Mechanism for dispersing items within a liquid to be dispensed

• US 6,874,551 B1
• Filed: 10/24/2003
• Issued: 04/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Brita Products Company (Clorox Company)
• Original Assignee: Clorox Company
• Inventors: Krawczyk, Todd, Spear, Gregory, Snell, Nathan, Marszalec, Michael S., Rodriquez, Rafael M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Douglas, Steven O.
• Application Number:
  US10/692,943
• Publication Number:
  US 20050087257A1
• Time in Patent Office: 529 Days
• Field of Search: 141/2, 141/9, 141/18, 141/19, 141/329, 141/330, 141/100, 141/104, 222/129, 222/129.1, 222144-1451, 222 80- 91, 206/222, 215/227, 215/DIG.8
• US Class Current: 141/329
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 21/00 Dissolving separating by dissolving B01D; dissolving to effect cooling F25D5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/713 comprising breaking packages or parts thereof, e.g. piercing or opening sealing elements between compartments or cartridges containers or packages per se B65D
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7131 Breaking or perforating packages, containers or vials

Abstract

A liquid dispenser for periodically dispersing a predetermined quantity of an item, such as chlorine or vitamin gel, into a liquid to be dispensed such as water or coffee.

Claims

1. A device for dispersing an item within a dispensable liquid, comprising:

a rotating, indexing mechanism carrying a piercing feature;

a support ring positioned adjacent the indexing mechanism, the support ring having compartments carrying discrete, predetermined portions of the item to be dispersed within the liquid;

wherein the item portions are designed to disperse a predetermined amount of the item within the liquid upon being contacted by the piercing feature.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is designed to engage and be in liquid communication with a liquid container for dispensing.

3. The liquid dispenser of claim 1, wherein the liquid comprises water, and the item comprises chlorine.

4. The liquid dispenser of claim 1, wherein the liquid comprises water, and the item comprises vitamins.

5. The liquid dispenser of claim 1, wherein the liquid comprises water, and the item comprises flavoring agents.

6. The liquid dispenser of claim 1, wherein the item comprises vitamins.

7. The liquid dispenser of claim 1, wherein the item is in gel form.

8. The liquid dispenser of claim 1, wherein the item comprises a viscous liquid.

9. The liquid dispenser of claim 1, further comprising an absorbent pad positioned below the support ring.

10. A self-chlorinating water dispenser having a housing and designed to engage and be in water communication with a water container, comprising:

a rotating, indexing mechanism contained within the water dispenser housing and including a plunger having a piercing feature;

a support ring carrying discrete, predetermined portions of chlorine;

wherein the chlorine portions are designed to disperse a predetermined amount of chlorine within the water upon being contacted by the piercing feature.

11. The self-chlorinating water dispenser of claim 10, further comprising an absorbent pad located below the support ring.

12. The self-chlorinating water dispenser of claim 10, wherein the support ring is rigidly attached to and rotates with the rotating mechanism.

13. The self-chlorinating water dispenser of claim 10, wherein the water container comprises a water bottle having a threaded neck.

14. The self-chlorinating water dispenser of claim 10, wherein the plunger is spring-loaded.

15. The self-chlorinating water dispenser of claim 10, wherein the piercing feature comprises a relatively sharp, downwardly extending nib.

16. The self-chlorinating water dispenser of claim 10, wherein the chlorine portion comprises a gel capsule.

17. The self-chlorinating water dispenser of claim 10, wherein the water dispenser also comprises a filtration device.

18. The self-chlorinating water dispenser of claim 10, wherein the piercing feature comprises a nib.