Patent ID: 6029860
Filing Date: 2000-02-29
Classification: B67D

Abstract:
A liquid dispensing device including a generally cylindrical liquid reservoir normally open at its upper end for receiving liquid from an inverted bottle having a downwardly and inwardly sloping shoulder portion merging into a depending neck portion defining a discharge opening, said liquid dispensing device including valve means for dispensing liquid from the reservoir, and said liquid dispensing device comprising, in combination,a top support having a generally centrally disposed annular opening with a depending skirt portion dimensioned for reception the open upper end of said reservoir, said top support defining a generally annular ring portion for supporting said shoulder portion of said inverted bottle above said liquid reservoir and wherein said top support includes a downwardly extending peripheral margin for generally centering said annular opening over said reservoir,a feed tube defining a flow path for dispensing liquid from said inverted bottle into said reservoir and for admitting replacement air from said reservoir into said bottle, means for mounting said feed tube in upstanding relation in the upper portion of said reservoir, said mounting means including a tapered entry portion disposed generally downwardly and inwardly from said top support for receiving and guiding said neck of said inverted bottle, said mounting means also including a cup-shaped structure formed integrally with and supporting said upstanding feed tube in generally centered relation with respect to said annular opening and said reservoir, said cup-shaped structure having an inwardly stepped sidewall and including a peripheral flange portion engageable with and supported by said open upper end of said reservoir, andsealing means including an annular gasket carried by and surrounding said cup-shaped structure adjacent said stepped sidewall below said peripheral flange portion for sealingly closing said open upper end of said reservoir.