Patent Publication Number: US-7896203-B2

Title: Dispensing apparatus

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to liquid dispensing mechanisms, and, more particularly, to a dispensing apparatus for dispensing liquid from a container. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Consumable liquids are usually packed in containers such as bottles, cans, and the like. Consumers usually have to open the container numerous times to use a liquid present in the container. Accordingly, opening of the container for using the liquid may cause spilling of the liquid which in turn may lead to loss of content as well as freshness of the liquid therewithin. 
     Typically, in case of a packaged beverage such as a beverage container, a consumer usually uncaps the beverage container multiple times to consume the beverage. As a result, the beverage may lose its taste and freshness. More specifically, the beverage such as a soda may lose its carbon dioxide content when a soda bottle is opened several times by the consumer. Moreover, when the packaged beverage is held and uncapped by consumers, such as children, the beverage may spill out more often. 
     Accordingly, it is desirable to have a dispensing apparatus that is capable of being easily attached to a beverage container containing a liquid. Further, there is a need for a dispensing apparatus that reduces spillage of the liquid and retains the freshness and taste of the liquid. Additionally, there is a need for a dispensing apparatus which is portable. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the prior art, the general purpose of the present invention is to provide a dispensing apparatus configured to include all the advantages of the prior art, and to overcome the drawbacks inherent therein. 
     Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a dispensing apparatus that is capable of being easily attached to an opening of a container containing a liquid. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing apparatus that retains the freshness and taste of the liquid. 
     In yet another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing apparatus that reduces spillage of the liquid. 
     Still yet another object of the invention is to provide a dispensing apparatus that is portable. 
     In light of the above objects, in one aspect of the present invention, a dispensing apparatus for dispensing liquid from a container is disclosed. The dispensing apparatus includes a central unit, a pump, a release valve assembly, a pipe, and a nozzle. The central unit is configured to detachably couple with an opening of the container. The pump is configured at a first end portion of the central unit. The pump is operable to generate pressure within the container. The release valve assembly is configured in the central unit. The release valve assembly is capable of controlling a flow of the liquid from the container and dispensing the liquid. The pipe is attached to the release valve assembly. The pipe is capable of carrying the liquid to be dispensed. The nozzle is configured at a second end portion of the central unit. During operation, when the pump is operated, the pump generates pressure within the container thereby enabling the liquid within the container to rise through the pipe. When the release valve assembly is operated, the release valve assembly dispenses the liquid within the pipe through the nozzle. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a dispensing apparatus is provided that is portable. More specifically, the dispensing apparatus is composed of a plastic material, thereby enabling a convenient portability thereof. 
     These together with other aspects of the present invention, along with the various features of novelty that characterize the present invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and form a part of this present invention. For a better understanding of the present invention, its operating advantages, and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a sectional view of a dispensing apparatus detachably coupled to a container, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a top view of the dispensing apparatus, in accordance with the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the description of several views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The exemplary embodiments described herein detail for illustrative purposes are subject to many variations in structure and design. It should be emphasized, however, that the present invention is not limited to a particular dispensing apparatus, as shown and described. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but these are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention. 
     The terms “first,” “second,” and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another, and the terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item. 
     The present invention provides a dispensing apparatus for dispensing liquids from containers. The dispensing apparatus is capable of being easily attached to an opening of a container containing a liquid. Accordingly, the dispensing apparatus is capable of retaining freshness and taste of the liquid therewithin. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , illustrated is an assembled configuration of a dispensing apparatus  100  coupled to a container, such as a bottle  200 . More specifically,  FIG. 1  illustrates a sectional view of the dispensing apparatus  100  detachably coupled to the bottle  200  to form the assembled configuration. The dispensing apparatus  100  may be coupled with the bottle  200  containing the liquid after removing a cap (not shown) of the bottle  200 . The bottle  200  may be, for example, a beverage bottle, a soda bottle, a juice bottle, and the like. The liquid contained in the bottle  200  may be, for example, a soda, a juice, and the like. 
     The dispensing apparatus  100  includes a central unit  102 , a pump  104 , a release valve assembly  106 , a pipe  108 , and a nozzle  110 . The central unit  102  is detachably coupled to an opening of the bottle  200 . In one embodiment of the present invention, the central unit  102  may have internal threads to detachably couple to external threads disposed on a neck of the bottle  200  for coupling the dispensing apparatus  100  to the bottle  200 . 
     The pump  104  is configured at a first end portion  112  of the central unit  102 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . The pump  104  is operable to generate pressure within the bottle  200 . The pump  104  may be a pump piston or any other pumps known in the art for generating pressure. In one embodiment of the present invention, the pump  104  may be configured to move back and forth when operated manually by a user. More specifically, the user may manually move the pump  104  back and forth using fingers. Such back and forth motion enables the pump  104  to generate pressure within the bottle  200 . 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, the pump  104  includes a holder  114  connected to a piston head  116 . The central unit  102  may include a valve arrangement for operation of the pump  104 . More specifically, during operation, when the pump  104  is pulled by the user using the holder  114  to a backward position, the pump  104  sucks air from atmosphere through a first valve  118  configured in the central unit  102 . The air is sucked through an inlet passage  119  configured in the central unit  102 . Further, while sucking the air from the atmosphere, a second valve  120  configured in the central unit  102  may be in a closed position as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Thereafter, the pump  104  may be pushed to a forward position forcing the sucked air to be transferred to an interior portion of the bottle  200  containing the liquid. As a result, pressure is generated within the bottle  200 . More specifically, while pushing the pump  104 , the first valve  118  closes and the second valve  120  opens allowing the sucked air to be pushed into the bottle  200 . It should be obvious to a person skilled in the art that such a configuration of the pump  104  along with the first valve  118  and the second valve  120  is an exemplary representation and should not be considered a limitation of the dispensing apparatus  100 . A variety of other configurations of the pump  104  and valve arrangements, such as the first valve  118  and the second valve  120  may be used in the present invention. 
     The release valve assembly  106  is configured in the central unit  102 . The release valve assembly  106  is capable of controlling a flow of the liquid from the bottle  200  and dispensing the liquid. The pipe  108  capable of carrying the liquid to be dispensed is attached to a bottom portion of the release valve assembly  106 . In one embodiment of the present invention, the pipe  108  may be a two piece friction fit siphon pipe. In such a case, the pipe  108  may include two pieces of pipes that may assist in carrying liquids contained in the bottles having greater heights. The nozzle  110  is configured at a second end portion  122  of the central unit  102 . 
     The dispensing apparatus  100  may further include a release button  124 . The release button  124  is configured in the central unit  102 . More specifically, the release valve assembly  106  may be coupled with the release button  124  configured at a top portion of the central unit  102  as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The release button  124  is capable of being activated to operate the release valve assembly  106  for discharging the liquid. In one embodiment, the release button  124  may be manually operated by a user using a finger. It is obvious to a person skilled in the art to use different configurations of the release button  124  for purposes of operating the release valve assembly  106  and the description and illustration should not be construed as a limitation.  FIG. 2  illustrates a top view of the dispensing apparatus  100  as depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
     During operation, once the pump  104  is operated, pressure is generated within the bottle  200  having liquid such as a beverage, the liquid may rise through the pipe  108 . The liquid that flows through the pipe  108  is prevented from flowing through the nozzle  110  by the release valve assembly  106 . Thereafter, the user may manually operate the release button  124  to open the release valve assembly  106  to enable the liquid present in the pipe  108  to flow through the nozzle  110 . 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, the dispensing apparatus  100  may further include a pressure relief valve  126  capable of releasing additional pressure with regard to excess accumulated air within the bottle  200 , thereby preventing the bottle  200  from bursting. The excess accumulated air may be created while generating pressure within the bottle  200  using the pump  104  as described above. The pressure relief valve  126  may be configured in the central unit  102 . In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the pressure relief valve  126  includes a piston head  128  and a spring mechanism  130  operatively coupled to the piston head  128 . Moreover, the spring mechanism  130  may be coupled to an inner surface of the central unit  102  to enable the piston head  128  to move in a first direction for example, upwardly and a second direction for example, downwardly. The central unit  102  may further include a passage  132  connected to the piston head  128 . It should be obvious to a person skilled in the art that such a configuration of the pressure relief valve  126  along with the passage  132  is an exemplary representation and should not be considered a limitation of the dispensing apparatus  100 . A variety of other configurations of pressure relief valve arrangements, such as pressure relief valve  126  and passage  132  may be used in the present invention. 
     During operation, when the pressure within bottle  200  rises beyond a specific pressure limit, the excess accumulated air forces the piston head  128  to move in the first direction by compressing the spring mechanism  130 . Consequently, the passage  132  opens allowing the excess accumulated air to flow from the bottle  200  to atmosphere thereby releasing the additional pressure. Once, the pressure within the bottle  200  is within the specific pressure limit, the spring mechanism  130  decompresses allowing the piston head  128  to move in the second direction. As a result, the passage  132  closes. 
     The dispensing apparatus  100 , in an embodiment of the present invention, may be composed of a plastic material such as a food grade plastic. However, it will be apparent to a person ordinarily skilled in the art that the dispensing apparatus  100  may be composed of any other known material. In another embodiment of the present invention, the dispensing apparatus  100  may be available in different colors to enhance the aesthetic value of the dispensing apparatus  100 . In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, the dispensing apparatus  100  may be available in various sizes, thereby enabling the dispensing apparatus  100  to be coupled with containers of various sizes. 
     The present invention provides a dispensing apparatus for dispensing a liquid from a container, such as a beverage bottle. The dispensing apparatus retains freshness and taste of a liquid as the dispensing apparatus need not be removed numerous times by a consumer for consuming the liquid therewithin. Further, the dispensing apparatus prevents spillage of the liquid and eliminates a need for lifting the bottle to take the liquid. Accordingly, the dispensing apparatus enables consumer such as children to use the bottle coupled with the dispensing apparatus more efficiently and without any spillage thereby retaining the taste and freshness of the liquid present in the bottle. Moreover, the dispensing apparatus may have a compact structure, thereby enabling portability thereof. Additionally, the dispensing apparatus is designed in a manner such that the dispensing apparatus may be easily coupled to the bottle. Furthermore, the dispensing apparatus may be provided in a variety of colors, thereby enhancing the aesthetic value of the dispensing apparatus. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but these are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.