CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61078195, entitled "VARIABLE VOLUME PUMP," filed 3 July 2008, and incorporates the same herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Field of the Invention: The present invention relates to variable volume pumps and more particularly to variable volume pumps which are capable of pumping two or more liquid or pasty products.

[0003] State of the Art: Variable volume pumps and selectable volume pumps are conventionally used. Typically, such pumps allow the volume of liquid dispensed from the pump to be adjusted. In some instances, variable volume pumps allow a user to select a first amount of a product to be pumped from a first container and a second amount of product to be pumped from a second container. Such pumps often include two pumps, one in each container.

[0004] Costs associated with variable volume pumps and especially those using two pumps to pump two different fluids are higher than conventional one-pump systems. Therefore, it would be beneficial to develop new technologies and variable volume pumps which may be cheaper and/or better than current variable volume pumps.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] According to certain embodiments of the invention, a variable volume pump may be used to distribute two or more products from two or more containers in defined dosages or amounts. The variable volume pump may include an adjustment mechanism for selectively adjusting the amount of product delivered from two or more containers of product and bellows in the variable volume pump may deliver the selected amount of product upon actuation of the variable volume pump.

[0006] In certain embodiments of the invention, a variable volume pump may include two bellows and corresponding components for adjusting the amount of product pumped through the two bellows upon actuation of the variable volume pump. As the variable volume pump is actuated, two or more pistons acting on the bellows systems may move two or more guides, whereby product residing in the bellows may be forced or pumped out of the variable volume pump.

[0007] According to various embodiments of the invention, a variable volume pump may include a base into which two or more bellows may rest. The bellows and base may be configured to work together to provide a desired pumping action for the bellows and return action for a nozzle in communication with the bellows. Guides may rest on the bellows or be positioned to interact with the bellows and to create a bellows cavity, the volume of which may be selectively adjusted by a user. A guide case positioned over the guides may enclose the guides and bellows between the guide case and the base. Pistons may extend through the guide case and communicate with the guides. The communication between the pistons and the guides may adjust the position of the guides relative to the bellows and to the base. Product channels through the guide case may be in communication with the bellows such that product pumped through the bellows flows through the product channels in the guide case. A nozzle may be connected to or in communication with the guide base and pistons connected to the guides. Upon actuation of the nozzle, the pistons may be moved, resulting in the pumping of product through the bellows. Product flowing through the product channels may flow through nozzle product channels and out of the nozzle. The product may flow through an orifice in the nozzle when exiting the nozzle. An adjuster may be included in the variable volume pump for adjusting the position of the guides relative to the bellows or for positioning the pistons and guides relative to the bellows. Positioning of the adjustor may control the amount of a product that may be pumped or moved through a bellows during an actuation of the variable volume pump. One or more containers may be connected to the base and may supply product to the variable volume pump through airless-type means or by way of a dip-tube or other communication means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming particular embodiments of the present invention, various embodiments of the invention can be more readily understood and appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art from the following descriptions of various embodiments of the invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0009] FIG. 1 illustrates components of a variable volume pump according to embodiments of the invention; [0010] FIG. 2 illustrates components of a variable volume pump according to embodiments of the invention;

[0011] FIG. 3 illustrates a portion of a variable volume pump in a configuration for use;

[0012] FIG. 4 illustrates a portion of a variable volume pump in a configuration for use; and

[0013] FIG. 5 illustrates a portion of a variable volume pump in a configuration for use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] According to embodiments of the invention, a variable volume pump may be used to pump one or more liquids from one or more containers. A variable volume pump may include a dual bellows system wherein two or more bellows may be adjustably utilized to pump or deliver product from one or more containers in communication with the bellows of the dual bellows system. For example, a variable volume pump including two bellows may be used to pump products, such as liquid or pasty products, from two or more containers. The amount of product pumped through each bellow may be selectively altered such that a user may obtain a desired amount of product from each of the containers.

[0015] A variable volume pump according to embodiments of the invention is described and illustrated in United States Provisional Application 61078195, entitled "VARIABLE VOLUME PUMP," filed 3 July 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0016] A variable volume pump according to other embodiments of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5. According to embodiments of the invention, a variable volume pump 200 may include a base 250, a first bellows 260a, a first guide 270a, a second bellows 260b, a second guide 270b, a nozzle 280, and an adjuster 290. The first bellows 260a and the second bellows 260b may be fitted into or rest within a cavity within the base 250. The bellows 260 may be configured to cover openings in the base 250 and to act as a valve system for pumping a product from a container 210 through the base 250 and into the bellows 260. The first guide 270a and the second guide 270b may be attached or otherwise seated on the first bellows 260a and the second bellows 260b, respectively. A guide case 272 may be fitted over the guides 270 and bellows 260 and into or onto a portion of the base 250. Product channels 276 may communicate through the guide case 272 and may be in communication with the bellows 260 such that a product pumped through a bellows 260 moves through a product channel 276 and into a corresponding nozzle product channel. Holes or openings in the guide case 272 may also be configured to allow the first piston 274a and second piston 274b to pass through the guide case 272 such that they are connected to or may be in communication with the first guide 270a and second guide 270b. An adjuster 290 may be in communication with the pistons 274 in order to adjust an amount of product that may be pumped through the bellows 260 upon actuation of the nozzle 280. A nozzle 280 may be in communication with the pistons 274 and the one or more product channels 276. An orifice 282 having one or more openings may be positioned in the nozzle 280 and may allow product pumped through the bellows 260 to exit the nozzle 280.

[0017] According to embodiments of the invention, a variable volume pump 200 may operate by the depression of the nozzle 280. As the nozzle 280 is depressed, the adjuster 290 translates force to each of the pistons 274 which in turn move the first guide 270a and the second guide 270b. Movement of the guides 270 acts on the bellows 260 causing the first bellows 260a and the second bellows 260b to roll. The rolling of the bellows 260 forces any product within a bellows cavity formed between and interior surface of the bellows 260 and the guides 270 to exit the bellows 260 and enter the one or more product channels 276. Product flowing through the product channels 276 may flow through the nozzle 280 and exit through the orifice 282. Release of the nozzle 280 allows the bellows 260 to return to a starting position while filling the bellows 260 with product from the one or more containers 210.

[0018] According to embodiments of the invention, the adjuster 290 may be moved or positioned to adjust the amount of travel of each of the first piston 274a and the second piston 274b. The movement of the pistons 274 in turn controls the movement or travel of the bellows 260 upon actuation of the nozzle 280. The control of the movement of the bellows 260 may limit the amount of product that may pass through the bellows 260 during actuation of the nozzle 280. The adjustment of the adjuster 290, therefore, allows a user to adjust the amount of product that will be dispensed from each of the first bellows 260a and the second bellows 260b. The ability to adjust the output from each bellows 260 allows a user to customize or select the amount of product that that they want to dispense from each of the containers 210 in the variable volume pump 200. For example, a first container 210a may contain shampoo and a second container 21 Ob may contain a conditioner. A user may adjust the adjuster 290 to dispense a desired amount of shampoo through the first bellows 260a and a desired amount of conditioner through second bellows 260b upon actuation of the nozzle 280. [0019] A base 250 of a variable volume pump 200 may be connected to, rest on, be in communication with, or fitted to one or more containers 210 such as first container 210a and second container 21 Ob as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The one or more containers 210 may be contained within a body 297 as desired. In some embodiments, a body 297 may be omitted for aesthetic purposes so that a user may see the containers 210. In some embodiments, the containers 210 or the containers 210 and the body 297 may be clear or translucent such that product in the containers 210 may be visually seen.

[0020] According to embodiments of the invention, a base 250 may include a cavity to accept the first bellows 260a and a cavity to accept the second bellows 260b. Each cavity may be shaped or configured to provide a necessary shape to allow the respective bellows unit to operate in a desired manner within the base 250. For example, the cavities within the base 250 may be shaped to facilitate the movement of a bellows over the surface of the cavity to promote the pumping or transport of product from the one or more containers 210 into the bellows 260 and out through a nozzle 280. Cavities within the base 250 for supporting and facilitating use of the bellows 260 may be sloped at an angle conducive to movement and operation of the bellows 260. For example, different slopes may be used for different sized bellows 260 or for bellows 260 made of different types of materials.

[0021] The base 250 may also include passageways 252 through which product may pass from the one or more containers 210 into the bellows 260. As illustrated in FIG. 3, a portion of a bellows 260a may rest over a passageway 252 and seal the passageway 252. When the bellows 260a has been evacuated and the nozzle 280 de-actuated, suction formed in the bellows 260a raises the portion of the bellows 260a covering the passageway 252 and draws product from the one or more containers 210 into the bellows cavity.

[0022] According to embodiments of the invention, the base 250 may be made of any desirable material. In some embodiments of the invention, the base 250 may be a molded part formed from a moldable resin or plastic material.

[0023] A bellows according to embodiments of the invention may include a bellows 260 similar to the bellows described in United States Patent Publication 2006/0163286 and PCT/NL2005.000673, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

[0024] According to various embodiments of the invention a bellows 260 may be made from a silicon material. In other embodiments of the invention, a bellows 260 may be made from a TPU material. In still other embodiments of the invention, a bellows 260 may be made from any other desired material. [0025] The guides 270 according to embodiments of the invention may be configured to work with the bellows 260 in order to provide the desired flow of product through the bellows 260 and into a product channel 276 for delivery to the nozzle 280. The guides may include one or more guide bumps 271 or ridges spaced to allow product to exit the bellows 260 and pass by guides 270 into a product channel 276. The guides 270 may be connected to the pistons 274 and may be moved by the pistons 274.

[0026] According to embodiments of the invention, the guides 270 may be shaped to provide a desired volume for each bellows cavity. Different sizes of guides 270 may be used with different bellows 260 such that the bellows cavities have different volumes. In addition, different guides 270 may be selected and assembled with a variable volume pump 200 based upon the desired volume of product that a user will be pumping through a bellows 260.

[0027] Guides 270 according to embodiments of the invention may be made from any desirable material. In some embodiments, guides 270 may be injection molded parts made from a resin or plastic material.

[0028] While the guide case 272 illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5 is a single component, it is understood that the guide case 272 may comprise two or more components and may be configured to receive two or more bellows of similar or different sizes as desired. The guide case 272 may be configured to position the guides 270 and bellows 260 within the base 250. The guide case 272 may also guide pistons 274. Product channels 276 through the guide case 272 may be in communication with nozzle product channels 286 such that product pumped from bellows 260 flows through the product channels 276 of the guide case 272 into the nozzle product channels 286 and out an orifice 282.

[0029] Guide cases 272 according to embodiments of the invention may be made of any desirable material. In some embodiments, a guide case may be made of an injection molded part or parts. For example, a guide case 272 may be a component made from injection molding a resin or plastic material into the desired shape or form.

[0030] An adjuster 290 according to embodiments of the invention may include a lever 294 and a slider 292. The lever 294 may fit together with the slider 292 such that when the slider 292 is moved, the lever 294 is also moved. The lever 294 may also be in communication with one or more pistons 274 such that movement of the lever 294 adjusts the positioning of one or more pistons 274 in the variable volume pump 200. When the positioning of the piston 274 is altered, the piston 274 may move one or more guides 270, thereby adjusting an amount of product that may be pumped through a bellows 260 associated with the guide 270 and the piston 274.

[0031] For example, a variable volume pump 200 according to certain embodiments of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 3 through 5. Each of FIGS. 3 through 5 include cross-sectional views of portions of a variable volume pump 200 wherein the adjuster 290 is in different positions.

[0032] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the adjuster 290 is positioned in a level state or in a state where the volumes within the bellows cavities formed between the bellows 260 and the guides 270 are equal. When the nozzle 280 of the variable volume pump 200 illustrated in FIG. 3 is actuated, equal amounts of product will be distributed from the first bellows 260a and the second bellows 260b.

[0033] In FIG. 4, the slider 292 of the adjuster 290 has been moved to one side, moving the lever 294 such that first piston 274a is pressed into the first bellows 260a which in turn has moved the first guide 270a into the first bellows 260a. The positioning of the first piston 274a as illustrated in FIG. 4 is such that an upper portion of first piston 274a is not engaged by an actuation stop 281 on the nozzle 280. As nozzle 280 is actuated, the first piston 274a is therefore not moved, resulting in no distribution of product from the first bellows 260a. Instead, product is only expelled out of the second bellows 260b as the actuation stop 281 of the nozzle 280 acts on the second piston 274b, the second guide 270b and the second bellows 260b. In this configuration, only product from a second container 210b in communication with the second bellows 260b is distributed from the variable volume pump 200 upon actuation of the nozzle 280.

[0034] As illustrated in FIG. 5, the slider 292 of the adjuster 290 has been moved to the opposite side of that illustrated in FIG. 4. Movement of the slider 292 moves lever 294 such that second piston 274b is pressed into the second bellows 260b which in turn has moved the second guide 270b into the second bellows 260b. The positioning of the second piston 274b as illustrated in FIG. 5 is such that an upper portion of second piston 274b is not engaged by an actuation stop 281 on the nozzle 280. As nozzle 280 is actuated, the second piston 274b is not moved, resulting in no distribution of product from the second bellows 260b. Instead, product is only expelled out of the first bellows 260a as the actuation stop 281 of the nozzle 280 acts on the first piston 274a, the first guide 270a and the first bellows 260a. In this configuration, only product from a first container 210a in communication with the first bellows 260a is distributed from the variable volume pump 200 upon actuation of the nozzle

280. [0035] While certain embodiments of the adjuster 290 are illustrated in FIGS. 3 through 5, it is understood that an adjuster 290 may be configured in different manners and that different component parts of an adjuster 290 may be used to control the amount of product allowed to flow through, or to be pumped through, the bellows 260. In addition, the adjuster 290 may be set at positions between the hard stops on either end such that the first bellows 260a and the second bellows 260b may distribute different amounts of the desired product. For example, the adjuster 290 may be set such that the product dispensed from the variable volume pump 200 upon actuation of the nozzle 280 is between zero and 100 percent of the product from first bellows 260a and between zero and 100 percent of the product from second bellows 260b.

[0036] According to embodiments of the invention, a nozzle 280 may be configured to connect to one or more product channels 276 of a guide case 272. A nozzle 280 may include one or more nozzle product channels 286 configured to mate with the one or more product channels 276 and may be in communication with an exterior of the nozzle 280, such as through an orifice 282. The one or more nozzle product channels 276 may be configured to carry product from the product channels 276 into the orifice 282 for delivery from the nozzle 280.

[0037] A nozzle 280 according to embodiments of the invention may also include one or more piston guides 283 as illustrated in FIG. 4. The one or more piston guides 283 may mate with, or moveably connect with, one or more pistons 274. The piston guides 283 may hold or support the one or more pistons 274 or act as movement guides for the one or more pistons 274 as a nozzle 280 is actuated.

[0038] According to embodiments of the invention, a nozzle 280 may be made of any desired material and may be an injection molded component. For instance, a nozzle 280 may be produced by injection molding a resin or plastic material into a desired configuration. In addition, an orifice 282 may be molded with the nozzle 280 or as a part of a nozzle 280 or an orifice 282 may be added to the nozzle 280 as desired.

[0039] According to various embodiments of the invention, the containers 210 may be of an airless type and may include container pistons 212 commonly used with airless type containers. For example, the first container 210a may include a first container piston 212a inserted therein and the second container 210b may include a second container piston 212b inserted therein. In other embodiments of the invention, the containers 210 may not be of the airless type and dip-tubes may be secured to, fitted with, or in communication with the base 250 and an internal portion of the containers 210 to provide a path for product contained in the containers 210 to flow through when pumped through the bellows 260.

[0040] In some embodiments of the invention, a cap 295 may be used to enclose portions of the variable volume pump 200 on an interior of the cap 295. For instance, the cap 295 illustrated in FIG. 1 may mate with or snap with a body 297 surrounding the containers 210 such that the variable volume pump 200 is contained within a package. The aesthetics of the package may be altered by changing the aesthetics of the body 297 and cap 295.

[0041] According to other embodiments of the invention, a pump system may include portions of a variable volume pump 200 assembled for use with a filling line or assembled for shipment. For instance, a pump system may include the combination of a base 250, a first bellows 260a, a first guide 270a, a second bellows 260b, a second guide 270b, a nozzle 280, and an adjuster 290. The combination may be assembled, shipped, or used as desired. For example, different parts of a variable volume pump 200 may be assembled in different locations and then shipped to a filling location where all of the parts are combined with filled containers to assemble the variable volume pump 200. Shipping a pump system rather than an entire variable volume pump 200 may save shipping costs and provide more effective logistics for filling and selling variable volume pumps 200.

[0042] Having thus described certain particular embodiments of the invention, it is understood that the invention defined by the appended claims is not to be limited by particular details set forth in the above description, as many apparent variations thereof are contemplated. Rather, the invention is limited only be the appended claims, which include within their scope all equivalent devices or methods which operate according to the principles of the invention as described.