Consumer safe fitment for connecting a reservoir to a dispensing appliance

• US 6,321,941 B1
• Filed: 04/20/2000
• Issued: 11/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Lawson, John Russell, Vuijk, Jelle Dankert, Ricci, Patrizio, Argentieri, Andrea, Crozet, Yvon Loic
• Primary Examiner(s): Derakshani, Philippe
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bui, Thach H.
• Application Number:
  US09/553,226
• Time in Patent Office: 586 Days
• Field of Search: 222/81, 222/105, 222/501, 222/531, 222/533, 222/559, 141/19, 141/329, 141/330, 141/383, 141/384
• US Class Current: 222/81
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 9/0861 the motor being electric
• CPC Class Codes: B67B 7/28 and associated with receptacle hodlers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/0288 Container connection means for dispensing beverages on draught B67D1/0829

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a device for the delivery of products, preferably cleaning products comprising an active ingredient, more preferably cleaning products comprising a surfactant, the device comprising at least one vented reservoir for containing at least one liquid product and a means for dispensing the product from the reservoir, the device being characterized in that the reservoir comprises at least one recess and/or protrusion and the dispensing means comprises at least one corresponding protrusion and/or recess, said reservoir being releasably secured in a leak-tight manner with the dispensing means such that fluid communication between said reservoir and said means is established, only when said protrusion(s) and recess(es) are fitted into each other, and said protrusion(s) and said recess(es) of said reservoir have a shape which is complementary, preferably exactly complementary, to said protrusion(s) and/or recess(es) of said dispensing means.

Claims

1. A fitment for establishing a fluid communication between a dispensing appliance and a liquid reservoir comprising:

at least one pierceable means and at least one needle for piercing said at least pierceable means; and

a movable protecting means for preventing access to said at least one needle when said reservoir is not connected to said appliance, wherein said protecting means covers said at least one needle when said needle is not in use, said movable protecting means is movable under manual force applied directly or undirectly thereto and wherein said protecting means comprises a spring loaded movable protecting plate that prevents access to said at least one needle when said reservoir is not connected to said appliance, said protecting plate moving upon insertion of said reservoir into said appliance in order to allow said at least one needle to pierce said pierceable means, thus establishing a fluid communication between said appliance and said reservoir.

8. The fitment of claim 1 wherein said movable protecting plate has a recessed portion comprising a portion of said protecting plate that is disposed inward of the plane defined by the remainder of the protecting plate.

9. The fitment of claim 8 wherein said liquid reservoir comprises a bottle, and said bottle has at least one recess therein, and said dispensing appliance comprises at least one protrusion, wherein said at least one protrusion on said appliance fits into said at least one recess in said bottle.

10. The fitment of claim 1 wherein said liquid reservoir comprises a bottle, and said bottle has at least one recess therein, and said dispensing appliance comprises at least one protrusion, wherein said at least one protrusion on said appliance fits into said at least one recess in said bottle.

2. A device comprising:

a dispensing appliance;

a liquid reservoir;

a fitment for removably connecting said liquid reservoir and said appliance, wherein said fitment includes at least one pierceable means, at least one needle for piercing said at least pierceable means and a movable protecting means for preventing access to said at least one needle when said reservoir is not connected to said appliance, wherein said protecting means covers said at least one needle when said needle is not in use, said movable protecting means is movable under manual force applied directly or undirectly thereto and wherein said protecting means comprises a spring loaded movable protecting plate that prevents access to said at least one needle when said reservoir is not connected to said appliance, said protecting plate moving upon insertion of said reservoir into said appliance in order to allow said at least one needle to pierce said pierceable means, thus establishing a fluid communication between said appliance and said reservoir.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein said at least one needle and said protecting plate are located on said appliance, and said pierceable means is located on said reservoir.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein said pierceable means is an elastomeric pierceable membrane.

5. A fitment for establishing a fluid communication between a dispensing appliance and a liquid reservoir comprising:

at least one pierceable means and at least one needle for piercing said at least pierceable means; and

a movable protecting means for preventing access to said at least one needle when said reservoir is not connected to said appliance, wherein said protecting means covers said at least one needle when said needle is not in use, said movable protecting means is movable under manual force applied directly or undirectly thereto and wherein said movable protecting means comprises a movable protecting plate which has a recessed portion comprising a portion of said protecting plate that is disposed inward of the plane defined by the remainder of the protecting plate.

6. The fitment of claim 5 wherein said liquid reservoir has a cap thereon, and said recessed portion of said protecting plate is configured in a shape suitable for receiving said cap.

11. The fitment of claim 5 wherein said liquid reservoir comprises a bottle, and said bottle has at least one recess therein, and said dispensing appliance comprises at least one protrusion, wherein said at least one protrusion on said appliance fits into said at least one recess in said bottle.

7. A fitment for establishing a fluid communication between a dispensing appliance and a liquid reservoir comprising:

at least one pierceable means and at least one needle for piercing said at least pierceable means; and

a movable protecting means for preventing access to said at least one needle when said reservoir is not connected to said appliance, wherein said protecting means covers said at least one needle when said needle is not in use, said movable protecting means is movable under manual force applied directly or undirectly thereto and wherein said liquid reservoir comprises a bottle, and said bottle has at least one recess therein, and said dispensing appliance comprises at least one protrusion, wherein said at least one protrusion on said appliance fits into said at least one recess in said bottle.