Patent Publication Number: US-2022212216-A1

Title: A set of dispensing containers and a main dispensing container

Description:
The subject of the invention is a set of dispensing containers for dispensing liquid and semi-liquid substances, for example cosmetics including perfumes, lotions, creams, emulsions and also medicinal substances. 
     The invention also relates to a main dispensing container for dispensing liquid and semi-liquid substances, for example cosmetics including perfumes, lotions, creams, emulsions and also medicinal substances. 
     Various types of containers are known for storing and dispensing particularly liquid but also semi-liquid substances at an appropriate moment. They comprise, for example, a bottle equipped with a pump. The task of the pump is to create pressure in the container by manually pressing a button, located outside of the container and connected to the pump. The pressure created causes a substance in the container, such as perfume, to escape through an atomizer to the outside of the container. The atomizer is a device that atomizes a dosed substance in a form of a mist. 
     A dispenser with a container for an agent to be applied and with a pump for dosing and dispensing of the agent contained in the container, as well as with a pressure-equalizing unit, assigned to the container, characterized in that at least one pressure equalizing hole, which is open to the atmosphere, is assigned to the container for the applied agent, which has a shape of a nozzle, narrowing towards the atmosphere and having a minimum diameter of 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm is known from a polish patent specification no. PL201051B1. 
     Such containers are used at home practically up to several times a day and are stored, for example, in a home cabinet or on a shelf in the bathroom. Due to frequency of use and ease of storage, such containers have a relatively large volume in order to minimize a need of purchasing substances with the container. 
     However, such containers become inconvenient if the user of a substance, such as perfumes, needs to travel for a short period of time and wants to take the container along. It turns out that in the event of such a trip, the amount of needed substance is many times smaller than volumes of known containers. 
     Obviously, it is possible to make very small containers, but this is uneconomical for the user. Therefore, the best solution would be a small container, that one can refill himself from a large container when it&#39;s content is used. 
     Document WO-A-2005/101969 discloses a perfume bottle, refillable from a conventional perfume bottle, which is equipped with a spray system. A spray cap is removed from the perfume bottle and a spray rod is introduced into the bottle to be filled. Perfumes are dispensed from the large bottle into the small refillable bottle by successive vertical pushes to create pressure. 
     A loading device for loading a refillable bottle is known from a french application no FR2904613A1. It is particularly used for reloading of liquids such as perfumes. The device comprises a container for storing liquids, in particular fragrance agents, loading means located in an upper part of said device, capable of cooperating with refillable bottle filling means and intended for passing fluid from said container into a refillable bottle. The device is characterized in that it comprises guide means, arranged in an upper part of said device and adapted to cooperate with positioning means of said refillable bottle. 
     A device for dispensing a dose of a given volume of a liquid or pasty product is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,680A. The device comprises a receptacle, capable of containing several doses of the product, a bottle capable of containing a single dose of the product, means for transferring the product from the receptacle into the bottle, and a means for dispensing the dose of product from the bottle, said bottle being adapted to be fixed removably to the receptacle and to slide longitudinally with respect to said receptacle. The device is characterized in that the receptacle is equipped with a first pump, including a hollow control rod for transferring, by forcing, the product from the receptacle into the bottle. The bottle is equipped at one end with a second pump and with a dispensing head for dispensing the dose of product from the bottle, said bottle having, at the other end, a bottom designed to interact with an end of the control rod of the first pump and including a valve sealing off a passage for communication between the receptacle and the bottle formed in said bottom, and opening only under the pressure of the product contained in the receptacle, when the first pump is actuated. 
     Although the solutions known from the art fulfill their roles, they have drawbacks, which particularly include a need to disassemble elements of a loading container before connecting to it a to-be-loaded container. 
     Another disadvantage of the known solutions is a need of having two containers and optionally a lid for the loading container, if it is used to dispense a substance contained. 
     The aim of the invention it to overcome the disadvantages of the state-of-the-art solutions and to develop a set of dispensing containers: a main dispensing container and a secondary dispensing container, wherein it will be possible to integrate the secondary dispensing container with a lid of the main dispensing container and the main dispensing container will be ready for use immediately after the secondary dispensing container is detached. 
     It is also an object of the invention to provide a construction for the main dispensing container suitable to dispense a substance and to fill other containers with the substance, without performing any dismantling of components of the main dispensing container. 
     A set of dispensing containers for liquid and semi-liquid substances according to the invention, comprises a main dispensing container and a secondary dispensing container, wherein the main dispensing container comprises an outlet and a main pump and is used for placing more substance in it and for filling of the secondary dispensing container, wherein the secondary dispensing container is for containing a smaller amount of substance and comprises a pumping mechanism. During filling, the secondary dispensing container is connected to the main dispensing container. A sliding mechanism is located at an outlet of the main dispensing container. The main pump is mounted in the outlet of the main dispensing container, wherein an atomizer is connected with the main pump at the outside of the main dispensing container, and the atomizer is equipped with a valve for controling opening and closing of a nozzle of the atomizer. In an upper part of the atomizer an upper valve is located, wherein the upper valve connects a channel of the main pump with the secondary dispensing container when the secondary dispensing container is mounted on the atomizer. The secondary dispensing container and the outlet of the main dispensing container comprise means for a detachable attachment of the secondary dispensing container to the main dispensing container. 
     Preferably, the atomizer comprises an upper outlet and a small piston, which is loosely supported on a stem and supported by a lower spring in a way that the lower spring pushes the small piston towards the upper outlet of the atomizer. The small piston is provided with a sealing cavity, against which a mushroom-shaped closing end of the stem is pressed. In the upper position of the small piston the interior of the main dispensing container is connected to the nozzle of the atomizer and in the lower position of the small piston the interior of the main dispensing container is connected to the interior of the secondary dispensing container. The position of the small piston in the atomizer is controlled by a pressure element, which is a part of the the secondary dispensing container. 
     It is advantageous if the sliding mechanism is a ring seated via balls at the outlet of the main dispensing container, the ring being provided with a spiral groove on the inside. The groove enables the ring to be moved relative to the vertical axis of the main dispensing container between a lower position and an upper position, wherein in the upper position of the ring the vertical movement of the secondary dispensing container mounted on the atomizer is blocked with respect to the main dispensing container. 
     It is also advantageous if the secondary dispensing container comprises a housing, in which an upper body and a lower body are located, wherein a deformable reservoir is placed on or around the lower body and a pumping mechanism is placed in the upper body. A supply valve and a dispensing valve are located in the lower body, the supply valve being connected by means of a lower channel with the deformable reservoir and the dispensing valve being connected by means of an upper channel with the pumping mechanism. The deformable reservoir is a deformable ring-shaped diaphragm, enclosing the lower body and being attached to it by elastic rings on both of its edges, so that the lower channel, which is connected to the supply valve, extends from the lower body onto an inner surface of the reservoir, between the elastic rings. 
     Preferably, the supply valve is a ball valve, closeable by a compression spring.
 
Preferably, the dispensing valve is ball valve, closeable by an upper spring.
 
     It is advantageous, when the pumping mechanism is a button, supported by a return spring, the button being connected to a piston, located in a first chamber, said first chamber being provided in the upper body, the first chamber being connected by the upper channel and a side channel with the dispensing valve, and wherein in the upper body, behind the first chamber there is provided a second chamber. The second chamber is connected to an upper atomizer, and between the first chamber and the second chamber a membrane plug is located, the membrane plug being supported by an additional spring, wherein the membrane plug is for controlling the flow of a substance to channels connecting the second chamber with the upper atomizer. 
     It is also advantageous when the means for a detachable attachment of the secondary dispensing container at the outlet of the main dispensing container is a peripheral internal projection in the lower body of the secondary dispensing container and snap-fits on an external surface of the outlet of the main dispensing container. 
     Preferably, the housing of the secondary dispensing container forms a cover of the main dispensing container. 
     A main dispensing container for dispensing liquid and semi-liquid substances according to the invention has an outlet, a main pump and an atomizer. A sliding mechanism is positioned at the outlet of the main dispensing container and the main pump is mounted in the outlet of the main dispensing container. An atomizer is connected to the main pump outside of the main dispensing container, and the atomizer is equipped with a valve that controls opening and closing of the atomizer&#39;s nozzle and in an upper part of the atomizer there is an upper valve located for connecting a channel of the main pump with space outside the outlet of the main dispensing container. 
     Preferably, the sliding mechanism is a ring seated via balls at the outlet of the main dispensing container, an inner side of the ring being provided with a spiral groove through which the ring can be moved relative to the vertical axis of the main dispensing container, between a lower position and an upper position. 
     It is also advantageous, if the main dispensing container contains means for a detachable attachment of another container to the main dispensing container. 
     Preferably, the means for a detachable attachment of another container to the main dispensing container are snap-fits on an outer surface of the outlet of the main dispensing container. 
    
    
     
       The subject of the invention is shown in an embodiment in the drawings, in which 
         FIG. 1  shows a set of dispensing containers in a side view, containing a main dispensing container and a secondary dispensing container placed thereon, 
         FIG. 2  presents a set of dispensing containers, containing a main dispensing container and a secondary dispensing container placed thereon in cross-section along the vertical axis of the main dispensing container, 
         FIG. 3  shows a side view of a secondary dispensing container, 
         FIG. 4  shows a top view secondary dispensing container, 
         FIG. 5  shows a secondary dispensing container in cross-section along the line AA in  FIG. 4 , 
         FIG. 6  shows a secondary dispensing container in cross-section along the line BB in  FIG. 4 , 
         FIG. 7  shows an upper part of a main dispensing container in cross-section along the vertical axis of the main dispensing container, 
         FIG. 8  shows a secondary dispensing container in cross-section as in  FIG. 5 , 
         FIG. 9  shows a lower body of a secondary dispensing container in perspective side view, 
         FIG. 10  shows a lower body of a secondary dispensing container in sectional view along the vertical axis, 
         FIG. 11  shows a side view of an upper body of a secondary dispensing container, 
         FIG. 12  shows an upper body of a secondary dispensing container in cross section along the line CC in  FIG. 11  and 
         FIG. 13  shows a main dispensing container without a secondary dispensing container in a side perspective view. 
     
    
    
     As shown in an embodiment in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a set of dispensing containers  100  for dispensing liquid and semi-liquid substances, for example cosmetics, including perfumes, lotions, creams, emulsions and also medicinal substances comprises a main dispensing container  1  and a secondary dispensing container  4 . 
     The main dispensing container  1 , shown in  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 13 , comprises an outlet  2 , which is an open end of the main dispensing container  1 , allowing access to its interior. A main pump  3  is located in the outlet  2  of the main dispensing container  1  to provide increased pressure inside the main dispensing container  1 , which causes forcing of a substance contained in the main dispensing container  1  to the outside of the main dispensing container  1 . 
     The main dispensing container  1  can contain a larger amount of liquid or semi-liquid substance, such as perfume. The main dispensing container  1  of the container set  100 , shown in the embodiment, being also the main dispensing container  1  according to the second aspect of the invention, is suitable to contain more substance, in this case perfumes, which means that it can serve as a perfume dispenser for a long time, for example for a month or more 
     At the same time, the main dispensing container  1  in the container set  100  can be used for filling of the secondary dispensing container  4 , when the latter is connected to the main dispensing container  1 . The secondary dispensing container  4  is suitable for containing less substance, e.g. several single doses. The secondary dispensing container  4  is provided with its own pumping mechanism  5 , allowing the secondary dispensing container  4  to be used as a dispenser, in this case, of a perfume, independently of the main dispensing container  1 . 
     At the outlet  2  of the main dispensing container  1  the main pump  3  is mounted, which is connected to an atomizer  8  outside of the main dispensing container  1 , as shown in  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 13 . The task of the atomizer  8  is to ensure a discharge of a liquid or semi-liquid substance contained in the main dispensing container  1 , in this embodiment—a perfume, through a nozzle  11  of the atomizer  8 , in a form of an aerosol mist. For this purpose, the atomizer  8  of the main dispensing container  1  of the container set  100  or the main dispensing container  1  according to the second aspect of the invention is provided with a valve  9  for opening and closing of the nozzle  11  of the atomizer  8 . 
     An upper outlet  15  is located in an upper part of the atomizer  8  of the main dispensing container  1 , said upper outlet  15  connecting a channel of the main pump  3  with space outside the outlet  2  of the main dispensing container  1 , wherein the upper outlet  15  is closed by an upper valve  10  during normal use of the main dispensing container  1 . If the secondary dispensing container  4  is connected to the main dispensing container  1 , the upper valve  10  is opened and connects the interior of the main dispensing container  1  through the channel of the main pump  3  to the interior of the secondary dispensing container  4 . 
     The main dispensing container  1  is equipped with a sliding mechanism  7  at the outlet  2 , which in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , is a ring  19  mounted via balls  20  at the outlet  2  of the main dispensing container  1 . From the inside, the ring  19  is provided with a spiral groove  21 , through which the ring  19  can be moved relative to the vertical axis of the main dispensing container  1 , between a lower position and an upper position. On one hand, the balls  20  guide the movement of the ring  19  and on the other hand, the balls  20  hold the ring in the upper or lower position by seating the balls  20  in the outlet  2  in a manner blocking the ring  19 . 
     The atomizer  8  of the main dispensing container  1  comprises a small piston  12 , loosely mounted on a stem  13  in the upper outlet  15  and supported by a lower spring  14 , wherein the lower spring  14  pushes the small piston  12  towards the upper outlet  15  of the atomizer  8 . The small piston  12  is provided with a sealing cavity  16 , to which a mushroom-shaped closing end  17  of the stem  13  is pressed, wherein in the upper position of the small piston  12  the interior of the main dispensing container  1  is connected to the nozzle  11  of the atomizer  8  and in the lower position of the small piston  12  the interior of the main dispensing container  1  is connected to the interior of the secondary dispensing container  4 , and the position of the small piston  12  in the atomizer  8  is controlled by a pressure element  18 , provided in the secondary dispensing container  4 . 
     According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a main dispensing container  1 , presented in  FIG. 13 , which is structurally analogous to the main dispensing container  1  of the first invention, shown in embodiments in  FIGS. 2 and 7 . In the lower position of the piston small  12 , the interior of the main dispensing container  1  is connected to the space outside the main dispensing container  1 , but due to a need to push the small piston  12 , the opening of the upper valve  10  is generally difficult to accomplish without the secondary dispensing container  4 . 
     In an upper portion of the main dispensing container  1  shown in  FIG. 7  for both the set of dispensing containers  100  according to the first aspect of the invention and the main dispensing container  1  according to the second aspect of the invention, the main dispensing container  1  serves for dispensing a liquid substance contained in it, in this embodiment—perfume. Such dosing can take place many times due to the large capacity of the main dispensing container  1 . The operation consists of pressing the upper surface of the atomizer  8  of the main dispensing container  1 , wherein the upper outlet  15  is located on the upper surface of the atomizer  8 , and wherein the upper valve  10  is mounted below the upper outlet  15 . The upper valve  10  is slightly depressed into the upper surface of the atomizer  8 , which prevents it from being unlocked when pressed. Pressing the atomizer  8  in the manner described above activates the main pump  3 , which, in the manner known from the prior art, creates an increased pressure inside the main dispensing container  1 , wherein the pressure pushes perfumes through the channel of the main pump  3  to the atomizer  8  and further through the nozzle  11  to the outside of the main dispensing container  1 , onto a desired surface in a form of an aerosol mist. 
       FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 8  show the embodiment of a secondary dispensing container  4 , which is also a cover  39  of a main dispensing container  1 , as particularly visible in  FIG. 1 . The cover  39  may have a shape and dimensions known from common perfume bottle covers. 
     As shown in the embodiment of the first invention, the secondary dispensing container  4  has a shape of an irregularly shaped spatial solid, but it is obvious that it may have a shape of a regular solid, for example a cylinder, cube or other cuboid. 
       FIG. 5  shows a secondary dispensing container  4  in cross-section along the line A-A in  FIG. 4 , whereas  FIG. 6  shows secondary dispensing container  4  in cross-section along the line B-B in  FIG. 4 . In the cross-sections of an exemplary secondary dispensing container  4 , shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the secondary dispensing container  4  comprises a housing  22 , in which an upper body  23  and a lower body  24  are located. A deformable reservoir  25  is located around the lower body  24  and a pumping mechanism  5  is located in the upper body  23 . 
     The reservoir  25  is a deformable diaphragm  25   a  of a ring shape, enclosing the lower body  24  and being attached to it by elastic rings  30  on both of its edges, as shown in  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 8 . Obviously, in other embodiments of the invention, the reservoir  25  can have a different shape, such as a shape of a deformable bag, attached to the lower body  24  on one side by the elastic ring  30  and on the other side sealed to an upper surface of the lower body  24  by pressing it with internal elements of the housing  22 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 9  in perspective view and in  FIG. 10  in cross-section and also in  FIG. 8  in cross-section, a supply valve  26  and a dispensing valve  28  are located in the lower body  24 , the supply valve  26  being connected by means of a lower channel  27  to the reservoir  25 , and a dispensing valve  28  being connected by an upper channel  29  and a side channel  38  with a pumping mechanism  5 . In this embodiment, the supply valve  26  is a ball valve, closeable by a compression spring  42 . In addition, the compression spring  42  is supported by pressure inside the reservoir  25 . It is also possible that the supply valve  26  will only be closed by the pressure inside the reservoir  25 . In this embodiment, the dispensing valve  28  is an ball valve, closeable by an upper spring  31 . It is obvious that in a rest state, a force of the upper spring  31  of the dispensing valve  28  is greater than a force resulting from the pressure in the reservoir  25 , so that the dispensing valve  28  remains closed despite an increase in pressure in the reservoir  25  as a result of pumping liquid into it and stretching the wall of the diaphragm  25   a  of the reservoir  25 . 
     The lower channel  27 , connected to the supply valve  26 , exits the lower body  24  into the inner surface of the reservoir  25 , between the elastic rings  30 . 
     After filling the reservoir  25  and disconnecting the secondary dispensing container  4  from the main dispensing container  1 , the secondary dispensing container  4  can be used to dispense the substance contained therein, which is perfume in the embodiment shown in the drawing, particularly in  FIG. 3 . The secondary dispensing container  4  is a container of a travel type and contains a much smaller amount of substance than can be contained in the main dispensing container  1 . 
     In order to enable dispensing of a substance, such as perfume, from the secondary dispensing container  4 , it is provided with the pumping mechanism  5 , as shown in the embodiment in  FIG. 8 ,  FIG. 11  and  FIG. 12 . The pumping mechanism  5  is a button  32 , wherein the button  32  is connected to a piston  34 , the piston  34  being located in a first chamber  35 , said first chamber  35  being provided in the upper body  23  of the secondary dispensing container  4 . The first chamber  35  of the secondary dispensing container  4  is connected by the side channel  38  and the upper channel  29  to the dispensing valve  28  in the upper body  23 . In the upper body  23 , behind the first chamber  35 , there is a second chamber  36 , connected to an upper atomizer  37 . Between the first chamber  35  and the second chamber  36  a membrane plug  43  is located, the membrane plug  43  being supported by an additional spring  44 , wherein the membrane plug  43  is for controlling of a flow of the substance to channels  45 , connecting the second chamber  36  to the upper atomizer  37 . 
     When the user of the secondary dispensing container  4  presses the button  32 , the piston  34  compresses the substance contained in the first chamber  35 , between the piston  34  and the second chamber  36 . The dispensing valve  28  prevents the substance from entering the reservoir  25 . The pressure in the first chamber  35 , caused by the pressure exerted on the button  32 , causes the membrane plug  43 , pushed towards the first chamber  35  through the additional spring  44 , to be pushed towards the outlet of the upper atomizer  37 . This movement of the membrane plug  43  exposes the channels  45 , connecting the first chamber  35  to the upper atomizer  37 , and results in dispensing the liquid substance, in this embodiment—a perfume, in a form of an aerosol mist. 
     Releasing the pressure on the button  32  activates a return spring  33 , which pulls the piston  34  in the first chamber  35  towards the button  32 . This action, in a first aspect, releases the membrane plug  43 , which, moving under the action of the additional spring  44  towards the first chamber  35 , closes the channels  45  and, in a second aspect, under the influence of the vacuum created, it opens the dispensing valve  28 . The substance, which in this embodiment is perfume, passes from the reservoir  25  through the dispensing valve  28  into the first chamber  35  and the secondary dispensing container  4  is ready to dispense another portion of the substance. This can be done by pressing the button  32  again. Of course, this will only be possible until the reservoir  25  of the secondary dispensing container  4  is completely empty. 
     To refill the secondary dispensing container  4 , it must be connected to the main dispensing container  1 . To this end, both containers of the container set  100  are provided with means for a detachable attachment of the secondary dispensing container  4  at the outlet  2  of the main dispensing container  1 . Means for a detachable attachment of the secondary dispensing container  4  at the outlet  2  the main dispensing container  1  is a peripheral internal projection  40  in the lower body  24  of the secondary dispensing container  4  and snap-fits  41  on an outer surface of the outlet  2  of the main dispensing container  1 . Due to their flexibility with little resistance, the peripheral internal projection  40  in the lower body  24  of the secondary dispensing container  4  and the snap-fits  41  on the outer surface of the outlet  2  of the main dispensing container  1  allow to connect and disconnect the secondary dispensing container  4  and the main dispensing container  1 . 
     When the secondary dispensing container  4  is connected to the main dispensing container  1  by the means for a detachable attachment provided above, the main dispensing container  1  cannot be used as an applicator of the substance contained therein, because the pressure element  18  of the secondary dispensing container  4 , as shown in the embodiment in  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 10 , pressing the small piston  12  causes it to move towards the outlet  2  of the main dispensing container  1 , and thus, closes the flow of liquid or semi-liquid substance from the main dispensing container  1  to the nozzle  11  of the atomizer  8 . As long as the secondary dispensing container  4  is seated on the main dispensing container  1 , a supply of substance from the main dispensing container  1  to the atomizer&#39;s nozzle  11  is closed and a supply to the supply valve  26  of the secondary dispensing container  4  is open. 
     In contrast, the possibility of filling the secondary dispensing container  4  depends on the position of the sliding mechanism  7 . The sliding mechanism  7  can be positioned in one of two positions: upper or lower position by displacement by turning the ring  19  seated via balls  20  as shown in  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 13  in the embodiment. Displacement of the ring  19  to the upper position makes it impossible to press the main pump  3  of the main dispensing container  1  through the secondary dispensing container  4 , as it is prevented by resistance of the ring  19 . Filling of the secondary dispensing container  4  is possible after placing the secondary dispensing container  4  on the main dispensing container  1  and placing the ring  19  of the sliding mechanism  7  in the lower position. In this position, the ring  19  does not limit the possibility of vertical movement of the secondary dispensing container  4  and its filling. 
     List of reference numerals, presented on the figures:
       1 —main dispensing container     2 —outlet of the main dispensing container     3 —main pump     4 —secondary dispensing container     5 —pumping mechanism     7 —sliding mechanism     8 —atomizer     9 —valve for opening and closing of the nozzle  11       10 —upper valve     11 —atomizer&#39;s nozzle/nozzle of the atomizer     12 —small piston     13 —stem     14 —lower spring     15 —upper outlet     16 —sealing cavity     17 —mushroom-shaped closing end     18 —pressure element     19 —ring     20 —balls     21 —groove     22 —housing     23 —upper body     24 —lower body     25 —reservoir,  25   a —diaphragm     26 —supply valve     27 —lower channel     28 —dispensing valve     29 —upper channel     30 —elastic rings     31 —upper spring     32 —button     33 —return spring     34 —piston     35 —first chamber     36 —second chamber     37 —upper atomizer     38 —side channel     39 —cover     40 —peripheral internal projection     42 —compression spring     43 —membrane plug     44 —additional spring     45 —channels     100 —set of containers