Abstract:
A system ( 100 ) for dispensing a fluid, such as a deodorant is provided. The system ( 100 ) includes a dispenser ( 102 ) defining a first reservoir ( 108 ) therein and comprising a check valve ( 112 ) communicating with the first reservoir ( 108 ) and an exterior of the dispenser ( 102 ). The system ( 100 ) also includes a refill cartridge ( 104 ) defining a second reservoir ( 128 ) therein and including a valve-piercing element ( 126 ) configured to be received through the check valve ( 112 ), such that, when the valve-piercing element ( 126 ) is received through the check valve ( 112 ), the second reservoir ( 128 ) of the refill cartridge ( 104 ) fluidly communicates with the first reservoir ( 108 ) of the dispenser ( 102 ) via the valve-piercing element ( 126 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Underarm antiperspirant and deodorant products are available in a variety of types, including gels, solids, and liquids that are rolled on. In such liquid, roll-on products, a dispenser is provided, which generally includes a housing and an applicator. The applicator may include a roll-on ball that supplies the liquid product onto the user. The housing generally contains a reservoir of the liquid, which, when the dispenser is inverted, may employ gravity to force the liquid to contact the applicator and flow along the applicator and ultimately to the intended surface (i.e., the underarm), where it may be spread via the rolling motion. 
         [0002]    The packaging of such products, however, may result in a large amount of waste. Typically, the dispenser is designed for a single use. When the reservoir is emptied, the dispenser is thrown away. To avoid such waste, some designs may provide refill cartridges. The refill cartridges may be integrated into the dispenser housing or used to refill the reservoir, e.g., from outside the dispenser. Both options, however, have drawbacks, in terms of ease of use and manufacturing. For example, such refill cartridges may be susceptible to spillage during refill. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0003]    Embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a dispenser and/or refill cartridge for precision application of fluids, for example, for use with roll-on, underarm deodorant products. The dispenser may include a check valve, such as a self-sealing rubber valve, that extends through a wall of the dispenser. In some cases, the wall may be the “bottom” of the dispenser, e.g., opposite an applicator attached to the dispenser. The dispenser may include a dispenser reservoir therein, with the check valve communicating with the reservoir. The dispenser may also include a pressure relief valve configured to release gas contained in the reservoir when it exceeds a certain pressure. 
         [0004]    The cartridge may include a refill reservoir and a valve-piercing element. The valve-piercing element may extend outwards and communicate with the reservoir. The valve-piercing element may be, for example, a hollow elongate structure (e.g., a hollow needle), with an outlet on or near a distal tip thereof. 
         [0005]    To refill the dispenser reservoir, the valve-piercing element may be received through the check valve, such that the check valve seals with an outside of the valve-piercing element. The dispenser may then be actuated (e.g., squeezed) to discharge the fluid contained therein through the valve-piercing element, out the outlet, and into the dispenser reservoir. Air in the dispenser reservoir may be compressed by the introduction of the fluid from the dispenser, and may discharge through the pressure relief valve when the pressure exceeds a certain level, thereby avoiding the buildup of pressure that might otherwise oppose continued entry of the fluid from the refill cartridge reservoir into the dispenser reservoir. 
         [0006]    Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  illustrates a conceptual, cross-sectional view of a refillable dispenser system, according to an embodiment. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  illustrates a conceptual, cross-sectional view of the system in a refill configuration, according to an embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. 
         [0011]    As used throughout, ranges are used as shorthand for describing each and every value that is within the range. Any value within the range can be selected as the terminus of the range. In addition, all references cited herein are hereby incorporated by referenced in their entireties. In the event of a conflict in a definition in the present disclosure and that of a cited reference, the present disclosure controls. 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  illustrates a conceptual, cross-sectional view of a refillable dispenser system  100  configured for use, for example, with non-compressible fluidic underarm deodorant or antiperspirant products such as a liquid or a gel, according to an embodiment. The system  100  generally includes a dispenser  102  and a refill cartridge  104 . The dispenser  102  may include a housing  106  that defines a dispenser reservoir  108  therein, which may be configured to contain a fluid (e.g., a non-compressible fluidic deodorant, such as a liquid or a gel). The dispenser reservoir  108  may be fluidly coupled with an applicator  110 , such that fluid in the dispenser reservoir  108  may be conveyed to the applicator  110  and dispensed therefrom. The applicator  110  may be any suitable shape, size, etc., for example, a ball or sphere, as shown, which may rotate about one or more axes relative to the housing  106 . The fluid in the dispenser reservoir  108  may have any suitable viscosity and may be any suitable deodorant, antiperspirant, or any other fluid suitable for the application in which it is used. In one embodiment, the fluid is at a constant ambient pressure inside the reservoir  108 , i.e., the reservoir  108  is not pressurized. 
         [0013]    The housing  106  may be fabricated at least partially from a plastic, for example, an injection or otherwise molded plastic. However, in other embodiments, any suitable material for the housing  106  may be employed. Further, the dispenser  102  may include any membranes, pistons, bags, ducts, etc. as may be desired to contain the fluid in the dispenser reservoir  108  and dispense it via the applicator  110  as needed. 
         [0014]    The dispenser  102  may also include a check valve  112  for example, on a side opposed to the applicator  110 , which may be referred to as the “bottom” of the dispenser  102 , regardless of the actual orientation or attitude of the dispenser  102 . In other embodiments, the check valve  112  may be positioned on a side of the dispenser  102 . The check valve  112  may be, for example, a self-sealing elastomeric (e.g., rubber) valve. In one specific example, the check valve  112  may be analogous in form and/or function to a self-sealing inflation valve, such as those seen in inflatable balls. In an embodiment, the check valve  112  may include a base  114  and a body  115  extending therefrom and defining a one-way conduit  116  therethrough. Further, the body  115  may include a receiving end  118  coupled with the base  114  and a sealing end  120 , distal to the base  114 . The conduit  116  may communicate with an exterior of the housing  106  at the receiving end  118 , and may communicate with the dispenser reservoir  108  at the sealing end  120 . For example, the conduit  116  may extend into the reservoir  108 . 
         [0015]    Further, the conduit  116  may taper from an open diameter at the receiving end  118 , to substantially a zero diameter at the sealing end  120 . The taper may be gradual along the extent of the conduit  116 , or may be more abrupt, e.g., toward the middle of the conduit  116 , as shown. With the sealing end  120  having a zero diameter, the sealing end  120  may be closed, thereby sealing the check valve  112 . The conduit  116  may, however, be flexible at least near the sealing end  120 , so as to expand from the zero diameter by introduction of an expansion force, thereby opening the sealing end  120 . In other embodiments, other types of self-sealing check valves may be employed, such as flapper valves. 
         [0016]    The dispenser  102  may also include a pressure relief valve  122 , which may also communicate with the reservoir  108  and an exterior of the housing  106 , for example, by extending through the housing  106 . The pressure relief valve  122  may have a valve element  125 , which may be or include a flapper, ball, membrane, or another type of valve element that may be biased to a sealing position, or the like. The valve element  125  may be biased to a sealing position, such that the pressure relief valve  122  is closed as a default. When a pressure within the reservoir  108  applies a force on the valve element  125  that exceeds the force holding the valve element  125  in a sealed configuration, the pressure relief valve  122  may open, thereby releasing fluid (e.g., air) from the reservoir  108  to the exterior of the housing  106 . 
         [0017]    Turning to the cartridge  104 , the cartridge  104  may include a pouch  124  and a valve-piercing element  126 . The pouch  124  may define a refill reservoir  128  therein, which may contain a fluid and may fluidly communicate with the valve-piercing element  126 . Further, the pouch  124  may be flexible, such that squeezing the pouch  124  may result in an increased pressure on fluid in the refill reservoir  128 . In some instances, however, at least a portion of the pouch  124  may be rigid, so as to facilitate applying a moving force to the cartridge  104 , as will be explained in greater detail below. Further, in some embodiments, the cartridge  104  may include a piston or another actuation device that may be configured to reduce a volume of the refill reservoir  128 . In some embodiments, the refill reservoir  128  contains a non-compressible and/or non-pressurized fluidic deodorant, such as a liquid or a gel. 
         [0018]    The valve-piercing element  126  may have a proximal end  130  coupled with the pouch  124 , and may extend to a distal end  132 , opposite the proximal end  130 . Further, the valve-piercing element  126  may define a generally hollow, elongate body  134  between the ends  130 ,  132 , which may define a conduit  136  extending therethrough. The cartridge  104  may also define a check valve  135 , which may, for example, be one or more flappers that serve to retain fluid in the reservoir  128  until the fluid in the reservoir  128  is at a predetermined, heightened pressure (e.g., when the pouch  124  is squeezed or otherwise actuated), which may open the check valve  135  and release the fluid therethrough, as will be explained in greater detail below. In other embodiments, the check valve  135  may be a piece of the pouch  124  that is configured to rupture at the predetermined pressure. In still other embodiments, the pouch  124  may be punctured during or prior to assembling the valve-piercing element  126  with the pouch  124 . In other cases, the check valve  135  may be unnecessary and omitted. 
         [0019]    The valve-piercing element  126  may define an opening  138  at the distal end  132 , which may communicate with the conduit  136 . Accordingly, the refill reservoir  128  may communicate with the opening  138  via the conduit  136  so as to, for example, expel fluid through the valve-piercing element  126  and out of the opening  138 . In other embodiments, the opening  138  may be formed along the body  134 , near the distal end  132 , such that the distal end  132  may be rounded, so as to protect the check valve  112  during insertion. 
         [0020]      FIG. 2  illustrates a conceptual, cross-sectional view of the system  100 , with the valve-piercing element  126  of the cartridge  104  received into the check valve  112 , i.e., a “refill” configuration, according to an embodiment. To insert the valve-piercing element (i.e., to move from the configuration shown in  FIG. 1  to that shown in  FIG. 2 ), a movement force is applied to either or both of the dispenser  102  and the cartridge  104 . Under this force, the valve-piercing element  126  is slid into the receiving end  118  of the check valve  112 . As the valve-piercing element  126  slides, it may expand the elastic construction of the check valve body  115  (or push aside a flapper valve of the check valve  112 , etc.), thereby increasing the diameter of the conduit  116 . Upon reaching the sealing end  120 , the continued sliding of the valve-piercing element  126  may expand the sealing end  120  from the zero diameter of the sealed configuration to an open configuration, as the valve-piercing element  126  extends therethrough. 
         [0021]    When fully inserted, the opening  138  of the valve-piercing element  126  may be disposed in on otherwise communicate with the dispenser reservoir  108 . Further, the check valve body  115  may be sealed around the body  134  of the valve-piercing element  126 , so as to prevent fluid transmission between the bodies  134  and  115  in the conduit  116 . The cartridge  104  may then be actuated, so as to deploy the fluidic contents of the refill reservoir  128  through the valve-piercing element  126 , out the opening  138 , and into the dispenser reservoir  108 . 
         [0022]    As the fluid from the refill reservoir  128  is received into the dispenser reservoir  108 , air in the reservoir may be compressed as the generally incompressible (or, at least less compressible) fluid received into the reservoir  108  reduces the available volume for the air. The energy for such compression may be provided by the force applied to the cartridge  104  causing the fluidic contents to be expelled. When the pressure of the air in the dispenser reservoir  108  exceeds a certain threshold, the air may displace the valve element  125  from its seat in the pressure relief valve  122 , thereby allowing air to escape through the pressure relief valve  122 , until the pressure is reduced to below the threshold level, whereupon the valve element  125  may again close, to avoid loss of the fluidic contents therethrough. 
         [0023]    When the reservoir  108  is filled, or the reservoir  128  is empty, or at any other point during refill, the actuation of the refill cartridge  104  may be terminated, and the valve-piercing element  126  slid out of the check valve  112 . The resilient construction of the check valve body  115  may result in the conduit  116  once again being closed off, thereby preventing the contents of the reservoir  108  from escaping through the check valve  112 .