Fragrance refill

Abstract

A refill insert (20, fig. 1A) for a fragrance bottle, the refill insert (20, fig. 1A) is attachable to a supply container and comprises an elongate spout (30, fig. 3C) which is receivable in a fragran

Description

25 03 25 The present invention relates generally to fragrance / perfume containers and particularly, although not exclusively, to the refilling of a fragrance bottle. 5 Fragrance bottles are typically formed from glass or polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and provided with an atomising spray pump. Often the fragrance bottle is single use and is discarded when the liquid fragrance is exhausted. io The present invention relates generally to a solution for allowing the refilling of a fragrance bottle so that it will no longer be single use. An aspect of the present invention provides a refill system for a fragrance bottle, the system comprising a container for holding a supply of fragrance, a refill 15 insert and a cap, the refill insert is attachable to the container and comprises an elongate spout, the spout is axially divided into a product flow conduit and an air flow conduit, in which, in use, when the liquid level in a fragrance bottle arrives in contact with the spout it blocks air flow and stops fragrance flow from the container, wherein the cap comprises a generally circular top plate from the 20 periphery of which depends a generally cylindrical sidewall, wherein the cylindrical sidewall comprises an interior screw thread formation, located at or near an open end of the sidewall, such that cap can be screwed and unscrewed with respect to the a neck of the container, wherein the cap further comprises an annular sealing wall which depends from the underside of the top plate such 25 that, when the refill is attached to the container and the cap is fully screwed onto the neck of the container, a free end of the spout is engaged by the sealing wall, in which the spout has a generally circular section, and the insert comprises an annular radial flange at the base of the spout, and an annular skirt which depends from the flange, the interior of the spout is divided into two 30 approximately semi-circular section lumens: the product flow conduit and the air vent conduit, the product flow conduit terminates at the base of the spout and the air vent conduit continues axially beyond the flange and the skirt with an extension portion, and the skirt is a push fit into the bore of the neck of the container. 25 03 25 The system may comprise a breather / vent pipe which is attached or attachable to the air flow conduit. 5 The insert flange may, for example, sit onto top of a container neck when the insert is fitted. The insert skirt is a push fit into the bore of a container (e.g. cylindrical or oval io shape bottle) neck. A cap may be provided for covering / sealing / protecting the spout. The container may, for example be formed from glass or plastics material such 15 as recycled PET. The insert may be formed from a plastics material such as recycled polypropylene (PP). 20 The system may be configured to be placed upside down on a fragrance bottle in order to supply fragrance refill from the container to the bottle. In some embodiments when the refilled liquid level in a fragrance bottle arrives in contact with the spout it blocks air flow and stops further product refill flow. 25 In some embodiments, following refilling when the spout is removed from the fragrance bottle the refill liquid does not flow because air flow is blocked. The present invention also provides a refill system in which the container is 30 filled with a supply of fragrance. In some embodiments the present invention is provided as a plastic tip that can be fixed on, for example, a glass or PET bottle that contains fragrance. Some embodiments perform as follows. 25 03 25 you place upside down this refill on the empty fragrance bottle. 5 - it fills the bottle when the liquid level arrive in contact with the plastic tip, it blocks the air flow. when you remove the refill liquid do not flow thanks to the air that can’t get it. io Some embodiments are designed to provide an advantage that the product could be used on any fragrance neck. The plastic tip may be made with recycled PP. The bottle may be made in 15 glass or recycled PET. Example benefits and add values make a fragrance refill 20 - open the market to new customers refill fragrance several times increase use of recyclable or recycled materials full recycling after use lots of possibility of the decor silkscreen 25 Sustainability recycling after using 30 Application segments prestige market mass market 25 03 25 The present invention is more particularly shown and described, by way of example, in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1A is an exploded view of a refill system formed according to an 5 embodiment of the present invention; Figure 1B is a side elevation of the assembled refill system; Figure 1C is a magnified section taken along line A-A of Figure 1B; io Figure 2A is a side view of a cap forming part of the refill system; Figure 2B is a section taken along line B-B of Figure 1A; 15 Figure 2C is a magnified view of region C of Figure 2B; Figure 2D is a perspective view of the cap; Figure 2E is an underplan view of the cap; 20 Figure 3A and Figure 3B are perspective views of an insert forming part of the refill system; Figure 3C is a side view of the insert; 25 Figure 3D is a section taken along line D-D of Figure 3C; Figure 3E is a plan view of the insert; 30 Figure 3F is an underplan view of the insert; Figure 4A shows an insert and cap formed according to a further embodiment; Figure 4B shows the insert of Figure 4A assembled onto a refill bottle; and Figures 5A to 5E illustrate a series of steps involved in a refill. 25 03 25 Figures 1A to 1C shows a refill system generally indicated 10. 5 The system 10 comprises a bottle 15, an insert 20 and a cap 25. The bottle 15 is generally cylindrical and includes a neck 16 at one end. The neck 16 is provided with an external screw thread formation 17. io The cap 25 is also shown in Figures 2A to 2E and comprises a generally circular top plate 26 from the periphery of which depends a generally cylindrical sidewall 27. Towards the open end of the sidewall an interior screw thread formation 28 is provided and corresponds with the screw thread formation 17 so 15 that the cap 25 can be screwed on / off the container neck 16. An annular sealing wall 29 depends from the underside of the top plate 26. The insert 20 is also shown in Figures 3A to 3F and comprises a generally circular section spout 30, an annular, radial flange 32 at the base of the spout, 20 and an annular skirt 34 which depends from the flange. The interior of the spout 30 is divided into two approximately semi-circular section lumens: a product flow conduit 36 and an air vent conduit 38. 25 The product flow conduit 36 terminates at the base of the spout. The air vent conduit 38 continues axially beyond the flange and the skirt 34 with an extension portion 40. The insert 20 can be fitted into the container neck 16. The skirt 34 enters the 30 bore of the neck until the flange 32 abuts against the top of the neck. In this embodiment this forms a seal. When the cap 25 is then fully screwed onto the neck 16 the free end of the spout is engaged by the sealing wall 29. 25 03 25 In this embodiment the container is formed from recycled PET. The insert and the cap are formed from recycle PP. Figures 4A and 4B show a refill system formed according to a further 5 embodiment. In Figure 4A a cap 125 is shown together with an insert 120. In this embodiment a breather tube 150 is provided and connected to the end of the air vent conduit extension portion. io In Figure 4B the insert 120 is shown fitted into the neck 116 of a refill bottle 115. Figures 5A to 5E illustrate the steps involved in a refill process. 15 Figure 5A - the refill cap 125 is unscrewed to reveal / unseal the spout. Figure 5B - the pump 175 of the fragrance bottle 170 to be refilled is removed. Figure 5C - the refill system is upturned and the spout / tip 130 is inserted into 20 the bottle 160. Figure 5D - refill liquid 160 flows from the bottle 115 through the product flow conduit of the spout into the fragrance bottle until the liquid level in the fragrance bottle reaches the end of the spout, at which point the liquid blocks air 25 flow into the air vent / flow conduit. The refill sends the perfume and the receiver bottle evacuates the air flow by the air vent pipe. When the liquid level reaches the spout the air flow is interrupted so the perfume flow is stopped. Product therefore flows into the 30 fragrance bottle until the liquid level reaches the end of the spout and then it stops because air can no longer enter the air vent pipe. Figure 5E - with the air flow blocked the refill system can be removed from the fragrance bottle. 25 03 25 When the refill is removed from the fragrance bottle the product does not flow out. This is partly because of surface tension of the product. 5 When the liquid level reaches the spout the air flow is interrupted and creates one little perfume bubble / bull in the air vent pipe. The perfume bull is evacuated by the vent pipe when you return the refill. io The cap can now be placed back on the spout and the pump can be replaced on the fragrance bottle. Some embodiments could also be described as follows. 15 It’s a plastic tip that can be fitted / fixed on a glass or PET bottle that contains, fragrance. You place upside down this refill on the empty fragrance bottle. It fills the bottle when the liquid level arrive in contact with the plastic tip, it blocks the air flow. When you remove the refill liquid do not flow thinks to the air that can’t get it. An advantage is that this could be used on any fragrance neck. 20 Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiments shown and that various changes and modifications can be effected therein by one skilled in the art 25 without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

25 03 251. A refill system for a fragrance bottle, the system comprising a container for holding a supply of fragrance, a refill insert and a cap, the refill insert is attachable 5 to the container and comprises an elongate spout, the spout is axially divided into a product flow conduit and an air flow conduit, in which, in use, when the liquid level in a fragrance bottle arrives in contact with the spout it blocks air flow and stops fragrance flow from the container, wherein the cap comprises a generally circular top plate from the periphery of which depends a generally cylindrical sidewall, wherein io the cylindrical sidewall comprises an interior screw thread formation, located at or near an open end of the sidewall, such that cap can be screwed and unscrewed with respect to the a neck of the container, wherein the cap further comprises an annular sealing wall which depends from the underside of the top plate such that, when the refill is attached to the container and the cap is fully screwed onto the neck of the 15 container, a free end of the spout is engaged by the sealing wall, in which the spout has a generally circular section, and the insert comprises an annular radial flange at the base of the spout, and an annular skirt which depends from the flange, the interior of the spout is divided into two approximately semi-circular section lumens: the product flow conduit and the air vent conduit, the product flow conduit terminates at 2 0 the base of the spout and the air vent conduit continues axially beyond the flange and the skirt with an extension portion, and the skirt is a push fit into the bore of the neck of the container.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a breather pipe which is 2 5 attached or attachable to the air flow conduit.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the container is formed from glass.30 4. A system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the container is formedfrom a plastics material.

5. A system as claimed in claim 5, in which the container is formed from recycled PET.5 6. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the insert is formedfrom a plastics material.

7. A system as claimed in claim 6, in which the insert is formed from recycledpolypropylene.io8. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, configured to be placed upside down on a fragrance bottle.25 03 25

Images