Child resistant concentrate cartridge and associated diluting and dispensing container

A reusable concentrate cartridge adapted to be supported by a diluting and dispensing container for combining at least two separate components of a multi-component system, the concentrate cartridge having a hollow cylindrical element and a hollow tube with a closure portion. The concentrate cartridge is caused to open by the rotating engagement of a closure cap onto the diluting and dispensing container to which causes the closure portion of the hollow tube to disengage, releasing the concentrate material.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a container system for dispensing fluids and more particularly to a closure portion of a container for dispensing a solution including a concentrated material and a liquid diluent and a concentrate cartridge for use in the container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Presently there are available dispensing containers for multi-constituent systems, which are designed to receive reusable concentrate containing cartridges. The concentrate material is supplied in a separately packaged cartridge that is easily inserted into the neck of a reusable diluting and dispensing container.

One such cartridge is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,290,100 to Yacko et al. entitled CONCENTRATE CARTRIDGE FOR A DILUTING AND DISPENSING CONTAINER, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The concentrate cartridge disclosed in the '100 patent includes a hollow cylindrical element having a first open end forming a closure seat and a second end including a flange extending radially outwardly from the cylindrical element, and a hollow tube having a first end portion in a substantially fluid tight sliding relation with the second end of the cylindrical element and a second end terminating in a radially outwardly extending closure adapted to selectively seat with the closure seat of the hollow cylindrical element to form a fluid tight seal therebetween.

The radially outwardly extending closure is opened in response to a downward force applied to the first end portion of the hollow tube, wherein the closure element is caused to unseat from the closure seat of the cylindrical element. The hollow cylindrical body of the cartridge is held in place in the dispensing container wherein the lower surface of the radially outwardly extending flange of the cartridge is supported on an upper land portion of the neck of the container.

A closure cap is utilized to apply axial force to urge the hollow tube downwardly until the closure is opened allowing the concentrated material to be released from the cartridge into the interior of the container. Simultaneously, the downward force of the closure cap effects a sealing relationship between the undersurface of the flange of the cartridge and the upper land surface of the neck of the container.

The resulting mixture of the constituents, the concentrated material in the cartridge and the dilutant in the container, is dispensed from the container through a dip tube and a dispensing orifice as a spray or a stream of liquid in response to activation of a hand-pump associated with the closure cap.

Since the cartridge and container may be utilized to contain fluids which might be dangerous for children as well as adults, it would be desirable to produce a concentrate-containing cartridge and associated dilutant-containing container which could be opened only by specifically designed equipment and may not typically be opened by children or adults without use of such equipment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In concordance and agreement with the present invention, a concentrate cartridge and associated container which could be opened only by specifically designed equipment and may not typically be opened by children or adults without use of such equipment, has surprisingly been discovered.

In one embodiment, a container comprising a neck portion having an open end adapted to receive a cartridge and an associated closure cap, wherein the cartridge includes a hollow tube recessed within an annular collar of a hollow cylindrical element and the closure cap includes a collar attached thereto; and a main body having a hollow interior in communication with the neck portion.

In another embodiment, a container system comprising a main body having a hollow interior, a first closed end, and a spaced apart second end, the second end including a neck portion having an open end and adapted to receive an associated closure cap, wherein the closure cap includes a collar attached thereto; and a cartridge adapted to be disposed in the neck portion of the main body, the cartridge having a hollow tube recessed within an annular collar of a hollow cylindrical element.

In another embodiment, a dispensing system comprising a main body having a hollow interior for containing a liquid diluent, a first closed end, and a spaced apart second end, the second end including a neck portion having an open end and external threads formed thereon; a cartridge for containing a concentrated material adapted to be disposed in the neck portion of the main body, the cartridge including a hollow cylindrical element having a first open end forming a closure seat and a second end including a flange extending outwardly of said hollow cylindrical element, an annular collar, and an annular web having a generally U-shaped cross-section interconnecting the annular collar and the flange of the first cylindrical element; and a hollow tube having a first end portion in fluid-tight sliding relation and recessed within the annular collar of said hollow cylindrical element, and a second end terminating into a radially outwardly extending closure adapted to selectively seat with the closure seat of said hollow cylindrical element to form a fluid-tight closure therebetween; and a dispensing device including a closure cap rotatably coupled to a dispenser, wherein the closure cap includes internal threads formed thereon adapted to engage external threads of the neck portion of the main body to provide a tight seal, and a collar attached thereto adapted to urge the hollow tube to a position to unseat the closure of the hollow tube having a beveled annular surface to facilitate seating with the closure seat of the hollow cylindrical element; and the dispenser includes a dip tube inserted through the hollow tube of the cartridge and into the main body.

The following detailed description and appended drawings describe and illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The description and drawings serve to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any manner. It is understood that materials other than those described can be used without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Referring toFIG. 1of the drawings, there is illustrated a container10for diluting and dispensing a concentrated material. The container10includes a body portion12including a closed base for containing a diluent fluid14such as water, for example, and a hollow neck portion16. The container10may be produced from any conventional material known in the art such as high-density polyethylene, for example. Optionally, an outer surface of the body portion12may include one or more outwardly extending ridges (not shown) to facilitate a gripping thereof by a user.

The neck portion16is provided with external threads18formed on an outer surface thereof for engaging the cooperating internal threads20formed on an inner surface of an associated closure cap22. Other mating means may be used such as a press fit, for example. In the embodiment shown, the neck portion16has a substantially circular cross-section. It is understood that the neck portion16can have any cross-sectional shape as desired. The closure cap22is adapted to form a seal at an open end of the neck portion16of the container10.

The closure cap22is rotatingly coupled to a dispensing means provided with a depending dip tube26. In the embodiment shown, the dispensing means is a hand pump sprayer24.

A collar28is attached to the inside of the closure cap22and is designed to surround the upper portion of the dip tube26. As will be explained hereinafter, the collar28functions to unseat a closure56of an associated concentrate cartridge30.

FIG. 2shows the concentrate cartridge30in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Although a substantially circular cross-sectional shape is shown, other cross-sectional shapes can be used for the cartridge30, such as a rectangular cross-sectional shape, for example. In the embodiment shown, the cartridge30is produced from conventional materials known in the art such as high-density polyethylene, for example.

The cartridge30having an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the neck portion16, is provided with a main hollow cylindrical element32. A lower end34of the hollow cylindrical element32is open. The opposite end is provided with an outwardly extending annular flange36, which extends completely around the outer peripheral surface of the hollow cylindrical element32. The juncture of the under surface of the flange36and the outer surface of the hollow cylindrical element32may be formed on a radius. As illustrated inFIG. 3, the radius terminates in a ledge38adapted to rest on the upper open end of the neck portion16of the container10. The adjacent outer surface of the hollow cylindrical element32is flared outwardly slightly. The under surface of the flange36is generally flat and serves to support the cartridge30within the neck portion16of the container10.

The upper end of the cartridge30includes an annular collar40. The annular collar40is interconnected to the inner portion of the hollow cylindrical element32and the flange36by an annular web42. It will be observed that the inner surface of the upper portion of the hollow cylindrical element32, the annular web42, and the outer surface of the annular collar40form a trough44which is generally U-shaped in cross-section.

The inner surface46formed by the juncture of the annular collar40and the annular web42is inclined inwardly and upwardly from the inner surface of the hollow cylindrical element32to the inner surface of the annular collar40.

The cartridge30includes an associated closure member50. The closure member50includes a hollow tube52having a radially outwardly extending closure54at one end thereof. The closure54is formed with a generally flat outer surface56and an opposing inner surface58. The outer peripheral surface of the inner surface58is provided with an inclined camming surface or bevel60.

The end of the hollow tube52opposite the end containing the closure54is recessed within the annular collar40.By recessing the end of the hollow tube52, an operator cannot manually open the closure54without a specially designed tool or fixture. As shown inFIG. 2, the end of the hollow tube52opposite the end containing the closure54is substantially flush with a top surface of the annular collar40. In another embodiment shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, the end of the hollow tube52opposite the end containing the closure54is recessed with respect to the top surface of the annular collar40.

The assembly of the hollow cylindrical element32and the closure member50is typically achieved by inserting the free end of the hollow tube52into the interior of the hollow cylindrical element32toward the open interior of the annular collar40. This procedure is simplified by the existence of the inclined inner surface46which functions to readily guide the end of the hollow tube52into the annular collar40. To effect a complete closure, the closure member50is caused to move axially within the hollow cylindrical element32until the camming surface60of the closure54cooperates with the lower end34of the hollow cylindrical element32to seal in a fluid-tight connection. The free end of the hollow tube52is recessed within the annular collar40, as clearly illustrated inFIG. 3. As a general rule, a concentrated material62is inserted, manually or automatically, into the interior of the cartridge30before the closure member50is closed to seal the concentrated material62within the cartridge30.

Once filled with the concentrated material62, the lower end34of the cartridge30is inserted into the neck portion16of the container10. As shown inFIG. 4, the cartridge30is guided to seat properly within the neck portion16by the flared portion of the adjacent outer surface of the hollow cylindrical element32. Ideally, the outer surface of the hollow cylindrical element32of the cartridge30is substantially smooth which facilitates sliding and positioning of the cartridge30within the neck portion16.

When the cartridge30is fully inserted into the neck portion16, the ledge38abuts the upper edge of the neck portion16to suspend the cartridge30within the container10. The neck portion16of the container10is inserted into the closure cap22of the hand pump sprayer24. The internal threads20of the closure cap22are mated with the external threads18of the neck portion16. The closure cap22is rotated to affix the closure cap22to the container10. As the closure cap22is rotated, a sealing engagement occurs between the flange36and the closure cap22. Simultaneously, the top of the hollow tube52is contacted by the collar28of the closure cap22and urged downwardly within the hollow cylindrical element32of the cartridge30. The closure54is thereby caused to disengage from the lower end34of the hollow cylindrical element32of the cartridge30to an open position, as shown inFIG. 1. Thus, allowing the concentrated material62to flow from the cartridge30into the container10. The cartridge30may be refilled with concentrate and reused.

Undesirable leakage from the cartridge30is minimized due to the tight fit between the annular collar40and the hollow tube52and between the closure54and the lower end34. Should leakage occur from between the annular collar40and the hollow tube52, during shipment or storage for example, the leaked concentrated material62is contained within the trough44and permitted to dry. The trapping of the leaked concentrated material62militates against damage to shipping and storage containers, for example.

The cartridge is designed to prevent accidental opening by children, for example. While the preferred embodiment of the invention incorporates a collar to actuate the opening of the concentrate cartridge closure, it will be understood that other actuating means could be satisfactorily utilized. For example, in lieu of a collar, the dip tube could be provided with a radially outwardly projecting or extending detent. The detent would contact the upper end of the hollow tube and cause downward movement as the closure cap is installed.

From the foregoing description, one ordinarily skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention and, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications to the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions in accordance with the scope of the appended claims.