Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
PORTABLE FLUID WARMING DEVICE
PRIORITY CLAIMS
[0001] This
patent application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No.
14/878,984 entitled PORTABLE FLUID WARMING DEVICE, filed October 8, 2015,
which
is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. Application Serial No. 14/530,447 entitled
AUTOMATIC
HEATED FLUID DISPENSER, filed October 31, 2014, and a Continuation-in-Part of
U.S.
Application Serial No. 14/530,479 entitled INDUCTIVELLY HEATABLE FLUID
RESERVOIR, filed October 31, 2014, which both are Continuations-in-Part of
U.S.
Application Serial No. 14/137,130 entitled AUTOMATIC FLUID DISPENSER, filed
December 20, 2013.
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This application relates to devices for warming a viscous fluid
and, more
particularly, to portable devices that heat and/or warm a viscous fluid housed
in a portable
fluid reservoir.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Many individuals may desire to warm up or heat a viscous fluid,
such as a
personal lubricant, prior to using the fluid. U.S. Patent Application Serial
No. 14/530,479,
entitled INDUCTIVELLY HEATABLE FLUID RESERVOIR, describes numerous
embodiments of fluid reservoirs or pods that house a viscous fluid. It may be
desirable to
travel with such a fluid reservoir and many of these fluid reservoirs are
portable reservoirs. A
user may easily transport such a reservoir in a purse, handbag, backpack, or
carry-on luggage.
[0004] U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 14/530,447, entitled AUTOMATIC
HEATED FLUID DISPENSER, describes numerous embodiments of dispensers that warm
and/or heat the fluid in these transportable reservoirs. After the fluid is
heated, the dispensers
may automatically dispense the fluid such that the user may use the heated
fluid. In addition
to travelling with a fluid reservoir, it may be desirable to travel with a
warming device for the
fluid reservoir, where the warming device is significantly smaller and thus
more transportable
than the larger automatic fluid dispenser described in the above-referenced
patent application.
It is for these and other concerns that the following disclosure is offered.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In one aspect of the invention, a dispenser includes a housing
having a
base configured to stably rest on a support surface. The housing includes a
top portion
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positioned above the base such that a gap between the base and top portion is
sized to receive
a human hand. The top portion defines a cavity sized to receive a fluid
reservoir and an
opening extending directly through a lower surface of the top portion to the
cavity. A
pressing member is positioned within the cavity and an actuator is coupled to
the pressing
member and configured to urge the pressing member toward and away from the
opening. A
fluid reservoir may be positioned within the cavity, the fluid reservoir
including a neck
having a pressure actuated opening at a distal end thereof, the neck extending
through the
opening. In some embodiments, no portion of the dispenser, other than the
base, is positioned
in a flow path vertically beneath the pressure actuated opening.
[0006] In another aspect, the dispenser includes a controller mounted
within the
housing and operably coupled to the actuator, the controller configured to
selectively activate
the actuator. The dispenser may include a proximity sensor mounted in the
housing and
configured to detect movement within the gap. Alternatively, the sensor may be
a motion
detector or other sensor. In the preferred embodiment, the proximity sensor is
operably
coupled to the controller and the controller configured to activate the
actuator in response to
an output of the proximity sensor. In some embodiments, the proximity sensor
is mounted
within the top portion and the controller is mounted within the base. The
dispenser may
further include a light emitting device mounted within a portion of the
housing, preferably
within the top portion. The top portion in such embodiment includes a downward
facing
translucent panel positioned below the light emitting device. In at least some
other
embodiments, the top portion includes a thinner section of housing positioned
below the light
emitting device, such that at least a portion of the light may pass through
the thinner section.
The controller may be configured to activate the actuator to move between
positions of a
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plurality of discrete positions including a start position and an end position
in response to
detecting of movement in the gap by the proximity sensor. The controller may
also be
configured to activate the actuator to move to the start position in response
to detecting
positioning of the actuator in the end position. The dispenser may
additionally include a
temperature-control element in thermal contact with the cavity or otherwise
placed to heat the
fluid reservoir. The temperature-control element is preferably a heating
element, such as a
resistance heater.
[0007] In another aspect, the actuator is configured to urge the
pressing member
in a first direction and the top portion includes a stop face arranged
substantially transverse to
the first direction (i.e., substantially normal to the first direction) and
offset to a first side of
the opening. The pressing member may include a pressing face extending upward
from the
opening and having a normal substantially parallel to the first direction. The
pressing member
may be positioned on a second side of the opening opposite the first side. The
actuator is
configured to urge the pressing member perpendicular to the first direction.
In some
embodiments, the top portion defines rails extending perpendicular to the
first direction, the
pressing member being configured to slidingly receive the rails. The fluid
reservoir may be
collapsible and positioned within the cavity having a first surface in contact
with the stop face
and a second surface in contact with the pressing face, the neck abutting the
first surface, the
body of the collapsible reservoir may have a substantially constant cross
section along
substantially an entire extent of the body between the first and second
surfaces.
[0008] In another aspect, the pressing member includes a roller
rotatably coupled
to the actuator and defining an axis of rotation. The actuator is configured
to move the roller
in a first direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation across the cavity
toward and away
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from the opening. The pressing member may include an axle extending through
the roller, the
top portion defining guides engaging end portions of the axle. The actuator
may be coupled to
the end portions of the axis by means of a flexible but substantially
inextensible line. Springs
may be coupled to the end portions of the axle and configured to urge the
roller to a starting
position offset from the opening.
[0009] In another aspect, the opening extends in a first direction
through the lower
surface of the top portion and the pressing member is positionable at a
starting position
having the cavity positioned between the opening and the pressing member. The
actuator is
configured to urge the pressing member from the starting position toward the
opening along
the first direction. In some embodiments, the lower surface of the top portion
defines an
aperture and a lid is hingedly secured to the lower surface and is selectively
positionable over
the aperture, the opening being defined in the lid. In some embodiments, one
or more
members extend from the cavity to a position offset from the cavity, each
member of the one
or more members being pivotally mounted to the top portion and including a
first arm
extending over the pressing member having the pressing member positioned
between the first
arm and the opening; and a second arm engaging the actuator.
[0010] In another aspect first and second rods are each pivotally
coupled at a first
end to one side of the cavity and having a second end positioned on an
opposite side of the
cavity. The actuator engages the first and second rods and is configured to
draw the first and
second rods through the cavity toward the opening.
[0011] In various embodiments, a dispenser includes a housing, an
aperture in the
housing, a receptacle within the housing, a heating element, and an actuator.
The aperture
may be a dispensing aperture. The receptacle or cavity is configured and
arranged to
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removably receive a reservoir. When the reservoir is received by the
receptacle, an outlet port
of the reservoir is exposed through the aperture. The heating element is
configured and
arranged to energize or heat fluid housed within the reservoir. When the
actuator is actuated,
the actuator provides a dispensing force that induces a flow of a
predetermined volume of
energized fluid within the reservoir through the exposed outlet port of the
reservoir.
Accordingly, the dispenser dispenses the energized predetermined volume
through the
aperture.
[0012] The actuator includes a convertor that converts electrical energy
to provide
the dispensing force. In at least one embodiment, the convertor is a stepper
motor, such as an
electric stepper motor. The dispensing force translates a piston in the
reservoir a
predetermined distance to induce the flow of and dispense the predetermined
volume of
energized fluid.
[0013] In some embodiments, the predetermined distance is linearly
proportional
to the predetermined volume of dispensed energized fluid. The heating element
may be
configured and arranged to induce an electrical current in a heating
structure. The heating
structure is thermally coupled to the fluid housed in the reservoir. The
induced current in the
heating structure energizes or heats the fluid.
[0014] In various embodiments, the dispenser further includes a sensor
that
generates a signal when an object is positioned proximate to the aperture in
the housing or the
object is moving relative to the aperture. The signal actuates the actuator.
The dispenser also
includes a source that emits electromagnetic energy, such as photons or waves,
in a frequency
band. The frequency band is within the visible spectrum. The emitted
electromagnetic energy
illuminates at least a portion of the dispenser. The frequency band is based
on a user
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selection. An intensity of emitted electromagnetic energy is based on a user
selection. The
illuminated portion of the dispenser includes at least a region of the housing
that is disposed
underneath the aperture. In some embodiments, the source is a light emitting
diode (LED).
100151 In some embodiments, the housing includes a base portion
underneath the
aperture. The housing is configured and arranged to receive a user's hand
between the base
portion and aperture. The base portion may include a containment depression or
recess
positioned directly below the aperture. The containment depression is
configured and
arranged to contain the dispensed volume of fluid.
100161 The aperture is configured and arranged such that when the
predetermined
volume of fluid flows through the outlet port of the reservoir, the
predetermined volume of
fluid is dispensed without contacting a perimeter of the aperture. The
predetermined volume
may be based on a user selection. The heating element may surround at least a
portion of the
receptacle, such that the heating element is configured and arranged to
substantially
uniformly energize at least a portion of the fluid housed with the reservoir.
In at least some
embodiments, the receptacle is a pivoting receptacle that is configured and
arranged to pivot
to an open position and a closed position. The dispenser may include a pivot
assembly that is
configured and arranged to pivotally rotate at least one of the receptacle,
the heating element,
and the actuator.
100171 In some embodiments, a fluid dispenser includes a housing, an
aperture in
the housing, a receptacle within the housing, an actuator, and a power source.
The aperture
may be a dispensing aperture. The receptacle is configured and arranged to
receive a
reservoir. When the reservoir is received by the receptacle, an outlet port of
the reservoir is
exposed through the aperture. When actuated, the actuator provides a
dispensing force that
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induces a flow of a volume of fluid within the reservoir through the outlet
port of the
reservoir and dispenses the volume of fluid through the aperture. The power
source provides
power to the actuator. The power source includes an alternating current
source.
[0018] In at least one embodiment, the dispenser further includes a
heating
element. The alternating current source provides alternating current to the
heating source. The
heating element may be proximate to the receptacle. The dispenser may further
include a
motor that provides the dispensing force. The alternating current source
provides alternating
current to the motor. The dispenser may also include at least one touch
sensitive sensor. The
at least one touch sensitive sensor is enabled to detect a user's touch
through the housing.
[0019] A fluid reservoir includes a reservoir body, a heating structure,
a piston,
and an outlet port disposed on the reservoir body. The reservoir body includes
a first end, a
second end, a cross section, and a translation axis. The translation axis is
substantially
orthogonal to the cross section. The translation axis is defined by the first
end and the second
end. The cross section is substantially uniform along the translation axis.
When fluid is
housed in the reservoir, the heating structure is theimally coupled to the
fluid. The heating
structure is configured and arranged to energize or heat at least a portion of
the fluid housed
in the reservoir. The piston is configured and arranged to translate along the
translation axis.
An available volume of the reservoir to house the fluid is defined by a
distance between the
piston and the second end of the reservoir body. The second end of the
reservoir may be a
closed end of the reservoir. When the piston is translated along the
translation axis toward the
second end, a volume of the fluid that has been energized by the heating
structure flows from
the reservoir and through the outlet port. The volume of energized fluid is
linearly
proportional to a length of the translation of the piston.
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[0020] In some embodiments, the heating structure is a conductive disk
that
includes a cross section that substantially matches the cross section of the
reservoir body. The
heating structure may be disposed proximate to the second end of the reservoir
body. In a
preferred embodiment, the reservoir further includes in-use tabs configured
and arranged to
indicate if the piston has been translated from an initial position. The first
end of the reservoir
body is an open end to receive the piston. The second end of the reservoir
body is a closed
end. The reservoir body may be a cylindrical body. The second end is a
cylinder base.
[0021] In at least one embodiment, the outlet port includes a valve
configured and
arranged such that the fluid housed in the reservoir flows through the valve
in response to a
translation of the piston towards the second end of the reservoir body. The
valve is further
configured and arranged to retain the fluid within the reservoir when the
piston has not been
translated. The outlet port includes a valve retainer configured and arrange
to mate with an
aperture of a dispenser when the reservoir is received by a cavity within a
dispenser. The
valve retainer includes a retainer perimeter that is configured and arranged
such that when the
fluid housed in the reservoir flows through the outlet port, the flowing fluid
flows without
contacting the retainer perimeter.
[0022] In various embodiments, a cross section of the outlet port is
oriented
substantially perpendicular to the translation axis. In other embodiments, a
cross section of
the outlet port is oriented substantially parallel to the translation axis.
The outlet port may
disposed proximate to the heating structure, such that the fluid that flows
through the outlet
port is proximate the heating structure prior to flowing through outlet port.
The piston
includes a driven structure configured and arranged to mate with a driveshaft
driven by a
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motor. In at least one embodiment, the piston includes a driven structure
configured and
arranged to mate with a driveshaft driven by pressurized gas.
100231 In some embodiments, a fluid reservoir includes a reservoir body,
a
heating structure, a piston, a nozzle, and at least a first valve. Some
embodiments include a
second valve. The reservoir body includes a longitudinal axis and a volume
that is configured
and arranged to house at least a portion of the fluid housed in the reservoir.
When fluid is
housed in the volume of the reservoir body, the heating structure is thermally
coupled to the
fluid housed in the body and configured and arranged to energize at least a
portion of the
fluid housed within the body. The piston is configured and arranged to
translate along at least
a portion of the longitudinal axis of the reservoir body. The nozzle disposed
on a surface of
the reservoir configured and arranged to output the fluid housed within the
reservoir. The first
valve resists the output of the fluid through the nozzle unless a dispensing
force is applied to
the reservoir. The dispensing force increases an internal pressure of the
fluid to overcome a
resistance of the first valve.
100241 In some embodiments, the reservoir includes a bottom cap that
includes
and aperture to enable a driveshaft to apply the dispensing force to the
piston, wherein when
the dispensing force is applied to the piston, the piston is translated along
the longitudinal
axis and the resistance of the first valve is overcome to output a portion of
the fluid from the
nozzle. The reservoir may further include a nozzle assembly. When a dispensing
force is
applied to the nozzle assembly, the nozzle assembly is translated relative the
reservoir body
and the resistance of the first valve is overcome to output a portion of the
fluid from the
nozzle.
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[0025] The nozzle may be an angled nozzle. When the reservoir is
received by a
fluid dispenser, the angled nozzle is oriented substantially vertical At least
one embodiment
includes an alignment member that enables a proper nozzle alignment when the
reservoir is
received by a fluid dispenser. The heating structure includes a conductive
tube-shaped
element that uniformly lines at least a portion of the volume of the reservoir
body. In
preferred embodiments, the heating structure is a stainless steel heating
structure. The first
valve may be a ball valve. In other embodiments, the first valve is a spring
valve. In some
embodiments, the first valve and a second valve work together to selectively
inhibit and
enable a fluid flow. In some embodiments, the second valve is a ball valve,
while in other
embodiments the second valve is a spring valve or a needle valve.
[0026] Some embodiments of a reservoir include comprising a seal that is
configured and arranged to provide a visual indication if the piston has
previously been
translated from an initial position. The reservoir may be an airless pump
reservoir. The
reservoir may be a modified or customized bottle, wherein the cosmetic
industry utilizes
bottles that are similar to the un-customized or unmodified bottle. At least
one embodiment
includes an over cap that is configured and arranged to prevent an output of
fluid from the
nozzle when the reservoir is not in use.
[0027] Some embodiments include a portable device that is configured and
arranged to heat a fluid contained within a portable fluid reservoir. The
portable device
includes a housing, a cavity, and an energizing element. The housing includes
a first
longitudinal end, a second longitudinal end, and one or more outer lateral
surfaces of the
device. The one or more outer surfaces extend from a laterally outer portion
of the first
longitudinal end to a laterally outer portion of the second longitudinal end.
The cavity is
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within the housing and extends from a cavity port that is positioned on a
laterally inner
portion of the first longitudinal end to a cavity terminal that is positioned
intermediate the
first and the second longitudinal ends. One or more inner lateral surfaces of
the device are
positioned adjacent the cavity and extend from the laterally inner portion of
the first
longitudinal end to a laterally outer portion of the cavity terminal. The
energizing element is
arranged around the cavity. A portion of the cavity is positioned laterally
intermediate a first
energizing element portion and a second energizing element portion. The
energizing element
is operative to provide energy to at least the intermediate portion of the
cavity.
100281 In various embodiments, the device further includes an internal
energy
source that is operative to provide energy to the energizing element. The
internal energy
source is positioned intermediate the second longitudinal end and the cavity
terminal. The
heating element may include conducting coils that are operative to induce an
electrical
current in an electrical conductor that is positioned laterally intermediate
the first energizing
element portion and the second energizing element portion.
100291 In at least one embodiment, the device further includes a
thermally
conductive medium arranged around the cavity. The energizing element is
further arranged
around the medium such that a first portion of the medium is positioned
laterally intermediate
the first energizing element portion and the cavity. A second portion of the
medium is
positioned laterally intermediate the second energizing element portion and
the cavity. The
medium is operative to transfer thermal energy to the one or more inner
lateral surfaces of the
device.
100301 In various embodiments, the device also includes an electively
conductive
element that is positioned intermediate the first energizing element portion
and the first
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portion of the thermally conductive medium. The energizing element is
operative to induce
an electric current in the electrically conductive element and thermally-
energize the medium.
100311 The energizing element may be a removable energizing element that
includes a microwavable heating pack. In other embodiments, the energizing
element
includes a chemical heating pack. The cavity may be symmetric about a cavity
longitudinal
axis that extends between a central portion of the cavity opening to a central
portion of the
cavity terminal. The heating element may be symmetric about a heating element
longitudinal
axis that is coincident with at least a portion of the cavity longitudinal
axis.
[0032] In some embodiments, a portable heating system is operative to
heat fluid
within a reservoir. The reservoir includes a first reservoir portion and a
second reservoir
portion. At least a portion of the fluid is within the first reservoir
portion. The second
portion of the reservoir includes a dispensing aperture. The system includes a
housing, a
receptacle, and a heating element. The receptacle is within the housing and is
configured and
arranged to receive the first reservoir portion. When the first reservoir
portion is received by
the receptacle, the second reservoir portion extends longitudinally beyond the
housing. The
heating element is housed in the housing. The heating element extends
longitudinally along
and laterally surrounds at least a portion of the receptacle. When the first
reservoir portion is
received by the receptacle, the heating element is operative to provide
thermal energy to the
portion of the fluid within the first reservoir portion.
[0033] In at least one embodiment, the heating element includes a
plurality of
substantially helical coils. The coils are electrically conductive and
laterally surround at least
the portion of the receptacle that the heating element longitudinally extends
along. At least a
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portion of a longitudinal axis of the receptacle is coincident with a
longitudinal axis of the
heating element.
100341 The system may further include a thermally conductive bath. The
bath is
coaxial with the receptacle and positioned intermediate the heating element
and the
receptacle. The heating element is operative to provide thermal energy to at
least a portion of
the thermally conductive bath. In at least one embodiment, the system includes
another
heating element embedded in the thermally conductive bath. The heating element
is
operative to inductively provide energy to the other heating element.
100351 In various embodiments, the housing includes a removable portion.
The
removable portion may include the receptacle. When the removable portion of
the housing is
separated from the housing, access to the heating element is provided to a
user. In at least
one embodiment, the system further includes an aromatic medium. When heated,
the
aromatic medium releases an aroma compound. The aromatic medium may be
included in
the heater element.
100361 In other embodiments, the heating element includes one or more of
sodium
acetate, calcium chloride, or iron. The system may further include a thermal
sensor
positioned such that when the first reservoir portion is received by the
receptacle, the thermal
sensor is thermally coupled to the first reservoir portion. The temperature
sensor may be
coupled to the receptacle. The thermal sensor is operative to trigger a
termination of a
warming sequence when the thermal sensor senses a temperature greater than a
temperature
threshold.
100371 In some embodiments, an apparatus is operative to heat a fluid
contained
within a fluid reservoir. The apparatus includes a cylindrical housing, a
cavity, and a heater.
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The housing includes an upper end, a lower end in opposition to the upper end,
an outer
surface extending from an outer portion of the upper end to an outer portion
of the lower end,
and a housing longitudinal axis extending between a center of the upper end
and a center of
the lower end. The cavity that extends into the housing. The cavity is
configured and
arranged to receive the fluid reservoir through a cavity opening positioned on
the upper end
of the housing. The cavity includes a cavity longitudinal axis that is coaxial
with at least a
portion of the housing longitudinal axis. The heater is housed within the
housing. The heater
is configured and arranged to heat at least a portion of the fluid contained
within the fluid
reservoir when the fluid reservoir is received by the cavity.
[0038] In various embodiments, the heater is positioned longitudinally
intermediate the lower end of the housing and a terminal end of the cavity.
The heater may
be operative to inductively heat an electrically-conducting element housed
with the fluid
reservoir. In other embodiments, the heater is operative to resistively heat
one or more
surfaces of the cavity. A heater longitudinal axis of the heater may be
coaxial with at least a
portion of the cavity longitudinal axis.
[0039] In some embodiments, the apparatus further includes an annular
volume of
thermally conductive media. The media is positioned intermediate the heater
and the cavity.
The media may be in thermal contact with one or more surfaces of the cavity. A
longitudinal
axis of the of the annular volume is coaxial with at least a portion of the
cavity. The
apparatus may also include an electrical conductor that is in thermal contact
with the annular
volume of the thermally conductive media. The heater may be operative to
induce an
electrical current in the electrical conductor. In at least one embodiment,
the heater includes
one or more of a microwavable heating pad or a chemically activated heating
pad. The
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apparatus may further include a rechargeable internal power source configured
and arranged
to provide power to the heater.
100401 In
various embodiments, a portable device is configured and arranged to
heat a fluid contained within a portable fluid reservoir. The portable device
includes a
housing, a cavity, and a heating element The housing includes a first
longitudinal end, a
second longitudinal end, and one or more outer lateral surfaces of the device.
The outer
lateral surfaces extend from a laterally outer portion of the first
longitudinal end to a laterally
outer portion of the second longitudinal end. The cavity is within the
housing. The cavity
extends from a cavity port that is positioned on a laterally inner portion of
the first
longitudinal end to a cavity terminal that is positioned longitudinally
intermediate the first
and the second longitudinal ends. The heating element is positioned
longitudinally
intermediate the cavity terminal and the second longitudinal end. The heating
element is
operative to provide thermal energy to at least a portion of the fluid
contained within the fluid
reservoir when the fluid reservoir is received by the cavity.
100411 In at
least one embodiment, the device further includes a thermally
conductive medium. The medium is positioned longitudinally intermediate the
heating
element and the cavity terminal. The thermally conductive medium is thermally
coupled to
the cavity teiminal. The device may further include an electrically conductive
element. The
electrically conductive element is positioned longitudinally intermediate the
thermally
conductive medium and the cavity teiminal. The electrically conductive element
is
inductively coupled to the heating element and thermally coupled to the
thermally conductive
medium. In another embodiment, the heating element is in thermal contact with
the
thermally conductive medium.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0042] Preferred and alternative examples of the present invention are
described
in detail below with reference to the following drawings:
[0043] Fig. 1 is an isometric view of a first embodiment of a dispenser
incorporating a compressing element in accordance with an embodiment of the
invention;
[0044] Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the dispenser of Fig. 1;
[0045] Fig. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the dispenser of Fig. 1;
[0046] Fig. 4 is a front elevation view of the dispenser of Fig. 1;
[0047] Fig. 5 is an isometric view of a second embodiment of a dispenser
incorporating a rolling element in accordance with an embodiment of the
invention;
[0048] Fig. 6 is a partially exploded view of the dispenser of Fig. 5;
[0049] Fig. 7 is a side cross-sectional view of the dispenser of Fig. 5;
[0050] Fig. 8 is an isometric view of a third embodiment of a dispenser
incorporating a plunger in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
100511 Fig. 9 is an isometric view showing a plunger mechanism of the
dispenser
of Fig. 8 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
[0052] Fig. 10 is a partially exploded view of the dispenser of Fig. 8,
[0053] Fig. 11 is a side cross-sectional view of the dispenser of Fig.
8;
[0054] Figs. 12A and 12B are front cross-sectional views of the
dispenser of Fig.
8;
[0055] Fig. 13 is another partially exploded view of the dispenser of
Fig. 8;
[0056] Fig. 14 is an isometric view showing an actuating assembly of the
dispenser of Fig. 8 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
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[0057] Fig. 15 is an isometric view of a fourth embodiment of a
dispenser in
accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
100581 Fig. 16 is an isometric view showing the dispenser of Fig. 16 and
a fluid
reservoir in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and
[0059] Figs. 17A to 17C are cross-sectional views of the dispenser of
Fig. 16.
[0060] Fig 18. illustrates an isometric view of another embodiment of a
dispenser
consistent with the embodiments disclosed herein. The lid is open to reveal a
removable fluid
reservoir received by the dispenser.
[0061] Fig. 19A illustrates an exploded view of a fluid reservoir
consistent with
embodiments disclosed herein.
[0062] Fig. 19B illustrates an assembled fluid reservoir consistent with
embodiments disclosed herein.
[0063] Fig. 20A illustrates an electrical current induced in a heating
structure
consistent with embodiments disclosed herein.
[0064] Fig. 20B illustrates an embodiment of a heating element
consistent with
embodiments disclosed herein.
[0065] Fig. 21A illustrates an exploded view of the dispenser consistent
with the
embodiments disclosed herein.
100661 Fig. 21B illustrates a top view of the dispenser consistent with
the
embodiments disclosed herein. The lid is open to reveal a fluid reservoir,
such as the fluid
reservoir of Figs 19A-19B received by the dispenser.
100671 Fig. 22A illustrates a cutaway side view of a dispenser that has
received a
fluid reservoir.
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[0068] Fig. 22B is a close-up cutaway side view of Fig. 22A, where the
dispenser's actuator has been shaft retracted.
100691 Fig. 22C illustrates a stepper motor that is included in an
actuator
consistent with the embodiments disclosed herein.
[0070] Fig. 23A illustrates a side view of the dispenser consistent with
the
embodiments disclosed herein. An electromagnetic source included in the
dispenser is
illuminating the dispenser.
[0071] Fig. 23B illustrates an underside surface of the dispenser
showing a
dispensing aperture.
[0072] Fig. 24A illustrates a close-up cross-sectional side view of an
outlet port of
a fluid reservoir, such as the fluid reservoir of Figs. 19A-19B.
[0073] Fig. 24B illustrates a bottom view of a valve for an outlet port
of a fluid
reservoir, such as the fluid reservoir of Figs. 19A-19B consistent with the
embodiments
disclosed herein.
[0074] Fig. 25 illustrates a bottom view of an alternative embodiment of
a fluid
reservoir consistent with the embodiments disclosed herein.
[0075] Figs. 26A-26B provide views of another embodiment of a dispenser
that
includes a pivoting fluid reservoir receptacle assembly. In Fig. 26A, the
pivoting receptacle
assembly is pivoted to a closed position; in Fig. 26B, the pivoting receptacle
assembly is
pivoted to an open position.
[0076] Fig. 27 illustrates an exploded view of pivot assembly 2760 that
is
consistent with various embodiments described herein.
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[0077] Fig. 28 provides an exploded view of another embodiment of a
fluid
reservoir used in conjunction with the various embodiments of fluid dispensers
disclosed
herein.
[0078] Fig. 29 shows a cut-away side view of another embodiment of a
fluid
reservoir used in conjunction with various embodiments of fluid dispensers
disclosed herein
The nozzle assembly of the fluid reservoir is an uncompressed state.
[0079] Fig. 30 shows another cut-away side view of a fluid reservoir
used in
conjunction with various embodiments of fluid dispensers disclosed herein. The
nozzle
assembly of the fluid reservoir is a compressed state.
[0080] Fig. 31A provides a cutaway side view of a dispenser that
includes a pivot
assembly, where the pivot assembly has received a fluid reservoir and has been
pivoted to a
closed position.
[0081] Fig. 31B provides a cutaway side view of the dispenser of Fig.
31A, where
the pivot assembly has been pivoted to a partially open positon to show
adequate clearance of
the angled nozzle.
[0082] Fig. 32A illustrates an exploded view of another embodiment of a
fluid
reservoir consistent with embodiments disclosed herein.
[0083] Fig. 32B illustrates an assembled isometric view of the assembled
fluid
reservoir of Fig. 32A.
[0084] Fig. 32C illustrates a side view of the assembled fluid reservoir
of
Figs. 32A-32B.
[0085] Fig. 33A shows an embodiment of a portable fluid warming device
that is
consistent with various embodiments disclosed herein.
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[0086] Fig. 33B illustrates a longitudinal sectional view of the
portable fluid
warming device of Fig. 33A.
100871 Fig. 34 shows a longitudinal sectional view of another embodiment
of a
portable fluid warming device that is consistent with various embodiments
disclosed herein.
[0088] Fig. 35A shows an alternative embodiment of a portable fluid
warming
device that is consistent with various embodiments disclosed herein.
[0089] Fig. 35B illustrates a longitudinal sectional view of the
portable fluid
warming device of Fig. 35A.
[0090] Fig. 36A shows an embodiment of a portable and passive fluid
warming
device that is consistent with various embodiments disclosed herein.
[0091] Fig. 36B illustrates a longitudinal sectional view of the passive
fluid
warming device of Fig. 36A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0092] Referring to Fig. 1, a dispenser 10 may be understood with
respect to a
vertical direction 12, a longitudinal direction 14 perpendicular to the
vertical direction 12,
and a lateral direction 16 perpendicular to the vertical and longitudinal
directions 12, 14. The
vertical direction 12 may be perpendicular to a planar surface on which the
dispenser 10 rests.
Likewise, the lateral and longitudinal directions 14, 16 may be parallel to
the support surface.
[0093] The dispenser 10 may include a housing 18 that has a C-shape in
the
longitudinal-vertical plane. Accordingly, the housing 18 may include an upper
portion 20 and
a base 22 such that a vertical gap is defined between the upper portion 20 and
the base 22.
The upper portion 20 may define a cavity 24 for receiving a reservoir 26. The
reservoir 26
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may include a neck 28 defining an opening 30 and a body 32 coupled to the neck
28. The
neck 28 may be smaller such that the body 32 can be inserted into an opening
through which
the body 32 cannot pass, or cannot pass through without deformation. The
cavity 24 may be
wider than the body 32 in the lateral direction 16 to facilitate removal of
the reservoir 26. The
opening 30 may be a pressure sensitive opening that is closed in the absence
of pressure
applied to the body 32, but will permit fluid to pass therethrough in response
to an above-
threshold pressure at the opening 30. For example, the opening 30 may be any
of various "no-
drip" systems used in many condiment dispensers known in the art
100941 The cavity 24 may be accessible by means of a lid 34 covering a
portion of
the upper portion 20. The lid 34 may secure to the upper portion 20 vertically
above the upper
portion 20, vertically below the upper portion 20 or to a lateral surface of
the upper portion
20. The lid 34 may be completely removable and secure by means of a snap fit
or some other
means. The lid 34 may also be hingedly secured to the upper portion or slide
laterally in and
out of a closed position. For example, a slide out drawer defining a portion
of the cavity 24
for receiving the reservoir 26 may slide in and out of a lateral surface of
the upper portion 20.
100951 A pressing member 36 is slidable into and out of the cavity 24 in
order to
compress the reservoir 26 and retract to enable insertion of a refill
reservoir 26 after an
extractable amount of fluid has been pressed out of an original reservoir 26.
The pressing
member 36 may define a pressing face 38 positioned opposite a stop face 40
defining a wall
of the cavity 24.
100961 Referring to Fig. 2, the pressing member 36 may slidably mount to
the
housing 18. For example, the pressing member 36 may define one or more slots
42 that
receive rails 44 secured to the upper portion 20. Alternatively, rails formed
on the pressing
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member 36 may insert within slots defined by the upper portion 20. An actuator
46 may
engage the pressing member 36 in order to move the pressing member 36 toward
the
reservoir 26 in order to force fluid therefrom. The actuator 46 may be any
linear actuator,
such as a motor driven screw or worm gear, servo, rotating cam, or the like.
In particular, the
actuator 46 may advantageously maintain its state in the absence of applied
power. The
actuator 46 may secure within one or more actuator mounts 50 secured to the
upper portion
20 or some other portion of the housing 18, including the base 22. In the
illustrated
embodiment, the actuator 46 engages the pressing member 36 by means of a
spreader 48 that
distributes the force over a greater area of the pressing member 36.
[0097] The dispenser 10 may include a proximity sensor 52 that is
configured to
sense the presence of a human hand within the gap between the upper and lower
portions 20,
22. The mode in which the proximity sensor 52 identifies the presence of a
human hand may
include various means such as by detecting reflected light, interruption of
light incident on
the proximity sensor 52, detecting a thermal signature or temperature change,
change in
inductance or capacitance, or any other modality for detecting movement,
proximity, or
presence of hand. The proximity sensor 52 may protrude below a lower surface
54 of the
upper portion 20 or be exposed through the lower surface 54 to light, air, or
thermal energy in
the gap between the upper and lower portions 20, 22. Other sensors than
proximity sensors
may be employed, such as voice-activated sensors. Furthermore, multiple
sensors may be
employed in the same or various parts of the device.
100981 In some embodiments, one or more light-emitting elements 56 may
be
mounted in the upper portion 20 and emit light into the gap between the upper
and lower
portions 20, 22. For example, the lower surface 54 or a portion thereof may be
translucent or
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perforated to allow the light from the light-emitting elements to reach the
gap. The light-
emitting elements 56 may be light emitting diodes (LED), incandescent bulbs,
or other light
emitting structure. Alternatively, lighting elements may provide light
emitting from the
bottom or side.
[0099] Various structures or shapes may form the housing 18. In the
illustrated
embodiment, the housing 18 includes a curved outer portion 58 and a curved
inner portion 60
that when engaged define a curved or C-shaped cavity for receiving the
components of the
dispenser 10. The ends of the curved portions 58, 60 may be planar, or include
planar
surfaces. In particular, the outer curved portion 58 may include a lower end
with a planar
lower surface for resting on a flat surface, or three or more points that lie
in a common plane
for resting on a flat surface.
[00100] A controller 62 may mount within the housing 18, such as within the
base
22. The controller 62 may be operably coupled to some or all of the actuator
46, proximity
sensor 52, and light-emitting elements 56. The controller 62 may be coupled to
these
elements by means of wires. The controller 62 may also be coupled to a power
source (not
shown) such as a battery or power adapter. The controller 62 may be embodied
as a printed
circuit board having electronic components mounted thereon that are effective
to perform the
functions attributed to the controller 62. The controller 62 may include a
processor, memory,
or other computing capabilities to perform the functions attributed thereto.
[00101] Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the lower surface 54 of the upper portion
20
may define an opening 66 for receiving the neck 28 of the reservoir 26. As
shown, the
opening 30 is free to dispense fluid without the fluid being incident on any
portion of the
dispenser, other than the base 22, if the fluid is not incident on a user's
hand. As is also
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apparent, the opening 30 and the neck 28 are disposed closer to the stop face
40 than to the
pressing face 38. In this manner, as the body 32 of the reservoir 26 is
collapsed, the neck 38
inserted within the opening 30 does not interfere with advancing of the
pressing face 38. The
neck 28 may be located as close as possible to the surface of the body 32
engaging the stop
face 40. For example, a gap between the stop face 40 and the pressing face 38
above the
opening 66, e.g. measured parallel to the surface of the housing supporting
the reservoir 26,
may be X and the distance between the stop face 40 and the neck 28 and the
side of the neck
closest the stop face may be less than 10% X, preferably less than 5% X.
[00102] The lower surface 54 of the upper portion 20 may additionally define
an
opening 68 for receiving a portion of the proximity sensor 52 or for allowing
light, vibrations,
thermal energy, and the like to be incident on the proximity sensor 52. The
lower surface 54
may additionally include an opening for allowing light from the light-emitting
devices 56 to
radiate the gap. Alternatively, the lower surface 54 may be translucent or
transparent or
include translucent or transparent portions to allow light to pass through the
lower surface 54.
In some embodiments, a marker 70, such as a depression, painted mark, or other
visual
indicator may be defined in an upper surface of the base 22 positioned
vertically below the
opening 66 to indicate where the dispenser 10 will dispense fluid.
[00103] The pressing member 36 may slide back and forth in an actuator
direction
72 that is generally parallel to the longitudinal direction, e.g. within 20
degrees. The pressing
face 38 may be substantially perpendicular to the actuator direction 72, e.g.
the normal of the
pressing face 38 may be within +/- 5, preferably within +/- 1, degree of
parallel to the
actuator direction 72. The stop face 40 may also be substantially
perpendicular to the actuator
direction (i.e. have a nearly parallel normal). However, in the illustrated
embodiment, the
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stop face 40 is slanted to facilitate insertion of the reservoir 26. For
example, the stop face
may have a normal that points upward from the actuator direction 72 by between
2 and 10
degrees, or some other non-zero angle.
[00104] In some embodiments, the reservoir 26 may be directly or indirectly
heated
by a heating element 74 that may be operably coupled to the controller 62 or
directly to a
power source and may include a thermal sensor enabling thermostatic control
thereof. In the
illustrated embodiment, the heating element 74 is coupled to the pressing
member 36, such as
to the illustrated lower surface of the pressing member perpendicular to the
pressing face 38.
Other possible locations include the illustrated location 76a immediately
opposite the
pressing face 38 or location 76b immediately opposite the stop face 40. In
some
embodiments, it may be sufficient to simply heat the air around the reservoir
26 such that
thermal contact with the reservoir 26 or structure facing the reservoir 26 is
not required.
Accordingly, the heating element 74 may be placed at any convenient location
within the
upper portion 20 or some other part of the housing 18. Other temperature-
control elements
may alternatively be used to either heat or cool or maintain a temperature of
the fluid.
[00105] The controller 62 may be configured to move the pressing member 36
from a starting position shown in Fig. 3 to an end position located closer to
the stop face 40.
The controller 62 may be configured to move the pressing member 36 between
discrete
positions between the start and end positions. For example, the controller 62
may be
configured to cause the actuator 46 to move the pressing member 36 from one
position to a
next position responsive to a detecting of movement based on an output of the
proximity
sensor 52. Upon detecting the pressing member 36 reaching the end position,
the controller
62 may be configured to cause the actuator 46 to move the pressing member 36
to the start
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position. Detecting reaching of the end position may be determined by counting
a number of
times the pressing member 36 has been advanced from the start position, e.g.
upon advancing
the pressing member N times, the controller 46 may be configured to return the
pressing
member to the start position. In one preferred embodiment, the user may adjust
the amount of
advancement of the pressing member 36 with the controller. In this way an
individual user
may have more or less fluid delivered to the hand upon placing the hand
beneath the opening.
A rotatable adjustment knob or other switch (e.g., up 8z down arrow buttons)
may be
provided for such purpose.
[00106] Referring to Fig. 5, in some embodiments, the pressing member 36 may
be
embodied as a roller 80 that squeezes fluid from the reservoir 26 as it is
urged across the
reservoir. To facilitate this operation, the body 32 may be flat such that the
length 82 and
width 84 thereof are substantially greater than a thickness 86 thereof The
width 84
dimension may be parallel to an axis of rotation of the roller 80 when placed
within the cavity
24 and the length 82 may be parallel to a direction of travel of the roller 80
in response to
actuation thereof The thickness 86 dimension may be perpendicular to both the
length and
width 82, 84 dimensions. The neck 28 may be located at or near an end of the
body 32 along
the length dimension 82 thereof In particular, to enable insertion of the
reservoir 26, the
roller 80 may be positioned at a starting position shown in Fig. 5. The neck
28 may be located
at an end of the body 32 opposite the end closest the roller 80 when in the
illustrated starting
position.
[00107] Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, the roller 80 may rotate about one or more
axles
88 having ends that protrude out of the roller 80. The axles may rest on
ridges 90 that define
the actuation direction 72 for the roller 80 and have upper edges parallel to
the actuation
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direction 72. The axles 88 may further be retained on the ridges 90 by means
of a U-shaped
cover 92. The cover 92 may include a cutout portion 94 having parallel edges
96 between
which the roller 80 is permitted to travel. The edges 96 or other portion of
the cover 92 may
be positioned opposite the ridges 90 in order to provide a slot within which
the axles 88 may
slide. The cover 92 may have faces 98 that slope upward with distance from the
cutout 94 in
order to guide the reservoir 26 into the cavity 24. The cover 92 may define
channels 100 on
either side, or a U-shaped channel extending on both sides, of the cut out
portion 94.
[00108] In some embodiments, the channels 100 may provide a space for
accommodating lines 102 for pulling the axle along the slot between the edges
96 and the
ridges 90. In the illustrated embodiment, the lines 102 secure to ends of the
axle 88, extend
around posts 104, and each couple to a common pulley 106 or spool that is
driven by an
actuator 46 including a rotational actuator 108. In response to rotation of
the rotational
actuator 108, the lines are wound onto the pulley 106 thereby drawing the
roller 80 toward
the posts 104 and the opening 66 through which the neck 28 of the reservoir 26
passes. To
return the roller 80 to the starting position, biasing members, such as
springs 110 may be
coupled to the housing 18 and to the axle 88 on either side of the roller 80.
Upon removal of
force exerted by the rotational actuator 108, the springs 110 may urge the
roller back to the
starting position. Alternatively, the springs may bias the roller toward a
forward position of
compression of the reservoir. In such an alternate embodiment, the lines 102
and actuator 108
serve to allow the roller to advance under the pull of the spring or springs
and to pull the
roller back against the spring pressure to a non-compressing, starting
position.
[00109] The rotational actuator may maintain its state, e.g. lock when not
changing
position, such that the roller 80 may be stepped between various positions
between the
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starting position and a final position nearest the opening 66. As is apparent
in Fig. 6, a
support surface 112 may support the body 32 of the reservoir 26 such that the
body 32 is
pinched between the roller 80 and the support surface 112 during movement of
the roller.
[00110] The embodiment of Figs. 5 to 7 may likewise include a controller 62,
proximity sensor 52, and lights 56 configured similar to those shown in Figs.
1 to 4. As for
other embodiments disclosed herein, the controller 62 may be configured to
advance the
roller 80 between discrete positions in response to detecting proximity using
the proximity
sensor 52. Likewise, the controller 62 may be configured to return, or allow
the return, of the
roller 80 to the start position upon reaching the end position. The
embodiments of Figs. 5 to 7
may likewise include a heating element 74 as for the embodiments of Figs. 1 to
4 located at a
location within the upper portion 20, such as interfacing with the support
surface 112 or
otherwise positioned to heat air within the upper portion 20.
[00111] Referring to Fig. 8, in some embodiments, a reservoir cover 120 may
secure to the lower surface 54 by a hinge or be completely removable and
secure by a snap fit
or some other means. The opening 66 for receiving the neck 28 of the reservoir
26 may be
defined in the reservoir cover 120. Accordingly, in use, the neck 28 (see
Figs. 9-11) may be
placed in the opening 66 having the body 32 of the reservoir 26 seated within
a seat 122, such
as a concave or other surface, and the reservoir cover 120 may then be secured
to the lower
surface 54.
[00112] In the illustrated embodiment, a distal end, e.g. opposite any
hingedly
secured end, of the cover 120 may include a ridge 124 or lip 124 for engaging
a detent
mechanism. However, any retention mechanism or detent mechanism may be used to
retain
the cover 120 in a selectively releasable manner.
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[00113] Referring to Figs. 9 to 11, in some embodiments, the reservoir cover
120
may be hingedly secured and releasably secured within an opening 126 covered
thereby using
the illustrated mechanism. A hub 128 including a registration boss 130 on an
upper surface
thereof may have front spring arms 132 extending forwardly therefrom in the
longitudinal
direction 14 The front spring arms 132 may also spread laterally with distance
from the hub
128. The spring arms 132 may also be bent downwardly from the hub 128 and
secure to a
cross bar 134 spanning the distal ends of the front spring arms 132. As shown,
the cross bar
134 spans a portion of the opening 126 and engages the ridge 124 in order to
retain the cover
120 within the opening 126. The spring arms 132 and cross bar 134 may be made
of a
resilient material, e.g. spring steel that is capable of deforming to enable
the ridge to pass
over the cross bar 134. As noted above, the front spring arms 132 may be bent
downwardly
from the hub 128 such that a vertical gap is present between the bottom of the
hub 128, the
opening 128, and the upper surface of the cover 120 positioned in the opening
126.
[00114] Rear spring arms 136 may secure to the hub 128 and project rearwardly
therefrom in the longitudinal direction 14. The rear spring arms 136 may also
flair outwardly
from one another in lateral direction 16 and be bent downwardly from the hub
128 in the
vertical direction 12. The rear spring arms 136 may pivotally secure to axle
portions 138
protruding in the lateral direction 16 outwardly from the cover 120. The axle
portions 138
may be cylindrical with axes extending in the lateral direction 16. The rear
spring arms 136
may include bent end portions insertable within the axle portions 138. The
rear spring arms
136 may be retained in engagement with the axle portions 138 due to biasing
force of the rear
spring arms 136. In some embodiments, the front spring arms 132, rear spring
arms 134, and
cross bar 134 may be part of a single metal rod or wire bent to the
illustrated shape.
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[00115] The axle portions 138 may be secured to the cover 120 by means of an
arm
140 that extends from outside the upper portion 20 to within the upper portion
20. In the
illustrated embodiment, the arm 140 is arched such that a concave lower
surface thereof
spans the edge of the opening 126.
[00116] The axle portions 138 may be positioned within seats 142 positioned on
either side of the arm 140. As apparent in Figs. 9 and 10, the seats 142 are
open such that
insertion and removal of the axle portions 138 from the seats 142. The lid 34
engages the hub
128 and urges the rear spring arms 136 downwardly and accordingly the axle
portions 138
into the seats 142. In the illustrated embodiment (see Fig. 10), the lid 34
includes a
registration hole 144A receiving the boss 130 formed on the hub 128 in order
to maintain the
hub 138 in an appropriate location within the cavity 24. In the illustrated
embodiment, the
registration hole 144A extends completely through the lid 124. In some
embodiments, a user
may press on the registration boss 130 through the hole 144A in order to
depress the hub 128
and urge the cross bar 134 out of engagement with the ridge 124 and allow the
reservoir
cover 120 to fall out of the opening 126. In some embodiments, the hub 128 may
define one
or more registration holes 144A, 144B that receive one or more posts 145 (see
Fig. 11)
secured to an inner surface of the lid 34 or other covering of the upper
portion 20.
[00117] Pressing of fluid from a reservoir 26 positioned within the cavity 24
may
be accomplished by a plunger 146 actuated in substantially the vertical
direction 12. In
particular, the plunger 146 may move substantially vertically within a gap
between the hub
128 and the seat 122 of the cover 120 (see Figs. 12A and 12B). For example,
the plunger may
move substantially parallel (e.g. within +/- 5 degrees of parallel) to a
central axis of the
opening 126. In some embodiments, the plunger 146 may be actuated by means of
a cross bar
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148 that spans the plunger 146 in the lateral direction 16 and may extend
laterally outward
beyond the plunger 146. In the illustrated embodiment, the cross bar 148
passes through a
raised post 150 or tube formed on an upper surface of the plunger 146 (see
Fig. 14). The ends
of the cross bar 148 may slide within vertical grooves 152 defined in the
upper portion 20,
one on either side of the opening 126. As is apparent in Figs. 9-11, the upper
portion 20 is at
a slight angle, e.g. 2 to 10 degrees, from horizontal. The grooves 152 may
likewise be at a
similar angle from vertical. The grooves 152 may be understood as parallel to
a central axis
of the opening 126 or to a direction of travel of the plunger 146. For
example, the grooves
152 may be formed in posts 154 positioned on either side of the opening 126.
In some
embodiments, one or more springs 156 may engage the cross bar 148, or some
portion of the
plunger 146 or other structure secured thereto (see Figs. 9 and 10). The
springs 156 may bias
the plunger toward the opening 126. The springs 156 may include first arms 160
and second
arms 162.
[00118] As shown in Figs. 8 and 12A, when inserting a reservoir 26 within the
cavity 24, the user may seat the reservoir 26 on the cover 120 and then urge
the cover 120
upward thereby urging the reservoir 26 against the plunger 146. The
configuration of Fig.
12A may be a starting position for the plunger 146. As shown in Fig. 12B, upon
compression
of the plunger 146 toward the cover 120, the body 32 of the reservoir 26 is
compressed
thereby forcing fluid from the opening 30 until the plunger 146 reaches the
end position
shown in Fig. 12B. The plunger 146 may be moved between a plurality of
discrete positions
between the illustrated start and end positions to release discrete amounts of
fluid from the
reservoir 126 as for other embodiments disclosed herein.
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[00119] In the illustrated embodiment, the springs 156 may seat within seats
158
positioned laterally outward from the posts 150, however other positions may
advantageously
be used. As apparent in Figs 12A and 12B, the first arms 160 of the springs
156 press against
the cross bar 134. The second arm 162 of each spring 156 may engage a portion
of the upper
portion 20 to counter torque on the arm 160.
[00120] Figs. 13 and 14 illustrate an example of an actuation mechanism
that may
be used to drive the plunger 146. The springs 156 may be considered part of
the actuation
mechanism. The actuation mechanism may include rods 164 extending along the
upper
portion such as in a generally longitudinal direction 14 that slopes upward
similarly to the
upward angle of the upper portion 20. The rods 164 may include first arms 166
secured to
first end portions thereof that engage the linear actuator 46, such as by
means of the spreader
48 driven up and down by the linear actuator 46. The rods 164 may include
second arms 168
secured at second end portions opposite the first end portions. The rods 164
may seat within
slots 170 defined by the upper portion 20.
[00121] The second aims 168 extend over the plunger 146 such that in response
to
rising of the arms 166, the arms 168 are also raised. In the illustrated
embodiment, the arms
168 are loops that extent around the posts 154 and between the cross bar 134
and the plunger
146. As is apparent, the actuator 46 may only be able to force the arms 166
up. Accordingly,
the arms 168 may be operable to counter the force of the biasing springs 156
to enable
insertion of a reservoir 26. To dispense fluid, the actuator 46 may lower the
spreader 50 to a
different position thereby allowing the biasing force of the springs 156 to
force fluid from the
reservoir 26. In some embodiments, the actuator 46 may be coupled to the arms
166 such that
the actuator 46 is able to force both raising and lowering of the arms 166,
168. In still other
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embodiments, springs 156 may urge the plunger 146 up and the actuator 46 is
operable to
urge the plunger 146 downward toward the cover 120. As shown in Fig. 14, in
some
embodiments, the rods 164 may pass through coils of the springs 156.
[00122] The embodiment of Figs. 9 to 14 may likewise include a controller 62,
proximity sensor 52, and lights 56 configured similar to the embodiment of
Figs. 1 to 4. As
for other embodiments disclosed herein, the controller 62 may be configured to
advance the
plunger 146 between discrete positions in response to detecting proximity
using the proximity
sensor 52. Likewise, the controller 62 may be configured to return, or allow
the return, of the
plunger 146 to the start position upon reaching the end position. The
embodiment of Figs. 9
to 14 may likewise include a heating element 74 in thermal contact with the
reservoir 26,
cavity 24, or air within the upper portion 20.
[00123] Referring to Figs. 15 and 16, in some embodiments, the upper
portion 20
and lower portion 22 may have the illustrated configuration. In particular,
rather than having
being C-shaped, the upper portion 20 and lower portion 22 may join at both
ends to define an
opening 180 for receiving a portion of a user's hand. The embodiment of Figs.
15 and 16 may
be used with the illustrated reservoir 26. As shown, the body 32 of the
reservoir 26 may have
a substantially constant cross section along the height thereof. A handle 182
may be secured
to the body 32 opposite the neck 28 to facilitate removal of the reservoir 26.
A lip or shoulder
184 may protrude from the handle 182 and extends outwardly from the body 32.
[00124] The upper portion 20 may define an opening 186 for receiving the
reservoir 26 and include a sloped surface 188 surrounding the opening 186 to
guide the
reservoir 26 into the opening 186. A seat 190 shaped to engage the shoulder
184 may also be
positioned adjacent the opening 186.
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[00125] Referring to Figs. 17A to 17C, in some embodiments the opening 186 may
be defined by a flexible sleeve 192 secured to the upper portion 20. The
sleeve may be open
at both ends such that the neck 28 of the receiver 26 may pass therethrough
and insert within
the opening 66. In some embodiments, a washer 194 may be positioned above the
opening 66
and the neck 28 may insert therethrough.
[00126] In the illustrated embodiment, fluid is forced from the reservoir 26
by arms
196 positioned on either side of the flexible sleeve 192. The sleeves may
define an angle 198
between them. The sleeves may be pivotally secured at a pivot 200 on one side
of the sleeve
192 to the housing 18 and pass on to an opposite side of the sleeve 192 having
the sleeve 192
positioned therebetween. The arms 196 may be part of a single metal rod bent
to the
illustrated shape including a straight portion defining the pivot 200.
Opposite the pivot 200, a
link 202 may pivotally mount within the housing 18 and to the arms 196, such
as by means of
a cross bar 204 secured to both bars arms 196. The actuator 46 may pivotally
secure to the
link 202, such as at a point between the points of securement of the arms 196
to the link 202
and a point of securement of the link 202 to the housing 18. However, the
actuator 46 may
also be coupled to the link 202 at another point along the link 202. The
actuator 46 may be
pivotally mounted to the housing 18 as well such that the actuator 46 pivots
during actuation
thereof.
[00127] As shown in Figs. 17A and 17B, the actuator 46 may shorten thereby
drawing the arms 196 down over the flexible sleeve 192 and forcing fluid out
of the opening
30. As for other embodiments, the actuator 46 may move the arms 196 between
discrete
positions from a start position (Fig. 17A) to an end position (Fig. 17B). The
controller 62
may cause the actuator 46 to return the arms 196 to the start position upon
the arms 196
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reaching the end position. In the illustrated embodiment, the controller 62 is
positioned below
the opening 180.
[00128] The embodiment of Figs. 15 to 17C may likewise include a controller
62,
proximity sensor 52, and lights 56 configured similar to the embodiment of
Figs. 1 to 4. As
for other embodiments disclosed herein, the controller 62 may be configured to
advance the
arms 196 between discrete positions in response to detecting proximity using
the proximity
sensor 52. Likewise, the controller 62 may be configured to return, or allow
the return, of the
arms 196 to the start position upon reaching the end position. The embodiment
of Figs. 15 to
17C may likewise include a heating element 74 in thermal contact with the
reservoir 26,
cavity 24, or air within the housing 18.
[00129] Fig. 18 illustrates an isometric view of another embodiment of a
dispenser
consistent with the embodiments disclosed herein. Lid 1834 is open to reveal
fluid reservoir
1850. Dispenser 1800 removably receives fluid reservoir 1850. Dispenser 1800
energizes
and/or warms fluid housed within fluid reservoir 1850 prior to dispensing the
fluid. Warming,
heating, or otherwise energizing the fluid prior to dispensing may increase
the satisfaction of
a user of dispenser 1800.
[00130] As discussed below, dispenser 1800 efficiently energizes the
dispensed
fluid because of at least the close proximity of a heating element included in
dispenser 1800
to an outlet port of fluid reservoir 1850. The importance of the proximity
depends on the
properties of the fluid being heated, such as the viscosity and thermal
conductivity.
Preferably, the fluid is substantially heated throughout the reservoir before
dispensing. The
positioning of the heating element near the outlet port allows the piston to
move within the
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reservoir 1850 without interfering with the heating element. The heating
structure is
thermally coupled to the fluid.
[00131] In various embodiments, and as further discussed in at least the
context of
Figures 19A-19B and Figs 20A-20B, dispenser 1800 increases the energizing
efficiency
because the heating process is an inductive heating process. Inductive heating
enables a
greater utilization of the energy used to warm the fluid. For instance,
inductive heating of the
fluid reduces collateral warming of dispenser 1800. Inductive heating focuses
the energy on
warming the fluid, rather than warming the housing or other components of
dispenser 1800.
Inductive heating also allows for heating within the reservoir with ease of
reservoir
installation within dispenser 1800 without worry about electrical connections
between the
reservoir 1850 and dispenser 1800.
[00132] Furtheimore, at least because of the interaction between an actuator
included in dispenser 1800 and a displaceable piston included in reservoir
1850, dispenser
1800 fully, or at least almost fully, depletes the fluid housed within
reservoir 1850 prior to the
need to remove and/or replace reservoir 1850 with a new fluid reservoir. In
some
embodiments, reservoir 1850 is a rigid body reservoir. A rigid body reservoir
enables the
complete, or almost complete, depletion of reservoir's 1850 fluid contents by
dispenser 1800.
Accordingly, dispenser 1800 reduces waste of the fluid product. Various
embodiments of
reservoir 1850 are discussed at least in the context of Figs 19A-19B and Figs
24A-24B. Also
detailed below, in some embodiments, a motor drives the actuator.
[00133] A cavity or receptacle included in the housing of dispenser 1800
removably receives fluid reservoir 1850. In preferred embodiments, the cavity
or receptacle
includes finger trenches 1852 or depressions to accommodate the fingers of a
user when the
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user inserts or removes reservoir 1850 from dispenser 1800. Finger trenches
1852 provide
greater ease of inserting or removing reservoir 1850 from dispenser 1800.
[00134] Not shown in Fig. 18, but discussed below in the context of Figs. 22A
¨
22B and Fig. 23B, the housing of dispenser 1800 includes an aperture to expose
an outlet port
of reservoir 1850, such as outlet port 1914 of Figs. 19A-19B. The aperture in
the housing is
located on an underside surface of the housing and above containment
depression 1820.
Containment depression 1820 adequately contains any fluid dispensed from the
aperture and
not received by a hand of a user or otherwise not intercepted. In preferred
embodiments,
containment depression 1820 is a depressed or recessed portion of the housing
of dispenser
1800. Containment depression 1820 may be a circular, elliptical, or any other
appropriately
shaped depressed or recessed portion. Containment depression 1820 enables the
easy clean
up of any dispensed fluid not intercepted by the hands of a user.
[00135] Dispenser 1800 includes various user controls, such as switch 1802.
Switch 1802 may turn on and off various function of dispenser 1800, preferably
a nightlight
discussed below. In other embodiments, switch 1802 may be a power button or
may control
the heating function. In some embodiments, switch 1802 is a pressable button.
A user presses
and/or depresses switch 1802. In at least one embodiment, switch 1802 includes
at least one
electromagnetic energy source, such as a light emitting diode (LED), to
indicate a current
state of dispenser 1800.
[00136] Switch 1802 may serve as a lock/unlock selector for dispenser
1800. For
instance, pressing switch 1802 for a predetermined time, such as 3 seconds,
may transition
dispenser 1800 into a lock-mode. In lock-mode, dispenser 1800 is locked-out of
dispensing
fluid. The included LED, or another LED located forward or rearward of switch
1802,
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illuminates the surrounding environment when a user locks dispenser 1800. A
subsequent
depression of power switch 1802 for the predetermined time may unlock
dispenser 1800,
such that dispenser 1800 can now dispense fluid.
[00137] As noted
above, Fig. 18 illustrates lid 1834 in an open position. A user can
insert and/or remove reservoir 1850 from dispenser 1800. In some embodiments,
to open and
close the compartment that houses reservoir 1850, a user slides and/or
translates lid 1834
back and forth on rails embedded in the dispenser housing. In such
embodiments, when a
user is opening or closing lid 1834, lid 1834 remains attached to the rails
embedded in
dispenser's 1800 housing. In other embodiments, lid 1834 snaps on an off when
a user opens
or closes lid 1834. Such snapping may include tactile and/or audio feedback.
In alternative
embodiments, lid 1834 is a pivotally hinged lid.
[00138] In at
least one embodiment, magnetic forces at least partially secure lid
1834. One or more magnets embedded in at least one of dispenser's 1800 housing
or lid 1834
provide the magnetic forces. In at least one embodiment, magnetic forces
secure lid 1834 to
the dispenser's 1800 housing when a user has opened lid 1834. Such a feature
decreases the
likelihood that lid 1834 becomes lost over the lifetime of use of dispenser
1800. In at least
one embodiment, dispenser 1800 includes a lid sensor. The lid sensor detects
when a user
opens or closes lid 1834. The operation of this sensor may be based on the
Magnetic Hall
Effect. When a user opens lid 1834 is open, the lid sensor triggers the
retracting of at least
one of a driveshaft, pressing member, or other actuator drive component, such
as driveshaft
2148 of Fig. 21B. When dispenser 1800 retracts the drive component, a user may
remove
reservoir 1850 from dispenser 1800.
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[00139] Fig. 19A illustrates an exploded view of fluid reservoir 1950
consistent
with embodiments disclosed herein. Various fluid dispensers disclosed herein,
such as
dispenser 1800 of Fig. 18, receive fluid reservoir 1950. In preferred
embodiments, fluid
reservoir 1950 houses fluid. Dispensers energize and dispense the housed
fluid.
[00140] Fluid reservoir 1950 includes reservoir body 1902. In a preferred
embodiment, reservoir body 1902 is a rigid or at least a semi-rigid body.
Other embodiments
are not so constrained and reservoir body 1902 may be a flexible body.
Reservoir body 1902
includes a first end and a second end. The first and second ends define an
axis. Reservoir
body 1902 includes a cross section. The axis is substantially perpendicular to
the cross
section. In preferred embodiments, the cross section is substantially uniform
along the axis.
The axis may be a translation axis.
[00141] In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 19A, reservoir body 1902 is a
cylindrical body. In various embodiments, a cylindrical body may correspond to
a circular
cylinder, an elliptic cylinder, a parabolic cylinder, a hyperbolic cylinder,
or any other such
curved cylindrical surface. Thus, the cross section of reservoir body 1902 may
be
substantially circular, elliptical, parabolic, hyperbolic, or any other such
curved shape. In a
preferred embodiment, the first and second ends of reservoir body 1902 are the
cylindrical
bases or end caps of the cylindrical body. The translational axis may be
between the
cylindrical bases.
[00142] In other embodiments, reservoir body 1902 may include a parallelepiped
geometry. Thus, the cross section may be substantially a parallelogram shape,
such as a
rectangular or square shape. In at least one embodiment, the cross section may
include fewer
or a greater number of sides than four. For instance, the cross section may be
triangular or
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octagonal. Other possible geometries for reservoir body 1902 and the
corresponding cross
section are possible.
[00143] Reservoir body 1902 may be an optically transparent body or at least
an
optically translucent body. In such an embodiment, a user may visually inspect
the amount of
remaining fluid in reservoir 1950. In other embodiments, reservoir body 1902
may be
optically opaque. In at least one embodiment, reservoir body 1902 is optically
opaque except
for a window indicating the amount of fluid remaining in reservoir 1950.
[00144] The fluid housed within reservoir 1950 may include optical properties
such
that when an electromagnetic energy source illuminates an optically
transparent reservoir
body 1902, the fluid disperses the light in such a manner as to appear the
frequency or color
of the illuminating electromagnetic energy. In at least one embodiment, fluid
housed within
reservoir 1950 may appear to "glow" when illuminated by an electromagnet
energy source
included in various fluid dispensers disclosed herein. One or more
electromagnetic sources
embedded in various dispensers disclosed herein may at least partially
illuminate reservoir
1950 and/or fluid housed within reservoir 1950. In at least one embodiment,
reservoir
body 1902 is at least partially a thermally insulating body. In such
embodiments, fluid housed
within reservoir 1950 effectively retains thermal energy. Accordingly, these
embodiments
increase the heating efficiency of a dispenser that receives reservoir 1950.
[00145] In some embodiments, fluid reservoir 1950 includes heating structure
1920. Induction, as discussed in the context of Figs. 20A-20B, may provide
energy to heat or
warm heating structure. In preferred embodiments, heating structure 1920 is a
conductive
heating disk. Heating structure 1920 is in thermal contact with the fluid
housed in reservoir
1950. In some embodiments, heating structure is in physical contact with the
fluid. In at least
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one embodiment, heating structure 1920 is physically isolated from the fluid
by a barrier,
such as a chamber wall within reservoir body 1902. In such embodiments,
reservoir 1950
includes a chamber to receive heating structure 1920. The receiving chamber
isolates heating
structure 1920 so that heating structure 1920 does not contaminate the housed
fluid.
[00146] In some embodiments, a cross section of heating structure 1920
substantially matches the cross section of reservoir body 1902. In other
embodiments, the
cross section of heating structure 1920 deviates from the cross section of
reservoir body
1902. In preferred embodiments, heating structure 1920 is positioned within
reservoir body
1902.
[00147] Fluid reservoir 1950 includes outlet port 1914. In various
embodiments,
outlet port 1914 includes valve 1910 and valve retainer 1912. Valve 1910 may
be constructed
from a flexible material such as a synthetic rubber, plastic, latex, or the
like. Valve 1910
includes one or more slits, apertures, or other openings to allow fluid housed
in the reservoir
to flow out of the reservoir through valve 1910. Fig. 24B illustrates one such
configuration of
valve slits. In at least some embodiments, outlet port 1914 may be a nozzle.
In such
embodiments, outlet port 1914 may be included in a nozzle assembly of fluid
reservoir 1950.
[00148] Valve retainer 1912 retains valve 1910. In a preferred embodiment,
valve
1910 is concentric with valve retainer 1912. An outer perimeter of valve 1910
is adjacent or
proximate to an inner perimeter of valve retainer 1912. As is discussed in the
context of Fig.
23B and Figs. 24A-24B, valve 1910 and valve retainer 1912 are configured and
arranged
such that when fluid flows through the one or more slits or openings of valve
1910, the
flowing fluid does not contact valve retainer 1912, including the inner
perimeter of valve
retainer 1912.
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[00149] Fluid reservoir 1950 additionally includes piston 1904. Piston
1904 is a
translatable or displaceable piston. Piston 1904 translates along a
translation axis. Piston 1904
includes one or more use tabs 1906 or tongues. As shown in Fig. 19A, the first
end of
reservoir body 1902 includes one or more trenches, depressions, or other such
structures.
These trenches or depressions mate with use tabs 1906. As described below in
the context of
Fig. 19B, use tabs 1906 provide a signal. This signal indicates that piston
1904 has already
displaced at least some amount of fluid. In at least one embodiment, piston
1904 includes
driven structure 1908. Driven structure 1908 mates with at least a portion of
an actuator, such
as a pressing member, included in various dispensers disclosed herein. In
various
embodiments, a pressing member may be a driveshaft.
[00150] As described below, a dispenser actuator drives a translation of
piston 1904 along the translation axis. When piston 1904 is driven to decrease
an available
storage volume in fluid reservoir 1950, fluid housed in fluid reservoir 1950
flows out of
reservoir 1950 through outlet port 1914. An available storage volume in fluid
reservoir 1950
may be based on the cross section of reservoir body 1902 and a distance
between piston 1904
and the second end of reservoir body 1902. In preferred embodiments, the
second end is a
closed end.
[00151] Accordingly, a translation of piston 1904 towards the second end of
reservoir body 1902 induces a decrease in the available storage volume. The
mechanical
work that translates piston 1904 displaces the housed fluid and forces a
portion of the fluid to
flow through outlet port 1914.
[00152] Piston 1904 and reservoir body 1902 are configured and arranged such
that
the interface between piston 1904 and reservoir body 1902 adequately retains
fluid housed
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within reservoir 1950 when piston 1904 is not translated. The physical
dimensions of piston
1904, including an effective piston cross section, may be based on at least
one of the cross
section of the reservoir body 1902 and the viscosity of the housed fluid. In
such
embodiments, the piston's cross section, or at least an outer perimeter of the
piston,
substantially matches the cross section of the reservoir body. A gasket, 0-
ring, or other such
structure may provide a seal between the displaceable piston 1904 and the
inner walls of
reservoir body 1902. The seal is adequate to retain the housed fluid.
Accordingly, reservoir
1950 does not leak the housed fluid out of the first end of reservoir body
1902 when a
dispensing force translates or otherwise displaces piston 1904.
[00153] In preferred embodiments, valve 1910 retains fluid in reservoir
1950
unless a force, such as a dispensing force, translates piston 1904 toward the
second end of
reservoir body 1902 or the available storage volume of fluid reservoir 1950 is
otherwise
decreased. The slits or openings of valve 1910 may resemble the slits of a
condiment
container, such as a squeezable ketchup bottle. The valve is preferably
upwardly domed
toward the fluid, such that a force to displace the elastic dome downwardly
must be employed
before the valve will open to dispense. Physical dimensions and configurations
of the one or
more slits or openings of valve 1910 may be varied. This variability may be
based on the
viscosity of the fluid to be housed in reservoir 1950 and the material that
valve 1910 is
constructed from. By adequate choices for the physical dimensions and
configurations of the
slits, fluid will not flow through the openings unless a dispensing force
translates piston 1904
and displaces the housed fluid.
[00154] Because valve 1910 is constructed from an elastic rubber-like
material, the
slits or openings may substantially be closed, or self-sealing, until the
dispensing or
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displacing force forces fluid through the openings. When displaced by the
dispensing force,
fluid flows through the slits or openings. This effect may be similar to the
self-sealing of a
rubber nipple on an infant's bottle. The rubber nipple includes slits or
holes. Fluid does not
flow through the slits or holes on such a rubber nipple unless an infant
supplies a vacuum or
sucking force or a pressure squeezes the bottle. Thus, valve 1910 resists the
output or
dispensing of the fluid unless a dispensing force, greater than a dispensing
force threshold,
increases the internal pressure of the fluid to a pressure greater than a
pressure threshold to
overcome the resistance of valve 1910.
[00155] Fig. 19B illustrates assembled fluid reservoir 1950 that is
consistent with
embodiments disclosed herein. In the preferred embodiment shown in Fig. 19B,
when
assembled, heating structure 1920 is positioned inside reservoir body 1902 and
proximate to
the second end of reservoir body 1902.
[00156] Additionally, as shown in Fig 19B, outlet port 1914 is positioned on a
surface of reservoir body 1902. The surface that includes the outlet port is
not positioned on
the first or second ends of reservoir body 1902. Rather, outlet port 1914 is
positioned on a
curved surface of the cylindrical body. The cross section of outlet port 1914
is transverse or
substantially orthogonal to the translation axis of reservoir body 1902.
However, other
embodiments are not so constrained, and outlet port 1914 may be positioned on
the second
end of reservoir body 1902, such that the cross section of outlet port 1914 is
substantially
parallel to the translation axis. Outlet port 1914 is shown with valve 1910
and valve retainer
1912 in a concentric configuration. The surface of valve 1910 that includes
the one or more
slits or openings may be recessed above portions of valve retainer 1912. This
configuration
provides additional clearance for fluid flowing through valve 1910.
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[00157] In preferred embodiments, and in order to ensure that an increased
portion
of the housed fluid will flow out of outlet port 1914, outlet port 1914 is
positioned proximate
to the second end of reservoir body 1902. Accordingly, fluid will continue to
flow through
outlet port 1914 with the translation of piston 1904 until piston 1904 makes
physical contact
with the second end of reservoir body 1902. At this point, all, or at least
most, of the housed
fluid that is displaceable by piston 1904 has been displaced. Accordingly,
reservoir 1950 is
adequately depleted.
[00158] Fig. 19B illustrates fluid reservoir 1950 in an initial condition
prior to
dispensing any of the fluid housed within. The initial position of piston 1904
is proximate the
first end of reservoir body 1902. The volume defined by reservoir body 1902
and positioned
between piston 1904 and the second end of reservoir body 1902 retains the
fluid. In some
embodiments, the initial position of piston 1904 is such that the use tabs
1906 mate with the
trenches or depressions in reservoir body 1902. As an alternative to use tabs,
some
embodiments employ a fragile, brittle, or otherwise frangible sealing
structure to provide an
indication of prior use. Various dispenser actuators, discussed herein, may
sense an actuating
load when translating piston 1904. By sensing the load, the dispenser may
detect whether use
tabs 1906 or a frangible seal is intact or not intact. Accordingly, the
dispenser may deteimine
whether the reservoir 1950 has experienced a prior use, or is otherwise a
virgin reservoir.
[00159] A driveshaft of a dispenser actuator mates with driven structure 1908.
A
translation of the driveshaft translates piston 1904 towards the second end of
reservoir body
1902. The translation of piston 1904 towards the second end of reservoir body
1902 induces
an engagement force between the use tabs 1906 and the trenches or depressions
of reservoir
body 1902. The engagement force snaps, breaks, bends, or otherwise deforms use
tabs 1906.
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[00160] When use tabs 1906 have been disturbed from the initial position they
become deformed. Deformed use tabs 1906 alert a user that reservoir 1950 has
already
dispensed some amount of fluid housed within reservoir 1950. For example,
deformed use
tabs 1906 indicate that piston 1904 is not in its initial position. For
hygienic or safety reasons,
a user may wish to discard or otherwise not use an already somewhat used
reservoir 1950
Deformed use tabs 1906 indicate that that another party may have already used
reservoir
1950. For hygienic reasons, a user may wish to discard an already partially
used reservoir.
[00161] Fig 20A illustrates an electrical current induced in heating structure
2020
that is consistent with embodiments disclosed herein. In some embodiments,
heating
structure 2020 is a conductive heating disk. An alternating current (AC)
source 2030 supplies
alternating electrical current 2040 to heating element 2010. Heating element
2010 is a
conductive element. As shown in Fig. 20A, heating element 2010 includes
multiple
conducting coils. According to Maxwell's electromagnetic (EM) equations,
alternating
electrical current 2040 produces a fluctuating magnetic field 2050. Again,
according to
Maxwell's EM equations, when an electrical conductor, such as heating
structure 2020, is
exposed to fluctuating magnetic field 2050, a current, such as alternating
electrical current
2060 is induced in heating structure 2020. When alternating electrical current
2060 is induced
in heating structure 2020, the electrical resistance of heating structure 2020
results in the
heating of heating structure 2020.
[00162] When a substance, such as fluid housed within a fluid reservoir 1950
of
Figs. 19A-19B, is in thermal contact with or thermally coupled to heating
structure 2020 and
an electrical current passes through heating structure 2020, heating structure
2020 may
energize or heat the substance. The inductive heating of heating structure
2020, as described
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herein, requires no physical contact between heating element 2010 and heating
structure
2020. Accordingly, various dispensers disclosed herein may employ inductive
heating to heat
or otherwise energize a heating structure 2020 remotely or at a distance.
Thus, because
heating element 2010 is physically isolated from heating structure 2020 and
the substance to
be energized by heating structure 2020, heating element 2010 does not come
into physical
contact with the substance to be energized. Accordingly, contamination paths
and user
contact with heated elements are reduced.
[00163] Fig. 20B illustrates an embodiment of heating element 2070 that is
consistent with embodiments disclosed herein. As shown in Fig. 20B, in a
preferred
embodiment, heating element 2070 is printed by employing printed circuit board
(PCB)
technology. Heating element 2070 includes a plurality of printed conductive
coils 2080.
Conductive coils 2080 are relatively inexpensive to implement by employing PCB
technology. PCBs may be mass-produced with known techniques. Heating element
2070 also
includes at least one terminal 2090 to supply an alternating current to the
plurality of
conductive coils 2080. Accordingly, algorithms or methods for inductively
heating the
substance may vary the frequency of the supplied current based on the
properties of a
sub stance.
[00164] In at least one embodiment, the supplied alternating current is a high
frequency alternating current in conductive coils 2080. As heating element,
such as heating
element 2070, may be employed to energize or heat a heating structure, such as
heating
structure 2020 of Fig. 20A or heating structure 1920 of Figs. 19A-19B, at a
distance by
inductive heating. Various algorithms that vary the frequency of the supplied
current or
otherwise strategically control an alternating current source, such as
alternating current
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source 2030 of Fig. 20A, may be used to selectively control the temperature or
rate of heating
of the heating structure and a substance in thermal contact with the heating
structure.
[00165] Fig. 21A illustrates an exploded view the dispenser discussed above,
consistent with the embodiments disclosed herein. Dispenser 2100 includes a
housing.
Housing includes front piece 2122, upper piece 2158, and base piece 2156.
Front piece 2122
includes a gap to receive at least one hand of a user to intercept the fluid
dispensed from
dispenser 2100. In some embodiments, dispenser's 2100 housing includes a
rubber foot 2132
and a base weight 2130, installed on the base portion to stabilize dispenser
2100 when it is
resting on a surface, such as a nightstand or table.
[00166] Housing also includes a removable or slidable lid 2134 to conceal the
receptacle, cavity, or compartment that removably receives fluid reservoir
2150. Dispenser
2100 includes a removable power cord 2104 to provide electrical power. Heating
element
2172 inductively energizes or heats fluid housed within reservoir 2150.
Heating element
includes a printed circuit board 2170. Printed circuit board 2170 includes
conductive coils.
Conductive coils provide an inductive current to a heating structure within
reservoir 2150.
The heating structure and fluid housed within reservoir 2150 are thermally
coupled.
[00167] Dispenser 2100 includes circuit board 2162. Circuit board 2162
includes
various electronic devices and/or components to enable operation of dispenser
2100. Such
devices and/or components may include, but are not limited to processor
devices and/or
microcontroller devices, diodes, transistors, resistors, capacitors,
inductors, voltage
regulators, oscillators, memory devices, logic gates, and the like. Dispenser
2100 includes
switch 2102. Dispenser 2100 includes a nightlight. In at least one embodiment,
the nightlight
emits visible light upwards through switch 2102 to indicate a dispensing mode
or other user
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selection. In preferred embodiments, the nightlight illuminates at least a
portion of the gap in
front piece 2122 where the user inserts their hand to receive a volume of
dispensed fluid. As
shown in Fig. 23A, in some embodiments, nightlight illuminates visible light
downwards
from around the dispensing aperture. Ring lens 2156 or a light guide may focus
and/or
disperse light to obtain the desired illumination effect. Ring lens 2156 may
surround or
circumscribe an outer perimeter of the dispensing aperture. Dispenser 2100
includes an
actuator. In various embodiments, the actuator may include electric motor
2146. However,
other embodiments are not so constrained.
[00168] Various fasteners and couplers including but not limited to fasteners
2134,
2136, and 2138, couple the components of dispenser 2100. Dispenser 2100
includes
containment depression 2120. Containment depression 2120 contains and/or
retains any fluid
dispensed not intercepted by a user's hand. In a preferred embodiment,
containment
depression 2120 is included in front piece 2122.
[00169] Fig. 21B illustrates a top view of another embodiment of a dispenser
consistent with the embodiments disclosed herein. Lid 2134 is open to reveal a
fluid
reservoir, such as the fluid reservoir 1950 of Figs 19A-19B. Dispenser 2100
removably
receives the reservoir. An actuator in dispenser 2100 includes driveshaft 2148
to translate a
displaceable piston included in reservoir 2150, such as piston 1904 of Figs.
19A-19B. In
some embodiments, the actuator includes a device that converts electrical
energy into
mechanical work, such as an electric motor. The mechanical translate drive
driveshaft 2148
and/or other actuator components. Other embodiments may employ other
mechanisms to
drive driveshaft 2148. At least one embodiment employs hydraulics to drive
driveshaft 2418.
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[00170] Dispenser 2100 includes heating element 2170. Heating element 2170 may
inductively generate or provide an electrical current in a corresponding
heating structure,
such as heating structure 1920 of Figs. 19A-19B, embedded in reservoir 2150.
The induced
current energizes or heats at least a portion of the fluid housed with
reservoir 2150. In
preferred embodiments, when dispenser 2100 receives reservoir 2150, the
heating structure
within reservoir 2150 is proximate to heating element 2170. However, heating
element 2170
is physically isolated from the heating structure. The second end of the
reservoir's 2150 body
acts as a barrier between heating element 2170 and the heating structure.
Likewise, the first
end of reservoir's 2150 body is positioned such that driveshaft 2148 mates
with a driven
structure included on a piston of reservoir, such as driven structure 1908 and
piston 1904 of
Figs. 19A-19B.
[00171] In at least one embodiment, heating element 2170 includes a sensor
that
detects a fluid type of the fluid housed within reservoir 2150. This sensing
may determine a
property of the heating structure embedded within the received reservoir 2150,
such as but
not limited to electrical conductivity or magnetic dipole strength. The
determined heating
structure property indicates the type of fluid housed with reservoir 2150.
Other methods,
including optical and/or mechanical methods, are employable to determine one
or more
properties of the fluid housed within reservoir 2150. For instance, mechanical
methods based
on the geometry of reservoir and a sensing the loading on an actuator that
translates a piston
in reservoir 2150, may be employed to determine the fluid properties.
Algorithms employed
to energize the fluid may be varied based on the properties of the detected
fluid.
[00172] In other embodiments, received reservoir 2150 may not include a
heating
structure. For such embodiments, fluid housed within the received reservoir
2150 may be
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heated by resistive conductive elements embedded within or proximate to the
receptacle or
cavity that receives reservoir 2150. In such embodiments, direct rather than
inductive heating
is used to energize the fluid.
[00173] In at least one embodiment, dispenser 2100 includes temperature
sensors
to measure or sense the temperature of fluid within reservoir 2150 Dispenser
2100 may vary
operation of heating element 2170 based on a current sensed in the heating
structure or
detected temperature of the fluid. For instance, when fluid reaches a
predetermined maximum
temperature, a controller or processor device included in dispenser 2100 may
turn off or
otherwise deactivate heating element 2170. Once the fluid's temperature falls
below a
predetermined minimum temperature, dispenser 2100 may re-activate heating
element 2170.
A user may select the minimum and maximum fluid temperature with various user
controls
included in dispenser 2100. In at least one embodiment, dispenser 2100
includes a
programmable thermostat.
[00174] Dispenser 2100 includes a power supply and/or power source. In a
preferred embodiment, the power source provides alternating current to
dispenser 2100.
Other embodiments are not so constrained and can operate with a DC power
supply, such as
an internal battery. The power supply may include power cord 2104. Power cord
2104
provides electrical power from an external supply to dispenser 2100. The
supplied power is
employed by various components of dispenser 2100, including but not limited to
a processor
device, the actuator, heating element 2170, an embedded nightlight, as well as
various user
interfaces and user selection devices. Power cord 2104 may include a wall-plug
AC adapter,
employing prongs for North America, Europe, Asia, or any other such region.
Finger trenches
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2152 assist in inserting and removing reservoir 2152 from the fluid reservoir
receptacle or
cavity of dispenser 2100.
[00175] Various user controls and/or user interfaces are included in dispenser
2100. At least one of the controls may be a touch sensitive control or sensor.
Touch sensitive
controls may be capacitive touch sensors. Touch sensitive sensors, controls,
or components
may be housed within dispenser's 2100 housing. The touch sensitive components
can sense at
least one of a touch, proximity of, or motion of a user's hand through
housing. In preferred
embodiments, sensing the proximity or motion of a user's hand underneath the
dispensing
aperture turns on the heating element to prepare the dispenser for use. Once
the dispenser has
heated the fluid adequately, a second positioning of the user's hand triggers
a single
dispensing event. For instance, when a user places a hand underneath the
dispensing aperture,
a proximity sensor may trigger the dispensing mechanism such that a volume of
fluid is
dispensed onto the user's hand.
[00176] A dispensing event or trigger dispenses a predetermined volume of
fluid
from reservoir 2150 and out through dispenser 2100 by translating driveshaft
2148 a
predetermined distance. The predetermined distance corresponds to the
predetermined
volume. In at least one embodiment, dispenser 2100 includes a timer. The timer
may prevent
a dispensing event from occurring unless a lockout time has elapsed since the
previous
dispensing event. This lockout mode limits a dispensing frequency of dispenser
2100.
Accordingly, the likelihood of a user accidentally triggering multiple
dispensing events is
minimized. The lockout time or maximum dispensing frequency may be programmed
by a
user employing various user controls or selectors.
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[00177] Other touch sensitive or proximity/motion controls or sensors include
at
least one of brightness selector 2118, color selector 2116, volume selector
2112, and ejector
2114. Some of the user controls may be marked by an indicator or icon, such as
brightness
icon 2128 or color icon 2126 to indicate the functionality of the
corresponding user control.
Some of the user controls or icons may be illuminated with electromagnetic
energy sources,
such as LEDs to indicate a user's selection or other functionality.
[00178] At least one of the user controls, such as brightness selector
2118 or color
selector 2116, may be a touch-sensitive slide control that continuously varies
a user selection
when a user slides their finger across the slide control. For instance, the
embedded nightlight
may include multiple electromagnetic energy sources of various frequencies to
provide
multiple frequencies, or colors, of visible light. In preferred embodiments,
the
electromagnetic sources are LEDs. Some of the LEDs may emit different colors.
For
example, at least one red LED, at least one greed LED, and at least one blue
LED may be
included in the nightlight to provide a light source. Various colors of
visible light may be
generated by blending red, green, blue (RGB) components.
[00179] Thus, the embedded nightlight may be a selectable or otherwise tunable
RGB nightlight or light source. A user may continuously blend the selection of
LEDs to
activate by sliding their finger along color selector 2116. For instance, the
intensity of the one
or more differently colored LEDs may be varied by color selector 2116 to
produce various
colors emitted by the nightlight. Likewise, an overall brightness or intensity
of the nightlight
may be selected by continuously varying by brightness selector 2118.
[00180] Other user selectors or controls include volume selector 2112.
The user
may select the dose of fluid to be dispensed by dispenser 2100. In a preferred
embodiment,
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the user may select one of multiple predetermined volumes to be dispensed. In
the
embodiment illustrated in Fig 21B, three predetermined volumes are available,
such as a
small, a medium, or a large dose, as indicated by the three differently sized
fluid drop icons
of volume selector 2112.
[00181] Volume selector 2112 is a touch sensitive user control, and thus a
user can
touch the fluid drop icon sized to correspond to the desired dose.
Alternatively, with each
touch of the icon, the dose selection cycles to the next amount, illuminating
the selection.
Thus, each of the small, medium, and large drop indicators may include an
individual LED.
The currently selected volume may be indicated by illuminating the
corresponding fluid drop
icon by activating the appropriate LED. In other embodiments, a continuous
selection of
volumes to be dispensed is available. In such embodiments, volume selector
2112 is a slide
control touch sensitive selector.
[00182] Dispenser 2100 varies the volume dispended by dispenser 2100 in a
single
dispensing event by varying the length that driveshaft 2048 translates the
piston in fluid
reservoir 2150 due to triggering the actuator. Because in preferred
embodiments, the cross
section of reservoir 2150 is uniform, the amount of fluid dispensed in one
dispensing event is
linearly proportional to the length that the piston is translated.
Accordingly, dispenser 2100
varies the length that the driveshaft 2148 is driven in one dispensing event
based on a user
selection of volume selector 2112.
[00183] Ejector 2114 may be a touch sensitive control. When ejector 2114 is
activated, driveshaft 2148 is translated away from the driven mechanism of
reservoir 2150
and backed away from reservoir 2150 to allow the user to remove reservoir 2150
from
dispenser 2100. In at least one embodiment, dispenser 2100 includes a spring-
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mechanism to automatically eject reservoir 2150 when driveshaft 2148 has
cleared the body
of reservoir 2150
[00184] In some embodiments, when driveshaft 2148 has cleared the body of
reservoir 2150, an LED included in ejector 2114 is illuminated to indicate
that a user may
safely remove reservoir 2150. In other embodiments, an LED embedded within or
proximate
to the receiving receptacle is activated to indicate that reservoir 2150 may
be safely removed.
If the body of reservoir 2150 is transparent or translucent, any remaining
fluid within
reservoir 2150 may be illuminated In other embodiments, this LED embedded in
the
receiving receptacle may indicate other functionalities. By using finger
trenches 2152, a user
may remove reservoir 2150 from dispenser 2100.
[00185] Other indicators included in dispenser indicate when a heating mode of
dispenser 2100 has been activated. For instance, one or more LEDS may be
activated in a
"blinking mode" or a slowing pulsing light mode when dispenser is heating
fluid within
reservoir 2150. When the fluid has reached a predetermined temperature, the
blinking or
pulsing LED may switch to a "solid" mode. Alternatively, the light may change
color to
indicate readiness. It is understood that other methods of operating
indicators may serve to
indicate modes or functionality of dispenser 2100. Another indicator may
indicate that
reservoir 2150 is approaching an empty state and thus needs to be replenished
or replaced.
Other indicators may indicate an error state of dispenser 2100. The embedded
nightlight may
serve as one or more indicators.
[00186] Fig. 22A illustrates a cutaway side view of another embodiment of a
dispenser and a received fluid reservoir consistent with the embodiments
disclosed herein.
Dispenser 2200 includes a removable power cord 2204. Dispenser 2200 includes
power
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switch 2202. Fig. 22A illustrates a gap is in the housing. The gap defines a
volume
intermediate the dispensing aperture and containment depression 2220. The gap
or volume
receives a user's hand so that, during a dispensing event, the user's hand
receives or
otherwise intercepts fluid dispensed by dispenser 2200.
[00187] As disclosed herein, a motion or proximity sensor may detect when a
user's hand is placed or moves within the volume. As illustrated in Fig. 23A,
a nightlight
included with dispenser 2200 may illuminate the volume that receives a user's
hand. The first
movement of a user's hand may activate the heating element. Once properly
heated, further
placement of a user's hand within the gap will activate the dispensing of the
fluid. Any fluid
that drops onto the lower base portion of the housing and is not intercepted
by the user's hand
is contained within containment depression 2220.
[00188] The housing of dispenser 2200 includes an actuator cavity 2209.
Actuator
cavity 2209 receives various components of dispenser's actuator, such as
stepper motor 2246
of Fig. 22C. A driveshaft or pressing member of the actuator drives a piston
2204 included in
received reservoir 2250. Deformed use tabs included on piston 2204 indicate
that the
driveshaft of the actuator has translated the piston and dispensed at least
some of the fluid
housed within reservoir 2250. Dispenser 2200 includes heating element 2270 to
energize or
heat fluid within reservoir 2250. Heating element 2270 induces a current in a
heating
structure within reservoir 2250.
[00189] Fig. 22B is a close-up view of fluid reservoir 2250. Fluid
reservoir 2250 is
received within dispenser 2200 that is consistent with the embodiments
disclosed herein. In
preferred embodiments, when dispenser 2200 receives reservoir 2250, heating
element 2270
of dispenser 2200 is positioned in close proximity to heating structure 2220
included within
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reservoir 2250. However, there is no physical contact between heating element
2270 and the
heating structure 2200 because a wall of the second end of reservoir 2250
isolates the two
conductive components. Rather, alternating current in heating element 2270
induces a current
in heating structure 2220. The induced current energizes fluid housed within
reservoir 2250.
[00190] Dispenser 2200 includes dispensing aperture 2280 in an underside of
dispenser 2200. Dispensing aperture 2280 may be located in a front piece of
the housing of
dispenser 2200, such as front piece 2122 of Fig. 21A. The outlet port of
reservoir 2250 is
recessed above the dispensing aperture of dispenser 2200. In addition, the
perimeter 2256 of
dispensing aperture 2280 is configured and arranged such that perimeter 2256
does not
contact the valve of the outlet port of reservoir 2250. Accordingly, when a
volume of fluid
flows through the slits or openings of reservoir 2250, it is dispensed from
dispenser 2200.
[00191] However, the dispensed volume of fluid does not make contact with any
part of dispenser 2200, except for perhaps containment depression 2220.
Accordingly, the
only portion of dispenser 2200 that may require cleaning of dispensed fluid is
containment
depression 2220. Fluid reservoir 2250 is inserted into dispenser 2200.
Furthermore, fluid
reservoir 2250 may be depleted of the housed fluid over multiple dispensing
events. Empty
fluid reservoir 2250 may be removed from dispenser 2200 without leaving
remnant or other
traces of the fluid that was dispensed by dispenser 2200.
[00192] Fig. 22C illustrates stepper motor 2246 that is included in an
actuator that
is consistent with the embodiments disclosed herein. Stepper motor 2246 may be
included in
the actuator of various embodiments of dispensers disclosed herein. Stepper
motor 2246 may
include motor housing 2240. Motor housing 2240 houses conductive coils to
convert
electrical energy into mechanical work. The mechanical work drives driveshaft
2248.
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Pressing member or driveshaft 2248 may translate a piston in a reservoir to
dispense fluid
from a dispenser.
[00193] In various embodiments, stepper motor 2246 is enabled to accumulate a
total distance, or a total number of steps that driveshaft 2248 has advanced.
In a preferred
embodiment, each step that driveshaft 2248 advances, driveshaft 2248
translates or displaces
a piston included in a fluid reservoir a predetermined distance towards the
second end of the
reservoir's body. When the cross section of the reservoir's body is uniform
along the
translation axis, a predetermined volume of fluid housed within the reservoir
is displaced by
the piston and forced out of an outlet port of the reservoir. Accordingly, by
accumulating a
total driveshaft displacement distance or a total number of steps, the total
amount of fluid
dispensed from a dispenser can be determined. When an initial storage volume
of the
reservoir is known, a dispenser, such as dispenser 2200 of Figs 22A-22B, can
determine how
much fluid is left in the reservoir.
[00194] Fig. 23A illustrates a view of the dispenser 2300 consistent with the
embodiments disclosed herein. An underside surface of the dispenser 2300
includes a
dispensing aperture 2380. A nightlight included in dispenser 2300 illuminates
the gap where
a user's hand intercepts fluid dispensed by dispenser 2300. Electromagnetic
energy sources,
such as multi-colored LEDs, and a light guiding and/or focusing device, such
as ring lens
2156 of Fig. 21A enables the functionality of the nightlight. A user may vary
the color and/or
intensity of the nightlight.
[00195] Fig. 23B illustrates another view of an embodiment of dispenser 2300
consistent with the embodiments disclosed herein. An underside surface of
dispenser 2300
includes dispensing aperture 2380. Fig. 23B shows the perimeter 2356 of
dispensing
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aperture 2380. An outlet port of a reservoir received by dispenser 2300 in
exposed through
dispensing aperture 2380. The valve 2310 of the outlet port is visible. Valve
2310 is recessed
above aperture 2380. Note that a valve retainer 2312 of the outlet port
isolates the slits or
openings of valve 2310 from the dispensing aperture's outer perimeter 2312.
Accordingly,
when fluid flows through valve 2310, the fluid is isolated from dispenser
2300, including the
perimeter 2356 of the dispensing aperture 2380. Accordingly, dispenser 2300 is
not
contaminated from the fluid that dispenser 2300 dispenses.
[00196] Fig. 24A illustrates a close-up cross-sectional side view of
outlet port 2414
of a fluid reservoir, such as the fluid reservoir of Figs. 19A-19B consistent
with the
embodiments disclosed herein. Fig. 24A shows reservoir body 2402. Outlet port
2414
includes valve 2410 and valve retainer 2412. Valve 2410 and valve retainer
2412 mate with
reservoir body 2402. Valve 2410 is recessed above valve retainer 2412. A
dispensing force
has displaced fluid housed within the reservoir. Accordingly, dispensed fluid
volume 2470
has flowed through slit 2490 in valve 2419. During the transition from within
the reservoir to
outside the reservoir, dispensed fluid volume 2470 did not contact reservoir
body 2404 nor
valve retainer 2412. Surface tension and a gravitational field have foluied
dispensed fluid
volume 2470 into a fluid drop.
[00197] Fig. 24B illustrates a bottom view of valve 2410 for an outlet port of
a
fluid reservoir, such as the fluid reservoir 1950 of Figs. 19A-19B consistent
with the
embodiments disclosed herein. Valve includes slit 2490 to allow the flow of
fluid from a first
side of valve 2410 to a second side of valve 2410. In a preferred embodiment,
the first side of
valve 2410 faces an interior of the reservoir. The second side faces an
exterior of the
reservoir.
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[00198] In various embodiments, multiple slits form slit 2490. The embodiment
illustrated in Fig. 24B includes two transverse slits. The two slits may be
orthogonal slits. In
preferred embodiments, slit 2490 is a uni-directional slit, in that slit 2490.
Uni-directional
slits enable the flow of fluid from the first side to the second side but
retard the flow of fluid
from the second side to the first side. In other embodiments, slit 2490 is a
bi-directional slit
that allows the free flow of fluid in each direction.
[00199] Fig 25 illustrates a bottom view of an alternative embodiment of a
fluid
reservoir consistent with the embodiments disclosed herein. Fluid reservoir
2514 is a
rotatable fluid reservoir that includes a plurality of single serving fluid
volumes 2580. In
some embodiments, each single serving fluid volume 2580 is packaged in a
blister-package
style pod. Various embodiments of dispensers are enabled to rotate reservoir
2514 to
successively align each single serving fluid volume 2580 with a pressing
member or
driveshaft of the actuator. The driveshaft can force the flow of or otherwise
displace the fluid
within each single serving fluid volume 2580.
[00200] In some embodiments, the displacement of the fluid punctures or
ruptures
a foil or thin film overlaying the single serving fluid volume 2580. In other
embodiments, an
actuator component, such as a needle or pin ruptures the foil or thin film.
Once punctured or
ruptured, the fluid will flow out of the dispensing aperture in the dispenser.
The actuator can
rotate fluid reservoir 2514 to await the next dispensing event. When each of
the single
serving fluid reservoirs 2580 have been depleted, a user can remove reservoir
2514 and
provide the dispenser with a new fluid reservoir.
[00201] Figs. 26A-26B provide views of another embodiment of a dispenser 2600
that includes a pivoting fluid reservoir receptacle assembly. Dispenser 2600
includes a
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housing and an aperture in the housing. In various embodiments, the pivoting
assembly is
included as part of the dispenser housing. The pivoting assembly includes a
receptacle, such
as fluid reservoir receptacle 2770 of Fig. 27. The receptacle is configured to
removably
receive a fluid reservoir, such as fluid reservoir 2650 of Fig. 26B. When the
reservoir is
received by the receptacle, an outlet port of the reservoir is exposed through
the aperture As
discussed with other embodiments, dispenser 2600 includes an actuator, such as
stepper
motor 2246 of Fig. 22C. When actuated, the actuator provides a dispensing
force that induces
a flow of a predetermined volume of fluid within the reservoir through the
outlet port and
dispenses the fluid through the aperture. In at least some embodiments,
dispenser 2600
includes a heating element, such as conductive coils 2780 of Fig. 27. The
heating element is
configured to heat at least a portion of the fluid within the reservoir.
[00202] In Fig. 26A, the pivoting fluid reservoir or receptacle assembly of
dispenser 2600 is pivoted to a closed position. Because lid 2634 is closed,
the fluid reservoir
housed within dispenser 2600 is hidden from view in Fig. 26A. In Fig. 26B, the
pivoting
receptacle assembly of dispenser 2600 is pivoted to an open position. When
open, lid 2634 of
dispenser 2600 is pivoted to an upwardly angled position to reveal fluid
reservoir 2650. In
Fig. 26B, dispenser 2600 has slidably received fluid reservoir 2650, such that
dispenser 2600
houses fluid reservoir 2650.
[00203] Fig. 27 illustrates an exploded view of pivoting fluid reservoir
assembly
2760 that is consistent with various embodiments described herein. In various
embodiments,
pivoting fluid reservoir assembly 2760 is a pivoting receptacle assembly, or
simply a pivot
assembly. Pivot assembly 2760 may be included in various embodiments of
dispensers
disclosed herein, including, but not limited to dispenser 2600 of Figs. 26A-
26B and dispenser
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3100 of Figs. 31A-31B. Pivot assembly 2760 includes a pivot assembly body 2790
that is
configured and arranged to receive actuator 2746 and fluid reservoir
receptacle 2770.
Actuator 2746 may be similar to stepper motor 2245 of Fig. 2246.
[00204] When fluid reservoir 2750 is inserted into, or otherwise received by
fluid
reservoir receptacle 2770, a driveshaft of actuator 2746 is configured and
arranged to engage
with fluid reservoir 2750. For instance, as shown in Fig. 31A, reservoir 3150
is received by
dispenser 3100. The actuator 3146 includes driveshaft 3148. Driveshaft 3148
engages with
piston 3104 of piston 3150 through aperture 3108. This engagement enables the
dispensing
and/or discharge of the fluid housed within fluid reservoir 2750. Actuator
2746 is received in
a cupped, rearward portion of pivot assembly body 2790. Fluid reservoir
receptacle 2770 is
received in a cupped, forward portion of pivot assembly body 2790. Thus, when
assembly
body 2790 is rotated or pivoted about its pivot axis, each of reservoir 2750,
receptacle 2770,
and actuator 2746 rotate together. Actuator 2746 engages with fluid reservoir
2750 through
an aperture, U-channel, trench, or other opening in both assembly body 2790
and
receptacle 2770. Actuator 2746 may be a linear actuator.
[00205] Receptacle 2770 includes conductive coils 2780. Conductive coils 2780
may be included in a dispenser heating element. Conductive coils 2780 are
employed to
inductively energize or heat fluid stored within fluid reservoir 2750.
Conductive coils 2780
may inductively heat the fluid housed within reservoir 2750, in a similar
inductive process to
that as discussed in the context of Figs. 20A-20B. In a preferred embodiment,
conductive
coils 2780 are positioned on an outer surface of receptacle 2770, so that the
conductive coils
2780 do not physically contact the walls of fluid reservoir 2750. In other
embodiments,
conductive coils 2780 are located along an inner surface of receptacle 2770,
or embedded
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within the walls of receptacle 2770. As shown in Fig. 27, conductive coils
2780 surround the
body of fluid reservoir 2750. Conductive coils 2780 induce a current in a
heating structure
include in reservoir 2750. This induced current provides uniform inductive
heating of the
fluid contained within reservoir 2750.
[00206] Pivot assembly 2760 may include electrical choke 2792 to isolate noise
or
cross talk between conductive coils 2780, actuator 2746, and other frequency-
sensitive
electronic components housed within a fluid dispenser that includes pivot
assembly 2760. Lid
2734 is included in pivot assembly 2734 to conceal fluid reservoir 2750, when
pivot
assembly is closed, in a manner similar to that as shown in Fig. 26A.
[00207] A photo-emitting circuit board 2794 is positioned in the bottom of
pivoting
body 2790. The photo-emitting circuit board 2794 includes at least one photo-
emitter, such as
an LED. The LED may be used as a nigh light feature, as discussed in the
context of various
embodiments herein. The photo-emitting circuit board 2794 may also include at
least one of a
motion sensor, another LED that points upward to illuminate at least a portion
of receptacle
2770 when in an open position, or other LEDs to illuminate various control
features. In other
embodiments, the motion sensor is mounted on other circuit boards included in
a dispenser.
The motion sensor may be an infrared (IR) LED. Photo-emitting circuit board
2794 may
engage with a corresponding aperture or lens that is at least partially
transparent to the
frequencies emitted by circuit board 2794. Such a configuration may be similar
to photo-
emitting circuit board 3194 and lens 3196 of Figs. 31A-31B.
[00208] A latching element, or coupler may be included to fasten, secure, or
otherwise hold pivot assembly 2760 in a closed position. In various
embodiments, latching
element is a magnetic element. Latching element secures pivot assembly in a
closed position
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until disengaged by a user. In at least some embodiments, a user disengages
latching element
by a brief downward pressing on lid 2734. Latching element may provide tactile
feedback to
a user of an engage/disengage event. The latching element may be integrated
into lid 2734.
[00209] Fig. 28 provides an exploded view of another embodiment of a fluid
reservoir used in conjunction with the various embodiments of fluid dispensers
disclosed
herein. For instance, dispenser 2600 of Figs 26A-26B may receive and dispense
heated fluid
from a fluid reservoir similar to fluid reservoir 2850. Fluid reservoir 2850
includes bottom
cap 2806, translatable piston 2804, reservoir body 2802, pump or cap assembly
2820, nozzle
assembly 2814, and over cap 2830. Reservoir 2850 may include a valve assembly
2832.
[00210] In a preferred embodiment, fluid reservoir 2850 is a customized
airless
pump reservoir or bottle. In various embodiments, valve assembly 2832 is
integrated with
pump or cap assembly 2820. Pump assembly 2820 may be a snap-on upper. In a
preferred
embodiment, valve assembly 2832 includes a lower valve assembly aperture 2892
that leads
to an internal chamber, pathway, or cavity in valve assembly. An additional
valve assembly
upper aperture is included. For instance, valve assembly upper aperture 2994
of fluid
reservoir 2950 shown in Fig. 29 may be similar to the upper aperture of valve
assembly 2832.
The upper aperture enables a flow pathway through the internal cavity of valve
assembly
2832. This flow pathway is within the internal cavity of valve assembly 2832
and between
lower aperture 2892 and the upper aperture. The flow
pathway provides fluid
communications between reservoir body 2802 and the nozzle 2812. One or more
valves
positioned within this flow path selectively block or otherwise inhibit flow
through the flow
path. A plurality of valves within valve assembly 2832 may enable a pumping
action to bring
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fluid up from reservoir body 2802 and out through nozzle 2812. Various
embodiments of
valve assemblies are discussed in detail in regards to Figs. 29-30.
[00211] Reservoir body 2802 may be a bottle, such as a 5 milliliter bottle.
Reservoir body 2802 includes a first end, a second end, a cross section, and a
longitudinal
axis. In various embodiments, the longitudinal axis is a translation axis
because piston 2804
is translated along the longitudinal axis. In a preferred embodiment, the
cross section is
substantially uniform along the translation axis for at least a portion of the
length of reservoir
body 2802. As shown in Fig. 28, the first end of body 2802 may be an open end
to receive
piston 2804. Reservoir body 2802 may be a cylindrical body, a tube-shaped
body, or any
other such configuration of a reservoir or bottle.
[00212] Bottom cap 2806 includes a centrally located aperture 2808 or other
opening. Aperture 2808 enables engagement between a driveshaft of an actuator
included in a
dispenser with translatable piston 2804 of fluid reservoir 2850. The
driveshaft is received by
and passes through aperture 2808 to physically contact and engage with a
mating portion of
the bottom or rear portion of piston 2804. The bottom or rear portion of
piston 2804 may be a
driven structure. When mated or otherwise engaged with piston 2804, a
translation of the
driveshaft translates piston 2804, relative to reservoir body 2802. The
translation of piston
2804 may be similar to the translation of a plunger that drives fluid through
a hypodermic
needle. As described in the context of at least Figs. 29-30, a translation of
piston 2804
towards a top or upper portion of body 2802 dispenses a portion of the fluid
housed with fluid
reservoir 2850. The fluid is dispensed from nozzle 2812, which is positioned
on a lateral
surface of nozzle assembly 2814. As shown in Fig. 28, nozzle 2812 may include
a protrusion
or tip positioned on the lateral or side surface of nozzle assembly 2814.
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[00213] Nozzle 2812 may be included in an outlet port portion of reservoir
2850.
The outlet port may include a valve retainer that mates with a dispenser's
dispensing aperture
when reservoir 2850 is received by a cavity and/or receptacle within the
dispenser. In at least
one embodiments, the valve retainer includes a retainer perimeter such that
when fluid flows
out through the outlet port, the flowing fluid flows without contacting the
retainer perimeter.
[00214] In addition to the translation of piston 2804, a translation of
nozzle
assembly 2814 towards the top portion of reservoir body 2802 will also
dispense a portion of
the housed fluid through the outlet port or nozzle 2812 Accordingly, a user
may dispense
fluid from reservoir 2850 by supplying a pumping force on an upper surface of
nozzle
assembly 2814. This enables a hand operation of reservoir 2850. Thus, fluid
may be
dispensed from reservoir 2850 by either a hand operation of nozzle assembly
2814 or the
translation of piston 2804. Over cap 2830 is provided to prevent an accidental
triggering of a
dispense event, such as a hand pumping or operation of nozzle assembly 2814
when reservoir
2850 is not in use or otherwise not received by a dispenser. In preferred
embodiments, over
cap 2830 is customized to account for a downward angle of nozzle 2812, as
discussed below.
[00215] In some embodiments, reservoir 2850 initially includes a seal, such as
a
thin film, label, or other frangible/brittle element. The seal covers aperture
2808. On the
initial use of reservoir 2850, a dispenser's driveshaft will puncture and/or
perforate such a
seal. The perforated seal on bottom cap 2806 provides a user a visual
indication that reservoir
2850 has already been in use by a dispenser. Various embodiments may include
one-time use
tabs, similar to use tabs 1906 of Figs 19A-19B. These use tabs may be included
with piston
2804, pump assembly 2820, valve assembly 2832, or on other structures of
reservoir 2850.
Use tabs may indicate if piston 2804 has been translated from its initial
position.
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[00216] Use tabs included on pump assembly 2820 or valve assembly 2832 are
particularly advantageous because the use tabs signal a prior dispensing event
triggered by
either the translation of piston 2804 or a user initiated hand operation of
nozzle assembly
2814. A heat shrink-type tamper seal may also provide an indication of prior
use. In various
embodiments describe herein, the actuator of a dispenser may sense a load or
resistance on
the driveshaft. Any of these prior-event signally mechanisms may provide a
greater load on
the actuator. Accordingly, the dispenser may auto-detect if a reservoir has
been subject to a
prior dispensing event or if the reservoir is a virgin reservoir. Furthermore,
the dispensing
force required by the driveshaft varies with the viscosity or other properties
of the fluid. Also,
the viscosity and other properties that affect the required dispensing force
varies across the
fluids that may be stored in a reservoir, such as reservoir 2850. For
instance, the viscosity
varies between a water-based, oil-based, and silicone-based lubricants.
Accordingly, sensing
the load on the actuator provides a means for determining the fluid housed
within the
reservoir. The dispenser may provide an indication to the user whether fluid
reservoir 2850
has incurred a previous dispensing event and/or the fluid type.
[00217] In a preferred embodiment, pump assembly 2820 includes an alignment
member 2822, or keyed portion, to insure proper alignment and/or orientation
when inserted
into a dispenser. The alignment member 2822 may include a protrusion, key, or
other suitable
structure that mates or engages with a corresponding structure in a fluid
reservoir receptacle
of the dispenser, such as fluid reservoir receptacle 2770 of Fig. 27. In such
embodiments,
fluid reservoir 2850 can only be inserted into the receptacle when alignment
member 2822 is
properly aligned with the corresponding keyed structure in the dispenser's
receptacle. This
insures that when received by the dispenser, reservoir 2850 is rotated about
its longitudinal
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axis in the proper orientation. The proper rotation is required so that nozzle
2812 is oriented
in a downward position and in alignment with a dispensing aperture of the
dispenser.
[00218] In some embodiments, nozzle 2812 is angled downward (when reservoir
2850 is positioned in a vertical orientation). When fluid reservoir 2850 is
received by a
dispenser, such as dispenser 2600 of Figs 26A, the reservoir's longitudinal
axis is oriented,
within the dispenser's dispensing arm, at an angle above the horizontal. The
downward angle
of nozzle 2812 orients nozzle 2812 substantially vertical and downward facing
when
reservoir 2850 is housed within a dispenser and a pivot assembly, such as when
pivot
assembly 2760 of Fig. 27 is pivoted to a closed position.
[00219] For instance, as shown in Fig. 31A, reservoir 3150 is received by
dispenser
3100. Reservoir 3150 includes a downwardly angled (when oriented in a vertical
position)
nozzle 3112. When received in the upwardly angled dispenser arm 3180, angled
nozzle 3112
is oriented substantially vertical. This vertical orientation of nozzle 3112
enables a clear line
of sight with the vertical for the dispensed fluid to flow into the hands of a
user. The clear
line of sight prevents dispensed fluid from contacting surfaces of the
dispenser, thus
decreasing the need for periodic cleaning of a dispenser's dispensing
aperture, such as
dispensing aperture 2380 of Figs. 23A-23B. In a preferred embodiment, the
downward angle
of nozzle 2812, as measured below the horizontal when reservoir 2850 is
oriented upright, is
substantially equivalent to the angle of a dispenser's dispensing arm, as
measured above the
horizontal. Nozzle 2812 may include a valve retainer that mates with the
dispenser's aperture
when the reservoir is inserted into a cavity or receptacle, such as receptacle
2770 of Fig. 27.
The outlet port of nozzle 2812 may be oriented substantially perpendicular to
the longitudinal
axis of reservoir 2850.
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[00220] Reservoir body 2802 includes a volume to house at least a portion of
the
fluid housed in reservoir 2850. The volume available to house the fluid may be
substantially
defined by the distance between piston 2804 and the other end of body 2802. In
preferred
embodiments, reservoir body 2802 includes a conductive heating structure 2810.
A heating
element, such as conductive coils 2780 of Fig. 27 may inductively generate a
current in such
a heating structure 2810, as described in at least the context of Figs. 20A-
20B. Conductive
heating structure 2810 may be located around an outer surface of body 2802. In
some
embodiments, the heating structure 2810 is an internal structure.
[00221] Heating structure 2810 may be a conductive tube. In preferred
embodiments, heating structure 2810 is configured and arranged, such that when
reservoir
2850 is assembled, heating structure 2810 surrounds at least a portion of
lower chamber 2824
of valve assembly 2832. At least a portion of heating structure 2810 is
exposed to the fluid
housed in reservoir body 2802. For instance, Fig. 29 shows that portions of
heating structure
are exposed to the volume of reservoir body 2902 of reservoir 2950. In other
embodiments,
heating structure 2810 is a conductive tube that substantially lines at least
a portion of the
outer surface of lower chamber 2824 of pump assembly 2820. In other
embodiments, the
conductive tube lines at least a portion of the inner surface of reservoir
body 2802, including
at least a portion of the fluid containing volume within body 2802. The
heating structure 2810
is thermally coupled to the fluid housed within reservoir 2850.
[00222] The heating element 2810 may be constructed from any conductive
material, such as copper, silver, gold, and the like. In preferred
embodiments, the heating
element 2810 is constructed from stainless steel. Heating element 2810 may be
a stainless
steel coil. Stainless steel is an advantageous material because stainless
steel will not corrode
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and contaminate any of the fluid housed within body 2802. Also in preferred
embodiments,
heating element 2810 is preferably a magnetic element. When reservoir 2850 is
received by a
pivot assembly, such as pivot assembly 2760 of Fig. 27, inductive coils, such
as coils 2780 of
Fig. 27, surround the heating structure 2810. The conductive coils provide
substantially
uniform heating of the fluid contained within reservoir 2850. Furthermore, the
tube-like
configuration of the heating element 2810 will enable a quicker heating cycle.
In at least one
embodiment, heating element 2810 is integrated with valve assembly 2832.
[00223] Fig. 29 shows a cut-away side view of another embodiment of a fluid
reservoir used in conjunction with various embodiments of fluid dispensers
disclosed herein.
The nozzle assembly of fluid reservoir is an uncompressed state. Reservoir
2950 includes
bottom cap 2906. Bottom cap 2906 includes a central aperture 2908 to enable
the engagement
of a driveshaft with piston 2904.
[00224] Reservoir 2950 includes reservoir body 2902 that defines an internal
volume that houses fluid. At least a portion of the internal volume is exposed
to a conductive
tube-like heating structure 2910. As shown in Fig. 29, in preferred
embodiments, heating
structure 2910 lines an outer surface of a lower chamber 2924 of a valve
assembly, such as
valve assembly 2832 of Fig. 28. As described throughout, a current is
inductively generated
in heating structure 2910 to heat the fluid contents. The internal volume of
reservoir body
2902 is in fluid communication with the valve assembly and a pump assembly,
such as pump
assembly 2820 of Fig. 28. At least one of the valve or pump assembly is in
fluid
communication with nozzle assembly 2914, and in particular, downward angled
nozzle 2912.
[00225] As discussed in the context of Fig. 28, a flow pathway exists through
the
valve assembly. One or more valves may selectively inhibit or enable the flow
through the
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flow pathway. A lower valve assembly intake port intakes pressurized fluid
from reservoir
body 2902. Valve housing 2952 houses a lower valve, such as a ball valve that
inhibits or
enables fluid flow between intake port 2996 into the lower valve assembly
chamber 2924.
Upper spring valve 2918 inhibits or enables fluid flow between lower valve
assembly
chamber 2924 and a flow volume 2926 of nozzle assembly 2914, as discussed
below. Spring
valve includes a restoring spring 2916, a lower intake orifice or aperture
2992 and an upper
output orifice or aperture 2994. Lower intake orifice 2992 and upper output
orifice 2994 are
in fluid communication through an internal cavity, or flow path, of spring
valve 2918. A one-
way valve may be positioned within valve 2918. Fluid flowing through the valve
assembly
flow path and into flow volume 2926 of nozzle assembly will be dispensed from
reservoir
2950 through angled nozzle 2912.
[00226] The lower ball valve housed within housing 2952 and the upper spring
valve 2918 prevent fluid communication between nozzle 2912 and body 2902
unless a
dispensing event is triggered, such as when piston 2904 is translated upwards
or nozzle
assembly 2914 is translated downwards. Fig. 30 illustrates the downward
translation of a
nozzle assembly of reservoir 3050.
[00227] During a dispensing event, due to the displacement of piston 2904, the
increased pressure of the fluid within body 2902 displaces the lower ball
valve 2952. When
ball valve 2952 is displaced and fluid flows from the higher pressure in body
2902 into lower
valve assembly intake port 2926 and into the lower pressure chamber 2924
within the pump
assembly.
[00228] When reservoir 2950 is positioned within or otherwise received by a
dispenser, such as dispenser 3100 of Fig. 31A, nozzle assembly 2914 is
prevented from
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translating forward by a dispensing member. As shown in Fig. 31A, the nozzle
assembly of
reservoir 3150 is prevented from translating by dispensing member 3182 As
piston 2904 is
continued to be translated, fluid flowing into lower chamber 2924 will
increase the pressure
within chamber 2924, overcoming the restoring force of internal spring 2916.
Because the
dispensing member is preventing the translation of the nozzle assembly, when
the restoring
force associated with internal spring 2916 is overcome, body 2902 translates
toward nozzle
assembly 2914.
[00229] When the restoring force of internal spring 2916 is overcome and
reservoir
body 2902 is translated toward nozzle assembly 2914, spring valve 2918 will be
translated
deeper into lower chamber 2924. For instance, as show in Fig. 30, a spring
valve is translated
into lower chamber 3024, exposing the lower intake aperture 3092 of the spring
valve to the
pressurized fluid in lower chamber 3024. When plunged into the pressurized
fluid, lower
intake orifice 2992 intakes or receives a portion of the pressurized fluid in
lower chamber
3024. Due to the pressure differential, fluid flows through an internal cavity
of spring valve
2918 into upper flow volume or chamber 2926 of nozzle assembly 2914. From
upper
chamber 2926, the fluid flows out through angled nozzle 2912. Accordingly, a
translation of
piston 2904 upwards and a relative translation between body 2902 and nozzle
assembly 2914
enables fluid flow from reservoir body 2902 and out of reservoir 2950 through
nozzle 2912.
[00230] As the displacing force is removed from piston 2904, either by reduced
pressure from fluid dispensed, reduction of mechanical load, or combination
thereof, internal
spring 2916 will restore the initial position of spring valve 2918, inhibiting
the further flow of
fluid from nozzle 2912. As the pressure within chamber 2924 subsides, the ball
valve within
housing 2952 will reseat to its initial position, inhibiting the flow of
additional fluid into
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chamber 2924, thus cutting off the flow of fluid out through nozzle 2912 or
outlet port. Thus,
the ball valve within housing 2952 and the spring valve 2918 resist the output
of fluid
through nozzle 2912 unless a dispensing force increases an internal pressure
of the fluid to
overcome the resistance of the valves.
[00231] A hand operation of reservoir 2950 works on a similar principle;
however,
the nozzle assembly 2914 is translated toward body 2902. In a hand operation
of reservoir
2950, only a predetermined volume of fluid may be dispensed in a single
dispensing event.
The predetermined volume of fluid is based on the total amount of fluid that
is displaced by
one pump of nozzle assembly 2914. Furthermore, in a hand operation of
reservoir 2902, ball
valve within housing 2952 prevents a backflow of pressurized fluid in lower
chamber 2924
back into reservoir body 2902. In a dispensing event triggered by a
translation of piston 2904,
a lower ball valve is not needed because there will be no backflow from the
lower chamber
2924 into the body 2902. Accordingly, some embodiments do not include a lower
valve, such
as a ball valve.
[00232] Another advantage of a dispensing event that is triggered by the
translation
of piston 2904 is that fluid will continue to be dispensed as long as the
translation or
displacing force is applied to piston 2904. Accordingly, any desired, or
predetermined
amount of fluid may be displaced in a single dispensing event, where a
driveshaft applies a
displacing and/or dispensing force on piston 2904. In preferred dispensing
events,
approximately a dosage of 0.1-0.2 ml of fluid is dispensed. However, as
discussed herein,
other embodiments are not so constrained and various dispensers enable a
dosage selection
from a user. Furthermore, reservoir 2950 may include an alignment member 2922
to prevent
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a misalignment when inserting reservoir 2950 into a dispensing unit. For
instance, alignment
member 2922 may be similar to alignment member 2822 of Fig. 28.
[00233] Fig. 30 shows another cut-away side view of a fluid reservoir
used in
conjunction with various embodiments of fluid dispensers disclosed herein. The
nozzle
assembly of the fluid reservoir 3050 is shown in a compressed state. The
compression of
spring 3016 has translated the spring valve downwards relative to reservoir
body 3002,
exposing intake orifice 3092 to the pressurized fluid in lower chamber 3024.
As noted above,
the fluid flows through the spring valve into upper chamber or flow volume
3026 of the
nozzle assembly and out through angled nozzle 3012.
[00234] Accordingly, Fig. 30 illustrates a relative translation between the
downwardly angled nozzle 3012 (or outlet port) and the reservoir body 3002.
Such a
translation is due to a dispensing event. In a hand operation dispensing
event, a user translates
the nozzle assembly downwards relative to the reservoir body 3002. If the
dispensing event is
triggered by a translation of piston 3004 upwards toward the nozzle assembly,
the reservoir
body 3002 is translated relative to the nozzle assembly. Such a translation of
piston 3004 is
enabled by the engagement of a driveshaft through aperture 3008. A tube-like
heating
structure 3010 that heats the fluid stored within fluid reservoir 3050, the
intake port 3096, and
a valve housing 3052 that houses an internal lower ball valve are also shown.
Also shown is a
keyed or alignment member 3022 to insure proper alignment when inserted into a
fluid
dispenser.
[00235] Fig. 31A provides a cutaway side view of a dispenser that includes a
pivot
assembly, where the pivot assembly has received a fluid reservoir and has been
pivoted to a
closed position. The view of dispenser 3100 in Fig. 31A may be similar to the
view of
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dispenser 2200 shown in Fig. 22A. Dispenser 3100 may include similar features
to dispenser
2600 of Figs. 26A-26B and any other embodiments of dispensers disclosed
herein. For
instance, dispenser 3100 includes a dispenser housing that includes an
upwardly angled
dispensing arm 3180. The pivot assembly of dispenser 3100 may be similar to
the pivot
assembly 2760 of Fig. 27 Dispenser 3100 includes a pivoting actuator 3146 and
a driveshaft
3148. The driveshaft 3148 engages with piston 3104 of reservoir 3150 through
the central
aperture 3108 of reservoir 3150.
100236] The pivot assembly includes conductive coils 3180 that surround the
fluid
containing body of reservoir 3150. The body of reservoir 3150 includes a
conductive heating
structure. In various embodiments, conductive coils 3180 substantially
surround the portion
of reservoir 3150 that includes the heating structure to induce an electrical
current in the
heating element. For instance, see the positioning of heating structure 2910
in Fig. 29 or
reservoir 2950. The induced electrical current heats or warms the fluid
contents of
reservoir 3150 that are stored in reservoir body 3102. Because electric coils
3180 uniformly
surround the heating element, the fluid is uniformly heated. Pivot assembly
includes photo-
emitting circuit board 3194 that is in alignment with at least partially
transparent element
3196 of the housing of dispenser 3100. Photo-emitting circuit board 3194
includes at least
one photon emitting device, such as an LED. As discussed herein, a latching
element may
also be included to fasten, or otherwise coupled, the pivot assembly in the
closed position.
The latching element may be magnetic latching element at least partially
embedded in lid
3134 of Fig. 31B.
[00237] When the pivot assembly is in the closed position, reservoir's
3150 angled
nozzle 3112 is oriented in a substantially vertical orientation, inhibiting
the dispensed fluid
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from contact surfaces of the dispensing aperture of dispenser 3100. Because
nozzle 3112 is
positioned adjacent to rigid dispensing member 3182, nozzle 3112 is not
translated in a
dispensing event. Rather, the body 3102 of dispenser 3150 is displaced
forward, relative to
nozzle 3112. Such a displacement of the body dispensed the flow of fluid from
reservoir
3150, as discussed in the context of Figs. 29-30.
1002381 In addition to photo-emitting circuit board 3194, dispenser 3100
includes
one or more circuited boards that are populated with electronic components to
control the
operation of dispenser 3100. At least one of the circuit boards may be a
printed circuit board
(PCB). For instance, dispenser 3100 includes an upper PCB 3164 that is
populated with
electronic components to control dispenser's 3100 night light, motion/touch
sensors, various
LED indicator's, inductive heating coils 3180, user controls, and the like.
Similarly, lower
PCB 3162 houses electronics to control actuator 3146. Power cord 3104 provides
electric
power to upper PCB 3164, lower PCB 3162, actuator 3146, and other electrically
driven
elements of dispenser 3100. In preferred embodiments, power cord 3104 provides
alternating
current (AC) electrical power.
1002391 Fig. 31B provides a cutaway side view of the dispenser 3100 of Fig.
31A,
where the pivot assembly has been pivoted to a partially opened positon. As
partially opened,
Fig. 31B illustrates adequate clearance of angled nozzle 3112 (of Fig. 31A)
with dispensing
member 3182 of angled dispensing arm 3180, as the pivot assembly in pivoted
open and
closed. In some embodiments, the pivot assembly is spring-loaded such that
when latching
elements are decoupled, the pivot assembly is automatically pivoted to the
open position.
When fully opened, reservoir 3150 may be removed from dispenser 3100. Note
that actuator
3146, driveshaft 3148, photo-emitter board 3194, reservoir 3150, and lid 3134
pivot with the
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pivoting assembly. When pivoted to an open position, driveshaft 3148 may
automatically
retract from piston 3104 of reservoir 3150
[00240] Fig. 32A illustrates an exploded view of another embodiment of a fluid
reservoir consistent with embodiments disclosed herein. Fluid reservoir 3250
may be a
collapsible, or accordion-style reservoir. Fluid reservoir 3250 includes rigid
reservoir body
3202 that is configured and arranged to receive or otherwise mate with
flexible reservoir
body 3206 to form the body of fluid reservoir 3250. Flexible reservoir body
3206 includes a
flexible, accordion-like bellow body. Flexible body 3206 expands and contracts
to
accommodate the amount of fluid stored in reservoir 3250.
[00241] Fluid reservoir 3250 includes outlet port 3214. In various
embodiments,
outlet port 3214 includes valve 3210 and valve retainer 3212. Each of outlet
port 3214, valve
3210, and valve retainer 3212 may be similar to outlet port 1914, valve 1910,
and valve
retainer 1912 of Fig. 19A-19B or outlet port 2414, valve 2410, and valve
retainer 2412 of
Fig. 24A-24B. Fluid reservoir 3250 includes translatable piston 3204. In
preferred
embodiments, piston 3204 is configured and arranged to mate with a distal end
of flexible
reservoir body 3206. Flexible body 3206 may include a trench or indent 3208 to
engage with
a driveshaft of a fluid dispenser. In various embodiments, piston 3204 engages
with an inner
service of flexible body 3206, so that when a driveshaft engages with indent
3208, the
driveshaft translates piston 3204.
[00242] In a preferred embodiment, piston 3204 includes a centrally located
protrusion or indent to engage with indent 3208 of reservoir 3208. As piston
3204 is
translated towards outlet port 3214, fluid is dispensed and flexible body 3206
collapses to
accommodate the decreased amount of fluid housed within reservoir 3250.
Preferred
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embodiments include a heating structure, such as heating structure 1920 of
Figs 19A-19B,
heating structure 2020 of Fig. 20A, heating structure 2910 of Fig. 29, or any
other heating
structure discussed herein.
[00243] Fig. 32B illustrates a bottom view of the assembled fluid
reservoir 3250
of Fig. 32A. Fig. 32C illustrates a side view of the assembled fluid reservoir
3250 of
Figs. 32A-32B.
[00244] Fig. 33A shows an embodiment of a portable fluid warming device 3300
that is consistent with various embodiments disclosed herein. Device 3300
warms a fluid,
such as a lubricant, housed or contained within a fluid reservoir, such as
fluid reservoir 3350.
Device 3300 may be a portable system or a portable apparatus. Fluid reservoir
3350 may
include similar features to any one of: fluid reservoir 2850 of Fig. 28, fluid
reservoir 2950 of
Fig. 29, fluid reservoir 3050 of Fig. 30, or any other fluid reservoir or pod
discussed herein.
An over cap 3330 is positioned over, and thus protecting, a nozzle assembly
and nozzle of
reservoir 3350. Note the relative size between device 3300 and fluid reservoir
3350, as
shown in Fig. 33A. Reservoir 3350 is a portable reservoir. Likewise, a user
may easily
transport device 3300 in carry-on luggage, a purse, a handbag, a backpack, or
the like. Thus,
device 3300 is a portable device.
[00245] Device 3300 includes a housing. In the preferred embodiments, the
housing of device 3300 is a cylindrical housing, although other embodiments
are not so
constrained, and the housing may be of any lateral cross-sectional shape,
including but not
limited to a rectangular, triangular, hexagonal, or elliptical cross-sectional
shape. The
housing includes a longitudinal axis 3398 that is substantially transverse or
orthogonal to a
lateral cross section of the housing. When received by device 3300, a
longitudinal axis of
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reservoir 3350 is aligned with, and at least partially coincident with the
longitudinal axis
3398 of device 3300.
[00246] The housing includes a top or upper longitudinal end 3334, a bottom or
lower longitudinal end 3344, and one or more outer lateral surfaces 3324.
The
ends 3334/3344 are longitudinal ends because the ends 3334/3344 are positioned
on the
upper and lower longitudinal extremities of the housing. Note
that longitudinal
ends 3334/3344 are substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis 3398 of
device 3300.
The longitudinal axis of device 3300 extends between a center portion of the
upper end 3334
and a center portion of the lower end 3344 of the housing.
[00247] In at least one embodiment, the one or more outer lateral surfaces
3224
extend from a laterally outer portion of the upper end 3334 to a laterally
outer portion of the
lower end 3344 of the housing. The surfaces 3224 are outer lateral surfaces
because they are
positioned at the outer lateral extremities of the housing of device 3300.
[00248] Function button 3302, positioned on the one or more outer lateral
surfaces 3324 may initiate a warming sequence of device 3300. Triggering such
a warming
sequence may result in the fluid housed within reservoir 3350 to be warmed
and/or heated.
Function button 3302 may be a touch-sensitive button, such as a capacitive
button. Function
button 3302 may enable a user to toggle between a plurality of warming modes
of device
3300. In other embodiments, the function button may be an electro-mechanical
switch, any
other type of switch, or any user interface/control that enables a user to
initiate a warming
more or switch and/or control warming modes of device 3300.
[00249] Warming
device 3300 also includes a power port 3304, which provides
the electrical power to device 3300 that is required to warm the fluid in
reservoir 3350. As
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discussed in the context of at least Figures 33B-35B, an internal battery may
be included in
device 3300. In at least some embodiments, the battery may be a rechargeable
battery, and
power port 3304 may enable the charging of the internal battery from a wall
socket, Universal
Serial Bus (USB) port, another battery, or some other source of electrical
power. Not all
embodiments require power. Accordingly, some embodiments do not include a
power port, a
battery, or other electronic hardware. For instance, portable device 3600 of
FIGURES 36A
and 36B are passive portable devices and do not include a power port or a
battery.
[00250] Fig. 33B illustrates a longitudinal sectional view of the
portable fluid
warming device 3300 of Fig. 33A. Fluid reservoir 3350 is shown, but is not
sectioned. The
cut-away views of reservoir 2950 and reservoir 3050 of Fig. 29 and Fig. 30
respectively
provide sectional views that may be similar to a longitudinal sectional view
of reservoir 3350.
[00251] Device 3300 includes a cavity or receptacle 3370. Cavity 3370
extends
into the housing of device 3300. Cavity 3370 is configured and arranged to
receive at least a
portion of fluid reservoir 3350 through a cavity opening or port 3382
positioned on the upper
end 3334 of the housing. Cavity 3370 receives a portion of fluid reservoir
3350 that contains
at least a portion of the fluid that is housed with reservoir 3350. Although
over cap 3330 is
positioned on reservoir 3350, note that another portion of reservoir 3350 that
includes the
dispensing nozzle extends out of cavity 3370 and beyond the upper end 3324 of
the housing.
The user may remove reservoir 3350 from device 3300 to dispense the warmed
fluid from
reservoir 3350. Alternatively, the fluid may be dispensed from reservoir 3350
while reservoir
3350 is positioned within cavity 3370.
[00252] The cavity opening or port 3382 is positioned on a laterally inner
portion
of the upper end 3334 of the housing. Cavity 3370 extends from the cavity port
3382 to the
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lower cavity terminal 3390. Cavity terminal 3390 is positioned longitudinally
intermediate
the upper end 3334 and the lower end 3344 of the housing. One or more inner
lateral
surfaces 3384 of device 3300 are positioned adjacent, or otherwise line the
cavity 3370. The
inner lateral surfaces 3384 extend from the laterally inner portion of the
upper end 3334 to a
laterally outer portion of the cavity terminal 3390. In preferred embodiments,
cavity 3370
includes a longitudinal axis that extends between a central portion of the
cavity port 3382 and
a central portion of the cavity terminal 3390. Cavity 3370 may be symmetric
about the cavity
longitudinal axis. The cavity longitudinal axis may be coaxial with at least a
portion of the
longitudinal axis 3398 (as shown in Figure 33A) of the housing. Cavity 3370
may be
symmetric about the housing longitudinal axis.
[00253] Device 3300 further includes a heating or energizing element disposed
within the housing. The heating element is operative to provide energy to at
least a portion of
the cavity. When reservoir 3350 is received by cavity 3370, the energy
provided to cavity
3370 heats or warms up at least a portion of the fluid contained within
reservoir 3350.
[00254] The heating element is arranged around the receptacle or cavity 3370.
As
such, the heating element extends longitudinally along and surrounds at least
a portion of the
cavity 3370. In various embodiments, a portion of the cavity is positioned
laterally between a
first portion of the heating element and a second portion of the heating
element. By
surrounding the cavity, the heating element is enabled to uniformly provide
thermal energy to
the cavity 3370. Accordingly, when fluid is dispensed from the reservoir 3350,
the dispensed
fluid is uniformly warmed or heated. The heating element is positioned
longitudinally in
between the cavity terminal 3390 and the upper end 3334 of the housing.
Heating element
may be symmetric about a heating element longitudinal axis. The heating
element
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longitudinal axis may be coincident with at least a portion of at least one of
the cavity
longitudinal axis or the housing longitudinal axis 3398.
[00255] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 33B, the heating element includes
electrically conducting coils 3380. Conducting coils 3380 may be helical
coils. The coils
may surround and/or longitudinally extend along a portion of cavity 3370.
In various
embodiments, conducting coils 3380 are operative to induce an electrical
current in an
electrical conductor positioned laterally intermediate conducting coils 3380.
Such induction
is discussed in at least the context of Figs. 20A-20B. The conducting coils
3380 may be
similar to conducing coils 2780 of Fig. 27.
[00256] In embodiments where fluid reservoir 3350 includes an internal
conductor
in thermal contact with the fluid housed within, conducting coils are enabled
to heat the fluid
via inductive heating, as discussed throughout. For instance, reservoir 2950
of Fig. 29
includes an internal conducting heating structure 2910. Heating coils 3380
induce an
electrical current in such a conducting heating structure to heat the fluid
housed within.
Because the heating is inductive heating, surfaces of the device, such as
outer lateral surfaces
3324 are not significantly heated, resulting in a safer device.
[00257] In other embodiments, heating coils 3380 include resistive elements.
In
such embodiments, heating coils 3380 are in thermal contact with the one or
more inner
lateral surfaces 3384 of the housing. In such embodiments, the heating coils
3380 may
resistively heat the inner lateral surfaces 3384 of the housing. When heated
by the heating
coils 3380, the inner lateral surfaces 3384 transfer thermal energy to the
fluid reservoir 3350
and to the fluid housed within reservoir 3350. In some embodiments that
include resistive
elements, the resistive elements are not coils, but include resistive heaters
in other
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configurations such as a serpentine configuration, a zigzag configuration, or
other pattern.
Resistive heaters or elements may be imprinted or otherwise applied to a
flexible film or
substrate that is then rolled into a cylinder and placed around one or more
inner lateral
surfaces 3384 of the housing. In at least one embodiment, the resistive
heaters are included
in a flexible printed circuit, such as a flex-circuit.
1002581 In at least some embodiments, device 3300 includes an internal energy
source, such as battery 3346. Battery 3346 is operative to provide energy to
the conducting
coils 3380. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 33B, battery 3346 is positioned
longitudinally
intermediate the cavity terminal 3390 and the lower end 3344 of the housing.
Battery 3346
may be a rechargeable battery. Power port 3304 provides an electrically
conductive pathway
so that the battery 3346 may be recharged or electrical power may otherwise be
provided to
device 3300. In various embodiments, device 3300 may be powered directly from
another
power source, such as a wall outlet or USB power source, or an external
battery. Power
electronics may control the power distribution during charging of rechargeable
battery 3346
to protect against overcharging and/or damaging battery 3346.
1002591 In some embodiments, device 3300 includes a thermal sensor 3340.
Thermal sensor 3340 is positioned such that when fluid reservoir 3350 is
received by the
cavity 3370, thermal sensor 3340 is thermally coupled to at least one of the
inner lateral
surfaces 3384 of the housing or a portion of reservoir 3350 that is heated by
the heating
element. To prevent an overheating of the fluid within reservoir 3350, burning
a user, or
otherwise damaging device 3300, thermal sensor 3340 may be operative to
trigger a
termination of the warming sequence.
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[00260] Function button 3302 is shown in Fig. 33B. In preferred embodiments,
an
LED indicator 3356 may be embedded within or behind function button 3302. The
LED
indicator 3356 may be a multicolored indicator. The LED indicator 3356 may
provide the
user a visual indication of the warming status, warming mode, or other such
infoimation. For
instance, while warming the fluid, the LED indicator 3356 illuminates the
function button
3302 to appear blue to the user and after finishing a warming cycle, the LED
indicator 3356
illuminates the function button 3302 to appear red to the user. In various
embodiments,
function button 3302 and LED indicator 3356 may be operative to provide
similar user
interface features as switch 1802 and the included LED, as discussed in the
context of
dispenser 1800 of Fig. 18.
[00261] Fig. 34 shows a longitudinal sectional view of another
embodiment of a
portable fluid warming device 3400, consistent with various embodiments
disclosed herein.
Portable fluid warming device 3400 may include similar features to some of the
features of
warming device 3300 of Figs. 33A-33B. Fluid reservoir 3450 is received by
receptacle 3470.
Fluid reservoir 3450 may be warmed in portable device 3400 or any of the other
devices
discussed herein. As such, fluid reservoir 3450 includes one or more alignment
tabs 3422. In
various embodiments, receptacle 3470 may include one or more corresponding
alignment
notches to insure a preferred alignment of reservoir 3450 within receptacle
3470. Battery
3446, power port 3404, and power electronics 3462 are also shown in Fig. 34.
[00262] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 34, a thermally conductive medium 3440
surrounds or is otherwise arranged around at least a portion of the cavity or
receptacle 3470.
The thermally conductive medium 3440 may include a heating liquid, gel, or
some other
medium.
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[00263] Thermally conductive medium 3440 may be housed or held by an outer
receptacle or bucket that is concentric with or otherwise houses receptacle
3470.
Accordingly, in some embodiments, receptacle 3470 is immersed in a thermally
conductive
medium 3440 bath. The bath may be coaxial with the inner receptacle 3470, such
that an axis
of the bath is at least partially coincident with the cavity longitudinal axis
or a device
longitudinal axis, such as longitudinal axis 3398 of Fig. 33A.
[00264] Device 3400 includes a heating element. Similar to device 3300 of
Figs. 33A-33B, the heating element includes conducting coils 3480 to heat the
fluid in
reservoir 3450. The coils 3480 surround and/or arranged around at least a
portion of the
thermally conductive medium 3440, which in turn surrounds at least a portion
of the
receptacle 3470. Accordingly, a portion of the thermally conductive medium
3440 is
laterally intermediate the coils 3480 and the receptacle 3470. The
intermediate portion of the
thermally-conducting medium 3440 may be an annular or ring shaped portion or
volume.
The thermally conductive medium 3440 is in thermal contact with one more
surfaces of
receptacle 3470, such as cavity terminal 3390 or the lateral surfaces 3384 of
Fig. 33B.
[00265] Coils 3480 are operative to heat the thermally conductive medium 3440.
Because the thermally conductive medium 3440 is in thermal contact with one or
more
surfaces of receptacle 3470, the heated thermally conductive medium is
operative to transfer
thermal energy to surfaces of receptacle 3470, such as the inner lateral
surfaces 3482. The
heated surfaces of receptacle 3470 in turn transfer heat to reservoir 3450 to
heat the fluid
housed within. Although not shown in Fig. 34, in at least some embodiments,
such as device
3500 of Fig. 35B, a portion the thermally conductive medium 3340 is positioned
below and
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in thermal contact with the cavity terminal 3490 so that the cavity terminal
3490 and a bottom
portion of reservoir 3450 are also heated.
[00266] In some embodiments, the coils 3480 are operative to inductively heat
the
thermally conductive medium 3440. In these embodiments, device 3400 includes
an
electrically conductive element 3410 that is positioned or otherwise embedded
within
thermally conductive medium 3440. The coils 3480 are operative to induce an
electrical
current in electrically conductive element 3410. The electrically conductive
element 3410 is
warmed or heated via the induced current. The electrically conductive element
3410 is in
thermal contact with the thermally conductive medium 3440. Thus, the thermally
conductive
medium 3440 is heated via the induced current in the electrically conductive
element 3410.
The electrically conductive element 3410 is laterally intermediate the coils
3480 and a
portion of the thermally conductive medium 3440. The electrically conductive
element 3410
may be an annular, ring, or opened cylinder shaped conductor that is
positioned coaxial with
the receptacle 3470.
[00267] In other embodiments, the coils 3480 are operative to resistively heat
the
thermally conductive medium 3440. In these embodiments, the coils 3480 are in
thermal
contact with the walls or surfaces of the thermally conductive bath and
transfer thermally
energy, generated via the electrical resistance of coils 3480, to heat or warm
the thermally
conductive medium 3440.
[00268] Fig. 35A shows an alternative embodiment of a portable fluid warming
device 3500 that is consistent with various embodiments disclosed herein.
Fluid reservoir
3550 is received by portable device 3500. The upper end 3534 and the lower end
3544 are
shown, as well as outer lateral surface 3524 of the housing is shown. In
comparison to device
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3300 of Figs. 33A-33B, note the alternative placements of function button 3502
and USB
charging port 3504
[00269] Fig. 35B illustrates a longitudinal sectional view of the
portable fluid
warming device 3500 of Fig. 35A. Reservoir 3550 is received by cavity 3570.
Device 3500
may include some similar features to device 3400 of Fig. 34. For instance, a
thermally
conductive medium 3540 surrounds cavity 3570. When warmed, the thermally
conductive
medium 3540 transfers thermal energy to and warms the fluid housed in
reservoir 3550 as
discussed in the context of thermally conductive medium 3440 of device 3400 of
Fig. 34.
[00270] In at least some embodiments, a top portion of device 3500 is a
removable
portion. In at least one embodiment, the removable portion also includes
cavity 3570, such
that when the removable top portion is removed, the upper end 3534 and the
cavity 3570 are
removed from the housing. When the removable portion is separated from the
housing, the
user is provided access to the thermally conductive medium 3540. For instance,
the
thermally conductive medium 3540 may be changed or replaced by another
thermally
conductive medium with different thermal properties.
[00271] To warm the thermally conductive medium, device 3500 includes a
conductive heating element 3480. In contrast to the conductive coils 3480 of
device 3400,
the conductive heating element 3580 of device 3500 is positioned
longitudinally intermediate
lower end 3544 of the housing and the cavity terminal 3590. In various
embodiments, the
conductive heating element 3480 induces a warming current in another
conductive element
(not shown in Fig. 35B) embedded in and/or in thermal contact with the
thermally conductive
medium 3540. The other conductive element in which the current is induced may
be
positioned longitudinally intermediate the heating element 3580 and the cavity
terminal 3590.
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In other embodiments, heating element 3480 heats the thermally conductive
medium via
resistive heating. In these embodiments, heating element 3480 is in direct
thermal contact
with the thermally conductive medium 3570. The rechargeable battery 3546 and
the USB
charging port 3504 are also shown in Fig. 35B.
[00272] Fig. 36A shows an embodiment of a portable and passive fluid warming
device 3600 that is consistent with various embodiments disclosed herein. As
will be
discussed further in the context of Fig. 36B, portable device 3600 is a
passive device because
the heating element is a passive heating element, which does not require
electrical power.
Fluid reservoir 3650 is received by device 3600 through cavity 3670, which is
positioned in a
central portion of the upper end 3634 of the housing. The outer lateral wall
3624 of the
housing is also shown.
[00273] The top portion of the housing is a removable portion forming a lid.
Accordingly, the housing for device 3600 includes a seam 3692 or interface,
where the
removable top portion mates with the lateral outer surface 3624 of the
housing. The interface
3692 may include threads so that the removable portion of the housing
threadably engages
with the rest of the housing.
[00274] Because device 3600 is a passive device, no power port or function
button
are required, although as discussed in the context of Fig. 36B, some
embodiments do include
at least an activation button. A comparison between device 3300 of Fig. 33A
and device
3600 reveals that an aspect ratio of the cylindrical housing varies between
the embodiments
disclosed herein. For instance, a passive heating element may be larger than
the electrical
heating element of devices 3300, 3400, or 3500 of Figs. 33A-35B. Accordingly,
a housing
that houses a passive heating element may be a different aspect ratio, i.e.
wider, than housing
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that house active heating elements. Nevertheless, passive warming device 3600
is a portable
warming device.
[00275] Fig. 36B illustrates a longitudinal sectional view of the passive
fluid
warming device 3600 of Fig. 36A. The seam 3692 between the outer lateral
surfaces 3624 or
walls of the housing and the removable upper portion, which includes upper end
3634 of the
housing, is shown. Passive heating element 3680 surrounds the cavity. Because
the top
portion of the housing is separable from the test of the housing, passive
heating element 3680
may be accessed and removed from the housing. The heating element 3680 is in
thermal
contact with the cavity, such that the heating element 3680 warms the fluid in
reservoir 3650.
Note that in the embodiment shown in Fig. 36B, heating element 3680 extends
below the
cavity and may heat the cavity terminal from below.
[00276] Removable energizing or heating element 3680 may be a heating pad or
pack, such as a microwavable heating pack. Such heating packs may include a
thermally
conductive medium, such as a microwavable safe heating liquid or gel. In at
least one
embodiment, the heating pack includes an aromatic medium, such as a scented
rice, that
when heated, provides aromatherapy, or at least a pleasant sent.
[00277] In other embodiments, the heating pack is a chemical heating pack that
is
chemically activated. The chemical heating pack or pad may be a reusable
chemical heating
pack. In other embodiments, the heating pack is a one-time use, or disposable,
heating pack.
[00278] A disposable chemical heating pack may be heated by a catalyzation of
iron rust or a dissolving of calcium chloride within the heating pack. A
reusable chemical
heating pack may include sodium acetate, upon which the crystallization of the
sodium
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acetate is an exothermic chemical reaction. In various embodiments, the
housing may
include an activation button to trigger the chemical reaction, which causes
the warming
100279] It should be understood that for each of the portable fluid warming
devices
disclosed herein, the body of the portable device may be modified to include a
flat (rather
than curved) portion of the device body. A flat portion of the device body
enables
positioning the portable device in a prone position on its side (such as
resting on a tabletop).
The flat portion prevents the portable device from rolling on the tabletop.
For instance, the
device body of any of portable devices 3300, 3400, 3500, or 3600 of FIGS. 33A-
36B
respectively, may be altered or modified to include a flat portion.
[00280] Once rotated to lie along its side during a heating cycle, the fluid
may be
manually dispensed, while the fluid reservoir remains within the portable
heating device.
Such a manual dispensing event may be triggered by pushing on the top portion
of the nozzle
assembly of the received fluid reservoir. Thus, removing the fluid reservoir
is not required
during a dispensing event. In some embodiments, the device opening, or port,
as well as the
fluid reservoir may be keyed (via alignment tabs) to insure that when the
portable device is
lying prone on its side, the output valve (or nozzle) of the fluid reservoir
is pointing
downwards. Alternative modifications, such as a stabilizing leg or legs or
prongs positioned
on the device's body may be employed to stabilize the device when prone on a
resting
surface.
[00281] Furtheimore, it should be noted that for each of the embodiments of
fluid
dispensers, fluid reservoirs (or pods), and portable heating devices disclosed
herein, the
viscosity of the fluid housed within the reservoirs may vary across a wide
range of
viscosities. For instance, the various fluid reservoirs may house fluids with
viscosities near
91
or less than the viscosity of water near its boiling point. Additionally, the
fluid reservoirs
may house fluids with much greater viscosities, such as motor oil at low
ambient air
temperatures.
[00282] In the
foregoing description, exemplary modes for carrying out the
invention in terms of examples have been described. However, the scope of the
claims
should not be limited by those examples, but should be given the broadest
interpretation
consistent with the description as a whole. The specification and drawings
are, accordingly,
to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.
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