Dispensing – With discharge assistant – With movable nozzle interconnected therewith
Reexamination Certificate
2001-07-06
2002-06-18
Doerrler, William C. (Department: 3754)
Dispensing
With discharge assistant
With movable nozzle interconnected therewith
C222S153130
Reexamination Certificate
active
06405906
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to a device for dispensing a product. In particular, the present invention relates to a device for dispensing a product onto a product sampler. Such a device could be used at points of sale, for instance, to test products such as perfumes.
In the perfumery sector of store, testers are frequently set up at the points of sale of the products to allow customers to try the product before buying it. These testers are usually the same models or product receptacles as those intended for sale. The limited volume of these testers means that they have to be renewed at frequent intervals. Furthermore, it can be difficult for customers to judge perfumes properly in an atmosphere laden with the blended vapors of the different perfumes that are present at the testing point. Also, the disappearance of testers from these test points is not uncommon. Lastly, the creativity of the designers of such points of sale is limited by having to find a very specific location at the front for the tester or testers.
Devices are known wherein a push-button pump is located separately from a receptacle containing a perfume. Hence the pump, with its associated actuating device, can be mounted in a fixed position on a display unit and connected via a supply line to the receptacle containing the perfume. The receptacle will generally be situated in a cabinet not accessible to the customers. The supply line between the pump and the receptacle will generally be relatively long. The risk of theft or of breakage of the bottles of perfume may be reduced. In addition, the amount of required display space also may be reduced. The receptacles containing the perfumes can be of larger capacity. The vapors released from the bottles are confined in a closed cabinet.
However, the cost of the cabinet may be significant. Additionally, the pushbutton, which is provided to actuate the pump, is frequently pulled out, often out of pure vandalism, rendering the test device unusable.
Other devices have been proposed for the automatic impregnation of product samplers, typically made of cardboard and sometimes known as “slips.” These product samplers are offered to the consumer on a display unit, so that the consumer can impregnate the product sampler on demand with the desired perfume product.
For instance, in one device, the consumer inserts the product sampler into a horizontal slot. The slot is defined in part by an eccentric notched wheel. During insertion and due to friction, the product sampler causes the eccentric notched wheel to turn. The product sampler stops at the end of its travel against an end stop. The product sampler is retained in the slot by the eccentricity of the wheel. The consumer then withdraws the product sampler. The act of pulling on the retained product sampler actuates the pump and releases the product onto the product sampler. As the impregnated product sampler continues to be pulled, it is released by a clutch mechanism.
Besides the sophistication of this device, such a device is expensive to manufacture, unreliable, and not directly operated by the consumer. Specifically, the mechanical pulling force intended to actuate the pump is exerted on the impregnated product sampler. The product sampler, especially if it has already been impregnated before, is liable to tear when pulled by the consumer. Part of the product sampler may be left jammed inside the device, possibly preventing further operation. Furthermore, if the product sampler to be impregnated is not very stiff, it will be difficult to insert into the slot defined by the notched wheel.
One optional aspect of the invention relates to a device for dispensing a product onto a product sampler that is mechanically actuated.
Another optional aspect of the invention relates to a device for dispensing product onto a product sampler that will be simple to use, inexpensive to produce, mechanically reliable, and sufficiently robust to withstand acts of vandalism.
It should be understood that the invention could still be practiced without performing one or more of the optional aspects described above. Still other optional aspects will become apparent from the detailed description that follows.
As broadly described herein, the present invention relates to a device for dispensing a product onto a product sampler. The device may comprise a dispensing member configured to be connected to a product receptacle and at least one outlet orifice in flow communication with the dispensing member. The device may also comprise an actuator element configured to actuate the dispensing member and a locking element. The locking element may have a first position in which the dispensing member cannot be actuated and a second position in which the dispensing member can be actuated. Additionally, the locking element may be configured to move from the first position to the second position when the product sampler is placed in front of the at least one outlet orifice.
The device may be placed in an enclosure or behind a wall in such a manner that only a portion of the actuator element is accessible from outside the enclosure or wall. For instance, a window or opening in the wall or one face of the enclosure may allow the consumer to indirectly place the product sampler in front of the outlet orifice. The risk of acts of vandalism may thus be limited. Also, because the dispensing member may not be actuated without first placing a product sampler in front of the outlet orifice, product may not be dispensed unless a product sampler is in place. This may reduce the risk of fouling the device.
The enclosure or the wall may form a fixed body (or frame) on which the dispensing member may be mounted, optionally in a fixed position. The actuator element and the locking element may be movable with respect to the fixed body and with respect to the dispensing member. The device optionally comprises a receiving member for receiving the product sampler and enabling placing of the product sampler in front of the at least one outlet orifice. Such a receiving member may be in the form of a plate. The receiving member may allow the product sampler to be placed, for example, at a fixed distance or at a fixed lateral position with respect to the outlet orifice. Thus, it may be possible, for instance, when the product is dispensed in the form of a conical spray, to ensure that all of the product dispensed is deposited on the product sampler.
Optionally, the product sampler is placed with respect to the outlet orifice by a movement, for example, a translational movement, of the product sampler with respect to the receiving member. The locking element may be moved from the first position to the second position in response to movement of the product sampler. In the course of this movement, the stress on the product sampler may be insignificant, thereby reducing the risk of damage to the product sampler, particularly where the product sampler is made of card stock.
Alternatively, the product sampler may be placed with respect to the outlet orifice by a movement of the receiving member itself. In this case, the product sampler to be impregnated may have first been placed on the receiving member.
Optionally, the receiving member may act as the actuator element that actuates the dispensing member. This may reduce the number of parts outside of the enclosure or wall and correspondingly may reduce the risk of vandalism.
Alternatively, an actuator element separate from the receiving member may be provided. For instance, this separate actuator element may be in the form of a button.
Optionally, the product sampler may be used in conjunction with the receiving member to actuate the dispensing member. For instance, the movement of the product sampler, as it is placed in front of the outlet orifice, may end with a joint or mutual movement of the product sampler and of the receiving member. This mutual movement may occur over a short distance, which corresponds to the actuation stroke of the dispensing member. Such a mutual movement may be of negligible amplitude compared with the mov
Bui Thach H.
Doerrler William C.
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner L.L.P.
L'Oreal (S.A.)
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