FRAGRANCE REFILL KIT

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention: Embodiments of the invention include fluid dispensing kits having a refill system and a primary fluid container and a secondary fluid container.

Description of Related Art: Fragrances and fragrance oils are often packaged in a liquid form or with a liquid carrier to facilitate the dispersion and application of a fragrance to a surface or into a volume of space. Some of the best known fragrances which may be dispensed as a liquid spray or as a liquid for direct surface application are perfume, eau de parfum, eau de toilette, eau de cologne, and eau fraiche products. The development, packaging, dispensing, and use of such fragrances is well known. For example, a perfume may be packaged in a bottle with a cap which may be removed to pour or dab the perfume onto a surface. In other instances, the bottle may be fitted with a pump or dispenser, allowing a user to actuate the dispenser to deliver a stream, spray, or fine mist of the perfume onto a surface or into a volume of space.

In many instances, the bottle or containers for different types of fragrances are sufficiently large and are designed to hold an amount of fragrance to be used by a user over an extended period—months or years versus hours or days or weeks. Such packages are generally bulky and are not intended to be taken “on the go” or to be slipped into a purse or travel bag for use during the day or during travel. As a result, travel packaging has been developed to allow for on-the-go use. Such travel packages are genuinely smaller and are intended to be carried in a purse, pocket, or in another manner that allows use during the day or while traveling. In some cases, the smaller travel packaging is sold separate from the bulkier packages, and in many cases, fragrance brands do not offer both a large package and an “on the go” package for particular fragrances. Thus, users must either forgo using their favorite fragrance brands when traveling or during the day when they are separated from the bulkier packaging of their primary fragrance bottle.

While there are instances where a brand will sell both the larger format packages and an “on the go” package, the “on the go”—or travel—package is much smaller and tends to empty quickly. Once emptied, a user must either buy a new travel package, if available, or go without their favorite fragrance.

In an attempt to bridge the gap between the larger format packaging and the “on the go” packaging, a number of devices and packages have been developed which allow a user to refill an “on the go” dispenser with their favorite fragrance. Such devices may employ a refill system that attaches to the pump of the larger package, using that pump—and a valving system in the “on the go” device—to refill the “on the go” device. While such systems are available, they can be complex, expensive, and messy, or difficult, to use.

As a result, there is a need for a simple refill system which will allow a user to refill an “on the go”—or travel—fragrance device from a larger fragrance package.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to certain embodiments of the invention, a fragrance refill kit is provided. A fragrance refill kit may include a primary container, a secondary container, a cap or pump for attachment to the secondary container and a refill connector. The refill connector may be configured such that it may be connected to the primary container and seated over an opening in the secondary container. When a liquid product is contained in the primary container and the refill connecter is attached, the refill connector may impede or prevent the flow of liquid from the primary container until such refill connector is actuated. This is even possible in an inverted position. When the refill connector is attached to a primary container that is inverted over a secondary container and the refill connector is seated on the secondary container, actuation of the refill connector may be accomplished by pushing on the refill connector to open a valve and allow liquid to flow from the primary container into the secondary container and air to flow from the secondary container into the primary container. A cessation of actuation of the refill connector stops the flow of liquid. Alternatively, the flow of liquid will automatically stop when the liquid reaches a defined position relative to the refill connector.

According to certain embodiments of the invention, the fragrance refill kit includes a primary container containing a liquid fragrance product such as perfume. The primary container may be sealed with a primary screw-on closure such as a cap, pump, dropper, or other dispenser. The primary container may be made of any material and typically plastic or, preferably, of glass. The size and shape of the primary container can be any size desired. In some embodiments, a primary container and primary screw-on closure included in the kit may include a standard fragrance bottle and pump—with or without an additional cap—such as those that are well know in the industry and which may be purchased alone, outside the purchase of the kit, if desired.

The secondary container included in a kit according to various embodiments of the invention is smaller than the primary container. As with the primary container, the secondary container may be made of plastic, glass, or other material, however, glass is generally preferred for many embodiments. According to some embodiments of the invention, the secondary container is of a size that it can be easily transported, carried, or otherwise used during travel or in day-to-day applications in which a user would not wish to carry a fragrance dispenser the size of the primary container. For example, a secondary container may include a volume of about three point four ounces (3.4 oz)—or about one hundred milliliters (100 mL)—or less. A secondary screw-on cap, pump, dropper, or other dispenser may be included in the kit for sealing the secondary container following the filling—or partial filling—thereof.

A refill connector included with a fragrance refill kit according to various embodiments of the invention may include a collar, a flow controller, and a spring positioned between the collar and the flow controller. The collar may be configured to attach to the primary container. The flow controller may include a surface upon which a portion of the secondary container may be rested or engaged during the filling of the secondary container. When a refill connector is connected to a primary container, the primary container may be inverted and the refill connector seated on a secondary container with a portion of the flow controller inserted into an open volume within the secondary container. Application of a force against the flow controller, for example by pushing the primary container towards the secondary container, opens the flow controller, allowing fluid to pass from the primary container into the secondary container until the force is released or the fluid level in the secondary container reaches a predefined height associated with that portion of the flow controller contained in the secondary container.

Once a secondary container has been filled, or partially filled if that is desired, the secondary closure may be attached to the secondary container and the secondary container and secondary closure may be used on-the-go or while traveling. For example, a secondary pump dispenser may be attached to the secondary container and a secondary cap seated over the secondary pump dispenser, allowing the secondary dispensing package to be carried in a pocket, purse, bag, or other container for use on-the-go.

In other embodiments of the invention, a fragrance refill kit may included multiple secondary containers, secondary closures, and secondary caps.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming particular embodiments of the present invention, various embodiments of the invention can be more readily understood and appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art from the following descriptions of various embodiments of the invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a fragrance refill kit according to embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a fragrance refill kit according to embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a fragrance refill kit according to embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates various components of primary container systems used with a fragrance refill kit according to various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates an assembled primary container according to various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates various components of secondary container systems used with a fragrance refill kit according to various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates an assembled secondary container according to various embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates a refill connector according to various embodiments of the invention; and

FIG. 9 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a refill connector according to various embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A fragrance refill kit 100 according to certain embodiments of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. As illustrated, a fragrance refill kit 100 may include a primary container 200, a primary fragrance closure 250, a refill connector 300, a secondary container 400, and a secondary closure 450. In addition, in some embodiments, the fragrance refill kit 100 may include a box 110 as illustrated into which each of the other components of the fragrance refill kit 100 may be contained or seated.

A fragrance refill kit 100 according to other embodiments of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 2. As illustrated, a fragrance refill kit 100 may include a primary container 200, a primary fragrance closure 250, a refill connector 300, a secondary container 400 having a collar 405, a pump 410, and a cap 455 configured to fit over a top portion of the pump 410. The fragrance refill kit 100 may include a box 110 as illustrated into which each of the other components of the fragrance refill kit 100 may be contained or seated.

A fragrance refill kit 100 according to other embodiments of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 3. As illustrated, a fragrance refill kit 100 may include a primary container 200 having a primary fragrance closure 250 connected thereto, a refill connector 300 and multiple secondary containers 200 having associated pumps 410 and caps 455. In particular, the fragrance refill kit 100 includes a single primary container 100, a refill connector 300, and two or more secondary containers 200.

A primary container 200 according to various embodiments of the invention may include a container of any desired size and constructed of any desired material. In some embodiments, the primary container may be made of metal, plastic, or glass, wherein the use of glass is more customary and preferred for use with fragrance products. In most embodiments, the primary container 200 included as a part of the fragrance refill kit 100 will include a typically sized perfume or fragrance bottle with a pump and cap.

A secondary container 400 according to various embodiments of the invention is smaller than the primary container 200. The secondary container 400 may be constructed of any desired material. For example, the secondary container 400 may be made of metal, plastic, or glass. In many embodiments, a glass secondary container 400 is preferred. In addition, the secondary container 400 is preferably of a size that is easy to carry during travel or for on-the-go use during the day. For instance, inclusion of a secondary container 400 capable of holding about 3.4 ounces (or about 100 mL) of a fragrance product 500 with a fragrance refill kit 100 is preferred with various embodiments of the invention.

A primary closure 250 may include a screw-on cap, dropper, pump, or other dispenser. In some instances, the primary closure 250 may include both a pump or dispenser and an additional cap configured to cover the pump or dispenser to prevent inadvertent or unwanted actuation of the pump or dispenser.

Similarly, a secondary closure 450 may include a screw-on cap, dropper, pump, or other dispenser. In some instances, the secondary closure 450 may include both a pump or dispenser and an additional cap configured to cover the pump or dispenser to prevent inadvertent or unwanted actuation of the pump or dispenser.

According to embodiments of the invention, the primary closure 250 and the secondary closure 450 may seal or cover openings in the primary container 200 and secondary container 400. The primary closure 250 and secondary closure 450 may be screwed onto the primary container 200 and the secondary container 400, for example, about a collar 205 on the primary container 200 or a collar 405 on the secondary container 400.

According to embodiments of the invention, a primary closure 250 may include a cap, a dropper, a pump, a dispenser or some other closure, or combination thereof, that can be screwed-on to the primary container 200 to retain a liquid or fragrance product 500 in the primary container 200. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the primary closure 250 may include a pump 210 and cap 255. Similarly, the secondary closure 450 may include a pump 410 and a cap 255 as illustrated in FIG. 6. In other embodiments, a cap 255 may not be included with a pump and the primary closure 250 or the secondary closure 450 may only include a pump as a part of a fragrance refill kit 100. When attached to the primary container 200, the combination of the primary container 200 and primary closure 250 result in a primary fragrance package 290. Similarly, when attached to the secondary container 400, the combination of a secondary container 400 and the secondary closure 450 result in a secondary fragrance package 490.

A cross-sectional view of a refill connector 300 that may be used with various embodiments of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 9. As shown, the refill connector 300 may include a collar 310 configured to connect to the primary container 200. A flow controller 320 is seated in the collar 310 and is moveable therein. A spring 330 is seated between the flow controller 320 and the collar 310. A spring 330 may include a metal spring, a plastic spring, a plastic helical spring, or a c-spring type spring. A gasket 340 and cap 350 may be included but are optional.

In operation, the collar 310 of the refill connector 300 may be attached to a primary container 200, such as to the collar 205 of the primary container 200. The primary container 200 and refill connector 300 may then be inverted and an outer surface of the flow controller 320 may be fitted or seated over the collar 405 or opening of the secondary container 400 with a portion of the flow controller 320 stem reaching into the secondary connector 400. Application of a force on the primary container 200 opens the flow controller 320 allowing a fragrance product 500 to pass through the refill connector 300 into the secondary container 400. When the force is stopped, the flow of fragrance product 500 also stops. A pump or other secondary closure 450 may then be attached to the secondary container 400, creating a secondary fragrance package 490 that may be taken on-the-go and used as desired by a user.

A fragrance product 500 may be included in the primary fragrance container 200 in a fragrance refill kit 100. For example, fragrance products that may be used with various embodiments of the invention may include perfume, eau de toilet, eau de perfume, cologne, or other fragrances, or liquid products. In other embodiments of the invention, both the primary container 200 and the secondary container 400 may be filled with a fragrance product 500 when initially included in the fragrance refill kit 100.

According to embodiments of the invention, a fragrance refill kit may include a secondary container 400 made of plastic or glass. The secondary container includes a collar 405 configured for connecting a screw-on closure thereto. Such containers and bottles are known and are commonly used to contain fragrance products for dispensing by pouring or by spray, depending on the screw-on closure connected thereto. The collar may include threads to facilitate assembly of a screw-on cap, a screw-on pump or dispenser, or a screw-on dropper to the container or bottle. In various embodiments of the invention, the secondary container is a smaller container than the primary container and smaller openings and screw-on neck finishes may be used. For example, in some embodiments, a typical SNI 15 plastic bottle may be included in a kit as the secondary container. Plastic bottles having an SNI 15 closure are known and are frequently used for travel or other portable fragrance dispensers. According to various embodiments of the invention, the secondary container 400 includes a screw-neck finish of SNI 13. Such SNI 13 secondary container 400 may be of a plastic or glass material but is preferably glass. Such glass SNI 13 secondary containers 400 are not readily available and have not been used with travel packs, or on-the-go products, on a conventional basis. The use of such smaller closure, however, provides a very sleek and refined looking dispenser which is ideal for travel and on-the-go use. Thus, certain preferred embodiments of the invention include the use of a secondary container 400 having an SNI 13 sized neck finish in the fragrance refill kit 100.

Having thus described certain particular embodiments of the invention, it is understood that the invention defined by the appended claims is not to be limited by particular details set forth in the above description, as many apparent variations thereof are contemplated. Rather, the invention is limited only be the appended claims, which include within their scope all equivalent devices or methods which operate according to the principles of the invention as described.