Fluid dispenser assembly

Abstract

The present invention is directed toward a cost effective method for filling a dispenser assembly using a high speed filling apparatus. A partially pre-assembled dispenser assembly that includes an end cap, an outer casing, and an inner fluid receiving body is placed directly onto a filling apparatus. The partially pre-assembled dispenser assembly is filled with a fluid material through an opening in the inner fluid receiving body. The inner fluid receiving body is then sealed so as to provide a fully assembled and filled dispenser assembly. The ability to provide dispensers in a pre-assembled form, combined with the compatibility of the fluid dispensers with industrial high speed filling machines, reduces the overall filling costs to the cosmetic company, as well as the cost to the consumer.

1 . A method of filling a dispenser assembly using a high speed filling apparatus comprising:
 providing a partially pre-assembled dispenser assembly having an end cap, an outer casing, and an inner fluid receiving body, said outer casing having a first end and a second end, and an applicator at said first end, said inner fluid receiving body having a first end and a second end, said inner fluid receiving body further including a pump arranged at said first end of said inner fluid receiving body and an opening arranged at said second end of said inner fluid receiving body, and said inner fluid receiving body being pre-assembled in said outer casing so that said inner fluid receiving body closes said second end of said outer casing, and said end cap being arranged over said applicator of said outer casing;   placing said pre-assembled dispenser assembly directly onto a filling apparatus;   filling said inner fluid receiving body with a fluid material through said opening of said inner fluid receiving body; and   sealing said inner fluid receiving body of said partially pre-assembled dispenser assembly with a seal plug so as to provide a fully assembled and filled dispenser assembly.   
   
   
       2 . The method of filling a dispenser assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising packaging said fully assembled and filled dispenser assembly. 
   
   
       3 . The method of filling a dispenser assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said seal plug includes a diaphragm for pushing fluid material within said inner fluid receiving body toward said pump after said dispenser assembly is fully assembled. 
   
   
       4 . The method of filling a dispenser assembly according to  claim 3 , further including the step of positioning the diaphragm on top of said fluid material. 
   
   
       5 . A method of filling a dispenser assembly using a high speed filling apparatus comprising:
 providing a partially pre-assembled dispenser assembly having an end cap, an outer casing, a pump and a fluid insert for housing fluid material,   said fluid insert having a first end and a second end, a protruding ridge arranged on an exterior of said fluid insert between said first end and said second end, and a notch arranged between said first end and said second end of said fluid insert,   said outer casing having a hollow interior for receiving said fluid insert therein, said outer casing further including a first end and a second end, a pump actuating surface, and a tab arranged within said hollow interior of said outer casing between said first end and said second end, said outer casing further including an applicator tip integrally formed with said outer casing at said first end for dispensing fluid material from said outer casing, and an interior ridge arranged within said hollow interior between said first end and said second end for securing said fluid insert within said outer casing when said protruding ridge of said fluid insert is positioned between said interior ridge of said outer casing and said first end of said outer casing, said end cap being arranged over said applicator tip,   said pump arranged at said first end of said fluid insert, said pump having a pump body and a pump tip,   said fluid insert constructed and arranged to be movable within said outer casing between a stationary position and an actuated position, said pump being in an extended position when said fluid insert is in said stationary position, and said pump being in a retracted position within said pump body as a result of said pump tip being in engagement with said pump actuating surface of said outer casing when said fluid insert is in said actuated position, and said pump being operative to dispense a predetermined amount of fluid material as said fluid insert is moved from said stationary position to said actuated position within said outer casing, and   said tab of said outer casing being constructed and arranged to fit within said notch on said fluid insert so as to guide movement of said fluid insert when said fluid insert moves in said outer casing from said stationary position to said actuated position;   placing said pre-assembled dispenser assembly directly onto a filling apparatus;   filling said fluid insert with said fluid material through said opening of said fluid insert; and then   sealing said fluid insert of said partially pre-assembled dispenser assembly with a seal plug so as to provide a fully assembled and filled dispenser assembly.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , further including the step of positioning a diaphragm on top of said fluid material after said fluid insert has been filled with said fluid material, so as to allow said diaphragm to push said fluid material within said fluid insert toward said pump when said dispenser assembly is fully assembled. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said fluid insert is tapered and wherein said diaphragm is capable of extending along a length of said tapered fluid insert. 
   
   
       8 . A method of filling a dispenser assembly capable of applying a predetermined amount of fluid material having a fluid viscosity ranging from 1000 centipoise (cps)-10,000 cps to a surface using a high speed filling apparatus comprising:
 providing a partially pre-assembled dispenser assembly having an outer casing, a pump and a fluid insert for housing fluid material,   said fluid insert having a first end and a second end, and a notch arranged on said fluid insert displaced from said first end of said fluid insert,   said pump capable of pumping said fluid material having a fluid viscosity ranging from 1000 cps-10,000 cps, said pump arranged at said first end of said fluid insert, said pump having a pump body and a pump tip, said pump operative to dispense fluid material in response to movement of said pump tip into said pump housing, and   said outer casing having a first end and a second end, a tab arranged on the interior thereof, and an applicator for dispensing said fluid from said pump of said fluid insert within said outer casing, and said tab constructed and arranged to fit within said notch so as to guide movement of said fluid insert within said outer casing;   placing said pre-assembled dispenser assembly directly onto a filling apparatus;   filling said fluid insert with said fluid material through said opening of said inner fluid receiving body; and   sealing said fluid insert of said partially pre-assembled dispenser assembly with a seal plug so as to provide a fully assembled and filled dispenser assembly,   wherein said seal plug further includes a movable diaphragm for pushing the fluid material toward said pump in said fluid insert when said dispenser assembly is fully assembled.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , further including the step of positioning said diaphragm on top of said fluid material after said fluid insert has been filled with said fluid material. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said fluid insert is tapered and wherein said diaphragm is capable of extending along a length of said tapered fluid insert. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said seal plug includes a stem for holding said diaphragm. 
   
   
       12 . A method of filling a dispenser assembly using a high speed filling apparatus comprising:
 providing a partially pre-assembled dispenser assembly having an end cap, an outer casing, a pump and a fluid insert for housing fluid material,   said fluid insert having a first end, a second end, and a notch arranged between said first end and said second end, said fluid insert being tapered,   said pump arranged at said first end of said fluid insert, said pump having a pump body and a pump tip,   said outer casing having a first end and a second end, a tab arranged between said first end and said second end, and an applicator for applying fluid material dispensed into said outer casing, said outer casing constructed and arranged to receive said fluid insert so as to permit movement of said fluid insert within said outer casing between a first position and a second position, and said end cap being arranged over said applicator tip,   said tab being constructed and arranged to fit within said notch on said fluid insert so as to guide movement of said fluid insert when said fluid insert moves in said outer casing from said first position to said second position,   said fluid insert being in said first position when said pump tip is in a fully extended position, and said fluid insert being in said second position when said pump tip is retracted into said pump body, and   said pump being operative to dispense fluid material into said outer casing when said fluid insert is moved from said first position to said second position;   placing said pre-assembled dispenser assembly directly onto a filling apparatus;   filling said fluid insert with said fluid material through said opening of said fluid insert; and   sealing said fluid insert of said partially pre-assembled dispenser assembly with a seal plug so as to provide a fully assembled and filled dispenser assembly.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , further including the step of positioning a diaphragm on top of said fluid material after said fluid insert has been filled with said fluid material. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said diaphragm is constructed and arranged so as to be capable of extending along a length of said tapered fluid insert. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said seal plug includes a stem for holding said diaphragm.