Storage and dispensing system for multiple liquids

Abstract

A portable, waterproof, and refillable storage and dispensing system for liquid toiletries comprises a multi-tube storing and dispensing portion and a carrying and hanging strap. The storage and dispensing system may be used for holding a customized arrangement of personal toiletries such as shampoo, hair conditioner, liquid soap, etc., for easily transporting the arrangement to remote locations, such as on vacation or to a health spa, and for easily refilling. The assembly is completely waterproof and designed such that when hanging, it will drip-dry quickly and will not be damaged or adversely affected by moisture.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION INFORMATION

[0001] This application is a continuation and formalization of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/194,008, filed on Apr. 4, 2000 under the same title.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to containers for holding and selectively dispensing a plurality of fluids. More specifically, it relates for dispensers for fluid toiletries such as shampoos, conditioners, skin care lotions, sunscreen lotions, cosmetic lotions, gels, and other like liquid-based products, which are adapted for use by travelers and those who frequent gyms, spas, dorms and such places and therefore bathe and take showers away from home.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Persons who travel, such as for business, or who frequent such places as health spas, the beach, and gyms often wish to bring with them the special toiletries that they favor. For instance, a person who requires a medicinal shampoo or who prefers a particular brand of liquid body soap must take the same when he/she travels. This can be somewhat cumbersome, as most containers for such products are not designed to fit easily within or withstand the abuse given to luggage during travel.

[0004] When taking such toiletries to a gym, it becomes an obvious nuisance to carry several individual containers into the public shower. Shelving onto which to place the containers is generally not provided, and the risk of leaving and forgetting one or more of the containers is present.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The need for a toiletry-dispensing device for such uses as while traveling, going to the beach, or visiting a gym or dorm, is long-felt. The need for such a device which can be easily filled and also a device which can be easily refilled with several of one's favorite liquid toiletries, can be easily packed or toted to remote locations, and can be carried as a single unit into the shower and hung from a shower head or such, is long-felt. The need for such a device that further simplifies the recognition of the particular toiletry to be selectively dispensed, that is resistant to damage from moisture and rough-handling, and that is adapted to quickly drip dry, is long-felt.

[0006] The present invention is such a dispenser for holding and selectively dispensing one or more of a plurality of liquid toiletries. It is adapted to remedy these long-felt needs. It is adapted for use while traveling, going to the beach, or visiting a gym or dorm. It can be easily filled and refilled with several of one's favorite liquid toiletries. It can be easily packed or hung from a luggage handle for toting to remote locations. It can be carried as a single unit into the shower and hung from a showerhead, shower support bar or such. It simplifies the selection of the particular toiletry to be dispensed. It is resistant to damage from moisture and rough handling, and it is adapted to quickly drip dry.

[0007] Other objects and advantages of the invention will be best appreciated and more fully understood by considering the preferred embodiment, of which the following is a brief description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toiletry-dispensing device according to the preferred embodiment of the invention,

[0009] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 having one cap opened for dispensing a selected liquid toiletry there-from,

[0010] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 having one cap removed for adding a selected liquid toiletry thereto, and

[0011] FIG. 4 is an exploded cross sectional view through one of the compartments and caps of the device of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present invention comprises a portable, waterproof, and refillable storage and dispensing system for liquid toiletries. More specifically, it comprises a multi-tube storing and dispensing portion and a carrying and hanging strap. This storage and dispensing system may be used for holding a customized arrangement of personal toiletries such as shampoo, hair conditioner, liquid soap, suncreen, etc. It is easily transported to remote locations, such as on vacation or to a health spa, and it is easily refilled. The assembly is completely waterproof and designed such that when hanging, it will drip-dry quickly and will not be damaged or adversely affected by moisture.

[0013] The preferred embodiment of the invention is depicted in FIGS. 1 through 5 The system 100 comprises a flexible storing and dispensing multi-tube portion 101 and a carrying and hanging strap portion 102.

[0014] The strap portion may be constructed of any well known and applicable materials, but in the preferred embodiment is comprised of a polymeric fabric strap 103 having one or more conventional length adjustment features 106 for changing the strap's length according to various intended uses, such as for carrying over the shoulder, hanging around the neck, hanging from the wrist, or hanging from a shower head. The strap length adjustment also allows for the tube portion to be placed at any desired height when hung from the showerhead. It is anticipated that any of the various well-known strap length adjustment systems could be substituted for that shown without straying from the intent of the invention.

[0015] The strap also includes a common snap-connection latch 107 for opening the strap to fit it through and around closed objects such as the handle of a sports bag or a shower support bar.

[0016] The tube portion includes a multi-chamber tube body 108 that is preferably blow-molded from a single extrusion of an elastic polymer such as urethane or a soft polyethylene. The tube comprises a multitude of parallel chambers 109,110,111, each chamber comprising a holding reservoir 112 and a hollow neck opening 113 that includes a filling hole 114. The walls 115 of each chamber are flexible so that the volume of that chamber, and only that chamber, is reduced temporarily when one chamber is squeezed, but the resiliency of the material biases the chamber to return to its original shape and volume when the squeezing pressure is ceased. A key feature of the invention lies in the fact that only the squeezed chamber is affected by squeezing thereon; the adjacent chambers are not affected and dispense no liquid when one chamber is squeezed.

[0017] The filling hole is large enough to facilitate refilling such as with shampoo 116 from a shampoo bottle directly into the appropriate chamber without spilling or the need for a funnel.

[0018] The tube is preferably translucent so that the liquids, which may be of differing colors, are viewable through the walls. This allows the user not only to select the correct fluid for dispensing, but also to know when a chamber is near to empty and in need of refilling.

[0019] It is also anticipated that, through standard extrusion blow-molding practices, each of the chambers could be of a differing tint of translucent material for identification even with liquids of similar color, or that the tube material could be opaque but have a translucent longitudinal stripe along the wall of each chamber for viewing the level of liquid therein.

[0020] The tube portion further comprises a cap 117 for each chamber. Each cap comprises a cylindrical body 118, adapted to removably surround the neck of the mating tube, and further adapted for sealing engagement to the exterior of said neck. In the preferred embodiment, each neck is externally threaded 119 and each cap body has a mating internal thread 120. In an anticipated alternate embodiment, the bodies and necks could be adapted for a sealing “snap-on/snap-off” engagement.

[0021] Each cap includes a dispensing hole 122, which is an orifice through which liquid from the mating chamber can be dispensed, by squeezing the chamber. The dispensing hole is smaller than the fill hole of the neck, and is sized for most effective liquid flow. Each cap further comprises a closure lid 123 to seal the dispensing hole. The closure lid is integrally molded with the cylindrical body and connected to the body by a living hinge 124. In an anticipated alternate embodiment, the closure could be flexibly affixed to the body of the cap by an integrally molded connecting band. It is also anticipated that the closure could be a separate part connected to the cap by and at a flexible joint.

[0022] To make use of the storage and dispensing system of the present invention, one would first remove each cap and fill each chamber with the desired liquid, then re-affix the cap with its closure closed. The filled system could then be stored indefinitely or used immediately.

[0023] When traveling with the system, one could lengthen the adjustable length and carry it over the shoulder, shorten the strap and snap it through the handle of a gym bag by means of the strap latch, or simply place it into one's baggage. It's flexible and resilient construction lends is particularly resistant to damage or leaking. At the point of use, for instance in the shower, one could hang the system over the showerhead and re-adjust the strap length such that the tube portion is head high.

[0024] To use, one would simply open the lid to the chamber having the liquid in need, that liquid being easily recognized through the translucent chamber wall, squeeze out the desired amount of the selected liquid, and re-close the lid. It is worth noting that this manner of use can all be accomplished using only one hand, either left or right, with the fingers and palm grasping the tube while the thumb opens and re-closes the closure

[0025] After use, the system is configured to drain and drip-dry when hung from the strap. The tapered shape of the device allows water to fall from the dispenser quickly and the strap allows the dispenser to again be hung outside of the luggage so that it will not wet articles inside the luggage while it dries.

[0026] It should be understood that the invention is not to be limited by the above embodiment, which is merely representative of many possible embodiments of the invention. Therefore, the invention is to be defined only by the limitations and the equivalents thereof, that the following claims set forth. Accordingly, what is claimed as follows;

Claims

1. A multi-tube dispenser comprising a plurality of juxtaposed tubes, each tube comprising a compartment for containing a liquid, each tube being affixed to its juxtaposed one or both tubes at a common portion of their peripheries to thereby form a multi tube body, said tube body being formed of a resilient material that is impervious to moisture, a first end of said tube body having a plurality of fill openings each communicating with one of said compartments and adapted to receive the liquid there-through and into said communicating compartment, and said plurality of fill openings being adapted to receive at least one closure cap; each of said at least one closure caps having a cap body removably affixed to said tube body such that said at least one closure cap is adapted to seal said fill openings, each of said at least one cap bodies having a pour opening communicating with and smaller than said affixed fill opening, and each of said at least one closure cap having a lid flexibly connected to said cap body and having open and closed states about said flexible connection, wherein each lid seals at least one of said pour opening and therefore seals at least one of said compartments in said closed state and exposes said at least one pour opening and therefore exposes said at least one compartment in said open state to allow squeeze-induced pouring of the liquid there-from, and an adjustable loop affixed to a second end of said body and shaped and arranged for hanging said dispenser such that said first end and the liquid being poured are directed downwardly.

2. The dispenser of

claim 1 wherein said tube body further comprises a smooth exterior surface contoured such that any moisture caused to land on said surface will fall downwardly towards said first end when said dispenser is hanging by said strap, to accelerate drying thereof.

3. The dispenser of

claim 2 wherein said adjustable loop comprises a latch so that said loop can be disconnected and subsequently reconnected through closed openings and said dispenser can thereby be hung from said closed openings.

4. The dispenser of

claim 3 wherein said tube body is integrally molded.

5. The dispenser of

claim 4 wherein said tubes are translucent to allow viewing of the liquid therein.

6. The dispenser of

claim 1 wherein said fill openings each further comprises an externally threaded neck and said at least one closure cap is said plurality of closure caps and each of said closure caps comprises an internally threaded cap body adapted to removably engage one of said necks, and wherein each cap body is independently removable from and adapted to seal said engaged neck's fill opening thereby.

7. The dispenser of

claim 6 wherein said tube body further comprises a smooth exterior surface contoured such that any moisture caused to land on said surface will fall downwardly towards said first end when said dispenser is hanging by said strap, to accelerate drying thereof.

8. The dispenser of

claim 1 wherein said adjustable loop comprises a latch so that said loop can be disconnected and subsequently reconnected through closed openings and said dispenser can thereby be hung from said closed openings.

9. The dispenser of

claim 8 wherein said tube body is integrally molded.

10. The dispenser of

claim 9 wherein at least a portion of said tubes is translucent and adapted to allow viewing of the liquid therein.

11. The dispenser of

claim 10 wherein said fill openings each further comprises an externally threaded neck and said at least one closure cap is said plurality of closure caps and each of said closure caps comprises an internally threaded cap body adapted to removably engage one of said necks, and wherein each cap body is independently removable from and adapted to seal said engaged neck's fill opening thereby.

12. The dispenser of

claim 11 wherein said tube body further comprises a smooth exterior surface contoured such that any moisture caused to land on said surface will fall downwardly towards said first end when said dispenser is hanging by said strap, to accelerate drying thereof.

13. A multi-tube dispenser comprising:

a plurality of juxtaposed tubes, each tube comprising a compartment for containing a liquid, each tube being formed of a resilient material that is biased into an expanded condition wherein said compartment is expanded and squeezable into a squeezed condition wherein said compartment is reduced, and each tube being affixed to its juxtaposed one or both tubes at a common portion of their peripheries to thereby form a multi tube body, said tube body being impervious to moisture and smoothly contoured, a first end of said body having a plurality of fill openings each surrounded by an externally engage-able neck, and each fill opening communicating with one of said compartments and adapted to receive liquid there-through and into said communicating compartment;

a plurality of closure caps, each comprising an internally engage-able cap body adapted to engage one of said externally engage-able necks and thereby seal said engaged neck's fill opening, each of said cap bodies further having a pour opening communicating with and smaller than said engaged neck's fill opening and thereby communicating with one of said compartments, and each closure cap having a lid flexibly connected to said cap body and having open and closed states about said flexible connection, wherein each lid seals said closure cap's pour opening and therefore seals said cap's communicating compartment in said closed state and exposes said closure cap's pour opening and therefore exposes said cap's communicating compartment in said open state such that when one of said caps is selectively positioned in said open state and said body is simultaneously squeezed, liquid contained in said compartment communicating with said open cap will be selectively poured there-from, and

an adjustable loop affixed to a second end of said body and shaped and arranged for hanging said dispenser such that said pour openings are directed downwardly and liquid squeezed from said compartments will pour downwardly there-from.

14. The dispenser of

claim 13 wherein said smooth contour of said tube body is shaped such that that any moisture caused to land thereon will fall downwardly towards said first end when said dispenser is hanging by said strap, to accelerate drying thereof.

15. The dispenser of

claim 14 wherein said tube body is integrally molded of a plastic material, and wherein at least a portion of each compartment is translucent such that the liquid with said compartments is viewable there-through.

16. The dispenser of

claim 15 wherein said externally engage-able necks are externally threaded and said internally engage-able cap bodies are internally threaded and adapted to threadingly engage one of said externally threaded necks and wherein each cap closure is independently removable from and adapted to seal said engaged fill opening by said external and internal threads.

17. The dispenser of

claim 16 wherein said adjustable loop comprises a latch so that said loop can be disconnected and subsequently reconnected through closed openings and said dispenser can thereby be hung from said closed openings.