LIQUID CONTAINERS

• US 20080231675A1
• Filed: 12/14/2007
• Published: 09/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Hattori, Shingo
• Granted Patent: US 8,011,770 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 347/86
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17553 Outer structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17566 Ink level or ink residue control

Abstract

A liquid container includes a liquid chamber, a liquid supply chamber, a liquid introduction portion, and a particular liquid path. The liquid chamber is at least partially defined by at least one first wall, the liquid supply chamber is defined by at least one second wall having a first opening and a second opening formed therethrough, and the liquid introduction portion is defined by at least one third wall having a third opening formed therethrough. The particular liquid path extends from the third opening to the second opening, and the liquid introduction portion is configured to introduce fluid from an exterior of the liquid container to the liquid supply chamber via the particular liquid path. The particular liquid path is positioned externally from the liquid chamber.

Claims

1. A liquid container comprising:

a liquid chamber configured to store liquid therein, wherein the liquid chamber is at least partially defined by at least one first wall;

a liquid supply chamber defined by at least one second wall having a first opening and a second opening formed therethrough, wherein the liquid chamber is further configured to be in fluid communication with the liquid supply chamber via the first opening;

a liquid introduction portion defined by at least one third wall having a third opening formed therethrough; and

a particular liquid path extending from the third opening to the second opening, wherein the liquid introduction portion is configured to introduce fluid from an exterior of the liquid container to the liquid supply chamber via the particular liquid path, and the particular liquid path is positioned externally from the liquid chamber.

2. The liquid container of claim 1 further comprising a valve member configured to regulate liquid flow between the liquid chamber and the liquid supply chamber via the first opening.

3. The liquid container of claim 2, wherein the valve member comprises a check valve configured to prevent liquid from flowing from the liquid supply chamber to the liquid chamber at least after the liquid supply chamber is filled with liquid via the particular liquid path.

4. The liquid container of claim 1, wherein the at least one first wall at least partially defines the particular liquid path.

5. The liquid container of claim 3 further comprising a further liquid path extending from the liquid introduction portion to the liquid chamber.

6. The liquid container of claim 1, further comprising:

a frame comprising the at least one first wall, wherein the frame has a groove formed therein; and

at least one film connected to the at least one first wall, wherein the at least one first wall and the at least one film define the liquid chamber, and the particular liquid path is at least partially defined by the at least one film and the groove.

7. The liquid container of claim 6, wherein the particular liquid path is defined by the at least one film, the groove, and the at least one first wall.

8. The liquid container of claim 1, further comprising a valve mechanism, wherein the at least one second wall has a fourth opening formed therethrough, and the valve mechanism is configured to selectively open and close the fourth opening, wherein at least a portion of the valve mechanism is positioned within the liquid supply chamber, and wherein when the valve mechanism is in an open position, liquid flows from the liquid supply chamber to the exterior of the liquid container via the fourth opening, and when the valve mechanism is in a closed position, the valve mechanism prevents liquid from flowing from the liquid supply chamber to the exterior of the liquid container via the fourth opening.

9. A liquid container comprising:

a liquid chamber configured to store liquid therein, wherein the liquid chamber is defined by at least one first wall;

a liquid supply chamber defined by at least one second wall having a first opening, a second opening, and a third opening formed therethrough, wherein the liquid chamber is further configured to be in fluid communication with the liquid supply chamber via the first opening, and the liquid supply chamber is configured to be in fluid communication with an exterior of the liquid container via the third opening;

a liquid introduction portion; and

a particular liquid path extending from the liquid introduction portion to the second opening, wherein the second opening is positioned between the first opening and the third opening, the liquid introduction portion is configured to introduce fluid from the exterior of the fluid container to the liquid supply chamber via the particular fluid path, and the particular fluid path is positioned externally from the liquid chamber.

10. The liquid container of claim 9 further comprising a valve member configured to regulate liquid flow between the liquid chamber and the liquid supply chamber via the first opening.

11. The liquid container of claim 10, wherein the valve member comprises a check valve configured to prevent liquid from flowing from the liquid supply chamber to the liquid chamber at least after the liquid supply chamber is filled with liquid via the particular liquid path.

12. The liquid container of claim 9, wherein the at least one first wall at least partially defines the particular liquid path.

13. The liquid container of claim 11 further comprising a further liquid path extending from the liquid introduction portion to the liquid chamber.

14. The liquid container of claim 9, further comprising:

a frame comprising the at least one first wall, wherein the frame has a groove formed therein; and

at least one film connected to the at least one first wall, wherein the at least one first wall and the at least one film define the liquid chamber, and the particular liquid path is at least partially defined by the at least one film and the groove.

15. The liquid container of claim 14, wherein the particular liquid path is defined by the at least one film, the groove, and the at least one first wall.

16. The liquid container of claim 9, further comprising a valve mechanism, configured to selectively open and close the third opening, wherein at least a portion of the valve mechanism is positioned within the liquid supply chamber, and wherein when the valve mechanism is in an open position, liquid flows from the liquid supply chamber to the exterior of the liquid container via the third opening, and when the valve mechanism is in a closed position, the valve mechanism prevents liquid from flowing from the liquid supply chamber to the exterior of the liquid container via the third opening.

17. A liquid container comprising:

a liquid chamber configured to store liquid therein, wherein the liquid chamber is defined by at least one first wall;

a liquid supply chamber defined by at least one second wall having a first opening and a second opening formed therethrough, wherein the liquid chamber is further configured to be in fluid communication with the liquid supply chamber via the first opening;

a liquid introduction portion; and

a particular liquid path extending from the liquid introduction portion to the second opening, wherein the liquid introduction portion is configured to introduce fluid from an exterior of the fluid container to the liquid supply chamber via the particular fluid path, and the particular fluid path is positioned externally from the liquid chamber, wherein at least a portion of the liquid chamber separates the liquid introduction portion from the first opening.

18. The liquid container of claim 17 further comprising a valve member configured to regulate liquid flow between the liquid chamber and the liquid supply chamber via the first opening.

19. The liquid container of claim 18, wherein the valve member comprises a check valve configured to prevent liquid from flowing from the liquid supply chamber to the liquid chamber at least after the liquid supply chamber is filled with liquid via the particular liquid path.

20. The liquid container of claim 17, wherein the at least one first wall at least partially defines the particular liquid path.

21. The liquid container of claim 19 further comprising a further liquid path extending from the liquid introduction portion to the liquid chamber.

22. The liquid container of claim 17, further comprising:

a frame comprising the at least one first wall, wherein the frame has a groove formed therein; and

at least one film connected to the at least one first wall, wherein the at least one first wall and the at least one film define the liquid chamber, and the particular liquid path is at least partially defined by the at least one film and the groove.

23. The liquid container of claim 17, further comprising a valve mechanism, wherein the at least one second wall has a third opening formed therethrough, and the valve mechanism is configured to selectively open and close the third opening, wherein at least a portion of the valve mechanism is positioned within the liquid supply chamber, and wherein when the valve mechanism is in an open position, liquid flows from the liquid supply chamber to the exterior of the liquid container via the third opening, and when the valve mechanism is in a closed position, the valve mechanism prevents liquid from flowing from the liquid supply chamber to the exterior of the liquid container via the third opening.

24. A liquid container comprising:

a liquid chamber configured to store liquid therein, wherein the liquid chamber is defined by at least one first wall;

a liquid supply chamber defined by at least one second wall having a first opening and a second opening formed therethrough;

a liquid introduction portion;

a valve member configured to regulate liquid flow between the liquid chamber and the liquid supply chamber via the first opening; and

a particular liquid path extending from the liquid introduction portion to the second opening, wherein the liquid introduction portion is configured to introduce fluid from an exterior of the fluid container to the liquid supply chamber via the particular fluid path, and the particular fluid path is positioned externally from the liquid chamber.

25. The liquid container of claim 24, wherein the valve member comprises a check valve configured to prevent liquid from flowing from the liquid supply chamber to the liquid chamber at least after the liquid supply chamber is filled with liquid via the particular liquid path.

26. The liquid container of claim 25 further comprising a further liquid path extending from the liquid introduction portion to the liquid chamber.