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A dispenser for laundry products, particularly for fabric softener products to be used in the dryer. The dispenser comprises a hollow ball having a plurality of product dispensing openings and a further product ingress opening for placing product in the ball. A measuring cup to hold product is acces

A dispenser for laundry products, particularly for fabric softener products to be used in the dryer. The dispenser comprises a hollow ball having a plurality of product dispensing openings and a further product ingress opening for placing product in the ball. A measuring cup to hold product is accessed from the product ingress opening. In accordance with one preferred embodiment, the measuring cup includes only a single opening in its side wall for releasing product from the cup and into the hollow sphere. One or more closures are associated with the dispenser. After travelling through the small hole in the cup, the product is dispensed to the exterior of the hollow ball through the product dispensing openings and thus onto product. The hollow ball is preferably a manually squeezable plastic such as polyurethane. In another embodiment, the cup includes more than the single hole in the cup walls. In a further embodiment, the cup may include a single hole or a plurality of holes and the hollow ball has associated therewith fabric on the outside surface to assist in evenly dispensing product. In an alternative embodiment, the cup includes a single hole or a plurality of holes and the outside of the hollow ball includes a plurality of wells to assist in dispensing of product. In accordance with a still further embodiment of the invention, the dispenser includes a duck bill valve sealingly mounted within the measuring cup. Product can be pumped into the dispenser through the duck bill valve, in which case, the closure may be omitted if desired. In accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention, the area of the closure on the hollow ball is recessed and is protected by a ridge of plastic formed in the hollow ball.

대표청구항 ▼

A dispenser for laundry products, particularly for fabric softener products to be used in the dryer. The dispenser comprises a hollow ball having a plurality of product dispensing openings and a further product ingress opening for placing product in the ball. A measuring cup to hold product is acces

A dispenser for laundry products, particularly for fabric softener products to be used in the dryer. The dispenser comprises a hollow ball having a plurality of product dispensing openings and a further product ingress opening for placing product in the ball. A measuring cup to hold product is accessed from the product ingress opening. In accordance with one preferred embodiment, the measuring cup includes only a single opening in its side wall for releasing product from the cup and into the hollow sphere. One or more closures are associated with the dispenser. After travelling through the small hole in the cup, the product is dispensed to the exterior of the hollow ball through the product dispensing openings and thus onto product. The hollow ball is preferably a manually squeezable plastic such as polyurethane. In another embodiment, the cup includes more than the single hole in the cup walls. In a further embodiment, the cup may include a single hole or a plurality of holes and the hollow ball has associated therewith fabric on the outside surface to assist in evenly dispensing product. In an alternative embodiment, the cup includes a single hole or a plurality of holes and the outside of the hollow ball includes a plurality of wells to assist in dispensing of product. In accordance with a still further embodiment of the invention, the dispenser includes a duck bill valve sealingly mounted within the measuring cup. Product can be pumped into the dispenser through the duck bill valve, in which case, the closure may be omitted if desired. In accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention, the area of the closure on the hollow ball is recessed and is protected by a ridge of plastic formed in the hollow ball. ond handles being permanently fastened to each other; a securing and releasing mechanism mounted for rotation about said pivot axis such that said securing and releasing mechanism rotates between a secure position in which said first and second handles are fixedly secured to each other and a release position in which said first and second handles are free to pivot about said pivot axis in a permanently fastened manner between said closed position and said open position, said securing and releasing mechanism being limited to the extent to which said securing and releasing mechanism can move away from said secure position so as to be unreleasably attached about said pivot axis; and a first knife blade being secured between said first and second handles. 2. A cutting device according to claim 1, wherein said first and second handles are permanently fastened to each other by a fastener extending along said pivot axis. 3. A cutting device according to claim 1, wherein said first and second handles are permanently fastened to each other by a rivet. 4. A cutting device according to claim 1, further comprising: an integral, one-piece elastomeric member coupled to said first and second handles and overlapping said first and second handles. 5. A cutting device according to claim 1, wherein said cavity includes a first recess containing said first knife blade and a second recess containing a plurality of replacement knife blades. 6. A cutting device according to claim 1, wherein said first and second handles are biased apart from one another in the direction of said pivot axis by a biasing member. 7. A cutting device according to claim 5, wherein said cavity includes a third recess, and said first and second handles are biased apart from one another in the direction of said pivot axis by a biasing member positioned within said third recess. 8. A cutting device according to claim 1, wherein said securing and releasing mechanism includes a knob, said knob being rotatably movable along a threaded shaft positioned along said pivot axis. 9. A cutting device according to claim 8, wherein said threaded shaft protrudes from said first handle along said pivot axis. 10. A cutting device according to claim 8, wherein said knob protrudes from said second handle and is configured to be accessed and manually operated by the user when said first and second handles are in said closed position. 11. A cutting device according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second handles includes a locking mechanism for securing said first and second handles in said closed position. 12. A cutting device according to claim 11, wherein said locking mechanism of said first handle includes a recess and said locking mechanism of said second handle includes a projection. 13. A cutting device according to claim 1, wherein said second handle includes a locking mechanism for securing said first and second handles in said closed position. 14. A cutting device according to claim 13, wherein said locking mechanism is a projection. 15. A cutting device according to claim 1, further comprising: a fulcrum coupled to said securing and releasing mechanism permitting one end of each of said first and second handles to contact each other prior to an opposite end of each of said first and second handles as said securing and releasing mechanism rotates to said secure position. 16. A cutting device according to claim 15, wherein said fulcrum is a rib attached to said second handle. 17. A cutting device comprising: first and second handles coupled together such that said first and second handles can pivot relative to each other about a pivot axis between an open position in which a cavity formed between said first and second handles is open and accessible to a user and a closed position in which said cavity is closed, said first handle having a first side portion and said second handle having a second side portion, which is opposite to said first side portion; a first knife blade being secured between said first and second handles; and a gripping member having a gripping surface formed of elastomeric material and coupled to at least one of said first and second handles, said gripping surface having a first side section, a second side section, and a bottom section positioned between said first and second side sections, said first side portion of said first handle and said first side section of said gripping surface forming a first side of said cutting device, and said second side portion of said second handle and said second side section of said gripping surface forming a second side of said cutting device, which is opposite to said first side of said cutting device, and said first and second handles being formed from material different than said elastomeric material of said gripping surface. 18. A cutting device according to claim 17, wherein said gripping surface is a one-piece, integral element. 19. A cutting device according to claim 17, wherein said gripping member includes a supporting element beneath said gripping surface. 20. A cutting device according to claim 17, wherein said elastomeric material is rubber. 21. A cutting device according to claim 17, further comprising: a securing and releasing mechanism mounted for rotation about said pivot axis such that said securing and releasing mechanism rotates between a secure position in which said first and second handles are fixedly secured to each other and a release position in which said first and second handles are free to pivot about said pivot axis in a permanently fastened manner between said closed position and said open position, said securing and releasing mechanism being limited to the extent to which said securing and releasing mechanism can move away from said secure position so as to be unreleasably attached about said pivot axis. 22. A cutting device comprising: first and second handle members coupled to one another such that said first and second handle members can pivot relative to each other about a pivot axis between an open position in which a cavity formed between said first and second handle members is open and accessible to a user and a closed position in which said cavity is closed, said first handle member having a first side portion, an opposite second side portion, and a bottom portion positioned between said first and second side portion, said first and second side portions extending upwardly from said bottom portion to define, along with said bottom portion, a blade storage pocket of said cavity, said first side portion of said first handle member forming a first side of said cutting device, said second side portion of said first handle member and said second handle member forming a second side of said cutting device, said second handle member configured such that in said open position, said second handle member is pivoted away from said pocket to permit access to said pocket, while in said closed position, said second handle member blocks access to said pocket; and a first knife blade being secured between said first and second handle members. 23. A cutting device according to claim 22, wherein said first handle member includes a first handle element and a gripping element, with said gripping element being formed by said first and second side portions and said bottom portion. 24. A cutting device according to claim 23, wherein said gripping element is formed of elastomeric material. 25. A cutting device according to claim 32, wherein said first side portion of said first handle member includes an inner inclined surface which is inclined relative to said plane. 26. A cutting device according to claim 22, further comprising: a plurality of knife blades positioned within said pocket. 27. A cutting device according to claim 22, wherein at least one of said plurality of knife blades exten