Device with improved fitment system

• US 6,390,335 B1
• Filed: 04/20/2000
• Issued: 05/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Vuuk, Jelle Dankert, Lawson, John Russell, Crozet, Yvon Loic
• Primary Examiner(s): Derakshani, Philippe
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bui, Thach H.
• Application Number:
  US09/557,020
• Time in Patent Office: 761 Days
• Field of Search: 222/81, 222/82, 222/83, 222/153.13, 222/153.14, 251/149.1, 251/149.6
• US Class Current: 222/153.13
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/0038 Inner container disposed in an outer shell or outer casing
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/00 Details of spraying plant or spraying apparatus not otherwise provided for; Accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 9/0861 the motor being electric
• CPC Class Codes: B67B 7/26 combined with spouts

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 comprises at least one vented reservoir for containing at least one liquid product and a dispensing appliance for dispensing the product from the reservoir. In one embodiment, the reservoir comprises at least one recess and/or protrusion and the dispensing appliance comprises at least one corresponding protrusion and/or recess. The reservoir is releasably secured in a leak-tight manner with the dispensing appliance such that fluid communication between the reservoir and the dispensing appliance is established, only when the protrusion(s) and recess(es) are fitted into each other, and the protrusion(s) and the recess(es) of the reservoir have a shape which is complementary, preferably exactly complementary, to the protrusion(s) and/or recess(es) of the dispensing appliance.

Claims

1. A device for the delivery of products, comprising:

a vented reservoir for containing a liquid product and a means for dispensing the product from said reservoir;

wherein said reservoir comprises at least one of a recess or protrusion and said dispensing means comprises at least one of a corresponding protrusion 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, when said at least one of said recess or protrusion of said reservoir engages said at least one of said corresponding recess or said corresponding protrusion of said dispensing means and wherein said reservoir has a neck which is off-centered in the cross-sectional plan of said reservoir.

2. The dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein said dispensing means comprises a push-button for unlocking said reservoir from said dispensing means.

3. The dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one of said recess or said protrusion of said dispensing means has a shape which is complimentary to said at least one of said corresponding recess or said corresponding protrusion of said dispensing means so that lateral displacement of said reservoir is prevented.

4. The dispensing device according to claim 1, further comprising an electrically driven pump which is provided with an electrical power source having at least one electrical battery.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one of said recess or said protrusion of said reservoir is located less than about 25 cm from the top of said reservoir.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one of said recess or said protrusion of said reservoir is located onto a neck or a closure of said reservoir.

7. The dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein said dispensing means comprises two needles which pierce a rubber septum of said reservoir, wherein one of said needles directs liquid from said reservoir and the other of said needles vents said reservoir.

8. A device for the delivery of products, comprising:

a vented reservoir for containing a liquid product and a means for dispensing the product from said reservoir;

wherein said reservoir comprises at least one of a recess or protrusion and said dispensing means comprises at least one of a corresponding protrusion 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, when said at least one of said recess or protrusion of said reservoir engages said at least one of said corresponding recess or said corresponding protrusion of said dispensing means; and

an electrically driven pump which is provided with an electrical power source having at least one electrical battery.

9. The dispensing device according to claim 8, wherein said dispensing means comprises a push-button for unlocking said reservoir from said dispensing means.

10. The dispensing device according to claim 8, wherein said at least one of said recess or said protrusion of said dispensing means has a shape which is complimentary to said at least one of said corresponding recess or said corresponding protrusion of said dispensing means so that lateral displacement of said reservoir is prevented.

11. The dispensing device according to claim 8, wherein said at least one recess or said protrusion of said reservoir is located less than about 25 cm from the top of said reservoir.

12. The dispensing device according to claim 8, wherein said at least one of said recess or said protrusion of said reservoir is located onto the neck or closure of said reservoir .

13. The dispensing device according to claim 8, wherein said dispensing means comprises two needles which pierce a rubber septum of said reservoir, wherein one of said needle directs liquid from said reservoir and the other of said needles vents said reservoir.

14. A device for the delivery of products, comprising:

a vented reservoir for containing a liquid product and a means for dispensing the product from said reservoir;

wherein said reservoir comprises at least one of a recess or protrusion and said dispensing means comprises at least one of a corresponding protrusion 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, when said at least one of said recess or protrusion of said reservoir engages said at least one of said corresponding recess or said corresponding protrusion of said dispensing means and wherein said at least one recess or said protrusion of said reservoir is located less than about 25 cm from the top of said reservoir.

15. The dispensing device according to claim 14, wherein said dispensing means comprises a push-button for unlocking said reservoir from said dispensing means.

16. The dispensing device according to claim 14, wherein said at least one of said recess or said protrusion of said dispensing means has a shape which is complimentary to said at least one of said corresponding recess or said corresponding protrusion of said dispensing means so that lateral displacement of said reservoir is prevented.

17. The dispensing device according to claim 14, wherein said at least one of said recess or said protrusion of said reservoir is located onto the neck or closure of said reservoir.

18. The dispensing device according to claim 14, wherein said dispensing means comprises two needles which pierce a rubber septum of said reservoir, wherein one of said needle directs liquid from said reservoir and the other of said needles vents said reservoir.

19. A device for the delivery of products, comprising:

a vented reservoir for containing liquid product and a means for dispensing the product from said reservoir;

wherein said reservoir comprises at least one of a recess or protrusion and said dispensing means comprises at least one of a corresponding protrusion 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, when said at least one of said recess or protrusion of said reservoir engages said at least one of said corresponding recess or said corresponding protrusion of said dispensing means and wherein said dispensing means comprises two needles which pierce a rubber septum of said reservoir, wherein one of said needle directs liquid from said reservoir and the other of said needles vents said reservoir.

20. The dispensing device according to claim 19, wherein said dispensing means comprises a push-button for unlocking said reservoir from said dispensing means.

21. The dispensing device according to claim 19, wherein said at least one of said recess or said protrusion of said dispensing means has a shape which is complimentary to said at least one of said corresponding recess or said corresponding protrusion of said dispensing means so that lateral displacement of said reservoir is prevented.

22. The dispensing device according to claim 19, wherein said at least one of said recess or said protrusion of said reservoir is located onto the neck or closure of said reservoir.