Patent Application
20200165119
The invention relates generally to multi chambered dispensing devices capable of metering or proportioning the dispensed fluids. Particularly, the invention relates to a compact fluid dispenser capable of ejecting variable fluid volumes in response to operation of the dispenser, which is preferably by suitable manually applied force on a gimbaled selection and actuation disc.
Visual artists may want to formulate color mixtures quickly and accurately, in order to be more productive in the often delicate, sequential and manual metering of paints. Through iterative use of the current dispenser, a mixture with any number or components in any proportion to each other may be produced. Disclosed herein is a volumetric dispenser which can repeatably produce specific fluid component formulations in response to actuation of an articulated selection and actuation disc, preferably by a manual depression of said disc.
Fluid dispensers which form a mixture from individual fluid components are known and are taught by Max Lieber's U.S. Pat. No. 6,527,201, by F. J. Fuchs Jr's U.S. Pat. No. 3,353,716, and by Girair Hagop Alticosalian's U.S. Pat. No. 4,006,841.
The above prior art devices are generally portable. Lieber's color changer requires a pneumatic power source to operate. This device generally has limitations in artistic exploitation because it can deliver only two colors simultaneously. Designed to deliver paint to an airbrush for real-time consumption, it constrains the visual appearance of the delivered mixture to narrow areas of the color gamut. For example, it cannot simultaneously deliver a mixture of light grey derived from a black and a white component together with a yellow component.
Fuchs Jr.'s device enables incremental mixture formation by manually actuating control knobs which correspond to particular fluid mixture components in order to dispense each fluid. The lack of proliferation and acceptance of this device today may be attributed to the number of parts it includes and the corresponding complexity of its manufacture. Paints may be viscous, non lubricating and may have high pigment loads. It is possible that F. J. Fuchs' device is prone to mechanical jamming of components which are in sliding contact with each other and are exposed to paint.
Alticosalian's dispenser allows for dispensing of as many as two fluids simultaneously from rigid pressurized containers via an arrangement of cams, valves and a shared fluid manifold. This device allows one to select a ratio between two fluids via a rotary knob. Dispensing of stored fluids is actuated by a manual depression of said knob. This device has marked disadvantages if used to dispense paints. It is not a volumetric dispenser, and appears to be semi stochastic in operation. A pressurized container is known to eject varying amounts of fluid in response to a given valve position over time. Pressurized containers are also known to begin dispensing with a surge of material. Furthermore, the prescribed central manifold may need cleaning upon fluid container replacement or color changes. A further disadvantage is the relative difficulty of refilling the advised pressurized containers in a home or studio setting. Finally, due to absence of means to clamp or secure the selected ratio during dispensing, mechanical flutter and inherent forces of dispensing may inadvertently alter the user selection, compromising repeatability and stability of the mixture produced by the device in question.
Notwithstanding the prior art, the present invention is neither taught nor rendered obvious thereby.
An objective of the current invention is a compact, hand powered device that can store and meter out fluids simultaneously or sequentially.
Another objective of the current invention is to leverage artists' existing knowledge of a color wheel. To that end, device 100 includes three fluid paint stores c, m, y which may respectively contain Cyan, Magenta and Yellow, and are arranged in the notional positions of primary colors on a color wheel. The said fluid stores are located at equal lengths along periphery 2300 of body shell 2101 around a common axis 1300. In using the current invention, an operator may select any ratio of a first color component to a second component for dispensing.
Advantageously, the current invention accomodates a need to work with dozens of kinds of fluid materials. In airbrushing, for example, opaque and translucent paints, mediums, and paint reducers are used. A multitude of mediums and varnishes may be used with brushed-on acrylics. In anticipation of frequent changes of cartridges 3107, male-taper fittings 2009 are provided for coupling the said cartridges to dispenser 100. Because such Luer connections are generally easy to make and break, the said cartridges may be removed or installed with minimal operator effort using the said surfaces 2009.
The current device lends itself well to devising a catalog of the colors which it can produce because the user can specify fluid proportions incrementally using a scale and pointer system provided on the control disc and the device body. In one implementation of such a catalog, a set of mutually compatible and generic pigments is chosen in order to index their visual properties. Such a set may comprise of Cerulean Blue, Quinacridone Magenta, Cadmium Yellow, Titanium White, and Carbon Black. The resulting catalog may provide color codes, corresponding color samples, and relevant ratio or volume selections which may produce the said colors.
Another important object of the current invention is a valveless device which requires minimal maintenance and cleaning. Paints do not contact or wet any moving parts of the currently taught device. The only component which paints may contact is a disposable cartridge means 3107. The said cartridge means, preferably a syringe casing, can be cleaned and retained for future use.
Finally, the current invention provides clamping means to securely retain a selected dispensing ratio or volume.
The present invention relates to a fluid paint dispenser which enables the user to select from a plurality of mixture components prior to dispensing, for production of a wide variety of mixtures having different visual or other properties. The invention taught herein comprises of an articulated selection and actuation assembly 31, a plurality of fluid storage and delivery channels 32 arranged around a central axis 1300, and a main body 2101 to which the said assemblies 32 and 31 mount.
A threaded bore 2006 on main body 2101 is provided for mounting the said selection and actuation assembly 31, which comprises a selection and actuation disc 1101, a center block 1103, a rotary clamping bolt 1105 with integral hand grip 1102, and pins 1104 which secure the said disc to the said center block 1103. The said bore 2006, central to the main body and co-axial with axis 1300, receives a bolt 1105 integral to the said clamp means. Pins 1104 mount the said disc 1101 to the center block allowing it to rotate about an axis 1200. The said clamp bolt 1105 mounts the center block to the main body, allowing it to rotate about an axis 1300. In summary, the gimbaled assembly 31 provides mutually perpendicular rotary and tilt axes 1300 and 1200 about which said disc 1101 may articulate.
Selection and actuation disc 1101 may rotate with gimbal hub 1103, and during such rotation or when idle, may glide or rest on some or all of the piston cams 2001. Upon manual depression of said disc 1101 by the operator, in the vicinity and direction shown by arrow 10 in drawing 2, the said disc exerts a torque on pistons 2103 via their cam surfaces 2001 thereby also depressing the said pistons. The configuration of said disc 1101, said axes 1300 and 1200, and said piston cams 2001 is such that at most two piston cams 2001 may contact and follow said disc 1101 during an operator imparted actuation or tilting of disc 1101.
The rotary clamp 1102 is actuated by turning its handle in direction J, and when so engaged, resists flutter of the said disc 1101 relative to the body shell 2101 during dispensing. Another benefit of clamp 1102 is the retention of a prior dispensing selection until it is disengaged by operator. The said clamp may be disengaged by rotating handle in the opposite direction to that indicated by J.
Disc 1101 features upon it a graduated scale 4020 for selecting and dispensing two mixture components simultaneously at a specified ratio to each other, and a scale 4010 for dispensing variable volumes of a single mixture component. Each of the said scales corresponds with its particular set of indicators on the body shell 2101 and in concert allow the user to specify ratios or volumes of mixture components.
A dual component scale 4020 includes a series of graduated marks each denoting a certain proportion of a first to a second mixture component. The proportion graduations include marks 4021, 4022, and 4023 which may correspond to selectable ratios 1:29, 1:1 and 29:1, of a first to a second fluid. Said scale 4020 cooperates with proportion indicator markings 4001 located between fluid stores c, m, y and spaced at equal distances along rim 2300.
By rotating the said disc and bringing a desired ratio on its dual component scale 4020 to correspond with any one of the arrow indicators 4001 on the body shell 2101, engaging clamp 1102 and then depressing the disc above the said arrow 4001, the respective fluids from the fluid stores immediately flanking the particular indicator 4001 may be dispensed at the ratio indicated on scale 4020. In this manner, any two of the fluid components c, m, and y may be selected for simultaneous dispensing at a predetermined ratio.
A variable volume shot of a single kind of fluid may also be dispensed by the present invention. This feature may be used to modify an existing mixture with a single new fluid component. Single component scale 4010 comprises of a volumetric and a proportional series of graduations. The volumetric graduation elements 4044 are each equivalent to two 0.04 m1 drops of fluid. Preferably, the said graduations 4044 are each rendered relatively smaller where a cumulatively lower volume is denoted, and are rendered relatively larger where there is a higher volume denoted. The said scale also features the proportional markings 4031, 4032, and 4033. Said scale 4010 cooperates with volume indicators 4002 located above fluid stores c, m, y and spaced at equal distances along rim 2300.
By rotating the selection and actuation disc 1101 and bringing a desired volume on its single component metering scale 4010 to correspond with the inset volume indicator 4002 on body shell 2101, engaging clamp 1102, then depressing the disc above indicator 4002, fluid in a cartridge under said indicator 4002 is caused to be ejected from an orifice 3105 of the same cartridge.
Each of the said channels 32 comprises of a cylindrical bore 2003 in communication with a fluid storage cartridge 3107, a quick release fitting 2102, a spring 2108, an end stop means 2104, and a piston 2103 slidably mounted in the said cylindrical bore. The main body 2101 preferably directly incorporates three said bores 2003 which each in turn accepting fitting 2102. The said fitting 2102 is in communication with the said fluid cartridge 3107 via bore 2113 as well as a multitude of considerably smaller apertures 2111. The said apertures 2111 serve to screen or protect the said piston and bore mechanism from contamination by the stored fluids during dispensing operation.
Functionally, each channel 32 is capable of ejecting a fluid volume corresponding to a linear displacement of its piston 2103. In one alternative implementation shown in
The current device functions best when held upright with the clamp 1102 oriented away from the ground. The fluids 3103 held in the said cartridges 3107 must substantially cover cartridge orifices 3105 in order to be ejected in a controlled manner afforded by the current invention.
When no actuation forces act on the said piston 2103, the spring 2108 causes it to retract to a starting position where it is detained by pin 2104. Upon retraction of the said piston, air is caused to aspirate into the corresponding fluid cartridge 3107 until pressure in the said cartridge is in equilibrium with atmospheric pressure.
Prior to use of device 100, at least one cartridge 3107 must be filled with a fluid and pushed onto tapered surface 2009 of press-fit fitting 2102 as indicated by arrow k in
Prior to installation of cartridge means 3107, the piston in communication with said cartridge may be manually depressed, so as to relieve any pressure build-up caused inherently by the cartridge installation process. Upon fitment of the said cartridge to device 100, the piston is released and the cartridge is uncapped by operator.
Additional features, advantages, and embodiments of the invention may be set forth or apparent from consideration of the following detailed description. Moreover, it is to be understood that both the foregoing summary of the invention and the following detailed description are exemplary and intended to provide further explanation without limiting the scope of the invention.
The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and together with the detailed description serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:
With reference to the drawings, a dispenser 100 is shown in accordance with an example embodiment and includes a number of components and assemblies that together provide various operational modes for selecting and dispensing a pair of liquids proportionally, or dispensing a single liquid individually, and include but are not limited to, a gimballed selection disc assembly 31, a main body 2101, one or more fluid storage and delivery channels 32, and a set of scale and indicator systems 4010 and 4020.
Referring to
In the current embodiment of dispenser 100, selection and actuation disc 1101 is bisected by tilt axis 1200, thereby forming a first section 1221 and a second section 1222. The said first section 1221 of said disc 1101 bears a cutaway 1220 which prevents overlap of more than one piston cam 2001 by said section's available net contact area. Thus the said cutaway 1220 permits selection of and dispensing of at most one mixture component c, m, or y from device 100 when an actuating force acts upon the the said first section 1221. Section 1222 of disc 1101 is capable of actuating two pistons simultaneously when it covers or overlaps two cam poles 2400 of the said pistons. Disc section 1221 carries upon it a single component scale 4010, and disc section 1222 carries upon it a dual component scale 4020.
Turning to
Each fluid channel assembly 32 is arranged along the periphery 1210 of the selection and actuation disc 1101 at equal intervals in order to maximize any motion imparted to pistons during a stroke of said disc 1101. The said fluid channel means 32 are arranged symmetrically about axis 1300. One or more of the piston cams 2001, disposed at a substantially tangential orientation to said disc 1101, may maintain positive contact with disc 1101 througout a dispense cycle.
Diaphragms, bellows, and rubber bulbs are widely used for pippetting or transferring fluids. The said rubber bulbs generally interoperate with pipette bodies, and disposable pipettes often feature an integrated bellows or bulb. These devices functionally provide similar utility to the presently taught fluid channel 32, and can similarly eject fluid from a storage means volumetrically, in a controlled manner.
As illustrated in
Those skilled in the art shall know how to incorporate the said various alternative fluid delivery and storage devices into the present invention 100. Drawing 6 shows an example of an alternate embodiment which uses a disposable pipette as a fluid storage and delivery means.
The current device offers some design freedom in the packaging of the collapsible volume such as a bellows or diaphragm with the implementer's preferred fluid store or cartridge. A pneumatic conduit must link the two said volumes. Thus, should the implementer choose a discrete bellows as a collapsible element, it is highly advantageous to install an internal spring within the said element in order to speed expansion of its form after dispensing and to prevent unwanted or sporadic collapse of the said element's volume due to the weight of the stored fluid and the associated negative pressure exerted internally on the said collapsible volume. Preferably, a helical compression spring is installed along the axis of compression of the designer's preferred collapsible element.
In
In reference to
Functionally the bearing 2002 stabilizes the piston and resists lateral forces imparted on it by selection and actuation means 31, which may cause binding of bearing 2002 to its bore 2004 during operation of device 100. Those skilled in the art will know how to implement bearing 2002. The fitting 2102 mates to the main body 2101 via a relief groove 2400 and spring seat rim 2007. Spring seat rim 2007 is accepted by piston bore 2003 for alignment. Preferably the elements 2101 and 2102 are bonded with glue.
Seal 2107 aids in defining variable volume 2600. The seal is preferably produced from a PTFE enhanced elastomer. Substantial chemical resistance of seal 2107 to lubricants is important to the current embodiment. It is advised to maintain lubrication of the said sliding seal 2107
The current embodiment favors a disposable syringe casing 3107 with an integral tapered tip 3104 as a fluid store. Tapered tip 3104 allows for smooth aspiration of air back into the syringe after a volume of fluid is ejected. To facilitate unimpeded transit of air into the main casing upon piston 2103 retraction, a syringe casing with a smooth and contiguous interior surface is preferable.
The tips 3104 of the fluid stores 3101 are preferably arranged in substantially close proximity to each other, in order to dispense the stored fluids into a relatively small receptacle or container. It is preferred that the piston cams 2001 are situated as close to the periphery 2300 of device 100 as possible, in order to increase the distance over which any tilting of the selection and actuation disc 1101 may interact with the said cams.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/770816, filed Nov. 22, 2018, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62770816 | Nov 2018 | US |
