US-12616208-B2 - Liquid dispensing system, components and features thereof, and methods of use thereof

Abstract

A pesticide product having a liquid dispensing system and a pesticidal composition contained within a bottle. The liquid dispensing system includes a bottle having an interior volume and a neck terminating in a rim circumscribing and defining a main opening through the neck to the interior volume. The neck has a first retaining feature. The liquid dispensing fixture includes a housing, a carry handle, an electric motor configured to drive a pump, a dispensing nozzle in fluid communication with the pump, and a spray actuator operatively connected to the pump. The liquid dispensing fixture is configured to engage the first retaining feature of the bottle. The pesticidal composition includes from about 0.5% to about 10% clove oil; from about 0.01% to about 1.5% citric acid; an anionic surfactant; and water.

Inventors

• Paul John Edward Vernon
• Keven James WALTER
• Michael Anthony Majher
• Christy Jiayi ZHANG
• Hannah Paige TATMAN
• Joseph Frank Clear, III
• Mitchell MESSENGER

Assignees

• THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20250627

Claims (15)

1. 1 . A pesticide product comprising: a liquid dispensing system comprising: a bottle comprising an interior volume and a neck terminating in a rim circumscribing and defining a main opening through the neck to the interior volume, wherein the neck comprises a first retaining feature; and a liquid dispensing fixture comprising: a housing, a carry handle, an electric motor configured to drive a pump, a dispensing nozzle in fluid communication with the pump, and a spray actuator operatively connected to the pump, wherein the liquid dispensing fixture is configured to engage the first retaining feature of the bottle; and a pesticidal composition contained within the bottle, the pesticidal composition comprising: from about 0.5% to about 10% by weight of the pesticide composition of clove oil; from about 0.01% to about 1.5% by weight of the pesticidal composition of citric acid; an anionic surfactant, wherein the anionic surfactant is a soap comprising a salt of a C7-C22 fatty acid; and from about 45% to about 99%, by weight of the composition, of water; and a thickener; wherein the pesticidal composition is an oil-in-water emulsion.
2. 2 . The pesticide product of claim 1 , wherein the interior volume of the bottle is configured to hold from about 1,000 g to about 2,500 g of the pesticidal composition.
3. 3 . The pesticide product of claim 1 , wherein the pesticidal composition comprises from about 0.01% to about 15%, by weight of the composition, of the anionic surfactant.
4. 4 . The pesticide product of claim 1 , wherein the bottle is made of a plastic chosen from a high density polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, or combinations thereof.
5. 5 . The pesticide product of claim 1 , wherein the pesticidal composition has a Brookfield viscosity from about 2 cps to about 500 cps.
6. 6 . The pesticide product of claim 1 , wherein the pesticidal composition has a surface tension ranging from about 10 mN/m to about 60 mN/m.
7. 7 . The pesticide product of claim 1 , wherein the pesticidal composition comprises from about 3% to about 35% by weight of volatile organic compound (VOC).
8. 8 . The pesticide product of claim 1 , wherein the liquid dispensing system further comprises a fluid passage fitting configured to fit over the rim and/or within the main opening of the bottle, the fluid passage fitting comprising a structure defining a liquid dispensing passage providing fluid communication between the interior volume of the bottle and an outside environment.
9. 9 . The pesticide product of claim 1 , wherein the bottle is non-pressurized.
10. 10 . The pesticide product of claim 1 , wherein the pesticidal composition has a Spray D(90) of from about 100 microns to 900 microns, as measured according to the Spray Droplet Size Test Method.
11. 11 . The pesticide product of claim 1 , wherein the first retaining feature comprises one or more outwardly projecting helical screw threads.
12. 12 . The pesticide product of claim 1 , wherein the salt is sodium.
13. 13 . The pesticide product of claim 1 , wherein the salt is potassium.
14. 14 . The pesticide product of claim 1 , wherein the thickener comprises xanthan gum.
15. 15 . The pesticide product of claim 1 , wherein the pesticidal composition is substantially free of synthetic pesticides, mineral oil, colorants, or a combination thereof.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 120 to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/360,766 filed on Jul. 27, 2023, which claims the benefit, under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e), of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/418,413 filed Oct. 21, 2022, and, 63/392,707, 63/392,704, 63/392,703, 63/392,702, 63/392,700 and 63/394,699, each filed Jul. 27, 2022, the entire disclosure of which is fully incorporated by reference herein. FIELD The present disclosure relates generally to liquid dispensing systems and more specifically to liquid dispensing systems having a reusable dispensing fixture and a reusable spray dispenser. BACKGROUND Various configurations of reusable container bottles or vessels, coupled with reusable delivery systems, for carrying and dispensing liquid compositions, particularly pest control compositions, such as insecticides, insect repellents, fungicides and/or herbicides, designed for easy manual portability and non-commercial/consumer use, are known. Older technology has included a generally cylindrical container vessel coupled with a removable/replaceable top fixture. The top fixture scalingly fits about a top opening in the vessel, and is equipped with a hand-operated air pump and check valve system, configured to pump air into the vessel and thereby pressurize it. The top fixture also typically includes an attached dip tube configured to extend from an inside opening in the top fixture, to a distal intake end. The dip tube typically has a length such that the intake end will be disposed proximate the bottom of the interior of the vessel, when the top fixture is completely installed on the vessel. The proximal end of the dip tube is connected to an underside of the top fixture, and a further liquid passageway goes from the connection, through and out the fixture, to and through a suitably convenient length of flexible delivery hose or tube, and then to a dispensing wand having a hand-operable liquid release valve and a rigid spray tube, ending at a dispensing nozzle. Upon pressurization of the vessel via operation of the hand air pump, liquid is forced under pressure up the dip tube, through and out the top fixture, and out to the wand. Variations of newer technology have included a non-pressurized bottle coupled with a dispensing fixture and a liquid pump. The liquid pump may be operably fluidly connected with a dispensing fixture, or alternatively, with a dispensing wand. The dispensing fixture may include a trigger and dispensing nozzle, or may be connected to a dispensing wand by a suitably convenient length of flexible delivery hose or tube. In some examples the liquid pump is disposed inside a handle of the dispensing wand. In some examples the pump is manually operated; in other examples it is driven by an electric motor. The liquid pump may be activated to pump liquid from the bottle, by a control mechanism such as a trigger, button or switch, disposed on the dispensing fixture or on the wand. Although these known systems can be useful and effective for dispensing liquid compositions, such as liquid pest control compositions, they also have shortcomings, leaving room for improvements. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a non-limiting example of a liquid dispensing system. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a non-limiting example of a liquid dispensing system, viewed from a predominately front or rear, angled perspective. FIG. 3 is a schematic elevation view of a non-limiting example of a cap. FIG. 4 is a schematic elevation view of a non-limiting example of a portion of a bottle with a neck. FIG. 5 is a schematic elevation view of a non-limiting example of a portion of a bottle with a neck, with a cap installed thereon. FIG. 6 is a schematic elevation view of a non-limiting example of a bottle with a neck, with a cap installed thereon, with a schematic vertical section view of portions of a non-limiting example of a dispensing fixture and spacer installed thereon. FIG. 7 is a schematic elevation view of a non-limiting example of a bottle with a neck, with a schematic vertical section view of portions of a non-limiting example of a dispensing fixture installed thereon. FIG. 8 is a schematic vertical section view of portions of a non-limiting example of a dispensing fixture. FIG. 9 is a schematic elevation view of portions of a non-limiting example of a dispensing fixture. (The views shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 are rotated 90 degrees from each other along a horizontal plane.) FIG. 10A is a schematic vertical section view of a non-limiting example of a fluid passage fitting. FIG. 10B is a schematic vertical section view of a non-limiting example of a sealing gasket. FIG. 10C is an elevation view of a non-limiting example of a portion of a bottle with a neck. FIG. 11A is a schematic vertical section view of a non-limiting example of a fluid passage fitting. FIG. 11B is an elevation view of a