"A teat for a refillable bottle"

Cross-Reference to Related Applications

The present application claims priority from Australian Provisional Patent Application No 2005906792, filed on 2 December 2005, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field

This invention relates to a teat for a refillable bottle. The invention further relates to a refillable bottle and a kit for storing and dispensing a liquid.

Background Art

Campaigns which educate the public about skin damage caused by the sun's ultraviolet radiation are effective. A popular campaign initiated in Australia in the 1980's was the "Slip! Slop! Slap!" campaign. This campaign informed the public that the sun's ultraviolet radiation causes skin damage and the application of sunscreen reduces skin damage by the blocking of the sun's ultraviolet radiation. More recent campaigns have focused on the correct application of sunscreen, in particular the need for regular reapplication of sunscreen, as many sunscreens are readily removed from the skin by mechanisms such as perspiration.

Whilst such campaigns are effective, a consumer marketing ploy referred to as bulk buying, may have a negative effect. Bulk buying, which encourages consumers to "get more for less", may result in bottles of sunscreen remaining at home in a cupboard. This effect is emphasised with ^' increasing demands on consumer products, in general, being designed to have greater portability on our bodies and our clothing, and hence miniaturised products are seen as more desirable.

A similar predicament exists with other types of personal care products such as shampoos and conditioners. Whilst it is convenient to purchase "more for less", the size of such bottles can be cumbersome when travelling.

Disclosure of Invention

In a first aspect, the invention is a teat for a refillable bottle, the teat comprising: a sphincter having an aperture for controlled dispensing of a liquid, the sphincter definable by a natural dispensing state and a stretchable refilling state, the refilling state obtainable by engaging a hollow tapered prong within the aperture to open the aperture;

where the aperture is able to be opened multiple times whilst still enabling the sphincter to return substantially to its natural dispensing state when the tapered prong is removed. In a second aspect the invention is a refillable bottle, the bottle comprising: a hollow body for holding a liquid; a teat, the teat comprising a sphincter having an aperture for controlled dispensing of the liquid; and a sealable engagement formation to sealably engage the teat to the body; where the sphincter is defined by a natural dispensing state and a stretchable refilling state, the refilling state obtainable by engaging a hollow tapered prong within the aperture to open the aperture; and where the aperture is able to be stretched multiple times whilst still enabling the sphincter to return substantially to its natural. dispensing state.

In a third aspect, the invention is a kit for storing and dispensing a liquid, the kit comprising: a first bottle comprising: a hollow body for holding a liquid; and a hollow tapered prong for dispensing the liquid, the prong sealably engaged to the body; and a second bottle comprising: a hollow body for receiving the liquid from the first bottle; a teat; the teat comprising a sphincter having an aperture for controlled dispensing of the liquid; and a sealable engagement formation to engage the teat to the body;' where the sphincter is defined by a natural dispensing state and a stretchable. refilling state, the refilling state obtainable by engaging the hollow wedge shaped prong within the aperture to open the aperture; and where the aperture is able to be stretched multiple times whilst still enabling the sphincter to return substantially to its natural dispensing state.

In one embodiment the liquid may be a gel. In a further embodiment the liquid may be a lotion. As defined herein, lotion is interpreted to be any of various externally applied cosmetic liquids. Such gels/lotions may be selected from the following non limiting group including sunscreens, hair products such as shampoo and conditioners, hand sanitisers, hand creams and body creams.

In a preferred embodiment the teat is formed from of a thermoplastic elastomer. In optional embodiments the teat may be formed of a general elastomer or elastic material . Non limiting examples of elastomers include natural rubbers, synthetic

rubbers such as butyl rubber, saturated rubbers such as silicone rubber, and polyurethane rubbers.

The sphincter may be an integral part of the teat. Optionally the sphincter may be independently formed and adhered to the teat. The later may provide the ability to form the sphincter from a different elastomer from the teat per se.

The sealable engagement formation may comprise a neck having a flange over which a portion of the teat sealably engages. The portion of the teat may be stretched over the flange, optionally the portion of the teat may snap fit over the flange. Optionally a portion of the teat may be integrally moulded to the neck and/or flange. The sealable engagement formation may comprise a thread and the teat may include a complementary formation to engage the thread. The second, or refϊllable, bottle may include a cap having a projection to sealably engage the aperture when the refϊllable bottle is not in use.

The hollow tapered prong may be integrally formed with the body of the first bottle. Optionally the hollow tapered prong may be indirectly engaged to the body of the first bottle. In such an example, the prong may form part of a dispensing head and the dispensing head may directly engage the body of the first bottle. An exterior wall of the body of the second body may include a notch and the distal end of the dispensing head engages the notch. A distal end of the dispensing head may lie in substantially the same plane as the prong's tip.

Preferably the exterior surface of the hollow tapered prong is provided with a plurality of protrusions such that when the sphincter is in the stretchable refilling state an airgap is formed. In a non-limiting example the protrusions are ^" fibs which may substantially surround the nozzle. Optionally the protrusions may be dimples.

The dispensing head may include a pair of upstanding diametrically opposed clips which are spaced apart from the prong and together surround the prong. The distal end of the clips may releasably engage the stem of the refϊllable bottle.

In a further embodiment, the dispensing head may include a first upstanding wall which surrounds and is spaced apart from the prong. The first upstanding wall may releasably engage an exterior of the body of the second bottle.

At least a portion of at least one of the dispensing head, the prong, the first upstanding wall (or clips) and at least a portion of the refillable bottle is substantially transparent to enable a user when refilling the refillable bottle to prevent overflow of the refillable bottle.

It is envisioned that the teat is to be adhered to a refillable bottle designed to hold liquids which include, but are not limited to sunscreen lotions, body gels and body lotions and hair care products such as shampoos and conditioners.

The width of the aperture, together with the aperture and/or dimension of the hollow prong, may be dependent on the viscosity of the liquid which the bottle is designed to hold. In a preferred embodiment the teat of the second bottle is integrally moulded to the neck and/or flange of the bottle. In such an embodiment, the teat is substantially non-removeable.

Optionally, the kit may contain a number of teats and/or a number of nozzles, each able to be fitted to the same respective bottle, and the aperture of each having a differing diameter to accommodate liquids of differing viscosities.

The refillable bottle and/or second bottle may include means for metering the flow of the liquid as it's dispensed regardless of the viscosity of the liquid.

Brief Description of Drawings

An embodiment of the invention is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a cross section of a teat moulded to an engagement formation of a refillable bottle, whereby the teat's sphincter is in a natural dispensing state; Figure 2 is a cross section of the teat illustrated in Figure 1, where the teat's sphincter is in a stretchable refilling state as a result of insertion of a tapered prong;

Figure 3 is a cross section of a cap fitted to the teat and refillable bottle as shown in figure 1 ; and

. Figure 4 is a schematic illustration of the refilling of the refillable bottle from a custom bottle.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Figures 1 to 4 illustrate a teat 10 which has been moulded to an engagement formation 12 of a refillable bottle 14 having a hollow body 16 which is designed to hold a lotion. The capacity of the hollow body 16 is approximately 35 ml. The refillable bottle 14 includes a stem 18 and the sealable engagement formation 12 is in the form of a flange over which a portion of the teat 10 snap fits.

The refillable bottle 14 is squeeze-type bottle for holding liquids such as a sunscreen lotion. The refillable bottle 14 is moulded from a semi translucent thermoplastic elastomer from which the sunscreen lotion can be forced by squeezing

and thus deforming the bottle 14. The nature of the material is such that the bottle 14 returns to its original shape.

The teat 10 comprises a sphincter 24 having an aperture 20. The sphincter 24 shown in figure 1 is illustrated in its natural dispensing state and the aperture is configured for controlled dispensing of the sunscreen lotion when the refillable bottle

14 is inverted and squeezed from its sides. The configuration of the teat 10 is such that the width of the aperture 20 and the material of the teat 10 is related to the viscosity of the liquid.

The sphincter 24 shown in figure 2 is illustrated in its stretchable refilling state by the insertion of a hollow tapered prong 26. The prong 26 forms part of a dispensing head 28 which is engaged to a neck of a custom body 30 (of which only a portion is shown) having a hollow interior 32. < The capacity of the custom body 30 is approximately 600 ml. In use the hollow interior 32 of the custom body 30 is filled with a sunscreen lotion which the user can buy in bulk. As illustrated, the distal end of the dispensing head 28 lies in substantially the same plane as the tip 38 of the prong 26.

A notch 34 is provided on the exterior wall of the refillable bottle 14 which the distal end of the dispensing head is able to engage.

The taper of the prong 26 facilitates easy insertion through the aperture of the teat 10 and further enables the aperture of the teat 10 to be stretched multiple times whilst still enabling the sphincter 24 to return substantially to its natural dispensing state.

The dispensing head 28 includes a pair of upstanding diametrically opposed clips 36 which surround and are spaced apart from the prong 26. The distal end of the clips 36 releasably engages to the stem 18 of the refillable bottle 14. Advantageously the clips 36, when the distal end thereof is engaged to the stem of the refillable bottle

14, provides stability and ensures that the prong is subjected to less stress over a prolonged period of use. ,

■ A plurality of protrusions in the form of ribs 22 are provided on the exterior surface of the nozzle 26. The ribs 22 expand portions of the teat to enable an airgap to be present when the sphincter 24 is stretchably opened and the respective bottles

'clipped together'. In use, when the sides of the custom body 30 are manually squeezed, the lotion is able to freely pass from the custom body's interior 32 to the interior 16 of the refillable bottle 14. Suction is substantially eliminated.

The dispensing head 28 of the custom body 30, including the clips 36 and prong 26, are semi translucent such that a person dispensing sunscreen lotion from the custom

body's interior 32 to the interior 16 of the refutable bottle 14 can determine when the refillable bottle 14 is close to full.

As is illustrated in figure 3, the refillable bottle 10 includes a cap 40 having a projection 42 which is inserted into the aperture of the sphincter 24 to seal the aperture. The cap 40 includes a formation 44 which snap-fits to the neck 18 of the refillable bottle 14.

Figure 4 illustrates the use of a kit which includes a custom bottle 30 having a hollow tapered prong 26 as described above and a refillable bottle 14 having a teat 10 as described above. As illustrated, the prong 26 is inserted through the aperture of the teat 10 in order to dispense lotion from the interior 32 of the custom body 30 to the interior 16 of the refillable bottle 14.

Those skilled in the art will readily recognize that the relative capacities and the dimensions of the respective bottles and the dimensions of the teat and nozzle, in particular the aperture of the teat and the aperture of the nozzle will vary depending on various factors, including but not limited to the viscosity of the fluid to be contained, i therein and market demand. It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been shown and described hereinabove, nor the dimensions of sizes of the physical implementation described immediately above.

Advantageously, the relatively small size of the refillable bottle encourages portability as the refillable bottle can easily be carried in a handbag or worn on the body of a person, and therefore increases the likelihood that the user will actually reapply sunscreen at regular intervals.

The refillable bottle may include a strap, or the like, which can be worn around a person's neck or attached to an article of clothing, a bag, or the like, to avoid being lost. A plug maybe provided to dam the prong to prevent the fluid within the custom body's interior 32 from drying out. Optionally the custom body may be fitted with a cap.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.