Dispenser with biased cover
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A dispenser comprising:
- a body for receipt of a carrier for a composition;
an exit channel definable by said body for passage of said composition to a user;
a cover for said exit channel reversibly movable between a storage in which said cover fully protects the exit channel, to an in-use position wherein the exit channel is exposed;
a biasing element capable of generating a biasing energy for acting on the cover when the cover is not in said in-use or storage positions, capable of biasing the cover towards either the in-use position or the storage position depending on the location of the cover between its storage and in-use positions; and
a control element cooperatively engaging the biasing element to control the direction of the bias acting on the cover,wherein said control element defines a biasing energy curve varying according to the proximity of the cover to the storage and in-use positions, and wherein the biasing energy curve has a maximum when the cover is at a defined point between the storage and the in-use position such as to bias the cover away from said defined point and towards either the in-use position or the storage position, and wherein the control element comprises a cam surface and a cam follower.
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Abstract
There is provided a dispenser comprising a body for receipt of a carrier for a composition; an exit channel definable by the body for passage of the composition to a user; a cover for the exit channel reversibly movable between a storage position in which the cover fully protects the exit channel, to an in-use position wherein the exit channel is exposed. Biasing means act on the cover when the cover is not in the in-use or storage positions, to bias the cover towards either the in-use position or the storage position.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A dispenser comprising:
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a body for receipt of a carrier for a composition; an exit channel definable by said body for passage of said composition to a user; a cover for said exit channel reversibly movable between a storage in which said cover fully protects the exit channel, to an in-use position wherein the exit channel is exposed; a biasing element capable of generating a biasing energy for acting on the cover when the cover is not in said in-use or storage positions, capable of biasing the cover towards either the in-use position or the storage position depending on the location of the cover between its storage and in-use positions; and a control element cooperatively engaging the biasing element to control the direction of the bias acting on the cover, wherein said control element defines a biasing energy curve varying according to the proximity of the cover to the storage and in-use positions, and wherein the biasing energy curve has a maximum when the cover is at a defined point between the storage and the in-use position such as to bias the cover away from said defined point and towards either the in-use position or the storage position, and wherein the control element comprises a cam surface and a cam follower.
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2. A dispenser comprising
a body for receipt of a carrier for a composition; - an exit channel definable by said body for passage of said composition to a user;
a cover for said exit channel reversibly movable between a storage position in which said cover fully protects the exit channel, to an in-use position wherein the exit channel is exposed; a biasing element capable of generating a biasing energy for acting on the cover when the cover is not in said in-use or storage positions, capable of biasing the cover towards either the in-use position or the storage position depending on the location of the cover between its storage and in-use positions; and a control element cooperatively engaging the biasing element to control the direction of the bias acting on the cover, wherein said control element defines a biasing energy curve varying according to the proximity of the cover to the storage and in-use positions, and wherein the biasing energy curve has a maximum when the cover is at a defined point between the storage and the in-use position such as to bias the cover away from said defined point and towards either the in-use position or the storage position, and wherein the control element comprises a ramp.
- an exit channel definable by said body for passage of said composition to a user;
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3. A dispenser comprising
a body for receipt of a carrier for a composition; -
an exit channel definable by said body for passage of said composition to a user; a cover for said exit channel reversibly movable between a storage position in which said cover fully protects the exit channel, to an in-use position wherein the exit channel is exposed; a biasing element capable of generating a biasing energy for acting on the cover when the cover is not said in-use or storage positions, capable of biasing the cover towards either the in-use position or the storage position depending on the location of the cover between its storage and in-use positions; and a control element cooperatively engaging the biasing element to control the direction of the bias acting on the cover, wherein said control element defines a biasing energy curve varying according to the proximity of the cover to the storage and in-use positions, and wherein the biasing energy curve has a maximum when the cover is at a defined point between the storage and the in-use position such as to bias the cover away from said defined point and towards either the in-use position or the storage position, wherein the biasing element comprises a pressure based system, and wherein the pressure based system is a pneumatic system.
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4. A dispenser comprising
a body for receipt of a carrier for a composition; -
an exit channel definable by said body for passage of said composition to a user; a cover for said exit channel reversibly movable between a storage position in which said cover fully protects the exit channel, to an in-use position wherein the exit channel is exposed; a biasing element capable of generating a biasing energy for acting on the cover when the cover is not in said in-use or storage positions, capable of biasing the cover towards either the in-use position or the storage position depending on the location of the cover between its storage and in-use positions; and a control element cooperatively engaging the biasing element to control the direction of the bias acting on the cover, wherein said control element defines a biasing energy curve varying according to the proximity of the cover to the storage and in-use positions, and wherein the biasing energy curve has a maximum when the cover is at a defined point between the storage and the in-use position such as to bias the cover away from said defined point and towards either the in-use position or the storage position, wherein the biasing element comprises a pressure based system, and wherein the pressure based system is a hydraulic system.
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5. A dispenser comprising
a body for receipt of a carrier for a composition; -
an exit channel definable by said body for passage of said composition to a user; a cover for said exit channel reversibly movable between a storage position in which said cover fully protects the exit channel, to an in-use position wherein the exit channel is exposed; a biasing element capable of generating a biasing energy for acting on the cover when the cover is not in said in-use or storage positions, capable of biasing the cover towards either the in-use position or the storage position depending on the location of the cover between its storage and in-use positions; and a control element cooperatively engaging the biasing element to control the direction of the bias acting on the cover, wherein said control element defines a biasing energy curve varying according to the proximity of the cover to the storage and in-use positions, and wherein the biasing energy curve has a maximum when the cover is at a defined point between the storage and the in-use position such as to bias the cover away from said defined point and towards either the in-use position or the storage position, and wherein the cover is slidably movable.
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6. A dispenser comprising
a body for receipt of a carrier for a composition; -
an exit channel definable by said body for passage of said composition to a user; a cover for said exit channel reversibly movable between a storage position in which said cover fully protects the exit channel, to an in-use position wherein the exit channel is exposed; a biasing element capable of generating a biasing energy for acting on the cover when the cover is not in said in-use or storage positions, capable of biasing the cover towards either the in-use position or the storage position depending on the location of the cover between its storage and in-use positions; and a control element cooperatively engaging the biasing element to control the direction of the bias acting on the cover, wherein said control element defines a biasing energy curve varying according to the proximity of the cover to the storage and in-use positions, and wherein the biasing energy curve has a maximum when the cover is at a defined point between the storage and the in-use position such as to bias the cover away from said defined point and towards either the in-use position or the storage position, and wherein the biasing element comprises a spring, and the control element comprises a cam surface and cam follower.
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7. A dispenser comprising
a body for receipt of a carrier for a composition; -
an exit channel definable by said body for passage of said composition to a user; a cover for said exit channel reversibly movable between a storage position in the exit channel is exposed; a biasing element capable of generating a biasing energy for acting on the cover when the cover is not in said in-use or storage positions, capable of biasing the cover towards either the in-use position or the storage position depending on the location of the cover between its storage and in-use positions; and a control element cooperatively engaging the biasing element to control the direction of the bias acting on the cover, wherein said control element defines a biasing energy curve varying according to the proximity of the cover to the storage and in-use positions, and wherein the biasing energy curve has a maximum when the cover is at a defined point between the storage and the in-use position such as to bias the cover away from said defined point and towards either the in-use position or the storage position, and wherein the biasing element comprises an articulated assembly and the control element comprises a ramp.
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8. A dispenser comprising
a body for receipt of a carrier for a composition; -
an exit channel definable by said body for passage of said composition to a user; a cover for said exit channel reversibly movable between a storage position in which said cover fully protects the exit channel, to an in-use position wherein the exit channel is exposed; a biasing element capable of generating a biasing energy for acting on the cover when the cover is not in said in-use or storage positions, capable of biasing the cover towards either the in-use position or the storage position depending on the location of the cover between its storage and in-use positions; and a control element cooperatively engaging the biasing element to control the direction of the bias acting on the cover, wherein said control element defines a biasing energy curve varying according to the proximity of the cover to the storage and in-use positions, and wherein the biasing energy curve has a maximum when the cover is at a defined point between the storage and the in-use position such as to bias the cover away from said defined point and towards either the in-use position or the storage position, and wherein the cover is movable by sliding thumb motion.
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9. A dispenser comprising
a body for receipt of a carrier for a composition; -
an exit channel definable by said body for passage of said composition to a user; a cover for said exit channel reversibly movable between a storage position in which said cover fully protects the exit channel, to an in-use position wherein the exit channel is exposed; a biasing element capable of generating a biasing energy for acting on the cover when the cover is not in said in-use or storage positions, capable of biasing the cover towards either the in-use position or the storage position depending on the location of the cover between its storage and in-use positions; and a control element cooperatively engaging the biasing element to control the direction of the bias acting on the cover, wherein said control element defines a biasing energy curve varying according to the proximity of the cover to the storage and in-use positions, and wherein the biasing energy curve has a maximum when the cover is at a defined point between the storage and the in-use position such as to bias the cover away from said defined point and towards either the in-use position or the storage position, and wherein the cover has a clear portion to enable the user to see the location of the exit channel when in the storage position.
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10. A dispenser comprising
a body for receipt of a carrier for a composition; -
an exit channel definable by said body for passage of said composition to a user; a cover for said exit channel reversibly movable between a storage position in which said cover fully protects the exit channel, to an in-use position wherein the exit channel is exposed; a biasing element capable of generating a biasing energy for acting on the cover when the cover is not in said in-use or storage positions, capable of biasing the cover towards either the in-use position or the storage position depending on the location of the cover between its storage and in-use positions; and a control element cooperatively engaging the biasing element to control the direction of the bias acting on the cover, wherein said control element defines a biasing energy curve varying according to the proximity of the cover to the storage and in-use positions, and wherein the biasing energy curve has a maximum when the cover is at a defined point between the storage and the in-use position such as to bias the cover away from said defined point and towards either the in-use position or the storage position, and wherein the dispenser is additionally provided with a dose counter display. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A dispenser comprising
a body for receipt of a carrier for a composition; -
an exit channel definable by said body passage of said composition to a user; a cover for said exit channel reversibly movable between a storage position in which said cover fully protects the exit channel, to an in-use position wherein the exit channel is exposed; a biasing element capable of generating a biasing energy for acting on the cover when the cover is not in said in-use or storage positions, capable of biasing the cover towards either the in-use position or the storage position depending on the location of the cover between its storage and in-use positions; and a control element cooperatively engaging the biasing element to control the direction of the bias acting on the cover, wherein said control element defines a biasing energy curve varying according to the proximity of the cover to the storage and in-use positions, and wherein the biasing energy curve has a maximum when the cover is at a defined point between the storage and the in-use position such as to bias the cover away from said defined point and towards either the in-use position or the storage position, and wherein the dispenser is additionally provided with an alphanumeric display. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A dispenser comprising:
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(a) a body in receipt of a carrier for a composition, said body defining an exit channel for passage of said composition to a user; (b) a cover for said exit channel, said cover defining opposing interior surfaces; (c) at least one inwardly directed cam follower about which said cover pivots, said cam follower defined by or connected to said interior surface, said cam follower having a cam follower face; (d) a hollow shaft associated with said body, said hollow shaft at least partially enclosing a spring, at least one cam and said cam follower face, said spring communicating with said cam and said cam defining a mating face which abuts said cam follower face; wherein said cover is reversibly and pivotally movable between a storage position, in which said cover fully protects the exit channel, to an in-use position, wherein the exit channel is exposed; and
wherein movement of said cover rotates said cam follower face causing partial distancing of the cam follower and cam mating face and compression of said spring to create a biasing force biasing said cover toward either the storage position or in use position, depending on the degree of rotation of the cover.- View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification