BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an exploded, frontal view of the liquid dispensing device of the present invention, shown as it is being mounted on a container;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged frontal view, partially in section, of a portion of the down tube and sleeve construction, showing these parts as configured at the FIG. 1 stage of assembly;
FIG. 3A shows a detailed frontal view, partially in section, of a portion of a second embodiment of the liquid dispensing device of the present invention, shown in a shipping position for shipping the trigger and dip tube to a container filling site;
FIG. 3B shows a detailed frontal view, partially in section, similar to FIG. 3A with the second embodiment of the liquid dispensing device in an “in use” position;
FIG. 4 is a frontal view of a third embodiment of the liquid dispensing device of the present invention; and
FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3A but of yet another embodiment of the liquid dispensing device of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The dispenser of the present invention is suitable for use with a conventional container 4 having a conventional bottom wall (not shown), side wall structure 5, internal cavity 6, upper opening 7 and associated lip 8. See also U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,150 for the example of other containers.
As can be seen from FIG. 1, a down tube assembly 10 of the present invention is designed to be linked to sprayer/liquid dispenser 12. The down tube assembly 10 of this embodiment comprises an essentially rigid lower section 13, an essentially rigid upper section 14, and (as can be seen for example from FIG. 2) an intermediate flexible section 15 in the form of a flexible tubular sleeve. The lower end 26 of upper section 14, the upper end 28 of lower section 13, and the intermediate flexible section 15, are surrounded by a rigid sleeve 16 when the dispensing device is ready for assembly to the container.
The upper end 18 of the intermediate flexible section 15 and the lower end 20 of the intermediate flexible section 15 are, in this configuration, within the axial extent of the sleeve 16. As a result, in this “first position”, upper section 14 is not free to pivot relative to lower section 13.
Note also that in the FIG. 2 embodiment the sleeve 16 also has a rigid circular flange 22 which projects radially outwardly. As a result, as the dispenser, first lead by the lower section 13, is inserted into the container 4 through the opening 7. The sleeve portion 16 is sized to also pass into and through the opening 7. However, the flange 22 is sized large enough so as to be unable to pass the lip 8. Hence, the lip 8 will hold the flange 22, and thus the sleeve 16, from further downward movement, even while the down tube assembly 13/14/15 continues to move downward. This drives the sleeve axially up the down tube.
This will ultimately preferably move the sleeve 16 above the gap area 24 defined between ends 26 and 28. As a result, in this “second position”, the lower section 13 will be able to pivot freely relative to the bottle and the upper section 14. The dotted lines 27 in FIG. 1 illustrate axial movement of the sleeve that will occur.
Once the liquid dispensing device is positioned in a bottle like that shown in FIG. 4, it can operate in a conventional spray manner when a consumer pumps the trigger 54 to cause an internal pump in the spray head to deliver spray out nozzle 58. Note that in this position the sleeve is axially above the flexible connection. Hence, when the consumer removes the sprayer to refill the bottle or use a new bottle, the dip tube assembly can be reinserted in a new bottle (or the refill bottle). However, at this point the assembly will be flexible, requiring some care during the insertion.
FIG. 3A depicts a first alternative embodiment in which the down tube is a single piece structure having an upper section 14A, a lower section 13A, a thinned intermediate flexible section 15A, and a flexible intermediate connection element 15B. Here the flexibility results from both a flexible connector and an integral thinned section. If desired the connector 15B can be completely omitted as shown in FIG. 4. However, this would require special care in forming the thinned out walls, and might lessen the useful life of the connection.
In the FIG. 3A the embodiment is shown in a shipping position for shipping the trigger and dip tube to a container filling site, and in FIG. 3B the embodiment is shown in an “in use” position. In this embodiment, the rigid member/sleeve 16A is a somewhat more complex structure than the corresponding part 16 in FIG. 2. A circular flange 22A is designed to abut against a lip 8 of the container. Here a wall 40A of this element will telescope into an additional receiving member 41, with a positive stop of the sleeve movement occurring due to abutment of flange 22A with a wall 57 of the sprayer (see FIG. 3B).
Sleeve 16A rides closely against the outside of wall 41. This close fit provides an small amount of resistance to the movement, preventing accidental or unintentional movement. The force created by flange 22A being pushed upwards by the lip 8 is sufficient to overcome this resistance.
The assembly of FIGS. 3A and 3B has a liquid seal at the top of flange 22A against the bottom wall 57 of the trigger housing when the assembly is completed. Further, the bottom of flange 22A has a liquid seal against the top of the lip 8 of the container 4 when the assembly is completed. This can also be achieved by making flange 22A from a softer material than either the trigger housing wall 57 or the lip 8 of the container 4. Alternatively, the assembly can be provided with gaskets above and below the flange 22A (compare the embodiment of FIG. 5).
As mentioned above, the shipping position for shipping the trigger and dip tube to the container filling site is shown in FIG. 3A. During shipment of the dip tube/trigger assembly (without the container), the flange 22A of the sleeve 16A is preferably inside the screw cap 51 to limit side to side movement of the sleeve/dip tube assembly. Upon insertion into a filled container, the lip 8 of the container 4 pushes the flange 22A upward and exposes the flexible section 15A and the flexible intermediate connection element 15B. The bottom of the sleeve 16A should be high enough that at least part of the flexible section 15A and the flexible intermediate connection element 15B are exposed so the bottom portion of the dip tube 13A can tilt to follow gravity and the liquid in the container 4.
FIGS. 3A and 3B show the difference between the in shipment/high speed insertion/rigid position (FIG. 3A) and the in use/tiltable position (FIG. 3B). When the sleeve 16A is down (FIG. 3A), the sleeve 16A prevents the dip tube section 13A from flopping during assembly of the trigger to the container by covering the flexible section 15A and the flexible intermediate connection element 15B. Also, when the sleeve 16A is down (FIG. 3A), the flange 22A is wide enough to minimize side to side movement due to its placement inside the screw cap 51 of the trigger assembly. When the sleeve 16A is up (FIG. 3B), the sleeve 16A not only permits the dip tube to tilt in use, but also the sleeve 16A attaches to the trigger to help secure the dip tube 13A in shipping.
In FIG. 4 there is shown a fully assembled device using the FIGS. 3A & 3B embodiment, albeit without connector 15B. As can be seen, in this embodiment the thinned out portion of the intermediate flexible section 15A permits the pivoting of the down tube lower section 13A.
After the down tube 10 has been inserted into a container 4, the sprayer 12 is preferably secured to the container 4 using any means known to the art. For example, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3A, the container 4 may have threads 9 at its upper end which mate with threads 50 on a cap 51. However, alternative means of engagement may also be used.
It should be appreciated that the thinned out portion 15A may be positioned even lower along the down tube, depending on the design of the bottle collar. In any event, in the FIGS. 3A and 3B embodiment the flexible region 15A is most preferably near the axial middle of the flexible sleeve 15B, with flexible sleeve having overlap on the upper portion of the dip tube so as to be securely positioned.
The FIG. 5 embodiment is similar to that of FIGS. 3A and 3B, except that gaskets 60 and 61 are now present, lower dip tube portion 13 is a separate piece as in the FIG. 2 embodiment, and the upper portion of the dip tube assembly is somewhat modified in that it has a part extending up to make direct connection with the spray head.
While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described and otherwise disclosed herein, alternative embodiments are also intended to be within the scope of the claims. For example, the integral flexible section 15A of the FIG. 3 dip tube assembly can take other forms than just a thinned out area. It could also be corrugated, like a bellows, somewhat like a flexible hospital-type drinking straw.
In yet another alternative the radial projection/flange can be omitted if the opening to the bottle is sufficiently small. Further, that projection need not be circular or even entirely surrounding.
While a variety of other alternatives are therefore possible, it is believed that the embodiment of FIG. 5 is the most preferred form of the invention for those applications of greatest interest to the applicant. It has certain manufacturing advantages. Further, rigid sleeve 16A can rest underneath the threaded cap 51 when it is capturing the flexible portion of the dip tube and also when it has released the flexible portion of the dip tube. The total distance it travels to release the flexible section of the dip tube can be less than the height of the threaded cap. This helps avoid accidental movement of sleeve 16A relative to the rest of the assembly during shipping, handling, and automatic sorting (prior to the time when it is automatically inserted into the bottle neck).
Thus, the invention is not to be judged solely by the preferred embodiments. Rather, the claims should be looked to in order to judge the full scope of the invention.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
The present invention provides flexible down tubes for liquid delivery devices that are designed for automated assembly with their containers, as well as methods for using such devices.
Patent Application
20080047982
