Applicator and dispensing device using same

• US 6,877,924 B1
• Filed: 08/18/1999
• Issued: 04/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mixtek System, LLC
• Original Assignee: Mixtek System, LLC
• Inventors: Levine, Lawrence, Zissel, Ralph, Levine, Harvey, Gray, Richard, Mears, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Walczak, David J.
• Application Number:
  US09/763,089
• Time in Patent Office: 2,064 Days
• Field of Search: 401/47, 401/170, 401/44, 401/270, 401/282, 401/286, 401/797, 401/788, 222/145.4, 222/145.6, 222/402.1, 222/401.13, 222/145.1, 132/113, 132/114
• US Class Current: 401/190
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 19/0066 Coloring or bleaching
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 19/026 having brush or comb applicators A45D24/22 take precedence; brushes with reservoir or other means for applying substances A46B11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2200/058 Means for mixing different substances prior to application
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/0017 with pre-pressurised reservoirs, e.g. aerosols
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3283 Cylindrical or polygonal containers, e.g. bottles, with two or more substantially axially offset, side-by-side compartments for simultaneous dispensing B65D35/22, B65D35/242, B65D81/3227, B65D81/325 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/285 for applying the contents, e.g. brushes, rollers, pads, spoons, razors, scrapers closures with pads or like contents-applying means B65D47/42; brushes with integral pre-pressurised reservoirs A46B11/0017; domestic cleaning implements with liquid-feeding devices A47L13/00

Abstract

A dispensing device (10) is detachably mountable atop a plurality of valved containers (12a, 12b) containing constituents under pressure which are dispensed upon actuation of the container valves (17). The dispensing device (10) comprises a mixing chamber (56) for mixing together the constituents dispensed form the containers (12a, 12b) to form a mixed product and for outputting the mixed product through plural outlet ports (64), an applicator (25) having a plurality of tines (76) at least some of which are hollow, the hollow tines (76) being in fluid communication with respective outlet ports (64) of the mixing chamber (56) for dispensing from distal ends thereof the mixed product, and an actuator (50) for simultaneously actuating the container valves (17). The mixing chamber (56) has an inlet port (49) for admitting the constituents dispensed from the containers (12a, 12b) into the mixing chamber (56), and an elongated tortuous flow path (60) having one end communicating with the inlet port (49) and another end communicating with the plural outlet ports (64).

Claims

1. A hand-held applicator for dispensing and applying a fluid product, comprising:

a housing mountable in use atop a plurality of independently valved containers that contain constituents to be mixed to form a fluid product;

an inlet integral to said housing to receive the constituents;

an outlet; and

a flow passage in said housing communicating the inlet with the outlet to enable the constituents to flow serially from the inlet through the flow passage and through the outlet, wherein the flow passage comprises a tortuous flow path including at least one baffle mixing station disposed in the tortuous flow path to mix the constituents and form the fluid product.

2. The applicator of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of tines, at least some of which are hollow, wherein the outlet comprises one or more of said hollow tines and the flow passages communicating the inlet with the hollow tines enable the fluid product to flow serially from the inlet through the flow passages and through the hollow tines to be dispensed at distal ends of the hollow tines.

3. A hand-held applicator according to claim 2;

wherein the plurality of tines comprise hollow tines and solid tines, the solid tines coacting with the hollow tines for spreading and applying the fluid product dispensed from the distal ends of the hollow tines.

4. A hand-held applicator according to claim 2;

wherein the hollow tines have a length shorter than that of the solid tines.

5. A hand-held applicator according to claim 1;

further comprising a base portion having the inlet connected thereto; and

a comb portion having the outlet connected thereto;

wherein the outlet comprises a plurality of tines, at least some of which are hollow, to enable the fluid product to flow serially from the inlet through the flow passages and through the hollow tines to be dispensed at distal ends of the hollow tines and wherein the base and comb portions have opposed spaced-apart surfaces defining therebetween the flow passages that communicate the inlet with the hollow tines.

6. A hand-held applicator according to claim 5;

wherein one of the opposed surfaces of the base and comb portions has a partition wall extending outwardly therefrom into contact with the other one of the opposed surfaces to define the flow passages.

7. A hand-held applicator according to claim 6;

wherein the plurality of tines comprise hollow tines and solid tines, the solid tines coacting with the hollow tines for spreading and applying the fluid product dispensed from the distal ends of the hollow tines.

8. A hand-held applicator according to claim 7;

wherein the hollow tines have a length shorter than that of the solid tines.

9. A dispensing device according to claim 1;

wherein each baffle mixing station comprises an upstream baffle member and a downstream baffle member, the baffle members being staggered from one another with respect to the principal direction of flow of the constituents along the tortuous flow path.

10. A dispensing device according to claim 9;

wherein one of the baffle members of each baffle mixing station is positioned in the center of the tortuous flow path so that the constituents can flow past both ends thereof.

11. A dispensing device according to claim 10;

wherein the other of the baffle members of each baffle mixing station is positioned at one side of the tortuous flow path so that the constituents can flow past only one end thereof.

12. A dispensing device according to claim 1;

wherein each baffle mixing station comprises an upstream baffle member positioned in the center of the tortuous flow path, and two downstream baffle members positioned at opposed sides of the tortuous flow path and defining therebetween a narrow passageway within the tortuous flow path.

13. A dispensing device according to claim 1;

wherein the narrow passageway is located substantially entirely behind the upstream baffle member.

14. A dispensing device according to claim 1;

further including a baffle member disposed in the region and positioned to create flow separation and turbulence of the constituents entering the flow passage from the inlet.

15. A dispensing device according to claim 1;

further including an actuator for simultaneously actuating the container valves to simultaneously dispense the constituents from the containers into the inlet.

16. A dispensing device mountable in use atop a plurality of valved containers containing dispensable constituents which are dispensed upon actuation of the container valves, the dispensing device comprising:

a housing that includes;

a plurality of inlet ducts receptive of the constituents from respective ones of the containers; and

a mixing chamber having

an inlet region in communication with the inlet ducts for receiving therefrom the constituents, and

a tortuous flow path having one end in communication with the inlet region and another end in communication with an outlet, the tortuous flow path being effective to progressively intermix the constituents during flow thereof from the inlet region through the tortuous flow path to the outlet wherein the tortuous flow path includes one or more baffle mixing stations disposed therein for creating turbulent local mixing of the constituents.

17. A dispensing device according to claim 16;

wherein each baffle mixing station comprises an upstream baffle member and a downstream baffle member, the baffle members being staggered from one another with respect to the principal direction of flow of the constituents along the tortuous flow path.

18. A dispensing device according to claim 17;

wherein one of the baffle members of each baffle mixing station is positioned in the center of the tortuous flow path so that the constituents can flow past both ends thereof.

19. A dispensing device according to claim 18;

wherein the other of the baffle members of each baffle mixing station is positioned at one side of the tortuous flow path so that the constituents can flow past only one end thereof.

20. A dispensing device according to claim 16;

wherein each baffle mixing station comprises an upstream baffle member positioned in the center of the tortuous flow path, and two downstream baffle members positioned at opposed sides of the tortuous flow path and defining therebetween a narrow passageway within the tortuous flow path.

21. A dispensing device according to claim 20;

wherein the narrow passageway is located substantially entirely behind the upstream baffle member.

22. A dispensing device according to claim 16;

further including a baffle member disposed in the inlet region and positioned to create flow separation and turbulence of the constituents entering the mixing chamber from the inlet ducts.

23. A dispensing device according to claim 16;

further including an actuator for simultaneously actuating the container valves to simultaneously dispense the constituents from the containers into the respective inlet ducts.

24. A dispensing device according to claim 16;

wherein the mixing chamber is comprised of two complementary sections connected together to define therebetween the mixing chamber, the complementary sections each having complementary wall portions which align with and abut one another to define the tortuous flow path.

25. A dispensing device according to claim 24;

wherein the complimentary sections have arm portions each containing therein one of the inlet ducts.

26. A dispensing device according to claim 16;

further comprising;

an applicator having a plurality of tines in fluid communication with the outlet, at least one of said tines being hollow for dispensing the intermixed constituents through ends distal to the outlet.

27. A dispensing device according to claim 16;

wherein the tortuous path has a sinuous shape.

28. A dispensing device according to claim 16;

wherein the mixing chamber comprises a baffle.

29. A dispensing device according to claim 28;

wherein the baffle comprises a plurality of baffle members defining the tortuous flow path.

30. A dispensing device mountable in use atop a plurality of valved containers containing dispensable constituents which are dispensed upon actuation of the container valves, the dispensing device comprising:

an actuator for simultaneously actuating the valves of the valved containers to release the constituents of the containers;

inlet ducts receptive of the constituents of each said valved container;

a mixing chamber effective to progressively intermix the constituents, said mixing chamber being in communication with the inlet ducts for receiving the constituents therefrom, and said mixing chamber comprising;

at least one wall portion defining a sinuous flow path for said constituents,

at least one baffle mixing station comprising at least one baffle member extending at least partially into said sinuous flow path, and,

at least one outlet for discharging the intermixed constituents; and

an applicator having a plurality of tines, at least some of which are hollow, the hollow tines being in fluid communication with the at least one outlet of the mixing chamber for dispensing the intermixed constituents through ends distal to the at least one outlet of the mixing chamber

wherein the inlet ducts and mixing chamber are integrally formed in a housing.