Dispenser assembly with delaminating bottle

Abstract

A liquid dispenser assembly for a cosmetic, medicinal, or other liquid uses an actuator connected to a bottle to draw the liquid and dispense it through a bottle opening. The bottle is formed from an inner bottle and an outer bottle, with a bag preform disposed within an interior of the bottle. When the dispenser actuator is activated, air is drawn into the interior of the bottle through longitudinal ribs to equalize the pressure disturbed by the removal of the liquid from the bottle interior.

Description

FUSI.P124 PCT PATENTTITLE OF THE INVENTIONDispenser Assembly With Delaminating BottleTECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] Example apparatus relate to dispenser assemblies.BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Dispenser assemblies can be used in various applications, for example to dispense relatively small desired amounts of a cosmetic, medicinal, or other liquid, from a bottle. Typically, the bottle couples to an actuator, and operation of the actuator correspondingly operates a pump engine in the actuator and / or bottle. The pump engine draws liquid from the bottle, and the liquid passes from the bottle to and out an actuator tip. Dispensers may be atmospheric or airless. An example of an atmospheric dispenser includes a dip tube with an open end that extends into the bottle liquid. When the dip tube actuator is actuated, liquid is drawn through the tube and out of the dispenser, and when the actuator is released, air is drawn into the same chamber in which the liquid is stored and to equalize pressure in the chamber which otherwise would be disturbed from the removal of the liquid. Airless dispensers include a volume for storing the actuator and that has an adjustable size, for example including a piston that reduces the chamber size upon dispensing action of the actuator, or a collapsible chamber which can be achieved based on various chamber materials or structures.

[0003] While the above approaches are known and have various applications, the present inventor has endeavored to improve the prior art, as further detailed below.FUSI.P124 PCT PATENTDISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

[0004] In one example, there is a liquid dispenser assembly, comprising: (i) a bottle formed from an inner bottle and an outer bottle; and (ii) a bag preform disposed within an interior of the bottle.

[0005] Other aspects are described and claimed.FUSI.P124 PCT PATENTBRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] FIG. 1A illustrates a partially exploded view, and FIG. IB an assembled view, of a dispenser assembly 100.

[0007] FIG. 2A is an elevated perspective view, FIG. 2B is a side view, FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view, FIG. 2D is a top view, and FIG. 2E is a bottom view, of the assembly bottle shown generally as a bottle preform 200, and at the preform stage, that is, prior to a blow molding processes (see FIG. 4A).

[0008] FIG. 3A is an elevated perspective view, FIG. 3B is a side view, FIG. 3C is a bottom view, FIG. 3D is a first cross-sectional view, and FIG. 3E is a second cross- sectional view, of an assembly bag preform 300.

[0009] FIG. 4 A is a partially exploded view of the bottle preform 200, the assembly bag preform 300, and a diagrammatic depiction of a blow mold 400.

[0010] FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of the combination of the assembly bag preform and the bottle after blow molding.

[0011] FIG. 4C is a partial cross-section view of FIG. 4B taken vertically along one of the parallel ribs along the bag preform body 302.

[0012] FIG. 4D is a partial cross-section view of FIG. 4B taken vertically between two parallel ribs along the bag preform body 302.FUSI.P124 PCT PATENTDETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0013] FIGs. 1A through 4D illustrate various different views of an example dispenser 100 and / or portions of that dispenser. As shown generally in FIGs. 1A and IB, the dispenser 100 includes a bottle 102, an actuator / pump engine 104, and a cap 106. As detailed below, the bottle 102 may be constructed of multiple layers, and may include an inner collapsible bag. The actuator / pump engine 104 couples (e.g., by screw-fit relationship) to the bottle 102 and includes sufficient apparatus so that, when actuated, liquid in the collapsible bag is drawn through the actuator / pump engine 104 and dispensed from its tip 104T. The cap 106 couples (c.g, snap-fit relationship) to the bottle 102 so as to cover the actuator / pump engine 104, for example during presale, storage, or other times when immediate access to the actuator / pump engine 104 is not desired.

[0014] FIGs. 2A and 2B illustrate a perspective and side view, respectively, of a bottle preform 200 that is subsequently processed to provide the FIGs. 1A-1B bottle 102, for example as later detailed in FIGs. 4A through 4D. In an example, the bottle preform 200 is formed from a type of plastic, for example Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), which is a polyester. Generally, PET is desirable for one or more of the attributes that it is clear, has high tensile strength, is lightweight, has good barrier properties, is generally chemically resistant, and is highly recyclable. The FIGs. 2A- 2B illustrations include examples of shape (e.g, cylindrical) and dimensions (shown in millimeters), but are not intended to limit application of various aspects to other shapes (e.g., rectangular, oval, symmetric, asymmetric, etc.) and dimensions. The bottle preform 200 includes an opening 202, an engine-to-bottle coupling interface 204 (e.g., threads), and an inner volume 206 (see FIG. 2C) having an inner wall 206 IW.

[0015] FIG. 2C illustrates a cross-sectional view of the bottle preform 200. As visible in FIG. 2C, in an example implementation, the bottle preform 200 includes at least two co-aligned structures, namely, an inner bottle 208 and an outer bottle 210. In an example, both the inner and outer bottles 208 and 210 are constructed from a sameFUSI.P124 PCT PATENT material (of same or different colors and / or light transmission or transparency), again such as PET. In using a same material, such as PET, the inner and outer bottles 208 and 210 may be heated so as to fuse together, for example using a blow molding process. And, for example, the outer bottle 210 may be positioned relative to the inner bottle 208 using an overmolding process. Additionally, in an example, an additional structural feature or features is used to achieve desired alignment of the outer bottle 210 and the bottle 208, which by way of example is shown as an alignment key 209 in FIG. 2D. The alignment key 209 provides an interacting (e.g., male / female, block / notch, protrusion / recess, or other fitment) structure on both the outer bottle 210 and the inner bottle 208. The alignment key 209 therefore provides an assured positioning of the two structures relative to one another, for example to align split lines in both to provide a more uniform and higher end final product bottle, after subsequent processing. The FIG. 2C view also illustrates that the engine-to-bottle coupling interface 204 may be part of the inner bottle 208. This construction may achieve a relatively smaller outer diameter to the engine-to-bottle coupling interface 204, for example to accommodate smaller (or preexisting) pump engine sizes. Use of multiple bottles to construct the bottle preform 200 provides other variations and benefits. For example, thickness limitations from a single bottle and / or from limitations of a blow molding process can be avoided, for example by having a first part of the final bottle preform 200 thickness determined by the wall thickness of the inner bottle 208 and a second part of the final bottle preform 200 thickness determined by the wall thickness of the outer bottle 210. As another example, the multiple bottle construction avoids disadvantages in structure or aesthetics that could arise from a single thick bottle. As still another example, the multiple bottle construction permits a selection of different color and opacity for each of the inner and outer bottles 208 and 210, as further addressed below.

[0016] FIG. 2D is a top view, and FIG. 2E is a bottom view, of the bottle preform 200.FUSI.P124 PCT PATENT

[0017] FIG. 3A is an elevated perspective view, FIG. 3B is a side view, FIG. 3C is a bottom view, FIG. 3D is a first cross-sectional view, and FIG. 3E is a second cross- sectional view, of an assembly bag preform 300. As detailed later in FIGs. 4A and 4B, the assembly bag preform 300 is ultimately inserted into the FIGs. 2A-2E bottle preform 200 and attached thereto by a blow molding process. As also detailed later, the blow molding will fuse the bag preform 300 and bottle preform 200. In this regard, in one example, the bag preform 300 may be formed by injection molding using a hot runner, which may provide benefits such as better control of tolerances which can improve one or both of fitment and function, including the intended-function of the bag being able to collapse and delaminate from the bottle 102 when later used as part of the airless operation of the dispenser assembly 100. In an alternative, however, a cool runner molding may be used to form the bag preform 300.

[0018] The bag preform 300 includes a generally cylindrical body 302, although the diameter of the body 302 may reduce slightly from top to bottom so as to provide a slightly narrower body near the bottom. The bag preform 300 also includes a flange 304 at an open upper end and an end-closing member 306 (e.g., hemisphere-shaped) at a lower end. The flange 304 has an outer diameter that extends beyond the outer diameter of the body 302 and defines an open end 308 within the center of the flange 304. A plurality of ribs 310 extend axially along a portion of the outer surface of the body 302, for example extending between 40% and 60% of the length of the body 302. The number of ribs 310 may be selected according to various considerations by one skilled in the art. Generally, each of the ribs 310 is a raised surface, extending away from the outer surface of the body 302, and the cross sectional shape of each rib may be, for example, square or rectangular. Each of the ribs 310 includes an upper end 312 that abuts an underside of the flange 304, and a lower end 314 that tapers downward to the outer surface of the body 302.

[0019] The combination of FIGs. 3C, 3D, and 3E illustrate additional aspects. For example, from the bottom view of FIG. 3C, it is evident that in an example, each ofFUSI.P124 PCT PATENT the ribs 310 is evenly spaced around the outer circumferential perimeter of the body 302. Further, by way of example, the number of ribs 310 is shown in FIG. 3C as 16.

[0020] FIG. 3D illustrates a cross-section along the line 3D-3D in FIG. 3C, so the cross-section is taken along two ribs that are diametrically opposed to one another, as labeled in FIG. 3C as a rib 310 1 and a rib 310 2. Accordingly, in FIG. 3D, the diametrically opposed ribs 310 1 and rib 310 2 are shown and demonstrate that each essentially provides a first total width W1 of the body 302 when measured between the outer surfaces of those ribs, where the width W1 is at a maximum toward the top of the bag preform 300, as the body 302 may have a reducing diameter generally from top to bottom of the device.

[0021] FIG. 3E illustrates a cross-section along the line 3E-3E in FIG. 3C, so the cross-section is taken in a gap between adjacent rib pairs that are diametrically opposed to one another in FIG. 3C. Accordingly, in FIG. 3E, the absence of diametrically opposed ribs, for the positioning as shown by the cross-section depicted, provides a second total width W2 of the body 302, when measured between diametrically opposing outer surfaces of the body 302, in the absence of ribs. Further, the width W2 is at a maximum toward the top of the bag preform 300, again when the body 302 has a reducing diameter generally from top to bottom of the device. In comparing FIG. 3E with 3D, note that W2 < Wl, that is, the radial width of the overall device, beneath the flange 304 and due to the presence or absence of a rib, therefore varies toward Wl where a rib is present, and toward W2 where a rib is not present. Stated alternatively, a circumferential gap is formed between each pair of adjacent ribs 310, for various reasons further explored below.

[0022] FIG. 4A is a partially exploded view of the assembly bag preform 200, the assembly bag preform 300, and a diagrammatic depiction of a blow mold 400. As illustrated by axial dashed lines, the assembly bag preform 300 is fitted axially within the assembly bag preform 200, where the ribs 310 may facilitate proper fitment between the two. Further, the combination of those two devices is fitted within a blowFUSI.P124 PCT PATENT mold 400. In FIG. 4A, the blow mold 400 is shown generally and not necessarily to scale or with all aspects thereof (e.g., it may be split for clamping the mold together), but more to demonstrate a basis for the subsequent blow molding process. Accordingly, once the three items in FIG. 4A are fitted with respect to one another, heat and pressure are applied allowing the bag preform 300 and bottle preform 200 to fuse together, and also such that the outer surface of the bottle preform 200 takes the shape of the inner surface of the blow mold 400.

[0023] FIG. 4B illustrates a cross-section of the resultant bottle 102 (see also FIGs. 1A and IB), following blow molding as introduced in connection with FIG. 4 A. With the cross-sectional FIG. 4B perspective, recall also from FIG. 2C that the bottle preform 200 includes at least two co-aligned structures, namely, an inner bottle 208 and an outer bottle 210. However, the FIG. 4A blow molding heat / pressure causes those two structures to fuse together, so in FIG. 4B, the FIG. 2C boundary between the inner bottle 208 and the outer bottle 210 is not shown, as that boundary becomes less pronounced or indiscernible as the two fuse together. Further, the outer surface of the bag preform 300, both in places where ribs are and are not present, expands and / or fuses to the inner wall of the bottle preform 200.

[0024] FIG. 4C is a partial cross-section view of FIG. 4B taken vertically along one of the parallel ribs 310 along the bag preform 300.

[0025] FIG. 4D is a partial cross-section view of FIG. 4B taken vertically between two parallel ribs along the bag preform 300, that is, along a vertical line where there is an absence of a rib (due to the gap between each pair of adjacent ribs circumferentially around the bottle preform 300). In this regard, note that the absence of a rib creates a path, shown in FIG. 4D as an AIR PATH, through which air may pass under the flange 304 and between the inner wall 206 IW of the bottle preform 200 and the outer wall of what was the body 302 of the bag preform 300 prior to blow molding. Returning then to FIGs. 1A and IB, recall that when the actuator / pump engine 104 is actuated, liquid is drawn through the actuator / pump engine 104 and dispensed from its tip 104T ;FUSI.P124 PCT PATENT now having understood the construction of the bottle 102, note that as such actuation occurs, a pressure change is created within the interior of the bottle 102, which is provided by what was the bag preform 300 prior to blow molding. However, with the addition of the AIR PATH as constructed above, then on each such actuation, air can flow as described above through the AIR PATH, and in combination with the relatively thin wall of what was the bag preform 300, which may be further thinned due to the heat / pressure of blow molding, the inner wall may partially collapse and delaminate from the outer wall, so as to support the airless pumping operation.

[0026] From the above, one skilled in the art should understand and appreciate that examples provide an improved dispenser assembly 100. Further, additional aspects may be included and or substituted. For example, the dual-bottle structure (inner bottle 208 and outer bottle 210) may be provided with additional features, such as different colors for one or the other (including clear, that is, no added color) and / or a different level of light passage, that is, among transparent, translucent, and opaque. Use of a different color or transparency / opacity may be included, for example, to provide a functional view of liquid within the bottle 102, while also obscuring less aesthetic aspects, for example visibility of the ribs within the bottle, or what remains of those ribs after the blow molding and / or collapsing aspects described above. Thus, while features have been described to serve to illustrate the inventive scope as have been demonstrated by certain embodiments, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the scope is further subject to various modifications, substitutions, or alterations, without departing from that inventive scope. Still other examples will be ascertainable by one skilled in the art given the teachings herein and as further guided by the following exemplary but non-exhaustive claims.

Claims

FUSI.P124 PCT PATENTClaims:What is claimed is:

1. A liquid dispenser assembly, comprising: a bottle formed from an inner bottle and an outer bottle; and a bag preform disposed within an interior of the bottle.

2. The liquid dispenser assembly of claim 1 wherein the inner bottle and the outer bottle differ in color.

3. The liquid dispenser assembly of claim 1 wherein the inner bottle and the outer bottle differ in opacity.

4. The liquid dispenser assembly of claim 1 wherein the bag preform comprises a longitudinal body and a plurality of ribs extending axially along at least a portion of an outer surface of the longitudinal body.

5. The liquid dispenser assembly of claim 4 wherein the bag preform further comprises a flange at a first end of the longitudinal body, wherein each rib in the plurality of ribs has a respective end abutting an underside of the flange.

6. The liquid dispenser assembly of claim 5 wherein a gap between adjacent ribs of the plurality of ribs provides an air path through which air passes during dispensing operation of the liquid dispenser.

7. The liquid dispenser assembly of claim 4 wherein a gap between adjacent ribs of the plurality of ribs provides an air path through which air passes during dispensing operation of the liquid dispenser.FUSI.P124 PCT PATENT8. The liquid dispenser assembly of claim 1 wherein the inner bottle and the outer bottle are formed from a same material.

9. The liquid dispenser assembly of claim 1 wherein the inner bottle and the outer bottle are formed from Polyethylene Terephthalate.

10. The liquid dispenser assembly of claim 1 and further comprising an actuator coupled to the bottle.

11. The liquid dispenser assembly of claim 10 wherein the bag preform is collapsible during actuation of the actuator.

12. The liquid dispenser assembly of claim 11: wherein the bag preform comprises a longitudinal body and a plurality of ribs extending axially along at least a portion of an outer surface of the longitudinal body; and wherein a gap between adjacent ribs of the plurality of ribs provides an air path through which air passes during dispensing operation of the liquid dispenser the air path facilitating passing of air to facilitate collapse of the bag preform during actuation of the actuator.

13. The liquid dispenser assembly of claim 1 wherein the inner bottle comprises threads for coupling to an actuator.

14. The liquid dispenser assembly of claim 1 wherein the inner bottle comprises a coupler for coupling to an actuator.FUSI.P124 PCT PATENT15. The liquid dispenser assembly of claim 1 wherein each of the inner bottle and the outer bottle comprises a respective alignment structure for cooperating with one another.

16. The liquid dispenser assembly of claim 1 wherein the bag preform comprises: a longitudinal body having an opening on one end and a slightly reducing diameter along at least a portion of the longitudinal body away from the one end; and a plurality of ribs extending axially along at least a portion of an outer surface of the longitudinal body.

Images