Cap and tube assembly for a dispensing device

Claim 2

A dispensing device comprising a fluid container; an ejection orifice in communication with said container; an applicator tube engaged with said orifice, said tube comprising at least one point that will permit an angular or arcuate deformation of said tube; and a cap releasably engaged with said container to thus cover said orifice, said cap defining at least one opening between a wall of said container and said cap, said opening being adapted to receive said tube; such that said at least one point is within the periphery of said cap and the disposition of said cap relative to said wall and said tube causes the tube to be deformed so that a portion of said tube is disposed in proximity to said wall.

Claim 3

A dispensing device as described in claim 1 wherein a supply conduit communicates with said container at one end of said conduit and with said orifice at another end of said conduit, and wherein said orifice dispenses a fluid in a radially outward direction from said orifice.

Claim 4

A dispensing device as described in claim 1 wherein said applicator tube possesses an elasticity tending to reduce a degree of angular or arcuate deformation of said tube when said cap is disengaged from said container.

Claim 5

A dispensing device as described in claim 1 wherein said tube comprises a deformable sleeve and at least one rigid or semi-rigid tubular section, wherein said sleeve comprises said at least one point.

Claim 6

A dispensing device as described in claim 1 wherein said tube comprises a pleated section of tubing that in turn comprises said at least one point.

Claim 7

A dispensing device as described in claim 1 wherein said tube comprises a spring and a length of tubing, wherein said spring is annularly disposed in relation to a section of said length that comprises said at least one point.

Claim 8

A dispensing device as described in claim 1 wherein said tube comprises at least one rigid or semi-rigid section and a modified section which in turn comprises a wall portion having reduced thickness relative to said at least one rigid or semi-rigid section, said wall portion comprising said at least one point.

Claim 9

A dispensing device as described in claim 1 wherein said tube comprises at least one rigid or semi-rigid section and a modified section, said modified section being composed of a material that provides greater deformability relative to a second material composing said at least one rigid or semi-rigid section, such modified section comprising said at least one point.

Claim 10

A dispensing device as described in claim 1 wherein said tube comprises a relatively non-linear section which comprises said at least one point.

Claim 11

A dispensing device as described in claim 9 wherein said non-linear section comprises at least one loop.

Claim 12

A dispensing device as described in claim 10 wherein said at least one loop is disposed in a plane that is substantially parallel to a length of the tube that is adjacent to said at least one loop.

Claim 13

A dispensing device as described in claim 10 wherein said at least one loop is disposed in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to a length of a tube is adjacent to said at least one loop.

Claim 14

A dispensing device as described in claim 9 wherein said non-linear section comprises at least one U-shaped section.

Claim 15

A dispensing device as described in claim 1 further comprising at least one support member extending from an inner surface of said cap, a retaining element disposed on a surface of said container, and a means for engaging said at least one member to said element, wherein said at least one opening is a continuous annular opening and said at least one member defines at least one space that may be disposed in radial alignment with said orifice.

Claim 16

A dispensing device as described in claim 1 further comprising at least one support member extending from an inner surface of said cap, a retaining element disposed on a surface of said container, and a means for engaging said at least one member to said element, wherein said opening is not substantially larger than said tube and said at least one member defines a space that is in radial alignment with said opening.

Claim 17

A dispensing device as described in claim 1 further comprising at least one support member extending from an inner surface of said cap, a retaining element disposed on a surface of said container, and a means for engaging said at least one member to said element, wherein said at least one opening is defined by a cross-sectional dimension that is substantially wider than the diameter of said tube and wherein said at least one member defines at least one space that is in radial alignment with said at least one opening.

Claim 18

A dispensing device comprising a fluid container; an ejection orifice in communication with said container; an applicator tube engaged to said orifice, said tube comprising at least one point that will permit an angular or arcuate deformation of said tube; and a cap rotatably engaged with said container to thus cover said orifice, said cap defining (a) an opening between a wall of said container and said cap, said opening being adapted to receive said tube when said tube is in a deformed configuration, (b) a vertical slot adjacent to said opening, said slot being adapted to receive said tube when said tube is in a radially outward configuration, and (c) an access opening, said access opening being disposed adjacent to an open end of said cap; such that said at least one point is within the periphery of said cap and the disposition of said cap relative to said wall and said tube allows said tube to attain said outward configuration when said slot is in radial alignment with said orifice and causes the tube to assume said deformed configuration when said slot is not in radial alignment with said orifice, a portion of said tube being disposed in proximity to said wall when said tube is in said deformed configuration.

Claim 19

A dispensing device comprising a fluid container; an ejection orifice in communication with said container; an applicator tube engaged to said orifice, said tube comprising at least one point that will permit an angular or arcuate deformation of said tube; and a cap rotatably engaged with said container to thus cover said orifice, said cap defining (a) an opening between a wall of said container and said cap, said opening being adapted to receive said tube when said tube is in a deformed configuration, (b) a vertical slot adjacent to said opening, said slot being adapted to receive said tube when said tube is in a radially outward configuration, and (c) an access opening, said access opening being disposed adjacent to an open end of said cap; such that said at least one point is within the periphery of said cap and the disposition of said cap relative to said wall and said tube allows said tube to attain said outward configuration when said slot is in radial alignment with said orifice and causes the tube to assume said deformed configuration when said slot is not in radial alignment with said orifice, a portion of said tube being disposed in proximity to said wall when said tube is in said deformed configuration.

Claim 20

A dispensing device as described in claim 17 wherein a supply conduit communicates with said container at one end of said conduit and with said orifice at another end of said conduit, and wherein said orifice dispenses a fluid in a radially outward direction from said orifice.

Claim 21

A dispensing device as described in claim 17 wherein said applicator tube possesses an elasticity tending to reduce a degree of angular or arcuate deformation when said slot is in radial alignment with said orifice.

Claim 22

A dispensing device as described in claim 17 further comprising at least two support members extending from an inner surface of said cap, a retaining element disposed on a surface of said container, and a means for engaging said members to said element, wherein said members define spaces that are in radial alignment with at least a portion of said opening, said slot, and said access opening, said portion of said opening being adjacent to said slot.

Claim 23

A dispensing device as described in claim 17 wherein said slot is defined by at least one sloping edge that is adjacent to said open end of said cap.

Claim 24

A dispensing device as described in claim 21 further comprising a guide member affixed to a surface of said container such that said guide member is in close proximity to a portion of said applicator tube that is within the periphery of said cap, said guide member defining a path for said tube between said deformed configuration and said radially outward configuration.

Claim 25

A dispensing device as described in claims 1 or 17 further comprising a means to propel a fluid to be dispensed.

Claim 26

A dispensing device as described in claim 23 wherein said means to propel comprises a propellent fluid.

Claim 27

A dispensing device as described in claim 23 wherein said means to propel comprises a pump.

Claim 28

A dispensing device as described in claim 23 wherein said means to propel comprises at least one compressible internal surface within said container.

Claim 29

A dispensing device as described in claim 23 wherein said means to propel comprises a gravitational force.

Claim 30

A dispensing device as described in claims 1 or 17 wherein the engagement of said applicator tube to said orifice is a releasable engagement.

Claim 31

A dispensing device as described in claims 1 or 17 wherein the engagement of said applicator tube to said orifice is a fixed engagement.

Claim 32

A dispensing device as described in claims 1 or 17 wherein said applicator tube and said orifice are unitary.

Claim 33

A dispensing device as described in claims 1 or 17 wherein the engagement of said applicator tube to said orifice is provided by means of a unitary construction of said applicator tube and a member defining said orifice.

Claim 34

A dispensing device as described in claim 1 wherein said tube is of substantially uniform composition throughout its length.