The present invention provides a detergent doser for dispensing liquid doses from a liquid dispenser. The liquid dispenser has a nozzle through which the detergent is dispensed. The detergent doser includes a container having an outer wall and an inner wall defining therebetween a chamber. The doser is provided with a passageway extending through the container defined by the inner wall for receiving therein the nozzle. The inner wall includes an aperture and the doser is movable with respect to the nozzle between a closed position in which the nozzle outlet is closed off by a portion of the inner wall and an open position in which the nozzle outlet and aperture cooperate to provide a fluid flow path between the dispenser and chamber. In the closed position the detergent doser acts as a lid or cap for the dispenser.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
present invention relates to a device for providing measured amounts of 
liquid from a liquid dispenser. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Many cleaning applications such as laundry, floor cleaning and other 
household chores require the use of liquid detergents. Predetermined 
amounts of liquid detergent are usually premixed with specified volumes of 
water in order to prepare the cleaning solution. One known method of 
measuring predetermined amounts of detergent includes providing a 
measuring cup or the like with the detergent dispenser. The measuring cup 
usually comes as a separate unit which is either contained within the 
packaging with the liquid dispenser or is attached directly to the 
detergent bottle by means of a friction fit. A drawback to this 
arrangement is that the measuring cup can be lost or misplaced when not in 
use, or alternatively, the dispenser cap may become lost or misplaced when 
the liquid is being dispensed into the measuring cup. 
Therefore, it is advantageous to provide a detergent dispenser which 
includes a measuring cup which can also serve the role of a closure member 
so as to eliminate the need for a separate cap. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention provides in one aspect a device for measuring liquid 
doses from a liquid dispenser having a nozzle provided with a nozzle 
outlet. The device comprises a container having an outer wall and an inner 
wall defining therebetween a chamber. The device includes a passageway 
extending through the container defined by the inner wall for receiving 
therein the nozzle. The inner wall includes means defining an aperture and 
the container is movable with respect to the nozzle between a closed 
position in which the nozzle outlet is closed off by a portion of the 
inner wall and an open position in which the nozzle outlet and aperture 
cooperate to provide a fluid flow path between the dispenser and chamber. 
The container includes air vent means for venting air from the chamber as 
liquid flows into the chamber from the liquid dispenser. 
In another aspect of the invention there is provided a device for measuring 
doses of liquids. The device comprises a liquid dispenser having a nozzle 
provided with a nozzle outlet. Included is a container having an outer 
wall and an inner wall defining therebetween a chamber. A passageway 
extends through the container defined by the inner wall for receiving 
therein the nozzle. The inner wall includes means defining an aperture and 
the container is movable with respect to the nozzle between a closed 
position in which the nozzle outlet is closed off by a portion of the 
inner wall and an open position in which the nozzle outlet and aperture 
cooperate to provide a liquid flow path between said dispenser and the 
chamber. The container is provided with air vent means for venting air 
from the chamber as liquid flows into the chamber from the liquid 
dispenser.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, shown generally at 10 is a combination 
detergent doser 12 and a liquid dispenser 14. Liquid dispenser 14 includes 
a plastic bottle 16 for liquid detergents and the like and an outlet 
nozzle 18 attached to the container portion. 
Referring specifically to FIG. 9., nozzle 18 includes a first cylindrical 
section 22, a second cylindrical section 26 having a diameter greater than 
first section 22, and a tapered or frusto-conically shaped section 24 
extending between the cylindrical sections. Nozzle 18 includes an annular 
shoulder 28 extending from cylindrical section 26 and the nozzle includes 
external threads 30 circumferentially disposed about cylindrical portion 
26 spaced from the shoulder. Shoulder 28 of nozzle 18 is secured to bottle 
16 at 32 using known bonding techniques during fabrication of the liquid 
dispenser. Tapered section 24 includes a plurality of holes 34 spaced 
circumferentially thereabout for providing a liquid flow path from the 
bottle interior. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that 
bottle 16 and nozzle 18 may be of one piece unitary construction. 
Referring to FIG. 4, the assembled detergent doser 12 is a generally 
cylindrical, donut shaped container provided with a passage 40 extending 
along a cylindrical axis 42. Doser 12 includes a cylindrical outer wall 44 
terminating at a thickened annular collar 46 at the top end and a 
cylindrical inner wall 48 with the outer and inner walls connected along 
an annular section 50 located at the bottom end. Inner wall 48 terminates 
in a frusto-conically shaped portion 49 tapered at about the same angle as 
section 24 of nozzle 18. Walls 44 and 48 and section 50 define a liquid 
storage compartment 52. A gap between the end of section 49 and collar 46 
defines an aperture 51 to provide access to compartment 52. Doser 12 is 
provided with an inner threaded portion 54 circumferentially disposed on 
inner wall 48 adjacent annular section 50. 
Doser 12 includes an air vent in the shape of a tube 56 integrally formed 
with outer wall 44 and extending into storage compartment 52 parallel to 
axis 42. Tube 56 extends from the top end of doser 12 and terminates at a 
point spaced above the bottom portion. Tube 56 provides air flow 
communication between the interior and exterior of doser 12. Outer wall 44 
includes a plurality of spaced ribs 60 molded therewith and extending 
circumferentially about the interior surface for providing a liquid level 
indication. 
In the embodiment shown, doser 12 is fabricated of clear, flexible plastic 
molded in two sections, the first section including inner wall 48, annular 
section 50 and a portion of outer wall 44 adjacent section 50; the second 
section comprising the remaining portion of outer wall 44. The two 
sections are connected together along a circumferential line 64 by 
ultrasonic welding for example. 
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, detergent doser 12 is dimensioned to form a 
tight fit with nozzle 18 so that cylindrical portion 22 forms a 
substantially liquid tight friction fit with collar 46. Threads 30 of 
nozzle 18 are matched to receive threads 54 of doser 12 thereby securing 
the latter to the former. When doser 12 is threaded tightly down onto 
nozzle 18, inner wall 48 is adjacent cylindrical portion 26 of the nozzle 
and frusto-conical section 49 is tightly held against tapered portion 24 
of the nozzle thereby sealing off holes 34. Section 22 of nozzle 18 is 
sufficiently long so that a tight seal is maintained between it and collar 
46 when doser 12 is partially unthreaded to receive therein the charge of 
liquid. 
In operation, in order to dispense the liquid from dispenser 14, detergent 
doser 12 is slightly unthreaded on nozzle 18 so that tapered section 49 of 
inner wall 48 is spaced from tapered section 24 of the nozzle defining a 
gap 70 therebetween, see FIG. 3. Dispenser 14 is turned upside down so 
that liquid in bottle 16 flows from the dispenser through nozzle 18 and 
through holes 34 in the direction of arrows L into chamber 52 of doser 12. 
As liquid flows into doser 19., the air in chamber 52 is displaced out of 
the chamber through tube 56 in the direction of arrows A. 
Liquid is dispensed into doser 12 until the desired quantity has been 
obtained, indicated by for example graduated liquid level lines or other 
markings on the plastic doser. Once a sufficient amount of fluid in doser 
12 has been obtained, dispenser 14 is turned upright and the doser 
threadably removed from nozzle 18. It will be appreciated that tube 56 is 
of sufficient length and terminates adjacent collar 46 on the upper part 
of wall 44 so that chamber 59 can be substantially filled without liquid 
escaping through the vent when either upside down or right side up. 
FIG. 4 illustrates doser 12 partially filled with fluid up to a level 
indicated by the numeral 80. For cleaning applications in which the liquid 
is a detergent, doser 12 may then placed in a washing machine whereby the 
detergent is expelled from the doser during agitation in the wash. By 
being fabricated of flexible plastic, doser 12 can withstand multiple 
exposures to the rigorous environment of the washing machine without 
damage. 
It will be appreciated that detergent doser 12, being fabricated of 
plastic, may be readily recycled after the contents of bottle 16 have been 
consumed. 
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that structural details of the 
doser and nozzle may vary considerably from the embodiment shown herein; 
the important features being that the doser and nozzle cooperate to 
provide a closure member to prevent leaking from the container and that a 
predetermined amount of liquid may be dispensed from the container into 
the doser without spillage. 
For example, nozzle 18 as illustrated and described includes holes 34 left 
open when doser 12 has been removed from bottle 16. An alternative nozzle 
may be employed comprising a closure feature for blocking off holes 34 
after removal of doser 12 from the bottle. Specifically, such a nozzle may 
be of two part construction with each part having holes which can be 
aligned by movement of one part of the nozzle with respect to the other 
part. 
Therefore, while the present invention has been described and illustrated 
with respect to the preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated that 
numerous variations of this embodiment may be made without departing from 
the scope of the invention.