Hand operated soap dispenser

• US 4,928,857 A
• Filed: 05/15/1987
• Issued: 05/29/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Frederick K. Ecker
• Original Assignee: Frederick K. Ecker
• Inventors: Ecker, Frederick K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Skaggs, H. Grant
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOLAND, KENNETH W
• Application Number:
  US07/050,043
• Time in Patent Office: 1,110 Days
• Field of Search: 222/190, 222/206, 222/211-213, 222/215, 222/224, 222/196.1, 222/196.5, 366/604, 366/130, 366/102, 366/103, 366/106, 206/77.1, 422/129.1, 422/266, 422/283, 241/602, 401/4, 401/143, 401/118, 220/367, 220/368
• US Class Current: 222/211
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/122 using squeeze bottles or the like A47K5/1201 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/251 using balls as loose mixing element
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/5011 portable during use, e.g. hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/3202 Hand driven
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/326 the container comprising an, externally located, integrally formed tube through which the contents pass integrally formed suction tubes B65D77/286

Abstract

A hand operated device for dispensing a solution in accordance with this invention comprises a dispenser container having generally cylindrically configured sidewalls made of resilient material, that can be readily squeezed by a lady or child. The container also has a bottom that is generally flat, and a fill opening at the top equipped with a closure cap. The preferred embodiment of this device has an external dispensing passage disposed along the sidewall of the container, with the inlet for the dispensing passage being operatively connected near the bottom of the container, and the discharge opening from the dispensing passage located adjacent an upper portion of the container. A plurality of non-floating beads are located in a bottom portion of the container, which beads are surrounded by solution. The sidewalls are capable of being squeezed inwardly by the hand of the user, with the deformation of the sidewalls causing the beads to undergo a significant amount of motion, and also causing the dispensing of a quantity of the solution from the dispensing passage. Advantageously, the motion of the beads serves to break up and disperse any lumps of material existing in the container.

Claims

1. A hand operated device for dispensing a solution, comprising a dispenser container having generally cylindrically configured sidewalls of resilient material, and a fill opening at the top equipped with a closure cap, the sidewalls of said container being constructed of non-rigid material that can be readily squeezed by a user, said container having a dispensing passage, with the inlet for said dispensing passage being operatively connected near the bottom interior of said container, and the discharge opening from said dispensing passage located adjacent an upper portion of said container and being non-valved, a plurality of non-floating beads residing in a bottom portion of said container, which beads are surrounded by solution, the deformation of said sidewalls at the time of being squeezed inwardly by the user causing said beads to undergo a significant amount of motion, and also causing the dispensing of a quantity of the solution from said dispensing passage, such motion of the beads serving to break up and disperse any lumps of material existing in said container.

2. The hand operated device as recited in claim 1 in which the solution is a soap solution, and any lumps of material are constituted by bar soap remnants.

3. The hand operated device as recited in claim 2 in which said closure cap is equipped with a central aperture permitting pressure equalization, and a component is captively mounted in said aperture, by the use of which component, the clogging of said aperture by soap residue is prevented.

4. The hand operated device as recited in claim 1 in which said plurality of beads is made up of a number of different bead sizes.

5. A hand operated device for dispensing a solution, comprising a dispenser container having a generally cylindrically configured sidewall, a bottom that is generally flat, and a fill opening at the top equipped with a closure cap, said container being constructed of non-rigid, resilient material, and having an external dispensing passage disposed along said sidewall, with the inlet for said dispensing passage being operatively connected near the bottom of said container, and the discharge opening from said dispensing passage located adjacent an upper portion of said container and being non-valved, a plurality of non-floating beads located in a bottom portion of said container, which beads are surrounded by solution, said sidewalls being capable of being squeezed inwardly by the hand of the user, with the deformation of said sidewalls causing said beads to undergo a significant amount of motion, and also causing the dispensing of a quantity of the solution from said dispensing passage, such motion of the beads serving to break up and disperse any lumps of material tending to exist in said container.

6. The hand operated device as recited in claim 5 in which the solution is a soap solution, and any lumps of material are constituted by bar soap remnants.

7. The hand operated device as recited in claim 6 in which said closure cap is equipped with a central aperture permitting pressure equalization, and a component is captively mounted in said aperture, by the use of which component, the clogging of said aperture by soap is prevented.

8. The hand operated device as recited in claim 5 in which said plurality of beads is made up of a number of different bead sizes.