Abstract:
A chemical dispensing system including a reservoir, a collapsible container inserted in the reservoir, the reservoir being sealed after the collapsible container has been inserted into the reservoir. A valve is configured to conduct fluid from an external source to a volume formed by the exterior of the collapsible container and the interior of the reservoir. A connecting tube is configured to conduct product from the collapsible container to an applicator when water is provided to the reservoir.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a device and method for dispensing a chemical product, and more particularly, to a chemical dispensing system for expelling a ready-to-use chemical product from a collapsible bag by means of fluid pressure. 
     2. Discussion of Related Art 
     Typically, devices for applying a chemical product, such as garden sprayers, include a means for pressurizing the contents of a product tank. For example, a hand-held sprayer, as shown in U.S. Pat. Des. 296,229, provides pressure to liquid in a supply tank by means of a hand- or finger-operated pump, thereby forcing the liquid through the sprayer dispenser. 
     Other sprayers provide pressurization by means of an external source of pressure, such as water or air. Air is typically added by means of an inlet port which connects to a pressurization pump, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,884. 
     Other known sprayers provide pressurization by means of addition of water to a closed container containing the chemical product, to force the product out of a dispenser. Typically, the liquid, usually water, is mixed with the chemical product in the closed container to produce a water solution, which is then applied by means of the sprayer. Therefore, the resultant solution is a dilution of the chemical product contained in the closed container. Examples of such dilution sprayers include those shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,782,982; 4,930,664; 4,930,686; and U.S. Pat. Des. 281,299. 
     Connectors and valves have been developed to allow connection between a pressurizing hose and a closed container to form a dilution sprayer. Examples of such connectors and valves are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,064,170; 5,307,887; 5,307,995; and U.S. Pat. Des. 280,924. 
     An additional means of supplying pressurization is by way of a flexible diaphragm, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,034,896. The flexible diaphragm disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,034,896, is disposed between an upper half and a lower half of an elliptical sprayer container. A chemical to be dispensed is placed in one half of the elliptical container. A garden hose is attached to the other half of the elliptical container. As water is added to the other half of the elliptical container, the flexible diaphragm moves into the half of the container containing the chemical, pressurizing that half by reducing its volume. As the volume decreases, the chemical product is forced from the container. However, this diaphragm device suffers the problem that the chemical must be poured into the container, and mixed with water as necessary before applying. 
     In the known devices, the chemical applicator tank must be cleaned after use to remove chemical residue from the interior of the tank. In many of the known applicator devices, this cleaning is cumbersome or ineffective because the opening to the chemical applicator tank is too narrow. 
     For example, in the device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,034,896, the half of the container that contained the chemical must be cleaned after use. The disclosed method of cleaning the container is to flush the container with water during the next use, in which the elliptical container is flipped over so that the half that held the chemical product is now used to add water pressure, and the half that previously held water to increase pressure is used for chemical. This process is cumbersome and presumes that the user will continue to repeatedly use the sprayer system. If the user stops alternatively applying chemical, he must then rinse the half of the container which contained chemical applying water separately, perhaps requiring removal of the garden hose from the other half of the container. This would involve turning of the water at its source, removing the hose from the pressurizing side of the container, and applying the hose to the other side of the container. The water must be emptied from the pressurizing side or capped to prevent spilling the water in the pressurizing side while the hose is being transferred to the chemical side of the container for rinsing. 
     One problem present in all of the above devices is the necessity that the chemical for application must be placed in the chemical applicator tank by the user, typically by pouring from the container in which the chemical is provided from the manufacture. In many of the known devices, this procedure is messy and cumbersome. 
     Often the chemical must then be diluted with water, either manually or by diluting it with the same liquid used to pressurize the device. Concentration of the diluted product may vary depending on how the amount of liquid added to the chemical, and it is difficult for a use to accurately control the concentration to a desired ratio. Moreover, the product solution may be inconsistent in its concentration if the user does not mix the solution thoroughly or the pressurizing liquid is supplied too quickly to the chemical applicator tank. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a device for dispensing a chemical product and a method therefor that substantially obviate one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a bag-in-bottle, ready-to-use (RTU) chemical dispensing system using fluid pressure as a means to collapse a product bag containing a chemical product, thereby expelling the contents of the product bag through an applicator. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a bag-in-bottle, RTU chemical dispensing system having a valve cover that allows for discontinuing the supply of pressurizing fluid to the applicator. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a bag-in-bottle RTU chemical dispensing system having a valve cover that allows for rinsing of the applicator reservoir using the pressurizing fluid. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a bag-in-bottle, RTU chemical dispensing system which provides premixed chemical product in sealed ready-to-use product bags configured to be inserted unopened into the chemical dispensing system. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a method for applying a chemical product including the steps of providing a chemical product in a sealed collapsible container, placing the sealed collapsible container in a sealable reservoir, piercing the collapsible container to provide an opening, providing fluid between the exterior of the collapsible container and the reservoir to push product from the collapsible container. 
     Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings. 
     To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, the present invention includes a device for dispensing a chemical product, comprising: a reservoir; a collapsible container configured to be inserted in the reservoir, the reservoir being sealed after the collapsible container is inserted to the reservoir; an applicator; a connecting tube configured to conduct product from the collapsible container to the applicator; and a valve configured to conduct fluid from an external source to a volume formed by the exterior of the collapsible bag and the interior of the reservoir. 
     Another aspect of the present invention includes a valve to control the output of the dispensing system. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ATTACHED DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiments of the inventing and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
     FIG. 1 a  is a cross-sectional top view of the valve cover of the chemical dispensing device of the present invention in a dispense configuration. 
     FIG. 1 b  is a cross-sectional view of the chemical dispensing device of the present invention in the dispense configuration. 
     FIG. 2 a  is a cross-sectional top view of the valve cover of the chemical dispensing device of the present invention in an off configuration. 
     FIG. 2 b  is a cross-sectional view of the chemical dispensing device of the present invention in the off configuration. 
     FIG. 3 a  is a cross-sectional top view of the valve cover of the chemical dispensing device of the present invention in a rinse configuration. 
     FIG. 3 b  is a cross-sectional view of the chemical dispensing device of the present invention in the rinse configuration. 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a hose attachment according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a side view of a valve cover according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a valve cover incorporating a rotary valve allows a device for dispensing a chemical product to be in one of three configurations: “dispense,” “off,” and “rinse,” as shown in FIGS. 1 a  and  1   b ,  2   a  and  2   b , and  3   a  and  3   b , respectively. 
     FIGS. 1 a  and  1   b  show a preferred embodiment of the present invention in the “dispense” configuration. FIGS. 2 a  and  2   b  show a preferred embodiment of the present invention in the “off” configuration. FIGS. 3 a  and  3   b  show a preferred embodiment of the present invention in the “rinse” configuration. 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 b ,  2   b , and  3   b , a valve cover  110 , is removably attached to a rigid reservoir  120 . The valve cover  110  may be attached to the reservoir  120  by a threaded head arrangement  114 . The rigid reservoir  120  is adapted to hold a collapsible container, such as a product bag or pouch (not shown). The product bag contains a ready-to-use chemical product, e.g., a lawn treatment, such as an herbicide, fertilizer, or a combination herbicide/fertilizer. The valve cover  110  includes an intake port  130  connected to a hose attachment  134 . The hose attachment  134  allows for connection to a standard garden hose (not shown). FIG. 4 shows one configuration of the hose attachment  134  according to the preferred embodiment. The hose attachment  134  may be configured to swivel. The valve cover  110  connects to applicator wand  144 . As shown in FIGS. 1 b ,  2   b , and  3   b , the valve cover  110  may include a barbed nipple connection  160  to removably engage hose clamp  162  of applicator wand  144 . 
     The valve cover further includes a valve  112 . The valve  112  includes an intake connection port  136 , a rinse connection port  138 , a hollow piercing tube  140 , a rinse outlet port  142 , an expellant port  146 , and an off vent port  148 . The reservoir  120  may also include a thread head  150  for attaching the valve  112  and the valve cover  110  to the reservoir  120 . 
     In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the valve  112  is rotatable to place the dispensing device of the present invention in one of the three configurations: “dispense,” “off,” and “rinse.” 
     In the dispense configuration shown in FIGS. 1 a  and  1   b , the valve cover  110  is placed on the reservoir  120  containing a collapsible container such as a product bag (not shown). The hollow piercing tube  140  punctures the exterior of the collapsible product bag through a seal to connect the interior of the collapsible product bag to the applicator wand  144  through the piercing tube  140  and the expellant port  146 . In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the piercing tube  140  punctures the seal of the collapsible product bag as the valve cover  110  is threaded onto the reservoir  120  containing the collapsible product bag. 
     In the “dispense” configuration of FIGS. 1 a  and  1   b , the valve  112  is rotated to connect the intake port  130  to the reservoir  120  through intake connection point  136  and to connect the hollow piercing tube  140  to applicator wand  144  through expellant port  146 . 
     In the “off” configuration shown in FIGS. 2 a  and  2   b , the valve cover  110  is placed on the reservoir  120 . It is contemplated that the reservoir  120  may or may not contain the collapsible product bag. It is also contemplated that the reservoir  120  may contain a product bag containing product, an empty product bag (after the product has been expelled), or a partially empty product bag. In the “off” configuration, as shown in FIGS. 2 a  and  2   b , the intake port  130  is blocked by the side wall of the valve  112  so that the intake port  130  does not connect to the reservoir  120 . The off vent port  148  connects the reservoir  120  to the applicator wand  144  to vent the interior of the reservoir  120  through the applicator wand  144 . It is also contemplated that the off vent port  148  may vent through the top of the valve  112  instead of through the applicator wand  144 . In the “off” configuration shown in FIGS. 2 a  and  2   b , the hollow piercing tube  140  is disconnected from the intake port  130  and the expellant port  146 , and is thus disconnected from the applicator wand  144 . 
     Because the intake port  130  is blocked from the reservoir  120  by the valve  112 , no fluid enters the reservoir  120 . Thus, no additional pressure is applied to the product bag to collapse it further and expel product from the bag. Moreover, because the product bag is disconnected from the expellant port  146  and the applicator wand  144 , no additional product may be expelled from the product bag. 
     In the “rinse” configuration shown in FIGS. 3 a  and  3   b , the valve cover  110  is placed on the reservoir  120 . It is contemplated that the reservoir  120  may or may not contain the collapsible product bag (not shown). It is also contemplated that the reservoir  120  may contain a product bag containing product, an empty product bag (after the product has been expelled), or a partially empty product bag. In the “rinse” configuration, as shown in FIGS. 3 a  and  3   b , the intake port  130  connects to the rinse connection port  138  to provide fluid from the intake port  130  to the interior of the reservoir  120 . The rinse outlet port  142  connects the reservoir  120  to the applicator wand  144  to vent fluid from interior of the reservoir  120  through the applicator wand  144 . In practice, the rinse outlet port  142  and the off vent port  148  may be the same port. 
     In the “rinse” configuration shown in FIGS. 3 a  and  3   b , the hollow piercing tube  140  is disconnected from the intake port  130  and the expellant port  146 , and is thus disconnected from the applicator wand  144 . 
     As shown in FIG. 2 a , the hose attachment  134  may include an anti-siphon cap or a diaphragm  170 . As shown in FIG. 2 b , a foam liner  172 , may be used to seal the valve cover  110  on the reservoir  120 . As shown in FIG. 3 a , the valve cover  110  may include a handle or removable cover  174 . The handle  174  may be used to operate the rotatable valve  112 . As shown in FIG. 5, the valve cover  110  may include valve actuator tabs  180  to facilitate operation of the rotatable valve  112 . 
     In the “dispense” configuration, a collapsible product bag is placed inside the reservoir  120 . The valve cover is attached to the reservoir to seal the interior of the reservoir. The collapsible product bag is pierced by the hollow piercing tube  140  to allow product in the bag to be expelled through the hollow piercing tube  140 , through the expellant tube  146  to the applicator wand  144 . Product is expelled from the collapsible product bag by applying fluid pressure to the exterior of the product bag within the reservoir  120  to collapse the product bag, forcing product through the hollow piercing tube  140 , through the expellant tube  146  to the applicator wand  144 . 
     A standard water hose, such as a garden hose, is attached to the dispensing device at the hose attachment  134 . For example, a standard garden hose nozzle may be threaded to the hose attachment  134 . To dispense the product from the product bag, fluid, for example, water, is provided to the reservoir  120  through the hose attachment  134 , the intake port  130 , and the connection port  136  to fill the reservoir between interior wall of the reservoir  120  and the exterior surface of the collapsible product bag. As the reservoir  120  fills with fluid, the fluid pressure increases, causing the product bag to collapse, forcing product from the bag into the hollow piercing tube  140 . If the valve  112  is in the “dispense” configuration, the product is forced from the hollow piercing tube  140  into the expellant tube  146  and out through the applicator wand  144 . 
     If the valve  112  is in the “off” position, even if fluid is provided through the hose attachment  134 , the intake port  130  is blocked by the valve  112 , and no additional fluid is provided to the reservoir  120 . Therefore, the pressure on the product bag does not increase and no product is expelled from the product bag. 
     If the valve  112  is in the “rinse” position, fluid from the hose attachment  134  is provided to the reservoir  120  through rinse connection port  138 . The fluid provided to the reservoir  120  is expelled through the applicator wand  144  via rinse outlet port  142 . 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the device and method for dispensing chemical product as described herein, without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.