IE54191B1 - Topical product dispenser - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an improved dispenser for applying solid products to surfaces and, more particularly, to a cylindrical dispenser for applying topical, solid, personal care products, such as deodorants and/or antiperspirants to the axillae of users.

Dispensers for applying solid, topical products are provided in several different forms and configurations, such as narrow tubes for dispensing lip care products or larger cylinders for dispensing underarm products, such as deodorants or antiperspirants.

These dispensers require a friction or screw feed to advance and retract the product. If the product is not retracted sufficiently, the exposed surface will be deformed when the cap is replaced on the dispenser. The application surface is normally flat which does not conform to the shape of an armpit and makes application relatively difficult.

Screw feed is expensive to fabricate and does not function smoothly. The available solid applicators require manufacture of a relatively large number of parts which further adds to the cost of the product.

There are several prior art disclosures of dispensers and applicators which comprise a hollow first cylindrical member and a second slightly smaller cylindrical member disposed therein. Representative examples of such prior 4191 - 3 art are FR-A-2259560, AT-A-97798, US-A-2276047 and US-A -2814153.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an applicator of the type referred to above, wherein the smaller cylindrical member is formed in the cavity defined by the first cylindrical member and to ensure that the element so produced will rotate. In order to form the element by pouring molten precursor into the cavity, same must be fluid-tight and the inner surface thereof must be smooth and continuous. Furthermore, the cavity must be symmetrical or the element that is formed will not rotate.

According to the present invention there is provided an applicator comprising: a hollow, shallow, circular first cylinder having first and second flat parallel end surfaces interconnected by a peripheral outer wall, said first cylinder being constituted by a relatively large main body section incorporating major portions of said end surfaces and said wall and a relatively small minor section which incorporates minor portions of said end surfaces and said wall, said minor section being detachably engagable with said main body section, and defining a removable cap for said main body section, said first surface having a centrally disposed circular opening located in the main body section and communicating with the interior of the main body section; and a circular 119 1 - 4 member accessible from the exterior of said first surface and disposed in a manually rotatable manner within said opening, said member having an axis of rotation extending through the centre of said opening at right angles to said surfaces, said member having an integral extension which extends from said member and towards said second surface and which has an axis of symmetry coincident with said axis of rotation, contours of the engaging edges of the two section conforming to each other to form a mating, fluid-tight interface, the inner surface of which is smooth and continuous, and the first cylinder defining a cavity, the peripheral wall of which is symmetrical with respect to the centre of the opening for receiving a second slightly smaller, solid cylinder element disposed rotatably in said first cylinder, wherein the element is in contact with all the inner surfaces of the first cylinder and rotates against such surfaces, and in that the first cylinder is totally symmetrical with regard to the centre of rotation of the circular member.

Also in accordance with the present invention there is provided a method of filling a dispenser wherein said method comprises the steps of filling the symmetrical cavity of a hollow, shallow, circular cylinder having opposed parallel side walls joined to a peripheral outer wall having a central, circular opening in one of the side walls through the opening with a congealable liquid; placing the hub portion of a circular handle member into the liquid and rotatably and sealingiy inserting the circular member into said opening, congealing said liquid to form an element firmly engaging said hub portion.

The dispenser of the invention includes a contoured, solid element that is more compatible in shape with the human axilla. The arcuate convex wavy surface readily fits the axilla and application of the solid product by stroking is both easy and comfortable, and more complete and effective coverage is accomplished in fewer strokes. The novel dispenser of the invention is formed of few and easily moldable parts. The solid element can be formed by casting inside the dispenser. Both of these factors are responsible for lower manufacturing cost.

The element is readily covered without contact with the exposed surface and fresh element is moved into place by rotation rather than by linear movement of the element. The dispenser is of a disc-shape which is easy and comfortable to hold and manipulate and is more compact for storage in drawers or in travel containers.

Though the principal intended use is for dispensing underarm deodorants and/or antiperspirants, the dispenser of the invention can be utilized to apply any solid to a surface by rubbing the contoured element on the surface. 419 1 - 6 The element comprises mainly inert carrier, such as a waxy solid containing a minor amount of active ingredient. The inert carrier can be a wax or a gel. The element is preferably formed of a material that can be set from a liquid to a more rigid state. The inert carrier can be a thermoplastic material, such as a meltable wax or a thermosetting material that gels or sets by chemical curing agent, and/or heat or radiation. The element can be a household care product, such as an insecticide or furniture wax, etc., or a personal care product containing a dispersion or solution in the solid carrier of an active ingredient, such as an insect repellant, fungicide, sunscreen agent, analgesic or various dyes, emollients, and the like, for a lip blush, facial blush, or eye shadow. The active ingredient can be absorbable into the endodermis, such as Vitamin K or heparin. The element can be small in diameter, and or thin, such as for lip or eye product application, or wide and/or large in diameter, such as for applying a body liniment.

In accordance with the principles of this invention, a hollow shallow circular first cylinder is employed. The first cylinder has first and second parallel flat end surfaces which are inter-connected by a peripheral outer wall. The first cylinder consists of a relatively large main body section incorporating major portions of said - 7 surfaces and said wall and a relatively small minor section which incorporates minor portions of the surfaces and wall. The minor section is detachably engagable with the main section and constitutes a removable cap. The contours of the engaging edges of the major and minor sections are irregular in shape but conform to each other.

The first surface has a circular opening centrally disposed therein which is located in the main section and which communicat-es with the interior thereof. A circular member accessible from the exterior of said first surface is disposed in and manually rotatable in the opening. The member has an axis of rotation which extends through the centre of the opening at right angles to the end surfaces. The member has an integral, rigid extension extending from the member toward the second surface. The extension has an axis of symmetry coincident with the axis of rotation.

A second slightly smaller solid cylinder element which contains an active ingredient, such as a deodorant, has the same shape as the first cylinder and is disposed rotatably therein. The second cylinder is rotatable about the axis of rotation. The extension penetrates the second cylinder and is non-rotatably secured thereto.

In use, the cap is removed, exposing a portion of the second cylinder. The element can then be applied by rubbing to a surface in a conventional manner being particularly easy to apply to armpits because of the conforming shapes of the element and armpits.

As the exposed portion of the element is used up, the member can be rotated to expose an adjacent unused portion thereof. The relative sizes of the second cylinder and the main section are so chosen that essentially the entire second cylinder can be used up before the dispenser is unusable.

These and many more features and attendant advantages of the invention will become apparent as the invention becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a front view of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view taken along line 2-2 in Fig. I.

Fig. 3 is a front view of the structure shown in Fig. 1 with the minor section removed.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken of the line 4-4 in Fig. 7.

Fig. 5 is a side view of the structure shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a detailed cut away side view of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a cut away view taken through the centre of the structure shown in Fig. 1. - 9 5 4 191 Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the parts used in the structure of Fig. 1 Fig. 9 shows a modification of the structure of Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 is a detail view of the portion of the structure of Fig. 3 enclosed in a circle in Fig. 3.

Referring now to Figs. 1-8 and 10, a hollow shallow circular plastic first cylinder has first and second parallel flat end surfaces 10 and 12 interconnected by a peripheral outer wall 14.

The first cylinder consists of a relatively large main body section which incorporates major portions of the end surfaces and outer wall and which is identified by the underlined number 16, and a relatively small minor section which incorporates minor portions of the end surfaces and outer wall and which is identified by the underlined number 18. Section 18 detachably engages section 16 and constitutes a removable cap.

Section 16 has a top opening with a peripheral lip 100 having a groove 102 which is engaged removably by a mating groove in the bottom opening of section 18 which mates therewith. These top and bottom mating openings have mating edges of irregular shape but conform to each other. These mating edges are chosen in such manner as to enable each section to be molded in a single plastic piece 419 1 - 10 whi ch can be easily removed from the mold. Al 1 parts of the invention disclosed other than the dispensible element itself can be formed out of any tough solid, such as metal or resin, but are preferably formed from a suitable casting or molding grade synthetic, organic resin.

End surface 10 has a circular opening 20 centrally disposed therein located in section 16 and communicating with the interior thereof.

A circular member 22 with an integral extension is 10 disposed manually rotatably in the opening. Member 22 has a peripheral lip 24 which enables it to be snap fitted into the opening with the extension extending in the interior of the main section between the member and end surface 12. The member and extension have an axis of 15 rotation 26 which extends through the centre of opening 20 at right angles to the end surfaces. This axis constitutes an axis of symmetry for the extension.

The extension can be provided in various shapes, such as a single flat vane or an open or closed triangle, or other polygonal shape. The extension can be of low profile in certain uses, as long as it locks the solid element to the circular member 22.

The extension shown consists of three like flat plates 28 which extend at right angles to the end surfaces, are confluent at the axis of symmetry, and - 11 54191 extend radially outward at 0 degrees, 120 degrees and 240 degrees therefrom. The edge of each plate adjacent end surface 12 has a small prong 30.

End surface 12 has six small holes 32 disposed equidistantly along a circular path. The member and extension are slightly movable back and forth along the axis of rotation to enable the prongs to detachably engage selected holes 32. There are six holes and three prongs.

A second slightly smaller solid cylinder 34 of the same shape as the first cylinder is a solid element and is disposed rotatably is a solid element and is disposed rotatably about the axis of rotation within the first cylinder.

The blades of the extension penetrate the second cylinder to key the extension and the member to the second cylinder whereby the cylinder 34 can be rotated by rotating the member. The prongs and holes enable the cylinder to be selectively locked in any desired position or rotation.

The cylinder 34 can be a waxy solid which can be poured as a liquid into the first cylinder before the member with extension is inserted into position. The liquid and cylinder are then at a temperature some tens of degrees or higher above normal ambient temperatures. As the liquid cools to room temperature it solidifies, 419 1 - 12 shrinks and hardens whereby the resultant solid second cylinder is keyed permanently to the extension and is rotatable as previously described.

The minor body section can have an integral small 5 extension 36 which functions as a stand when the structure shown in Fig. 1 is inverted as shown in Fig. 9. The circular member 22 can have two holes joined by a bridge for receiving fingers of the riser.

It is to be realized that only preferred embodiments of the invention have been described and that numerous substitutions, modifications and alterations are permissible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims (15)

CLAIMS;

1. An applicator comprising: a hollow, shallow, circular first cylinder having first and second flat parallel end surfaces interconnected by a peripheral outer wall, said first cylinder being constituted by a relatively large main body section incorporating major portions of said end surfaces and said wall and a relatively small minor section which incorporates minor portions of said end surfaces and said wall, said end surfaces and said wall, said minor section being detachably engagable with said main body section, and defining a removable cap for said main body section, said first surface having a centrally disposed circular opening located in the main body section and communicating with the interior of the main body section; and a circular member accessible from the exterior of said first surface and disposed in a manually rotatable manner within said opening, said member having an axis of rotation extending through the centre of said opening at right angles to said surfaces, said member having an integral extension which extends from said member and towards said second surface and which has an axis of symmetry coincident with said axis of rotation, contours of the engaging edges of the two sections conforming to each other to form a mating, fluid-tight interface, the

2. An applicator according to Claim 1, in which the said integral extension penetrates the second cylinder element and is non-rotatably secured thereto.

3. An applicator according to Claim 2, in which the 15 second cylinder element comprises a solid wax or gel containing a dispersion of active ingredient.

4. An applicator according to Claim 3, in which the element is selected from personal care products, household care products or pharmaceuticals. 20 5. An applicator according to Claim 3, in which the ingredient is selected from a deodorant and/or an antiperspirant.

5. Ingredient. 5 419 1 - 16 congealing said liquid to form an element firmly engaging said hub portion. 5 cylinder element disposed rotatably in said first cylinder, wherein the element is in contact with all the inner surfaces of the first cylinder and rotates against such surfaces, and wherein the first cylinder is totally symmetrical with regard to the centre of rotation of the 5 4191

6. An applicator according to Claim 1, in which the integral extension extends between the circular member and 25 the second surface. - 15 54191

7. An applicator of Claim 1, wherein said integral extension, as viewed in a plane parallel to said surfaces and disposed at right angles to said axis of symmetry, defines a plurality of equidistantly spaced legs which extend radially outward from the axis of symmetry and which are concurrent at said axis.

8. An applicator of Claim 6, wherein said second surface has a first plurality of holes spaced along a circular path and said integral extension has a second plurality of prongs selectively engagable with some of said holes.

9. An applicator of Claim 8, wherein said circular member can be moved slightly back and forth along the axis of symmetry to enable said prongs to disengage from and become engaged with selected holes. 10. Ingredient is a deodorant and/or antiperspirant. 15. A method according to Claim 11, for filling an applicator, substantially as herein described. 16. An applicator substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figs. 1 to 8 and 10 of the

10. An applicator according to Claim 1, in which the outer wall is curved. 10 circular member.

11. A method of filling a dispenser wherein said method comprises the steps of filling the symmetrical cavity of a hollow, shallow, circular cylinder having opposed parallel side walls joined to a peripheral outer wall having a central, circular opening in one of the side walls through the opening (in the first surface) with a congealable liguid; placing the hub portion of a circular handle member into the liquid and rotatably and sealingly inserting the circular member into said opening;

12. A method according to Claim 11, in which the liquid is a very waxy material containing a dispersion of active

13. A method according to Claim 12, in which the active ingredient is selected from personal care products, household products or pharmaceuticals.

14. A method according to Claim 13, in which the active - 14 inner surface of which is smooth and continuous, and the first cylinder defining a cavity, the peripheral wall of which is symmetrical with respect to the centre of the opening for receiving a second slightly smaller, solid

15. Accompanying drawings, or Figs. 1 to 8 and 10, as modified by Fig. 9.