Heated flowable product dispenser

• US 8,240,933 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2011
• Issued: 08/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Inventors: Skalitzky, Michael J., Leonard, Stephen B., Harwig, Jeffrey L., Shirley, Steven C., Norwood, Richard L., Cheng, Fuk Yuen, Wen, Zhi Bin, Shi, Jian, Kopanic, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): WALCZAK, DAVID J
• Application Number:
  US13/228,796
• Publication Number:
  US 20120003025A1
• Time in Patent Office: 340 Days
• Field of Search: 401/188.R, 401/1, 401/2, 222/146.5, 222/325, 222/372, 222/146.2, 222/377, 222/380, 141/82, 141/363, 141/365, 141/366, 392/473, 392/476, 392/477
• US Class Current: 401/188.R
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 34/00 Containers or accessories specially adapted for handling liquid toiletry or cosmetic substances, e.g. perfumes
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/12 for liquid or pasty soap
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/0002 incorporating means for heating or cooling, e.g. the material to be sprayed
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1035 the pumping chamber being a bellow

Abstract

A bottle includes a product stored therein. It is configured to be removably engaged with a docking station in an inverted arrangement to be activated by the docking station and heat the product. The bottle may include a pump structure (e.g. in the form of a bellows), or be a squeezable bottle, or be a bowable bottle, or have other pumping features. Structures are provided to prevent drool after use, to help apply the heated product to the skin, and to insure proper heating and dispensing. There are combined docking stations and bottles where the bottle is positioned in an inverted manner, and methods for using these devices.

Claims

1. A device for dispensing a heated flowable product, comprising:

a docking station connectible to an electrical power source; and

a bottle having a flowable product stored therein and configured to be removably engaged with the docking station so as to be activated by the docking station and heat a portion of the flowable product, the bottle comprising;

a housing with a flexible side, the housing having an internal main reservoir storing the flowable product;

a heating element which is capable of heating a portion of the flowable product once it is driven from the reservoir, the heating element being configured to be activatable by the docking station; and

an outlet arranged downstream of the heating element and suitable to receive heated flowable product;

wherein the flexible side can be positioned at least somewhat outside of the docking station when the bottle is mounted in the docking station with the heating element activated, so that upon squeezing the flexible side of the housing the flowable product can then be driven out the outlet.

2. The bottle of claim 1, wherein the flexible side has a bellows configuration which permits the housing to be axially compressed, as well as squeezed along its side below the bellows configuration.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the bottle further comprises a cap downstream of the heating element through which the outlet extends, the cap having a surface suitable to contact human skin.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the cap is capable of being heated by the heating element.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the cap has a textured outer surface suitable for working the flowable product against human skin.

6. A bottle having a flowable product stored therein and configured to be removably engaged with a docking station so as to be activated by the docking station and heat a portion of the flowable product, the bottle comprising:

a housing with a flexible side, the housing having an internal main reservoir storing the flowable product;

a heating element which is capable of heating a portion of the flowable product once it is driven from the reservoir, the heating element being configured to be activatable by the docking station; and

an outlet arranged downstream of the heating element and suitable to receive heated flowable product;

wherein upon squeezing the flexible side of the housing the flowable product can be driven out the outlet;

wherein the bottle further comprises a cap downstream of the heating element through which the outlet extends, the cap having a surface suitable to contact human skin;

wherein the cap has an outer surface which is a brush and/or a sponge surface.

7. A device for dispensing a heated flowable product, comprising:

a docking station connectible to an electrical power source; and

a bottle having a flowable product stored therein and configured to be removably engaged with a docking station so as to be activated by the docking station and heat a portion of the flowable product, the bottle comprising;

a flexible housing, the housing having an internal cavity;

a collapsible bag positioned in the cavity for storing the flowable product;

a heating element which is capable of heating a portion of the flowable product once it is driven from the bag, the heating element being configured to be activatable by the docking station; and

an outlet arranged downstream of the heating element and suitable to receive heated flowable product;

wherein the flexible housing can be positioned at least somewhat outside of the docking station when the bottle is mounted in the docking station with the heating element activated, so that upon squeezing the flexible housing the flowable product can then be driven out the outlet.

8. A bottle having a flowable product stored therein and configured to be removably engaged with a docking station so as to be activated by the docking station and heat a portion of the flowable product, the bottle comprising:

a housing having an internal main reservoir storing the flowable product;

a heating element positioned proximate to the reservoir which is capable of heating a portion of the flowable product once it is driven from the reservoir;

a flip cap arranged downstream of the heating element for pivotable movement between a first position permitting heated flowable product to pass there through, and a second position closing off flow of the heated flowable product through the flip cap; and

a biasing member for biasing the cap towards the second position;

wherein sufficient movement of the flip cap against spring pressure can cause the flip cap to lock into a third position permitting heated flowable product to pass there through even without a need for holding the flip cap in the third position, due to an interaction between a bead on the flip cap and a ridge on an adjacent structure.

9. A device for dispensing a heated flowable product, comprising:

a docking station connectible to an electrical power source;

a bottle;

having a flowable product stored therein and configured to be removably engaged with the docking station so as to be activated by the docking station and heat a portion of the flowable product, the bottle comprising;

a housing having an internal main reservoir storing the flowable product;

a heating element positioned proximate to the reservoir which is capable of heating a portion of the flowable product once it is driven from the reservoir;

a flip cap arranged downstream of the heating element for pivotable movement between a first position permitting heated flowable product to pass there through, and a second position closing off flow of the heated flowable product through the flip cap; and

a biasing member for biasing the cap towards the second position;

wherein a projection is provided on the docking station for driving the flip cap from the first position to the second position when the bottle is pushed down relative to the docking station.