Liquid dispensers of various types have been known for use with containers. Such dispensers include pumps, fittings for cooperation with external extraction equipment, and valves cooperating with preestablished container pressure or with the compressible nature of a squeeze container to effect the delivery of liquids from a container. With each of these dispenser systems, it is frequently required that the container be held in an upright position with the dispenser at the top or alternatively in an inverted position with the dispenser at the bottom. Typically a container is not capable of dispensing from both orientations. In the circumstance where dispensing is with the dispenser at the top, a draw tube is frequently employed to access liquid from the bottom of the container. A tube is press fit with a nipple or socket provided on the dispenser. The tube is of sufficient length to access the bottom of the assigned container and may be plain, include a screen or filter and/or a protrusion or cut to avoid creating a seal between the channel of the tube and the bottom of the container. To insure the ability to draw liquid from the bottom of the container to the dispenser, the tube is without other vents or openings.

With a draw tube, the container is to be held in the upright position. With the draw tube removed, the container must be inverted for the delivery of liquid.

Devices have been employed for allowing a more universal positioning of the container during liquid dispensing.

As applications for such dispensers typically require minimizing the cost for sales with a liquid product, such prior universal draw devices have typically been found to be too expensive, too complicated, too difficult to easily operate and/or too unreliable for such applications.

Summary Of The Invention The present invention is directed to a draw tube assembly for a liquid dispenser mounted to a container.

The assembly includes a buoyant tube assembly and a fixed tube which are concentrically disposed with the buoyant tube assembly axially slidable relative to the fixed tube. Perforations in the fixed tube allow the extraction of liquid from the container with the container oriented so that the dispenser is at the bottom. When the dispenser is oriented at the top of the container, the buoyancy of the buoyant tube assembly causes closure of the vents. With the vents closed, the assembly may operate as a draw tube from the bottom of the container.

In a first separate aspect of the present invention, the buoyant tube assembly achieves two positions, a first position covering the perforations and a second position with the perforations uncovered.

In a second separate aspect of the present invention, the buoyancy of a tube is achieved through buoyant rings on the ends of the tube.

In a third separate aspect of the present invention, the buoyant tube assembly is positioned exterior to the fixed tube. The dispenser and tube assembly includes a seal and seat to enhance the draw capabilities of the

assembly.

In a fourth separate aspect of the present invention, the fit of the assembled tubes may be such that there is significant relief between the fixed tube and the buoyant tube assembly where the tubes are displaced from the dispenser.

In a fifth separate aspect of the present invention, the draw tube assembly is contemplated in association with the container and the dispenser.

In a sixth separate aspect of the present invention, any of the foregoing aspects are contemplated to be applied in combination.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved draw tube assembly.

Other and further objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

Brief Description Of The Drawings Figure 1 is a side view of a dispenser and draw tube with the draw tube in cross section and a container illustrated in phantom.

Figure 2 is a side view as in Figure 1 with the container inverted.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a draw tube with a dispenser.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a draw tube with a dispenser of a second embodiment.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a draw tube with a dispenser of a third embodiment.

Detailed Description Of The Preferred Embodiment Turning in detail to the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates a dispensing container assembly, generally designated 10. The dispensing container assembly

includes a container 12, illustrated in phantom, which has a conventional opening to receive a threaded cap.

The container may take on any appropriate shape.

However, it is advantageous to have a bottom opposed to the opening in order that liquid may be conventionally drawn from a bottommost portion of the container.

A liquid dispenser, generally designated 14 and shown in Figures 1 and 3, includes a cap 16 and a conventional pump 18. The pump 18 includes a body 20 extending through the cap 16 to form an access base within the container 12. A fitting for external extraction equipment or a valve may equally form the dispenser with cap and attachment body.

A draw tube assembly, generally designated 22, is associated with the access base of the body 20. The draw tube assembly 22 includes a fixed tube 24 held to the access base of the body 20 within a socket providing an interference fit with the tube 24. A nipple, also in interference fit with the tube 24, may alternatively be provided. The fixed tube 24 is shown to extend from the access base of the body 20 to near the bottom of the container 12. The fixed tube 24 may come close to the bottom but should not form a seal with the bottom of the container 12 which might otherwise prevent extraction of the liquid. Of course, serrations and perforations can be used to avoid such a seal.

Adjacent to the attachment of the fixed tube 24 to the dispenser 14, perforations 26 are provided through the wall of the fixed tube 24. These perforations 26 are of sufficient size and number to allow unimpaired flow to the pump 18 or other dispenser with the dispensing container 10 in an inverted position. In this first embodiment, the fixed tube 24 is shown to be cylindrical.

A buoyant tube assembly is shown to be concentrically disposed and axially slidable about the fixed tube 24. The buoyant tube assembly includes a tube 28 which is also shown to be cylindrical. A buoyant ring 30 is fixed about the tube 28 at the end most distant from the dispenser 14. A buoyant ring 32 is affixed to the end of the tube 28 closest to the dispenser 14. This second buoyant ring 32 extends beyond the end of the tube 28 and includes a truncated convex conical surface. The access base of the body 20 includes a truncated concave conical surface to mate with the buoyant ring 32.

Between these two mating elements, a seal and a sealing seat are provided.

The buoyancy of the tube assembly is such that there is a positive buoyant force at least equal to the weight of the buoyant tube assembly with a reasonably low level of liquid in the container. It is advantageous to have the tube 28 very light. This may be sufficient.

However, enhanced buoyant elements or regions may be located at each end. This may be in the form of separate buoyant rings 30 and 32 or integral buoyant regions.

Maximum buoyancy at the very end of the tube 28, for example, would be achieved with wide, thin rings located at the very ends of the buoyant tube assembly. This arrangement, a lightweight tube and very low density rings at the very end of the tube, could cause the buoyant tube assembly to allow extraction of substantially all of the liquid but for the linear distance needed for the throw of the tube.

In operation, placing the container 12 in an upright position with liquid in the container causes the buoyant tube assembly to slide upwardly over the fixed tube 24 until the buoyant ring 32 mates with the access base of

the body 20. This provides a first position with the tube 28 covering the perforations 26. The continued buoyant force provided by the buoyant ring 30 with the container 12 in the upright position maintains a covering of the perforations 26 and also maintains a seal between the buoyant ring 32 and the access base of the body 20.

In this configuration, the pump 18 draws through the length of the fixed tube 24 to dispense liquid from the bottom of the container through the top of the container.

Figure 2 illustrates an inversion of the container 12. In this orientation, the buoyant tube assembly achieves a second position with the tube 28 not covering the perforations 26. Further, the seal between the buoyant ring 32 and the access base of the body 20 is broken. Consequently, liquid is accessible from the container 12 to the interior of the fixed tube 24 through the perforations 26.

Figure 4 illustrates a second embodiment of the draw tube assembly 22. It is contemplated that it be employed in the same context as the first embodiment. In this second embodiment, the fixed tube 24 is arranged outwardly of the buoyant tube assembly. The fixed tube 24 again includes perforations 26 adjacent to the liquid dispenser 14.

The buoyant tube assembly includes a tube 28. In this instance, the tube 28 is buoyant. Particular buoyancy may be introduced into the tube 28 at each end thereof. The ends of the buoyant tube 28 may be of separate buoyant material or integrally molded with entrained air or the like. Further, the tube may be fully buoyant along its length.

As before, the buoyant tube assembly moves between a first and a second position depending on the orientation

of the container 12. A first position is achieved covering the perforations 26 while the second position provides for fluid flow through the perforations 26 to the dispenser 14. The fit between the buoyant tube 28 and the fixed tube 24 or the access base of the body is such that flow through the perforations 26 with the buoyant tube in the first position is inhibited sufficiently that liquid can be drawn through the length of the draw tube assembly 22.

Figure 5 discloses yet another embodiment. In this embodiment, the fixed tube 24 is shown to have a larger inside diameter at the end most distance from the dispenser 14 than at the end of the tube 28 which is closest to the dispenser 14. Otherwise, the embodiment of Figure 5 is substantially identical to the embodiment of Figure 4. It remains that an appropriate seal be provided at the top of the draw tube assembly 22 with the container in the upright position. Consequently, the buoyant tube 28 is to be sized relative to the fixed tube 24 at the end adjacent to the dispenser 14 so that a sealing of the perforations 26 can occur.

Accordingly, an improved draw tube assembly providing for various container orientations is disclosed. While embodiments and applications of this invention have been shown and described, it would be apparent to those skilled in the art that many more modifications are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The invention, therefore is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.