TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a new dispensing container or dispenser for a fluid or viscous material, such as cremes, pastes and gels, and to a method for the manufacture of the dispenser.

Compressible plastic tubes, jars and pump bottles are typically used in the packaging industry for fluid and viscous materials. There have been several significant problems with such containers. One problem has been that they have not been adapted to dispense repeatedly controlled amounts, particularly precise amounts, of their contents each time that they are used. Another problem has been that their contents can come in contact with dirt or other contaminants (e.g., on the hands of the user), when dispensing their contents. Yet another problem has been that their final remaining contents often cannot be removed or are very difficult to remove. Still another problem with tubes is that they become crumpled and hence unsightly as they are emptied.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Dispensing containers for fluid and viscous materials are well known. See, for example, WO2011162609A1, EP1306314A1, US2234857A, US7178692B2, FR975890A, FR1161905A, US2010200618A1, US7354215B2 and US6116448A.

However, it has been difficult for users of such containers to dispense repeatedly small controlled, uncontaminated quantities of their contents according to the users wishes at any particular time. This has especially been a problem with such containers when the contents of the containers have become substantially reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this invention, a dispenser is provided for a fluid or viscous material in a container, the dispenser having a plurality of vertically stacked, cylindrical parts which are on the container and at least one of which can be rotated horizontally relative to at least another one of them; three adjacent parts forming a suction assembly which, when at least one of them is rotated horizontally relative to at least another of them, sucking a discrete portion of the fluid material vertically out of the container and pushing the discrete portion vertically through the parts and out from a top part.

Advantageously, the suction assembly has, above a lower one of the three adjacent parts, a horizontally-movable, horizontally-extending torus, preferably an elliptical torus, that has a vertically-extending central opening that surrounds a vertically-extending tube having openings in opposite sides thereof.

Also advantageously, the suction assembly has, below an upper one of the three adjacent parts, a downwardly-extending, rounded, unitary, enclosed, cam surface centered eccentrically about the tube and engaging the peripheral surfaces of the upstanding side walls of the torus when the cam surface is rotated horizontally. More advantageously, the shape of the cam surface, when viewed vertically, is eccentric. Still more advantageously, the cam surface is formed by a first, generally semi-circular segment that includes a smooth rounded first portion extending along one rounded horizontal side of the upper one of the three adjacent parts, and a second, generally semi-circular segment that is connected, advantageously at its opposite ends, to the first segment and that includes a smooth rounded second portion extending horizontally away from the first portion. Yet more advantageously, the second segment is less rounded than the first segment. Even more advantageously, the second portion of the second segment is inwardly angled toward the first portion of the first segment, so that the cam surface is generally heart-shaped.

Also advantageously, the vertically-stacked parts of the dispenser sequentially include the following: a holder, the torus above the holder, a displacer above the holder, a spout above the displacer, and a cap above the displacer; wherein the cam surface is on a bottom surface of the displacer; and wherein horizontal rotation of the cap relative to the holder, when the dispenser is closed, moves the spout vertically relative to the cap, to open the dispenser, and then horizontally rotates the spout and displacer, with its cam surface, relative to the holder and horizontally displaces the torus diametrically relative to the holder. More advantageously, the dispenser has:

- the cap horizontally rotatable in a horizontal first direction relative to the holder to open the dispenser and rotatable in an opposite, horizontal, second direction relative to the holder to close the dispenser,

- the spout beneath the cap, movable upwardly relative to the cap and rotatable in the first direction relative to the holder with rotation of the cap in the first direction and not rotatable in the second direction relative to the holder and then movable downwardly relative to the cap with rotation of the cap in the second direction;

- the displacer beneath the spout, rotatable in the first direction relative to the holder with rotation of the spout in the first direction rotatable in the first direction relative to the holder with rotation of the spout in the first direction; - the torus beneath the displacer and diametrically movable, advantageously oscillating, relative to the holder, with rotation of the displacer in the first direction; and

- the holder beneath the torus.

More advantageously, the displacer of the dispenser includes a valve extending vertically through it, advantageously through its center, and through the torus; an upper opening in the valve being in communication with the spout and a lower opening in the valve being in communication with the container through the holder and the openings not being in fluid communication with each other through the valve; the openings advantageously being on horizontally opposite sides of the valve.

Still more advantageously, the displacer cannot rotate relative to the holder in the second direction with rotation of the spout in the second direction.

Also advantageously, the displacer has a valve, advantageously vertically cylindrical, extending vertically through the upper one of the three adjacent parts; a lower portion of the valve, having a lower horizontal opening in one horizontal side; the top of the lower portion being closed by a horizontal wall at the bottom of a middle portion of the valve; the middle portion having a upper horizontal opening in a horizontal side, preferably on one horizontally opposite side of the valve from the first opening; the top of the middle portion being open and in fluid communication with a tubular upper portion of the valve; the top of the upper portion extending above the upper one of the three adjacent parts open and being in fluid communication with the exterior of the dispenser at its top.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a closed dispenser of this invention with its assembled container for a fluid or viscous material, its holder, its torus, its displacer, its spout, and its cap.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional side view of an open dispenser of this invention with its assembled container for a fluid material, holder, torus, displacer, spout, and cap.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional, exploded side view of the dispenser of Figures 1 and 2. Figure 4 is an exploded isometric view of the dispenser of Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional side view of an assembled holder and displacer of the dispenser of Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 6 is a downward isometric view of an assembled holder and torus of the dispenser of Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional side view of the assembled holder and torus of the dispenser of Figures 1 and 2. Figure 8 is an upward isometric view of an assembled torus and displacer of the dispenser of Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 9 is cross-sectional side view of the assembled torus and displacer of the dispenser of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is an upward plan view of the assembled torus and displacer of the dispenser of Figure 8, showing the integral valve of the displacer.

Figure 11 is a downward isometric view of an assembled holder, displacer (with upper wall removed) and torus of the dispenser of Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 12 is a downward plan view of the assembled holder, displacer (with upper wall removed) and torus of the dispenser of Figure 11.

Figure 13 is cross-sectional side view of the assembled holder, displacer (with upper wall removed) and torus of the dispenser of Figure 11.

Figure 14 is a downward isometric view of the holder, torus and cam surface of the displacer (with its top wall sectioned) of the suction assembly of the invention during step 1 of dispensing a fluid from the open dispenser of Figure 2.

Figure 15 is a downward isometric view of the holder, torus and cam surface of the displacer (with its top wall sectioned) of the suction assembly of the invention during step 2 of dispensing a fluid from the open dispenser of Figure 2.

Figure 16 is a downward isometric view of the holder, torus and cam surface of the displacer (with its top wall sectioned) of the suction assembly of the invention during step 3 of dispensing a fluid from the open dispenser of Figure 2.

Figure 17 is a downward isometric view of the holder, torus and cam surface of the displacer (with its top wall sectioned) of the suction assembly of the invention during step 4 of dispensing a fluid from the open dispenser of Figure 2.

Figure 18 is a downward isometric view of the spout of the dispenser of Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 19 is a side plan view of the spout of the dispenser of Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 20 is a bottom plan view of the spout of the dispenser of Figures 1 and 2. Figure 21 is a downward isometric view of the displacer of the dispenser of Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 22 is a bottom plan view of the displacer of the dispenser of Figures 1 and 2, without the torus.

Figure 23 is a downward isometric view of the torus of the dispenser of Figures 1 and

2.

Figure 24 is a downward isometric view of the holder of the dispenser of Figures 1 and 2. Figure 25 is a top plan view of the holder of the dispenser of Figures 1 and 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In this Description of the Invention, terms such as "horizontal, "vertical", "upstanding", "lower" and "upper" are used as relative terms with regard to the elements of the Invention as shown in the Drawings.

Figures 1-25 show a preferred dispenser 10 of this invention for a flowable, fluid material such as a free-flowing liquid or suspension and for a viscous material, such as a flowable gel, creme, paste or the like.

As shown in Figures 1-4, the dispenser 10 includes a rigid, preferably cylindrical container 12 for holding a fluid material (not shown), to be dispensed. The top of the container 12 is open but is covered by a vertically-extending, preferably cylindrical, rigid holder 14 (best shown in Figures 3, 4, 6, 7, 24 and 25) which is securely attached to the top of the container in a leak-proof manner. The outer surface of a vertically-extending lower outer wall 16 of the holder 14 closely surrounds, and is preferably coplanar, with the outer surface of the outer wall 18 of the container 12 at the top of the container.

Atop the holder 14 is a vertically-extending, cylindrical, rigid displacer 20 (best shown in Figures 3, 4, 8-10, 21 and 22). The inner surface of a vertically-extending, cylindrical, lower side wall 22 of the displacer 20 closely surrounds the outer surface of a vertically- extending, cylindrical, upper side wall 24 of the holder 14. Atop the lower side wall 22 of the displacer 20 is a vertically-extending, cylindrical, upper side wall 26, the outer surface of which is provided with an annular horizontal array of one or more, elongated, vertically- and radially-extending grooves 28. Preferably, a pair of the vertically- and radially-extending grooves 28 are provided on radially opposite sides of the outer surface of the upper side wall 26 of the displacer 20. Atop the upper side wall 26 is a circular top wall 29 of the displacer. 20.

Nested atop the displacer 20 is a vertically-extending, cylindrical, rigid spout 30 (best shown in Figures 3, 4, 18-20). The inner surface of a vertically-extending, cylindrical, side wall 32 of the spout 30 closely surrounds the outer surface of the upper side wall 26 of the displacer 20. The outer surface of the side wall 32 of the spout 30 has a vertically-extending, first helical female thread 34 wrapped about its circumference. The inner surface of the side wall 32 of the spout 30 has an annular horizontal array of one or more elongated, vertically- and radially-extending, first ridges or abutments 36 which can be slid vertically into, and physically engage, the vertically- and radially-extending grooves 28 on the outer surface of the upper side wall 26 of the displacer 20. Preferably, a pair of the vertically- and radially- extending first ridges 36 are provided on radially opposite sides of the inner surface of the side wall 32 of the spout 30 which can engage a pair of the vertically- and radially-extending grooves 28 on radially opposite sides of the outer surface of the upper side wall 26 of the displacer 20. In the center of a circular top wall 35 of the spout 30 is a vertically-extending, preferably cylindrical, vertically-elongated nozzle 38 which is open at its bottom and top. The nozzle 38 is adapted to allow fluid material in the spout 30 to freely move vertically and outwardly of the spout.

Atop the spout 30 is a vertically-extending, preferably cylindrical, rigid cap 40 (best shown in Figures 1-4). The inner surface of a vertically-extending, cylindrical, side wall 42 of the cap 40 closely surrounds the outer surface of the side wall 32 of the spout 30. The outer surface of the side wall 42 of the cap 40 is preferably coplanar with the surface of the lower side wall 16 of the holder 14.

Adjacent the top of the inner surface of the side wall 42 of the cap 40 and wrapped about its circumference is a first vertically-extending, helical male thread 44. The first helical male thread 44 in the inner surface of the side wall 42 of the cap 40 is in threaded engagement with the first helical female thread 34 in the outer surface of the side wall 32 of the spout 30 and can move inwardly and outwardly of its engagement when the side wall 42 of the cap (as viewed in Figure 4) is twisted clockwise or counter-clockwise.

Adjacent and parallel to the bottom of the side wall 42 of the cap 40 and wrapped about the circumference of its inner surface is a horizontal annular groove 46. The groove 46 extends inwardly of the side wall 42 of the cap 40. The groove 46 can frictionally engage a mating, horizontal, annular bead 48 that is wrapped about the circumference of the outer surface of a vertically-extending, cylindrical middle side wall 50 of the holder and that extends outwardly of the holder. The groove 46 and bead 48, when engaged, hold the cap 40 and holder 14 together with their respective side walls 42 and 50 atop one another.

In a circular top wall 52 of the cap 40, atop its side wall 42, is a vertically-extending, central aperture 54, through which the nozzle 38 of the spout 30 can move vertically in and out of the cap 40. Thereby, a fluid material can be dispensed from the container 12 of the dispenser 10, through its assembled holder 14, displacer 20, spout 30, and cap 40 when the nozzle 38 of the spout extends vertically outwardly of the aperture 54 in the cap.

On the upper side wall 24 of the holder is an annular horizontal array of one or more, elongated, vertically-and radially-extending, second ridges or abutments 58. Preferably, the outer surface of the upper side wall 24 of the holder 14 has an array of two or more, more preferably four or more, of the second ridges 58 spaced equidistantly apart about the circumference of the upper side wall 24 and extending outwardly of the holder 14. Provided circumferentially on the inner surface of the cylindrical, lower side wall 22 of the displacer 20 is an annular horizontal array of a plurality of serrated saw teeth 60, extending inwardly of the displaces The saw teeth extend circumferentially about the inner surface of the lower side wall 22 of the displacer 20 as shown in Figures 3 and 8. A sharp edge 61 of each of the saw teeth 60 circumferentially extends, relative to a base of each of the saw teeth, counterclockwise about the inner surface of the lower side wall 22 of the displacer 20 as shown in Figures 8 and 10. The sharp edges 61 of the saw teeth 60 frictionally engage the second ridges 58 on the outer surface of the upper side wall 24 of the holder 14 in the assembled dispenser 10 during counter-clockwise rotation of the displacer 20, relative to the holder 14, to allow such counter-clockwise rotation between intermittent fictional engagements of the saw teeth 60 and second ridges 58, but the engagements of the saw teeth 60 and second ridges 58 in the clockwise direction prevent clockwise rotation of the displacer 20, relative to the holder 14.

Between a circular top wall 62 of the holder 14 and the top wall 29 of the displacer 20 is a suction assembly 64 of this invention. The suction assembly 64 features a rigid, horizontally-movable, horizontally-extending, generally elliptical torus 66 (best shown in Figures 3, 4 and 23). The torus 66 has a vertically-extending central opening 68 enclosed by vertically-extending, first and second, side walls 70 and 72 on horizontally-opposite sides and curved vertically-extending, first and second end walls 74 and 76 on horizontally- opposite sides. The central opening 68 in the torus 66 surrounds and overlies a vertically- extending central opening 78 in the top wall 62 of the holder 14. Surrounding the central opening 78 in the holder's top wall 62 is a vertically-extending rigid tube 80 having horizontally-extending, first and second openings 82 and 84 on horizontally opposite sides, adjacent respective curved vertically-extending, first and second, end walls 74 and 76 of the torus 66. The openings 82 and 84 of the tube 80 preferably extend vertically from the top wall 62 of the holder 14 to the open top end of the tube. The side walls 70, 72 of the torus 66 are in continuous contact with the exterior wall of the tube 80, between its openings 82 and 84, throughout the rotational and oscillating horizontal movement of the torus 66 between alternating positions in which one of its end walls 74 and 76 is in contact with one of the openings 82 and 84 in the tube 80. Preferably, an even number of, more preferably only two, rigid support members 86 and 87 extend vertically from the top wall 62 of the holder 14 on horizontally opposite sides of the tube 80 and adjacent the side walls 70 and 72 of the torus 66. The support members 86 and 87 are in continuous contact with the exterior surfaces of the side walls 70 and 72 of the torus 66 and keep the interior surfaces of the side walls 70 and 72 of the torus 66 in continuous contact with the exterior surfaces of the tube 80 throughout horizontal movement of the torus 66. Preferably, the side walls 70, 72 are straight, i.e., parallel, between the end walls 74, 76 and have the same horizontal thickness as the end walls. However, the side walls 70,72 can also be bowed outwardly of the central opening 68 and have a progressively thicker horizontal cross-section as the horizontal distance increases from each end wall to the horizontal center of each side wall. With outwardly bowed side walls 70, 72, no rigid support members 86 and 87 would be provided on the top wall 62 of the holder 14, and movement of the torus can be made easier and smoother.

Provided eccentrically on a circular, horizontal, lower surface 88 of the top wall 29 of the displacer 20, and thus provided eccentrically about the tube 80, is a rigid, downwardly- extending, rounded, unitary, enclosed, cam surface 90 of the suction assembly 64 as shown in Figures 10, 12 and 22. The cam surface 90 is adapted to engage the exterior horizontal surfaces of the side and end walls 70, 72, 74, 76 of the torus 66 when the cam surface is rotated horizontally with horizontal rotation of the displacer 20 to oscillate the torus, i.e., move it back and forth, horizontally relative to the tube 80. The shape of the cam surface 90, when viewed upwardly from beneath the displacer 20 as in Figure 10, is preferably eccentric, more preferably heart-shaped, but could also be round. In this regard, an eccentric cam surface 90 can be viewed as being formed of two generally semi-circular segments 92A and 92B, joined at their ends. The segments 92A and 92B of the cam surface 90 can be suitably connected to each other at opposite sides of the cam surface which (opposite sides) lie along a diameter of the lower surface 88 of the top wall 29 of the displacer. A first, generally semi-circular segment 92A of the cam surface 90 preferably has a smooth curved first portion 93A extending along one horizontal side of, and assuming the rounded shape of, the curved inner surface of the upper side wall 26 of the displacer 20. A second, generally semicircular segment 92B of the of the cam surface 90 has a smooth curved second portion 93B extending horizontally away from the first portion 93A on an opposite side of the cam surface from the first portion. Preferably, the second segment 92B is less rounded than the first segment 92A, so that the cam surface 90 is eccentric in shape and the second portion 93B of the second segment 92B extends horizontally inwardly of the cam surface when viewed upwardly. More preferably, the second portion 93B of the second segment 92B is inwardly angled toward the first portion 93A of the first segment, 92A so that the cam surface is heart- shaped. Thus, the cam surface 90 is centered eccentrically about the tube 80 on the lower surface 88 of the top wall 29, and its second segment 92B sequentially engages the outside horizontal surfaces of the upstanding side walls 70 and 72 and end walls 74 and 76 of the torus 66 when the cam surface 90 is rotated horizontally with the displacer 20.

So that the torus 66 oscillates horizontally on the holder 14 with rotation of the cam surface 90 with the displacer 20: i) the interior horizontal width of the cam surface (i.e., minimum separation of opposite sides of the interior of the cam surface) should be at least equal to the exterior horizontal length (between the end walls 74, 76) of the torus; and ii) the interior horizontal length of the cam surface (i.e., maximum separation of opposite sides of the interior of the cam surface) must be greater than the exterior horizontal length of the torus. The shape of the cam surface 90 is preferably eccentric, so that the second portion 93B of its second segment 92B extends horizontally inwardly of the cam surface. Thereby, the second portion 93B of the second cam segment 92B will force the adjacent one of the end walls 74 or 76 against the adjacent one of the openings 82 or 84 in the tube 80 during horizontal rotation of the displacer20 and its cam surface 90 and second portion 93B.

Extending vertically through the circular top wall 29 of the cylindrical displacer 20 is a rigid, vertically-extending, preferably vertically cylindrical, valve 98, integral with the displacer. A lower, preferably cylindrical portion 100 of the valve 98, beneath the top wall 29, extends vertically into the central opening 78 in the top wall 62 of the holder 14 and is preferably held there by an annular abutment 79 on the bottom of the lower portion 100 of the valve 98. The lower portion 100 has a large, vertically-elongate, first or lower, horizontal opening 102 in one horizontal side of its lower side wall 104. The top of the lower portion 100 of the valve 98, above its lower side wall 104, is closed by a horizontal wall 106 at the bottom of a middle, preferably cylindrical portion 108 of the valve. The middle portion 108 of the valve has a large, vertically-elongate, second or upper, horizontal opening 110 in one horizontal side of its middle side wall 112. Preferably, the second opening 110 is on a horizontally opposite side of the valve from the first opening 102. The bottom wall 106 of the middle portion 108 of the valve prevents direct communication of a fluid or viscous material through the valve 98 between its first and second openings 102 and 110. The top of the middle portion 108, above its side wall 112, is open. Atop the middle portion 108 of the valve is an upper, preferably cylindrical portion 114 that extends vertically above the top wall 29 of the displacer 20 and that is in fluid communication with the second opening 110 in the valve 98. The upper portion 114 of the valve forms a vertically open tube, and at its center is a vertically-extending, cylindrical plug 116. The bottom of the plug 116 is mounted on the bottom of the middle portion 108 of the valve, and the top of the plug 116 extends above the upper portion 114 of the valve. The top 117 of the upper portion 114 of the valve 98 extends above the top wall 29 of the displacer 20.

In the suction assembly 64, the displacer 20 and its cam surface 90 can be rotated horizontally in a clock-wise direction relative to the holder 14 and its tube 80. with clock-wise rotation of the spout 30 and cap 40 relative to the holder 14. This rotation moves horizontally the torus 66 diametrically relative to the holder which causes a discrete portion of a fluid or viscous material to be sucked vertically out of the container 12 and then pushed, via the valve 98 in the displacer, vertically out of the spout and cap. Preferably, the container 12 has a cylindrical side wall 120 and an open bottom 122, closed by a vertically movable piston 124. Alternatively, the bottom 122 could be closed, and a gas (e.g., air) under pressure could be provided between the closed bottom 122 and the piston 124. Above the piston 124 is the interior of the container with its contents of fluid material (not shown). An open top 126 of the container 12 is attached in a conventional manner to the lower side wall 16 of the holder 14, so that: i) the lower side wall 16 of the holder closely surrounds, and holds against relative rotation, the outer surface of the side wall 18 of the container 12 at the top of the container and ii) the interior of the container is in leak-proof, fluid flow communication with the interior of the holder.

In use, when the container 12 of the closed dispenser 10 (shown in Figure 1) holds a fluid or viscous material (not shown), to be dispensed, the cap 40 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction relative to the holder 14, displacer 20 and spout 30 (as they are shown in Figure 4) Counter-clockwise rotation of the cap 40 causes its groove 46 to rotate counterclockwise freely about the holder 14 on its bead 48. Counter-clockwise rotation of the cap 40 also causes its side wall 42 and the first helical male thread 44 in the inner surface of its side wall to rotate counter-clockwise. This causes the first helical female thread 34 in the outer surface of the side wall 32 of the spout 30 initially to move upwardly along the first helical male thread 44 of the cap 40. In this regard, the first ridges 36 on the inner surface of the side wall 32 of the spout 30 engage the grooves 28 on the outer surface of the upper side wall 26 of the displacer 20, so that the displacer rotates counter-clockwise with the spout and cap 40.The displacer 20 is restrained, in turn, from rotating counter-clockwise relative to the holder by the frictional engagement of the saw teeth 60 on the inner surface of its lower side wall 22 with the second ridges 58 on the outer surface of the upper side wall 24 of the holder 14. As a result, the spout 30 initially moves upwardly relative to the cap until: i) the top wall of the spout has moved vertically to the top wall 52 of the cap and away from the displacer and container; and ii) the nozzle 38 of the spout 30 has moved upwardly into and above the central aperture 54 in the top wall 52 of the cap 40. Then, the dispenser is open (as shown in Figure 2).

Further counter-clockwise rotation of the cap 40 causes counter-clockwise rotation of the spout 30 and therefore the inner surface of the side wall 32 of the spout 30 and its vertically-and radially-extending, first ridges 36. Counter-clockwise rotation of the first ridges 36 causes counter-clockwise rotation of the vertically- and radially-extending grooves 28 on the outer surface of the upper side wall 26 of the displacer 20 (which initially was also restrained from counter-clockwise rotation by the holder 14, until the the nozzle 38 of the spout 30 had moved upwardly into and above the central aperture 54 in the top wall 52 of the cap 40) . The first ridges 36 inside the side wall 32 of the spout 30 fit into the grooves 28 on the outer surface of the upper side wall 26 of the displacer 20, so that the spout and displacer rotate counter-clockwise together after the spout has moved completely upwards relative to the cap 40 and touches the bottom of the top wall 52 of the cap. When the spout 30 can no longer move upwards and is touching the bottom of the top wall 52 of the cap, counter-clockwise rotation of the spout causes the displacer 20 also to rotate counterclockwise relative to the holder by overcoming the frictional resistance between the saw teeth 60 of the displacer and the second ridges 58 of the holder. Thereby, counter-clockwise rotation of the spout 30 with the cap 40 causes counter-clockwise rotation of the displacer 20.

Counter-clockwise rotation of the displacer 20 also causes counter-clockwise rotation of the eccentric cam surface 90 on the lower surface 88 of the top wall 29 of the displacer. Counter-clockwise rotation of the cam surface 90 causes horizontal oscillating movement of the torus 66. In this regard, the cam surface 90 urges the outside surfaces of the upstanding end walls 74 and 76 of the torus to move back and forth with the cam surface about the central opening 78 in the top wall 62 of the holder 14, and about the tube 80, surrounding the central opening. In doing so, counter-clockwise rotation of the cam surface also causes horizontal oscillating movement of the end walls 74 and 76 of the torus 66 between the openings 82 and 84 on horizontally opposite sides of the tube 80. Counter-clockwise rotation of the cam surface 90 does not interfere with keeping the side walls 70 and 72 of the torus 66: i) in continuous contact with the exterior of the wall 86 in the tube 80 throughout the oscillating horizontal movement of the torus 66 between alternating positions in which one of its end walls 74 and 76 is in contact with one of the openings 82 and 84 in the tube 80 and ii) between the support members 86 and 87 on the top wall 62 of the holder 14. Such oscillating horizontal movement of the torus 66 is a key feature of the suction assembly 64 of this invention as shown in Figures 14-17.

In this regard, Figure 14 shows an initial position of the oscillating movement of the torus 66 in which the second portion 93B of the second segment 92B of the cam surface 90 is adjacent to the first end wall 74 of the torus.

Figure 15 shows a first step of such oscillating movement in which the second portion 93B of the second segment 92B of the cam 90 is between the end walls 74 and 76 of the torus and urges a first torus end wall 74 horizontally away from a first tube opening 82, while it urges a second torus end wall 76 towards a second tube opening 84. During movement between Figures 14 and 15, fluid or viscous contents of the container 12 are sucked upwardly from the container into the torus 66, by the low fluid pressure adjacent its first end wall 74, through the first opening 102 in the lower side wall 104 of the lower portion 100 of the valve 98. At the same time, a portion of the fluid or viscous contents previously sucked into the torus 66, adjacent its second end wall 76, are pushed upwardly and outwardly of the torus 66, by the high fluid pressure adjacent its second end wall 76, through the second opening 110 in the middle portion 108 of the valve 98 and outwardly of the displacer 20 through its upper portion 114.

Figure 16 shows a second step of such oscillating movement in which the second portion 93B of the second segment 92B of the cam 90 is adjacent to the second torus end wall 76 and urges the second torus end wall against the second tube opening 84 and thereby urges the first torus end wall 74 away from the first tube opening 82. During movement between Figures 15 and 16, more of the fluid or viscous contents of the container 12 are sucked upwardly from the container into the torus 66, by the low fluid pressure adjacent its first end wall 74, through the first opening 102 in the lower side wall 104 of the lower portion 100 of the valve 98. At the same time, the remainder of the fluid or viscous contents of the container, previously sucked into the torus 66 adjacent its second end wall 76, is pushed upwardly and outwardly of the torus 66, by the high fluid pressure adjacent its second end wall 76, through the second opening 110 in the middle portion 108 of the valve 98 and outwardly of the displacer 20 through its upper portion 114.

Figure 17 shows a third step of such oscillating movement in which the second portion 93B of the second segment 92B of the cam 90 is between the end walls 74 and 76 of the torus (on the side of the torus opposite from Figure 15) and thereby urges the first torus end wall 74 horizontally toward the first tube opening 82, while it urges the second torus end wall 76 away from second tube opening 84. During movement between Figures 16 and 17, the fluid or viscous contents of the container 12 are sucked upwardly from the container into the torus 66, by the low fluid pressure adjacent its second end wall 76, through the first opening 102 in the lower side wall 104 the lower portion 100 of the valve 98. At the same time, a portion of the fluid or viscous contents previously sucked into the torus 66, adjacent its first end wall 74, are pushed upwardly and outwardly of the torus 66, by the high fluid pressure adjacent its first end wall 74, through the second opening 110 in the middle portion 108 of the valve 98 and outwardly of the displacer 20 through its upper portion 114.

Fluid or viscous contents of the container 12 of the open dispenser 10 of Figure 2, sucked into the valve 98 by the suction assembly 64 during counter-clockwise rotation of the displacer 20 relative to the holder 14 as shown in Figures 14-17, are pushed upwardly in the valve 98 and its upper portion 114 and then upwardly through the nozzle of the spout 30 and the central aperture 54 in the top wall 52 of the cap 40 by the suction assembly. During counter-clockwise rotation of the displacer 20, the first and second openings 102 and 110 in the valve 98 are rotating, because the valve with its openings are fixed to the displacer. Preferably, the openings 102 and 110 in the valve 98 are located on the valve 98 so that when one end wall 74 or 76 of the torus 66 (depending on the position) is moving away from a tube opening 84 or 86, this end wall 74 or 76 and is connected to the first valve opening 102 that is connected to the interior of the container 12, so the contents of the container can be sucked into one side of the torus adjacent this end wall 74 or 76. At the same time, the other end wall 76 or 74 of the torus is moving towards the other tube opening 86 or 84 and therefore the opposite side of the torus adjacent its other end wall 76 or 74 is connected to the second valve opening 110 that communicates with the opening in the nozzle 38 of the spout 30, so the contents of the container can pushed upwardly and outwardly out of the dispenser. By further counter-clockwise rotation of the displacer, the torus will move horizontally the other way and therefore the openings 102 and 110 in the valve 98 will rotate with the displacer so these openings follow the movement of the torus whereby: the end wall 74 or 76 of the torus that moves away from one of these openings 102 is always connected with that opening 102, so that contents of the container can be continuously sucked upwards, while the other end wall 76 or 74 of the torus that moves towards the other opening 110 is always connected with that opening so that the content can be pushed upwardly out of the dispenser.

The quantity of fluid or viscous contents being dispensed thereby can be controlled by the amount of counter-clockwise rotation of the displacer 20, relative to the holder 14, imparted by counter-clockwise rotation of the cap 40. As a result, a user of the dispenser 10 can dispense small controlled quantities of the fluid or viscous contents of the container 12 repeatedly according to the user's wishes at any time-even when the fluid or viscous contents in the container have become substantially reduced.

The open dispenser of Figure 2 can be closed fluid-tight (as shown in Figure 1) simply by rotating the cap 40 (as shown in Figure 4) in a clockwise direction. Clockwise rotation of the cap 40 causes the spout 30 to move downwardly relative to the cap on their mating threads 34 and 44 until the nozzle 38 of the spout extends upwardly through the central aperture 54 to the top wall 52 of the cap. Downward movement of the spout 30 causes its top wall 35 to move downwardly relative to the displacer 20 until the plug 116 of the valve 98 of the displacer extends upwardly through the nozzle 38 of the spout 30 and the central aperture 54 in the top wall 52 of the cap 40. In this regard, the saw teeth 60 of the displacer 20 engage the second ridges 58 of the holder 14 to block clockwise rotation of the displacer relative to the holder. Because the first ridges 36 of the spout engage the grooves 28 of the displacer, clockwise rotation of the spout is also blocked, and therefore, the spout is forced to move downwards relative to the cap, closing the system. If desired, the top of the container 12 of the dispenser 10 can be provided with another valve (not shown) so that the top of the container is only open when necessary to enable the dispenser to function without air in the dispenser.