Methods for emitting and refills for holding two or more compositions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10131483-B2
Application number	US-201715696332-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 6, 2017
Priority date	Apr 1, 2015
Publication date	Nov 20, 2018
Grant date	Nov 20, 2018

Abstract

A refill for holding at least two compositions comprises a container including a body and first and second compositions disposed within the body such that the first and second compositions are substantially separated and the second composition is disposed above the first composition. The refill further includes a tube disposed within the body of the container such that the tube contains the first and second compositions, wherein the tube has an inner diameter and an outer diameter. Still further, the refill includes a wick disposed within the tube, wherein the wick contains the first and second compositions and has a diameter that is smaller than the inner diameter of the tube to create a gap between the wick and the tube is smaller than the inner diameter of the tube to create a gap between the wick and the tube.

First claim

We claim:

1. A refill for holding at least two compositions, the refill comprising:
a container including a body;
first and second compositions disposed within the body such that the first and second compositions are substantially separated and the second composition is disposed above the first composition;
a tube disposed within the body of the container such that the tube contains the first and second compositions, wherein the tube has an inner diameter and an outer diameter; and
a wick disposed within the tube, wherein the wick contains the first and second compositions and has a diameter that is smaller than the inner diameter of the tube to create a gap between the wick and the tube, the gap being devoid of porous material, and wherein at least two ribs extend from an inner peripheral surface of the tube.

2. The refill of claim 1 , wherein the gap has a volume that is between about 5% and about 50% of a volume of the body of the container.

3. The refill of claim 1 , wherein the at least two ribs extend inwardly from the inner peripheral surface of the tube and extend across the gap to center the wick and create a friction or interference fit with the wick to retain the wick within the tube.

4. The refill of claim 1 , further including a first vent disposed in an upper peripheral edge of the tube and a second vent disposed in a lower peripheral edge of the tube.

5. The refill of claim 4 , wherein the first and second vents are disposed at about 180 degrees with respect to one another.

6. The refill of claim 1 , further including at least one orifice or slot disposed through the tube to form a metering opening.

7. The refill of claim 1 , wherein the tube includes an inner tube and an outer tube that are configured to be rotated with respect to one another.

8. The refill of claim 7 , wherein the inner tube includes a first orifice and the outer tube includes a second orifice and the inner and outer tubes are configured to be rotated with respect to one another to open or partially open the first and second orifices.

9. The refill of claim 8 , wherein the first and second orifices are disposed through bottom walls of the inner and outer tubes, respectively, a third orifice is disposed through a side wall of the inner tube, and a fourth orifice is disposed through a side wall of the outer tube, and rotation of the inner and outer tubes fully or partially opens the third and fourth orifices.

10. The refill of claim 9 , wherein either the first and second orifices may be opened or the third and fourth orifices may be opened, but both the first and second orifices and the third and fourth orifices may not be opened at the same time.

11. The refill of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second compositions includes a dye.

12. The refill of claim 1 , wherein the tube is integrally formed with a retaining mechanism that holds the wick in place within the container.

13. The refill of claim 1 , wherein the tube is separate from a retaining mechanism that holds the wick in place within the container.

14. The refill of claim 1 , wherein the tube is formed of at least one material selected from the group consisting of: polyethylene, polypropylene, cross-linked polyethylene, and a polymer.

15. A refill for holding at least two compositions, the refill comprising:
a container including a body;
first and second compositions disposed within the body such that the first and second compositions are substantially separated and the second composition is disposed above the first composition;
a wick having a first end positioned within the container and a second end extending out of the container, the wick having a diameter and being retained within a mouth of the container by a retainer; and
a tube disposed within the body of the container such that the tube contains the first and second compositions and at least partially surrounds the wick, wherein the tube has an inner diameter and an outer diameter, the inner diameter is greater than the diameter of the wick to create an air gap between the wick and the tube, and the tube is coupled to the retainer,
wherein at least two ribs extend from an inner peripheral surface of the tube.

16. The refill of claim 15 , wherein the at least two ribs extend inwardly from the inner peripheral surface of the tube and extend across the gap to center the wick and create a friction or interference fit with the wick to retain the wick within the tube.

17. The refill of claim 15 , further including at least one orifice or slot disposed through the tube to form a metering opening.

18. The refill of claim 15 , wherein the tube includes an inner tube and an outer tube that are configured to be rotated with respect to one another.

19. The refill of claim 15 , wherein the tube is formed of at least one material selected from the group consisting of: polyethylene, polypropylene, cross-linked polyethylene, and a polymer.

20. The refill of claim 15 , wherein at least one of the first and second compositions includes a fragrance.

Assignees

• Johnson & Son Inc S C

Inventors

• Banco Michael J
• Westphal Nathan R

Classifications

• F24F2003/1689

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic

• A61L9/03

  Apparatus therefor · CPC title

• A61L9/125

  emanating multiple odours · CPC title

• A61L9/035

  emanating multiple odours · CPC title

• A61L9/02

  using substances evaporated in the air by heating or combustion · CPC title