Dispenser with a replaceable inner case
11445797 · 2022-09-20
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
B05B11/1023
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
A45D2200/055
HUMAN NECESSITIES
B05B11/0038
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B05B11/1045
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
A45D34/04
HUMAN NECESSITIES
B05B11/028
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B05B11/1074
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B05B11/1047
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B05B11/0054
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
International classification
A45D34/04
HUMAN NECESSITIES
Abstract
A dispenser for dispensing a liquid product, the dispenser comprising an inner case, a pump assembly, a dispensing head, a collar, a dialer, and an outer case. The inner case accommodates the liquid product. The outer case removably houses the inner case in a hollow cavity formed therein. The dialer is rotatable on an outer surface of the outer case. The dialer is detachably coupled with the inner case which allows the inner case to be housed within the outer case in a removable manner. The dialer is rotated circumferentially on an outer peripheral surface of the outer case for engaging and disengages the inner case. The collar is designed to house the pump assembly and is engaged on an open upper end of the outer case. The dispensing head is coupled to the pump assembly and comprises a nozzle to dispense the pumped liquid product when actuated.
Claims
1. A dispenser for dispensing a liquid product, the dispenser comprising: an outer case having a sidewall extending between an open upper end and an open lower end of the outer case; an inner case removably housed in a hollow cavity of the outer case; the inner case houses the liquid product therein; a piston is positioned within the inner case to push up the liquid product contained in the inner case; a dialer coupled to an outer surface of the sidewall of the outer case near the open upper end of the outer case such that the dialer is able to rotate a limited distance both in a clockwise and an anti-clockwise direction on the sidewall of the upper case; a holder configured to removably hold the inner case and enclose a lower portion of the inner case; a collar coupled to the open upper end of the outer case, and configured to hold a pump assembly; a dispensing head coupled to an upper end of the pump assembly and having a nozzle for discharging the pumped liquid product onto an upper surface of the dispensing head; wherein the pump assembly configured to pump liquid product stored in the inner case to the dispensing head; wherein the inner case is replaceable; wherein the inner case is removably coupled to the dialer such that on rotation of the dialer in one of the clockwise or the anti-clockwise direction the inner case disengages from the dialer; wherein when the inner case is disengaged from the dialer, the inner case and the holder are configured to slide out from the outer case in a downward direction; wherein the holder comprises grooves on an inner periphery thereof that are configured to receive corresponding projections present on an outer surface of a sidewall of the inner case so that the inner case can be rotatably and removably coupled to the holder; wherein the holder is non-rotatably engaged to the sidewall of the outer case at the open lower end of the outer case; and wherein to disengage the inner case from the holder, the inner case is rotated relative to the holder so that the projections present on the outer surface of the sidewall of the inner case disengages from the grooves on the inner periphery of the holder.
2. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the outer case includes a plurality of tabs formed on an upper portion of the outer case, and wherein an extended portion of each of the plurality of tabs extend upward from an upper edge of the upper portion of the outer case; and wherein the dialer includes an upper ring and a lower ring that are axially and radially offset and are connected to each other through linking ribs that extend horizontally to connect an outer surface of the upper ring to an inner surface of the lower ring.
3. A dispenser according to claim 2, wherein hollow spaces are created between the adjacent linking ribs; and wherein the plurality of tabs of the outer case extends into the hollow spaces between the linking ribs of the dialer such that the lower ring of the dialer encloses the upper portion of the outer case.
4. A dispenser according to claim 2, wherein the extended portion of each of the plurality of tabs further includes a snap protrusion on an outer surface thereof for engaging with a corresponding snap groove present on an inner surface of a sidewall of the collar.
5. A dispenser according to claim 2, wherein two outer stop projections extend from the outer surface of the upper portion of the sidewall of the outer case, and an inner projection extends an inner surface of the lower ring of the dialer; wherein when the dialer rotates relative to the outer case, the inner projection of the lower ring limits the dialer to rotate within a predetermined angular range between the two outer stop projections of the outer case.
6. A dispenser according to claim 5, wherein the predetermined angular range is about 5-30 degrees.
7. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of J-lock features formed on the outer surface of the inner case which engages and disengages with complementary J-lock features formed on an inner surface of the dialer; wherein each of J-lock features on the inner case include a vertical rib and a lateral rib, a protrusion formed below the lateral rib to form a locking groove with the vertical rib; wherein each of the complementary J-lock features on the dialer includes an inner lug formed on the inner surface of the dialer that is configured to be engaged with the locking groove of the inner case in order to removably and rotatably secure the inner case.
8. A dispenser according to claim 2, wherein the collar is mounted on the extended portion of the outer case so as to enclose the extended portion of the outer case; wherein the collar comprises a sidewall and a horizontal wall that extends from an inner surface of the sidewall of the collar and is spaced from an open upper end and an open lower end of the collar.
9. A dispenser according to claim 8, wherein the horizontal wall of the collar includes a hollow tubular body for accommodating the pump assembly therein.
10. A dispenser according to claim 8, wherein the collar includes teeth extending from a bottom surface of the horizontal wall; wherein the extended portion of each of the plurality of tabs of the outer case has teeth formed at a free upper end thereof that pass through the hollow spaces provided between the linking ribs of the dialer to engage with the teeth of the collar for a non-rotatable engagement between the outer case and the collar.
11. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the pump assembly includes a pump guide, a pump piston, a spring, a pump head, and a check valve.
12. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the holder comprises a bottom wall, an outer sidewall, and an inner sidewall concentric with the outer sidewall; wherein the inner sidewall includes the grooves that are L-shaped on an inner periphery thereof configured to receive the corresponding projections present on the outer surface of the sidewall of the inner case.
13. A dispenser according to claim 12, wherein the inner sidewall of the holder comprises at least one axial rib on an outer surface thereof that is received within an axial groove provided on an inner surface of the sidewall of the outer case so that the holder is non-rotatable with respect to the outer case.
14. A dispenser according to claim 12, wherein the outer sidewall of the holder flush with the sidewall of the outer case and completes an outer form of the dispenser.
15. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein a base cover is coupled to an outer surface of the holder and matches an outer profile of the outer surface of the holder and wherein the base cover has a metallic finish.
16. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the grooves of the holder are L-shaped.
17. A dispenser for dispensing a liquid product, the dispenser comprising: an outer case having a sidewall extending between an open upper end and an open lower end of the outer case; an inner case removably housed in a hollow cavity of the outer case; the inner case houses the liquid product therein; a dialer coupled to an outer surface of the outer case near the open upper end of the outer case such that the dialer rotates a limited distance both in a clockwise and an anti-clockwise direction on the outer surface of the sidewall of the upper case; a collar coupled to the open upper end of the outer case, and configured to hold a pump assembly; a dispensing head coupled to an upper end of the pump assembly and having a nozzle for discharging the pumped liquid product onto an upper surface of the dispensing head; wherein the pump assembly configured to pump liquid product stored in the inner case to the dispensing head; wherein the inner case is removably coupled to the dialer such that on rotation of the dialer in one of the clockwise or the anti-clockwise direction the inner case disengages from the dialer and comes out from the hollow cavity of the outer case from the open lower end of the outer case; and wherein the outer case, the collar, the dialer, the pump assembly, and the dispensing head is configured to be reused while the inner case is replaced with a new inner case.
18. A dispenser according to claim 17, wherein a plurality of J-lock features formed on an outer surface of the inner case which engages and disengages with complementary J-lock features formed on an inner surface of the dialer; wherein each of J-lock features on the inner case include a vertical rib and a lateral rib, and a protrusion formed below the lateral rib to form a locking groove with the vertical rib; and wherein each of the complementary J-lock features on the dialer includes at least one inner lug formed on the inner surface of the dialer that engages with the locking groove of the inner case in order to removably and rotatably secure the inner case.
19. A dispenser according to claim 17, wherein the dispenser further comprises a holder at the open lower end of the outer case; wherein the holder comprises a bottom wall, an outer sidewall, and an inner sidewall concentric with the outer sidewall; wherein the inner sidewall comprises L-shaped grooves on an inner periphery thereof that are configured to receive corresponding projections present on an outer surface of a sidewall of the inner case to removably hold the inner case.
20. A dispenser for dispensing a liquid product, the dispenser comprising: an outer case having a sidewall extending between an open upper end and an open lower end of the outer case; an inner case removably housed in a hollow cavity of the outer case; the inner case houses the liquid product therein; a dialer coupled to an outer surface of the sidewall of the outer case near the open upper end of the outer case such that the dialer is configured to rotate a limited distance both in a clockwise and an anti-clockwise direction on the outer surface of the sidewall of the upper case; a collar coupled to the open upper end of the outer case; a pump assembly is configured to pump liquid product stored in the inner case to a dispensing head; a holder configured to removably hold the inner case and enclose a lower portion of the inner case; wherein the holder is non-rotatably engaged to the sidewall of the outer case at the open lower end of the outer case; wherein the dispensing head coupled to an upper end of the pump assembly and having a nozzle for discharging the pumped liquid product onto an upper surface of the dispensing head; wherein the inner case is removably coupled to the dialer such that on rotation of the dialer in one of the clockwise or the anti-clockwise direction the inner case disengages from the dialer; wherein when the inner case is disengaged from the dialer, the inner case and the holder are configured to slide out from the outer case in a downward direction; and wherein the holder, the outer case, the collar, the dialer, the pump assembly, and the dispensing head is reused while the inner case is replaced with a new inner case.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) A more complete appreciation of the present disclosure and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(13) As shown throughout the drawings, like reference numerals designate like or corresponding parts. While illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure have been described and illustrated above, it should be understood that these are exemplary of the disclosure and are not to be considered as limiting. Additions, deletions, substitutions, and other modifications can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the present disclosure is not to be considered as limited by the foregoing description.
(14) Throughout this specification, the terms “comprise,” “comprises,” “comprising” and the like, shall consistently mean that a collection of objects is not limited to those objects specifically recited.
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(16) The replaceable inner case 500 is removably housed within the outer case 700 such that the outer case 700, the collar 300, the dialer 600, the pump assembly 304, and the dispensing head 200 can be reused while the inner case 500 can be replaced or refilled when the liquid product accommodated inside the inner case 500 has been completely exhausted. The inner case 500 is held within a hollow cavity 703 of the outer case 700 by the dialer 600 and wherein the inner case 500 is removably coupled to the dialer 600 such that on rotating the dialer 600 in a disengaging direction the inner case 500 disengages from the dialer 600 and can be removed from the hollow cavity 703 of the outer case 700.
(17) As shown in
(18) An outer peripheral surface of the upper portion 709 of the sidewall 701 of the outer case 700 is configured to engage with the dialer 600 such that the dialer 600 can rotate a limited distance in a circumferential direction on the outer case 700. An outer surface of the upper portion 709 of the sidewall 701 of the outer case 700 includes features that allow the dialer 600 to rotate both clockwise and anticlockwise on the circumference of the sidewall 701 in a limited manner. The outer case 700 further includes a plurality of tabs 702 that are formed on the upper portion 709 of the outer case 700 and an extended portion 704 of each of the plurality of tabs 702 extend upward from an upper edge of the upper portion 709 of the outer case 700. More particularly, as shown in
(19) In certain embodiments, the outer case 700 may include a window or made up of a transparent material to reveal the inner case 500 positioned coaxially inside the outer case 700. Optionally, the inner case 500 may be made of transparent material or have a transparent window so that through the window of the housing the product stored inside the inner case 500 may be made visible.
(20) As shown in
(21) As seen in
(22) As shown in
(23) As seen in
(24) The upper ring 605 is configured to be removably coupled to the inner case 500 and the lower ring 604 is configured to be rotatably coupled to the outer case 700.
(25) As shown in
(26) Further, the lower ring 604 of the dialer 600 is shaped and sized to fit over the upper portion 709 of the outer case 700, more particularly, over the outer peripheral surface of the upper portion 709 of the sidewall 701 of the outer case 700 such that the dialer 600 is arranged to rotate to a limited degree with on the outer case 700.
(27) As shown in
(28) The predetermined angular range between the two outer stop projections 710 is 5-30 degrees. Preferably, the predetermined angle is 10 degrees so that the dialer 600 is limited to rotate at 10 degrees such that the inner lugs 603 of the dialer 600 are displaced rotatably either in or out from the locking grooves 502d of the J-lock of the inner case 500 depending on a direction of rotation of the dialer 600 to either secure or disengage the inner case 500 from the dialer 600 and the outer case 700.
(29) Further, as seen in
(30) The dialer 600 can only be rotated in the circumferential direction within an angular range of at least ±10 degrees.
(31) As shown in
(32) As seen in
(33) As seen
(34) As seen in
(35) The top cover 100 is detachably mounted on the collar 300 to prevent the accumulation of dirt and dust on the dispenser 1000. The top cover 100 is removably engaged to the collar 300 by means of a snap fitment. As shown in
(36) In alternate embodiments, the top cover 100 and the collar 300 may be coupled by any other engagement means capable of removably coupling the top cover 100 and the collar 300 e.g. j-lock, magnetic engagement, screw threads, etc.
(37) A lower end of the sidewall 207 of the dispensing head 200 is inserted into the collar 300 through the open upper end 305a of the collar 300 such that the dispensing head 200 is slidable in an axial direction with respect to the collar 300. The liquid product is dispensed through the nozzle 205 formed on the upper wall 206 of the dispensing head 200, and the user may use the liquid product on the upper wall 206 by using a puff (not shown) or fingers.
(38) The dispensing head 200 is elastically supported at its lower surface by the spring 180. Therefore, the downwardly pressurized dispensing head 200 may rise by the spring 180 when the external force is removed.
(39) Furthermore, the holder 800 is coupled at the open lower end 701b of the outer case 700 and closing the open lower end 701b of the outer case 700, see
(40) Furthermore, as shown in
(41) Optionally, a decorative or metallic base cover 900 may be provided that matches an outer profile of the outer sidewall 803 of the holder 800.
(42) Further, the hollow tubular body 307a protrudes downward from the bottom of the horizontal wall 307 of the collar 300. The hollow tubular body 307a has a hollow cylindrical shape and has a structure in which both top and bottom ends are open. The pump assembly 304 is inserted into the inner space 307b of the hollow tubular body 307a.
(43) As shown in
(44) The upper end of the pump head 304e is in communication with the nozzle 205 of the dispensing head 200. Therefore, the contents discharged through the pumping are directly introduced to the nozzle 205 and then discharged to the upper wall 206 of the dispensing head 200. One end of the spring 180 is in contact with the bottom surface of the upper wall 206 of the dispensing head 200 and the other end is in contact with the upper surface of the horizontal wall 307 of the collar 300. Therefore, the spring 180 elastically supports the dispensing head 200 at the lower portion of the dispensing head 200.
(45) When the user presses the dispensing head 200 downward, the dispensing head 200 moves downward and the spring 180 elastically contracts. The pump guide 304h sucks the contents while the pump head 304e moves downward by the downward movement of the dispensing head 200. When the external force applied to the dispensing head 200 is removed, the dispensing head 200 is raised by the elastic restoring force of the spring 180. As the dispensing head 200 is raised, the pump head 304e is also raised, which causes the pump guide 304h to rise, thereby causing a low pressure (low pressure close to vacuum or vacuum) to the inner space 307b of the hollow tubular body 307a.
(46) When the low pressure is generated in the inner space 307b, the liquid product filled in the inner case 500 flows into the inner space 307b, and a piston 400 ascends accordingly.
(47) The piston 400 is located above the upper surface of the bottom wall 503 of the inner case 500. At least one through-hole is formed in the bottom wall 503 of the inner case 500, and atmospheric pressure may be applied to the piston 400 through the through-hole (not shown). An outer contact surface 401 of the piston 400 is in close contact with an inner circumferential surface of the inner case 500. When the liquid product filled in the inner case 500 is discharged by the pumping and the remaining amount decreases, the piston 400 ascends due to the pressure drop in the inner case 500.
(48) The hollow tubular body 307a corresponding to the lower part of the pump assembly 304 has a lower hole 307c at its lower end. The lower hole 307c corresponds to a passage through which contents enter the inner space 307b.
(49) A part of the pump guide 304h and a pump piston 304d are inserted into the hollow tubular body 307a. The outer circumference of the pump piston 304d is in close contact with the inner circumferential surface of the hollow tubular body 307a, and the inner circumference is in close contact with the outer circumferential surface of the pump guide 304h. The pump guide 304h has a hollow cylindrical shape, the lower end of which is closed, and the upper end of the pump guide 304h communicates with the nozzle 205. In addition, an inlet hole 304b is formed around the pump guide 304h. In addition, the pump piston 304d may be positioned around the inlet hole 304b.
(50) When the pump head 304e is pressurized downward in a raised state, the pump guide 304h descends and the inlet hole 304b is separated from the pump piston 304d. As a result, the inlet hole 304b shielded by the pump piston 304d is opened and the contents introduced into the inner space 307b are introduced into the pump guide 304h through the inlet hole 304b. The liquid product is introduced into the pump guide 304h is discharged to the upper surface of the upper wall 206 of the dispensing head 200 through the nozzle 205.
(51) When the external force applied to the pump head 304e is removed, the pump head 304e is raised by the elastic restoring force of the spring 180, and the pump guide 304h is also raised in association with the pump head 304e. As the pump guide 304h rises, the inlet hole 304b is shielded by the pump piston 304d. In addition, a low pressure close to a vacuum is generated in the inner space 307b by the rise of the pump guide 304h, and thus the liquid product filled in the inside of the inner case 500 flow into the inner space 307b.
(52) As seen in
(53) The check valve 304a is positioned on the proximal end of the inlet hole 304b. The check valve 304a allows a one-way suction of the liquid product stored inside the inner case 500, wherein the one-way suction is typically from the proximal end to the distal end of the pump assembly 304.
(54) When the inner case 500, encased by the outer case 700, is in a locked position with the dialer 600, the inner lugs 603 of the dialer 600 are engaged in the locking grooves 502d of the J lock of the inner case 500. For replacing the inner case 500 a user grips a base cover 900 or the holder 800 and rotates the dialer 600 slightly along the outer circumference of the outer case 700 to unlock the inner case 500 from the dialer 600 and thus releasing the inner case 500 housed in the outer case 700 from the open lower end 701b of the outer case 700. When the inner case 500 is disengaged, the inner case 500 along with the holder 800 which holds the inner case 500 and the base cover 900 slide out in the downward direction. The dialer 600 is rotated in a first direction preferably in a clockwise direction. As the dialer 600 is rotated in the first direction, the inner lugs 603 of the dialer 600 come out of the locking grooves 502d by overriding the protrusion 502c of the J lock of the inner case 500 and moves in a circumferential direction along the lateral rib 502a and finally disengaging from the dialer 600. The at least one axial ribs 808 on the outer surface inner wall 805 of the holder 800 disengages from the axial groove 712 provided on the inner surface of the sidewall 701 of the outer case 700, allowing the holder 800 to slide downward. The inner case 500 then can be removed from the holder 800 by twisting inner case 500 relative to the holder 800 which disengages the projections 512 of the inner case 500 from the L-shaped grooves 806 of the holder 800.
(55) The inner case 500 is thus removed from the outer case 700 and replaced with a filled new inner case 500. A new inner case 500 may have a protective seal at the open upper end 506a that is removed before use or before fitting the inner case 500 within the outer case 700. In order to lock a new inner case 500 with the outer case 700, the new inner case 500 is received within and locked with the holder 800. The projections 512 of the inner case 500 are thus inserted in the L-shaped grooves 806 and twisted gently to attach the inner case 500 with the holder 800. Thus, the new inner case 500 is locked in the holder 800 and then inserted inside the outer case 700 till the inner case 500 is fully inserted in the outer case 700. The dialer 600 is rotated in the locking direction so the inner lugs 603 of the dialer 600 engage with corresponding grooves 502d of the J lock of the inner case 500.
(56) According to an embodiment, the outer case 700 and the inner case 500 are cylindrical shapes. However, the shape of the outer case 700 and the inner case 500 is chosen from rectangular, elliptical, cubical, cuboidal, and other such shapes known in the art.
(57) It will be understood that the foregoing is only illustrative of the principles of the disclosure, and that various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. For example, the shapes and/or sizes of various components can be different from the shapes and sizes shown herein. As another example, the materials used for various components can be different from those mentioned specifically herein.