Product dispenser

• US 4,997,300 A
• Filed: 11/22/1989
• Issued: 03/05/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Caran Precision Engineering & Mfg., Corp.
• Original Assignee: Spiveco, Inc. (Caran Precision Engineering & Mfg., Corp.)
• Inventors: Brice, William F., Spivey, James R., Dee, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bratlie, Steven A.
• Application Number:
  US07/440,237
• Time in Patent Office: 468 Days
• Field of Search: 401/123, 401/124, 401/126, 401/130, 401/191, 401/194
• US Class Current: 401/123
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/04 effected by a screw
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/262 using a brush or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/265 connected to the cap of the container

Abstract

A dispenser for an extrudable product includes an applicator member having a handle and an applicator tip connected to the handle, a cover member having a hollow interior that extends along a cover member axis to an open end of the cover member, which open end is dimensioned and arranged to receive the applicator tip, a supply of an extrudable product within the cover member, and an extrusion mechanism within the cover member. The extrusion mechanism includes an extrusion die and components for enabling a user to rotate the extrusion die relative to a portion of the cover member in order to operate the extrusion mechanism. The extrusion die has an extrusion orifice and it bears against the cover member at an interface between the extrusion die and the cover member. Components for inhibiting the passage of air to the extrudable product are provided that include at least one of a first sealing arrangement for sealing the extrusion orifice and a second sealing arrangement for sealing the interface between the extrusion die and the cover member is provided. One embodiment includes an indicator for indicating the amount of relative rotation of the first and second sections in order to facilitate extrusion of just the desired amount of the extrudable product.

Claims

1. A dispenser for an extrudable product, comprising:

an applicator member having a handle and an applicator tip connected to the handle;

a cover member having a hollow interior that extends along a cover member axis to an open end of the cover member, which open end is dimensioned and arranged to receive the applicator tip;

a supply of an extrudable product within the cover member;

an extrusion mechanism within the cover member, the extrusion mechanism including an extrusion die and means for enabling a user to rotate the extrusion die relative to a portion of the cover member in order to operate the extrusion mechanism, the extrusion die having an extrusion orifice and bearing against the cover member at an interface between the extrusion die and the cover member; and

means for inhibiting the passage of air to the supply of extrudable product that includes at least one of first sealing means for sealing the extrusion orifice and second sealing means for sealing the interface between the extrusion die and the cover member.

2. A dispenser as recited in claim 1, wherein the dispenser includes the second sealing means for sealing the interface between the extrusion die and the cover member and the second sealing means includes a sealing member disposed between the extrusion die and the cover member.

3. A dispenser as recited in claim 2, wherein the sealing member is composed of an elastomeric material.

4. A dispenser as recited in claim 3, wherein the sealing member is a gasket disposed between the extrusion die and the cover member.

5. A dispenser as recited in claim 1, wherein the dispenser includes the first sealing means for sealing the extrusion orifice and the first sealing means includes means for causing the applicator tip to bear against the extrusion die over the extrusion orifice when the open end of the cover member receives the applicator tip.

6. A dispenser as recited in claim 5, wherein the applicator tip is composed of a deformable material.

7. A dispenser as recited in claim 5, wherein the cover member includes a radially inwardly facing groove, the applicator member includes a radially outwardly extending protrusion dimensioned and arranged to seat in the groove, and the protrusion is located proximally of the applicator tip in a position such that the protrusion seats in the groove when the applicator tip is bearing against the extrusion die sufficiently to effect a seal of the extrusion orifice.

8. A dispenser as recited in claim 5, wherein the dispenser includes the second sealing means for sealing the interface between the extrusion die and the cover member.

9. A dispenser as recited in claim 1, wherein the extrudable product is a cosmetic product.

10. A dispenser as recited in claim 1, wherein the extrudable product is a lipstick.

11. A dispenser for an extrudable product, comprising:

an applicator member having a handle and an applicator tip connected to the handle;

a cover member having first and second sections and a hollow interior that extends along a cover member axis to an open end of the cover member, which open end is dimensioned and arranged to receive the applicator tip;

a supply of an extrudable product within the cover member;

an extrusion mechanism within the cover member, the extrusion mechanism including means for enabling a user to extrude a desired amount of the extrudable product by rotating the first and second sections of the cover member relative to each other; and

indicator means for indicating the amount of relative rotation of the first and second sections in order to facilitate extrusion of just the desired amount of the extrudable product.

12. A dispenser as recited in claim 11, wherein the indicator means is configured to indicate a plurality of rotational steps for each 360-degrees of rotation.

13. A dispenser as recited in claim 12, wherein the indicator means is configured to provide a feelable indication for each of the rotational steps.

14. A dispenser as recited in claim 13, wherein:

the second section of the cover member extends telescopingly over the first section to the open end of the cover member; and

the indicator means includes a plurality of indentations on one of the first and second sections and a protrusion on the other one of the first and second sections that is configured to coact with the plurality of indentations in order to provide a feelable indication of the amount of relative rotation.

15. A dispenser as recited in claim 11 wherein the extrudable product is a cosmetic product.

16. A dispenser as recited in claim 11, wherein:

the extrusion mechanism includes an extrusion die that rotates when the user rotates the first and second sections of the cover member relative to each other, the extrusion die having an extrusion orifice bearing against the cover member at an interface between the extrusion die and the cover member; and

the dispenser includes means for inhibiting the passage of air to the extrudable product that includes at least one of first sealing means for sealing the extrusion orifice and second sealing means for sealing the interface between the extrusion die and the cover member.

17. A dispenser as recited in claim 16 wherein the dispenser includes the second sealing means for sealing the interface between the extrusion die and the cover member and the second sealing means includes a sealing member disposed between the extrusion die and the cover member.

18. A dispenser as recited in claim 16, wherein the dispenser includes the first sealing means for sealing the extrusion orifice and the first sealing means includes means for causing the applicator tip to bear against the extrusion die over the extrusion orifice when the open end of the cover member receives the applicator tip.

19. A dispenser as recited in claim 18, wherein the applicator tip is composed of a deformable material.

20. A dispenser as recited in claim 18, wherein the cover member includes a radially inwardly facing groove, the applicator member includes a radially outwardly extending protrusion dimensioned and arranged to seat in the groove, and the protrusion is located proximally of the applicator tip in a position such that the protrusion seats in the groove when the applicator tip is bearing against the extrusion die sufficiently to effect a seal of the extrusion orifice.