초록 ▼

A device (10) for selectively dispensing ones of multiple fluids, preferably cleaning agents, is disclosed. The device includes a reservoir (50) and a container assembly (100) that can include at least one container body (105, 110, 112, 114, 116). The reservoir (50) houses a diluent “D,” for example

A device (10) for selectively dispensing ones of multiple fluids, preferably cleaning agents, is disclosed. The device includes a reservoir (50) and a container assembly (100) that can include at least one container body (105, 110, 112, 114, 116). The reservoir (50) houses a diluent “D,” for example, water, and each container body houses a concentrate “C,” for example, a concentrated form of a cleaning agent. Each container body has an outlet assembly (200) with a nozzle (260), so that container assemblies (100) with multiple container bodies correspondingly include multiple nozzles (260). The diluent “D” and concentrates “C” are kept separate from each other, whereby ho end use product is stored in the device (10). Rather, end use product is mixed on demand during dispensation, as part of the, dispensing act. Namely, diluent “D” is pumped through an outlet assembly (200), drawing concentrate “C” thereinto which mixes into the end use product while exiting the device (10).

대표청구항 ▼

1. A handheld device for dispensing multiple end use products, comprising: a main body segment;a handle extending upwardly from the main body segment;a head extending from the handle and that is spaced from the main body segment;a reservoir defined within the body and holding a volume of diluent the

1. A handheld device for dispensing multiple end use products, comprising: a main body segment;a handle extending upwardly from the main body segment;a head extending from the handle and that is spaced from the main body segment;a reservoir defined within the body and holding a volume of diluent therein;a container assembly arranged for support between the main body segment and the head so that the main body segment extends below the container assembly and the head extends above the container assembly, the container assembly having multiple container bodies holding concentrates and removably housed therein;an outlet assembly having a venturi portion operably coupled to each of the multiple container bodies for respectively directing the concentrates out of the container bodies to be mixed with the diluent;a distribution collar coupled to a diluent inlet of the venturi portion and comprising a plurality of projections having bores that extend longitudinally with respect to the projections and extend radially with respect to the distribution collar, wherein the plurality of projections is configured to correspond to the number of container bodies, and wherein the distribution collar is rotatable about a rotational axis to selectively align one of the bores of the plurality of projections with the diluent inlet; anda pump and a pump outlet tube connecting the pump to the distribution collar such that the distribution collar directs diluent from the pump outlet tube through the venturi portion;wherein multiple end use products can be dispensed from the device, the number of possible end user products corresponding to the number of container bodies in the container assembly. 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the container assembly is rotatable about a generally vertical axis of rotation for selecting a desired end use product for dispensation. 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the container assembly is rotatable about a generally horizontal axis of rotation for selecting a desired end use product for dispensation. 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the container assembly has multiple nozzles for outputting end use product, the number of nozzles corresponding to the number container bodies in the container assembly. 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the container bodies are removably mounted to a rotatable frame. 6. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the container bodies of the container assembly includes a dip tube arranged within the respective container body and having a lower end positioned toward a lower end of the container body and an upper end positioned toward an upper end of the container body, the upper end of the dip tube connected to a concentrate inlet of the respective venturi portion for directing a concentrate held in the container body to the venturi portion for delivery out of the device. 7. A handheld device for dispensing multiple end use products, comprising: a main body segment;a handle extending upwardly from the main body segment;a head extending from the handle and that is spaced from the main body segment;a reservoir defined within the body and holding a volume of diluent therein;a container assembly arranged for support between the main body segment and the head so that the main body segment extends below the container assembly and the head extends above the container assembly, the container assembly having multiple container bodies holding concentrates and removably housed therein;an outlet assembly having a venturi portion operably coupled to each of the multiple container bodies for respectively directing the concentrates out of the container bodies to be mixed with the diluent;a distribution collar coupled to a diluent inlet of the venturi portion and comprising a plurality of projections having bores that extend longitudinally with respect to the projections and extend radially with respect to the distribution collar, wherein the plurality of projections is configured to correspond to the number of container bodies, and wherein the distribution collar is rotatable about a rotational axis to selectively align one of the bores of the plurality of projections with the diluent inlet; anda pump and a pump outlet tube connecting the pump to the distribution collar such that the distribution collar directs diluent from the pump outlet tube through the venturi portion;wherein multiple end use products can be dispensed from the device, the number of possible end user products corresponding to the number of container bodies in the container assembly;wherein each of the container bodies of the container assembly includes a dip tube arranged within the respective container body and having a lower end positioned toward a lower end of the container body and an upper end positioned toward an upper end of the container body, the upper end of the dip tube connected to a concentrate inlet of the respective venturi portion for directing a concentrate held in the container body to the venturi portion for delivery out of the device; andwherein the venturi portions of the outlet assembly longitudinally align with respective ones of the plurality of hollow projections of the distribution collar such that the venturi portions extend radially from the distribution collar and face different directions with respect to each other. 8. A handheld device for dispensing fluids, comprising: a housing having a handle;a reservoir arranged within the housing and holding a diluent;a pump arranged within the housing and having a tube extending with respect to the reservoir and the pump for conveying the diluent out of the reservoir during actuation of the pump;a distribution collar connected to an outlet of the tube to receive the diluent in an axial direction relative to the distribution collar during actuation of the pump, the distribution collar defining multiple bores extending radially through the distribution collar for delivering the diluent out of the distribution collar in a radial direction relative to the distribution collar, wherein the distribution collar is rotatable about an axis for selectively fluidly connecting one of the multiple bores to the outlet of the tube;a container assembly supported by the housing and having multiple container bodies removably housed therein, wherein each container body holds a concentrate and includes a dip tube configured for directing the concentrate out of the container body;an outlet assembly including multiple venturies with each venturi having a concentrate inlet, a diluent inlet, and a nozzle, wherein each venturi is arranged with respect to one of the container bodies and one of the bores of the distribution collar with the concentrate inlet of the venturi connected to the dip tube of the respective container body and the diluent inlet is connected to the respective bore of the distribution collar to selectively fluidly couple concentrate from the selected container body with the diluent to mix during actuation of the pump for dispensing a mixed product through the nozzle of the venturi corresponding to the selected container body; andwherein multiple end use products can be dispensed from the device, the number of possible end use products corresponding to the number of concentrates in the container bodies in the container assembly. 9. The device of claim 8, wherein the venturies of the outlet assembly align with respective ones of the bores of the distribution collar such that the venturies extend radially from the distribution collar and face different directions with respect to each other. 10. A handheld device for dispensing fluids, comprising: a housing having a handle;a reservoir arranged within the housing and holding a diluent;a pump arranged within the housing and having a tube extending with respect to the reservoir and the pump for conveying the diluent out of the reservoir during actuation of the pump;a distribution collar connected to an outlet of the tube to receive the diluent during actuation of the pump, the distribution collar defining multiple bores extending radially through the distribution collar and wherein the distribution collar is rotatable about an axis for selectively fluidly connecting one of the multiple bores to the outlet of the tube;a container assembly supported by the housing and having multiple container bodies removably housed therein, wherein each container body holds a concentrate and includes a dip tube configured for directing the concentrate out of the container body; andan outlet assembly including multiple venturies with each venturi having a concentrate inlet, a diluent inlet, and a nozzle, wherein each venturi is arranged with respect to one of the container bodies and one of the bores of the distribution collar with the concentrate inlet of the venturi connected to the dip tube of the respective container body and the diluent inlet is connected to the respective bore of the distribution collar to selectively fluidly couple concentrate from the selected container body with the diluent to mix during actuation of the pump for dispensing a mixed product through the nozzle of the venturi corresponding to the selected container body;wherein the venturies of the outlet assembly align with respective ones of the bores of the distribution collar such that the venturies extend radially from the distribution collar and face different directions with respect to each other;wherein the venturies are fixed with respect to the bores of the distribution collar so that the venturies and bores remain in alignment while the distribution collar and venturies rotate in unison with respect to each other; andwherein multiple end use products can be dispensed from the device, the number of possible end use products corresponding to the number of concentrates in the container bodies in the container assembly.