Method and apparatus for dispensing a granular product from a container

Abstract

An apparatus for dispensing a flowable solid substance comprises a receptacle having a first end and a second end. A dispensing portion is located on the first end. A flowable solid substance is disposed within the receptacle. A section of the receptacle is disposed between the first end and the second end and includes a minor width dimension and a major width dimension. Further, the container has a Broen-Rung Principal Component Index of about zero.

1 . A dispenser for use with a powdered substance, comprising: 
 a container having a Broen-Rung Mean Pressure Index of between about 0.045 psi and about 0.047 psi when the dispenser is inverted into a dispensing position.    
     
     
         2 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the Broen-Rung Mean Pressure Index is between about 0.034 psi and about 0.037 psi when the dispenser is in a non-dispensing position.  
     
     
         3 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the container further includes a Broen-Rung Pressure Variance Index of about 0.030 psi in a dispensing position.  
     
     
         4 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the container further includes a Broen-Rung Pressure Variance Index of about 0.057 psi to about 0.058 psi in a non-dispensing position.  
     
     
         5 . A container for dispensing a powdered product having a Broen-Rung Principal Component Index of about zero.  
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the container has a major width dimension and a minor width dimension.  
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the minor width dimension is defined by oppositely disposed surfaces of a gripping portion.  
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the container is substantially held about the minor width dimension between a thumb and at least one finger in a first holding condition.  
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the major width dimension is defined by oppositely disposed partial cylindrical side surfaces.  
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the oppositely disposed cylindrical side surfaces together define an overall cylindrical shape that is interrupted by oppositely disposed surfaces of a gripping portion.  
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the container is substantially held about the major width dimension between a thumb and at least one finger in a second holding condition.  
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the container can be gripped in at least one of a first holding condition and a second holding condition.  
     
     
         13 . A method for dispensing a granular substance, comprising: 
 providing a container having a Broen-Rung Principal Component Index of about zero and containing the granular substance;    inverting the container so that a dispensing end thereof is directed toward a dispensing position; and    imparting a degree of motion to the container to dispense the granular substance through the dispensing end.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein a user holds the inverted container and imparts the degree of motion to the container.  
     
     
         15 . A method of dispensing a powdered carpet cleaner, comprising: 
 dispensing a powdered carpet cleaner from a container having a Broen-Rung Mean Pressure Index of between about 0.045 psi and about 0.047 psi when the dispenser is inverted into a dispensing position.    
     
     
         16 . An apparatus for dispensing a flowable solid substance, comprising: 
 a receptacle having a first end and a second end, wherein a dispensing portion is located on the first end; and    a flowable solid substance disposed within the receptacle,    wherein a section of the receptacle disposed between the first end and the second end includes a minor width dimension and a major width dimension; and    wherein the container has a Broen-Rung Principal Component Index of about zero.    
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein a first portion of the receptacle adjacent the first end thereof is substantially cylindrical and a second portion of the receptacle adjacent the second end thereof is substantially cylindrical.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the section of the receptacle disposed between the first end and the second end that includes a minor width dimension and a major width dimension is further disposed between the first and second portions of the receptacle.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the section of the receptacle disposed between the first end and the second end that includes a minor width dimension and a major width dimension is curvilinear.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the section comprises two oppositely disposed curved portions being connected to one another by two oppositely disposed cylindrical portions, and wherein a first distance between centers of the two oppositely disposed cylindrical portions defines the major width dimension and a second distance between centers of the two oppositely disposed curved portions defines the minor width dimension.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the section is defined by oppositely disposed front and rear surfaces connected by oppositely disposed first and second side surfaces, and wherein a first distance between outermost portions of the two oppositely disposed front and rear surface defines the minor width dimension and a second distance between outermost portions of the two oppositely disposed first and second side surfaces defines the major width dimension.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the receptacle is adapted to be held in a hand of a user so that a thumb of the user is held adjacent the front surface and at least one finger is held adjacent the rear surface.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the receptacle is adapted to allow the thumb of the user to extend from one side of the front surface toward an opposite end of the front surface, wherein a portion of the thumb extends over the outermost portion of the front surface.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the receptacle is adapted to allow the at least one finger of the user to extend from one side of the rear surface toward an opposite end of the rear surface, wherein a portion of the at least one finger extends over the outermost portion of the rear surface.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the receptacle is adapted to be held in a hand of a user so that a thumb of the user is held adjacent the first side surface and at least one finger of the user is held adjacent the second side surface.  
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the receptacle is adapted to allow the thumb of the user to extend from one side of the first side surface toward an opposite end of the first side surface, wherein a portion of the thumb extends over the outermost portion of the first side surface.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the receptacle is adapted to allow the at least one finger of the user to extend from one side of the second side surface toward an opposite end of the second side surface, wherein a portion of the at least one finger extends over the outermost portion of the second side surface.  
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the major width dimension is within the range of about 3.00 in. to about 3.20 in.  
     
     
         29 . The container of  claim 16 , wherein the minor width dimension is within the range of about 2.30 in. to about 2.50 in.  
     
     
         30 . The container of  claim 16 , wherein a height of the container is within the range of about 8.30 in. to about 8.5 in.  
     
     
         31 . A container, comprising: 
 a body having upper and lower portions, wherein the upper portion includes a dispensing mechanism;    a powder disposed within an interior of the body; and    a Broen-Rung Principal Component Index of about zero.    
     
     
         32 . The container of  claim 31 , wherein the powder is a flowable granular composition.  
     
     
         33 . The flowable granular composition of  claim 32 , wherein an average particle size based on the weight of the composition is within the range of about 5 microns to about 1500 microns.  
     
     
         34 . The flowable granular composition of  claim 32 , wherein the composition exhibits a bulk density of between about 0.9 grams to about 1.8 grams per cubic centimeter of volume.  
     
     
         35 . An omnidirectional product dispenser, comprising: 
 a housing having a top end and a bottom end, a solid product being disposed within the housing,    wherein the top end of the housing includes a plurality of apertures; and    wherein the product dispenser has a Broen-Rung Principal Component Index of about zero.    
     
     
         36 . The product dispenser of  claim 35 , wherein a lid is disposed on and rotatable about the top end of the housing, and wherein rotation of the lid obstructs at least one of the plurality of apertures.  
     
     
         37 . The product dispenser of  claim 35 , wherein the plurality of apertures are equidistantly disposed around a center of the top end of the housing.  
     
     
         38 . The product dispenser of  claim 35 , wherein the dispenser is adapted to be inverted from a non-dispensing position by rotating same about an X or Y axis.  
     
     
         39 . The product dispenser of  claim 35 , wherein the plurality of apertures impart omnidirectional dispensing characteristics to the dispenser.  
     
     
         40 . A method of designing a container, comprising: 
 empirically determining a shape for a container having a Broen-Rung Principal Component Index of about zero using a Broen methodology.    
     
     
         41 . A method of manufacturing a container, comprising: 
 using a Broen methodology to form a container having a Broen-Rung Principal Component Index of about zero.