EP-4739182-A1 - CAP DISPENSER ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A cap dispenser assembly comprising an outer frame, an inner frame, a dispensing shaft, and an actuator. The actuator may be configured to regulate the flow of contents through the cap dispenser assembly while shielding the dispensing shaft or the contents from a wet or moist environment. The actuator may be configured to reciprocate along a dispensing shaft.

Inventors

• FARSHT, STEPHANIE
• EARLE, PAUL
• LERNER, KATJA
• PAULSEN, GARY
• TACKABERRY, JILLIAN
• WILSON, SCOTT
• WATSON, CHRIS

Assignees

• Tiny Brands, Inc.

Dates

Publication Date

20260513

Application Date

20231109

Claims (20)

1. 1. A cap dispenser assembly comprising: an outer frame; an inner frame comprising a first end; a dispensing shaft comprising a first surface; and an actuator disposed between the outer frame and the inner frame and configured to reciprocate along the dispensing shaft from a first position to a second position; and wherein the first end of the inner frame is configured to extend past the first surface of the dispensing shaft when the actuator is in the second position.
2. 2. The cap dispenser assembly of claim 1, wherein in the first position the actuator forms a seal with a first edge of the dispensing shaft.
3. 3. The cap dispenser assembly of claim 1, wherein there is an opening between the actuator and the dispensing shaft when the actuator in the second position.
4. 4. The cap dispenser assembly of claim 1, wherein the inner frame is coupled to the actuator, and wherein a force applied to the inner frame causes the actuator to travel from the first position to at least one of a plurality of intermediate positions or the second position.
5. 5. The cap dispenser assembly cap of claim 1, wherein the outer frame is coupled to the actuator.
6. 6. The cap dispenser assembly of claim 1, wherein the dispensing shaft comprises a plurality of support arms outwardly extending from a midpoint of the dispensing shaft and disposed above the actuator.
7. 7. The cap dispenser assembly of claim 1 wherein the outer frame comprises a threaded end.
8. 8. The cap dispenser assembly cap of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises silicone.
9. 9. The cap dispenser assembly cap of claim 1, further comprising a bottle configured to couple to the outer frame, wherein the bottle comprises a first engaging end and a second arcuate end.
10. 10. A cap dispenser assembly comprising: a first frame; a dispensing shaft; and an actuator coupled to the first frame and disposed above the first frame; wherein the actuator is configured to reciprocate along the dispensing shaft from a first position to a second position.
11. 11. The cap dispenser assembly of claim 10, wherein in the first position the actuator forms a seal with a first edge of the dispensing shaft and wherein in the second position there is an opening between the actuator and the dispensing shaft.
12. 12. The cap dispenser assembly of claim 10, wherein the dispensing shaft comprises a plurality of support arms that extend outwardly from a midpoint of the dispensing shaft and are disposed above the actuator.
13. 13. The cap dispenser assembly of claim 10, further comprising a second frame coupled to the actuator, wherein the actuator is disposed between the first frame and the second frame, and wherein the second frame comprises a threaded end.
14. 14. The cap dispenser assembly of claim 13, wherein the first frame is nested inside the second frame.
15. 15. The cap dispenser assembly of claim 13, further comprising a bottle configured to removably couple to the second frame, wherein the bottle comprises a first engaging end and a second arcuate end.
16. 16. A cap dispenser assembly comprising: an outer frame; an inner frame comprising a first end; a dispensing shaft comprising a first surface; and an actuator disposed between the outer frame and the inner frame and configured to reciprocate along the dispensing shaft from a first position to a second position; and wherein in the first position the actuator forms a seal with a first edge of the dispensing shaft and wherein in the second position there is an opening between the actuator and the dispensing shaft.
17. 17. The cap dispenser assembly of claim 16 , wherein the first end of the inner frame is configured to extend past the first surface of the dispensing shaft when the actuator is in the second position.
18. 18. The cap dispenser assembly of claim 16, wherein the outer frame is coupled to the actuator.
19. 19. The cap dispenser assembly of claim 16, wherein the dispensing shaft comprises a plurality of support arms outwardly extending from a midpoint of the dispensing shaft and disposed above the actuator.
20. 20. The cap dispenser assembly cap of claim 16, further comprising a bottle configured to couple to the outer frame, wherein the bottle comprises a first engaging end and a second arcuate end.

Description

CAP DISPENSER ASSEMBLY CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This Application claims priority to United States Provisional Patent Application No. 63/525,481 filed on July 7, 2023. FIELD [0001] Aspects described herein generally relate to a cap dispenser assembly. More specifically, one or more aspects described herein provide for a cap dispenser assembly having an actuator configured to regulate the flow of contents through the cap dispenser assembly. BACKGROUND [0002] Certain granular compositions, such as salon concentrate, powdered shampoo, and the like, may be dispensed from a bottle through a cap assembly into a user’s hand. Bottles and/or caps currently known in the field expose the contents of the bottle to moisture, which may impede the flow of the contents from the bottle or may impact the quality of the composition through such exposure. For example, bottles and/or caps current known in the field have their opening at the top of the bottle, exposing contents to moisture. Known bottles and/or caps often cause a user’s hand to come in contact with the bottle opening, exposing the contents to moisture or dirt and/debris. SUMMARY [0003] The following presents a simplified summary of the disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosure. This summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure. It is not intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. The following summary merely presents some concepts of the disclosure in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description provided below. [0004] As described in more detail herein, this application sets forth a cap dispenser assembly comprising an inner frame (or a first frame), an outer frame (or a second frame), and an actuator. The actuator may be configured to regulate the flow of contents through the cap dispenser assembly while shielding the contents of a dispenser bottle from a moist or wet environment while not in use. The actuator may be configured to reciprocate along a dispensing shaft from a first position to a second position. The actuator may be configured to move with the inner frame relative to the outer frame providing an opening to allow contents to be dispersed from the assembly. [0005] An example cap dispenser assembly may comprise an outer frame, a dispensing shaft comprising a first surface, an inner frame comprising a first end and a second end, and an actuator disposed between the outer frame and the inner frame and configured to reciprocate along the dispensing shaft from a first position to a second position. The first end of the inner frame may be configured to extend past the first surface of the dispensing shaft when the actuator is in the second position. In the first position the actuator may contact a first edge of the dispensing shaft. In the second position the actuator may expose at least a portion of the dispensing shaft. The inner frame may be coupled to the actuator. A force applied to the inner frame may cause the actuator to reciprocate from the first position to at least one of the plurality of intermediate positions or the second position. [0006] Another example cap dispenser may comprise an outer frame, a dispensing shaft comprising a first surface, an inner frame comprising a first end, and an actuator disposed between the outer frame and the inner frame and configured to reciprocate along the dispensing shaft from a first position to a second position. The first end of the inner frame may be configured to extend past the first surface of the dispensing shaft when the actuator is in the second position. [0007] These as well as other novel advantages, details, examples, features and objects of the present disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from following the detailed description, the attached claims and accompanying drawings, listed herein, which are useful in explaining the concepts discussed herein. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0008] Some features are shown by way of example, and not by limitation, in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like numerals reference similar elements. [0009] FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of an example cap dispenser assembly that may be used to implement one or more illustrative aspects described herein. [0010] FIG. 2a illustrates a perspective view of the example cap dispenser assembly of FIG. 1. [0011] FIG. 2b illustrates a top-down perspective view of the example cap dispenser assembly of FIG. 1. [0012] FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded perspective view of an example cap dispenser assembly that may be used to implement one or more illustrative aspects described herein. [0013] FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-section view of an example cap dispenser assembly as indicated by the line “Fig. 4” in FIG. 1. [0014] FIG. 5 illustrates a bottom-up perspective view of the example cap dispenser assembly of FIG. 1. [0015] FIG. 6a illustrates an explo