IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
UP-0070673
(2005-03-03)
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등록번호 |
US-7568596
(2009-08-24)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Laidler, Keith
- Rodd, Timothy
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출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
1 인용 특허 :
9 |
초록
▼
The present invention relates to a device that is adapted to be placed inside a container and to permit the continuous dispensing of a liquid stored in a container by enabling the fluid to be drawn from the interior of the container into the device and from the device to the outlet of the container.
The present invention relates to a device that is adapted to be placed inside a container and to permit the continuous dispensing of a liquid stored in a container by enabling the fluid to be drawn from the interior of the container into the device and from the device to the outlet of the container. The device has a body which defines an internal chamber, an inlet through which liquid may be drawn into the chamber, and an outlet through which liquid can be drawing out of the chamber. The inlet of the device is adapted to restrict the access of liquid to the chamber when the device is inverted from a upright position. The present invention also relates to a dip tube and various container assemblies that are likewise adapted to permit the continuous dispensing of a liquid stored in a container.
대표청구항
▼
The invention claimed is: 1. A device adapted to be placed inside a pressurized container and to permit a liquid stored in said pressurized container to be drawn from the interior of the pressurized container into said device and from said device to an outlet valve of the pressurized container wher
The invention claimed is: 1. A device adapted to be placed inside a pressurized container and to permit a liquid stored in said pressurized container to be drawn from the interior of the pressurized container into said device and from said device to an outlet valve of the pressurized container where the liquid is selectively dispensed through a nozzle arrangement, said device comprising: a body which defines an internal chamber, an inlet through which the liquid is drawn into said chamber, and an outlet through which the liquid is drawn out of said chamber; wherein said inlet is adapted to at least restrict an access of the liquid to said chamber at least when said device is inverted from an upright position, wherein at least a portion of said body forms a wall of said chamber and is resiliently deformable and configured to: (i) assume a resiliently-biased configuration in absence of any pressure differential between the chamber and an external environment and (ii) deform inwards and reduce volume of the chamber when a pressure within the chamber is lower than an external pressure, and wherein the device is connected upstream of the outlet valve of the pressurized container. 2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the wall of the chamber is resiliently deformable. 3. A device according to claim 1 wherein the body of the device is resiliently deformable. 4. A device according to claim 1, wherein said inlet is further adapted to at least restrict the access of the liquid when said device is tilted or shaken. 5. A device according to claim 4, wherein said inlet is adapted to at least restrict access to said chamber when said device is tilted so that the inlet is no longer immersed within the liquid present within said pressurized container. 6. A device according to claims 4, wherein said device is adapted to at least restrict access to the chamber when the device is tilted through ninety degrees or more from the upright position. 7. A device according to claim 1, wherein said inlet is a constricted opening configured to restrict the access of the liquid to the chamber regardless of orientation of the device. 8. A device according to claim 7, wherein said inlet is a hole in the wall of the chamber. 9. A device according to claim 7, wherein said constricted inlet is adapted to restrict the flow through the inlet to between about 0 and about 20% of flow of the liquid which is possible through the outlet. 10. A device according to claim 9, wherein said constricted inlet is adapted to restrict the flow through the inlet to between about 1 and about 10% of flow of the liquid which is possible through the outlet. 11. A device according to claim 9, wherein said constricted inlet is adapted to restrict flow of the liquid through the inlet to between about 5 and about 10% of the flow which is possible through the outlet. 12. A device according to claim 1, wherein said inlet comprises an inlet valve adapted to open the inlet when the device is upright and at least partially seals the inlet when the device is inverted. 13. A device according to claim 12, wherein said valve is adapted to completely seal the inlet when the device is inverted. 14. A device according to claim 12, wherein said valve comprises a cavity defined by the inlet, said cavity having a ball or other moveable body retained therein and being configured such that said ball or other moveable body occupies a first position within the cavity when said device is upright and becomes displaced to a second position when said device is inverted or tilted, whereby said valve is open when said ball or other moveable body is in the first position and said valve at least partially closed when said ball or other moveable body is in the second position. 15. A device according to claim 14, wherein said valve is completely closed when the ball or other moveable body is in the second position. 16. A device according to claim 15, wherein said first position is a lower position and said second position is an upper position and said ball or other body moves between said lower and upper positions by the effect of gravity. 17. A device according to claim 14, wherein the valve is provided with a means to dislodge the ball or other moveable body from the second position back to the first position when said device is returned to the upright position. 18. A device according to claim 17, wherein said means includes a partial seal when said ball or other moveable object is in the second position so that a degree of leakage can occur. 19. A device according to claim 18, wherein an amount of leakage through the partial seal is between about 1 and about 20% of flow of the liquid possible through the outlet of the device. 20. A device according to claim 19, wherein the amount of the leakage through the partial seal is between about 5 and about 20% of the flow of the liquid possible through the outlet of the device. 21. The device according to claim 1, wherein the inlet of said device is adapted to be positioned proximate or directly adjacent to the bottom of the pressurized container. 22. A device according to claim 1, wherein the outlet is adapted to connect the chamber of the device to the outlet valve of said pressurized container or the nozzle arrangement fitted to said pressurized container. 23. A device according to claim 22, wherein the outlet is adapted to enable said device to be fitted to a dip tube so that the liquid drawn out of the chamber through said outlet during use flows through said dip tube to the outlet valve or inlet of the nozzle arrangement. 24. A flexible dip tube that includes the device of claim 1. 25. A dip tube according to claim 24, wherein said device is fitted to an end of said dip tube at the outlet of said device. 26. A dip tube according to claim 25, wherein said outlet is an aperture adapted to receive said dip tube. 27. The pressurized container, comprising: the device of claim 1, wherein the device is fitted to said outlet valve of the pressurized container via the outlet of the device so that the liquid is drawn from said device when said nozzle arrangement is operated. 28. The pressurized container, comprising: the flexible dip tube of claim 24, wherein the device is fitted to said outlet valve so that the liquid is drawn from said dip tube when said nozzle arrangement is operated. 29. A flexible dip tube according to claim 24, wherein at least a portion of said tube is resiliently deformable and configured to assume a resiliently-biased configuration in absence of any pressure differential between an interior of a dip tube chamber and an external environment and deform inwards and reduce a volume of the chamber when a pressure within the chamber is lower than an external pressure. 30. A dip tube according to claim 29 wherein the dip tube is resiliently deformable. 31. A dip tube according to claim 29, wherein the volume of the dip tube is sufficient to enable about 5 seconds of the liquid to be continuously dispensed. 32. A dip tube according to claim 29, wherein the volume of the dip tube is sufficient to enable about 10 to 20 seconds of the liquid to be continuously dispensed when the dip tube is inverted. 33. A dip tube according to claim 32, wherein the volume of the dip tube is sufficient to enable about 10 to 40 seconds of the liquid to be continuously dispensed. 34. A device adapted to be placed inside a non-pressurized container and to permit a liquid stored in said non-pressurized container to be drawn from the interior of the non-pressurized container into said device and from said device to an outlet of the non-pressurized container where the liquid is selectively dispensed through a pump or trigger-actuated nozzle arrangement fitted to the outlet and having a pump chamber, said device comprising: a body which defines an internal chamber, an inlet through which the liquid is drawn into said chamber, and an outlet through which the liquid is drawn out of said chamber; wherein said inlet is adapted to at least restrict an access of the liquid to said chamber at least when said device is inverted from an upright position, wherein at least a portion of said body forms a wall of said chamber and is resiliently deformable and configured to: (i) assume a resiliently-biased configuration in absence of any pressure differential between the chamber and an external environment and (ii) deform inwards and reduce a volume of chamber when the pressure within the chamber is lower than an external pressure, and wherein the device is connected upstream of the inlet of the pump chamber. 35. The non-pressurized container comprising: the device of claim 34, wherein the device is connected to said pump or trigger-actuated nozzle arrangement via the outlet of the non-pressurized container so that the liquid is drawn into said nozzle arrangement from said device when the pump or trigger actuator is operated. 36. The non-pressurized container comprising: a flexible dip tube that includes the device of claim 34, wherein the device is connected to said pump or trigger-actuated nozzle arrangement via the outlet of the non-pressurized container so that the liquid is drawn into said nozzle arrangement from said dip tube when the pump or trigger actuator is operated.
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