Patent Application
20100213220
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an improved throat plug assembly for use in a closed loop dispensing system and more particularly to an improved throat plug assembly for use in a dispensing system for dispensing corrosive liquid chemicals or dangerous medical liquid products which are typically drawn from the upper end of a container, such as a bottle or the like, to a mixing machine or the like. More particularly, the improved throat plug assembly of this invention is selectively removably positioned in the throat of a liquid container and which includes a plastic spring which yieldably urges a plastic valve in the throat plug assembly to a closed position. Even more particularly, in the preferred embodiment, the improved throat plug assembly of the invention utilizes a plastic spring which is molded with a plastic retainer, as a one-piece part, which is secured to the throat plug assembly thereby enabling the entire throat plug assembly to be comprised of a recyclable plastic material and which also reduces the number of component parts of the throat plug assembly thereby further enhancing the assembly of the throat plug assembly.
2. Description of the Related Art
Corrosive liquid chemicals and dangerous medical liquid products are typically contained in a container such as a bottle or the like and are frequently dispensed therefrom to a mixing machine. Normally, a cap is placed on the bottle with a dip tube extending therefrom downwardly into the interior of the bottle for drawing the liquid upwardly thereinto. Normally, a dispensing tube extends from the cap to a mixing machine or some other piece of equipment which creates suction in the dispensing tube to draw the liquid from the interior of the bottle. In some prior art devices, when the suction or vacuum is removed from the dispensing tube, backflow may occur. Further, when the cap is removed from the bottle, backflow from the dispensing tube may also occur. Additionally, when the cap is removed from the bottle, liquid residue in the bottle may spill therefrom. Additionally, the conventional prior art systems normally do not prevent the re-use of the bottle which is prohibited in some cases. Yet another disadvantage of the prior art is that a reliable and efficient venting means for the bottle is not normally provided for relieving vacuum pressure from within the bottle.
Applicant has received U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,988,456; 6,142,345; and 6,968,983 relating to closed loop dispensing systems. In those patents, spring-loaded valves were utilized in the throat plug assemblies thereof with the springs being comprised of a metal material. When the throat plug assemblies of applicant's prior patents were to be discarded, the metal springs in the throat plug assemblies had to be removed therefrom if the throat plug assemblies were to be recycled for use in other plastic products. Frequently, the throat plug assemblies were trashed due to the time and expense associated with removing the metal springs. Further, in applicant's earlier throat plug assemblies, the spring and associated valve were separate pieces since the valve was comprised of plastic and the spring was comprised of metal thereby requiring a two-step process in assembling the spring and the valve into the throat plug assembly
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summary is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
This invention relates to a dispensing system for use with a container, such as a bottle or the like, having an outlet opening formed in the upper end thereof. A cap is removably mounted on the container for selectively closing the outlet opening. A dispensing tube extends from the cap for dispensing liquid from the container either through gravity flow or by suction from a mixing machine or the like. A check valve is associated with the cap for preventing backflow from the dispensing tube to the container. The check valve permits liquid flow from the container to the dispensing system in response to suction or gravity. A container insert or throat plug assembly is positioned in the outlet opening of the bottle and includes a spring-loaded valve therein which is open when the cap is mounted on the container, but which is automatically closed when the cap is removed from the container. The spring-loaded valve comprises a plastic valve and a plastic spring which is of comprised of a recyclable plastic material. In the preferred embodiment, the plastic spring and plastic retainer are of one-piece molded material. The cap has a dispensing opening in communication with the valve in the insert for dispensing liquid from the container when the cap is mounted on the container. The insert includes a vent means for relieving pressure or vacuum in the container. A venting membrane covers the vent means. A valve is in communication with the discharge side of the venting membrane for permitting the flow of air into the container, as liquid is drawn therefrom, while preventing the flow of liquid therethrough.
It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide an improved dispensing system for corrosive or dangerous liquids contained in a container such as a bottle or the like, when the container is positioned in an inverted condition.
A further object of the invention is to provide a dispensing system which includes a throat plug assembly positioned in the outlet opening of the container and which includes a valve that automatically seals the container when the container cap is removed from the container.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing system which is safe and convenient to use.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing system which is reliable in use.
A further object of the invention is to provide an improved throat plug assembly including a plastic spring for yieldably urging the plastic valve of the assembly to its closed position.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a retainer and spring for a throat plug assembly which is comprised of a recyclable plastic material.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a plastic retainer and plastic spring of one-piece molded plastic material for use in a throat plug assembly.
These and other objects will be obvious to those skilled in the art.
Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified.
a is a vertical sectional view illustrating the second embodiment of the invention mounted on a container with the container being in an inverted position;
Embodiments are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying figures, which form a part hereof and show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. These embodiments are disclosed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. However, embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense in that the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.
In this application, the dispensing of the contents of a container is described and shown with the container and the dispensing system being in an upright condition for shipment and inverted for use. In this application, the container is shipped and stored in an upright position but is inverted when being used to dispense liquid therefrom. Thus,
In
Assembly 10 includes an externally threaded disc retainer or retainer member 18. In certain embodiments, a single opening 20 extends through member 18. In another embodiment, a plurality of openings 20 are provided. The upper end of opening 20 communicates with an annular groove 22 formed in the upper surface of the disc member 18. Disc or retainer member 18 includes external threads 19 for a purpose to be described hereinafter. Intake opening 24 is formed in disc member 18, as seen in the drawings.
The numeral 32 refers to a hollow valve body which is integrally formed with disc or retainer member 18 with the interior of valve body 32 being in communication with opening 24. The upper end 34 of valve body 32 is closed, as seen in the drawings. The side wall of valve body 32, below the upper end 34, is provided with at least one precise discharge metering orifice 36 with the metering orifice 36 being disposed at right angles to the central vertical channel in valve body 32. The purpose of the precise discharge metering orifice 36 is to offer an economical means to meter the amount of concentrated liquid to be diluted with water achieved by some means of drawing product through the metering orifice (suction or gravity) 36 to a mixing unit or container in the correct volume. If the discharge from the bottle, when inverted, is by gravity, the metering orifice will not be in communication with a suction-type mixing unit.
Throat plug assembly 10 also includes a tapered, cup-shaped plug 38 which is inserted into the throat 12 of the bottle 14, as seen in
Plug 38 includes an annular shoulder 46 at its lower end which has internal threads 48 provided thereon for threadably receiving threads 19 of disc member 18. Shoulder 46 also defines an annular recess 50 which extends around a central opening 52 formed in the upstanding, cylindrical receiver 54. Receiver 54 is provided with an inwardly extending lip 56 at its upper end. Receiver 54 has a diameter less than the inside diameter of wall 40 to define an annular recess 58 therebetween. Plug 38 also includes a plurality of vent openings 60 formed in the bottom thereof which extend between recess 50 and recess 58. Venting membrane 62, which is comprised of a recyclable plastic material such as Gore-Tex®, is received in recess 50 for permitting the passage of air therethrough while preventing the passage of liquid therethrough. As stated, disc or retainer 18 is threadably secured to the lower end of plug 38 so that valve body 32 extends upwardly into receiver 54. As seen, the upper end 34 of valve body 32 is positioned below the upper end of receiver 54.
Plastic spring 64 is integrally molded with retainer member 18 and loosely embraces valve body 32 and is positioned between disc member 18 and valve stem 66. Plastic spring 64 could be molded with valve body 32 if so desired. Valve stem 66 is generally cylindrical and includes a lower, cylindrical body portion 68 having bore 70 formed therein which slidably receives valve body 32 therein. It is very important to note that the design of this system positions spring 64 in such a way that the corrosive liquids being dispensed do not come into contact with the spring 64. Valve stem 66 also includes an upper tapered, cylindrical body portion 72 having bore 74 formed therein. Bore 74 has a greater diameter than bore 70, as seen in
The numeral 76 refers to the cap portion of this invention. Cap 76 includes a locking collar 78 having internal threads 80 which are adapted to be threadably connected to threads 16 on bottle 14. Collar 78 is provided with a central opening 82 formed therein which has receiver assembly 84 positioned therein which includes a cylindrical receiver 86 extending downwardly therefrom. Receiver 86 has a tapered bore 88 formed therein, the lower end of which is adapted to receive the tapered body portion 72 of valve stem 66. The relationship of tapered bore 88 and tapered body portion 72 provides a seal therebetween and causes receiver 86 to move valve stem 66 downwardly from its upper closed position to its lower open position when collar 78 is screwed onto threads 16 of bottle 14.
Receiver assembly 84 also includes an annular rim portion 90 having a plurality of spaced-apart openings 92 formed therein. Further, receiver assembly 84 includes an upstanding, annular body portion 94 defining a compartment 96. Cup-shaped cap member 98 is snap-fitted onto body portion 94 above collar 78, as seen in
In the embodiment of
As seen in
In operation, as liquid is discharged from the inverted container 14 either by suction or gravity, air may enter the container by passing between elements 98 and 78, thence through the lower notched periphery of element 94 into recess 58, thence into annular groove 22, thence through opening 20, bore 126, interior 124, slits 136 and compartment 146. As the vacuum pressure increases in the upper end of the container 14 as liquid is discharged from the container, the air in compartment 146 will enter the container by bypassing the outer periphery 144 as the same is being lifted from sealing engagement with upper end 128 of 122.
The left-hand side of
Still another embodiment of the venting mechanism is shown at the right-hand side of
In all of the embodiments, ambient air is able to enter the interior of the container in a manner which prevents the liquid from coming into contact with the venting membrane thereby ensuring that the membrane will not become clogged.
In this invention, the throat plug assembly 10 is comprised entirely of a recyclable plastic material to enable the entire throat plug assembly to be recycled without the need of removing a metal spring therefrom as in applicant's earlier designs. In the preferred embodiment, spring 64 and retainer member 18 are of one-piece molded construction to form a single part thereby permitting the spring 64, retainer member 18 and valve body 32 to be assembled into the throat plug assembly 10 in a single step rather than two separate steps.
Thus, it can be seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.
Although the invention has been described in language that is specific to certain structures and methodological steps, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific structures and/or steps described. Rather, the specific aspects and steps are described as forms of implementing the claimed invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.
