US 11,937,682 B2
Refillable dispenser and method associated therewith
Samuel Lemire Dupont, Laval (CA); and Fadi Bergeron, Ville LaSalle (CA)
Assigned to SIOTAL INC., (CA)
Appl. No. 17/792,664
Filed by SIOTAL INC., Québec (CA)
PCT Filed Jan. 13, 2021, PCT No. PCT/CA2021/050029
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jul. 13, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/142540, PCT Pub. Date Jul. 22, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/960,758, filed on Jan. 14, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0043069 A1, Feb. 9, 2023
Int. Cl. A45D 40/04 (2006.01); A45D 40/06 (2006.01); A45D 40/16 (2006.01)
CPC A45D 40/04 (2013.01) [A45D 40/06 (2013.01); A45D 40/16 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A refillable dispenser for receiving consumable pods that are gradually consumed during use, comprising:
a base container comprising a container bottom having an unthreaded central container aperture formed therein;
a pod housing, defining an opened top, for receiving a pod therein, and comprising a housing bottom having a threaded central housing aperture formed therein, the pod housing being vertically displaceable within the base container; and
a dispensing mechanism for moving the pod housing relative to the base container between an uppermost configuration and a lowermost configuration, while being adapted to maintain the pod stationary relative to the base container, the dispensing mechanism comprising a threaded shaft defining a vertical axis and received in both the container aperture and the housing aperture,
wherein lowering the pod housing relative to the base container as the pod is consumed causes an upper portion of the pod to extend through the opened top of the pod housing;
wherein in the uppermost configuration, a new pod able to be introduced within the pod housing has the upper portion extending through the opened top of the pod housing and is able to be dispensed therefrom;
wherein in the lowermost configuration, an almost fully consumed pod is removable from the pod housing; and
wherein the dispensing mechanism comprises a pod holder within the pod housing for supporting the pod, the dispensing mechanism being configured to maintain the pod holder stationary relative to the base container as the pod housing is displaced within the base container between the uppermost configuration and the lowermost configuration.