Mixing and dispensing apparatus

• US 9,764,342 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2015
• Issued: 09/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Veltek Associates Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Veltek Associates Incorporated
• Inventors: Vellutato, Jr., Arthur L., Baker, Walter A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buechner, Patrick M
• Application Number:
  US14/643,496
• Publication Number:
  US 20150209809A1
• Time in Patent Office: 924 Days
• Field of Search: 222 80, 222 81, 222 82, 222 83, 222 835, 222 88, 2225412, 2221455, 222206, 222207, 222129, 222130, 222131, 222325, 2221456, 2221451, 2223218, 2223831, 433 90, 366602, 366130, 206538, 206219, 206222, 215DIG 8, 604 82, 604 87, 604 89, 604191, 604416
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/22 Phase substances, e.g. smokes, aerosols or sprayed or atomised substances
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/25 Rooms in buildings, passenger compartments
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/14 Filtering means
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/211 Use of hydrogen peroxide, liquid and vaporous
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/14 using sprayed or atomised substances including air-liquid contact processes
• 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 11/0089 Dispensing tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/048 characterised by the container, e.g. this latter being surrounded by an enclosure, or the means for deforming it B05B11/041, B05B11/046 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/10 Pump arrangements for transferring the contents from the container to a pump chamber by a sucking effect and forcing the contents out through the dispensing nozzle
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/26 Apparatus in which liquids or other fluent materials from different sources are brought together before entering the discharge device B05B7/2402 takes precedence

Abstract

A mixing and dispensing apparatus having first and second containers. The first container has a main body portion which retains a first substance. A separate compartment is located in the first container and an internal passageway is formed between the main body portion and the compartment. The second container is configured to retain a second substance, and is compressible. The second container has a top end and a closed spout, wherein the closed spout is located in the compartment with the spout extending through the internal passageway into the main body portion of said first container. A release mechanism is formed by a plunger extending within the second container. The plunger has a first end in communication with the top end of the second container, and a second end aligned with the closed spout. The second end opens the closed spout when the second container is compressed to release the second substance into the main body portion of the first container.

Claims

1. A mixing and dispensing apparatus, comprising:

a first container retaining a first substance;

a second container retaining a second substance different than the first substance, the second container having a plunger and a spout, the plunger being configured to open the spout to release the second substance into the first container; and

an angled neck extending between and in fluid communication with the first container and the second container, the spout of the second container in fluid communication with the angled neck.

2. A mixing and dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second container is compressible.

3. A mixing and dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the angled neck extends from a longitudinal side of the first container.

4. A mixing and dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the angled neck is integrally formed with the first container.

5. A mixing and dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first substance is sterile water and the second substance is a concentrated cleaner.

6. A mixing and dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first container includes a dispensing mechanism, the dispensing mechanism includes a tube extending into the first container.

7. A mixing and dispensing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the compartment of the first container is oriented substantially parallel to the tube in the first container.

8. A mixing and dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second container is spaced from the main body of first container.

9. A mixing and dispensing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a web extends between the first container and the main body of the first container.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first container has a compartment and the second container is in the compartment of the first container.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the compartment has a passageway, and the spout extends through the passageway.

12. The mixing and dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first container has a main body portion retaining a first substance and a first opening and second opening, and wherein the spout of the second container is closed and in fluid communication with the angled neck through the second opening, such that the first substance or combined first substance and second substance can be dispensed through the first opening of the first container.

13. The mixing and dispensing apparatus of claim 12, wherein said first container has a compartment and the second container is in the compartment.

14. A mixing and dispensing apparatus, comprising:

a first container retaining a first substance;

a second container retaining a second substance different than the first substance, the second container having a plunger and an opening, the plunger being configured to release the second substance into the first container through the opening; and

a neck extending between and in fluid communication with the first container and the second container, the opening of the second container in fluid communication with the neck.

15. A method of mixing and dispensing a sterilized composition within a cleanroom, comprising the steps of:

providing an apparatus including;

a first container having a main body portion and a compartment,

a second container in the compartment of the first container and having a closed spout extending through a passageway in the compartment and in fluid communication with said main body portion of said first container,

an angled neck extending between and in fluid communication with the first and second containers, and

a plunger;

filling the main body portion of the first container with a first liquid;

filling the main body portion of the second container with a second liquid;

placing the plunger in the second container and aligning the plunger with the closed spout;

applying downward pressure to the plunger, such that the plunger opens the closed spout to release the second fluid into the main body portion of the first container, whereby the first and second fluids mix to form a sterilized composition.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first fluid is different than the second fluid.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the first fluid is sterile water and the second fluid is a concentrated cleaner.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the second container includes a compressible member upon which the downward pressure is applied.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of actuating a dispensing mechanism of the first container, such that the sterilized composition is expelled from the first container through the dispensing mechanism into the cleanroom.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the dispensing mechanism is a spray head that has a trigger and an adjustable nozzle through which the sterilized composition is expelled.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the apparatus further comprises a dip tube extending from the dispensing mechanism into the main body portion of the first container, such that the sterilized composition is drawn into the dip tube when the dispensing mechanism is actuated.