Container

Abstract

In a container ( 1 ) with a reservoir ( 2 ), a product dispensing opening ( 3 ), and a device ( 4 ) for discharging the product contained in the reservoir ( 2 ) out through the product dispensing opening ( 3 ), a sound generator ( 5 ) or a noise damper ( 13 ) is provided on the container ( 1 ) and the sound generator ( 5 ) or the noise damper ( 13 ) is functionally connected to the discharge device ( 4 ) in order to generate a desired sound for a product discharge when dispensing the product. The desired sound is one that a consumer experiences as a positive sound.

1 - 86 . (canceled)  
   
   
       87 . A container ( 1 ) comprising 
 a reservoir ( 2 ) for a product, said reservoir having a valve with a valve stem ( 11 ) through which said product in the reservoir passes when the product is dispensed from the reservoir;    a cap ( 7 ) formed to slide onto said reservoir ( 2 ) over said valve and said valve stem;    a discharge device ( 4 ) arranged in said cap ( 7 ), wherein said discharge device comprises means for discharging said product from said reservoir, and said discharge device ( 4 ) includes a nozzle ( 12 ) with a discharge dispensing opening ( 3 ), a spray conduit ( 10 ) in operative connection with said opening ( 3 ) and said nozzle ( 12 ) and an operating button ( 6 ) provided in said cap ( 7 ),so that, when said cap ( 7 ) is engaged with said reservoir ( 2 ) and said operating button ( 6 ) is actuated, said spray conduit ( 10 ) cooperates mechanically with said valve stem ( 11 ) to open said valve and discharge said product through said spray conduit ( 10 ) and out of said opening ( 3 ); and    means for changing or altering a discharge noise produced by the discharge of the product so that sound frequencies of the discharge noise are shifted to produce a pleasanter sound than said discharge noise.    
   
   
       88 . The container as defined in  claim 87 , wherein said means for changing or altering said discharge noise comprises means for closing a gap between said operating button ( 6 ) and said cap ( 7 ).  
   
   
       89 . The container as defined in  claim 88 , wherein said means for closing said gap between said operating button ( 6 ) and said cap ( 7 ) comprises an acoustic seal ( 49 ) provided between said cap ( 7 ) and said operating button ( 6 ) and wherein said acoustic seal ( 49 ) comprises sealing lips ( 50 ,  51 ), one of which is provided on the cap ( 7 ) and the other on the operating button ( 6 ), which remain in contact with each other when the operating button ( 6 ) is actuated.  
   
   
       90 . The container as defined in  claim 88 , wherein said means for closing said gap between said operating button ( 6 ) and said cap ( 7 ) comprises an acoustic seal ( 49 ) provided between said cap ( 7 ) and said operating button ( 6 ) and wherein said acoustic seal ( 49 ) comprises an elastic connection between the cap ( 7 ) and the operating button ( 6 ), which is sufficiently elastic so that said operating button ( 6 ) is operable.  
   
   
       91 . The container as defined in  claim 87 , wherein said spray conduit ( 10 ) is provided with at least one sounding rib ( 16 ) extending radially from said spray conduit ( 10 ) and said at least one sounding rib ( 16 ) is formed to produce a sound resonance and a tone.  
   
   
       92 . The container as defined in  claim 91 , wherein said spray conduit ( 10 ) is surrounded by a plurality of plastic layers ( 18 ,  19 ) dimensioned and composed to damp noise frequencies in a sound frequency range from 1 KHz to 5 KHz.  
   
   
       93 . The container as defined in  claim 87 , wherein said spray conduit ( 10 ) is provided with a conduit insert ( 24 ) extending within said spray conduit ( 10 ) so that higher frequencies of said discharge noise are amplified and low frequencies of said discharge noise are damped.  
   
   
       94 . The container as defined in  claim 87 , wherein said spray conduit ( 10 ) is encompassed by a honeycomb formation ( 29 ) and said honeycomb formation ( 29 ) comprises a plurality of honeycombs ( 27 ) that are open toward an exterior of the spray conduit ( 10 ) so that higher frequencies of said discharge noise are amplified and low frequencies of said discharge noise are damped.  
   
   
       95 . The container as defined in  claim 87 , wherein said spray conduit ( 10 ) is provided with a tubular bundle of parallel individual conduits ( 35 ) so that said individual conduits ( 35 ) reduce said discharge noise and shift sound frequencies produced during the discharge of product.  
   
   
       96 . The container as defined in  claim 87 , further comprising a perforated disk ( 55 ) snapped into said stem ( 11 ) by means of a detent element ( 56 ) and wherein said perforated disk ( 55 ) is provided with a plurality of individual conduits ( 57 ), whose number and length are selected to shift sound frequencies of said discharge noise.  
   
   
       97 . The container as defined in  claim 87 , further comprising a perforated disk ( 5 ) inserted into said stem ( 11 ) and a rotatable tubular piece ( 59 ) inserted into said stem above said perforated disk ( 5 ), and wherein said rotatable tubular piece ( 59 ) has a semicircular cover ( 58 ) bearing on said perforated disk ( 5 ) to cover half of said perforated disk ( 5 ), said perforated disk ( 5 ) is provided with individual conduits ( 57 ) in one half and with a single opening ( 62 ) in another half, said single opening ( 62 ) being substantially larger than each of said individual conduits ( 57 ) and wherein said tubular piece is rotatable into different positions so that during operation different sounds are produced when said semicircular cover ( 58 ) is rotated relative to said perforated disk ( 5 ).