Methods and Apparatuses for Dispensing Fluids
First Claim
1. A fluid dispensing system for an appliance, the fluid dispensing system configured to be used with a container comprising at least one camming surface, the fluid dispensing system comprising:
- a drawer configured to accept at least a portion of the container;
a track configured to be engaged with the drawer, wherein the drawer is slidably movable along the track at least between a first position and a second position;
a fluid extracting element configured to be engaged with at least a portion of the container to withdraw fluid therefrom when the drawer is in the second position; and
a fluid system in fluid communication with the fluid extracting element, wherein the at least one camming surface is configured to actuate the fluid system when the drawer is in the second position to create a pressure differential and allow the fluid extracting element to withdraw fluid from the container.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fluid dispensing system can be used with a container comprising at least one camming surface. In various embodiments, the fluid dispensing system can have a housing which can accept at least a portion of the container in a fixed orientation and a track which can be engaged with the housing. In at least one embodiment, the housing can be slidably movable along the track at least between a first position and a second position. In various embodiments, the fluid dispensing system can have a tube which can be engaged with at least a portion of the container to withdraw fluid therefrom when the housing is in the second position and can also have a fluid system in fluid communication with the tube.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A fluid dispensing system for an appliance, the fluid dispensing system configured to be used with a container comprising at least one camming surface, the fluid dispensing system comprising:
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a drawer configured to accept at least a portion of the container; a track configured to be engaged with the drawer, wherein the drawer is slidably movable along the track at least between a first position and a second position; a fluid extracting element configured to be engaged with at least a portion of the container to withdraw fluid therefrom when the drawer is in the second position; and a fluid system in fluid communication with the fluid extracting element, wherein the at least one camming surface is configured to actuate the fluid system when the drawer is in the second position to create a pressure differential and allow the fluid extracting element to withdraw fluid from the container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A fluid dispensing system for an appliance, the fluid dispensing system configured to be used with a container comprising at least one camming surface, the fluid dispensing system comprising:
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a housing configured to accept at least a portion of the container in a fixed substantially horizontal orientation; a track configured to be engaged with the housing, wherein the housing is slidably movable along the track at least between a first position and a second position; a fluid extracting element configured to be engaged with at least a portion of the container to withdraw fluid therefrom when the housing is in the second position; and a fluid system in fluid communication with the fluid extracting element, wherein the at least one camming surface is configured to actuate the fluid system when the housing is in the second position to allow the fluid extracting element to withdraw the fluid from the container, wherein the substantially horizontal orientation is at an angle between about one to about eleven degrees from the horizontal axis. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A container for use with a fluid dispensing system, the container comprising:
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a neck; a closure mechanism, wherein at least one of the neck and the closure mechanism forms; at least two camming surfaces extending from one of the neck and the container; and an annular ring extending around at least a portion of a periphery of one of the neck and the closure mechanism; and a container body connected to the neck, wherein the closure mechanism is configured to puncturably seal the container. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of supplying a fluid to a fluid dispensing system, the method comprising:
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inserting a container including a fluid therein into a housing when the housing is in a first position; sliding the housing into a second position thereby actuating a first electro-mechanical switch to withdraw a protective plate; actuating a second electro-mechanical switch using at least one camming surface positioned on the container to cause a fluid extracting element to engage a portion of the container; creating a pressure differential between the fluid extracting element and the container; and withdrawing the fluid from the container using the fluid extracting element to supply the fluid to the fluid dispensing system.
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Specification