Convenience spray dispensing packet

[57] ABSTRACT

A convenience spray-dispenser packet including two flexible sheets of plastic or foil or the like sealed around the peripheries thereof to make an enclosure. The packet is partially filled with a liquid such as perfume or toilet water, and resilient means is provided for holding the faces of the packet a slight distance apart. First and second conduits are formed within the packet, the conduits converging on one corner of the packet. In use, the packet is disposed so that the corner is upright and a portion of the corner is cut or torn off to provide a small opening in the enclosure. Squeezing the packet effects a forcing of liquid through the first conduit and a forcing of air through the second conduit to thereby affect dispersion or spray of the liquid through the opening formed in the packet.

Claims, 11 Drawing Figures

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PATENTED JUL29I975

3.897, 005

SHEET

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3,897,005

PATENTED &gt; 2 91975

SHEET

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3,897,005

CONVENIENCE SPRAY DISPENSING PACKET

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 305,747 filed Nov. 13, 1972, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to a dispenser for liquids such as perfume, toilet water, lubricating oil, etc, and especially to a disposable dispenser packet for atomizing liquids. While spray dispensers have taken various forms, such dispensers as aerosal cans which provide for portability have nevertheless been sufficiently bulky to prohibit a person from carrying such dispensers in the pocket of their clothing or in a woman’s evening handbag. Because of their bulky nature, and the weight of the can, such dispensers have been less than completely satisfactory.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Generally speaking, in accordance with the invention, a disposable dispenser packet partly filled with fluid is capable of dispensing the fluid in an atomized or spray form. The packet is formed of two flexible walls sealed together at their outer edges to form a container. One corner has preferably been weakened or is easily tearable to allow removal of the corner to provide an opening in the sealed package. Means are provided for forming first and second conduits in the container which converge at the corner where the opening is provided. A resilient separator means is provided inside or forms part of the container and separates the walls, thereof. Squeezing the packet results in forcing liquid through a first conduit and air through said second conduit to thereby effect an atomization of the liquid at the opening causing the liquid to be sprayed therefrom.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved spray-dispenser small enough in weight and volume to be carried readily about the person.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved spray-dispenser of small weight and volume for carrying liquids such as perfumes, toilet water, lubricating oils, medicaments, hair spray and the like.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a spray-dispenser of small weight and volume intended primarily for single use which can readily be closed and reused until the liquid contained therein is exhausted.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a spray-dispenser of small weight and volume wherein the pressure of the fingers is used for producing a spray.

Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specifications and drawings.

The invention accordingly comprises features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in a construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the invention reference is had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a spray-dispenser packet constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2—2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3—3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4—4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged scale view of the corner of the packet to be removed in preparation for use;

FIG. 6 is a further representation of the corner of the packet to be removed illustrated in FIG. 5, with said corner removed;

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of the packet of the present invention in use for producing a spray;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a spray-dispenser packet constructed in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the instant invention;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9—9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line 10—10 of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is an elevational view of the packet of the present invention in use and producing a spray.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The container of the present invention may be made of metal foil, plastic film of plastic lined paper or other similar material. As aforenoted, it is intended that once the package is opened, it is used only once to dispense material therefrom and then is disposed of. However, the packet after single use which does not exhaust the liquid, can be temporarily resealed by folding over the corner from which the spray is dispensed.

Reference is now made to FIG. 1 wherein a packet constructed in accordance with the instant invention is indicated by reference numeral 11. The packet 11 is completely sealed around its periphery 12, the method of sealing being dependent on the material of which the packet is made. In the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the packet is made of resilient, flexible plastic or plastic coated foil and is heat sealed around the edges. A first central tube or conduit 13, to be used for the dispensing of liquid, is formed either at the time of heat sealing the edges or subsequently. Second branch tubes or conduits 14 which are much shorter than central tube 13 are likewise formed. Branch tubes 14 are intended for the transfer of air therethrough to impinge on the liquid passing through the central tube 13. The combination of tubes 13 and 14 may be regarded as a branched tube with 13 being the main stem and 14 being the branch tubes.

Wall 16 of packet 11 may be held apart by a resilient insert 17, preferably formed with a cellular construction. The cells may be closed or open but, preferably, open, thus providing additional space for liquid within the packet 11. Alternatively, the packet may be made of a plastic which is sufficiently thick to hold the specific shape when not under manual pressure. In such case, the preferred shape is one in which the walls are spaced apart by a distance appropriate to the quantity of liquid which is desired that the packet contain. The distance may range from 0.005 inches up to 0.2 inches.

In operation, corner 18 is separated from the remainder of the packet 11 along tear line 19. It will be noted

3,897,005 that line 19 is immediately above the junction of central stem 13 and branch tubes 14. The corner 18 can be removed by cutting along line 19 with a scissors, or, preferably, the seal packet is weakened along line 19 so that line 19 is a tear line at which corner 18 can be sep- 5 arated from the remainder of the packet 11 by a simple tearing operation.

Squeezing the packet 11, preferably at the region of the rectangular insert 17 causes flow of the liquid contained in the packets through the central stem 13 and 10 flow of air through the branch tubes 14, air streams and liquid streams meeting just below the opened end of the packet to form a fine dispersion or spray. As is obvious, corner 18 is removed when the packet 11 is in such a position that corner 18 is uppermost, since, otherwise, 15 there would be liquid spillage through the branch tubes 14. In keeping with this proviso, the rectangular insert 17 is located at the corner 22 which is diagonally opposite from the corner 18. The central stem indicated above as originating near the center of the packet, pref- 20 erably ends proximate to the rectangular insert 17 in order to provide for maximum efficiency in transfer of the liquid. However, the end of the tube 13 must not be so close to insert 17 that compression of the insert will effect a lateral displacement sufficient to block the end 25 of the tube 13.

While the packet 11 may be of any desired size, preferably it is about 8 centimeters square to permit it to be hand held and yet contain a substantial portion of liquid to be dispensed. ³θ

Although it has been indicated above that the preferred method of manufacture of central tube 13 and the branch tubes 14 is by molding where the packet is made of metal foil or paper lined foil, the branch tube assembly can be prepared externally of the packet and ³⁵then inserted prior to sealing the packet around the periphery thereof.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 8 through 11, wherein an alternate embodiment of the dispenser packet is illustrated. The packet forms an enclosed ⁴⁰chamber by heat sealing two walls 31 and 32 together about the periphery. A small passage is provided at a corner, 34, and is intercepted by a tear-line shown as dotted line 33 which allows the operator to tear the corner along line 33 to thereby provide an opening 34 ⁴⁵in the enclosed package. A further heat sealing of walls 31 and 32 along line 36 forms two channels or conduits 37 and 38 in the enclosed chamber. The first channel 37 extends into the part of the chamber which contains the liquid 35 and the second channel extends into the ³⁰remaining portion of the chamber which includes the air. Also included in the chamber is a cylindrically formed resilient member which separates the two walls that form the sealed enclosure and allow the fluid to be stored therein. The resilient member may be formed of a polyethylene tube, a closed cell foam insert or the like.

In operation, the application of pressure to the resilient insert causes the liquid 35 to be forced through the elongated channel 37 and through the narrow portion 40 which increases the force of the liquid as it is applied to the opening 34. The application of pressure to the insert also forces air out of the chamber through the second channel 38 to converge upon the liquid being forced through narrow channel 40 affecting an atomization of liquid as it passes through the opening 34. As is understood, the opening could be provided in a hori zontal manner as is shown by dotted line 34' the positioning of the opening depending upon the intended use thereof.

AS aforenoted, subsequent to opening and using the packet, where liquid still remains in the packet, the open corner could be folded over to hold the remainder of the contents within the packet. The folded over corner may be held in position by a paper clip or by a snap fastener (not shown).

It will thus be seen that the object set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language might be said to fall therebetween.