IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0144866
(2002-05-15)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Harrity, Kevin
- Bartlett, Timothy R.
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출원인 / 주소 |
- S. C. Johnson &
- Son, Inc.
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
6 인용 특허 :
55 |
초록
▼
A device for use with a container having a container top includes a tubular retainer engaging the container top and a tube assembly. The tubular retainer has a retainer top, a retainer bottom, a longitudinal axis, and an inner passageway formed along the longitudinal axis and defined by an inner sur
A device for use with a container having a container top includes a tubular retainer engaging the container top and a tube assembly. The tubular retainer has a retainer top, a retainer bottom, a longitudinal axis, and an inner passageway formed along the longitudinal axis and defined by an inner surface. The tube assembly is frictionally disposed within the inner passageway of the tubular retainer. The tube assembly comprises (i) a tube having a first end and a second end, (ii) a weight attached to the second end of the tube, and (iii) an adapter attached to the first end of the tube.
대표청구항
▼
1. A device for use with a container having a container top, said device comprising:a tubular retainer for engaging the container top, said tubular retainer having a retainer top, a retainer bottom, a longitudinal axis, and an inner passageway formed along the longitudinal axis and defined by an inn
1. A device for use with a container having a container top, said device comprising:a tubular retainer for engaging the container top, said tubular retainer having a retainer top, a retainer bottom, a longitudinal axis, and an inner passageway formed along the longitudinal axis and defined by an inner surface; and a tube assembly disposed within the inner passageway of said tubular retainer, said tube assembly comprising (i) a tube having a first end and a second end, (ii) a weight attached to the second end of said tube, and (iii) an adapter attached to the first end of said tube, said tubular retainer being sized such that substantially all of said tube assembly can be disposed within said tubular retainer. 2. A device according to claim 1, the container having an opening in the container top, wherein the retainer bottom engages the container top such that said adapter is longitudinally movable along the inner passageway of said tubular retainer to the opening in the container top.3. A device according to claim 2, the container having an interior chamber and a plurality of distances from a center of the opening to points of the interior chamber, said tube assembly having a length substantially equal to at least the longest of the plurality of distances from the center of the opening to the points of the interior chamber, wherein said tubular retainer has a length that is substantially equal to at least the length of said tube assembly.4. A device according to claim 3, said adapter comprising (i) an outer wall shaped to frictionally engage the inner surface of said tubular retainer, (ii) a tube receiver having a longitudinal bore formed therein, said tube receiver frictionally engaging the first end of said tube, and (iii) a connector for connecting said outer wall to said tube receiver.5. A device according to claim 4, said outer wall comprising a plurality of resilient fingers shaped to frictionally engage the inner surface of said tubular retainer.6. A device according to claim 4, wherein said connector is a plurality of spokes extending radially outward from said tube receiver.7. A device according to claim 5, wherein the first end of said tube is frictionally received within the longitudinal bore of said tube receiver.8. A device according to claim 3, wherein said tube comprises at least one bellows.9. A device according to claim 3, wherein said tube is continuously flexible from the first end to the second end of said tube.10. A device according to claim 2, said tubular retainer comprising at least two flaps hinged to and integrally formed with said tubular retainer such that said at least two flaps are movable between a holding position close to the longitudinal axis of said tubular retainer and a releasing position away from the longitudinal axis of said tubular retainer, wherein said tube is coiled within said tubular retainer, and said tube and said weight are supported by said at least two flaps when said at least two flaps are in the holding position.11. A device according to claim 10, said adapter comprising (i) an outer wall shaped to frictionally engage the inner surface of said tubular retainer when disposed in the inner passageway, (ii) a tube receiver having a longitudinal bore formed therein, said tube receiver frictionally engaging the first end of said tube, and (iii) a connector for connecting said outer wall to said tube receiver.12. A device according to claim 11, said outer wall comprising a plurality of resilient fingers shaped to frictionally engage the inner surface of said tubular retainer.13. A device according to claim 11, wherein said connector is a plurality of spokes extending radially outward from said tube receiver.14. A device according to claim 13, wherein the first end of said tube is frictionally received within the longitudinal bore of said tube receiver.15. A device according to claim 11, wherein said tube comprises at least one bellows.16. A device according to claim 11, wherein said tube is continuously flexible from the first end to the second end of said tube.17. A device according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said tube is flexible.18. A device according to claim 1, wherein said tube is continuously flexible from the first end to the second end of said tube.19. A device according to claim 1, wherein said tubular retainer is frictionally disposed in the interior chamber of the container.20. A device according to claim 19, said tubular retainer comprising at least two flaps hinged to and integrally formed with said tubular retainer such that said at least two flaps are movable between a holding position close to the longitudinal axis of said tubular retainer and a releasing position away from the longitudinal axis of said tubular retainer, wherein said tube is coiled within said tubular retainer, and said tube and said weight are supported by said at least two flaps when said at least two flaps are in the holding position.21. A device according to claim 19, said adapter comprising (i) an outer wall shaped to frictionally engage the inner surface of said tubular retainer when disposed in the inner passageway, (ii) a tube receiver having a longitudinal bore formed therein, said tube receiver frictionally engaging the first end of said tube, and (iii) a connector for connecting said outer wall to said tube receiver.22. A device according to claim 21, said outer wall comprising a plurality of resilient fingers shaped to frictionally engage the inner surface of said tubular retainer.23. A device according to claim 21, wherein said connector is a plurality of spokes extending radially from said tube receiver.24. A device according to claim 23, wherein the first end of said tube is frictionally received within the longitudinal bore of said tube receiver.25. A device according to claim 19, wherein said tube comprises at least one bellows.26. A device according to claim 19, wherein said tube is continuously flexible from the first end to the second end of said flexible tube.27. A method of engaging a tube assembly with a container having a container top, said method comprising the steps of:assembling a tube assembly, the tube assembly comprising an adapter, a tube connected to the adapter, and a weight connected to the tube; inserting substantially all of the tube assembly into a tubular retainer, the tubular retainer having a retainer bottom and an inner passageway defined by an inner surface, such that by inserting substantially all of the tube assembly the adapter engages the inner surface of the tubular retainer and the tubular retainer houses substantially all of the tube assembly; and engaging the tubular retainer with the container top. 28. A method according to claim 27, the tubular retainer comprising a flared retainer bottom shaped to fit over an opening in the container top, said engaging step comprising placing the flared retainer bottom over the opening of the container.29. A method according to claim 28, wherein the flared retainer bottom is threaded on an inside surface thereof and the container top is threaded on an outside surface thereof, said engaging step comprising threading the tubular retainer onto the container top.30. A method according to claim 28, the container comprising an opening in the container top that provides access to an interior chamber of the container, the method further comprising forcing the tube assembly through the inner passageway of the tubular retainer by pushing the adapter with a machine element, such that the adapter is disposed in the opening of the container and the tube extends into the interior chamber.31. A method according to claim 30, wherein the adapter comprises a tube receiver having a bore, the tube engaged with the tube receiver such that the bore of the tube receiver and an interior of the tube are in fluid communication, the method further comprising attaching a trigger assembly to the adapter, the trigger assembly having an input spout, said attaching step comprising frictionally engaging the input spout of the trigger assembly with the tube receiver of the adapter such that the interior of the tube, the bore of the tube receiver and an interior of the input spout are in fluid communication.32. A method according to claim 28, wherein the tubular retainer comprises at least two flaps hinged to and integrally formed with the tubular retainer such that the at least two flaps are movable between a holding position close to a longitudinal axis of the tubular retainer and a releasing position away from the longitudinal axis of the tubular retainer, wherein during said inserting step the at least two flaps are in the holding position, said inserting step comprising coiling the tube in the tubular retainer such that the weight and coiled tube are supported by the at least two flaps.33. A method according to claim 32, further comprising forcing the tube assembly through the passageway by pushing the adapter with a machine element such that the at least two flaps are pushed to the releasing position.34. A method according to claim 28, the adapter comprising an outer wall, said inserting step comprising frictionally engaging the outer wall with the inner surface of the tubular retainer.35. A method according to claim 28, the adapter comprising an outer wall comprising a plurality of fingers, said inserting step comprising frictionally engaging the plurality of fingers of the outer wall with the inner surface of the tubular retainer.36. A method according to claim 27, the container having an opening in the container top and an interior chamber defined by a container inner surface, said engaging step comprising inserting the tubular retainer into the opening and frictionally engaging the tubular retainer with the container inner surface.37. A method according to claim 36, wherein the tubular retainer comprises at least two flaps hinged to and integrally formed with the tubular retainer such that the at least two flaps are movable between a holding position close to a longitudinal axis of the tubular retainer and a releasing position away from the longitudinal axis of the tubular retainer, wherein during said inserting step the at least two flaps are in the holding position, said inserting step comprising coiling the tube in the tubular retainer such that the weight and coiled tube rest on the at least two flaps.38. A method according to claim 37, further comprising attaching a trigger assembly, the trigger assembly comprising a lock ring having threads on an interior surface thereof, the lock ring adapted to fit over the opening in the container and engage threads disposed on an outer surface of the container top, said attaching step comprising screwing the lock ring onto the container, said screwing step displacing the adapter, which in turn pushes the tube, which in turn moves the at least two flaps to the releasing position.39. A method according to claim 27, further comprising forcing the tube assembly through the passageway by pushing the adapter with a machine element.40. A method according to claim 27, wherein at least a portion of the tube is flexible.41. A method according to claim 27, wherein the tube is continuously flexible from a first end to a second end of the tube.42. A method of inserting a tube assembly into a container having a container top, said method comprising the steps of:providing substantially all of a tube assembly disposed within a tubular retainer, the tube assembly comprising an adapter and a tube connected to the adapter, the tubular retainer having a retainer bottom and an inner passageway defined by an inner surface, such that the tubular retainer houses substantially all of the tube assembly and the adapter engages the inner surface of the tubular retainer; engaging the tubular retainer with the container top; and forcing the tube assembly through the inner passageway of the tubular retainer by pushing the adapter with a machine element. 43. A method according to claim 42, said providing step further comprising providing the tube assembly with a weight connected to the tube.44. A method according to claim 42, wherein at least a portion of the tube is flexible.45. A method according to claim 42, wherein the tube is continuously flexible from a first end to a second end of the tube.46. A device for use with a container having a container top, an opening in the container top, an interior chamber, and a plurality of distances from a center of the opening to points of the interior chamber, said device comprising:a tubular retainer for engaging the container top, said tubular retainer having a retainer top, a retainer bottom, a longitudinal axis, and an inner passageway formed along the longitudinal axis and defined by an inner surface; and a tube assembly disposed within the inner passageway of said tubular retainer, said tube assembly comprising (i) a tube having a first end and a second end, (ii) a weight attached to the second end of said tube, and (iii) an adapter attached to the first end of said tube, said tube assembly having a length substantially equal to at least the longest of the plurality of distances from the center of the opening to the points of the interior chamber, said tubular retainer having a length substantially equal to at least the length of said tube assembly such that substantially all of said tube assembly can be housed within said tubular retainer, wherein the retainer bottom engages the container top such that said adapter is longitudinally movable along the inner passageway of said tubular retainer to the opening in the container top. 47. A device according to claim 46, said adapter comprising (i) an outer wall shaped to frictionally engage the inner surface of said tubular retainer, (ii) a tube receiver having a longitudinal bore formed therein, said tube receiver frictionally engaging the first end of said tube, and (iii) a connector for connecting said outer wall to said tube receiver.48. A device according to claim 47, said outer wall comprising a plurality of resilient fingers shaped to frictionally engage the inner surface of said tubular retainer.49. A device according to claim 47, wherein said connector is a plurality of spokes extending radially outward from said tube receiver.50. A device according to claim 48, wherein the first end of said tube is frictionally received within the longitudinal bore of said tube receiver.51. A device according to claim 46, wherein said tube comprises at least one bellows.52. A device according to claim 46, wherein said tube is continuously flexible from the first end to the second end of said tube.53. A method of engaging a tube assembly with a container having a container top, said method comprising the steps of:assembling a tube assembly, the tube assembly comprising an adapter having an outer wall having a plurality of fingers, a tube connected to the adapter, and a weight connected to the tube; inserting the tube assembly into a tubular retainer, the tubular retainer having a flared retainer bottom shaped to fit over an opening in the container top, and having an inner passageway defined by an inner surface, said inserting step comprising engaging the plurality of fingers of the outer wall with the inner surface of the tubular retainer; and engaging the tubular retainer with the container top, said engaging step comprising placing the flared retainer bottom over the opening of the container.
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