JP2009530199A - Closures for dispensing fragrances from closures - Google Patents

Abstract

A closure (2) for the container (3), engageable with the container (3) to close the container (3) and / or engageable with the second part to close the container (3) A closure (2) having a first part, wherein the closure (2) has an orifice (11), has a fragrance source (8) and comprises a chamber (9), or When the first part engages with the second part, it forms a chamber (9), the chamber (9) contains a fragrance source (8), and the closure (2) When used to close the container (3), the chamber (9) is separated from the interior space of the container, vented around the container (3) by the orifice (11), and by pressurizing the chamber (9) One blown fragrance from the chamber (9) Through the scan (11) is arranged so as to be emitted around the container (3), said closure.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to delivering fragrances from consumer products, and in particular to a method for dispensing fragrances to and from container closures, consumable packaging, consumer products and consumer products.

For the purposes of this specification, “consumer product” means a consumable package, which includes a container and a container closure, typically a shampoo, a shower gel, Contains consumables that are liquid consumables such as laundry detergents or toilet cleaning preparations and typically include fragrances. Such consumables are also referred to as “active substances”.

  Fragrance plays an important role in promoting and selling consumer products by strengthening product brands. In a supermarket, when selling a consumer product with a removable cap, remove the cap so that the customer can take the product off the shelf and try the fragrance contained in the consumables before purchasing the consumer product It has been known. If a loosened cap cannot be tightened again, there is a risk of leakage, contamination or breakage of consumables. There are also some consumables, such as liquid cleaning products, that may contain aggressive ingredients such as bleach to perform their function. And the upper space (air) above the consumables in the container may contain a less attractive odor or a scent that disperses immediately during use and is therefore not representative of the fragrance remaining after use. Some consumer products have tamper-proof or tamper-evident closures that can be made non-sealable by removal.

  For these reasons, trying the fragrance of consumables by releasing a part of the product or a part of the air in the upper space above the product has many problems that the present invention aims to overcome. Have

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a closure for a container is provided, the closure being engageable with the container to close the container and / or a second portion to close the container. A first portion that is engageable, wherein the closure has an orifice, and in use, has a fragrance source, includes a chamber, or the first portion is a second portion; When engaged, it forms a chamber that, in use, contains a fragrance source, and the closure separates from the interior space of the container when used to close the container. And is vented around the container by the orifice and, in use, is arranged to release a blow of fragrance from the chamber through the orifice and around the container by pressurizing the chamber.
When the closure has a fragrance source, the present invention encompasses the closure.

  Accordingly, in accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, a closure for a container is provided, the closure being engageable with the container to close the container and / or engaging with the second portion to close the container. A first portion that can be combined, wherein the closure has an orifice and a fragrance source and includes a chamber or, when the first portion engages the second portion, the chamber The chamber contains a fragrance source and the closure is separated from the interior space of the container and vented around the container by an orifice when used to close the container. And a pressurization of the chamber causes a blow of fragrance to be released from the chamber through the orifice and around the container.

  The present invention, when used to close containers containing consumables containing fragrances, allows a single fragrance similar to or identical to the fragrance of the product to pass around the container around the container without opening the container. To release, a closure can be provided that allows the consumable fragrance to be tested (by pressurizing the closure chamber). By repeated pressurization of the chamber, a few fragrances can be released from the chamber through the orifice and around the container.

Since the closure of the present invention avoids the need to open the container, the risk of leakage, contamination or breakage of the consumables contained in the container is reduced, and the same applies to prevention of tampering or removal of tamper evident closures. is there.
Further, when the consumable contained in the container contains an odor that the upper space does not represent the fragrance remaining after the use of the consumable, the closure of the present invention removes the fragrance remaining after the use of the consumable. Allows you to try.

Of course, it is not essential that the fragrance of the fragrance source is representative of the fragrance contained in the consumable contained in the container. The fragrance of the fragrance source may be, for example, a fragrance included in consumables other than the fragrance included in the container.
It is envisioned that if the closure has a first portion that is engageable with the second portion to close the container, the closure may be integrally formed with the container, for example, by molding. Preferably, however, the closure is configured to be engageable with the container.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the closure includes a thread for engagement with a corresponding thread on the container.
In the first, second and third aspects of the invention, the closure is a screw cap including a first wall and a second wall, the first wall being a screw cap. When used to close the container, the chamber is separated from the interior space of the container, and the second wall is formed with an orifice, separating the chamber from the periphery of the threaded cap except for the orifice.

  In the first and third aspects, when the closure is used to close the container and when the container is squeezed to increase the internal pressure in the container, the internal pressure is increased to increase the flexibility of the first wall. The first wall is flexible to provide compression and consequent compression of the chamber and release of a blow of fragrance from the chamber through the orifice and around the container.

  In a second aspect, the compression of the closure results in compression of the flexible second wall and consequently compression of the chamber and release of a blow of fragrance from the chamber through the orifice and around the closure. The two walls are flexible and can be used to compress.

  In a fourth aspect of the invention, the closure is a push-up lid assembly, and when the assembly is attached to the container, a nozzle through which the consumables contained in the container can be dispensed, and for closing the nozzle A pushable lid engagable with the nozzle, and forming a first wall separating the chamber from the interior space of the container when the pushable lid is engaged with the nozzle; The push-up lid forms a second wall, which is formed with an orifice and separates the chamber from the periphery of the push-up lid assembly except for the orifice.

The first wall may advantageously be permeable by the fragrance of the fragrance source.
In this way, the closure contains an odor that is otherwise less attractive in the upper space above the consumables, or that disperses immediately during use and is therefore not representative of the fragrance remaining after use of the consumables When used to close containers that contain consumables, the closure will contain a fragrance rather than an irresistible scent of the headspace when the container is opened, or an odor that disperses immediately during use. Fragrance can be introduced into the upper space.

In a fourth aspect, the push-up lid is an elastically deformable blister such that blister compression results in compression of the chamber and release of a blow of fragrance from the chamber through the orifice and around the closure. It is formed by.
The present invention includes within its scope consumer products prior to filling the latter with an active substance or filling with a fragrance.

  Accordingly, in accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a package for a consumer product, the package comprising a container having an interior space for holding the active substance of the product, the container comprising an opening, and in use A closure detachable from the container for the purpose of closing the opening and dispensing the substance from the container, the closure comprising a first wall separating the chamber from the interior space of the container and the ophilis therein And includes a chamber characterized in that it separates the chamber from the perimeter of the product, wherein the chamber has a fragrance source in use and includes the chamber or the first portion is the second portion and When engaged, a chamber is formed which, in use, releases a blow of fragrance from the chamber through the orifice and into the surroundings without release of any active substance by pressurization of the chamber. It is as to hold the fragrance source.

  The present invention also includes, within its scope, a consumable package that includes a container and a closure for the container prior to filling the former with the consumable.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a consumable package is provided, the package including a container and a closure for the container, the closure being engageable with the container to close the container and / or Or a first portion engageable with a second portion to close the container, wherein the closure has an orifice and a fragrance source and includes a chamber or the first portion is When engaged with the second part, it forms a chamber, which contains a fragrance source, and when the closure is used to close the container, the chamber is separated from the interior space of the container and by an orifice Ventilation is vented around the container, and pressurization of the chamber releases a blow of fragrance from the chamber through the orifice and around the container.

  The present invention further includes within its scope containers and closures for containers not only before filling the former with consumables but before filling the latter with fragrance.

  In accordance with a fifth aspect of the present invention, a consumable package is provided, the package including a container and a closure for the container, the closure being engageable with the container to close the opening and Does the first part engageable with the second part to close the opening, wherein the closure has an orifice, in use, has a fragrance source, and includes a chamber? Or forming a chamber when the first portion engages the second portion, the chamber including a fragrance source, and when the closure is used to close the container, the chamber is Separated from the interior space, vented around the container by the orifice, and in use, arranged so that a single fragrance is released from the chamber through the orifice and around the container by pressurizing the chamber

If the closure has a first part engageable with the second part to close the container, the first part of the closure may advantageously be integrally formed with the container.
Preferably, however, the closure is engageable with the container and more preferably is engageable with a thread.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a consumer product, the product comprising a container having an interior space for holding the active substance of the product, the container having an opening, and closing the opening. A closure removable from the container for dispensing the substance from the container, the closure having a first wall separating the chamber from the interior space of the container, and an orifice therein, the chamber surrounding the product A chamber characterized by a second wall separating from the chamber, wherein the chamber is pressurized so that a blow of fragrance is released from the chamber through the orifice and into the surroundings without any release of active substance So hold the fragrance source.

  Thus, by trying the fragrance, the consumables are not drastically reduced, or the risk of the latter leaking is avoided because the seals that seal the space containing the consumables are not broken.

This means that there is complete freedom to choose the nature of the fragrance for consumables. Fragrances are typically representative of consumable fragrances, but fragrances may be less representative. For example, fragrances may promote complementary or opposing products.
Preferably, the consumable is a consumable liquid product.

  The consumer product may be pressurized as a result of either the chamber protruding from the container or retractable from the container, for example by making it available for flexibility and compression of the chamber walls. It may be designed to be by direct manual compression of the chamber wall. However, the chamber is preferably located in a container that is squeezed to increase the internal pressure in the container, and by increasing the internal pressure, compression of the chamber's flexible first wall and the resulting blow The release of fragrances.

  In some embodiments, the chamber is located in the upper space above the container, and the present invention implements a closure change without changing the conventional container or its consumables and without a significant change in appearance. Is possible. Preferably, the closure is a threaded cap, the container has a neck into which the cap is screwed, the disc-like top of the conventional cap, the first wall hangs from the top of the cap into the neck of the container, The second wall is modified to extend over the top of the cap. The first wall is conveniently tubular, has a tubular side wall and a closed bottom end, is located at the neck of the container, and has a clearance generally between the side wall and the neck of the container.

  In one aspect, the side wall is advantageously flat, such that the tubular side wall is cylindrical and thus the side wall is in-plane circular, but the side wall is, for example, in-plane elliptical. This can facilitate the compression of the first wall and hence the release of a single fragrance.

  In accordance with a seventh aspect of the present invention, a consumer product is provided, the product including a container having an interior space for holding a consumable product of the consumer product, the container for dispensing the consumable product from the container. And an closure for closing the opening, the closure being engageable with the container to close the opening and / or engageable with the second part to close the opening Having a first portion, wherein the closure has an orifice and a fragrance source and includes a chamber or forms a chamber when the first portion engages the second portion; The chamber includes a fragrance source, and when the closure is used to close the opening, the chamber is separated from the interior space of the container, vented around the container by an orifice, and pressurized by applying pressure to the chamber. Kino fragrance is arranged so as to be emitted around the container through the orifice from the chamber.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of dispensing fragrance from a consumer product having a container with an interior space that holds the active substance of the product and a chamber that holds the fragrance, the method comprising: Compressing and consequently releasing a blow of fragrance without the release of any active substance from the interior space.

  As described above, it is preferred that the user press the container and increase the pressure in the container, resulting in a blow of fragrance from a fragrance source held in a chamber separated from the space in the container.

  The present invention is particularly applicable to products such as hair shampoos and shower gels, where the fragrance may be very similar or identical to the fragrance of the active substance. In the case of products that contain more aggressive ingredients such as bleach (eg certain cleaning or laundry preparations), the fragrance is a fragrance that remains or remains after the active substance is actually used and left for a period of time. It may be representative.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The consumer product and the four closures that form preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Detailed Description of the Drawings Household cleaning preparations, which are consumer products, include a plastic container 3 that holds a consumable liquid product 4 (cleaning liquid), the upper part of which is an upper space 5 that extends into the neck 13 of the container. . The closure cap 2 has a plastic body that is screwed into a thread integrally formed on the outer surface of the neck 13.

  The main body of the cap 2 has a hanging-type cylindrical wall 12 that is hermetically engaged with the inner surface of the upper end of the neck 13. The cap body, which is integrally molded and hangs from the top, is a flexible tubular wall 6 that ends at the closed bottom and characterizes the chamber 9. The chamber 9 contains a substrate 7 impregnated with a fragrance representative of the fragrance of the consumable liquid product 4 (indicated by reference numeral 8). The base material 7 consists of a polyester fiber with a lump shrinkage. The use of lumped polyester fibers expands the substrate and substantially fills the chamber 9, but can be easily deformed when the flexible tubular wall 6 is compressed. The circular upper part of the cap body (and the upper part of the chamber 9) is closed by a disc shaped wall 10 having a central orifice formed by a pinhole 11. Thus, the wall 6 protrudes downward into the upper space, is sealed therefrom, and is surrounded by the neck 13 with a radial clearance as a whole.

When the consumer product is on the supermarket shelf, the potential purchaser can squeeze the container 3, which increases the pressure in the upper space 5. This in turn compresses the walls of the chamber 9, increases the pressure in the chamber, and allows a small blow or blow of fragrance from the substrate through the pinhole 11 without expelling any fragrance from the consumables or from the upper space 5. Bring. When the consumable 4 can be poured through the open neck, the consumable 4 remains sealed in the container until the closure cap 2 is loosened from the container neck 13. This behavior is typically done after purchasing a consumer product and taking it home, and the act of loosening the cap 2 is caused by the material being pressurized as a result of pressurizing the container to withstand the moment of rotation on the cap. A blown fragrance will be released.
Of course, the container 3 (and consumables) can be conventional, and only the closure cap 2 requires modification when practicing the present invention.

  In FIG. 3, one consumable 4 is poured from the container 3 into the cap 2. The closed end of the flexible wall 6 (indicated by reference numeral 15 in FIG. 3) is used to determine that the correct dose of consumable 4 has been poured into the cap. Assume that the correct dose is measured when the surface of the consumable 4 is level with the closed end 15 of the flexible wall 6. It is believed that more consistent consumable injection is possible using the closed end 15. This is because the meniscus is not formed on the flexible wall 6 and there is no ambiguity that the surface level of the consumable surface rises when the surface level is measured against the outer wall of the cap. is there.

  With reference to FIG. 4, the second closure cap 20 includes a fragrance source in the form of an outer portion 22, an inner portion 24 and an annular paper substrate 26 impregnated with the fragrance. The outer part 22 of the cap is cup-shaped and has a pinhole 28 in the center of its closed end. The open end of the outer part 22 is formed by an external thread 30 for engagement with the thread on the inside of the neck of the container (not shown). The outer portion 22 is formed by an annular edge 32 projecting radially inward at a position approximately half of its length. The inner part 24 of the cap is also cup-shaped and is formed by an annular lip 34 projecting radially outward. The substrate 26 is fixed at the center of the outer surface of the closed end of the inner portion 24, and the inner portion 24 is first introduced from the closed end into the open end of the outer portion 22. The inner portion 24 is pushed into the outer portion 22 until the inner edge 34 is adjacent to the outer edge 32 and as soon as the edges 32 and 34 are joined together, the inner end surface of the outer portion 22 and A general cup-shaped chamber is formed between the outer surfaces of the inner portion 24.

  FIG. 5 shows that the closed end 38 of the outer portion 22 of the cap 20 is compressed and a blow of fragrance is dispensed from the chamber 38 through the orifice 28. The outer part 22 of the cap is elastic and returns to the shape shown in FIG. 4 when released.

  FIG. 6 shows a third closure cap 40 comprising a cup-shaped outer part 42, a dish-shaped inner part 44 and an annular paper substrate 46 impregnated with fragrance. The sleeve 48 extends from the outer surface of the outer portion 42 toward the open end of the outer portion. The inner surface of the sleeve is threaded for engagement with a thread on the outside of the neck of the container (not shown). A radially outwardly projecting lip 43 extends from the open side of the dish-shaped inner portion 44 and forms a chamber 50 between the inner surface at the closed end of the outer portion 42 and the inner surface at the closed side of the inner portion 44. To the inner surface of the closed end of the outer portion 42. A central pinhole 52 at the closed end of the outer portion 42 allows the chamber 50 to vent. When the cap 40 is screwed into the container neck, the open end of the container neck is sealed by the closed end of the sleeve 48.

  FIG. 7 shows an inner portion 44 that undergoes compression as a result of squeezing a container (not shown) used to close the cap in order to increase the internal pressure within the container. The compression of the inner portion 44 reduces the volume of the chamber 50 and a blow of fragrance is expelled from the chamber through the orifice 52. The inner portion 44 is resilient and returns to the shape shown in FIG. 6 when the container is opened or when the cap 40 is removed from the container. The inner portion 44 is a membrane formed from polyethylene and is sufficiently porous to allow the fragrance from the substrate 46 to diffuse through the inner portion 44 into the upper space of the container, but the membrane is capped. Even when the internal pressure of the container closed at 40 rises by pressing the container, it is still deformed.

  Referring to FIG. 8, a push-up cap assembly 60 includes a common cup-shaped nozzle portion 62 attached by a living hinge 64 to a push-up lid 66 to which a paper substrate impregnated with a fragrance is attached. Including. The inner surface of the nozzle portion has threads for engagement with threads on the outer surface of the neck of the container (not shown). The closed end of the nozzle portion 62 is formed by an opening (indicated by reference numeral 70 in FIG. 9) through which consumables can be dispensed from the container when the push-up lid is opened, as shown in FIG. The push-up type lid 66 is a general dish type, formed by a stopper (indicated by reference numeral 72 in FIG. 9) protruding from the inner surface of the lid, and when the lid is closed as shown in FIG. A hermetic fit is formed in the opening 70.

  As shown in FIG. 8, when the push-up lid 66 is closed, a chamber 74 is formed around the opening 70 and the plug 72 between the closed outer surface of the portion 62 and the inner surface of the lid 66. The substrate 68 is contained in the chamber 74. The push-up lid 66 is formed by an orifice 76 and a flexible blister 78 that vents the chamber 74. The blister 78 can be compressed, thereby reducing the volume of the chamber 74 and releasing a single fragrance through the orifice 76. This is illustrated in FIG. 10 where the compressive force exerted on the blister 78 by the finger is represented by the arrow indicated by reference numeral 80. The blister 78 is elastically flexible and thus returns to the shape shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 when the compressive force is removed from the blister.

  Conventional push-up lid assemblies for consumer products (ie, push-up lid assemblies without substrate 68, orifice 76 and blister 78) are often screwed to prevent opening of the push-up lid. A tamper evident seal in the form of a shrink-wrapped sleeve surrounding the seam between the ridge and the push-up lid is provided. When testing the fragrance of consumables contained in a container closed by a conventional push-up lid assembly, the tamper evident seal must be broken. The push-up lid assembly of the present invention can be used to test the fragrance of consumables contained in a container closed by a push-up lid assembly without breaking the tamper evident seal. It is a certain feature.

  The above description relates only to the four aspects of the present invention, and it is clear that the invention encompasses other aspects as defined in the claims.

It is a fragmentary sectional view of the upper part of a consumer product. It is sectional drawing of the closure cap of consumer products. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the closure cap of FIG. 2 in use to measure a consumer product consumable dose. It is sectional drawing of a 2nd closure cap. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a second closure cap compressed to distribute a single fragrance from the cap. It is sectional drawing of a 3rd closure cap. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a third closure cap that pressurizes the chamber of the cap to distribute a single fragrance from the cap. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a push-up lid assembly in a closed position. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a push-up lid assembly in an open position. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a push-up lid assembly that pressurizes the lid chamber to distribute a single fragrance from the lid.

Claims (11)

  A closure for a container, the closure having a first part engageable with the container to close the container and / or engageable with a second part to close the container; Here, the closure has an orifice and, in use, has a fragrance source and includes a chamber or forms a chamber when the first part engages the second part. The chamber includes a fragrance source in use, and when the closure is used to close the container, the chamber is separated from the interior space of the container, vented around the container by an orifice, and In use, the closure is arranged such that when pressurized to the chamber, a blow of fragrance is released from the chamber through the orifice and around the container.   The closure according to claim 1, comprising a thread for engagement with a corresponding thread on the container.   A threaded cap including a first wall and a second wall, said first wall separating the chamber from the interior space of the container when the threaded cap is used to close the container; The closure of claim 2, wherein the second wall is formed with an orifice and separates the chamber from the periphery of the threaded cap except for the orifice.   When the closure is used to close the container and when the container is squeezed to increase the internal pressure in the container, by increasing the internal pressure, the compression of the flexible first wall and consequently the compression of the chamber and the chamber 4. A closure according to claim 3, wherein the first wall is flexible so as to provide a blow of fragrance through the orifice and around the container.   The second wall is flexible so that compression of the closure results in compression of the flexible second wall and, as a result, compression of the chamber and release of a blow of fragrance from the chamber through the orifice and around the closure. 4. The closure of claim 3, wherein the closure is sexual and can be used to compress.   The closure is a push-up lid assembly, and when the assembly is attached to the container, a nozzle through which the consumables contained in the container can be dispensed, and a push-up type engageable with the nozzle for closing the nozzle And includes a lid that forms a first wall that separates the chamber from the interior space of the container when the push-up lid is engaged with the nozzle, the push-up lid forms a second wall. 3. A closure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second wall is formed with an orifice and separates the chamber from the periphery of the push-up lid assembly except for the orifice.   The closure according to any of claims 3 to 6, wherein the closure has a fragrance source and the first wall is permeable by the fragrance of the fragrance source.   The push-up lid is formed by an elastically deformable blister so that compression of the blister results in compression of the chamber and release of a blow of fragrance from the chamber through the orifice and around the closure. The closure according to claim 7, which is dependent on claim 6 or claim 6.   A consumable package, the package including a container and a closure for the container, the closure being engageable with the container to close the container and / or engaging the second part to close the container A first portion that can be combined, wherein the closure has an orifice, and in use, has a fragrance source, includes a chamber, or the first portion is associated with the second portion. When combined, it forms a chamber that, in use, contains a fragrance source, and when the closure is used to close the container, the chamber is separated from the interior space of the container, and an orifice surrounds the container Wherein the package is arranged such that when used, a blow of fragrance is released from the chamber through the orifice and around the container upon use.   A consumer product comprising a container having an interior space of a container for holding consumables of the consumer product, the container having an opening for dispensing the consumable from the container and a closure for closing the opening; The closure has a first portion engagable with the container to close the opening and / or with a second portion to close the opening, wherein the closure is an orifice And a fragrance source and includes a chamber or forms a chamber when the first portion engages the second portion, the chamber includes a fragrance source and the closure includes an opening. When used to close, the chamber is separated from the interior space of the container, vented around the container by an orifice, and in use, a single fragrance is created by pressurizing the chamber. Provided by the consumer product to be released into the surrounding container from server through the orifice.   A method of dispensing a fragrance from a consumer product having a container with an interior space for holding the active substance of the product and a chamber for holding the fragrance, the product being squeezed and consequently the release of any active substance from the inner space Said method comprising emitting a scent of fragrance without any loss.

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