Patent Application
20060086156
The present invention relates to a dispensing device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a device configured to receive and dispense a fluid through action of an actuating piston and unidirectional valves.
Fluid products, such as liquid detergent, spirited liquors, paint, etc., are typically sold and packaged in a receptacle that is used to transport the fluid to a desired location. However, prior to the use and/or consumption of the fluid contained within the receptacle, the fluid or portion thereof must be transferred to another receptacle for transport to the location of ultimate use. For example, liquid detergent for washing clothes is typically sold as a large volume of detergent packaged in a plastic receptacle. The receptacle is usually positioned on a shelf near a washing machine in an orientation that permits the detergent to be dispensed from the receptacle into a plastic cup, which cup is then used to deliver the detergent to a washing machine. This process frequently entails waste and mess, given the ease of misaligning the cup with the receptacle dispenser, etc. Similar processes and disadvantages are encountered dispensing spirited liquors, paint, oil, gasoline, toiletries, etc.
Additionally, many types of dispensers and pumps are known, but suffer from significant drawbacks. For example, most require access to a source of electrical energy, such as batteries, electricity, etc. By way of additional example, dispensers and pumps are typically complicated in design, contributing to significant manufacturing expenses, high purchase costs and difficulty in operation of the device.
Accordingly, what is needed is a device for dispensing liquids that is simple in design, requires no source of electrical energy and is easy to operate.
In accordance with one example aspect, the present invention is directed to a liquid detergent dispensing device for receiving liquid detergent from a liquid detergent reservoir and dispensing the received liquid detergent. The device generally includes a body member comprising a top portion, a bottom portion, a face portion and an interior cavity defined by the top portion, bottom portion and face portion, and wherein the interior cavity comprises an upper portion and a lower portion; an inlet for receiving liquid detergent from a liquid detergent reservoir to the interior cavity; an inlet valve associated with the inlet for unidirectionally restricting the flow of the liquid detergent from the liquid detergent reservoir to the interior cavity; an outlet for dispensing the received liquid detergent from the interior cavity; a piston member, slidably disposed within the interior cavity, for actuating the receiving and dispensing of the liquid detergent, and wherein a position of the piston within the interior cavity defines a border between the upper portion and the lower portion of the interior cavity; and a piston valve associated with the piston member for enabling fluidic communication between the upper portion and the lower portion of the interior cavity, and wherein the piston valve unidirectionally restricts the flow of the liquid detergent from the lower portion to the upper portion.
In accordance with another aspect, the present invention is directed to a liquid detergent dispensing device for receiving liquid detergent from a liquid detergent reservoir and dispensing the received liquid detergent. The device generally includes a body member comprising a top portion, a bottom portion, a face portion and an interior cavity defined by the top portion, bottom portion and face portion, and wherein the interior cavity comprises an upper portion and a lower portion; an inlet for receiving liquid detergent from a liquid detergent reservoir to the interior cavity; an inlet valve associated with the inlet for unidirectionally restricting the flow of the liquid detergent from the liquid detergent reservoir to the interior cavity; an outlet for dispensing the received liquid detergent from the interior cavity; a piston member, slidably disposed within the interior cavity, for actuating the receiving and dispensing of the liquid detergent, and wherein a position of the piston within the interior cavity defines a border between the upper portion and the lower portion of the interior cavity; a piston valve associated with the piston member for enabling fluidic communication between the upper portion and the lower portion of the interior cavity, and wherein the piston valve unidirectionally restricts the flow of the liquid detergent from the lower portion to the upper portion; and means adapted for biasing the piston member toward the top portion of the body member, wherein the means is disposed in the lower portion of the interior cavity.
In accordance with another aspect, the invention is directed to a liquid detergent dispensing device for receiving liquid detergent from a liquid detergent reservoir and dispensing the received liquid detergent. The device generally includes a body member comprising a top portion, a bottom portion, a face portion and an interior cavity defined by the top portion, bottom portion and face portion, and wherein the interior cavity comprises an upper portion and a lower portion; an inlet for receiving liquid detergent from a liquid detergent reservoir into the lower portion of the interior cavity; an inlet valve associated with the inlet for unidirectionally restricting the flow of the liquid detergent from the liquid detergent reservoir to the interior cavity; an outlet for dispensing the received liquid detergent from the upper portion of the interior cavity; a piston member, slidably disposed within the interior cavity, for actuating the receiving and dispensing of the liquid detergent, and wherein a position of the piston within the interior cavity defines a border between the upper portion and the lower portion of the interior cavity; a piston valve associated with the piston member for enabling fluidic communication between the upper portion and the lower portion of the interior cavity, and wherein the piston valve unidirectionally restricts the flow of the liquid detergent from the lower portion to the upper portion; and means adapted for biasing the piston member toward the top portion of the body member, wherein the means is disposed in the lower portion of the interior cavity. Additionally, movement of the piston member within the interior cavity is adapted to actuate receiving of the liquid detergent into the lower portion of the interior cavity and to transfer the liquid detergent from the lower portion of the interior cavity through the piston valve to the upper portion of the interior cavity. Furthermore, the biasing means applies a pressure onto the liquid detergent when the liquid detergent is present in the upper portion of the interior cavity, and wherein the pressure applied onto the liquid detergent actuates the dispensing of the liquid detergent from the liquid detergent dispensing device through the outlet.
These and other features and a more thorough understanding of the invention may be achieved my referring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Disclosed according to the present invention are a fluid dispensing device and methods for fluid dispensing, i.e., withdrawing a fluid from a, e.g., fluid reservoir and releasing the withdrawn fluid to a desired site and/or receptacle, such as a bottle, an interior of a washing machine, other tubing, etc. Example fluids dispensable by the present device include, but are not limited to, water, gasoline, consumable liquids (e.g., soda, coffee, spirited liquors, etc.), general purpose cleaning products, and viscous fluids, including, but not limited to, oil, paint, food products (e.g., dressings, turkey broth (e.g., basting), etc.), liquid detergent for cleaning clothing, dish soap, toiletries (e.g., shampoo, liquid soap, lotions, etc.), etc. As will be more fully described below, the fluid dispensing device and methods operate by an actuating piston that causes a fluid to be received into a cavity of the fluid dispensing device, maintained in the cavity under pressure, and released when desired.
With reference to
As illustrated in the Figures, the body 102 is preferably a right cylindrical member having a top member 104, which is preferably cylindrical disk-like in shape, a bottom member 106, and an elongate cylindrical face member 107 disposed therebetween. The body 102 defines therein an interior cavity that operates as a reservoir for the received fluid. The body 102 is preferably constructed from a durable plastic, although other suitable materials may be used, such as metal, alloys, rubber, etc. Additionally, the body 102 need not be cylindrical in shape and may be fashioned in any other suitable form, such as prismatically rectangular, etc.
The fluid dispensing device 100 also includes the inlet 118 and the outlet 114 for facilitating the flow of fluid from the fluid reservoir, through the interior cavity, and to the desired dispensing site. The inlet 118 is preferably a flexible tubing member and is preferably secured to an inlet connector 120 protruding from the bottom member 106. According to one embodiment, the inlet 118 is secured to the inlet connector 120 by sliding the inlet 118 over the inlet connector 120, whereby the grip applied by the inlet 118 on the inlet connector 120 secures the inlet 118 to the inlet connector 120. The inlet 118 is configured to be positioned in the fluid reservoir 168 and thereby enables fluidic communication between the interior cavity of the fluid dispensing device 100 and the fluid reservoir 168. It is to be appreciated that the inlet 118 need not be associated with the bottom member 106 and may suitably be associated with any other portion of the device 100 as desired, such as the face member 107. It is to be further appreciated that the device 100 need not include an inlet 100 as described, and suitably may include a protrusion of the body 102 configured to interface with a liquid reservoir.
According to a preferred embodiment, the inlet 118 includes a valve 130 that controls the direction of the flow of the fluid therebetween. The valve 130 is suitably integrated with the inlet 118, with the bottom member 106, or any other suitable structure, and is preferably a one-way valve, such as a flapper valve, a butterfly valve, a checkvalve, etc., that permits the flow of fluid from the inlet 118 to the interior cavity, but prevents the flow of fluid from the interior cavity back to the inlet 118. Accordingly, the valve 130 ensures that once the fluid has been withdrawn into the interior cavity, it remains there and does not return to the inlet 118. In more detail, a preferred valve 130 includes a rigid body portion 131 affixed to the structure on which the valve 130 is integrated, and a pair of flaps flexibly associated with the body portion 131. Preferably, the movement of the flaps is restricted to a small degree of flexibility to accomplish the unidirectional control.
According to a preferred embodiment, the bottom member 106 is funnel-like in cross sectional shape and gradually tapers to a reduced diameter portion along its longitudinal axis distal to the top member 104. The valve 130 is preferably associated with the reduced diameter portion and overlays the inlet connector 120 so as to effectively control the flow of fluid from the inlet 118. As will be more fully described below, the tapered nature of the bottom member 106 suitably also provides a seat, along its extended diameter portion, for a biasing member 138.
The fluid dispensing device 100 also includes an outlet 114 for enabling fluidic communication between the interior cavity and the desired site for dispensing. The outlet 114 is preferably a flexible tubing member and is preferably secured to an outlet connector 116 protruding from the cylindrical face member 107 of the body 102. The outlet 114, is preferably secured to the outlet connector 116 by the outlet 114 being positioned around and in gripping engagement with the outlet connector 116. The flexibility and preferred substantial length of the outlet 114 endow it with a wide range of motion useful for positioning an end of the outlet 114 at the desired site for dispensing. An end of the outlet 114 distal to its site of association with the body 102 preferably includes a release valve 122 for selectably controlling the flow of fluid from the outlet 114. The release valve 122 is preferably a user-actuable valve such that the fluid contents of the interior cavity are expelled from outlet 114 upon actuation of the valve 122. Various aspects of the release valve 122 will be discussed below.
The fluid dispensing device 100 also includes the piston 108 for actuating the movement of fluid from the fluid reservoir, into the interior cavity and subsequently through the outlet 114. The piston 108 is suitably a cylindrical disk member complementary in shape to the cylindrical face member 107 and is slidably disposed within the interior cavity. The piston 108 is preferably slidable within the interior cavity from the bottom member 106, through the interior cavity, to the top member 104.
The presence of the piston 108 in the interior cavity and its movement therein parses the interior cavity into an upper cavity portion 134 (
The piston 108 suitably also includes at least one valve 128 integrated therewith for enabling fluidic communication between the lower cavity portion 136 and the upper cavity portion 134 and controlling the flow of fluid therebetween. As described supra with reference to valve 130, the piston valve 128 is preferably a one-way valve, such as a flapper valve, a butterfly valve, a checkvalve, etc. that permits the flow of fluid from the lower cavity portion 136 to the upper cavity portion 134, but prevents the flow of fluid from the upper cavity portion 134 to the lower cavity portion 136. Accordingly, the valve 128 ensures that once the fluid has entered the upper cavity portion 134, it remains there and does not return to the lower cavity portion 136. The piston 108 may suitably include additional means for restricting the flow of fluid from the upper cavity portion 134 to the lower cavity portion 136, such as a rubber gasket positioned along the circumferential face of the piston 108 (i.e., along the interface of the piston 108 with the cylindrical face member 107), especially an o-ring 126, or other suitable structure.
The fluid dispensing device 100 suitably also includes a means 138 adapted for biasing the piston 108 toward the top member 104. According to a preferred embodiment, the means 138 is a spring disposed in the lower cavity portion 136 between the bottom member 106 and the piston 108. The means 138 biases the piston 108 toward the top member 104 in a manner that maximizes the size of the lower cavity portion 136 and minimizes the size of the upper cavity portion 134. The biasing of the piston 108 by the means 138 is preferably overcome by application of downward (i.e., toward the body 102) pressure on the piston handle 112, which pressure tends the piston 108 through the interior cavity toward the bottom member 106. Thus, in the absence of an applied force, the piston 108 is in a resting state and is proximate to the top member 104 due to the. biasing of the means 138, as illustrated in
The fluid dispensing device 100 may be of any suitable configuration as to enable the withdrawal of fluid from a fluid reservoir and the dispensing of the same onto a desired site. For example, the outlet 114 may suitably be associated with the top member 104 as an alternate configuration to its association with the circular face member 107. Additionally, the fluid dispensing device 100 may be of an inline configuration, wherein the outlet 114 is associated with one or more of the piston handle 112 and the piston rod 110. According to this alternate embodiment, the outlet 114 may extend through a center of the piston handle 112, then through the piston rod 110 and then lie in fluidic communication with the interior cavity, such as the upper cavity portion 134. Further according to this embodiment, the device 100 may include an additional set of handles, such as a handle associated with the piston handle 112 and a handle associated with the body 102, for facilitating the movement of the piston handle 112 toward the body 102. The inline configuration may be advantageous when the body 102 is not to be securely associated with a fluid reservoir.
According to a preferred embodiment, the fluid dispensing device 100 is configured to meter an a predetermined volume of fluid or a range of predetermined amounts of fluid. For example, the interior cavity may be constructed according to a given specification such that it holds a predetermined volume of fluid, such as one cup, a third of a cup, two thirds of a cup, etc. Accordingly, once a user actuates the piston 108, as described more fully below, and fills the interior cavity with the desired fluid, the release of the release valve 122 results in the dispensing of the predetermined amount of fluid. The device 100 may be constructed to accommodate any volume of fluid and may suitably be sold in a kit comprising multiple devices 100, each corresponding to a different volume capacity.
According to an example embodiment and with reference to
By way of additional example, the piston rod 110 suitably also includes a pair of flanges 140, 142 for restricting the movement of the piston 108 thereon. As shown in
The fluid dispensing device 100 preferably includes indicia for indicating a position of the piston 108 along the piston rod 110. The piston handle 112 preferably includes a directional indicator imprinted thereon for directing the user to rotate the handle 112 in a first direction for maximum dispensing and in a second direction for minimum dispensing.
According to an example embodiment, the device 100 includes means adapted for preventing rotation of the piston 108. With reference to
The key member 180 preferably is integrated with the piston 108 circumferentially around the channel of passage for the piston rod 110. The key 180 additionally includes a pair of arms 182 extending radially from the key 180 in opposite directions from each other. Preferably, upper surfaces of the key 180 and its arms 182 preferably are rounded. Thus, in operation, as the piston 108 displaces toward the top member 104, the key member 180 approaches and engages the rib member 185. Depending on the orientation of the piston 108, the arms 182 of the key member 180 may abut the rib 185. Because of the rounded surfaces of the arms 182 and the rib 185, the abutting of these elements will cause the piston 108 to slightly rotate so as to enable the piston 108 ability to fully bias upward. In this configuration, each rib 185 is positioned around the key member 185. Accordingly, when the piston handle 112 is rotated, the piston 108 cannot rotate due to the rib 185 impeding the movement of the arms 182 of the key 180.
It is to be appreciated that the foregoing discussion of metering and configuring the device 100 to dispense one or more predetermined volumes is by way of example only and that other suitably configurations can be employed as appropriate.
Returning to the release valve 122 and
The fluid dispensing device 100 preferably also includes means for selectably securing the release valve 122 to the device 100. With reference to
An example describing the operation of the fluid dispensing device 100 will now follow. With reference to
Once the inlet 118 is positioned in the reservoir 168, the device 100 is in a resting state. As shown in
The user then again depresses the piston handle 112 to transfer the detergent from the lower cavity portion 136 to the upper cavity portion 134. Accordingly, as the piston handle 112 is depressed, the piston 108 is displaced toward the bottom member 106, as shown in
Regardless of the amount of detergent or other fluid present in the upper cavity portion 134, the detergent therein will be maintained under pressure through action of the means 138 (e.g., spring). The action of the means 138 forces the piston 108 upward toward the top member 104. Because the valve 122 on the outlet 114 is in the closed position, the upward action of the piston 108 compresses the detergent in the upper cavity portion 134. Accordingly, once a desired volume of detergent or other liquid is present in the upper cavity portion 134, the user positions the release valve 122 at the desired site (e.g., in the washing machine) for dispensing. The opening of the valve 122 by depression of the button 158 releases the detergent from the interior cavity with a force generated from the upward tendencies of the piston 108. It is to be appreciated that the fluid dispensing device 100 of the present invention can be configured to accurately dispense a given and/or desired volume of fluid by any means known to a skilled artisan, preferably by the techniques and components described above.
Although the invention has been described with regard to certain preferred example embodiments, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only, and that improvements, changes and modifications in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Such improvements, changes and modifications within the skill of the art are intended to be covered by the scope of the appended claims.
