PRODUCT DISPENSER BOTTLE CONNECTION

Abstract: A product dispenser bottle connection (10) provides tactile feedback when a firm connection is made between the dispenser bottle (10) and the dispenser to reassure the user that the dispenser bottle and dispenser are firmly connected and will not disconnect at an inopportune moment. Furthermore, the invention provides a dispenser bottle connection that permits connection between the dispenser bottle and dispenser in only one orientation, so that a label (14) is always located in the front, and a flat face (16) of the dispenser bottle is always located in the back, aligned with the wall-mounting surface of the dispenser unit.

Description: PRODUCT DISPENSER BOTTLE CONNECTION BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE This application relates to screw-type connections. More particularly, this application relates to a product dispenser bottle connection. Product dispensers dispense a measured amount of product or number of product pieces by actuation of a lever or rotation of a knob into a person's hand. The product pieces are stored in a hopper or bottle (hereinafter "dispenser bottle") prior to being dispensed. The dispenser bottle must be attached to the dispenser with an opening at its lower end. Some dispenser bottles are permanently attached to the dispenser, and are either disposed along with the dispenser when empty, or have a lid or opening at the upper end allowing refilling. Other dispenser bottles are removably attached to the dispenser unit and are filled or refilled with product using the same opening as connects to the dispenser. This requires that the dispenser unit be inverted to prevent the product from spilling out when attaching the dispenser bottle to the dispenser. Once firmly attached, the dispenser bottle and dispenser are righted as a unit, so that the dispenser is beneath the dispenser bottle, allowing the product to be fed by gravity to the dispenser from the dispenser bottle. If the dispenser bottle and dispenser are not firmly attached to each other, there exists the danger that the dispenser bottle will become detached and product will spill out and be lost. Some dispensers are free-standing; others sit on a table or other horizontal surface. Still others may be mounted on a wall. If the unit is to be mounted on a wall, either the size of the dispenser bottle is limited by the proximity of the wall, or the dispenser unit must extend from the wall a sufficient distance so that the dispenser bottle may be placed on top of the dispenser without interference from the wall. The inventors of the present invention has provided a third option wherein the dispenser bottle includes a flat surface which is placed adjacent the wall, allowing the dispenser bottle to contain significant volume while not requiring the dispenser to protrude unnecessarily from the wall. This third option, however, requires that the flat surface of the dispenser bottle be aligned with the mounting surface of the dispenser unit when attaching the dispenser bottle to the dispenser. If the connection between the dispenser bottle and the dispenser unit allows misalignment, then it becomes impossible to mount the dispenser to the wall. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To.overcome these and other disadvantages in the prior art, the invention provides a product dispenser bottle connection that provides tactile feedback when a firm connection is made between the dispenser bottle and the dispenser to reassure the user that the dispenser bottle and dispenser are firmly connected and will not disconnect at an inopportune moment. Furthermore, the invention provides a dispenser bottle connection that permits connection between the dispenser bottle and dispenser in only one orientation, so that the label is always located in the front, and the flat face of the dispenser bottle is always located in the back, aligned with the wall-mounting surface of the dispenser unit. The above-discussed and other features and advantages of the present invention will be appreciated and understood by those skilled in the art from the following detailed description and drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring to the exemplary drawings wherein like elements are numbered alike in the several Figures: Figure 1 shows a profile view of the bottle and connection; Figure 2 shows a bottom view of the bottle seen in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a cross section of the lower portion of the bottle taken along lines C-C of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a rear view of the lower portion of the bottle in Figure 1 ; Figure 5 is a front view of the lower portion of the bottle in Figure 1; Figure 6 is a cross-section view of the connection taken along line F-F in Figure 4; and Figure 7 is a locking ring into which the bottle may be inserted and locked. Figure 8 is a cross-section of the locking ring shown in Figure 7 taken along line 8-8 and oriented with the top facing up. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to Figures 1 through 6, a bottle 10 for a product dispenser (not shown) has a bottle connection 20 with a plurality of protrusions 22, 24, 26, 28, and 30 at the lower end of the bottle 10. A label 14 is visible on the front of bottle 10 (Figure 1), and a flat surface 16 is located on a back surface of bottle 10. Bottle connection 20 includes a rim 21 and a plurality of protrusions 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 around its outer edge. The protrusions extend several millimeters away Bottle 10 is formed from two halves along seem line 11 (Figures 1, 2, and 3). Protrusions 24, 26, and 30 all include ramp portions 29. Ramps 29 (Figure 2) allow bottle 10 to be more easily removed from its mold during manufacturing. Figure 2 shows a bottom view of bottle 10. Protrusions 22, 24, 26, 28, and 30 are positioned relative to each other by angles f, g, h, and i, and are transcribe arcs as shown by angles a, b, c, d, and e according to the following table. Figure 3 shows the lower portion of a cross section of bottle 10 taken along lines 3-3 in Figure 2. Figures 4 and 5 show the lower portion of the back and front, respectively, of bottle 10. Referring to Figures 3 and 4, protrusion 28 includes extensions 32 and 34. These extensions interact with a latch portion formed on the locking ring to provide tactile feedback indicating a good connection, as described in detail below. Marker 12 provides an alignment mechanism aiding the user to align the bottle in the proper orientation when connecting the bottle 10 with the dispenser unit (not shown). A similar mark and arrow (not shown) are provided on the dispenser unit. The user aligns marker 12 with the similar mark on the dispenser unit, and then rotates the bottle in the direction of the arrow. Figure 6 shows a cross section view of connection taken along line 6-6 of Figure 4. Figure 7 shows a plan view of a locking ring 40, which is permanently attached to a product dispenser (not shown). Figure 8 shows locking ring 40 in cross section taken along line 8-8 of Figure 7. The bottle connection 20 shown in Figure 6 may be inserted into locking ring 40 shown as shown in Figure 7 in the orientations shown for both the bottle connection 20 and locking ring 40. In other words, protrusions 22, 24, 26, 28, and 30 will fit between tabs 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, and 47 in the orientations shown in Figures 6 and 7, respectively. To provide sufficient space for tabs 42, 43, 44, 45, and 46 to pass between protrusions 22, 24, 26, 28, and 30, protrusions 22, 24, 26, 28 and 30 are spaced by at least a 21° arc around the rim 21. Ribs 48 supplement tabs 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, and 47 to prevent forcing rim 21 into locking ring 40 in an incorrect orientation. When inserted, rim 21 of bottle 10 rests on shoulder 55 of locking ring 40. Due to the elongation of tab 47 and the presence of ribs 48 on the locking ring and the position of the smooth surface 38 on the bottle connection 20, the bottle connection and locking ring will not mate in any other orientation. The elongated tab 47 will not fit between the protrusions in any other orientation. This feature ensures that the flat surface 16 of bottle 10 will be aligned with the mounting surface of the dispenser unit (not shown). Additionally, the label 14 will always be in the correct position for easy viewing. Each protrusion 22, 24, 26, 28, and 30 serves to engage a respective tab 43, 44, 45, and 46 on locking ring 40. So, after inserting rim 21 into locking ring 40, in the orientation shown, it is rotated clockwise as shown by arrow 29 to lock it into place. Tabs 45 and 46 provide enhanced feedback to ensure that the bottle is properly locked into place in locking ring 40. Tab 45 includes a vertical extension 52 that engages stop surface 27 of protrusion 26, preventing over-rotation of bottle 10. To ensure that the bottle is properly aligned with the dispenser unit, stop surface 27 is a predetermined angle Θ degrees from the rear center of bottle 10. In the preferred embodiment, Θ is equal to 50.5 degrees. Tab 46 is cantilevered to work as a spring. Cam 50 slides over protrusion 28 and extensions 34 and 32 thereof. Cam 50 and extension 32 of protrusion 28, acting as a cam surface and providing increased resistance as the bottle is rotated in locking ring 40 until just before vertical extension 52 engages protrusion 26, providing satisfying tactile feedback to the user, and indicating that the bottle is properly locked into place and will not fall out when the bottle 10 and dispenser unit are righted. At the same time that vertical extension 52 engages stop surface 27 of protrusion 26, extension 34 engages stop surface 47 formed on tab 46. To ensure that cam 50 properly interacts with protrusion 28, a vertical extension 53 extends from the inner surface of the locking ring 40 just below cam 50 as seen in Figures 7 and 8. While the invention is described above with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents substituted without departing from the scope of the invention. hi addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims: WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A bottle connection comprising a rim, said rim having a first, second, third, fourth, and fifth protrusion spaced generally 60 degrees apart from each other, each said first, second, third, fourth, and fifth protrusion extending from the outer surface of said rim in a circumferential direction, said second protrusion having a stop surface about 50.5 degrees from a rear center of the bottle. 2. The bottle connection set forth in claim 1, said first, second, third, fourth, and fifth protrusions being spaced apart by at least a 21° arc around said 3. The bottle connection set forth in claim 2, wherein said second protrusion is between said first and third protrusions, said third protrusion is between said second and fourth protrusions, and said fourth protrusion is between said third and fifth protrusions, wherein said first, third, fourth and fifth protrusions each extend a maximum of 38 ° around said rim. 4. The bottle connection set forth in claim 3, wherein said fourth protrusion is centered on a front center of the bottle, and said first protrusion is centered at a rear center of the bottle. 5. The bottle connection set forth in claim 2, wherein said first protrusion is adjacent to said second protrusion, said first protrusion comprising cam surfaces for engagement with a cantilevered tab, providing tactile feedback. 6. The bottle connection set forth in claim 3, wherein said second protrusion is between said first and third protrusions, said third protrusion is between said second and fourth protrusions, and said fourth protrusion is between said third and fifth protrusions, wherein said first, third, fourth and fifth protrusions each extend a maximum of 38° around said rim. 7. The bottle connection set forth in claim 2, wherein said first protrusion is adjacent to said second protrusion, said first protrusion comprising cam surfaces for engagement with a cantilevered tab, providing tactile feedback. 8. The bottle connection set forth in claim 1, wherein said second protrusion is between said first and third protrusions, said third protrusion is between said second and fourth protrusions, and said fourth protrusion is between said third and fifth protrusions, wherein said first, third, fourth and fifth protrusions each extend a maximum of 38° around said rim. 9. The bottle connection set forth in claim 8, wherein said fourth protrusion is centered on the front center of the bottle, and said first protrusion is centered at the rear center of the bottle. 10. The bottle connection set forth in claim 9, wherein said first protrusion is adjacent to said second protrusion, said first protrusion comprising cam surfaces for engagement with a cantilevered tab, providing tactile feedback. 11. The bottle connection set forth in claim 8, wherein said first protrusion is adjacent to said second protrusion, said first protrusion comprising cam surfaces for engagement with a cantilevered tab, providing tactile feedback. 12. The bottle connection set forth in claim 1, wherein said first protrusion is adjacent to said second protrusion, said first protrusion comprising cam surfaces for engagement with a cantilevered tab, providing tactile feedback. 13. The bottle connection set forth in claim 1, wherein said bottle connection may be mated to a locking ring, said stop surface engages a vertical extension on an inner surface of said locking ring when an extension on said first protrusion engages a cantilevered extension extending from said inner surface of said locking ring.

Inventors: MILLAR TIMOTHY A, MILLAR, TIMOTHY, A.
Applicants: CABOT SAFETY INTERMEDIATE CORP, CABOT SAFETY INTERMEDIATE CORPORATION
Application year: 2001
Main classification: B65D1
IPC codes: B65D1, B67D3