WO2001081184A1

WO2001081184A1 - Squeeze dispenser

Info

Publication number: WO2001081184A1
Application number: PCT/US2001/011657
Authority: WO
Inventors: Simon David Julian Hill
Original assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
Priority date: 2000-04-20
Filing date: 2001-04-09
Publication date: 2001-11-01
Also published as: GB0009928D0; AU2001253328A1

Abstract

A squeeze dispenser includes: a flexible skin (2) forming a container body adapted to be squeezed and to receive a filling of a product therein, outlet (6) and inlet (7) conduit means having outlet and inlet valve means associated therewith, and an outlet port (8) associated with the distal end of the outlet conduit means. Squeezing the flexible skin increases the internal pressure of the skin, which in turn forces the product and/or an aroma created thereby out of the outlet conduit means through the outlet valve means and the outlet port.

Description

Squeeze Dispenser

The present invention relates to squeeze dispensers.

The invention has been developed with particular attention to its possible use in connection with fragrances or air fresheners .

A prevailing tendency for fragrance bottles, especially for fine fragrances is to comprise a glass bottle, a pump and closure. Such packaging executions suffer a number of basic disadvantages. They tend to be fragile (quite frequently they are comprised of materials which are smooth and delicate to touch) , expensive, and intrinsically non portable: a fragrance bottle made of glass cannot be expected e.g. to be thrown in a gym bag and expected to last long.

Consequently the need exists for packaging executions which, while overcoming the disadvantages outlined in the foregoing, represent a distinctive, radical departure from the glass bottle theme.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a solution satisfying the captioned need.

According to the present invention there is provided a squeeze dispenser including:

- a flexible skin forming a container body adapted to be squeezed and to receive a filling of a product therein,

- outlet and inlet conduit means having outlet and inlet valve means associated therewith, and

- an outlet port associated with the distal end of said outlet conduit means, the arrangement being such that squeezing said flexible skin increases the internal pressure of said skin, whereby at least one of said product and an aroma created by said product is forced out of said outlet conduit means through said outlet valve means and said outlet port.

Preferred features of the invention are defined in the subclaims . In a particularly preferred embodiment the dispenser of the invention includes a flexible rubber skin which forms a ball and a product such as a fragrance or a substance that creates an aroma is located inside the core of the ball. An outlet valve is provided through which the product can be evacuated along with an inlet valve through which air can flow to replace the dispensed volume of product. A spray port is provided to direct and control the spray characteristics of the product while a refill port is also provided through which the product can be re-filled (e.g. syringed) into the dispenser a ball.

The product is dispensed by squeezing the ball (which may have the appearance of a standard squash ball), for example between finger and thumb. This works to increase the internal pressure of the fragrance ball which m turn forces out the product and/or the aroma created thereby through the outlet valve. The product can be made to evacuate as a fine mist or m a stream. Since the rubber ball has elastic properties and effectively a "shape memory", releasing the ball causes the rubber skin to return to its original shape producing a negative internal pressure. This works to suck atmospheric air into the ball through the inlet valve.

The invention provides a radical, distinctive and innovative packaging execution bringing new materials and new sensoπal experience into the usage of the product, thus increasing user satisfaction e.g. by being tactile, rubberlike, sporting and durable.

The invention will now be described, purely by way of non-limitmg example, with reference to the annexed drawings, m which:

- figure 1 is a general top view of a squeeze dispenser according to the invention, and

- figure 2 is a cross-sectional view along line II-II of figure 1.

In the drawings, reference numeral 1 generally indicates a squeeze dispenser, i.e. a container adapted for receiving a filling of a product P such as a fragrance, an air freshener, a body conditioner or the like, whose degree of viscosity may correspondingly vary depending on the nature of product P.

The body of dispenser 1 is essentially comprised of a flexible skin 2 of a material such as rubber or any other materials (elastomers, plastics, etc.) providing the required degree of flexibility of the dispenser wall.

In a preferred embodiment, skin 2 forms a ball having the size typical of a squash ball.

The size of the ball could however be varied. This would have the advantage of controlling the volume of product P located therein. The ball could have a variable dosage lifetime.

Also, the material (s) comprising skin 2 could be varied. This would ensure compatibility with product P for a reasonable product lifetime.

Also, skin 2 does not have to be spherical. For example, it could be shaped like a rugby ball and/or include a flat surface forming a basis portion (possibly opposed the spray and refill ports described in the following) forming a surface for dispenser 1 to rest on.

Reference 3 designates overall a plug-like member inserted (preferably by snap-engagement) in a respective hole provided in skin 2.

Plug 3 includes outlet and inlet conduits 4, 5, respectively, extending therethrough and having associated therewith respective outlet and inlet valves 6, 7, respectively.

Outlet conduit 4 terminates in a spray port 8 at its distal end (i.e. the extremity further from the inner volume of the skin 2 where product P is located) .

Spray port 8 is preferably constituted by a small gauge opening provided in an insert (such as a small metal insert) located in plug 3 at the distal end of outlet conduit 4. Similarly, inlet conduit 5 is provided at its distal end with a refill port 9.

It will be promptly appreciated that outlet and inlet conduits 4, 5 need not necessarily be provided in a separate member of dispenser 1 such as plug 3, but can be provided also directly in skin member 2.

Provision of plug 3 is advantageous, however, in that it enables i. a. fast filling of product P into dispenser 1 through the opening into which plug 3 is subsequently inserted.

Both outlet valve 6 and inlet valve 7 are preferably located at the proximal ends of the respective conduits 4, 5.

Outlet valve 6 is arranged in order that product P can be evacuated and thus dispensed by squeezing the ball-like skin member 2, for example between finger and thumb. This works to increase the internal pressure of the ball which in turn forces out the product through outlet valve 6, outlet conduit 4 and spray port 8.

Depending on the size (gauge) of spray port 8 and the viscosity of product P, product P can be made to evacuate as a fine mist or in a stream or possibly in the form of a cream or gel, for instance in the case of body conditioners and the like.

Alternatively, product P could be a substance that creates an aroma in the air contained inside ball 2. Squeezing the ball emits the air and disperses an aroma into the space around the user. This can be achieved by having product P in the form of a gel (like an air freshener) . The dispenser would then work like a personal air space freshener .

Outlet valve 6 is arranged in order to prevent product

P from leaking out of dispenser 1 in an undesired manner when dispenser 1 is not positively squeezed by the user

(e.g. as dispenser 1 is merely let to rest on surface or thrown in a bag) . Since ball 2 has elastic properties and effectively a "shape memory", releasing ball 2 after squeezing will cause dispenser 1 to return to its original shape producing a negative internal pressure, as atmospheric air will be sucked into ball 2 through port 9, conduit 5 and inlet valve 7. Air will therefore be allowed into the inner chamber of dispenser 1 to replace the dispensed volume of product.

Also, refill port 9, having a gauge generally larger then the gauge of spray port 8 (which is intended to be used to direct and control the spray characteristics of the product) will enable product to be refilled into dispenser 1 e. g. by means of a syringe.

Outlet valve 6 can have attached therewith a dip tube (schematically shown in dotted line) extending across the dispenser body. This would make it necessary to orient dispenser 1 during use so that, for example, product P is dispensed horizontally or an artwork on ball 2 is facing upwards during use.

Ball 2 could be made (in a manner known per se, for example by associating a whistle therewith) in order to make a sound when squeezing.

Ball 2 could have a closure or stopper (not shown) for safety during storage, i.e. for selectively occluding at least a part of outlet and inlet conduits 4, 5 during storage of dispenser 1.

Even though ball 2 is shown in the drawings as comprised of a relatively thick rubber skin, thickness thereof can be varied, for instance by making it significantly thinner (e.g. two millimetres or less) depending on the elastic properties of the material comprising skin 2 itself.

As an alternative to being directly located in the inner chamber of ball 2, product P could be inserted in a vial such as a bag. The advantage would be that the materials would be compatible with the product (that is, the product does not touch the inside of ball 2) . Also, filling of the vial/bag could be carried out as a sort of pre- assembly using standard manufacturing processes, thereby providing an effective route to manufacture.

In a less preferred embodiment of the invention, outlet and inlet conduits 4, 5 may at least partly coincide. This also extends to the members associated therewith such as valves 6 and 7. Specifically, a single bi-directional valve may be devised to ensure proper evacuation of product P and/or aroma only when dispenser 1 is positively squeezed while allowing air to flow into dispenser 1 once this is released to suck atmospheric air to replace the dispensed volume of product.

The solution described with reference to the drawings is considered preferable, however, at least at the moment.

Naturally, the principle of the invention remaining the same, the details of construction and forms of embodiments may widely vary with respect to what has been described and illustrated, without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A squeeze dispenser including:

2. A dispenser according to claim 1, including distinct outlet and inlet conduit means.

3. A dispenser according to claim 2, wherein said outlet and inlet conduit means have associated therewith respective distinct outlet and inlet valve means.

4. A dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said inlet conduit means has a refill port associated to the distal end thereof, whereby atmospheric air is sucked in the container body through said inlet valve means as said skin is released after being squeezed.

5. A dispenser according to claim 4, wherein said outlet port has a substantially smaller gauge than said refill port .

6. A dispenser according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein said refill port is adapted for co-operation with a syringe to refill the dispenser with said product.

7. A dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said outlet and inlet valve means are associated with the proximal end of said outlet and inlet conduit means.

8. A dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said outlet valve means has associated therewith a dip tube extending across said container body.

9. A dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said flexible skin has a shape substantially exempt from flat portions.

10. A dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said flexible skin has a spherical shape.

11. A dispenser according to claim 10, wherein said flexible skin has the shape of a squash ball.

12. A dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, including a closure or stopper adapted for selectively at least partly occluding said outlet and inlet conduit means.

13. A dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, including a sound producing means, such as whistle, to make a sound when said flexible skin is squeezed.

14. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said outlet and inlet conduit means are formed in a plug inserted in said flexible skin.

15. A dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, including a filling of said product in the form of a liquid product, such as a fragrance, adapted to be sprayed through said outlet port as said flexible skin is squeezed.

16. A dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 14, including a filling of said product in the form of a viscous substance, such as a body conditioner, adapted to be dispensed through said outlet port as the flexible skin is been squeezed.

17. A dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 14, including a filling of said product in the form of a substance, such as a gel, adapted to create an aroma in the air inside said container body, whereby said air is emitted through said outlet port as said flexible skin is been squeezed thus dispersing the aroma into the space around the dispenser.

18. A dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 17, including said product in the form of a filling in a vial or bag adapted to be located in said container body without contacting said flexible skin.

19. A dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein said flexible skin is comprised of an elastomer material such as a rubber or plastics material.

20. A dispenser constructed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to or as shown in the accompanying drawings .