Refillable dispensing systems and components

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9827582-B2
Application number	US-201514932761-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 4, 2015
Priority date	Nov 4, 2015
Publication date	Nov 28, 2017
Grant date	Nov 28, 2017

Abstract

A closed-loop refillable dispensing system may include one or more reusable or refillable product packages configured to dock with an automated filling station. The automated filling station automatically mixes concentrated chemical product with a diluent and dispenses the resulting chemical product solution. The product package may include a fitment insert configured to mate with a docking connector at the automated filling station. When the product package is removed from the docking connector, the fitment insert provides a positive, leak-proof seal for the product package.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A refillable dispensing system comprising:
a filling station including a docking connector, the filling station configured dispense a chemical product solution from a chemical product concentrate;
a product package configured to contain a quantity of the chemical product concentrate; and
a fitment insert fitted within a neck of the product package, the fitment insert configured to mate with the docking connector and form a sealed connection therewith, the fitment insert further comprising:
a fitment insert body including a first bore defining a fluid passage from a first side of the fitment insert body to a second side of the fitment insert body, the fitment insert body further including an interior wall forming a circumferential ridge around the interior of the fluid passage;
a tubular barb member having a first end and a second end and configured to fit within the fluid passage of the fitment insert body with the first end disposed toward the first side of the fluid passage, the barb member having a second bore extending from the first end to the second end;
a check ball seal disposed between the first end of the barb member and the circumferential ridge; and
a check ball that is biased to a closed position with respect to the check ball seal within the fluid passage, the check ball further disposed to slide within the second bore between the closed position and an open position;
the docking connector further comprising:
a docking connector body; and
a fill probe configured to depress the check ball from the first side of the fitment insert body and move the check ball from the closed position to the open position when the fitment insert is mated with the docking connector.

2. The refillable dispensing system of claim 1 wherein the product package further includes an output port, and the dispensing system further comprises a pump mated to the output port of the product package.

3. The refillable dispensing system of claim 2 further comprising a dispenser configured to receive the product package and the pump, the dispenser further including a dispenser actuator that causes a discrete quantity of chemical product to be dispensed from the product package.

4. The refillable dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the filling station further includes a switch and wherein the filling station mixes the chemical product concentrate with a diluent to form the chemical product solution, and wherein the filling station further dispenses the chemical product solution through the fluid passage and into the product package when the fitment insert is mated with the docking connector and upon actuation of the switch.

5. The refillable dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the fitment insert body further comprises:
a vent bore defining a venting passage from the first side of the fitment insert body to the second side of the fitment insert body;
a vent probe seal disposed around an circumferential interior ridge within the venting passage; and
a tubular vent probe configured to fit within the venting passage, the vent probe biased to a closed position with respect to the vent probe seal, the vent probe further disposed to slide within the venting passage between the closed position and an open position.

6. The refillable dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the vent probe further includes a shoulder, and wherein the vent probe shoulder forms a seal with the vent probe seal when the vent probe is in the closed position, and wherein air may leave the product package when the vent probe is in the open position.

7. The refillable dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein vent probe further includes a vent probe tip accessible through the vent bore from the first side of the fitment insert body.

8. The refillable dispensing system of claim 7 wherein the docking connector further includes a vent tab configured to depress the vent probe tip and move the vent probe from the closed position to the open position when the fitment insert is mated with the docking connector.

9. The refillable dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the barb member further includes longitudinally extending guide rails, and wherein the check ball is further disposed to slide within the guide rails between the closed position and the open position.

10. The refillable dispensing system of claim 1 wherein the product package comprises a high density polyethylene resin having a density greater than 0.953 g/cc.

11. A fitment insert that forms a sealed port through which a product package may be filled with a fluid chemical product, comprising:
a fitment insert body including a first bore defining a fluid passage from a first side of the fitment insert body to a second side of the fitment insert body, the fitment insert body further including an interior wall forming a circumferential ridge around the interior of the fluid passage;
a tubular barb member having a first end and a second end and configured to fit within the fluid passage of the fitment insert body with the first end disposed toward the first side of the fluid passage, the barb member having a second bore extending from the first end to the second end;
a seal disposed between the first end of the barb member and the circumferential ridge; and
a check ball that is spring-biased to a closed position with respect to the seal within the fluid passage, the check ball further disposed to slide within the second bore between the closed position and an open position,
the fitment insert body further including:
a vent bore defining a venting passage from the first side of the fitment insert body to the second side of the fitment insert body;
a vent probe seal disposed around an circumferential interior ridge within the venting passage; and
a tubular vent probe configured to fit within the venting passage, the vent probe biased to a closed position with respect to the vent probe seal, the vent probe further disposed to slide within the venting passage between the closed position and an open position.

12. The fitment insert of claim 11 , wherein the vent probe further includes a shoulder, and wherein the vent probe shoulder forms a seal with the vent probe seal when the vent probe is in the closed position, and wherein air may leave the product package when the vent probe is in the open position.

13. The fitment insert of claim 11 , wherein vent probe further includes a vent probe tip accessible through the vent bore from the first side of the fitment insert body.

14. A fitment insert that forms a sealed port through which a product package may be filled with a fluid chemical product, comprising:
a fitment insert body including a first bore defining a fluid passage from a first side of the fitment insert body to a second side of the fitment insert body, the fitment insert body further including an interior wall forming a circumferential ridge around the interior of the fluid passage;
a tubular barb member having a first end and a second end and configured to fit within the fluid passage of the fitment insert body with the first end disposed toward the first side of the fluid passage, the barb member having a second bore extending from the first end to the second end;
a seal disposed between the first end of the barb member and the circumferential ridge; and
a check ball that is spring-biased to a closed position with respect to the seal within the fluid passage, the check ball further disposed to slide within the second bore between the closed position and an open position,
wherein the barb member further includes longitudinally extending guide rails, and wherein the check ball is fu

Assignees

• Ecolab Usa Inc

Inventors

• Schultz Jeffrey M
• Dobizl Kenneth T
• Sholes Brian L

Classifications

• B05B11/1045 Primary

  the pump being preassembled as an independent unit before being mounted on the container (B05B11/1047, B05B11/1049 take precedence) · CPC title

• B05B11/0054

  Cartridges, i.e. containers specially designed for easy attachment to or easy removal from the rest of the sprayer (attachment arrangements between pump and container B05B11/1043) · CPC title

• F16K15/04

  shaped as balls · CPC title

• B05B11/0016

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B05B11/3045 Primary

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic