Microfluidic delivery system for releasing fluid compositions

• US 9,814,098 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2016
• Issued: 11/07/2017
• 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:
  US15/376,691
• Publication Number:
  US 20170094720A1
• Time in Patent Office: 329 Days
• 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 microfluidic delivery refill comprising:

a reservoir having a hollow body and an opening;

a transport member in fluid communication with the reservoir;

a lid enclosing the opening of the reservoir, wherein the lid is in fluid communication with the transport member, wherein the lid comprises a rigid microfluidic delivery member having 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 comprising a fluid chamber in fluid communication with the transport member at an inlet of the fluid chamber and an orifice at an outlet of the fluid chamber.

2. The refill according to claim 1, wherein the electrical contacts are spaced a distance of from about 5 mm to about 30 mm from the die.

3. The refill according to claim 1, wherein the rigid microfluidic delivery member comprises a rigid circuit board, wherein the rigid circuit board is connected with the lid.

4. The refill according to claim 1, wherein the electrical contacts and the die are disposed on substantially parallel planes.

5. The refill according to claim 1, wherein the rigid circuit board has a thickness of from about 0.8 mm to about 1.6 mm.

6. The refill according to claim 1, wherein the rigid microfluidic delivery member comprises a fiberglass-epoxy composite.

7. The refill according to claim 1, wherein the reservoir contains a fluid composition, wherein the fluid composition comprises a perfume composition.

8. The refill according to claim 7, wherein the transfer member is a porous structure that provides capillary forces to wick the fluid composition from the reservoir and toward the microfluidic delivery member, in opposition to the force of gravity.

9. The refill according to claim 1, wherein the orifice opens in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the die and electrical contacts.

10. A thermally activated microfluidic delivery system comprising a housing and a refill releasably connectable with the housing, wherein the refill comprises:

a reservoir having a hollow body and an opening;

a lid enclosing the opening of the reservoir, the lid comprising a rigid microfluidic delivery member having 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,

wherein the housing defines an interior and an exterior of the microfluidic delivery system, wherein the housing comprises a holder member disposed in the interior space of the housing, wherein the fluid delivery refill is slideably connectable with the holder member.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the refill further comprises a transport member in fluid communication with the reservoir and the microfluidic delivery member.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein the electrical contacts are spaced a distance of from about 5 mm to about 30 mm from the die.

13. The system according to claim 10, wherein the rigid microfluidic delivery member has a thickness of from about 0.8 mm to about 1.6 mm.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein the reservoir is configured to contain a fluid composition, wherein the fluid composition comprises a perfume composition.

15. The system according to claim 11, wherein the electrical contacts and the die are disposed on substantially parallel planes.

16. A method of refilling a thermally activated microfluidic delivery system with a refill, wherein the refill comprises reservoir having a hollow body and an opening, a lid enclosing the opening of the reservoir, wherein the lid comprises a microfluidic delivery member having 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 method comprising the steps of:

providing a housing that defines an interior and an exterior, wherein the housing comprises a holder member disposed in the interior of the housing; and

sliding the refill into the holder member in a direction parallel with the plane the electrical traces are disposed on.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the electrical contacts are spaced a distance of from about 5 mm to about 30 mm from the die.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the microfluidic delivery member has a thickness of from about 0.8 mm to about 1.6 mm.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein the reservoir is configured to contain a fluid composition, wherein the fluid composition comprises a perfume composition.

20. The method according to claim 16, wherein the electrical contacts and the die are disposed on substantially parallel planes.