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EP-4737350-A2 - ACTUATOR BASED PACKAGING FOR USE WITH CARTRIDGE REFILLS

EP4737350A2EP 4737350 A2EP4737350 A2EP 4737350A2EP-4737350-A2

Abstract

Disclosed herein are actuator based packages for use with cartridge refills. A package (1200) includes a container (1210); a replaceable cartridge refill (1500) disposed in the container (1210) and that comprises: a pouch (1510) that contains a useable material; a cap (1520) connected to the pouch (1500) and that defines holes (1526) configured to dispense the useable material; and a slider mechanism (1230, 1810, 2110) configured to compress the pouch (1500) to dispense the useable material through the holes (1526) of the cap (1520).

Inventors

  • MINNETTE, JEFFREY C.

Assignees

  • Nypro Inc.

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20210813

Claims (15)

  1. A package (1200) comprising: a container (1210); a replaceable cartridge refill (1500) disposed in the container (1210) and that comprises: a pouch (1510) that contains a useable material; a cap (1520) connected to the pouch (1500) and that defines holes (1526) configured to dispense the useable material; and a slider mechanism (1230, 1810, 2110) configured to compress the pouch (1500) to dispense the useable material through the holes (1526) of the cap (1520).
  2. The package of claim 1, wherein the slider mechanism (1230, 1810, 2110) includes: a slider (1232, 1630); and a platform (1640) connected to the slider (1630) and configured to squeeze the replaceable cartridge refill based on sliding of the slider (1232, 1630).
  3. The package of claim 2, wherein the holes (1526) are defined by a dispensing surface (1524) of the cap (1520), and wherein the platform (1640) is configured to compress the pouch (1500) against dispensing surface (1524) to dispense the useable material.
  4. The package of claim 2, wherein the platform (1640) is configured to position the replaceable cartridge refill (1500) within the container (1210).
  5. The package of claim 2, wherein the platform (1640) is configured to squeeze the replaceable cartridge refill (1500) when the slider (1232, 1630) is moved up towards the cap (1520).
  6. The package of claim 5, wherein upon exhaustion of the useable material contained in the pouch (1500), the slider (1232, 1630) is configured to return to an initial position at a bottom of the container (1210) so that the replaceable cartridge refill (1500) can be removed and another replaceable cartridge refill can be inserted into the container (1210).
  7. The package of claim 1, wherein the container (1210) includes a scalloped-like access area (1610) that permits the slider (1630) and the platform (1640) to move with respect to the container (1210) when the slider (1630) is slid by a user.
  8. The package of claim 7, wherein the scalloped-like access area (1610) includes slots (1612) that are configured to guide the slider (1630) and the platform (1640) when the slider (1630) is slid by the user.
  9. The package of claim 8, wherein the slots (1612) are configured to prevent the slider (1232, 1630) and the platform (1640) from moving down or slipping.
  10. The package of claim 9, wherein the slots (1612) are configured to maintain a position of the slider (1232, 1630) and the platform (1640) within the slots (1612).
  11. The package of claim 1, further comprising a replaceable cap (1220) that is configured to fit the container (1210), wherein the replaceable cap (1220) includes ridges (1222) that are configured to ease removal and placement of the replaceable cap (1220) with respect to the container (1210).
  12. The package of claim 1, wherein the replaceable cartridge refill (1500) is configured to be placed into the container (1210) and closed by the replaceable cap (1220).
  13. The package of claim 1, wherein the slider mechanism (1230, 1810, 2110) is configured to be manually actuated by a user to dispense the useable material.
  14. The package of claim 1, wherein the useable material is a gel or semi-solid material that is configured to flow out of the replaceable cartridge refill (1500) through the holes (1526) of the cap (1520).
  15. The package of claim 1, wherein the replaceable cartridge refill (1500) is made from one or more of biodegradable materials, recyclable materials, or sustainable materials.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD This disclosure relates to packaging and in particular, packages having actuators to dispense content from cartridge refills. BACKGROUND Packages which dispense content from refill cartridges are widely used for a variety of products. For instance, FR 2 916 370 Al discloses a dispenser for liquid, creamy or semi-solid cosmetic, pharmaceutical or parapharmaceutical product, which comprises a flexible reservoir intended to contain said product, a diffuser connected to this flexible reservoir, and means for progressive compression of said reservoir. Further conventional packaging having actuators to dispense content are disclosed in US 2007/051749 A1, JP H10 120054 A, WO 201 0/1 28768 A2, WO 99/44913 A1, EP 0 144 925 A2 and KR 2006 0090790 A. SUMMARY Disclosed herein are methods and packages which have actuators to dispense content from refill cartridges. According to the invention, a package according to claim 1 is provided. The invention is further defined by the appended set of claims. The description that follows is subjected to this limitation. Any disclosure lying outside the scope of said claims is only intended for illustrative as well as comparative purposes. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The disclosure is best understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and are incorporated into and thus constitute a part of this specification. It is emphasized that, according to common practice, the various features of the drawings are not to-scale. On the contrary, the dimensions of the various features are arbitrarily expanded or reduced for clarity. FIG. 1A is an example of a pump actuated package in accordance with implementations.FIG. 1B is a top view of the pump actuated package of FIG. 1A in accordance with implementations.FIG. 2 is an example of the pump actuated package of FIG. 1A with a cap off in accordance with implementations.FIG. 3A is an example of a disposable cartridge for use in the pump actuated package of FIG. 1A in accordance with implementations.FIG. 3B is a top view of a dispensing surface of the disposable cartridge of FIG. 3A in accordance with implementations.FIG. 4 is an internalized view of a pump actuated package in an initial state in accordance with implementations.FIG. 5 is an internalized view of a pump actuated package in partially used state in accordance with implementations.FIG. 6 is an internalized view of a pump actuated package in a fully used state in accordance with implementations.FIG. 7 is a view of an example diagram of a pump actuated package in accordance with implementations.FIG. 8 is a profile view of an example diagram of a pump actuated package of FIG. 7 in accordance with implementations.FIG. 9 is another profile view of an example diagram of a pump actuated package of FIG. 7 in accordance with implementations.FIG. 10 is a view of an example diagram of a pump actuated package in accordance with implementations.FIG. 11 is a profile view of the pump actuated package of FIG. 10 in accordance with implementations.FIG. 12 is an example of a slider actuated package in an initial state in accordance with implementations.FIG. 13A is an example of a slider actuated package in a used state in accordance with implementations.FIG. 13B is a top view of the slider actuated package of FIG. 13A in accordance with implementations.FIG. 14 is an example of the slider actuated package of FIG. 13A or 13B with a cap off in accordance with implementations.FIG. 15A is an example of a disposable cartridge for use in the slider actuated package of FIGS. 12-14 in accordance with implementations.FIG. 15B is a top view of a dispensing surface of the disposable cartridge of FIG. 15A in accordance with implementations.FIG. 16 is a view of an example diagram of a slider actuated package in a full or initial state in accordance with implementations.FIG. 17 is a view of an example diagram of a slider actuated package in a dispensed or used state in accordance with implementations.FIG. 18 is a view of an example diagram of a slider actuated package in accordance with implementations.FIG. 19 is a profile view of an example diagram of a slider actuated package of FIG. 18 in accordance with implementations.FIG. 20 is another profile view of an example diagram of a slider actuated package of FIG. 18 in accordance with implementations.FIG. 21 is a view of an example diagram of a slider actuated package in accordance with implementations.FIG. 22 is a profile view of the slider actuated package of FIG. 21 in accordance with implementations. DETAILED DESCRIPTION The figures and descriptions provided herein may be simplified to illustrate aspects of the described embodiments that are relevant for a clear understanding of the herein disclosed processes, machines, manufactures, and/or compositions of matter, while eliminating for the purpose of clarity other aspects that may be found in typical similar devices, systems, composit