Application system for small dose liquid, gel, serum or cream

Abstract

The invention relates to a delivery system for small dose concentrated liquid, gel, serum or cream via mist or lotion pump. A hollow cylindrical component (called ‘Pump Holder’) caped at one end with screw fix attachment for attaching a mist or lotion pump. Open at the other end for insertion of small vial or bottle holding the liquid, gel, serum or cream. The Pump holder ejects the used bottle or vial without the need to touch the bottle or vial.

Description

I have invented a new ‘application system for small dose liquid, gel, serum or cream’, as set forth in the following specification. I am a citizen of Australia.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The invention relates to a delivery system for small dose concentrated liquid, gel, serum or cream via mist or lotion pump. A hollow cylindrical component (called ‘Pump Holder’) caped at one end with screw fix attachment for attaching a mist or lotion pump. Open at the other end for insertion of small vial or bottle holding the liquid, gel, serum or cream. The Pump holder ejects the used bottle or vial without the need to touch the bottle or vial.

The description following relates to treatments for hair care. Treatments are administered by a trained hairdresser, by yourself or by other untrained person. The field of description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. The invention is suitable for any field where small quantities of liquid, gel, serum or cream are required to be dispersed via mist or lotion pump during application.

Typically small vials or bottles used to hold small concentrations or quantities of liquid, gel, serum or cream are physically too small to attach a mist or lotion pump of enough capacity required for application. The combined size of the small vial or bottle and mist or lotion pump is typically too small to operate effectively or ergonomically for extended periods of time.

Typically the consumers perception of value is directly related to the physical size of the package. Small sizes are generally cheaper than larger sizes. Concentrates by nature are small in size and volume but generally expensive to produce. Increasing the physical size of the small vial or bottle without creating a false claim of product quantity creates a perception of higher value and cost.

Typically the complexity of an apparatus has a direct influence on perceived quality, exclusiveness, cost and technical advancement of the item. The process of assembly and disassembly of the glass vial into and out of the pump holder creates complexity and the perception of quality and exclusiveness which is not evident in the industry standard packaging.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The application system for small dose liquid, gel, serum or cream consists of a Pump Holder with mist or lotion pump attached (FIG. 1). Glass vial with cap (FIG. 2).

The liquid is stored in a small glass vial. The glass vial has a flexible snap on, snap off cap. The cap is removed. The vial is then inserted into the underside of the pump holder. Snapped into position holding in place. The liquid is then pumped out as a fine mist until the entire contents are used. This is completed in one session. The pump holder has two buttons either side of the body. Depressing these ejects the empty glass vial from the holder without the need to touch the glass vial with hands.

The vials are small, too small to hold comfortably in the hand while pumping out the contents. The contents must be delivered in a fine mist to be effective. The process needs to look complex to enhance the uniqueness and expense of treatment offered. The pump holder effectively increases the physical diameter and height of the vial so as to be comfortable to hold and use. The pump holder is of an ergonomically determined diameter and height best suited for the repetitive pumping of the mist spray pump. The vial is inserted into the base of the pump holder, snapping and holding into position creating a tight seal between vial and pump holder. The vial is entirely covered by the holder after insertion. Once empty, the vial or bottle is ejected from the pump holder by pressing two buttons either side of the holder simultaneously. This provides a quick and clean method of disposal of the used vial without the need to touch the empty glass vial.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 Front view of pump holder with mist or lotion pump attached.

FIG. 2 Front view of glass vial with cap attached.

FIG. 3 Is a top view of the pump holder with fine mist pump attached. Dotted lines indicate section views. ‘Section View I’ is front section view; ‘Section View II’ is side section view.

FIG. 4 Is a front view of the pump holder with fine mist pump attached.

FIG. 5 Is a side view of the pump holder with fine mist pump attached.

FIG. 6 Is a bottom view of the pump holder with fine mist pump attached.

FIG. 7 Is ¾ top view isometric of the pump holder with fine mist pump attached.

FIG. 8 Is ¾ bottom view isometric of the pump holder with fine mist pump attached. With glass vial inserted

FIG. 9 Is same view as FIG. 8 with glass vial removed. Showing direction of movement of glass vial. Insert/ejection.

FIG. 10 Is ‘Section View II’ of the pump holder with fine mist pump attached. With glass vial inserted into position.

FIG. 11 Is ‘Section View II’ of the pump holder with fine mist pump attached. Without glass vial.

FIG. 12 ‘Section View II’ showing location of FIG. 13 detail section.

FIG. 13 Detail section of glass vial attached to the pump (1), holder locking tabs (15), ejector tabs (19), seal (14), vial (7) and vial shoulder angle (10).

FIG. 14 Is ‘Section View I’ of the pump holder with fine mist pump attached. With glass vial inserted into position.

FIG. 15 Is ‘Section View I’ of the pump holder with fine mist pump attached. Without glass vial.

FIG. 16 ‘Section View II’ showing direction of movement of glass vial being inserted into the pump holder.

FIG. 17 ‘Section View II’ showing direction of movement of glass vial being ejected from the pump holder. Showing direction and movement of ejector buttons to eject glass vial.

FIG. 18 Is ‘Section View I’ of the pump holder without pump. With glass vial inserted into position.

FIG. 19 Is ‘Section View II’ of the pump holder without pump. With glass vial inserted into position.

FIG. 20 Is ‘Section View I’ of pump holder with fine mist pump attached. Showing possible offset of glass vial during insertion.

FIG. 21 Is ‘Section View I’ of pump holder with fine mist pump attached. Showing pump holder inner guide ribs and guide rib angle centralising glass vial during insertion to ensure pump dip tube enters vial opening centrally and without damage.

FIG. 22 Is a side view of glass vial with cap.

FIG. 23 Is top view of glass vial with cap.

FIG. 24 Is a bottom view of glass vial with cap.

FIG. 25 Is a ¾ top view isometric of glass vial with cap.

FIG. 26 Is a ¾ bottom view isometric of glass vial with cap.

FIG. 27 Is a side view of glass vial without cap.

FIG. 28 Is a top view of glass vial without cap.

FIG. 29 Is a bottom view of glass without cap.

FIG. 30 Is a ¾ top view isometric of glass vial without cap.

FIG. 31 Is a ¾ bottom view isometric of glass vial without cap.

FIG. 32 Is a top view of glass vial cap. ‘Section View I’ shows side section view.

FIG. 33 Is a side view of glass vial cap.

FIG. 34 Is ‘Section View I’ of glass vial cap.

FIG. 35 Is a bottom view of glass vial cap.

FIG. 36 Is a ¾ top view isometric of glass vial cap.

FIG. 37 Is a ¾ bottom view isometric of glass vial cap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This invention provides a pump holder comprising a cylinder shape moulded plastic body (1) open at the bottom (2), permanently closed at the top with a threaded capping piece (3). The cylinder body has ovoid shaped ‘buttons’ (4) connected by a thin plastic flexible plastic bridge (5) acting as a hinge. A fine mist pump (6) of corresponding size screw fixes to the capping piece (3). A glass vial (7) which has specific outer diameter (8) and height (9) and specific angled shoulder configuration (10) and specific neck diameter and dimension (11). The glass vial has a flexible plastic cap (12) that snaps on and off the glass vial. The cap has specific internal dimension and detail (13) that mates perfectly to the glass vial inner neck diameter. Creating a tight seal providing an air and liquid seal of specific requirements. The cap has specific internal dimension and detail (20) that mates perfectly to the glass vial outside neck diameter to hold the cap onto the vial securely. The cap is removed from the glass vial and discarded for recycle. The glass vial (7) is inserted through the bottom of the pump holder (2) and snapped into position. The pump holder has a specific internal detail and design (14) that mates perfectly with the inside of glass vial neck (11) creating a tight seal providing an air and liquid seal of specific requirements. The pump holder has locking tabs of a specific detail and design (15) that mates perfectly with the outside of glass vial neck (11) holding the glass vial into position.

The mist pump has a dip tube (16) of a length that equals the internal height of the glass vial when attached to the pump holder. When inserting the glass vial into the pump holder the pump holder guide ribs (17) direct the glass vial to align to the centre of the pump holder. Ensuring the dip tube enters the glass vial neck centred and undamaged. The guide ribs are a specific depth creating a round void of the size to hold the glass vial in central location within the pump holder. The distance of the ribs to the glass vial is such that the glass vial is free to slide in and out without friction. The angle of the guide ribs (18) and the angle of the glass vial shoulder (10) work together to channel the glass vial into the centre of the pump holder. The specific angle of the rib ensures the glass vial is central to the pump holder before the top of the glass vial neck opening aligns with the dip tube. This ensures the dip tube is not touched by the glass vial during insertion thereby ensuring the dip tube is not bent or damaged.

After the glass vial is emptied of it's contents by pumping the mist pump the buttons (4) either side of the pump holder are depressed inward. The ejector tabs on the inside of the buttons (19) push against the specific and marching angle of the glass vial shoulder (10) creating an angular force pushing the glass vial down and out the open bottom of the pump holder (2). The angle of the ejector tabs and glass vial neck in combination with reduced friction combination of glass and plastic create a force greater than the holding force of the pump holder locking tabs (15). This allows the used glass vial to be disposed of without touching the glass vial again.

It is understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Additional advantages of the present invention will become apparent for those skilled in the art after considering the principles in particular form as discussed and illustrated. Thus it will be understood the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described or illustrated, but is intended to cover all alterations or modification which are within the scope of claim.

Claims

1. A cylinder shaped moulded plastic body open at the bottom, permanently closed at the top with a threaded capping piece to which attaches a mist or lotion pump.

2. A cylinder shaped moulded plastic body with two hinged buttons on opposite sides having specifically angled inner tabs when pressed together the inner tabs exert angular force onto the glass vial angled shoulder ejecting the glass vial out the open bottom.

3. A cylinder shaped moulded plastic body open at the bottom with radially spaced internal ribs angled at the bottom end to guide into a central position a glass vial with corresponding angled shoulder and outer body diameter.

4. A cylinder shaped moulded plastic body open at the bottom with specifically shaped and dimensioned holding tabs located on the inside top end to hold a glass vial or bottle with specifically mated shaped and dimensioned neck with holding force into the pump holder.

5. A cylinder shaped moulded plastic body open at the bottom with specifically shaped and dimensioned circular shaped seal located on the inside top end which inserts inside the glass vial or bottle with specifically mated internal neck dimension to create air and liquid seal of specified tolerance.

6. A glass vial or bottle with specifically angled shoulder that corresponds to specifically angled internal ribs of the cylinder shape moulded plastic body guiding the glass vial or bottle centrally during insertion.

7. A glass vial or bottle with specifically shaped and dimensioned neck that corresponds to specifically shaped and dimensioned holding tabs that hold the glass vial or bottle with friction inside the cylinder shape moulded plastic body.

8. A glass vial or bottle with specifically shaped and dimensioned inner neck that corresponds to specifically shaped and dimensioned inner seal that inserts into the glass vial or bottle when assembled into position inside the cylinder shape moulded plastic body creating an air and liquid seal of specific tolerance.