Abstract:
A device for assisting in the dispensing of liquid comprising a shaft having a substantially hollow passage therein, a first cap disposed on a first end of the shaft, a second cap disposed on a second end of the shaft, the second cap having an opening therein which is substantially aligned with the hollow passage, and, a spider guide disposed between the second cap and the shaft, wherein the shaft has at least one hole therein disposed at a position closer to the first end of the shaft than the second end of the shaft. The device is preferably inserted into a container which holds liquid to be dispensed. The device provide a venting and dispensing controlling system whereby defined quantities of liquid can be dispensed from the container quickly and efficiently.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to devices for dispensing liquid, and in particular, devices for dispensing predetermined quantities of liquid from a container. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
     Products such as liquid detergents, soaps, bleaches, and fabric softeners are currently being sold in containers which require the user to determine the amount of liquid needed for a specific end use of the product. Some of these containers have caps which may also serve as measuring cups to assist the user in pouring out a desired quantity of the product. Hopefully, the user keeps the measuring cup close at hand after the product has been opened, such as when detergents are used in laundry rooms. 
     Instructions on the containers provide the user with helpful information in determining the correct, or optimum amount of liquid bleach, for example, to use for the intended size of the laundry load, types of clothes being cleaned, and particular fabrics. Other liquids, such as mouthwash and medicinal liquids, are also preferably dispensed with precision and accuracy. 
     It has been learned, however, in a survey of users of such liquids, that most people merely pour out an estimated amount of the liquid based primarily on their own judgment and experience, or lack thereof. Very few users bother to take the time to measure the precise quantity, either with or without the measuring cap, because doing so requires extra time and two hands. As a result, the quantity of product varies greatly from individual to individual, even though a precise dose is required. This happens in spite of the known fact that using too much or too little of the product will affect the success of the job, whether it is cleaning, freshening breath, dispensing cough syrup, or whatever. Obviously, too much product is wasteful and expensive, and in the case of medicines, may be dangerous. 
     It is generally recognized by bottle and cap manufacturers that a container dispensing system which is capable of providing an accurate measure quantity of product is highly desirable. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,044,527 to the present inventor discloses a liquid dispensing system for dispensing a predetermined quantity of liquid. The system includes a container  10  with a restricted throat  29 . The container  10  has disposed therein a valve spool  17  for controlling the quantity of liquid which flows from the container. The valve spool  17  includes an elongated stem  19 , a valve means  25 , a piston  21 , and a spider guide  23 . The piston  21  includes a vent  27  which allows air to flow back into the container  10  to assist in the dispensing process. The valve spool  17  fits into the restricted throat  29  of the container  10 , as shown in FIG. 2 of the patent. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 of the patent, when the container  10  is inverted, liquid inside the container fills a top chamber  13  of the container until valve means  25  (of the valve spool  17 ) seals the top chamber from the remainder of the container (FIG.  7 ). Thus, liquid present in the container can be dispensed in predetermined amounts. 
     A problem associated with the above dispensing system is that it often times does not dispense liquid evenly due to inefficiencies of the venting system (e.g., vent  27  on the valve spool  17 ). For example, the liquid will sometimes be dispensed in “clumps” or uneven amounts due to the irregular airflow through the vent  27  and into the container  10 . Additionally, the vent  27  often causes inaccuracies between pours based on the orientation and speed of the pour, and also allows some fluid to pass out through the vent (thereby decreasing the accuracy of the amount of liquid poured). 
     Thus, there is currently a need for an improved venting system for liquid dispensing systems which dispenses predetermined quantities of liquid in precise amounts. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a device for assisting in the dispensing of liquid comprising a shaft having a substantially hollow passage therein, a first cap disposed on a first end of the shaft, a second cap disposed on a second end of the shaft, said second cap having an opening therein which is substantially aligned with the hollow passage, and, a spider guide disposed between the second cap and the shaft, wherein the shaft has at least one hole therein disposed at a position closer to the first end of the shaft than the second end of the shaft. 
     The above and other advantages and features of the present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention which is provided in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is side elevation view of a liquid dispensing system according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is partial cross-section view of the liquid dispensing system of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a valve device according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a container throat shown in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 5 is side elevation view of the liquid dispensing system of FIG. 1 with liquid therein. 
     FIG. 6 is side elevation view of the liquid dispensing system of FIG. 1 in a partially inverted position. 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a container neck shown in FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 8 is side elevation view of the liquid dispensing system of FIG. 1 in more fully inverted position. 
     FIG. 9 is side elevation view of the liquid dispensing system of FIG. 1 in a completely inverted position. 
     FIG. 10 is partial cross-section view of a liquid dispensing system according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 11 is an isometric view of a valve device according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 12 is side elevation view of a liquid dispensing system according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a liquid dispensing system  10  according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The system  10  includes a container  20  with a cap  15 , and a valve device  25  disposed inside the container. The container  20  includes a neck  21  with an inner surface  24  and an outer threaded surface  22 . 
     As shown more particularly in FIG. 2-4, the valve device  25  includes several portions. The bulk of the valve device  25  is a shaft  30  which includes a hollow passage  31  on the interior thereof. A first valve cap  40  is coupled to a first end of the shaft  30 , and a second valve cap  50  is coupled to a second end of the shaft. The first valve cap  40  is preferably made of a flexible material (e.g., flexible plastic) so that the valve device may be easily inserted into the container  20 , as explained below. In order to provide flexibility, the first valve cap  40  is preferably made of a very thin plastic member (e.g., 0.025 inches thick or less). The first valve cap  40  also preferably has a diameter at least twice the diameter of the shaft  30 . This feature allows the valve device  25  to be utilized with containers (e.g. container  20 ) of different neck (e.g., neck  21 ) sizes while still allowing significant liquid flow. Additionally, the diameter of the first valve cap  40  is preferably made wider than the diameter of the container throat  23 , so that once the valve device  25  has been inserted in the container  20 , it cannot be removed without applying significant force to the valve device in an upwards direction (i.e., away from the container  20 ). The second valve cap  50  preferably includes a central hole  51  which is substantially aligned with the hollow passage  31  in the shaft  30 . The diameter of the second valve cap  50  is preferably less than the diameter of the container neck  21 , so that the valve device  25  may move within the container neck. The valve device  25  also includes a spider guide  45  which is preferably approximately the same diameter as the container throat  23 , so that an outer surface  46  of the spider guide rests on the container throat (see FIG. 4) when the container  20  is in its fully upright position (as shown in FIG.  2 ). The spider guide  45  is preferably dimensioned so as to center the valve device  25  within the container neck  21 . The spider guide  45  preferably comprises an X-shaped member which extends from shaft  30 , however, the spider guide may take any suitable shape known to those skilled in the art. FIG. 5 shows the liquid dispensing system according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, where the container  20  is filled with liquid  60 . 
     The valve device  25  is preferably inserted in the container  20  by placing the valve device in the container neck  21  and applying a downward force on the valve device so that the first valve cap  40  is forced through the throat  23  of the container. Then, the valve device  25  falls down in the container neck  21  until the spider guide  45  rests on the throat  23  of the container  20 . 
     In operation, the liquid dispensing system  10  provides for the dispensing of controlled amounts of liquid  60 . The dispensing process is begun by removing the cap  15  from the container  20  and inverting the container as shown in FIG.  6 . As the container is inverted, the valve device  25  begins to move forward in the container neck  21 , and liquid in the container  20  begins to flow into the container neck towards a container dispensing opening  26 . Additionally, air bubbles  61  form in the liquid  60  due to the flow of air through the valve device  25 . As shown in FIG. 7, the diameter of the second valve cap  50  and the meniscus seal of the liquid  60  prevents the liquid from moving around the valve device  25  as it flows into the container neck  23 . It should be noted that as the container  20  is inverted, air flows into the valve device  25  through inlet vent hole  55 , and out into the liquid (as bubbles  61 ) through one or more outlet vent holes  35  (disposed on either side of the shaft  30 ). As the container  20  becomes more and more inverted, the valve device  25  continues to move forward in the container neck  21 , as does the liquid  60  (see FIG.  8 ). As soon as the second valve cap  50  passes across the container dispensing opening  26 , liquid  60  begins to flow from the container. At approximately the same time that valve cap  50  is passing across the container dispensing opening  26 , the first valve cap  40  becomes seated in the container throat  23 , thereby preventing liquid  60  in the container  20  from continuing to flow into the container neck  21  (see FIG.  9 ). The liquid trapped in the container neck  21  is thus dispensed through container dispensing opening  26  in a predetermined amount. As shown in FIG. 9, liquid is dispensed from a gap between the container dispensing opening  26  and the second valve cap  50 . During this process, air flows into the container neck  21  at an upper side thereof (causing bubbles  62  to form), while fluid is dispensed from a lower side. 
     The above components are preferably manufactured in accordance with the following equations. The first valve cap  40  preferably has a diameter d 1  where d 1 =d throat +0.010 inches, where d throat  is the inner diameter of the container neck (e.g. neck  21 ). The second valve cap  50  preferably has a diameter d 2  where d 2 =d neck −0.016 inches, where d neck  is the inner diameter of the container neck (e.g. neck  21 ). The spider guide  45  preferably has a diameter d 3  where d 3 =d neck −0.010 inches, where d neck  is the inner diameter of the container neck (e.g. neck  21 ). A separation length between the spider guide  45  and the second valve cap  50  is preferably in a range of 0.150 and 0.180 inches, but may be selected as any suitable length by those skilled in the art. The selection of the size of inlet vent hole  55 , outlet vent hole  35 , and hollow passage  31  are preferably based on the pour volume (amount) desired for a specific container. In particular, if a smaller volume of liquid is required to be dispensed, the vent holes  35 ,  55  and hollow passage  31  (and shaft  30  if required) are made larger in diameter, and if a larger volume of liquid is needed, the vent hole and hollow passage (and shaft  30  if required) are made smaller in diameter. Alternatively, additional vent holes  35 ,  55  could be added to the shaft  30  to increase the volume of fluid dispensed. 
     FIGS. 10 and 11 show a liquid dispensing system  100  according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The system  100  is substantially similar to the system  10  shown in FIGS. 1-3, except that a piston guide  145  replaces the spider guide  45 . 
     The system  100  includes a container  120  with a valve device  125  disposed inside the container. The valve device  125  includes a shaft  130  which includes a hollow passage  131  on the interior thereof. A first valve cap  140  is coupled to a first end of the shaft  130 , and a second valve cap  150  is coupled to a second end of the shaft. The first valve cap  140  is preferably made of a flexible material (e.g., flexible plastic) so that the valve device may be easily inserted into the container  120 . The first valve cap  140  also preferably has a diameter at least twice the diameter of the shaft  130 . This feature allows the valve device  125  to be utilized with containers (e.g. container  120 ) of different neck (e.g., neck  121 ) sizes while still allowing significant liquid flow. Additionally, the diameter of the first valve cap  140  is preferably made wider than the diameter of the container throat  123 , so that once the valve device  125  has been inserted in the container  120 , it cannot be removed without applying significant force to the valve device in an upwards direction. The second valve cap  150  preferably includes a central hole  151  which is substantially aligned with the hollow passage  131  in the shaft  130 . The diameter of the second valve cap  150  is preferably less than the diameter of the container neck  121 , so that the valve device  125  may move within the container neck. The valve device  125  also includes a piston guide  145  which is preferably formed as an integral part of the second valve cap  150 . The piston guide  145  preferably comprises four guide members disposed at various positions around the periphery of the first valve cap  150  and extending therefrom, as shown in FIG. 11, or may comprise any number of such guide members (or any other equivalent member) as are desired. The guide members are preferably positioned on the second valve cap  150  so that they rest on the container throat  123  (see FIG. 10) when the container  120  is in its fully upright position. One of the benefits of the system  100  is that the a separate spider guide is not needed, thereby making construction of the valve device  125  simpler (and accordingly easier to manufacture through extrusion processes) than the valve device  25 . 
     FIG. 12 shows a liquid dispensing system  200  according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The system  200  is substantially similar to the systems  10  and  100  shown in FIGS. 1-3 and  10 - 11 , except that a second valve cap  250  is concave or cone-shaped. The concave shape of the second valve cap  250  assists in increasing the dosage amount obtained from the system  200 . 
     The system  200  includes a container  220  with a valve device  225  disposed inside the container. The valve device  225  includes a shaft  230  which includes a hollow passage  231  on the interior thereof. A first valve cap  240  is coupled to a first end of the shaft  230 , and a second valve cap  250  is coupled to a second end of the shaft. The first valve cap  240  is preferably made of a flexible material (e.g., flexible plastic) so that the valve device may be easily inserted into the container  220 . The first valve cap  240  also preferably has a diameter at least twice the diameter of the shaft  230 . This feature allows the valve device  225  to be utilized with containers (e.g. container  220 ) of different neck (e.g., neck  221 ) sizes while still allowing significant liquid flow. Additionally, the diameter of the first valve cap  240  is preferably made wider than the diameter of the container throat  223 , so that once the valve device  225  has been inserted in the container  220 , it cannot be removed without applying significant force to the valve device in an upwards direction. The second valve cap  250  preferably includes a central hole which is substantially aligned with the hollow passage in the shaft  230 . The diameter of the second valve cap  250  is preferably less than the diameter of the container neck  221 , so that the valve device  225  may move within the container neck. The valve device  225  also includes a spider guide  245  which is preferably approximately the same diameter as the container throat  223 , so that an outer surface of the spider guide rests on the container throat when the container  220  is in its fully upright position. The spider guide  245  preferably comprises an X-shaped member which extends from shaft  230 , however, the spider guide may take any suitable shape known to those skilled in the art. One of the benefits of the system  200  is that the valve device  225  can accommodate larger dosage volumes in containers with smaller necks (i.e., it allows the diameter of the first valve cap  240  to be made larger). 
     The liquid dispensing systems  10 ,  100 , and  200  according to the first through third exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide for a more accurate and efficient method of dispensing liquid because of the improved venting system (i.e., shafts  30 ,  130 ,  230 , inlet vent holes  55 ,  155 ,  255 , outlet vent holes  35 ,  135 ,  235 ) of the respective valve devices  25 ,  125 ,  225 . The hollow passages  31 ,  131 ,  231  in the shafts  30 ,  130 ,  230  allow air to flow into the liquid at a controlled rate (as shown in FIGS.  6 - 9 ), thereby making the transition of the valve devices  25 ,  125 ,  225  much smoother and more accurate than in prior art dispensing systems (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,044,027 described above). 
     The valve devices  25 ,  125 , and  225  described above are preferably made of plastic by extrusion methods which are well known in the art. Preferably, the above-described shafts (e.g.,  30 ,  130 ,  230 ), first caps (e.g.,  40 ,  140 ,  240 ), second caps (e.g.,  50 ,  150 ,  250 ) and the spider guides (e.g.,  45 ,  145 ,  245 ) are formed as a unitary piece by extrusion. Further, it should be noted that the preferred dimensions (e.g., d 1 , d 2 , d 3 , etc.) for the shaft, first cap, second cap and the spider guide described above with reference to the first exemplary embodiment apply equally to the second through third embodiments. Additionally, it should be noted that the shafts (e.g.,  30 ,  130 ,  230 ) and hollow passages (e.g.,  31 ,  131 ,  231 ) may be formed of any suitable diameters, and that such diameters may be altered to alter the amount of fluid dispensed and fluid flow rate. 
     Although the invention has been described in terms of exemplary embodiments, it is not limited thereto. Rather, the appended claims should be construed broadly, to include other variants and embodiments of the invention which may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and range of equivalents of the invention.