Liquid soap dispenser

• US 4,411,376 A
• Filed: 11/09/1981
• Issued: 10/25/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert A. Bennett, Walter S. Nuckols
• Original Assignee: Robert A. Bennett, Walter S. Nuckols
• Inventors: Bennett, Robert A., Nuckols, Walter S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reeves, Robert B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stormer, Russell D.
• Application Number:
  US06/319,304
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: 222/212, 222/213, 222/491, 222/492, 222/542, 222/494, 222/496, 222/206, 222/215, 222/78, 401/143, 401/183, 401/186, 132/88.5
• US Class Current: 222/212
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1201 hand-carried
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/122 using squeeze bottles or the like A47K5/1201 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/32 Containers adapted to be temporarily deformed by external pressure to expel contents B65D47/2018, B65D83/0055 take precedence ; containers for pharmaceutical purposes A61J1/20, A61M5/19; containers with disinfecting linings A61L2/00; liquid sprayers B05B; oil cans F16N3/00

Abstract

A hollow flexible body containing liquid soap has the general shape of a bar of soap. The body has opposite front and rear main surfaces interconnected by a peripheral surface. A groove defining a closed loop extends along the main surfaces and across the peripheral surface. The groove carries a discharge port. When the body is squeezed, soap is discharged through the port. An O ring is disposed in the groove and overlies the opening. The O ring seals the port when soap is not dispensed and cooperates with the groove to distribute the soap when it is dispensed.

Claims

1. A soap dispenser comprising:

a hollow flexible body adapted to contain liquid soap, said body having the general shape of a bar of soap with oppositely disposed spaced apart main front and rear surfaces connected along their edges by a continuous peripheral surface which extends between these main surfaces at right angles thereto, the said body carrying a groove which defines a closed loop and extends across the main surfaces and the peripheral surface, said groove being disposed in the middle of the main surfaces, said body having a discharge port disposed in the peripheral surface and in said groove, said port communicating with the interior of the body, whereby when said body contains soap and is squeezed said soap is discharged through said port, said body having a fill opening in said peripheral surface, spaced apart from said port and much larger than said port, through which said soap can be poured into said body; and

a flexible O-ring disposed in said groove and overlying said opening, said ring having a raised position in said groove when the body is squeezed to dispense soap and otherwise having a lowered position in said groove, said O-ring carrying a sealing plug which is snap fitted into sealing engagement with said opening.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said groove in transverse cross section has an upper portion in the shape of an inverted trapezoid and a lower section in the shape of a rectangle and wherein said O-ring in transverse cross section has the shape of an inverted trapezoid, said O-ring when in lowered position engaging the walls of the upper portion of the groove and when in raised position being spaced from said walls.

3. The dispenser of claim 2 wherein the base of the O-ring trapezoid is disposed below the base of the groove trapezoid when the O-ring is in lowered position.

4. The dispenser of claim 3 wherein one portion of the peripheral surface of the body is designated as the bottom, said port being disposed in said bottom.

5. The dispenser of claim 4 wherein an opposite portion of the peripheral surface is designated as the top and contains the opening.

6. The dispenser of claim 5 wherein one of said main surfaces has a roughened area.