Abstract: An aerosol delivery system comprises a container defining a chamber for a product to be delivered, an outlet from the chamber through which product may in operation be delivered, a valve for controlling passage of product through the outlet and a pump for pressurising product to be delivered, wherein the pump comprises an expandable material which, in operation, may be expanded to provide the pressure for pressurising product to be delivered, the expandable material being an osmotically effective agent and/or a swellable hydrogel and being disposed on one side of a semi-permeable membrane through which, in operation, fluid may be absorbed by the expandable material to expand it and thereby generate an osmotic pressure.

Abstract: A dispensing device comprising a body defining first and second compartments, separated by a flexible impermeable membrane. The second compartment is closed off by a semi-permeable membrane adjacent which a water container is disposed. An apertured delivery tube leads from the first compartment. The device may be used to dispense a cleaning, disinfectant and/or fragrancing gel into a toilet bowl. On flushing, water enters the container and migrates through the semi-permeable membrane, increasing the pressure in an osmotic agent or swellable hydrogel contained in the second compartment. This imposes a pressure on the flexible impermeable membrane to displace a gel from the first compartment into the toilet bowl through apertures in the tube.

Abstract: A skin- or hair-care composition containing silica additionally comprises a C.sub.2-4 alkyl ester of a di, tri- or tetrabasic carboxylic acid or hydroxy-carboxylic acid (optionally acetylated). The alkyl ester may be dissolved in an aqueous solvent system.