Packaged product

• US 6,595,437 B1
• Filed: 02/02/2000
• Issued: 07/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Lawson, John Russell, Vuijk, Jelle Dankert, Vandebroek, Marcel
• Primary Examiner(s): DOUGLAS, LISA ANN
• Application Number:
  US09/485,031
• Time in Patent Office: 1,266 Days
• Field of Search: 239/337, 239/340, 239/346, 239/154, 239/332, 239/532, 239/530, 239/119
• US Class Current: 239/119
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/34 Machines for treating carpets in position by liquid, foam, or vapour, e.g. by steam
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4083 Liquid supply reservoirs; Preparation of the agents, e.g. mixing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4088 Supply pumps; Spraying devices; Supply conduits
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/244 for telescopic or extensible hoses or pipes
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/628 of variable length
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/656 whereby the flow conduit length is changeable
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 9/0861 the motor being electric

Abstract

The present invention relates to a packaged product (1) comprising a package having a liquid reservoir (2) for containing a product, preferably a cleaning product, and a means for delivering the product (4) in a labour efficient way and in a uniform manner. This is achieved by a packaged product (1) in which the means (4) for delivering the product preferably comprises an electrically driven pump (5), and further comprises a spray arm (220), the spray arm (220) having at least one dispensing opening (225), the spray arm (220) being preferably either extended or extendible.

Claims

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

at least one liquid reservoir for containing at least one product, said product comprising an active ingredient; and

a product delivering means comprising a spray arm, at least one product dispensing opening, so that in operation, the product is conducted from said at least one liquid reservoir, through the spray arm, to the product dispensing opening from which it is dispensed, wherein said product delivering means comprises an electrically driven pump which is provided with an electrical power source, said power source comprising at least one electrical battery, the battery being housed in the package and wherein said pump is reversible so that it can either dispense said product from said at least one reservoir, or suck said product back into said at least one liquid reservoir and wherein said at least one reservoir is releasably connected to the pump through a liquid-tight vent and fluid transfer fitment, said fitment comprising;

(a) a transfer check valve for allowing passage of liquid from said at least one reservoir to the pump, and

(b) a transfer venting valve for allowing air to displace the liquid when said liquid exits said at least one reservoir, both valves having an inherent sealing pressure created by the static pressure of the liquid within the reservoir; and

(c) a probe member in fluid communication with said pump, wherein said liquid product flows by gravity through said transfer check valve and said probe member when said probe member is inserted into said fluid transfer check valve.

2. A packaged device according to claim 1, wherein the packaged product further comprises a holding means, and wherein the distance from the center of the holding means to the furthest product dispensing opening is at least 0.2 meters.

3. A packaged device according to claim 1, wherein the spray arm communicates with said at least one liquid reservoir by means of a flexible connector.

4. A packaged device according to claim 3, wherein the flexible connector, is removably attached to said at least one liquid reservoir.

5. A packaged device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one battery is rechargeable.

6. A packaged device according to claim 1, wherein the spray arm is either extended or extendible.

7. A packaged device according to claim 6, wherein the spray arm comprises a handle, a telescopingly extendible wand connected to said handle, and a dispensing tubing attached outside said extendible wand, at least one portion of the telescopingly extendible wand being arranged inside the handle, when the compact spray arm is in the collapsed position.

8. A packaged device according to claim 1, wherein at least one reservoir is removably connected to said product delivering means.

9. A packaged device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one reservoir comprises at least one compartment.

10. A packaged device according to claim 1, which further comprises at least one fitment for plugging a cartridge of a concentrated product to be mixed with the content of said reservoir.

11. A packaged device according to claim 10, wherein said fitment for said cartridge is located into or onto at least one reservoir.

12. A packaged device according to claim 1, which comprises a flow control means for controlling the flow of product which is dispensed by the product delivering means.

13. A packaged device according to claim 12, wherein said flow control means is an electrical means which is achieved by an electronic controller for modifying the voltage inside the motor, thus changing the rotation speed of the pump.

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

a liquid product comprising an active ingredient;

at least one liquid reservoir for containing said liquid product; and

a product delivering means comprising a spray arm, said spray arm being removably attached to said product delivery means, at least one product dispensing nozzle in fluid communication with said liquid reservoir, said nozzle being attached to said spray arm, wherein said at least one reservoir is releasably connected to said product delivering means through a liquid-tight vent and fluid transfer fitment, said fitment comprising

(a) a transfer check valve for allowing passage of liquid from said at least one reservoir;

(b) a transfer venting valve for allowing air to displace the liquid when said liquid exits said at least one reservoir, both valves having an inherent sealing pressure created by the static pressure of the liquid within the reservoir; and

(c) at least a probe member in fluid communication with said nozzle, wherein said liquid product flows by gravity through said transfer check valve and said probe member when said probe member is inserted into said fluid transfer check valve.

15. A packaged device according to claim 14, wherein the packaged product further comprises a holding means, wherein the distance from the center of the holding means to the furthest product dispensing opening is at least 0.2 meters.

16. A packaged device according to claim 14 wherein the fluid communication between said fitment and said nozzle is established via a flexible tube.

17. A packaged device according to claim 16 wherein at least a portion of said flexible tube is coiled around said spray arm.

18. A packaged device according to claim 17 wherein said spray arm is extendible and retractable.

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

at least one liquid reservoir for containing at least one product, said product comprising an active ingredient; and

a product delivering means comprising a spray arm, at least one product dispensing opening, so that in operation, the product is conducted from said at least one liquid reservoir, through the spray arm, to the product dispensing opening from which it is dispensed, wherein said product delivering means comprises an electrically driven pump which is provided with an electrical power source, said power source comprising at least one electrical battery, the battery being housed in the package and wherein said pump is reversible so that it can either dispense said product from said at least one reservoir, or suck said product back into said at least one liquid reservoir and wherein said reversible pump is coupled to a timer so that after the user stops spraying product, the pump is automatically reversed and sucks back the remaining product into said at least one reservoir.

20. A packaged device according to claim 19, wherein the packaged product further comprises a holding means, and wherein the distance from the center of the holding means to the furthest product dispensing opening is at least 0.2 meters.

21. A packaged device according to claim 20 wherein said spray arm communicates with said at least one liquid reservoir by means of a flexible connector.

22. A packaged device according to claim 21 wherein said flexible connector is removably attached to said at least one liquid reservoir.

23. A packaged product according to claim 19 wherein said at least one battery is rechargeable.

24. A packaged product according to claim 19, wherein at least one reservoir is removably connected to said product delivering means.

25. A device for the delivery of cleaning products, comprising:

a liquid product comprising an active ingredient;

at least one liquid reservoir for containing said liquid product;

a body comprising a housing for receiving said reservoir;

a product delivery mechanism comprising a substantially liquid-tight vent and a fluid transfer fitment, said fitment being removably attached to said reservoir, said fitment comprising

(a) a transfer check valve for allowing passage of said liquid from said at least one reservoir;

(b) a venting check valve for allowing air to displace the liquid when said liquid exits said at least one reservoir, both valves having an inherent sealing pressure created by the static pressure of the liquid within the reservoir; and

(c) at least a probe member in fluid communication with at least one product dispensing nozzle, said nozzle having a dispensing opening, wherein said liquid product flows by gravity through said transfer check valve and said probe member when said probe member is inserted into said fluid transfer check valve.

26. The device of claim 25 wherein said product delivery mechanism comprises a plurality of dispensing openings.

27. The device of claim 25 wherein said nozzle generates a continuous stream of liquid.

28. The device of claim 25 wherein said nozzle generates a discontinuous stream of liquid.

29. The device of claim 25 wherein said reservoir comprises a finish and said fitment comprises a cap portion having screw threads for removably attaching said fitment to said finish.

30. The device of claim 27 wherein said venting check valve is a duckbill valve.

31. The device of claim 25 wherein said nozzle is releasably attached to said device.