Bottle adapter for dispensing of cleanser from bottle used in an automated cleansing sprayer

• US 20040206772A1
• Filed: 04/18/2003
• Published: 10/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Inventors: Kovara, Terry M., Neumann, Peter M., Leifheit, David H., Mazooji, Amber N.D.
• Granted Patent: US 6,971,549 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/83
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 3/281 Accessories for showers or bathing douches, e.g. cleaning devices for walls or floors of showers A47K3/30, A47K3/38, A47K3/40 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/12 for liquid or pasty soap
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/08 of pulsating nature, e.g. delivering liquid in successive separate quantities ; Fluidic oscillators
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/02 for controlling time, or sequence, of delivery
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 3/02 with rotating elements electric spraying discharge apparatus characterised by having rotary outlet or deflecting elements B05B5/04
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 9/0861 the motor being electric
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 9/0894 Gun with a container which, in normal use, is located above the gun

Abstract

A bottle adapter is disclosed for use with a liquid refill kit for an automated cleansing sprayer of the type having a reservoir tray having an upwardly extending well for supporting a bottle in an inverted orientation, wherein the well has a spring-loaded outlet valve. The refill kit includes the bottle for containing a liquid. The bottle has a piercable closure sealing an end of the bottle. The adapter has a central hole. The adapter is suitable for being situated between the closure and a bottom wall of the upwardly extending well in the sprayer for supporting the bottle. The adapter is configured such that if the bottle and adapter are installed in the well, movement of the closure relative to the well can result in movement of the adapter which in turn can result in movement of the outlet valve that controls the opening and closing of the valve.

Claims

1. A liquid refill kit for an automated cleansing sprayer, the sprayer being of the type having a reservoir tray having an upwardly extending well for supporting a bottle in an inverted orientation, wherein the well has a spring-loaded outlet valve, the refill kit comprising:

a bottle that is suitable to contain a liquid and has a cap closing an end of the bottle, the cap being formed with a central piercable surface; and

an adapter having a central hole and being suitable for being situated between the bottle cap and a bottom wall of the upwardly extending well in the sprayer for supporting the bottle,

the adapter being configured such that if the cap and adapter are installed in the well, movement of the cap relative to the well can result in movement of the adapter which in turn can result in movement of the outlet valve that controls the opening and closing of the valve.

2. The kit of claim 1, wherein the cap has a radially extending web to form a seal against a side of the well.

3. The kit of claim 1, wherein the adapter has a radial air passageway and a central air passageway to allow air outside the bottle to pass-through the adapter and the cap and enter into the bottle when a suitable opening is created in the cap.

4. An adapter for the kit of claim 1, wherein the adapter is a ring having a central hole and a plurality of projecting arc segments around the hole.

5. A dispenser for dispensing a liquid, the dispenser comprising:

a bottle suitable to contain the liquid;

a reservoir tray having an upwardly extending well for supporting the bottle in an inverted orientation;

a cap closing an end of the bottle; and

an adapter situated between the cap and a bottom of the well,

wherein the well has a spring-loaded outlet valve that permits outflow from the well when movement of the cap relative to the well results in movement of the adapter causing movement of the outlet valve.

6. The dispenser of claim 5, wherein the cap has a radially extending web to form a seal against a side of the well.

7. The dispenser of claim 5, wherein the adapter has a radial air passageway and a central air passageway to allow air outside the bottle to pass through the adapter and the cap and enter into the bottle when a suitable opening is created in the cap.

8. A liquid refill kit for an automated cleansing sprayer, the sprayer being of the type having a reservoir tray having an upwardly extending well for supporting a bottle in an inverted orientation, wherein the well has a spring-loaded outlet valve, the refill kit comprising:

a bottle that is suitable to contain a liquid and has a cap installed on an end of the bottle, the cap being formed with a central hole, the central hole being sealed with a piercable liner; and

an adapter having a central hole and being suitable for being situated between the bottle cap and a bottom wall of the upwardly extending well in the sprayer for supporting the bottle,

the adapter being configured such that if the cap and adapter are installed in the well, movement of the cap relative to the well can result in movement of the adapter which in turn can result in movement of the outlet valve that controls the opening and closing of the valve.

9. The kit of claim 8, wherein the liner is positioned between the cap and the bottle.

10. The kit of claim 0.8, wherein the adapter has a radial air passageway and a central air passageway to allow air outside the bottle to pass through the adapter and the cap and enter into the bottle when a suitable opening is created in the cap.

11. An adapter for the kit of claim 8, wherein the adapter is a ring having a central hole and a plurality of projecting arc segments around the hole.

12. A dispenser for dispensing a liquid, the dispenser comprising:

a bottle suitable to contain the liquid;

a reservoir tray having an upwardly extending well for supporting the bottle in an inverted orientation;

a cap installed on an end of the bottle, the cap being formed with a central hole sealed with a piercable liner prior to placement of the bottle in the tray; and

an adapter situated between the cap and a bottom of the well,

wherein the well has a spring-loaded outlet valve that permits outflow from the well when movement of the cap relative to the well results in movement of the adapter causing movement of the outlet valve.

13. The dispenser of claim 12, wherein the adapter has a radial air passageway and a central air passageway to allow air outside the bottle to pass through the adapter and the cap and enter into the bottle when a suitable opening is created in the cap.

14. A liquid refill kit for an automated cleansing sprayer, the sprayer being of the type having a reservoir tray having an upwardly extending well for supporting a bottle in an inverted orientation, wherein the well has a spring-loaded outlet valve, the refill kit comprising:

a bottle that is suitable to contain a liquid and has a piercable closure sealing an end of the bottle; and

an adapter having a central hole and being suitable for being situated between the closure and a bottom-wall of the upwardly extending well in the sprayer for supporting the bottle;

the adapter being configured such that if the bottle and adapter are installed in the well, movement of the closure relative to the well can result in movement of the adapter which in turn can result in movement of the outlet valve that controls the opening and closing of the valve.

15. The kit of claim 14, wherein the closure comprises a closed cell foam.

16. The kit of claim 14, further comprising a cap installed on the end of the bottle, wherein the closure is positioned between the cap and the bottle before the bottle and the adapter are installed in the well, and the cap is suitable for being removed before the bottle and the adapter are installed in the well.

17. The kit of claim 14, wherein the adapter has a radial air passageway and a central air passageway to allow air outside the bottle to pass through the adapter and the cap and enter into the bottle when a suitable opening is created in the cap.

18. An adapter for the kit of claim 14, wherein the adapter is a ring having a central hole and a plurality of projecting arc segments around the hole.

19. A dispenser for dispensing a liquid, the dispenser comprising:

a bottle suitable to contain the liquid;

a reservoir tray having an upwardly extending well for supporting the bottle in an inverted orientation;

a piercable closure for sealing an end of the bottle before the bottle is installed in the well; and

an adapter with a central hole, the adapter being situated between the closure and a bottom of the well,

wherein the well has a spring-loaded outlet valve that permits outflow from the well when movement of the closure relative to the well results in movement of the adapter causing movement of the outlet valve.

20. The dispenser of claim 19, wherein the closure comprises a closed cell foam.

21. The dispenser of claim 19, wherein the adapter has a radial air passageway and a central air passageway to allow air outside the bottle to pass through the adapter and the cap and enter into the bottle when a suitable opening is created in the cap.