Fluid reservoir assembly

• US 8,272,140 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2011
• Issued: 09/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Group One Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Group One Ltd.
• Inventors: Barto, Robert Murray Jr., Goldstein, Fredric
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennett, G. Bradley
• Application Number:
  US13/164,197
• Publication Number:
  US 20110247230A1
• Time in Patent Office: 463 Days
• Field of Search: 33722-730, 152/204, 401/121, 401/122, 401/126, 401/128, 401/129, 401/130
• US Class Current: 33/725
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/267 comprising a wiper
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/268 with adjustable wiping action
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/04 by dip members, e.g. dip-sticks
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/045 cleaning means therefor (e.g. dip-stick wipers)

Abstract

A bottle assembly has a bottle for storing a fluid, such as a cosmetic fluid. An applicator for applying the fluid is configured to be insertable and removable from the bottle along a path. A sealing body, or assembly, which may include one or more seals, is configured to continue to seal the bottle when the cap is removed.

Claims

1. A fluid reservoir assembly, comprising:

a housing including a reservoir;

a stick including an applicator at an end thereof, the applicator insertable into the reservoir along a path; and

a seal assembly enclosing the reservoir and having two ends spaced apart from one another along the path, the applicator passing through each of the two ends when inserted into the reservoir.

2. The fluid reservoir assembly of claim 1, wherein the applicator is removable from the reservoir along the path, the applicator passing through each of the two ends upon removal from the reservoir.

3. The fluid reservoir assembly of claim 1, wherein the two ends are defined by a respective one of an upper seal and a lower seal.

4. The fluid reservoir assembly of claim 3, wherein an antechamber is defined between the upper and lower seals.

5. The fluid reservoir assembly of claim 3, wherein, upon insertion of the applicator into the reservoir, the applicator contacts the upper seal before the lower seal.

6. The fluid reservoir assembly of claim 3, wherein, upon removal of the applicator from the reservoir, the applicator contacts the lower seal before the upper seal.

7. The fluid reservoir assembly of claim 3, wherein the upper and lower seals are formed separately from one another.

8. The fluid reservoir assembly of claim 3, wherein at least one of the upper and lower seals includes flaps contacting one another at a point along the path to enclose the reservoir.

9. The fluid reservoir assembly of claim 8, wherein the flaps overlap one another at a point along the path.

10. The fluid reservoir assembly of claim 8, wherein the flaps deflect generally away from the path upon removal of the applicator from the reservoir.

11. The fluid reservoir assembly of claim 10, wherein the deflection of the flaps is blocked to control an amount of fluid wiped from the applicator by the flaps.

12. A fluid reservoir assembly, comprising:

a housing including a reservoir, the reservoir storing a cosmetic fluid;

a stick insertable into the reservoir along a path; and

a seal enclosing the reservoir when in a neutral position.

13. The fluid reservoir assembly of claim 12, wherein the stick includes an applicator to carry the cosmetic fluid through the seal and out of the reservoir.

14. The fluid reservoir assembly of claim 12, wherein the seal includes a plurality of flaps, and wherein the flaps contact one another at a point along the path when the seal is in a neutral position.

15. The fluid reservoir assembly of claim 14, wherein the flaps overlap one another at a point along the path when the seal is in a neutral position.

16. The fluid reservoir assembly of claim 15, wherein the flaps include cutouts to accommodate the stick when the stick passes through the seal.

17. A fluid reservoir assembly, comprising:

a housing including a reservoir;

a stick including an applicator, the stick insertable into the reservoir along a path;

an upper seal within the housing; and

a lower seal within the housing and positioned below the upper seal, the reservoir positioned below the lower seal.

18. The fluid reservoir assembly of claim 17, wherein an antechamber is defined between the upper and lower seals.

19. The fluid reservoir assembly of claim 17, wherein the applicator passes through both of the upper and lower seals upon insertion into the reservoir.

20. The fluid reservoir assembly of claim 17, wherein the applicator passes through both of the upper and lowers seals upon being removed from the reservoir.

21. The fluid reservoir assembly of claim 17, wherein at least one of the upper and lower seals includes a plurality of flaps, and wherein the flaps contact one another at a point along the path when the seal is in a neutral position to enclose the reservoir.

22. The fluid reservoir assembly of claim 17, wherein each of the upper and lower seals includes a plurality of flaps, and wherein the flaps contact one another at a point along the path when the seal is in a neutral position to enclose the reservoir.

23. The fluid reservoir assembly of claim 17, wherein the applicator is a brush.

24. The fluid reservoir assembly of claim 17, wherein the upper and lower seals are supported within the housing via respective inwardly projecting flanges.

25. A method comprising the following steps:

(a) providing a fluid reservoir assembly with a seal, the seal enclosing the fluid reservoir assembly, and the seal including at least one flap;

(b) engaging a stick with the seal along a path to form an opening through the seal; and

(c) passing the stick through the opening.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the opening is formed in step (b) by the stick deflecting the at least one flap generally downwardly and away from the path.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the opening formed in step (b) is generally circular.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the at least one flap includes a plurality of flaps that contact one another at a point along the path to enclose the reservoir before step (b).

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the stick includes an applicator at an end thereof.

30. The method of claim 29, further including the step of:

(d) carrying fluid with the applicator from the fluid reservoir through the seal.