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US 5,733,058 AGranted
Dispensing container for a compact product
AssigneeBlistex Inc.
InventorRichard Hofmann
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A container for a compact product including a housing, a stem, and a follower engaged with the stem adapted to move axially within the container in response to rotation of the stem. The follower including a central tube threadingly engaged with the stem that is adapted to flex when the follower is in a retracted position and the stem is rotated, to permit the stem to rotate relative to the follower. A fingerwheel may be included to facilitate rotation of the stem.
Claims23
A dispensing container for a compact product comprising:
- (a) a substantially tubular housing defining an axis;
- (b) an externally-threaded stem;
- (c) a follower disposed within the housing including an internally-threaded tube engageable with the stem, the follower adapted to move from a retracted position toward a dispensing position when the stem is rotated in a first direction and from the dispensing position toward the retracted position when the stem is rotated in a second direction, at least a portion of the tube being adapted to flex to permit at least a portion of an external thread of the stem to slide over at least a portion of an internal thread of the tube when the follower is in the retracted position and the stem is twisted in the second direction.
A dispensing container for a compact product:
- (a) a generally cylindrical container having an open end;
- (b) a stem disposed substantially within the container, the stem including a plurality of external threads;
- and
- (c) a follower disposed within the container adapted to slide from a retracted position toward a dispensing position when the stem is rotated in a first direction and from the dispensing position toward the retracted position when the stem is rotated in a second direction, the follower including;
- (i) a generally cylindrical casing;
- (ii) a generally cylindrical tube threadingly engaged with the stem, the tube having a base and including at least one internal thread, at least a portion of the tube adapted to flex to permit at least one of the external threads of the stem to slide over at least a portion of the internal thread when the follower is in the retracted position and the stem is twisted in the second direction;
- and
- (iii) a flexible web interconnecting the base of the tube and the casing to facilitate flexing of said portion of the tube, the web having a bottom surface extending toward the open end at an angle in the range of about 110 to 130 degrees relative to the casing, the web including a circular area of reduced thickness that surrounds the base of the tube.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.