Apparatus for dispensing liquid and volatile material

Abstract

An apparatus for dispensing a liquid product and a volatile material is disclosed. The apparatus includes a liquid dispensing unit having a container defining a reservoir for holding a liquid such as soap, lotion, sanitizer, or shampoo, and a dispensing assembly coupled to the container for dispensing the liquid. A volatile material module is integrated with or mountable to the liquid dispensing unit. The volatile material module includes a receptacle configured to hold a volatile composition such as a fragrance, deodorizer, essential oil, antimicrobial vapor, or insect repellent. The module may be located at various positions relative to the container, including a central cavity in the container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for dispensing a liquid product and a volatile material, the apparatus comprising:
 a container defining a reservoir for holding a liquid product;   a pump assembly mounted to a mouth of the container and configured to dispense the liquid product from the reservoir; and   a volatile material module integrated with or mountable to the container, the volatile material module comprising a receptacle configured to contain a volatile composition and a cap having one or more openings to allow release of the volatile composition into surrounding air.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the volatile material module is located in a cavity formed in the container. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the cavity is a central cavity extending through the container. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the receptacle is configured to fit within the central cavity, and the volatile material module is removable, refillable, or replaceable. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the volatile material module further comprises a carrier disposed in the receptacle, the carrier configured to retain the volatile composition for controlled release. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the cap is aligned with a front side of the container, and a base of the receptacle is aligned with a rear side of the container. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the receptacle comprises the base and wall upstanding from the base, wherein the base and the wall defines an inner volume of the receptacle, wherein the carrier is received within the inner volume of the receptacle and an opening of the receptacle is closed by the cap. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the volatile material module is mounted to a top portion, a side, or a bottom portion of the container. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the volatile material module is formed as a layer over the container. 
     
     
         10 . A method of dispensing a liquid product and a volatile material, the method comprising:
 providing an apparatus comprising:
 a container defining a reservoir for holding a liquid product, 
 a pump assembly mounted to a mouth of the container and configured to dispense the liquid product from the reservoir, and 
 a volatile material module integrated with or mountable to the container, the volatile material module comprising a receptacle configured to contain a volatile composition and a cap having one or more openings to allow release of the volatile composition into surrounding air; 
   actuating the dispensing assembly to dispense the liquid product; and   releasing the volatile material from the volatile material module into surrounding air through the cap.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the volatile material module is located in a cavity formed in the container. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the cavity is a central cavity extending through the container, wherein the method further comprises:
 inserting the volatile material module into the central cavity.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the receptacle is configured to fit within the central cavity, and the volatile material module is removable, refillable, or replaceable. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the volatile material module further comprises a carrier disposed in the receptacle, the carrier configured to retain the volatile composition for controlled release. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the cap is aligned with a front side of the container, and a base of the receptacle is aligned with a rear side of the container. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the receptacle comprises the base and wall upstanding from the base, wherein the base and the wall defines an inner volume of the receptacle, wherein the carrier is received within the inner volume of the receptacle and an opening of the receptacle is closed by the cap. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the volatile material module is mounted to a top portion, a side, or a bottom portion of the container. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the volatile material module is formed as a layer over the container.