Printing-fluid container

• US 7,090,343 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2005
• Issued: 08/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Petersen, Daniel W., Hanson, Lisa M., Gonzales, Curt, Steinmetz, Charlie, Hwang, Peter G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Anh T. N.
• Application Number:
  US11/131,747
• Publication Number:
  US 20050212881A1
• Time in Patent Office: 455 Days
• Field of Search: 347/37, 347/49, 347/84, 347/85, 347/86, 347/87
• US Class Current: 347/85
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/175 Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17513 Inner structure
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1752 Mounting within the printer
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17523 Ink connection
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1753 Details of contacts on the cartridge, e.g. protection of contacts
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17546 electronically
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1755 mechanically
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17553 Outer structure

Abstract

A printing-fluid container includes a reservoir having an outer-face. A keying pocket is recessed from the outer-face of the reservoir and configured to mate with a complementary key post of a printing-fluid container bay.

Claims

1. A printing-fluid container, comprising:

a reservoir defining a bounded volume configured to contain printing fluid, the reservoir including a front face having an outer perimeter; and

a keying pocket recessed from the front face and extending into the bounded volume of the reservoir, the keying pocket being configured to mate with a complementary key post of a printing-fluid container bay.

2. The printing-fluid container of claim 1, wherein the reservoir holds a printing fluid designated by a characteristic of the keying pocket.

3. The printing-fluid container of claim 2, wherein the characteristic includes an orientation of the keying pocket.

4. The printing-fluid container of claim 3, wherein the orientation of the keying pocket is one of a plurality of different orientations, each designating a different printing fluid.

5. The printing-fluid container of claim 4, wherein each different orientation designates a different printing-fluid color.

6. The printing-fluid container of claim 2, wherein the keying pocket prevents the printing-fluid container from being seated in any printing-fluid container bay adapted to extract a printing fluid other than the printing fluid held within the reservoir.

7. The printing-fluid container of claim 1, wherein the front face of the reservoir is substantially planar.

8. The printing-fluid container of claim 1, wherein the keying pocket recesses substantially normal to the front faced.

9. The printing-fluid container of claim 1, wherein the front face is a leading surface adapted to be laterally installed into the printing-fluid container bay.

10. The printing-fluid container of claim 9, wherein the leading surface includes a fluidic interface.

11. A printing-fluid container, comprising:

a reservoir defining a bounded volume configured to contain printing fluid, the reservoir including a front face having an outer perimeter; and

a keying pocket recessed from the front face and extending into the bounded volume of the reservoir, the keying pocket being configured to mate with a complementary key post of a printing-fluid container bay, wherein the reservoir holds a printing fluid designated by a shape of the keying pocket.

12. The printing-fluid container of claim 11, wherein the shape of the keying pocket is one of a plurality of different shapes, each designating a different printing fluid.

13. The printing-fluid container of claim 12, wherein each different shape designates a different printing-fluid color.

14. A printing-fluid container, comprising:

a reservoir defining a bounded volume configured to contain printing fluid, the reservoir including a front face having an outer perimeter; and

a keying pocket recessed from the front face and extending into the bounded volume of the reservoir, the keying pocket being configured to mate with a complementary key post of a printing-fluid container bay, wherein the front face of the reservoir is substantially upright.

15. A printing-fluid container, comprising:

a reservoir defining a bounded volume configured to hold a printing fluid the reservoir including a leading surface; and

a keying pocket extending into the bounded volume of the reservoir, wherein the keying pocket is configured to prevent the reservoir from being seated in a printing-fluid container bay adapted to extract a printing fluid other than the printing fluid held within the reservoir.

16. The printing-fluid container of claim 15, wherein an orientation of the keying pocket of the printing-fluid container designates the printing fluid held within the reservoir.

17. The printing-fluid container of claim 16, wherein the orientation of the keying pocket designates a printing-fluid color of the printing fluid held within the reservoir.

18. The printing-fluid container of claim 15, wherein the keying pocket is configured to mate with an outwardly extending key post of a printing-fluid container bay adapted to extract the printing fluid held within the reservoir.

19. The printing fluid container of claim 15, wherein the keying pocket recesses substantially normal the leading surface.

20. The printing fluid container of claim 15, wherein the leading surface is substantially planar.

21. The printing fluid container of claim 15, wherein a fluidic interface is located on the leading surface.

22. A printing-fluid container, comprising:

reservoir means defining a cavity for holding a printing fluid, the reservoir means including a leading surface; and

keying means recessed from the leading surface and extending into the cavity of the reservoir means for restrictively mating to key posts associated with printing-fluid container bays adapted to receive the printing fluid held in the reservoir means.