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The present invention relates to a liquid dispensing bottle, more specifically but not by way of limitation, a bottle designed to dispense hair coloring material that facilitates complete use of the coloring material disposed within the bottle.
Fashion is an integral part of many cultures. Individuals and organizations invest a significant amount of time on marketing and purchasing items such as clothes, jewelry and other items that enhance the physical appearance of an individual. One particular item that consumers spend millions of dollars on per year is hair styles.
A large segment of consumers invest significant resources of time and money in regular haircuts and styling products. Many consumers have their hair color altered in order to enhance their overall appearance. Typically, a consumer will either apply the hair color material themselves or hire a professional to apply the hair color material. Hair coloring material is commonly utilized to change the color of hair of an individual completely or provide color highlights throughout the hair.
One problem with current application techniques for hair coloring material is even distribution and consumption of the entire amount of hair coloring material desired. Typically, at least two components are mixed to create the desired color for application. This coloring material is usually placed in a rigid plastic bottle for dispensing onto the hair of an individual. Unfortunately, the hair coloring material is viscous. The viscosity of the hair coloring material inhibits the complete use of and subsequent even distribution where desired.
Accordingly, there is a need for a device that can facilitate a more complete use and even distribution of a viscous hair coloring material in order to achieve the desired color for a user's hair.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a dispenser that is designed to facilitate a more complete consumption of a viscous liquid disposed therein.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a dispensing bottle designed to dispense a hair coloring liquid that utilizes a spring loaded plunger device that moves the liquid disposed within the bottle towards an opening.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device designed to dispense a hair coloring liquid that utilizes a spring loaded device that is manually operated by the user.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a device designed to dispense a hair coloring liquid that is reusable and relatively inexpensive.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a device designed to dispense hair coloring liquid that has a nozzle to direct distribution of the hair coloring liquid.
To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the present invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being a part of the present invention, limited only by the scope of the claims.
A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description and appended claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the internal components of an embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 3 is an exploded side view of the container portion of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the various elements depicted therein are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein like elements are designated with like reference numerals throughout the figures, and in particular there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of a liquid dispenser 100 constructed according to the principles of the present invention.
The liquid dispenser 100 comprises a container 80 that is configured to be substantially hollow with a wall 82 configured to define the interior volume of the reservoir 135. The container 80 is cylindrical in shape and is manufactured from a suitable durable material such as plastic or metal. Although the container 80 is shown in the drawings submitted herewith as being cylindrical in shape and having one wall 82, it is further contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the container could be a plurality of shapes having more than one wall defining the interior volume of the reservoir 135.
While no specific size is required for the container 80, good results have been achieved with a container 80 that is approximately six and a half inches in length and having a diameter of approximately two inches. Furthermore it is within the scope of the present invention that the container 80 be of suitable size to retain at least eight fluid ounces of material within the reservoir 135.
Releasably secured to one end of the container 80 is a cap 60. The cap 60 is of sufficient size and shape to engage and mate with the end portion 81 of the container 80. The cap 60 is manufactured from a suitable durable material such as metal or plastic. The cap 60 is releasably secured to the end portion 81 with threads 120 that are circumferentially disposed on the bottom portion 81 of the container 80. It is desired within the scope of the present invention that the cap 60 be releasably secured to the end portion 81 of the container 80 in such a manner as to prevent liquid disposed within the reservoir 135 from propagating through the cap 60 once it has been secured to the end portion 81 of the container 80.
The cap 60 has journaled therethrough an aperture 62. The aperture 62 is centrally located in the cap 60 and functions to allow the plunger rod 20 to penetrate through the cap 60.
Opposite end portion 81 of the container 80 is end portion 90. The wall 82 of end portion 90 is tapered in a generally inward direction in order to direct the liquid disposed within the reservoir 135 towards the reservoir opening 136. End portion 90 is contiguously formed with the container 80 by conventional methods such as injection molding. The wall 82 of end portion 90 is configured to define opening 136 through which liquids disposed within the reservoir 135 can enter or exit.
Circumferentially integrated with end portion 90 are threads 130. Threads 130 are designed to be mated with and receive thereon cap 95. Cap 95 is of suitable shape and size to mate and engage with threads 130.
Cap 95 includes a nozzle 105. Nozzle 105 extends in a generally conical shape with an opening 96. The nozzle opening 96 is designed to direct and help control the amount of liquid exiting the reservoir 135 to the desired location. While no specific size of nozzle opening 96 is required, good results have been achieved with a nozzle opening 96 that is approximately one-sixth of an inch in diameter.
Releasably securable to the nozzle 105 opposite the top cap 95 is the nozzle cap 110. Nozzle cap 110 is generally cylindrical in shape and of sufficient diameter to removably engage with the nozzle 105 proximate the nozzle opening 96. The nozzle cap 110 can be frictionally mounted to the nozzle 105 and functions to cover the nozzle opening 96 in order to retain liquid disposed within the reservoir 135. While no specific size of nozzle 105 is required, good results have been achieved with a nozzle 105 that is approximately two and a half inches in length.
Still referring to FIG. 1, integrally mounted to the cap 60 is a coupling 50. The coupling 50 functions as a connection for the handle 55 and the rod lever 30. The coupling 50 further functions to operably connect the rod lever 30 and the handle 55. The coupling 50 is manufactured from a suitable durable material such as metal or plastic and is mounted to the exterior of the cap 60 by suitable mechanical or chemical methods. Pivotally connected to the coupling 50 and generally extending downward therefrom is the handle 55.
The handle 55 functions as the user interface to alter the bias on the plunger rod 20 by the rod lever 30. The handle 55 is flat and rectangular in shape having a round end 56 opposite the coupling 50. The handle 55 is manufactured from a suitable durable rigid material such as metal or plastic. The handle 55 is movable between two positions. In its first position the handle 55 extends slightly outward from the wall 82 of the container 80. A user can move the handle 55 to its second position whereby the user biases the handle 55 inward towards the wall 82 of the container 80. The handle 55 is pivotally mounted to the coupling 50 with a conventional pin 57 that is journaled through the coupling aperture 53. The handle 55 has a shoulder 58 that extends beyond the coupling 50 that is operably connected to the rod lever 30.
The rod lever 30 is operably connected to the shoulder 58 of the handle 55. The rod lever 30 has a first end 31 and a second end 32. The first end 31 of the rod lever 30 is pivotally connected to the shoulder 58 of the handle 55. The first end 31 of the rod lever 30 is secured to the shoulder 58 of the handle 55 with a conventional dowel 40. The second end 32 of the rod lever 30 has journaled therethrough a rod lever aperture 33. The rod lever aperture 33 functions to connect the second end 32 of the rod lever 30 to the plunger rod 20. The rod lever aperture 33 is generally round in shape and being of sufficient diameter to receive therein the plunger rod 20.
The rod lever 30 functions to bias the plunger rod 20 and control the movement of the plunger rod 20. In one position the rod lever 30 is biased against the plunger rod 20 thereby restricting the movement of the plunger rod 20. In another first position the rod lever 30 is generally angularly positioned with respect to the cap 60, as particularly shown in FIG. 2. As the rod lever 30 is in its first position, the handle 55 is engaged in its first position. The rod lever 30 is released into its second position subsequent to moving the handle 55 into its second position whereby the rod lever 30 is generally parallel with the cap 60. As the handle 55 is moved into its second position, the first end 31 of the rod lever 30 pivots via the dowel 40 and facilitates the downward movement of the second end 32 of the rod lever 30. As the second end 32 of the rod lever 30 moves downward towards the cap 60, the bias applied to the plunger rod 20 by the second end 32 of the rod lever 30 is temporarily released thereby allowing the plunger rod 20 to move in a linear direction through the rod lever aperture 33.
The plunger rod 20 is a conventional rod that is cylindrical in shape and is manufactured of a suitable durable material such as metal or plastic. Secured to one end of the plunger rod 20, external with respect to the container 80, is a plunger knob 10. The plunger knob 10 is round in shape and is secured to the plunger rod by suitable mechanical or chemical methods. The plunger knob 10 functions as an interface to allow the plunger rod 20 to be moved by a user.
Referring in particular to FIG. 2, disposed within the container 80 is a plunger 70. The plunger 70 is secured by conventional methods to the plunger rod 20 distal to the plunger knob 10. The plunger 70 is generally cone shaped having an annular bottom portion 72 that is of the same diameter as the internal diameter of the container 80. The bottom portion 72 of the plunger 70 is sealably engaged to the interior of the reservoir 135 such that no liquid disposed within the reservoir 135 can propagate into the portion of the reservoir 135 that is intermediate the bottom portion 72 of the plunger 70 and the cap 60. Contiguous with the bottom portion 72 of the plunger 70 is the top portion 74. The top portion 74 is tapered inward and is designed to correspond with the angle of the upper portion 90 of the container 80. The top portion 74 of the plunger 70 will completely engage with the upper portion 90 of the container internally in the reservoir 135. This facilitates the complete removal of any liquid disposed within the reservoir 135.
Surroundably mounting the plunger rod 20 within the reservoir 135 and intermediate the cap 60 and the plunger 70 is a coil spring 65. The coil spring 65 is a conventional coil spring 65 and is manufactured from a resilient material such as but not limited to metal. The coil spring 65 is secured to the inside of the bottom cap 65 and to the bottom portion 72 of the plunger 70. The coil spring 65 is secured in this position by conventional mechanical or chemical methods. The coil spring 65 functions to provide a method of moving the plunger 70 in a generally linear direction within the reservoir. The coil spring 65 facilitates the control and movement of plunger 70 between the first position and its second position.
In the first position, the plunger 70 is adjacent to the cap 60 and the coil spring 65 is biased intermediate thereto. The plunger 70 is retained in this position by the rod lever 30 biasing against the plunger rod 20 thereby restricting the movement of the plunger rod 20.
Subsequent to the rod lever 30 being engaged into the second position, the plunger 70 is moved away from the cap 60 towards the upper portion 90 of the container 80 by the releasing of the coil spring 65. In the second position, the plunger 70 is biased against the upper portion 90 of the container 80 inside the reservoir 135 by the coil spring 65. In this position any liquid disposed within the reservoir 135 intermediate the plunger 70 and the upper portion 90 of the container 80 has been completely dispersed through the nozzle 105. Intermediate the first and second position, the plunger 70 is controlled by the rod lever 30 whereby the rod lever 30 functions to allow the plunger 70 to be moved or stopped at any point between its first and second position.
It is further contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the liquid dispenser 100 could be manufactured in a variety of shapes and colors and achieve the functionality as described herein. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will recognize that the liquid dispenser 100 could be utilized to dispense a plurality of liquids in addition to hair coloring material.
Referring in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2, a description of the operation of the liquid dispenser 100 is as follows. In use, with the cap 60 releasably secured to the container 80, a user will grasp the plunger knob 10 and place the rod lever 30 in its second position and apply the necessary force to pull the plunger 70 into its first position whereby the bottom portion 72 of the plunger 70 is adjacent to the interior of the cap 60. A user will then dispense into the reservoir 135 via the reservoir opening 136 the desired liquid. Subsequent to filling the reservoir 135 with the desired amount of liquid, the user will secure the top cap 95 and nozzle 105 to the top portion 90 of the container 80 utilizing the upper threads 130. The user then places the nozzle cap 110 over the nozzle opening 106 and agitates the liquid dispenser 100 if necessary to homogenize the materials disposed within the reservoir 135.
Subsequent to agitation, the user removes the nozzle cap 110 and directs the nozzle 105 to the area where the materials disposed within the reservoir are desired to be dispensed. The user places the liquid dispenser 100 in an orientation whereby the nozzle 105 is facing downward toward the desired application area. The user then biases the handle 55 into its second position thereby moving the rod lever 30 into its second position. This releases the bias against the plunger rod 20 by the rod lever 30 and allows the coil spring 65 to move the plunger 70 towards the top portion 90 of the container 80. In order to stop the flow of liquid from the nozzle 105, the user releases the handle 55 thereby controlling the rod lever 30 operably connected thereto and placing the rod lever 30 into its first position whereby the rod lever 30 biases against the plunger rod 20 and restricts movement. This process is repeated until all the desired liquid is removed from the reservoir 135.
In the preceding detailed description, reference has been made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments, and certain variants thereof, have been described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It is to be understood that other suitable embodiments may be utilized and that logical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. The description may omit certain information known to those skilled in the art. The preceding detailed description is, therefore, not intended to be limited to the specific forms set forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.