Actuator based packaging for use with solid cartridge refills

Abstract

Disclosed herein are actuator based packages for use with cartridge refills. A package includes a container configured to hold a cartridge refill, a replaceable cap configured to fit the container, and an actuator mechanism integral with the container. The actuator mechanism is configured to compress the cartridge refill to dispense a useable material contained in the cartridge refill. The actuator mechanism can be a slider mechanism. The actuator mechanism can be a screw mechanism.

1 . A package comprising:
 a container configured to hold a cartridge refill;   a replaceable cap configured to fit the container; and   an actuator mechanism integral with the container, the actuator mechanism configured to dispense a useable material contained in the cartridge refill.   
     
     
         2 . The package of  claim 1 , the cartridge refill comprising:
 a cap configured to assist in positioning the cartridge refill in the container;   an in-mold label based pouch configured to contain the useable material; and   a lock and load mechanism configured to interference or friction fit with the container.   
     
     
         3 . The package of  claim 2 , the actuator mechanism comprising:
 an elevator, wherein the cartridge refill is positionable on the elevator; and   a slider connected to the elevator, the slider and the elevator configured to compress the in-mold label based pouch against the lock and load mechanism to dispense the useable material.   
     
     
         4 . The package of  claim 3 , the container comprising:
 an access surface configured to permit a user to move the slider, the access surface including slots configured to retain the slider in position once moved.   
     
     
         5 . The package of  claim 2 , the container comprising:
 an elevator, wherein the cartridge refill is positionable on the elevator; and   a pair of sliders, each slider connected to one side of the elevator, the pair of sliders and the elevator configured to compress the in-mold label based pouch against the lock and load mechanism to dispense the useable material.   
     
     
         6 . The package of  claim 5 , the container comprising:
 a pair of access surfaces configured to permit a user to move the pair of sliders.   
     
     
         7 . The package of  claim 1 , the cartridge refill comprising:
 a film;   a top component including an alignment slot configured to align the cartridge refill with the container and a lock and load mechanism configured to interference or friction fit with the container; and   a base component including a screw, the base component connected to the top component by in-mold labeling the film to the top component and the base component to establish a place for the useable material.   
     
     
         8 . The package of  claim 7 , the actuator mechanism comprising:
 an elevator, wherein the screw is positionable on the elevator; and   an actuator connected to the elevator,   wherein rotation of the actuator rotates the elevator which moves the screw to compress the film against the lock and load mechanism to dispense the useable material.   
     
     
         9 . The package of  claim 1 , the cartridge refill comprising:
 a housing including a lock and load mechanism configured to interference or friction fit with the container;   a film in-mold labeled to the housing to establish a place for the useable material;   a screw; and   an elevator connected to the screw.   
     
     
         10 . The package of  claim 9 , the actuator mechanism comprising:
 an actuator connected to the screw,   wherein rotation of the actuator rotates the screw which moves the elevator to compress the film against the lock and load mechanism to dispense the useable material.   
     
     
         11 . A method for providing a reusable package, the method comprising:
 providing a container configured to hold a replaceable compressible cartridge;   replaceably positioning the replaceable compressible cartridge in the container; and   dispensing contents from the replaceable compressible cartridge by actuating an actuator mechanism to compress the replaceable compressible cartridge, wherein the actuator mechanism is integral with the container;   removing the replaceable compressible cartridge after usage of the contents; and   replaceably positioning another replaceable compressible cartridge in the container.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , the method comprising:
 forming a content bearing pouch for the replaceable compressible cartridge by in-mold labeling a film with a replaceable compressible cartridge structure.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the replaceably positioning further comprises:
 locking the replaceable compressible cartridge to the container via an interference or friction fit to enable compression of the film.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the replaceably positioning further comprises:
 aligning the replaceable compressible cartridge to the container to enable compression of the film.   
     
     
         15 . A package comprising:
 a container;   a cartridge refill comprising:
 a cap configured to assist in positioning the cartridge refill in the container; 
 an in-mold label based pouch configured to contain useable material; and 
 a lock and load mechanism configured to interference or friction fit with the container; 
   a replaceable cap configured to fit the container; and   an actuator mechanism configured to dispense the useable material contained in the in-mold label based pouch.   
     
     
         16 . The package of  claim 15 , the actuator mechanism comprising:
 an elevator, wherein the cartridge refill is positionable on the elevator; and   a slider connected to the elevator, the slider and the elevator configured to compress the in-mold label based pouch against the lock and load mechanism to dispense the useable material.   
     
     
         17 . The package of  claim 16 , the container comprising:
 an access surface configured to permit a user to move the slider, the access surface including slots configured to retain the slider in position once moved.   
     
     
         18 . The package of  claim 15 , the container comprising:
 an elevator, wherein the cartridge refill is positionable on the elevator; and   a pair of sliders, each slider connected to one side of the elevator, the pair of sliders and the elevator configured to compress the in-mold label based pouch against the lock and load mechanism to dispense the useable material.   
     
     
         19 . The package of  claim 18 , the container comprising:
 a pair of access surfaces configured to permit a user to move the pair of sliders.   
     
     
         20 . The package of  claim 15 , the actuator mechanism comprising:
 a screw;   an elevator connected to the screw; and   an actuator connected to the screw,   wherein rotation of the actuator rotates the screw which moves the elevator to compress the in-mold label based pouch against the lock and load mechanism to dispense the useable material.