REFILLABLE PUMP DISPENSER

Abstract

A refillable pump dispenser comprising an outer container with an inlet at its top; an inner container inserted within the outer container to hold a cosmetic product; a push plate inserted into the lower inner side of the inner container to push the cosmetic product upwards; and a dispensing head assembly removably coupled to the upper sides of both the outer and inner containers so that the outer container and dispensing head assembly can be reused, while the inner container can be replaced or refilled when the cosmetic product inside is completely depleted. Figure for publication: Fig. 2

Description

Description Title of the invention: RE- PUMP DISPENSER CHARGEABLE FIELD OF INVENTION This disclosure relates to a refillable pump dispenser, specifically for a liquid cosmetic product. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREVIOUS TECHNIQUE Refillable dispensers provide a solution to our environmental problem of waste disposal. Containers that would normally be thrown away, or at best partially recycled, can be reused multiple times thanks to a refillable system. This represents the most practical way for consumers to help reduce landfill waste. Furthermore, recycling costs are lower compared to collecting, storing, and disposing of plastic containers. Pump dispensers are practical packaging solutions for dispensing viscous fluids. Consumer products, such as toothpaste, have been sold to some extent in pumps for several years. These types of containers are, however, quite expensive. Typical of the technology are those described in US Patent No. 3,268,123 (Spatz) and US Patent No. 4,511,068 (Bossina), which rely on a unidirectional, spring-like diaphragm. Environmental regulations are being considered regarding a reduction of packaging at the source. Not only must the quantity of packaging be reduced, but the type must also be simplified for recycling purposes. Existing pump dispensers still present an environmental problem that requires improvement. Simple pump dispensers are currently not refillable. Not only the upper material containment body but also the lower piston body must be discarded when the dispensed material is exhausted. A popular approach to the concept of refilling has consisted of sets in which the product to be dispensed is contained in a flexible pouch, for example, as described in US Patent No. 5,139,168 (Gueret). There is a need for a simple pump dispenser, in which more of the pump dispenser components could be reused, thereby reducing the amount of packaging to be discarded. Summary of the invention Accordingly, it is a purpose of this disclosure to provide a simple displacement pump capable, at least in part, of being reusable. Accordingly, one purpose of this disclosure is to provide a simple pump dispenser requiring the replacement of only one component, while the rest of the pump dispenser components could be reused, thereby reducing the amount of packaging to be discarded. Yet another purpose of this disclosure is to provide a refillable pump dispenser capable of receiving a refill container that can be quickly and easily loaded into the dispenser without mixing, spillage, overflow or mess. Yet another purpose of this disclosure is to provide a suitable refill container for a refillable pump dispenser having a mechanism enabling a consumer to easily attach / remove the refill container. According to one embodiment of this disclosure, a refillable pump dispenser for a fluid cosmetic product includes an outer container having an inlet at the level of a top portion thereof, an inner container inserted into the outer container to receive a cosmetic product in the inner container; a push plate inserted into an inner lower side of the inner container to push the cosmetic product upwards; and a dispensing head assembly coupled to the upper sides of both the outer container and the inner container. Both the outer container and the inner container are removably connected to the dispensing head assembly, so the outer container and dispensing head assembly can be reused while the inner container can be replaced or refilled when the cosmetic product housed inside the inner container is completely exhausted. According to one embodiment of this disclosure, the dispensing head assembly includes a cap, a pump assembly, a pressure element and an annular sleeve. According to one embodiment of this disclosure, the annular sleeve and the pressure element are inserted inside the cap. Furthermore, the cap comprises a cylindrical body having open upper and lower ends, and the cylindrical body being provided on one side thereof with an outlet indicator hole. According to one embodiment of this disclosure, the pressure element is coupled to an upper portion of the pump assembly and provided on one side thereof with an outlet through which the pumped cosmetic product is discharged. The pressure element is oriented such that its outlet protrudes outside the revealing hole where the cap is removed. According to one embodiment of this disclosure, the cap is removably coupled to the upper portion of the outer container. More specifically, the outer container is cylindrical in shape and has the inlet located at its upper portion. At least one groove is formed on an outer periphery of the inlet, which is coupled to at least one projection formed on an inner surface of a lower end portion of the cylindrical body of the cap. In this embodiment, the at least one groove in the outer container is L-shaped or J-shaped, into which the at least one projection of the cap is engaged, thus connecting the cap and the lower container by means of a J-shaped latch that is easily connected and disconnected.In other embodiments, any other means of engagement capable of removably coupling the cap and the outer container can be used, for example, for snap-fitting, threaded engagement, magnetic engagement, etc. According to one embodiment of this disclosure, the annular sleeve of the distribution head assembly is fixedly coupled to the cap and includes at least one coupling projection on an outer surface of the cap that couples with a corresponding coupling groove formed on the inner surface of the cap. In another alternative embodiment, the annular sleeve may include at least one coupling groove on an outer surface of the sleeve that couples with a corresponding coupling projection formed on the inner surface of the cap. According to one embodiment of this disclosure, the annular sleeve of the dispensing head assembly is removably connected to the inner container. The annular sleeve of the dispensing head assembly and the inner container can, for example, be engaged with each other via threads that can be mutually engaged, a removable connection, so that the inner container could be replaced when the cosmetic product is depleted. Thus, the inner container is replaceable. In this embodiment, the annular sleeve includes a central bore, and an inner surface of the central bore includes threads that engage with corresponding threads formed on an outer surface in a neck of the inner container.In other embodiments, any other means of engagement capable of removably coupling the annular sleeve and the inner container may be used, for example a snap-fit, a J-lock, a magnetic engagement, etc. According to one embodiment of this disclosure, the annular sleeve is Also designed to securely fix or retain the pump assembly on the neck of the inner container. The pump assembly is installed through the central bore of the annular sleeve. According to one embodiment of this disclosure, the pump assembly comprises a cup-shaped body, a hollow elongated rod, a spring, an annular fluid-tight piston, a retaining element, and a check valve. The check valve is a one-way valve. The pump assembly is designed to be fixed to the mouth of the inner container holding the cosmetic product. The pump assembly comprises a cup-shaped body defining a chamber for suction / compression of the cosmetic product to be dispensed, and into which the hollow stem extends at least partially. The chamber is delimited by a cup-shaped body wall; a one-way valve, designed to close a hole for an entry of the cosmetic product to be dispensed into said chamber from the inner container; the annular piston; and an enlarged end portion of the rod. The cup-shaped body includes an external flange which is received in an internal groove present in the central bore of the annular sleeve to fixedly receive the pump assembly in the central bore of the annular sleeve. The annular piston can slide in a fluid-tight manner on an inner surface of the chamber and on a lower end of the hollow rod. The spring has an upper end which presses against a collar protruding from the rod, which is made in one piece with the rod at the level of an upper end part of said rod. The retaining element holds one lower end of said spring. The retaining element has a cylindrical body having an outer part which is fixed to the cup-shaped body at an inner stepped portion of the cup-shaped body. According to one embodiment of this disclosure, the piston is movable between a first position and at least a second position, where in the first position the pressure element is in an unpressed state, and where in the second position the pressure element is in a pressed state. In the first position, when the pressure element is not pressed, the annular piston, under the action of the spring's thrust, seals in a fluid-tight manner at least one hole that passes through the thickness of the rod near its first end and opens into a cavity in the rod. More specifically, the piston presses in a fluid-tight manner against an enlarged end portion of the rod, closes the rod cavity, and blocks the connection between the chamber and the cavity. the stem itself. In the second position, when the pressure element is pressed, the spring is compressed, and the rod is raised away from said at least one hole in the rod and said enlarged end portion, allowing the cosmetic product present in the chamber to be distributed by passing through said hole and said cavity made in the rod. Preferably, the rod comprises at least one first hollow tubular element and a second hollow tubular element, which are partially inserted into one another and have features, for example, a corresponding groove and projection designed to secure them together. The first tubular element extends at least partially over the outside of the cup-shaped body and has the collar to retain the first end of the spring. The second tubular element has the inlet hole for the rod cavity and also includes the enlarged end portion for piston support. In addition, the pump assembly includes a ring disposed at least partially within the upper portion of the cup-shaped body. The ring has at least one projection on its upper surface that snaps into place with a corresponding internal groove formed in the upper portion of the cup-shaped body. The ring has an inwardly projecting rim to retain the rod collar, which is designed to prevent the rod from being pulled out of the cup-shaped body by the force of the spring. The first hollow tubular element of the rod has, at its upper mouth, an annular groove for snap-fit ​​coupling with the pressure element. The spring, piston and retaining element have a through hole, so they can be mounted on the rod. Furthermore, the inner container may not be made in one piece, and may include a tubular body whose lower end is closed by a separate lower plate. To assemble the refillable dispenser pump, the push plate is inserted into the inner container, the cosmetic material is housed there, then the inner container is coupled to the annular sleeve of the dispensing head assembly by corresponding threaded means, the outer container is then coupled to the lower end part of the cap of the dispensing head assembly using J-locking means, so that the inner container is received in the outer container. To use the cosmetic product container assembled in the above manner, the outer container is held in one hand, the pressure element is pressed so that it moves downwards to operate the pump assembly, and thus the cosmetic product is discharged to the outlet for use. It is advantageous that the components of the refillable pump distributor can be produced from plastic using injection molding, and that the safety features or stroke adjustments provided for in principle do not require any additional components but can be configured at the level of the existing basic components. This results in a configuration that is also advantageous for the mass production of refillable pump distributors. Simultaneously, simple assembly of the components forming the refillable pump distributor is provided. The above-mentioned purposes, features, and benefits of this disclosure, as well as others, will become apparent from the following description of preferred modes of implementation when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Brief description of the drawings In order for the above-mentioned features of this disclosure to be understood in detail, a more particular description of the disclosure, briefly summarized above, may be added with reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the attached drawings. Figure [Fig. 1] is a perspective view of a refillable pump dispenser according to this disclosure; [Fig. 2] is a cross-sectional view of the refillable pump dispenser from [Fig. 1]; [Fig. 3] is an exploded view of the refillable pump dispenser from [Fig. 1]; [Fig. 4] is another exploded view of the rechargeable pump distributor of [Fig. 1], where one distribution head assembly of the rechargeable pump distributor is not in an exploded state; Figure 5 is a front cross-sectional view of the refillable pump distributor from Figure 4; and [Fig. 6] is a cross-sectional view of the refillable pump dispenser from [Fig. 1], with one of its outer containers removed. To facilitate understanding, identical numerical references have been used, where possible, to indicate identical elements common to the figures. It should be noted, however, that the accompanying drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this disclosure and are therefore not considered to limit its scope; the disclosure may admit other equally effective embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Throughout this description, the terms "include," "comprises," "comprising," and similar terms consistently mean that a collection of objects is not limited to those specifically indicated objects. According to this disclosure and as shown in Figures 1 to 3, the refillable pump dispenser 100 comprises an outer container 10 having an inlet 11 at its upper part, an inner container 20 inserted into the outer container 10 to receive a cosmetic product into the inner container 20; a push plate 30 inserted into an inner lower side of the inner container 20 to push the cosmetic product upwards; and a dispensing head assembly 40 coupled to the upper sides of both the outer container 10 and the inner container 20. Both the outer container 10 and the inner container 20 are removably connected to the dispensing head assembly 40, so that the outer container 10 and the dispensing head assembly 40 can be reused while the inner container 20 can be replaced or refilled when the cosmetic product housed inside the inner container 20 is completely exhausted. As shown in Figures 2 to 5, the distribution head assembly 40 includes a cap 50, a pump assembly 70, a pressure element 80 and an annular sleeve 60. The annular sleeve 60 and the pressure element 80 are inserted inside the cap 50. In addition, the cap 50 comprises a cylindrical body 51 having open upper and lower ends, and the cylindrical body 51 having on one side thereof an outlet revealing hole 52. The pressure element 80 is coupled to an upper part of the pump assembly 70, and provided on one side of the latter with an outlet 81 through which the pumped cosmetic product is discharged. The pressure element 80 is oriented such that its outlet 81 protrudes outside the outlet revealing hole 52 of the cap 50, as seen in [Fig. 1]. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the cap 50 is removably coupled to the upper part of the outer container 10. More specifically, the outer container 10 is cylindrical and has an inlet 11 on its upper part. At least one groove 12 is formed on an outer periphery of the inlet 11, and this groove is coupled to at least one projection 53 formed on an inner surface of a lower end portion of the cylindrical body 51 of the cap 50. In this embodiment, the groove 12 of the outer container 10 is L-shaped or J-shaped, where the projection 53 of the cap 50 is engaged, thus connecting the cap 50 and the lower container 10 by means of a J-shaped latch that is easily connected and disconnected.In other embodiments, any other means of engagement capable of removably coupling the cap 50 and the container. 10 external options can be used, for example, snap-fit ​​adjustment, threaded connection, magnetic connection, etc. The annular sleeve 60 of the distribution head assembly 40 is fixedly coupled to the cap 50 and includes at least one coupling projection 65 on an outer surface thereof which couples with a corresponding coupling groove 54 formed on the inner surface of the cap 50, as shown in [Fig. 2]. In an alternative embodiment, the annular sleeve 60 may include at least one coupling groove on an outer surface thereof which couples with a corresponding coupling projection formed on the inner surface of the cap 50. The annular sleeve 60 of the dispensing head assembly 40 is removably connected to the inner container 20. The annular sleeve 60 of the dispensing head assembly 40 and the inner container 20 can, for example, be engaged with each other via threads that can be mutually engaged, which is a removable engagement, so that the inner container 20 can be replaced when the cosmetic product is exhausted. Thus, the inner container 20 is replaceable. In the present embodiment, the annular sleeve 60 comprises a central bore 64, and an inner surface of the central bore 64 comprises threads 61 that engage with corresponding threads 23 formed on an outer surface of a neck 24 of the inner container 20, as shown in [Fig. 5].In other embodiments, any other means of engagement capable of removably coupling the annular sleeve 60 and the inner container 20 may be used, for example a snap-fit, a J-lock, a magnetic engagement, etc. In addition, the annular sleeve 60 is also designed to fix or retain the pump assembly 70 stably on the neck 24 of the inner container 20. The pump assembly 70 is installed through the central bore 64 of the annular sleeve 60. In addition, as shown in [fig.6], the pump assembly 70 comprises a cup-shaped body 3, a hollow elongated rod 5, a spring 7, an annular fluid-tight piston 6, a retaining element 14, and a check valve 9 which is a one-way valve. The pump assembly 70 is designed to be fixed to the mouth 1 of the inner container 20 containing the cosmetic product. The pump assembly 70 comprises the cup-shaped body 3 defining a chamber 4 for suction / compression of the cosmetic product to be dispensed, and into which the hollow rod 5 extends at least partially. Chamber 4 is delimited by a cup-shaped body wall 3; a valve unidirectional 9 designed to close a hole 10 for an entry of the cosmetic product to be dispensed into said chamber 4 from the inner container 20; the annular piston 6; and an enlarged end portion 5a of the rod 5. The cup-shaped body 3 includes an external flange 3c which is received in an internal groove 64a present in the central bore 64 of the annular sleeve 60 to receive the pump assembly 70 in a fixed manner in the central bore 64 of the annular sleeve 60. The annular piston 6 can slide in a fluid-tight manner on an inner surface of the chamber 4 and on a lower end of the hollow rod 5. The spring 7 has an upper end 7a which presses on a protruding collar 5b of the rod S, which is made in one piece with the rod 5 at the level of a part of the upper end of said rod 5. The retaining element 14 retains a lower end 7b of said spring 7. The retaining element 14 has a cylindrical body having an outer part which is fixed to the cup-shaped body 3 at the level of an inner stepped part of the cup-shaped body 3. The annular piston 6 is movable between a first position and at least a second position, where in the first position the pressure element is in an unpressed state, and where in the second position the pressure element 80 is in a pressed state. In the first position, as shown in [Fig. 6], the annular piston 6, under the action of the thrust of said spring 7, closes in a fluid-tight manner at least one hole 5c which passes through the thickness of the rod 5 near its first end Sa and opens into a cavity 5d of the rod 5. More specifically, said piston 6 presses in a fluid-tight manner on an enlarged end portion Sa of the rod 5 and closes said cavity 5d of the rod 5 and blocks the connection between said chamber 4 and the cavity 5d of the rod 5 itself. In the second position, not shown, when the spring 7 is compressed by pressing the pressure element 80, the piston 6 is raised away from said at least one hole 5c of the rod 5 and said enlarged end part 5a, allowing the cosmetic product present in the chamber 4 to be distributed by passing through said hole 5c and said cavity 5d made in the rod 5. Preferably, the rod 5 comprises at least a first hollow tubular element 12 and a second hollow tubular element 13, which are partially inserted into one another and have features, such as a corresponding groove and projection, designed to fix them together. The first tubular element 12 extends at least partially over the outside of the cup-shaped body 3 and has the collar 5b for retaining the first end 7a of the spring 7. The second tubular element 13 has the inlet hole 5c of the cavity 5d of the rod 5, and also includes the part enlarged end 5a for piston support 6. In addition, the pump assembly 70 includes a ring 17 disposed at least partially in an upper part of the cup-shaped body 3. The ring 17 has at least one projection on its upper surface which snaps into place with a corresponding internal groove formed at the level of the upper part of the cup-shaped body 3. The ring 17 has an inwardly projecting rim 17b to retain the collar 5b of the rod 5, which is designed to prevent the rod 5 from coming out of the cup-shaped body 3 under the action of the spring 7. The first hollow tubular element 12 of the rod 5 has, at its upper mouth, an annular groove 5h for snap-fit ​​coupling with the pressure element 80. The spring 7, the piston 6 and the retaining element 14 have a through hole, so that they can be mounted on the rod 5, see [fig.6]. Furthermore, the inner container 20 may not be made in one piece, and may include a tubular body whose lower end is closed by a separate lower plate 26, as shown in Figures 2 and 6. To assemble the refillable dispenser pump 100, the push plate 30 is inserted into the inner container 20, the cosmetic material is housed there, then the inner container 20 is coupled to the annular sleeve 60 of the dispensing head assembly 40 by corresponding threaded means, the outer container 10 is then coupled to the lower end part of the cap 50 of the dispensing head assembly 40 using J-locking means, so that the inner container 20 is received in the outer container 10. To use the cosmetic product container assembled in the above manner, the outer container 10 is held in one hand, the pressure element 80 is pressed so that it moves downwards to actuate the pump assembly 70, and thus the cosmetic product is discharged to the outlet 81 for use. It should be understood that the preceding description is merely illustrative of this disclosure. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Accordingly, this disclosure is intended to encompass all such alternatives, modifications, and variations that fall within the scope of the attached claims.

Claims

Demands

1. Refillable pump dispenser for dispensing a product Liquid cosmetic including: an external container; an inner container receiving the cosmetic product and configured for be inserted into the outer container; a thrust plate inserted into an inner lower side of the inner container to push the cosmetic product upwards; a distribution head assembly coupled to upper sides to the times of the outer container and the inner container; in which the outer container and the inner container are connected in a removable manner to the distribution head assembly: in which the inner container is replaceable; in which the distribution head assembly includes a cap, a pump assembly, a pressure element, and a sleeve ring; into which the annular sleeve and the pressure element are inserted in the cap; in which the annular sleeve is fixedly coupled to the hood; in which the annular sleeve includes a central bore and in of which an inner surface of the central bore comprises threads configured to be engaged with corresponding formed nets on an outer surface of a neck of the inner container; in which the outer container is removably coupled to the hood; in which the annular sleeve is designed to retain the entire assembly of pump in a stable manner on the neck of the inner container and in which The pump assembly is installed through the central bore of the sleeve ring; and in which the pressure element is coupled to an upper part of the pump assembly and in which the pressure element, at the level on one side of it, presents an outlet through which the product cosmetics are discharged.

2. Refillable pump dispenser according to claim |, in which the annular sleeve includes a projection on an outer surface of this one which couples with corresponding grooves formed on the inner surface of the cap.

3. Refillable pump dispenser according to claim |, in which the cap comprises a cylindrical body having ends su- upper and lower open and in which the cylindrical body is equipped on one side with a revealing exit hole; and in which the outlet of the pressure element protrudes outside the revealing hole where the cap is removed.

4. Refillable pump dispenser according to claim |, in which the outer container is equipped with an entrance at the level of a part above upper part of it, and in which at least one groove formed on a The outer perimeter of the entrance is coupled with at least one projection. equipped at the level of an inner surface with an end part in- lower part of a cylindrical body of the cap.

5. A refillable pump dispenser according to claim 4, wherein at least one groove in the outer container is made in the shape of LoudeJ.

6. Refillable pump dispenser according to claim |, in which the annular sleeve includes at least one coupling projection on an outer surface of it for coupling with a groove of A corresponding coupling formed on an inner surface of the cap.

7. A refillable pump dispenser according to claim 1, wherein The pump assembly is designed to be fixed onto a mouth of the inner container.

8. Refillable pump dispenser according to claim |, in which The pump assembly includes a cup-shaped body, a rod elongated hollow, a spring, a fluid-tight annular piston, a a retaining element, and a non-return valve.

9. A refillable pump dispenser according to claim 8, wherein The cup-shaped body includes a configured external flange to be received in an internal groove present in the bore central part of the annular sleeve, in order to receive in a fixed manner the pump assembly in the central bore of the annular sleeve.

10. A refillable pump dispenser according to claim 8, wherein The elongated hollow stem has, at its upper opening, a annular groove for snap-fit ​​coupling with the element of pressure.

11. | Refillable pump dispenser according to claim 8, in which the hollow, elongated stem extends at least partially into the body by cup-shaped, and in which the cup-shaped body delimits a chamber for suction / compression of the cosmetic product in front to be distributed.

12. Refillable pump dispenser according to claim 11, in in which the chamber is delimited by a body wall in the shape of cup; the non-return valve designed to close a hole for a entry of the cosmetic product to be distributed in said room from the inner container; the annular piston; and a part of the enlarged end of the elongated hollow stem.

13. Refillable pump dispenser according to claim 12, in in which the annular piston can slide in a manner that is airtight to fluids on an interior surface of the chamber and on an in- lower part of the elongated hollow stem.

14. A refillable pump dispenser according to claim 8, in which the spring has an upper end that presses against a collar making protrusion of the elongated hollow stem, which is made in one piece with the stem at the level of an upper end portion of said stem.

15. Refillable pump dispenser according to claim 14, in in which the retaining element retains a lower end of the spring.

16. Refillable pump dispenser according to claim 13, in in which the annular piston is mobile between a first position and a second position, in which, in the first position, the element of pressure is in an unpressed state, and in which in the second In this position, the pressure element is in a compressed state.

17. Refillable pump dispenser according to claim 16, in which, when the pressure element is not pressed, is the annular piston closed in a fluid-tight manner, under the action of the thrust of said spring, at least one hole which passes through a thickness of the rod elongated, hollow near its first end and opens into a stem cavity.

18. Refillable pump dispenser according to claim 17, in which the annular piston presses in a fluid-tight manner on the enlarged end part of the elongated hollow stem and the cavity of the stem and blocks a connection between the chamber and the cavity of the the stem itself.

19. Refillable pump dispenser according to claim 16, in which, when the pressure element is pressed, compresses the spring, and the annular piston is raised away from at least one hole in the rod elongated hollow and with an enlarged end section, allowing the cosmetic product present in the room to be distributed by passing to through the hole and the cavity of the hollow elongated rod.

20. A refillable pump dispenser according to claim 8, in which the stem comprises at least one first hollow tubular element and one second hollow tubular element partially inserted one inside the other, in which the first hollow tubular element extends at least by- tiellely on a cup-shaped exterior of the body and has a collar to hold one end of the spring.