Hanging liquid dispenser

• US 8,292,120 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2008
• Issued: 10/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 1Touch Holdings, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sealed Air Corporation US (Sealed Air)
• Inventors: LaFlamme, Roger J., Mileti, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver, Kevin P
• Assistant Examiner(s): BAINBRIDGE, ANDREW PHILIP
• Application Number:
  US12/053,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20080237262A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,674 Days
• Field of Search: 417/480, 222 92- 96, 222105-107, 222/135, 222/181.2, 222206-215, 222/380, 222/494, 222/633
• US Class Current: 222/94
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/026 Membranes separating the content remaining in the container from the atmospheric air to compensate underpressure inside the container
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1032 actuated without substantial movement of the nozzle in the direction of the pressure stroke B05B11/103 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1085 the pumps being coaxial
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 33/14 Suspension means handles B65D33/06
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/5866 Integral spouts
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/08 of the diaphragm or bellows type
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/084 using a bulb to pressurise the fluid to be dispersed
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/088 using a deformable conduit-like element

Abstract

A hanging liquid dispenser is provided that includes a pump and valving for delivering the fluid material when the dispenser is operated by the user in a controlled fashion. The hanging dispenser includes a main body that serves as a fluid reservoir and has an eyelet which is suitable for use in hanging the dispenser from a suitable support. In addition to including the ability to hang, the dispenser preferably includes a pump for metered dosing of the fluid within the dispenser when operation of the pump delivers a controlled volume of the fluid as desired by the user.

Claims

1. A fluid dispensing device, comprising:

a main body having a fluid reservoir, a top and a bottom, the main body comprising at least two film layers, the film layers being at least partially sealed to one another along their edges;

an aperture formed in the film layers at the top of the main body for hanging the fluid dispensing device;

a metered dispensing pump attached to the bottom of the main body;

the metered dispensing pump comprising;

a hollow flexible button having a top portion and a bottom portion;

a base plate having an intake port attached to the bottom portion of the hollow flexible button, wherein the base plate is manipulatable between at least two positions and the base plate and the hollow flexible button form an inner cavity;

a flapper valve positioned over the intake port;

the hollow flexible button distortable from a first position to a second position and automatically returnable substantially to the first position;

the hollow flexible button attached to an exit port;

the intake port being in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir;

the exit port being in fluid communication with an exterior of the fluid reservoir;

the metered dispensing pump being configured to draw fluid from the fluid reservoir through the intake port and into the inner cavity when the hollow flexible button is returned from the second position to the first position; and

the metered dispensing pump being further configured to urge fluid from the inner cavity through the exit port when the hollow flexible button is distorted from the first position to the second position.

2. The fluid dispensing device of claim 1 wherein the fluid dispensing device further includes a hook extending through the aperture in the main body.

3. The fluid dispensing device of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one additional fluid reservoir formed within the main body; and

at least one additional corresponding metered dispensing pump in fluid communication with the at least one additional fluid reservoir.

4. The fluid dispensing device of claim 3, wherein the fluid in each of the fluid reservoirs is the same type of fluid.

5. The fluid dispensing device of claim 3, wherein the fluid in each of the fluid reservoirs is a different type of fluid.

6. The fluid dispensing device of claim 5, wherein each of the dispensing pumps is in fluid communication with an exit pathway and the fluid output is mixed as it passes through the exit pathway.

7. The fluid dispensing device of claim 3, wherein the plurality of metered dispensing pumps are positioned adjacent to one another such that a user depresses them simultaneously.

8. The fluid dispensing device of claim 1 wherein the hollow flexible button is shaped like a dome.

9. The fluid dispensing device of claim 3, wherein at least two of the fluid reservoirs contain the same type of fluid.

10. The fluid dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the flapper valve is biased toward an open condition.

11. The fluid dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the flapper valve is biased toward a closed condition.

12. The fluid dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the at least two positions between which the base plate is manipulatable include a convex position and a concave position.

13. The fluid dispensing device of claim 12, wherein the base plate is biased toward the convex position.

14. A fluid dispensing device, comprising:

a flexible main body having a plurality of fluid reservoirs and a top and a bottom, the main body comprising at least two film layers, the film layers being at least partially sealed to one another along their edges;

an aperture formed in the film layers at the top of the flexible main body for hanging the fluid dispensing device;

a metered dispensing pump attached to each of the plurality of fluid reservoirs;

each metered dispensing pump comprising;

a hollow flexible button shaped like a dome having a top portion and a bottom portion;

a base plate having an intake port attached to the bottom portion of the hollow flexible button, wherein the base plate is manipulatable between at least two positions and the base plate and the hollow flexible button form an inner cavity;

a flapper valve positioned over the intake port;

the hollow flexible button distortable from a first position to a second position and automatically returnable substantially to the first position;

the hollow flexible button attached to an exit port;

the intake port being in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir;

the exit port being in fluid communication with an exterior of the fluid reservoir;

the metered dispensing pump being configured to draw fluid from the fluid reservoir through the intake port and into the inner cavity when the hollow flexible button is returned from the second position to the first position; and

the metered dispensing pump being further configured to urge fluid from the inner cavity through the exit port when the hollow flexible button is distorted from the first position to the second position.

15. The fluid dispensing device of claim 14 wherein the fluid dispensing device further includes a hook extending through the aperture in the main body.

16. The fluid dispensing device of claim 14, wherein the fluid in each of the plurality of fluid reservoirs is the same type of fluid.

17. The fluid dispensing device of claim 14, wherein the fluid in each of the fluid reservoirs is a different type of fluid.

18. The fluid dispensing device of claim 14, wherein at least two of the plurality of fluid reservoirs contains the same type of fluid.

19. The fluid dispensing device of claim 14, wherein each metered dispensing pump is in fluid communication with an exit pathway and the fluid output is mixed as it passes through the exit pathway.

20. The fluid dispensing device of claim 14, wherein the fluid dispensing device has two metered dispensing pumps and the hollow flexible button of each metered dispensing pump has a central axis extending from the top portion to the bottom portion, wherein the top portion of said hollow flexible buttons face away from each other and said central axes are positioned substantially co-axial to one another such that they can be simultaneously pinched between two fingers and as such actuated simultaneously.

21. The fluid dispensing device of claim 14, wherein the at least two positions between which the base plate is manipulatable include a convex position and a concave position.

22. The fluid dispensing device of claim 21, wherein the base plate is biased toward the convex position.