Refillable spray bottle

Abstract

A refillable spray dispenser comprising a top compartment ( 6120 ) and a bottom compartment ( 6130 ) separated by a roof ( 6140 ); an exhaust hole in the bottom compartment ( 6130 ) and a passage extending from the exhaust hole to the bottom opening, and an upper sealing ring. A valve comprising a valve body and a valve core piston ( 6270 ), wherein: the core piston ( 6270 ) has a stem ( 6271 ) firmly inside the valve body and a head ( 6274 ) outside the valve body, and a valve groove extends along a portion of the stem ( 6271 ) that is inside the valve body; the upper sealing ring ( 6252 ) blocking the exhaust hole when the valve is at rest. Pushing a bottom sealing ring ( 6256 ) allows the bottom sealing ring ( 6256 ) and the valve to be moved toward the roof ( 6140 ), fluid to pass through the valve groove and the head groove into the top compartment ( 6120 ).

1 . A refillable dispenser comprising:
 a dispenser assembly;   a valve comprising a valve body and a valve core piston, wherein the core piston has a piston stem firmly inside the valve body and a head outside the valve body, and a valve groove extends along a portion of the piston that is inside the valve body;   a bottle having:   a top compartment in fluid communication with the dispenser assembly;   a bottom compartment within which the valve is positioned, the bottom compartment comprising: bottom compartment walls; an upper sealing ring and a bottom sealing ring; a bottom opening, a roof aperture and an exhaust hole in the bottom compartment walls, and a passage extending from the exhaust hole to the bottom opening;   an urging means urging the valve body against the bottom sealing ring and the head against the top sealing ring;   wherein the bottom sealing ring seals the passage, preventing communication of fluid from the top compartment to the bottom opening, and the top sealing ring seals the valve groove, preventing communication of fluid from the valve to the top compartment, when the valve is at a resting position, and   wherein the bottom sealing ring allows communication of fluid from the top compartment, via the exhaust hole and the passage to the bottom opening, and the top sealing ring allows communication of fluid from the bottom opening, via the valve, to the top compartment when the valve is in an extended position, and   wherein the core piston head is situated between the upper sealing ring and a roof, and comprises a head groove on a side of the head facing the roof,   and pushing the bottom sealing ring allows the bottom sealing ring and the valve to be moved toward the roof until the valve head contacts the roof, fluid to pass through the valve groove and the head groove into the top compartment, and exhaust gas to pass through the passage to the bottom opening.   
     
     
         2 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser assembly is a spray assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The dispenser of  claim 2 , wherein the head has a diameter that is wider than a hole in the upper sealing ring and the roof aperture, but narrower than an inner diameter of the bottom compartment, and the head is thinner than a height of the roof above a bottom of the top compartment. 
     
     
         4 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the valve core piston comprises at least two legs holding the valve core piston inside the valve body, and the valve groove comprises a gap between the two legs, the valve groove further comprising a body groove on the valve body, the valve groove positioned to be blocked by the upper seal ring when the valve is at rest. 
     
     
         5 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , further comprising an end cap holding the bottom sealing ring and the valve, wherein the end cap has one or more vertical cap groove positioned opposite a vent hole. 
     
     
         6 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the valve core has a circular ridge on an underside of the head, the ridge configured to help prevent escape of fluid from the top compartment into the bottom compartment below the upper seal ring. 
     
     
         7 . The dispenser of  claim 5 , wherein the end cap has a ridge that enhances engagement of the endcap with the bottom sealing ring, thereby assisting in preventing escape of fluid from the top compartment via the vent when the valve is at rest. 
     
     
         8 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the bottle is very small, and wherein the head comprises a ridge thereon about 0.2 mm high. 
     
     
         9 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the upper seal ring and the bottom sealing ring have different hardnesses. 
     
     
         10 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the head has a diameter that is wider than a hole in the upper sealing ring and the roof aperture, but narrower than an inner diameter of the bottom compartment, and the head is thinner than a height of the roof above a bottom of the top compartment. 
     
     
         11 . A refillable dispenser comprising:
 a top compartment;   a bottom compartment comprising:   a bottom opening;   an upper sealing ring, and   a valve, the valve comprising:   a filling channel extending therethrough, and   a head with a head groove;   a roof between the bottom compartment and the top compartment, the roof having a roof aperture;   wherein the upper sealing ring:   blocks the filling channel when the valve is at a resting position, and   allows communication of fluid from the bottom opening to the top compartment, via the filling channel, the head groove and the roof aperture, when the valve is at a moved position such that the head contacts the roof.   
     
     
         12 . The refillable dispenser of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 an exhaust channel;   a bottom sealing ring;   wherein the bottom sealing ring:   blocks the exhaust channel when the valve is at a resting position, and   allows communication of fluid from the top compartment with the bottom opening, via the exhaust channel when the valve is at a moved position such that the head contacts the roof.   
     
     
         13 . The refillable dispenser of  claim 11 , wherein the dispenser is configured to allow the valve to be positioned at a moved position by action of a reservoir stem of a non-refillable dispenser against the valve. 
     
     
         14 . The refillable dispenser of  claim 12 , wherein the dispenser is configured to allow the valve to be positioned at a moved position by action of a reservoir stem of a non-refillable dispenser against the bottom sealing ring. 
     
     
         15 . A kit comprising at least one non-refillable dispenser and the refillable dispenser of  claim 11 . 
     
     
         16 . The dispenser of  claim 12 , further comprising an end cap holding the bottom sealing ring and the valve, wherein the end cap has one or more vertical cap groove positioned opposite a vent hole. 
     
     
         17 . The dispenser of  claim 11 , wherein the valve further comprises a circular ridge on an underside of the head, the ridge capable of helping prevent escape of fluid from the top compartment into the bottom compartment below the upper seal ring. 
     
     
         18 . The dispenser of  claim 11 , wherein the head comprises a ridge thereon about 0.2 mm high. 
     
     
         19 . The dispenser of  claim 12 , wherein the upper seal ring and the bottom sealing ring have different hardnesses.