Abstract:
A device for dispensing a pre-measured amount of material from a container includes a discharge tube, connecting mechanism for connecting an upper end of the discharge tube to the mouth opening of the container, a measuring reservoir attached to a lower end of the discharge tube for capturing a pre-determined amount of material, and a pivot mechanism pivotably connecting the reservoir to the discharge tube. The reservoir is pivotable from a first position to a second position. With the reservoir in the first position, the reservoir and the discharge tube are insertable into a container having a relatively narrow mouth opening. With the reservoir in the second position, the discharge opening of the reservoir communicates with an opening in the second end of the discharge tube, in a dispensing ready position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a dispensing device, and more particularly a device for dispensing a pre-measured amount of a liquid or powdered material from inside a container. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Numerous devices are known for dispensing a measured amount of a liquid or powdered material from inside a container. Most such devices comprise an elongated tube having a flared, funnel-shaped extension at its lower end. The funnel-shaped extension forms the lower reservoir which is used to capture a pre-measured amount of powder from inside the container. An example of such a device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,323,938 to Ceccarelli et al. 
     In order to install such a device in a container, it is necessary to insert the tube and the funnel-shaped extension through the mouth of the container. However, due to the size of the funnel, the usefulness of such devices is necessarily limited to containers having relatively wide mouth openings. 
     Therefore, there is a need for pre-measured material dispensers which are capable of being installed in a wide variety of containers, including those having relatively narrow mouth openings. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present application provides a device for dispensing a pre-measured amount of a material from inside a container, the device being particularly adapted for insertion into containers having relatively narrow mouth openings. 
     In one aspect, the present application provides device for dispensing a pre-measured amount of material from a container having a closed bottom, a mouth opening and a side wall comprises a discharge tube, connecting mechanism for connecting an upper end of the discharge tube to the mouth opening of the container, a measuring reservoir attached to a lower end of the discharge tube for capturing a pre-determined amount of material, and a pivot mechanism pivotably connecting the reservoir to the discharge tube. The reservoir is pivotable from a first position in which the reservoir is substantially parallel to the discharge tube to a second position in which the discharge tube and the reservoir are substantially perpendicular to one another. With the reservoir in the first position, the reservoir and the discharge tube are insertable into a container having a relatively narrow mouth opening. With the reservoir in the second position, the discharge opening of the reservoir communicates with an opening in the second end of the discharge tube, in a dispensing ready position. 
     Other aspects and features of the present application will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from a review of the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings which show an embodiment of the present application, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a dispensing device with a reservoir substantially perpendicular to a discharge tube; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a lower portion of the dispensing device of  FIG. 1  with the reservoir substantially parallel to the discharge tube; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the dispensing device of  FIG. 1 , showing an inlet opening of the reservoir and the underside of a connecting collar at the upper end of the discharge tube; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a lower portion of the dispensing device of  FIG. 1 , showing a concave portion of the reservoir and a tailpiece at the lower end of the discharge tube; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a lower portion of the dispensing device of  FIG. 1 , showing a notched portion at the end of the reservoir; and 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a dispensing device inserted within a container. 
     
    
    
     Similar reference numerals are used in different figures to denote similar components. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the accompanying drawings,  FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a dispensing device  10  and  FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the dispensing device  10  inserted within a container  12 . The dispensing device  10  is designed to fit inside the container  12 . The container  12  is shown as having a bottom  14 , a sidewall  16 , a mouth opening  18  and a handle  20 . The container  12  is filled with a material  22  which is to be dispensed from the container  12 . The material  22  may be a liquid in some embodiments. In some embodiments, the material  22  may be a powder. 
     The dispensing device  10  comprises a vertical discharge tube  24  having an upper end  26  (also referred to herein as the “first end”) and a lower end  28  (also referred to herein as the “second end”), a connecting collar  30  attached to the upper end  26  of tube  24  for connecting the device  10  to the mouth opening  18 , and a measuring reservoir  32  pivotably attached to the lower end  28  of tube  24 . 
     Measuring reservoir  32  comprises an elongate body extending along a reservoir axis R, and in one embodiment includes a generally cylindrical side wall  34  with closed end walls  36  and  38 . The reservoir  32  has an inlet opening  40  through which material  22  enters the reservoir and a discharge opening  42  through which the material  22  leaves the reservoir. The inlet opening  40  of device  10  may be formed in the side wall  34  intermediate the two closed end walls  36  and  38 . As shown in the drawings, the inlet opening  40  is elongate along the reservoir axis R and is substantially centrally located between the end walls  36  and  38  of reservoir  32 . 
     As can be seen from  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the reservoir  32  is pivotably connected to the lower end  28  of discharge tube  24 . The pivot axis P about which the reservoir pivots extends through the lower end  28  of discharge tube  24  transverse to tube axis T and through reservoir  32  intermediate the two closed ends  36  and  38  and substantially transverse to the reservoir axis R. 
     The diameter of the cylindrical side wall  34  of reservoir  32  is smaller than the diameter of the mouth opening  18 . This permits the reservoir  32  to be inserted through the mouth opening  18  with the reservoir  32  substantially parallel to the discharge tube  24  as shown in  FIG. 2 . With the reservoir  32  substantially perpendicular to the discharge tube  24  as shown in  FIG. 1 , the discharge opening  42  of the reservoir communicates with an opening  44  at the lower end  28  of discharge tube  24  and the inlet opening  40  faces the bottom  14  of container  12 . The positions of the reservoir  32  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  are also referred to herein as the “second position” and the “first position”, respectively. 
     Although the embodiment shown in the drawings features the inlet opening  40  on the underside of the measuring reservoir  32  when in the second position, it will be appreciated that in some embodiments, the inlet opening  40  may be positioned at the side of the measuring reservoir  32 , or partly between the side and the underside. In yet other embodiments, the inlet opening  40  may be positioned in the closed end wall  36 . In one embodiment, the closed end wall  36  is substantially removed so as to form the inlet opening  40 . Other variations in placement or formation of the inlet opening  40  will be appreciated by those ordinarily skilled in the art. 
     Since the pivot axis P extends through reservoir  32  intermediate its end walls  36  and  38 , a portion  46  of reservoir  32  is adjacent to, or “overlaps”, a portion  48  of the discharge tube  24  when the reservoir  32  is in the position shown in  FIG. 2 . With the reservoir in this position, it will be appreciated that the combined diameter of the overlapping portions  46  and  48  of reservoir  32  may be smaller than the diameter of the mouth opening  18  to allow device  10  to be inserted into container  12 . To reduce the combined diameter of the overlapping portions  46  and  48 , the overlapping portion  48  of the discharge tube  24  may be nested with the overlapping portion  46  of the reservoir  32 . Therefore, the side wall  34  of reservoir  32  is provided with a concave portion  50  into which the overlapping portion  48  of discharge tube  24  can be nested. In some embodiments, the degree of nesting is such that the combined diameter of overlapping portions  46  and  48  is substantially the same as the diameter of the reservoir  32 . This permits the reservoir  32  to have a diameter which is only slightly less than that of the mouth opening  18 . 
     The concave portion  50  is coincident with the overlapping portion  46  of reservoir  32  and extends from crescent-shaped end wall  38  to point  39 , which is slightly beyond the location of pivot axis P. In one embodiment, to ensure that the inlet opening  40  of the reservoir  32  will face the bottom  14  of container  12 , the concave portion  50  and the inlet opening  40  are located on opposite sides of reservoir  32 . 
     Device  10  further includes a mechanism for pivoting reservoir  32  relative to the lower end  28  of discharge tube  24 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the pivot mechanism comprises a pair of projections  54  on opposite sides of discharge tube  24 , and corresponding depressions  56  in the concave portion  50  of reservoir  32 . Pivot axis P passes through the projections  54  and depressions  56 . 
     The opening  44  in the lower end  28  of discharge tube  24  may be located on the side wall of the tube  24 . The opening  44  faces in a direction perpendicular to the tube axis T and with an angular spacing between the projections  54  and the centre of opening  44  being about 90 degrees, such that the opening  44  also faces in a direction perpendicular to the pivot axis P. The discharge tube  24  also has a closed end wall  60  below the opening  44 . 
     As mentioned above, the opening  44  in discharge tube  24  communicates with the discharge opening  42  of reservoir  32  in the position shown in  FIGS. 1 and 6 . Therefore, the discharge opening  42  is located at point  39  at the end of the concave portion  50 , facing parallel to the reservoir axis R, radially inwardly of the side wall  34 . 
     In one embodiment, the discharge tube  24  may be cylindrical, with the concave portion  50  of the reservoir  32  being substantially semi-circular in cross-section. The discharge tube  24  may be shaped to closely engage the concave portion  50  of reservoir  32 , and therefore the closed end wall  60  of discharge tube  24  is rounded. The rounded end wall  60  sealingly engages the concave portion  50  of the reservoir  32  to prevent substantial leakage of material  22  between the tube  24  and reservoir  32  during material dispensing. 
     Furthermore, the termination point  39  of concave portion  50  may be U-shaped as shown in  FIG. 2  so as to substantially sealingly engage the side wall of discharge tube  24  immediately above the opening  44 , in order to prevent substantial escape of material  22  during dispensing. 
     In order to retain the reservoir in the vertical position as shown in  FIG. 2  during insertion into container  12 , the discharge tube is provided with an elongate tail piece  62  which fits into an elongate groove  64  in the concave portion  50  of reservoir  32 . The tail piece extends along the side surface of discharge tube  24  opposite the opening  44 , and comprises a narrow elongate member having an upper end  66  and a lower end  68 . The lower end  68  of tail piece  62  may be disposed proximate the lower end  28  of discharge tube  24  and spaced therefrom. 
     The elongate groove  64  in concave portion  50  is substantially parallel to the reservoir axis R. The tail piece  62  forms a snap fit with the groove  64 , the snap fit being overcome when the reservoir  32  is pressed against the bottom  14  of the container  12  during installation of the device  10 , as will be discussed in more detail below. 
     As best seen in  FIG. 3 , the side wall  34  of reservoir  32  is provided with a V-shaped notch  70  extending along the reservoir axis from the inlet opening  40  of reservoir  32  to end wall  36  of reservoir  32 . The notch  70  widens and deepens from the inlet opening  40  to the end wall  36 . Notch  70  functions to allow excess material  22  to overflow from inlet opening  40  during inversion of container  12 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the provision of notch  70  causes side wall  34  of reservoir  32  to slope upwardly from the inlet opening  40  to closed end wall  36 . When the device  10  is inserted into container  12 , the reservoir  32  contacts the bottom  14  of container  12  at a point  72  where notch  70  intersects end wall  36  of reservoir  32 . Providing an upward slope at this point assists in pivoting the reservoir  32  from the configuration shown in  FIG. 2  to that shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     The connecting collar  30  may be provided with a discharge spout  74  through which the material  22  is dispensed. Spout  74  is preferably cut at an angle of about 45° to assist in pouring the material  22 . The connecting collar  30  may be formed as an annular collar surrounding spout  74 . In one embodiment, the connecting collar  30  includes a cylindrical side wall  76  spaced from and extending around the discharge spout  74 . The cylindrical side wall  76  and discharge spout  74  may be integrally formed from a plastic material and are joined together by a plurality of webs  78  of plastic material. 
     The connecting collar  30  is sized to form a friction fit with the mouth  18  of container  12 . Preferably, the upper end of the connecting collar  30  is provided with a radially outwardly extending lip  80  which engages the upper face of mouth  18  to assist in sealing container  12  and acting as a stop to promote proper positioning of reservoir  32  inside container  12 . 
     The lower end of the cylindrical side wall  76  is connected to spout  74  by a discontinuous web  82  of plastic material having a plurality of openings  84  around its circumference. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , four such openings  84  are provided at evenly spaced 90° intervals. The openings  84  are provided to allow movement of air between the inside and outside of container  12  to provide pressure equalization, while preventing escape of the material  22  from inside the container  12 . In order to perform this function, the openings  84  are preferably covered by a membrane which is permeable to air and impermeable to passage of liquid material from insider the container  12 . 
     In one embodiment, the connecting collar  30  is further provided with a hinged flip cap (not shown) for sealing the opening of the spout  74  when not in use. 
     In another embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the dispensing device  10  is intended for insertion into the container  12  without initial attachment of the connecting collar  30 . This facilitates the filling of the container  12  with the material  12  after insertion of the discharge tube  24  and measuring reservoir  32 , but prior to attachment of the connecting collar  30 . Accordingly, in this embodiment, the dispensing device includes a tube support collar  90 , which engages the interior side wall  16  of the container  12  proximate the mouth opening  18  to hold the discharge tube  34  in position. The tube support collar  90  may include a collar around the discharge tube  24  and a plurality of outwardly extending spokes. An annular collar may also be provided to which the spokes connect. The annular collar may be sized to snap into engagement within the mouth opening  18  or to friction fit into place within the mouth opening  18 . The tube support collar  90  holds the discharge tube  24  in its vertical position within the container  12  before attachment of the connecting collar  30 . 
     The insertion and use of device  10  will now be described below. 
     Device  10  may be supplied to the user with the reservoir  32  in the vertical position as shown in  FIG. 2 , and with tail piece  62  engaging elongate groove  64  in a snap fit. The reservoir and discharge tube are then inserted into the open mouth  18  of container  12  until the point  72  on reservoir  32  contacts the bottom  14  of container  12 . In one embodiment, the length of the discharge tube  24  is such that the height of the device  10  with the reservoir  32  in the position shown in  FIG. 2  is greater that the height of container  12 . Pushing the reservoir  32  against the bottom  14  of container  12  will cause pivoting of reservoir  32  to the position shown in  FIG. 1 . The connecting collar  30  may then be pushed into the mouth opening  18  until the lip  80  contacts the upper face of mouth  18 . At this point, the inlet opening  40  of reservoir  32  is spaced slightly from the bottom  14  of container  12 . With the device  10  installed in container  12 , the liquid material  22  fills reservoir  32  and rises upwardly in the discharge tube  24 . Inversion of the container  12  will result in the contents of the reservoir  32  and discharge tube  24  being dispensed through spout  74 . When the container  12  is inverted, the inlet opening  40  of reservoir  32  is situated above the level of material  22 , and therefore the amount of material dispensed from device  10  will be precisely controlled. 
     In another embodiment, the discharge device  10  is inserted into the container  12  in the manner described above, but without attachment of the connecting collar  30  and using the tube support collar  90 . The material  22  is then inserted into the container  12 , and the connecting collar  30  is then push fit onto the upper end  26  of the discharge tube  24 . 
     The present application may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Certain adaptations and modifications of the application will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the above discussed embodiments are considered to be illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the application being indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.