Abstract:
An ink bottle assembly for use with an ink supply system, the ink bottle assembly including a main body and a cap assembly. The main body includes a neck having at least one first ramped feature, such as a ramped ridge. The cap assembly includes a shell secured to the neck and a tip slidably secured to the shell. The shell includes a second ramped feature, wherein the second ramped feature is allowed to pass over the first ramped feature in a first direction, and wherein the second ramped feature abuts against the first ramped feature in a second direction, thereby precluding movement in the second direction.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to ink jet printing systems, and more particularly to an improved cap assembly for an ink bottle of an ink jet printing system.  
         [0002]     Typically, ink is supplied to ink jet printing systems through the use of disposable ink bottles. An ink bottle may be mounted on an ink reservoir that includes a mating feature that allows ink to pass from the ink bottle into the ink reservoir. Each ink bottle retains a finite amount of ink, typically a pint or liter of ink. As the ink jet printing system is continually used, the ink within the ink bottle is drained. When the ink bottle is fully depleted, a new ink bottle replaces the depleted ink bottle.  
         [0003]     When the ink bottle is replaced, excess ink may spill or leak within the ink jet printing system and/or on the operator. For example, when an operator grasps the ink bottle to replace it, the force applied may squeeze the ink bottle, thereby ejecting excess ink from the bottle. Ink spills produce a mess within the ink jet printing system, and possibly outside of the system (e.g., on the surrounding flooring) and on the operator.  
         [0004]     Some ink bottles includes a cap assembly including a shell and a tip, in which the tip is selectively opened and closed by sliding it in relation to the tip. Sometimes, however, the tip falls off the shell when the tip is moved into an open position. Additionally, the shell may be lifted off the neck when the cap assembly is opened. Additionally, when the tip is closed in relation to the shell, excess ink that collects between the shell and tip may squirt, or be squeezed, out.  
         [0005]     Some manufacturers of ink jet printing systems provide ink bottles or reservoirs that are unique to particular systems. For example, some ink bottles may include a particular keying feature, that allows it to only be used with a particular system, which includes a corresponding mating feature. In some instances, manufacturers of counterfeit products can easily remove the particular component with the keying feature, and secure it to a counterfeit component. For example, if the keying feature is on the cap assembly, a counterfeiter may simply remove the cap assembly from a depleted ink bottle and secure the cap assembly to a counterfeit ink bottle main body.  
         [0006]     Thus, a need exists for a more an improved cap assembly that remains secured to the neck, and which prevents fluid from squirting, or otherwise leaking out when the cap assembly is closed. Additionally, a need exists for an ink bottle assembly that precludes it from being used with counterfeit components.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     Certain embodiments of the present invention provide an ink bottle assembly for use with an ink supply system. The ink bottle assembly includes a main body having a neck, which includes a first ramped feature, or ridge. The ink bottle assembly also includes a cap assembly having a shell secured to the neck and a tip slidably secured to the shell. The shell includes a second ramped ridge, wherein the second ramped ridge is allowed to pass over the first ramped ridge in a first direction, and wherein the second ramped ridge abuts against the first ramped ridge with attempted movement in a second direction, thereby precluding movement in the second direction. The first direction is a securing direction in which the shell is moved to securely engage the neck, and the second direction is an attempted removing direction.  
         [0008]     The ink bottle assembly may also include a gasket positioned between a top portion of the neck and the shell. The gasket provides a sealing interface between the neck and the shell.  
         [0009]     The tip may also include a first protuberance inwardly-directed toward an outer surface of the shell. The first protuberance acts to assist in securing the tip to the shell and to block fluid leakage from the cap assembly. The shell may also include a second protuberance outwardly-directed toward an inner surface of the tip. The second protuberance also acts to assist in securing the tip to the shell and to block fluid leakage from the cap assembly.  
         [0010]     Certain embodiments of the present invention also provide a method of preventing counterfeit ink bottles from being used in an ink supply system. The method includes integrally forming a first ramped feature on an exterior portion of a neck of an ink bottle, integrally forming a second ramped feature on an interior portion of a shell of a cap assembly that threadably secures to the neck of the ink bottle, allowing the first ramped feature to pass over the second ramped feature in a securing direction, and hindering the first ramped feature from passing over the second ramped feature in a direction that is opposite the securing direction. The allowing may include sliding a first ramped surface of the first ramped feature over a second ramped surface of the second ramped feature. The hindering may include abutting a first straight edge of the first ramped surface against a second straight edge of the second ramped surface.  
         [0011]     Certain embodiments of the present invention also provide a method of preventing fluid from leaking through a cap assembly of an ink bottle when the cap assembly is closed, wherein the cap assembly includes an inner shell and an outer tip that slides between open and closed positions. The method includes providing at least one protuberance on at least one of the shell and the tip in an area between the shell and the tip, trapping excess fluid within a fluid retention area located within the cap assembly, and blocking the excess fluid from passing through the fluid retention area when the tip is closed relative to the shell with the at least one protuberance. The providing may include providing a first protuberance on an interior surface of the tip and providing a second protuberance on an exterior surface of the shell.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  illustrates an isometric exploded view of an ink bottle according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  illustrates a top isometric view of a shell of a cap assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  illustrates a bottom isometric view of a shell of a cap assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  illustrates a bottom isometric view of a cap assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  illustrates a top isometric view of an ink bottle according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of an ink bottle through line  6 - 6  shown in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  illustrates a close-up partial cross-sectional view of a cap assembly secured to a neck of an ink bottle according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
       [0019]     The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of certain embodiments of the present invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings, certain embodiments. It should be understood, however, that the present invention is not limited to the arrangements and instrumentalities shown in the attached drawings.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0020]      FIG. 1  illustrates an isometric exploded view of an ink bottle  10  according to an embodiment of the present invention. The ink bottle  10  may be used as part of an ink bottle connection system, such as shown and described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/031,236, filed Jan. 6, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.  
         [0021]     The ink bottle  10  includes a main body  12  having a fluid chamber defined therein and a cap assembly  13 , which may include a keying feature(s) that allows mating with only a corresponding ink reservoir. A neck  14  extends upwardly from the main body  12  and has a fluid passage  16  defined therethrough. The fluid passage  16  allows fluid to pass from the fluid chamber into the cap assembly  13 .  
         [0022]     The neck  14  is integrally formed to the main body  12  at a base  18 , which is in turn integrally formed with an upwardly extending tube  20  that defines the fluid passage  16 . Upwardly extnending ratchet members, protrusion, protberances, ridges  22 , or other such features are spaced along a circumference of the base  18 . More or less ridges  22  than those shown may be used. Each ridge  22  includes a ramped surface  24  and an edge  26 . The edge  26  may extend perpendicularly from a horizontal ledge  28  of the base  18 . Alternatively, the edge  26  may connect to the horizontal ledge  28  of the base  18  through a variety of angles. For example, one end of the edge  26  may connect to the ramped surface  24  at an acute angle while the other end of the edge connects to the ledge  28  at an obtuse angle. As shown in  FIG. 1 , each ridge  22  is formed in the shape of a triangle or sawtooth. The ridges  22  are configured to secure the cap assembly  13  to the neck  14 .  
         [0023]     Moreover, the ridges  22  may be configured to preclude the cap assembly  13  from being removed from the neck  14  without scoring, perforating, or otherwise damaging the neck  14  or the cap assembly  13 . Thus, the interface between the ridges  22  and reciprocal structures formed within the cap assembly  13  may act as a safeguard against counterfeit cap assemblies or main ink bottle bodies. For example, by scoring or otherwise damaging the neck  14  and/or the cap assembly  13  when the cap assembly  13  is attempted to be removed form the neck, the interface between the ridges  22  and the cap assembly  13  may ensure that the cap assembly  13  may not be used with another ink bottle, and vice versa. That is, if the cap assembly  13  is removed from the neck  14 , the cap assembly and/or the neck  14  will be damaged.  
         [0024]     Threads  30  outwardly extend from an outer surface of the tube  20 . The threads  30  are configured to threadably engage reciprocal structures formed on an interior surface of a shell  32  of the cap assembly  13 . More or less threads  30  than those shown in  FIG. 1  may be used.  
         [0025]     The cap assembly  13  includes the shell  32  and a tip  34 . The tip  34  slidably engages the shell  32  and is configured to selectively slide from an open position, in which fluid may exit the cap assembly  13  through a nozzle opening  36 , to a closed position. A gasket  37  is positioned within the shell  32  and is configured to sealingly engage around the neck  14 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 2  illustrates a top isometric view of the shell  32 . The shell  32  includes a neck-engaging base  38  integrally formed with a fluid nozzle  40 , which allows fluid to pass therehthrough. The neck-engaging base  38  is configured to threadbly secure around the neck  14 .  
         [0027]      FIG. 3  illustrates a bottom isometric view of the shell  32 . An outer wall  42  of the shell  32  defines an interior cavity  44 . Reciprocal threads  46  extend from an interior surface of the outer wall  42  into the interior cavity  44  and are configured to threadably engage the threads  30  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) of the neck  14  (shown in  FIG. 1 ), in order to secure the shell  32  thereto. Ratcheting protrusion, protuberances, ridges  48 , or other such features also outwardly extend from an interior surface of the outer wall  42 . Similar to the ridges  22  shown in  FIG. 1 , the ridges  48  include a ramped surface  50  and an edge  52 . The ridges  48  extend outwardly and downwardly so that when the shell  32  is threaded onto the neck  14 , the ridges  48  may engage the ridges  22  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) of the neck  14  (shown in  FIG. 1 ).  
         [0028]     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , when the shell  32  is threaded onto the neck  14 , the ramped surfaces  50  of the shell  32  slide over the ramped surface  24  of the neck  14 . However, if the shell  32  is threaded in an opposite direction, that is, a removing direction, the edges  52  of the shell  32  abut against the edges  26  of the neck  14 , thereby precluding further movement in that direction. If the shell  32  is forced further in that direction, the ridges  52  may score, perforate, or otherwise damage the neck  14 , while the ridges  26  may score, perforate, or otherwise damage the interior surface of the outer wall  42  of the shell  32 . Thus, embodiments of the present invention may provide a safeguard against using the shell  32  of the cap assembly  13  or the main body  12  of the ink bottle  10  with counterfeit parts.  
         [0029]      FIG. 4  illustrates a bottom isometric view of the cap assembly  13 . The gasket  37  is positioned proximate the union of the neck-engaging base  38  and the fluid nozzle  40 . Thus, the gasket  37  may sealingly engage around a top ridge of the neck  14  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) when the cap assembly  13  is threadbly secured to the neck  14 . The gasket  37  provides a sealing barrier that provides additional protection against leaks. Alternatively, the gasket  37  may be positioned at various other positions within the cap assembly. Additionally, more than one gasket  37  may be used.  
         [0030]      FIG. 5  illustrates a top isometric view of the ink bottle  10  with the cap assembly  13  threadably secured to the neck  14  of the main body  12 . The tip  34  may slide relative to the shell  32 , which is threadably secured to the neck, between open and closed positions in the direction of arrow A.  
         [0031]      FIG. 6  illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of the ink bottle  10  through line  6 - 6  shown in  FIG. 5 . The cap assembly  13  is secured to the neck  14  of the main body  12  by the threads  46  engaging the threads  30 . The gasket  37  is positioned at the top of the neck  14 . A circumferential snap bead  54 , ridge, protrusion, or other such protuberance extends inwardly from an interior wall of the tip  34  toward the shell  32  and cooperates with a snap bead  56  extending outwardly from an outer surface of the shell  32  toward the tip  34 . The interaction between the snap beads  54  and  56  assists in maintaining a secure fit between the shell  32  and the tip  34 , and also prevents fluid from leaking past.  
         [0032]      FIG. 7  illustrates a close-up partial cross-sectional view of the cap assembly  13  secured to the neck  14 . As the tip  34  is moved into an open position, the snap bead  54  moves upwardly over the snap bead  56  in the direction of A′. When the tip  34  is moved back into a closed position in the direction of A″, the snap bead  54  moves downwardly over the snap bead  56 . The snap beads  54  and  56  engage one another, thereby ensuring that the tip  34  remains slidably secured to the shell  32 .  
         [0033]     A fluid retention area  60  may be formed above the snap beads  54  and  56 , while a fluid retention area  61  may be formed above a snap bead  64 . Excess fluid may collect in the fluid retention areas  60  and  61 . The snap beads  54  and  56 , however, form a barrier that blocks any excess fluid from squirting out of the cap assembly  13  in the direction of arrow A″. In essence, the snap beads  54  and  56  provide a fluid-tight barrier that prevents excess fluid from squeezing out of the cap assembly  13 . Optionally, only snap bead  54  or snap bead  56  may be used with the cap assembly  13 .  
         [0034]     The snap bead  64  is configured to snapably engage a reciprocal depression  65  and forms an air tight connection between the tip  34  and the shell  32 . The cap assembly  13  may include additional snap beads or features that are configured to snapably mate and connect with reciprocal structures to robustly secure the shell  32  to the tip  34 .  
         [0035]     Additionally, as discussed above, the interaction between the ridges  22  of the neck  14  and the ridges  48  (shown, e.g., in  FIG. 3 ) of the shell  32  preclude the cap assembly  13  from being unscrewed from the neck  14 .  
         [0036]     Embodiments of the present invention provide a more robust cap assembly that remains secured to the neck of an ink bottle. Additionally, embodiments of the present invention provide a cap assembly that minimizes excess fluid from squirting, or being squeezed out when it is being closed. Further, embodiments of the present invention preclude counterfeit parts from being used therewith.  
         [0037]     While the invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.