A refillable container

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a refillable container, comprising a hollow rotator, a pushing member, a replacement bottle and a hollow shell having an open bottom, a fluid passage extending through the above-mentioned components so as to form an opening in each component, wherein the shell has the replacement bottle engaged therein and connects to the rotator at an upper portion thereof. The rotator is rotatable relative to the pushing member in a rotation direction about a longitudinal axis of the container. The pushing member is configured to be movable vertically relative to the rotator in a reciprocating manner. The pushing member is further configured to cooperate with the replacement bottle such that the replacement bottle is disengaged from the shell due to the vertical movement of the pushing member. The refillable container according to the invention is able to replace a spent bottle with a new filled bottle in an easier manner, is more environment-friendly, and is cleaner and more hygienic to perform the replacement process.

Description

[0001] A refillable container

[0002] Technical Field

[0003] The invention relates to a refillable container for dispensing fluids, e.g., cosmetic preparations.

[0004] Background

[0005] Refillable containers are commonly used in dispensing cosmetic preparations or other fluids.

[0006] A typical refillable container includes a replacement bottle containing cosmetic preparations, which is usually made of plastics. In prior art, the replacement process is done by removing a spent bottle from the remainder of the container and then attaching a new filled bottle via e.g., a screw connection, which requires a certain effort, making it to be not conveniences to users. Also, the replacement bottle generally accounts for a large proportion of the entire refillable container. Thus, a large amount of plastics are needed, which is not environment-friendly. Moreover, the replacement process is not very clean and less hygienic due to the fact that the preparations contained in the container are in contact with the environment during the replacement process and that there may be residues contaminated on the remainder of the container during the replacement process.

[0007] Thus there exists a need for an improved refillable container which is able to replace a replacement bottle in an easier manner, is more environment-friendly, and is cleaner and more hygienic to perform the replacement process. i Summary of Invention

[0008] An object of the invention is to provide a refillable container which is able to replace a spent bottle with a new filled bottle in an easier manner, is more environment-friendly, and is cleaner and more hygienic to perform the replacement process.

[0009] According to an embodiment, a refillable container comprises a hollow rotator, a pushing member, a replacement bottle and a hollow shell having an open bottom, a fluid passage extending through the above-mentioned components so as to form an opening in each component. The shell has the replacement bottle engaged therein and connects to the rotator at an upper portion thereof. The rotator is rotatable relative to the pushing member in a rotation direction about a longitudinal axis of the container. The pushing member is configured to be movable vertically relative to the rotator in a reciprocating manner, e.g., cooperate with the rotator such that the rotation of the rotator is transferred into a vertical movement of the pushing member. The pushing member is further configured to cooperate with the replacement bottle such that the replacement bottle is disengaged from the shell due to the vertical movement of the pushing member.

[0010] According to a particular embodiment, the pushing member has a cylindrical body on which there are provided a plurality of zigzag structures, the structures projecting outwardly from an outer circumferential surface of the body in a thickness direction and extending parallel to the longitudinal direction in a height direction so as to define guiding grooves. The grooves may each extend over an angle of certain degrees in a circumferential direction and have a first, e.g., longer side and a second, e.g., shorter side, the first side extending upwardly from the lowest point to the highest point of the groove in an inclined manner, and the second side extending downwardly from the highest point to the lowest point of an adjacent groove. Preferably the structures / grooves are identical to each other, continuous with each other and evenly distributed in a circumferential direction.

[0011] Correspondingly, the rotator also has a cylindrical body on which there are provided several sliders, the sliders projecting inwardly from an inner circumferential surface of the body and being slidable against one side, e.g., the longer sides of the respective grooves of the pushing member as the pushing member moves downwardly, and back against the longer sides or against the other side, e.g., the shorter side of the respective grooves of the pushing member as the pushing member moves upwardly. The number of the sliders of the rotator does not necessarily correspond to that of the structures / grooves of the pushing member.

[0012] By adjusting the number of, the length of e.g., the longer side of, and the height of the zigzag structures of the pushing member, the angle by which the rotator rotates and the stroke the pushing member travels vertically during the replacement process can be adjusted as desired.

[0013] Preferably, the angle by which the rotator rotates during the replacement process is within a range between 30 and 60 degrees. The stroke the pushing member travels vertically downwardly is preferably within a range between 4 and 10mm.

[0014] Preferably, a spring, e.g., a coil spring is provided between the pushing member and the shell under tension, the spring abutting against an upper portion of the shell at one end thereof, and abutting against a bottom of the pushing member at the other end. With the spring, the pushing member can be returned back to its initial vertical position after the replacement process so as to be ready for the next replacement process.

[0015] According to a particular embodiment, the shell has a cylindrical body having a top surface from which several elastic tabs extend downwardly, preferably vertically. Correspondingly, the replacement bottle has a circumferential rib disposed on an outer circumference surface of the bottle neck so as to be snapped onto the tabs of the shell. With such an arrangement, a new filled bottle can be easily installed onto the container by simply pushing up the new bottle so that the new bottle is snapped onto the shell.

[0016] According to a particular embodiment, there are provided lugs on an outer circumference surface of the upper portion of the shell, and the rotator is provided with a corresponding circumferential rib on an inner circumference surface at a lower portion thereof, the rotator being connected to the shell via e.g., a snap connection between the rib of the rotator and the lugs of the shell. Preferably, the lugs are evenly distributed in a circumferential direction.

[0017] According to a particular embodiment, the rotator includes a first section, a second section and a third section, the three sections meeting at each other via step transitions. The first section includes a first segment terminated at the step transition between the first and second sections, and a second segment, which second segment extends downwardly from the first segment beyond the second section into the replacement bottle. The first segment is cylindrical and has threads disposed on an outer circumferential surface thereof, and the second segment is tapered downwardly. The third section is engaged with the shell via the snap connection between the rib of the rotator and the lugs of the shell. According to an embodiment, the refillable container further includes a pump for dispensing the contents contained in the replacement bottle, the pump being threadedly engaged with the first section of the rotator at a lower portion thereof. The pump has a nozzle, which is in fluid communication with the opening of the rotator via an internal conduit of the pump. Preferably, the pump is engaged with the rotator such that the internal conduit is arranged to be in flush with the lower end of the first section of the rotator at a lower end thereof.

[0018] According to an embodiment, the refillable container further includes a cap for protecting the pump from the surroundings. According to a particular embodiment, there are provided lugs on an outer circumference surface of the second section of the rotator, the cap being connected to the rotator via e.g., a snap connection between the cap and the lugs of the rotator. Preferably, the lugs are evenly distributed in a circumferential direction.

[0019] According to a particular embodiment, the pushing member has a bottom surface from which several tabs extend downwardly, preferably vertically, the tabs being configured to press the replacement bottle downwardly as the pushing member moves downwardly so as to be disengaged from the shell. Preferably, the tabs are evenly distributed in a circumferential direction. Correspondingly, the shell is provided with a corresponding number of guiding slots on a top surface thereof so that the tabs can be guided through the respective guiding slots, thereby limiting the movement of the pushing member to be vertical.

[0020] According to an embodiment, when assembled together, the replacement bottle constitutes a sealed space with the pump and rotator. According to an embodiment, the shell may be transparent except the tabs, so that the user can see the replacement bottle accommodated in the shell but cannot observe the residues, if any, that are contaminated on the remainder, e.g., the pump and rotator of the container during the replacement process.

[0021] According to an embodiment, the replacement bottle includes a bottle body and an insert connected to the bottle body, e.g., via a snap connection between an inner circumferential surface of the rotator, e.g., of the first section, and one or more ribs disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the insert. According to a particular embodiment, the insert defines the opening of the bottle which is in fluid communication with the opening of the rotator, and the tabs of the pushing member abut against the insert so as press the replacement bottle downwardly as the pushing member moves downwardly. The opening of the replacement bottle is initially sealed e.g., by a membrane, and penetrated by the rotator, e.g., the tapered second segment of first section of the rotator when the bottle is assembled.

[0022] According to a particular embodiment, the bottle body has a double-walled structure, which includes a rigid outer wall and a collapsible inner wall, the outer wall having a cylindrical shape substantially conforming to the shell, the inner wall being gradually collapsed as the contents are suctioned out of the replacement bottle. In this way, the contents can go up with the pumping of the pump.

[0023] According to another embodiment, the first section of the rotator does not include a segment extending downwardly beyond the second section into the replacement bottle. In this case, the pump is engaged with the replacement bottle instead of the first section of the collar at a lower portion thereof, wherein the pump has a nozzle, which is in fluid communication with the opening of the replacement bottle via an internal conduit of the pump. Also the internal conduit is arranged to be in flush with the opening of the replacement bottle instead of the lower end of the first section of the rotator at a lower end thereof. Moreover, when assembled together, the replacement bottle constitutes a sealed space with the pump instead of the pump and the collar.

[0024] According to an alternative embodiment, the pump may also has a riser pipe extending from the internal conduit into the replacement bottle so as to be dipped into the contents contained in the replacement bottle. In this case, the membrane of the replacement bottle is penetrated by the riser pipe when assembled. The riser pipe may be sharpened at a lower end thereof so as to facilitate penetration. Moreover, the bottle body does not necessarily have a double-walled structure as discussed above.

[0025] According to the invention, the replacement process can be done in a simple and fast manner by simply rotating the rotator by certain degrees to remove the spent bottle and then installing a new filled bottle through a single pushing up action.

[0026] Also, the refillable container according to the invention is more environment-friendly, because the plastic bottle can be made thinner in its wall so that it only accounts for a small proportion, e.g., 10% of the entire container.

[0027] Moreover, the replacement process is cleaner and more hygienic, because during the replacement process, the contact between the preparations contained in the bottle and the surroundings is reduced, and the user will not observe the residues, if any, that are contaminated on the remainder of the container during the replacement process.

[0028] Brief Description of Drawings

[0029] For better understanding, the invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the Figures showing in the Drawings in which:

[0030] Fig. 1A is a sectional view showing a refillable container according to an embodiment of the invention without a cap;

[0031] Fig. IB is a perspective view showing a refillable container according to an embodiment of the invention without a cap;

[0032] Fig. 2A is a sectional view showing a refillable container according to an embodiment of the invention with a cap;

[0033] Fig. 2B is a perspective view showing a refillable container according to an embodiment of the invention with a cap;

[0034] Fig. 3A is a sectional view showing a rotator in detail;

[0035] Fig. 3B is a perspective view showing a rotator in detail;

[0036] Fig. 4 A is a perspective view showing a pushing member in detail;

[0037] Fig. 4B is a front view showing a pushing member in detail;

[0038] Fig. 4C is a bottom view showing a pushing member in detail;

[0039] Fig. 4D is a sectional view along the section A-A of Fig. 4C;

[0040] Fig. 5A is a perspective view showing an insert in detail;

[0041] Fig. 5B is a sectional view showing an insert in detail;

[0042] Fig. 6 A is a sectional view showing a replacement bottle body in detail;

[0043] Fig. 6B is a perspective view showing a replacement bottle body in detail;

[0044] Fig. 7A is a sectional view showing a shell in detail;

[0045] Fig. 7B is a perspective view showing a shell in detail;

[0046] Fig. 8 is a section view showing a refillable container according to another embodiment of the invention without a cap; Fig. 9A is a sectional view showing the rotator shown in Fig. 8 in detail;

[0047] Fig. 9B is a perspective view showing the rotator shown in Fig. 8 in detail;

[0048] Fig. 10A is a bottom view showing the pushing member shown in Fig. 8 in detail;

[0049] Fig. 10B is a sectional view along the section A-A of Fig. 10A;

[0050] Fig. 11A is a perspective view showing the insert shown in Fig. 8 in detail;

[0051] Fig. 1 IB is a sectional view showing the insert shown in Fig. 8 in detail.

[0052] Detailed Description

[0053] In the context of the invention, for the sake of conveniences, directional terms, such as “top”, “bottom” or the like are used with reference to the orientations depicted in the figures.

[0054] Figs. 1A and IB illustrate a refillable container according to an embodiment of the invention without a cap. Figs. 2A and 2B illustrate a refillable container according to an embodiment of the invention with a cap. Figs. 3A-7B illustrate the various components of the refillable container in detail.

[0055] As shown in Figs. 1A-2B, the refillable container 1 comprises a pump 10, a hollow rotator 20, a pushing member 30, a replacement bottle which consists of an insert 50 and a replacement bottle body 60, and a hollow shell 70 having an open bottom, a fluid passage (not indicated in the figures) extending through the above-mentioned components so as to form an opening in each component. The refillable container 1 also comprises a coil spring 40 located between the pushing member 30 and the shell 70 as well as a cap 80 connected to the rotator 20.

[0056] The pump 10 has a nozzle 11 and an internal conduit 12 in fluid communication with the nozzle 11. As shown the internal conduit 12 is arranged to be substantially in flush with a lower end of the rotator 20 at a lower end thereof where the opening, i.e., the suction port of the pump 10 is formed.

[0057] The coil spring 40 is positioned under tension, the spring abutting against an upper portion of the shell 70 at one end thereof, and abutting against a bottom of the pushing member 30 at the other end.

[0058] As shown in Figs. 3A-3B, the rotator 20 consists of a first section 21, a second section 22 and a third section 23, the three sections meeting at each other via step transitions. The first section 21 includes a first segment 21a terminated at the step transition between the first 21 and second 22 sections, and a second segment 21b, which second segment 21b extends downwardly beyond the second section 22 into the replacement bottle. The first segment 21a is cylindrical and has threads disposed on an outer circumferential surface thereof so as to be threadedly engaged with the pump 10, and the second segment 21b is tapered downwardly. The lower end of the internal conduit 12 of the pump 10 is arranged to be in flush with the lower end of the second segment 21b of the first section 21 of the rotator 20.

[0059] The rotator 20 is a substantially cylindrical body on which there are provided several sliders 24, the sliders projecting inwardly from an inner circumferential surface of the body at the second section 22. The sliders 24 are slidable against respective guiding grooves of the pushing member 30, which will be discussed below. The sliders 24 are also zigzag structures so io as to match with the guiding grooves.

[0060] There are also provided lugs 25 on an outer circumference surface of the second section 22 of the rotator 20. Thus the cap 80 can be connected to the rotator 20 via a snap connection between the cap 80 and the lugs 25 of the rotator 20. The lugs 25 are evenly distributed in a circumferential direction.

[0061] The rotator 20 is further provided with a circumferential rib 26 on an inner circumference surface at a lower portion of the third section 23, so that the rotator is connected to the shell via a snap connection between the rib 26 of the rotator 20 and lugs of the shell 70, which will be discussed below.

[0062] As shown in Figs. 4A-4D, the pushing member 30 is also a substantially cylindrical body on which there are provided a plurality of zigzag structures, the structures projecting outwardly from an outer circumferential surface of the body in a thickness direction and extending parallel to the longitudinal direction in a height direction so as to define a plurality of triangular guiding grooves 31 (12 grooves in this case). The grooves 31 each extend over an angle of 30 degrees in a circumferential direction and have a longer side 31a and a shorter side 31b, the longer side extending upwardly from the lowest point to the highest point of a groove 31 in an inclined manner, and the shorter side extending downwardly from the highest point to the lowest point of an adjacent groove 31.

[0063] Thus, the sliders 24 of the rotator 20 can slide along the longer sides 31a of the respective guiding grooves 31 of the pushing member 30 as the pushing member moves downwardly, and can slide back along the longer side or slide along the shorter side of the respective guiding grooves 31 of the pushing member 30 as the pushing member moves upwardly.

[0064] In this case, the guiding grooves 31 are identical to each other, continuous with each other and evenly distributed in a circumferential direction. However it is not necessarily the case.

[0065] The pushing member 30 also has a bottom surface from which several tabs 32, which are in the form of flat plates, extend downwardly vertically, the tabs 32 abutting against the insert 50 of the replacement bottle (see Fig. 1A). In this case, there are provided three tabs 32, which are evenly distributed in a circumferential direction at an interval of 120 degrees.

[0066] The replacement bottle consists of an insert 50 and a replacement bottle body 60, which will be replaced as a unitary piece.

[0067] As shown in Figs. 5A-5B, the insert 50 is provided with ribs 51 disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the insert 50 so as to be snapped onto the replacement bottle body 60 via a snap connection between an inner circumferential surface of the first section 21 of the rotator 20 and the ribs 51 (see Fig.lA). The insert 50 also defines an opening 52, i.e., the opening of the replacement bottle, which is in fluid communication with the fluid passage. The opening 52 is initially sealed by a membrane, and penetrated by the tapered second segment 21b of first section 20 of the rotator 20 when the replacement bottle is installed.

[0068] The insert 50 is also provided with a stop wall 53, which extends from the opening 52 and tapers downwardly. With the stop wall 53, the tapered second segment 21b of the rotator 20 can be prevented from further penetrating into the replacement bottle. In this case, the stop wall 53 is continuous in a circumferential direction. However it is not necessarily the case.

[0069] As shown in Figs. 6A-6B, the replacement bottle body 60 has a circumferential rib 61 disposed on an outer circumference surface of the bottle neck so as to be snapped onto tabs 71 of the shell 70, which will be discussed below. In this embodiment, the bottle body 60 has a double-walled structure, which includes a rigid outer wall 62 and a collapsible inner wall 63 so as to allow the contents contained in the replacement bottle to be suctioned out of the replacement bottle by the pump 10, the outer wall having a cylindrical shape substantially conforming to the shell 70, the inner wall being gradually collapsed as the contents are suctioned out of the replacement bottle by the pump 10.

[0070] As shown in Figs. 7A-7B, the shell 70 is also a substantially cylindrical body having a top surface from which several elastic tabs 71, which are in the form of flat plates, extend downwardly vertically to be engaged with the rib of the replacement bottle body 60. With such an arrangement, a new filled bottle can be easily installed onto the container by simply pushing up the new bottle so that the new bottle is snapped onto the shell 70.

[0071] The shell 70 is also provided with lugs 72 on an outer circumference surface of an upper portion of the shell 70. The lugs are evenly distributed in a circumferential direction. Thus the shell 70 is also engaged with the third section 23 of the rotator 20 via a snap connection between the rib 26 of the rotator 20 and the lugs 72 of the shell 70.

[0072] The shell 70 is further provided with three guiding slots 73 in a top surface thereof so that the tabs 32 of the pushing member 30 can be guided through the respective guiding slots 73 during the movement of the pushing member 30, thereby limiting the movement of the pushing member to be vertical. The slots 73 are also evenly distributed in a circumferential direction at an interval of 120 degrees so as to guide the respective tabs 32.

[0073] When assembled together, the replacement bottle constitutes a sealed space with the pump 10 and rotator 20 so that the contents contained in the replacement bottle body 60 can be pumped out by the pump 10 via the fluid passage. In particular, the rotator 20 is connected to the insert 50 and also to the pump 10 in a sealing manner at the lower end thereof.

[0074] Fig 8 illustrates a refillable container 100 according to another embodiment of the invention without a cap. Figs. 9A-11B illustrate some components of the refillable container 100 in detail.

[0075] As shown in Fig. 8, the refillable container 100 comprises a pump 110, a hollow rotator 120, a pushing member 130, a replacement bottle which consists of an insert 150 and a replacement bottle body 160, and a hollow shell 170 having an open bottom, a fluid passage (not indicated in the figures) extending through the above-mentioned components so as to form an opening in each component. The refillable container 100 also comprises a coil spring 140 located between the pushing member 130 and the shell 170.

[0076] The refillable container 100 is generally the same as the refillable container 1 except that the rotator 120, the pushing member 130 and the insert 150 of the refillable container 100 are different from the rotator 20, the pushing member 30 and the insert 50 of the refillable container 10. Like the pump 10, the pump 110 has a nozzle (not indicated) and an internal conduit 112 in fluid communication with the nozzle 11. As shown in Fig. 8, the internal conduit 112 is arranged to be substantially in flush with the opening of the replacement bottle at a lower end thereof where the opening, i.e., the suction port of the pump 110 is formed.

[0077] As shown in Figs. 9A-9B, the rotator 120 also consists of a first section 121, a second section 122 and a third section 123, the three sections meeting at each other via step transitions. However, the first section 121 is terminated at the step transition between the first 121 and second 122 sections, and does not include a segment extending downwardly beyond the second section 122 into the replacement bottle.

[0078] The rotator 120 is also provided with several sliders 124, the sliders projecting inwardly from an inner circumferential surface of the body at the second section 122. The sliders 124 are slidable against respective guiding grooves of the pushing member 130. The sliders 124 are also zigzag structures so as to match with the guiding grooves of the pushing member 130.

[0079] The rotator 120 is also provided with lugs 125 on an outer circumference surface of the second section 122 of the rotator 120 so that a cap can be connected to the rotator 120.

[0080] The rotator 120 is further provided with a circumferential rib 126 on an inner circumference surface at a lower portion of the third section 23, so that the rotator 120 is connected to the shell 170 via a snap connection between the rib 126 of the rotator 120 and lugs 172 of the shell 70 as shown in Fig. 8. As shown in Figs. 10A-10B, like the pushing member 30, the pushing member 130 is a substantially cylindrical body on which there are provided a plurality of zigzag structures, which define a plurality of triangular guiding grooves. Also the pushing member 130 has a bottom surface from which several tabs 132 in the form of flat plates extend downwardly vertically, the tabs 132 abutting against the insert 150 of the replacement bottle (see Fig. 8).

[0081] The pushing member 130 is substantially the same as the pushing member 30 except that due to the absence of the second segment of pushing member 30, the tabs 132 of the pushing member 130 are arranged farther away from the opening of the pushing member 130 as compared to the tabs 32 of the pushing member 30, because the opening of the pushing member 130 is made smaller than the opening of the pushing member 30 in order to create a tight connection between the pump 110 and the pushing member 130.

[0082] As shown in Figs. 11A-11B, like the insert 50, the insert 150 is provided with ribs 151 disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the insert 150. The insert 150 also defines an opening 152, i.e., the opening of the replacement bottle, which is in fluid communication with the fluid passage. The opening 152 is initially sealed by a membrane, and penetrated by the lower end of the internal conduit 112 of the pump 110, which may be sharpened so as to facilitate penetration, when the replacement bottle is installed.

[0083] The insert 150 is also provided with a stop wall 153, which extends from the opening 152 and tapers downwardly. With the stop wall 153, the lower end of the internal conduit 112 of the pump 110 can be prevented from further penetrating into the replacement bottle. As compared to the insert 50, the insert 150 is tapered upwardly at an upper portion thereof.

[0084] When assembled together, the replacement bottle constitutes a sealed space with the pump 110 so that the contents contained in the replacement bottle body 160 can be pumped out by the pump 110 via the fluid passage. In particular, the pump 110 is connected to the insert 150 in a sealing manner at the lower end thereof.

[0085] It is also conceivable that the pump may have a riser pipe extending from the internal conduit into the replacement bottle so as to be dipped into the contents contained in the replacement bottle. With the riser pipe, the contents can be suctioned out of the replacement bottle by the pump.

[0086] In general the shell has the replacement bottle engaged therein and connects to the rotator at an upper portion thereof. The rotator is rotatable relative to the pushing member in a rotation direction about a longitudinal axis of the container. The pushing member is configured to be movable vertically relative to the rotator in a reciprocating manner. For example the pushing member is configured to cooperate with the rotator such that the rotation of the rotator is transferred into a vertical movement of the pushing member. The pushing member is further configured to cooperate with the replacement bottle such that the replacement bottle is disengaged from the shell due to the vertical movement of the pushing member.

[0087] The replacement process is carried out as follows. When the replacement bottle is spent, the user can grip the rotator to rotate it by a certain angle, e.g., 30-60 degrees depending on the degrees over which the longer side of each guiding groove extend in the circumferential direction. As the rotator rotates, its sliders will each slide against the longer side of a respective guiding groove, i.e., the lowest point of the respective guiding groove, which in turn presses the pushing member vertically downwardly from the initial vertical position of the pushing member under the guidance of the guiding slots of the shell. The replacement bottle will also be pressed downwardly as the tabs of the pushing member abut against the insert. As a result, the replacement bottle will be disengaged from the shell and pushed out from the container so that a new filled replacement bottle can be installed. Then the pushing member will be returned to its initial vertical position due to the rebound force of the spring. The return movement of the pushing member can be guided by the sliding movement of the sliders of the rotator along the respective guiding grooves of the pushing member. In particular, during the return movement, each slider can slide along the longer side of the same guiding groove as the one during the downward movement or along the short side of an adjacent guiding groove if the slider slides across the highest point of the respective guiding groove and into the adjacent guiding groove during the rotation of the rotator. Here the replacement process is finished, and the container is ready for the next replacement process.

[0088] The embodiment of the invention as discussed above exemplifies a refillable container for dispensing e.g., cosmetic preparations. However it will be understood that the invention can also be applied to a refillable container for dispensing other fluids.

[0089] The invention has been described above by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings which represent a single embodiment of the invention. It will be understood that many different embodiments of the invention exist, and that all of these embodiments fall within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. List of Reference Signs

[0090] I refillable container

[0091] 10 pump

[0092] I I nozzle

[0093] 12 internal conduit

[0094] 20 rotator

[0095] 21 first section

[0096] 21a first segment

[0097] 21b second segment

[0098] 22 second section

[0099] 23 third section

[0100] 24 lug

[0101] 25 slider

[0102] 26 rib

[0103] 30 pushing member

[0104] 31 guiding groove

[0105] 31a longer side

[0106] 31b shorter side

[0107] 32 tab

[0108] 40 coil spring

[0109] 50 insert

[0110] 51 rib

[0111] 52 opening

[0112] 53 stop wall

[0113] 60 replaceable bottle body

[0114] 61 rib

[0115] 62 outer wall

[0116] 63 inner wall

[0117] 70 shell tab lug slot cap refillable container pump internal conduit rotator first section second section third section lug slider rib pushing member tab coil spring insert rib opening stop wall replaceable bottle body shell lug

Claims

Claims1. A refillable container comprising a hollow rotator, a pushing member, a replacement bottle and a hollow shell having an open bottom, an fluid passage extending through the components so as to form an opening in each component, wherein the shell has the replacement bottle engaged therein and connects to the rotator at an upper portion thereof, characterized in that the rotator is rotatable relative to the pushing member in a rotation direction about a longitudinal axis of the container, in that the pushing member is configured to be movable vertically relative to the rotator in a reciprocating manner, and in that the pushing member is further configured to cooperate with the replacement bottle such that the replacement bottle is disengaged from the shell due to the vertical movement of the pushing member.

2. The refillable container according to claim 1, characterized in that the pushing member is configured to cooperate with the rotator such that the rotation of the rotator is transferred into the vertical movement of the pushing member.

3. The refillable container according to claim 2, characterized in that the pushing member has a cylindrical body on which there are provided a plurality of zigzag structures, the structures projecting outwardly from an outer circumferential surface of the body in a thickness direction and extending parallel to the longitudinal direction in a height direction so as to define guiding grooves, wherein each groove extends over an angle of certain degrees in a circumferential direction and have a first side and a second side, the first side extending upwardly from the lowest point to the highest point of the groove in an inclined manner, and the second side extending downwardly from the highest point to the lowest point of anadjacent groove.

4. The refillable container according to claim 3, characterized in that the structures / grooves are identical to each other, and / or continuous with each other, and / or evenly distributed in a circumferential direction.

5. The refillable container according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the rotator has a cylindrical body on which there are provided several sliders, the sliders projecting inwardly from an inner circumferential surface of the body and being slidable against one of the first side or the second side of the respective grooves of the pushing member as the pushing member moves downwardly, and against the other side of the respective grooves of the pushing member as the pushing member moves upwardly.

6. The refillable container according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that during the replacement process, the angle by which the rotator rotates is within a range between 30 and 60 degrees, and the stroke the pushing member travels vertically downwardly is within a range between 4 and 10mm.

7. The refillable container according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that a spring is provided between the pushing member and the shell under tension, the spring abutting against an upper portion of the shell at one end thereof, and abutting against a bottom of the pushing member at the other end.

8. The refillable container according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that the shell has a cylindrical body having a top surface from which several elastic tabs extend downwardly, and the replacementbottle has a circumferential rib disposed on an outer circumference surface of the bottle neck so as to be snapped onto the tabs of the shell.

9. The refillable container according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that the rotator includes a first section, a second section and a third section, the three sections meeting at each other via step transitions.

10. The refillable container according to claim 9, characterized in that the first section includes a first segment terminated at the step transition between the first and second sections, and a second segment, which extends downwardly from the first segment beyond the second section into the replacement bottle.

11. The refillable container according to claim 10, characterized in that the refillable container further includes a pump for dispensing the contents contained in the replacement bottle, the pump being engaged with the first section of the rotator at a lower portion thereof, wherein the pump has a nozzle, which is in fluid communication with the opening of the rotator via an internal conduit of the pump.

12. The refillable container according to claim 11, characterized in that the internal conduit is arranged to be in flush with the lower end of the first section of the rotator at a lower end thereof.

13. The refillable container according to claim 9, characterized in that the refillable container further includes a pump for dispensing the contents contained in the replacement bottle, the pump being engaged with the replacement bottle at a lower portion thereof, wherein the pump has a nozzle, which is in fluid communication with the opening of thereplacement bottle via an internal conduit of the pump.

14. The refillable container according to claim 13, characterized in that the internal conduit is arranged to be in flush with the opening of the replacement bottle at a lower end thereof.

15. The refillable container according to claim 11, 12, 13 or 14, characterized in that the refillable container further includes a cap for protecting the pump from the surroundings, the cap being connected to the rotator.

16. The refillable container according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that the pushing member has a bottom surface from which several tabs extend downwardly, the tabs being configured to press the replacement bottle downwardly as the pushing member moves downwardly so as to be disengaged from the shell.

17. The refillable container according to claim 16, characterized in that the shell is provided with a corresponding number of guiding slots in a top surface thereof so that the tabs can be guided through the respective guiding slots.

18. The refillable container according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that when assembled together, the replacement bottle constitutes a sealed space with the pump and rotator.

19. The refillable container according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that when assembled together, the replacement bottle constitutes a sealed space with the pump.

20. The refillable container according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that the replacement bottle includes a bottle body and an insert connected to the bottle body.

21. The refillable container according to claim 20, characterized in that the bottle body has a double-walled structure, which includes a rigid outer wall and a collapsible inner wall, the outer wall having a cylindrical shape substantially conforming to the shell, the inner wall being gradually collapsed as the contents are suctioned out of the replacement bottle.

22. The refillable container according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that the opening of the replacement bottle is initially sealed by a membrane and penetrated by the rotator when the replacement bottle is assembled.

23. The refillable container according to claim 11, 12, 13 or 14, characterized in that the pump also has a riser pipe extending from the internal conduit into the replacement bottle so as to be dipped into the contents contained in the replacement bottle.

24. The refillable container according to claim 23, characterized in that the opening of the replacement bottle is initially sealed by a membrane and penetrated by the riser pipe when the replacement bottle is assembled.

Images