GB2038720A

GB2038720A - Ball point dispenser

Info

Publication number: GB2038720A
Application number: GB7929954A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: CHEMICAL Ltd Pty; RCM Plastics
Current assignee: CHEMICAL Ltd Pty; RCM Plastics
Priority date: 1978-12-27
Filing date: 1979-08-29
Publication date: 1980-07-30
Also published as: ZA787287B; AU5047979A; GB2038720B

Abstract

A ball point roll-on liquid dispenser includes a container 10 for the liquid and a ball 12 rotatably located on a seat 20 which is out of round so that liquid passages 24 are provided between the ball 12 and seat 20 in the seat zones which are out of contact with the ball. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Ball dispenser This invention relates to a ball operated roll-on dispenser for liquid toiletry preparations.

A ball operated liquid dispenser according to the invention includes a container for liquid having an opening which defines a seat on which a ball is rotatably located with the seat being out of round so that a liquid passage is provided between the ball and seat in the seat zones which are out of contact with the ball and means for holding the ball on the seat. Conveniently, formations project from the ball seat in the zones which are out of contact with the ball to support the ball over these zones.

Preferably, the seat is oval with the ball support formations located on opposite sides of the seat on its long axis.

In one form of the invention the ball holding means is a holder which is made from a flexible material, is engaged with the container on the outside of and around the opening and the ball above its equator to hold the ball on the seat and to provide a restricted liquid passage between the ball seat and a portion of the ball which projects from the holder.

The dispenser may include a removable cap which is engageable with the outside of the container and which includes on its inner surface an annular formation which when the cap is located on the container is adapted to press the ball holder onto the ball to close the liquid passage between the seat and the portion of the ball which projects from the holder.

According to the invention there is provided a container for use in the assembly of a ball operated roll-on dispenser for liquids which includes an opening which defines a seat on which a ball may rotatably be located with the seat being out of round so that a liquid passage will be provided between the ball and seat in the seat zones which are out of contact with the ball in use.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawings in which: Figure lisa plan view of the container portion of the dispenser, Figure 2 is a sectioned side elevation of the dispenser of Figure 1 as seen on the line 2-2 in Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a similar view to that of Figure 2 as seen on the line 3-3 in Figure 1.

The dispenser of the invention is shown in the drawings to consist of a container 10 for holding a liquid toiletry preparation such as a deodorant, a roll-on ball 12, a ball holder 14 and a closure cap 16.

The container has an upper open end which is surrounded by an annular wall 18. The inner surface ofthewall carries a seat 20 for the ball 12 which is oval in plan and which is radiused complementally to the curvature of the ball. Two ball supporting formations 22 are located across the seat transverse to its long axis.

With the ball 12 located on the seat as shown in the drawings the ba will rest on the seat, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 in central zones on the short axis of the opening and on the formations 22 as shown in Figures 1 and 3.

The principal liquid passage between the ball and seat is through the spaces 24 between the positions in which the ball is firmly seated on the seat and the formations 22. The degree of liquid flow across the seat is dependent on parameters such as the viscosity of the liquid in the container, the degree of ovality of the seat and the size and shape of the formations at their position of ball contact.

The ring shaped ball holder 14 is made from a flexible plastics material and is engaged with a formation on the rim of the wall 18. The upper open edge of the holder has a slight inward inclination which is not apparent in Figure 2 and 3 and which bears lightly on the ball above its equator to hold the ball on its seat and to provide a liquid passage between the ball and holderto control the wetting rate of the portion of the ball which projects above the edge of the holder.

The cap 16 includes an inwardly directed skirt 28 the terminal end of which, in the closed position of the cap as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, bears on the upper edge of the holder to force the holder firmly into contactwith the ball 12to prevent leakage of liquid from the container through the second passage when the dispenser is not in use.

1. A ball operated roll-on liquid dispenser including a container for liquid having an opening which defines a seat on which a ball is rotatably located with the seat being out of round so that a liquid passage is provided between the ball and seat in the seat zones which are out of contact with the ball and means for holding the ball on the seat.

2. A dispenser as claimed in Claim 1 in which formations project from the ball seat in the zones which are out of contact with the ball to support the ball over these zones.

3. A dispenser as claimed in Claim 2 in which the seat is oval with the ball support formations located on opposite sides of the seat on its long axis.

4. A dispenser as claimed in any one of the above claims in which the ball holding means is a holderwhich is made from a flexible material, is engaged with the container on the outside of and around the opening and the ball above its equator to hold the ball on the seat and to provide a restricted liquid passage between the ball seat and a portion of the ball which projects from the holder.

5. A dispenser as claimed in Claim 4 including a removable cap which is engageable with the outside of the container and which includes on its inner surface an annular formation which when the cap is located on the container is adapted to press the ball holder onto the ball to close the liquid passage between the seat and the portion of the ball which projects from the holder.

6. A container for use in the assembly of a ball operated liquid dispenser including an opening which defines a seat on which a ball may rotatably

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Ball dispenser This invention relates to a ball operated roll-on dispenser for liquid toiletry preparations. A ball operated liquid dispenser according to the invention includes a container for liquid having an opening which defines a seat on which a ball is rotatably located with the seat being out of round so that a liquid passage is provided between the ball and seat in the seat zones which are out of contact with the ball and means for holding the ball on the seat. Conveniently, formations project from the ball seat in the zones which are out of contact with the ball to support the ball over these zones. Preferably, the seat is oval with the ball support formations located on opposite sides of the seat on its long axis. In one form of the invention the ball holding means is a holder which is made from a flexible material, is engaged with the container on the outside of and around the opening and the ball above its equator to hold the ball on the seat and to provide a restricted liquid passage between the ball seat and a portion of the ball which projects from the holder. The dispenser may include a removable cap which is engageable with the outside of the container and which includes on its inner surface an annular formation which when the cap is located on the container is adapted to press the ball holder onto the ball to close the liquid passage between the seat and the portion of the ball which projects from the holder. According to the invention there is provided a container for use in the assembly of a ball operated roll-on dispenser for liquids which includes an opening which defines a seat on which a ball may rotatably be located with the seat being out of round so that a liquid passage will be provided between the ball and seat in the seat zones which are out of contact with the ball in use. An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawings in which: Figure lisa plan view of the container portion of the dispenser, Figure 2 is a sectioned side elevation of the dispenser of Figure 1 as seen on the line 2-2 in Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a similar view to that of Figure 2 as seen on the line 3-3 in Figure 1. The dispenser of the invention is shown in the drawings to consist of a container 10 for holding a liquid toiletry preparation such as a deodorant, a roll-on ball 12, a ball holder 14 and a closure cap 16. The container has an upper open end which is surrounded by an annular wall 18. The inner surface ofthewall carries a seat 20 for the ball 12 which is oval in plan and which is radiused complementally to the curvature of the ball. Two ball supporting formations 22 are located across the seat transverse to its long axis. With the ball 12 located on the seat as shown in the drawings the ba will rest on the seat, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 in central zones on the short axis of the opening and on the formations 22 as shown in Figures 1 and 3. The principal liquid passage between the ball and seat is through the spaces 24 between the positions in which the ball is firmly seated on the seat and the formations 22. The degree of liquid flow across the seat is dependent on parameters such as the viscosity of the liquid in the container, the degree of ovality of the seat and the size and shape of the formations at their position of ball contact. The ring shaped ball holder 14 is made from a flexible plastics material and is engaged with a formation on the rim of the wall 18. The upper open edge of the holder has a slight inward inclination which is not apparent in Figure 2 and 3 and which bears lightly on the ball above its equator to hold the ball on its seat and to provide a liquid passage between the ball and holderto control the wetting rate of the portion of the ball which projects above the edge of the holder. The cap 16 includes an inwardly directed skirt 28 the terminal end of which, in the closed position of the cap as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, bears on the upper edge of the holder to force the holder firmly into contactwith the ball 12to prevent leakage of liquid from the container through the second passage when the dispenser is not in use. CLAIMS

6. A container for use in the assembly of a ball operated liquid dispenser including an opening which defines a seat on which a ball may rotatably be located with the seat being out of round so that a liquid passage will be provided between the ball and seat in the seat zones which are out of contact with the ball in use.

7. A container as claimed in Claim 6 including formations which project from the ball seat in the zones which in use are out of contact with the ball to support the ball over these zones.

8. A container for use in the assembly of a ball operated liquid dispenser substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the drawings.

9. A ball operated roll-on liquid dispenser substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the drawings.