Rechargeable dispensers

• US 5,944,223 A
• Filed: 11/04/1997
• Issued: 08/31/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sunpat, LLC
• Original Assignee: Sprayex, Inc.
• Inventors: Klima, Walter F, Klima, William L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Assistant Examiner(s): DOUGLAS, LISA ANN
• Application Number:
  US08/963,913
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 239/304, 239/309, 239/333, 222/383.1, 222/82, 222/129, 222/136
• US Class Current: 222/129
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/0056 with an additional opening for filling or refilling
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/0081 and for mixing the components in a common container as a mixture ready for use before discharging the latter
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/0083 one of the components being in powder form
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/0086 Arrangements for allowing spraying and pouring
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/0097 Means for filling or refilling the sprayer through additional openings in the container B05B11/0056
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1081 Arrangements for pumping several liquids or other fluent materials from several containers, e.g. for mixing them at the moment of pumping
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7158 Bottles

Abstract

Rechargeable dispensers, in particular spray bottle dispensers including at least one chemical reservoir for recharging the spray bottle dispenser. Preferably, a separate solvent reservoir and chemical concentrate reservoirs are provided.

Claims

1. A multiple fluid spray pump dispensing apparatus, comprising:

a spray bottle having a threaded neck portion;

a manually actuated pump-type spray head connected to said spray bottle;

a first fluid reservoir for storing a first fluid, said first fluid reservoir disposed inside said spray bottle;

a second fluid reservoir for storing a second fluid, said second fluid reservoir disposed inside said spray bottle;

a plug-like fluid mixing device including a fluid mixing chamber for mixing together first fluid and second fluid for generating mixed fluid, said fluid mixing chamber being disposed within said neck portion of said spray bottle, said fluid mixing device connected to said spray head for transferring mixed fluid from said fluid mixing device to said spray head;

a first downtube configured for withdrawing first fluid from said first reservoir, said first downtube connected to said fluid mixing device for transferring first fluid from said first reservoir to said fluid mixing device; and

a second downtube configured for withdrawing second fluid from said second reservoir, said second downtube connected to said fluid mixing device for transferring second fluid from said second reservoir to said fluid mixing device.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said fluid mixing device is a fluid metering and mixing device for metering at least one of the first fluid and second fluid and for mixing together first and second fluids to generate the mixed fluid for dispensing.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said fluid metering and mixing device is configured for mixing together first fluid and second fluid at a predetermined ratio.

4. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said fluid metering and mixing device includes at least one metering chamber connected to the fluid mixing chamber.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first fluid reservoir is defined by at least a portion of an interior volume of said spray bottle and said second reservoir is connected to said fluid mixing device.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said second reservoir is suspended inside said spray bottle from said fluid mixing device.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said second reservoir is a test tube-like container connected at an upper end to said fluid mixing device, and said first down tube positioned adjacent and parallel relative to said test tube-like container.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said fluid mixing device is configured so that a portion of said fluid mixing device fits through an open end of said neck portion of said spray bottle.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said fluid mixing device is configured so that fluid mixing device can be installed inside said spray bottle, and then subsequently removed for replacement with another fluid mixing device.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, including first fluid contents and second fluid contents.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said first fluid contents is a diluent and said second fluid contents is a chemical concentrate.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said spray bottle includes a resealable opening for addition of the first fluid to said first reservoir without disturbing a connection between said spray bottle and spray head.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said resealable opening is defined by another threaded neck of said spray bottle provided with a threaded cap for opening and sealing an opening through said another threaded neck into said first reservoir.

14. A spray bottle adapter for use with a non-pressurized spray bottle provided with a pump-type spray head for making a multiple fluid dispensing apparatus, comprising:

an insert including a portion installed in a neck portion of the non-pressurized spray bottle, said insert comprising a body having a mixing chamber and an uninflatable reservoir for a first fluid, said insert configured for withdrawing said first fluid from said uninflatable reservoir and a second fluid from the non-pressurized spray bottle into said mixing chamber for producing a mixed fluid, and including means for fluidly connecting said insert to said pump-type spray head for supplying mixed fluid to said pump-type spray head.

15. An adapter according to claim 14, wherein said insert includes a plug-like body provided with a radial outwardly extending upper flange for suspending the adapter within the neck of the non-pressurized spray bottle.

16. An adapter according to claim 14, wherein said plug-like body is dimensioned to be slightly less than inner dimensions of said neck to facilitate removal of the adapter.

17. An adapter according to claim 14, wherein said plug-like body is dimensioned to be slightly greater than inner dimensions of said neck to prevent removal of the adapter.

18. An adapter according to claim 14, wherein said plug-like body is adhered or welded to said non-pressurized spray bottle to prevent removal of the adapter.

19. An adapter according to claim 14, wherein said insert is one-piece when assembled.

20. A multiple fluid spray dispensing apparatus, comprising:

a spray bottle having an outer wall enclosing and defining a first fluid reservoir for a first fluid and a neck;

a manually operated trigger-type spray head connected to said spray bottle; and

an adapter including a body portion with a radial outwardly extending upper flange portion, said adapter including a second fluid reservoir suspended inside said first fluid reservoir of said spray bottle by said body portion of said adapter, said adapter including a first downtube configured for withdrawing fluid from said first fluid reservoir and a second downtube configured for withdrawing fluid from said second fluid reservoir, said adapter including a mixing chamber disposed in said neck and at least one metering valve for metering at least one of the first fluid and the second fluid into said metering chamber.

21. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said body portion of said adapter includes a plug-like extension and said second fluid reservoir is a test tube-like container connected to said plug-like extension.

22. An apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said metering valve includes a metering chamber containing a metering ball, said metering chamber includes a one-way valve at one end and an oppositely oriented one-way valve at an opposite end of said metering chamber allowing a predetermined volume fluid to be injected into said mixing chamber of said adapter during a spray head pump cycle.

23. A spray bottle adapter for converting a one fluid spray dispensing apparatus comprising a spray bottle having an externally threaded neck and a manually operated trigger-type spray head having an internally threaded coupler into a multiple fluid spray dispensing apparatus, said adapter comprising:

a plug-like body configured for being installed in a neck portion of the spray bottle, said plug-like body including a radial outwardly extending upper flange for suspending the adapter within the neck of the spray bottle, said plug-like body including a mixing chamber and at least one metering valve;

a tubular extension extending below said plug-like body;

an uninflatable container for storing a first fluid, said uninflatable container rigidly connected to said tubular extension;

a first downtube for withdrawing said first fluid from the spray bottle into said mixing chamber;

a second downtube for withdrawing fluid from said uninflatable container into said mixing chamber; and

a tubular connector for connecting the adapter to the manually operated trigger-type spray head.

24. An adapter according to claim 23, wherein said plug-like body includes an upper body portion connected to a lower body portion.

25. An adapter according to claim 24, wherein said upper body portion nests inside said lower body portion.

26. An adapter according to claim 25, wherein said upper body portion comprises a cylindrical body portion connecting to an upper flange portion and a lower disk portion, and said lower body portion comprises a cylindrical body portion connecting to an upper flange portion and a lower disk portion.

27. An adapter according to claim 26, wherein said lower body portion further includes an inner lower flange portion serving as a stop to limit extent of said upper body portion nesting inside said lower body portion.

28. An adapter according to claim 23, wherein said lower body portion includes a first fluid passageway provided with a fluid check valve and a second fluid passageway provided with said metering valve.

29. An adapter according to claim 28, wherein said metering valve includes a metering chamber containing a metering ball, said metering chamber including a one-way valve at one end and an oppositely oriented one-way valve at an opposite end of said metering chamber allowing a predetermined volume fluid to be injected into said mixing chamber of said adapter during a spray head pump cycle.

30. An adapter according to claim 28, wherein said check valve provided in said first passageway is a ball check valve, and a spring is provided for biasing said ball check valve closed to ensure complete sealing.

31. An adapter according to claim 29, wherein said check valve provided in said first passageway is a ball check valve, and a spring is provided for biasing said ball check valve closed to ensure complete sealing.

32. An adapter according to claim 23, wherein said uninflatable container is removably connected to said plug-like extension.

33. An adapter according to claim 23, wherein said uninflatable container is connected to said plug-like extension in a non-removable manner.

34. A method of converting a single fluid spray dispensing apparatus comprising a single reservoir non-pressurized spray bottle having an externally threaded neck and a manually operated trigger pump-type spray head provided with an internally threaded coupler into a multiple fluid spray dispensing apparatus, comprising the steps of:

inserting and installing an adapter into a neck portion of the spray bottle, said adapter being defined by an insert comprising a body having a mixing chamber and an uninflatable reservoir for a first fluid, said insert configured for withdrawing said first fluid from said uninflatable reservoir and a second fluid from the non-pressurized spray bottle into said mixing chamber for producing a mixed fluid, and including means for fluidly connecting said insert to said manually operated trigger pump-type spray head for supplying mixed fluid to said manually operated trigger pump-type spray head, through a neck of the non-pressurized spray bottle; and

connecting the manually operated trigger pump-type spray head to the adapter and the non-pressurized spray bottle.

35. The method according to claim 34, wherein the non-pressurized spray bottle and manually operated trigger pump-type spray head are not modified in any manner to accommodate application of the adapter.