EP3010833A2

EP3010833A2 - Refillable spray bottle

Info

Publication number: EP3010833A2
Application number: EP14813466.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Yi Ming HUI; Zhi Wang
Original assignee: Beauty Union Global Ltd
Current assignee: Beauty Union Global Ltd
Priority date: 2013-06-19
Filing date: 2014-06-19
Publication date: 2016-04-27
Also published as: CN105705436A; EP3010833A4; WO2014203068A3; HK1217938A1; US20160137393A1; WO2014203068A2

Abstract

A refillable spray dispenser comprising a top compartment and a bottom compartment separated by a roof; an exhaust hole in the bottom compartment and a passage extending from the exhaust hole to the bottom opening, and an upper sealing ring. A valve is comprising a valve body and a valve core piston, wherein: the core piston has a stem firmly inside the valve body and a head outside the valve body, and a valve groove extends along a portion of the stem that is inside the valve body; the upper sealing ring blocking the exhaust hole when the valve is at rest. Pushing a bottom sealing ring allows the bottom sealing ring and the valve to be moved toward the roof, fluid to pass through the valve groove and the head groove into the top compartment.

Description

REFILL ABLE SPRAY BOTTLE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a spray bottle, in particular to an improved refillable spray bottle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

At present, the available portable spray dispensers consist of a sprayer assembly and a bottle. Most of the spray dispensers are disposable and useless after running out of liquid. Some dispensers have accessories for refilling liquid, but the operations are complicated, and the dispensers are susceptible to leakage during refilling, which brings great inconvenience. Commercially available spray dispensers are made of plastics or glass materials, which easily pollute the environment after being discarded; for producers and customers, disposable products are uneconomical and cause huge waste of production materials. However, if the liquid is filled in a large bottle, it is not portable, which also brings inconvenience to the users and the producers.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect, a refillable spray dispenser is provided comprising:

a spray assembly;

a valve comprising a valve body and a valve core piston, wherein: the core piston has a stem firmly inside the valve body and a head outside the valve body, and a valve groove extends along a portion of the stem that is inside the valve body,;

a bottle having:

a top compartment in fluid communication with the spray assembly;

a bottom compartment within which the valve is positioned, the bottom compartment comprising: bottom compartment walls; an upper sealing ring and a bottom sealing ring; a bottom opening, a roof aperture and an exhaust hole in the bottom compartment walls, and a passage extending from the exhaust hole to the bottom opening;

a roof separating the top compartment from the bottom compartment;

an urging means urging the valve body against the bottom sealing ring and the head against the top sealing ring;

wherein the bottom sealing ring seals the passage, preventing communication of fluid from the top compartment to the bottom opening, and the top sealing ring seals the valve groove, preventing communication of fluid from the valve to the top compartment, when the valve is at a resting position, and

wherein the bottom sealing ring allows communication of fluid from the top compartment, via the exhaust hole and the passage to the bottom opening, and the top sealing ring allows communication of fluid from the fill hole, via the valve, to the top compartment when the valve is in an extended position, and

wherein: the core piston head is situated between the upper sealing ring and the roof, and comprises a head groove on a side of the head facing the roof,

and pushing the bottom sealing ring allow the bottom sealing ring and the valve to be moved toward the roof until the valve head contacts the roof, fluid to pass through the valve groove and the head groove into the top compartment, and exhaust gas to pass through the passage to the bottom opening.

In some embodiments, the head has a diameter which is wider than a hole in the upper sealing ring and the roof aperture, but narrower than an inner diameter of the bottom compartment, and the head is thinner than a height of the roof above a bottom of the top compartment.

In some embodiments, the valve core piston comprises at least two legs holding the valve core piston inside the valve body, and the valve groove comprises a gap between the two legs, the valve groove further comprising a body groove on the valve body, the valve groove positioned to be blocked by the upper seal ring when the valve is at rest. In some embodiments, the dispenser further comprising an end cap holding the bottom sealing ring and the valve, wherein the end cap has one or more vertical cap groove positioned opposite a vent hole.

In some embodiments, the valve core has a circular ridge on an underside of the head, the ridge configured to help prevent escape of fluid from the top compartment into the bottom compartment below the upper seal ring.

In some embodiments, the end cap has a ridge that enhances engagement of the endcap with the bottom sealing ring, thereby assisting in preventing escape of fluid from the top compartment via the vent when the valve is at rest.

In some embodiments, the bottle is very small, wherein the head comprises a ridge thereon about 0.2mm high. In some embodiments, the upper seal ring and the bottom sealing ring have different hardnesses.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, purely by way of example, to the accompanying drawings.

With specific reference now to the drawing in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present invention only, and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention; the description taken with the drawing making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice. In discussion of the various figures described herein below, like numbers refer to like parts. The drawings are generally not to scale.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional structure view of a prior art refill bottle structure having a spray assembly and a hollow injection rod comprising a rod fill hole and a rod injection hole.

Figure 2 is an amplified sectional view of the area A as shown in figure 1.

Figure 3 shows filling and exhausting of the prior art structure.

Figure 4 is a sectional structural view of a first embodiment, with an exhaust hole on a wall of the bottom compartment; there is a fixed seal, and a rod with a groove for exhaust, wherein the fixed seal seals the groove when the rod is in resting position.

Figure 5 is a view of the first embodiment being filled.

Figure 6 is a sectional structural view of a second embodiment, in which the rod also has a groove, but the exhaust hole is differently situated, and again a fixed seal seals the groove when the rod is in a resting position.

Figure 7 is a view of the second embodiment being filled.

Figure 8 is a sectional structural view of a third embodiment, in which there is a protuberance on the rod rather than a groove, and there is a fixed seal that sealingly abuts the protuberance when the rod is in a resting position.

Figure 9 is a view of the third embodiment 4 being filled.

Figure 10 illustrates another embodiment similar to the embodiment shown in Figures 6 and 7. The dispenser has a shield to protect the first seal from the resilient elements.

Figure 11 shows in enlarged perspective view the injection rod, an exhaust gasket and third seal of the dispenser depicted in Figure 10, wherein the exhaust gasket and the third seal both have a corrugated structure that allows gas to pass between them and bottom walls to outside.

Figure 12 shows the top part of an embodiment in which a pump is mounted so as to be able to slide with respect to the body to a lower position in which a vent hole is free to enable air to be taken in.

Figure 13 is an exploded view of a portion of the part A shown in Fig. 12.

Figure 14 depicts yet another embodiment, having a soft seal and an injection rod with a head, and the head blocks the seal when the rod is in resting position.

Figure 15 shows an exploded view of parts of the filling and exhaust mechanism of the embodiment depicted in Fig. 14.

Figure 16 is an enlarged view of the soft seal and a surrounding part thereof of embodiment shown in Figure 14.

Figure 17a schematically illustrates another embodiment which is somewhat simpler. The embodiment is depicted in resting position. An upper sealing ring and a positioning ring are in contact with each other or may even be one unit. The valve includes a valve body and a valve core piston having a stem inside the valve body and a head outside the valve body, the head situated between the upper sealing ring and the roof. The head has a diameter which is wider than the hole in the upper sealing ring and than the roof aperture, but narrower than the inner diameter of the bottom compartment. The head is thinner than the height of the roof above the bottom of the top compartment, to allow the head to move up.

Figure 17b schematically shows that the entire valve depicted in Figure 17a is pushed upwards when a bottom sealing ring (held in the bottom compartment below the valve) is pushed and moved towards a roof aperture.

Figure 18a shows in cross-section another embodiment similar to the embodiment shown in Figures 17a. 17b. The head has on a side facing the roof at least one groove passing therethrough. The valve core piston is made of two legs holding the piston inside the valve body.

Figure 18b shows the embodiment presented in Figure 18a in exploded view.

Figure 18c, illustrates in perspective view a valve core having a circular

ridge on the underside of the head enhancing engagement with a top sealing ring.

Figure 18d depicts in perspective view an end cap having a ridge that enhances engagement with the bottom sealing ring.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Before explaining at least one embodiment in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited in its application to the details set forth in the following description or exemplified by the Examples. The invention is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways.

It is appreciated that certain features, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features, which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination or as suitable in any other described embodiment. Certain features described in the context of various embodiments are not to be considered essential features of those embodiments, unless the embodiment is inoperative without those elements.

In discussion of the various figures described herein below, like numbers refer to like parts. The drawings are generally not to scale. For clarity, non-essential elements were omitted from some of the drawings.

According to one aspect, various improved spray dispenser embodiments are provided with a bottle and a refill mechanism and a modified exhaust assembly, wherein the refill mechanism and the exhaust assembly share parts and cooperate, such that when the bottle is filled with liquid, gas automatically escapes the bottle, and when the bottle is not filled with liquid, gas cannot escape. In particular, the embodiments have modified rods through which the dispensers are filled, and which define, together with other parts of the dispenser, a passage via which fluid such as excess gas may be exhausted and may be blocked to prevent undesired leak of fluid.

A prior art refillable spray dispenser 100 is shown in Figure 1, and described In WO 20(0/072064, us an example, The dispe ser com rise*;

it spray usxemb!y 1200;

« holl w Injection rod 1 00 enmprlHing u rod 1¾ hole 1302 and « injection rod

hole 1304;

n bottle I 100 having:

compartment S ! !O In fluid communication with the spruy ttHiwmhty 1200;

u bottom portion { 120 hokitns the rod S300 «m! comprising: bottom portion

W«HH 1122; H first seal 1402 tuul a tseeotui seal 1 04; u houom hole i 1 4, « p rtion ejthtum hole f 12ft and u portion Injection hole 1 S2H In the hoi mm portion wit!iu Π22, and « afwttge 112') extending from the porlimt oxh«uni hole i 126 to the bottom opening 1124; wherein she first mu 1402 \h the ptwnttge 1129, preventing coiunuinktttlon of fluid fr¾m the com artment i HO with the buttom opening I 124, tmd the second .ne t 1404 seals the injection rod hole 1304, preventing communication of fluid between the rod fill hole 1 02 and the compartment I ί 1 , when the Injection rod 1 00 IN M a renting position, and wherein the first n id I402 tdtows communication of fluid from the compartment Π Hi, via the portion exhaust hole !I26 and the iwMige ! 12 , to the bottom ope ing H24, and the micoitd se ! 1404 itilows communication oi' fluid from the rod ΠΙ! hole ί 2, viu hyeesi n rod hole i304, to the compartment i I lil, when she rod I 00 Is in art extended ositi n. Sea) ore i^'or example Oring, gusket, rubber co p r with a hole etc,

Figure 2 N ft for clarity un enlarged view of reu A. ts, the bottom portion of the dispenser 1000, In both Rgttre I uitd f Igurc 2, the injection md 1 tX) is at ts renting pwUUw,

In particular to the dispenser I (XX⁾ sh n In Figure* t urn! 2, the flat a i 1402 is movab!y coupled to the injection rod } ,100 nnd blocks (he exhisitst hole Π2Λ when the Injection rod 1300 i» hvthe resting ortion, The assage i 129 extends from below the i'irtit xeul 1402 to the bottom opening ί 124,

Reference Is made to Hpre 3 showing the injection rod 13 0 in un extended portion,

AH mentioned. hewitvbeftire, _?„„„., ,„_v rod 1 00 H f hill the rwl 1300 moves up toward the Injection opening 1 i2H, The flnt! sent

1402 moves along with the injection rot! 1300 mid thun no l n e blocks enh«u«t ho¼ i 126, As r nuU of the ptwh vsf inj cti n md 1300, injection rod

hole S304 «!HO becomes unblocked by second ssul (404. Therefore, gis* may both e ter the bottle 1100 from the reservoir 100, thus helping to introduce liquid into the compartment 1110, and be exhausted, when the rod 1300 is pushed by the stem 110.

Note that the bottom portion 1120 actually has the exhaust hole 1126 essentially horizontally extending throughout the bottom portion walls 1122 of the bottom portion 1120. Exhaust hole 1126 is being adjacent to the bottom of an exhaust tube 1500 that is wedged inbetween the bottom portion walls 1122 and walls 1114 of the compartment 1110 such as to create a sealed space 1116 between the tube 1500 and the exhaust hole 1126. The tube 1500 allows exhaust of gas from the

dispenser 1000 and essentially prevents exhaust of liquid from the dispenser 1000 through the bottom portion.

Pressurized gas present in the compartment 1110 accumulates at the top of the compartment 1110 (assuming the dispenser is held upright as in the figures), enters the tube 1500 from its top, goes out from the bottom of the tube 1500, and subsequently travels throughout the exhaust hole 1126. From there, it travels through the bottom portion 1120 and out of the dispenser via bottom hole 1124, as shown in the dashed line.

A modified bottom portion 2000 of a dispenser is depicted in Figures 4 and 5.

In the embodiment 2000, the injection rod 2300 further comprises a groove 2306. In contrast to the prior art dispenser 1000 described above, the first seal 2402 is fixed to the compartment 2120 and seals between the exhaust opening 2126 and the

groove 2306 when the injection rod 2300 is in the resting position, as it is in Figure 4.

The groove 2306 allows gas to bypass said first seal 2402 when the injection rod 2300 is in the extended position, as shown in Figure 5.

In particular to the embodiment shown in Figures 4 and 5, the exhaust

opening 2126 is between said first seal 2402 and said second seal 2404.

Another embodiment 3000 is shown in Figures 6 and 7. The embodiment is similar to embodiment 2000 shown in Figures 4 and 5; however, in contrast, the compartment exhaust opening 3126 is not between the first seal 3402 and second

seal 3404, but rather is at about the same level as the second seal 3404. The

passage 3129 comprises a gap between said second seal 3404 and said bottom portion walls 3122, as shown in Figures 6 and 7. Passage 3129 allows gas to bypass said first seal 3404 as shown in the path described in Figure 7 by a dash line. The tube 3500 is preferably embedded in the bottom portion walls 3122 as shown. Whereas the previously described dispensers 1000 and 2000 have rather complex structures to accommodate the tubes 1500 and 2500, and lead them to the exhaust holes 1126 and 2126, respectively, the structure of the presently described embodiment 3000 is somewhat simpler, although it requires four holes instead of three and may be less rugged.

Figures 8 and 9 illustrate yet another embodiment 4000. Here, too, there is an exhaust hole 4126 levels with the second seal 4404. The injection rod 4300 comprise a protuberance 4308 and the first seal 4402 that is fixed to the bottom portion

walls 4122 and abuts the protuberance 4308 when the injection rod 4300 is in the resting position (Figure 8). This structure prevents passage of gas between the first

seal 4402 and the injection rod 4300, and does not abut the protuberance 4308 when the injection rod 4300 is in the extended position as shown in Figure 9, such that gas can bypass the first seal 4402.

As in the previously described dispensers, in some embodiments with protuberances on the rod, the exhaust hole is between the first seal and the second seal.

Referring now to all of Figures 4 to 8, the refillable spray dispensers all further comprise resilient elements (springs in the figures) 2700, 3700 and 4700, respectively, configured to restore the rods 2300, 3300, 4300 respectively, from the extended position back to the resting position. However, it is stressed that some embodiments may not be equipped with resilient elements, and the rod may return to its resting position by the effect of gravity or another force, including manual force, applied upon it.

It is further notable that the resilient elements 1700 of the prior art dispenser 1000 shown in Figures 1-3 is held between the first seal 1402 and the second seal 1404 (on top of the first seal 1402).

In contrast, in the embodiments 2000, 3000, and 4000, the resilient

elements 2700, 3700 and 4700, respectively, are held between the first seal 2402, 3402, and 4402 respectively, and a tooth 2309, 3309, 4309 on the injection rod.

The refillable spray dispensers may further comprise a third seal, e.g. a sealing ring 2406, 3406, or 4406 held in the bottom portion under the injector rod, that allows to sealingly and fluidly couple a filling stem 110 or an adaptor thereto. However, note that the third seal does not seal off the opposite walls of the bottom portion to passage of gas. The first, second and third seal are for example O-rings.

Another feature in all of the embodiments is an endcap 2800, 3800, and 4800, respectively. The endcaps 2800, 3800, and 4800 are engaged in the bottom

portions 2120, 3120 and 4120, and are capable of supporting a respective assembly of rods, seals and resilient elements. Typically, in such embodiments, a second seal is first selected to fit the rod and the injection opening of the embodiment 2000, 3000 or 4000 or other similar embodiments, so as to seal the bottom portion from the compartment when the rod is in a resting position, and to leave a gap when required (embodiments 3000 and 4000). The second seal is positioned as shown, relative to the compartment injection opening. Then, an assembly of a rod, resilient elements and seals are installed so that the top of the rod is snugly engaged in the hole of the second seal with the injection hole blocked by the second seal and so that the first seal is properly positioned as described above in the resting position. The endcap can then be pushed into the bottom portion through the bottom opening and be snapped into place as is apparent in the figures.

The bottom portion and the compartment may be one unit, or may be assembled from two separately manufactured units.

Yet another feature in the depicted embodiments 2000, 3000, and 4000 is a gas-permeable exhaust gasket 2900, 3900, and 4900, respectively. The exhaust gaskets 2900, 3900 and 4900 may have a pinhole passing therethrough to allow slow and controlled release of gas: escape of gas without such gasket might be excessively fast whereas the controlled release may help prevent escape of too much gas, inadvertent loss of liquid etc. However, some embodiments may lack this feature. Note that the structure of the gaskets and the path/size of the pinhole may differ between the various embodiments. For example, in the embodiments 3000 and 4000, the pinhole may travel vertically in the top part of the gasket (open to the gap 3128

and 4128, respectively) and then horizontally continue to the inner perimeter of the gasket, whereas in the embodiment 2000, the gasket may have the pinhole horizontally passing therethrough, opening on the outer perimeter to the exhaust opening 2134.

Figures 10 and 11 show another embodiment 3000' similar to the

embodiment 3000 shown in Figures 6 and 7. Again, there is a gap 3130' in this embodiment part of exhaust hole 3126' between the second seal 3404' and a bottom portion wall 3122', that allows gas to bypass the second seal 3404', as shown in the path described in Figure 10. The injection rod 3300' is shown in Figure 11 assembled with an exhaust gasket 3900' and a third seal 3406'. The exhaust gasket 3900' and the third seal 3406', both have a corrugated structure that allows gas to pass between them and the bottom walls 3124' to outside. The tooth 3309' also has a corrugated structure for the same purpose.

Note that the bottom portion also has a shield 3930', against which the resilient elements 3700' is pressed so as to protect the first seal 3402' from the resilient elements 3700'. The dispenser includes a shell 3102' that contains at least the bottom part of the bottle 3100'. The bottle 3100' may be transparent and the shell may be opaque, besides a window (not shown) facing the compartment 3110', to show the level of the liquid inside the compartment 3110'.

Commercially available dispensers can perhaps be refilled by removing their dispensing mechanism, but for all practical purposes such refilling is time consuming and difficult, and thus they are essentially non-refillable. Furthermore, their size, typically 250 mL or larger, is substantially larger than the refillable dispensers that are typically less than 100 mL size, so that there is little motivation to refill the larger dispensers.

Thus, according to another aspect, a kit comprising any refillable dispenser of the types described above and at least one adaptor is provided. The adaptors, each configured to allow sealingly and fluidly connecting a non-refillable dispenser for fluids etc. with the filling mechanism of the refillable dispenser. Each adaptor is suitable for a particular structure of dispensing mechanism of the non-refillable dispenser. Thus, a set of adaptors may serve to couple the first refillable dispenser with various commercially available non-refillable dispensers.

Many commercially available dispensers have a dispensing head that may be removed in order to expose the dispensing mechanism of the non-refillable dispenser. The exposed mechanism may then be easily coupleable to the refill mechanism. Such removal will typically expose a structure such as a stem 110 of the dispensing mechanism 100 (see Figure 3).

The adaptor may be a tube having ends with the same or different sizes. Typically, one end tightly fits into the refill assembly of the refillable dispenser, and the other end tightly fits onto a stem of the dispensing mechanism of the non-refillable dispenser to make a sealed connection for transfer of the fluid from the non-refillable dispenser to the refillable one. Alternatively, the adaptor may be a dispensing mechanism itself that replaces the original dispensing mechanism of the non-refillable dispenser.

According to another aspect, a kit comprising the refillable dispenser and a non-refillable dispenser is provided. The uniqueness of the non-refillable dispenser in this embodiment is that the refillable dispenser and the non-refillable dispenser are configured to allow sealingly connecting the non-refillable dispenser with the refill mechanism, preferably without need for an adaptor. Such non-refillable dispenser may be a commercially available dispenser, the refillable dispenser being specially fitted in the dimensions of the refill mechanism to the dispensing mechanism of the non-refillable dispenser, but perhaps more typically the non-refillable dispenser is also specially designed to easily and tightly fit with the refillable dispenser.

Typically, the non-refillable dispenser will be economy-sized and too large to carry in a wallet, pocket etc. The non-refillable dispenser further minimizes waste of material.

It is notable that while the non-refillable dispenser is ideal to use at home, the refillable dispenser is ideal for use on airplanes, since at present only very small containers of compositions are allowed to be airborne in a flight cabin.

Some embodiments may be manipulated to have a sub-pressure in the bottle, at least when the bottle is essentially empty of material and ready to receive more material.

For example, see Figures 12-13 illustrating the top part of an embodiment in which a pump is mounted so as to be able to slide with respect to the body to a lower position in which a vent hole is free to enable air to be taken in.

The compartment 1110' has sufficient rigidity so that the volume of the

dispenser 1000' remains substantially constant. The dispenser 1000' may have for example a capacity of between 1 and 20 ml (whereby the dispenser is conveniently pocket-sized).

The dispenser 1000' may be in a single piece, for example produced by injection blowing or extrusion blowing, or in several parts injected and then assembled, for example by ultrasonic welding, made from rigid plastics material, metal, for example aluminum or glass.

The dispenser 1000', and similarly other embodiments, also comprise a spray assembly 1200' that is mounted sealingly on the compartment 1110', in particular in the top opening 1112' of the compartment. The dispensing device comprises a dispensing pump 1203' actuated manually by means of a push button 1204'.

The pump 1203' comprises a body 1205' equipped with means of supplying the material. In the figures, the supply means comprise a plunger tube 1206' disposed in the compartment 1110', said tube being equipped with a valve 1207' for admitting the product (e.g. liquid, aerosol) into the pump 1203'. The push button 1204' is mounted on the nozzle 1208' of the pump 1203', which comprises a piston 1209' mounted around said nozzle in order to delimit a metering chamber 1210'. The piston 1209' enables the supply orifices 1211 ' to be in fluid communication with the metering chamber 1210' when the push button 1204' is pushed downwardly. Upon release of the push button, the piston closes supply orifices so that under-pressure is formed in the metering chamber.

The push button 1204' comprises an upper region enabling the user to exert finger pressure on said push button in order to be able to move it axially over its travel for actuation of the pump 1203', the return of the push button 1204' over its suction travel being conventionally affected by a spring 1212'. In the embodiment shown, the interior of the body 1205' of the pump 1203' is equipped with an extender 1213' on which the bottom end of the spring 1212' is in abutment.

The push button 1204' is equipped with a head 1214' that is arranged to distribute the product radially. However, the invention is not limited to a particular method of dispensing the product.

The dispensing method makes provision, prior to the initial filling of the compartment 1110' with product, for putting said empty product reservoir in communication with an air suction device and activating said device in order to create a negative pressure inside said reservoir.

According to one embodiment, the air suction device comprises a vacuum bell in which the body of the pump 1205' is disposed, the sealed mounting of the pump 1203' on the compartment 1110' being achieved after activation of said bell. Thus the negative pressure is formed in the top compartment and then the pump 1203' is mounted sealingly so as to maintain said negative pressure.

According to another embodiment, the air suction device, for example a vacuum pump, is put in communication with the pump 1203' after sealed mounting thereof on the compartment 1110', the suction of the air from the dispenser 1000' being effected through the pump. In a variant, the suction of air could be affected through the refill assembly (rod, seal, resilient elements etc. in the bottom portion, not shown) by making provision to put it into communication with the air suction device after sealed mounting of the pump 1203' on the body 1205'.

The dispensing method makes provision for subsequently affecting the initial filling of the compartment 1110' by putting a product source in sealed communication with said compartment 1110' by means of the refill assembly so that the negative pressure causes the filling of said reservoir by suction of the product contained in said source. Next, the customer can actuate the pump 1203' in order to dispense the packaged product.

A single press on the rod may cause the opening of a pump of a non-refillable dispenser, so as to form a transfer path of product between the source and the compartment 1110'. Compensation for the negative pressure then allows filling. Next, when the compartment 1110' is filled, the suction negative pressure becomes zero and the refill assembly is then closed and the product contained in the compartment 1110' can be dispensed subsequently by means of the pump 1203'.

The dispenser 1000' that is supplied to the distributors may therefore be empty of product and have a negative air pressure, the negative pressure making it possible to subsequently affect the initial filling, in particular at the time of handing the

dispenser 1000' to the customer according to the product that they wish to purchase and/or test. The method therefore allows a particularly versatile initial filling, which in particular allows simplified management of the dispenser 1000' by the distributors, in particular sample test dispenser 1000'.

The versatility of the dispensing method can also be improved by providing the association of a label on the dispenser 1000' at the time of initial filling of the compartment 1110' with product, in particular according to the product. The label can have a detachable part comprising a sales offer particular to the distributor in order to encourage the customer to return and purchase the sampled product.

In relation to FIGS. 12 to 13, the pump and the spray assembly 1200' are of the airless type without the take up of air in the compartment in compensation for the volume of product dispensed. To do this, the body 1205' of the pump 1203' in assembly 1200' has no vent hole as well as the dispenser itself, that doesn't need a vent for pressurized air such as vents shown in the previous figures.

However, since pumps with a vent hole are the most usual, it may be advantageous to create a negative pressure in the upper compartment even with this type of pump. To do this, as shown in spray assembly 1200' in FIG 13, body 1205' is provided with a vent hole 1226' that is closed off sealingly by mounting thereof in the rigid body 120Γ (FIG. 13). In particular, the seal between the body 1205' and rigid body 120Γ is then made at least below the vent hole 1226' so as to prevent the passage of air from the pump 1203' into the compartment 1110' by means of said hole. In

FIG. 13, the seal is also achieved above the vent hole 1226', which does not impair the functioning without take up of air and is a little simpler to achieve.

The product sample without take up of air in the compartment 1110' makes it possible to create in said compartment 1110' a negative pressure that increases along with dispensing. In particular, in order to ensure total emptying of the

compartment 1110', the ceiling of air above the product during initial filling must be such that the negative pressure reached at the end of emptying is at a maximum equal to the negative pressure achievable by the pump 1203'.

In this embodiment, the sub-pressure may allow subsequent filling of the compartment 1110' merely by bringing the product source (non-refillable dispenser) into liquid communication with said compartment 1110'.

It should be noted that other airless pumps can be used for this dispenser so as to eliminate the need to provide an air vent to the dispenser in order to overcome the high pressure formed in the dispenser due to the filling of liquid to within the compartment. The structure shown in Figures 12 and 13 by no means limit the scope of the present invention.

the maintenance of the negative pressure over time, the refill assembly may be reversibly covered with a sealing cap (not shown). The cap may be welded in a recess formed on the free end of a trim (not shown) so that the cap completely covers the refill assembly. The cap is having a free edge enabling it to be withdrawn with a view to the initial filling.

The sub-pressure may facilitate refilling of the dispenser.

Fig. 14 depicts yet another embodiment 5000, having a second seal 5406 on top of the bottom portion 5120, and an injection rod 5300 with a head 5310. The

head 5310 is pressed against the second seal 5406 when the rod is in resting position.

Fig. 15 shows an exploded view of parts of the filling and exhaust mechanism of embodiment 5000 depicted in Fig. 14.

The refillable spray dispenser 5000 comprises:

a spray assembly (not shown);

a hollow injection rod 5300 comprising a head 5310, a rod fill hole 5302 and a rod injection hole 5304;

a bottle 5100 having:

a compartment 5110 in fluid communication with the spray assembly; a bottom portion 5120 holding the rod 5300 and comprising: bottom portion walls 5122; a first seal 5404, a third seal 5408; a bottom opening 5124, a portion injection hole 5128 and a portion exhaust

hole 5126 in the bottom portion walls 5122, and a passage 5129 extending from the portion exhaust hole 5126 to the bottom

opening 5124;

a second seal 5406 positioned on top of the bottom portion 5120; the first seal 5404 positioned under the rod 5300 and the third seal 5408 positioned between the second seal 5406 and the first seal 5404, and between the walls 5122 and the rod 5300; wherein the first seal 5404 seals the passage 5129, preventing communication of fluid from the compartment 5110 to the bottom

opening 5124, the second seal 5406 seals the rod injection hole 5304, preventing communication of fluid from the rod fill hole to the

compartment 5110 when the injection rod 5300 is at a resting position (as in Figure 14), and

wherein the first seal 5404 allows communication of fluid from the compartment 5110, via the portion exhaust hole 5126 and the passage 5129, to the bottom opening 5124, the second seal 5406 allows communication of fluid from the rod fill hole 5302, via rod injection hole 5304, to the compartment 5110, and the third seal 5408 prevents communication of fluid from the compartment 5110 via the rod injection hole 5304 and the

passage 5129 to the bottom opening 5124, when the rod 5300 is in an extended position (not shown).

During the extension of the rod, a product such as a liquid or aerosol may be introduced into the bottle and simultaneously, introduction of gas such as air may be exhausted from the bottle. When the rod is in the resting position, the bottle is sealed.

Comparing the presently described embodiment 5000 to the formerly described embodiments, the first seal 5404 and the second seal 5406 have a similar function, although they are at different positions in the dispenser 5000. However, note that the first seal 5404 has a dual role: similar to the third seal in the formerly described embodiments, the first seal 5404 also serves to allow leak-less coupling of a stem 110 of a reservoir 100 (Not shown in figures 14 and 15) to the rod 5300. Whereas in the formerly described embodiments, the second seal had the role of preventing fluid from escaping the compartment via the portion injection hole at the bottom portion, both when the rod 5300 is in the extended position and when the rod is in the resting position. The second seal 5406 prevents fluid from escaping the compartment 5120 via the portion injection hole 5128 of the bottom portion 5110 when the rod 5300 is in the resting position, but it is the third seal 5408 that prevents the same when the rod 5300 is in an extended position. However, the position of third seal 5408 above the exhaust opening 5126 does allow fluid to go from the compartment 5120, via the exhaust opening 5126, to outside the dispenser.

The first seal 5404 has the same position as the third seal in those embodiments, i.e. under the rod. The first seal is made of a fairly hard silicon rubber that can sustain forces from repeatedly pushing a stem 110 against it. As shown in Figure 15, the first seal 5404 has small grooves 5405 on its circumference, such that when the first seal 5404 is pressed by the stem 110, the grooves 5405 allow fluid to pass between the first seal 5404 and the walls 5122. When the first seal 5404 is not pressed by a stem 110, the bottom of the first seal 5404 essentially prevents passage between the grooves 5405 and the bottom opening 5124 to outside the dispenser 5000.

Whereas in the formerly described embodiments, the sealing of the rod's injection hole is due to part of the injection rod (at the level of the injection hole) fitting tightly within the second seal, the sealing of the rod injection hole 5304 works by a different principle: the rod 5300 further comprises a head 5310. When the rod is in the resting position, as in Figure 14, the spring 5700 urges the head 5310 (as part of the rod 5300) towards the first seal 5404 sufficiently to essentially prevent transfer of fluid from the compartment 5110 via the rod 5300 to the bottom opening 5124. The first seal 5404 is coupled to the rod 5300. A stem of a reservoir is typically pushed against the third seal 5406 for filling the bottle 5100, as in previously described embodiments. The second seal 5406 is preferably soft and pliable relative to the first seal, to allow the second seal to yield to the head 5310 and thereby provide a tight fit thereof.

The third seal 5408 tightly holds the rod 5300. The third seal 5408 is between the first seal 5404 and the second seal 5406 and helps prevent back-flow of fluid out of the bottom compartment 5120 when the rod 5300 is in an extended position and the bottle 5100 is being refilled. However, other embodiments may lack a third seal, without any substantial change in functionality of the dispenser. The third seal 5408 preferably has hardness in between that of the first seal 5404 and that of the second seal 5406.

Figure 15 shows the filling mechanism and the exhaust mechanism in an exploded view. The rod, as shown, is made of a bottom part 5322 and a top part 5324, coupled to each other, so that pushing the bottom part 5322 to a certain extent, causes equal extension of the top part 5324. However, in other embodiments, the rod may have a head in a shape such as shown, yet the rod may be one piece.

Further shown in Figure 15 are the exhaust tube 5500 and the endcap 5800.

Note that tube 5500 is somewhat further away from the compartment

opening 5112, than is the tube 1500 in the formerly described dispenser 1000, yet the top of the tube 5500 is still closer to the top opening 5112 than to the injection

opening 5128, i.e. the tube 5500 is adjacent to the top opening 5112 for all practical purposes of allowing in gaseous substances and preventing access of liquid substances into the bottom portion 5120. Referring to an enlarged view of part of the bottom portion 5120, shown in

Figure 16, the walls 5122 comprise a rim or ridge 5123 and the head 5310 comprises a rim or ridge 5311. The second seal 5406 comprises a groove 5407 and preferably an opposite groove. The rims and/or ridges fit with the grooves 5407 to improve the seal of the second seal 5406 and the stability of its position in the dispenser.

The blocking of the passage in embodiments similar to 2000, 3000 and 4000 may be carried out with seal having a circumference with grooves, like in embodiment 5000. Likewise, embodiments similar to 2000, 3000 and 4000 may be equipped with a rod having a head.

Figure 17a schematically illustrates another embodiment 6000 which is somewhat simpler. The embodiment is depicted in resting position. The bottle body 6100 (bottom half only shown) comprises a top compartment 6120 wherein the liquid is stored for dispensation, and a bottom compartment 6130 wherein a valve 6200 is situated. A roof 6140 separates between the compartments, however the roof 6140 has an aperture 6142 through which the bottom compartment can communicate with the top compartment 6120. Upper sealing ring 6252 and the positioning ring 6254 are in contact with each other or may even be one unit. The valve 6200 includes a valve body 6260 and a valve core piston 6270 having a stem 6271 inside the valve body 6260 and a head 6274 outside the valve body 6260, the head 6274 situated between the upper sealing ring 6254 and the roof 6140. The head 6274 has a diameter which is wider than the hole in the upper sealing ring 6252 and than the roof aperture 6142, but narrower than the inner diameter of the bottom compartment 6130. The head 6274 is thinner than the height of the roof 6140 above the bottom 6122 of the top compartment 6120, to allow the head 6274 to move up. Although appearing otherwise in the figure, actually the valve core piston 6270 and the valve body 6260 are in contact with each other, the valve core piston 6270 fitting tightly into the valve body 6260.

Thus, as schematically shown in Figure 17b, the entire valve 6200 is pushed upwards when a bottom sealing ring 6256 (held in the bottom compartment 6130 below the valve 6200) is pushed and moved towards the roof aperture 6142. The valve 6200 can be moved until the valve head 6274 contacts the roof 6140.

Figures 18a and 18b show in cross-section and in exploded view respectively another embodiment 7000 similar to the embodiment shown in Figures 17a. 17b. The head 7274 has on a side 7273 facing the roof 7140 at least one head groove 7275 passing therethrough. The valve core piston 7270 comprises two legs 7272 holding the piston inside the valve body 7260. At rest position, as in Figure 18a, the

head 7274 effectively seals off the top compartment 7120 from the bottom compartment 7130 and the bottom sealing ring 7256 seals off a vent 7300 from the exterior environment outside the bottle 7000. When the valve 7200 is pushed upwards (typically by pushing a suitable stem, not shown, against the bottom sealing ring 7256), the head 7270 no longer rests on the upper sealing ring 7252, and liquid can go throughout the valve body 7260 and through the groove 7275 enter the top compartment 7120. Air is concomitantly free to leave via the vent 7300 to the exterior environment due to the bottom sealing ring 7256 no longer blocking the vent 7300.

Referring to Figure 18b, the end cap 7800 has one or more vertical cap groove or hole 7810 that is positioned opposite a vent hole 7310. Vertical cap groove 7810 thus positioned allows fluid connectivity between the vent 7800 and the bottom chamber 7130.

As shown in Figure 18a, the piston head 7270 is flush with the piston body 7260 and there is thus need to provide a route for excess liquid to exit the piston body 7260. Therefore, the valve body 7260 has one or more body groove 7262 (best seen in Figure 18b), that are blocked by the upper seal ring 7252 when the valve 7200 is at the rest position, and unblocked when the valve 7200 is at a pushed position. In other embodiments (not shown), the stem part of the piston does not include legs with a gap between them, but rather the stem is solid and cylindrical, and fits tightly into the body, but is not inserted all the way into the body, or not enough to completely block the body groove, thus leaving a small exit via the body groove (as in Figure 18b). Alternatively, the valve body has at least one groove running along the stem, so that refill fluid can be introduced by entering the bottom part of the valve body, travelling along the stem groove, and exiting the valve via the valve body groove. Similar structures working along the same principles should be considered as being within the scope of the invention.

Groove 7275 on the head allows fluid to pass over the piston head 7270 and into the top compartment.

Turning now to Figure 18c, preferably the valve core 7270 has a circular

tooth 7276 or ridge on the underside 7277 of the head 7274. The ridge 7276 helps prevent escape of fluid from the top compartment into the bottom compartment below the upper seal ring. Similarly, as shown in Figure 18d, the end cap 7800 has a ridge or circular tooth 7820 that enhances engagement with the bottom sealing ring 7256 preventing escape of fluid from the top compartment via the vent.

For refilling perfume, very small bottles are used, for example the entire bottle is less than 10 cm long and the bottom compartment is less than 15 mm long. It has been found that in such miniature structure the tooth 7276 on the head 7270 should be about 0.2mm high. However, manufacturing tolerances occasionally provide somewhat shorter teeth, for example a mere 0.1 mm high. In such cases the sealing might be compromised due to the shortness of the ridge 7276. Surprisingly, it has been found that using an upper seal ring 7252 and a bottom sealing ring 7256 of different hardnesses solves the potential leaking problem. Either the upper sealing ring 7252 is softer than the lower sealing ring 7256, or vice versa.

As shown in Figure 18a, the valve body 7260 has a wide part 7261a and a narrow part 7261b. A horizontal groove 7830 in the end cap 7800 and a ridge 7910 in a positioning ring 7900 help to affix the positioning ring 7900 to the end cap 7800. The end cap 7800, positioning ring 7900 and the upper ring 7252 are sized so that the three tightly and snugly fit into the lower compartment 7130 and the upper seal 7252 is effective, e.g. there is no gap between the positioning ring 7900 and the upper sealing ring 7252 though which fluid can escape. The lower seal ring 7256 fits snugly between the end cap 7800 and the valve body 7260; the lower seal rings' outer diameter 7257a is larger than the bottom opening 7802 of the end cap 7800 and the valve body diameter 7263a is larger than the lower seal ring's hole 7257b. A

spring 7700 held in the lower compartment 7130 between the wide part 7261a of the valve body 7260 and the positioning ring 7900, has coils 7702 with an inner

diameter 7703 a little larger than the outer diameter 7263b of the narrow part 7261b of the valve body 7260, a little smaller than the inner diameter 7902 of the hard cup-shaped positioning ring 7900. The positioning ring 7900 and the upper sealing ring 7252 have outer diameters 7904, 7253a, respectively, smaller than the inner diameter of the lower compartment 7130 but larger than the inner diameter 7142 of the roof 7140. The head of the piston 7274 has an outer diameter 7278 larger than the hole 7253b in the upper sealing ring 7252 and smaller than the inner diameter of the roof 7142.

Further provided are kits comprising such refillable bottles and refilling bottles with stems that fit the refillable bottles.

The examples described above present various selected embodiments of a dispenser or refill bottle. It is noted that further embodiments are anticipated which also fall within the scope of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims and includes both combinations and sub combinations of the various features described hereinabove as well as variations and modifications thereof, which would occur to persons skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A refillable dispenser comprising:

a dispenser assembly;

a valve comprising a valve body and a valve core piston, wherein the core piston has a stem firmly inside the valve body and a head outside the valve body, and a valve groove extends along a portion of the stem that is inside the valve body;

a bottle having:

a top compartment in fluid communication with the dispenser assembly;

wherein the core piston head is situated between the upper sealing ring and a roof, and comprises a head groove on a side of the head facing the roof,

and pushing the bottom sealing ring allows the bottom sealing ring and the valve to be moved toward the roof until the valve head contacts the roof, fluid to pass through the valve groove and the head groove into the top compartment, and exhaust gas to pass through the passage to the bottom opening.

2. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the dispenser assembly is a spray assembly.

3. The dispenser of claim 2, wherein the head has a diameter that is wider than a hole in the upper sealing ring and the roof aperture, but narrower than an inner diameter of the bottom compartment, and the head is thinner than a height of the roof above a bottom of the top compartment.

4. The dispenser of claims 1 or 2, wherein the valve core piston comprises at least two

legs holding the valve core piston inside the valve body, and the valve groove comprises a gap between the two legs, the valve groove further comprising a body groove on the valve body, the valve groove positioned to be blocked by the upper seal ring when the valve is at rest.

5. The dispenser of claims 1 or 2, further comprising an end cap holding the bottom sealing ring and the valve, wherein the end cap has one or more vertical cap groove positioned opposite a vent hole.

6. The dispenser of claims 1 or 2, wherein the valve core has a circular ridge on an underside of the head, the ridge configured to help prevent escape of fluid from the top compartment into the bottom compartment below the upper seal ring.

7. The dispenser of claim 5, wherein the end cap has a ridge that enhances engagement of the endcap with the bottom sealing ring, thereby assisting in preventing escape of fluid from the top compartment via the vent when the valve is at rest.

8. The dispenser of claims 1 or 2, wherein the bottle is very small, and wherein the head comprises a ridge thereon about 0.2mm high.

9. The dispenser of claims 1 or 2, wherein the upper seal ring and the bottom sealing ring have different hardnesses.