Abstract:
An improved pressurizable container and closure. Some embodiments provide an improved sealing arrangement for a pressurized container and closure. Other embodiments provide an improved closure is easier to grasp and/or manipulate. Some embodiments are directed towards a venting assembly for a pressurizable container.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/1817,934, filed on Jun. 30, 2006, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Some mops or similar floor treating implements have used a pressurized container for the delivery of a cleaning solution, floor coating, or other floor treatment for years. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,457,016 and 2,053,282, and European Patent No. 1,180,343 show such a device. Many modern pressure containers, such as the one illustrated in European Patent No 1,180,343, generally include a selectively removable closure to allow the container to be refilled. Since the container is pressured, an o-ring or similar sealing device must be used between the closure and the container to form a sealing engagement between the closure and the container. Without such a seal, the container would fail to maintain pressure. 
         [0003]    Although modern pressurized containers incorporate a sealing member between the closure and the container, such scaling members wear over time and eventually fail due to the means of engagement between the closure and the container. Specifically, as shown in European Patent No. 1,180,343, the closure is threaded onto the container. As the seal (included in closure) engages the container, the seal is subjected to rotating frictional force along the top of the container as the closure is full threaded onto the container. This eventually causes enough wear on the seal to cause the seal to fail. 
         [0004]    Accordingly, there is a need for an improved sealing arrangement between a closure and a container, wherein the container is pressurized. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention relates to the field of pressurized containers for the delivery of a cleaning, coating, or other treating solution. More particularly, the invention has particular utility for use on mops utilizing a pressurized source of solution for mopping operations. 
         [0006]    Some embodiments of the present invention provide an improved pressurizable container and closure. 
         [0007]    Other embodiments are directed an improved closure. 
         [0008]    Some embodiments are directed to a sealing arrangement for a pressurized container and closure. 
         [0009]    Some embodiments are directed toward a container closure for a container; wherein the closure is easier to grasp and/or manipulate. 
         [0010]    Some embodiments are directed towards a venting assembly for a pressurizable container. 
         [0011]    Further aspects of the present invention together with the organization and operation thereof, will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a container coupled to a closure embodying aspects of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a bottom perspective view of the container and closure shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]    FIG .  3  is a side view of the container and closure shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the container and closure shown in  FIG. 1  with a vent assembly actuated. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limited. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. The terms “mounted,” “connected,” and “coupled” are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mounting, connecting and coupling. Further, “connected” and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings, and can include electrical connections or couplings, whether direct or indirect. Finally, as described in subsequent paragraphs, the specific mechanical configurations illustrated in the drawings are intended to exemplify embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, other alternative mechanical configurations are possible, and fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0017]      FIGS. 1-4  show a variety of views of a container  10  coupled to a closure  12  embodying aspects of the invention. The closure  12  has many improvements over the prior art, specifically European Patent No. 1,180,343, which will be discussed in detail below. First, the sealing arrangement  14  between the closure  12  and the container  10  substantially eliminates the wear caused by the prior art. Further, the exterior of the closure has an enlarged grip area  16  with a tapered profiled to allow many different hand sizes to easily grasp and rotate the closure  12 . Finally, the closure  12  is provided with an improved venting system  18 . 
         [0018]    With reference to  FIGS. 1-3 , the container  10  and closure  12  is adapted to maintain, pressurize, and deliver a pressurized cleaning or treating solution. Specifically, the container  10  is a generally cylindrical body having a top  20  and bottom  22  (in most normal operations). The top  20  is provided with threads  24  to allow the closure  12  to engage the container  10 . The bottom  22  includes a wall or surface having a having a selectively actuated valve  26  to allow a fluid stored within the container  10  to be dispensed from the container  10 . Specifically, in some embodiments, a spigot will enter an opening in the bottom of the bottle  10  to actuate the valve  26 , which may include a spring actuated ball bearing. 
         [0019]    As best shown in  FIG. 4 , the closure includes a seal  28 , a cap member  30 , a threaded cap retainer or overcap  32 , a pump assembly  34 , and a vent assembly  18 . Specifically, the seal  28  is coupled to the cap member  30  and the cap member  30  is coupled to the threaded cap retainer  32  in such a manner that the cap member  30  is independently rotatable with respect to the retainer  32 . In other words, the cap member  30  can remain stationary (i.e. not rotate) while the retainer  32  is threaded onto the container  10 . The vent assembly  18  and the pump assembly  34  are coupled to and supported on the cap member  30 . 
         [0020]    As illustrated, the seal  28 , cap member  30 , and the headed cap retainer  32  operate similar to a mason jar. In other words, the seal  28  and cap member  30  can engage the container  10  in a non-rotating manner to form a sealing engagement without providing rotational wear on the seal member  28 . Specifically, the seal  28 , such as a flat gasket is sandwiched between the top of the container  10  and the non-rotating cap member  30  by the rotational engagement of the threaded cap retainer  32  on the threads of the container  10 . Since the cap member  30  is free to rotate relative to the cap retainer  32 , the seal or sealing engagement is formed by direct downward pressure (compression) on the gasket without any additional twisting moment. Not only does this protect the integrity of the seal member  28 , but it also helps to reduce the torque or force need to remove the closure  12  from the container  10 . 
         [0021]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 , the overcap or retainer  32  has a dome-like shaped exterior  38  that has a plurality of ribs  40 . The combination of this shape and the provision of the ribs  40  also allows the closure  12  to be more easily manipulated. Specifically, the ribs  40  allow for the overcap to be better grasped for rotation. Further, the domelike or convex shape of the overcap  32  also allows multiple users of varying hand size to better grasp the overcap  32 . For example, a person with smaller hands will be able to better grasp the overcap  32  closer to the top of the overcap  32 . 
         [0022]    The overcap  32  is also generally hollow. In other words, as shown in the cross-sectional figures, the dome-like shape of the overcap has an aperture extending through the axis of overcap  32 . As illustrated, the aperture is substantially dome shaped. The aperture in the overcap  32  allows other assemblies of the closure to be coupled to and supported by the overcap  32 . In one particular example, the aperture of the overcap  32  allows the cap or lid  30  to be independently rotatable relative to the overcap  32 , much like a mason jar. 
         [0023]    As best shown in  FIG. 4 , the cap member or lid  30  is substantially dome shaped  42 . The cap member  30  of this embodiment is coupled to the cap retainer  32  such that is cannot be easily separated from the cap retainer  32  with disassembling certain portions of the closure  12 . Specifically, as shown, the cap member  30  is coupled to the vent and pump assemblies  18  and  34 , and due to the engagement of these elements, the cap member  30  is not separable from the cap retainer  32  without disassembling the closure  12 . 
         [0024]    Two openings are provided in the cap or lid. One opening  44  is for the pump assembly  34  and the other opening  46  is for the vent  18 . The opening  44  for the pump assembly  34  is substantially axially located or in other words, it is positioned near the center of the lid  30 . The opening  46  for the vent  18  is located radially relative the opening for the pump assembly  18 . 
         [0025]    As illustrated, the cap or lid  30  is also provided with structures for receiving and coupling to the pump assembly  34  and the vent assembly  18 . For example, a rib or flange  48  is provided adjacent the opening  44  for the pump assembly  34  to allow two pieces of the pump assembly  34  (i.e., cylinder and cylinder retainer/piston guide) to be threaded together on either side of the rib or flange  48  to couple the pump assembly  34  to the cap  30 . Specifically, as shown the cylinder of the pump assembly is also provided with a rib  50  to trap a seal member  52 , such as an o-ring, between the flange of the cylinder and the flange of the cap. The cylinder retainer/piston guide is threadedly engaged with this flanged member to pull this member into a sealing engagement with the cap. Specifically, the cylinder has a threaded portion that extends through the aperture for engagement with a threaded portion of the piston guide. As the two pieces are threaded together, the end of the piston guide engages the flange of the cap and draws the flange of the cylinder into a position that seals the opening with the seal member. 
         [0026]    As mentioned above, the cap  30  also has a member  54  used to support and engage the vent assembly  18 . As illustrated, a surface having an aperture is positioned above the opening of the cap for the vent The aperture supports a valve stem  56  in a sliding manner, such that the valve stem  56  can slide in the axial direction of the closure  12  to selectively place a portion of the valve stem  12  in a blocking arrangement with respect the vent opening  46  in the cap  30 . A seal  58  can be positioned on the valve stem  56  adjacent a flanged portion  62  to place a seal around the opening in the cap when the stem is engaged in the opening of the cap  30 . A spring or other bias member  60  can be positioned between the supporting surface of the cap and the flanged member of the stem to force the stem into engagement with the opening. 
         [0027]    The stem  56  is also provided with a second flange member  64  on the opposite side of the cap support surface. This flanged member  64  allows an actuator  66  engageable from the exterior of the overcap  32  to actuate the vent  18 . As illustrated, the actuator  66  has a ring-like configuration. The member having the actuator  66  has a surface positioned with the aperture of the overcap that has an aperture which is aligned with the aperture in the support surface of the cap. Further, is aperture also supports the stem in a sliding arrangement. As best shown in  FIG. 4 , actuation of the ring  66  in the axial direction causes the support to engage the flanged member  64  of the stem  56  and pull the stem  56  in the axial direction, which disengages the stem seal  58  adjacent the opening  46  in the cap  30 . 
         [0028]    As illustrated, this ring  66  has a flange-like configuration that extends in the radial direction passed the end of the overcap  32 . This not only provides a convenient grasping location for venting purposes, but also provides a retaining function for the cap  30  relative to the overcap  32 . Specifically, the connection between the vent assembly  18  and the cap member  30  allows the zing to retain the cap in engagement with the overcap  32 . In other words, unlike a mason jar configuration, wherein the cap is easily separated from the overcap, the cap of this embodiment cannot be removed from the closure via the enlarged opening in the threaded area due to this engagement. 
         [0029]    In operation, the container  10  is filled with a liquid, such as a floor cleaning solution and the closure  12  is applied to the container to seal the container  10  for pressurization via the pump assembly  34 . The closure  12  is placed in threaded engagement with the container  10  and the over cap  32  is rotated to place the cap  30  and sealing member  28  in sealing engagement with the top of the container  10 . As the overcap or cap retainer  32  is threaded onto the container  10 , the cap  30  generally will not rotate with respect to the overcap  32 . Specifically, once the overcap  32  is threaded far enough onto the container  10 , the sealing member  28  and cap member  30  will begin to engage the top of the container  10 . Once the sealing member  28  and cap member  30  begin to engage the top of the container  10 , the cap member  30  and seal member  28  will remain stationary relative to the overcap  32  and the top of the container  10 , even as the overcap  32  is continued to be rotated. During the continued rotation of the overcap  32 , the lid  30  is forced by the overcap  30  toward the top of the container  10  to sandwich or compress the sealing member  28  between the cap  30  and the top of the container  10  without rotating the seal  28  relative to the top of the container  10 . 
         [0030]    Once the container  10  is sealed, rotation of the overcap  32  relative to the container  10  will stop and the container  10  can be pressurized via the pump assembly  34 . A handle on the piston of the pump can be grasped and actuated axially in a reciprocal motion relative to the closure to force air into the container via an opening (one-way valve) in the cylinder. Once the container  10  is pressurized, the liquid can be selectively dispensed under pressure from the bottom of the container via the valve  26  in the container. In one particular use, the container can be coupled to a mop for dispensing onto a floor. 
         [0031]    Whether or not the container  10  is empty, the pressure within the container can be relieved via the vent assembly  18 . The vent  18  can be actuated automatically, such as ashen the pressure within the container is too great, or the vent can be actuated manually. To actuate the vent manually, one would grasp the ring  66  and pull the Ting manually as shown in  FIG. 4 . TAs pulls the valve stem  56  in the axial direction, which removes the flanged member&#39;s compression on the seal  58  adjacent the opening  46  in the cap  30 . 
         [0032]    The embodiments described above and illustrated in the figures are presented by way of example only and are not intended as a limitation upon the concepts and principles of the present invention. As such, it will be appreciated by one having ordinary skill in the art that various changes in the elements and their configuration and arrangement are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, many inventive features have been described herein. In some embodiments, multiple inventive features have been described in combination. However, it is not necessary to use all inventive features within a single embodiment. Specifically, the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4  describes a novel sealing arrangement for a dispensable, pressurized container and a closure having many novel features, such as a new venting assembly, a tapered exterior surface, an interior dome configuration, etc. As shown in the claims below, many of these features are considered to be independently patentable. Additionally, various alternatives to the certain features and elements of the present invention are described with reference to specific embodiments of the present invention. With the exception of features, elements, and manners of operation that are mutually exclusive of or are inconsistent with each embodiment described above, it should be noted that the alternative features, elements, and manners of operation described with reference to one particular embodiment are applicable to the other embodiments. 
         [0033]    Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.