U.S. patent application number 13/792118 was filed with the patent office on 2013-12-26 for portable liquid dispenser.
This patent application is currently assigned to GOJO Industries, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Matthew Archer. Invention is credited to Matthew Archer.
Application Number | 20130341354 13/792118 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49773560 |
Filed Date | 2013-12-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130341354 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Archer; Matthew |
December 26, 2013 |
PORTABLE LIQUID DISPENSER
Abstract
Portable liquid dispensers are disclosed herein, including a
bracket and a pouch. The pouch comprises a container portion, a
flange portion surrounding the container portion, and a channel
portion formed in the flange portion for providing fluid
communication from an interior of the container portion through the
flange portion. The bracket holds the flange portion of the pouch
in order to form the liquid dispenser.
Inventors: |
Archer; Matthew; (Aurora,
OH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Archer; Matthew |
Aurora |
OH |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
GOJO Industries, Inc.
Akron
OH
|
Family ID: |
49773560 |
Appl. No.: |
13/792118 |
Filed: |
March 10, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61664391 |
Jun 26, 2012 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
222/105 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K 5/1201 20130101;
B65D 75/5883 20130101; A47K 5/122 20130101; B65D 77/06 20130101;
B65D 83/0055 20130101; B05B 11/00412 20180801 |
Class at
Publication: |
222/105 |
International
Class: |
B65D 35/56 20060101
B65D035/56 |
Claims
1. A liquid dispenser comprising a bracket and a pouch, wherein the
bracket comprises a first portion and a second portion, such that
the first portion may be releasably connected to the second portion
in a closed bracket position; the pouch comprises a container
portion, a flange portion at least partially surrounding the
container portion, and a channel portion formed in the flange
portion for providing fluid communication from an interior of the
container portion through the flange portion; wherein the first
portion and the second portion of the bracket hold the flange
portion of the pouch when in the closed bracket position in order
to form the liquid dispenser.
2. The liquid dispenser of claim 1, wherein the first portion and
the second portion of the bracket are permanently connected to each
other by a living hinge.
3. The liquid dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a releasable
connection means for releasably connecting the first portion and
the second portion of the bracket in the closed bracket
position.
4. The liquid dispenser of claim 1, wherein the first portion of
the bracket comprises a receptacle and the second portion of the
bracket comprises a post, such that the post snap-fits into the
receptacle when the bracket is in the closed bracket position.
5. The liquid dispenser of claim 4, wherein the pouch further
comprises an aperture to receive the post when the bracket is in
the closed bracket position.
6. The liquid dispenser of claim 1, wherein the first portion of
the bracket comprises an outer edge lip element and the second
portion of the bracket comprises an outer edge socket element, such
that the lip element snap-fits into the socket element when the
bracket is in the closed bracket position.
7. The liquid dispenser of claim 1, wherein the first and second
portions of the bracket each comprise an orifice which receives the
container portion of the pouch when the bracket is in the closed
bracket position.
8. The liquid dispenser of claim 7, wherein the first and second
portions surround an entire periphery of the container portion of
the pouch when the bracket is in the closed bracket position.
9. The liquid dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a slot for
attaching the liquid dispenser to another item.
10. The liquid dispenser of claim 1, wherein the pouch further
comprises a closure means for helping to ensure that liquid is not
unintentionally dispensed from the container portion of the
pouch.
11. The liquid dispenser of claim 1, wherein the pouch further
comprises at least one of a valve and a pump disposed in the
channel portion.
12. The liquid dispenser of claim 11, wherein at least one of the
first and second portions of the bracket comprises a fitment which
receives the valve or pump when the bracket is in the closed
bracket position.
13. The liquid dispenser of claim 11, wherein the pouch comprises
an elastomeric dome pump.
14. The liquid dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a removable
cap disposed over an outlet of the pouch.
15. A pouch for use with a bracket in order to form a liquid
dispenser, wherein the bracket comprises a first portion and a
second portion such that the first portion may be releasably
connected to the second portion in a closed bracket position, the
pouch comprising: a container portion, a flange portion at least
partially surrounding the container portion, and a channel portion
formed in the flange portion for providing fluid communication from
an interior of the container portion through the flange portion,
such that the first portion and the second portion of the bracket
hold the flange portion of the pouch when in the closed bracket
position in order to form the liquid dispenser.
16. A refill unit for use with a liquid dispenser, the refill unit
comprising a pouch having: a container portion forming an interior
of the pouch; a flange portion at least partially surrounding the
container portion, with at least one aperture disposed in the
flange portion for securing the pouch in the dispenser; and a
liquid outlet connecting the pouch interior with an environment
outside of the pouch.
17. The refill unit of claim 16, further comprising a closure means
for the liquid outlet.
18. The refill unit of claim 16, further comprising a closure for
the liquid outlet.
19. The refill unit of claim 17, wherein the closure comprises at
least one of a valve, a pump, and a cap.
20. A refill unit for use with a liquid dispenser, the refill unit
comprising a pouch having: a container portion forming an interior
of the pouch; a flange portion at least partially surrounding the
container portion and configured to be retained by a dispenser
housing to hold the pouch in the dispenser; and a liquid outlet
connecting the pouch interior with an environment outside of the
pouch; and a closure for the liquid outlet.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This non-provisional utility patent application claims
priority to and the benefits of U.S. Provisional Patent Application
Ser. No. 61/664,391 filed on Jun. 26, 2012, and entitled PORTABLE
LIQUID DISPENSER. This application is incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates generally to liquid dispenser
systems and more particularly to a portable liquid dispenser, as
well as a disposable refill/replacement pouch for using with such a
dispenser.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Liquid dispenser systems, such as liquid soap and sanitizer
dispensers, provide a user with an amount of liquid upon actuation
of the dispenser. It is desirable to provide such a dispenser that
is portable, easily recharged once the dispenser runs out of liquid
to dispense, and inexpensive to produce.
SUMMARY
[0004] Portable liquid dispensers are disclosed herein. In one
embodiment, a liquid dispenser comprises a bracket and a pouch. The
bracket comprises a first portion and a second portion, such that
the first portion may be releasably connected to the second portion
in a closed bracket position. The pouch comprises a container
portion, a flange portion surrounding the container portion, and a
channel portion formed in the flange portion for providing fluid
communication from an interior of the container portion through the
flange portion. The first portion and the second portion of the
bracket hold the flange portion of the pouch when in the closed
bracket position in order to form the liquid dispenser.
[0005] In this way, a simple and economical portable liquid
dispenser including a replaceable pouch is provided.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] These and other features and advantages of the present
invention will become better understood with regard to the
following description and accompanying drawings in which:
[0007] FIG. 1 is a front view of a portable liquid dispenser
100;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a front view of a pouch 200 for use in the
dispenser 100;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a bracket 300 for use in the
dispenser 100, and partially shows how the valve member 208 of the
pouch 200 fits within the bracket 300; and
[0010] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the dispenser 100, with an
attachment 400.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0011] FIG. 1 illustrates a first exemplary embodiment of a
portable liquid dispenser 100. The dispenser 100 includes a pouch
200 and a bracket 300, which are described further below. A slot
102 in the dispenser 100 provides a simple means of attaching the
dispenser 100 to another item, such as a keychain, carabiner,
necklace, bracelet, purse, book bag, identification card, IV stand,
or the like. An outlet 104 of the dispenser 100 discharges a liquid
upon actuation of the dispenser 100. A pouch release 106 of the
dispenser 100 may be operated to remove the pouch 200 from the
bracket 300, for example to replace a depleted pouch with a new
liquid-filled pouch.
[0012] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary pouch 200 for use in the
dispenser 100. The pouch 200 includes a flange portion 202
surrounding a container portion 204. The container portion 204
provides a flexible bag-like container to store a supply of liquid
within an interior of the pouch 200 and therefore the dispenser
100. In various embodiments, the contained liquid could be for
example a soap, a sanitizer, a cleanser, a disinfectant or some
other dispensable liquid. The exemplary pouch 200 is composed of a
flexible film material which is sealed around the edges in order to
form the flange portion 202. The seal may be a heat weld, an
adhesive, or the like. The pouch 200 may advantageously be
refillable, replaceable or both refillable and replaceable within
the bracket 300. In other embodiments the pouch 200 may be neither
refillable nor replaceable within the bracket 300.
[0013] The flange portion 202 of the pouch 200 generally forms a
seal around the container portion 204 so that liquid held within
the container portion 204 will not leak out of the pouch 200.
However, an exit channel 206 is formed within the otherwise sealed
flange portion 202. When a user actuates the dispenser 100, such as
for example by squeezing the container portion 204, liquid may
escape from the container portion 204 through the exit channel
206.
[0014] A closure means may be placed within or next to the exit
channel 206 in order to help ensure that liquid is not
unintentionally dispensed from the container portion 204. The
closure means may comprise, for example, a valve member 208 held
within the channel 206, such as by heat welding. The valve 208 may
be a slit valve or any other type of valve that has a desired
cracking pressure. Preferably, the cracking pressure of the valve
208 is high enough so that the liquid contained within the pouch
200 is not accidentally dispensed. A suitable valve 208 is an LMS
valve with a backing member.
[0015] In alternative embodiments, the closure means may include a
pumping mechanism (not shown), such as an elastomeric dome pump.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,806,301 to Ciavarella et al., U.S. Patent
Application Publication No. 2008/0149666 to LaFlamme et al., and
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2011/0031278 to Han de Man
each disclose a suitable elastomeric dome pump structure for use as
a closure means in the pouch 200. Those three references are each
hereby incorporated by reference into the present disclosure for
their respective teachings regarding elastomeric dome pump
assemblies.
[0016] The closure means may also include a cap 210 placed over the
outlet 206 of the pouch 200. In some embodiments, the cap 210 is
removable from the pouch 200 but not replaceable. Such a cap 210 is
useful, for example, to help ensure liquid does not escape from the
container portion 204 during shipment and storage of the pouch 200
before it is placed within a bracket 300 to form a dispenser 100. A
removable but not replaceable cap 210 may comprise a tear off tab.
In other embodiments, the cap 210 may be both removable and
replaceable. Such a cap 210 remains in place over the channel 206
until it is removed by a user in order to actuate the dispenser
100, and then re-installed by the user over the channel 206 after
actuation. A removable and replaceable cap 210 may comprise a
threaded element or a snap-fit element which fits over a mating
element on a valve member 208 or a pumping mechanism.
[0017] The closure means may include only a valve member 208, only
a pump mechanism (not shown), only a cap 210, or any combination
thereof. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize several
other structures which will form or supplement a suitable closure
means for the exit channel 206.
[0018] A foaming element (not shown) may also be disposed in the
exit channel 206. Such a foaming element mixes liquid from the
container portion 204 together with air in a swirling motion to
form a foamy mixture as the liquid is dispensed through the exit
channel 206. Suitable foaming elements include, for example, one or
more screens, meshes, porous membranes, or sponges. In that event,
the dispenser 100 may include an air pump (not shown) with an air
conduit leading to a mixing chamber (not shown) disposed within the
exit channel 206.
[0019] The flange portion 202 of the pouch 200 may have one or more
apertures 212 formed therein. The particular embodiment of FIG. 2
has a total of eight apertures 212 formed within the flange portion
202. The flange portion 202 may also have a slot portion 214 formed
therein.
[0020] The container portion 204 of the pouch 200 may have a face
216 on which product information, advertising information,
instructions, or the like are provided. FIGS. 1 and 2 show two
different exemplary embodiments of such a face 216. The face 216
may contain identification information, so that the dispenser 100
may simultaneously serve as an identification card for use in large
facilities such as hospitals, restaurants or factories in which
employee sanitation is a particular concern.
[0021] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary bracket 300 for use in the
dispenser 100. The exemplary bracket 300 is composed of a single
member including a first portion 302 and a second portion 304
connected by a living hinge 306. Other bracket embodiments (not
shown) may be composed of separate first and second portions
without any hinge or other element which permanently connects the
two portions. The bracket 300 is formed of a relatively rigid
material in comparison with the pouch 200, such as an injection
molded ABS plastic material. FIG. 3 illustrates the bracket 300 in
an open position. A releasable connection means permits the first
bracket portion 302 to be connected to the second bracket portion
304 in a closed position so that the flange portion 202 of the
pouch 200 is held in between to form a dispenser 100. FIGS. 1 and 4
illustrate the bracket 300 in a closed position.
[0022] In one embodiment, the releasable connection means includes
one or more posts on one of the bracket portions 302 and 304 which
snap-fit into mating receptacles in the opposite bracket portion.
In the embodiment 300 shown in FIG. 3, eight posts 308 are formed
in the second bracket portion 304, while eight mating receptacles
310 are formed in the first bracket portion 302. Of course, any
number of post-receptacle combinations may be used, and the
post-receptacle orientation between the two bracket portions may be
reversed. When the bracket portions 302 and 304 are closed about
the hinge 306, the posts 308 are received within the receptacles
310 to releasably connect the bracket portions 302 and 304. In some
embodiments, the flange portion 202 of the pouch 200 may have
apertures 212 which also receive the posts 308 upon connection of
the first and second bracket portions 302 and 304. This helps to
ensure the pouch 200 is properly aligned between the two bracket
portions 302 and 304 to form a dispenser 100.
[0023] In another embodiment, the releasable connection means
includes outer edge elements on the bracket portions 302 and 304
which snap-fit together upon connection between the two bracket
portions. Thus, in the embodiment 300 of FIG. 3, the first bracket
portion 302 has a lip 312 which snap-fits into a socket 314 on the
second bracket portion 304. When the bracket portions 302 and 304
are closed about the hinge 306, the lip 312 is received within the
socket 314 to releasably connect the bracket portions 302 and 304.
In this way a pouch release 106 is also formed, such that a user
may easily pull the lip 312 apart from the socket 314 to separate
the two bracket portions 302 and 304 and thereby release the pouch
200.
[0024] The releasable connection means may include only the posts
308 and the receptacles 310, or only the lip 312 and the socket
314, or both structures. One of ordinary skill in the art will
recognize several other structures which will form or supplement a
suitable connection means between the two bracket portions 302 and
304. In this way the liquid dispenser 100 allows for a simple and
inexpensive replacement of the liquid supply. Once the supply of
liquid in the container portion 204 of the pouch 200 runs out, the
now-empty disposable pouch 200 may be replaced with a new pouch 200
containing a supply of liquid.
[0025] The two bracket portions 302 and 304 may have mating slot
portions 316. Upon connection between the two bracket portions 302
and 304, the slot portions 316 align with the slot portion 214 of
the pouch 200 in order to form the slot 102 of the dispenser
100.
[0026] When the two bracket portions 302 and 304 are connected
together in a closed position, they form a common orifice 318 which
receives the container portion 204 of the pouch 200. In that way,
the user may easily determine when the supply of liquid in the
container portion 204 has run out. And, if the dispenser 100 is
actuated by squeezing the container portion 204 to dispense liquid,
this allows easy access by the user.
[0027] The two bracket portions 302 and 304 have fitments 320 to
form a channel which corresponds to the exit channel 206 of the
pouch 200. If the closure means of the pouch 200 is autonomous,
such as a valve 208, the fitments 320 may be shaped to completely
enclose the closure means within the bracket 300. If on the other
hand the closure means of the pouch 200 require user interaction,
such as a pumping mechanism or cap, the fitments 320 may be shaped
to permit user access to and operation of the closure means. In one
embodiment, a cap (not shown) is connected to the fitments 320 in
order to close off the outlet 206.
[0028] In some embodiments, it may be useful to form the pouch 200
closure means as part of the bracket 300 rather than the pouch 200
itself. As discussed above, FIG. 3 partially shows how the valve
member 208 of the pouch 200 may fit within the bracket 300. In an
alternative embodiment (not shown), the slit valve or other type of
valve may be placed in the fitments 320 of the bracket 300. In that
event, the valve 208 need not be incorporated with the disposable
pouch 200, decreasing the costs of making replacement pouches 200.
However, moving the valve to the bracket 300 can complicate the
assembly of the dispenser 100, because it requires making a liquid
flow connection and not merely mechanical connections.
[0029] FIG. 4 illustrates an attachment 400 attached to the
portable dispenser 100 via the slot 102. The illustrated attachment
400 is a carabiner lanyard mechanism, which may in turn be attached
to a person's belt, purse, coat, or other accessory or article of
clothing. A lanyard string portion (not shown) of the attachment
400 is retractably stored within a housing 402 in order to permit
easily portable use of the dispenser 100.
[0030] While the present invention has been illustrated by the
description of embodiments thereof and while the embodiments have
been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of
the applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the
appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and
modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art.
Therefore, the invention, in its broader aspects, is not limited to
the specific details, the representative apparatus and illustrative
examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made
from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of the
applicant's general inventive concept.
* * * * *