DISPENSER SYSTEM AND METHOD
A dispensing system for dispensing material from a container having an opening secured by a cap through which material from the container is dispensed. The dispensing system comprises a dispenser defining a receptacle shaped to receive the container and a retainer releasably engagable with the cap, wherein the retainer is engagable with the cap via a releasable and resiliently deformable connection providing resistance against withdrawal of the container from the receptacle. In some embodiments, an aperture defined in the retainer is shaped and dimensioned to receive a portion of the cap. In some embodiments, a portion of the retainer is resiliently deformable, and at least partially defines the resiliently deformable connection. In some embodiments, the portion of the retainer is a protrusion extending in a direction toward the receptacle. In some embodiments, the releasable and resiliently deformable connection provides a snap fit engagement between the retainer and the cap.
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As washing machines (e.g. dish washing machines, clothes washing machines, etc.) have become more sophisticated, systems have been implemented to automatically feed such machines with detergents, sanitizers, and/or rinse aids found in liquid, condensed, compressed, granulated, and/or powdered form. Such materials may be automatically delivered to a variety of types of washing machines.
SUMMARYSome embodiments of the present application relate to a dispensing system for dispensing material from a container having an opening secured by a cap through which material from the container is dispensed. The dispensing system comprises a dispenser defining a receptacle shaped to receive the container and a retainer releasably engagable with the cap, wherein the retainer is engagable with the cap via a releasable and resiliently deformable connection providing resistance against withdrawal of the container from the receptacle. In some embodiments, an aperture defined in the retainer is shaped and dimensioned to receive a portion of the cap. In some embodiments, a portion of the retainer is resiliently deformable, and at least partially defines the resiliently deformable connection. In some embodiments, the portion of the retainer is a protrusion extending in a direction toward the receptacle. In some embodiments, the releasable and resiliently deformable connection provides a snap fit engagement between the retainer and the cap.
Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONReferring now to
The coupled portions 22, 24 of the illustrated embodiment allow for a predetermined dose of flowable cleaning material to collect in the measuring opening 30 of the cap 20 when the cutaway portion 32 of the first rotating portion 22 is rotated to expose the measuring opening 30. A dose of cleaning material enters the measuring opening 30 and is retained in the measuring opening 30 by second rotating portion 24. A driving member (not shown) rotates a drive shaft and drive system (also not shown), thereby transferring motion to the coupled portions 22, 24 and causing the first rotating portion 22 to cover the measuring opening 30. Upon further rotation, the second rotating portion 24 exposes the measuring opening 30 to allow delivery of the predetermined dose of cleaning material. At the same time as this cleaning material delivery, the first rotating portion 22 blocks entry of additional cleaning material into the measuring opening 30. When the front edge 38 of the second rotating portion 24 reaches the measuring opening 30, the front edge 38 (in combination with optional resiliently deformable arms 42 of the cap 20) remove any remaining cleaning material.
The dispensing process described above repeats as the cutaway portion 32 of the first rotating portion 22 moves further to expose the measuring opening 30, thereby allowing another dose of cleaning material to collect within the measuring opening 30. In some embodiments, multiple doses are delivered during a single delivery cycle. Further information regarding these and other types of dispensing closures is found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/670,158 filed on Feb. 1, 2007, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference insofar as they relate to dispensing closures and their manner of operation.
Referring to
As shown in
With continued reference to the embodiment of
In some embodiments, the retainer 18 is shaped to resist movement of the dispensing closure 16 (and therefore, the container 12) in a direction away from the receptacle 14. Such movement could otherwise result in partial or full disengagement of the drive shaft and drive system from the dispensing closure 16. In some embodiments, it is desirable to permit removal of the dispensing closure 16 and container 12 from the receptacle 14 by a user, but to still provide sufficient resistance to partial or full disengagement (as described above) resulting from drive system vibration, movement of the drive shaft or drive system, or other forces.
To this end, the retainer 18 shown in
In operation, the key 26 shown in
As described above, unintentional or accidental disengagement of the dispensing closure 16 can be prevented by resilient engagement between the protrusion 48 on the retainer 18 and the key 26 on the dispensing closure 16. Although this resilient engagement is provided in the illustrated embodiment by a resiliently deformable portion (e.g., wall 50) of the dispensing closure 16, this engagement can be provided in a number of other manners falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the protrusion 48 can comprise a resiliently deformable material such as urethane, neoprene or other plastic materials, synthetic or natural rubber, and the like. This type of protrusion 48 can deform upon engagement and/or passage of the key 26, and can at least partially return to its original shape or provide a biasing force to prevent accidental or unintentional disengagement of the dispensing closure 16. In such embodiments, the protrusion 48 can be located on a portion of the retainer 18 that does not deflect or otherwise move upon insertion of the dispensing closure 16, or can be located on such a portion of the retainer 18 as described above.
As another example, the protrusion 48 can instead be located on the dispensing closure 16, such as on the key 26 or on any other portion 52 (e.g., peripheral edge) of the dispensing closure 16. In such embodiments, the protrusion 48 can engage another protrusion of the type described above, or another feature of the retainer 18. Also in such embodiments, the protrusion can resiliently deform to permit insertion of the dispensing closure 16 and/or can be located on the key 26 or other portion of the dispensing closure 16 that resiliently deforms to permit insertion of the dispensing closure 16.
In further embodiments, the protrusion extending from either the retainer 18 or the dispensing closure 16 is movable about a pivot of a respective surface of the retainer 18 or the dispensing closure 16. The protrusion can resiliently deform and/or hinge against a biasing force to permit insertion of the dispensing closure 16.
Although only a single protrusion is shown in the illustrated embodiment of
It should also be noted that in any of the embodiments described and illustrated herein, the protrusion employed for retention of the dispensing closure 16, the element on which the protrusion is located, and/or the element which engages the protrusion can resiliently deform to provide the same desired degree of retaining force described above while still falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention. In these and still other embodiments, a separate element is used to provide resilient engagement between the dispensing closure 16 and the retainer 18. This separate element can provide a biasing force upon the dispensing closure 16, such as upon the key 26 or on another portion of the dispensing closure 16. For example, the retainer 18 or the dispensing closure 16 can be provided with a spring-loaded ball detent resiliently engaging the dispensing closure 16 or the retainer 18, respectively, as the dispensing closure 16 is inserted into the receptacle 14. As another example, the dispensing closure 16 can be fitted with a full or partial O-ring, and/or the retainer 18 can be fitted with part of an O-ring. In such embodiments, the O-ring(s) can deform upon engagement with a passing portion of the dispensing closure 16 or retainer 18, thereby providing a degree of resistance to later withdrawal of the dispensing closure 16. The O-ring(s) can be received within grooves, slots, or other suitable features on the dispensing closure 16 and/or retainer 18 onto which they are fitted, can be retained in place by suitable adhesive or cohesive bonding materials, mechanical fasteners, or in any other manner.
As yet another example, one or more magnets can be located on the dispensing closure 16 and/or on the retainer 18 to provide a biasing force with respect to another magnet on the retainer 18 and/or dispensing closure 16, respectively, or with respect to a material responsive to such magnet(s) on or of the retainer 18 and/or dispensing closure 16, respectively. In such embodiments, the magnet(s) can be positioned to exert a biasing force resisting accidental or unintentional withdrawal of the dispensing closure 16 from the receptacle 14.
Other biasing elements or structures can be utilized to retain the dispensing closure 16 in proper engagement position within the receptacle 14. For example, a pawl and ratchet device can be defined by or otherwise located between the dispensing closure 16 and retainer 18, and can freely permit movement of the dispensing closure 16 in one (i.e., insertion) direction, which preventing movement in an opposite direction without user manipulation of the pawl. Still other biasing elements and structures exist, and fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
The first rotating portion 22 and second rotating portion 24 of the illustrated dispensing closure 16 are operated by engagement of a drive shaft within either or both drive openings 28, 36 of the first and second rotating portions 22, 24. In other embodiments, however, the first rotating portion 22 and second rotating portion 24 can be driven in other manners, including without limitation by a drive system engaging a fin extending from the first rotating portion 22 or second rotating portion 24, by engagement between a drive system and a peripheral edge of the first rotating portion 22 and/or second rotating portion 24, and the like.
Still further embodiments of dispenser system 10 according to the present invention exist. For example, a dispenser system 10 having any of the features described above can receive two containers carrying the same or different chemicals. In some embodiments, the separate containers are utilized to introduce separate cleaning materials (e.g., a sanitizer and a detergent) or chemicals in any other form to a water supply. Also, it should be noted that the dispenser system 10 described with respect to
The illustrated dispensing closure 16 discloses only a single type of delivery device. The present invention can be used in conjunction with any type of dispensing device, such as devices having only one rotatable portion, devices that dispense in a non-rotating method, devices that are not necessarily metered for cleaning material dispensing, and the like.
Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the spirit and scope of one or more independent aspects of the present invention.
Claims
1-5. (canceled)
6. A dispensing system for dispensing material from a container, the dispensing system comprising:
- a dispenser defining a receptacle shaped to receive the container;
- a closure secured to the container and supported by the receptacle, the closure including a cap having an opening through which material from the container is dispensable, a portion of the closure movable relative to the cap to selectively expose the opening in the cap;
- a drive system operably engaged with the closure to drive the movable portion to selectively dispense material from the container; and
- a retainer coupled to the receptacle and releasably engageable with the cap, the cap and the retainer having a keyed relationship and engageable with each other via a resiliently deformable connection to resist removal of the container from the receptacle and to maintain engagement of the drive system with the closure during use.
7. The dispensing system of claim 6, wherein the retainer defines at least a portion of an upstanding wall of the receptacle.
8. The dispensing system of claim 6, wherein the cap has a key and the retainer has an aperture shaped and positioned to receive the key, and wherein a portion of the retainer is resiliently deformable by the key to permit installation and removal of the container relative to the receptacle.
9. The dispensing system of claim 8, wherein the retainer defines at least a portion of a wall of the receptacle and the retainer portion includes a protrusion extending outward from the wall portion into the receptacle.
10. The dispensing system of claim 6, wherein the releasable and resiliently deformable connection provides a snap fit engagement between the retainer and the cap.
11. The dispensing system of claim 6, wherein the retainer is removable and interchangeable with another retainer keyed to another cap.
12. A dispensing system for dispensing material from a container, the dispensing system comprising:
- a dispenser defining a receptacle shaped to receive the container;
- a closure secured to the container and supported by the receptacle, the closure including a cap having an opening through which material from the container is dispensable, a portion of the closure movable relative to the cap to selectively expose the opening in the cap;
- a drive system operably engaged with the closure to drive the movable portion to selectively dispense material from the container; and
- a retainer defining at least a portion of the receptacle supporting the closure and including a protrusion extending into the receptacle and resiliently engageable by the cap to permit installation and resist removal of the container relative to the receptacle, and to maintain engagement of the drive system with the closure during use.
13. The dispensing system of claim 12, wherein the retainer has a wall defining at least the portion of the receptacle, and wherein the protrusion extends outward from the wall.
14. The dispensing system of claim 13, wherein the wall is curved.
15. The dispensing system of claim 13, wherein one of the protrusion and the wall is engageable and resiliently deformable by the cap.
16. The dispensing system of claim 13, wherein the wall is flexible relative to the remainder of the retainer and is resiliently deformable in response to engagement of the protrusion by the cap.
17. The dispensing system of claim 16, wherein the protrusion is disposed adjacent a free end of the wall.
18. The dispensing system of claim 12, wherein the retainer has a flange extending radially outward and engageable with the dispenser adjacent a bottom of the receptacle.
19. The dispensing system of claim 12, wherein the resiliently engageable protrusion and the cap define a snap fit engagement between the retainer and the cap.
20. The dispensing system of claim 12, wherein the retainer is removable and interchangeable with another retainer.
21. A dispensing system for dispensing material from a container, the dispensing system comprising:
- a dispenser defining a receptacle shaped to receive the container;
- a closure secured to the container and supported by the receptacle, the closure including a cap having an opening through which material from the container is dispensable, a portion of the closure movable relative to the cap to selectively expose the opening in the cap;
- a drive system operably engaged with the closure to drive the movable portion to selectively dispense material from the container; and
- a retainer having a wall defining at least a portion of the receptacle supporting the closure, one of at least a portion of the wall and the cap resiliently deformable upon engagement of the wall portion by the cap to permit installation and resist removal of the container relative to the receptacle, and to maintain engagement of the drive system with the closure during use,
- wherein the retainer is removable and interchangeable with another retainer keyed to another cap.
22. The dispensing system of claim 21, wherein the wall is flexible relative to the remainder of the retainer and is resiliently deformable in response to engagement by the cap.
23. The dispensing system of claim 22, wherein the wall is curved.
24. The dispensing system of claim 21, wherein the wall portion is resiliently deformable in response to engagement by the cap and is disposed adjacent a free end of the wall.
25. The dispensing system of claim 21, wherein the wall portion and the cap define a snap fit engagement between the retainer and the cap.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 18, 2013
Publication Date: Jul 25, 2013
Applicant: DIVERSEY, INC. (Sturtevant, WI)
Inventor: Diversey, Inc. (Sturtevant, WI)
Application Number: 13/769,803
International Classification: G01F 11/00 (20060101); B65D 47/00 (20060101);