Patent Application
20050284959
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The field of the invention is dispensers for chemical concentrates, and particularly the dispensing of chemical concentrates, from a container, which can cause an increase in pressure in the container.
Dispensers of the type concerned with in this invention are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,708,901, which teachings are incorporated herein. The dispensing apparatus disclosed in this patent can control the flow of carrier liquid and chemical product in a precise and controlled manner. However, there are instances where the chemical product which is stored in the container from which the chemical product is dispensed can cause an increase in pressure. If the contents of the container are not vented, a problem can arise.
Vented type dispensers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,638,550 and No. 3,157,360. Venting systems for containers are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,993,602 and No. 6,196,409.
The prior art does not provide a venting of excess pressure from a container which is employed in conjunction with a dispenser employing an eductor. Neither does the prior art provide such a venting of excess pressure from a dispenser which includes an air vent passage that is closed when the dispenser is not in operation.
The present invention provides a dispenser for dispensing different quantities of chemical concentrate into a stream of fluid from a concentrate container at different flow rates. It includes a body member having a through bore with an inlet end adapted to be connected to a source of pressurized liquid at one end and an outlet at the opposite end. A product passage and a vent passage communicate with the through bore. An eductor is mounted in the through bore. A cap member is connected to the body member and a vent member is connected to the cap member.
In a preferred embodiment, the vent member is gas pervious and liquid impervious.
In one aspect, the vent passage is constructed and arranged to be in a closed position when the product passage is closed.
In another aspect, the eductor is both slideable and rotatable, and the dispenser includes a trigger member constructed and arranged to slide the eductor and open the vent passage and includes a seal constructed and arranged to seal both the product passage and the vent passage.
In another preferred embodiment, the eductor is composed of first and second parts, only one of which is rotatable and the first part of the eductor is rotatable and extends from the body member.
In yet another preferred embodiment, a valve member is positioned in the through bore for regulating the flow or water through the through bore and the eductor.
In yet another aspect, the dispenser includes a trigger member connected to the body member and eductor to cause slideable movement of the eductor with the trigger member including a latching mechanism and an essentially flat thumb engaging portion.
A general object of certain embodiments of the invention is to provide a dispensing apparatus which can dispense a wide variety of chemical products.
Another object of certain embodiments of the invention is to provide a dispenser in conjunction with a container wherein the container and the dispensing apparatus are vented.
Still another object of certain embodiments of the invention is to provide a dispenser which is connected to a container wherein excess pressure in the container is vented.
Yet another object of certain embodiments of the invention is to provide a combined dispenser and container which is economical to produce and is dispensable as well as recyclable.
Yet another object of certain embodiments of the invention is to provide a dispenser which can effect a mixing of chemical and concentrate into a stream of water at different concentrations and dispense the mixed concentrate at controlled flow rates.
Referring to
As seen in
As stated previously, the container connector 14 for connecting the body member 12 to the container 16 is more fully described in patent application U.S. Ser. No. 10/037,569. It includes a fastening member 3 with threads 4 for connection to the threads 2 on the bottle neck 1. A gasket 8 is preferably placed between the top of the bottle neck 1 and the body member 12.
Referring to
An annular groove 36 is provided in the eductor part 24 and accommodates a head portion 38 of the trigger 40 with flange portions such as shown at 42 on the trigger 40 having shafts (not shown) for extending into bores such as 44. A latch member 46 extends upwardly from the member 12 for fitment through the passage 48 of the trigger 40.
A dilution adjustment member 50 is connected to the eductor part 24 by means of the splines 47. This is shown in
A quad O-ring 60 is attached in groove 57 of valve head portion 58. It serves as a flow control element as later explained. A valve member 28 with passages 33 has a head portion 58 with groove 59. A seal 66 is seated in groove 59 of head portion 58 and another seal 64 is placed on collar 62. A gasket 67 is provided for cap 68 and a hose seal is provided at 69.
Referring to
Referring to
A better understanding of the dispenser will be had by a description of its operation. Referring to
Referring now to
In order to initiate a high flow condition, the trigger 40 is moved further toward body member 12. This is shown in
During the previously described flow conditions through the dispenser 10 such as when in the high or low flow condition, the concentrate will be drawn upwardly from the container 16 such as through the dip tube 19. However, as noted previously in
The orientation of the various passages 90-94 with the opening 23a in seal 23 is facilitated by the indexing shown in
The mixed solution will then exit through nozzle 20, down through the tube 15 positioned in the spout 22. Tube 15 in this instance is flexible so as to allow the eductor 24 to move inwardly and outwardly from the body member 12. With product passing through tube 15 and spout 22, this is the position which is utilized when filling a bucket or a bottle. As previously described a low flow condition would be utilized for filling a bottle while the high flow condition would be utilized to fill a large vessel such as a bucket. The spout 22 provides for the dispenser to be hung on a bucket. If desired, a hose (not shown) can be connected to spout 22 for filling purposes such as a “scrubber washer” or when the dispenser is mounted to a wall. Dispenser 10 can easily be converted to a spray unit by the replacement of the nozzle 20 and the attachment of a conventional spray head (not shown). Also stated previously, the concentration of the solution can be easily adjusted by the rotation of the eductor 24 in conjunction with the dilution adjustment member 50. The low and high flow condition in combination with the dilution adjustment member obviates the use of multiple dispenser heads.
It will thus be seen that there is now provided a very versatile dispenser which can be utilized in not only a high and a low flow condition but also can be adjusted to vary the concentration of mixed solution. The dispenser 10 is produced economically so that once it is captively connected to a container, it is disposable.
It will also be seen that a good hand feel is provided by dispenser 10. This is accomplished by placement of the handle 17 beneath body member 12 and outwardly from trigger 40 to allow placement of a thumb on trigger 40.
It will be seen that there is now provided a very versatile dispenser 10 which can be utilized with both chemical concentrates which produce pressure build up in the container 16 and those that do not. Any excess pressures are relieved through the vent member 7. It should be noted that vent 7 is always in a gas open position even though the air vent passage 25 is closed as seen in
The dispenser 10 with the venting feature has been described in conjunction with the dispenser described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,708,901. This venting feature is also operable with the “Improved Multiple Function Dispenser” described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/658,496 filed Sep. 9, 2003.
The dispenser 10 has been preferably described in conjunction with a latching feature for the trigger 40. It is obvious that this is not an essential feature that can be eliminated. Neither is it essential that a back flow preventer be employed in the unit itself. This could be accomplished upstream in a supply line. Further, while the spout 22 offers the advantage of a hose attachment such as with the barbs 100, this could be eliminated although it does further offer the advantage of a bucket attachment. Neither is it essential that the container connector 14 provides a captive use of the dispenser with the container. The dispenser 10 could be utilized with a refillable container. While dilution adjustment member 50 has been shown to have five passages, the number can vary from a single passage to as many as can be practically manufactured. In some instances, it may be desirable to limit the dispenser for flow through a single passageway. This could be accomplished by placement of a pin through body member 12 and a groove in eductor part 24. All such and other modifications within the spirit of the invention are meant to be within a scope as defined by the appended claims.
