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Title:
GRAVITY FUELLED FLUID DISPENSER
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2006/079771
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
A Gravity fuelled fluid dispenser (10) is provided to improve the dispensing of liquids or semi liquids in upright containers by allowing the dispenser as a whole to be safely stored and used in the same orientation thereby reducing the effort required to dispense particularly viscous fluids from such containers and also reducing the amount of liquid or semi liquid that has to be discarded with the container as waste. The dispenser comprises a container unit (1), a dispenser base unit (2) and a secure lid fixture (3). The container unit (1) is situated directly above the dispenser base unit (2) and is shaped to allow the fluid to descend under its own weight. The dispenser base unit (2) forms a secure fixture with the container unit (1) to allow the passage of fluid and provides stability for the dispenser as a whole in an upright position. The dispenser base also houses a secure lid (3) which when released allows fluid to flow out through the container unit. The dispenser base unit (2) design allows the secure lid to close thereby forming part of the aforementioned dispenser base unit (2) and also isolating any contact with a surface hence reducing the risk of any surface contamination when in a stored position.

Inventors:
RITCHIE GARRY (GB)
Application Number:
PCT/GB2005/004926
Publication Date:
August 03, 2006
Filing Date:
December 20, 2005
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
RITCHIE GARRY (GB)
International Classes:
B67D3/00; A47K5/13; B65D51/24
Foreign References:
US4723671A1988-02-09
US5979706A1999-11-09
US6241126B12001-06-05
Other References:
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 1997, no. 02 28 February 1997 (1997-02-28)
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Claims:
CLAIMS
1. A Fluid dispenser comprising: a container unit, to house the fluid, which is conical in shape to allow said fluid dispenser to be stored and used in the same orientation thereby utilising the fluids weight to minimising any effort required to dispense said fluid as its contents reduces within said container unit, a dispenser base unit situated directly below and forms a secure fixture to said container unit that not only provides support for said fluid dispenser to be stored and used in the same orientation but provides a passageway to house the outlet of said container unit allowing said container unit access for dispensing fluid; the aforementioned dispenser base is formed with a recess to eliminate any contact between the outlet of said container unit and a storage surface, a secure lid that forms part of said dispenser base unit when said fluid dispenser is being stored and when released, via a hinge arrangement, allows fluid to flow from the outlet of said container unit which is secured to the passageway of said dispenser base unit; the mating part of said secure lid which engages the outlet of said container unit is housed within the recess of said dispenser base unit such that when in a closed position the outlet of said container unit is free from any surface contact thereby reducing the risk of any contamination from said storage surface.
2. The fluid dispenser featured in claiml wherein said container unit maybe connected to said dispenser base unit via a screw thread fitting.
3. The fluid dispenser featured claiml wherein said container unit maybe connected to said dispenser base unit via a snap on fitting.
4. The fluid dispenser featured claiml wherein said container unit maybe connected to said dispenser base unit via a twist lock fitting.
5. The fluid dispenser featured claiml wherein said container unit is connected to said dispenser base unit via a push fit fitting.
6. The fluid dispenser featured claim 1 wherein the outlet of said container unit supports a flow restrictor valve for handling fluids of a particular viscosity.
7. The fluid dispenser featured claim 1 wherein the secure fixture formed between said secure lid and the outlet of said container unit comprises a snap on seal fitting.
8. The fluid dispenser featured claim 1 wherein the connection between said dispenser base unit and said secure lid is via a hinge arrangement which allows said secure lid to undergo a release of over 120 degrees from its closed position.
Description:
Gravity Fuelled Fluid Dispenser

This invention relates to upright fluid dispensers/containers, mostly made from a durable moulded plastic, that house standard domestic products that take a liquid or semi liquid form that need to be effectively dispensed from said container.

Background of Invention

Dispensers that house particularly viscous fluids such as shampoo, ketchup and moisturising cream for example can be problematic with regards to dispensing said fluids especially when the fluid contents are at a low level, such a scenario requires drastic action by the user often resulting in storing the container in an inverted position allowing the weight of the fluid under gravity to settle at the neck of the container.

Conventional fluid containers currently take the form of upright shaped bottles made from either glass or moulded plastic comprising a screw on cap or flip-top lid with a hinge often with a flow restrictor valve hosed in the neck of the container. Such systems are initially effective due to the volume of fluid in the container which provides the necessary mass to initiate the flow of fluid out of the container. As the fluid level falls more effort is required by the user to dispense the fluid to a point where it is considered ineffective and the container is discarded.

Previous attempts at addressing the problem of dispensing viscous fluids from containers are featured in inventions US 6,481,685 The inverted bottle holder' by Cormier, 19/11/2002, US RE37566E 'Holding device for collecting residual contents in a container' by Critea and Marszalek, 05/03/2002 and CA2225031 'Ketchup Kicker' by Cremasco 02/09/1999. All these inventions depict a dedicated separate attachment that is not aimed to be manufactured or sold as part of the container hence is a stand alone item that the user has to acquire.

The current invention is an improvement on current upright containers that house and dispense fluids.

Accordingly, a first object of the present invention is to provide an improved upright fluid dispenser that houses and effectively dispenses fluids of varying viscosity in a manner such that the unit as a whole can be safely stored and used in the same orientation thereby minimising any effort required to dispense the fluid.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved upright fluid dispenser that effectively dispenses fluid for varying levels of fluid in said container.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a safe, secure means of storing and dispensing fluid.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a means of dispensing fluid where the secured lid is isolated from a contact surface thereby reducing the risk of any contamination with a stored surface when kept in a stored position.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved fluid dispenser that can be safely stored without compromising the safety of any neighbouring objects.

According to the present invention there is provided a Gravity Fuelled Fluid Dispenser comprising a container unit, that is conical in shape to allow the dispenser to be stored and used in the same orientation thereby utilising the fluids weight to minimising any effort required to dispense said fluid as its contents reduces within said container unit; a dispenser base unit situated directly below and forms a secure fixture to said container unit that not only provides support for said fluid dispenser to be stored and used in the same orientation but provides a passageway to house the outlet of said container unit allowing said container unit access for dispensing fluid; the aforementioned dispenser base is formed with a recess to eliminate any contact between the outlet of said container unit and a storage surface; a secure lid that forms part of said dispenser base unit when said fluid dispenser is being stored and when released, via a hinge arrangement, allows fluid to flow from the outlet of said container unit which is secured to the passageway of said dispenser base unit; the mating part of said secure lid which engages the outlet of said container unit is housed within the recess of said dispenser base unit such that when in a closed position the outlet of said container unit is free from any surface contact thereby reducing the risk of any contamination from said storage surface.

The container unit may be connected to the dispensing unit via a screw thread fitting, snap on fitting, twist lock fitting or a push fit fitting which supports, if need be , the use of a restrictor valve to be fitted in the outlet of the container unit to handle viscous fluids and to support a secure lid hinge arrangement which allows said secure lid to undergo a release of over 120 degrees from its closed position.

Brief summary of operation

In accordance with the present invention the fluid dispenser incorporates a mechanism with the intention of effectively dispensing fluids of varying viscosity out through the container without the need for external attachments or a change in orientation of said dispenser to assist fluid flow.

The container unit is usually made from glass or moulded plastic and is conical in shape to allow the fluid contained to descend under its own weight to the base. The base of the container unit forms a neck which represents the output through which the fluid will flow.

A dispenser base is situated directly under the container unit forming a secure connection to said container unit and provides a means of passage for fluid from the container unit plus provides stability when the unit as a whole is stored upright.

A secured lid is situated within the dispenser base which provides the means of release of fluid out through the neck of the container and through the middle of the dispenser base.

As the level of fluid within the container unit begins to decrease dispensing fluid effectively will still be achieved through the fluids weight acting as the force behind the flow.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 Shows a perspective view of the Fluid Dispenser

Fig. 2 Shows a plan view of the side of the Fluid Dispenser

Fig.3 Shows a sectional view of the Dispenser base unit

Fig.4 Shows a detailed perspective view of the Fluid Dispenser

Detailed Description

It is thought that the techniques that form the basis of the present invention can be applied to cater for a wide range of containers/dispensers that need to safely store and dispense fluid for household applications.

For future reference the fluid dispenser relating to the current invention shown in fig.l and fig.4 will be identified as 10.

From fig.1 the unit 10 comprises a container unit 1 , a dispenser base unit 2, a secure lid 3 and a hinge arrangement 4 that connects the dispenser base unit 2 to the secure lid 3.

In order to satisfy the main principle of the current invention the container unit 1 (fig.4) is inverted thereby allowing any fluid to naturally exit the container under its own weight. In a practical arrangement the container unit 1 may take a conical shape to cater for fluids of particular viscosity although this may be left to the manufacturers discretion. The container unit 1 is usually made of a flexible moulded plastic that allows the user to assist fluid flow by squeezing said unit.

The dispenser base unit 2 satisfies the requirement of the invention to allow the unit 10 to be stored and used in the same orientation. From fig 4 the dispenser base unit 2 provides a passageway 7 that links the outlet 6 of the container unit 1 with the secure lid 3 when in the closed position. At the same time the outlet 6 of the container unit 1 forms a secure fixture with the dispenser base unit 2 within the passageway 7 which may take the form of a screw thread, snap on or push fit fixing, as is well known in the art, which is at the manufacturers discretion with regards to large scale production. Depending on the fluids viscosity the outlet 6 of the container unit 1 may well house a fluid restrictor.

The shape of the dispenser base unit 2 is conical to provide stability when the unit 10 is being stored and is designed with a recess for the purpose of weight reduction and allows the secure lid 3, when in a closed position, to be free from any contact with a surface when the unit 10 is being stored as is shown in fig3. The dispenser base unit 2 is usually made of a durable moulded plastic.

From fig 4 the secure lid 3 is a basic lever mechanism connected via a hinge arrangement 4 to the dispenser base unit 2 such that when closed the secure lid 3 engages with the outlet 6 of the container unit 1 to form a secure fixture which may take the form of snap on or push fit connection as is well known in the art which prevents the release of fluid from the container unit 1. Fluid from the container unit 1 is released by disengaging the connection between the secure lid 3 and the outlet 6 of the container unit 1 by releasing the secure lid 3 in the direction indicated by the arrow A in fig3. The release of the secure lid 3 is facilitated by the hinge arrangement 4 which allows the secure lid to be released through an angle greater than 120 degrees so as not to allow the fluid flow to be obstructed.




 
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