Dispensing container with non-invasive exterior control of interior dispenser lift

Abstract

Containers having at least one container sidewall, such as with a tubular cylinder or tubular polygon shaped cross-section. An external operator applies force through the container wall using a non-contacting force coupling which transmits through the sidewalls. The non-contacting forces may be by magnetic coupling, electrostatic coupling, electromagnetic coupling or possibly other non-contacting force couplings. In manually powered units the magnetic coupling is currently preferred. The coupling in such embodiment uses a series of magnets positioned in the exterior operator and another set within an interior lift stage. The exterior operator is moved longitudinally to thus move the interior lift stage and lift product toward the mouth of the dispenser.

1 . An apparatus forming a container for holding and dispensing contents, comprising: 
 a container receptacle having an interior cavity, at least one sidewall, a closed end wall and an open end through which contents are dispensed therefrom;    an interior lift movable within the interior cavity;    an external operator which is adjacent the container receptacle and which is non-invasive of the container;    said interior lift and said external operator being in a non-contacting coupled relationship using a non-contacting force therebetween such that the interior lift is caused to be moved by said external operator.    
   
   
       2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  and further comprising a removable closure for revealing or sealing the open end of the container receptacle.  
   
   
       3 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the non-contacting force is a magnetic force.  
   
   
       4 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the non-contacting force is an electrostatic force.  
   
   
       5 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the non-contacting force is an electromagnetic force.  
   
   
       6 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the non-contacting force is provided by an operator which is mounted for controlled movement.  
   
   
       7 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the non-contacting force is provided by an operator which is controlled by a sensor which estimates the height of the stack.  
   
   
       8 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the non-contacting force is provided by an operator which is mounted for power operated controlled movement.  
   
   
       9 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the non-contacting force is provided by an operator which is mounted for controlled movement using an electric motor.  
   
   
       10 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the non-contacting force is provided by an operator which is mounted for controlled movement using a linear electric motor.  
   
   
       11 . An apparatus forming a container for holding and dispensing contents, comprising: 
 a container receptacle having an interior cavity, at least one sidewall, a first end and a second end having a mouth through which contents are dispensed therefrom;    an interior stage movable within the interior cavity;    an external operator which is non-invasive of the container and capable of applying non-contacting force to the interior stage to move the interior stage within the interior cavity and dispense contents through said mouth.    
   
   
       12 . An apparatus according to  claim 11  and further comprising a removable closure for revealing or sealing the mouth of the container receptacle.  
   
   
       13 . An apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein the non-contacting force is a magnetic force.  
   
   
       14 . An apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein the non-contacting force is an electrostatic force.  
   
   
       15 . An apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein the non-contacting force is an electromagnetic force.  
   
   
       16 . An apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein the non-contacting force is provided by an operator which is mounted for movement on the apparatus.  
   
   
       17 . An apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein the non-contacting force is provided by an operator which is mounted for controlled movement on the apparatus.  
   
   
       18 . An apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein the non-contacting force is provided by an operator which is controlled by a sensor which estimates the height of the stack.  
   
   
       19 . An apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein the non-contacting force is provided by an operator which is mounted for power controlled movement.  
   
   
       20 . An apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein the non-contacting force is provided by an operator which is mounted for controlled movement using an electric motor.  
   
   
       21 . An apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein the non-contacting force is provided by an operator which is mounted for controlled movement using a linear electric motor.  
   
   
       22 . An apparatus forming a container having an interior cavity, at least one sidewall, a closed end and an open end having a mouth through which contents are dispensed, an interior lift movable within the interior cavity, an external lift operator on the apparatus which controls the position of the interior lift, and wherein the interior lift and external lift operator are non-invasive of the container.  
   
   
       23 . An apparatus according to  claim 22  and further comprising a removable closure for revealing or sealing said mouth of the container.  
   
   
       24 . An apparatus according to  claim 22  wherein the non-contacting force is a magnetic force.  
   
   
       25 . An apparatus according to  claim 22  wherein the non-contacting force is an electrostatic force.  
   
   
       26 . An apparatus according to  claim 22  wherein the non-contacting force is an electromagnetic force.  
   
   
       27 . An apparatus according to  claim 22  wherein the non-contacting force is provided by an operator which is mounted on the apparatus for controlled movement.  
   
   
       28 . An apparatus according to  claim 22  wherein the non-contacting force is provided by an operator which is controlled by a sensor which estimates the height of the stack.  
   
   
       29 . An apparatus according to  claim 22  wherein the non-contacting force is provided by an operator which is mounted for controlled movement.  
   
   
       30 . An apparatus according to  claim 22  wherein the non-contacting force is provided by an operator which is mounted for powered controlled movement.  
   
   
       31 . An apparatus according to  claim 22  wherein the non-contacting force is provided by an operator which is mounted for controlled movement using an electric motor.  
   
   
       32 . An apparatus according to  claim 22  wherein the non-contacting force is provided by an operator which is mounted for controlled movement using a linear electric motor.  
     Methods  
   
   
       33 . A method for dispensing contents of a container having an interior compartment with an open end with a mouth for dispensing contents therethrough using an interior slave stage which is magnetically coupled to an exterior operator positioned outside the container wall, comprising: 
 moving the exterior operator;    inducing movement of the interior slave stage by magnetic coupling between the exterior operator and the interior slave stage;    dispensing contents to a desired level relative to the open end mouth.    
   
   
       34 . A method according to  claim 33  and further including sealing about the interior slave stage to reduce the volume wherein the product is maintained.  
   
   
       35 . A method according to  claim 33  closing the open end to seal the interior cavity wherein the product is maintained.  
   
   
       36 . A method for dispensing contents of a container using an interior slave part which is movable within a container receptacle by using a non-invasive driver movable upon an exterior of the container receptacle.  
   
   
       37 . A method according to  claim 36  wherein said non-invasive driver includes at least one non-contacting force coupling.  
   
   
       38 . A method according to  claim 36  wherein said non-invasive driver is a magnetic coupling.  
   
   
       39 . A method according to  claim 36  and further including sealing about the interior slave stage to reduce the volume wherein the product is maintained as contents are dispensed.