Material dispensing system and method for making same
AssigneeThe Procter & Gamble Company
InventorsJohn Geoffrey Chan, Lawrence Edward O'Brien
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Material dispensing systems and methods for make such systems are described. The material dispensing systems employ a collapsible container that is at least partially surrounded by an elastically deformable band. The band stretches as the container is filled with a flowable composition, thereby creating potential energy which can then be used to dispense the composition in lieu of a propellant and/or pressurized container.
Claims20
1) A method of making a material dispensing system, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a container preform comprising a polymeric preform and an elastically deformable band surrounding at least a portion of the polymeric preform;
- (b) heating the polymeric preform;
- (c) positioning the container preform into a mold cavity;
- and
- (d) applying pressure to an interior of the polymeric preform sufficient to cause the container preform to expand outwardly towards a wall of the mold cavity to form a collapsible bag, during which the elastically deformable band is stretched and potential energy is generated in association with the stretched elastically deformable band which at least partially collapses the container when the applied internal pressure is removed.
11) A material dispensing system, comprising:
- (a) a collapsible bag;
- and
- (b) an elastically deformable band surrounding at least a portion of the collapsible bag, wherein the elastically deformable band is constructed of an elastically deformable material that permits the transfer of invisible and/or infrared light waves through a wall of the elastically deformable band.
20) A personal care product, comprising:
- (a) an outer container;
- (a) a material dispensing system disposed in the outer container, the material dispensing system comprising:
- i) a collapsible bag comprising a bag open end and a bag closed end;
- ii) a valve disposed in the bag open end;
- and
- iii) an elastic member having a length of less than about 2 inches in an unstretched configuration, said elastic member surrounding at least a portion of the bag and being affixed to the bag closed end either chemically or via mechanical means beyond mere friction;
- and
- (b) a personal care composition disposed within the bag such that the elastic member is stretched both axially and radially, and comprises potential energy in connection with being stretched;
- whereupon opening the valve, the personal care composition is permitted to flow out of the bag via the potential energy from the elastic member being applied to the bag, and wherein as the potential energy dissipates the elastic member shrinks both axially and radially towards its unstretched configuration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.