Envelope and stamp moisturizer

• US 5,433,782 A
• Filed: 11/18/1994
• Issued: 07/18/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John A. Filbert, Serena A. Filbert
• Original Assignee: John A. Filbert, Serena A. Filbert
• Inventors: Filbert, Serena A., Filbert, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Osele, Mark A.
• Application Number:
  US08/341,693
• Time in Patent Office: 242 Days
• Field of Search: 401/89, 401/118, 401/119, 401/120, 401/124, 401/130, 401/139, 401/170, 401/183, 401/184, 401/195, 401/262, 401/263, 118/264, 118/266, 222/398, 222/523, D19/67, D19/70, D19/71
• US Class Current: 118/266
• CPC Class Codes: B43M 11/04 with pads B43M11/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B43M 13/00 Dispensers without mechanisms for single stamps modified for the application of stamps to articles manually-controlled or manually-operable label or stamp dispensers B65C11/00

Abstract

A new and improved moistening apparatus is used with a squeezable bottle and includes a moisture dispensing assembly connected by a friction fit to the mouth portion of the bottle. The moisture dispensing assembly includes a stopper assembly, a moisture dispensing element (such as a sponge) supported by the stopper assembly, and a conduit tube assembly connected to and in fluid communication with the moisture dispensing element. The conduit tube assembly extends from the moisture dispensing element to an interior portion of the bottle for conveying water from the bottle to the moisture dispensing element. By squeezing the bottle, water is forced by positive pressure from the body portion through the conduit tube assembly to the moisture dispensing element. The stopper assembly, connected to the mouth of the bottle by a friction fit, may include a stopper element that has a plurality of stepped portions each including a different outer diameter, such that the different stepped portions are capable of fitting into different-size mouth portions of different bottles. The stepped portion which has the largest outer diameter may include a threaded outer portion. A complementarily threaded cap may be attached to the threaded outer portion to seal the moisture within the bottle. The conduit tube assembly may include two telescopically connected members for adjusting the effective length of the conduit tube assembly. A stamp supply retention assembly may be connected to an exterior portion of the stopper assembly for facilitating moistening of the stamps.

Claims

1. A new and improved moistening apparatus, comprising:

a bottle which includes a mouth portion and a body portion, and

a moisture dispensing assembly connected to said mouth portion of said bottle, said moisture dispensing assembly including a stopper assembly connected to said mouth portion of said bottle with a water tight connection, wherein said stopper assembly is hollow and includes a relatively large diameter mid-portion a tapered top portion having both its inner and outer surfaces tapering upward from said mid-portion, and a tapered bottom portion having both its inner and outer surfaces tapering downward from said mid-portion, a moisture dispensing element supported within and retained by said hollow stopper assembly, and a conduit tube assembly connected to and in fluid communication with said moisture dispensing element, said conduit tube assembly extending from said moisture dispensing element to an interior portion of said body portion of said bottle for conveying water from said body portion to said moisture dispensing element,

wherein said moisture dispensing element is a sponge element,

wherein said bottle is a squeezable bottle, such that by squeezing said bottle, water is forced by positive pressure from said body portion through said conduit tube assembly to said moisture dispensing element, and wherein said stopper assembly is connected to said mouth portion of said bottle by a water tight friction fit.

2. A moisture dipensing assembly apparatus for connection to a bottle having a mouth portion and a body portion which includes an interior portion for retaining water, said moisture dispensing ssembly apparatus comprising:

a stopper assembly adapted for being connected to the mouth portion of the bottle with a water tight connection, wherein said stopper assembly is hollow and includes a relatively large diameter mid-portion a tapered top portion having both its inner and outer surfaces tapering upward from said mid-portion, and a tapered bottom portion having both its inner and outer surfaces tapering downward from said mid-portion,

a moisture dispensing element supported by and retained within said hollow stopper assembly, and

a conduit tube assembly connected to and in fluid communication with said moisture dispensing element, said conduit tube assembly extending from said moisture dispensing element to an interior portion of said body portion of said bottle for conveying water from said body portion to said moisture dispensing element, and

wherein said stopper assembly is adapted for being connected to the mouth portion of the bottle by a water tight friction fit.