Dust dispensing system for use in squeeze-type dust dispensers

Abstract

A dust dispensing system comprised of a dip tube enclosing a much smaller outlet tube, both tubes fitted to countersunk holes in the plug base. A path for powder and air is created within the wall of a flexible container beginning at the area within the container through the longitudinal vent holes at opposite ends of the dip tube toward the inside center of the dip tube where two air/dust streams collide venting through the inward longitudinal opening of the outlet tube which is disposed at the point of convergence of the colliding streams and then the mixture continues to flow under pressure through the outlet tube and out the exit nozzle each time the container is squeezed. This action is repetitive and fully operational regardless of the device's orientation.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A dust mixing and dispensing device of the character described, the combination including: 
       a. a squeeze-type container being sufficiently flexible so that it may be readily squeezed by the user and having a mouth/throat as means for receiving powdered product and accepting a plug;  
       b. a plug being of sufficient diameter as to create an airtight seal when inserted into the mouth/throat of the container and having an exit nozzle at its upper end and two countersunk holes of differing diameters and sunk to different depths in its bottom end, in addition to being hollow through its axial center;  
       c. a hollow outlet tube open at its top end, closed at its bottom end and having at least one longitudinally disposed vent hole near its closed bottom-end, said outlet tube, its open top end seated in the smaller deeper countersunk hole in the plug being in communication with the hollow axial center through the plug;  
       d. a hollow dip tube open at its top end, closed at its bottom end with vent holes longitudinally disposed near its upper and lower ends, said dip tube, being of a much larger diameter than the outlet tube and twice its length so as to fit over the outlet tube thereby enclosing it when seated in the larger diameter countersunk hole in the plug and extending to the bottom of the container;  
       e. above parts align in such a manner that by squeezing of said container disturbed dust mixes with the air in the container while simultaneously forcing the dust/air mixture through restrictive vent holes located at both ends of the dip tube then converging toward the dip tube's center where more mixing action is effected by particle collision and by deflection against the walls of the tubes before the mixture is forced into the outlet tube's inward opening strategically located at the dip tube's midway point where the dust/air particulate is mixed a third time prior to exiting through the discharge nozzle in a smoke-like cloud.  
     
     
       2. A device as described in  claim 1  comprised of a half-filled and plugged flexible container, the top of the dip tube inserted in the plug base extends to the bottom of the container where it closes just below the longitudinal vent holes which are exposed to powdered product, corresponding longitudinal vent holes near the top supplying both dust and air indirectly to the outlet tube's longitudinal inward opening located near the mid-point inside the dip tube's length, this combination of parts providing three distinct and separate mixing chambers of decreasing volume from the first chamber created in the area within the wall of the container, to the second chamber consisting of the space within the dip tube, then inward to the third chamber's space within the outlet tube provides a path through the system whereby powder is swept by air currents accelerating through restrictive vent openings at both ends of the dip tube creating two streams of dust mixture which rush together near the mid-point inside of the dip tube's length causing a mixing action due to particle collision, particle deflection and turbulence, the mixture next forced through the outlet tube's inward longitudinal vent hole, said fluid mixture passing up the outlet tube and finally dispersed through the exit orifice as a smoke-like cloud of dissociated particles each time the container is squeezed. 
     
     
       3. A device as described in  claim 1  comprised of a half-filled and plugged flexible container, the top of the dip tube inserted in the plug base extends to the bottom of the container where it closes just below the longitudinal vent holes which are exposed to powdered product and corresponding longitudinal vent holes near the top supplying both dust and air indirectly to the outlet tube's longitudinal inward opening located near the mid-point inside the dip tube's length, this combination of parts aligning the outlet tube within the dip tube, both tubes availed of longitudinal openings, provides a device that will not spill powder when inverted and may be continuously operated regardless of orientation because powder in the container is shrouded by the dip tube from the outlet tube, which disposed of longitudinal holes, is not disposed to powder that will fall from the dip tube when the device is inverted. 
     
     
       4. A dust mixing and dispensing device of the character described, the combination including: 
       a. a squeeze-type container being sufficiently flexible so that it may be readily squeezed by the user and having a mouth/throat as means for receiving powdered product and accepting a plug;  
       b. a plug being of sufficient diameter as to create an airtight seal when inserted into the mouth/throat of the container and having an exit nozzle at its upper end and two countersunk holes of differing diameters and sunk to different depths in its bottom end, in addition to being hollow through its axial center;  
       c. a hollow outlet tube open at its top end, closed at its bottom end and having at least one longitudinally disposed vent hole near its closed bottom-end, said outlet tube, its open top end seated in the smaller deeper countersunk hole in the plug being in communication with the hollow axial center through the plug;  
       d. a hollow dip tube open at its top end, closed at its bottom end with vent holes longitudinally disposed near its upper and lower ends, said dip tube, being of a much larger diameter than the outlet tube and twice its length so as to fit over the outlet tube thereby enclosing it when seated in the larger diameter countersunk hole in the plug and extending to the bottom of the container.  
     
     
       5. A powdered product mixing and dispensing device comprising: 
         a squeeze - type container for receiving powdered product;    
       
         a plug creating an airtight seal with said container, said plug having a bore therethrough;  
       
       
         a hollow outlet tube open at its top end and closed at its bottom end, said top end of said outlet tube being seatingly held by said plug, said outlet tube defining a first chamber communicating with said bore;  
       
       
         a hollow dip tube open at its top end and closed at its bottom end, said top end of said dip tube being seatingly held by said plug whereby said dip tube defines a second chamber; and  
       
       
         vent holes in said outlet tube and said dip tube, said vent holes providing communication between said first and second chambers and between said second chamber and the interior of said container.  
       
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 5  wherein said dip tube is dimensioned to fit over said outlet tube.  
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 5  wherein said vent holes comprise at least one vent hole in said outlet tube and a plurality of vent holes in said dip tube.  
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 7  wherein said vent holes in said dip tube are disposed near its top end.  
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 7  wherein said vent holes in said dip tube are disposed near its bottom end.  
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 7  wherein said vent holes in said dip tube are disposed near its top and bottom ends.  
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 10  wherein said at least one vent hole in said outlet tube is longitudinally disposed between said vent holes in said dip tube.  
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 11  wherein said at least one vent hole in said outlet tube is longitudinally disposed substantially centrally between said vent holes in said dip tube.  
     
     
       13. A powdered product mixing and dispensing device comprising: 
         a squeeze - type container for receiving powdered product;    
       
         a plug creating an airtight seal with said container, said plug having a bore therethrough;  
       
       
         a hollow outlet tube having an open top end, said top end of said outlet tube being seatingly held by said plug, said outlet tube defining a first chamber communicating with said bore;  
       
       
         a hollow dip tube open having an open top end, said top end of said dip tube being seatingly held by said plug, said dip tube defining a second chamber; and  
       
       
         vent holes in said outlet tube and said dip tube, said vent holes providing communication between said first and second chambers and between said second chamber and the interior of said container.  
       
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 13  wherein said dip tube is dimensioned to fit over said outlet tube.  
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 13  wherein said vent holes comprise at least one vent hole in said outlet tube and a plurality of vent holes in said dip tube.  
     
     
       16. The device of  claim 15  wherein said vent holes in said dip tube are disposed near its top end.  
     
     
       17. The device of  claim 15  wherein said vent holes in said dip tube are disposed near its bottom end.  
     
     
       18. The device of  claim 15  wherein said vent holes in said dip tube are disposed near its top and bottom ends.  
     
     
       19. The device of  claim 18  wherein said at least one vent hole in said outlet tube is longitudinally disposed between said vent holes in said dip tube.  
     
     
       20. The device of  claim 19  wherein said at least one vent hole in said outlet tube is longitudinally disposed substantially centrally between said vent holes in said dip tube.