the opening in the cover member.

38. The combination of claim 37 where the base and cover members each have a substantially circular configuration.

39. The combination of claim 37 where the base and cover members each have a substantially triangular configuration.

40. The combination of claim 37 where the base and cover members each have a substantially hexagonal configuration.

41. The combination of claim 37 where the base and cover members each have substantially the same length and the cover member has a width that is substantially less than the width of the base member and in the closed position the base and cover members are aligned lengthwise and in the open position the cover member is oriented at an angle with respect to the base member.

42. The combination of claim 37 where the internal pin element has at an inner terminal end a wall defining a cavity and the opening has a groove substantially surrounding the opening, said wall fitting snugly into said groove when the members are in the closed position.

43. The combination of claim 37 including a raised wall substantially surrounding the opening to provide an open space and the internal pin element has an inner terminal end that fits snugly into said open space when the members are in the closed position.

44. A dispenser cap including

a base member adapted to be attached to an open end of a dispenser and having a plug element,

a cover member having a top surface with an opening therein and a raised element on the top surface along a periphery of said top surface, said opening and plug element being aligned,

said cover member being mounted to rotate relative to the base member when said base member is attached to an open end of a dispenser, said cover member upon rotation in one direction moving between a closed position with the plug element inserted into the opening to prevent the flow of material from the cap and an open position with the plug element withdrawn from said opening to allow the flow of material from the cap, and upon rotation in a direction opposite to said one direction moving between the open position and the closed position, and

an applicator element seated on the top surface and having an inside surface attached to the top surface with said raised element substantially surrounding at least a lower portion of the applicator element, said applicator element having a passageway therethrough aligned with said opening in the cover member.

45. An enclosure adapted to be detachable connected to a dispenser cap with an opening therein, said enclosure including

a closed top end, an open bottom end, an inward projecting retainer element at the bottom end enabling the enclosure to be detachably connected to an inner edge of the dispenser cap, and an internal pin element attached to the top end and projecting inward towards the open bottom,

said internal pin element having a predetermined length such that, with the enclosure attached to the cap and the retainer element engaging said inner edge, the pin element blocks the opening in the cover member.

46. The enclosure of claim 45 including at least one vent opening.

47. The enclosure of claim 45 where the closed top end has an external abrasive surface.

48. A dispenser including

a cap and an enclosure detachably connected to the cap,

said cap including a base member and a cover member with an opening therein, said the cover member mounted to rotate relative to the base member between an open position where fluid material is allowed to exit the opening and a closed position where fluid material is prevented from exiting the opening,

an applicator element attached to the cover member having a passageway therethrough aligned with said opening in the cover member, and

said enclosure including an open bottom end having at or nearby said open bottom end an inward projecting annular retainer element enabling the enclosure to be detachably connected to the outer edge of the cover member or the base member, and an internal pin element projecting inward towards the open bottom end,

said internal pin element having a predetermined length such that, with the enclosure attached to the cap and the retainer element engaging said outer edge of the cover member or the base member, the pin element extends through the passageway in the applicator element and blocks the opening in the cover member.

49. A dispenser including

a cap and an enclosure detachably connected to the cap,

said cap including a base member and a cover member with an opening therein, said the cover member mounted to rotate relative to the base member between an open position where fluid material is allowed to exit the opening and a closed position where fluid material is prevented from exiting the opening, and

an applicator element attached to the cover member having a passageway therethrough aligned with said opening in the cover member, said enclosure including an inwardly projecting internal pin element, said internal pin element having a predetermined length such that, with the enclosure attached to the cap, the pin element extends through the passageway in the applicator element and blocks the opening in the cover member,

said pin element including at least one annular element that is in a mating relationship with an annular element on a plug element on the base member that fits in the opening when the cover member is in the closed position.

50. The dispenser of claim 49 where the cover and base members each include at least one annular element, said annular elements mating with each other when in the cover member is in the closed position.

51. A method of merchandising paint of different colors comprising

(a) providing a plurality of compact paint dispensers, individual dispensers containing no more than 8 ounces of a paint and at least some of the individual dispensers containing a paint of a color different than paint within other dispensers, individual dispensers having indicia thereon that identifies the color of the paint therein and including a paint applicator having a manually actuated open and closure mechanism to enable a consumer to release selectively paint therefrom,

(b) selecting one or more paint dispensers and applying as a test specimen paint therefrom to a surface to enable a consumer to identify a desired color of paint, and

(c) subsequent to step (b) ordering a quantity of paint of at least one quart and identifying the color of paint being ordered using the indicia on the dispenser that provided the desired color of paint.

52. The method of claim 51 where the indicia is machine readable.

53. The method of claim 51 where the indicia is imprinted on the dispenser in a form understandable to a human consumer.

54. A method of merchandising paint of different colors comprising

(a) providing at a sales source a plurality of compact paint dispensers, individual dispensers containing no more than 8 ounces of a paint and at least some of the individual dispensers containing a paint of a color different than paint within other dispensers, individual dispensers having indicia thereon that identifies the color of the paint therein and including a paint applicator having a manually actuated open and closure mechanism to enable a consumer to release selectively paint therefrom,

(b) using one or more paint dispensers obtained from said sales source, applying as a test specimen paint to a surface at a location remote from the sales source to enable a consumer to identify a desired color of paint to be used to paint said surface with a quantity of paint substantially greater than that contained within an individual dispenser or dispensers being used to apply paint as a test specimen, and

(c) subsequent to step (b), ordering from the sales source a quantity of paint of at least one quart and identifying the color of paint being ordered by the indicia on the dispenser that provided the desired color of paint.

55. The method of claim 54 where the indicia is machine readable and the order is placed by returning the dispenser to the sales source to enable the indicia to be machine read by the sales source.

56. The method of claim 54 where the indicia is imprinted on the dispenser in a form understandable to a human consumer to enable a human consumer to place an order with the sales source using said indicia to identify the color of paint being ordered.

57. A method of merchandising paint of different colors comprising

(a) providing at a sales source a plurality of compact paint dispensers from which a consumer selects one or more to sue to paint a test surface, each individual dispenser containing a paint of a predetermined color and including a paint applicator having a manually actuated open and closure mechanism,

(b) using one or more paint dispensers obtained from the sales source, applying as a specimen paint from a selected dispenser to the test surface to enable a consumer to identify a desired color of paint to be used to paint the surface with a quantity of paint substantially greater than that contained within an individual dispenser or dispensers being used to apply paint to the test surface, and

(c) subsequent to step (b), ordering a larger quantity of paint and identifying the color of paint being ordered.

58. A method of applying a fluid skin care product to the skin of a person comprising

providing a dispenser including a container holding a fluid skin care product, a twist-open cap on the container, an applicator attached to the cap, a passageway through which the skin care product flows upon twisting the cap open, and a detachable enclosure mounted to the cap that covers the applicator and at least partially blocks the passageway,

removing the enclosure and twisting open the cap, and

applying the skin care product to the skin of the person using the applicator.