Moisture-sensitive pod dispenser and method

Abstract

The present invention relates to dispensers for dispensing moisture-sensitive pods and methods of use therewith, and especially dispensers and methods for dispensing moisture-sensitive pods comprising personal care formulation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dispenser for dispensing a plurality of moisture-sensitive pods containing personal care liquid or gel formulations, the dispenser comprising:
 a dispenser body comprising one or more water resistant walls and having an interior compartment configured to hold the plurality of moisture-sensitive pods therein;   a dispenser outlet configured to dispense a moisture-sensitive pod from the interior compartment; and   a valve disposed in between the interior compartment and the dispenser outlet, the valve serving as a moisture-inhibiting barrier and comprising one or more flexible panels,   wherein the valve is configured to:   (i) inhibit passage therethrough of the plurality of moisture-sensitive pods from the interior compartment to the dispenser outlet, and   (ii) permit passage of a first moisture-sensitive pod from among the plurality of moisture-sensitive pods held in the interior compartment towards the dispenser outlet, upon acceleration of the first moisture-sensitive pod to exert a first force exceeding a predetermined level on the one or more flexible panels, thereby pushing the first moisture-sensitive pod through the one or more panels towards the dispenser outlet.   
     
     
         2 . The dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the valve is configured to permit passage of a single moisture-sensitive pod from among the plurality of moisture-sensitive pods held in the interior compartment upon exertion of the first force exceeding the predetermined level on the one or more panels of the valve, and inhibit passage therethrough of moisture-sensitive pods remaining in the interior compartment, until a subsequent moisture-sensitive pod is passed through the valve by acceleration of the subsequent moisture-sensitive pod to exert a second force exceeding the predetermined level on the one or more panels of the valve. 
     
     
         3 . The dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein the one or more flexible panels of the valve comprise an elastic modulus that is sufficiently high to resist passage of the plurality of the pods therethrough until the predetermined level of force is applied to the one or more panels of the valve to open the valve, and to return the one or more flexible panels to a closed state that inhibits the passage of the plurality of pods therethrough once the predetermined level of force on the one or more panels is released. 
     
     
         4 . The dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein the one or more flexible panels of the valve are biased towards a closed state of the valve that inhibits passage of the plurality of moisture-sensitive pods therethrough, and wherein application of the predetermined level of force on the one or more panels causes the one or more panels to bend and/or flex to temporarily transition the valve to an open state to permit passage of the first moisture-sensitive pod therethrough, the one or more flexible panels returning to the closed state upon release of the predetermined level of force. 
     
     
         5 . The dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein the first moisture-sensitive pod is accelerated to apply the predetermined level of pressure to the one or more panels by any one or more of shaking, agitating, tapping, flicking, whipping, and jiggling the dispenser by movement of a user's arm or wrist, so as to accelerate the first moisture sensitive pod in a direction towards the one or more panels of the valve. 
     
     
         6 . The dispenser according to any preceding claim, further comprising a receiving chamber disposed between the valve and the dispenser outlet, the receiving chamber being configured to receive the first moisture-sensitive pod therein and maintain the pod in a substantially moisture-free environment until the first moisture-sensitive pod is dispensed through the dispenser outlet. 
     
     
         7 . The dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein the receiving chamber is sized and shaped to receive a single moisture-sensitive pod therein, and to exclude any further moisture-sensitive pod from occupying the receiving chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein the receiving chamber is disposed with respect to the one or more flexible panels of the valve such that the presence of the first moisture-sensitive pod in the receiving chamber inhibits passage of the second moisture-sensitive pod through the valve, until the first moisture-sensitive pod has been dispensed through the dispenser outlet and out of the receiving chamber. 
     
     
         9 . The dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein the receiving chamber is disposed with respect to the one or more flexible panels of the valve, such that the presence of the first moisture-sensitive pod in the receiving chamber (i) physically blocks the one or more panels of the valve from bending and/or flexing to open the valve, and/or (ii) size-restricts further moisture-sensitive pods from occupying the chamber. 
     
     
         10 . The dispenser according to any of  claims 6 - 9 , wherein the dispenser outlet is in communication with the receiving chamber, and comprises a closeable aperture that can be closed to provide a substantially moisture-free environment in the receiving chamber, and can be opened to release the first moisture sensitive pod received in the receiving chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The dispenser according to  claim 10 , wherein the closeable aperture is openable and/or closeable independently of opening and/or closing of the valve. 
     
     
         12 . The dispenser according to  claim 10 , wherein the dispenser outlet comprises a bottom panel of the receiving chamber that is openable to release the first moisture-sensitive pod from the receiving chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The dispenser according to  claim 12 , wherein the bottom panel is biased towards an open position, such that release of the bottom panel from a closed position causes the bottom panel to swing towards an open position. 
     
     
         14 . The dispenser according to any preceding claim, further comprising a pod funnel positioned upstream of the valve, and the pod funnel having funnel walls that are capable of receiving the first moisture-sensitive pod from the interior compartment and guiding and aligning the first moisture-sensitive pod to a predetermined position over the valve. 
     
     
         15 . The dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein the interior compartment optionally comprises a removable refill cartridge configured to hold the plurality of moisture-sensitive pods, that is made of an environmentally friendly material. 
     
     
         16 . The dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein the dispenser body comprises one or more water resistant walls forming a removable cover configured to at least partly surround the interior compartment, the removable cover being configured to be received by a base comprising the dispensing outlet. 
     
     
         17 . The dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein the valve comprises a plurality of inwardly extending panels that are affixed at a first end thereof to one or more interior walls of the dispenser, and having second free ends that converge at center region of the valve to form a valve aperture. 
     
     
         18 . The dispenser according to any of  claims 1 - 15 , wherein the valve comprises a single panel that is affixed to an interior wall of the dispenser at a first end of the panel, and that comprises a second free end that is bendable and/or flexible to provide a valve aperture. 
     
     
         19 . The dispenser according to any preceding claim, wherein the dispenser body comprises:
 first and second interior compartments each configured to hold a first plurality and a second plurality of moisture-sensitive pods therein, respectively;   one or more dispenser outlets configured to dispense moisture-sensitive pods from the first interior compartment and the second interior department;   a first valve disposed in between the first interior compartment and the one or more dispenser outlets, and a second valve disposed in between the second interior compartment and the one or more dispenser outlets, the first and second valves each comprising one or more flexible panels,   wherein the first valve is configured to:   (i) inhibit passage therethrough of the plurality of moisture-sensitive pods from the first interior compartment to the one or more dispenser outlets, and   (ii) permit passage of a first moisture-sensitive pod from among the plurality of moisture-sensitive pods held in the first interior compartment towards the one or more dispenser outlets, upon acceleration of the first moisture-sensitive pod to exert a first force exceeding a first predetermined level on the one or more flexible panels, thereby pushing the first moisture-sensitive pod through the one or more panels towards the one or more dispenser outlets, and   wherein the second valve is configured to:   (iii) inhibit passage therethrough of the plurality of moisture-sensitive pods from the second interior compartment to the one or more dispenser outlets, and   (ii) permit passage of a second moisture-sensitive pod from among the plurality of moisture-sensitive pods held in the second interior compartment towards the one or more dispenser outlets, upon acceleration of the second moisture-sensitive pod to exert a second first force exceeding a second predetermined level on the one or more flexible panels, thereby pushing the second moisture-sensitive pod through the one or more panels towards the one or more dispenser outlets.   
     
     
         20 . The dispenser according to  claim 19 , further comprising a first receiving chamber disposed between the first valve and a first dispenser outlet, and a second receiving chamber disposed between the second valve and a second dispenser outlet, the first and second receiving chambers being configured to respectively receive the first moisture-sensitive pod and the second moisture-sensitive pod therein, and maintain the pods in a substantially moisture-free environment until either or both of the first and second moisture-sensitive pods are dispensed through the first and/or second dispenser outlets. 
     
     
         21 . The dispenser according to  claim 20 , wherein the first and second dispenser outlets are independently openable so as to provide individual dispensing of the first and second moisture-sensitive pods separately from one another. 
     
     
         22 . The dispenser according to any of  claims 20 - 21 , wherein the first dispenser outlet comprises a first bottom panel of the first receiving chamber that is openable to release the first moisture-sensitive pod from the first receiving chamber, and the second dispenser outlet comprises a second bottom panel of the second receiving chamber that is openable to release the second moisture-sensitive pod from the second receiving chamber. 
     
     
         23 . The dispenser according to any of  claims 20 - 21 , wherein the dispenser comprises an aperture that can be rotated to align with the first dispenser outlet to provide an open state of the first dispenser outlet that allows dispensing of the first moisture-sensitive pod from the first dispenser outlet while the second dispenser outlet is maintained in a closed state, and that can be rotated to align with the second dispenser outlet to provide an open state of the second dispenser outlet that allows dispensing of the second moisture-sensitive pod from the second dispenser outlet while the first dispenser outlet is maintained in a closed state. 
     
     
         24 . A method of dispensing a moisture-sensitive pod containing a personal care liquid or gel formulation, the method comprising:
 providing a dispenser comprising:
 a dispenser body comprising one or more water resistant walls and having an interior compartment configured to hold the plurality of moisture-sensitive pods therein; 
 a dispenser outlet configured to dispense a moisture-sensitive pod from the interior compartment; and 
 a valve disposed in between the interior compartment and the dispenser outlet, the valve serving as a moisture-sensitive barrier and comprising one or more flexible panels, 
 wherein the valve is configured to:
 (i) inhibit passage therethrough of the plurality of moisture-sensitive pods from the interior compartment to the dispenser outlet, and 
 (ii) permit passage of a first moisture-sensitive pod from among the plurality of moisture-sensitive pods held in the interior compartment towards the dispenser outlet, upon acceleration of the first moisture-sensitive pod to exert a first force exceeding a predetermined level on the one or more flexible panels, thereby pushing the first moisture-sensitive pod through the one or more panels towards the dispenser outlet; 
 
   performing an operation to move the dispenser such that the first moisture-sensitive pod is accelerated at the first force that exceeds the predetermined level to push the first moisture-sensitive pod through the one or more panels; and   receiving the first moisture-sensitive pod from the dispenser outlet.   
     
     
         25 . The dispensing method according to  claim 24 , wherein the dispenser is moved to accelerate the first moisture-sensitive pod and push the pod through the one or more panels by any one or more of shaking, jiggling, flicking, whipping and tapping the dispenser, in a direction having a component parallel to a direction of travel of the first moisture-sensitive pod through the valve towards the outlet. 
     
     
         26 . The dispensing method according to any of  claims 24 - 25 , wherein a movement by the user dispenses a single moisture-sensitive pod from the dispenser, and wherein the user repeats the movement to dispense subsequent moisture-sensitive pods from the dispenser in a sequential manner. 
     
     
         27 . The dispensing method according to any of  claims 24 - 26 , wherein the movement by the user dispenses a single moisture-sensitive pod into a receiving chamber having the outlet, and wherein the user accesses the receiving chamber to dispense the single moisture-sensitive pod from the dispenser. 
     
     
         28 . The dispensing method according to  claim 27 , wherein the user opens a panel of the receiving chamber to dispense the single moisture-sensitive pod from the dispenser. 
     
     
         29 . The dispensing method according to any of  claims 27 - 28 , wherein the user performs a first movement to dispense the single moisture-sensitive pod into the receiving chamber having the outlet, and performs a second movement to dispense the single-moisture sensitive pod from the receiving chamber via the outlet. 
     
     
         30 . The dispensing method according to any of  claims 24 - 29 , using a dispenser comprising any of  claims 1 - 23 .