Wick-based liquid emanation system with child-resistant overcap

Abstract

A child-resistant, wick-based liquid emanation system includes a container which is capable of containing liquid and has an opening. A wick is partially disposed within the container and extends through the opening of the container. A hollow overcap encases the extended portion of the wick and has a closed, separable tip and an open base attached to cover the opening of the container. The system is activated by separating the tip from the overcap. A retainer may be provided for obstructing complete removal of the wick from the container through the overcap after the tip is separated from the overcap. The retainer can include a shoulder disposed in the overcap between the tip and the base to retain the wick toward the base of the overcap. Alternatively, a protrusion from the wick can engage an inner surface of the overcap or the container. In this case, the overcap can have a frangible portion facilitating separation of the tip, and the wick can extend past the frangible portion toward the tip.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A child-resistant, wick-based liquid emanation system comprising: 
       a container capable of containing liquid, said container having an opening;  
       a wick partially disposed within said container and having an extended portion extending through the opening of said container; and  
       a hollow overcap encasing the extended portion of said wick, said overcap having (i) a closed tip, separable from the overcap, and (ii) an open base, the base being attached to said container to cover the opening, said overcap closely conforming to the shape and size of said wick,  
       wherein said system is activated by separating the tip from said overcap.  
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a retainer for obstructing complete removal of said wick from said container through said overcap after the tip is separated from said overcap. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the retainer comprises a shoulder disposed in said overcap between the tip and the base for retaining said wick toward the base of said overcap. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 2 , wherein said retainer comprises a protrusion protruding from said wick for engaging at least one of an inner surface of said overcap and an inner surface of said container. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 4 , wherein said overcap has a frangible portion located near the tip, the frangible portion facilitating separation of the tip from said overcap. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 5 , wherein said wick extends from within said container past the frangible portion toward the tip. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 6 , wherein: 
       said container has a neck through which the opening is disposed, and  
       said overcap has a flange depending from the base which engages the neck of said container.  
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the neck of said container and the flange of said overcap have corresponding protrusions which interact to lock the base of said overcap to said container. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 4 , wherein said wick is formed with said protrusion unitary therewith. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9 , wherein: 
       said container has a neck through which the opening is disposed, and  
       said overcap has a flange depending from the base which engages the neck of said container.  
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the neck of said container and the flange of said overcap have corresponding protrusions which interact to lock the base of said overcap to said container. 
     
     
       12. A child-resistant, wick-based liquid emanation system comprising: 
       a container capable of containing liquid;  
       a unitary, hollow spout projecting from said container, said spout having a closed tip, separable from the spout; and  
       a wick partially disposed within said container and having an extended portion extending into said spout, said spout closely conforming to the shape and size of said wick,  
       wherein said system is activated by separating said tip from said spout.  
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 12 , further comprising a retainer for obstructing complete removal of said wick from said container through said spout after the tip is separated from said spout. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the retainer comprises a shoulder disposed in said spout between the tip and said container, the shoulder retaining said wick toward said container. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the retainer comprises a protrusion protruding from said wick for engaging at least one of an inner surface of said spout and an inner surface of said container. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15 , wherein said spout has a frangible portion located near said tip, said frangible portion facilitating separation of said tip from said spout. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 16 , wherein said wick extends from within said container past said frangible portion toward said tip. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 15 , wherein said wick is formed with said protrusion unitary therewith. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 13 , wherein said wick has a circumferential groove on a portion thereof which is disposed within said container, and wherein said retainer comprises: 
       a collar seated in the groove of said wick; and  
       a wing extending from said collar for engaging at least one of an inner surface of said spout and an inner surface of said container.  
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 19 , wherein said wing is elastically foldable against said wick toward the extended portion of said wick to facilitate insertion into said container of the portion of said wick at which said wing extends from said collar. 
     
     
       21. A child-resistant overcap for use with a wick-based liquid emanation system, the system including (i) a container having an opening and (ii) a wick partially disposed within the container and having an extended portion extending through the container opening, said overcap comprising: 
       a closed tip, separable from the overcap;  
       an open base being attachable to the container to cover the container opening, wherein said overcap encases the extended portion of the wick when said base is attached over the container opening, said overcap closely conforming to the shape and size of said wick; and  
       a retainer for obstructing complete removal of the wick from the container through said overcap after said tip is separated from said overcap.  
     
     
       22. The overcap of  claim 21 , wherein said retainer comprises a pervious cage, and said tip is removably attached to said cage. 
     
     
       23. The overcap of  claim 21 , wherein the wick has a protrusion, and said retainer comprises an inner surface of said overcap for engaging the protrusion. 
     
     
       24. The overcap of  claim 23 , wherein said overcap has a frangible portion located near said tip, said frangible portion facilitating separation of said tip from said overcap. 
     
     
       25. The overcap of  claim 24 , wherein the container has a neck through which the opening is disposed, and said base has a flange which is attachable to said neck. 
     
     
       26. The overcap of  claim 25 , wherein said flange and the container neck have corresponding protrusions which interact to lock said base to the container. 
     
     
       27. The overcap of  claim 21 , wherein said retainer comprises a shoulder, disposed between said tip and said base, which retains the wick toward said base. 
     
     
       28. The overcap of  claim 27 , wherein the container has a neck through which the opening is disposed, and said base has a flange which is attachable to said neck. 
     
     
       29. The overcap of  claim 28 , wherein said flange and the container neck have corresponding protrusions which interact to lock said base to the container. 
     
     
       30. A wick- based liquid emanation system comprising:    
       
         a container capable of containing liquid, the container having an opening;  
       
       
         a wick partially disposed within the container and having an extended portion extending through the opening of the container; and  
       
       
         an overcap including:  
       
       ( i )  a pervious cage encasing the extended portion of the wick, the pervious cage having  ( a )  an open base portion that is attached to the container to cover the opening, and  ( b )  a distal portion, opposite from the base portion, having an opening through which the wick can be exposed to the atmosphere, the pervious cage having an interior surface that closely conforms to the shape and size of the wick; and    
       ( ii )  a closed tip covering at least the opening in the distal portion of the pervious cage, the closed tip being separable from the overcap to expose the wick to the atmosphere,    
       
         wherein the system is activated by separating the closed tip from the overcap. 
       
     
     
       31. The overcap of  claim 30 , wherein the closed tip encases the pervious cage. 
     
     
       32. The overcap of  claim 30 , wherein the closed tip is removably attached to the pervious cage. 
     
     
       33. The overcap of  claim 30 , wherein the wick has a protrusion, and the interior surface of the pervious cage engages the protrusion. 
     
     
       34. A wick- based liquid emanation system comprising:    
       
         a container capable of containing liquid;  
       
       
         a unitary, hollow spout projecting from the container, the spout having a distal portion with an opening therein;  
       
       
         a closed tip, covering at least the opening in the distal portion of the spout, the closed tip being separable from the spout; and  
       
       
         a wick partially disposed within the container and having an extended portion extending into the spout, the spout having an interior surface closely conforming to the shape and size of said wick,  
       
       
         wherein the system is activated by separating the tip from the spout, thereby exposing the wick to the atmosphere through the opening in the distal portion of the spout. 
       
     
     
       35. The system of  claim 34 , wherein the closed tip encases the spout. 
     
     
       36. The system of  claim 34 , wherein the closed tip is removably attached to the spout. 
     
     
       37. The overcap of  claim 34 , wherein the wick has a protrusion, and the interior surface of the spout engages the protrusion. 
     
     
       38. An overcap for use with a wick- based liquid emanation system, the system including  ( i )  a container having an opening and  ( ii )  a wick partially disposed within the container and having an extended portion extending through the container opening, the overcap comprising:    
         a pervious cage encasing the extended portion of the wick, the pervious cage having  ( i )  an open base portion that is attached to the container to cover the container opening, and  ( ii )  a distal portion, opposite from the base portion, having an opening through which the wick can be exposed to the atmosphere, the pervious cage having an interior surface that closely conforms to the shape and size of the wick; and    
       
         a closed tip covering at least the opening in the distal portion of the pervious cage, the closed tip being separable from the overcap to expose the wick to the atmosphere,  
       
       
         wherein, when the closed tip is separated from the overcap, the pervious cage obstructs complete removal of the wick from the container through the opening in the distal portion of the pervious cage. 
       
     
     
       39. The overcap of  claim 38 , wherein the closed tip encases the pervious cage. 
     
     
       40. The overcap of  claim 38 , wherein the closed tip is removably attached to the pervious cage. 
     
     
       41. An overcap for use with a wick- based liquid emanation system, the system including  ( i )  a container having an opening and  ( ii )  a wick partially disposed within the container and having an extended portion extending through the container opening, the overcap comprising:    
       
         an open base attachable to the container to cover the container opening;  
       
       
         a sheath extending from the base and having an end opposite to the base to define a cavity that closely conforms to the shape and size of the wick, the sheath encasing the extended portion of the wick when the base is attached to the container to cover the container opening;  
       
       
         a closed closure member separable from the overcap to expose the wick to the atmosphere through the end of the cavity; and  
       
       
         a retainer for obstructing complete removal of the wick from the container through the sheath when the closure member is separated from the overcap. 
       
     
     
       42. The overcap of  claim 41 , wherein the closed closure member encases the sheath. 
     
     
       43. The overcap of  claim 41 , wherein the closed closure member is removably attached to the sheath. 
     
     
       44. A wick- based liquid emanation system comprising:    
       
         a container capable of containing liquid, the container having an opening;  
       
       
         a wick partially disposed within the container and having an extended portion extending through the opening of the container; and  
       
       
         an overcap including:  
       
       ( i )  a pervious cage encasing the extended portion of the wick, the pervious cage having  ( a )  an open base portion that is attached to the container to cover the opening, and  ( b )  a distal portion, opposite from the base portion, having an opening through which the wick can be exposed to the atmosphere, the pervious cage having an interior surface that closely conforms to the shape and size of the wick; and    
       ( ii )  a sealing structure that encases the pervious cage, the sealing structure being separable from the overcap to expose the wick to the atmosphere,    
       
         wherein, when the sealing structure is separated from the overcap, the pervious cage prevents complete removal of the wick from the container through the opening in the distal portion of the pervious cage.