EP3991598A2

EP3991598A2 - A refillable roll-on container for dispensing liquid

Info

Publication number: EP3991598A2
Application number: EP21204056.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Robert Cook
Original assignee: Bodypak Closures Ltd
Current assignee: Bodypak Ltd
Priority date: 2020-10-27
Filing date: 2021-10-21
Publication date: 2022-05-04
Also published as: EP3991598A3; GB202115134D0; GB2600560A; GB202017039D0

Abstract

A container comprising a container body is disclosed. The container is open at one end, to receive a liquid and defining a retaining volume to retain a liquid. A housing is secured to said container body, the housing retaining an applicator to deliver liquid to a surface. The housing is configured to control release of fluid from the container body. The container comprises two portions, releasably secured to each other and movable between a first position in which the two portions sealingly co-operate to define a volume to retain a liquid and a second position in which liquid can be added to the container body. The housing can include a dispensing mechanism secured to a container body, allowing a liquid to be dispensed.

Description

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a refillable roll-on container such as is used to deliver anti-perspirant or deodorant to a user.

Background to the Invention

The problems caused by plastics materials in the environment are of increasing concern. Manufacturers and brands continually strive to provide packaging that is less harmful to the environment, wherever possible that packaging can be supplied in recycled material, and that, even more preferably the packaging can be re-used many times rather than being of single use.
Currently brands supply roll-on deodorants and anti-perspirants in single use packaging. When the liquid inside is emptied, the packaging is disposed of. These packs comprise of multiple components and only contain a small amount of liquid product, so they only last for a short time before they are disposed of.
Many brands are moving towards multi-use packaging, with refill packs of larger capacity containers being offered that are used to re-fill the original pack. This has the technical benefit of saving the amount of plastic waste disposed of over time. As an example, a common roll-on deodorant pack contains 50ml of liquid product. If a refillable pack design could be offered alongside a 500ml refill bottle, then the one 500ml refill bottle would replace the purchase of nine roll-on deodorant packs.
Given the current design of a typical roll-on deodorant pack which contains at least 4 components:

1. the container for the liquid product,
2. the roll ball,
3. a component to trap the roll ball to the container,
4. the screw-on top cap,

The currently disclosed invention increases the number of reusable components, as well as the refill bottle and cap. For example, in certain embodiments, then for 10 packs, just the refill bottle and screw cap (2 components) are to be disposed of, with the reusable pack capable of being used multiple times without the need to be disposed of. The result is the disposal of just 2 components versus 40 components.
The current invention, as well as reducing the number of purchases which need to be made by a consumer also reduces considerably the amount of plastics material which needs to be disposed of to the environment.
An object of the current invention is to provide a packaging solution that is convenient for a consumer to refill with the result that the packaging can be re-used multiple times.

Summary of the Invention

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention there is provided a container, the container comprising a container body, open at one end and defining a retaining volume to retain a liquid;

a housing secured to said container body the housing retaining an applicator to deliver liquid to a surface;
the housing being configured to control release of fluid from the container body;
the container comprising two portions , releasably secured to each other and movable between a first position in which the two portions sealingly co-operate to define a volume to retain a liquid and a second position in which liquid can be added to the container body.

The two-part arrangement allows a container to be refilled and reused, thus saving materials.
Preferably, the housing is hingeably mounted to the container body for ease of use and to keep the two portions in contact with each other so minimising the risk of losing a portion.
Preferably alternatively, the container body comprises two container body sections which are releasably sealingly securable to each other and further preferably are hingeably mounted to each other to allow filling of the container body and its subsequent use to retain and dispense a liquid as required.
Preferably, the housing includes a dispensing mechanism secured to a container body and allowing a liquid to be dispensed from a container body, the mechanism comprising:

a housing defining an atrium having a liquid inlet in connection with a liquid source, and a liquid outlet from a container body,
a first portion of the atrium having a shape complementary to the applicator,
the applicator being movable between a first position freely rotatable about at least one axis and a second position in liquid-tight engagement with the first portion the atrium to prevent liquid flow from the inlet to the outlet,
one or more resilient urging means in touching arrangement with the applicator and biased to urge the applicator to the first position.

Preferably, the applicator is spherical to provide ease of use and good pick up of contents of the container. Alternatively preferably, the applicator is cylindrical.
Preferably, the resilient means comprises a plurality of spring elements arrayed within the housing adjacent the atrium to facilitate engagement with the applicator.
Preferably alternatively, the housing comprises two housing sections which are releasably sealingly securable to each other and further preferably are hingeably mounted to each other to allow filling of the container body and its subsequent use to retain and dispense a liquid as required
The container preferably includes a cap to close the container and, when in the closed position, to urge the applicator to the second position against the bias of the springs.
In accordance with the second aspect of the invention there is provided a dispensing mechanism secured to a container body and allowing a liquid to be dispensed from a container body, the mechanism comprising:

Preferably, the applicator is spherical to provide ease of use and good pick up of contents of the container. Alternatively preferably, the applicator is cylindrical.
Preferably, the resilient means comprises a plurality of spring elements arrayed within the housing adjacent the atrium to facilitate engagement with the applicator.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention is now described with reference to the accompanying drawings which show by way of example only, three embodiments of a refillable roll-on container to dispense a liquid. In the drawings:

Figures 1a and 1b are respectively, a side view and a sectional view through a container body;
Figure 2 illustrates a spherical ball roller for incorporation into a container;
Figure 3 illustrates a cylindrical roller for incorporation into a container;
Figure 4 illustrates a container cap;
Figure 5 is a sectional view through a first embodiment of container housing;
Figure 6 is a sectional view of an assembled container body, housing and cap;
Figure 7 is a front view of an assembled container;
Figure 8 is a side view of an assembled container;
Figure 9 illustrates a second embodiment of a container;
Figure 10 illustrates a spherical ball roller housed in a container housing;
Figure 11 illustrates the embodiment of Figure 9 in the open position;
Figure 12 is an exploded view of a third embodiment of a container;
Figure 13 is a front view of an assembled container in accordance with either the second or the third embodiment; and
Figure 14 is a side view of an assembled container in accordance with either the second or the third embodiment.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Many anti-perspirant and deodorant formulations are supplied in a container comprising a container body to hold the liquid contents, and having a dispenser which comprises a confined ball which can rotate freely about any axis within its confines. The container is usually formed of a plastics material. When in the dispensing position with the top cap of the container removed, the ball is in contact with the contents of the container and rotation, caused for example by being forced to roll across a user's skin, results in the portion of the ball which has been in contact with the contents to rotate to be in contact with the user's skin transferring contents onto the user. However, once the contents have been fully used up, the container and dispenser are usually simply thrown away for waste disposal. The invention described below allows a container to be reused multiple times, which reduces the environmental load of the materials.
The invention contemplates, in its broadest aspect a container which can be opened to allow the contents to be replenished for re-use. Means are also included to prevent leakage of the contents around the ball when the product is not in use. The dispenser mechanism, which can be quite complicated and/or difficult to construct is left intact.
Referring initially to Figures 1a and 1b, these illustrate respectively a side view and a sectional view of a container body, generally referenced 10, which can be utilised as part of a flip-top container having a rolling dispenser. The rolling dispenser is held within a flip-top housing removably secured to the container body 10. The flip top housing and the container body are movable between a closed position and an open position, allowing refill. It is intended in this embodiment that replacement liquid be added through the neck 11 of the container body when the housing is temporarily moved from its dispensing position over the neck 11 of the container body 10 to a refilling position.
The securing means can be, as shown, a clip form 12 or can also be a screw-threaded or other arrangement known in the art. When the housing is secured to the container body 10, a seal is formed between the housing and the top face 13 of the neck 11. Alternatively or additionally a seal is formed between the housing and the inner neck bore face 14. The rolling dispenser held within the housing can be a spherical ball 20 as is shown in Figure 2 or a cylindrical roller 30 as shown in Figure 3.
A top cap 40 fits over the housing and is secured thereto by a screw-thread fitment 41 or by a clip form fitment. The cap 40 provides an air-tight seal with the housing and reduces loss of liquid by evaporation from the container body. The top cap 40 includes a trapping element 42, extending from an inside upper surface, which acts in conjunction with other features of the container described below to urge the rolling dispenser against the housing to form a liquid-tight seal.
Figure 5 illustrates a flip open housing comprising a housing body 50 to which the flip housing 60 is attached by means of a folding hinge 51. Other types of hinge known in the art can be used, but the folding hinge 51 as shown is convenient, as the folding hinge 51 allows the flip housing 60 to be moved clear of the housing body 50 so that the flip housing 60 does not interfere with filling of the container body 50 whilst remaining attached thereto.
In use, the housing body 50 is secured to a container body. Attachment to the container body -usually onto the neck of the container body - is, in the illustrated embodiment, by means of the clip forms 52 which engage corresponding complementary features on the container body. Alternatively, a screw-threaded connection can be used. The surface of a plug seal engages against the inner wall of the neck of the container and provides a liquid-tight seal to prevent escape of liquid. In alternative embodiments, the housing body can seal to the container body by means of a platform seal or a compression liner
The housing body 50 is provided with a filling aperture 54 which, when open, enables new product to be easily added into the attached container body. Once filling of the container body has taken place, the flip housing 60 is pivoted about the hinge 51 into position in sealing connection with the housing body 50. To achieve the seal, the flip housing 60 includes a plug seal arrangement 61 which frictionally engages the inner-facing surface of a sealing ring 55.
A support ring 62 is provided, which acts to disperse forces applied on securing the housing body 50 and flip housing 60 together. Where the component is closed with the flip housing 60 sitting on top of the housing body 50, the support ring 62 is designed to make contact with the top face of the housing body 50 when the component is applied to the container by means of a downward force. This is normally an impact force from a pneumatic cylinder on the filling line. The support ring 62 serves to absorb the impact force and spread the impact around the top face of the housing body 50, which in turn forces the body downwards to clip the housing body 50 to the container. Without the support ring 62 the downward force could dissipate into other areas of the component, possibly breaking the hinge area due to the flip housing 60 expanding outwards and downwards.
Once the flip housing 60 is in position on the housing body 50, the press button latch 63 feature acts to keep the flip housing 60 and housing body 50 releasably secured together. The arrangement is prevented from pivoting open by engagement of the lugs 56 and 64 with each other. Depression of the press button latch 63 disengages the lugs 56, 64 allowing the flip open housing to open.
At the in-use dispensing end of the flip housing 60 (and hence of the container) the opening is defined by the clip form 65 which also serves, see below, in retention of the roll ball.
There is provided therefore a liquid path linking the contents in the container body to the clip form 65 in the assembled container. In order to control the rate at which liquid is dispensed, then a control means is interposed in the liquid path. The control means in the illustrated embodiment is intended to be a spherical ball. The spherical ball is housed in the flip housing 60. The flip housing 60 includes a spherical sealing face 66 of curvature complementary to that of the spherical ball. When urged against the sealing face 66 therefore, the spherical ball forms a seal therewith, effectively closing the liquid path. In order to prevent the spherical ball from falling out of the flip housing 60, the ends of the clip form 65 curve inwards such that the diameter of the channel in the flip housing 60 at that point is less than the diameter of the spherical ball.
To enable liquid to be dispensed when required, a plurality of springs 67 extends into the channel.
The springs 67 are so located to urge the ball away from the sealing face 66 and provide therefore a liquid path between the spherical ball and the sealing face 66. The spherical ball at this point is also free to rotate within the flip housing about any axis. The free rotation allows a portion of the spherical ball which is in contact with and has become coated with liquid held within the container body to rotate such that it faces outwardly from the container and allowing the liquid to be transferred, for example an anti-perspirant to the user.
Fig 6 illustrates the top cap 40 in position over the assembled housing body 50 and flip housing 60, in which the top cap 40 is secured to the flip housing by a screw-threaded arrangement 70. In this configuration it can be seen that the top cap 40 includes a trapping element 71 extending from its topmost upper surface. The trapping element 70 pushes the spherical ball 20 against the spherical sealing surface 66 to form a liquid-tight seal therebetween and prevent leakage of liquid from the container body.
In Figures 7 and 8, an assembled container 80, in accordance with the abovedescribed embodiment is illustrated.
Figure 9 illustrates a second embodiment, of container, generally referenced 90. In this embodiment, the spherical ball 20 is held within a circumferential sealing surface 91 which extends further round the spherical ball 20, and extends to the upper end of a housing 92 than in the previous embodiment. The free end 93 of the sealing surface 91 functions in the same manner as the clip form 65 of the first embodiment to retain the spherical ball 20. In similar manner to the first embodiment, springs 67 are located on the container body 96 and act to urge the spherical ball 20 away from the sealing surface 91 when the top cap 94 is removed, allowing liquid to flow between spherical ball 20 and the sealing surface 91. On closure of the top cap 94 onto the container body 96, the trapping element 95 urges the spherical ball 20 against the sealing surface 91 to prevent liquid from leaving the container body 96. The top cap 94, when in the closed position is secured to the container body 96 through engagement of the thread form 97 on the top cap 94 with a corresponding thread form 98 on the container body 96. The housing 92, as shown in Figure 10 is secured to the container body 96 by means of a clip form 99 which engages a corresponding clip receiver 100 on the container body 96. In an alternative embodiment, lugs can be used instead of a clip form. Further alternatively, a screw-threaded arrangement can be provided to secure the housing 92 to the container body 96.
In this embodiment, and referring now also to Figure 11 which shows the flip base in the open position, the flip open filling arrangement is located towards the base 110 of the container body 96.
The flip base 111 is secured to the container body 96 by a folding hinge 112. To releasably hold the flip base 111 in the closed position, clip lugs on the flip base 111 engage corresponding lugs 113 on the container body 96. To assist a user in opening the container, to enable refilling to be carried out, recessed forms 114, 115 are provided on the flip base 111 and the container body 96 respectively. The recessed forms 114, allow a user to obtain better purchase on the flip base 111 and container body 96 to separate these elements.
Figures 12 - 14 illustrate a third embodiment of the invention with the flip base 120 in the open position. The roll ball housing 121 in this embodiment is as shown for the second embodiment, and the spherical ball 20 is held against the sealing surface 122, when the top cap is in the closed position. The roll ball housing 121 is secured to the neck end 123 of the container body 124 by a retaining clip 125, housed within an annular sleeve 126, the retaining clip 125 engaging a corresponding clip form 127 on the neck end 123. In an alternative embodiment, the housing 121 is secured to the container body 124 by a screw-threaded connection.

Claims

A container comprising a container body (10), open at one end, and defining a retaining volume to retain a liquid;
a housing (60) secured to said container body (10) the housing (60) retaining an applicator (20) to deliver liquid to a surface;

the housing (60) being configured to control release of fluid from the container body (10);

the container comprising two portions (96, 111), releasably secured to each other and movable between a first position in which the two portions sealingly co-operate to define a volume to retain a liquid and a second position in which liquid can be added to the container body.
A container according to Claim 1, wherein the housing is hingeably mounted (51) to the container body.
A container according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the container body comprises two container body sections sealingly securable to each other.
A container according to Claim 3, wherein the container body sections are hingeably mounted to each other.
A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the housing includes a dispensing mechanism secured to a container body and allowing a liquid to be dispensed from a container body, the mechanism comprising:
a container body housing defining an atrium having a liquid inlet in connection with a liquid source, and a liquid outlet from a container body,

a first portion of the atrium having a shape complementary to the applicator, the applicator being movable between a first position freely rotatable about at least one axis and a second position in liquid-tight engagement with the first portion the atrium to prevent liquid flow from the inlet to the outlet,

one or more resilient urging means in touching arrangement with the applicator and biased to urge the applicator to the first position.
A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the applicator is spherical.
A container according to Claims 1 - 6, wherein the applicator is cylindrical.
A container according to Claims 5 - 7, wherein the resilient means comprises a plurality of spring elements arrayed within the housing adjacent the atrium.
A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the container includes a cap to close the container and, when in the closed position, to urge the applicator to the second position against the bias of the springs.
A container according to Claim 1, wherein the housing comprises two housing sections sealingly securable to each other.
A container according to Claim 10, wherein the housing sections are hingeably mounted to each other.
A dispensing mechanism secured to a container body and allowing a liquid to be dispensed from a container body, the mechanism comprising:
a housing defining an atrium having a liquid inlet in connection with a liquid source, and a liquid outlet from a container body,

a first portion of the atrium having a shape complementary to the applicator,

the applicator being movable between a first position freely rotatable about at least one axis and a second position in liquid-tight engagement with the first portion the atrium to prevent liquid flow from the inlet to the outlet,

one or more resilient urging means in touching arrangement with the applicator and biased to urge the applicator to the first position.
A dispensing mechanism according to Claim 12, wherein the applicator is spherical.
A dispensing mechanism according to Claim 12, wherein the applicator is cylindrical.
A container according to Claims 12 - 14, wherein the resilient means comprises a plurality of spring elements arrayed within the housing adjacent the atrium.