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An assembly for packaging and dispensing liquid may include a receptacle for containing a supply of liquid and a refillable unit arranged to be placed in a separable manner on the receptacle. The refillable unit may include a body and a piston that is movable relative to the body and that co-operate

An assembly for packaging and dispensing liquid may include a receptacle for containing a supply of liquid and a refillable unit arranged to be placed in a separable manner on the receptacle. The refillable unit may include a body and a piston that is movable relative to the body and that co-operates therewith to define a storage chamber of variable volume for containing the liquid. The storage chamber may be put into fluid communication with the receptacle to be filled therefrom when the refillable unit is placed on the receptacle. The refillable unit may also include a pump arranged to take liquid from the receptacle when the refillable unit is placed thereon, and to take liquid from the storage chamber when the refillable unit is separate from the receptacle. The pump may include a pump chamber that is distinct from the storage chamber.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An assembly for packaging and dispensing liquid, the assembly comprising: a receptacle for containing a supply of a liquid; and a refillable unit arranged to be placed in a separable manner on the receptacle, the refillable unit comprising: a body and a piston that is movable

What is claimed is: 1. An assembly for packaging and dispensing liquid, the assembly comprising: a receptacle for containing a supply of a liquid; and a refillable unit arranged to be placed in a separable manner on the receptacle, the refillable unit comprising: a body and a piston that is movable relative to the body and that co-operates therewith to define a storage chamber of variable volume for containing the liquid, the storage chamber being put into fluid communication with the receptacle to be filled therefrom when the refillable unit is placed on the receptacle; and a pump arranged to take the liquid from the receptacle without taking the liquid from the storage chamber when the refillable unit is placed thereon, and to take the liquid from the storage chamber when the refillable unit is separate from the receptacle, the pump including a pump chamber that is distinct from the storage chamber, wherein the storage chamber is formed above the piston when the refillable unit is observed in a head-up position and the pump chamber is isolated from the storage chamber, at least while the pump is dispensing the liquid. 2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the refillable unit is arranged to enable suction to be generated in the storage chamber, at least when the storage chamber is in fluid communication with the receptacle, so as to enable the storage chamber to be filled. 3. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle includes an outlet orifice arranged to be placed in fluid communication with the storage chamber of the refillable unit for filling purposes, and wherein the receptacle does not have a pump that feeds said outlet orifice with the liquid. 4. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein a volume of the pump chamber is smaller than a maximum volume of the storage chamber. 5. An assembly according to claim 1,the pump including a suction orifice, wherein, when the refillable unit is placed on the receptacle, said suction orifice of the pump is placed close to an outlet orifice of the receptacle, vertically in registration with said outlet orifice. 6. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the pump comprises an airless pump. 7. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle includes a support arranged to receive the refillable unit, said support being stationary relative to a remainder of the receptacle. 8. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the refillable unit and the receptacle include respective fastener portions that co-operate in a releasable manner. 9. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the refillable unit and the receptacle includes portions in relief that co-operate with the other one of the refillable unit and the receptacle to isolate a suction orifice of the pump in a leaktight manner from outside at least when the refillable unit is used to take the liquid from the receptacle. 10. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle does not include an air intake. 11. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein, when the refillable unit is placed on the receptacle with the pump arranged to take the liquid from the receptacle as volume of the storage chamber is at a minimum. 12. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the piston includes an orifice that puts the receptacle into fluid communication with the storage chamber. 13. An assembly according to claim 12, wherein the refillable unit includes a check valve that is movable between a first position in which the check valve closes said orifice of the piston, and a second position in which the check valve allows the liquid to flow through said orifice. 14. An assembly according to claim 13, wherein the check valve comprises a body with an inside passage. 15. An assembly according to claim 13, wherein the check valve comprises a ball, and wherein the refillable unit includes a resilient return member arranged to apply a force on the ball, tending to return the ball into the closed first position. 16. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the piston has a shape that substantially matches an outside shape of the pump. 17. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the piston includes a fastener portion that co-operates in a releasable manner with a fastener portion of the receptacle when the refillable unit is placed on the receptacle. 18. An assembly according to claim 17, wherein the piston includes a skirt that defines a passage in communication with an orifice of the piston, the skirt including the fastener portion. 19. An assembly according to claim 17, wherein the piston includes substantially coaxial inner and outer skirts, the fastener portion being provided on the outer skirt. 20. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle includes a central portion that engages in the body of the refillable unit when said refillable unit is placed on the receptacle, said central portion including a fastener portion that co-operates with a fastener portion of the piston. 21. An assembly according to claim 20, wherein the central portion is fastened to a dip tube at least when said refillable unit is placed on the receptacle. 22. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle contains a cosmetic, including a care product, and in particular a perfume. 23. An assembly according to claim 22, wherein the liquid comprises a cream. 24. An assembly according to claim 8, wherein the respective fastener portions co-operate by at least one of snap-fastening and screw-fastening. 25. An assembly according to claim 11, wherein, when the refillable unit is placed on the receptacle with the pump arranged to take the liquid from the receptacle, the pump communicates with a dip tube of the receptacle. 26. A refillable unit arranged to be placed in a separable manner on a receptacle, the refillable unit comprising: a body and a piston that is movable relative to the body and that co-operates therewith to define a storage chamber of variable volume, the storage chamber being put into fluid communication with the receptacle to be filled therefrom when the refillable unit is placed on the receptacle; and a pump arranged to take liquid from the receptacle without taking liquid from the storage chamber when the refillable unit is placed on the receptacle, and to take the liquid from the storage chamber when the refillable unit is separate from the receptacle, the pump including a pump chamber that is distinct from the storage chamber, wherein the storage chamber is formed above the piston when the refillable unit is observed in a head-up position and the pump chamber is isolated from the storage chamber, at least while the pump is dispensing the liquid. 27. A refillable unit according to claim 26, the unit being arranged to enable suction to be generated in the storage chamber, at least when the storage chamber is in fluid communication with the receptacle, so as to enable the storage chamber to be filled under an effect of the suction. 28. A refillable unit according to claim 26, wherein a volume of the pump chamber is smaller than a maximum volume of the storage chamber. 29. A refillable unit according to claim 26, wherein the piston includes an orifice that puts the receptacle into fluid communication with the storage chamber. 30. A method of dispensing liquid, comprising: providing a packaging and dispenser assembly, that comprises: the receptacle for containing a supply of the liquid; and the refillable unit according to claim 26; using the refillable unit to take one of the liquid from the receptacle without taking the liquid from the storage chamber when the refillable unit is placed on the receptacle and the liquid from the storage chamber of the refillable unit when the refillable unit is separate from the receptacle; and dispensing a quantity of the liquid taken by the refillable unit by actuating the pump over a full stroke, a quantity of the liquid dispensed corresponding to a fraction only of a maximum volume of the storage chamber. 31. A method according to claim 30, in which the pump includes a suction orifice and the receptacle includes an outlet orifice, the method further comprising: putting the suction orifice into communication with the outlet orifice; and taking the liquid from the receptacle. 32. A method according to claim 31, the method further comprising: placing the refillable unit on the receptacle; and moving the piston relative to the body to increase the volume of the storage chamber, the piston moving away from the pump during such movement. 33. A method according to claim 30, wherein dispensing the quantity of the liquid comprises dispensing less than one-tenth of the maximum volume of the storage chamber by actuating the pump over the full stroke.