Abstract:
A fluid dispensing assembly for use with mop-like devices. The assembly adapts to mop-like devices and utilizes a collapsible fluid reservoir pouch preferably contained within a substantially rigid housing. The collapsible fluid reservoir pouch permits fluid dispensing without need for venting. The assembly preferably utilizes one or the other of a fluid conducting needle and a venting needle found in a fluid disbursement fitment of commercially available mop-like devices, but the needles are not used to puncture membranes in a fluid reservoir. Rather, they provide mechanical force to actuate a valve that is used to permit flow of fluid from the fluid reservoir to the fluid disbursement fitment.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/483,208, filed May 6, 2011, the disclosure of which is incorporated in its entirety by reference thereto. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to the field of cleaning devices. More particularly, the invention is directed toward a liquid dispensing assembly for use with mop-like devices. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Many mop-like consumer/home cleaning devices utilize a liquid containing reservoir which is in fluid communication a disbursement means by way of a fitment that relies on puncturing means to pierce through a membrane of the reservoir to establish the fluid communication. The puncturing means are typically one or more sharp hollow needles. The sharp needles can cause mild to severe injury if a consumer is inadvertently pricked or stabbed thereby. 
         [0004]    Additionally, consumer/home cleaning devices typically utilize a substantially rigid walled fluid reservoir, such as one made out of metal or plastic. This requires the use of venting to replace a volume of ambient air equal to the volume of fluid dispensed from the fluid reservoir in order to prevent the formation of a depression in the reservoir that would render fluid dispensing difficult. Venting requires additional manufacturing steps which can increase the cost of the system. 
         [0005]    In this connection, U.S. Pat. No. 6,321,941 discloses the use of reservoir piercing means comprising two needles in a preferred embodiment. The patent acknowledges the risk of consumer injury from needle puncture and discloses a preferred embodiment that utilizes a spring loaded protecting plate to prevent access to the needles when the appliance contains no reservoir. One needle is connected to a pumping means to facilitate the flow of fluid from the reservoir and a second needle utilizing a one-way valve or venting membrane for letting air into the reservoir as liquid is dispensed from the reservoir, thereby preventing depression or collapse of the walls of the substantially rigid walled reservoir as liquid is dispensed therefrom. 
         [0006]    A need therefore exists in the art to provide means for the initiation of fluid communication from a fluid container through a fitment of a fluid disbursement means without relying on sharp puncture means operable to puncture a membrane of the fluid container. 
         [0007]    A further need exists in the art for a reservoir that does not require venting to facilitate the dispensing of fluid. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    It is an object of the present invention to overcome the limitations and disadvantages of prior liquid dispensing mop-like cleaning devices and similar devices. 
         [0009]    It is a further object of the invention to provide means for dispensing fluid from a reservoir by using mechanical force to actuate a check valve to facilitate fluid communication from the reservoir to a fluid disbursing means without requiring the use of needles to puncture a membrane. 
         [0010]    It is a further object of the invention to provide a reservoir made of a flexible, collapsible, and preferably replaceable reservoir pouch held within a preferably cage-like, optionally open-topped, housing. As a further general object of the invention, fluid is dispensed from the pouch, thereby causing the pouch to collapse and equilibrate pressure caused by the loss of liquid volume and, therefore, eliminating the need for venting. It is a further general object of the invention for the housing to connect the pouch to the fluid disbursing means. 
         [0011]    Other details, objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description of the presently preferred embodiments and presently preferred methods of practicing the invention proceeds. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The invention will become more readily apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof shown, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings wherein: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a reservoir pouch disposed within a housing according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a schematic sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention wherein a reservoir pouch is disposed within a housing and is connected to a fluid disbursing means; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a schematic sectional view showing another embodiment of the present invention wherein a reservoir pouch is disposed within a housing and is connected to a fluid disbursing means. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    Referring to the drawings, wherein like or similar references indicate like or similar elements throughout the several views, there is shown in  FIG. 1  a combined fluid dispensing assembly, generally identified by reference numeral  10 , reflecting one preferred embodiment of the present invention. As seen in  FIG. 1 , assembly  10  includes a housing  12  and a reservoir pouch  14 . Housing  12 , which is preferably substantially cage-like and optionally open-topped in construction, connects reservoir pouch  14  to a liquid dispensing portion of a mop-like cleaning device (not depicted), such as that, for example, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,321,941, the disclosure of which is incorporated in its entirety by reference thereto. Housing  12  can be constructed of any suitable substantially rigid material, such as metal or plastic. In a preferred embodiment, housing  12  is constructed from plastic. Reservoir pouch  14  can be fabricated from any pliant material or materials suitable for holding liquid and collapsing as a volume of liquid is dispensed, such as, for example, plastic, metalized films, rubber or latex. 
         [0017]    As also seen in  FIG. 1 , housing  12  preferably includes a recessed area or notch  16  which is adapted to receive a corresponding latch or tab (not shown) of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,321,941 whereby the housing functions as an adaptor for releasably securing the reservoir pouch  14  to a fluid disbursing means. As described in detail below with regard to  FIG. 2 , assembly  10  is enclosed by a fitment interface cap  23  which defines a reservoir compartment  20  (these elements corresponding to elements  123  and  120 , respectively, in  FIG. 3 ). The reservoir compartments  20  and  120  are sealed by caps  23 ,  123  to prevent fluid loss. 
         [0018]      FIG. 2  depicts assembly  10  as it would appear when situated in communication with a partially illustrated fluid disbursement means. Fluid disbursement means desirably comprises a fitment of a type exemplified in the relevant field of art, such as the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,321,941 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,386,392. As is known, a typical such fluid disbursement fitment is characterized by fluid reservoir membrane piercing means including a pair of hollow needles. More particularly, piercing means includes a first hollow needle  18  and a second hollow needle  24 . In conventional fitments, needle  18  conveys liquid from a fluid reservoir and needle  24  is a vent needle that permits ingress of atmospheric air into the reservoir as liquid is dispensed therefrom in order to equilibrate the volume of liquid discharged with the volume of air taken in, thereby preventing collapse of the reservoir walls and maintaining effective fluid flow through the system. 
         [0019]    Similar to conventional vented fluid dispensing systems, needle  18  is used in the present invention as a means for enabling liquid to be transferred from a fluid reservoir to a fluid disbursement means. As seen in  FIG. 2 , when assembly  10  is fully connected to a mop-like cleaning device fitment, needle  18  slides into a raised pocket seal  22  carried by interface cap  23 . The raised pocket seal  22  does not allow or require needle  18  to puncture a membrane in order to communicate fluid from reservoir pouch  14 . Instead, pocket seal  22  has an opening or hole  25 , preferably located generally opposite the point of entry for needle  18 , which opening permits fluid that has been dispensed from pouch  14  into chamber  20  to pass into the needle  18 . A preferred manner by which fluid passes from the pouch  14  to chamber  20  is discussed below. As is known, needle  18  is connected to a fluid disbursement tube (not shown). 
         [0020]    As noted above, in conventional constructions, second needle  24  functions as a vent. However, the reservoir pouch  14  according to the present invention does not require air venting to facilitate dispensing of fluid therefrom. Consequently, in the embodiment of the invention reflected in  FIG. 2 , the second needle  24  is not utilized for its ordinary venting purpose. Instead, second needle  24  is used to supply or apply mechanical force to actuate a preferably spring-biased and channeled check valve  26  which provides controlled flow of fluid from reservoir pouch  14  to reservoir compartment  20 . Thus, when assembly  10  is fully connected to a mop-like cleaning device, second needle  24  enters into a sealed bellows  28  which is constructed and arranged to contact an actuator arm  29  of check valve  26 . The mechanical force exerted by needle  24  impacting bellows  28  causes the bellows to push against arm  29  of the check valve  26 . This, in turn, causes the check valve  26  to rise into the inner volume of reservoir pouch  14 . In so doing, a fluid seal  30  of check valve  26  is elevated from sealing contact with a dividing wall  33  located between reservoir pouch  14  and reservoir compartment  20 . This raised position of check valve  26  is referred to in this embodiment as the open position. 
         [0021]    Bellows  28  does not allow or require second needle  24  to puncture the end of the bellows  28  opposite the second needle entry point. Toward that end, bellows  28  is preferably capped with a structure sufficiently strong and durable to withstand piercing by second needle  24 , such as hard plastic, metal or the like. 
         [0022]    In the open position, i.e., when second needle  24  applies force to the actuator arm  29 , check valve  26  rises into the inner volume of reservoir pouch  14  whereby fluid in reservoir pouch  14  flows through channels or similar fluid communication structure (not depicted) of the check valve  26  and into the volume of reservoir compartment  20 . With the check valve  26  in the open position, fluid from reservoir compartment  20  further flows into the hole  25  in raised pocket seal  22 , through the fluid needle  18  and out through a disbursement tube (not depicted). 
         [0023]    As will be appreciated, when assembly  10  is not fully connected to a mop-like cleaning device, the second needle  24  does not apply force to the actuator arm  29  of the check valve  26 , whereby fluid flow from the reservoir pouch  14  to reservoir compartment  20  is prevented by fluid seal  30 . This is referred to in this embodiment as the closed position. In other words, in the closed position fluid seal  30  is urged into sealing contact with the dividing wall  33  between reservoir pouch  14  and reservoir compartment  20 . In the closed position, fluid in reservoir pouch  14  can no longer flow through the fluid communication structure of check valve  26 , and, accordingly, the fluid flow is interrupted. In another embodiment, check valve  26  is not spring biased, but maintains a closed position by the fluid pressure within reservoir pouch  14  when assembly  10  is not fully connected to a mop-like device but that, when housing assembly  10  is fully connected to a mop-like device, opens upon movement of needle  24  against actuator arm  29 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 3  reveals another embodiment of the invention. More specifically,  FIG. 3  depicts a fluid dispensing assembly  110  comprised of a housing  112  surrounding a reservoir pouch  114  (which may be of similar construction to housing  12  and reservoir pouch  14  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) situated in communication with a partially illustrated fluid disbursement fitment. In this embodiment, needle  18  enters reservoir compartment  120  through an O-ring  132  carried by fitment interface cap  123  when assembly  110  is fully connected to a mop-like cleaning device (not depicted). O-ring  132  is designed to permit needle  18  to enter into reservoir compartment  120  while sealingly receiving the needle  18 , i.e., it prevents fluid loss around the needle entry point. As needle  18  enters reservoir compartment  120 , it applies mechanical force to actuate a preferably spring biased check valve  126  against its bias. This force causes check valve  126  to rise into the inner volume of reservoir pouch  114 . In so doing, fluid seal  130  is elevated from sealing contact with a dividing wall  133  situated between reservoir pouch  114  and reservoir compartment  120 . This raised position is referred to in this embodiment as the open position. 
         [0025]    In the open position, i.e., when needle  18  applies force to the check valve  126 , the check valve rises into the inner volume of reservoir pouch  114  whereby fluid in reservoir pouch  114  flows through channels or similar fluid communication structure (not depicted) of the check valve  126  and into the volume of reservoir compartment  120 . With the check valve  126  in this position, fluid from reservoir pouch  114  flows into reservoir compartment  120 , through needle  18  and out through a fluid disbursement tube (not depicted). 
         [0026]    It will be appreciated that when assembly  110  is not fully connected to a mop-like cleaning device, needle  18  does not apply force to the check valve  126 , whereby fluid flow from the reservoir pouch  114  to reservoir compartment  120  is prevented by fluid seal  130 . This is referred to in this embodiment as the closed position. In other words, in the closed position fluid seal  130  is urged into sealing contact with the dividing wall  133  situated between reservoir pouch  114  and reservoir compartment  120 . 
         [0027]    In the closed position, fluid in reservoir pouch  114  can no longer flow through the channels or other fluid communication structure in the check valve  126 , and, accordingly, the fluid flow is interrupted. In another embodiment, check valve  126  is not spring biased, but maintains a closed position by the fluid pressure within reservoir pouch  114  when the reservoir and housing assembly  110  is not fully connected to a mop-like device but that, when assembly  110  is fully connected to a mop-like device, opens upon movement of needle  24  against check valve  126 . 
         [0028]    When assembly  110  is fully connected to a mop-like cleaning device, needle  24  enters through an opening  138  in fitment interface cap  123  into a needle receiving chamber  136 . Receiving chamber  136  is isolated from fluid communication with reservoir compartment  120  and does not receive fluid therefrom. Receiving chamber  136  is designed merely to accommodate needle  24  during operation of the mop-like cleaning device, but otherwise serves no purpose related to venting or fluid disbursement. 
         [0029]    Although the invention has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that variations can be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed herein.