Lotion blending and dispensing unit

• US 4,838,457 A
• Filed: 05/09/1988
• Issued: 06/13/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Debra A. Swahl, James C. Swahl
• Original Assignee: Debra A. Swahl, James C. Swahl
• Inventors: Swahl, James C., Swahl, Debra A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver, Kevin P.
• Application Number:
  US07/191,380
• Time in Patent Office: 400 Days
• Field of Search: 222/94, 222/95, 222/105, 222/183, 222/135-137, 222/145, 222/144.5, 222/142.9, 222/209, 222/212, 222/386.5, 222/548, 222/42, 222/44, 222/47, 222/48, 239/305, 239/312, 239/413, 239/414
• US Class Current: 222/48
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 35/28 for expelling contents
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/265 between planar parts B65D47/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3244 arranged parallel or concentrically and permitting simultaneous dispensing of the two materials without prior mixing B65D35/22, B65D81/325 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0055 Containers or packages provided with a flexible bag or a deformable membrane or diaphragm for expelling the contents

Abstract

A lotion blending and dispensing unit is disclosed herein for internally combining and then discharging a composite lotion or solution which includes a cylindrical housing having a storage chamber for enclosing at least a pair of lotion containers removably mounted on a mounting block. The block is provided with at least a pair of orifices on an annular surface having a central projection about which a selector dial rotates. The projection includes at least a pair of passageways in fixed alignment with the orifices so as to conduct lotion therethrough. A regulating disc is movably disposed on the annular surface for revolving about the projection whereby a plurality of different sized apertures may be selectively aligned between the orifices and the passageways. The disc is movable in response to rotation of the selection dial.

Claims

1. A device for proportionally blending and dispensing selected substances from a variety of substances, the combination comprising:

a deformable housing having an internal storage chamber communicating to ambient environment via a control hole;

a plurality of flexible containers within said housing storage chamber, each of which includes a nozzle for discharging a substance held in a respective container;

means fixedly carried on said housing for dispensing blended and mixed substances;

rotating regulatory means operably disposed between said dispensing means and said container nozzles and having a plurality of apertures registering selectively with said respective nozzles and said dispensing means; and

selector means operably connected to said rotating regulatory means for positioning said regulatory means to align desired apertures with said nozzles and said dispensing means.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein:

said dispensing means includes multiple passageways having open ends adapted to be placed in fluid communication with said respective nozzles via said regulatory means apertures.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein:

said regulatory means is a disc disposed between said plurality of nozzles and said open passageways;

sealing means disposed between each of said apertures and said regulatory means and dispensing means respectively.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein:

said selector means includes a manually movable member mounted on said dispensing means and engagement means detachably coupling said member with said regulatory means whereby said disc is positionable in response to movement of said member.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein:

said engagement means includes at least one notch on the periphery of said disc cooperating with a conformal projection on said dispensing means member.

6. The invention as defined in claim 5 wherein:

said housing includes a mount closing one end of said housing and provided with openings in communication with each of said container nozzles; and

said regulatory means rotatably carried on said mount and having selected ones of its apertures alignable with said mount opening for conducting selected flowable substances from said containers to said dispensing means.

7. The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein:

said dispensing means includes a discharge duct coupling said ends of said passageways together and constituting a blending chamber for mixing substances selected from said containers via said regulatory means apertures into a composite substance preparatory for discharge externally of said dispensing means.

8. The invention as defined in claim 7 including:

means for expelling substance from said containers comprising said internal storage chamber within said housing;

said containers disposed in said storage chamber and detachably carried on said housing mount; and

said control hole provided in said housing communicating said storage chamber exteriorly of said housing to ambient atmosphere, whereby manual closing of said housing hole with deformation of said housing pressurizes said storage chamber to forcibly urge substance through said nozzles.

9. The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein:

said regulatory means disc includes said plurality of apertures arranged in a pair of circular rows concentrically disposed with respect to one another and coaxially disposed with respect to said disc; and

each of said rows lying adjacent to the open ends of selected ones of said dispensing means passageways.

10. The invention as defined in claim 9 wherein:

said dispensing means is of conical shape seated on and fixed to said housing mount;

said selector means being of circular configuration having a central opening through which said conical dispensing means projects to expose said discharge duct for external discharge of said composite substance; and

said selector means having a peripheral portion rotatably engaged with said housing mount beyond the periphery of said regulatory means disc.

11. The invention as defined in claim 10 including:

means cooperating between said selector means and said dispensing means for indicating proportional blend of said substances forming said composite substance.

12. The invention as defined in claim 11 wherein:

said indicator means includes an opening in said selector means exposing indicia carried on said underlying dispensing means.