Abstract:
A container for a liquid, in particular, a high-value liquid in a small quantity such as a perfume is disclosed. The container comprises a reservoir ( 12 ) within which a liquid can be contained. A dispenser ( 24 ), typically a pump dispenser, is carried on a neck ( 20 ) of a filling opening of the reservoir ( 12 ) thereby sealing the reservoir. The dispenser can dispense a quantity of liquid from the reservoir ( 12 ) on operation of a trigger. A casing ( 32 ) is also carried on the reservoir ( 12 ). The casing ( 32 ) and the reservoir ( 12 ) can be mutually rotated between a closed condition and an open condition. In the closed condition, the casing prevents access to the trigger and the reservoir predominantly projects from the casing, and in the open condition, the trigger can be operated and the reservoir ( 12 ) is substantially received within the casing ( 32 ).

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a national stage entry of PCT/GB2008/002109 filed Jun. 20, 2008, under the International Convention claiming priority over GB Application No. 0711893.8 filed Jun. 20, 2007. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to a container for a liquid. In particular, it relates to a container for a small amount of liquid of high value, such as perfume for personal use. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    There are several situations in which a small amount of liquid must be packed in a secure and attractive manner. An example is perfume for personal use. When a new perfume is introduced, manufacturers often distribute small samples. This is particularly applicable to perfume of high value, where a potential customer is wary of incurring the cost of a normal-sized bottle of the perfume until there is no doubt in their mind that the perfume meets their expectations. Additionally, it is sometimes desirable to carry a small amount of perfume during the day in circumstances where carrying a full-size bottle may be inconvenient or impracticable. 
         [0004]    Another application that has recently become more important is providing a vessel that a person can take onto an aircraft that complies with security regulations that relate to carriage of liquids. In many situations the amount of liquid that can be carried by a passenger boarding an aircraft is limited in volume, and security authorities may wish to inspect the liquid visually. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    An aim of the invention is to provide a container for packaging a small volume of a liquid product in an attractive and convenient manner, and such that the contents can be inspected from outside of the container, and which can have an appearance that is sufficiently attractive that the container can be worn about the person and have the appearance of a decorative article such as an item of jewelry. 
         [0006]    From a first aspect, this invention provides a container for a liquid comprising:
       a dispenser carried on the reservoir that can dispense a quantity of liquid from the reservoir on operation of a trigger,   a casing carried on the reservoir; in which   the casing and the reservoir can be mutually rotated between a closed condition and an open condition:   in the closed condition the casing prevents access to the trigger and the reservoir predominantly projects from the casing, and   in the open condition the trigger can be operated and the reservoir is substantially received within the casing.       
 
         [0012]    Advantageously, the reservoir includes at least one wall of a transparent or a semi-transparent material, through which the contents of the reservoir can be inspected when the container is in the closed condition. Alternatively, the reservoir may be made entirely of transparent material. This can facilitate inspection by security personnel. As a further alternative, the reservoir may be opaque or semi-transparent to allow its external appearance to be completely controlled. 
         [0013]    When in the closed condition, the container may present an approximately circular in peripheral shape. 
         [0014]    In typical embodiments, the dispenser is a trigger-operated pump. Advantageously, it is a metered-dispense type pump. Alternatively, the reservoir may be suitable for containing a liquid product and a propellant gas under pressure, and the dispenser includes a valve and a spray head. That is, the container may be a so-called aerosol. 
         [0015]    Detents may be provided to retain the container in its open and/or its closed condition. 
         [0016]    The invention may also provide a container in combination with a plurality of mounting components, any of which can be releasably connected to the container, the mounting components being suitable for connection with a garment. 
         [0017]    In a first configuration, the dispenser is permanently attached to the container. This prevents the reservoir being re-filled, as may be desirable if a manufacturer for distribution of a sample of a product brands the container. In an alternative configuration, the dispenser is releasably attached to the container, for example by a screw thread. A user can remove the dispenser to fill and re-fill the reservoir. This allows the container to be used to carry a small amount of liquid of a user&#39;s choice. 
         [0018]    From a second aspect, the invention provides a packaged product comprising a container embodying the first aspect of the invention with a liquid product contained within its reservoir. 
         [0019]    The volume of liquid within the container is typically less than 100 ml, and more typically less than 50 ml. For example, it may be 5 ml, 10 ml or 15 ml. 
         [0020]    The liquid may be a product for personal use such as a perfume. Alternative examples of products include eau-de-toilette, cologne aftershave, cosmetics, a skincare preparation, a toiletry, a hair lotions or hair care preparation; a toilet preparation; a shaving preparations e.g., after-shave lotion, a beauty preparation, a dentifrice, an essential oil, a deodorant, an anti-perspirants, a sun-tan or sun-screening preparation, a depilatory preparation; a lotions, a massage oils, nail polish, nail polish remover, soap or shampoo, a preparations for the conditioning, care and appearance of the skin, body, face, eyes, hair, teeth and nails; a shower or a bath preparations, a bath oil, a moisturisers, an aromatherapy preparation, a baby oil, a room fragrance, a cleaning or polishing preparation, or a liquid pharmaceutical product. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]      FIGS. 1 and 2  are perspective and front views of a first embodiment of the invention in a closed condition; 
           [0022]      FIGS. 3 and 4  are perspective and front views of a first embodiment of the invention in an open condition; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a rear perspective view of a reservoir of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is a rear perspective view of a reservoir of a first alternative embodiment; 
           [0026]      FIGS. 8 and 9  are perspective front and rear views of a second embodiment of the invention in a closed condition; 
           [0027]      FIG. 10  is a perspective front view of a second embodiment of the invention in an open condition; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 11  is an exploded view of the embodiment of  FIG. 8 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0029]    With reference to the drawings, a first embodiment of the invention is a container for 5 ml of a liquid such as a perfume or other composition for personal use. 
         [0030]    The container comprises a reservoir  10  in which a liquid can be contained. The reservoir has parallel spaced front and rear walls  12 ,  14 . Each of the front and rear walls  12 ,  14  have an arcuate peripheral region that is shaped as a segment of a circle extending slightly more than 180°. The remainder of the periphery of the front and rear walls  12 ,  14  is slightly convex. The front and rear walls  12 ,  14  are mirror-symmetric about a centre axis. To complete the reservoir  10 , the front and rear walls  12 ,  14  are interconnected around their periphery by a side wall  16 , which likewise has an arcuate region and a convex region. In this embodiment, the reservoir is formed from two mouldings that are interconnected by welding, with the side wall  16  being formed substantially equally by both of the mouldings. 
         [0031]    Each of the front and rear walls  12 ,  14  carries a respective projecting boss  26 . The bosses have a circular periphery are coaxial. A tab  28  projects from the rear wall  14   
         [0032]    The reservoir  10  has a neck  20  through which liquid can pass into and out of an internal space of the reservoir  10 . The neck  20  extends from a central region of the side wall at the mid-point of the convex region of the side wall  16 . The neck  20  has engagement formations  22  that allow it to be interconnected with a dispenser  24 . The passage through the neck has a central axis. 
         [0033]    In this embodiment, the dispenser  24  is a metered-dispense finger-operated pump dispenser with a dose of 0.05 mm 3 . It has a pump body that is carried on the engagement formations  22  of the neck  20 , on which it is a snap fit where the intention is that the container is not to be refilled. A seal is formed between the dispenser  24  and the neck, so the dispenser  24  acts as a sealing closure for the reservoir  10 . A dip tube  38  extends into the reservoir  10  to pick up liquid contained within it when the container is in the deployed condition. When being carried in the closed condition, the dip tube  38  may extend upwardly, and therefore not be submerged in the liquid, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . A trigger projects from the pump body in a direction axially away from the reservoir. Since the dispenser, in this embodiment, is a component that can be obtained as a matter of routine, it will not be described here further. 
         [0034]    As an alternative, the dispenser may be engaged on the neck with a screw thread. This allows it to be readily removed so that the reservoir can be re-filled. This allows the container to be used as a convenient way to carry a small amount of a liquid of choice. For example, a small amount of perfume can be carried for application during the day, while it would not be convenient to carry a full-size bottle of perfume. 
         [0035]    The container further includes a casing  30 . The casing has parallel, spaced front and rear walls  32 ,  34  and a peripheral wall  36 . The spacing between the front and back walls  32 ,  34  is such that the reservoir  10  is a sliding fit between them with slight clearance, an outer surface of the front wall of the reservoir  10  being adjacent to an inner face of the front wall of the casing  30  and an outer surface of the rear wall of the reservoir  10  being adjacent to an inner face of the rear wall of the casing  30 . An arcuate region of the periphery of the front and rear walls of the casing has a similar angular extent and a slightly larger radius than the arcuate peripheral region of the reservoir  10 . The remainder of the periphery of the front and rear walls of the casing  30  are convex, but of different shapes, as will be described in more detail below. The arcuate parts of the peripheries of the front and rear walls of the casing  30  are interconnected by a side wall, and the space between the convex regions of the front and rear walls is an open slot. Thus, the reservoir can pass into the casing  30  through the open slot. 
         [0036]    The front wall  32  of the casing  30  has a circular aperture  40  at a region that is central of the arcuate region of its periphery. The aperture of the diameter is slightly greater than the diameter of the boss  26  of the reservoir  10 . The convex region of the front wall  32  is shaped as a bell curve, with a portion projecting to provide sufficient material to surround the aperture  40 . (The particular shape is a matter of aesthetic choice, provided that there is sufficient material surrounding the aperture  40  to confer for strength.) 
         [0037]    The rear wall  34  of the casing  30  has a shape that is broadly similar in profile to the front wall  32 , but with a more-pronounced central projection in the convex region. A slot  44  is formed in an inner surface of the rear wall  34 , being of depth approximately half the thickness of the rear wall  34  and width substantially the same as the diameter of the aperture  40  in the front wall  32 . The slot  44  extends from an edge of the rear wall  34  centrally of the projecting of the convex region, and ends opposite the aperture  40 . At its inner end region, the slot  44  has a semi-circular end wall of substantially the same radius as that of the aperture  40 . A respective rib  46  extends parallel to and spaced from each side of the slot  44 . 
         [0038]    To assemble the container, the reservoir  10  is introduced into the casing  30 . The boss  26  of the rear wall  14  of the reservoir  10  slides into the slot  44  in the rear wall  34  of the casing  30 . The front wall  32  of the casing is deflected away from the rear wall  34  to allow the boss  26  on the front wall  12  of the reservoir  10  to pass behind it. The boss  26  then enters the aperture  40  in the front wall  32 , and the front wall  32  is allowed to return from its deflected condition to a natural condition. 
         [0039]    Thus assembled, the following should be noted about the container: 
         [0040]    the reservoir  10  and the casing  30  can rotate with respect to one another about an axis that is transverse to the axis of the neck by pivoting about the bosses  26 ; 
         [0041]    the periphery of the aperture  40  and the semi-circular end wall of the slot act as surfaces against which the apertures can pivot; 
         [0042]    separation of the casing  30  from the reservoir  10  is resisted because one boss  26  is retained within the aperture  40 ; and 
         [0043]    the boss  26  is visible from outside of the container through the aperture  40 , so it may carry indicia, such as a manufacturers trade mark. 
         [0044]    To place the container in a fully-open condition, the casing  30  is manually rotated to completely expose the trigger. The trigger will typically be pointed upwards for use so that the dip tube extends downwardly into the liquid). To reach this condition, the tab  28  must pass one or other rib  46 . The position and size of the tab  28  and the ribs  46  is selected such that resistance to the rotational movement occurs as the tab  28  passes the rib, and when the container is fully open, the tab  28  rests between the ribs  46 . Thus, the tab  28  and the ribs  46  act as a detent to locate the container in the open condition. 
         [0045]    The container is fully closed when the casing  30  and the reservoir are rotated 180° from the open condition described above about the bosses  26 —that is, about an axis that is transverse to the axis of the neck  20 . In the fully-closed condition, the trigger of the dispenser  24  is entirely enclosed within the casing  30 . However, the reservoir  10  projects from the casing, which (providing it is made of as suitable transparent material) allows its contents to be inspected. In this condition, the tab  28  rests between the ribs  44  (not at the same place as in the open condition, but displaced along their length), so that the tab  28  and the ribs  46  also act as a detent to locate the container in the closed condition. 
         [0046]    The reservoir  10  is made of a transparent plastic material, which optionally has a coloured tint. For the user of the container, this has the advantage that the amount contained within it can be seen. It also allows the contents to be inspected, for example, by airport security officials. 
         [0047]    The rear wall of the reservoir contains recesses  50  that project into the reservoir such that its internal volume is substantially filled when the intended volume of liquid (5 ml) is introduced into it. In a first alternative embodiment, the recesses are omitted (as shown in  FIG. 7 ) to provide a container for a larger volume of liquid. For example, the dimensions of the reservoir  10  and the recesses may be such that a container for 10 ml of liquid is obtained by omission of the recesses; all other components can remain unchanged. Containers with larger volumes can be obtained by scaling the container in size. 
         [0048]    An alternative embodiment will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 9 to 11 . Where components of this embodiment are similar to those of the first embodiment, they will be given a reference numeral of 100 plus that used in the description of the first embodiment. 
         [0049]    As in the first embodiment, this embodiment includes a reservoir  110  that carries a casing  130 , the reservoir and the casing being capable of mutual rotation. Its principles of operation and construction are much the same as those of the first embodiment. 
         [0050]    The reservoir  110  has two interconnected components: a base  180  and a cover  182 . The cover  182  is made of a transparent plastic material. The base  180  carries the dispenser  124 , and its dip tube  138  extends into the cover  182 . When in the closed condition, the cover  182  projects from the casing  130  such that the contents of the reservoir  110  can be seen through it. The bosses  126  project from the base  180 . 
         [0051]    As will be seen from the figures, the casing  130  of this embodiment has a different shape than that of the first embodiment. This is a predominantly aesthetic choice. 
         [0052]    Typical dimensions of a container embodying the invention are an overall thickness of 19.5 mm, a radius of the reservoir  110  of 25.5 mm and a radius of the casing  130  of 27.4 mm. 
         [0053]    Surface decoration can be applied to the container. For example, the container could be made to accord with a corporate identity, or it may simply be aesthetic. This can be printed or done by transfer. Also, decorative items such as rhinestones could be applied to achieve a desired appearance. 
         [0054]    In alternative embodiments, the reservoir contains a liquid product and a propellant gas under pressure, and the dispenser includes a valve and a spray head—a so-called aerosol container. 
         [0055]    In UK patent application GB-A-2 431 909 and International Patent Application WO2007/052051 the present applicants disclosed a container for products such as cosmetic preparations that can be worn about the person by interconnecting a container body with one of several alternative mounting components. The various mounting components can attach to garments or be otherwise carried about by a person. Several such mounting components are seen at  70  in  FIG. 11 . A recess  72  is provided in the rear wall of the casing  130  into which one of the mounting components  70  can be received, as described in the documents mentioned above. This arrangement can be applied to all of the embodiments described above. This allows a container embodying the invention to be carried conveniently and under almost any circumstances.