Squeeze bottle powder dispenser

#This invention relates generally to a squeeze bottle powder dispenser, and more particularly to such a dispenser having a dip tube through which the powder is discharged upon alternately squeezing and releasing the squeeze bottle, the dip tube having at its inner end an attached pad of open cellular foam material for moderating the flow of powder to effect a smooth and uniform flow of powder through the tube without clogging or agglomeration during dispensing.

#It is frequently necessary or desirable to administer or apply active medicinal agents in powder form. Some medicinals are so unstable (e.g. antibiotics) that dry powder sprays are the best way to apply them to the skin especially onto wet body surfaces or to administer them intranasally or by oral inhalation into the lungs or into other body cavities.

#In some cases it is most desirable to administer the active agent in powder form for aesthetic reasons as, for example, in the case of underarm antiperspirants. The active antiperspirant chemicals are all powders and the other ingredients used to formulate the typical product forms reduce the activity of the antiperspirants and leave some objectionable residues in the underarm areas. The history of product developments in the field of antiperspirants suggests that dryness is the key product attribute most appreciated by consumers. Yet the existing product forms, roll-ons, aerosols and sticks, leave some significant residue other than the active agent on the skin of the underarm. Consumers universally object to these residues considering their presence in contrast to the desired dryness they hope to achieve.

#FIG. 1 is an expanded, perspective view of the squeeze bottle powder dispenser according to the invention;

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present squeeze bottle with the cap removed, showing the manner of powder dispensing;

#FIG. 3 is a slightly enlarged cross-sectional view of the squeeze bottle and inserted plug supporting the dip tube;

#Turning now to the drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like and corresponding parts throughout the several views, a bottle or container 10 of free flowing powder has a resiliently flexible wall or wall portion which may be alternately squeezed or indented to expel a portion of its contents and then released. Such a container is commonly known as a "squeeze bottle." The bottle contains a quantity of free flowing powder P, and has an externally threaded neck portion integrally molded therewith. A plug 12 is press fitted within the bottle neck for tight engagement therein as its external ferrules (FIG. 5) tightly grip the inner surface of the bottle neck. The plug has an outer, slightly enlarged cap 13 which engages the outer rim of the bottle neck, and the plug supports a hollow dip tube 14 at one end, the tube extending into the bottle as shown in FIG. 3 with its opposite end lying adjacent bottom wall 15 of the bottle.

#The plug is formed as having a mixing chamber 15 and a discharge orifice 16 leading from the chamber. The plug further has a central cylindrical internal wall 17, shown in detail in FIGS. 6-8. This cylindrical wall may be defined by a depending central sleeve 18 spaced inwardly of the outer wall of the plug for both material saving purposes during molding and for allowing the plug wall to more easily yield when press fitted into the bottle neck. Wall 17 has a pair of opposed axial grooves 19,21 formed therein extending from the mixing chamber to lower end 22 of the plug. The upper end of the dip tube is press fitted into cylindrical wall 17, and axial grooves 19,21 form a pair of opposed air passages with the inserted tube end, as shown in FIG. 8.

#Mixing chamber 15 is formed in cap 13 in the form of a circular spin chamber (FIG. 6) overlying the open upper end of the dip tube and being slightly offset from the discharge orifice. And, formed at the underside of cap 13 are a pair of radial grooves 23,24 interconnecting the spin chamber respectively with the air passages formed by the axial grooves. The upper free end of the dip tube bears against the underside of cap 13.