# US 9,517,481 B2 · Methods, devices and systems for refilling a liquid dispenser

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- Number: US 9,517,481 B2
- Document ID: US9517481B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/795,245
- Filed: 2015-07-09
- Published: 2016-01-28
- Granted: 2016-12-13
- Earliest claimed: 2014-07-23
- Assignees: The Procter & Gamble Company
- Applicants: The Procter & Gamble Company
- Inventors: Daniel Scott; Andrew Graham Masters
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9517481B2

## CPC

- B05B 11/0056: {with an additional opening for filling or refilling}
- A45D 34/02: Scent flasks, e.g. with evaporator
- B05B 11/0097: {Means for filling or refilling the sprayer (through additional openings in the container B05B11/0056)}
- B05B 11/10: Pump arrangements for transferring the contents from the container to a pump chamber by a sucking effect and forcing the contents out through the dispensing nozzle
- B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D)
- A45D: HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT (wigs, toupees or the like A41G3/00, A41G5/00; hairdressers' chairs A47C1/04; hair cutting appliances, razors B26B); EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING

## Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a liquid refilling system (10) including a parent device (201) and a child or portable travel sized device (101) that can be releasably coupled to the parent device (201) to transfer liquid from the parent to the child device. The parent device (210) is provided with a pump (207) in liquid communication with a parent reservoir (203) containing the liquid. The pump of the parent device has a volume which is preferably substantially equal to the volume (Vcr) of the child reservoir thereby enabling a minimal number of single actuations of the parent pump (207) to completely fill the child reservoir (103) if desired upon coupling thereof.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A liquid refill system for use with a fragrance composition, said liquid refill system (10) comprising:
a) a child device having a child liquid reservoir having a volume (VCR) and a child air outlet valve, said child device having a first portion having a child dispensing mechanism and a second portion having a child refill mechanism comprising a child liquid inlet and a child one way liquid inlet refill valve associated therewith;
b) a parent device having a parent liquid reservoir containing a liquid, said parent device having a first portion having a parent refill mechanism, a parent liquid outlet, a parent one way liquid valve associated with the parent liquid outlet,
said parent device having a parent pump having a pump volume (Vpp), in liquid communication with the parent liquid reservoir via a parent one way liquid inlet valve and in liquid communication with said liquid outlet, said parent device also having a liquid return valve and liquid outlet, wherein the ratio of the volume of the parent pump to the volume of the child reservoir is 12:1 or less.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The liquid refill system according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the volume of said parent pump to said child liquid reservoir is 10:1 or less.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The liquid refill system according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the volume of said parent pump to said child liquid reservoir is substantially 1:1.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The liquid refill system according to claim 1, wherein said child dispensing mechanism is a spray pump.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The liquid refill system according to claim 1, wherein said parent device comprises a cavity to accommodate at least a portion of said child device.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The liquid refill system according to claim 1, wherein the parent liquid reservoir has a liquid capacity of 100 ml or less.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A method of refilling the liquid refill system according to claim 1, the method comprising the steps of:
i) releasably coupling the child refill mechanism to the parent refill mechanism and actuating the parent pump at least once to form a seal around a liquid pathway which extends from the parent outlet to the child liquid inlet and the child one way liquid inlet refill valve of the child liquid reservoir through which the liquid contained in the parent pump is transferred to the child liquid reservoir, whilst air is expelled from the child liquid reservoir via the child air outlet valve, and upon termination of the actuation of the parent pump, the seal and the liquid pathway are disconnected, and the parent pump refills with liquid from the parent liquid reservoir via the parent one way liquid inlet valve and parent inlet, and air enters the parent liquid reservoir via the parent air inlet valve; and
ii) decoupling the child refill mechanism from the parent refill mechanism.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method according to claim 7, wherein said child refill mechanism is releaseably coupled to the parent mechanism in a substantially co-linear configuration.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The method according to claim 7, wherein said parent pump is activated at least twice.