Squeeze Dispenser
The present invention relates to squeeze dispensers.
The invention has been developed with particular attention to its possible use in connection with fragrances or air fresheners .
A prevailing tendency for fragrance bottles, especially for fine fragrances is to comprise a glass bottle, a pump and closure. Such packaging executions suffer a number of basic disadvantages. They tend to be fragile (quite frequently they are comprised of materials which are smooth and delicate to touch) , expensive, and intrinsically non portable: a fragrance bottle made of glass cannot be expected e.g. to be thrown in a gym bag and expected to last long.
Consequently the need exists for packaging executions which, while overcoming the disadvantages outlined in the foregoing, represent a distinctive, radical departure from the glass bottle theme.
A primary object of the present invention is to provide a solution satisfying the captioned need.
According to the present invention there is provided a squeeze dispenser including:
- a flexible skin forming a container body adapted to be squeezed and to receive a filling of a product therein,
- outlet and inlet conduit means having outlet and inlet valve means associated therewith, and
- an outlet port associated with the distal end of said outlet conduit means, the arrangement being such that squeezing said flexible skin increases the internal pressure of said skin, whereby at least one of said product and an aroma created by said product is forced out of said outlet conduit means through said outlet valve means and said outlet port.
Preferred features of the invention are defined in the subclaims .
In a particularly preferred embodiment the dispenser of the invention includes a flexible rubber skin which forms a ball and a product such as a fragrance or a substance that creates an aroma is located inside the core of the ball. An outlet valve is provided through which the product can be evacuated along with an inlet valve through which air can flow to replace the dispensed volume of product. A spray port is provided to direct and control the spray characteristics of the product while a refill port is also provided through which the product can be re-filled (e.g. syringed) into the dispenser a ball.
The product is dispensed by squeezing the ball (which may have the appearance of a standard squash ball), for example between finger and thumb. This works to increase the internal pressure of the fragrance ball which m turn forces out the product and/or the aroma created thereby through the outlet valve. The product can be made to evacuate as a fine mist or m a stream. Since the rubber ball has elastic properties and effectively a "shape memory", releasing the ball causes the rubber skin to return to its original shape producing a negative internal pressure. This works to suck atmospheric air into the ball through the inlet valve.
The invention provides a radical, distinctive and innovative packaging execution bringing new materials and new sensoπal experience into the usage of the product, thus increasing user satisfaction e.g. by being tactile, rubberlike, sporting and durable.
The invention will now be described, purely by way of non-limitmg example, with reference to the annexed drawings, m which:
- figure 1 is a general top view of a squeeze dispenser according to the invention, and
- figure 2 is a cross-sectional view along line II-II of figure 1.
In the drawings, reference numeral 1 generally indicates a squeeze dispenser, i.e. a container adapted for
receiving a filling of a product P such as a fragrance, an air freshener, a body conditioner or the like, whose degree of viscosity may correspondingly vary depending on the nature of product P.
The body of dispenser 1 is essentially comprised of a flexible skin 2 of a material such as rubber or any other materials (elastomers, plastics, etc.) providing the required degree of flexibility of the dispenser wall.
In a preferred embodiment, skin 2 forms a ball having the size typical of a squash ball.
The size of the ball could however be varied. This would have the advantage of controlling the volume of product P located therein. The ball could have a variable dosage lifetime.
Also, the material (s) comprising skin 2 could be varied. This would ensure compatibility with product P for a reasonable product lifetime.
Also, skin 2 does not have to be spherical. For example, it could be shaped like a rugby ball and/or include a flat surface forming a basis portion (possibly opposed the spray and refill ports described in the following) forming a surface for dispenser 1 to rest on.
Reference 3 designates overall a plug-like member inserted (preferably by snap-engagement) in a respective hole provided in skin 2.
Plug 3 includes outlet and inlet conduits 4, 5, respectively, extending therethrough and having associated therewith respective outlet and inlet valves 6, 7, respectively.
Outlet conduit 4 terminates in a spray port 8 at its distal end (i.e. the extremity further from the inner volume of the skin 2 where product P is located) .
Spray port 8 is preferably constituted by a small gauge opening provided in an insert (such as a small metal insert) located in plug 3 at the distal end of outlet conduit 4.
Similarly, inlet conduit 5 is provided at its distal end with a refill port 9.
It will be promptly appreciated that outlet and inlet conduits 4, 5 need not necessarily be provided in a separate member of dispenser 1 such as plug 3, but can be provided also directly in skin member 2.
Provision of plug 3 is advantageous, however, in that it enables i. a. fast filling of product P into dispenser 1 through the opening into which plug 3 is subsequently inserted.
Both outlet valve 6 and inlet valve 7 are preferably located at the proximal ends of the respective conduits 4, 5.
Outlet valve 6 is arranged in order that product P can be evacuated and thus dispensed by squeezing the ball-like skin member 2, for example between finger and thumb. This works to increase the internal pressure of the ball which in turn forces out the product through outlet valve 6, outlet conduit 4 and spray port 8.
Depending on the size (gauge) of spray port 8 and the viscosity of product P, product P can be made to evacuate as a fine mist or in a stream or possibly in the form of a cream or gel, for instance in the case of body conditioners and the like.
Alternatively, product P could be a substance that creates an aroma in the air contained inside ball 2. Squeezing the ball emits the air and disperses an aroma into the space around the user. This can be achieved by having product P in the form of a gel (like an air freshener) . The dispenser would then work like a personal air space freshener .
Outlet valve 6 is arranged in order to prevent product
P from leaking out of dispenser 1 in an undesired manner when dispenser 1 is not positively squeezed by the user
(e.g. as dispenser 1 is merely let to rest on surface or thrown in a bag) .
Since ball 2 has elastic properties and effectively a "shape memory", releasing ball 2 after squeezing will cause dispenser 1 to return to its original shape producing a negative internal pressure, as atmospheric air will be sucked into ball 2 through port 9, conduit 5 and inlet valve 7. Air will therefore be allowed into the inner chamber of dispenser 1 to replace the dispensed volume of product.
Also, refill port 9, having a gauge generally larger then the gauge of spray port 8 (which is intended to be used to direct and control the spray characteristics of the product) will enable product to be refilled into dispenser 1 e. g. by means of a syringe.
Outlet valve 6 can have attached therewith a dip tube (schematically shown in dotted line) extending across the dispenser body. This would make it necessary to orient dispenser 1 during use so that, for example, product P is dispensed horizontally or an artwork on ball 2 is facing upwards during use.
Ball 2 could be made (in a manner known per se, for example by associating a whistle therewith) in order to make a sound when squeezing.
Ball 2 could have a closure or stopper (not shown) for safety during storage, i.e. for selectively occluding at least a part of outlet and inlet conduits 4, 5 during storage of dispenser 1.
Even though ball 2 is shown in the drawings as comprised of a relatively thick rubber skin, thickness thereof can be varied, for instance by making it significantly thinner (e.g. two millimetres or less) depending on the elastic properties of the material comprising skin 2 itself.
As an alternative to being directly located in the inner chamber of ball 2, product P could be inserted in a vial such as a bag. The advantage would be that the materials would be compatible with the product (that is, the product does not touch the inside of ball 2) . Also, filling
of the vial/bag could be carried out as a sort of pre- assembly using standard manufacturing processes, thereby providing an effective route to manufacture.
In a less preferred embodiment of the invention, outlet and inlet conduits 4, 5 may at least partly coincide. This also extends to the members associated therewith such as valves 6 and 7. Specifically, a single bi-directional valve may be devised to ensure proper evacuation of product P and/or aroma only when dispenser 1 is positively squeezed while allowing air to flow into dispenser 1 once this is released to suck atmospheric air to replace the dispensed volume of product.
The solution described with reference to the drawings is considered preferable, however, at least at the moment.
Naturally, the principle of the invention remaining the same, the details of construction and forms of embodiments may widely vary with respect to what has been described and illustrated, without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention.