LIQUID DISPENSER

• US 3,613,959 A
• Filed: 07/18/1969
• Issued: 10/19/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Anthony Mason
• Original Assignee: Anthony Mason
• Inventors: Mason, Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): King, Lloyd L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Culp, Jr., Thomas C.
• Application Number:
  US04/842,989
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 222/187,54,190,372 134/100,101,58D,95
• US Class Current: 222/187
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4418 in the form of liquids A47L15/4409, A47L15/4436, A47L15/4445 take precedence

Abstract

A liquid dispenser in which liquid is transferred from a container as by capillary action to a retaining member such as a spongy mass and then expressing means selectively compressing the retaining member at the desired time to force expressed liquid therefrom and conveying means such as a trough structure for conveying the expressed liquid away from the retaining member and the container.

Claims

1. A dispenser for dispensing preselected quantities of liquid comprising:

a container for holding a preselected quantity of liquid to be dispensed;

a compressible liquid-retaining member spaced from the liquid in the container;

transfer means for transferring liquid from said container to said retaining member;

expressing means for selectively compressing and releasing said retaining member to express seriatim a plurality of discrete preselected portions of said preselected quantity of liquid from the container; and

conveying means for conveying said expressed discrete liquid portions from said retaining member and said container.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said retaining member comprises a sponge.

3. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said transfer means comprises a capillary member.

4. The dispenser of claim 3 wherein said capillary member comprises a wick.

5. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said expressing means comprises a pair of relatively movable squeezing surface members between which said compressible retaining member is located and means for moving at least one of said surface members toward the other.

6. The dispenser of claim 5 wherein said means for moving said surface members comprises a thermally activated member.

7. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said retaining member compRises a sponge, said transfer means comprises a wick, and said expressing means comprises a pair of relatively movable squeezing surface members between which said compressible member is located and means for moving at least one of said surface members toward the other.

8. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said container is provided with means forming an access opening for introducing liquid to said container and means forming an exit opening as a part of said conveying means.

9. The dispenser of claim 8 wherein said container is provided with a shield located externally of said container and spaced from but covering said exit opening.

10. A dispenser for dispensing preselected quantities of additive liquid, comprising:

a container for holding a preselected quantity of liquid to be dispensed;

a compressible porous mass spaced from the liquid in the container;

transfer means for transferring liquid from said container to said porous mass;

expressing means for selectively compressing and releasing said porous mass to express seriatim a plurality of discrete portions of said preselected quantity of the liquid from the container; and

conveying means for conveying said expressed discrete liquid portions from said porous mass and said container.

11. The liquid dispenser of claim 10 wherein said porous mass is formed of hydrophilic synthetic plastic material.