Method and apparatus for applying liquid

• US 5,555,673 A
• Filed: 11/14/1994
• Issued: 09/17/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Smith Works LLC
• Original Assignee: Smith Works LLC
• Inventors: Smith, Wayne H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Raduazo, Henry E.
• Application Number:
  US08/337,729
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 47/1.5, 401/148, 401/206, 401/272, 118/264, 118/270
• US Class Current: 47/1.5
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 21/043 by chemicals
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 17/002 with feed system for supplying material from an external source; Supply controls therefor B05C17/02 takes precedence

Abstract

A generally cylindrical body is adapted to holding a liquid, such as water, herbicide, pesticide, or the like, and has a cap removably secured thereto for removing and disposing the liquid therein. Another generally cylindrical dispensing body is adapted to slidably fit over the end of the body opposite the cap. The dispensing body has a top with holes disposed therein wherethrough the liquid may be passed. Another generally cylindrical cap body has a top formed of a cellulosic material which is adapted to absorbing liquids such as water, pesticide, etc, and a valve assembly is situated in the end of the body opposite the cap for gravitatively passing liquid therethrough when the valve release is depressed. The valve release member is depressed by the action of the dispensing body sliding towards the cylindrical body and pressing the valve release. A spring maintains spring bias against the body to prevent the valve release from being continually pressed or opened. When the valve is depressed or open, liquid gravitatively flows through the valve, through the holes and into the cellulosic material. The cellulosic material holds the liquid until saturated or until the cellulosic material is compressed to force the liquid therefrom and onto a surface or object.

Claims

1. An apparatus (10) for dispensing a quantity of liquid comprising an elongated container (12);

a valve assembly (30) secured to an end (14) of said elongated container communicating with inside of same for gravitationally releasing a liquid (8) into a dispensing assembly;

a dispensing assembly (80) engaged to said elongated container for receiving a liquid dispensed from said valve assembly and dispensing said liquid from said apparatus;

a regulating means (110) engaged to said dispensing assembly for retaining said dispensing assembly to the elongated container while simultaneously protecting said valve assembly from hyper-compression;

said dispensing assembly comprising a generally hollow tubular wall member (88) defining a second proximal end (90) and a second distal end (92) thereof;

said second proximal end of said tubular wall member having a generally circular end wall (96) secured thereto;

said second distal end defining a dispenser open end (94);

said dispensing assembly defining a dispenser cavity (82) therein;

a generally circular platform member (102) secured to said generally circular end wall (96) such that said platform member is generally coaxial and generally parallel with said generally circular end wall; and

said generally circular end wall having at least one aperture (98) disposed therein;

a cap member (24) threadably secured to said container for containing said liquid;

said cap member comprising a threaded inner face (76) for threadably engaging said container and a washer member for sealably coupling the cap member to the container; and

wherein said dispensing assembly additionally comprises an end cap assembly (104) releasably secured thereto;

said end cap assembly comprising fluid retaining means (100) for retaining liquid communicated thereto and transferring said liquid therefrom to an object; and

said fluid retaining means comprising a cellulosic sponge member (108); and

a pump member (136) disposed in said cap member (24) for pressurizing said container (12); and

wherein said means for retaining said dispensing assembly comprises a pair of annular sleeves (112,114) secured to said container defining an annular channel (120) therebetween for receiving a screw member;

a screw member (122) threadably disposed in said dispensing assembly for being received by said annular channel;

said annular channel comprising a channel width wherein said screw member may longitudinally slide between said pair of annular sleeves within said channel.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said valve assembly (30) comprises a third proximal end (42) and a third distal end (44) thereof;

a generally hollow cylindrical housing (32) having a threaded exterior housing face (34) and a threaded interior housing face (36);

a valve body member (38) having a threaded exterior body face (40), a proximal body opening (66), and a distal body opening (68);

said valve body member being threadably disposed within said generally hollow cylindrical housing;

said valve body member further comprising an actuator rod member (50) having a proximal rod end (58) and a distal rod end (60);

said actuator rod being slidably supported by at least one rod support member (46);

a rod helical spring member (54) disposed around said actuator rod member having one end thereof engaged to said least one rod support member and another end thereof engaged to a spring rest member (52) secured to said actuator rod to bias said actuator rod in a proximal direction; and

a generally conical stopper member (62) secured to said distal rod end of said actuator rod member adapted to releasably sealably coupling said distal body opening of said valve body member;

said stopper member disposed to be responsive to the actuator rod member.

3. An apparatus (10) for dispensing a quantity of liquid comprising an elongated container (12);

a valve assembly (30) secured to a container proximal end (14) of said elongated container communicating with inside of same for gravitationally releasing a liquid (8) into a dispensing assembly;

a dispensing assembly (80) engaged to said elongated container for receiving a liquid dispensed from said valve assembly and dispensing said liquid from said apparatus;

a regulating means (110) engaged to said dispensing assembly for retaining said dispensing assembly to the elongated container while simultaneously protecting said valve assembly from hyper-compression;

said elongated container comprising a generally hollow cylindrical wall member (18) having a first proximal end (14) and a first distal end (16) thereof;

said first proximal end of said generally hollow cylindrical wall member comprising a generally circular top wall member (20) circumferentially secured to the generally cylindrical wall member;

said first distal end defining a container opening (22);

said elongated container defining a container cavity (28) therein;

said dispensing assembly comprising a generally hollow tubular wall member (88) defining a second proximal end (90) and a second distal end (92) thereof;

said second proximal end of said tubular wall member having a dispenser top wall (96) secured thereto;

said second distal end defining a dispenser open end (94);

said dispensing assembly defining a dispenser cavity (82) therein;

a generally circular platform member (102) secured to said dispenser top wall (96) such that said platform member is generally coaxial and generally parallel with said dispenser top wall; and

said dispenser top wall having at least one aperture (98) disposed therein;

said valve assembly (30) comprises a third proximal end (42) and a third distal end (44) thereof;

a generally hollow cylindrical housing (32) having a threaded outer surface (34) and a threaded inner surface (36);

a valve body member (38) having a threaded exterior body face (40), a proximal body opening (66), and a distal body opening (68);

said valve body member being threadably disposed within said generally hollow cylindrical housing;

said valve body member further comprising an actuator rod member (50) having a proximal rod end (58) and a distal rod end (60);

said actuator rod being slidably supported by at least one rod support member (46);

a rod helical spring member (54) disposed around said actuator rod member having one end thereof engaged to said least one rod support member and another end thereof engaged to a spring rest member (52) secured to said actuator rod to bias said actuator rod in a proximal direction; and

a generally conical stopper member (62) secured to said distal rod end of said actuator rod member adapted to releasably sealably coupling said distal body opening of said valve body member;

said stopper member disposed to be responsive to the actuator rod member;

a cap member (24) threadably secured to said elongated container for containing said liquid;

said cap member comprising a threaded inner face (76) for threadably engaging said container and a washer member (26) for sealably coupling the cap member to the elongated container; and

wherein said dispensing assembly additionally comprises an end cap assembly (104) releasably secured thereto;

said end cap assembly comprising a fluid retaining means (100) for retaining liquid communicated thereto and transferring said liquid therefrom to an object; and

said fluid retaining means comprising a cellulosic sponge member (108); and

a pump member 136 disposed in said cap member for pressurizing said elongated container; and

wherein said regulating means comprises a pair of annular sleeves (112,114) secured to said container proximal end of said container defining an annular channel (120) therebetween for receiving a screw member;

a screw member (122) threadably disposed in said dispensing assembly for being received by said annular channel;

said annular channel comprising a channel width wherein said screw member may longitudinally slide between said pair of annular sleeves within said channel.