Patent Publication Number: US-6669062-B1

Title: Multi-port cap adapter for a liquid dispensing system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a liquid dispensing system and more particularly to a liquid dispensing system for dispensing corrosive liquid chemicals or dangerous medical liquid products which are typically drawn from a container, such as a bottle or the like, to a plurality of mixing machines or the like. Even more particularly, the invention relates to a multi-port cap adapter which is mounted on the liquid container and which has a pair of take-off members extending therefrom, each of which are in communication with a mixing machine or the like. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Corrosive liquid chemicals and dangerous medical liquid products are typically contained in a container such as a bottle or the like and are frequently dispensed therefrom to a mixing machine. Applicant has previously received U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,988,456 and 6,142,345, each of which are entitled “CLOSED LOOP DISPENSING SYSTEM”. 
     In applicant&#39;s earlier devices, a single take-off member is positioned at the upper end of the cap mounted on the container with a tube extending from the take-off member to a mixing machine. Although the devices of the above-identified patents work extremely well, it has been found that the inventions thereof have even greater capability and versatility if a pair of take-off members or ports are provided on the cap so that a single pick up tube in the container can provide two flow channels. 
     In applicant&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 5,988,456, a closed loop dispensing system is disclosed which includes a cap portion having a single dispensing tube support provided thereon upon which is mounted a dispensing tube which extends to a draw-off mechanism such as a dispenser, mixing machine, etc. Applicant&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 6,142,345 also discloses the structure described hereinabove. 
     Although the systems disclosed in the &#39;456 and &#39;345 patents have met with considerable success, those systems are limited in that they can only provide liquid to a single draw-off mechanism. The instant invention enables liquid from a single container to be supplied to a pair of draw-off mechanisms. Although the invention described herein provides liquid to a pair of draw-off mechanisms, it is possible that the cap adapter could have three or more take-offs provided thereon. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a dispensing system for use with a container, such as a bottle or the like, having an outlet opening formed in the upper end thereof. A cap is removably mounted on the container for selectively closing the outlet opening. The cap includes a liquid passageway formed therein which has upper and lower ends. A dip tube is operatively fluidly connected to the lower end of the liquid passageway which extends downwardly into the liquid container. An adapter manifold is provided on the upper end of the cap and has a liquid compartment formed therein which is in fluid communication with the upper end of the liquid passageway in the cap. The adapter manifold has a pair of discharge passageways formed therein which are in fluid communication with the liquid compartment. The adapter manifold has a hollow take-off member above each of the discharge passageways which is in fluid communication with the associated discharge passageway. Each of the hollow take-off members are adapted to have a discharge tube secured thereto which extends to a mixing machine or the like which draws liquid thereinto by suction. A normally closed, one-way check valve is positioned in each of the discharge passageways which is movable between open and closed positions. Each of the one-way check valves permits liquid flow from the liquid compartment to the associated take-off member when in its open position. Each of the one-way check valves prevents liquid flow from the associated take-off member to the liquid compartment when in its closed position. Each of the check valves comprises a flexible, disc-shaped valve member. Preferably, a metering orifice is positioned in each of the take-off members. Although a pair of take-off members and a pair of check valves are described, it is possible that three or more take-off members and check valves could also be utilized. 
     It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide an improved dispensing system for corrosive or dangerous liquids contained in a container such as a bottle or the like. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a dual-port cap adapter for a liquid dispensing system which enables liquid from a single container to be supplied to a pair of mixing machines or the like. 
     Yet another object of the invention is to provide a multi-port cap adapter for a liquid dispensing system including a plurality of hollow take-off members, each of which have a metering orifice positioned therein. 
     These and other objects will be obvious to those skilled in the art. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a liquid container having the multi-port cap adapter of this invention mounted thereon; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken through the container and the multi-port cap adapter; and 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 3 except that the cap adapter is mounted on the container. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In the drawings, the numeral  10  refers to a throat plug assembly which is press-fitted into the throat or outlet opening  12  of a container  14  such as a bottle or the like. Preferably, throat  12  includes external threads  16 . Assembly  10  of this invention is preferably similar to the throat plug assembly described in the &#39;456 and &#39;345 patents although the invention herein will perform satisfactorily with other throat plug assemblies. In fact, the invention herein will perform satisfactorily with those dispensing systems wherein throat plug assemblies are not used at all. 
     The numeral  18  refers to the cap adapter of this invention which is adapted to be mounted on the throat of the container to supply liquid to at least a pair of draw-off mechanisms such as dispensers, mixing machines, etc. Adapter  18  includes a bottom housing  20  having an internally threaded retainer collar  22  rotatably mounted thereon. Collar  22  is adapted to be threadably mounted on threads  16  of the throat  12 . A central passageway  24  extends upwardly into the bottom housing  20  with the upper end thereof being normally closed by a one-way check valve in the form of an umbrella check valve  26  which prevents back flow into the container in conventional fashion. Compartment  28  is formed in the upper end of bottom housing  20 , as seen in the drawings, and is in fluid communication with a compartment  30  formed in the lower end of adapter top housing  32  which is secured to the upper end of bottom housing  20  and which extends upwardly therefrom. 
     Compartment  30  is in fluid communication with compartment  34  formed in adapter top housing  32 . The upper end of compartment  34  is closed except for a pair of circular valve openings  36  and  38  having annular shoulders  40  and  42  extending therearound, respectively. Flexible, disc-shaped check valves  44  and  46 , constructed of Neoprene or other suitable chemical-resistant material, are positioned on annular shoulders  40  and  42 , respectively, to normally close valve openings  36  and  38 , respectively. 
     The numerals  48  and  50  refer to adapter take-offs which are removably mounted on the upper ends of cylindrical portions  52  and  54 , respectively, by screws  56 . Adapter take-off  48  includes a post  58  which extends downwardly from a spoke-shaped support  60  for engagement with the center of the check valve  44 . Similarly, adapter take-off  50  includes a post  62  which extends downwardly from a spoke-shaped support  64  for engagement with the center of the check valve  46 . Take-offs  48  and  50  include hollow tubular portions  66  and  68 , the upper ends of which removably receive metering tips or orifices  70  and  72 , respectively. Dispensing tubes  74  and  76  are mounted on take-offs  48  and  50  and extend to separate draw-off mechanisms such as dispensers, mixing machines, etc. If a throat plug assembly  10  is utilized, a dip tube  78  would extend therefrom downwardly into the liquid container in conventional fashion. If a throat plug assembly is not utilized, the upper end of the dip tube  78  is placed into fluid communication with the compartment  24  by any convenient means. 
     In use, the retaining collar  22  is screwed onto the threads  16  of the container  14  so that the upper end of the dip tube is either in fluid communication with the throat plug assembly  10 , if used, or with the compartment  24  as described above. The metering tips or orifices  70  and  72  are mounted in the upper ends of the take-offs  48  and  50  if not previously installed. The metering tips  70  and  72  each control the volume of liquid leaving the bottom and could be the same size or different sizes. For example, tip  70  could have an internal bore sized to provide a 200:1 ratio while tip  72  could have an internal bore sized to provide a 12:1 ratio. 
     Assuming that the draw-off mechanism fluidly connected to take-off  48  is activated, the draw-off mechanism will create a suction within dispensing tube  74  which will cause the periphery of valve  44  to unseat from shoulder  40  with the center of valve  44  being held in place by the post  58 . Liquid is drawn upwardly through the dip tube  78 , through the throat assembly  10  if such is being utilized, through compartment  24 , through valve  28  into compartment  28 , through compartment  30 , into compartment  36 , around valve  44 , upwardly through take-off  48 , through metering tip  70 , and through the dispensing tube  74  to the draw-off mechanism connected thereto. At the same time, the suction in compartment  30  and compartment  38  will cause the periphery of valve  46  to tightly seal against the shoulder  42  so that liquid cannot pass through take-off  50 . If the draw-off mechanism connected to dispensing tube  76  is activated at the same time as the draw-off mechanism connected to dispensing tube  74  is activated, liquid will be supplied to both of the draw-off mechanisms in the ratios determined by the metering tips  70  and  72 . 
     As seen, the cap adapter of this invention is a screw-on rotating collar which opens the moving valve on the throat plug assembly. The threads of the cap and the bottle are utilized to maintain a sealed connection between the cap adapter and the throat plug assembly. It is important to note that a maintained connection can be done many ways and styles depending on the intended customer&#39;s desired use. As previously stated, the cap adapter itself can have a dip tube or pick-up tube extending downwardly into the bottle which is not mated to a throat plug assembly while still functioning the same. 
     The instant invention represents a significant advance from the single port adapters of the prior art in that the dual take-off ports which are connected to draw-off mechanisms, a single pick-up tube or dip tube in the container can provide two flow channels. As suction is applied to one port to draw product from the container, that same suction maintains the other check valve in the closed position to seal any air from coming back into the chamber that is pulling the product out. When no suction is applied, both valves reseal the exit ports and product will not return from the dispensing tubes into the bottle, thereby causing the system to lose prime. 
     A metering orifice of different size can be mounted in each of the discharge ports to control the volume of product leaving the bottle port. As stated, each port can be the same or different size based on the requirements of the customer. In this way, dual mixtures from a single bottle are provided which reduces the number of bottles in the work area and reduces the expenditure of dual mixing machines. Inasmuch as dilution rate calculations are substantially reduced through this invention, the chances of making a toxic mistake by untrained work force members is reduced. As stated, although dual ports or take-offs are described herein, any number of ports could be utilized if so desired. 
     Thus it can be seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.