Abstract:
A valve system for controlling a flow of a fluid is provided that includes a port including a valve seat, and a ball adapted to cooperate with the valve seat to seal the port. The valve system also includes an arrangement for magnetically positioning the ball on the valve seat. A method for operating a pump is provided that includes releasing a piston causing the piston to return to an unactuated position to increase the interior volume forcing fluid in a reservoir to move into the piston body through a port due to a pressure differential between the interior volume and the reservoir. The method also includes sealing the port with a ball after the piston returns to an unactuated position and the pressure differential falls below a threshold by magnetically attracting the ball to a valve seat of the port.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/342,850 filed Apr. 20, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0004]    The present invention relates to valves, and in particular relates to a valve operable under a variety of conditions, including inverted. 
         [0005]    2. Background of the Invention 
         [0006]    Conventional mechanical fluid dispersing pumps are used in a variety of applications from hand soaps to spray liquids. They are manufactured by numerous companies in a wide array of sizes, outputs and qualities. A similar design is used in many of these pumps, with the dispensing system located above the liquid reservoir. The conventional mechanical dispensing pump incorporates an intake port located at the bottom of the pump. A connecting tube leads from the outside of the intake port to the bottom of the liquid reservoir. The inside of the intake port leads to a pumping chamber which holds liquid to be dispersed. A piston is attached to a hollow activation nozzle and moves inside the pumping chamber. 
         [0007]    When the activation nozzle is depressed, the piston is pressed into the pumping chamber causing any liquid in the chamber to be dispersed through the hollow activation nozzle. A coil spring is located inside the piston. A plastic or stainless steel ball valve is loosely located between the end of the spring and the intake port. When the activation nozzle is pressed inward, the spring is compressed keeping the ball valve in position. Because the ball is sitting on top of the intake port, the intake port is sealed so the liquid in the pumping chamber cannot escape. The compressed liquid is forced out the hollow activation nozzle. 
         [0008]    When the activation is relaxed or released, the spring forces the piston open causing a vacuum in the pumping chamber. When the piston is fully open, the spring is relaxed and the ball valve opens allowing liquid into the pumping chamber. When the chamber is full, the ball valve settles (by gravity) on the intake port sealing it so no liquid escapes. 
         [0009]    This conventional pump works as long as the product is oriented with the inlet port facing downward. However, when moved off the vertical or inverted, gravity causes the ball valve to fall away from the intake port, causing it to open. 
         [0010]    In this new orientation, the liquid reservoir is now located above the pump and, with the intake port open, the weight of the liquid causes it to flow through the pumping chamber and out the hollow activation nozzle. In addition, the pump will no longer dispense fluid since the valve no longer functions. Leakage may also occur which drips from the hollow activation nozzle. 
         [0011]    There are instances where it is advantageous to have a fluid dispersing pump situated in an inverted position, i.e. with the liquid reservoir located at the top and the fluid dispensing pump at the bottom. Fluid dispensing pumps such as this are used in a variety of applications, for example wall mounted pumps that dispense liquid hand soap. In this application, the soap is dispensed downward with the liquid reservoir being located above the pump. The pump is activated by a hand drive means, or by an electric motor. Peristaltic or gear drives may be used to dispense soap in an inverted position. In some cases, these can leak, which can be both unsightly and dangerous. Soap is slippery and if dripped on to a floor can become a hazard. 
         [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,389,893 discusses a fluid dispensing system that includes a pump body configured to couple to a container. The pump body defines fluid inlet openings and a pump cavity. A shroud cover covers the pump body to draw fluid from the container. An inlet valve allows fluid from the container to enter the pump cavity through the fluid inlet openings. A plunger is slidably received in the pump cavity, and the plunger defines a fluid passage with a dispensing opening through which the fluid is dispensed. A shipping seal seals the fluid passage during shipping to minimize leakage of the fluid during shipping. An outlet valve is disposed inside the fluid passage to minimize the height of the fluid between the outlet valve and the dispensing opening so as to minimize dripping of fluid from the dispensing opening. The pump body includes a venting structure to normalize the air pressure inside the system. However, the design disclosed therein is complex and costly, and requires a substantial investment in tooling. 
         [0013]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,325,704 discusses a fluid dispensing system including a pump for pumping fluid from a container. The pump has a vent opening for venting air into the fluid in the container to normalize pressure inside the container as the fluid is pumped. An intake shroud is coupled to the pump, and the shroud includes a channel opening to draw fluid from the container into the pump in a straw-like manner. A baffle is positioned between the vent opening and the channel opening of the shroud to reduce ingestion of the air into the pump so as to reduce short or inconsistent dosing of the fluid when pumped. 
         [0014]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,192,007 discusses a valve assembly which may be incorporated in a pump and container arrangement so as to permit the dispensing of liquid from the container when the container is in an inverted position as well as when the container is in its normal upright position. The valve assembly is primarily formed by a disc which has formed as part thereof a valve unit. The valve unit, in turn, is provided with a vent passage therethrough which is normally closed in the inverted position of the unit and a liquid passage which is normally closed in the upright position of the valve assembly. The liquid passage is opened by the weight of the liquid within the container on the ball check valve thereof when the container is inverted. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    In accordance with the present invention, an inverted dispensing pump is provided that operates for both liquid and foam dispensing when the dispensing system is attached to and located under the reservoir of liquid or foam. 
         [0016]    The invention incorporates an intake port located at a top of the pump. In some embodiments, inside the intake port is a non-corrosive ferrous ball valve. The non-corrosive, ferrous ball valve is held in close proximity to the intake port by a mechanical retainer which has openings allowing soap or liquid to come in contact with the ball valve. 
         [0017]    Outside the intake port is a magnet. The intake port leads to a pumping chamber which holds liquid to be dispersed. A piston is attached to a hollow activation nozzle and moves within the pumping chamber. The piston and hollow activation nozzle is activated by an external means such as an electronically driven mechanism that contacts the external surface of the hollow activation nozzle. 
         [0018]    This movement of the piston causes any liquid in the chamber to be dispersed through the hollow activation nozzle. The ferrous ball valve is held firmly against the intake port by both the magnet and by hydraulic pressure preventing liquid from being dispensed back through the intake port. When the activating nozzle and piston are moved downward by the external means it creates a partial vacuum which overcomes the magnetic force causing the ferrous ball valve to disengage from the intake port thereby allowing liquid to flow into the pumping chamber. When the flow of liquid is reduced and hydraulic pressures are equalized, the magnet draws the ferrous ball valve back up to and seals the intake port seat, thereby preventing any flow-through and/or leakage. 
         [0019]    The use of the magnetic ball valve or other configuration of magnetic valve may be adapted to other pump designs using a free floating check valve in the inlet and allow those pumps to be used in the inverted position. 
         [0020]    A valve system for controlling a flow of a fluid is provided that includes a port including a valve seat, and a ball adapted to cooperate with the valve seat to seal the port. The valve system also includes an arrangement for magnetically positioning the ball on the valve seat. 
         [0021]    In the valve system, the check valve may be a ball or other configuration and may include ferrous material, and the arrangement for magnetically positioning the ball or check valve on the valve seat may include a magnet arranged on a side of the port opposite the valve seat. 
         [0022]    In the valve system, the ball may include magnetic material and the arrangement for magnetically positioning the ball on the valve seat may include ferrous material arranged on a side of the port opposite the valve seat. 
         [0023]    In the valve system, the ball may include magnetic material and the arrangement for magnetically positioning the ball on the valve seat may include a magnet arranged on a side of the port opposite the valve seat. The magnetic material in the ball and the magnet may have opposite polarities. 
         [0024]    In the valve system, the ball may include magnetic material and the arrangement for magnetically positioning the ball on the valve seat may include a magnet arranged on a same side of the port as the valve seat and the ball may be restricted to a zone between the magnet and the valve seat. The magnetic material in the ball and the magnet may have a same polarity. 
         [0025]    In the valve system, the arrangement for magnetically positioning the ball on the valve seat may include an electromagnet selectively operable to attract the ball to the valve seat to seal the port when activated, or allow the ball to move away from the valve seat to unseal the port when deactivated. 
         [0026]    The valve system may further include a piston body having the port on a first end and an outlet on a second end opposite the first end, and a piston housed in the piston body and having an actuator handle adapted to move the piston toward the first end. As the piston moves toward the first end, fluid in the piston body may be forced out the outlet by a pressure differential between an interior of the piston body and an exterior region around the outlet. 
         [0027]    In the valve system, the ball may be restricted to a zone around the valve seat by one of a retaining cage and an end of a spring arranged in the piston body. 
         [0028]    After the piston is moved toward the first end, and after a force applied to the actuator handle to move the piston toward the first end is removed, the piston may move toward the second end. A pressure differential between the fluid in the piston body and fluid in a reservoir situated on an opposite side of the port from the piston body may cause fluid to flow from the reservoir to the piston body, causing the ball to move away from the valve seat. 
         [0029]    In the valve system, the piston may move toward the second end in response to gravity, a spring arranged inside the piston body, a spring arranged outside the piston body, a motor moving the piston body, a magnetic attraction between the piston and an element having a fixed position with respect to the piston body, and/or a magnetic repulsion between the piston and the element having a fixed position with respect to the piston body. 
         [0030]    The valve system may include a fluid diverter arranged on an opposite side of the port from the piston body. The fluid diverter may cause fluid to flow from a selected position in the reservoir to the port. 
         [0031]    A method for operating a pump is provided that includes actuating a piston to decrease an interior volume of a piston body forcing fluid in the piston body out an outlet by a first pressure differential between the interior volume and an exterior region around the outlet. The method also includes releasing the piston causing the piston to return to an unactuated position to increase the interior volume forcing fluid in a reservoir to move into the piston body through a port due to a second pressure differential between the interior volume and the reservoir. The method also includes sealing the port with a ball after the piston returns to an unactuated position and the second pressure differential falls below a threshold by magnetically attracting the ball to a valve seat of the port. 
         [0032]    The method may further include restricting the ball to a zone around the valve seat by one of a retaining cage and an end of a spring arranged in the piston body. 
         [0033]    In the method, the piston may return to an unactuated position after being released under an influence of one of a spring, gravity, a motor, a magnetic attraction, and a magnetic repulsion. 
         [0034]    The method may further include providing a magnet on a side of the port opposite the valve seat. The ball may include ferrous material. 
         [0035]    The method may further include providing a ferrous material on a side of the port opposite the valve seat. The ball may include a magnet material. 
         [0036]    The method may further include providing a magnet on a side of the port opposite the valve seat. The ball may include a magnet material and the magnetic material in the ball and the magnet may have opposite polarities. 
         [0037]    The method may further include providing a magnet on a side of the port opposite the valve seat and restricting the ball to a zone between the magnet and the valve seat. The ball may include a magnet material and the magnetic material in the ball and the magnet may have a same polarity. 
         [0038]    The method may further include providing an electromagnet selectively operable to attract the ball to the valve seat to seal the port when activated and allow the ball to move away from the valve seat to unseal the port when deactivated. 
         [0039]    The method may further include diverting fluid from a selected position in the reservoir to an opposite side of the port from the piston body. 
         [0040]    A valve system for controlling a flow of a fluid is provided that includes a port, an arrangement for sealing the port, and an arrangement for magnetically attracting the sealing means to the port. 
         [0041]    These objects and the detail of this invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0042]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a first exemplary embodiment of an invertable pump, in an unactuated, recharging state, and incorporating a spring return, according to the present invention; 
           [0043]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the first exemplary embodiment of the invertable pump shown in  FIG. 1 , in an actuated state, and incorporating a spring return according to the present invention; 
           [0044]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a second exemplary embodiment of an invertable pump, in an unactuated, recharging state, according to the present invention; 
           [0045]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the second exemplary embodiment of the invertable pump shown in  FIG. 3 , in an actuated state, according to the present invention; and 
           [0046]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of a third exemplary embodiment of an invertable pump, in an unactuated, recharging state, and incorporating a fluid diverter, according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0047]    Conventional pumps use a free floating ball at the intake port as a check valve, which is controlled by gravity and hydraulic pressure. When there is no flow of liquid and reduced hydraulic pressure, the ball relies on gravity to settle onto the valve seat sealing the intake. However, when the pump is inverted, the intake is oriented above the pump and the valve seat is above the ball, and gravity causes the free floating ball to unseat from the intake port. This allows liquid to flow through the valve and leak out the spout. Also, when the pump is depressed, the ball will not always seat since the hydraulic pressure may force liquid past the ball and seat causing it to remain open. In this case, the pump will not dispense fluid since it has lost hydraulic pressure, and instead pushes the liquid in the pump chamber back out the inlet into the reservoir. 
         [0048]    The pump according to the present invention may be used with an external means coupled to the hollow pump activation nozzle, which causes the nozzle to close and/or open. For instance, a motor may be used to activate the nozzle, or to close the nozzle after a manual activation. This external device may perform some or all of the function of an internal spring. 
         [0049]    A liquid pick-up diverter may be located over the outside of the intake port and terminating near the screw cap attachment. The result is the ability to pick up liquid near the bottom of the inverted liquid reservoir. The pump assembly is attached to a screw cap that allows it to be easily assembled to a corresponding neck on the fluid reservoir. 
         [0050]    The invention is able to adapt to existing traditional, mechanical dispersing pump designs but provide an improvement for certain applications by substituting the ball valve and adding a magnetic means for holding the ball valve closed. It may also eliminate the need for an internal spring. When an internal spring is eliminated, the pump is well-suited for activation by an external means such as a motor driven mechanism which both opens and closes the pump. The external means may operate at very low forces since there is no spring pressure to overcome. Consequently the design is suited for use with a motor driven mechanism, and is suited for a mechanism that is controlled by an electronic circuit under microprocessor control. 
         [0051]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of pump/reservoir system  1  including invertable pump  2 . Invertable pump  2  is shown in  FIG. 1  in a recharging state, as will be discussed in greater detail below in the description of the operation of invertable pump  2 . Reservoir  28  may enclose a liquid, which may be soap, water, oils, lubricants, or a liquid of varying viscosity, a foam, and/or a powder. Reservoir  28  may be a closed reservoir, may be open, or may be selectively and/or partially open. Reservoir  28  may attach to cap  10 , or vice versa, with screw threads. The junction between reservoir  28  and cap  10  may include gasket  16  to provide a seal to prevent the leakage of the fluid in reservoir  28 . Cap  10  may be securely attached to piston body  18 , and retainer  12  may be securely attached to one or both of cap  10  and piston body  18 . For instance, retainer  12  may engage piston body  18  with snap threads that provide a secure and optionally irreversible attachment of retainer  12  to piston body  18 . 
         [0052]    Piston  20  includes an end positioned in piston chamber  32  of piston body  20  and spout  14  extending to handle  26 . Piston  20  is retained within retainer  12  by a close fit along a portion of the length of spout  14 . The portion of piston  20  contained within piston chamber  32  also has a close fit with an interior wall of piston body  20 . One or both of these close fits may be a friction fit, and may be substantially water tight. Additionally or alternatively, one or both of these close fits may also include a seal, for instance an “O” ring, as shown by seal  33 . Piston  20  may be movable between an unactuated position (shown in  FIG. 1 ) and an actuated position (shown in  FIG. 2 ), and in particular may moved to the actuated position by manual control of handle  26 . Alternatively, piston  20  may be actuated by a motor in response to an electronic control, for instance a proximity and/or movement sensor. Piston  20  may return to the unactuated position, after removal of the manual control of handle  26  or the cessation or reversal of motor control, under the power of spring  30 . Spring  30  is positioned within piston chamber  32  in  FIG. 1 , but alternatively may be positioned on an exterior of piston chamber  32 , or on the exterior of spout  14 . In  FIG. 1 , spring  30  extends between piston  20  and ribs  36 . Ribs  36  may provide a base or shelf for spring  30  to act against, and additionally may include a retention device to prevent the movement of spring  30 . Alternatively, spring  30  may be positioned within piston chamber  32  such that in an unactuated position, sufficient pressure exists that spring  30  is compressed slightly from a maximum extension, with the slight compression providing a sufficient force to maintain spring  30  in a stable position. 
         [0053]    Ball  22  cooperates with valve seat  40  of port  38  to selectively close and open port  38  to allow fluid to enter piston chamber  32  from reservoir  28 . Ball  22  may be ferrous, or any other appropriate metal that is subject to being attracted or repelled by a magnet. Ball  22  may be coated with a metal or a metal coated with another material, for instance plastic. Ball  22  may alternatively be other than a spherical shape, and for instance may be a flap or hemisphere attached with a hinge or guided by rails, or any other appropriate shape. Magnet  24  may be positioned on piston body  18  on a side of port  38  away from piston chamber  32 , so that magnet  24  attracts ball  22  to valve seat  40  to seal port  38 . In alternative configurations, ball  22  may include magnetic material and magnet  24  may be a metal attractive to the magnet material of ball  22 . In further alternatives, ball  22  may be magnetic and of an opposite polarity as magnet  24 , so that there is an attractive force between ball  22  and magnet  24 . Alternatively, port  38  itself may be composed of a magnetic material or a magnet as appropriate for attracting ball  22 . 
         [0054]    In still further alternatives, magnet  24  may be positioned within piston chamber  32 , or at least on the same side of port  38  as piston chamber  32 , and ball  22  may be restricted in movement so that it is always positioned between magnet  24  and port  38 . In this alternative, ball  22  and magnet  24  should be configured to have a repulsive interaction, which may be accomplished by use of an appropriate polarity for magnet  24  with respect to a metal ball  22 , or vice versa, or by using an opposite polarity magnet in ball  22  as in magnet  24 . Further alternatives envision an electromagnet as magnet  24 , which may be selectively operable to attract and/or repel ball  22 , either in the position shown in  FIG. 1 , or in an alternative position within, around or on the edge of piston chamber  32 . Magnet  24  may have any appropriate shape, including a block, a ring, a sphere, or a hemisphere, and may have various strengths for various purposes, and/or may have a variable strength in the case of an electromagnet. 
         [0055]    Ball  32  may be restricted in movement away from port  38  by projections on ribs  36 , by an end portion of spring  30 , or by any other appropriate method (for example ball retainer  35  shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 ). 
         [0056]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the first exemplary embodiment of the invertable pump shown in  FIG. 1 , in an actuated state. Operation of the first exemplary embodiment will be discussed in regard to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 1  illustrates a recharging of piston chamber  32  with fluid from reservoir  28  immediately following an actuation of piston  20  by handle  26 . Fluid flows into piston chamber  32 , as shown by the arrows in  FIG. 2 , due to a lower pressure in piston chamber  32  than reservoir  28 . This pressure differential is sufficient to overcome the magnetic attraction between ball  22  and magnet  24 , thereby causing ball  22  to move away from valve seat  40 , thereby opening port  38 . This pressure differential is caused by the expansion of piston chamber  32  in response to handle  26  moving from an actuated position, as shown in  FIG. 2 , to an unactuated position, as shown in  FIG. 1 . After piston chamber  32  fills with fluid from reservoir  28 , the pressure in piston chamber  32  substantially equalizes with the pressure in reservoir  28 , and the flow of fluid through port  38  slows or stops. When the flow of fluid through port  38  slows sufficiently that the force imparted by the flow is insufficient to overcome the magnetic attraction between ball  22  and magnet  24 , ball  22  will seat on valve seat  40  and seal port  38  due to the magnetic attraction. Now pump/reservoir system  1  is ready to be used to discharge liquid. 
         [0057]      FIG. 2  is reached from  FIG. 1  by activating handle  26  by any of the methods described herein. As discussed above, piston chamber  32  is full of fluid from reservoir  28 , the fluid in reservoir  28  and in piston chamber  32  are at substantially the same pressure, and ball  22  is seated on valve seat  40  sealing port  38  due to the attraction of ball  22  to magnet  24 . Activating handle  26  in invertable pump  2  reduces the volume of piston chamber  32 , and causes the fluid in piston chamber  32  to escape via the only open route, which is down spout  14  and out nozzle  34 . The activation of handle  26 , by increasing the pressure in piston chamber  32  creates a pressure differential between piston chamber  32  and reservoir  28 . The result of this pressure differential is to cause ball  22  to seat more firmly on valve seat  40 , thereby improving the seal of port  38 . After the fluid flows out nozzle  34  in response to actuating handle  26 , a user has obtained the desired effect of obtaining liquid from pump/reservoir system  1 . 
         [0058]    Releasing handle  26  allows spring  30  to force handle to move from the actuated position, shown in  FIG. 2 , to the unactuated position, shown in  FIG. 1 . This movement of handle  26  causes piston  20  to also move downward, thereby increasing the volume of piston chamber  32 . The increased volume of piston chamber, with the reduced amount of fluid due to the ejection of fluid during the activation cycle out nozzle  34 , leads to a reduced pressure in piston chamber  32 . The reduced pressure in piston chamber  32  causes a pressure differential with respect to reservoir  28  which is sufficient to overcome the magnetic attraction between ball  22  and magnet  24 . Liquid in spout  14  seals piston chamber  14  in this situation preventing air from being introduced into piston chamber  14 . This works with a spout diameter small enough to produce capillary pressure sufficient to hold fluid in the spout/piston chamber. 
         [0059]    If piston chamber  32  is not full of fluid in a start position, for instance during a first usage, one or more activations of handle  26  will fill piston chamber  32  in the manner described herein. 
         [0060]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view pump/reservoir system  3  including invertable pump  4 . Invertable pump  4  is shown in  FIG. 3  in a recharging state, and  FIG. 4  is reached from  FIG. 3  by activating handle  26  by any of the methods described herein. One distinctive feature of invertable pump  4  is that it does not include spring  30  for returning piston  20  to an unactuated position. In an embodiment, piston  20  may return to the unactuated position shown in  FIG. 3  under the force of gravity. In an alternative embodiment, piston  20  may be moved by motor  42  which may operate against spout  14  or any other appropriate element rigidly or semi-rigidly connected to piston  20 . Another distinctive feature of invertable pump  4  is that it includes ball retainer  35 , which operates when ball  22  is unseated from valve seat  40 , for instance when the piston is returning to an unactuated state and the fluid from reservoir  28  is flowing through port  38  to recharge piston chamber  32 . Ball retainer  35  operates to prevent ball  22  from moving beyond a zone representing a significant field strength of magnet  24 . In this manner, after recharging piston chamber  32  with fluid, ball  22  will be within range of attraction of magnet  24  and therefore able to create a seal of port  38  by seating on valve seat  40 . Ball retainer  35  should therefore prevent the passage of ball  22 , while not significantly inhibiting the passage of any fluid into piston chamber  32 . 
         [0061]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of invertable pump  4  shown in  FIG. 3 , in an actuated state. The operation of invertable pump  4  is substantially similar to the operation of invertable pump  2 , with the exception of the return mechanism for piston  20  being either gravity or motor  42 , and the retention of ball  22  due to ball retainer  35 . The discharge of liquid out nozzle  34  due to activation of handle  26 , the release of handle  36  causing a differential in pressure causing a recharge of piston chamber  32  with fluid from reservoir  28 , and a resealing of port  38  by ball  22  under the influence of magnet  24  being substantially similar as described above in regard to invertable pump  2 . 
         [0062]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of invertable pump  6  in an unactuated and recharging state. Invertable pump  6  is substantially similar to invertable pump  2 , with the additional feature of fluid diverter  29 , which operates to draw fluid from a designated area of reservoir  28 . In this manner, wastage may be reduced by drawing the fluid into port  38  from a low point of reservoir  28 . Fluid flow  37  of fluid director  29  flows in a sealed manner from the low point of reservoir  28  to port  38 , thereby reducing or eliminating the waste of fluid in reservoir  28  from the fluid level dropping below port  38 . In an alternative configuration, fluid diverter  29  may include a flexible hose with a weighted end in which the hose has a sufficient length to reach all interior points of the reservoir. In this manner, invertable pump  6  may function in any orientation, and efficiently draw all liquid, foam or powder from the reservoir with minimal or no wastage. The weight at the end of this alternative fluid diverter  29  may be a weighted ball that encompasses the end of fluid diverter  29 . 
         [0063]    Invertable pump  6  includes spring  30  as in invertable pump  2 , but does not include ribs  36 . In invertable pump  6 , spring  30  acts directly on ball  22  and therefore both the spring and the magnetic force of magnet  24  attracting ball  22  operate to close port  38  by ball  22  sitting on valve seat  40 . Therefore, the spring coefficient of spring  30  and the strength of the magnetic attraction must be added to ensure that the pressure differential during a recharging cycle is sufficient to overcome the sum of these two forces. 
         [0064]    Additionally or alternatively, and in particular with a larger diameter spout and/or a fluid having a low viscosity, valve  44  may be provided between piston chamber  32  and spout  14  to keep fluid in piston chamber  32 . Any appropriate valve may be used, and in particular a rubber slit valve or a one-way spring valve may be provided. Valve  44  may provide an additional benefit in preventing air contamination of the fluid in piston chamber  32  during a period of disuse or limited use. The same concern of atmospheric conditions affecting product in spout  14  might apply to humidity-sensitive powder being distributed by an inverted pump according to the instant application. Valve  44  may be positioned near the end of spout  14  toward nozzle  34 , or alternatively may be positioned in spout  14  at or near a junction with piston chamber  32 . Positioning valve  44  toward nozzle  34  may more effectively enable valve  44  to prevent drainage of piston chamber  32 , while positioning valve  44  closer to, or next to, piston chamber  32  may prevent drying in the spout of the fluid being delivered by the inverted pump, which may lead to clogging if left unused for an extended period. 
         [0065]    A size of the pump and reservoir system according to the instant invention may be variable depending on the need addressed, and therefore the pump size may be vastly increased or miniaturized, as necessary. 
         [0066]    The invertable pump described herein utilizes a ball or other configured valve to seal the port, however alternative configurations may also be possible that utilize the magnetic closure mechanism described herein. For example, a hinged flap may be utilized, or a hemisphere that is rotationally stabilized, for instance by a rod that projects through a center of the port and perpendicular to the opening. 
         [0067]    While only a limited number of preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for purposes of illustration, it is obvious that many modifications and variations could be made thereto. It is intended to cover all of those modifications and variations which fall within the scope of the present invention, as defined by the following claims.