Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION:
The present invention relates to improvements in
or relating to flexible dispensing containers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
Fluid or liquid dispensing containers are usually designed
to dispense the contained material through a dispensing
neck or outlet which may be provided with dispensing valve
means, particular dispensing nozzles or the like devices
facilitating the dispensing. Also, it is normally required
that the container from which the material is dispensed be
inverted in order to carry out the dispensing. A number of
proposal have been described in prior art patents. For
example R.J.MOLYNEAUX ET AL, U.S.Patent No.3,09~,250 issued
June 18, 1963 teaches a valve which provides for a very slow
back-flow fro~ the container cap interior into the container
when the valve member is seated for the purpose of measuring
and dispensing from the top. E.DAVIDSON, U.S.Patent No.
3,162,333 issued December 22, 1964, describes a pump assembly
for liquid dispensers wherein the pump body is incorporated
into the neck of a container~top dispenser. The dispenser
is shaped for a snap fit of its base member into a base
opening, and has a resilient leaf spring projecting upwardly
therefrom. A one-way intake valve is positioned in the intake
conduit and a one-way outlet valve is positioned in the
outlet conduit. G.B.DAVIS, JR., U.S.Patent No.3,176,883 issued
April 6, 1965 relates to an atomizing dispenser with attendant
passages for air and liquid flow from within the container
to the discharge port thereof. D.F.CORSETTE, U.S.Patent
No.3,439,843 issued April 22, 1969 shows a dispensing valve top
closure which is supported on the neck of a container for
iO848fll
limited axial movement between a raised, dispensing, position
and a lower, closed, position, where inter alia, the
discharge passage opens radially into the closure from an
annular space and extends through the top wall of the
closure into communication with the atmosphere. L.L.POR,
U.S.Patent No.3,837,542 issued September 24, 1974 is concerned
with a metering liquid dispenser having a metering compartment
for the provision of a metered volume of the material to
be dispensed. R.E.HAZARD, V.S.Patent No.3,874,562 issued
April 1, 1975, teaches a dispensing closure with pump parts
and a dispensing spout on the dispensing closure which is -
; movably mounted so as to be capable of being moved between an
open position in which the spout is in communication with the
opening and a closing position in which the spout seals off ;
the dispensin~ opening. L.L.POR, U.S.Patent No.3,873,972
issued April 22, 1975, is concerned with a liquid measuring
and dispensing apparatus including a flexible container
which is squeezably operated to open an outlet valve for
discharging a quantity of fluid from its top, whereby the
decrease of pressure within the container causes to open an
air inlet valve so that air enters the container when the
squeezing pressure is released. L.L.POR, U.S.Patent No.
4,099,655, issued July 11, 1978, is concerned with an upper
and a lower seat, the ball engaging one or the other seat
depending on the attitude of the container. Thus, when the
container is upright, the ball contacts the lower seat and
on squeezing of the container liquid will be discharged through
the fluid outlet while at the same time the air inlet valve
will prevent discharge of air from the container. In the
inverted position, the ball contacts the other seat and on
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squeezing of the container liquid is discharged through the
air inlet valve.
There exists, however, the need for an effective fluid
dispenser which is particularly adapted to dispense the
material within the container wi~h which the dispenser is
associated in such a manner that the container need not be
turned over or inverted for the dispensing function. That is,
the container and the dispenser therewith are non-inverting,
and the dispensing is normally from the bottom of the
container, where the dispenser has separate air inlet and
i
liquid outlet passages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
It is an object of the present invention to provide a
container and a dispenser associated therewith which is
particularly adapted to dispense fluid -- particularly liquid --
material from the bottom of the container, when the container
is in its normal position with the dispenser at the bottom ~ -
thereof.
A further object of the present invention is to provide -
a dispenser with a valve-controlled air vent tube which is
integrally formed with the dispenser so as to achieve a
prompt and easy dispensing action.
It is an important feature of this invention that the
normal position (orientation)of the container is downward and
inverted, and that it is ready for use in that position, having
separate closed air inlet and liquid outlet passages when
not operating in a dispensing action.
Yet another important feature of this invention is that,
with the dispenser at the bottom of a container, upon initiation
of the dispensing action, the liquid outlet valve immediately
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opens so as to permit liquid dispensing, and the air inlet
valve will open immediately upon release of the pressure
~; being created within the container by deforming the same.
In accordance with the present invention, there is
provided a dispenser which comprises a plug-like base member
having a valve-controlled liquid outlet in communication with
the interior of the container, and a valve-controlled air
vent tube adapted to be in communication with the atmosphere
on use and with the interior of the container. In accordance
with the present invention, the valve control means can be
provided by check valve means, by a flap valve of either
gravity or resiliently based means, or other similar valve
means. The dispenser and the container with which the dispenser
is associated are particularly adapted for use in the
dispensing of fluids such as, for example, liquid detergents,
lotions, shampoos or the like, when the container is in
its normal position with the dispenser at the bottom thereof.
The container with the dispenser therein therefore does not
need to be inverted, turned, twisted, lifted or opened prior
~20 to a dispensing action, and, can be readily secured to a stand,
on a wall, on a counter top, or such like support. Dispensing
material therefrom is readily, yet effectively, carried out
by deforming the container or at least a portion thereof, and
causing an increase of pressure therein. Since the fluid to
be dispensed is always at or proximal to the discharge valve,
there is no delay in the dispensing action. It is of
particular advantage that the dispenser and the container
with which it is used can be furnished as a completely sealed
unit so that no inadvertent leakage and dispensing of material
therein takes place, as might be the case with the relatively
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complex pump and movable spout arrangements disclosed in the
prior art. It is also a particular advantage that the
container may be formed at its upper end without any top, cap,
closure or other opening, and that the material within the
container may be charged into the container through the opening
in which the dispenser is placed when the container is in an
inverted position, thereby permitting new, versatile and
aesthetic configurations of container not heretofore possible.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS: -
: ' .
These and other features and objects of the present ;
invention are more fully described with reference to the
; accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a side elevation vi~w in cross-section
of a first embodiment of a dispenser located in the bottom
wall of a container;
Figure 2 is a side elevation view in cross-section
of a second embodiment of a dispenser located in the bottom ;~
wall of a container;
Figures 3 and 4 are plan views, in cross-section,
looking in the direction of arrows 3-3 and 4-4 in Figures 1
and 2, respectively;
and,
Figures 5 to 8 are simple line drawings showing
adaptations of the present invention to various forms of liquid
dispensing containers, having differing specific features.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS:
Referring to each of Figures 1 and 2, a container C
is shown in part having side walls 10 and 12 which are
joined or connected to a bottom wall 14 and a top wall, not
shown. The particular configuration of the container C is
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not important for the functioning of the present invention,
but it is adapted to suit the dispensing features which may
be required or desireable in keeping with the discussion of
Figures 5 to 8 hereafter. In general, the container C should
be of a suitable fluid impervious material, and preferably
presents an interior surface which is essentially non-wetting.
; The configuration at the bottom wall 14 is such as to
substantially completely collect the total quantity of the
material within the container, thereby considerably reducing
wastage.
Dispenser D is suitably positioned in the bottom wall
14 of container C, with the dispensing liquid outlet 16
preferably being close to one of the,side walls 10 or 12
(see wall 12 in Figures 1 and 2), as may be most suited
for dispensing. The dispenser may be somewhat rectangular
in configuration. In any event, bottom wall 14 and dispenser D
have a lower surface 20 and upper surfaces 22 and 23 which are
sloped downwards so as to drain the last portions of fluid
within the container C towards the liquid dispensing outlet 16
as discussed in greater detail hereafter. The upper surface 23
of the dispenser is formed in such a manner as to receive and
retain the control valve means for the dispenser, discussed
hereafter.
From the upper surface 23 of the dispenser D there
emerges an interior tube vent 24 which extends in an upward
direction for a distance as to be safely above the maximum
level of the liquid content of the container when filled
and oriented in its inverted, dispenser-down position.
The interior vent tube 24 has the purpose of sending air into
the interior of the container. The vent tube 24 ca~, of course,
be formed with one of the walls of the container, and can be
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provided as a separate tube which may be inserted into
a matching bore 25, as shown, and secured therein. As
indicate~ in Figures 1 and 2, the vent;ltube 24 is in
communication wîth a valve compartment 26 which is formed
in the dispenser D. The valve compartment 26 is formed
so as to provide at least one seat at the bottom end thereof
for a valve member which is provided. In the embodiment
shown, the valve is shown to be a ball 28, which is
conveniently placed in its position within the valve compartment
26 prior to insertion or formation of the tube 24. It
should be noted that the ball 28 is seated due to gravity,
thereby closing the passage 30 which communicates the
interior of the container, through valve aompartment 26,
with the atmosphere such as by way of an exterior vent tube
32. The lower- or outer end of the vent tube 32 is preferably
closed until it is intended that the container be used for
dispensing the material therein. The vent tube 32 is preferably
integrally formed with the dispenser D, although the vent
tube 32 may also be provided by way of a separate tube which
is inserted and secured within the passage 30. The closed
end of the vent~tube 32 may be easily opened by cutting or
clipping off a short portion thereof; or alternatively, the
closed end of the vent tube 32 may be provided with a weakened
portion of ~he material thereof, so that the tip may be
easily removed by snapping it off.
In addition to the vent means just described, the
dispenser D includes a liquid dispensing valve assembly which
controls the dispensing of the material contained within the
container C. The liquid dispensing valve assembly is in
communication with the interior of the container C by way of
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passages 42 alld 43 formed in the bottom of the dispenser.
As noted, the upper surface 22 of the bottom wall l~ is gradually
sloped away from the side wall 10, in this case as illustrated,
towards the passage 43, with the lowest point of the interior
of the container C and the dispenser D being accessible to
the fluid content of the container C at point 40 which is at
the junction of passages 42 and 43. Thus, the passage 43 is
in communication with the interior of the container by way
of the sloped passage 42 which merges with a corresponding
sloped upper surface 22 of the bo~tom wall 14. In the
embodiments of Figures 1 and 3, the passage 30 extends through
a portion of the space occupied by passage 42, but not in
communication therewith, in such a manner that sufficient
space within the passage 42 exists so as to permit fluid flow
of material within the passage 42 past the tube walls of ~:
the passage 30.
The upper end of the passage 43 is provided with a
seat for a valve member 4-6, such as a spherical valve member
shown in Figures 1 and 2. The valve member 46 is held in
its seated or closed position such as by a spring 48, both
of the valve member 46 and spring 48 being located within
the valve chamber 49. The upper wall of the valve chamber
may be formed having a plug 47 formed therein, which allows .
insertion of the valve assembly including the spring when
used, during assembly of the dispenser.
The valve chamber 49 is in communication with the
exterior of the container by way of passages 50 and 52 which,
in general, may be substantially horizontally and vertically
oriented. The passage 52 is in communication with the dispens- -~
ing tube 16.
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: ,
In the embodiment of Figure 1, the dispensing tube 16
extends downwardly from beneath the bottom wall 14. In the
embodiment of Figure 2, the dispensing tube 16 extends outwardly
from the side wall 12; or alternatively, it may extend outwardly
as shown in dotted lines at 1~ as an extension of passage 50.
The passage ~0 is formed, at 53, with a channel or
shoulder at its junction with the valve chamber 49, so as to
prevent any blockage of the passage 50 by the valve assembly
or by collapse of the upper portion of the dispenser immediately
above the passage 50.
The dispensing tube 16 is also perfectly closed until its
first use, in the same manner as the exterior vent tube 32,
and the tube 16 may be formed integrally with the dispenser or
provided as a separate tube which is inserted and secured
having communlcation with passage 52 ~or passage 50).
The various passages and valve chambers can be provided -
in a number of ways. Thus, the passages may be provided by
suitable moulding techniques using separable core members, or
the dispenser body can be assembled from a plurality of
components so as to provide the desired configuration.
Preferable, the dispenser is formed of polyethylene or other
similar material. The fluid tight securement of the dispenser
and the container may be provided by frictional engagement,
ultrasonic fusion, threading engagement or other similar
securement means.
Briefly described, the operation of the dispenser, in
association with a container having material therein, in
accordance with the present invention is as follows:
The ends of tubes 32 and 16 which are exterior of the container
are first removed, and the dispenser is then ready for use.
lOB4~38~
Squeezing or deforming of the container walls or any of them
at a point above the bottom thereof, provides a slight positive
; ~ pressure within the container with respect to the atmosphere.
This pressure will force the material which is in the container
to move towards and through the passages 42 and 43, past the
valve member 46, through the valve chamber 49 and thence through
the passages 50 and 52 to the exterior tube 16. Upon release
of the pressure against the wall or walls of the container, a
slight negative pressure (vacuum) with respect to the atmosphere
will occur within the container, which permits the atmospheric
pressure communicating through the vent tube 32 to open or
unseat the valve member 28 within chamber 26 until such time
as the pressure within the container has equalized to the
atmospheric pressure without. At that time, the valve member
28 will again seat itself due to gravity.
In order to be particularly light weight for the purposes
` discussed, the valve member 28 (and the valve member 46) may
be a nylon sphere or other similar material. It is obvious,
of course, that the valve member 46 of the liquid dispensing
valve assembly is self-closing, that is, on release of pressure
against the walls of container C, the spring 48 or other
means biasing the valve will urge the valve member 46 to
its closed position. Due to the location of the junction 40
between passages 42 and 43, at the bottom of the container C,
a dispenser according to the present invention ensures that the
container is substantially depleted of the material therein,
and that no wastage or accidental spilling of the material
can take place until the valve assembly is open for a
dispensing operation as stated above.
Because, in general, the material being dispensed
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is a relatively highly viscous fluid with a high surface
tension, and the material of the valve assembly is relatively
non-wetting, the material being dispensed will withdraw slightly
into the passage 52 (or 50)and thereby prevent a drying out
or clogging effect of that passage and of the exterior dispensing
tube 16.
Referring now to Figure 5, a form of container having
a dispenser according to the present invention associated
therewith, is shown in such a manner that may be positioned
against a wall 58. An external vent tube 60 may be positio~ed
at the back wall of the container 56 and a dispensing tube 62
at the front wall thereof. The stepped portions 63, 64, and
65 of the container 56 permit greater, pre-calibrated,
quantities of material to be dispensed upon exerting pressure
against any of_the respective stepped portions; and pressure
exerted against the lower most portion of the container will
result in any desired quantity of material being dispensed. `~
Figure 6 shows a container which may be shaped so as to
fit the recessed portion of a wall fixture normally found in
bathrooms, where soap, a drinking glass, toothbrushes, etc.,
may otherwise be placed. The Container 66 has a dispenser 68
in the bottom thereof, such that the dispensing spout 70 extends ;
below the bottom; and liquid within the container 66 may be ~~
dispensed by pressing downwardly against the top 72 of the
conta ner 66
Figure 7 shows a cylindrical configuration of container 74
which is fitted into a stand 76 mounted on a counter top 78,
or otherwise. The fluid within the container 74 is dispensed
from dispensing tube 80 by pressing downwardly against the top
of the container 74 or by squeezing the walls thereof.
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The container 82 shown in Figure 8 may particularly
be of the sort adapted to have a dispenser therein as illustrated
in Figures 2 and 4. The container 82 in this case, is placed
directly on a counter top 84, having an air inlet tube 86 and
a liquid dispensing tube 88 extending substantially horizontally
from the sides of the container 82. The dispensing tube 88
may be extended to any convenient length so as to allow discharge
of the fluid within the container 82 into such as a wash basin
90. The dispensing action may be initiated by pressing against
the top of the container 82 or squeezing the side walls thereof.
The embodiments described herein may be further modified
in a number of ways. For example, the liquid dispensing
valve assembly can specifically be a spring biased flap valve,
or depending on its weight and the relative density of the
fluid to be di~pensed, it may be a gravity biased check valve.
The air vent valve may also, of course, be a flap valve.
Various modifications with respect to the air and liquid
passages have been indicated, and would normally be consider-
ations of the materials being used and the production
requirements selected for any specific embodiment.
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SUPPLEMENTARY DISCLOSURE
In addition to the embodiments described above,
in association with Figures 1 to 8, further embodiments of
the present invention may also be provided, by the addition
of a substantially gas impermeable and inflatable and
expandable bag or liner, as discussed hereafter in association
with the additional Figures of drawings, as follows:
Figure 9 illustrates additional alternative embodiments
of the present invention, showing alternative positions for
the inflatable bag or liner; and,
; Figure 10 shows yet another alternative embodiment
in which a gas impermeable liner is utilized.
There are some circumstances which occur when it is
particularly desirable to preclude an air/fluid contact of
ambient air with the fluid contents of a dispenser. These
; may particularly be in medicinal or medical purposes, where
it is desired that the fluid contents of the dispenser be
antiseptic -- i.e., that the introduction of air borne bacteria,
spore or the like be precluded, and that the growth of such
~0 micro-organisms be prevented. Other, similar, circumstances
may occur where it is desired to preclude aeration or air
ingestion which might, particularly in cases where the fluid
within the dispenser is being administered intravenously
to a patient, occur in an embolism. Still other circumstances
may occur where it is desirable to provide for portion
dispensing or for very specific flow rates, and at the same
time, preclude air/fluid contact.
In all those circumstances discussed immediately above,
it is possible to preclude the air/fluid contact at the
interface of the air within the dispenser and the fluid
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1~84B~l
therein, as discussed above with reference to the embodiments
of Figures 1 through 8, by the provision of an inflatable or
expandable liner, bag or bladder, which may either contain
the air which vents into the dispenser at the same time as
the fluid content is being dispensed therefrom, or which may
in some circumstances enclose the fluid to be dispensed.
As shown in Figure 9, there are alternative ways by
which the inflatable or collapsible bladder may be incorporated
within a dispenser according to this invention. For example,
the bore 25 from the valve compartment 26 may be extended upwardly
by lips of neck 92, over which the mouth 94 of an inflatable
bladder 96 may be securely fastened. The bladder 96 may be
inflatable in the same manner as a balloon -- i.e., by
expansion and stretching of the skin of the bladder; or it
may be inflatable or expandable by virtue of a multi-fold
(accordion-like, or wrinkled) predisposition of the material
of the bladder. In any event, in the same manner as discussed
above, as the dispensing action is initiated by deformable or
squeezing of the container walls, upon the release of pressure
so that air may enter the container through the passage 30
past the valve member 28, the air enters the interior of the
~ ~ bladder 96 and the bladder expands, thereby equalizing pressure
; against the fluid within the container, with respect to the
ambient.
Alternatively, as also indicated in Figure 9, a bladder
98 might be installed within the container, with its mouth
100 fitting over the top end of a vent tube 24. Depending
upon the relative amounts of fluid and air within the container
and the bladder 98, the bladder may extend above the surface of
the fluid, filling the top end of the container.
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In all events, in the embodiments contemplated in
; Figure 9, sufficient space will exist arcund the exterior of
the bla~der 96 or 98 to permit fluid within the container to
fill the bottom portion thereof, due to gravity. The precise
design and layout of the dispenser and the interior of the
container may vary considerably, depending upon the viscosity
and relative density of the fluid.
Turning to Figure 10, there is shown yet a further
embodiment of dispenser and container according to this invention,
;L0 which achieves the same purposes as the alternative embodiments
illustrated in Figure 9, but in the opposite manner. Thus,
air/fluid contact is, once again precluded, but in this case
the fluid is maintained within the collapsible bladder 102
which is installed on the dispenser within the container,
with its mouth 104 over neck 106 which is an extension of
the passage 42. In the embodiment of Figure 10, it will
be seen that the dispensing operation is as before, except
in this case the bladder 102 will collapse or contract as the
fluid within it is dispensed, due to the pressure of air within
: !0 the container against the exterior surface of the bladder.
In any of the embodiments of Figures 9 and 10, portion
dispensing or controlled rate of dispensing may be achieved
by design of the bladder so that the rate of expansion or
contraction thereof or the amount by which it may expand or
contract at any one moment, may be controlled. Additionally,
the bladders 96,98 or 102 may be connected through a suitable
conduit to an air pump or other device -- such as a foot
operated pump or a valve on a pressure tank -- to permit
pressurization of the bladder and therefore dispensing of fluid
}0 within the container. By such arrangement, a controlled rate of
fluid dispensing is possible; and, as stated above, air/fluid
contact is precluded.
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