Refillable liquid dispensing device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016270508-A1
Application number	US-201315035229-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 7, 2013
Priority date	Nov 7, 2013
Publication date	Sep 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system ( 100 ) for dispensing a fluid, such as a deodorant is provided. The system ( 100 ) includes a dispenser ( 102 ) defining a first reservoir ( 108 ) therein and comprising a check valve ( 112 ) communicating with the first reservoir ( 108 ) and an exterior of the dispenser ( 102 ). The system ( 100 ) also includes a refill cartridge ( 104 ) defining a second reservoir ( 128 ) therein and including a valve-piercing element ( 126 ) configured to be received through the check valve ( 112 ), such that, when the valve-piercing element ( 126 ) is received through the check valve ( 112 ), the second reservoir ( 128 ) of the refill cartridge ( 104 ) fluidly communicates with the first reservoir ( 108 ) of the dispenser ( 102 ) via the valve-piercing element ( 126 ).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A dispenser for a fluidic deodorant, comprising:
a housing defining a reservoir for containing the fluidic deodorant; an applicator coupled with the housing and configured to receive the fluidic deodorant from the reservoir; and a check valve coupled with the housing and fluidly communicating with the reservoir and an exterior of the housing, wherein the check valve defines a one-way conduit for receiving the fluidic deodorant therethrough.

2 . The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the check valve comprises a resilient body defining the one-way conduit, the one-way conduit comprising:
a receiving end having an open diameter; and a sealing end disposed in the reservoir and being expandable from a closed configuration to an open configuration.

3 . The dispenser of claim 2 , wherein the resilient body comprises an elastomeric material and the fluidic deodorant is a non-compressible fluidic deodorant.

4 . The dispenser of claim 2 , wherein the sealing end is disposed in the reservoir.

5 . The dispenser of claim 1 , further comprising a pressure relief valve communicating with the reservoir and the exterior of the housing.

6 . The dispenser of claim 5 , wherein the check valve is disposed on a side of the housing, and the pressure relief valve is disposed on the side of the housing.

7 . The dispenser of claim 6 , wherein the side is a bottom of the housing, the bottom being opposite to the applicator.

8 . A system for dispensing fluidic deodorant, comprising:
a dispenser defining a first reservoir therein and comprising a check valve communicating with the first reservoir and an exterior of the dispenser; and a refill cartridge defining a second reservoir therein and comprising a valve-piercing element configured to be received through the check valve, such that, when the valve-piercing element is received through the check valve, the second reservoir of the refill cartridge fluidly communicates with the first reservoir of the dispenser via the valve-piercing element.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the valve-piercing element extends into the first reservoir of the dispenser when the valve-piercing element is received through the check valve.

10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the valve-piercing element comprises an elongate body defining a conduit therein in communication with the second reservoir, the elongate body defining an opening in communication with the conduit.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the opening of the elongate body extends into the first reservoir when the valve-piercing element is received through the check valve.

12 . The system of claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of the check valve seals with the elongate body when the elongate body is received into the check valve, so as to prevent fluid flow between at least a portion of the elongate body and the check valve.

13 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the check valve defines a resiliently expandable conduit, and wherein the valve-piercing element expands a diameter of at least a portion of the resiliently expandable conduit when the valve-piercing element is received through the check valve.

14 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the dispenser further comprises a pressure relief valve communicating with the first reservoir.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the pressure relief valve is configured to open when a pressure within the first reservoir of the dispenser meets or exceeds a predetermined threshold.

16 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the dispenser comprises an applicator in fluid communication with the first reservoir, and wherein the pressure relief valve and the check valve are disposed on a bottom of the dispenser, opposite from the applicator.

17 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the refill cartridge comprises a flexible pouch and the fluidic deodorant is a non-compressible fluidic deodorant.

18 . A refillable underarm deodorant dispensing system, comprising:
a dispenser comprising:
a housing defining a first reservoir therein configured to contain a fluid;
an applicator coupled with the housing, such that at least a portion of the applicator is configured to rotate relative to the housing, the applicator being configured to receive the fluid from the first reservoir;
a check valve extending through a wall of the housing and communicating with the first reservoir, wherein the check valve comprises a resilient body defining a first conduit extending therein, the first conduit having an open end communicating with an exterior of the housing and a sealing end communicating with the first reservoir, wherein the sealing end is biased toward a closed configuration in which fluid is prevented from traversing the first conduit; and
a refill cartridge comprising:
a second housing defining a second reservoir therein; and
a valve-piercing element extending from the second housing, the valve-piercing element comprising a proximal end coupled with the second housing, a distal end, and an elongate body extending between the proximal end and the distal end, the elongate body defining a second conduit therethough and an opening positioned on or near the distal end, the opening being in communication with the second reservoir via the second conduit,
wherein the elongate body of the valve-piercing element is configured to be received through the first conduit of the resilient body of the check valve to open the sealing end of the check valve, such that, when the elongate body is received through the first conduit of the resilient body of the check valve, the second reservoir of the refill cartridge fluidly communicates with the first reservoir of the dispenser via the second conduit of the elongate body of the valve-piercing element.

19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the elongate body of the valve-piercing element of the refill cartridge expands and seals with at least a portion of the first conduit of the resilient body of the check valve, when the valve-piercing element is received through the check valve.

20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the dispenser further comprises a pressure relief valve communicating with the first reservoir of the dispenser, the pressure relief valve being configured to release a gas at a predetermined pressure from the first reservoir to the exterior of the housing.

21 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the fluid is at a constant ambient pressure inside the reservoir.

Assignees

• Colgate Palmolive Co

Inventors

• Ogis Ilaria

Classifications

• B65B1/04

  Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles · CPC title

• A46B11/0062

  Brushes where the reservoir is specifically intended for being refilled when empty · CPC title

• A45D34/041 Primary

  using a roller, a disc or a ball · CPC title