IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
UP-0636945
(2006-12-12)
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등록번호 |
US-7735686
(2010-07-05)
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우선권정보 |
CA-2567671(2006-11-09) |
발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Riches, McKenzie & Herbert LLP
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
3 인용 특허 :
0 |
초록
▼
A vacuum controlled valve mechanism providing two separate one-way valves, one for each of a pair of collapsible fluid containing reservoirs with each valve being in an initial sealed condition preventing flow therethrough until by operation of the pump mechanism a threshold vacuum is exceeded and w
A vacuum controlled valve mechanism providing two separate one-way valves, one for each of a pair of collapsible fluid containing reservoirs with each valve being in an initial sealed condition preventing flow therethrough until by operation of the pump mechanism a threshold vacuum is exceeded and with the threshold vacuum of a first of the valves being greater than the threshold vacuum of the other, second of the valves. When the threshold vacuum of the first valve is exceeded, that first valve separately permits dispensing of fluid from its reservoir under vacuum conditions less than the threshold vacuum of the first valve and the second valve until the first reservoir is substantially empty after which further operation of the pump mechanism creates a vacuum which exceeds the threshold vacuum for the second valve after which the second valve permits dispensing of fluid from the second reservoir.
대표청구항
▼
I claim: 1. A dispenser for dispensing fluids comprising: a pump mechanism operative for pumping fluid from a chamber out of an outlet thereby creating vacuum conditions below atmospheric in the chamber, at least two collapsible fluid containing reservoirs enclosed but for each having an outlet pas
I claim: 1. A dispenser for dispensing fluids comprising: a pump mechanism operative for pumping fluid from a chamber out of an outlet thereby creating vacuum conditions below atmospheric in the chamber, at least two collapsible fluid containing reservoirs enclosed but for each having an outlet passageway in communication with the chamber, a primary one-way valve for each reservoir permitting flow of fluid from each reservoir through the passageway to the chamber when certain vacuum conditions exist in the chamber relative the reservoir, each one-way valve being in an initial sealed condition preventing flow from its respective reservoir until a threshold vacuum for that valve is exceeded in the chamber by operation of the pump mechanism, the threshold vacuum for each valve being different than the threshold vacuum of all the other valves, wherein after the threshold vacuum of one of the valves is exceeded by operation of the pump mechanism, that valve permitting flow of fluid from its reservoir by further operation of the pump mechanism to create vacuum conditions less than the threshold value of that valve and the other valves until its reservoir is substantially emptied whereafter further operation of the pump mechanism creates a vacuum in the chamber which exceeds the threshold vacuum for another of the valves after which such other of the valves permitting flow of fluid from its reservoir by operation of the pump mechanism. 2. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein each valve assuming either a sealed condition or an openable condition, in the sealed condition, each valve prevents flow of fluid from its respective reservoir through its passageway to the chamber and is biased to remain in the sealed condition against moving to the openable condition unless the valve is subjected on its chamber side to a vacuum below atmospheric greater than the threshold vacuum for the valve whereupon the valve moves from the sealed condition to the openable condition, in the openable condition: (a) each valve is movable between a closed position and an open position, (b) each valve is biased to return to and remain in the closed position and against moving from the closed position toward the open position other than when subjected to a vacuum below atmospheric greater than an opening vacuum of the valve when the valve moves from the closed position toward the open position permitting flow of fluid from its respective reservoir through its passageway to the chamber, (c) in the closed position, each valve prevents flow of fluid from its respective reservoir through its passageway to the chamber, and (d) in the open position, each valve permits flow of fluid from its respective reservoir through its passageway to the chamber, the threshold vacuum of each valve being a greater vacuum below atmosphere than its opening vacuum and the opening vacuum of all other valves. 3. A dispenser as claimed in claim 2 wherein when one valve is in the openable condition, a collapsing vacuum for that valve is a vacuum required in the chamber to substantially collapse the reservoir of that valve, the threshold vacuum of each valve being a greater vacuum below atmosphere than the collapsing vacuum of all valves. 4. A pump as claimed in claim 2 wherein each of the reservoirs is removably coupled to the chamber for independent disengagement and removal and replacement with a substitute reservoir containing fluid to be dispensed. 5. A pump as claimed in claim 3 wherein each of the reservoirs and its respective one-way valve is an independent reservoir unit removably coupled to the chamber for disengagement and removal and replacement with a similar replacement reservoir unit independently of the other reservoir units. 6. A pump as claimed in claim 4 wherein each replacement reservoir unit contains fluid to be dispensed and has its valve in the sealed condition. 7. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein said reservoirs comprise a first reservoir and a second reservoir, said one-way valves comprising a first one-way valve for the first reservoir and a second one-way valve for the second reservoir, the first valve assuming either a sealed condition or an openable condition, in the sealed condition, the first valve prevents flow of fluid from the first reservoir through its passageway to the chamber and is biased to remain in the sealed condition against moving to the openable condition unless the first valve is subjected on a chamber side of the first valve to a vacuum below atmospheric greater than the threshold vacuum for the first valve whereupon the first valve moves from the sealed condition to the openable condition, in the openable condition, the first valve is movable between a closed position and an open position, in the closed position, the first valve prevents flow of fluid from the first reservoir through its passageway to the chamber and is biased to return to and remain in the closed position and against moving from the closed position toward the open position other than when the first valve is subjected on the chamber side of the first valve to a vacuum below atmospheric greater than an opening vacuum of the first valve when the first valve moves from the closed position toward the open position permitting flow of fluid from the first reservoir through its passageway to the chamber, the second valve assuming either a sealed condition or an openable condition, in the sealed condition, the second valve prevents flow of fluid from the second reservoir through its passageway to the chamber and is biased to remain in the sealed condition against moving to the openable condition unless the second valve is subjected on a chamber side of the second valve to a vacuum below atmospheric greater than the threshold vacuum for the second valve whereupon the second valve moves from the sealed condition to the openable condition, in the openable condition, the second valve is movable between a closed position and an open position, in the closed position, the second valve prevents flow of fluid from the second reservoir through its passageway to the chamber and is biased to return to and remain in the closed position and against moving from the closed position toward the open position other than when the second valve is subjected on the chamber side of the second valve to a vacuum below atmospheric greater than an opening vacuum of the second valve when the second valve moves from the closed position toward the open position permitting fluid flow from the second reservoir through its passageway to the chamber, the threshold vacuum of the first valve being a greater vacuum below atmosphere than the opening vacuum of the first valve and the opening vacuum of the second valve, the threshold vacuum of the second valve being a greater vacuum below atmosphere than the opening vacuum of the first valve and the opening vacuum of the second valve, the threshold vacuum of the first valve being a greater vacuum below atmosphere the threshold vacuum of the second valve. 8. A dispenser as claimed in claim 6 wherein said reservoirs comprise a third reservoir, said one-way valves comprising a third one-way valve for the third reservoir, the third valve assuming either a sealed condition or an openable condition, in the sealed condition, the third valve prevents flow of fluid from the third reservoir through its passageway to the chamber and is biased to remain in the sealed condition against moving to the openable condition unless the third valve is subjected on a chamber side of the third valve to a vacuum below atmospheric greater than the threshold vacuum for the third valve whereupon the third valve moves from the sealed condition to the openable condition, in the openable condition, the third valve is movable between a closed position and an open position, in the closed position, the third valve prevents flow of fluid from the third reservoir through its passageway to the chamber and is biased to return to and remain in the closed position and against moving from the closed position toward the open position other than when the third valve is subjected on the chamber side of the third valve to a vacuum below atmospheric greater than an opening vacuum of the third valve when the third valve moves from the closed position toward the open position permitting flow of fluid from the third reservoir through its passageway to the chamber, the threshold vacuum of the second valve being a greater vacuum below atmosphere the threshold vacuum of the third valve, the threshold vacuum of the third valve being a greater vacuum below atmosphere than the opening vacuum of the first valve, the opening vacuum of the second valve and the opening vacuum of the third valve, the threshold vacuum of the first valve being a greater vacuum below atmosphere than the opening vacuum of the third valve, the threshold vacuum of the second valve being a greater vacuum below atmosphere than the opening vacuum of the third valve. 9. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 including a secondary one-way valve for each reservoir disposed in the outlet passageway between the primary one-way valve and the chamber and permitting flow of fluid from the primary one-way valve to the chamber whenever vacuum conditions exist in the chamber which would permit fluid flow through the primary one-way valve. 10. A method of use of a dispenser as claimed in claim 3 wherein after one of the reservoirs is emptied of fluid and before all other reservoirs are emptied that one reservoir is replaced by the substitute reservoir. 11. A dispenser for dispensing fluids comprising: a pump mechanism operative for pumping fluid from a chamber out of an outlet thereby creating vacuum conditions below atmospheric in the chamber, at least two collapsible fluid containing reservoirs enclosed but for each having an outlet passageway in communication with the chamber, a primary one-way valve for each reservoir permitting flow of fluid from each reservoir through the passageway to the chamber when certain vacuum conditions exist in the chamber relative the reservoir, each valve having a threshold vacuum defined as a vacuum in the chamber below a pressure in the respective reservoir for each valve, each valve assuming either a sealed condition or an openable condition, each valve movable from the a sealed condition to the openable condition when the vacuum in the chamber exceeds the threshold vacuum for that valve, each one-way valve in the sealed condition preventing flow from its respective reservoir, each one-way valve in the openable condition permitting flow from its respective reservoir when the certain vacuum conditions exist in the chamber relative the reservoir, the threshold vacuum for each valve being different than the threshold vacuum of all the other valves, wherein with all the valves in the sealed condition, after the threshold vacuum of one of the valves is exceeded by operation of the pump mechanism, that one valve moving to the openable condition permitting flow of fluid from its reservoir by further operation of the pump mechanism to create vacuum conditions in the chamber less than the threshold value of that one valve and the other valves until the reservoir of that one valve is substantially emptied whereafter further operation of the pump mechanism creates a vacuum in the chamber which exceeds the threshold vacuum for a second of the valves where upon that second valve moving to the openable condition after which such second valve permitting flow of fluid from its reservoir by further operation of the pump mechanism. 12. A dispenser as claimed in claim 11 wherein in the sealed condition, each valve prevents flow of fluid from its respective reservoir through its passageway to the chamber and is biased to remain in the sealed condition against moving to the openable condition unless the valve is subjected on its chamber side to a vacuum below atmospheric greater than the threshold vacuum for the valve whereupon the valve moves from the sealed condition to the openable condition, in the openable condition: (a) each valve is movable between a closed position and an open position, (b) each valve is biased to return to and remain in the closed position and against moving from the closed position toward the open position other than when subjected to a vacuum below atmospheric greater than an opening vacuum of the valve when the valve moves from the closed position toward the open position permitting flow of fluid from its respective reservoir through its passageway to the chamber, (c) in the closed position, each valve prevents flow of fluid from its respective reservoir through its passageway to the chamber, and (d) in the open position, each valve permits flow of fluid from its respective reservoir through its passageway to the chamber, the threshold vacuum of each valve being a greater vacuum below atmosphere than its opening vacuum and the opening vacuum of all other valves. 13. A dispenser as claimed in claim 12 wherein when one valve is in the openable condition, a collapsing vacuum for that valve is a vacuum required in the chamber to substantially collapse the reservoir of that valve, the threshold vacuum of each valve being a greater vacuum below atmosphere than the collapsing vacuum of all valves. 14. A pump as claimed in claim 12 wherein each of the reservoirs is removably coupled to the chamber for independent disengagement and removal and replacement with a substitute reservoir containing fluid to be dispensed. 15. A pump as claimed in claim 13 wherein each of the reservoirs and its respective one-way valve is an independent reservoir unit removably coupled to the chamber for disengagement and removal and replacement with a similar replacement reservoir unit independently of the other reservoir units. 16. A pump as claimed in claim 14 wherein each replacement reservoir unit contains fluid to be dispensed and has its valve in the sealed condition. 17. A dispenser as claimed in claim 11 wherein said reservoirs comprise a first reservoir and a second reservoir, said one-way valves comprising a first one-way valve for the first reservoir and a second one-way valve for the second reservoir, in the sealed condition, the first valve prevents flow of fluid from the first reservoir through its passageway to the chamber and is biased to remain in the sealed condition against moving to the openable condition unless the first valve is subjected on a chamber side of the first valve to a vacuum below atmospheric greater than the threshold vacuum for the first valve whereupon the first valve moves from the sealed condition to the openable condition, in the openable condition, the first valve is movable between a closed position and an open position, in the closed position, the first valve prevents flow of fluid from the first reservoir through its passageway to the chamber and is biased to return to and remain in the closed position and against moving from the closed position toward the open position other than when the first valve is subjected on the chamber side of the first valve to a vacuum below atmospheric greater than an opening vacuum of the first valve when the first valve moves from the closed position toward the open position permitting flow of fluid from the first reservoir through its passageway to the chamber, in the sealed condition, the second valve prevents flow of fluid from the second reservoir through its passageway to the chamber and is biased to remain in the sealed condition against moving to the openable condition unless the second valve is subjected on a chamber side of the second valve to a vacuum below atmospheric greater than the threshold vacuum for the second valve whereupon the second valve moves from the sealed condition to the openable condition, in the openable condition, the second valve is movable between a closed position and an open position, in the closed position, the second valve prevents flow of fluid from the second reservoir through its passageway to the chamber and is biased to return to and remain in the closed position and against moving from the closed position toward the open position other than when the second valve is subjected on the chamber side of the second valve to a vacuum below atmospheric greater than an opening vacuum of the second valve when the second valve moves from the closed position toward the open position permitting fluid flow from the second reservoir through its passageway to the chamber, the threshold vacuum of the first valve being a greater vacuum below atmosphere than the opening vacuum of the first valve and the opening vacuum of the second valve, the threshold vacuum of the second valve being a greater vacuum below atmosphere than the opening vacuum of the first valve and the opening vacuum of the second valve, the threshold vacuum of the first valve being a greater vacuum below atmosphere the threshold vacuum of the second valve. 18. A dispenser as claimed in claim 16 wherein said reservoirs comprise a third reservoir, said one-way valves comprising a third one-way valve for the third reservoir, in the sealed condition, the third valve prevents flow of fluid from the third reservoir through its passageway to the chamber and is biased to remain in the sealed condition against moving to the openable condition unless the third valve is subjected on a chamber side of the third valve to a vacuum below atmospheric greater than the threshold vacuum for the third valve whereupon the third valve moves from the sealed condition to the openable condition, in the openable condition, the third valve is movable between a closed position and an open position, in the closed position, the third valve prevents flow of fluid from the third reservoir through its passageway to the chamber and is biased to return to and remain in the closed position and against moving from the closed position toward the open position other than when the third valve is subjected on the chamber side of the third valve to a vacuum below atmospheric greater than an opening vacuum of the third valve when the third valve moves from the closed position toward the open position permitting flow of fluid from the third reservoir through its passageway to the chamber, the threshold vacuum of the second valve being a greater vacuum below atmosphere the threshold vacuum of the third valve, the threshold vacuum of the third valve being a greater vacuum below atmosphere than the opening vacuum of the first valve, the opening vacuum of the second valve and the opening vacuum of the third valve, the threshold vacuum of the first valve being a greater vacuum below atmosphere than the opening vacuum of the third valve, the threshold vacuum of the second valve being a greater vacuum below atmosphere than the opening vacuum of the third valve. 19. A dispenser as claimed in claim 11 including a secondary one-way valve for each reservoir disposed in the outlet passageway between the primary one-way valve and the chamber and permitting flow of fluid from the primary one-way valve to the chamber whenever vacuum conditions exist in the chamber which would permit fluid flow through the primary one-way valve. 20. A method of use of a dispenser as claimed in claim 13 wherein after one of the reservoirs is emptied of fluid and before all other reservoirs are emptied that one reservoir is replaced by the substitute reservoir.
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