Automatic dispensing cap for squeezable bottle

• US 6,938,800 B1
• Filed: 05/28/2004
• Issued: 09/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autocap LLC
• Original Assignee: Robert A. Lehmkuhl
• Inventors: Lehmkuhl, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Derakshani, Philippe
• Application Number:
  US10/856,337
• Time in Patent Office: 466 Days
• Field of Search: 222/153.14, 222/212, 222/481.5, 222/518, 222/559, 222/496
• US Class Current: 222/153.14
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/047 characterised by the outlet or venting means B05B11/041 and B05B11/042 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 35/20 for retracting contents
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/2068 in which the stem is lowered by the pressure of the contents and thereby opening the valve

Abstract

The non-vented automatic dispensing cap is generally formed of a body and a retainer cap. The body is threadably secured to a squeezable tube or container. The retainer cap is attached to the body. A pressure chamber is formed between the body and retainer cap. A piston may also form a wall of the pressure chamber. A coil spring or resilient flange holds a valve seated within a dispensing hole extending through the cap. When the tube is squeezed, the product is forced into the pressure chamber expanding the pressure chamber and unseating the valve, thereby allowing product to exit the dispensing opening. Upright, inverted, vented and unvented versions are disclosed.

Claims

1. An automatic dispensing cap for use with a container holding a fluid product, said automatic dispensing cap comprising:

a body having a connector configured to attach said body to the container,

a retainer cap having an interior surface, said cap connecting with said body,

a sealing lip configured to contact an interior surface of said retainer cap,

a pressure chamber created within said retainer cap,

a dispensing hole exiting said pressure chamber,

a protrusion, said automatic dispensing cap having a first position and a second position, wherein in said first position, said protrusion seals said dispensing hole, and in said second position said dispensing hole is open,

and spring biased to hold said protrusion in said first position.

2. The automatic dispensing cap of claim 1, wherein said spring takes the form of at least one resilient flange extending from one of said body and said retainer cap.

3. The automatic dispensing cap of claim 2, wherein said resilient flange engages a lug extending from one of said body and said retainer cap.

4. The automatic dispensing cap of claim 1, wherein said spring takes the form of a coil spring.

5. The automatic dispensing cap of claim 1, wherein said dispensing opening passes through a wall of said retainer cap.

6. The automatic dispensing cap of claim 1, wherein said sealing lip extends from said body.

7. The automatic dispensing cap of claim 1, further comprising a piston located at least partially within said retainer cap, said sealing lip and said protrusion extending from said piston.

8. The automatic dispensing cap of claim 7, wherein said piston is hollow and has an opening leading from an interior of the container into said pressure chamber.

9. The automatic dispensing cap of claim 1, further comprising a opening extending through said body from an interior of the container into said pressure chamber.

10. The automatic dispensing cap of claim 1, wherein said automatic dispensing cap has locked position and an unlocked position, wherein, when said automatic dispensing cap is in said locked position said protrusion is held in said dispensing opening.

11. The automatic dispensing cap of claim 10, wherein said automatic dispensing cap is rotatable between said locked position and said unlocked position.

12. The automatic dispensing cap of claim 1, further comprising a vent opening extending through said body into the container.

13. The automatic dispensing cap of claim 1, further comprising a vent opening extending through said body into said pressure chamber.

14. The automatic dispensing cap of claim 1, further comprising a tube having a first end and a second end, said first end locatable within the container proximate a bottom thereof and said second end being connected to a port into said pressure chamber.

15. An automatic dispensing cap for use with a container holding a fluid product, said automatic dispensing cap comprising:

a body having an opening extending from an interior of said container and a connection means for attaching said body to the container,

a retainer cap having an interior surface, said retainer cap connecting with said body,

a sealing lip extending from said body and configured to contact an interior surface of said retainer cap,

a pressure chamber created between said retainer cap and said body,

a dispensing hole extending through said retainer cap from said pressure chamber,

a protrusion extending from said body, said automatic dispensing cap having a first position and a second position, wherein in said first position, said protrusion seals said dispensing hole in said retainer cap, and in said second position said dispensing hole is open,

and a flange biased to hold said automatic dispensing cap in said first position.

16. The automatic dispensing cap of claim 15, wherein said automatic dispensing cap has locked position and an unlocked position, wherein, when said automatic dispensing cap is in said locked position said protrusion is held in said dispensing opening.

17. The automatic dispensing cap of claim 15, further comprising a vent opening extending through said body.

18. The automatic dispensing cap of claim 15, further comprising a flapper valve located over said vent opening.

19. The automatic dispensing cap of claim 15, further comprising a tube having a first end and a second end, said first end locatable within the container proximate a bottom thereof and said second end being connected to a port into said pressure chamber.

20. An automatic dispensing cap for use with a container holding a fluid product, said automatic dispensing cap comprising:

a body having a connection means for attaching said body to the container,

a retainer cap connected to the body and having an interior surface,

a pressure chamber enclosed by said body and said retainer cap,

a dispensing hole exiting said pressure chamber,

a piston,

a valve on said piston, said valve being sized and configured to seal said dispensing hole,

wherein said piston has a first position and a second position, wherein in said first position, said valve seals said dispensing hole, and in said second position said dispensing hole is open,

a sealing lip around a perimeter of said piston, said sealing lip configured to contact said interior surface of said retainer cap,

and a spring biased to hold said piston in said first position.