A plastic refillable squeeze bottle for viscous fluids such as shampoo and conditioner is disclosed with a non-threaded, substantially fixed closure at an upper end that includes a pivoting spout. The base of the bottle includes a refill port with a one way valve at the base to receive product/viscous fluid therein while the bottle is vented through the spout. The product is delivered from the bottle by squeezing the bottle to pressurize the contents through the spout, while the one way valve precludes any escape of the fluid through the base. The bottle may be refilled many times at a tremendous savings.
A remote alert and illumination system is disclosed that visually annunciates using tell-tale indicator-lights that certain local discrete status indications (e.g., "OK", "low-level", "low-low level", "fault") of a remote container's contents for a container that dispenses fluid, and which system initiates certain local responses to these indications accordingly (e.g., "continue to monitor", "replace fluid/material container", and "call for help"). The container's processor and a remote data processor use bi-directional (two-way) functionality and separate sources of electrical power to perform these operations. The use of separate sources of electrical power eliminates a fault created by a power outage where the system is reset or defaults to an original status, and local processors latch or retain a last status to avoid errors due to power outages and the like.
G01F 23/00 - Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm
A tank for transporting, storing, and dispensing viscous materials is disclosed having a cylindrical body, and spherical ends. The tank further comprises an ellipsoidal follower device used to force the viscous material through the tank, the follower device having an upper half, and lower half, and a centerline. A plurality of stabilizing fins are rigidly connected to the ellipsoidal follower device at the centerline and extending axially along the tank's inner wall, the stabilizing fins disposed between a periphery of the ellipsoidal follower device and an inner wall of the cylindrical body. The fins serve as an anti-tipping device to maintain the follower in the proper orientation even upon rested in a horizontal position.
The present invention is a method by which a reusable, refillable pressurized container used in consumer refillable packaging can be certified in a manner akin to single use containers. The certification calls for each receptacle to pass certain quality assurance measures, including automated testing and examination (100% receptacle testing and examination). In an exemplary case, the materials (fluids) in these receptacles will be for personal care or household use and will be non-regulated non-hazardous non-flammable non-corrosive materials (fluids), although the invention will not necessarily be so limited. The gases in these receptacles are preferably non-flammable compressed gases (compressed air or nitrogen) commercially free from corroding components.
F17C 5/00 - Methods or apparatus for filling pressure vessels with liquefied, solidified, or compressed gases
B67D 7/02 - Apparatus or devices for transferring liquids from bulk storage containers or reservoirs into vehicles or into portable containers, e.g. for retail sale purposes for transferring liquids other than fuel or lubricants
B67D 7/32 - Arrangements of safety or warning devicesMeans for preventing unauthorised delivery of liquid
F17C 5/06 - Methods or apparatus for filling pressure vessels with liquefied, solidified, or compressed gases for filling with compressed gases
F17C 13/02 - Special adaptations of indicating, measuring, or monitoring equipment
5.
A METHOD FOR DISTRIBUTING PRODUCT USING A CONSUMER REFILLABLE PACKAGING IN A RETAIL ENVIRONMENT
A method for distributing product using a consumer refillable packaging in a retail environment comprises manufacturing a liquid product at a point of manufacture. The liquid product is then transferred to a retail location in a refillable canister, which is mounted in a storage room as part of a delivery subsystem for communicating the liquid product from the storage room to a refill station in a retail floor space. Consumers operate the refill station to refill a refillable container with the liquid product from the canister in the storage room via the refill station.
B67C 3/06 - Bottling liquids or semiliquidsFilling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus using counterpressure, i.e. filling while the container is under pressure
B67C 3/20 - Bottling liquids or semiliquidsFilling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus with provision for metering the liquids to be introduced, e.g. when adding syrups
B67C 3/24 - Devices for supporting or handling bottles
G06Q 90/00 - Systems or methods specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial or supervisory purposes, not involving significant data processing
6.
REFILLABLE CONTAINER FOR USE WITH VENDING MACHINES
A refill bottle, such as a laundry refill bottle, is disclosed that can be used with a consumer refill station to reuse the bottle over and over. The refill bottle includes automatic flow control valves, that allow the bottle to be filled, handled, dispensed from, and refilled innumerable times without a cap. The elimination of a cap alleviates the manufacturer and consumer of the tasks of installing, loosening, tightening, removing, and reinstalling or replacing the cap. The refillable bottle uses flow control valves, specifically an automatic filling valve, an automatic pressure vent valve, a manual/automatic dispensing valve, and an automatic vacuum vent valve. The refill bottle enables liquid and air to be exchanged during filling, handling, dispensing, and refilling.
A method for distributing product using a consumer refillable packaging in a retail environment comprises manufacturing a liquid product at a point of manufacture. The liquid product is then transferred to a retail location in a refillable canister, which is mounted in a storage room as part of a delivery subsystem for communicating the liquid product from the storage room to a refill station in a retail floor space. Consumers operate the refill station to refill a refillable container with the liquid product from the canister in the storage room via the refill station.
B67C 3/24 - Devices for supporting or handling bottles
B67C 3/20 - Bottling liquids or semiliquidsFilling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus with provision for metering the liquids to be introduced, e.g. when adding syrups
B67C 3/06 - Bottling liquids or semiliquidsFilling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus using counterpressure, i.e. filling while the container is under pressure
G06Q 90/00 - Systems or methods specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial or supervisory purposes, not involving significant data processing
G09F 15/00 - Boards, hoardings, pillars, or like structures for notices, placards, posters, or the like
G09F 27/00 - Combined visual and audible advertising or displaying, e.g. for public address
G06Q 99/00 - Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
G07F 13/00 - Coin-freed apparatus for controlling dispensing of fluids, semiliquids or granular material from reservoirs
B67C 3/22 - Bottling liquids or semiliquidsFilling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus Details
An apparatus for dispensing material through a refillable cartridge, comprising a container having a receptacle for receiving a refill cartridge, the container having a lid cooperating with the container to enclose the refill cartridge, the container further comprising an exit port and a channel for communicating material from the refill cartridge to the exit port, and a valve for controlling the flow of material out of the refill cartridge; and a reusable, refill cartridge sized to be received in the receptacle, the refill cartridge including compressed gas and material separated by a bi-conical thruster, the refill cartridge further comprising a first end having a material inlet and outlet manifold, and a second end having a compressed gas inlet. The system's performance can be improved by applying a surface treatment to the wetted surfaces of the system to change the physical properties at the fluid/vessel interface.
B65D 83/64 - Containers for dispensing liquid or semi-liquid contents by internal gaseous pressure, i.e. aerosol containers comprising propellant with contents and propellant separated by pistons
The present invention provides a nozzle to be used in a refillable fluid exchange between a refill station and a refillable container under hermetic conditions. The use of a secondary port for providing an additive allows customization of the product to the customer's specifications, without long wait times and without otherwise contamination the process. The use of a mixing chamber downstream of the secondary line, preceded by a one way check valve, promotes thorough mixing of two or more constituents as selected by the customer.
A method for funding a municipal solid waste reduction program includes conducting a study of anticipated future cost savings for a Municipality from implementing sealable, refillable fluid product packaging to replace existing disposable fluid product packaging for the purpose of reducing solid waste. After the study, one establishes a value for a savings participation right that shares savings generated by replacing the disposable fluid product packaging with sealable, refillable fluid product packaging, and offers for sale the savings participation right to investors based on said established value. The savings participation right holder is paid a monetary value based on actually realized municipal savings resulting from a reduction in solid waste as a consequence of the municipal solid waste reduction program. Such rights can take the form of Municipal Term Savings from Savings Participation Rights Units, and Municipal After Term Savings from Savings Participation Rights Units.
The present invention is a marketing and distribution method for introducing and maintaining refillable containers for personal care products such as cosmetics, creams, lotions, and sprays. The refillable container is refilled at local refill stations at stores, kiosks, vending machines, and the like, to eliminate the need for new packaging with each purchase. The method is designed to reduce waste and costs associated with product packaging by using refillable containers to dispense personal care products.
B65B 3/04 - Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles
G06Q 90/00 - Systems or methods specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial or supervisory purposes, not involving significant data processing
G06Q 99/00 - Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
G09F 15/00 - Boards, hoardings, pillars, or like structures for notices, placards, posters, or the like
G09F 27/00 - Combined visual and audible advertising or displaying, e.g. for public address
B65B 25/00 - Packaging other articles presenting special problems
B65B 43/00 - Forming, feeding, opening, or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
B65B 55/00 - Preserving, protecting or purifying packages or package contents in association with packaging
B65B 65/00 - Details peculiar to packaging machines and not otherwise provided forArrangements of such details
An apparatus for dispensing material through a refillable cartridge, comprising a container having a receptacle for receiving a refill cartridge, the container having a lid cooperating with the container to enclose the refill cartridge, the container further comprising an exit port and a channel for communicating material from the refill cartridge to the exit port, and a valve for controlling the flow of material out of the refill cartridge; and a reusable, refill cartridge sized to be received in the receptacle, the refill cartridge including compressed gas and material separated by a bi-conical thruster, the refill cartridge further comprising a first end having a material inlet and outlet manifold, and a second end having a compressed gas inlet. The system's performance can be improved by applying a surface treatment to the wetted surfaces of the system to change the physical properties at the fluid/vessel interface.
B65D 83/64 - Containers for dispensing liquid or semi-liquid contents by internal gaseous pressure, i.e. aerosol containers comprising propellant with contents and propellant separated by pistons
G01F 11/02 - Apparatus requiring external operation adapted at each repeated and identical operation to measure and separate a predetermined volume of fluid or fluent solid material from a supply or container, without regard to weight, and to deliver it with measuring chambers which expand or contract during measurement
G01F 11/04 - Apparatus requiring external operation adapted at each repeated and identical operation to measure and separate a predetermined volume of fluid or fluent solid material from a supply or container, without regard to weight, and to deliver it with measuring chambers which expand or contract during measurement of the free-piston type
B05B 9/08 - Apparatus to be carried on or by a person, e.g. of knapsack type
An integrated material transfer and dispensing system for storing, transferring and dispensing materials, such as fluids and liquids, for example, liquid applied sound deadener (LASD). The system includes at least one vessel having a force transfer device. Each vessel may be removably enclosed in cabinet to form an automated station. Each vessel may be configured with a data logger, cleanout port, a sample valve at least one sight window and an access port for introducing a compound such as a biocide. Each vessel may be configured with instruments including sensors for measuring process variables, such as material volume, level, temperature, pressure and flow. The system may further include a metering device system and a robotic material dispenser system without a pump interface. The robotic system may further include a computer control system connected to flow and pressure sensors. The system may directly feed an applicator without an intervening pump.
B67D 7/60 - Arrangements of pumps manually operable
G01F 11/00 - Apparatus requiring external operation adapted at each repeated and identical operation to measure and separate a predetermined volume of fluid or fluent solid material from a supply or container, without regard to weight, and to deliver it
B65D 83/00 - Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents
B67D 7/02 - Apparatus or devices for transferring liquids from bulk storage containers or reservoirs into vehicles or into portable containers, e.g. for retail sale purposes for transferring liquids other than fuel or lubricants
An apparatus for dispensing material through a refillable cartridge, comprising a container having a receptacle for receiving a refill cartridge, the container having a lid cooperating with the container to enclose the refill cartridge, the container further comprising an exit port and a channel for communicating material from the refill cartridge to the exit port, and a valve for controlling the flow of material out of the refill cartridge; and a reusable, refill cartridge sized to be received in the receptacle.
A system and method for refilling packaging for consumer products of viscous fluids, gels, foams, soaps, creams, and the like, comprising a refillable reusable container for dispensing said consumer product under pressure, and a refilling unit in a fluid transfer station for transferring consumer product and/or energy and/or to or from the refillable, reusable container. The refilling unit is exchanged when depleted with a fresh refilling unit from a distribution facility or directly from a manufacturing facility. Consumers can refill their reusable packaging at said fluid transfer station, eliminating the need for purchasing product in a new package to prevent undue waste and save the costs of additional packaging.
G01F 11/00 - Apparatus requiring external operation adapted at each repeated and identical operation to measure and separate a predetermined volume of fluid or fluent solid material from a supply or container, without regard to weight, and to deliver it
16.
Portable constant-pressure refillable material transfer system
A refillable material transfer system is disclosed having a portable constant-pressure compressed gas system for storing, transferring and dispensing viscous material, such as fluids and liquids, includes a material containment vessel with an upper region incorporating a motive force and a bottom region with a material ingress and egress opening. The portable constant-pressure compressed gas subsystem can be used with a fluid vessel, hand-held systems, a backpack system or other configurations.
This invention distributes energy that distributes material. This energy (electrical, hydraulic, and/or pneumatic) is distributed to material displacement devices. These displacement devices convert this distributed energy into hydraulic energy to transfer material through material piping sections. These displacement devices and piping sections may be parallel, series, and/or in a network. Instrumentation and controls are integrated with these displacement devices and piping sections.
An integrated material transfer and dispensing system for storing, transferring and dispensing materials, such as fluids, and liquids, for example, liquid applied sound deadener (LASD). The system includes at least one vessel having a force transfer device. Each vessel may be removably enclosed in cabinet to form an automated station. Each vessel may be configured with a data logger, cleanout port, a sample valve at least one sight window and an access port for introducing a compound such as a biocide. Each vessel may be configured with instruments including sensors for measuring process variables, such as material volume, level, temperature, pressure and flow. The system may further include a metering device system and a robotic material dispenser system without a pump interface. The robotic system may further include a computer control system connected to flow and pressure sensors. The system may directly feed an applicator without an intervening pump.
patents
