Patent Publication Number: US-2004056052-A1

Title: Weighted fluid extraction tube

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
     [0001] This application claims priority to co-pending United States Provisional Patent Application having Serial No. 60/396,811 filed Jul. 18, 2002 entitled “Gravit-All Spray Pump System”, having a common applicant herewith. 
    
    
     
       FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE  
       [0002] The disclosures herein relate generally to fluid dispensing apparatuses and more particularly to a fluid extraction tube enabling enhanced fluid extraction.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE  
       [0003] Various types of fluid dispensing apparatuses rely on a fluid extraction tube for enabling fluid within a fluid container of the fluid dispensing to be extracted. Examples of such types of fluid dispensing apparatuses include manual-pump atomizing fluid dispensers, manual pump non-atomizing fluid dispensers, aerosol spray dispenser, hose-end fluid dispensers and the like. In these types of fluid dispensing apparatuses, the fluid extraction tube is attached to a body of the fluid dispensing apparatus (i.e., a fluid dispensing body). The body is attached to a neck portion of a fluid container of the fluid dispensing apparatus, with the fluid extraction tube extending toward a closed end of the fluid container. Upon a pressure differential being created across the ends (i.e., a fluid delivery end and a fluid pick-up end) of the fluid extraction tube, fluid is communicated through the fluid extraction tube to the body from within the fluid container.  
       [0004] It is typical for these types of fluid dispensing apparatuses to be used in a tilted orientation (e.g., upward or downward). In such a tilted orientation, fluid within the fluid container seeks the lowest point of the fluid container, which is typically at a corner region of the fluid container when the fluid container is in a typical operating orientation. A conventional type of fluid extraction tube (i.e., a conventional fluid extraction tube) is typically made long enough and with a slight arched shape to position a pick-up end of the fluid extraction tube close to a particular corner region of the fluid container. The conventional fluid extraction tube is typically made from a relatively stiff material such that the pick-up end of the fluid extraction tube is biased toward the particular corner region of the fluid container. Thus, even when the fluid level is relatively low and the fluid dispensing apparatuses is being used in a tilted orientation that positions remaining fluid at the particular corner region of the fluid container where the pick-up end of the conventional fluid extraction tube is located, the configuration of the conventional fluid extraction tube (e.g., length, arched shape and/or stiffness) enable fluid to be extracted from the fluid container.  
       [0005] A limitation of conventional fluid extraction tubes is that they have an essentially static position within the fluid container (i.e., the pick-up end of the fluid extraction tube located at the particular corner of the fluid container). This essentially static position results in the pick-up end of the conventional fluid extraction tube becoming uncovered by fluid when the fluid level drops sufficiently and the fluid dispensing apparatuses is being used in a tilted orientation that positions remaining fluid away from the particular corner region of the fluid container where the pick-up end of the conventional fluid extraction tube is located. Under these conditions, the remaining fluid in the fluid container cannot be extracted by the conventional fluid extraction tube without manually changing orientation of the conventional fluid extraction tube and/or changing orientation of the fluid dispensing apparatus. The need to manually change orientation of the conventional fluid extraction tube and/or change orientation of the fluid dispensing apparatus is often undesirable, inefficient and/or impractical.  
       [0006] Therefore, a fluid extraction tube arrangement that overcomes limitations associated with conventional fluid extraction tubes would be useful.  
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0007]FIG. 1 depicts a fluid dispensing apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosures made herein.  
     [0008]FIG. 2 depicts the embodiment of the weighted fluid extraction tube depicted in FIG. 1, wherein the weighted fluid extraction tube includes a weighting element and a fluid extraction tube extending approximately though a center of mass of the weighting element.  
     [0009]FIG. 3 depicts an embodiment of a weighted fluid extraction tube that includes a bracket attached to a fluid extraction tube and a weight attached to the bracket, wherein the center of mass of the weight is offset from a longitudinal axis of the fluid extraction tube.  
     [0010]FIG. 4 depicts an embodiment of a weighting element that includes a weight portion, a barbed nipple portion integral with the weight portion and a passage extending through the weight portion and the barbed nipple portion, thereby enabling the weighting element to be mounted on the fluid extraction tube by engaging the barbed portion within a pick-up end of the fluid extraction tube.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0011] One embodiment of the disclosures made herein is a fluid dispensing apparatus having a weighted fluid extraction tube. In accordance with such an embodiment, a fluid container includes a neck portion and a closed end generally opposite the neck portion. A body is mounted on the neck portion of the fluid container. A fluid extraction tube is attached at a delivery end thereof to the body. The fluid extraction tube is attached in a manner enabling fluid to be extracted from within the fluid container and dispensed via the body. A weighting element is attached to the fluid extraction tube adjacent to a pick-up end of the fluid extraction tube, thereby providing a weighted fluid extraction tube. The weighting element provides for displacement of the pick-up end of the fluid extraction tube to a gravity-induced position within the fluid container. The weighted fluid extraction tube disclosed herein prevents the pick-up end of the fluid extraction tube from becoming uncovered by fluid when the fluid level within the fluid container drops sufficiently and when the fluid dispensing apparatus is being used in a tilted (e.g., upward or downward) orientation.  
     [0012]FIG. 1 depicts a fluid dispensing apparatus  10  in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosures made herein. The fluid dispensing apparatus  10  include a fluid container  12 , a dispenser head assembly  14  and a weighted fluid extraction tube  16 . A fluid extraction assembly comprises the dispenser head assembly  14  and the weighted fluid extraction tube  16 .  
     [0013] The fluid container  12  has a neck portion  18  and a closed end  20  generally opposite the neck portion  18 . The dispenser head assembly  14  includes a body  22  mounted on the neck portion  18  of the fluid container  12 . The weighted fluid extraction tube  16  includes a fluid extraction tube  24  and a weighting element  26  attached to the fluid extraction tube  24  adjacent to a pick-up end  28  of the fluid extraction tube  24 . The fluid extraction tube  24  is attached at a delivery end  30  thereof to the body  22  of the dispenser head assembly  14 . The fluid extraction tube  24  is attached to the body  22  in a manner enabling fluid to be extracted from within the fluid container  20  and dispensed via the body  22  of the dispenser head assembly  14 .  
     [0014] One embodiment of the fluid extraction tube  24  is a flexible tube, such as a tube made of a flexible material or a tube physically configured to enable flexure over its length (e.g., a length of corrugated tube). Preferably, the flexible tube has a degree of flexibility that is dependent upon a particular mass of the weighting element and a maximum specified displacement of the pick-up end of the fluid extraction tube. An example of a maximum specified displacement is the distance between a static position of the pick-up end  28  (e.g., centered within fluid container  12 ) and a most distant sidewall of the fluid container  12  at its closed end  20 .  
     [0015] Another embodiment of the fluid extraction tube  24  is a tube that includes structural means for enabling flexure of the fluid extraction tube  24  at a position between its pick-up end  28  and the delivery end  30 . Examples of such a structural means are a bellow-like device or a resilient sleeve device attached between two discrete segments of the fluid extraction tube  24 . In such an embodiment, the structural means for enabling flexure permits a first relatively rigid portion of the fluid extraction tube  24  (e.g., a portion comprising the delivery end  30  of the fluid extraction tube  24 ) to pivot with respect to a second relatively rigid portion of the fluid extraction tube  24  (e.g., a portion comprising the pick-up end  28  of the fluid extraction tube  24 ).  
     [0016] The weighting element  26 , in combination with the fluid extraction tube being adapted for enabling flexure at a position between its pick-up end  28  and the delivery end  30 , provides for displacement of the pick-up end  28  of the fluid extraction tube  24  to a gravity-induced position within the fluid container  12 . When the fluid dispensing apparatus  10  is tilted downward, resulting gravitational forces acting on the weighting element  26  results in the pickup end  28  being displaced forward (i.e., toward a relatively lowest portion of the fluid container  12  in this particular tilted position) to a first gravity-induced position GP 1 . When the fluid dispensing apparatus  10  is tilted upward, a resulting gravitational force acting on the weighting element  26  results in the pick-up end  28  being displaced rearward (i.e., toward the relatively lowest portion of the fluid container  12  in this particular tilted position) to a second gravity-induced position GP 2 . In embodiments of the fluid dispensing apparatus  10  wherein the pick-up end  28  is not constrained to only forward and rearward displacement, the pick-up end  28  displaces in a similar manner when the fluid dispensing apparatus  10  is tilted sideways.  
     [0017] Use of the term “the pick-up end  28  being displaced” is a relative one, in that one could argue that the weighting element  26  remains in a relatively static position (i.e., under the force of gravity) and a wall of the fluid container  12  moves toward the weighting element  26  as the fluid dispensing apparatus  10  is tilted in a corresponding direction. However, one could also argue that gravitational forces exerted on the weighting element  26  urge the pick-up end  28  toward a static position as the fluid dispensing apparatus  10  is tilted. Accordingly, it is disclosed herein that both perspectives of displacement are contemplated and appreciated.  
     [0018] As depicted in FIG. 1, the body  22  of the dispenser head assembly  14  is a body of a manual pump sprayer. Accordingly, a spray nozzle  32  (e.g., a variable spray nozzle) and a pump device  34  (e.g., a trigger energized suction/pressure chamber) are attached to the body  22 . Other types of fluid dispensing head assemblies benefiting from a weighted fluid extraction tube are contemplated and disclosed herein. Examples of such other types of fluid dispensing head assemblies include, but are not limited to, manual-pump atomizing fluid dispensers, manual pump non-atomizing fluid dispensers, aerosol spray dispenser, hose-end fluid dispensers and the like.  
     [0019] Various embodiments of the weighting element  26  and orientations of the weighting element  26  relative to the fluid extraction tube  24  are contemplated and disclosed herein. FIGS. 1 and 2 depict an embodiment of the weighting element  26  that includes a metallic threaded nut having the pick-up end  28  of the fluid extraction tube  24  extending approximately though a center of mass of the metallic threaded nut. A metallic threaded nut is one example of a weighting element configured for having a fluid extraction tube extending approximately though its center of mass.  
     [0020]FIG. 3 depicts an embodiment of the weighting element  26  that includes a bracket  36  attached at the pick-up end  28  of the fluid extraction tube  24  and a ball bearing  38  attached to the bracket  36 . The center of mass of the ball bearing is offset from a longitudinal axis of the fluid extraction tube  24 . A ball bearing is one example of a weight configured for being attached to a fluid extraction tube via a bracket in a manner wherein a center of mass of the weight is offset from a longitudinal axis of the fluid extraction tube.  
     [0021]FIG. 4 depicts an embodiment of the weighting element  26  that includes a weight portion  40 , a barbed nipple portion  42  integral with the weight portion  40  and a passage  44  extending through the weight portion  40  and the barbed nipple portion  42 . The barbed nipple portion  42  is engaged within the pick-up end  28  of the fluid extraction tube  24 . The longitudinal axis of the fluid extraction tube  24  extends approximately through the center of mass of the weight portion  40 . It is contemplated and disclosed herein that the barbed nipple portion  42  may be configured with internal barbs and sized to fit over the pick-up end  28  of the fluid extraction tube  28 , rather than within it.  
     [0022] Through the use of commercially-available weighting elements such as metallic threaded nuts or ball bearings or through the use of relatively low-cost custom manufactured weighting elements, the construction of a fluid dispensing apparatus in accordance with embodiments of the disclosures made herein could be accomplished with only require minor modification to conventional constructions. Such minor modification enables a fluid dispensing apparatus in accordance with embodiments of the disclosures made herein to be manufactured economically and at a production cost similar to conventional fluid dispensing apparatuses. Accordingly, from marketing, manufacturing and economic perspectives, it is believed that fluid dispensing apparatuses in accordance with embodiments of the disclosures made herein are capable of gaining market and manufacturer acceptance over a relatively short period of time.  
     [0023] In the preceding detailed description, reference has been made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments, and certain variants thereof, have been described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. To avoid unnecessary detail, the description omits certain information known to those skilled in the art. The preceding detailed description is, therefore, not intended to be limited to the specific forms set forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.