ADJUSTABLE SELF-SEALING LIQUID DISPENSING SYSTEM

SYSTEME DE DISTRIBUTION DE LIQUIDE AUTO-OBTURANT REGLABLE

English Abstract

An assembly of an adjustable self-sealing liquid dispensing system,
having a flexible neck configuration including a flexible bellow-like zone
consisting of
folding rings attatched at the top to an outlet spout at the inner juncture of
the
uppermost ring, and at the base to a base configuration at the outer juncture
of the
lowermost ring,
the base configuration containing openings to enable liquid to pass through,
and a plug
over which the outlet spout may be engaged so as to be self-retaining thereon,
which assembly is suitable for a liquid source in order to enable and disable
the
dispensing of liquid, and is formed of resilient material permitting regular
elongation,
adjustment, contraction, and closure,
and wherein the assembly may contain a screw thread configuration for
releasable
connection of the system onto a liquid source, so that a universally
applicable assembly
may be obtained.

Claims

3.
3. CLAIMS:
THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. An assembly of an adjustable self-sealing liquid dispensing system, outlet
spout,
flexible neck configuration, and base configuration, for cooperation with an
associated
container or liquid source comprising,
(i) a rigid outlet spout having a dispensing passage, a first end juncture
connected with
the inner juncture of the uppermost ring of the neck configuration, and a
dispensing
second end juncture,
(ii) a flexible neck configuration permitting regular elongation and
contraction
comprising: a number of attatched rings, inner juncture to inner juncture, and
outer
juncture to outer juncture of said flexible neck configuration to form a
bellow-like,
cylindrical structure,
(iii) a base configuration, attatched to the bottom of the outer juncture of
the lowermost
ring of the flexible neck configuration, for cooperation with an associated
container or
liquid source comprising: a plug that sits upon the center of the base
configuration, a
series of openings within the base configuration between the outside of the
base
configuration and the base of the plug, to enable liquid to pass through, and
wherein
the configuration may contain a univesal screw thread configuration for
releaseable
connection of the system onto a liquid source, so that a universally
applicable assembly
may be obtained.
2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said adjustable self-sealing
liquid
dispensing system is formed with polymeric plastic composition comprises an
outlet
spout, a dispensing passage that may conform over and be self-retaining over a
plug
located upon the base configuration. The flexible neck configuration, where,
at the top,
the base of the outlet spout is attatched to the inner juncture of the
uppermost ring, and
where, at the base configuration, a plug and a ring form the base
configuration, the ring
comprising openings within, the plug protruding upward from center of the base
configuration, with a slight projection at the top that is slightly wider than
the radius of
the outlet spout, that, when system is in the self-sealed postion, said
protrusion
overlaps and extends beyond the radius of the dispensing passage at the
uppermost
region of the outlet spout.
3. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said adjustable self-sealing
liquid
dispensing system is formed with polymeric plastic composition so as to be
advantageously resiliant and flexible, permitting regular elongation,
adjustment,
contraction, and closure.
4. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, 2, and 3, wherein the assembly may
contain a
screw thread configuration for releasable connection of the system onto a
liquid source,
so that a universally applicable assembly may be obtained.
5. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the assembly is also a bottle.
6. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closure device is also a
cap.
It will be apparent that various changes and modifications can be made without
departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

Description

CA 02419281 2003-02-10
Eackground of the Invention
A situation exists where atheletes need to wear a mask to play sports are
discomforted
by current methods to enable them to drink liquids when participating in
various
activities. They either squirt a liquid, or remove their masks and drink a
liquid via
various dispensing systems. For example, they must squirt water accurately and
without waste through their face protection. This solution saves time, is
easier to use,
reduces waste, is adjustable, and is more accurate. The present invention is
particularly
well suited for common blow-moulded beverage containers, since such bottles
conventionally do not have an adjustable and elongatable neck, and the
invention is
easily enabled and disabled. Other applications of said invention may be
reasonably
inferred, including the more accurate dispensing of various liquids, such as
paint from a
metal paint can as the current process of opening and sealing a metal
cannister may be
cumbersome. Also, windshield washer fluid from a large container is
difficultto
dispense, as the process of filling a fluid tank in an automobile with said
liquid can be
wasteful and inaccurate.
The advantage of the invention is that it provides an improved system to
quickly and
easily enable and disable the dispensing of liquids from common plastic
containers.
This invention is distinguishable from others by .reason of the arrangement of
the
flexible neck configuration in conjunction with the outlet spout, and the plug
and
openings embodied in the base configuration. The outlet spout, when pulled off
of and
freed from the plug in an open position, and away from the base configuration,
acts to
enable liquid to be accurately dispensed, and enables the flexible neck to
expand and be
adjustable.
Bottle caps and dispensing systems have long been known and widely used.
Various types go back a long way, and have usually included a universal screw
thread
configuration to attatch them to containers. Various dispensing methods have
also been
built into caps. Typical solutions of this type are shown, for example, in the
following
Canadian and United States of America patents.
References Cited [Referenced By]
Canadian Patent Documents
1074735 Apr.1980 Frank 210/49
911909 Oct.1972 Goodrich 210/35
2140391 Barnwell A47G 21 / 18
2141361 Godwin B65D 21/08
2066315 Jul. 1995 Hamm 865D 25/44
U.S. Patent Documents
4,440,327 Apr.,1984 Dark 222/530; 222/534.
1800127 Apr., 1931 Wilson 251 /334.
Though such solutions may have achieved popularity and commercial success,
there has been a continued need for improvement.

CA 02419281 2003-02-10
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Considered broadly, dispensing systems according to the invention,
are of the capping type, with an outlet spout, and usually include
a universal screw thread configuration to enable them to be removeable.
In the drawings, which form part of this specification,
Fig. 1 is a 3/4 view of the invention in the dispensing position
Fig. 2 is a 3/4 view of the invention in the self-sealed or closed position
Fig. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the invention in the dispensing or
open position
Fig. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the invention in mid~~ay to the
dispensing
position with a universal screw thread configuration
Fig. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the invention in the sealed position
Fig. 6 is a top view of the base configuration without screw thread
configuration
Fig. 7 is a side cross-sectional view of the base configuration.
without universal screw thread configuration
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In the particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention illustrated, to
enable and
disable the dispensing of liquid, moulded of suitable pliable polymeric
plastic material
permitting regular elongation, adjustment, contraction, and closure, comprise
three
sections; an outlet spout 1, a flexible neck configuration 2, and a base
configuration 3,
with or without a universal screw thread configuration 13.
The cylindrical outlet spout 1 section is hollow and cylindrical. The
cylindrical outlet
spout 1 is attatched to the inner juncture 6 of the uppermost ring 5 of the
flexible neck
configuration 2.
The flexible neck configuration 2 comprises a series of similar rings
attatched to each
other at the inner junctures 11 and outer junctures 12.
At the lowermost ring 7 of the flexible neck configuration 2, the outer
juncture of the
lowermost ring 8 is attatched to the outside of the base configuration 8. A
plug 9 at the
center of the base configuration, over which the outlet spout may be engaged
and held
into place in a closed position by a protrusion 4 at the top of the plug 9.
Between the base of the plug 9 and the outside edge of the base configuration
3 are a
series openings 10 to enable liquid to pass through into the neck
configuration and be
dispensed out through the outlet spout 1 when in the dispensing position.
An optional universal screw thread configuration 12 may be found attatched to
the
outside of the base configuration 8.
It will be apparent that various changes and modifications can be made without
departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims. Thus,
outlet spout 1,
may be longer, shorter, narrower, or wider. Flexible neck configuration 2, may
include
more, fewer, wider, or narrower rings. And, base configuration 3 may be wider,
narrower, and include a plug 9 that is wider, narrower, taller or shorter. The
protrusion
9 may be wider, shorter, thinner, or thicker. The pass through openings 10 in
the base
configuration 3 may be wider, narrower, fewer or greter in number. The
invention
may be larger or smaller, and wherein the assembly may or may not contain a
universal screw thread configuration 13 for releasable connection of the
system onto a
liquid source, so that a universally applicable assembly may be obtained.

Representative Drawing