Patent Publication Number: US-9409760-B1

Title: Fluid dispenser

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to a fluid dispenser and more particularly to a dispenser that may be used in conjunction with an existing container to remove a substantial portion of remaining fluid therefrom. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Many designs and configurations fluid dispensers have been employed in the prior art. Various types of spouts, spigots, tops and dispensers have been designed in an effort to readily access and remove fluids or other liquids of varying viscosities from a container. However, many of the prior art devices enable a user to remove only a portion of the fluid from a container, rather than all of the fluid. For example, condiment and shampoo containers often frustrate consumers who struggle to remove all of the product they have purchased from the containers. Often a portion of the contents of the container is wasted because it can&#39;t be evacuated from the container due to the design or structure thereof. 
     Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a simple and reliable fluid dispenser that can be used in a turnkey application with existing containers for accessing and dispensing their contents. Furthermore there is a need in the art for a fluid dispenser that is relatively inexpensive to produce, easy to use with a plurality of containers, and reusable for multiple applications. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a fluid dispenser and a container in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view of a fluid dispenser engaging a container in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is an isometric view of a fluid dispenser engaging a container in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is an elevation cross-sectional view of a fluid dispenser taken along the line  4 - 4  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of a fluid dispenser taken along the line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 1  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is an isometric view of a fluid dispenser in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is an isometric view of a fluid dispenser in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of a fluid dispenser taken along the line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 6  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-4 , and in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a fluid dispenser  10  for removing the residue of a fluid  2  from a container  1  includes a base  20  for containing fluid  2  that is removed from container  1 . Base  20  may comprise a bottom  22 , and at least one side wall  24 , depicted in  FIG. 1  as a generally annular wall  24  that is integral with bottom  22  to contain fluid  2  as it exits container  1 . Base  20  may further comprise a top portion  26  that is also connected to wall  24 . As best seen in  FIG. 4 , bottom  22 , wall  24  and top portion  26  generally define a chamber  28  into which fluid  2  flows. It should be noted that while wall  24  is shown as generally annular in the drawing Figures, dispenser  10  may employ any shape for wall  24  without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     Fluid dispenser  10  further comprises a piercing member  40  extending outwardly from base  20 . Piercing member  40  may include a pointed distal end  42  for piercing container  1  and may further have an exterior  44  that is generally conical in shape, with a hollow interior  46 . Piercing member  40  also includes an aperture  48  proximate a terminal end  49  that provides fluid communication between exterior  44  and interior  46  of piercing member  40 . Piercing member  40  interior  46  communicates directly with chamber  28 . In one embodiment of the invention, aperture  48  is shaped as a channel in a portion of piercing member  40  that permits fluid  2  to flow from container  1 , through channel or aperture  48 , into interior  46  of piercing member  40 . In a further embodiment of the invention, aperture  48  may be disposed proximate top  26  of base  20  to facilitate complete evacuation of container  1 . 
     Piercing member  40  may also comprise a helical thread or threads  50  disposed on exterior  44  thereof, that aids engagement of dispenser  10  with container  1 , as discussed further herein below. Additionally, in one embodiment of the instant invention  10 , piercing member  40  may extend from top portion  26  of base  20 , as best seen in  FIG. 4 . 
     Fluid dispenser  10  further includes a fluid outlet  60  that is, in one embodiment of the invention, recessed in base  20  bottom  22 . As shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , outlet  60  may comprise a flap  62  that is secured to a pivot  64 , which is in turn secured to base  20 . Flap  62  engages an opening  65  in bottom  20  such that when flap  62  is in a closed position as seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , opening  65  is sealed, thereby containing fluid  2 . As seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , when flap  62  is in an open position, fluid  2  is free to flow out from chamber  28 . 
     In an alternative embodiment of the present invention as seen in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , fluid outlet  60  may comprise a hinged member  66  having an aperture or channel  68  that extends completely through hinged member  66 . In this embodiment of the invention, base  20  wall  24  may include a recess  30  into which hinged member  66  fits when in a closed position, shown in  FIG. 6 . Hinged member  66  is rotatable about a hinge  32  disposed in recess  30 . When opened, hinged member  66  rotates outwardly, until channel  68  communicates with a corresponding aperture  34  located in recess  30  of wall  24 , thereby permitting fluid  2  to flow through aperture  68 . 
     In a further embodiment of the invention as shown in  FIGS. 6-8 , piercing member  40  may include an aperture  28  that is shaped as a partial section of generally conical piercing member  40 . This embodiment of the invention provides for enhanced fluid  2  flow through aperture  28  into base  20  chamber  28 . 
     In operation, and as best seen in  FIGS. 1-4 , fluid dispenser  10  is secured to container  1  by simply piercing container  1  with piercing member  40  by forcing base  20  in the direction of the arrows shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . In the embodiment of the invention where piercing member  40  includes helical threads  50  base  20  may be rotated to permit helical threads  50  to engage container  1  as piercing member  40  is advanced into container  1 . Once base  20  top  26  is proximate or in contact with container  1 , dispenser  10  is fully engaged with container  1 . Fluid  2  will flow through aperture  48  into base  20 , and a user may simply open fluid outlet  60  to dispense the fluid. 
     In a yet further embodiment of the invention all components of fluid dispenser  10  are made from a dishwasher safe plastic, for example polypropylene or an equivalent material. This enables dispenser  10  to be removed from a completely drained container  1  and simply placed in a dishwasher to be cleaned. Furthermore, in this embodiment of the invention, the entire fluid dispenser  10  may be manufactured as an integrated unit, for example through an injection molding process. However, a wide variety of plastics, metals and other materials may be employed in the manufacture and construction of fluid dispenser  10  without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     While the present invention has been shown and described herein in what are considered to be the preferred embodiments thereof, illustrating the results and advantages over the prior art obtained through the present invention, the invention is not limited to those specific embodiments. Thus, the forms of the invention shown and described herein are to be taken as illustrative only and other embodiments may be selected without departing from the scope of the present invention, as set forth in the claims appended hereto.