Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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PORTABLE REFILLABLE CREAM DISPENSER
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to dispensers of viscous materials such as
creams.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
W02005/101969 describes a refill bottle adapted to repeatedly receive and
dispense liquid such as perfume. The refill bottle comprises a bottle having a
bottom portion and an upper portion, an opening provided in the upper portion
wherein the opening is adapted to be covered, and a refill mechanism provided
in
the bottom portion. The liquid is received through the refill mechanism from a
regular bottle preferably provided with a spraying mechanism and is dispensed
through the opening
The refill bottle described in W02005/101969 is unsuitable for viscous
materials such as pastes, creams and liquid soaps. For example, cream might
accumulate in large amounts in areas of the dispenser interior that are
inaccessible
to dispensing means of the bottle.
Commercially available cream dispensing bottles are not reusable; moreover,
they are usually made of hard and thick plastic to endure mechanical abuse
such as
accidental drops, and are thus a serious environmental liability.
One object is to provide a cream bottle that is refillable; another object is
to
configure such bottle to allow refilling it in small amounts which are
essentially
dispensable from the bottle; another object is to configure the bottle so that
the
cream in the bottle can be substantially emptied out of the bottle by
operating a
dispensing mechanism.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the claims, the word "comprise", and variations thereof such as
"comprises", "comprising" and the like indicate that the components listed are
included, but not generally to the exclusion of other components.
According to one aspect, a refillable dispenser for viscous compositions is
provided, the dispenser comprising:
a bottle having walls defining an upper cavity and a lower cavity;
a viscous composition refill mechanism configured to allow viscous
composition to enter said upper cavity when said refill mechanism is fluidly
coupled to a viscous composition source;
a viscous composition dispensing mechanism configured to allow viscous
composition to be dispensed from said upper cavity to outside the bottle
when the dispensing mechanism is actuated;
a gasket configured to substantially seal said upper cavity from said lower
cavity wherein said gasket is capable of moving towards the upper cavity
upon actuation of the dispensing mechanism and moving towards the lower
cavity upon entrance of the viscous composition into said upper cavity.
In some embodiments, the refill mechanism extends throughout the gasket
to the upper cavity.
For example, a tube extends into the upper cavity.
Alternatively, the refill mechanism directly extends into the upper cavity.
In some embodiments, the refill mechanism comprises a check-valve.
In some embodiments, the dispensing mechanism comprises a check valve.
In some embodiments, the refill mechanism and the dispensing mechanism
each comprise a check-valve.
According to another aspect, a kit is provided, comprising: any of the
refillable dispensers defined above and at least one adapter, the adapters
each
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configured to allow sealingly and fluidly coupling a non-refillable dispenser
for
viscous compositions with the refill mechanism of the refillable dispenser.
In some kit embodiments the kit comprises: the refillable dispenser and a non-
refillable dispenser for viscous compositions, the refillable dispenser and a
non-
refillable dispenser sealingly and fluidly coupleable thereto.
Typically, the non-refillable dispenser is substantially larger than the
refillable
dispenser.
In embodiments comprising a tube, gasket is preferably sealingly sleeved
on the tube and in the bottle.
Some embodiments further comprise a sealing ring situated between the
refill mechanism and outside the dispenser.
In some embodiments the walls are rigid, configured to allow making a
negative air pressure in the upper cavity, the negative pressure thereby
facilitating
filling of the upper cavity with the viscous composition.
There may be essentially no take up of air in the upper cavity in
compensation for the viscous composition dispensed.
In some embodiments wherein the filling is facilitated by the negative
pressure, the dispensing mechanism comprises a vent hole that is arranged to
compensate for dispensed viscous composition with air.
In some embodiments, the dispensing mechanism is mounted on the body
in a storage position in which the vent hole is closed off, said dispensing
mechanism being movable with respect to the body in a dispensing position
which
said vent hole is free to enable air to be taken up.
The refill mechanism may be covered reversibly by a sealing cap.
The refill mechanism may have a seat that is movable and/or deformable
between a stable state of sealed closure of the upper cavity and a stressed
state of
putting a non-refillable dispenser in communication with said upper cavity.
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The refill mechanism may be disposed on a lower end of the bottle.
The dispensing device may comprise a dispensing pump actuatable by
means of a push button, the push button mounted on a nozzle of the pump, the
push button comprising an upper region enabling exertion of finger pressure on
said push button in order to be able to move said button axially, thereby
actuating
the pump;
the pump comprising:
a body equipped with a plunger tube disposed in the upper cavity, said tube
being equipped with a valve for admitting the viscous material into the pump;
a piston mounted around said nozzle in order to delimit a metering chamber
in the body; the piston enabling supply orifices of the nozzle to open--or
respectively close--over a dispensing--or respectively suction--travel of said
nozzle;
an extender within the body;
a spring in abutment with a bottom of the extender,
return of the push button over its suction travel being affected by a spring
in said
pump.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
In order to better understand the present invention and appreciate its
practical
applications the following figures are provided. Like components are denoted
by
like reference numerals It should be noted that the figures are given as
examples
and preferred embodiments only and in no way limit the scope of the present
invention as defined in the Detailed Description and Claims chapters.
FIG. 1 is a frontal, sectional view of one embodiment;
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FIG. 2 is a frontal view of an embodiment such as shown in FIG. 1, filled
from the bottom part of the embodiment;
Fig. 3 presents another embodiment, empty.
Fig. 4 depicts the embodiment partially filled;
5 Fig. 5 depicts the embodiment full.
FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment, filled from the top part of the
embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a view of the embodiment and a master bottle holding cream to be
refilled in the refill bottle, as well as a filling operation.
Fig. 8 shows cream moving from the master bottle to the refill bottle.
Fig. 9 illustrates the top portion of an embodiment without take up of air in
the upper cavity in compensation for the volume of product dispensed, wherein,
the body of a dispensing pump has no vent hole.
Fig. 10 shows the top part of a similar embodiment; however the body of
the dispensing pump does have vent holes.
Fig. 10a is an exploded view of a portion of the part shown in Fig. 10.
Fig. 11 shows the top part of an embodiment in which the pump is mounted
so as to be able to slide with respect to the body to a lower position in
which the
vent hole is free to enable air to be taken in.
Fig. 1 la is an exploded view of a portion of the part shown in Fig. 11.
Fig. 12 shows the top part of an embodiment depicted in Fig. 11, wherein
the pump is in a higher storage position, in which the vent hole is not free
to
enable air to be taken in.
Fig. 12a is an exploded view of a portion of the part shown in Fig. 12.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The present invention addresses the problem of waste of containers of
viscous compositions, as the containers are normally discarded after one use.
Additionally, due to the high viscosity of the compositions, a large amount of
material is left stuck to the walls of the containers etc and is discarded
together
with the container.
Adding to the containers a refill mechanism allows the containers to be
reused, and miniaturization of the refillable containers also allows to do two
important things: 1) to put the containers in pocket/purse/wallet etc for
convenient
use outside home due to small size, and 2) to take small samples of a first
viscous
composition (e.g. cream), and then take small samples of a second viscous
composition, i.e. the user can easily vary the composition. However, the
miniaturization also exacerbates waste of material since a relatively large
amount
of material remains stuck inside the container, that might spoil, dry up and
cake
etc., and might adversely affect a different composition that is introduced
into the
container. Therefore, it is important to include in the dispenser a mechanism
that
allows thoroughly emptying viscous compositions out of the container.
Thus, according to one aspect, a refillable dispenser for viscous
compositions is provided that is intended to solve all these problems.
Referring to
Figure 1, the dispenser 100 comprises:
A bottle 111 having walls defining an upper cavity 114 and a lower cavity
116;
a viscous composition refill mechanism 106 configured to allow viscous
composition to enter said upper cavity 114 when said refill mechanism 106
is fluidly coupled to a viscous composition source;
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a viscous composition dispensing mechanism 102 configured to allow
viscous composition 7 to be dispensed from said upper cavity 114 to
outside the bottle 111 when the dispensing mechanism 102 is actuated;
a gasket 105 configured to substantially seal said upper cavity 114 from
said lower cavity 116 wherein said gasket 105 is capable of moving towards the
upper cavity 114 upon actuation of the dispensing mechanism 102 and moving
towards the lower cavity 116 upon entrance of the viscous composition 7 into
said
upper cavity 114.
When the dispensing mechanism 102 is actuated, some viscous material 7
such as cream is ejected from the dispensing mechanism 102 to outside the
bottle
111. In some embodiments, the material ejected from the mechanism 102 is
replaced by more material drawn in by the dispensing mechanism 102 from the
same actuation. As the material 7 is drawn out of the upper cavity 114, gasket
105
may rise, thus maintaining pressure in the upper cavity 114 and keeping the
(smaller) cavity 114 full of cream. Air may concomitantly enter via hole 171
into
the lower cavity 116, thus preventing creation of sub-pressure in lower cavity
116.
When the refill mechanism 106 is actuated, the material 7 enters the upper
cavity
114 and forces the gasket 105 downwards, i.e. the upper cavity 114 expands and
the lower cavity 116 contracts, releasing air via the hole 171.
Other embodiments have alternative exhaust/pressure maintenance means.
Some embodiments may entirely lack holes 171 in the walls, such that the
only openings in the bottle 111 are for the refilling mechanism and the
dispensing
mechanism.
The dispensing mechanism 102 may comprise a pump: when the pump is
actuated, e.g. in some embodiments pushed down, thus compressing the space
inside the pump containing viscous material, the pump pushes viscous material
out. When the pump is released, viscous material is drawn up from the upper
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cavity 114 into the pump. In preferred embodiments, the pump is configured to
not allow air into the upper cavity. In other embodiments, air is allowed into
the
upper cavity but is pumped out with actuation of the pump.
The dispenser 100 may be a foam dispenser: In embodiments having foam
dispensers, the dispenser may comprise dual or more pumps, which when used
move both air and the viscous composition through a small opening to create
lather, e.g. shaving cream. In preferred embodiments, the air is preferably
introduced to the pump/s from outside the bottle 111.
In some embodiments, the dispenser is automatic, activated by a signal such as
time-activation.
As shown in Figure 2, the dispenser 100 further comprises a cap 103 to
cover the dispensing mechanism 102 and an external bottle body 112 that
complements the cap 103. The external body 112 has a transparent window 121
through which the material 7 level can be measured to assess when to refill
the
dispenser 100. However, some embodiments lack these features, as shown in
Figure 3. The dispenser 200 similarly comprises a bottle 211, a dispensing
mechanism 202, a refill mechanism 206 and a gasket 205. The dispenser as
depicted is empty.
Figure 3 presents another embodiment 200, empty, which includes bottle
211, dispensing mechanism 102, gasket 205, and filling mechanism 206.
Figure 4 shows the bottle 211 partially full, and Figure 5 shows the same
bottle 211 completely full with a viscous composition 7.
The refill mechanism in Figure 1 is defined as including the tube 104.
Thus, the refill mechanism extends from outside the bottle 111 and throughout
the
lower cavity 116 and the gasket 105, so that the composition 7 can be
conveniently
provided from the bottom of the bottle 111. The gasket 105 is sealingly
sleeved
on the tube and in the bottle. In some embodiments the tube may be proximal or
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flush with or even part of the wall, in which case the gasket may not be
holed, yet
it may nevertheless effectively seal the upper cavity from the lower cavity.
Fig. 6 shows an embodiment 300 wherein the refill mechanism 306 does not
extend throughout the lower cavity 316. Instead, the refill mechanism 306 is
installed in the dispenser 300 such that it directly extends to or into the
upper
cavity 314. The dispenser 300 may be particularly useful for filling the
dispenser
300 from containers having dispensing heads with orifices facing downwards.
Figures 7 and 8 illustrate filling of the refillable dispenser 200 by non-
refillable dispensers 400, 400'. The dispensing mechanism 409 of the dispenser
400 shown in Figure 7 is actuated by a pumping action, whereas the dispensing
mechanism 409' of the dispenser 400' shown in Figure 8 is actuated by pressing
the refillable dispenser 200 and the non-refillable dispenser 400' toward each
other. Bottle 411 containing the viscous composition may be pressurized.
In some embodiments the refill mechanism comprises a check-valve.
In some embodiments, the dispensing mechanism comprises a check valve (to help
prevent entrance of air into the upper cavity 114 via the valve).
In some embodiments, both the refill mechanism and the dispensing mechanism
each comprise a check-valve.
Commercially available dispensers can perhaps be refilled by removing
their dispensing mechanism, but for all practical purposes such refilling is
time
consuming and difficult, and thus they are essentially non-refillable.
Furthermore,
their size, typically 250 mL or larger, is substantially larger than the
refillable
dispensers, which are typically less than 100 mL size, so that there is little
motivation to refill the larger dispensers.
Thus according to another aspect, a kit comprising any refillable dispenser
of the types described above, and at least one adapter is provided, the
adapters
each configured to allow sealingly and fluidly connecting a non-refillable
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dispenser for viscous compositions with the filling mechanism of the
refillable
dispenser. Each adapter is suitable for a particular structure of dispensing
mechanism of the non-refillable dispenser. Thus, a set of adapters may serve
to
couple the first refillable dispenser with various commercially available non-
5 refillable d dispensers.
Many commercially available dispensers have a dispensing head (not
shown) that may be removed in order to expose the dispensing mechanism 409 of
the non-refillable dispenser 400, the exposed mechanism 409 may then be easily
coupleable to the refill mechanism. Such removal will typically expose a
structure
10 such as a stem 415 of the dispensing mechanism 409 (see Figure 7).
The adapter may be a tube having ends with the same or different sizes.
Typically, one end tightly fits into the refill mechanism of the refillable
dispenser,
and the other end tightly fits onto a stem of the dispensing mechanism of the
non-
refillable dispenser to make a sealed connection for transfer of the viscous
composition from the non-refillable dispenser to the refillable one.
Alternatively,
the adapter may be a dispensing mechanism itself that replaces the original
dispensing mechanism of the non-refillable dispenser.
In other embodiments the non-refillable dispenser is simply a receptacle
without any dispensing mechanism at all, for example a jar for cream with a
thread
at the top and a lid with a matching thread, and the adapter is then coupled
to the
jar without the lid. In preferred embodiments, the refill mechanism of the
refillable bottle further comprises at least one sealing ring, as shown in
Figure 1
ring 161 in a refill hole 160 below a check valve (in Figure 1 comprising a
ball
162 and compression spring 163) to provide a sealed connection.
According to another aspect, a kit comprising the refillable dispenser and a
non-refillable dispenser is provided. The
uniqueness of the non-refillable
dispenser in this embodiment is that the refillable dispenser and the non-
refillable
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dispenser are configured to allow sealingly connecting the non-refillable
dispenser
with the refill mechanism, preferably without need for an adapter. Such non-
refillable dispenser may be a commercially available dispenser, the refillable
dispenser being specially fitted in the dimensions of the refill mechanism to
the
dispensing mechanism of the non-refillable dispenser, but perhaps more
typically
the non-refillable dispenser is also specially designed to easily and tightly
fit with
the refillable dispenser.
Typically, the non-refillable dispenser will be economy-sized and too large
to carry in a wallet, pocket etc. The non-refillable dispenser further
minimizes
waste of material.
It is notable that while the non-refillable refillable dispenser is ideal to
use
at home, the refillable dispenser is ideal for use on airplanes, since at
present only
very small containers of viscous compositions are allowed to be airborne in a
flight cabin.
Some embodiments may be manipulated to have a sub-pressure in the upper
cavity, at least when the upper cavity is essentially empty of material and
ready to
receive more material. This may be accomplished by having a gasket that cannot
travel all the way up to the top of the upper cavity, thus a space may be left
after
dispensing is finished, in which a sub-pressure may be created.
For example, see Figures 9-12.
The dispenser 500 comprises a rigid body 501 in which there is upper
cavity 502 sealed from lower cavity 516 by gasket 530. In particular, the body
501 has sufficient rigidity so that the volume of the upper cavity 502 remains
substantially constant. The upper cavity 502 may have for example a capacity
of
between 1 and 20 ml (whereby the dispenser is conveniently pocket-sized).
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The body 501 may be in a single piece, for example produced by injection
blowing
or extrusion blowing, or in several parts injected and then assembled, for
example
by ultrasonic welding, made from rigid plastics material, metal, for example
aluminum, or glass.
The dispenser 500 also comprises a dispensing device 503 that is mounted
sealingly on the body 501, in particular in the top opening of said body. In
the
embodiments shown, the dispensing device comprises a dispensing pump 503
actuated manually by means of a push button 504.
The pump 503 comprises a body 505 equipped with means of supplying the
material. In the figures, the supply means comprise a plunger tube 506
disposed in
the upper cavity 502, said tube being equipped with a valve 507 for admitting
the
product (viscous material) into the pump 503. The push button 504 is mounted
on
the nozzle 508 of the pump 503, which comprises a piston 509 mounted around
said nozzle in order to delimit a metering chamber 510 in the body 501. The
piston 509 enables the supply orifices 511 of the nozzle 508 to open--or
respectively close--over a dispensing--or respectively suction--travel of said
nozzle.
The push button 504 comprises an upper region enabling the user to exert
finger pressure on said push button in order to be able to move it axially
over its
travel for actuation of the pump 503, the return of the push button 504 over
its
suction travel being conventionally effected by a spring 512. In the
embodiment
shown, the interior of the body 505 of the pump 503 is equipped with an
extender
513 on which the bottom end of the spring 512 is in abutment.
The push button 504 is equipped with a head 514 that is arranged to
distribute the product radially. However, the invention is not limited to a
particular method of dispensing the product.
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The dispensing method makes provision, prior to the initial filling of the
upper cavity 502 with product, for putting said empty product reservoir in
communication with an air suction device and activating said device in order
to
create a negative pressure inside said reservoir.
According to one embodiment, the air suction device comprises a vacuum
bell in which the dispensing mechanism 505 is disposed, the sealed mounting of
the take-off device 503 on the body 501 being achieved after activation of
said
bell. Thus the negative pressure is formed in the upper cavity 502 and then
the
take-off device 503 is mounted sealingly so as to maintain said negative
pressure.
According to another embodiment, the air suction device, for example a
vacuum pump, is put in communication with the take-off device 503 after sealed
mounting thereof on the body 501, the suction of the air from the upper cavity
502
being effected through said take-off device. In a variant, the suction of air
could be
effected through the refill mechanism (not shown) by making provision to put
it
into communication with the air suction device after sealed mounting of the
take-
off device 503 on the body 501.
The dispensing method makes provision for subsequently effecting the
initial filling of the upper cavity 502 by putting a product source in sealed
communication with said upper cavity 502 by means of the refill mechanism so
that the negative pressure causes the filling of said reservoir by suction of
the
product contained in said source. Next, the customer can actuate the take-off
device 503 in order to dispense the packaged product.
A single press on the refill mechanism may cause the opening of a valve in
the refill mechanism, as well as possibly the opening of a pump of a non-
refillable
dispenser, so as to form a transfer path of product between the source and the
upper cavity 502. Compensation for the negative pressure then allows filling.
Next, when the upper cavity 502 is filled, the suction negative pressure
becomes
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zero and the valve of the refill mechanism is then closed and the product
contained
in the upper cavity 502 can be dispensed subsequently by means of the take-off
device 503.
The 500 that is supplied to the distributors may therefore be empty of
product and have a negative air pressure, said negative pressure making it
possible
to subsequently effect the initial filling, in particular at the time of
handing the
dispenser 500 to the customer according to the product that they wish to
purchase
and/or test. The method therefore allows a particularly versatile initial
filling,
which in particular allows simplified management of the dispenser 500s by the
distributors, in particular sample test dispenser 500s.
The versatility of the dispensing method can also be improved by providing
the association of a label on the body 501 at the time of initial filling of
the upper
cavity 502 with product, in particular according to said product. The label
can
have a detachable part comprising a sales offer particular to the distributor
in order
to encourage the customer to return and purchase the sampled product.
In relation to FIGS. 9 and 10, the take-off device in embodiments 500, 600
is of the airless type without the take up of air in the upper cavity in
compensation
for the volume of product dispensed. To do this, the body 505 of the pump 503
in
embodiment 500 has no vent hole.
However, since pumps with a vent hole are the most usual, it may be
advantageous to create a negative pressure in the upper cavity even with this
type
of pump. To do this, as shown in embodiment 600 in FIG. 10, body 605 is
provided with a vent hole 626 that is closed off sealingly by mounting thereof
in
the rigid body 601 (FIG. 10a). In particular, the seal between the body 605
and
rigid body 601 is then made at least below the vent hole 626 so as to prevent
the
passage of air from the pump 603 into the upper cavity 602 by means of said
hole.
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In FIG. 10, the seal is also achieved above the vent hole 626, which does not
impair the functioning without take up of air and is a little simpler to
achieve.
The product sample without take up of air in the upper cavity 602 makes it
possible to create in said upper cavity 602 a negative pressure that increases
along
5 with
dispensing. In particular, in order to ensure total emptying of the upper
cavity 602, the ceiling of air above the product during initial filling must
be such
that the negative pressure reached at the end of emptying is at a maximum
equal to
the negative pressure achievable by the pump 603.
In this embodiment, the dispensing method then provides for the possibility
10 of subsequent filling of the upper cavity 602 by the sealed putting in
communication of the product source (non-refillable dispenser) with said upper
cavity 602 by means of the refill mechanism so that the negative pressure
causes
the filling of said upper cavity 602 by suction of the product contained in
said
source.
15 In
relation to FIGS. 11 and 12, the product is taken off with take up of air in
the upper cavity so as to prevent the subsequent filling of said upper cavity
by
suction. To do this, the pump comprises a vent hole that is arranged to make
it
possible to compensate for the volume of product taken off in the upper cavity
with air.
In relation to FIG. 11, the pump 703 in the embodiment 700 is mounted in
the body 701 by means of a sleeve 727 in which the body 705 is fitted
sealingly.
The vent hole 726 is formed in the body 702 radially opposite an increased
diameter 727a that is formed on the sleeve 727 so as to leave free said hole
in
order to enable air to be taken into the upper cavity 702 (FIG. 11a).
According to one embodiment, the dispensing method may, prior to the
initial filling of the upper cavity with product, provide for the mounting of
the
take-off device on the body in a storage position in which the air tightness
of the
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upper cavity is reinforced, said take-off device subsequently being moved into
a
dispensing position. This is because, in the dispensing position, the static
air
tightness of the upper cavity having a negative pressure may be insufficient,
in
particular in the presence of a vent hole, to guarantee the maintenance of
this
negative pressure at the end of prolonged storage.
In addition, still in order to improve the maintenance of the negative
pressure over time, the refill mechanism may be reversibly covered with a
sealing
cap (not shown). The cap may be welded in a recess formed on the free end of a
trim (not shown) so that said cap completely covers the refill mechanism, said
cap
having a free edge enabling it to be withdrawn with a view to the initial
filling.
In relation to FIGS. 11 and 12, the pump 703 is mounted so as to be able to
slide with respect to the body between an upper storage position in which the
vent
hole is closed off (FIG. 12) and a lower dispensing position (FIG. 11) in
which
said vent hole 726 is free to enable air to be taken in.
In particular, the body 703 is mounted in the sleeve 727 with clamping
suitable for enabling sliding, the passage between these positions being
achieved
by pressing on the push button 704 when the pump 703 is first actuated. The
sleeve 727 has a step 727b delimiting an upper diameter 727c for sealed
mounting
of the body 705 in order to close off the vent hole 726 and an increased lower
diameter 727a leaving said vent hole free, said pump body having a stop 729
for
the end of sliding travel in the sleeve 727.
The sub-pressure may facilitate refilling the dispenser 700.
Such
embodiments are more useful when the material is not overly viscous, such as
various lotions. Shaking the lotion (thereby sometimes reducing the viscosity)
just
prior to refilling may facilitate the refilling in such cases.
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Some creams and lotions and colloids may undergo sedimentation, flocculation
etc, such that the separation of solids is both undesirable as a product to be
applied, and may in some embodiments interfere with the operation of the
dispenser, in which case it may be advantageous to shake the dispenser shortly
before dispensing. In such cases excessive shaking may be ill-advised, as the
shaking may overly reduce the viscosity of the viscous material. Some
experimentation may be required to produce the most desirable results, both in
respect of the quality of the material, and in respect of the more
satisfactory
operation of the dispenser. Some embodiments may be more suitable for
particular types of viscous materials.
Returning to Figure 1, note that the top of gasket 105 is bullet-shaped, i.e.
narrower at the top, as is the part of the upper cavity 114, facilitating
emptying the
bottle 111 of viscous material 7. The top part of the gasket 105 may generally
conform to the shape of the top part of the upper cavity, so that the gasket
105 can
easily reach the topmost part of the upper cavity 114 and essentially exhaust
the
bottle 111 of the viscous material if so desired. However, in other
embodiments
the top of the bottle 111 is not bullet shaped. Furthermore, the gasket is
preferably
flexible, and so in embodiments having bullet-shaped upper cavities, the
gasket
may be capable of being easily moved and conforming in shape to the walls at
the
top of the upper cavity.
The examples described above present various selected embodiments of a
refillable cream dispenser . It is noted that further embodiments are
anticipated
which also fall within the scope of the present invention. The scope of the
present
invention is defined by the claims and includes both combinations and sub
combinations of the various features described hereinabove as well as
variations
and modifications thereof, which would occur to persons skilled in the art
upon
reading the foregoing description.
