GB2612842A

GB2612842A - Improvements in refillable liquid dispenser devices

Info

Publication number: GB2612842A
Application number: GB2116467.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: tham Michael; Tham Jennifer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2021-11-16
Filing date: 2021-11-16
Publication date: 2023-05-17
Anticipated expiration: 2041-11-16
Also published as: GB2612842B; GB202116467D0

Abstract

A refillable dispenser device 1 has a soft cube insert 6 filled with the refill liquid. The insert has a spout outlet neck with valve and spout holding flanges 12, 17 to either side of it with a perforated strip (13, fig. 2.) It is inserted into a hollow container through a square opening at the top, which has a hinged door to its base furnished with a hinge and two retaining clips. Liquid is displaced from within the insert by a compressor weight 2 placed on the top of the cube, and exits through the spout outlet neck 11. Preferably the perforated strip is torn off to open the neck. The compressor weight may have a pulling cord 22 to its top.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN REFILLABLE LIQUID DISPENSER DEVICES

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to refillable dispenser devices which are used to dispense liquids directly onto the hands and refill empty bottles or containers.

Background

The use of refill dispensers has become common when relating to many types of domestic liquids, for example; an empty shampoo bottle can be refilled using a container to enable the original bottle to be used again.

This type of reuse has become more widespread and relates to domestic and commercial products, including; shower gels, shampoo and conditioners, home cleaning materials, detergents and some liquid foods. Many of the refills are provided in soft pouches, sachets or low cost containers, having an attached nozzle to be inserted into the opening of the original container for filling. Many of these bottles and containers have lids or caps which are made from Polypropylene which is more difficult to recycle and they tend to be made of quite a large amount of plastic, for example; a 500 ml bottle will typically be made up of 50g of plastic. Some refills have no attached nozzle or neck and rely on the user to be able to accurately dispense the contents without spillage, which is often very difficult.

To enable the dispensing of their contents the bottles or containers usually have a round neck which makes transport and storage of the products inefficient and the independent construction of the dispensers means they often cannot be continually refilled and sealed.

Patents can be cited which attempt to provide a solution to these problems as follows: This is shown in patent W01995030590 (IDO) discloses a refill pouch (1) for refilling a container (10) with a liquid or a powdered material, by tearing the edge off at a perforation (5), provides a pour spout notch (7) and a groove or concave portion (3a) which matches with an upper wall opening (i1) of the mouth of the container (10). Therefore, the pour spout notch (7) is correctly positioned with respect to the container opening (11) so that the material in the pouch can be effectively transferred to the container (10). The material may thus be transferred to even a container with a small opening without spillage.

Patent U6201201 52979 (HUI, CHIN, MING, MING, PO, WEI, HSIANG, JONG, WEI, WEI) discloses a refill pouch includes a head member and a pouch member connected with the head member. 'The head member has a threaded portion and a disc portion formed thereon. The threaded portion has one end connected with a top side of the disc portion. The threaded portion adapts to be threadedly connected with a pump head. The head member has a through hole defined therein and extending through the threaded portion and the disc portion. The pouch member is securely connected with a bottom side of the disc portion. The pouch member has an opening defined in a top thereof and located corresponding to the through hole for communicating with the through hole. The pouch member has a wall thickness gradually decreasing from the top to a bottom thereof.

Patent US20090134185 (SOICHI, KAZUMI, KOICHI, TAKAYUKI) discloses a pouch for refill of contents 10 manufactured by forming a bag from a base material film made of a flexible package material such as a resin film so that a nozzle 16 for discharging the contents is formed so as to project obliquely upward at a corner of a body part 11. In the pouch 10, in order to prevent closing of a discharge port 16 a at the time of discharging the contents with a simpler structure and easily transfer the contents to another container such as a plastic bottle or a glass bottle, a ridge line guiding part 17 is formed in a base part 16 a of a nozzle 16 so that a ridge line 20, formed in the surface of the base material film when the pouch is pressed from the inside by the contents filled, is guided along a center line of a the nozzle.

Patent US5806717 (PAGE: HERRERA-GUTIERREZ) discloses a flexible bag for soft soap having a measuring valve formed by an injector body and a iquid dispenser. The injector chamber is formed by a tubular element, preferably a plastic pipe, sealed in the lower part of the bag. When this injector' is pressed, it sends the soap contained in the injector chamber towards the exit, which opens letting the soap out, after which it closes automatically once the pressure is removed. A compressor in the dispenser's cover, when pressed, squeezes the tubular device, which forms an in ector chamber, against the back, forcing the soap contained in the injector chamber to exit. When the compressor is released, the injector chamber sucks in, closing the exit seal and refilling soap from the bag.

Patent US4576313 (SMITH, STEINER) discloses a fluid refill pouch for use with a dispenser having a refill well with a refill opening therein and a piercing member disposed in the refill welt the pouch having a flexible wall hermetically sealed for containing fluid, and a docking adaptor loosely disposed in the pouch for insertion into the refill well so as to push the wall of the pouch upon the piercing member to pierce the wall and provide an opening for discharge of fluid from the pouch through the re.flil opening and into the dispenser; the inner wall of the re-fill well and the outer wall of the docking adaptor are shaped complementary with flutes in the outer wall of the docking adaptor for easy grasping by the user, the parts having non-standard dimensions to provide anti-bootleg protection: there also is provided a fluid dispensing system incorporating such a refill pouch and dispenser.

Patent US3065894 (LIPSCHUTZ, BARNE,) discloses a flexible bag which is inserted into a paperboard box of the type having pairs of flaps that fold transversely to close the box. The bag is provided with a spout that is fastened to one of the flaps so that the flaps may be folded down and the bag held tightly between the flaps in fastened condition. Indicating means is provided on the outside of the box, at the side adjacent the spout of the bag. This indicating means marks a point of insertion of the piercing probe. By means of this arrangement, the bag is held firmly in position when the probe is pressed against it so that a clean piercing insertion is insured.

The prior art therefore shows that there is a need for a more effective liquid dispenser device and refills which offer a more environmentally friendly construction and design which does not require added plastics and has a simple and effective new way of advantageously dispersing the liquid.

The present invention aims to provide an improved liquid refill device which consists of a solid container with a soft cube insert in which the liquid is stored, having a spout outlet with a neck to aid dispensing directly to the consumer or into bottles and containers, with a simple self-automated means for forcing the liquid out of the soft cube therefore.

Summary of the invention

According to the present invention there is provided a liquid refill device which is comprised of two main components, these being a solid container with a soft cube insert. The solid container is a housing for the soft cube insert and is of a size and dimension to enable the soft cube insert to be slid inside through a complete square opening at the top; with sufficient space around it to enable a close fitting but allowing for the cube insert to compresses and deflate in shape as it is emptied over time. The solid container is of a hollow cuboid structure but is slightly taller in height than the soft cube insert, to allow space at the top for a cube compressor weight. The container could be made of plastics, ceramics, glass or metals.

The solid container has four equally opposed walls which form the vertical sides of its body and the square opening to the top. To its bottom is a base which covers at least three quarters of its underside surface with a final quarter to the end cut out as a rectangular opening, forming a refill outlet opening.

A hinged door with two inner retaining clips covers said refill outlet opening and can be opened when access to the liquid within the soft cube insert is required. To the frontal edge of the soft cube insert base is a spout outlet neck to aid dispensing into a consumers hands or bottles and containers. The spout outlet neck is formed as a part of the single material used to make the soft cube insert body and is actioned by tearing off a perforated strip seal to the whole edge, for pre-use sealing revealing the spout outlet neck in closed and flattened form, which is then opened by the user's fingers.

To either side of the spout outlet neck and as part of the soft cube insert are spout holding flanges. The spout holding flanges are of sufficient size and width to be located to the inner side of said hinged door and held in place under the two retaining clips thereto. As the hinged door is opened by the user the door opens and it's attached inner retaining clips pull out the neck area of the cube inserts spout outlet neck, positioning it vertically and downward as a protrusion from the container. As shown in the accompanying Figures.

The soft cube insert is now ready to disperse its liquid; for example; a shampoo, from its presented spout outlet neck. To force the liquid from within the container and out of the spout outlet neck opening, a cube compressor weight is placed into the full opening at the top of the container. The cube compressor weight is the same square shape and size of the cube insert and presses down on its soft body to compress it and force the 'shampoo' liquid out of the spout outlet neck. This displacement action of the liquid is made possible when the spout outlet neck is open. A short cord is attached to the top of the weight to pull it back up from inside the container when the cube is empty and needs replacing.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting As such; those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the clams be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the Patent Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application; which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limitina as to the scope of the invention in any way.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved refillable dispenser device which has all the advantages of the prior art refillable dispenser devices and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a refillable dispenser device which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved refillable dispenser device which is of durable and reliable construction.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved refillable dispenser device which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labour; and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such a product available to the buying public.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved refillable dispenser device which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and detailed descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

Brief description of figures

Figure 1 shows a side view of the refillable dispenser device.

Figure 2 shows a dimensional view of the liquid refill cube used in the refillable dispenser device.

Figure 3 shows a dimensional view of the dispenser body of the refillable dispenser device.

Figure 4 shows a side view of the refillable dispenser device with the inner refifl cube being compressed by the weight.

Figure 5 shows a side view of the refillable dispenser device with the inner refill cube even further compressed by the weight and liquid being therefore dispensed into a bottle.

Figure 6 shows a dimensional view of the refillable dispenser device.

Detailed description of figures

A typical embodiment of the refillable dispenser device is shown in Figure 1. It comprises the device 1, which has a solid container 3 and a soft cube insert 6 which contains the refill liquid. The soft cube insert is replaced when empty and another is slid inside the solid container.

A complete square opening is formed at the top of the solid container 3 by way of the four walls of its body. A cube compressor weight 2 is placed on the top 9 of the soft cube insert 6 adding weight to the soft cube from the top downward.

To the base 16 is the soft cube insert bottom 4 seated onto it, with the spout outlet neck 11 of the soft cube insert 6 held by retaining clips 8 (to either side, as shown in further Figures) on the inner side of a hinged door 7 at the refill outlet opening. The hinged door is opened in use by holding tab 5 and the hinge 10 enables this sprung action.

Figure 2 shows the soft cube insert 6A with the four sides being; rear side 3A, top side, 9A, frontal side 14, right side 15, left side 24 and base side 16A. To the base side 16A is aforementioned spout outlet neck 11 with spout holding flanges 12 and 17 to either side of the spout outlet, in folded form prior to use. A perforated strip 13 seals the spout outlet neck 11 and holds the sections flat prior to use, providing a pre-use seal.

The complete square opening 21 is shown at the top of the solid container 3B in Figure 3 with base 16B and right side 19, frontal side 20, rear 25 and left side 26. To the base 16B is fill outlet opening 18 which has hinged door 17B with hinge 10B and opening tab 5B. The two retaining clips 8B to hold the spout area down through the fill outlet opening 18 are also shown. The solid box container is wall mounted using fitting openings 27.

Figure 4 shows the refillable dispenser device 1C with sucker wall attachments 28. The compressor weight 2C with lifting cord 22 is shown pushing down on the top side 9C of the soft cube insert 6C through the complete square opening 21C. The solid container 3C is shown with the now open spout outlet neck 11C held by retaining clip 8C on the inner side of hinged door 7C. The liquid inside the soft cube insert is able to exit through the now open spout outlet neck 11C as the compressor weight 2C presses down in a natural continual compression motion. On closure of the hinged door, the spout outlet neck opening folds due to it being held to either side by the two retaining clips, closing the spout outlet neck opening and preventing further liquid exiting. This action also prevents the compressor weight from deflating the soft cube insert further as the liquid is unable to pass out and therefore the tension of the liquid under the compressor weight is maintained during periods where the device is not being used. This is due to further liquid displacement being halted.

Opening the hinged door therefore opens the spout outlet neck and the passing of the liquid (for example; shampoo) out of the spout outlet neck is enabled again This is further demonstrated in Figure 5 wherein the compressor weight 2D is shown further down the interior of the solid container 3D and the liquid inside the soft cube insert 6D is further exited through the spout outlet neck 11D into the users hand 23 thereto.

Figure 6 shows a dimensional view of the complete refillable dispenser device 1E, with the soft cube insert 6E inside the solid container 3E having compressor weight 2E inserted through the complete square opening 21E. To the base 4E are the aforementioned hinged door 7E with retaining clips 8E and spout outlet neck 11 E.

Claims

Claims 1) A refillable dispenser device comprising; a soft cube insert filled with a refill liquid having a spout cutlet neck and spout holding flanges to either side of it with a perforated strip, this is inserted into a wall mounted hollow container through a complete square opening at the top, the container has four vertical walls with a refill outlet opening to its base covered by a hinged door furnished with a hinge and two retaining clips, liquid is displaced from within said soft cube insert by a compressor weight placed on the top of the soft cube.
2) A refillable dispenser device according to claim 1 wherein said perforated strip is teared off to open a spout outlet neck.
3) A refillable dispenser device according to claim 1 and 2 wherein said spout outlet neck is held onto the inner side of a hinged door by way of two spout holding flanges.
4) A refillable dispenser device according to claim 1 and 3 wherein said spout outlet neck is pulled down through a fill outlet opening when a hinged door is opened.
5) A refillable dispenser device according to claim 1 wherein said solid container has four vertical walls being a right side, frontal side, rear side and left side.
6) A refillable dispenser device according to claim 1 wherein said compressor weight has a pulling cord to its top.
7) A refillable dispenser device according to claim 1 wherein said solid container has wall mounting means.
8) A refillable dispenser device according to any preceding claim; including a method by which liquids can be dispensed onto the hands or into a bottle or container to be refilled.