Patent Description:
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 <NUM> to <NUM> is known from a polish patent specification no.

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's content is used.

Document <CIT> 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 <CIT>. 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 US patent application no <CIT>. 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.

According to the first aspect of the present invention there is provided a main dispensing container for dispensing liquid and semi-liquid substances, suitable for placing more substance therein and for filling of a secondary dispensing container which is suitable for containing a smaller amount of substance therein and connectable to the main dispensing container, said main dispensing container comprising an outlet, a main pump, an atomizer, wherein the main pump is mounted in the outlet of the main dispensing container, wherein the atomizer is connected to the main pump outside of the main dispensing container, and the atomizer is equipped with a valve for controlling of opening and closing of a nozzle of the atomizer, wherein 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. The main dispensing container further comprises a sliding mechanism for filing the secondary dispensing container, said sliding mechanism is positioned at the outlet of the main dispensing container, wherein the possibility of filling the secondary dispensing container depends on the position of the sliding mechanism that can moved between two positions, that is an upper position and a lower position. In the upper position of the sliding mechanism filing of the secondary dispensing container is prevented. In the lower position of the sliding mechanism filing of the secondary dispensing container is possible.

It is advantageous if the sliding mechanism is a ring seated via balls at the outlet of the main dispensing container, wherein an inner side of the ring is 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 advantageous if the main dispensing container comprises means for a detachable attachment of the secondary dispensing container to the main dispensing container.

Preferably, the means for a detachable attachment of the secondary dispensing container to the main dispensing container are snap-fits on an outer surface of the outlet of the main dispensing container.

Preferably, the atomizer comprises an upper outlet and a small piston, said small piston being loosely mounted 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 atomize, wherein the small piston is provided with a sealing cavity, against which a mushroom-shaped closing end of the stem is pressed, wherein in an upper position of the small piston the interior of the main dispensing container is connected to the nozzle of the atomizer and in a lower position of the small piston the interior of the main dispensing container is connectable to the interior of the secondary dispensing container and the position of the small piston in the atomizer is controllable by a pressure element, which is a part of the secondary dispensing container.

According the second aspect of the present invention there is provided a set of dispensing containers for liquid and semi-liquid substances, containing a main dispensing container and a secondary dispensing container, wherein the secondary dispensing container is suitable for containing a smaller amount of substance therein and comprises a pumping mechanism, wherein during filling of the secondary dispensing container it is connected to the main dispensing container such that the upper valve of the atomizer of the main dispensing container connects a channel of the main pump of the main dispensing container with the secondary dispensing container, wherein the secondary dispensing container contains means for a detachable attachment to the main dispensing container.

It is 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 the pumping mechanism is placed in the upper body, wherein 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, wherein the deformable reservoir is a deformable ring-shaped diaphragm, enclosing the lower body and 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 if 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, said second chamber being 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 if the means for a detachable attachment to the main dispensing container is a peripheral internal projection in the lower body of the secondary dispensing container, said peripheral internal projection cooperates with the snap-fits on the outer 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.

The subject of the invention is shown in an embodiment in the drawings, in which <FIG> shows a set of dispensing containers in a side view, containing a main dispensing container and a secondary dispensing container placed thereon, <FIG> 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> shows a side view of a secondary dispensing container, <FIG> shows a top view secondary dispensing container, <FIG> shows a secondary dispensing container in cross-section along the line AA in <FIG>, <FIG> shows a secondary dispensing container in cross-section along the line BB in <FIG>, <FIG> shows an upper part of a main dispensing container in cross-section along the vertical axis of the main dispensing container, <FIG> shows a secondary dispensing container in cross-section as in <FIG>, <FIG> shows a lower body of a secondary dispensing container in perspective side view, <FIG> shows a lower body of a secondary dispensing container in sectional view along the vertical axis, <FIG> shows a side view of an upper body of a secondary dispensing container, <FIG> shows an upper body of a secondary dispensing container in cross section along the line CC in <FIG> and <FIG> shows a main dispensing container without a secondary dispensing container in a side perspective view.

As shown in an embodiment in <FIG> and <FIG>, a set of dispensing containers <NUM> for dispensing liquid and semi-liquid substances, for example cosmetics, including perfumes, lotions, creams, emulsions and also medicinal substances comprises a main dispensing container <NUM> and a secondary dispensing container <NUM>.

The main dispensing container <NUM>, shown in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, comprises an outlet <NUM>, which is an open end of the main dispensing container <NUM>, allowing access to its interior. A main pump <NUM> is located in the outlet <NUM> of the main dispensing container <NUM> to provide increased pressure inside the main dispensing container <NUM>, which causes forcing of a substance contained in the main dispensing container <NUM> to the outside of the main dispensing container <NUM>.

The main dispensing container <NUM> can contain a larger amount of liquid or semi-liquid substance, such as perfume. The main dispensing container <NUM> of the container set <NUM>, shown in the embodiment, being also the main dispensing container <NUM> 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 <NUM> in the container set <NUM> can be used for filling of the secondary dispensing container <NUM>, when the latter is connected to the main dispensing container <NUM>. The secondary dispensing container <NUM> is suitable for containing less substance, e.g. several single doses. The secondary dispensing container <NUM> is provided with its own pumping mechanism <NUM>, allowing the secondary dispensing container <NUM> to be used as a dispenser, in this case, of a perfume, independently of the main dispensing container <NUM>.

At the outlet <NUM> of the main dispensing container <NUM> the main pump <NUM> is mounted, which is connected to an atomizer <NUM> outside of the main dispensing container <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>. The task of the atomizer <NUM> is to ensure a discharge of a liquid or semi-liquid substance contained in the main dispensing container <NUM>, in this embodiment - a perfume, through a nozzle <NUM> of the atomizer <NUM>, in a form of an aerosol mist. For this purpose, the atomizer <NUM> of the main dispensing container <NUM> of the container set <NUM> or the main dispensing container <NUM> according to the second aspect of the invention is provided with a valve <NUM> for opening and closing of the nozzle <NUM> of the atomizer <NUM>.

An upper outlet <NUM> is located in an upper part of the atomizer <NUM> of the main dispensing container <NUM>, said upper outlet <NUM> connecting a channel of the main pump <NUM> with space outside the outlet <NUM> of the main dispensing container <NUM>, wherein the upper outlet <NUM> is closed by an upper valve <NUM> during normal use of the main dispensing container <NUM>. If the secondary dispensing container <NUM> is connected to the main dispensing container <NUM>, the upper valve <NUM> is opened and connects the interior of the main dispensing container <NUM> through the channel of the main pump <NUM> to the interior of the secondary dispensing container <NUM>.

The main dispensing container <NUM> is equipped with a sliding mechanism <NUM> at the outlet <NUM>, which in the embodiment shown in <FIG>, is a ring <NUM> mounted via balls <NUM> at the outlet <NUM> of the main dispensing container <NUM>. From the inside, the ring <NUM> is provided with a spiral groove <NUM>, through which the ring <NUM> can be moved relative to the vertical axis of the main dispensing container <NUM>, between a lower position and an upper position. On one hand, the balls <NUM> guide the movement of the ring <NUM> and on the other hand, the balls <NUM> hold the ring in the upper or lower position by seating the balls <NUM> in the outlet <NUM> in a manner blocking the ring <NUM>.

The atomizer <NUM> of the main dispensing container <NUM> comprises a small piston <NUM>, loosely mounted on a stem <NUM> in the upper outlet <NUM> and supported by a lower spring <NUM>, wherein the lower spring <NUM> pushes the small piston <NUM> towards the upper outlet <NUM> of the atomizer <NUM>. The small piston <NUM> is provided with a sealing cavity <NUM>, to which a mushroom-shaped closing end <NUM> of the stem <NUM> is pressed, wherein in the upper position of the small piston <NUM> the interior of the main dispensing container <NUM> is connected to the nozzle <NUM> of the atomizer <NUM> and in the lower position of the small piston <NUM> the interior of the main dispensing container <NUM> is connected to the interior of the secondary dispensing container <NUM>, and the position of the small piston <NUM> in the atomizer <NUM> is controlled by a pressure element <NUM>, provided in the secondary dispensing container <NUM>.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a main dispensing container <NUM>, presented in <FIG>, which is structurally analogous to the main dispensing container <NUM> of the first invention, shown in embodiments in <FIG> and <FIG>. In the lower position of the piston small <NUM>, the interior of the main dispensing container <NUM> is connected to the space outside the main dispensing container <NUM>, but due to a need to push the small piston <NUM>, the opening of the upper valve <NUM> is generally difficult to accomplish without the secondary dispensing container <NUM>.

In an upper portion of the main dispensing container <NUM> shown in <FIG> for both the set of dispensing containers <NUM> according to the first aspect of the invention and the main dispensing container <NUM> according to the second aspect of the invention, the main dispensing container <NUM> 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 <NUM>. The operation consists of pressing the upper surface of the atomizer <NUM> of the main dispensing container <NUM>, wherein the upper outlet <NUM> is located on the upper surface of the atomizer <NUM>, and wherein the upper valve <NUM> is mounted below the upper outlet <NUM>. The upper valve <NUM> is slightly depressed into the upper surface of the atomizer <NUM>, which prevents it from being unlocked when pressed. Pressing the atomizer <NUM> in the manner described above activates the main pump <NUM>, which, in the manner known from the prior art, creates an increased pressure inside the main dispensing container <NUM>, wherein the pressure pushes prefumes through the channel of the main pump <NUM> to the atomizer <NUM> and further through the nozzle <NUM> to the outside of the main dispensing container <NUM>, onto a desired surface in a form of an aerosol mist.

<FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG> show the embodiment of a secondary dispensing container <NUM>, which is also a cover <NUM> of a main dispensing container <NUM>, as particularly visible in <FIG>. The cover <NUM> 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 <NUM> 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> shows a secondary dispensing container <NUM> in cross-section along the line A-A in <FIG>, whereas <FIG> shows secondary dispensing container <NUM> in cross -section along the line B-B in <FIG>. In the cross-sections of an exemplary secondary dispensing container <NUM>, shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the secondary dispensing container <NUM> comprises a housing <NUM>, in which an upper body <NUM> and a lower body <NUM> are located. A deformable reservoir <NUM> is located around the lower body <NUM> and a pumping mechanism <NUM> is located in the upper body <NUM>.

The reservoir <NUM> is a deformable diaphragm 25a of a ring shape, enclosing the lower body <NUM> and being attached to it by elastic rings <NUM> on both of its edges, as shown in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>. Obviously, in other embodiments of the invention, the reservoir <NUM> can have a different shape, such as a shape of a deformable bag, attached to the lower body <NUM> on one side by the elastic ring <NUM> and on the other side sealed to an upper surface of the lower body <NUM> by pressing it with internal elements of the housing <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> in perspective view and in <FIG> in cross-section and also in <FIG> in cross-section, a supply valve <NUM> and a dispensing valve <NUM> are located in the lower body <NUM>, the supply valve <NUM> being connected by means of a lower channel <NUM> to the reservoir <NUM>, and a dispensing valve <NUM> being connected by an upper channel <NUM> and a side channel <NUM> with a pumping mechanism <NUM>. In this embodiment, the supply valve <NUM> is a ball valve, closeable by a compression spring <NUM>. In addition, the compression spring <NUM> is supported by pressure inside the reservoir <NUM>. It is also possible that the supply valve <NUM> will only be closed by the pressure inside the reservoir <NUM>. In this embodiment, the dispensing valve <NUM> is an ball valve, closeable by an upper spring <NUM>. It is obvious that in a rest state, a force of the upper spring <NUM> of the dispensing valve <NUM> is greater than a force resulting from the pressure in the reservoir <NUM>, so that the dispensing valve <NUM> remains closed despite an increase in pressure in the reservoir <NUM> as a result of pumping liquid into it and stretching the wall of the diaphragm 25a of the reservoir <NUM>.

The lower channel <NUM>, connected to the supply valve <NUM>, exits the lower body <NUM> into the inner surface of the reservoir <NUM>, between the elastic rings <NUM>.

After filling the reservoir <NUM> and disconnecting the secondary dispensing container <NUM> from the main dispensing container <NUM>, the secondary dispensing container <NUM> can be used to dispense the substance contained therein, which is perfume in the embodiment shown in the drawing, particularly in <FIG>. The secondary dispensing container <NUM> is a container of a travel type and contains a much smaller amount of substance than can be contained in the main dispensing container <NUM>.

In order to enable dispensing of a substance, such as perfume, from the secondary dispensing container <NUM>, it is provided with the pumping mechanism <NUM>, as shown in the embodiment in <FIG>, <FIG>. The pumping mechanism <NUM> is a button <NUM>, wherein the buton <NUM> is connected to a piston <NUM>, the piston <NUM> being located in a first chamber <NUM>, said first chamber <NUM> being provided in the upper body <NUM> of the secondary dispensing container <NUM>. The first chamber <NUM> of the secondary dispensing container <NUM> is connected by the side channel <NUM> and the upper channel <NUM> to the dispensing valve <NUM> in the upper body <NUM>. In the upper body <NUM>, behind the first chamber <NUM>, there is a second chamber <NUM>, connected to an upper atomizer <NUM>. Between the first chamber <NUM> and the second chamber <NUM> a membrane plug <NUM> is located, the membrane plug <NUM> being supported by an additional spring <NUM>, wherein the membrane plug <NUM> is for controlling of a flow of the substance to channels <NUM>, connecting the second chamber <NUM> to the upper atomizer <NUM>.

When the user of the secondary dispensing container <NUM> presses the button <NUM>, the piston <NUM> compresses the substance contained in the first chamber <NUM>, between the piston <NUM> and the second chamber <NUM>. The dispensing valve <NUM> prevents the substance from entering the reservoir <NUM>. The pressure in the first chamber <NUM>, caused by the pressure exerted on the button <NUM>, causes the membrane plug <NUM>, pushed towards the first chamber <NUM> through the additional spring <NUM>, to be pushed towards the outlet of the upper atomizer <NUM>. This movement of the membrane plug <NUM> exposes the channels <NUM>, connecting the first chamber <NUM> to the upper atomizer <NUM>, 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 <NUM> activates a return spring <NUM>, which pulls the piston <NUM> in the first chamber <NUM> towards the button <NUM>. This action, in a first aspect, releases the membrane plug <NUM>, which, moving under the action of the additional spring <NUM> towards the first chamber <NUM>, closes the channels <NUM> and, in a second aspect, under the influence of the vacuum created, it opens the dispensing valve <NUM>. The substance, which in this embodiment is perfume, passes from the reservoir <NUM> through the dispensing valve <NUM> into the first chamber <NUM> and the secondary dispensing container <NUM> is ready to dispense another portion of the substance. This can be done by pressing the button <NUM> again. Of course, this will only be possible until the reservoir <NUM> of the secondary dispensing container <NUM> is completely empty.

To refill the secondary dispensing container <NUM>, it must be connected to the main dispensing container <NUM>. To this end, both containers of the container set <NUM> are provided with means for a detachable attachment of the secondary dispensing container <NUM> at the outlet <NUM> of the main dispensing container <NUM>. Means for a detachable attachment of the secondary dispensing container <NUM> at the outlet <NUM> the main dispensing container <NUM> is a peripheral internal projection <NUM> in the lower body <NUM> of the secondary dispensing container <NUM> and snap-fits <NUM> on an outer surface of the outlet <NUM> of the main dispensing container <NUM>. Due to their flexibility with little resistance, the peripheral internal projection <NUM> in the lower body <NUM> of the secondary dispensing container <NUM> and the snap-fits <NUM> on the outer surface of the outlet <NUM> of the main dispensing container <NUM> allow to connect and disconnect the secondary dispensing container <NUM> and the main dispensing container <NUM>.

When the secondary dispensing container <NUM> is connected to the main dispensing container <NUM> by the means for a detachable attachment provided above, the main dispensing container <NUM> cannot be used as an applicator of the substance contained therein, because the pressure element <NUM> of the secondary dispensing container <NUM>, as shown in the embodiment in <FIG> and <FIG>, pressing the small piston <NUM> causes it to move towards the outlet <NUM> of the main dispensing container <NUM>, and thus, closes the flow of liquid or semi-liquid substance from the main dispensing container <NUM> to the nozzle <NUM> of the atomizer <NUM>. As long as the secondary dispensing container <NUM> is seated on the main dispensing container <NUM>, a supply of substance from the main dispensing container <NUM> to the atomizer's nozzle <NUM> is closed and a supply to the supply valve <NUM> of the secondary dispensing container <NUM> is open.

Claim 1:
A main dispensing container for dispensing liquid and semi-liquid substances, suitable for placing more substance therein and for filling of a secondary dispensing container (<NUM>) which is suitable for containing a smaller amount of substance therein and connectable to the main dispensing container (<NUM>), said main dispensing container (<NUM>) comprising an outlet (<NUM>), a main pump (<NUM>), an atomizer (<NUM>), wherein the main pump (<NUM>) is mounted in the outlet (<NUM>) of the main dispensing container (<NUM>), wherein the atomizer (<NUM>) is connected to the main pump (<NUM>) outside of the main dispensing container (<NUM>), and the atomizer (<NUM>) is equipped with a valve (<NUM>) for controlling of opening and closing of a nozzle (<NUM>) of the atomizer (<NUM>), wherein in an upper part of the atomizer (<NUM>) there is an upper valve (<NUM>) located for connecting a channel of the main pump (<NUM>) with space outside the outlet (<NUM>) of the main dispensing container (<NUM>), characterized in that it further comprises a sliding mechanism (<NUM>) for filing the secondary dispensing container (<NUM>), said sliding mechanism is positioned at the outlet (<NUM>) of the main dispensing container (<NUM>), wherein the possibility of filling the secondary dispensing container (<NUM>) depends on the position of the sliding mechanism (<NUM>) that can moved between two positions, that is an upper position and a lower position, wherein in the upper position filing of the secondary dispensing container (<NUM>) is prevented, and wherein in the lower position filing of the secondary dispensing container (<NUM>) is possible.