Abstract:
A closed loop dispensing system including a mechanical venting assembly which ensures that sufficient air may enter the interior of the container as liquid is being drawn from the container. The mechanical venting assembly of this invention ensures that the vent openings associated therewith will not become plugged with debris.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates to a closed loop dispensing system and more particularly to a dispensing system for dispensing corrosive liquid chemicals or dangerous medical liquid products which are typically drawn from a container such as a bottle or the like to a mixing machine or the like. Even more particularly, this invention relates to a closed loop dispensing system including a mechanical venting means for a throat plug assembly which is mounted in the throat of a liquid container. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Corrosive liquid chemicals and dangerous medical liquid products are typically contained in a container such as a bottle or the like and are frequently dispensed therefrom to a mixing machine. Normally, a cap is place on the bottle with a dip tube extending therefrom downwardly into the interior of the bottle for drawing the liquid upwardly thereinto. Normally, a dispensing tube extends from the cap from a mixing machine or to some other piece of equipment which creates suction in the dispensing tube to draw the liquid from the interior of the bottle. 
         [0005]    Applicant has previously many patented closed loop dispensing systems with improved safety means and with improved venting. For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 5,988,456. 
         [0006]    In the prior art dispensing systems, Gortex® membranes are extended over vent openings so that air may be drawn into the interior of the bottle as liquid is being dispensed therefrom to prevent collapsing of the bottle. Although Applicant&#39;s previous inventions work extremely well, it has been found that when the liquid of the container splashes onto or comes into the Gortex® membrane the liquid may calcify on the membrane and may retard the venting of the vent opening. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summary is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
         [0008]    This invention relates to a dispensing system for use with a container, such as a bottle or the like, having a hollow throat extending upwardly therefrom which has interior and exterior surfaces. A throat plug assembly, having upper and lower ends, is positioned in the throat of the container with the throat plug assembly remaining in the container during shipment and during the actual use thereof. The throat plug assembly includes an upstanding, ring-shaped wall means at its upper end which engages the interior surface of the hollow throat of the container. The throat plug assembly has a horizontally disposed upper wall which extends between the wall means. The upper wall of the throat plug assembly has a central opening formed therein. The throat plug assembly includes a valve and vent assembly. The valve and vent assembly includes a fixed lower end having a central opening formed therein with the lower end having a plurality of vent openings formed therein. An upstanding hollow valve body extends upwardly from the fixed lower end and has a closed upper end and an open lower end. The open lower end of the valve body is in fluid communication with the central opening in the lower wall. A dip tube is in communication with the open lower end of the valve body and is in communication with the liquid in the liquid container. The valve and vent assembly includes a portion thereof which is vertically movably mounted on the valve body. 
         [0009]    The portion of the valve and vent assembly, which is vertically movable on the valve body, includes a vertically disposed, hollow tubular valve means having upper and lower ends, and a horizontally disposed disc extending from the tubular valve means adjacent the lower end thereof. The tubular valve means is vertically movably mounted on the upper end of the valve body and embraces the same. The valve and vent assembly is movable between upper and lower positions with respect to the valve body. The valve and vent assembly, when in its upper position, closes the opening formed in the valve body below the upper end thereof. The disc of the valve and vent assembly has a plurality of vent pins extending downwardly therefrom which are received in the vent openings. The vent pins close the associated vent openings when the valve and vent assembly is in its upper position. 
         [0010]    The vent pins permit air to pass through the associated vent openings when the valve and vent assembly is in its lower position. A spring is positioned between the lower wall and the disc of the valve and vent assembly which normally urges the valve and vent assembly to its upper position. The movement of the vent pin between its upper and lower positions prevents the accumulation of debris in the associated vent opening. The valve body and the tubular valve means extend upwardly through the central opening in the upper wall of the throat plug assembly. 
         [0011]    A cap is removably mounted on the throat of the container for selectively closing the throat. A dispensing tube extends from the cap for dispensing liquid from the container. The cap includes means for engagement with the valve to move the valve downwardly to its lower position when the cap is mounted on the container to close the throat. The downward movement of the valve by the cap also causes the vent pins to open the vent openings. 
         [0012]    It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide an improved closed loop dispensing system including mechanical venting means. 
         [0013]    A further object of the invention is to provide a closed loop dispensing system including a mechanical venting means which prevents the vent openings thereof from becoming plugged with debris. 
         [0014]    Still another object of the invention is to provide a closed loop dispensing system with mechanical venting means which ensures that sufficient air will be vented into the interior of the liquid container as liquid is being drawn therefrom. 
         [0015]    Still another object of the invention is to provide a closed loop dispensing system including a vent means which may function to relieve pressure within the liquid container during the shipment thereof. 
         [0016]    These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified. 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating the invention together with a shipment cap and an operational cap; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the throat plug assembly of this invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a bottom perspective view of the throat plug assembly of this invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is an exploded sectional view illustrating the throat plug assembly of this invention inserted into the throat of a liquid container and which also illustrates the operational cap and the shipment cap; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view illustrating the throat plug assembly of this invention mounted in the throat of the container with the operational cap mounted thereon which causes the mechanical venting to open the vent openings thereof; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view similar to  FIG. 5  except that the shipment cap is mounted on the container. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0024]    Embodiments are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying figures, which form a part hereof and show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. These embodiments are disclosed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. However, embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense in that the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims. 
         [0025]    The numeral  10  refers to a throat plug assembly which is press-fitted into the throat or outlet opening  12  of a container  14  such as a bottle or the like. Preferably, throat  12  includes external threads  16 . Assembly  10  includes an externally threaded disc member  18  having a pair of vent openings  20  and  22  formed therein as well as a vent opening  24  formed therein with the vent opening having a Gortex® material  26  therein which permits air to flow through while preventing the flow of liquid therethrough. Disc member  18  includes external threads  28  for a purpose to be explained hereinafter. Hollow dip tube support  30  extends downwardly from disc member  18  and has the upper end of a dip tube  32  mounted thereon which extends downwardly into the bottle  14  and which has a length sufficient so that it may extend into a bottom corner of the bottle  14 . Normally, a conventional metering insert will be provided in dip tube  32 . 
         [0026]    The numeral  34  refers to a hollow valve body which is integrally formed with disc member  18  and which is in communication with the interior of dip tube support  30 . The upper end  36  of valve body  34  is closed, as seen in the drawings. The side wall of the side wall of valve body  34 , below the upper end  36  thereof, has a pair of spaced-apart openings  38  formed therein to permit the liquid being drawn from the bottle  14 , through dip tube  32 , to pass through valve body  34 , as will be described in detail hereinafter. Throat plug assembly  10  also includes a cup-shaped plug  40  which is inserted into the throat  12  of the bottle  14 , as seen in  FIG. 6 . Plug  40  includes an outer wall  42  having a generally inverted U-shaped cross-section to define wall members  44  and  46 . Wall  42  also includes an outwardly extending lip  48  on the upper end thereof for limiting the downward movement of plug  40  with respect to bottle  14 . Plug  40  also includes a transversely extending wall  50  having a central opening  52  formed therein. Further, plug  40  includes an internally threaded portion  54  at its lower end which is adapted to threadably receive the external threads  28  of disc member  18  so that the upper end of valve body  34  extends through the central opening  52  of wall  50 . 
         [0027]    The numeral  56  refers to a mechanical valve and vent assembly which is movably mounted on the valve body  34 . Assembly  56  includes a vertically disposed hollow tubular portion  58 , which vertically movably embraces the upper end of valve body, and a horizontally disposed disc  60  extending therefrom. The outer surface of tubular portion is provided with a plurality of radially spaced-apart tapered rubs  62  which are vertically disposed. As seen, disc  60  is disposed beneath wall  50  of plug with tubular portion  58  extending upwardly through opening  52  of wall  50 . A pair of vent pins  64  and  66  extend downwardly from disc  60  and extend through the vent openings  20  and  22  of disc member  18  respectively. A plastic spring  88  embraces valve body  34  between the underside of disc  60  and the inner lower end of disc member  18  to normally yieldably urge the mechanical vent assembly  56  to its upper position of  FIG. 4 , so that pins  64  and  66  close the vent openings  20  and  22  respectively. 
         [0028]    The numeral  70  refers to a shipping cap which is screwed onto the external threads  16  of throat  12  of the bottle  14 . The numeral  72  refers to the operational cap portion of this invention. Cap  72  includes a locking collar  74  having internal threads  76  which are adapted to be threadably connected to the threads  16  on bottle  14 . Collar  74  is provided with a central opening  78  formed therein which has receiver assembly  80  positioned therein which includes a cylindrical receiver  82  extending downwardly therefrom. The upper inner end of receiver  82  communicates with a dispensing tube support  84  which extends upwardly from cap  72  and has a dispensing tube mounted thereon which extends to a dispenser, mixer, etc. The lower inner end of receiver  82  is adapted to embrace the upper end of tubular support with the lower end of receiver  82  engaging the upper ends of the ribs  62 . 
         [0029]    In use, when the bottle  14  is being shipped from its place of manufacture to a distributor or user, the dipping cap  70  will be secured to the upper end thereof as seen in  FIG. 6 . Should the container or bottle  14  be experienced to undue heat or the like, the contents of the bottle  14  will tend to expand which could cause the bottle  14  to fail. The use of the Gortex® membrane  26  permits excessive pressure within the bottle  14  to escape upwardly therethrough and a certain amount of the pressure will be able to be vented from the bottle through the threads of the cap  70  and the threads  16  of the throat of the bottle. 
         [0030]    When the bottle  14  is desired to be placed in operation, the cap  70  is removed therefrom and the cap  72  is threadably inserted onto the threads  16  of the throat  12 . As the cap  72  is threadably tightened onto the bottle, the receiver  82 , by its engagement with the hollow tubular portion  58  will cause the tubular portion  58  to move downwardly with respect to the valve body  34  thereby causing the openings  38  in the valve body  34  to communicate with the upper interior of the receiver  82  and the tube support  84 . As the receiver  82  moves the tubular portion  58 , the disk  60  and the pins  64  and  66  move downwardly so that the pins  64  and  66  cause the opening of the vents  20  and  22 . Conversely, when the cap  72  is removed from the bottle, the pins  64  and  66  will again close the vent openings  20  and  22 . The vertical movement of the pins  64  and  66  within the vent openings  20  and  22  tend to remove any debris which may have accumulated in the vent openings  20  and  22 . 
         [0031]    As liquid is being withdrawn from the bottle  14 , air may enter the bottle  54  through the vent openings  20  and  22  to prevent collapsing of the bottle. Further, vent air is also able to pass through the vent opening  24  at that time. 
         [0032]    Thus, it can be seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives. 
         [0033]    Although the invention has been described in language that is specific to certain structures and methodological steps, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific structures and/or steps described. Rather, the specific aspects and steps are described as forms of implementing the claimed invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.