Abstract:
A refillable perfume atomizer apparatus is described, capable of refill without requiring pouring or exposure of an interior of the liquid storage chamber to the external atmosphere. The perfume atomizer includes an internal pump that creates a negative air pressure within the sealed liquid storage container so that refill liquid is drawn into the liquid storage chamber when the perfume atomizer dispenser is engaged to a refill reservoir container.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     FEDERAL SPONSORSHIP 
     Not Applicable 
     JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention pertains generally to fillable containers. More particularly, the invention pertains to perfume or other cosmetic containers capable of dispensing a fluid that are further capable of refill without requiring pouring or exposure to the external atmosphere. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Generally, manual liquid dispensers of various types have been implemented to dispense liquids in a variety of applications. One type of manual liquid dispenser is a dispenser that includes a manually operated nozzle that dispenses a liquid in a fine mist from the dispenser. Such liquid dispensers are commonly referred to as “atomizers”, in that the liquid is dispensed in very small liquid droplets. A common application for such atomizer is in the dispensing of fragrant perfumes or other scented liquids. 
     Other manual liquid dispensers include liquid spray dispensers that utilize a reciprocating handle manually operated by an external force to pump liquid out of a container. When the liquid is pumped under pressure through a spray nozzle, the nozzle generates a dispersed mist of very small liquid droplets. Typically, liquid spray dispensers of this type comprise a pump mechanism that utilize a plunger manually reciprocated in the pump mechanism to draw liquid out of the liquid chamber. 
     Some of the prior liquid dispensers are intended to be reusable so that a user may re-fill the liquid chamber with replacement liquid. The ability to re-fill the liquid chamber permits re-use of the dispenser and promotes conservation of materials employed in manufacturing the dispenser. A re-fillable dispenser may also promote the manufacture of more intricate dispensers, both in form and function. One particular example is a reusable fragrant perfume atomizer having an overall size that is suitable for storage in a pocket or small purse. While such small dimensions are useful for portability, the capacity for fragrant perfume is compromised. Thus, it may be beneficial to re-fill the liquid chamber of such small, portable dispensers. 
     A number of approaches have been implemented for re-filling a liquid chamber in a liquid spray dispenser. One approach is to merely open the liquid chamber and pour in the replacement liquid with the use of a funnel. This technique, however, is time-consuming and can result in spillage of the refilling liquid. Another approach is a liquid inlet valve incorporated with the liquid spray dispenser for injecting replacement liquid into the liquid chamber from a pressurized reservoir. The liquid inlet valve is configured for engagement with a dispensing nozzle of a large liquid reservoir. While various designs for connecting inlet valve reservoir systems to liquid spray dispensers have been implemented, conventional designs require a pressurized liquid reservoir or pumping while the inlet valve of the liquid spray dispenser is attached to the larger liquid reservoir. Pumping of the dispenser while attached to a larger liquid reservoir may require added dexterity or may result in potential liquid leakage if the attachment between the dispenser and reservoir fails while pumping. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments according to aspects of the invention include a fluid dispenser for dispensing a fragrant perfume, scented liquid, or cosmetic, for example. The dispenser may be refilled from a secondary container without requiring pouring from another container or pumping while attached to another container. The dispenser includes a first fluid reservoir or chamber and second fluid reservoir or chamber formed within the dispenser container. A conduit connects the first and second fluid chambers and includes a passageway that allows exchange of fluids between the first and second fluid chambers. 
     The dispenser also includes an end plug that is coupled to the container and a user may actuate or move the end plug between a first retracted position and second stowed position. The end plug includes a stem or piston that projects from the end plug and a free end of the stem inserts into the passageway formed by the conduit. The free end of the stem may include a redundant seal that engages to the sidewalls of the passageway and blocks or seals the passageway, thereby restricting the flow of fluid between the first and second fluid chambers. The end plug also includes a valve that couples the plug to the second fluid chamber of the container. When the plug moves between a retracted and stowed position the valve likewise moves in corresponding closed and open positions. A refill port is formed in the end plug and allows the user to transfer fluid into the first fluid chamber through the refill port. 
     Another embodiment according to aspects of the invention includes a liquid reservoir or chamber partitioned from a second air reservoir or chamber formed within a dispenser or container. A nozzle assembly is coupled to the container in fluid communication with the first fluid chamber and the nozzle assembly is adaptable to dispense fluid from the first fluid chamber through the nozzle assembly. The container includes a conduit that couples the liquid reservoir to the second air reservoir. The conduit has internal walls that define a passageway for air or liquid to pass through between the first and second chambers. An end plug is coupled to the container and a user may move the plug between a first retracted position and second stowed position. The plug includes a stem or piston that has a free end that extends and inserts into the passageway of the conduit. The free end includes o-rings that seal the stem or piston to the internal walls of the passageway so that fluid is restricted from flowing between the first and second chambers. The end plug also includes a valve that couples the plug to the second fluid chamber of the container. When the plug moves between a retracted and stowed position the valve likewise moves between a corresponding closed and open positions. When the valve actuates or is moved to the open position the second fluid chamber of the container and an external atmosphere achieve a pressure equilibrium. Further, when the valve is actuated closed the second fluid chamber of the container is isolated from the external atmosphere. 
     Another embodiment according to aspects of the invention includes a liquid dispenser apparatus comprising a container that has a liquid reservoir or chamber and a second air reservoir or chamber formed within the container. The chambers are partitioned and a nozzle assembly is coupled to the container in fluid communication with the first fluid chamber. The nozzle assembly is adaptable to dispense fluid from the first fluid chamber through the nozzle assembly. An elongated conduit couples the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber and includes a passageway that is in fluid communication between the first and second fluid chambers. 
     The dispenser also includes an end plug that is coupled to the container and is moveable between a first retracted position and second stowed position. The end plug has a stem or piston projecting from a base of the plug and includes a redundant seal coupled to a free end of the stem or piston. The free end may extend into the conduit and seal against the internal walls of the passageway. When sealed, the fluid communication between the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber is blocked. The plug also includes a valve that couples the plug to the second fluid chamber of the container. The valve actuates between an open position and a closed position and is linked to the plug in a manner that when the plug is in a stowed position the valve is in an open position and when the plug is moved to the retracted position the valve actuates to a closed position. When the valve is actuated to an open position the second fluid chamber achieves a pressure equilibrium with an external atmosphere, and when the valve is actuated closed the second fluid chamber is isolated from the external atmosphere. The plug further includes a refill port formed in the plug. The refill port is formed in the plug in a manner so that the port may be coupled to a stem of a refill container. 
     These and other embodiments according to aspects of the invention include a refillable dispenser that includes a fluid reservoir and a pump assembly in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir. The pump assembly is suitable to reduce the pressure, draw out or evacuate the air sealed within the fluid reservoir. In an embodiment of the invention the dispenser includes a first chamber or fluid reservoir and a second chamber or an evacuation chamber that are coupled together by a passageway. A movable plug or pump is configured so that an amount of air is transferred from the fluid reservoir to the evacuation chamber each time a portion of the plug is retracted from the container. In a particular embodiment, when the plug is in a retracted position a pressure of fluid within the second fluid chamber equalizes with a pressure in the first chamber, but both chambers are isolated from the external atmosphere. As the plug is moved from the retracted position towards the stowed position, the first fluid chamber is sealed from fluid communication with the second chamber and a valve actuates open. When the valve actuates open the second fluid chamber of the container and an external atmosphere achieve pressure equilibrium. In this manner, each time the plug is moved from the stowed to retracted position and back to the stowed position, a pressure within the first fluid chamber is reduced, thereby creating a vacuum within the first fluid chamber. Once a vacuum is created in the first fluid chamber, the dispenser may automatically refill with liquid when the refill port is coupled to a reservoir container. 
     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a portion of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the detailed description, serve to further explain the invention. The embodiments illustrated herein are presently preferred; however, it should be understood, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. For a fuller understanding of the nature and advantages of the invention, reference should be made to the detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the various figures, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numerals throughout the figures identify substantially similar components. 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a fluid dispenser in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a partial perspective view depicting movement of the plug of the fluid dispenser of the type shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a partial perspective view depicting removal of a nozzle from a container; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial perspective view depicting a transfer of fluid from a container of the type shown in  FIG. 3  to a fluid dispenser of the type shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a partial perspective view depicting fluid spraying from a fluid dispenser of the type shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a partial sectional view of a fluid dispenser in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, showing the end plug in a stowed position; 
         FIG. 7  is a partial sectional view of the fluid dispenser of the type shown in  FIG. 6 , showing the end plug in a retracted position; 
         FIG. 8  is a partial sectional view of a portion of a conduit and piston of the fluid dispenser of the type shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a fluid dispenser in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, showing the end plug in a retracted position; and 
         FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective view of components of the fluid dispenser of the type shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description provides detail of various embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are set forth below. Each of these embodiments are provided by way of explanation of the invention, and not intended to be a limitation of the invention. Further, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and variations may be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. By way of example, those skilled in the art will recognize that features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment, may be used in another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention also cover such modifications and variations that come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 
     The dispenser apparatus of the present invention is particularly well suited as a compact dispenser of perfume and the like. The dispenser includes a chamber for storing a liquid and a nozzle assembly coupled to the storage chamber. The nozzle assembly may be of a known suitable type that dispenses liquid through a spray nozzle in a fine mist or very small liquid droplets. The nozzle may include a check valve of suitable construction that reduces leaking of liquid from the nozzle. 
     A conduit couples the storage chamber in fluid communication with a second chamber so that an air pressure in the storage chamber may equalize with an air pressure in the second chamber. The second chamber includes a plug that moves within the second chamber between a retracted position and a stowed position. The plug includes a one way valve that actuates between open and closed positions when the plug moves between stowed and retracted positions. The plug also includes a sealing arrangement that blocks or seals the conduit between the two chambers when the valve actuates to an open position. Further, when the valve is in the open position air exchanges from the second chamber to the external environment until air within the second chamber reaches equilibrium with the external environment. The second chamber in conjunction with the movable plug, valve and seals together allow the user to evacuate air from the storage chamber. 
     In accordance with the present invention a user may evacuate air from the storage chamber  14  prior to refilling liquid in the storage chamber.  FIGS. 1-5  illustrate the use of an auto refill dispenser  10  to refill liquid into a storage chamber  14  of the dispenser. A user may reciprocate the end plug  20  between stowed and retracted positions in a pumping like motion (see  FIG. 2 ). In this manner, a pressure within the storage chamber  14  is reduced and a negative pressure is created relative to the external atmosphere. When a user desires to deliver liquid to the storage chamber without exposing the liquid to the external air, and after the negative pressure within the storage chamber  14  is established, the user may uncover the stem  202  of a reservoir or refill container  200  and press or engage the refill port  28  onto the stem  202  of the refill container (see  FIGS. 3 and 4 ). The air pressure within the refill container  200  may approximate atmospheric pressure, but is at least greater than the pressure within the dispenser&#39;s storage chamber  14 . When the refill port  28  is pressed onto the stem  202  of the refill reservoir  200 , both the port  28  of the refill container and a valve within the nozzle assembly of the refill reservoir  200  actuate to open positions and fluid may flow through the port  28  and into the storage chamber  14 . The negative pressure within the storage chamber  14  effectively siphons liquid from the refill reservoir  200  until the pressure within the storage chamber  14  and refill reservoir reach equilibrium, or until the storage chamber  14  is full of liquid, or until the user removes the dispenser  10  from the refill reservoir. The user may then spray the liquid from the dispenser (see  FIGS. 4 and 5 ). 
     Turning attention now to  FIGS. 6-10 , details of the embodiments of the invention will be further discussed. The dispenser  10  generally includes container  12 , cover or cap  18 , end or plug  20 , and nozzle assembly  22 . In an embodiment of the invention the container is made of a translucent material and includes an opaque outer sheath  40 . The sheath  40  may include a window or aperture extending through a side of the sheath and aligned with the liquid storage chamber  14 , allowing a user to monitor a liquid level within the storage chamber  14 . A collar  42  snap fits onto an upper portion of the container and a sheath  44  covers the cap  42 . The outer sheaths  40  and  44  and collar  42  may be manufactured from an aluminum or other suitable material and may be coated, plated, textured, or otherwise finished with a desired color and appearance. 
     The container  12  is generally divided into a liquid storage chamber  14  and second chamber  16  by a partition wall  30 . An elongated conduit  32  is formed in the partition wall  30  and includes an aperture  34  extending through an end portion of the conduit  32 . The partition is formed in a manner so that conduit  32  extends above a bottom portion of the liquid storage chamber  14 . Internal walls  36  of conduit  32  form a passageway  38  between the liquid storage chamber  14  and the second chamber  16 . A hollow tube  50  is coupled and sealed around the aperture  34  and extends to a top of the liquid storage chamber  14  (when the container  12  is positioned in an upright orientation with the nozzle assembly  22  aligned above the plug  20  in a vertical orientation as depicted in the Figures). The alignment and extension of the tube  50  within the fluid chamber  14  ensures that only air is drawn from the chamber  14  into the passageway  38  and second chamber  16 ; the liquid level within the fluid chamber  14  should not rise above the top of the hollow tube  50 . 
     The plug  14  generally includes piston or stem  24 , valve  26  and refill port assembly  28  (see  FIGS. 9 and 10 ; note that the nozzle assembly  22  is shown exploded and without all of its component parts). The piston or stem  24  extends upward from an upper end of the plug and includes redundant sealing rings or o-rings  52  aligned near a free end or an upper end of the piston or stem  24 . When the plug  20  is inserted into the second chamber  16  of the container  12  and situated in its stowed position, piston or stem  24  extends into the conduit  32 . An end of the conduit  32  is tapered to facilitate insertion of the piston or stem  24  into the conduit  32 . Sealing rings  52  engage with the sidewalls  36  of the conduit  32  to thereby block fluid from exchanging between the first chamber  14  and second chamber  16  through passageway  38 . When the plug  20  is retracted from the container  12 , sealing rings  52  disengage from the sidewalls and air may pass between the first chamber  14  and second chamber  16  through passageway  38  (see  FIG. 8 ). Partition wall  30  includes an elongated portion through which a bore  48  extends. The bore  48  extends through the partition creating a channel between the first chamber  14  and second chamber  16 . The bore sidewalls  48  narrow to a smaller bore diameter near a bottom of the partition. Plug  20  also includes a stop  60  that slides within the channel of the bore. The stop  60  includes a redundant seal  62  that seals against the bore sidewalls and restricts liquid from passing past the stop into the second chamber  16 . When the plug  20  is in the fully retracted position the stop  60  rests against the bottom of the partition  30  restricting further retraction of the plug  20 . Plug  20  further includes an aperture extending through the plug to allow passage of liquid between the first fluid chamber  14  and refill port  28 . 
     The refill port assembly  28  is of a suitable self-sealing construction and may, for example, include a needle valve  70 , compression spring  72 , expandable inlet  74 , and seals  56 . When a nozzle stem  202  of reservoir container  200  is pressed into the expandable inlet  74 , the spring  72  compresses and a tip of needle valve  70  extends into a cavity  76  of plug  20 . The needle valve  70  includes a groove  78  formed in the valve body such that when the tip of the needle valve extends into the cavity  76 , the groove  78  allows fluid communication between the inlet  74  and first fluid chamber  14 . 
     The plug  20  also includes the annular one way valve  26  formed near an upper end of the plug. The valve  26  includes an annular groove  90 , slots  92  (see  FIGS. 6 and 10 ) and seal  94 . The groove and seal  94  are sized to allow the seal to move in the groove between an open and closed position, such that the valve is actuatable between and open and closed position. When the plug is moved to the retracted position the seal actuates in the groove to the closed position and when the plug is moved to the stowed position the seal actuates in the groove to the open position. The seal  94  seals against groove  90  and the inner wall of the chamber  16  of the container  12 . The diameter of the plug body  20  is sized smaller than the internal diameter of chamber  16  of the container  12  so that a portion of the plug body is exposed to air external to the container. When in the closed position, the seal  94  blocks fluid from passing between the second chamber  16  and the slot  92  (see  FIG. 7 ). When the seal  94  moves in the groove  90  to the open position ( FIG. 6 ), air exchanges through the slot  92  between the chamber  16  and air external to the container  12 . 
     When the plug  20  is moved to the stowed position, a free end of the piston or stem  24  extends into the conduit  32  and seals against the internal walls  36  of the passageway  38  such that when the free end extends into the conduit and seals against the internal walls of the passageway, fluid communication between the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber is blocked. Likewise, when the plug  20  is moved between the retracted and stowed positions the valve  26  actuates between an open position and a closed position. When the valve  26  is actuated to an open position the second fluid chamber  16  of the container  12  and an external atmosphere achieve a pressure equilibrium. When the valve  26  is actuated closed the second fluid chamber  16  of the container  12  is isolated from the external atmosphere. 
     Further, when the end plug  20  is moved to the retracted position the valve  26  is in the closed position and the piston  24  does not seal against the internal walls  36  of the passageway  38 . When the end plug  20  is moved to the second stowed position the valve  26  is in the open position and the piston  24  seals against the internal walls  36  of the passageway  38 . The piston  24  may include a redundant seal on a free end of the piston to further ensure an air tight seal between the piston  24  and the internal walls  36  of the passageway  38 . Also, when the end plug  20  is moved to the second stowed position the end plug extends into the second fluid chamber. 
     These and various other aspects and features of the invention are described with the intent to be illustrative, and not restrictive. This invention has been described herein with detail in order to comply with the patent statutes and to provide those skilled in the art with information needed to apply the novel principles and to construct and use such specialized components as are required. It is to be understood, however, that the invention can be carried out by specifically different constructions, and that various modifications, both as to the construction and operating procedures, can be accomplished without departing from the scope of the invention. Further, in the appended claims, the transitional terms comprising and including are used in the open ended sense in that elements in addition to those enumerated may also be present. Other examples will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing this document.