Abstract:
A dispensing system for dispensing material from a container having an opening secured by a cap through which material from the container is dispensed. The dispensing system comprises a dispenser defining a receptacle shaped to receive the container and a retainer releasably engagable with the cap, wherein the retainer is engagable with the cap via a releasable and resiliently deformable connection providing resistance against withdrawal of the container from the receptacle. In some embodiments, an aperture defined in the retainer is shaped and dimensioned to receive a portion of the cap. In some embodiments, a portion of the retainer is resiliently deformable, and at least partially defines the resiliently deformable connection. In some embodiments, the portion of the retainer is a protrusion extending in a direction toward the receptacle. In some embodiments, the releasable and resiliently deformable connection provides a snap fit engagement between the retainer and the cap.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    As washing machines (e.g. dish washing machines, clothes washing machines, etc.) have become more sophisticated, systems have been implemented to automatically feed such machines with detergents, sanitizers, and/or rinse aids found in liquid, condensed, compressed, granulated, and/or powdered form. Such materials may be automatically delivered to a variety of types of washing machines. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0002]    Some embodiments of the present application relate to a dispensing system for dispensing material from a container having an opening secured by a cap through which material from the container is dispensed. The dispensing system comprises a dispenser defining a receptacle shaped to receive the container and a retainer releasably engagable with the cap, wherein the retainer is engagable with the cap via a releasable and resiliently deformable connection providing resistance against withdrawal of the container from the receptacle. In some embodiments, an aperture defined in the retainer is shaped and dimensioned to receive a portion of the cap. In some embodiments, a portion of the retainer is resiliently deformable, and at least partially defines the resiliently deformable connection. In some embodiments, the portion of the retainer is a protrusion extending in a direction toward the receptacle. In some embodiments, the releasable and resiliently deformable connection provides a snap fit engagement between the retainer and the cap. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0003]      FIG. 1  illustrates a dispenser system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0004]      FIG. 2  illustrates various views of the dispensing closure and retainer shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0005]      FIG. 3  illustrates various views of the retainer shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
           [0006]      FIG. 4  illustrates a sectional view of the dispensing closure and retainer shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . 
       
    
    
       [0007]    Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0008]      FIG. 1  illustrates a dispenser system  10  according to an embodiment of the present invention. The illustrated system includes a container  12  (shown only in  FIG. 1 ), a receptacle  14  (also shown only in  FIG. 1 ), a dispensing closure  16  ( FIGS. 2 and 4 ), and a retainer  18 , any or all of which can comprise plastic, metal, or other suitable material. By way of example only, the retainer  18  illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4  comprises injection-molded polypropylene. The container  12  houses a flowable cleaning material (e.g., a chemical such as a detergent, a sanitizer, a rinse aid, and the like). The flowable cleaning material can take a number of different forms, including without powder, granular, liquid, or other flowable forms. In other embodiments, the cleaning material within the container  12  can take still other forms, such as block or other compacted forms. In operation, the illustrated container  12  and attached dispensing closure  16  are supported by the receptacle  14  in a position where the dispensing closure  16  is capable of engaging a drive system (not shown). Water is introduced into the receptacle  14  through a water intake conduit. Although not shown in the accompanying figures, a drive member generates rotation of a drive shaft and transfers motion to the drive system, which engages the dispensing closure  16  to dispense the cleaning material. It should be noted that any number of different drive systems can be used to dispense cleaning material from the container  12 , and can be driven by a variety of different motors or other prime movers known to those skilled in the art. Examples of such drive systems are disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/670,158 filed on Feb. 1, 2007, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference insofar as they relate to dispenser drive systems and their manner of operation. 
         [0009]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the illustrated dispensing closure  16  has three main components: a cap  20 , a first rotating portion  22  and a second rotating portion  24 . The cap  20  shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4  includes an key  26 , a drive opening  28  and a measuring opening  30  (shown only in  FIG. 2  in dotted lines). In some embodiments, the first rotating portion  22  moves to clear the measuring opening  30  of the cap  20 . The first rotating portion  22  can also have a cutaway portion  32  (located on the opposite side of the cap  20  in the first view of  FIG. 2 , and therefore shown in dotted lines therein). The cutaway portion  32  defines a space in which cleaning material can be collected. An axially-extending shaft  34  extends between and drivably connects the first and second rotating portions  22 ,  24 . The second rotating portion  24  shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4  includes a drive opening  36 , a portion  38  (e.g., front edge) for cleaning material removal, and a cutaway portion  40  for allotment of a space for cleaning material release toward the dispensing closure  16 . When the first rotating portion  22 , the second rotating portion  24 , and dispensing closure  16  are properly aligned by the shaft  34  extending through the drive openings  28 ,  36 , cleaning material from the container  12  is free to enter into the measuring opening  30  as the measuring opening  30  is uncovered by the first rotating portion  22 . However, when the measuring opening  30  is exposed for receiving cleaning material in one or more positions of the first rotating portion  22 , the cleaning material cannot immediately pass into the receptacle  14 , such passage is blocked by the second rotating portion  24 . 
         [0010]    The coupled portions  22 ,  24  of the illustrated embodiment allow for a predetermined dose of flowable cleaning material to collect in the measuring opening  30  of the cap  20  when the cutaway portion  32  of the first rotating portion  22  is rotated to expose the measuring opening  30 . A dose of cleaning material enters the measuring opening  30  and is retained in the measuring opening  30  by second rotating portion  24 . A driving member (not shown) rotates a drive shaft and drive system (also not shown), thereby transferring motion to the coupled portions  22 ,  24  and causing the first rotating portion  22  to cover the measuring opening  30 . Upon further rotation, the second rotating portion  24  exposes the measuring opening  30  to allow delivery of the predetermined dose of cleaning material. At the same time as this cleaning material delivery, the first rotating portion  22  blocks entry of additional cleaning material into the measuring opening  30 . When the front edge  38  of the second rotating portion  24  reaches the measuring opening  30 , the front edge  38  (in combination with optional resiliently deformable arms  42  of the cap  20 ) remove any remaining cleaning material. 
         [0011]    The dispensing process described above repeats as the cutaway portion  32  of the first rotating portion  22  moves further to expose the measuring opening  30 , thereby allowing another dose of cleaning material to collect within the measuring opening  30 . In some embodiments, multiple doses are delivered during a single delivery cycle. Further information regarding these and other types of dispensing closures is found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/670,158 filed on Feb. 1, 2007, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference insofar as they relate to dispensing closures and their manner of operation. 
         [0012]    Referring to  FIGS. 2-4 , the illustrated retainer  18  has an aperture  46  defined therein, and a receptacle flange  44  extending radially outwardly for engagement with an interior wall (not shown) of the receptacle  14 . In some embodiments, the aperture  46  is shaped and positioned to receive the key  26  of the dispensing closure  16 . The aperture  46  of the retainer  18  may be various shapes, such as elongated, round and rectangular. The location, size, and/or shape of the aperture  46  can be selected to enable only dispensing closure devices with an appropriately positioned, sized, and shaped key  26  to be received within the receptacle  14  (thereby enabling proper engagement with the drive system to dispense cleaning material therethrough). Also, in some embodiments, the retainer  18  has two or more apertures  46  located in any desired positions along the retainer  18 , and/or the dispensing closure  16  has two or more keys  26  located in any desired positions along the dispensing closure  16 . The aperture(s)  48  and the key(s)  26  can be positioned, sized, and shaped to enable one or more retainers  18  to engage one or more dispensing closures  16 , and also to prevent one or more dispensing closures  16  from being engaged with one or more retainers  18 . In this manner, a dispensing system  10  in which a particular retainer  18  is installed can receive certain dispensing closures  16  corresponding to particular types of containers  12  carrying particular types of chemicals, while preventing accidental or intentional installation of other dispensing closures  16  corresponding to other containers  12  carrying other types of chemicals. Further information regarding these and other types of dispensing closure-to-dispenser connections is found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/670,158 filed on Feb. 1, 2007, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference insofar as they relate to dispensing closure-to-dispenser connections and their manner of operation. 
         [0013]    As shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , the key  26  of the dispensing closure  16  is a protrusion mating with the aperture  46  in the retainer  18 . However, it will be appreciated that this male-female engagement can be reversed in other embodiments. For example, the dispensing closure  16  can instead or also have one or more apertures  46  for receiving one or more protrusions (i.e., keys  26 ) on the retainer  18 . 
         [0014]    With continued reference to the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-4 , in order to insert the container  12  into the receptacle  14  for dispensing chemicals from the container  12 , the key  26  and aperture  46  of these parts  12 ,  14  must first be aligned as to allow the key  26  to be guided into the aperture  46 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . The configuration of the dispensing closure  16  and the receptacle  14  are such that key  26  and aperture  46  must be aligned upon insertion. This alignment permits insertion of the container  12  by applying a downward force. 
         [0015]    In some embodiments, the retainer  18  is shaped to resist movement of the dispensing closure  16  (and therefore, the container  12 ) in a direction away from the receptacle  14 . Such movement could otherwise result in partial or full disengagement of the drive shaft and drive system from the dispensing closure  16 . In some embodiments, it is desirable to permit removal of the dispensing closure  16  and container  12  from the receptacle  14  by a user, but to still provide sufficient resistance to partial or full disengagement (as described above) resulting from drive system vibration, movement of the drive shaft or drive system, or other forces. 
         [0016]    To this end, the retainer  18  shown in  FIGS. 1-4  includes a protrusion  48  ( FIGS. 2-4 ) that resiliently engages with the key  26  of the dispensing closure  16  as the dispensing closure  16  is inserted into the receptacle  14 . The protrusion  48  in the illustrated embodiment extends radially inwardly (and therefore, toward a dispensing closure  16  within the receptacle  14 ), and engages the key  26  as the key  26  is received within the aperture  46  of the retainer  18 . In some embodiments, the resilient engagement described above is provided by resilient deformation of a wall on which the protrusion  48  is located or by a wall defining the protrusion  48 . For example, and with reference to  FIG. 4 , the protrusion  48  is defined by a wall  50  of the retainer  18  that can move radially outwardly as the protrusion  48  engages the key  26  (as the dispensing closure  16  is inserted into the receptacle  14 ). After passing the protrusion  48  in installation of the dispensing closure  16 , the wall  50  can fully or partially return to a relaxed state, thereby providing a degree of resistance to withdrawal of the key  26  from the aperture  46 . Any degree of resistance can be selected based at least in part upon the size and location of the protrusion  48 , the shape of the protrusion  48  (e.g., beveled edges in the illustrated embodiment), the size, location, and shape of the key  26 , and/or the material of the retainer wall providing the resilient deformation described above. For example, for a greater amount of resistance to protrusion movement in the illustrated embodiment, the width or length of the protrusion (see  FIG. 3 ) can be increased. 
         [0017]    In operation, the key  26  shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4  is inserted into the aperture  46  of the retainer  18  as the dispensing closure  16  is inserted into the receptacle  14 . Upon engagement of the key  26  with the protrusion, further force applied to insert the dispensing closure  16  into the receptacle  14  is at least partially applied to the protrusion  48 , causing the wall  50  of the retainer  18  to deflect until the key  26  passes the protrusion. Thereafter, the key  26  is retained in the aperture  46  by the protrusion  48  until a force sufficient to deflect the wall  50  again is applied (e.g., by a user pulling the container  12  in a withdrawing direction with sufficient force). This “snap-fit” engagement between the retainer  18  and the dispensing closure  16  can also provide audible and/or physical confirmation that the dispensing closure  16  has been properly inserted, and that drive system operation can begin to dispense cleaning material from the container  12 . 
         [0018]    As described above, unintentional or accidental disengagement of the dispensing closure  16  can be prevented by resilient engagement between the protrusion  48  on the retainer  18  and the key  26  on the dispensing closure  16 . Although this resilient engagement is provided in the illustrated embodiment by a resiliently deformable portion (e.g., wall  50 ) of the dispensing closure  16 , this engagement can be provided in a number of other manners falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the protrusion  48  can comprise a resiliently deformable material such as urethane, neoprene or other plastic materials, synthetic or natural rubber, and the like. This type of protrusion  48  can deform upon engagement and/or passage of the key  26 , and can at least partially return to its original shape or provide a biasing force to prevent accidental or unintentional disengagement of the dispensing closure  16 . In such embodiments, the protrusion  48  can be located on a portion of the retainer  18  that does not deflect or otherwise move upon insertion of the dispensing closure  16 , or can be located on such a portion of the retainer  18  as described above. 
         [0019]    As another example, the protrusion  48  can instead be located on the dispensing closure  16 , such as on the key  26  or on any other portion  52  (e.g., peripheral edge) of the dispensing closure  16 . In such embodiments, the protrusion  48  can engage another protrusion of the type described above, or another feature of the retainer  18 . Also in such embodiments, the protrusion can resiliently deform to permit insertion of the dispensing closure  16  and/or can be located on the key  26  or other portion of the dispensing closure  16  that resiliently deforms to permit insertion of the dispensing closure  16 . 
         [0020]    In further embodiments, the protrusion extending from either the retainer  18  or the dispensing closure  16  is movable about a pivot of a respective surface of the retainer  18  or the dispensing closure  16 . The protrusion can resiliently deform and/or hinge against a biasing force to permit insertion of the dispensing closure  16 . 
         [0021]    Although only a single protrusion is shown in the illustrated embodiment of  FIGS. 1-4 , it should be noted that any number of protrusion can be utilized to provide the resilient engagement described above. Also, one or more protrusions can be located on both the retainer  18  and the dispensing closure  16  for such resilient engagement. 
         [0022]    It should also be noted that in any of the embodiments described and illustrated herein, the protrusion employed for retention of the dispensing closure  16 , the element on which the protrusion is located, and/or the element which engages the protrusion can resiliently deform to provide the same desired degree of retaining force described above while still falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention. In these and still other embodiments, a separate element is used to provide resilient engagement between the dispensing closure  16  and the retainer  18 . This separate element can provide a biasing force upon the dispensing closure  16 , such as upon the key  26  or on another portion of the dispensing closure  16 . For example, the retainer  18  or the dispensing closure  16  can be provided with a spring-loaded ball detent resiliently engaging the dispensing closure  16  or the retainer  18 , respectively, as the dispensing closure  16  is inserted into the receptacle  14 . As another example, the dispensing closure  16  can be fitted with a full or partial O-ring, and/or the retainer  18  can be fitted with part of an O-ring. In such embodiments, the O-ring(s) can deform upon engagement with a passing portion of the dispensing closure  16  or retainer  18 , thereby providing a degree of resistance to later withdrawal of the dispensing closure  16 . The O-ring(s) can be received within grooves, slots, or other suitable features on the dispensing closure  16  and/or retainer  18  onto which they are fitted, can be retained in place by suitable adhesive or cohesive bonding materials, mechanical fasteners, or in any other manner. 
         [0023]    As yet another example, one or more magnets can be located on the dispensing closure  16  and/or on the retainer  18  to provide a biasing force with respect to another magnet on the retainer  18  and/or dispensing closure  16 , respectively, or with respect to a material responsive to such magnet(s) on or of the retainer  18  and/or dispensing closure  16 , respectively. In such embodiments, the magnet(s) can be positioned to exert a biasing force resisting accidental or unintentional withdrawal of the dispensing closure  16  from the receptacle  14 . 
         [0024]    Other biasing elements or structures can be utilized to retain the dispensing closure  16  in proper engagement position within the receptacle  14 . For example, a pawl and ratchet device can be defined by or otherwise located between the dispensing closure  16  and retainer  18 , and can freely permit movement of the dispensing closure  16  in one (i.e., insertion) direction, which preventing movement in an opposite direction without user manipulation of the pawl. Still other biasing elements and structures exist, and fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0025]    The first rotating portion  22  and second rotating portion  24  of the illustrated dispensing closure  16  are operated by engagement of a drive shaft within either or both drive openings  28 ,  36  of the first and second rotating portions  22 ,  24 . In other embodiments, however, the first rotating portion  22  and second rotating portion  24  can be driven in other manners, including without limitation by a drive system engaging a fin extending from the first rotating portion  22  or second rotating portion  24 , by engagement between a drive system and a peripheral edge of the first rotating portion  22  and/or second rotating portion  24 , and the like. 
         [0026]    Still further embodiments of dispenser system  10  according to the present invention exist. For example, a dispenser system  10  having any of the features described above can receive two containers carrying the same or different chemicals. In some embodiments, the separate containers are utilized to introduce separate cleaning materials (e.g., a sanitizer and a detergent) or chemicals in any other form to a water supply. Also, it should be noted that the dispenser system  10  described with respect to  FIGS. 1-4  is provided as an exemplary system only. Furthermore, the control method described above may be applied to a variety of dispenser systems. For example, in other embodiments, a dispenser system need not include a receptacle  14  that contains water. An alternative dispenser system may utilize a separate portion that allows a cleaning material to be dropped into an additional container having a liquid predisposed therein. Additionally or alternatively, other liquids such as water miscible and immiscible solvents including water and ether could be employed in a dispenser system. 
         [0027]    The illustrated dispensing closure  16  discloses only a single type of delivery device. The present invention can be used in conjunction with any type of dispensing device, such as devices having only one rotatable portion, devices that dispense in a non-rotating method, devices that are not necessarily metered for cleaning material dispensing, and the like. 
         [0028]    Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the spirit and scope of one or more independent aspects of the present invention.