Flexible tube liquid delivery system

• US 20030218030A1
• Filed: 05/02/2003
• Published: 11/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adan E. Torres, Judith Margaret Bridenbaugh, Robert Harlan Bridenbaugh, Samuel Edgar Johnson
• Original Assignee: Adan E. Torres, Judith Margaret Bridenbaugh, Robert Harlan Bridenbaugh, Samuel Edgar Johnson
• Inventors: Torres, Adan E., Bridenbaugh, Judith Margaret, Johnson, Samuel Edgar, Bridenbaugh, Robert Harlan
• Granted Patent: US 6,837,404 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/464.4
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/0059 allowing operation in any orientation, e.g. for discharge in inverted position
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1057 Triggers, i.e. actuation means consisting of a single lever having one end rotating or pivoting around an axis or a hinge fixedly attached to the container, and another end directly actuated by the user
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/30 Dip tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/40 Filters located upstream of the spraying outlets

Abstract

A system utilizing a flaccid tube for delivery of liquids with a spray container is disclosed. This device can be substituted for the usual straight, non-flaccid tubing widely used with liquid dispensing containers. The system consists of a flexible tube and a weight attached to the end which causes the tube to seek the liquid, regardless of bottle or vessel position. The weight is attached to the tubing by a bushing or sleeve which inserts into the distal end of the flexible tube, compressing the tube walls outward resulting in a secure and tight attachment of the weight. The system allows the user to easily spray, squirt or expel liquids from any orientation which includes complete inversion of the container. The weight design components are inexpensive to manufacture, and can be easily attached to an existing spray bottle, and can thus be used, transferred, and re-used multiple times thus conserving resources.

Claims

1. A kit or assemblage of flexible tube spray container delivery system comprised of:

(a) a flaccid tube which connects with a dispensing mechanism of a liquid dispensing container, and

(b) a weight connected on the outside of the opposite end of said flaccid tube, wherein said weight consists of a tapered or “

plumb bob”

shape with a center channel so that the-flexible tube can be threaded through to the distal end of the weight allowing for a bushing or rigid tubular sleeve to be inserted to secure the weight in place.

2. The flexible tube system of claim 1, wherein said flexible tube is sufficiently flexible to allow said weight to move easily within liquid when used inside said liquid dispensing container. Said flexible tube may be either straight or helical in shape.

3. The flexible tube system of claim 1, wherein said flexible tube is composed of silicone, soft polymers, latex and non-latex rubber, or other suitable materials.

4. The flexible tube system of claim 1, wherein said weight has a tapered shape, proximal to distal, and has a center channel, through and through, which is threaded over said distal end of said flexible tube.

5. The flexible tube system of claim 1, wherein said weight is secured with a bushing that has a central channel, through and through, thus forming said opening at the distal end of said channel for drawing liquid through said channel into said flexible tube for dispensing.

6. The flexible tube system of claim 1, where said weight is secured with said bushing that has a central channel, through and through, as well as a number of radiating channels feeding into the central channel.

7. The flexible tube system of claim 1, where said weight is secured with said bushing that has a central channel as well as a number of radiating channels feeding into the central channel with the distal end blocked.

8. The flexible tube system of claim 1, where said weight is secured with said rigid tubular sleeve.

9. The flexible tube system of claim 1, wherein said weight is sufficiently dense so that said weight moves the tube inside said liquid dispensing container, and said liquid intake opening stays under the surface of liquid when said liquid dispensing container is tilted in any direction.

10. The flexible tube system of claim 1, wherein said weight, which includes the bushing, is made from materials having density greater than 1.0 g/cc (specific gravity>

1.0)

11. The flexible tube system of claim 1, wherein said materials comprising the weight, the bushing and rigid tubular sleeve is composed of metal, ceramic, glass, high density plastics, or other suitable materials.

12. A flexible tube system of claim 1 further including a liquid dispenser which has a liquid dispensing mechanism, an intake port, and a connector for connecting to a liquid container.

13. The assemblage of flexible tube system and dispensing mechanism of claim 12, wherein said liquid dispensing mechanism is a pumping mechanism for spraying, squirting or expelling liquids.

14. A liquid dispensing vessel containing a flexible tube assembly consisting of:

(a) a liquid dispenser having a liquid dispensing mechanism, an intake port, and a connector,

(b) a container connected to said liquid dispenser through said connector,

(c) a sufficient length of flexible tube to allow contact with fluids in all spatial orientations of the container whose proximal end connected to said intake port of said liquid dispenser.

(d) a weight in the shape of a plumb bob with the distal end of said flexible threaded through the center channel, and secured with a bushing or rigid tubular sleeve to the distal end of said flexible tube which then forms a liquid intake opening.

15. The flexible tube system of claim 14, wherein said flexible tube is sufficiently flaccid to allow said weight to move easily within liquid when used inside said liquid dispensing container. Said flexible tube may be either straight or helical in shape.

16. The flexible tube system of claim 14, wherein said flexible tube is composed of silicone, soft polymers, latex and non-latex rubber or other suitable materials.

17. The flexible tube system of claim 14, wherein said weight has a tapered shape, proximal to distal, and has a center channel, through and through, which is threaded over said distal end of said flexible tube.

18. The flexible tube system of claim 14 wherein said weight is secured with a bushing with a central channel, through and through, forming said liquid intake opening at the distal end of said channel for drawing liquid through said channel into said flexible tube for dispensing.

19. The flexible tube system of claim 14 wherein said weight is secured with a bushing with a central channel, through and through, as well as a number of radiating channels feeding into the central channel forming said liquid intake opening at the distal end of said channel for drawing liquid through said channel into said flexible tube for dispensing.

20. The flexible tube system of claim 14, where said weight is secured with said bushing that has a central channel as well as a number of radiating channels feeding into the central channel with the distal end blocked.

21. The flexible tube system of claim 14, where said weight is secured with said rigid tubular sleeve.

22. The flexible tube system of claim 14 wherein said weight is sufficiently dense so that said weight moves the tube inside said liquid dispensing container, and said liquid intake opening stays under the surface of liquid when said, liquid dispensing container is tilted in any direction.

23. The flexible tube system of claim 14, wherein said weight, which includes said bushing or rigid tubular sleeve is made from materials having density greater than 1.0 g/cc (specific gravity>

1.0)

24. The flexible tube system of claim 14, wherein said materials comprising the weight, including the bushing and rigid tubular sleeve are composed of metal, ceramic, glass, high density plastics or other suitable materials.

25. The assemblage of flexible tube system of claim 14 further including a liquid dispenser which has a liquid dispensing mechanism, an intake port, and a connector for connecting to a liquid container.

26. The assemblage of flexible tube system of claim 14, wherein said liquid dispensing mechanism is a pumping mechanism for spraying, squirting or expelling fluids.