Refillable/reusable mixer container and method of using same

• US 7,850,043 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2007
• Issued: 12/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Replenish Bottling, LLC
• Original Assignee: Replenish Bottling, LLC
• Inventors: Foster, Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): NGO, LIEN M
• Application Number:
  US11/835,344
• Publication Number:
  US 20080035668A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,225 Days
• Field of Search: 222/1, 222/157, 222/158, 222/83, 222/83.5, 222/207, 222/209, 222/180, 222/186, 222/181.2, 222/106, 222/133, 222/134, 222/184, 206219-222
• US Class Current: 222/1
• 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 11/1057 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: G01F 11/028 the dosing device being provided with a dip tube and fitted to a container, e.g. to a bottleneck

Abstract

A self-contained mixing and dispensing container having at least two chambers, a means by which fluid may be transferred from one chamber to another, a mechanism to dispense the mixture, and means for refilling at least one chamber with the desired fluid.

Claims

1. A mixing and dispensing apparatus comprising:

a first chamber capable of holding a liquid;

a replaceable second chamber capable of holding a liquid;

a mixing receptacle within said first chamber for receiving measurable amounts of liquid from said second chamber; and

valve means between said first and second chambers for maintaining separation between the contents of said first and second chambers;

wherein said valve means act, upon pressure from said second chamber, to allow-the introduction of the contents of said second chamber into said mixing receptacle within said first chamber; and

wherein said valve means further act, upon the release of said pressure from said second chamber, to close thereby disallowing the contents of said first chamber from returning to said second chamber.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for attaching dispensing means to said first chamber.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said valve means include an LMS valve.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said valve means include a duck valve.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a notched snap-in connector between said first chamber and said valve means.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for attaching said replaceable second chamber to said valve means.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second chamber is a collapsible bag.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said collapsible bag includes at least two separate chambers.

9. A mixing and dispensing apparatus comprising:

a first chamber, capable of holding a liquid;

a replaceable second chamber, capable of holding a liquid and including a tamper indicating closure;

a measurement cup within said first chamber positioned to receive liquid from said second chamber;

valve means, including a valve, a first notched snap-in connector for connecting said valve means to said first chamber and a second notched snap-in connector for connecting said valve means to said replaceable second chamber;

means for attaching a dispenser cap to said first chamber; and

a base, surrounding said replaceable second chamber and attached to said first chamber by a third notched snap-in connector, providing stability when the apparatus is placed on a surface.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said replaceable second chamber is a collapsible bag.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said collapsible bag is made up of at least two separate chambers.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said replaceable second chamber is a non-collapsible, replaceable chamber.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said valve means includes an LMS valve.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said valve means includes a duck valve.

15. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said measurement cup includes measurement lines, said cup formed from the joining of two opposite sides of said first chamber, whereby a user may introduce liquid to said first chamber from said replaceable second chamber while the apparatus is inverted, and said liquid is captured in said measurement cup for measuring.

16. A method of using a combined mixing and dispensing apparatus comprising the steps of:

affixing a replaceable collapsible chamber to valve means;

introducing the contents of said replaceable collapsible chamber to a measuring receptacle within a fixed chamber through said valve means;

emptying the contents of said replaceable collapsible chamber over time; and

replacing said replaceable collapsible chamber with a new replaceable collapsible chamber.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said introducing step comprises applying pressure to said replaceable collapsible chamber to thereby open said valve means to force contents of said replaceable collapsible chamber into said fixed chamber.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said replaceable collapsible chamber is multi-chambered and further wherein said emptying step comprises repeating said introducing step at least twice for at least two sub-chambers within said collapsible chamber.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said introducing step further comprises applying pressure to said replaceable collapsible chamber, sufficient only to collapse one of said sub-chambers and subsequently applying additional pressure to thereby collapse another of said sub-chambers.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein said replacing step comprises the steps of:

removing said replaceable collapsible chamber;

introducing a new replaceable collapsible chamber;

removing a tamper indicating closure in the top of said new replaceable collapsible chamber; and

removably attaching said new replaceable collapsible chamber to the combined mixing and dispensing apparatus.