Pocket sized fluid dispenser
AssigneeConopco, Inc., d/b/a UNILEVER
InventorsCharles Peter Althoff, Jason Tilk, John William Nottingham, John Richard Nottingham, John Wilford Spirk, Jay Tapper, Ian Stuart Midgley, Dean Michael Limb
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A liquid cosmetic product dispenser that can allow a person to quickly and unobtrusively apply liquid cosmetic product includes a palm sized dispenser and the liquid cosmetic product is disposed in the dispenser under pressure that is greater than atmospheric pressure. The dispenser includes a movable actuator button for controlling dispensing of the liquid cosmetic product from the dispenser and a locking mechanism for locking the actuator button.
Claims25
A dispensing assembly comprising a dispenser having an internal free volume of less than about 60 mL and a liquid cosmetic product disposed in the dispenser under pressure that is greater than atmospheric pressure, the dispenser including a movable actuator button for controlling dispensing of the product and a locking ring for locking the actuator button, the locking ring including a generally cylindrical outer surface configured to be gripped by an operator of the assembly for rotating the locking ring about a rotational axis and the locking ring being fixed to inhibit translational movement.
A palm-sized dispenser comprising an outlet a movable actuator button and a locking ring rotatable between a locked and an unlocked position, the locking ring including internal tabs that contact the actuator button in the locked position to limit movement of the actuator button in a first axis, an upper edge of the locking ring being disposed below the outlet when in the locked position.
A capless aerosol dispenser comprising:
- a rigid container defining a chamber and an outlet in communication with the chamber, the container being less than about 9 cm in height and less than about 2 cm in diameter;
- a liquid cosmetic product in the container, the product being under pressure exceeding atmospheric pressure;
- a valve assembly connected to the container for selectively opening and closing a passage in communication with the outlet to allow for the selective discharge of the product from the container, the valve assembly including a valve stem moveable between an open position, which allows the product to exit the chamber, and a closed position, which precludes the product from exiting the chamber;
- an actuator connected to the valve stem, the actuator being selectively moveable in the first axis between a first position, which moves the valve stem into the open position, and a second position, which allows the valve stem to move into the second position, the actuator further including an outlet opening in communication with the passage, the outlet opening being uncovered no matter the location of other components of the device;
- an external locking ring surrounding at least a portion of an outer surface of the container disposed below the valve cup, the locking ring being moveable between a first position, which allows the actuator to move linearly in the first axis, and a second position, which precludes the actuator from moving linearly within the first axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.