Abstract:
A magnetically operable mixing and dispensing apparatus which is operable with one hand. A bottle contact portion is provided on a magnetic activating member which activates a moveable element of the valve. The apparatus eliminates frictional contact with the valve thus resulting in longer life. The apparatus is easily retrofitted.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
         [0001]    NONE  
         STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
         [0002]    NONE  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    1. Technical Field  
           [0004]    This invention relates generally to liquid mixing and dispensing. More particularly it relates to a liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus wherein a liquid solution can be prepared and dispensed into a bottle with a one hand procedure.  
           [0005]    2. Background Art  
           [0006]    Mixing and dispensing apparatus of the type which mix a chemical cleaning or sanitizing concentrate with water are well known. The resulting solutions can be filled into suitable containers such as bottles or buckets. They can also be sprayed. Apparatus of this type are available from Johnson Wax Professional of Sturtevant, Wis. as the J-FILL™ dispensing units, Solution Centers™ or CleanPak™ units.  
           [0007]    While the previously referred to units afford ease of dispensing, they do require a two hand procedure for operation. One hand is required to hold a bottle into which the solution is dispensed while the other is employed to activate a valve. A more convenient operation would be afforded if only a single hand were required for the dispensing.  
           [0008]    In U.S. Pat. No. 5,832,972, a dispensing system of the type concerned with in this invention is described with a one hand procedure. However, the apparatus described in this patent requires a frictional engagement with a valve button which results in wear and tear on the engaging parts. Also, the design of the slide actuator which contacts the valve requires extensive travel and movement of the bottle.  
           [0009]    A magnetically actuated valve for use with an eductor in a dispensing apparatus is available from Hydro Systems of Cincinnati, Ohio. It employs a slideable bracket and magnet which are connected by a chain with the magnet actuating a magnetically operable valve.  
           [0010]    A magnetically operated valve with a timer assembly for use in dispensing a chemical solution is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,934,651. A magnetically operated push button valve for use in conjunction with a chemical solution apparatus is available from Dema Engineering Company in St. Louis, Mo.  
           [0011]    There are available magnetically operable valves which obviate frictional engagement with a valve in order to operate it. These are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,450,877; 4,121,741 and 4,382,449. However, the magnetically operable valves described in these patents do not lend themselves for use with a liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus.  
           [0012]    Accordingly, there is a need for an improved liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus which is operable with one hand.  
           [0013]    The objects of the invention therefore are:  
           [0014]    a. Providing an improved liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus.  
           [0015]    b. Providing a liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus which is easy to operate.  
           [0016]    c. Providing a liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus wherein a bottle can be filled therefrom with a one hand procedure.  
           [0017]    d. Providing a liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus of the foregoing type which obviates frictional engagement between a valve and a valve activating mechanism.  
           [0018]    e. Providing a liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus of the foregoing type which is easily retrofitted.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0019]    The foregoing objects are accomplished and the shortcomings of the prior art are overcome by the liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus of this invention which includes an eductor member having a liquid inlet, an inlet for liquid concentrate and an outlet for a mixed solution. A valve member is operatively connected to the liquid inlet of the eductor, the valve member including a magnetically operable moveable element for controlling the flow of liquid to the liquid inlet of the eductor. A magnetic activating member is operatively associated with the moveable element. A magnet support member is connected to the magnetic activating member and a magnet is connected to the magnet support member. The magnetic activating member moves in a direction of the moveable element to open and close the valve member and includes a bottle contact portion positioned proximate the eductor outlet.  
           [0020]    In a preferred embodiment, the magnetic activating member comprises a slideable member operatively connected to the valve member.  
           [0021]    In one aspect, the magnet is of a horse shoe configuration.  
           [0022]    In another aspect, the magnet is of an annular configuration and surrounds a valve stem of the valve member.  
           [0023]    In yet another aspect, a method is provided for utilizing the apparatus of this invention.  
           [0024]    These and still other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description which follows. In the detailed description below preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in reference to the full scope of the invention. The invention may be employed in still other embodiments. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0025]    [0025]FIG. 1 is a front view of the liquid mixing and dispensing apparatus of this invention.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 2 is a top view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 3 is a back view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, without the housing.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the front of the apparatus.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the side of the apparatus.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the apparatus in a valve activating position.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the apparatus.  
         [0032]    FIGS.  8 - 11  are views similar to FIGS.  3 - 6  of the alternative embodiment.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIGS. 12 and 13 are cross-sectional views of a preferred valve for use with the dispensing apparatus. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0034]    Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the dispensing apparatus generally  10  is shown in a housing  12  composed of a front panel  14  and a top panel  16 .  
         [0035]    As seen in FIGS.  2 - 4 , the dispensing apparatus  10  includes a support member  20  with an upper portion  22  to which is connected a valve assembly  24  having a fluid intake portion  26  and an outlet portion  27 . The valve assembly  24  is connected to the top panel  16  such as by screws  18 . See FIG. 2. An eductor  30  is fastened to the outlet portion  27  by means of the nut connection  32 . The preferred eductor  30  is available from S.C. Johnson Commercial Markets, Inc., Sturtevant, Wis.  
         [0036]    A metering valve  33  is connected to eductor  30  by means of conduit  36 . The preferred metering valve is disclosed in a commonly owned patent application entitled Precision Variable Rate Dispensing Valve, Ser. No. ______, filed ______, the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference. While this metering valve is preferred, any valve which can meter chemical concentrate can be employed such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 824,527 and 938,601. The metering valve has a barbed portion  34  for connection to a conduit (not shown) which in turn is in fluid communication with a source of chemical concentrate (not shown) such as a cleaning or sanitizing chemical. When a source of water is attached to valve intake portion  26 , the flow of water through the eductor  30  causes a siphoning of concentrate into the diluting water stream with the combined stream exiting through outlet  38 .  
         [0037]    Support member  20  has lateral flanges  40  and  41  with lips  40   a  and  40   b  for slideably retaining slideable member  43  having lateral flanges such as  45  retained by the lips  40   a  and  41   a . The extent of travel of the slideable member  43  is governed by the slot  44  and protrusion  46 . At one end of the slideable member  43  is a U-shaped bottle contact member, which straddles outlet hose  38 . Extending from slideable member  43  is a bracket  50  to which is connected a magnet holder  52  for magnet  51 .  
         [0038]    [0038]FIGS. 12 and 13 depict a valve member  60  which is housed in valve assembly  24 . This valve is of the magnetic actuated type and is available from Dema Engineering Company in St. Louis, Mo. It operates in conjunction with the valve seat  62  which is part of the valve body  61 . It includes a diaphragm  63  having a pocket  65  with an orifice  66 . As seen in FIG. 11, a plunger  64  is constructed to seat in the pocket  65  in one position. A spring  67  biases the plunger  64  toward the diaphragm  63  and in a closed position of the valve. Plunger housing  68  accommodates the plunger  64 , the spring  67  and the insert  70 . A second spring  72  extends over the plunger housing  68  and biases the magnet  51  against the magnet holder  52 . Plunger housing  68  is attached to the valve body  61  by cap  69  and the threads  71 . In order to allow flow of water through the valve body  61  and to the eductor  30 , the magnet  51  is moved inwardly as shown in FIG. 12. This moves the magnet  51  in the direction of the plunger  64  to magnetically attract the metal plunger  64  drawing it away from diaphragm  63 . This allows water pressure to unseat the diaphragm  63 , thus allowing water to flow in the direction of directional arrow  75 .  
         [0039]    Referring to FIGS. 5 and 12, valve assembly  24  with valve member  60  is in a closed position. This is the result of magnet  51  being a sufficient distance from plunger  64  so that no magnetic force is exerted on plunger  64 . Accordingly valve member  60  remains in a closed position. In order for valve member  60  to open, magnet  51  is moved in the direction of plunger  64 . This exerts a magnetic force on it and opens the valve member as seen in FIG. 13. Movement of the magnet  51  in the direction of plunger  64  is caused by an upward movement of slideable member  43  when bottle contact member  47  is contacted by a bottle  57  and the bottle  57  moved upwardly. This is seen in FIG. 6. The opening of the valve member  60  results in water flowing through the valve  60  and into the eductor  30 . This draws chemical concentrate into the water stream and a mixed solution through cutlet  38  and into the bottle  57 .  
         [0040]    FIGS.  7 - 11  depict an alternative embodiment generally  10 A of the dispensing device. Similar components are designated by the same reference numerals except with an “A” suffix. In this embodiment  10 A, the valve assembly is connected to a back panel  17 A. The major difference between embodiment  10  and  10 A is that embodiment  10 A utilizes a horseshoe shaped magnet  51 A to open valve member  60 A which is the same as valve member  60  housed in valve assembly  24 . As seen in FIG. 11, magnet  51 A is positioned in a transverse manner with respect to the valve member  60 A and its housing  68 A rather than in a parallel manner as with respect to embodiment  10 , and seen in FIGS. 5 and 6. The advantage of embodiment  10 A with respect to  10  is that the horseshoe shaped magnet  51 A can approach the valve member  60 A and its plunger  64  at an angle.  
         [0041]    Operation of embodiment  10 A with respect to opening valve member  60  is the same as with embodiment  10 . Bottle  57 A when moved upwardly will move slideable member  43 A with bracket  50 A and magnet  51 A upwardly to open valve member  60 A in the manner explained with respect to embodiment  10 .  
         [0042]    An important feature of this invention is the aspect that valve members  60  and  60 A can be activated without any mechanical contact. As indicated earlier, a prior art one hand procedure for filling a bottle requires a frictional engagement between a slide actuator and a button for moving the magnet to attract the plungers  64  and  64 A to open the valve members  60  and  60 A. The elimination of the mechanical contact results in less wear and tear of component parts.  
         [0043]    The dispensing devices  10  and  10 A have been described as single units. It will be appreciated that a multiplicity of the devices can be employed in a single housing to dispense different chemical concentrates and solutions as seen in FIG. 1. While spring  72  is shown in conjunction with embodiment  10  and magnet holder  52 , it can be eliminated as force of gravity will return the holder to its nonoperating position. Ali such and other modifications within the spirit of the invention are meant to be within its scope as defined by the appended claims.