DUAL RESERVOIR SPRAY DISPENSER

Abstract

Dual reservoir spray dispenser, configured to separately hold two different components, while jointly dispensing them as a sprayable composition, comprising a common actuator comprising a pipe (2) having a sinuous path and comprising two inlet orifices (3, 5) and an outlet orifice (4).

Claims

1. A spray dispenser for mixing a first and a second components into a sprayable composition, the spray dispenser comprising: a) a first reservoir configured to hold the first component and a first pump unit being in fluid communication with the first reservoir; b) a second reservoir configured to hold the second component, being different from the first component, and a second pump unit being in fluid communication with the second reservoir; c) a nozzle tip configured to spray the composition; d) a common spray actuator operatively associated with the first and the second pump units and comprising a pipe; wherein the pipe of the common spray actuator has a sinuous path and comprises a first inlet orifice, at one end, being in fluid communication with the first pump unit; one outlet orifice, at the other end, being in fluid communication with the nozzle tip; and a second inlet orifice, located between the first inlet orifice and the outlet orifice, being in fluid communication with the second pump unit; and wherein the axis crossing both inlet orifices substantially perpendicularly intersects the axis of the spray direction passing through the outlet orifice and the nozzle tip.

2. The spray dispenser according to claim 1, wherein each reservoir has an open end and comprises a body, a neck and optionally a shoulder connecting the body to the neck.

3. The spray dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the spray dispenser comprises two separate, independent containers forming respectively a first reservoir and a second reservoir; or alternatively one container comprising one separation wall thereby delimiting two different compartments forming respectively a first reservoir and a second reservoir.

4. The spray dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the spray dispenser further comprises a casing for holding in place both reservoirs.

5. The spray dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the pipe comprises a first section between the first inlet orifice and the second inlet orifice and a second section between the second inlet orifice and the outlet orifice; and wherein the first section has a substantially semi-circular shape and the second section has a substantially “s” shape.

6. The spray dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the common spray actuator comprises a body and a skirt circumferentially extending downwards.

7. A spray dispending system, according to claim 1, the system comprising a first component and a second component; wherein the first component is hold in the first reservoir and the second component is hold in the second reservoir; wherein the first and the second components are different from each other; and wherein, upon actuation, the first and the second components are homogeneously mixed and dispensed as a sprayable composition.

8. The spray dispenser according to claim 7, the components are skin care components, hair care components, personal care components, grooming components, oral care components, health care components, fabric care components or home care components.

9. The spray dispensing system according to claim 7, wherein the components are in a liquid form at standard conditions.

10. The spray dispenser according to claim 7, wherein the first and the second components differ from each other at least by the presence of at least one material, by the proportion of at least one material, by at least one physicochemical property, by their visual appearance, and combinations thereof.

11. The spray dispenser according to claim 7, wherein one of the components comprises a material being inherently instable under determined conditions, a material being incompatible with another material comprised in the other component, a material being degraded by another material comprised in the other component, a compound chemically reacting with another material comprised in the other component, and mixtures thereof.

12. The spray dispenser according to claim 7, wherein the first component comprises a volatile solvent or a non-volatile solvent; preferably a volatile solvent; more preferably a volatile agent consisting of C.sub.1-C alcohols and mixtures thereof, still more preferably a volatile agent chosen from the group consisting of ethanol, methanol, propanol, isopropanol, butanol, and mixtures thereof, most preferably a volatile agent being ethanol.

13. The spray dispenser according to claim 7, wherein the second component comprises fragrances, microcapsules, a suitable carrier and optionally at least one additional agent chosen from the group consisting of a suspending agent, a colouring agent, an antioxidant, an ultraviolet inhibitor, cyclodextrins, quenchers, skin care actives and their mixtures thereof, wherein at least part of the fragrances are encapsulated in the microcapsules.

14. A kit comprising, according to claim 1, a spray dispenser module comprising a first pump unit, a second pump unit, a nozzle tip and a common spray actuator; at least one first reservoir, optionally filled with a first component, configured to be removably coupled with the first pump unit; and at least one second reservoir, optionally filled with a second component, configured to be removably coupled with the second pump unit.

15. A method comprising the following steps: a) providing a spray dispensing system, according to claim 7, comprising a spray dispenser filled with a first and a second components; b) actuating the common spray actuator for pumping and thereby homogeneously mixing given portions of the first and the second component for obtaining a sprayable composition; and c) spraying the sprayable composition.

Description

FIGURES

[0133] FIG. 1 represents a perspective view from bottom of the common spray actuator of the spray dispenser according to the present invention.

[0134] FIG. 2 represents a perspective view from above of the common spray actuator of the spray dispenser according to the present invention.

[0135] FIG. 3 represents a bottom view of the common spray actuator of the spray dispenser according to the present invention.

[0136] FIG. 4 represents a top view of the common spray actuator of the spray dispenser according to the present invention.

[0137] FIG. 5 represents a front view of the common spray actuator of the spray dispenser according to the present invention.

[0138] FIG. 6 represents a cross-sectional view of the common spray actuator of the spray dispenser according to the present invention, along the line B-B as shown in FIG. 3.

[0139] FIG. 7 represents a cross-sectional view of the common spray actuator of the spray dispenser according to the present invention, along the line A-A as shown in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0140] One embodiment of a common spray actuator 1 of the spray dispenser according to the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, which should be construed as only being exemplary and not limitative. The common spray actuator as shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 is configured to be operatively associated with a first and a second pump units (not shown), which are themselves respectively in fluid communication with a first and a second reservoirs (not shown).

[0141] The common spray actuator comprises a pipe 2. The pipe 2 has been designed in order to allow dispensing given quantities of a first component and a second component and mixing them as a homogenous sprayable mixture, while preventing clogging over time by the first and/or the second components. The pipe 2 has a constant circular cross-section, forms a sinuous path and comprises three different orifices.

[0142] The pipe 2 comprises a first inlet orifice 3 having a circular cross-section, located at one end of the pipe 2. The first inlet orifice 3 is in fluid communication with the first pump unit.

[0143] The pipe 2 also comprises an outlet orifice 4 having a circular cross-section, located at the other end of the pipe 2. The outlet orifice 4 is in fluid communication with the nozzle tip (not shown).

[0144] The pipe 2 comprises a second inlet orifice 5 having a circular cross-section, located between the first inlet orifice 3 and the outlet orifice 4. The second inlet orifice 5 is in fluid communication with the second pump unit.

[0145] As shown in FIG. 3, the axis crossing both inlet orifices 3, 4 (represented as B-B) substantially perpendicularly intersects the axis of the spray direction (represented as A-A) passing through the outlet orifice 4 and the nozzle tip.

[0146] The pipe 2 particularly comprises two sections. The pipe 2 comprises a first section 21 formed between the first inlet orifice 3 and the second inlet orifice 5. A given quantity of the first component may be displaced from the first inlet orifice 3 towards the second inlet orifice 5, upon actuation. The pipe 2 also comprises a second section 22 formed between the second inlet orifice 5 and the outlet orifice 4. A given quantity of the first and the second components are mixed before being dispensed through the outlet orifice 4 (and the nozzle tip).

[0147] The first section 21 between the first inlet orifice 3 and the second inlet orifice 5 has a “C” shape (semi-circular shape) and the second section 22 between the second inlet orifice 5 and the outlet orifice 4 has a “S” shape, so that the pipe 2 has a lookalike “question-mark” shape.

[0148] The common spray comprises a body 7 and a skirt 8 circumferentially extending downwards. The body 7 and the skirt 8 forms a unitary construction. The pipe is formed into the thickness of the body.

[0149] Variations and modifications of the invention and further embodiments thereof, in addition to those described herein, will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the full contents of this document. The subject matter herein contains information, exemplification and guidance that can be adapted to the practice of this invention in its various embodiments and equivalents thereof. It is intended that the appended claims cover all such variations, modifications, embodiments and equivalents.

[0150] The invention is described with reference to various specific and preferred embodiments and techniques. However, it should be understood that many variations and modifications may be made while remaining within its scope. All referenced publications, patents and patent documents are intended to be incorporated by reference, as though individually incorporated by reference.