Abstract:
A method of dispensing different concentrations of chemical concentrate from a concentrate container at different flow rates. The method includes providing a stream of water and a chemical concentrate adapted to be diluted in the stream of water between an inlet of a body member and an outlet of the body member to provide a fluid concentration dispensable from the outlet at one of a plurality of flow rates, rotating at least a portion of an eductor to vary one of a volume of chemical concentrate and the flow rate, sliding the eductor to vary the other of the volume of chemical concentrate and the flow rate, and selectively dispensing the fluid concentration through the outlet.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 12/111,650, filed Apr. 29, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,850,095, issued on Dec. 14, 2010; which is a Continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 11/206,427, filed Aug. 18, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,370,813, issued May 13, 2008; which is a Continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10/658,496, filed Sep. 9, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,988,675, issued Jan. 24, 2006; which is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/956,294, filed Sep. 19, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,708,901, issued Mar. 23, 2004; which claims priority to U.S. Provisional application No. 60/261,613, filed Jan. 12, 2001. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The field of the invention is dispensers for chemical concentrates, and particularly the dispensing of chemical concentrates at multiple flow rates and different concentrations. 
     Dispensers of the type concerned with in this invention are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,320,288 and 5,372,310. While the spraying apparatus disclosed in these patents can control the flow of carrier fluid and chemical product, it cannot do so in a precise and controlled manner. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,719,704 discloses a valve element 31 with eductor passages 41 and 43. These interconnect with inlet openings 58 and 61. 
     U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,991,939 and 4,901,923 disclose eductor type dispensers having rotatable discs with various sized apertures for controlling the amount of concentrate being drawn into the water flowing through a nozzle. 
     A dispenser which dispenses chemical concentrate should have the capability of dispensing the concentration at a low rate such as in the instance where a bottle is to be filled and at a high rate where a bucket is to be filled. In the instance of a bucket fill, it is desirable if both a low and high concentration of chemical concentrate can be provided. 
     The prior art provides either a rotatable eductor with concentrate flow passages, eductor type dispensers having rotatable discs with various sized apertures, or a sliding open- venturi. It does not provide a dispensing apparatus with both sliding and rotating eductors as well as valving so as to afford different concentrations of chemical concentrate at different flow rates. 
     In application Ser. No. 09/956,294 filed Sep. 19, 2001, a dispenser for dispensing different concentrations of chemical concentrate into a stream of water from a concentrate container at different flow rates is disclosed. The teachings of this application are incorporated by reference. The disclosed dispenser includes a body member having a through bore with an inlet end adapted to be connected to a source of pressurized water at one end and an outlet at the opposite end connected to the inlet housing. A valve member is slideably positioned in the through bore of the body member. An eductor is slideably and rotatably received in the body member. The eductor is in contact with the valve member and in fluid communication with a source of chemical concentrate. A trigger member is connected to the body member and eductor to cause slideable movement of the eductor. The eductor and valve member are constructed and arranged to provide control of both different concentrations of chemical concentrate and different flow rates of water and chemical concentrate. 
     The present invention provides an improvement of the dispenser disclosed in Ser. No. 09/956,294 by providing an improved functionality of the previously disclosed dispenser by preventing rotation of the concentration selection members during operation of the device. This is important to the quality of the delivered diluted product, namely to the precise ratio of the concentrate to the carrier stream and the resultant mixture concentration. The previously disclosed design allowed the concentrate selection device to be rotated during the “ON” condition. During this rotation of the concentrate selection members, the flow of concentrated product to the mixing chamber is blocked and then reopened at a new position corresponding with a different product flow rate. If this is allowed to occur during the “ON” condition, the carrier stream/water flowing the diluted concentration of the product in the container to which dispensing is occurring will be incorrect and, as is the ease with many such concentrated products, will not function as intended. 
     SUMMARY 
     To provide the previously referred to anti-rotation when “ON” feature, an interlocking guide feature is provided to the dispenser body component and a corresponding recess to accept the guide feature in the eductor component, such that when the eductor translates, as powered by depressing the dispenser trigger, the guide engages the recess and remains engaged during the travel to either the low flow or the high flow condition. When engaged, the guide feature prevents rotation of the eductor assembly but allows linear translation of the eductor assembly as powered by the user through use of the trigger component and as powered by the internal compression spring for returning the eductor assembly to the “OFF” condition. The guide feature and recess are disengaged in the “OFF” condition and the eductor assembly is free to rotate for selection of dilution concentration by the user. 
     The present invention provides in one embodiment a dispenser for dispensing different concentrations of chemical concentrate into a stream of water from a concentrate container at different flow rates. The dispenser includes a body member having a through bore with an inlet end adapted to be connected to a source of pressurized water at one end and an outlet at the opposite end. A product and a vent passage communicate with the through bore. An eductor is slideably and rotatably received in the through bore. A guide member is positioned in the through bore and a stop member is located on the eductor. There is at least one passage in the stop member for passing over the guide member. There is also at least one stop surface for engaging the guide member. The guide member, the stop member and the stop surface are constructed and arranged to stop axial movement of the eductor, yet allow axial movement of the eductor, yet allow axial movement when the passage is aligned with the guide member. 
     In one aspect, the dispenser includes first and second parts, only one of which is rotatable with the first part of the eductor being rotatable and extends from the body member. 
     In yet another aspect, there is a trigger member connected to the body member and eductor to cause slideable movement of the eductor and further includes a latching mechanism with a living hinge. 
     In another embodiment, the present invention provides a dispenser for dispensing different concentrations of chemical concentrate into a stream of water from a concentrate container at different flow rates comprising; 
     a body member having a through bore with an inlet end adapted to be connected to a source of pressurized water at one end and an outlet at the opposite end; 
     a product passage and a vent passage communicating with the through bore; 
     an eductor slideably and rotatably received in the through bore; 
     a guide member positioned in the through bore; 
     a stop member located on the eductor; 
     at least two passages in the stop member for passing over the guide member, one of the passages including a stop surface; 
     at least one stop surface for engaging the guide member, the guide member, the stop member and the stop surface constructed and arranged to stop axial movement of the eductor in one phase, allow a first axial movement when one of the passages is aligned with the guide member in a second phase, and allow a second axial movement when another of the passages with the stop member is aligned with the guide member in a third phase. 
     In another aspect, the dispenser includes a valve member, the valve member positioned in the through bore of the body member and including first and second valve members operatively associated with the eductor, the valve members constructed and arranged so that when the eductor is in the third phase, the first valve member is moved in a linear slideable manner with respect to the second valve member, a first flow rate is effected and when the eductor is in a second phase, the second valve member is moved in a linear slideable manner with respect to the body portion with the first valve member moved linearly with respect to the second valve member, a second increased flow rate is established. 
     A general object of the invention is to provide a dispensing apparatus which can effect a mixing of chemical concentrate into a stream of water at different concentrations and dispense the mixed concentrate at controlled flow rates. 
     Yet another object is a dispenser of the foregoing type which has a lock-in feature during operation. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the dispenser of this invention in conjunction with a container. 
         FIG. 2  is a view in side elevation of the dispenser shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the component parts of the dispenser. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of the dispenser in a closed position. 
         FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIG. 4  showing the dispenser in a low flow condition. 
         FIG. 6  is a view similar to  FIG. 4  showing the dispenser in a high flow condition. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating the eductor for the dispenser. 
         FIG. 8  is a fragmentary view of the dispenser housing illustrating eductor contact and guide surfaces. 
         FIGS. 9-12  are elevational views of a portion of the eductor utilized in the dispenser. 
         FIG. 13  is a cross sectional view illustrating an indexing of the eductor in the dispenser. 
         FIG. 14  is an end view of the body member shown in  FIG. 8  with an eductor part in place in a keyway. 
         FIG. 15  is a diagrammatic legend illustrating the various functions of the dispenser. 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view similar to  FIG. 1  illustrating the dispenser with a spray head. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the dispenser generally  10  has a body member  12  with a container connector  14  for connection to a container or bottle  16 . A preferred connector system is more fully described in commonly owned patent application Ser. No. 10/037,569 filed Nov. 9, 2001 which teachings are incorporated herein. At one end of the body member  12  is a hose attachment  18  for supplying pressurized water to the dispenser. A handle  17  is provided below attachment  18 . At the other end there is the spout  22  and a nozzle  20  for dispensing a mixed chemical solution. A flexible tube  15  extends between nozzle  20  and spout  22 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  3  and  4 , the dispenser  10  includes an eductor generally  11  composed of the first or outer eductor part  24  with a diverging passage  24   a  and an inner second eductor part  26  with a converging passage  26   a . They are slideably connected in body member  12  with O-ring seals  52  and  56  providing a fluid tight contact. A valve assembly  28  for controlling the flow of water through the dispenser  10  is also slideably housed in body member  12  and is in contact with eductor part  26  when the dispenser is in an operating condition. When it is not in an operating condition, the valve assembly  28  is spaced from eductor part  26  to allow for seals  64  and  66  to seal under a range of pressures. The hose attachment  18  is rotatably connected to body member  12  by the snap fitment  34 . A back flow preventer  30  is positioned in hose attachment  18  and has an O-ring seal  32  for contact with body member  12 . At the opposite end of body member  12 , the nozzle  20  is attached to eductor part  24 . 
     An annular groove  36  is provided in the eductor part  24  and accommodates a head portion  38  of the trigger  40  with flange portions such as shown at  42  on the trigger  40  having shafts (not shown) for extending into bores such as  44 . A latch member  46  extends upwardly from the member  12  for fitment through the passage  48  of the trigger  40 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , eductor part  24  has L-shaped passages  90 - 94  for introducing chemical concentrate into the gap  27  between eductor parts  24  and  26 . These passages  90 - 94  have different diameters or widths for metering different concentrations of chemical concentrate. Accordingly, eductor part  24  with passages  90 - 94  serves as a dilution adjustment member. In some instances there are no passages, thereby blocking and precluding the flow of concentrate, and used to provide a rinse only function. This is indicated at  89  which is a blank passage. A dip tube  19  is connected to body member  12  and extends into container  16  for siphoning chemical concentrate into the bore  13  of body member  12  by way of passage  21 . A seal member  23  is placed between eductor part  26  and body member  12 . A vent passage  25  connects container  16  and bore  13 . Eductor part  24  is positioned with passages  90 - 94  inside eductor part  26 . A spring  54  biases eductor part  26  as well as eductor pail.  24  toward the head portion  38  of trigger  40 . 
     Referring also to  FIG. 7 , there is shown the eductor  24  with an indexing ring  85  and notches  77 . These accommodate the projections  75  on arms  72  and  73  extending from body member  12  as shown in  FIG. 13 . This provides an indexing function in conjunction with the orientation of dilution adjustment feature of eductor  24  and passage  21 . 
     As seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a quad O-ring  60  is attached in groove  57  of valve head portion  58 . It serves as a flow control element as later explained. A valve member  28  with passages  33  has a head portion  58  with groove  59 . An O-ring seal  66  is seated in groove  59  of head portion  58  and another O-ring seal  64  is placed on collar  62 . A gasket  67  is provided for cap  68  and a hose seal is provided at  69 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 14 , it is seen that body member  12  has a keyway  70  disposed in body member  12  for accommodating key members  76  in eductor part  26  for allowing sliding but nonrotatable connection in body member  12 . 
     As seen in  FIGS. 7 ,  8  and  9 - 12 , there is a selector ring  86  extending from eductor part  24 . It has notches  95 - 98  which pass over guide member  74  to orientate the passages  90 - 94  with the passage  21  in the body member  12 . There are also the core portions  88  which are sealed portions that assist in the molding process. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a dilution adjustment device  112 . This device is fully described in commonly assigned application Ser. No. 09/956,294 filed Sep. 19, 2001. This dilution adjustment device  112  or adapter fits into the end portion  87  of eductor  24  with the tubular members fitting into passages  90 - 94 . 
     Operation 
     A better understanding of the dispenser will be had by a description of its operation. Referring to  FIG. 4 , the dispenser is shown in a closed position. A source of pressurized water such as a hose will have been connected to hose attachment  18 . In this instance, seal  66  on valve head  58  is seated against collar  62  and seal  64  against valve seat portion  65 . Accordingly, no water can pass between these two components and into bore  13 . This sealing effect is assisted by the flow of water in through the attachment  18 , against the valve components  58  and  62 . The spring  54  and force of water also positions the head  31  of eductor part  24  away from body contact surface  79  when in an operating condition. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , trigger  40  has been moved toward body member  12  with the result that valve portion  58  has moved toward the base attachment  18  and seal  66  no longer engages collar  62 . In this position, water can flow between the two component parts as there are grooves (not shown) placed in the collar  62  to allow such flow into bore  13 . This is a low flow condition. In this position, the quad O-ring  60  serves as a flow control element, in that, with increased pressure and flow of water, the ring will expand and partially fill the grooves in collar  62 . This maintains a consistent flow rate despite variations in the pressure of the inlet water supply. Water can then pass through passages  33  and into passage  26   a  of eductor part  26 . 
     This low flow condition is utilized to fill a bottle which is shown by the icon  129  in  FIG. 12 . In order to locate eductor parts  24  and  26  in this position, there is a notch  95  in selector ring  86  which is orientated with guide member  74  to allow the eductor parts  24  and  26  to move inwardly into body member  12  until the guide member  74  engages intermediate stop  99  located between selector ring  86  and indexing ring  85 . Simultaneously, passage  92  is orientated with passage  21  and dip tube  19  to allow concentrate from container  16  to flow into the water stream in passage  24   a . It should be pointed out that the orientation between notch  96  when engaged by guide member  74  and icon  129  in body member  12  is 90° whereas the orientation between icon  129  and passage  21  is 180°, It should be further stated that trigger  40  and latch  46  cannot engage at this low flow condition. This is consistent with the high flow condition referred to in the following paragraph. 
     In order to initiate a high flow condition, the trigger  40  is moved further toward body member  12 . This is shown in  FIG. 6 . In this position, not only has seal  66  moved away from collar  62  but collar  62  also has moved away from valve seat portion  65 . In this position, water cannot only flow from between head portion  58  and the grooves  63  in the collar  62 , but also between the collar  62  and the valve seat portion  65 . It should be pointed out that in this high flow position, trigger  40  can now become engaged with latch  46  which provides a living hinge if desired so that it can be held in the high flow condition. 
     This high flow condition is utilized to fill a bucket which is shown by the icon  131  in  FIG. 10 . In order to locate eductor parts  24  and  26  in this position, there is a notch  97  in the selector ring  86  which is orientated with guide member  74  to allow the eductor parts  24  and  26  to move inwardly into body member  12  until the guide  74  engages indexing ring  85  which provides a stop surface. Simultaneously, passage  94  is orientated with passage  21  and dip tube  19  to allow concentrate from container  16  to flow into the water stream in passage  24   a.    
     During the previously described flow conditions through the dispenser  10  such as when in the high or low flow condition, and as previously stated, the concentrate will be drawn upwardly from the container  16  such as through the dip tube  19  and passage  21 . However, as noted previously in  FIG. 4 , there is a seal member  23  positioned over the passage  21  so that no product can be drawn up from the container  16 . At the same time, seal  23  also closes vent passage  25 . As seen in both  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the seal member  23  has moved away from both the product and vent passages  21  and  25 , respectively. In this position, drawn product is allowed to enter into one of the live passages  90 ,  91 ,  92 ,  93  and  94  as seen in  FIGS. 9-11 . Concentrate is thereby siphoned into gap  27  and mixed with water flowing through passage  26   a  and  24   a . A reduced pressure is caused by the water converging in passage  26   a  and diverging in passage  24   a.    
     The orientation of the various passages  90 - 94  with the opening  23   a  in seal  23  is facilitated by the indexing shown in  FIG. 13 . 
     The mixed solution will then exit through nozzle  20  down through the tube  15  positioned in the spout  22 . Tube  15  in this instance is flexible so as to allow the eductor  24  to move inwardly and outwardly from the body member  12 . With product passing through tube  15  and spout  22 , this is the position which is utilized when filling a bucket or a bottle. As previously described a low flow condition would be utilized for filling a bottle while the high flow condition would be utilized to fill a large vessel such as a bucket. The spout  22  provides for the dispenser to be hung on a bucket. If desired, a hose (not shown) can be connected to spout  22  for filling purposes such as a “scrubber washer” or when the dispenser is mounted to a wall. Dispenser  10  can easily he converted to a spray unit by the replacement of the nozzle  20  and the attachment of a conventional spray head. This is shown in  FIG. 16 . Also stated previously, the concentration of the solution can be easily adjusted by the rotation of the eductor  24  in conjunction with the dilution adjustment passages  90 - 94 . The low and high flow condition in combination with the dilution adjustment member obviates the use of multiple dispenser heads. 
     In  FIG. 9  there is shown an icon  130  which indicates a rinse function. This is affected by water passing through the passage  24   a  without the siphoning of any chemical concentrate. In this position notch  96  is orientated with guide member  74  to allow the eductor parts  24  and  26  to move inwardly into body member  12  until guide  74  engages indexing ring  85  to afford a high flow condition. There will not be any passage orientated with dip tube  19  so that no concentrate is siphoned with the water into passage  24   a.    
     In  FIG. 11 , the icon  132  indicates a no flow condition. This is effected by not providing a notch in selector ring  86  so that ring  86  contacts guide member  74  and consequently eductor parts  24  and  26  cannot be moved inwardly into body member  12 , consequently neither vent passage  25  nor concentrate passage  21  can be opened. This acts to assure that the contents of the container cannot be dispensed while the eductor  24  is turned to this position, regardless of the presence of pressurized water. 
     As seen in  FIGS. 7 , and  9 - 10 , there are 5 passages  90 - 94  which can convey concentrate through eductor part  24 . In the instance where only a single dilution rate for high and low flow is desired, only two passages are required as indicated for the previously described bucket and bottle fill. In the instance where more functions are desired such as illustrated in  FIG. 15  at the Standard Configuration Fill line  1 , there would be utilized 5 passages: one for high flow, high concentrate; one for high flow, medium concentrate; one for high flow, low concentrate; one for low flow, low concentrate and one for low flow, high concentrate. The high, medium and low concentrate is regulated by the size of the passages  90 - 94 . 
     As illustrated in the Standard Configuration Spray line  2 , and as stated previously, the dispenser can be equipped with a spray head as shown at  135  in  FIG. 16 . It could then perform all of the functions as previously described for the Standard Configuration Fill in line  1 . Registered Product Fill and Spray lines  3  and  4  illustrate the use of the dispenser  10  wherein the previously  11  described high and low functions would be employed yet all of the passages  90 - 94  would be designed to perform a high concentrate function. 
     While a six position function for the dispenser  10  is indicated in the illustration of  FIG. 15 , one of these positions could be a stop no flow condition as previously stated in conjunction with  FIG. 11 . 
     It will thus be seen that there is now provided a very versatile dispenser which can be utilized in not only a high and a low flow condition but also can he adjusted to vary the concentration of mixed solution. The dispenser  10  is produced economically so that once it is captively connected to a container, it is disposable and/or recyclable. As indicated in the drawings, most of the components are composed of a molded plastic with polypropylene being preferred, This affords a living hinge feature for latch member  46  in trigger passage  48 . 
     It win also be seen that a good band fed is provided by dispenser  10 . This is accomplished by placement of the handle  17  beneath body member  12  and outwardly from trigger  40  to allow placement of a thumb on trigger  40 . 
     An important feature of dispenser  10  is the orientation of the guide member  74  in the notches  95 - 98 . This prevents rotation of eductor part  24  during a flow condition and affords delivery of accurate concentrations of chemical product. It should be further stated that selector ring  86  affords a stop surface for contact with guide member  74  when guide member is not orientated with notches  95 - 98 . This prevents eductor  11  from moving inwardly into body member. Indexing ring  85  provides a second stop surface when notches  95 - 98  move over guide member and guide member contacts indexing ring  85  when the eductor is moved into body member  12 . 
     The dispenser  10  has been preferably described in conjunction with a latching feature for the trigger  40 . It is obvious that this is not an essential feature that can be eliminated. Neither is it essential that a back flow preventer be employed in the unit itself. This could be accomplished upstream in a supply line. Further, while the spout  22  offers the advantage of a hose attachment such  12  as with the barbs  100 , this could be eliminated although it does further offer the advantage of a bucket attachment. Neither is it essential that the container connector  14  provides a captive use of the dispenser with the container. The dispenser  10  could be utilized with a refillable container. In some instances, it may be desirable to limit the dispenser for flow through a single passageway. This could be accomplished by placement of a pin through body member  12  and a groove in eductor part  24  or may be accomplished by an additional part called the lock out clip. This clip, when installed, makes it difficult to turn the selector portion of the lower eductor. All such and other modifications within the spirit of the invention are meant to be within a scope as defined by the appended claims.