This disclosure relates to liquid dispensing systems and in particular containers for use with a counter mounted dispensing system.
Counter mounted soap and foam dispensers are becoming commonplace in modern away from home washroom environments. In fact many of the washroom counters produced are supplied complete with a predrilled 1″ diameter hole in close proximity to washbasin to allow for the easy installation of such systems. These dispensers are available as both manual pump activated and automatic sensor activated devices, with the dispensing head being installed in counter from above, and the cartridge of product installed below the counter. Systems are available that use both hygienically sealed collapsible cartridges as well as open refillable reservoirs. There are several reasons why a counter mounted system is preferable to a wall mounted system, examples being: a lack of wall space; maintaining the washroom aesthetic; and personal preference.
The present disclosure relates to a container for flowable material configured to be installed in a counter below an access hole. The container includes a first deformable portion and a second deformable portion. The first deformable portion defines a first cavity and has a sealable first cavity inlet. The second deformable portion defines a second cavity and is in flow communication with the first cavity. The first deformable portion is configured to deform to fit into the access hole when substantially no flowable material is therein and the second deformable portion configured to deform to fit through the access hole when substantially no flowable material is therein.
The container may include a neck portion between the first deformable portion and the second deformable portion.
The container may include a removable clip configured to engage the neck portion and to inhibit flow from the first cavity to the second cavity when engaged on the neck portion.
The sealable first cavity inlet may be sealed with a pump. The pump may include a dip tube. The pump may be configured to be engaged by a dispenser.
The first deformable portion may have a liquid therein and further may include a seal affixed to the sealable first cavity inlet.
The pump may have a dip tube and the pump is connectable to the sealable first cavity inlet whereby the dip tube extends through the first deformable portion into the second deformable portion.
The seal may be removable prior to connecting the pump.
The dip tube may be insertable through the seal.
The first deformable portion may be detachable from the second deformable portion.
The first deformable portion may include a first neck portion and the second deformable portion may include a second neck portion and the first neck portion and the second neck portion may be releasably connectable together. The first neck portion and the second neck portion may be connected with a detachable neck joint wherein the neck joint is a perforated neck joint or a press fit neck joint. Alternatively the first neck portion and the second neck portion may be connected with a screw fit neck joint.
The container may further include a box for transporting the container. The box may include a removable portion.
The second deformable portion may be wound into a tube. The tube may be folded so that the tube rests against the first deformable portion.
The first deformable portion and the second deformable portion are resiliently deformable.
The first deformable portion and the second deformable portion may be manufactured from one of BOPP (biaxially oriented polypropylene), BON (biaxially oriented nylon), CA (cellulose acetate), CTFE (chlorotrifluoroethylene), EAA (ethylene acrylic acid), EEA (ethylene-ethyl acrylate), EMA (ethylene-methyl acrylate), EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate), EVOH (ethylene-vinyl alcohol), HIPS (high impact polystyrene), LDPE (low-density polyethylene), LLDPE (linear low-density polyethylene), mPE (metallocene polyethylene) OPP (oriented polypropylene), PA (polyamide), PAN (polyacrylonitrile), PB (polybutylene), PE (polyethylene), PET (poly(ethylene terephthalate)), PETG (poly(ethylene terephthalate) glycol), PLA (poly(lactic acid)), PP (polypropylene), PS (polystyrene), PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), PUR (polyurethane), PVC (poly(vinyl chloride)), and PVDC (poly(vinylidene chloride)). or from one of latex, silicone rubber, polyisoprene and mylar.
A cage may be attached to the counter below the access hole. The cage may include a lower portion removably attached to an upper portion.
The disclosure includes a method of installing a container of flowable material in a counter below an access hole, the container having a first deformable portion in flow communication with a second deformable portion, the method comprising the steps of:
feeding the second deformable portion having substantially no flowable material therein through the access hole;
urging the flowable material in the first deformable portion into the second deformable portion;
feeding the first deformable portion having substantially no flowable material therein into the access hole; and
positioning a pump in the access hole whereby the pump is in flow communication with the container.
The pump may be attached to the first deformable portion prior to the first feeding step.
The method may include the step of attaching a dispenser to the pump.
The first deformable portion may have a first cavity inlet and a seal attached thereto and the method may include the step of removing the seal and then performing the step of positioning a pump.
The first deformable portion may have a first cavity inlet and a seal attached thereto and method may include the step of piercing the seal with the pump and then performing the step of positioning a pump.
The container may further include a box and the box includes a removable portion, and the method may include the steps of removing the removable portion of the box; removing the first deformable portion from the box; squeezing the box to urge the flowable material in the first deformable portion into the second deformable portion; and removing the box.
Further features will be described or will become apparent in the course of the following detailed description.
The embodiments will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring to
The deformable container 12 includes a first deformable portion 20 which defines a first cavity 22 and a second deformable portion 24 which defines a second cavity 26. The second cavity 26 is in flow communication with the first cavity 22 through a neck portion 30. The first cavity 22 has a first cavity inlet 28. The second deformable portion 24 is configured to deform to fit through the access hole 18 when substantially no flowable material is therein. The second deformable portion 24 may be wound into a tube as shown in
Optionally the first cavity inlet 28 is sealable first cavity inlet and is sealed with a pump 14. Pump 14 may be any standard type of pump. An example of the pump used herein is shown in U.S. application Ser. No. 13/458,318, filed Apr. 27, 2012. An alternate example of a pump 15 is shown in
Optionally the deformable container 12 may be housed in a removable box 36, as shown in
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that, by shipping a container 12 with a pump sealed thereto, the liquid is shipped to the end user in a hygienic fashion and it minimizes the opportunity to contaminate the liquid from the manufacturer to the user. In addition, box 36 can provide further protection for the container 12 during shipping.
Optionally the deformable container 12 may include a removable seal 40 as shown in
Optionally a removable clip 44 may be included as shown in
Referring to
Note that in the embodiments shown in
The embodiments of the container 12 may be manufactured from a variety of different materials. The container 12 may be made from a deformable material. By way of example only the first and second deformable portions may be manufactured from BOPP (biaxially oriented polypropylene), BON (biaxially oriented nylon), CA (cellulose acetate), CTFE (chlorotrifluoroethylene), EAA (ethylene acrylic acid), EEA (ethylene-ethyl acrylate), EMA (ethylene-methyl acrylate), EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate), EVOH (ethylene-vinyl alcohol), HIPS (high impact polystyrene), LDPE (low-density polyethylene), LLDPE (linear low-density polyethylene), mPE (metallocene polyethylene) OPP (oriented polypropylene), PA (polyamide), PAN (polyacrylonitrile), PB (polybutylene), PE (polyethylene), PET (poly(ethylene terephthalate)), PETG (poly(ethylene terephthalate) glycol), PLA (poly(lactic acid)), PP (polypropylene), PS (polystyrene), PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), PUR (polyurethane), PVC (poly(vinyl chloride)), and PVDC (poly(vinylidene chloride)).
Alternatively the container may be made from a resiliently deformable material as shown in
Various embodiments and aspects of the disclosure will be described with reference to details discussed below. The following description and drawings are illustrative of the disclosure and are not to be construed as limiting the disclosure. Numerous specific details are described to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the present disclosure. However, in certain instances, well-known or conventional details are not described in order to provide a concise discussion of embodiments of the present disclosure.
As used herein, the terms, “comprises” and “comprising” are to be construed as being inclusive and open ended, and not exclusive. Specifically, when used in the specification and claims, the terms, “comprises” and “comprising” and variations thereof mean the specified features, steps or components are included. These terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components.
As used herein, the term “exemplary” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration,” and should not be construed as preferred or advantageous over other configurations disclosed herein.
As used herein, the terms “about” and “approximately” are meant to cover variations that may exist in the upper and lower limits of the ranges of values, such as variations in properties, parameters, and dimensions. In one non-limiting example, the terms “about” and “approximately” mean plus or minus 10 percent or less.
As used herein, the term “substantially” refers to the complete or nearly complete extent or degree of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. For example, an object that is “substantially” enclosed would mean that the object is either completely enclosed or nearly completely enclosed. The exact allowable degree of deviation from absolute completeness may in some cases depend on the specific context. However, generally speaking the nearness of completion will be so as to have the same overall result as if absolute and total completion were obtained. The use of “substantially” is equally applicable when used in a negative connotation to refer to the complete or near complete lack of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein are intended to have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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61768918 | Feb 2013 | US |