Fluid product holding and dispensing system

• US 5,769,552 A
• Filed: 05/06/1996
• Issued: 06/23/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Creative Products, Inc. (Conagra Brands, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Creative Products, Inc. (Conagra Brands, Inc.)
• Inventors: Young, Wayne, Kelley, Matthew F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bratlie, Steven A.
• Application Number:
  US08/643,368
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 401/132, 401/134, 401/135, 604/3, 222/83, 222/83.5, 222/89
• US Class Current: 401/132
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/38 with piercing means arranged to act subsequently as a valve to control the opening

Abstract

By employing two integrated components which cooperate to achieve a product dispensing trigger assembly, and mounting these two components to a container within which the desired product is retained and on which a desired seal is mounted, a unique fluid product holding and dispensing system is realized. In the present invention, the fluid product holding and dispensing system possesses two separate and distinct locked positions which assures that the system is retained in either locked position, until change is desired by the user. As a result, accidental or unwanted activation of the system is completely eliminated and users are assured that the product retained and sealed in the container remains sealed until use is desired and accidental opening or rupturing of the seal is completely eliminated. In addition, by employing the two-component fluid product holding and dispensing trigger assembly of this invention, an easily manufactured, reasonably priced system is attained which is capable of providing consistent, dependable, repeatable results.

Claims

1. A fluid product holding and dispensing system comprising:

A. a fluid product retaining bottle comprising

a. a product holding zone,

b. a portal cooperatively associated with the holding zone for enabling the product to be dispensed therethrough, and

c. sealing means cooperatively associated with the portal for sealing the portal to prevent passage of the product through the portal; and

B. a product dispensing trigger assembly comprising

a. a first mountable member comprising

1. an engaging portion defining an internal cavity and constructed for mounted engagement with the bottle with the internal cavity thereof being in peripheral, surrounding relationship with the portal of the bottle,

2. an elongated guide portion cooperatively associated with the engaging portion and defining an internal flow channel interconnected with the internal cavity of the engaging portion, and

3. control means formed on the outside surface of the guide portion and constructed for cooperative engagement with channel means and lock means for providing a first and a second locked position between which the product dispensing trigger assembly is movable; and

b. a second movable member cooperatively associated with the first member and comprising

1. a body having an inside surface constructed for cooperative association with the guide portion of the first member for movement relative thereto from said first locked position to said second locked position,

2. an elongated, longitudinally extending tube member

i. extending substantially the entire length of the body,

ii. constructed for cooperative, telescopic, axially movable engagement with the internal flow channel of the guide portion, and

iii. defining a central passageway for delivering the fluid product from the bottle through the second member,

3. puncture means mounted to the elongated axially extending tube member in cooperating relationship with the central passageway, and positioned in juxtaposed, spaced, cooperating relationship with the sealing means of the fluid retaining bottle in said first position, and movable into ruptured engagement with the sealing means when in said second locked position,

4. axially extending channel means formed in the inside wall of the body

i. comprising a width substantially less than the circumference of the inside wall of the body,

ii. constructed for slidably retaining the control means of the guide portion therein and controlling the axial movement of the second member relative to the first member, and

5. lock means formed in the channel means for cooperative interengagement with the control means for maintaining the second member relative to the first member in the two alternate locked positions,

whereby a fluid product holding and dispensing system is attained which provides a first locked position wherein the bottle and contents thereof remain completely sealed and quickly and easily moved into a second position when the seal means are automatically ruptured and the fluid is capable of being dispensed therefrom.

2. The fluid product holding and dispensing system defined in claim 1, wherein said elongated guide portion is further defined as comprising a generally hollow cylindrical shape and the inside surface of the body of the second member is further defined as being constructed for peripheral, surrounding, cooperating, telescopic engagement with said elongated guide portion.

3. The fluid product holding and dispensing system defined in claim 2, wherein said fluid product retaining bottle is further defined as comprising a thread bearing collar peripherally surrounding and forming the portal thereof and said bottle engaging portion of the first member is further defined as comprising thread means constructed for cooperating, secure threaded interengagement with the thread means of the bottle, thereby providing a construction wherein said first member can be quickly and easily mounted in interengagement therewith.

4. The fluid product holding and dispensing system defined in claim 3, wherein said second member is further defined as comprising a dispensing surface formed thereon, constructed for receiving dispensing means for assisting in the transferral of the fluid from the central passageway to an application site desired by the user.

5. The fluid product holding and dispensing system defined in claim 1, wherein said elongated longitudinally extending tube member is further defined as comprising a hollow cylindrical shape substantially centrally mounted within the body of the second member in juxtaposed, spaced relationship with the inside surface of the body and comprising a diameter less than the diameter of the internal flow channel of the guide portion of the first member, thereby assuring axial, telescopic movement of the tube member within the internal flow channel.

6. The fluid product holding and dispensing system defined in claim 5, wherein said elongated hollow tube member is further defined as comprising the puncture means formed at one end thereof.

7. The fluid product holding and dispensing system defined in claim 6, wherein said elongated tube member is further defined as being aligned with the central passageway of the second member in juxtaposed, spaced relationship to the inside wall of the housing, defining an annular zone therebetween.

8. The fluid product holding and dispensing system defined in claim 7, wherein said elongated tube member is constructed for telescopic axial movement within said elongated guide portion of the first member, with the elongated guide portion of the first member being constructed for telescopic axial movement within the annular zone formed between the tube member and the inside wall of the housing, thereby assuring the desired movement of the control means of the first member in the channel means of the second member.

9. The fluid product holding and dispensing system defined in claim 1, wherein said second member is further defined as comprising two separate and independent axially extending channel means formed in the inside wall of the body substantially diametrically opposed from each other with each of said channel means comprising a width substantially less than the circumference of the inside wall of the body, and the first member is further defined as comprising two separate and independent control means, each having a width substantially less than the width of the outside surface of the guide portion thereof and dimensioned for cooperative, sliding interengagement with one of said channel means of said second member.

10. The fluid product holding and dispensing system defined in claim 9, wherein said lock means is further defined as comprising at least one finger member formed in one of said axially extending channel means radially extending therefrom and positioned for cooperative interengagement with one of said control means of the first member.

11. The fluid product holding and dispensing system defined in claim 10, wherein each of said control means is further defined as comprising a radially extending, rectangular-shaped block member incorporating a pair of radially extending ridges on one face thereof, said ridges being constructed for cooperative interengagement with the radially extending finger member to establish the two alternate locked positions of the second member relative to the first member.

12. The fluid product holding and dispensing system defined in claim 11, wherein the finger member forming the lock means is further defined as extending from the base of the channel means at an acute angle relative thereto, extending inwardly toward the centrally disposed tube member, with said finger member being further defined as being substantially rigid, while providing arcuate flexibility when sufficient force is applied thereto.

13. The fluid product holding and dispensing system defined in claim 12, wherein each of said ridges formed in the block member of the control means of the first member are further defined as comprising a ramped surface, a substantially flat, radially extending surface positioned in juxtaposed, spaced relationship to the ramped surface, and an intermediate surface extending between the ramped surface and the radially extending flat surface, whereby cooperative, controlled, interengagement with the locking finger is attained.

14. The fluid product holding and dispensing system defined in claim 12, wherein the pair of ridges formed in the control means are constructed for cooperative interengagement with the arcuately disposed, inwardly extending finger member for providing locking engagement of the finger member with each of radially extending flat surfaces of the ridges, providing the desired two alternate locked positions, with movement from the first position to the second position being resisted until sufficient force is applied by a ramped surface to deflect the finger member and enable the telescopic cooperative movement of the second member relative to the first member.

15. The fluid product holding and dispensing system defined in claim 1, wherein the control means formed on the outside surface of the guide portion of the first member is further defined as comprising two separate and independent, substantially rectangular shaped block members, each having a width substantially less than the width of the circumference of the outside surface of the guide portion, with said width being dimensioned for cooperative, sliding interengagement with the channel means, and said channel means formed on the inside wall of the body of the second member is further defined as comprising a pair of axially extending grooves formed in substantially opposed facing surfaces of the inside wall of the body, with each of said grooves comprising an overall width dimensioned for enabling cooperative, sliding, holding engagement of one of said block members, whereby the block members are capable of axial movement through said grooves, providing controlled movement of the second member relative to the first member between the two alternate positions thereof.

16. The fluid product holding and dispensing system defined in claim 15, wherein each of the grooves forming the axially extending channel means are further defined as comprising a substantially continuous, elongated, axially extending stepped configuration with said groove being defined by two cooperating offset groove portions with said portions being interconnected with each other at an intermediate juncture zone.

17. The fluid product holding and dispensing system defined in claim 16, wherein said lock means is further defined as comprising a pair of ribs formed in the base of each longitudinally extending groove with said ribs comprising a raised zone for providing resistance at each of the ribs to the longitudinal movement of the block member in the groove member, while enabling the block member to be moved passed the ribs, when desired by the application of sufficient force thereto, whereby the desired two alternate lock positions of the second member relative to the first member are provided.

18. A fluid product holding and dispensing system comprising:

A. a fluid product retaining bottle comprising

a. a product holding zone,

b. a portal cooperatively associated with the holding zone for enabling the product to be dispensed therethrough, and

c. sealing means cooperatively associated with the portal for sealing the portal to prevent passage of the product through the portal; and

B. a product dispensing trigger assembly comprising

a. a first mountable member comprising

1. an engaging portion defining an internal cavity and constructed for mounted engagement with the bottle with the internal cavity thereof being in peripheral, surrounding relationship with the portal of the bottle,

2. an elongated guide portion cooperatively associated with the engaging portion and defining an internal flow channel interconnected with the internal cavity of the engaging portion, and

3. two separate and independent control means formed on the outside surface of the guide portion and constructed for cooperative engagement with channel means and lock means for providing a first and a second locked position between which the product dispensing trigger assembly is movable, each of said control means

i. having a width substantially less than the width of the outside surface of the guide portion thereof and dimensioned for cooperative, sliding interengagement with the channel means of said second member,

ii. comprising a radially extending, rectangular-shaped block member incorporating a pair of radially extending ridges on one face thereof, said ridges being constructed for cooperative interengagement with a radially extending finger member to establish the two alternate locked positions of the second member relative to the first member; and

b. a second movable member cooperatively associated with the first member and comprising

1. a body having an inside surface constructed for cooperative association with the guide portion of the first member for movement relative thereto from said first locked position to said second locked position,

2. an elongated, longitudinally extending tube member

i. extending substantially the entire length of the body,

ii. constructed for cooperative, telescopic, axially movable engagement with the internal flow channel of the guide portion, and

iii. defining a central passageway for delivering the fluid product from the bottle through the second member,

3. puncture means mounted to the elongated axially extending tube member in cooperating relationship with the central passageway, and positioned in juxtaposed, spaced, cooperating relationship with the sealing means of the fluid retaining bottle in said first position, and movable into ruptured engagement with the sealing means when in said second locked position,

4. two separate and independent axially extending channel means formed in the inside wall of the body substantially diametrically opposed from each other, each of said channel means

i. comprising a width substantially less than the circumference of the inside wall of the body,

ii. constructed for slidably retaining the control means of the guide portion therein and controlling the axial movement of the second member relative to the first member, and

5. lock means

i. comprising at least one finger member formed in the base of one of said axially extending channel means radially extending therefrom at an acute angle thereto and positioned for cooperative interengagement with the ridges of one of said control means of the first member, and

ii. being substantially rigid, while providing arcuate flexibility when sufficient force is applied thereto,

whereby a fluid product holding and dispensing system is attained which provides a first locked position wherein the bottle and contents thereof remain completely sealed and quickly and easily moved into a second position when the seal means are automatically ruptured and the fluid is capable of being dispensed therefrom.

19. The fluid product holding and dispensing system defined in claim 18, wherein each of said ridges formed in the block of the control means of the first member are further defined as comprising a ramped surface, a substantially flat, radially extending surface positioned in juxtaposed, spaced relationship to the ramped surface, and an intermediate surface extending between the ramped surface and the radially extending flat surface, whereby cooperative, controlled, interengagement with the locking finger is attained.

20. The fluid product holding and dispensing system defined in claim 19, wherein the pair of ridges formed in the control means are constructed for cooperative interengagement with the arcuately disposed, inwardly extending finger member for providing locking engagement of the finger member with each of the radially extending flat surfaces of the ridges, providing the desired two alternate locked positions, with movement from the first position to the second position being resisted until sufficient force is applied by the ramped surface to deflect the finger member and enable the telescopic cooperative movement of the second member relative to the first member.

21. A fluid product dispensing trigger assembly constructed for mounted engagement with a conventional fluid product retaining bottle having a holding zone, a single portal and seal means associated with the portal for sealing the product in the holding zone, said trigger assembly comprising

A. a first mountable member comprising

a. an engaging portion defining an internal cavity and constructed for mounted engagement with the bottle with the internal cavity thereof being in peripheral, surrounding relationship with the portal of the bottle,

b. an elongated guide portion cooperatively associated with the engaging portion and defining an internal flow channel interconnected with the internal cavity of the engaging portion, and

c. control means formed on the outside surface of the guide portion and constructed for cooperative engagement with channel means and lock means for providing a first and a second locked position between which the product dispensing trigger assembly is movable;

and

B. a second movable member cooperatively associated with the first member and comprising

a. a body having an inside surface constructed for cooperative association with the guide portion of the first member for movement relative thereto from said first locked position to said second locked position,

b. an elongated, longitudinally extending tube member

22. extending substantially the entire length of the body,constructed for cooperative, telescopic, axially movable engagement with the internal flow channel of the guide portion, anddefining a central passageway for delivering the fluid product from the bottle through the second member,

c. puncture means mounted to the elongated axially extending tube member in cooperating relationship with the central passageway, and positioned in juxtaposed, spaced, cooperating relationship with the sealing means of the fluid retaining bottle in said first position, and movable into ruptured engagement with the sealing means when in said second locked position,

d. axially extending channel means formed in the inside wall of the body

23. comprising a width substantially less than the circumference of the inside wall of the body,constructed for slidably retaining the control means of the guide portion therein and controlling the axial movement of the second member relative to the first member, and

e. lock means formed in the channel means for cooperative interengagement with the control means for maintaining the second member relative to the first member in the two alternate locked positions,

whereby a fluid product holding and dispensing system is attained which provides a first locked position wherein the bottle and contents thereof remain completely sealed and quickly and easily moved into a second position when the seal means are automatically ruptured and the fluid is capable of being dispensed therefrom.