Container insert for use in a closed loop dispensing system

• US 10,414,645 B1
• Filed: 02/05/2019
• Issued: 09/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2019
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rodney Laible
• Original Assignee: Rodney Laible
• Inventors: Laible, Rodney
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaw, Benjamin R
• Application Number:
  US16/267,867
• Time in Patent Office: 224 Days
• Field of Search: 2224815
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/32 with means for venting
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/38 with piercing means arranged to act subsequently as a valve to control the opening
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/0294 Combined with valves
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/04 for transferring fuels, lubricants or mixed fuels and lubricants
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/0478 constructional features or components vapour recovery nozzles B67D7/54

Abstract

An insert is disclosed for use with a closed loop dispensing system. The insert is press-fitted into the throat of a liquid container. The insert includes a normally closed chemical valve which is opened when pierced by a vertically movable lance to permit the liquid in the container to be dispensed to a mixing machine or the like. The insert also includes a plurality of radially spaced-apart bi-directional valves which automatically permit air to be vented into the container. The bi-directional valves also permit off-gassing of gas in the container.

Claims

1. A closed loop dispensing system including a liquid container having a throat with an inside surface and an externally threaded portion, comprising:

a container insert for positioning in said throat;

said container insert including;

(a) a horizontally disposed ring-shaped lip having an upper side, a lower side, an outer end and an inner end;

(b) a generally cylindrical upper wall member having an open upper end, an open lower end, an inner side and an outer side;

(c) said upper wall member extending downwardly from said inner end of said lip whereby said lip protrudes outwardly from said upper end of said upper wall member;

(d) a generally cylindrical lower wall member having an open upper end, an open lower end, an inner side and an outer side;

(e) said lower wall member extending downwardly from said lower end of said upper wall member whereby said lower end of upper wall member is positioned outwardly of said upper end of said lower wall member thereby creating an annular-shaped shoulder therebetween which has an upper and a lower end;

(f) a horizontally disposed and generally disc-shaped wall at said lower end of said upper wall member having an upper side and a lower side;

(g) a vertically disposed and cylindrical hollow tube, having an open upper end and an open lower end, centrally positioned in said disc-shaped wall;

(h) said open upper end of said hollow tube being positioned above said disc-shaped wall;

(i) said open lower end of said hollow tube being positioned below said disc-shaped wall;

(j) a flexible valve, having an upper side and a lower side, positioned in said open upper end of said hollow tube to normally close said open upper end of said hollow tube;

(k) said disc-shaped wall having a plurality of radially spaced-apart and downwardly extending hollow protrusions formed therein with each of said protrusions having an open upper end and an open lower end;

(l) each of said protrusions having a bi-directional valve at said lower end thereof;

(m) each of said bi-directional valves being normally closed to prevent liquid from passing upwardly therethrough;

(n) each of said bi-directional valves being movable downwardly to an open position to permit air to pass downwardly therethrough to vent the container;

(o) each of said bi-directional valves being movable upwardly to an open position to permit gas in the container to pass upwardly therethrough;

a dispensing cap assembly having upper and lower ends;

said lower end of said dispensing cap assembly being threadably secured to the externally threaded portion of said throat of said liquid container so as to extend upwardly therefrom;

said dispensing cap assembly having a selectively vertically movable hollow lance mounted therein which is movable between an upper position and a lower position with respect to said valve of said container insert;

said hollow lance having an open upper end and a pointed open lower end;

said lance being configured to permit liquid to flow upwardly therethrough;

said pointed lower end of said hollow lance being positioned above said flexible valve when said lance is in said upper position;

said pointed lower end of said hollow lance extending downwardly through said flexible valve, to pierce and open said flexible valve, when said lance is moved downwardly from said upper position to said lower position;

said dispensing cap including structure to selectively cause the movement of said hollow lance from said upper position to said lower position and to cause said hollow lance to move from said lower position to said upper position;

a normally closed one-way valve mounted on said upper end of said lance and which has a liquid intake side and a liquid discharge side;

said normally closed one-way valve preventing the downward flow of liquid therethrough when said lance is in said upper position;

said normally closed one-way valve being movable to an open position to permit the flow of liquid upwardly therethrough from said container insert and said liquid container when said lance is in said lower position; and

said dispensing cap assembly includes a dispenser tube extending therefrom which is in liquid communication with said liquid discharge side of said normally closed one-way valve.

2. The closed loop dispensing system of claim 1 wherein said dispensing cap assembly includes structure for moving said lance and said one-way valve between said upper and lower positions.

3. The closed loop dispensing system of claim 2 wherein said structure for moving said lance and said one-way valve between said upper and lower positions comprises a cam follower mechanism.

4. The closed loop dispensing system of claim 1 further including structure for selectively maintaining said lance in said upper position.

5. The closed loop dispensing system of claim 1 further including structure for selectively maintaining said lance in said lower position.

6. The closed loop dispensing system of claim 4 wherein said structure for selectively maintaining said lance in said upper position comprises a coil spring.

7. A closed loop dispensing system including a liquid container having a threaded throat with an inside surface, comprising:

a container insert, having upper and lower ends, positioned in said throat;

said container insert having a liquid flow channel, with upper and lower ends, extending upwardly therethrough;

said lower end of said liquid flow channel being in communication with the liquid in the liquid container;

a resealable valve member normally closing upper end of said liquid flow channel;

a dispensing cap assembly having a liquid flow channel, having upper and lower ends, secured to throat of said liquid container;

said lower end of said liquid flow channel of said dispensing cap assembly being in communication with said resealable valve member;

said upper end of said liquid flow channel of said dispensing cap assembly being configured to be secured to a dispensing tube;

a selectively vertically movable hollow lance positioned in said liquid flow channel of said dispensing cap assembly;

said hollow lance being selectively movable between an upper position and a lower position;

said hollow lance, when in said upper position, being spaced from said resealable valve member; and

said hollow lance, when in said lower position, piercing said resealable valve member to permit liquid from the liquid container to flow upwardly therethrough to the dispensing tube.

8. The closed loop dispensing system of claim 7 further including a one-way valve associated with said hollow lance to prevent liquid flow downwardly through said hollow lance while permitting liquid flow upwardly through said hollow lance.

9. The closed loop dispensing system of claim 7 further including structure for selectively maintaining said hollow lance in said upper position.

10. The closed loop dispensing system of claim 7 further including structure for selectively maintaining said hollow lance in said lower position.

11. A container insert for insertion into the throat of a liquid container of a closed loop dispensing system, comprising:

a plastic substrate portion including;

(a) a horizontally disposed ring-shaped lip having an upper side, a lower side, an outer end and an inner end;

(b) a generally cylindrical upper wall member having an open upper end, an open lower end, an inner side and an outer side;

(c) said upper wall member extending downwardly from said inner end of said lip whereby said lip protrudes outwardly from said upper end of said upper wall member;

(d) a horizontally disposed and generally disc-shaped wall at said lower end of said upper wall member having an upper side and a lower side;

(e) a generally cylindrical lower wall member having an open upper end, an open lower end, an inner side and an outer side;

(f) said lower wall member extending downwardly from said disc-shaped wall inwardly of said lower end of said upper wall member;

(g) a vertically disposed and cylindrical hollow tube, having an open upper end and an open lower end, molded with said disc-shaped wall at the center of said disc-shaped wall;

(h) said open upper end of said hollow tube being positioned above said disc-shaped wall;

(i) said open lower end of said hollow tube being positioned below said disc-shaped wall;

(j) said open lower end of said hollow tube being configured to have a dip tube secured thereto with the dip tube being in liquid communication with the container;

(k) said disc-shaped wall having a plurality of radially spaced-apart openings formed therein outwardly of said hollow tube;

an over-molded portion including;

(a) a horizontally disposed and ring-shaped lip positioned on said upper side of said lip of said substrate portion with said lip having an inner end and an outer end;

(b) a vertically disposed first wall section, having upper and lower ends, extending downwardly from said outer end of said lip of said over-molded portion outwardly of said lip of said substrate portion;

(c) a horizontally disposed second wall section, having inner and outer ends, extending inwardly from said lower end of said first wall section below said lip of said substrate section;

(d) a vertically disposed and generally cylindrical third wall section, having upper and lower ends, extending downwardly from said inner end of said second wall section at said outer side of said upper wall member of said substrate portion;

(e) a vertically disposed and generally cylindrical inner wall section, having upper and lower ends, extending downwardly from said inner end of said lip of said over-molded portion at said inner side of said upper wall member of said substrate portion;

(f) a horizontally disposed and generally disc-shaped wall at said lower end of said inner wall section of said over-molded portion;

(g) a vertically disposed and hollow cylindrical tube, having an open upper end, extending upwardly from said disc-shaped wall of said over-molded portion which embraces said hollow tube of said substrate portion;

(h) a flexible valve, having an upper side and a lower side positioned in said open upper end of hollow cylindrical tube of said over-molded portion to normally close said open upper end of said hollow tube of said substrate portion and said hollow cylindrical tube of said over-molded portion;

(i) said flexible valve being opened upon said flexible valve being pierced thereby permitting liquid from said container to be passed upwardly therethrough;

(j) structure for piercing said flexible valve;

(k) said disc-shaped wall of said over-molded portion having a plurality of radially spaced-apart openings formed therein which register with said radially spaced-apart openings formed in said disc-shaped wall of said substrate;

(l) a hollow plastic protrusion, having upper and lower ends, extending downwardly from each of said plurality of spaced-apart openings in said disc-shaped wall of said over-molded portion through a registering opening of the said plurality of radially spaced-apart openings in said disc-shaped wall of said substrate;

each of said protrusions having a bi-directional valve at said lower end thereof;

each of said bi-directional valves being normally closed to prevent liquid from passing upwardly therethrough; and

each of said bi-directional valves being movable to an open position to permit air to pass downwardly therethrough to vent the container.

12. The container insert of claim 11 wherein said container insert is entirely comprised of a plastic material.

13. The container insert of claim 11 wherein each of said bi-directional valves have a single slit formed therein.

14. The container insert of claim 11 wherein said structure for piercing said flexible valve comprises a vertically movable lance.

15. The container insert of claim 14 further including a can follower mechanism for moving said lance.