Inlet conduit fluid filter

• US 4,107,043 A
• Filed: 03/03/1977
• Issued: 08/15/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Specialty Acquisition Corporation
• Original Assignee: Creative Dispensing Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: McKinney, James C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hart, Charles N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sadowski, David R.
• Application Number:
  US05/774,147
• Time in Patent Office: 530 Days
• Field of Search: 210/232, 210/460, 210/462, 210/463, 210/488, 210/492, 222/189, 222/189 X
• US Class Current: 210/232
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 29/46 of flat, stacked bodies
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/02 Filters adapted for location in special places, e.g. pipe-lines, pumps, stop-cocks, B01D35/05 takes precedence; water pipe system filters E03B3/18, E03B7/07; dirt catchers in sewers E03F; filters or strainers for pipe-lines in general B08B, E03F; object or dirt catching devices in sinks or the like E03C1/26; suction strainers or filters for pumps F04B53/005, F04D29/70
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1057 Triggers, i.e. actuation means consisting of a single lever having one end rotating or pivoting around an axis or a hinge fixedly attached to the container, and another end directly actuated by the user
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/30 Dip tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/40 Filters located upstream of the spraying outlets

Abstract

A one-piece molded fluid filter for a fluid dispenser dip tube includes two circular plate portions, at least one having radially extending ribs which define a plurality of fluid passages between the plates. A tubular portion, extending coaxially from the upper of the plates, is adapted for engaging the dip tube and providing communication between the dip tube and the passages. A member extending coaxially from the lower of the plates is provided for insertion into the tubular portion to pressurely engage the tubular portion to maintain the plates adjacent one another. The plates are connected along portions of their circumferences by an integral hinge and may be pivoted with respect to one another about the hinge to expose the ribs for cleaning.

Claims

1. An article of manufacture for providing a fluid filter for an inlet conduit of a spray dispenser comprising a molded member having:

an annular plate portion;

a tubular portion in communication with a central opening in said annular plate portion, for engaging an end of the inlet conduit;

a generally circular plate portion, at least one of the surfaces of said plate portions having radially extending ribs for providing a plurality of fluid passages between said plates when the surfaces are located adjacent one another;

a flexible hinge portion connecting an area on the circumference of said circular plate portion to an area on the outer circumference of said annular plate portion; and

,

means for maintaining a surface of said circular plate portion adjacent a surface of said annular plate portion, including a male member attached to said generally circular plate portion, comprising a plurality of radially extending, resilient members with channels therebetween, wherein said male member is adapted for insertion into said tubular portion to pressurely engage an inner wall of said tubular portion and wherein the channels in said male member are adapted to communicate between the inlet conduit and the plurality of fluid passages between said plate portions.

2. The article of manufacture of claim 1 wherein said tubular portion includes a radially inwardly extending flange portion for gripping the end portion of the inlet conduit.

3. The article of manufacture of claim 1 wherein at least some of said ribs extend radially inwardly from the circumference of the surface on which the ribs are formed to a point intermediate the circumference and the inner circumference of said annular plate portion.

4. A filtered fluid supply apparatus for a liquid dispenser comprising:

a fluid container adapted for attachment to the fluid dispenser;

an inlet tube for the dispenser extending from the fluid dispenser into said container; and

means attached to said inlet tube for filtering fluid entering the free end of the inlet tube, said filtering means including;

a first generally circular plate, hingedly connected to a second generally circular plate; and

a male member axially located on one of said plates adapted for selective insertion in an aperture in the other of said plates to position said plates adjacent one another, said male member having axially extending channels therein;

wherein at least one of said plates has radially extending ribs providing a plurality of fluid passages between the plates in communication with the free end of said inlet tube via the channels in the male member; and

,

wherein one of said plates is located parallel and adjacent a bottom wall of the fluid container, said apparatus being adapted to filter fluid drawn radially inwardly toward the inlet tube through said fluid passages between the plates.

5. A one piece unitary filter for the free end of the dip tube of a fluid dispenser having a fluid reservoir comprising:

first and second members, said first member having an aperture therein communicating with the hollow of a tubular portion attached to said member, said tubular portion being adapted for attachment to the free end of the dip tube of the fluid dispenser so that fluid communication is established between the interior of the dip tube and the hollow of said tubular portion;

at least one of said members having a plurality of grooves in a surface thereof extending toward the aperture in said first member for providing fluid passages between said members from the fluid reservoir to the aperture when the grooved surface is positioned in immediate proximity to a surface of the other member;

said first and second members being hingedly connected, and said second member including means for maintaining the surfaces of said members in immediate proximity with one another including a male member extending from said second member, adapted for insertion into said tubular portion and providing a fluid passage communicating between the dip tube and the plurality of grooves.