LIQUID DISPENSER

Abstract

A liquid dispenser apparatus includes a container for housing a liquid, and a spout assembly for dispensing spouts of the liquid from the container. The spout assembly includes a stopping member for stopping dripping of the liquid after each dispensing, thereby allowing the spout assembly to face substantially toward a ground level to avoid splashing a user with liquids.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of prior application Ser. No. 29/278,004, entitled “LIQUID DISINFECTANT DISPENSER,” filed on Mar. 15, 2007, now pending, and also of prior application Ser. No. 29/278,005, entitled “LIQUID DISINFECTANT DISPENSER SPOUT,” filed on Mar. 15, 2007, now pending.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates generally to liquid dispensers, and more particularly to liquid dispenser spout assemblies for dispensing liquids.

2. Description of Prior Art and Related Information

Various liquid dispensers, such as a liquid soap dispenser, have a container for containing the liquid or fluid to be dispensed, and a discharger for dispensing a predetermined amount of liquid therefrom. A typical discharger employs a manually or automatically actuated reciprocating pump attached to the container.

FIG. 1 shows a conventional liquid dispenser 1 formed from a plastic bottle 2 and a conventional pump and spout assembly 3 mounted to the bottle with a threaded cap 4. The illustrated pump and spout assembly 3 is manually actuated. A tube 5 extends downward from the pump and spout assembly 3 to just above the bottom of the bottle 2 so that the pump and spout assembly 3 is in fluidic communication with liquid 6 contained in the bottle 2. The bottle 2 contains a liquid such as liquid soap, lotion, disinfectant, and the like. The liquid 6 is dispensed by pushing downwardly on the pump and spout assembly 3, the liquid 6 being drawn up through the tube 5 (by way of a vacuum or by way of applied pressure “P”) and then discharged from an opening 7 in a direction as shown by arrow 8. When the pump and spout assembly 3 is released, a spring mechanism returns it to the ready position for further manipulation.

The conventional liquid dispensers have employed a curved or bowed spout, as shown in FIG. 1, to minimize dripping subsequent to operation of the dispenser. A substantially vertical discharge would be preferred in many cases, but such orientations often results in dripping, particularly if the liquid being dispensed is of low viscosity. The curved spout helps minimize dripping, but it ejects the dispensed liquid with a lateral component as suggested by the arrow 8 such that liquid may miss the operator's hands and be wasted or worse, may splash the operator's body clothing on accident.

There remains a need, therefore, for an improved liquid dispenser that provides a vertical discharge spout to prevent waste or accidental splashes during operation and that minimizes dripping to prevent waste and unintended discharge subsequent to operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the invention provides a liquid dispenser apparatus. The apparatus includes a container for housing a liquid, and a spout assembly for dispensing spurts of liquid from the container. The spout assembly comprises a stopping member for stopping the dripping of the liquid after each dispensing operation.

In one embodiment, the stopping member comprises a resilient membrane. The resilient membrane is configured to bend outward under pressure from the liquid when the liquid is dispensed, and to retract when the liquid is not being dispensed. The resilient membrane may include a plurality of flap portions.

The spout assembly may further include an outlet portion and a coupler for coupling the stopping member to the outlet portion. In one embodiment, the stopping member has a central opening, and the coupler includes a projection for extending through the central opening of the stopping member, and one or more openings for dispensing the liquid.

The spout assembly may further include a connector portion, the outlet portion being configured to removably couple to the connector portion.

In an alternative embodiment, the stopping member includes a rotatable member having one or more openings. The rotatable member is configured to rotate to expose at least one of the openings to an outlet of the spout assembly for dispensing the liquid from the container, and to rotate to a closed position when not dispensing the liquid.

In a preferred embodiment, the spout assembly is configured to face substantially toward a ground level. An axis of the spout assembly, along which the liquid is dispensed, forms an angle of about 90 degrees relative to the ground level.

In another aspect, the invention provides a spout assembly for a liquid dispenser. The spout assembly includes a stopping member for stopping dripping of the liquid after each dispensing.

In a preferred embodiment, the stopping member includes a resilient membrane, and the resilient membrane is configured to bend outward under a pressure from the liquid dispenser, and to retract when the pressure is released. In one embodiment, the resilient membrane includes a plurality of flap portions.

In an alternative embodiment, the stopping member includes a rotatable member having one or more openings, and the rotatable member is configured to rotate to expose at least one of the openings to an outlet of the spout assembly for dispensing the liquid and to rotate to a closed position when not dispensing liquid.

In one embodiment, the stopping member has a central opening, and the coupler includes a projection for extending through the central opening of the stopping member, and one or more openings for dispensing the liquid. In one embodiment, the spout assembly further includes a connector portion, and the outlet portion is configured to removably couple to the connector portion.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method of dispensing liquid. The method includes providing a container for housing a liquid, and providing a spout assembly for dispensing spouts of the liquid from the container. Providing the spout assembly includes providing a stopping member for stopping dripping of the liquid after each dispensing.

Preferably, the stopping member comprises providing a resilient membrane, and the resilient membrane is configured to bend outward under pressure from the liquid from the container when the container is under a pressure, and to retract when the pressure is released. In one embodiment, the resilient membrane includes a plurality of flap portions.

In one embodiment, providing the stopping member includes providing a rotatable member having one or more openings. The method further includes rotating the stopping member to expose at least one of the openings to an outlet of the spout assembly for dispensing the liquid from the container, and to rotate to a closed position when not dispensing liquid. The spout assembly may further include a connector portion, and providing the outlet portion includes removably coupling the outlet portion to the connector portion.

In one embodiment, providing the spout assembly comprises facing the spout assembly substantially toward a ground level.

The method may further include replacing one of the container, the spout assembly, and the stopping member.

In summary, a liquid dispenser apparatus includes a container for housing a liquid, and a spout assembly for dispensing spouts of the liquid from the container. The spout assembly includes a stopping member for stopping dripping of the liquid after each dispensing, thereby allowing the spout assembly to face substantially toward a ground level to avoid splashing a user with liquids.

The invention, now having been briefly summarized, may be better visualized by turning to the following drawings wherein like elements are referenced by like numerals.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a conventional liquid dispenser;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a liquid dispenser in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the liquid dispenser of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the liquid dispenser of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the liquid dispenser of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is front elevation view of the liquid dispenser of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is rear elevation view of the liquid dispenser of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a close-up cross-sectional view of the liquid dispenser's spout assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of the spout assembly of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an exploded view of a spout assembly in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an alternative stopping member of a spout assembly in accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention.

The invention and its various embodiments can now be better understood by turning to the following detailed description wherein illustrated embodiments are described. It is to be expressly understood that the illustrated embodiments are set forth as examples and not by way of limitations on the invention as ultimately defined in the claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A preferred embodiment of a liquid dispenser apparatus is illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 9 and designated generally by the reference numeral 20. The liquid dispenser apparatus 20 is uniquely configured to avoid splashing liquids toward the user rather than to the desired location (e.g., the hands), and to prevent inadvertent dripping of the liquid after each use.

As shown in the perspective view of FIG. 2, the preferred liquid dispenser apparatus 20 includes a container, housing, or bottle, 22 as a reservoir for the liquid to be dispensed during many uses. A dispensing assembly 23, which is of particular interest to the invention, is coupled to the bottle 22 through a cap 24. The dispensing assembly 23 comprises a neck portion 25 and a spout assembly 26.

As show in the exemplary configuration of FIG. 2, the bottle 22 is typically disposed on a surface 27 (or otherwise held in a desired location by any suitable means). The surface 27 may be, for example, a surface of a table or a stand parallel to the ground level. An axis 29 extending along the spout assembly 26, which is also the direction in which the liquid or fluid is dispensed, forms an angle α with the surface 27 or the ground level. In a preferred embodiment, the angle α is about 90°. As more clearly shown in the side elevation view of FIG. 5, the preferred spout assembly 26 is substantially perpendicular to the neck portion 25, i.e., the angle β between the axis 25a of the neck portion 25 and the axis 29 of the spout assembly 26 is about 90°.

Such a substantially vertical configuration of the spout assembly 26 is not normally used in conventional liquid dispensers, such as that shown in FIG. 1, because of dripping issues. For example, in the conventional liquid dispenser 1 shown in FIG. 1, the pump and spout assembly 3 is arced, or curved, or bowed, and the dispensed liquid spout needs to travel along a forward direction indicated by the arrow 8 before reaching the user's hand, to reduce the dripping after each use. However, such a configuration may cause the liquid to splash the user. These drawbacks in the conventional liquid dispensers are overcome by embodiments of the claimed invention, as described in more detail below.

FIGS. 3-7 provide a top plan view, a bottom plan view, a side elevation view, a front elevation view, and a back elevation view of the liquid dispenser apparatus 20. The construction and operation of the preferred dispenser can be best understood by referring to these figures in conjunction with FIGS. 8 and 9.

Referring now to FIG. 8, this figure shows a close-up cross-sectional view of the dispensing assembly 23 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. When the dispensing assembly 23 is pressed in the direction shown as arrow 28, liquid is forced upward from the bottle 22, and then horizontally through a passage in the neck portion 25 along the direction shown as arrow 30, and downward through the spout assembly 26.

The preferred spout assembly 26 comprises an outlet portion 34, and a connector portion 36. The outlet portion 34 may be threadably coupled to the connector portion 36 using threads 38. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that other means for coupling are possible between the outlet portion 34 and the connector portion 36. The preferred outlet portion 34 can be easily attached to the connector portion 36 during assembly, and can be easily removed from the spout assembly 26 for cleaning to avoid clogging, or for replacement.

As shown, the preferred outlet portion 34 comprises a stopping member 32, which may be removably, or fixedly, coupled to a coupler 40 of the outlet portion 34 by stretching an aperture in its center around and beyond an expanded head of a projection 40d of the coupler 40. The stopping member 32 can be easily replaced if needed. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the stopping member 32 is composed of a resilient membrane that is pushed open by the pressure from the liquid as indicated by arrows 42. When the pressing force 28 is released, the stopping member 32 retracts back to its original position adjacent the coupler indicated by a plane 40a. The resilient force of the stopping member 32 contributes to the retraction of the stopping member 32. A suction force inside the bottle 22 when the pressing force 28 is released may also assist in sealing the stopping member 32 against the coupler 40.

As shown in FIG. 8, the preferred stopping member 32 has a traveling range “d” from the retracted, closed position 40a to the extended, open position 40b. Where alcohol is to be dispensed, the preferred stopping member 32 is formed from a silicone membrane, or any other alcohol resistant rubber. Other materials may be used with equal utility.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the spout assembly 26 of FIG. 8 taken along section lines 43-43. Here, the relationship of the stopping member 32 relative to the coupler 40 is well illustrated (see also FIG. 4.).

In the preferred embodiment of FIGS. 2-9, the stopping member 32 is formed from a single resilient membrane that is substantially circular in shape and configured to cover a plurality of openings 40a, 40b, 40c on the coupler 40 when in its substantially flat or retracted position. Although three (3) openings are shown, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that fewer or more openings may be included.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the spout assembly 26 that is similar to FIG. 8, but having an alternative spout assembly 43. As shown, the alternative spout assembly 43 comprises a stopping member 46 having a plurality of resilient flap portions 46a, 46b, 46c that extend outward from a common ring-shaped portion and that can independently, or collectively, open or close. The stopping member 46 has a central opening 46d, through which a projection 49d of the coupler 49 extends, thus allowing the stopping member 46 to be coupled to the outlet portion 48. The outlet portion 48 has an inner threaded section 50 configured to be coupled to the outer threaded section 54 of the connector portion 52.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a second alternative stopping member which comprises a rotatable member 56. The rotatable member 56 is formed from a rigid material, such as plastic, and has a plurality of openings 56a, 56b, 56c. The rotatable member 56 is driven by a rotating mechanism 56d to rotate as indicated by arrow 58, to align one or more of the openings 56a, 56b, 56c with one or more openings/outlets of a coupler, thus dispensing the liquid when appropriate and preventing dripping when the dispensing operation has been completed. The rotation may be driven by liquid pressure, or by spring forces in synchronization with the liquid pressure changes. The rotating mechanism 56d may be any means known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

In the following, a method of dispensing liquids is summarized with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 2, bottle 22 is filled/replenished with liquids such as an alcohol-based disinfectant or detergent. Alternatively, the bottle 22 may be disposable, and may be pre-filled with liquids that are not to be replenished. In the case of manual dispensing, the dispensing assembly 23 may be pressed manually in the direction shown with the arrow 28 (FIG. 8). Alternatively, an automatic mechanism known to those of ordinary skill in the art can be employed. Liquid is forced or drawn upward through the neck portion 25 along the direction shown as arrow 30, toward the spout assembly 26. The resilient membrane of the stopping member bends outward under pressure from the liquid. A portion of liquid is dispensed out of the spout assembly 26. When the pressing force 28 is released from the dispenser assembly 23, the liquid is drawn back from the neck portion 25 along a direction opposite to the arrow 30, toward the bottle 22. The resilient membrane of the stopping member retracts under its own resilient force, thereby stopping the liquid from dripping. The spout assembly 26, the stopping member 32, or the outlet portion 40 may be easily disassembled for cleaning and for replacing parts.

Many alterations and modifications may be made by those having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it must be understood that the illustrated embodiments have been set forth only for the purposes of examples and that they should not be taken as limiting the invention as defined by the following claims. For example, notwithstanding the fact that the elements of a claim are set forth below in a certain combination, it must be expressly understood that the invention includes other combinations of fewer, more or different ones of the disclosed elements.

The words used in this specification to describe the invention and its various embodiments are to be understood not only in the sense of their commonly defined meanings, but to include by special definition in this specification the generic structure, material or acts of which they represent a single species.

The definitions of the words or elements of the following claims are, therefore, defined in this specification to not only include the combination of elements which are literally set forth. In this sense it is therefore contemplated that an equivalent substitution of two or more elements may be made for any one of the elements in the claims below or that a single element may be substituted for two or more elements in a claim. Although elements may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, it is to be expressly understood that one or more elements from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination and that the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.

Insubstantial changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalently within the scope of the claims. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements.

The claims are thus to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptually equivalent, what can be obviously substituted and also what incorporates the essential idea of the invention.

Claims

1. A liquid dispenser apparatus, comprising:

a container for housing a liquid; and

a spout assembly for dispensing liquid from the container,

wherein the spout assembly comprises a stopping member for stopping dripping of the liquid after each dispensing.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the stopping member comprises a resilient membrane, and wherein the resilient membrane is configured to bend outward under pressure from the liquid being dispensed and to retract when the liquid is not being dispensed.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

the resilient membrane comprises a plurality of flap portions.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

the spout assembly further comprises: an outlet portion; and a coupler for coupling the stopping member to the outlet portion.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the stopping member has a central opening, and wherein the coupler comprises:

a projection for extending through the central opening of the stopping member; and

one or more openings for dispensing the liquid.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the spout assembly further comprises a connector portion, and wherein the outlet portion is configured to removably couple to the connector portion.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the stopping member comprises a rotatable member having one or more openings, and wherein the rotatable member is configured to rotate to expose at least one of the openings to an outlet of the spout assembly for dispensing the liquid from the container, and to rotate to a closed position when not dispensing the liquid.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the spout assembly is configured to face substantially toward a ground level.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

an axis of the spout assembly, along which the liquid is dispensed, forms an angle of about 90 degrees to the ground level.

10. A spout assembly for a liquid dispenser, comprising:

a stopping member for stopping dripping of the liquid after each dispensing.

11. The spout assembly of claim 10, wherein:

the stopping member comprises a resilient membrane, and wherein the resilient membrane is configured to bend outward under a pressure from the liquid dispenser, and to retract when the pressure is released.

12. The spout assembly of claim 11, wherein:

the resilient membrane comprises a plurality of flap portions.

13. The spout assembly of claim 10, wherein:

the stopping member comprises a rotatable member having one or more openings, and wherein the rotatable member is configured to rotate to expose at least one of the openings to an outlet of the spout assembly for dispensing the liquid and to rotate to a closed position when not dispensing liquid.

14. The spout assembly of claim 13, wherein the stopping member has a central opening, and wherein the coupler comprises:

a projection for extending through the central opening of the stopping member; and

one or more openings for dispensing the liquid.

15. The spout assembly of claim 13, further comprising a connector portion, wherein the outlet portion is configured to removably couple to the connector portion.

16. A method of dispensing liquid, comprising:

providing a container for housing a liquid; and

providing a spout assembly for dispensing spouts of the liquid from the container,

wherein providing the spout assembly comprises providing a stopping member for stopping dripping of the liquid after each dispensing.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein:

providing the stopping member comprises providing a resilient membrane, and wherein the resilient membrane is configured to bend outward under pressure from the liquid from the container when the container is under a pressure, and to retract when the pressure is released.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein:

the resilient membrane comprises a plurality of flap portions.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein:

providing the stopping member comprises providing a rotatable member having one or more openings, the method further comprising:

rotating the stopping member to expose at least one of the openings to an outlet of the spout assembly for dispensing the liquid from the container, and to rotate to a closed position when not dispensing the liquid.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the spout assembly further comprises a connector portion, and wherein providing the outlet portion comprises removably coupling the outlet portion to the connector portion.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein:

providing the spout assembly comprises facing the spout assembly substantially toward a ground level.

22. The method of claim 16, further comprising replacing one of the container, the spout assembly, and the stopping member.