Water dispenser abstract
The water dispenser for quilting of the present invention is a
hand tool for dispensing a precise amount of liquid in a line on
a seam of a quilt. The dispenser includes a dispensing wheel and
a hollow plastic squeezable bottle body having two ends. The first
end has two prongs and an aperture disposed between the prongs.
The second end has a fill aperture through which liquid is poured
into the body; the fill aperture is closed by a screw cap. The wheel
is removably attached between the two prongs of the body. The wheel
has a channeled center flanked by two ridged sides. The channeled
center of the wheel is aligned with the aperture of the body to
receive the liquid. The liquid is then dispersed to the ridges of
the wheel and dispensed on the seam of the quilt as the wheel rotates.
Water dispenser claims
We claim:
1. A water dispenser for quilting, comprising: a hollow body having
a first end and a second end, said first end having two prongs forming
a generally "U" shape that are integral to the body and
a dispensing aperture disposed between the two prongs, said second
end having a fill aperture; and a dispensing wheel rotatably connected
between the prongs of the body having a channeled center and ridged
sides that flank the channeled center, the channeled center is in
alignment with said dispensing aperture of the body; whereby a liquid
is disposed within the body through the fill aperture and dispensed
out of the body by the dispensing aperture onto the channeled center
of the wheel and dispersed on a seam of a quilt or a fabric by the
wheel as the wheel rotates over the seam.
2. The water dispenser according to claim 1 wherein the dispensing
wheel is removably attached to the body between the two prongs.
3. The water dispenser according to claim 1 wherein protruding
axles are disposed on the wheel for attaching the wheel between
the two prongs and rotatably moving the wheel on the body.
4. The water dispenser according to claim 1 wherein the prongs
have notches for receiving the protruding axles of the wheel.
5. The water dispenser according to claim 1 further comprising
a screw cap that is dimensioned and configured to cover the fill
aperture and seal the second end of the body.
6. The water dispenser according to claim 1 wherein the hollow
body is made from plastic.
7. The water dispenser according to claim 1 wherein said hollow
body is pliable and can be squeezed to facilitate dispersal of the
liquid from the dispensing aperture.
8. The water dispenser according to claim 1 wherein the dispersing
wheel is made of plastic.
9. The water dispenser according to claim 1 wherein the "U"
shaped cavity defined by the two prongs are dimensioned and configured
to receive the wheel.
Water dispenser description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Serial No. 60/459592 filed Apr. 2 2003.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to an applicator or dispenser.
More particularly, the invention relates to an applicator or dispenser
having a liquid retaining body and a dispensing wheel that dispenses
the liquid in a precise line as it rolls.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] People who sew for fun or for work understand how the aesthetics
of an end product depends upon the accuracy of one's sewing. For
example, people who quilt require that the seams between each quilted
piece be flat in order to produce an aesthetically pleasing quilt.
To obtain flat seams people who quilt apply a hot iron over the
seam and sometimes spray water or steam the seam and the quilt to
try and obtain the flat seam. However, spraying water or steaming
the quilt with water does not permit one to control where the water
goes on the quilted pieces. This is a problem faced by many people
who quilt in that water dispersed in an uncontrolled manner over
certain quilted pieces may cause the pieces to stretch thereby distorting
the overall measurement of the quilt once completed. A device is
needed that can disperse water on a seam of a garment or a fabric
to produce a crisp and professional looking seam when ironed.
[0006] Many dispensers or applicators have been developed to dispense
liquids such as water or chemicals. U.S. Pat. No. 1977414 issued
to Testa on Oct. 16 1934 describes a combination bottle stopper
and perfume dispenser. The device will positively dispense perfume
in a line in any direction when rubbed with a dispensing roller
that is disposed at a top end of the dispenser. U.S. Pat. No. 2913746
issued to Schaich on Nov. 24 1959 describes an improved ball-type
of cosmetic applicator. Specifically, the invention provides a retaining
filament for a ball applicator, which limits the axial movement
of the ball with respect to the container. Because of the filament,
the ball only shifts between a dispensing position and a sealing
position relative to the container.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 2641788 issued to Sudbeaz on Jun. 16 1953
describes a combined cap and dispenser for perfume bottles. One
embodiment of the dispenser shows a ball disposed in a cap on the
dispenser. The cap controls the dispensation of the bottle's contents
by the ball.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 6179505 issued to Oder, III et al. on Jan.
30 2001 describes a leak-tight container and roll-on applicator.
The applicator is designed to vent gases built up by pressure within
the container and thereby prevent leaks or spills of the product
contained within the container. U.S. Pat. No. 6237800 issued
to Barrett on May 29 2001 describes a water bottle that can accommodate
both a human's drinking needs as well as a pet's drinking needs.
The bottle has two drinking portions, one portion has a spout for
drinking by the human and the other portion has a roller ball for
drinking by the pet.
[0009] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2002/0090251 published
on Jul. 11 2002 describes an applicator for a fabric treatment
composition that is versatile, convenient to carry and easy to apply.
The applicator utilizes a nib through which chemicals contained
within the applicator is dispensed to remove stains. U.S. Pat. No.
5555673 issued to Smith on Sep. 17 1996 describes a method
and an apparatus for applying a liquid on a surface. The apparatus
has a valve for dispensing liquid into cellulose material for application
of the liquid on an object or surface. Gravity is used to release
a portion of liquid through the dispenser into the cellulose material.
[0010] None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly
or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as
claimed. Thus a water dispenser for quilting solving the aforementioned
problems is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The water dispenser for quilting of the present invention
is a hand tool for dispensing a precise amount of liquid in a line
on a seam of a quilt. The dispenser includes a dispensing wheel
and a hollow plastic squeezable bottle body having two ends. The
first end has two prongs and an aperture disposed between the prongs.
The second end has a fill aperture through which liquid is poured
into the body; the fill aperture is closed by a screw cap. The wheel
is removably attached between the two prongs of the body. The wheel
has a channeled center flanked by two ridged sides. The channeled
center of the wheel is aligned with the aperture of the body to
receive the liquid. The liquid is then dispersed to the ridges of
the wheel and dispensed on the seam of the quilt as the wheel rotates.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a water
dispenser for quilting, according to the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 2 is an exploded side perspective view of a water dispenser
for quilting.
[0014] Similar reference characters denote corresponding features
consistently throughout the attached drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0015] The present invention is a water dispenser for quilting,
designated as 10 in the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1 the dispenser
10 is a hand-held tool used by a user to dispense a liquid such
as water on a seam S of a quilt Q or other fabric. The dispenser
10 is approximately 6 inches tall and holds about 4 ounces of water."
[0016] The dispenser 10 shown in detail in FIG. 2 comprises a
hollow body 20 and a dispersing wheel 40. The body 20 has two ends.
A first end of the body 20 forms a generally "U" shaped
cavity where two prongs 30 define each arm of the "U"
and a dispensing aperture 70 is disposed between the prongs 30 at
the base of the "U". A second end of the body 20 is a
fill aperture 110. The body 20 is preferably made of a pliable plastic
or other pliable material to enable the user to squeeze the body
20 and force the contents of the body 20 out of the aperture 70
if needed.
[0017] The body 20 defines a space within which a liquid such as
water W is disposed and retained. The hollow body 20 can hold up
to approximately 4 ounces of water W. The water W is put in the
body 20 through the fill aperture 110. Once the body 20 is filled,
a screw cap 100 is threaded on the second end of the body 20 to
close the fill aperture 110 and keep the water W in the body 20.
As an optional feature, a measuring line may be marked on the body
20 to indicate the amount of water retained in the body 20.
[0018] The water W exits the body 20 through the dispensing aperture
70. The dispensing aperture 70 is disposed opposite the fill aperture
110 at the first end of the body 20 between the two prongs 30.
The prongs 30 are integral to the body 20 and have sockets 60 disposed
on the inside of each of the two prongs 30. The sockets 60 of the
prongs 30 serve to receive and hold the wheel 40.
[0019] The wheel 40 is made of plastic material. The wheel 40 is
about the size of a dime and about {fraction (1/16)}" wide.
The wheel 40 has a channeled center 80 that is flanked by ridged
sides 90 and a protruding axle 50 disposed in the center of the
wheel 40. The protruding axles 50 disposed on the wheel 40 correspond
to the notches 60 on the prongs 30. The axle 50 of the dispensing
wheel 40 is snapped into the sockets 60 on the prongs 30 thereby
permitting the wheel to rotate about the protruding axles 50. The
wheel 40 is removably and rotably attached between the prongs 30
of the body 20.
[0020] When the wheel 40 is disposed between the prongs 30 of the
body 20 the channeled center 80 of the wheel 40 will be in alignment
with the dispensing aperture 70 of the body 20. The water W retained
in the body 20 will exit out the dispensing aperture 70 by gravity
feed when the dispenser 10 is inverted in a upside down position
or by pressure applied to the body 20 of the dispenser 10.
[0021] The water W is expelled from the dispensing aperture 70
directly onto the channeled center 80 of the dispersing wheel 40.
Upon rolling the wheel 40 on the seam S of the quilt Q, the water
W will be delivered to the ridged sides 90 and be evenly dispersed
along the plurality of ridges 90 on each side of the channeled center
80. The water dispenser 10 will produce an approximate 1/2-inch
wide path of water W when rolled over the seam S of the quilt Q;
the water dispensed from the dispenser 10 will be 1/4" from
each side of the seam S.
[0022] The dispenser 10 is optimally useful for people who quilt.
The dispenser 10 allows the user to deposit a controlled amount
of water W in a localized area such as the seams S on a quilt Q.
It is important to control the amount and flow of water W on the
seam S because any amount of water W that is dispersed on the quilted
pieces may distort the shape of that quilted piece and consequentially
distort the overall shape of the quilt.
[0023] Here, the dispenser 10 enables the user to quickly and evenly
apply water W to seam S of the quilt Q and then apply a hot iron
on the wet seam S to obtain a smooth and crisp looking result. Though
the dispenser 10 is ideally suited for people who quilt, the dispenser
10 could be used in other areas of the textile industry. |