HEATED FLOWABLE PRODUCT DISPENSER

• US 20070269251A1
• Filed: 04/12/2007
• Published: 11/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefield Limited (Link-Asia International Co., Ltd.), SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Inventors: Harwig, Jeffrey L., Shi, Jian, Norwood, Richard L., Shirley, Steven C., Kopanic, Robert J., Leonard, Stephen B., Wen, Zhi Bin, Cheng, Fuk Yuen, Skalitzky, Michael J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,061,918 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 401/2
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 34/00 Containers or accessories specially adapted for handling liquid toiletry or cosmetic substances, e.g. perfumes
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/12 for liquid or pasty soap
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/0002 incorporating means for heating or cooling, e.g. the material to be sprayed
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1035 the pumping chamber being a bellow

Abstract

A bottle is disclosed that includes a product stored therein. It is configured to be removably engaged with a docking station in an inverted arrangement to be activated by the docking station and heat the product. The bottle may include a pump structure (e.g. in the form of a bellows), or be a squeezable bottle, or be a bowable bottle, or have other pumping features. Structures are provided to prevent drool after use, to help apply the heated product to the skin, and to insure proper heating and dispensing. Also disclosed are combined docking stations and bottles where the bottle is positioned in an inverted manner, and methods for using these devices.

Claims

1. A bottle having a flowable product stored therein and configured to be removably engaged with a docking station so as to be activated by the docking station and heat a portion of the flowable product, the bottle comprising:

a housing having an internal main reservoir storing the flowable product;

a pump linked to the housing in a manner suitable to pump flowable product from the housing when the bottle is inverted;

a heating element positioned proximate to the pump which is capable of heating a portion of the flowable product once it is pumped from the reservoir, the heating element being activatable by the docking station; and

an outlet arranged downstream of the heating element and suitable to receive heated flowable product;

wherein the pump comprises a compressible bellows.

2. The bottle of claim 1, wherein the heating element is positioned proximate to a baffled pathway that connects the pump with the outlet, and wherein there is at least one check valve associated with the bellows to control movement of the flowable product past the pump.

3. The bottle of claim 1, where there is a check valve upstream of the bellows inhibiting flow from the bellows back to the main reservoir.

4. The bottle of claim 3, where there is a check valve downstream of the bellows to inhibit flow back to the bellows from a position downstream of the bellows.

5. The bottle of claim 4, where the check valve downstream of the bellows has at least one bleed passage.

6. A bottle having a flowable product stored therein and configured to be removably engaged with a docking station so as to be activated by the docking station and heat a portion of the flowable product, the bottle comprising:

a housing with a flexible side, the housing having an internal main reservoir storing the flowable product;

a heating element which is capable of heating a portion of the flowable product once it is driven from the reservoir, the heating element being configured to be activatable by the docking station; and

an outlet arranged downstream of the heating element and suitable to receive heated flowable product;

wherein upon squeezing the flexible side of the housing the flowable product can be driven out the outlet.

7. The bottle of claim 6, wherein the flexible side has a bellows configuration which permits the housing to be axially compressed, as well as squeezed along its side below the bellows configuration.

8. The bottle of claim 6, wherein the bottle further comprises a cap downstream of the heating element through which the outlet extends, the cap having a surface suitable to contact human skin.

9. The bottle of claim 8, wherein the cap is capable of being heated by the heating element.

10. The bottle of claim 8, wherein the cap has a textured outer surface suitable for working the flowable product against human skin.

11. The bottle of claim 8, wherein the cap has an outer surface which is a brush and/or a sponge surface.

12. A bottle having a flowable product stored therein and configured to be removably engaged with a docking station so as to be activated by the docking station and heat a portion of the flowable product, the bottle comprising:

a housing, the housing having an internal cavity;

a collapsible bag positioned in the cavity for storing the flowable product;

a heating element which is capable of heating a portion of the flowable product once it is driven from the bag, the heating element being configured to be activatable by the docking station; and

an outlet arranged downstream of the heating element and suitable to receive heated flowable product.

13. The bottle of claim 12, further comprising a pump to facilitate driving flowable product from the bag.

14. A bottle having a flowable product stored therein and configured to be removably engaged with a docking station so as to be activated by the docking station and heat a portion of the flowable product, the bottle comprising:

a housing having an internal main reservoir storing the flowable product;

a heating element positioned proximate to the housing which is capable of heating a portion of the flowable product once it is driven from the reservoir, the heating element being configured to be activatable by the docking station; and

an outlet arranged downstream of the heating element and suitable to receive heated flowable product;

wherein a side of the housing contains a bellows structure such that the housing can bow in a direction and thereby drive flowable product from the main reservoir out the outlet.

15. A bottle having a flowable product stored therein and configured to be removably engaged with a docking station so as to be activated by the docking station and heat a portion of the flowable product, the bottle comprising:

a housing having an internal main reservoir storing the flowable product;

a pump linked to the housing in a manner suitable to pump flowable product from the housing even when the bottle is inverted;

a heating element positioned proximate to the pump which is capable of heating a portion of the flowable product once it is pumped from the reservoir, the heating element being configured to be activatable by the docking station; and

an outlet arranged downstream of the heating element and suitable to receive heated flowable product;

wherein a flap is positioned adjacent the outlet to inhibit drool of the flowable product after active pumping has ceased.

16. The bottle of claim 15, further comprising a check valve with a bleed path positioned downstream of the pump and upstream of the flap to further inhibit drool of the flowable product after active pumping has ceased, wherein the flap is positioned on a disk, and the flap is formed by a slit structure in the form of a cross.

17. A bottle having a flowable product stored therein and configured to be removably engaged with a docking station so as to be activated by the docking station and heat a portion of the flowable product, the bottle comprising:

a housing having an internal main reservoir storing the flowable product;

a heating element positioned proximate to the reservoir which is capable of heating a portion of the flowable product once it is driven from the reservoir;

a flip cap arranged downstream of the heating element for pivotable movement between a first position permitting heated flowable product to pass there through, and a second position closing off flow of the heated flowable product through the flip cap; and

a biasing member for biasing the cap towards the second position.

18. The bottle of claim 17, wherein sufficient movement of the flip cap against spring pressure can cause the flip cap to lock into a third position permitting heated flowable product to pass there through even without a need for holding the flip cap in the third position.

19. A device for dispensing a heated flowable product, comprising:

a docking station connectible to an electrical power source;

a claim 17 bottle;

wherein a projection is provided on the docking station for driving the flip cap from the first position to the second position when the bottle is pushed down relative to the docking station.

20. A device for dispensing a heated flowable product, comprising:

a docking station connectible to an electrical power source;

a bottle having a flowable product stored therein, the bottle having a heater and a structure for driving the heated flowable product out of the bottle;

wherein the bottle is removably engaged with the docking station with the bottle being inverted so that while its heater is positioned adjacent a downward end of the device the bottle can be activated by the docking base so that the bottle can heat a portion of the flowable product, and heated flowable product can be dispensed while the bottle is inverted and engaged with the docking station.