Microfluidic delivery system for releasing fluid compositions

• US 9,554,459 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2015
• Issued: 01/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Gruenbacher, Dana Paul, Hunt, David S, Scheffelin, Joseph Edward, Dodd, Simon
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Anh T. N.
• Application Number:
  US14/950,214
• Publication Number:
  US 20160081181A1
• Time in Patent Office: 427 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/133 Replaceable cartridges, refills
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/03 Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/14 using sprayed or atomised substances including air-liquid contact processes
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1404 Geometrical characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14072 Electrical connections, e.g. details on electrodes, connecting the chip to the outside...
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1433 Structure of nozzle plates
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17509 Whilst mounted in the printer
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/02 Removable lids or covers with means for piercing, cutting, or tearing a frangible inner closure B65D51/22
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/00 Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents dispensing means incorporated in removable or non-permanently secured container closures B65D47/00; for shops, stores, offices, bars, or the like A47F1/04; showcases or show cabinets with dispensing arrangements A47F3/02; magazines for screws or nuts in combination with spanners, wrenches or screwdrivers B25B23/06; for use in connection with the handling of sheets, webs, or filamentary material B65H
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0244 Heating of fluids H05B1/0247 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/021 Heaters specially adapted for heating liquids
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0272 Adaptations for fluid transport, e.g. channels, holes
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/11 Printed elements for providing electric connections to or between printed circuits
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49732 by attaching repair preform, e.g., remaking, restoring, or patching

Abstract

A microfluidic refill includes a reservoir having a hollow body and an opening; a transport member in fluid communication with the reservoir; and a lid enclosing the opening of the reservoir. The lid is in fluid communication with the transport member. The lid comprises a rigid microfluidic delivery member. The rigid microfluidic delivery member includes a die and electrical traces that are in electrical communication with the die, wherein the electrical traces terminate at electrical contacts, wherein the electrical traces are disposed on only one plane. The die has a fluid chamber in fluid communication with the transport member at an inlet of the fluid chamber and with an orifice at an outlet of the fluid chamber and.

Claims

1. A method of connecting a microfluidic delivery refill with a housing, wherein the microfluidic delivery refill comprises a rigid microfluidic delivery member having a die and electrical leads that are in electrical communication with the die, wherein the electrical leads terminate at electrical contacts, wherein the electrical contacts are disposed on a first plane, wherein the microfluidic delivery refill comprises a reservoir that contains a perfume composition, wherein the die comprises a silicon support substrate and a conductive layer that is disposed on the silicon support substrate, wherein the conductive layer comprises at least one heater, wherein the housing comprises electrical contacts, the method comprising the steps of:

electrically connecting the electrical contacts of the microfluidic delivery refill with the electrical contacts of the housing by sliding the microfluidic delivery refill toward an interior of the housing in only one direction that is parallel with the first plane.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a fan.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the microfluidic delivery refill includes a piezoelectric material or a heater.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the microfluidic delivery system is powered by battery.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transfer member is configured to wick the fluid composition upward from the reservoir and toward the microfluidic delivery member, in opposition to the force of gravity.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the microfluidic delivery system comprises at least one sensor.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the microfluidic delivery system is powered by an AC outlet.

8. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of removing the microfluidic delivery refill from the housing by moving the microfluidic delivery refill in a direction parallel with the first plane.