Patent Publication Number: US-11661266-B2

Title: Dispenser

Description:
The environmental benefit of using non-aerosol dispensers as a source of fluid has led to development in spraying fragrances and other fluids via devices from a non-aerosol fluid refill. 
     In general, devices for spraying fragrances, deodorising agents and sanitising fluids into a room generally consist of a device containing a removable source of fluid. In many devices, the source of fluid is an aerosol-based fluid that disperses a large distance upon activation. Spraying non-aerosol liquids requires a greater force to be used for activation because the force is directly related to the distance the liquid is projected. 
     The present invention relates to a device for spraying a fluid and particularly, but not exclusively to a device for spraying fluids such as fragrances, deodorizing fluids and/or a pest control material or the like in a non-aerosol form. The present invention also relates to a method of using such a device. 
     In a first aspect of the invention, there is a refill bottle for a liquid fragrance dispensing device. The bottle is configured to be inserted into the fragrance dispenser; wherein the bottle comprises a body and neck and the body comprises an asymmetrical bulbous portion; wherein the asymmetrical bulbous portion is located so that a greater proportion of the liquid can be stored in the bottom half of the body than the top half of the body wherein the asymmetrical bulbous portion results in the centre of mass of the bottle being offset from the neck. 
     In a further aspect, there is a liquid fragrance dispenser comprising a dispensing device and a refill bottle configured to store liquid fragrance; wherein the dispensing device comprises a footprint configured to contact a surface and the dispensing device is asymmetrical with part of the dispenser overhanging the footprint; wherein the bottle comprises a body and neck and the body comprises an asymmetrical bulbous portion; wherein the asymmetrical bulbous portion is located so that a greater proportion of the liquid can be stored in the bottom half of the body than the top half of the body and the centre of mass of the bottle is offset from the neck of the bottle to provide an increased storage volume whilst maintaining the centre of mass within the footprint of the dispenser. 
     In a further aspect, there is a refill bottle for a liquid fragrance dispensing device, the bottle is configured to be inserted into the fragrance dispenser; the refill bottle comprises a rotatable spray head with a nozzle for dispensing the liquid fragrance, the spray head comprises a rounded part and a nozzle; wherein the spray head is configured to be rotated by the dispensing device so that the nozzle is correctly oriented when the bottle is inserted. 
     In a further aspect, there is a liquid fragrance dispenser comprising a dispensing device and a refill bottle configured to store liquid fragrance; wherein the refill bottle comprises a rotatable spray head with a nozzle for dispensing the liquid fragrance, the spray head comprises a rounded part and a nozzle; and the dispensing device comprises a jaws configured to receive the spray head; wherein the jaws are configured to contact the rotatable spray head and rotate the spray head so that the nozzle is correctly oriented as the bottle is inserted into the dispensing device. 
    
    
     
       Aspects of the disclosure are also described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG.  1    shows a refill bottle for a non-aerosol dispensing device; 
         FIG.  2    shows a non-aerosol dispensing device with the refill bottle shown in  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  3   a    shows the spray head of the bottle in a first position during installation into the device of  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  3   b    shows the spray head of the bottle in a second position during installation into the device of  FIG.  2   ; and 
         FIG.  3   c    shows the spray head of the bottle in a third position during installation into the device of  FIG.  2   . 
     
    
    
     Embodiments will now be described with reference to the Figures. 
       FIG.  1    shows a refill bottle  8  comprising a spray head  6 , a neck  9  and a body  5 . The body  5  comprises an asymmetrical bulbous portion  12  and a bottom  7 . 
     The refill bottle  8  is configured to hold the fluid for spraying. The fluid is held in a reservoir formed by the body  5  and configured to be dispensed via the spray head  6 . In the example illustrated, the spray head  6  is coupled to the body  5  via the neck  9 . 
     The refill bottle  8  is configured to store a greater proportion of the fluid in the bottom half of the body  5  than the top half of the body  5  so that the centre of mass of the bottle  8  is lowered. 
     The asymmetrical bulbous portion  12  is located so that a greater proportion of the fluid can be stored in the bottom half of the body  5  than the top half of the body  5 . In the example illustrated, the asymmetrical bulbous portion  12  is adjacent the bottom  7  of the body  5 . The location of the asymmetrical bulbous portion  12  leads to the centre of mass of the body  5  being offset from the neck  9 . As discussed in more detail below, the lower centre of mass of the body  5  provides an increase in stability when the refill bottle  8  is used in an asymmetrical dispensing device  4  and an increase in the volume of fluid held by the refill bottle  8 . 
       FIG.  2    shows the refill bottle  8  located in a dispensing device  4 . The dispensing device  4  comprises a refill receiving portion  13 , a spray orifice  2  and a trigger mechanism  11 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  2   , the refill bottle  8  is configured to be located in the refill receiving portion  13  of the dispensing device  4 . When the refill bottle  8  is located in the dispensing device  4  the spray head  6  is configured to align with the spray orifice  2  so that, in use, the spray head  6  dispenses the fluid via the spray orifice  2  when triggered by the trigger mechanism  11 . 
     The dispensing device  4  is configured to be placed on a surface with at least part of the base  10  in contact with the surface. In the example illustrated, the base  10  has three points of contact with the surface. It is advantageous to have three points of contact to the surface to reduce instability of the dispensing device  4  when it is placed on the surface. 
     The shape of the bottle  8  in the dispensing device  4  reduces the instability associated with the force of trigger mechanism  11  on the refill bottle  8  during dispensing. The shape of the refill bottle  8  leads to a lower centre of mass and therefore increases the stability of the dispensing device  4  when the force is imparted on the trigger mechanism  11 . 
     In the example illustrated, the base  10  contacts a surface and the dispenser is asymmetrical with part of the dispenser overhanging the base. The refill bottle  8  having the asymmetrical bulbous portion  12  is configured to be inserted into dispensing device  4 , and the centre of mass of the dispensing device  4  with the refill bottle  8  is located within the base  10  of the dispensing device  4 . For example, the centre of mass of the bottle  8  offset from the neck of the bottle  8  to provide an increased storage volume whilst maintaining the centre of mass within the base  10  of the dispenser. 
       FIGS.  3 A,  3 B and  3 C  show the spray head  6  as the refill bottle  8  is docked into the dispensing device  4 . The spray head  6  is rotatable and comprises a rounded part  15  and a nozzle  14  for dispensing the fluid. In the example illustrated, the rounded part  15  is located at the opposite side of the spray head  6  relative to the nozzle  14 . The dispensing device  4  comprises a mouth having a pair of jaws  16  and a spray head receiving portion  18 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS.  3 A,  3 B and  3 C  the jaws  16  are configured to guide the spray head  6  so that the nozzle  14  is correctly oriented with the nozzle  14  directed towards the spray orifice  2  when docked in the spray head receiving portion  18 . The jaws  16  cooperate with the rounded part  15  of the spray head  6  so that the nozzle  14  is in the correct orientation. For example, if the spray head  6  is incorrectly oriented one of the jaws  16  will contact the rounded part  15  so that a rotational force is imparted on the spray head  6 . The rotational force leads to the spray head  6  rotating so that the nozzle  14  is correctly oriented with the nozzle  14  directed towards the spray orifice  2  when docked in the spray head receiving portion  18 . 
       FIG.  3 A  shows the spray head  6  entering the jaws  16  with the nozzle  14  incorrectly oriented.  FIG.  3 B  shows the spray head  6  in contact with one of the jaws  16 . The contact between the jaw  16  and the spray head  6  rotates the spray head  6  towards the correct orientation.  FIG.  3 C  shows the spray head  6  docked in the spray head  6  receiving portion  18  with the spray head correctly oriented with the nozzle  14  directed towards the spray orifice  2 . 
     The spray head  6  is shaped to contact the jaws  16  if the spray head  6  is in an incorrect orientation. In the example illustrated, the rounded part  15  of the spray head  6  comprises a semi-circular portion with straight portions on either side of the semi-circular portion and the nozzle  14  at the side of the spray head opposite to the semi-circular portion, for example a “D” shape, and the jaws  16  are symmetrical to one another and comprise a straight angled portion. As illustrated in  FIGS.  3 A,  3 B and  3 C , the shape of the spray head  6  and the jaws  16  cooperate so that one side of the spray head  6  contacts one of the jaws  16  to rotate the spray head so that the spray head  6  is correctly oriented. 
     In the examples described above, the refill bottle  8  is configured to hold a fluid. In an example, the fluid is a liquid. 
     In the examples described above, the spray head comprises a rounded part  15 . In other examples, the spray head may comprise two angled parts that meet at a point, for example a triangle. In the example above, the spray head comprises a semi-circular portion with straight portions on either side of the semi-circular portion. The spray head may also comprise pyramidal shape. 
     Further modifications and developments can be made without departing from the scope of the invention described herein.