Flushing Dispensers for Delivering a Consistent Consumer Experience

Abstract

A process for flushing a dispenser and a process for combining a first composition and a second composition to form a mixture and dispensing said mixture through an exit orifice are provided; assemblies for flushing are also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A process for combining a first composition and a second composition to form a mixture and dispensing said mixture through an exit orifice, said process comprising:
 providing a dispenser, said dispenser comprising a first reservoir for storing said first composition and a second reservoir for storing said second composition, said dispenser further comprising a first pump in liquid communication with said first reservoir and a second pump in liquid communication with said second reservoir, each of said first pump and second pump in liquid communication with a premix chamber, said premix chamber in communication with the exit orifice, optionally through a swirl chamber and thence through said exit orifice;   wherein said dispenser further comprises an assembly for operating said first and second pumps substantially simultaneously to provide delivery of a first volume of the first composition and a second volume of the second composition to said premix chamber to form the mixture and to dispense said mixture from said premix chamber via said exit orifice;   wherein during the formation of said mixed composition, delivery of one of the first and second volume is halted, whereby a final unmixed volume of the counterpart composition continues to be solely delivered into the premix chamber to flush any residual mixed composition remaining in the premix chamber, and optionally the swirl chamber, out through the exit orifice.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the first composition and the second composition do not mix prior to entering the swirl chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 2 , wherein the first composition and the second composition do not mix prior to entering the premix chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the premix chamber comprises a mixing volume and the dispenser dispenses a dispensing volume. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 4 , wherein the mixing volume is from about 1% to 75%, from about 2% to about 20%, or from about 4% to about 14%, by volume, of the dispensing volume. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 5 , wherein the dispensing volume is from about 30 microliters to about 300 microliters, from about 50 microliters to about 140 microliters, or from about 70 microliters to about 130 microliters. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second compositions comprises a fragrance. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the volume of the output of the first pump and the second pump are different. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the flushing volume comprises 0.01% to 98%, by weight, of ethanol. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 10 , wherein the dispenser comprises a first reservoir for storing said first composition and a second reservoir for storing said second composition, said dispenser further comprising a first pump in liquid communication with said first reservoir and a second pump in liquid communication with said second reservoir, each of said first pump and second pump in liquid communication with at least one of a swirl chamber and a premix chamber; wherein said premix chamber and swirl chamber are in liquid communication with an exit orifice, the first pump, and second pump when each is included within the dispenser. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 10 , wherein the flushing volume comprises greater than 50% ethanol. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 10 , wherein the flushing volume comprises greater than 50% ethanol and is free of microcapsules. 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 10 , wherein the flushing volume comprises a fragrance.