Microfluidic delivery system and cartridge having an outer cover

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9636430-B2
Application number	US-201514855653-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 16, 2015
Priority date	Sep 16, 2015
Publication date	May 2, 2017
Grant date	May 2, 2017

Abstract

A cartridge for a microfluidic delivery system is defined by a longitudinal axis. The cartridge includes a reservoir for containing a fluid composition. The cartridge also includes a nozzle operatively connected with the reservoir. The nozzle is in fluid communication with the reservoir for releasing the fluid composition. The cartridge includes an outer cover operatively connected with the reservoir. The outer cover comprises an orifice that is adjacent to the nozzle. An air flow path is formed by a gap between the reservoir and the outer cover.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cartridge for a microfluidic delivery system, the cartridge having a longitudinal axis and comprising:
a reservoir for containing a fluid composition;
a nozzle operatively connected with the reservoir, wherein the nozzle is in fluid communication with the reservoir for releasing the fluid composition;
an outer cover operatively connected with the reservoir, the outer cover comprising an orifice that is adjacent to the nozzle, wherein an air flow path is formed by a gap between the reservoir and the outer cover.

2. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the reservoir comprises a top portion, a base portion opposing the top portion, and at least one sidewall extending between and connecting the top and base portions, wherein the outer cover comprises a top and a skirt extending from the top, wherein the top comprises the orifice of the outer cover, and wherein the gap is disposed between the skirt and the sidewall of the reservoir, and wherein at least a portion of the air flow path between the skirt and the sidewall extends longitudinally.

3. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the orifice and the nozzle are at least partially longitudinally aligned.

4. The cartridge of claim 1 further comprising a die in fluid communication with the reservoir, wherein the die comprises the nozzle.

5. The cartridge of claim 4 , wherein the die comprises a heater.

6. The cartridge of claim 4 , wherein the die comprises a piezoelectric crystal.

7. The cartridge of claim 4 , wherein the die comprises nozzle plate, wherein the orifice is defined by a surface area, wherein the surface area of the orifice is larger than the nozzle plate.

8. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein fluid composition dispensed from the nozzle combines with air traveling through the air flow path, wherein the combined fluid composition and air exit the cartridge at the orifice.

9. The cartridge of claim 1 , wherein the air flow path is defined by a width extending between the outer cover and the reservoir, wherein the width is at least 2 millimeters.

10. A cartridge for a microfluidic delivery system, the cartridge having a longitudinal axis and comprising:
a reservoir for containing a fluid composition, the reservoir comprising a top portion, a base portion opposing the top portion, and at least one sidewall extending between and connecting the top and base portions;
a nozzle operatively connected with the reservoir, wherein the nozzle is in fluid communication with the reservoir for releasing the fluid composition; and
an outer cover operatively connected with the reservoir, wherein the outer cover comprises a top and a skirt that extends from the top of the outer cover and at least partially overlaps with the sidewall of the reservoir along the longitudinal axis, wherein the top of the outer cover comprises an orifice, wherein an air flow path is formed between the outer cover and the reservoir and extends from the skirt to the orifice.

11. The cartridge of claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of the air flow path extends axially.

12. The cartridge of claim 10 further comprising a die operatively connected with the reservoir, wherein the die comprises the nozzle.

13. The cartridge of claim 12 , wherein the die comprises a heater.

14. The cartridge of claim 12 , wherein the die comprises a piezoelectric crystal.

15. The cartridge of claim 10 , wherein the air flow path is defined by a width extending between the outer cover and the reservoir, wherein the width is at least 2 millimeters.

16. The cartridge of claim 10 , wherein the cartridge is electrically connectable with the microfluidic delivery system.

17. A cartridge for a microfluidic delivery system, the cartridge comprising:
a reservoir containing a fluid composition to be dispensed from at least one nozzle, and
an outer cover connected with the reservoir, the outer cover having a top with an orifice disposed adjacent to the nozzle and a skirt extending from the top, wherein at least one of the reservoir and the outer cover comprising electrical contacts that are electrically connectable with the microfluidic delivery system.

18. A microfluidic delivery system comprising:
a housing having a base, at least one sidewall connected with the base, and an opening for receiving a cartridge at least partially within the housing, wherein the housing comprises an air inlet;
a fan in fluid communication with the housing;
a cartridge releasably and electrically connectable with the housing, wherein the cartridge has a longitudinal axis, the cartridge comprising a reservoir containing a fluid composition to be dispensed from at least one nozzle, and
an outer cover connected with the reservoir, the outer cover having a top with an orifice disposed adjacent to the nozzle and an skirt extending from the top, the outer cover comprising an orifice that is disposed adjacent to the nozzle, wherein an air flow path is formed by a gap between the reservoir and the outer cover.

19. The microfluidic delivery system of claim 18 , wherein when the cartridge is connected with the housing, the cartridge is in fluid communication with the housing.

20. The microfluidic delivery system of claim 18 further comprising a die in fluid communication with the reservoir, wherein the die comprises the nozzle and a heater for volatilizing the fluid composition.

Assignees

• Procter & Gamble

Inventors

• Gruenbacher Dana Paul
• Diehl Martin
• Scheele Jannik
• Scheffelin Joseph Edward
• Schober Uwe

Classifications

• B05B17/0684

  Wicks or the like · CPC title

• B05B17/0646

  Vibrating plates, i.e. plates being directly subjected to the vibrations, e.g. having a piezoelectric transducer attached thereto · CPC title

• A61L9/14 Primary

  using sprayed or atomised substances {including air-liquid contact processes} · CPC title

• A61L9/122

  comprising a fan · CPC title

• A61L9/032 Primary

  comprising a fan · CPC title