Patent Description:
The present disclosure generally relates to dispensers and dispensers with dip tubes and/or adapters, including dispensers that have an adapter and are suitable for aerosol applications.

Dispensers, such as pressurized dispensers or containers for aerosol applications, may include a body or shell, a valve, and a dip tube that may extend from the valve to the product or contents within the body or shell.

Moreover, some dispensers include a foam component. For example, and without limitation, some dispensers include a foamed or cellular material. The disclosure of <CIT> is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Common nozzle arrangements may include an inlet, an outlet through which a fluid may be dispensed to an external environment, and an internal flow passageway through which fluid can flow from the inlet to the outlet. Nozzle arrangements may additionally include an actuator - such as a manually operated pump or trigger or aerosol canister. Operation of the actuator can cause fluid to flow into the inlet of the arrangement, along the flow passageway, and on to the outlet. A number of manually operated aerosol cans, pumps, or triggers may have a dip tube, which may extend, for example, from a top or outlet of a container to the bottom of the container, so as to draw fluid from the bottom to the top. Some dip tubes may be part of a container and may be centered or along a wall of a container.

With some dispensers it can be a challenge to hold a foam component on a dip tube in a set or desired position, particularly when a dispenser is going through an automated filling lines from feeder bowls, where they can be thrown around. Pushing the foam component into position or place is commonly not an option, and welding can be tricky as well as expensive.

As such, there is a desire for solutions and/or options that, among other things, can address some of the challenges associated with dispensers and dispenser dip tubes. The foregoing discussion is intended only to illustrate examples of the present field and should not be taken as a disavowal of scope. The <CIT> discloses a cone shaped hollow body filled with absorbent material and having inlet flow holes around its base. The cone shaped hollow body is attached to the need of a pick-up tube or dip tube, enabling liquid retained by the absorbent material to be dispensed, even when a container is tilted at an angle and the pick-up tube is not submerged in the liquid to be dispensed. The arrangement prevents air locks and minimizes the waste of liquid left at the bottom of the container during emptying by allowing residual liquid to be caught and held by the absorbent material, prior to being dispensed. The <CIT> relates to a spray device for aerosol containers, with a spray valve arranged on one end of the container and a flexible riser pipe connected to the spray valve for the liquid to be dispensed, which extends inside the container essentially to the vicinity of the bottom area of the container. The <CIT> discloses a spray producer suitable for discharging a metered volume of a liquid such as a medicament comprises a bottle containing the liquid medicament and having deformable walls, and a plug located in the neck of the bottle and provided with a nozzle, and mass of absorbent material arranged within the plug and adapted to control the quantity of liquid discharged through the nozzle when pressure is applied to the walls. The bottle is squeezed once to exhaust all the liquid from the material and to force air out of the bottle.

An adapter for a dispenser includes a longitudinal body with a first end that is configured for connection with a dip tube and a second end that is configured for connection with a foam component, the foam component disposed about of the second end of the longitudinal body; wherein the second end of the longitudinal body is substantially within the foam component. In embodiments, a cross piece may be disposed along the longitudinal body between the first end and the second end. Further, in embodiments, one or more structures, such as barbs, may be provided between a cross piece and the second end.

The foregoing and other aspects, features, details, utilities, and/or advantages of embodiments of the present disclosure will be apparent from reading the following description, and from reviewing the accompanying drawings.

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the present disclosure will be described in conjunction with embodiments and/or examples, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the present disclosure to these embodiments and/or examples.

<FIG> generally illustrates an embodiment of an adapter <NUM> according to the invention, but without the foam component <NUM> that is discussed further below. An adapter includes a longitudinal body <NUM> with a first end <NUM> that is configured for connection with a dip tube and a second end <NUM> that is configured for connection with a foam component. In embodiments, the adapter may be comprised of a plastic material. In embodiments, a cross piece may be disposed between the first end and the second end. In embodiments of the concept, such an adapter <NUM> may be disposed (e.g., pushed or inserted) into or onto a dip tube, and the adapter <NUM> may be held or generally retained in place/position by a feature associated with the adapter. With embodiments, a conical formation on the adapter may also form a seal between it and a dip tube, such as around the edges of the conical formation. In embodiments, wherein the adapter <NUM> may have an overall width W (see, e.g., <FIG>) that is less than about one-half of an overall length L of the adapter (see, e.g., <FIG>). By way of example and without limitation, an embodiment of an adapter <NUM> may have an overall length L, which may be about <NUM>, and an overall width W, which may be about <NUM>.

According to the invention and as illustrated in <FIG>, a portion of adapter <NUM> extends into a foam component <NUM>, or foam <NUM>. With embodiments, an adapter may be used to, at least in part, take the place of a dip tube. That is, with some embodiments, a portion of a dip tube may extend into an adapter, which in turn may extend at least partially into a foam component. Moreover, the adapter may include an aperture or hole - which may essentially take the place of, or perform a similar function, as a hole associated with a dip tube. As such, fluid in the container may be in (or be absorbed into) the foam component covering the aperture or hole in the adapter, and such fluid may be drawn into the aperture or hole. When the fluid level is low enough, the foam component will no longer be able to draw up the fluid high enough to cover the aperture or hole, and gas will be drawn through the aperture or hole in the adapter. The fluid may, for example, comprise liquor. However, the fluid may also comprise some of the gas in the container if the gas is soluble. For example, carbon dioxide (CO2) can exist both in a fluid and above it.

The use of an adapter can provide a number of advantages. Among other things, an internal aperture or hole in the adapter may increase in an area where an inlet hole for air is disposed or situated. For example, as generally illustrated in <FIG>, a portion of the adapter <NUM> may include an expanded chamber <NUM>. Such a configuration can create or provide a larger chamber, which can create or be associated with a drop in pressure of an incoming fluid. Such a pressure drop can permit gas to be pulled or sucked into a small hole and it can mix with fluid from the container. As such, the hole <NUM> (which may comprise a tangential airhole, such as generally shown in <FIG>) may become or be used as a venturi hole. Moreover, by varying the size of the inlet hole to the adapter and the venturi hole, the ratio of air or gas to fluid can be varied. In effect, with embodiments, the higher the ratio between the inlet and venturi hole, the lower the ratio of gas to incoming fluid, and vice versa.

While the venture hole is illustrated as being substantially tangential to the chamber. However, the concept is not limited to such a configuration, and the hole may also work with gas entering at other than a tangent and/or at different positions/locations relative to the chamber. By way of example and without limitation, the hole <NUM> may be sized to have a diameter from about <NUM> to about <NUM>. In embodiments, the hole <NUM> may have, for example and without limitation, as diameter of about <NUM> or <NUM>, and may depend on flow. With some embodiments, the larger the nozzle, the smaller the associated hole. In embodiments, the inclusion of a venturi arrangement may also permit or cause the gas-to-fluid ration to be reduced as the container/can pressure reduces. Such an effect can be useful, for example, if a user has somehow wasted gas. That is, if a user has somehow wasted gas, then the device cannot afford to use as high a ratio as it would if no gas had been wasted (as the final gas pressure may be too low).

In embodiments, a foam <NUM> may hold a significant volume of a fluid. For instance, in an embodiment in which the fluid is alcohol or liquor, it can be desirable to position the venturi hole near the top portion of the foam - for example and without limitation, within about <NUM> to about <NUM> from the top of the foam. However, the present concept is not restricted to such a specific placement.

For some embodiments, to achieve the required hole position, a cross piece <NUM> may be included with the adapter. The cross piece <NUM> may be configured so that a portion of the cross piece <NUM> will contact a top portion of the foam <NUM> and help to position the venturi hole <NUM> relative to the cross piece <NUM> (such as in the tooling). With such configurations, the foam <NUM> can simply be disposed or put over the adapter <NUM>, so the foam <NUM> may contact or touch the cross piece <NUM> (see, e.g., <FIG>).

In embodiments, an adapter may include additions features that, among other things, can help retain the foam <NUM> in a desired position with respect to the adapter <NUM>. In an embodiment, such as generally illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the adapter <NUM> may include one or more barbs <NUM> (e.g., two barbs positioned approximately <NUM> degrees from each other about the adapter are illustrated in <FIG>). In embodiments, one or more barbs may be comprised of plastic. A barb <NUM> may extend radially from the surface of the adapter in the direction of the cross piece <NUM> at an acute angle Ø. Also, as may be desired for some applications, the one or more barbs <NUM> may be constructed and configured to be resiliently deformable. Alternatively, or in addition to the inclusion of one or more barbs, an adapter may include a second/smaller cross piece <NUM> (see, e.g., <FIG>). By way of example and without limitation, <FIG> generally illustrates a top view of an embodiment of an adapter such as generally illustrated in <FIG>.

In embodiments, a small slit may be provided or made in the foam <NUM>, and the slit may extend just downstream of the barbs <NUM> when in position and the adapter <NUM> is pushed into the slit and beyond it until the foam <NUM> meets or contacts the cross piece <NUM>. The one or more barbs <NUM> are preferably pressed inwardly (radial direction) prior to the insertion, so the barbs <NUM> can extend outwardly once in position and can help hold the foam <NUM> in position with respect to the adapter <NUM>. The foam can then, if desired, be rotated (e.g., through <NUM> degrees) so that a barb <NUM> pushes or forces its way inside the foam <NUM> and can then even more firmly secure the foam <NUM> to the adapter <NUM>. With embodiments, the foam may be relatively soft, so portions of an adapter may be able to move inside the foam either by cutting, displacing, or deforming the foam. Further, when a slit is included in the foam, the slit may tend to be resilient and close around portions of an adapter, which can serve as a seal with respect to portions of the adapter. Also, portions of the adapter that are intended to be disposed within a foam may have shaped ends or portions that can cut or otherwise move through the foam when inserted or moved therein.

In embodiments including a second/smaller cross piece <NUM>, the second/smaller cross piece <NUM> may also push or force its way into the foam <NUM> (e.g., when it is rotated therein) and may create a further anchor structure/point. It is noted that such secondary connection rotation is not required. Moreover, as those of skill in the art will readily appreciate, the concept and device is not limited to a specific number of cross pieces and/or barbs.

More than one gas inlet hole can be included with an adapter and under the foam. However, with some embodiments it has been found that one is sufficient and, for some applications, may even be preferable. Varying the position of the holes or holes, and the start of the large chamber relative to the upstream end of the adapter, can vary the amount of fluid left in the container/can when gas enters through the venturi hole.

In embodiments, a foam <NUM> may overlap an end of an adapter <NUM>. Such positioning can permit additional gas to enter when the container/can is around <NUM>% empty, as it can go through the top of the exposed foam. In embodiments the amount of overlap may be varied, and the overlap may vary when extra gas is added - which could, for example, be done anywhere from <NUM>% to <NUM>% empty (with <NUM>% - <NUM>% often being desirable, as it means that a high ratio can be used at the very end when it is most needed).

<FIG> generally illustrates a side view representation of a dip tube and foam (or foam component) <NUM>, that is not according to the invention, extending to a bottom of a container <NUM>. By way of example and without limitation, as generally illustrated, the dip tube may provide a natural bend - such as a bend at or about position <NUM> - and the foam <NUM> may just touch or contact a base of a recess in a container <NUM>, such as in a sidewall of the container. As generally, illustrated in <FIG>, is a side view representation of a portion (pin portion) of an adapter (e.g., portion <NUM>). As generally illustrated, the pin portion <NUM> may include a leak hole <NUM>. Without limitation, in embodiments the leak hole <NUM> may be similar in size (or slightly smaller than) hole <NUM>.

Various embodiments are described herein for various apparatuses, systems, and/or methods. Numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the overall structure, function, manufacture, and use of the embodiments as described in the specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It will be understood by those skilled in the art, however, that the embodiments may be practiced without such specific details, to the extent that they fall within the scope of the claims. In other instances, well-known operations, components, and elements have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the embodiments described in the specification. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the embodiments described and illustrated herein are non-limiting examples, and thus it can be appreciated that the specific structural and functional details disclosed herein may be representative and do not necessarily limit the scope of the embodiments.

Reference throughout the specification to "various embodiments," "with embodiments," "in embodiments," or "an embodiment," or the like, means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in various embodiments," "with embodiments," "in embodiments," or "an embodiment," or the like, in places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments, insofar as the resulting embodiment remains within the scope of the claims. Moreover, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the scope of the claims.

It should be understood that references to a single element are not necessarily so limited and may include one or more of such element. Any directional references (e.g., plus, minus, upper, lower, upward, downward, left, right, leftward, rightward, top, bottom, above, below, vertical, horizontal, clockwise, and counterclockwise) are only used for identification purposes to aid the reader's understanding of the present disclosure, and do not create limitations, particularly as to the position, orientation, or use of embodiments.

Joinder references (e.g., attached, coupled, connected, and the like) are to be construed broadly and may include intermediate members between a connection of elements and relative movement between elements. As such, joinder references do not necessarily imply that two elements are directly connected/coupled and in fixed relation to each other. The use of "e.g." in the specification is to be construed broadly and is used to provide non-limiting examples of embodiments of the disclosure, and the disclosure is not limited to such examples.

While examples of dimensions of certain components may be described herein, such dimensions are provided as non-limiting examples and the components may have other dimensions.

Claim 1:
An adapter for a dispenser, the adapter (<NUM>) comprising:
a longitudinal body (<NUM>) including:
a first end (<NUM>) configured for connection with a dip tube; and
a second end (<NUM>) configured for connection with a foam component; and
a foam component (<NUM>);
characterized in that
the foam component (<NUM>) is disposed about the second end (<NUM>) of the longitudinal body (<NUM>);
wherein the second end (<NUM>) of the longitudinal body (<NUM>) is substantially within the foam component (<NUM>).