Dispenser with a cam path

• US 8,534,948 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2009
• Issued: 09/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HCT Asia Ltd.
• Original Assignee: HCT Asia Ltd.
• Inventors: Thorpe, Timothy, Alviar, Luis
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, HUYEN D
• Application Number:
  US12/399,421
• Publication Number:
  US 20090162131A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,656 Days
• Field of Search: 401/172, 401/268, 401/270, 401/277, 401279-281
• US Class Current: 401/172
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 34/042 using a brush or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/06 Casings wherein movement of the lipstick or like solid is a screwing movement
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/0079 Arrangements for preventing undesired leakage or dispensing
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/1046 Brush used for applying cosmetics bristles arrangements for cosmetic brushes A46B9/021

Abstract

A dispenser includes a cam path and a mating guide pin to provide a closed position or an open position for the dispenser. The dispenser is selectively rotatable causing the mating guide pin to travel along a cam path to rotate between slanted, unslanted, and slanted downward positions. The mating guide pin in the cam path causes the open position to allow product delivery and causes the closed position to provide a seal to prevent product leakage. In an implementation, the dispenser is selectively guidable along a helical guide slot to an upward position for product application and to a downward position to retract the applicator. When the dispenser is selectively rotatable along the helical guide slot to a retracted position, the dispenser is in a stored state.

Claims

1. A cosmetic dispenser comprising:

a lower valve having a reservoir for containing a product, the lower valve having at least one aperture;

an upper valve coupled to the lower valve;

at least one cam path located on the lower valve;

at least one guide pin located on the upper valve coupled to the at least one cam path;

a collar that covers the lower valve and the upper valve;

the dispenser being selectively guidable in a motion between;

i) an upward position for the dispenser to expose an applicator, and

ii) a downward position to store the applicator;

the applicator coupled to the upper valve for applying the product;

the dispenser being selectively rotatable with the at least one guide pin in the at least one cam path between;

i) an open position for the dispenser to deliver the product, and

ii) a closed position to seal a delivery passageway;

wherein in the open position at least one aperture in the upper valve is aligned with the at least one aperture in the lower valve for product delivery; and

wherein in the closed position at least one raised section in the upper valve is aligned with the at least one aperture in the lower valve to seal delivery passageway.

2. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a flow-through compressible gasket coupled to the lower valve and the upper valve, the dispenser being selectively guidable with the at least one guide pin in and the at least one cam path between:

an upward slanted position, wherein the flow-through compressible gasket is selectively decompressed to allow for dispensing the product;

a downward slanted position, wherein the flow-through compressible gasket is selectively compressed to provide a seal for preventing the product from leaking; and

a flat unslanted position, wherein the flow-through compressible gasket is not compressed while the at least one aperture in the lower valve is selectively aligned with the at least one raised section in the upper valve.

3. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a flow-through compressible gasket coupled to the lower valve and the upper valve, the flow-through compressible gasket comprises:

a substantially disk-shaped body with a top raised center section on a top side and a bottom raised center section on a bottom side; and

at least one aperture being located on the substantially disk-shaped body and being alignable with the at least one aperture of the lower valve and with the at least one aperture of the upper valve to define a delivery passageway for the product.

4. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 3, wherein the flow-through compressible gasket further comprises:

a first circular ring surrounding the at least one aperture on the bottom side of the substantially disk-shaped body;

a second circular ring surrounding the at least one aperture on the top side of the substantially disk-shaped body; and

an outer perimeter comprising a plurality of flat sides and a plurality of semicircular sides alternating on the substantially disk-shaped body.

5. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a flow-through compressible gasket coupled to the lower valve and the upper valve, the flow-through compressible gasket made of a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material.

6. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 1, further comprising another guide pin located on the upper valve to travel against another cam path located on the lower valve.

7. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 1, further comprising another guide pin located on the upper valve at about 180 degrees to the at least one guide pin to travel against another cam path located on the lower valve located at about 180 degrees to the at least one cam path.

8. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 1, wherein the motion between the upward slanted and downward positions comprises an actuation of at least about 10 degrees to at most about 300 degrees.

9. A cosmetic dispenser comprising:

a lower valve having a reservoir for containing a product, the lower valve having at least one aperture;

an upper valve coupled to the lower valve;

at least one guide pin located on the lower valve;

at least one cam path located on the upper valve coupled to the at least one mating guide pin;

the dispenser being selectively guidable along a helical guide slot between;

i) an upward position for the dispenser to apply the product, and

ii) a downward position to retract the dispenser; and

the dispenser being selectively guidable with the at least one guide pin located on the lower valve travelling along the cam path between;

i) an upward slanted position in which the dispenser is in an open state, wherein the at least one aperture in the lower valve is selectively aligned with at least one aperture in the upper valve, and

ii) a flat unslanted position in which the dispenser is in a closed state, wherein the at least one aperture in the lower valve is selectively aligned with at least one raised section in the upper valve; and

an applicator for applying the product.

10. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 9, further comprising:

an upper guide pin located on the upper valve, the upper guide pin being selectively rotatable along a helical motion;

a flow-through compressible gasket coupled to the lower valve and the upper valve, the dispenser being selectively guidable along the cam path in the helical motion between;

an upward slanted position, wherein the flow-through compressible gasket is selectively decompressed to allow for dispensing the product;

a downward slanted position, wherein the flow-through compressible gasket is selectively compressed to provide a seal for preventing the product from leaking; and

the flat unslanted position, wherein the flow-through compressible gasket is not compressed, while the at least one aperture in the lower valve is selectively aligned with the at least one raised section in the upper valve.

11. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 9, further comprising a flange located on a slide to couple to a slot located on an actuator, the flange and the slot guide the dispenser in a vertical movement.

12. A dispenser comprising:

a lower valve having a reservoir for containing a product, the lower valve having at least one aperture;

an upper valve coupled to the lower valve;

at least one cam path located on the lower valve;

at least one guide pin located on the upper valve coupled to the at least one cam path located on the lower valve;

at least one cam path located on the upper valve;

at least one guide pin located on the lower valve coupled to the at least one cam path located on the upper valve;

the dispenser being selectively rotatable along the two cam paths between;

i) an open position for the dispenser to deliver the product, wherein the at least one aperture in the upper valve selectively aligns the at least one aperture in a flow-through compressible gasket with at least one aperture in the lower valve to create a delivery passageway; and

ii) a closed position to seal a delivery passageway, wherein at least one raised section in the upper valve selectively aligns with the at least one aperture in the lower valve, such that the delivery passageway is closed to prevent product leakage.

13. The dispenser of claim 12, wherein the flow-through compressible gasket is interposed between the lower valve and the upper valve, the flow-through compressible gasket comprising at least one aperture and comprising an elastomer material.

14. The dispenser of claim 12, wherein the two cam paths are located about 180 degrees relative to each other and the two guide pins are located about 180 degrees relative to each other.

15. The dispenser of claim 12, further comprising a flange located on a slide that covers the components, the flange being coupled to a slot located on an actuator that selectively rotates the dispenser,

wherein the flange and the slot guide the dispenser in a vertical movement.