Patent Application
20120168466
1. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to dispensing systems, and more particularly to a dispenser for a dispensing system.
2. Background Art
Pump type bottles are used for dispensing liquid and gel media, such as soaps, lotions, and other substances. This type of dispenser system is widely used in washrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, and so forth. With a pump-type bottle, a user generally pushes a plunger or squeezes a lever, thereby causing a liquid or gel substance disposed within a container coupled to the dispenser to be guided through and dispensed from a chamber in the dispenser. When the chamber is clogged, dispensation of the substance within the bottle can be compromised.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.
Embodiments of the invention are now described in detail. Referring to the drawings, like numbers indicate like parts throughout the views. As used in the description herein and throughout the claims, the following terms take the meanings explicitly associated herein, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise: the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on.” Relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. Also, reference designators shown herein in parenthesis indicate components shown in a figure other than the one in discussion. For example, talking about a device (10) while discussing figure A would refer to an element, 10, shown in figure other than figure A.
Beginning with
A displacement pump 103 extends from a dip tube 104. The bottom 105 of the dip tube 104 can be cut on an angle or bias in order to ensure maximum retrieval of the media disposed within the container 101. A collar 106 is positioned at the top of a cap 107. A hollow pump shaft 108 extends through the pump mechanism assembly 102. A pump head assembly 109 is connected the hollow pump shaft 108.
A pump top 110 typically includes a nozzle 111 having a nozzle orifice at the extreme end. An actuator surface 112 is provided for engagement by a user's finger, thumb, or hand. The user pushes downward on the actuator surface 112 to dispense the media disposed within the container 101. A neck 113 extends downward from the pump top 110. The neck 113 can include threads 114 adapted to mate with threads disposed within the collar 106. The threads 114 can be used to prevent pump operation during shipment, transport, or periods of non-use.
The Houghton application then identifies a long felt need. Specifically, Houghton states, “Presently, many antimicrobial solutions are alcohol based and include a polymeric thickener such as a carbomer, increasing the viscosity of the solution into a gelatinous fluid. After a dispensing operation, the residual of the solution that remains at the dispensing orifice often coagulates or tends to harden because of the presence of the polymeric thickener and the evaporation of the water and alcohol components of the solution. When this happens, the output orifice of the dispenser clogs to some degree, changing the orifice geometry, defining a deflection area at the orifice, and generally changing the projection of solution emitted therefrom. As a consequence, the dispensing of such solutions from a standard dispenser nozzle often result in misdirection of the dispensed material. Moreover . . . any resultant misdirection of the solution could cause the solution to be dispensed upon the user's clothing, face, or other body parts, rather than the hand, as intended. The results are simply unsatisfactory. Misdirection of solution that reaches other than the user's hand is certainly not appreciated by the user. Moreover, in previously known dispensers, the actual clog or coagulated material has a displeasing appearance, inconsistent with the cleanliness and sanitation intended by the solution itself.” Houghton articulates the long felt need found in the industry in the following manner: “There is a need in the art for a pump head for use with a displacement pump and a bottle dispenser, that may be used with solutions having a tendency to clog or coagulate in the dispensing nozzle, that is configured such as to control or limit any misdirection of dispensing resulting from the coagulation.” Houghton then describes his device as providing a solution to the dispensing misdirection issue.
Applicant's testing has shown that the long felt need of controlling dispensing misdirection still exists. Turning now to
Accordingly, there is not only a long felt need to solve misdirection during dispensation, but there have also been unsuccessful attempts by those of ordinary skill in the art to solve this problem. Turning now to
As shown in
In the perspective view of
In the illustrative embodiment of
A chamber extension 403 extends from the connector 402. In one embodiment, the chamber extension 403 passes along a portion of the arched flange 303 and terminates at the nozzle 401. The nozzle 401 can be configured with a partially circular (or otherwise rounded) cross section with the arched flange 303 closing one side of the partially circular (or otherwise rounded) cross section.
In one or more embodiments, the chamber extension 403 terminates at a location that is short of a terminating edge 404 of the arched flange. For example, in the illustrative embodiment of
In one embodiment the surface of the baffle may have a smooth surface portion that is substantially untextured. The smooth surface portion reduces the adhesive potential of the media to the baffle surface. The smooth surface portion is adjacent the nozzle 401, including at least a portion of the surface between the nozzle 401 and the termination edge 404.
In one or more embodiments, the connector 402 includes retention mechanisms 304. The retention mechanisms 304 can be configured as threads, protrusions, latch members, or as other retention components. The retention mechanisms 304 can be used to retain the dispenser 300 in a pump chamber of a pump vessel (such as that shown in
As shown in the plan views of
In one embodiment, the dispensing surface 301 can also include a planar top portion 305. The planar top portion 305 includes both ornamental considerations and functional considerations. The planar top portion 305 can provide a positive platform against which a user may press the dispensing surface 301. Additionally, the planar top portion 305 can provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance as well. In the illustrative views of
It will be clear to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure that the dispenser 300 can be scaled to any of a variety of sizes based upon application. For instance, in large-scale operations, such as dispensing axel grease for automotive maintenance, the dispenser 300 can be quite large. By contrast, in sensitive operations such as dispensing alcoholized disinfectants onto small surgical instruments, the dispenser 300 can be quite small. The illustrative embodiment shown in
Turning now to
The pump 801 is configured to dispense media 901 disposed within the vessel 802. As described with reference to
In the illustrative embodiment of
Turning now to
Despite the fact that the dispensation of the alcoholized media 1001 becomes extremely erratic about the clog 1002, the presence of the scalloped dispensing surface 1004 precludes the possibility of the dispensed media from reaching the user's eye 1005 by forcing the media to be ventrally dispensed. Testing has shown that this is true regardless of hand position or the user's relative position to the dispenser 300. Thus, the dispenser 300 works to solve the previously unsolved long felt need of erratic dispensation.
The inventors appreciate the fact that the dispenser 300 described above is more suited to use with an originally manufactured pump bottle. Further, the inventor appreciates that there are still many legacy pump bottles employing prior art pump tops that can be problematic when clogging. In an effort to aid owners of these prior art pumps, one or more embodiments of the invention have been configured to retrofit prior art pumps, such as the pump taught in the Houghton application. Turning now to
The dispenser cap 1100 includes many of the same features as the dispenser (300) of
To be retrofitted to existing pumps, rather than having a connector, chamber extension and nozzle, the illustrative embodiment of
In one embodiment, the coupling mechanism comprises a boot collar 1201. The boot collar 1201 is a planar member defining a passage 1202 having an opening 1203 at a first end and a circular terminus 1204 at a second end. In one embodiment, the diameter 1205 of the circular terminus 1204 is greater than the width 1206 of the passage 1202. Prior art dispensers can seat within the passage 1202, with their pump connectors seating within the circular terminus 1204.
Flanges 1207,1208 of the boot collar 1201 extend inwardly from a perimeter 1301 of the dispenser cap 1100. In the illustrative embodiment of
In one embodiment, the dispenser cap 1100 is manufactured from silicone rubber. The use of such a material offers two advantages. First, the tooling processes associated with pliable materials such as silicone permit the inclusion of large undercuts without substantially adding to the tooling costs. Accordingly, the flanges 1207,1208 can be accommodated without significantly adding to the tooling costs. Second, the use of a pliable material such as silicone allows the dispenser cap 1100 to easily pass across the prior art dispenser. The frictional surfaces offered by silicone rubber facilitate retention of the dispenser cap 1100 to the prior art dispenser.
When the prior art dispenser is placed within the passage 1203, the concave surface 1501 of the arching flange works as a baffle as previously described. Accordingly, dispensed media exiting the prior art dispenser will be directed along the concave surface 1501 ventrally away from the dispenser cap 1100. The baffle therefore eliminates the possibility of the media being dispensed into the user's face or eyes, regardless of user hand position.
In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims below. Thus, while preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is clear that the invention is not so limited. Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions, and equivalents will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of present invention. The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all the claims.
