ADDITIVE DISPENSER

• US 20200131750A1
• Filed: 12/13/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kohler MIRA Limited (Kohler Company)
• Original Assignee: Kohler MIRA Limited (Kohler Company)
• Inventors: Thompson, Ian
• Granted Patent: US 11,230,833 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/046 Adding soap, disinfectant, or the like in the supply line or at the water outletpreventing contamination of drinking-water pipes E03C1/10
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 2009/028 using a liquid substance
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 9/02 Devices adding a disinfecting, deodorising, or cleaning agent to the water while flushing apparatus for disinfection A61L2/00; treatment of water in general C02F

Abstract

A liquid dosing apparatus for dispensing a liquid from a container into a liquid stream of a shower, toilet, or tap includes a dosing mechanism that includes a dosing chamber and a moveable member. The dosing mechanism is arranged to draw a set volume of the liquid into the dosing chamber on activation by moving the moveable member in a first direction. The apparatus further includes a damping control system arranged to control a dispensing rate of the set volume of the liquid by controlling return speed of the moveable member, as well as a dispensing outlet arranged to dispense the liquid into the water stream at the controlled dispensing rate.

Claims

1. A liquid dosing apparatus for dispensing a liquid from a container into a liquid stream of a shower, toilet, or tap, the apparatus comprising:

an adapter arranged to detachably receive the container;

a dosing mechanism comprising a dosing chamber and a moveable member, and arranged to draw a set volume of the liquid into the dosing chamber on activation, activation comprising moving the moveable member in a first direction;

a damping control system arranged to control a dispensing rate of the set volume of the liquid by controlling return speed of the moveable member; and

a dispensing outlet arranged to dispense the liquid into the water stream at the controlled dispensing rate.

2. The dosing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the damping control system is arranged to allow and control adjustment of the dispensing rate.

3. The dosing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the container is an aromatherapy oil bottle.

4. The dosing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the container has an opening through which the liquid is arranged to pass, and, in use, the container is positioned such that the opening is the lowest part of the container.

5. The dosing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dosing mechanism is arranged to be activated using a dose activator which comprises a slider which is arranged to be moved downwards to move the moveable member downwards, and which is pulled back up by the dosing apparatus as the moveable member is raised during the return cycle;

and wherein slider position is arranged to indicate how much of the set volume has been dispensed.

6. The dosing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquid is an aromatherapy oil, a liquid soap, a fragrance, or a shower gel.

7. The dosing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dosing mechanism is a dosing pump comprising a dosing piston with a barrel, the barrel forming the dosing chamber and the piston forming the moveable member, and arranged to draw a set volume of the liquid into the barrel on activation, activation comprising moving the dosing piston in a first direction;

and

wherein the damping control system arranged to control a dispensing rate of the set volume of the liquid by controlling return speed of the dosing piston.

8. A dosing apparatus for dispensing a liquid through a dispensing outlet comprising:

an adapter arranged to engagingly receive a container of liquid and comprising a first one-way valve arranged to allow liquid flow out of the container and prevent liquid flow into the container;

a dosing mechanism comprising a dosing chamber and a moveable member, and arranged to draw a set volume of the liquid into the dosing chamber on activation, activation comprising moving the moveable member in a first direction; and

a damping control system arranged to control dispensing rate of the set volume of the liquid, the damping control system comprising;

a hydraulic piston within a charging chamber containing hydraulic fluid, wherein the hydraulic piston is arranged to be driven so as to move a quantity of hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic charging chamber and through a second one-way valve and to a sprung damping chamber when the dosing mechanism is activated; and

a return channel across the second one-way valve, wherein the return channel is arranged to limit the rate at which the hydraulic fluid can pass therethrough;

wherein the sprung damping chamber is arranged to absorb the volume of the displaced hydraulic fluid while creating a spring force to complete a return cycle of the dosing mechanism, the spring force driving the hydraulic fluid in the return direction via the flow valve.

9. The dosing apparatus of claim 8, wherein the damping control system is arranged to allow and control adjustment of the dispensing rate and comprises a flow valve arranged to provide at least a part of the return channel across the second one-way valve, wherein the flow valve is arranged to adjustably limit the rate at which the hydraulic fluid can pass therethrough.

10. The dosing apparatus of claim 8, wherein the adapter is part of a cartridge arranged to engagingly receive the container, and wherein the cartridge is arranged to be removeably attached to both the container and the dosing mechanism.

11. The dosing apparatus of claim 10, wherein the adapter is arranged to serve as a lid for the container, retaining any remaining liquid within the container when the cartridge is removed from the rest of the dosing apparatus.

12. The dosing apparatus of claim 10, wherein the cartridge is arranged to be a press-fit with a housing of the dosing mechanism for ease of attachment and removal.

13. The dosing apparatus of claim 8, wherein the adapter comprises an air-replenishment valve to allow air into the container in place of the liquid extracted.

14. The dosing apparatus of claim 8, wherein the adapter is located above the dosing mechanism such that the liquid travels downwards from the container into the dosing chamber when activated.

15. The dosing apparatus of claim 8, wherein the dispensing outlet is connected to a shower, toilet, or tap water stream.

16. The dosing apparatus of claim 8, wherein the spring force of the sprung damping chamber is provided by a biasing member comprising at least one of:

a spring;

compressible foam;

memory metal;

an air bubble;

or

an elastic compressible material.

17. An adapter for an aromatherapy oil bottle, the adapter being releasably attachable to a dosing apparatus and comprising:

a thread arranged to engagingly receive the neck of the bottle, so as to form a seal therewith;

an outlet arranged to allow a liquid within the bottle to pass therethrough; and

a one-way valve arranged to allow air into the bottle;

wherein the one-way valve is arranged such that air can enter the bottle only when the liquid is drawn out of the bottle via the outlet; and

wherein the outlet is arranged such that the liquid cannot pass through the outlet unless a force is applied to the liquid.

18. The adapter of claim 17, wherein the outlet comprises an elongate projection with a passageway therethrough, the elongate projection being oriented away from the bottle.

19. The adapter of claim 17, wherein the adapter is arranged to be a push-fit with the dosing apparatus.

20. The adapter of claim 17, wherein the outlet and one-way valve are arranged such that liquid is only drawn through the outlet when a pressure differential between air near the inlet of the one-way valve and the outlet exceeds a threshold.