Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention pertains to containers for storing, identifying, and dispensing liquids, and more particularly to a wash bottle for storing, identifying, and dispensing volatile, aggressive, and/or high-purity solvents. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Wash bottles and other containers constructed from flexible materials have found wide-spread use in laboratory and similar environments, wherein the flexible construction of the container permits dispensing of the liquid contents of the container by squeezing its sides. Typically, such bottles are provided with an elongate expulsion tube that extends from within the bottle to outside the bottle and which may terminate in a tapered cone-shape to help direct the flow of liquid discharged therefrom when the bottle is squeezed. The portion of the expulsion tube that extends outside the bottle is frequently bent to facilitate directing the stream of liquid to a desired area. 
   Often such bottles are constructed from flexible, solvent-resistant materials and used to store, identify and dispense volatile, aggressive, or high-purity solvents or chemicals. Because volatile liquids form vapors that increase the pressure within the container, a pressure differential is created between the inside and the outside of the bottle, causing the volatile solvent in the container to flow through the expulsion tube to equalize the inside and outside pressures. Also, an open expulsion tube is susceptible to leaking aggressive solvents in the event the bottle is tipped or knocked over. Further, moisture from ambient air can mix with high-purity solvents, affecting the quality and characteristics of the solvent. Accordingly, it is generally desirable to provide a closure for sealing the outlet of the tube to prevent dripping or expulsion of volatile, aggressive, and/or high-purity solvents through the tube in response to increased pressure within the bottle or to tipping of the bottle. Conventional wash bottles have used caps, clamps, or plugs to close the expulsion tube, but such devices are hazardous when storing volatile solvents that cause increased internal pressure because the mere act of touching the bottle in preparation for use can cause the cap or plug to leave the tube in a projectile fashion and/or can lead to nearly explosive discharge of the solvent contained within the bottle when the closing device is removed. 
   Accordingly, wash bottles for storing, identifying and dispensing volatile liquids must also be provided with a vent to help maintain pressure equilibrium between the interior of the bottle and the surrounding environment during times when the expulsion tube is blocked or closed. Conventional bottles utilize vents consisting of check valves to help equalize pressure created by the storage of volatile liquids. However, mechanical check valves are generally more labor intensive to incorporate, requiring additional supporting or restraining structure which increase the complexity of the bottle. Furthermore, mechanical check valves are susceptible to blockage or gumming up, which degrades performance. 
   Another drawback of conventional bottles used to store, identify, and dispense solvents and other chemicals is that the material forming the bottle, while resistant to the solvents and chemicals stored within the bottle, is often difficult to mark to thereby indicate the contents of the bottle. Specifically, materials which are resistant to solvents and chemicals generally tend to resist marking with inks and do not provide suitable surfaces for applying adhesive identification labels. One solution to overcome this marking problem has been to attach tags to the container with wire. However, such tags often interfere with the handling of the bottles by users. 
   Accordingly, there is a need for a wash bottle that can be used to store, identify, and dispense solvents and other volatile, aggressive or high-purity liquids which overcomes drawbacks of the prior art, such as those described above. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a bottle with a unique valve-type nozzle and vent for storing, identifying and dispensing liquids, particularly volatile, aggressive, and/or high-purity solvents. The bottle comprises a container with flexible sidewalls that facilitate dispensing the liquid by squeezing the container. A closure for the bottle has an aperture sized to sealingly receive an elongate expulsion tube that has an inner end extending into the bottle and an outer end extending from the bottle to direct the flow of liquid. A gas-permeable membrane plug disposed within a vent port, is provided within the structure, for example, in the body of the container, in the closure or elsewhere, whereby increased pressure within the bottle may be vented to the outside. 
   In another aspect of the invention, a valve-type nozzle for dispensing fluid from a reservoir includes a first member coupled to the expulsion tube and a second member coupled to the first member for selective relative movement to place the nozzle in an open position or a closed position, or adjustably in between the fully open and fully closed positions, to permit regulation of solvent flow during dispensing. The first member has a first fluid passage with an inlet port in communication with the fluid reservoir and an orifice, whereby fluid from the reservoir can flow through the inlet port, through the first fluid passage, and out the orifice. The second member has a second fluid passage with an inlet and an outlet. The inlet of the second member is configured to receive the orifice of the first member. Selective relative movement of the first and second members moves a plug on the first member into and out of sealing engagement with a converging interior wall of the second member to thereby close and open the nozzle to adjustable degrees to vary the flow of liquid. 
   Advantageously, the valve may be closed to prevent unwanted leakage of volatile or aggressive liquids stored in the container, while the vent prevents the build-up of vapor pressure within the sealed bottle. 
   In another aspect of the invention, the container, closure, valve-type nozzle and vent plug material are formed from fluoropolymer materials, whereby the bottle is resistant to solvents or liquid chemicals stored therein. 
   In yet another aspect of the invention, a tag for identifying the contents of the bottle is included. The tag provides a marking surface which is adapted to receive ink or adhesive labels thereupon, and includes a connecting member for coupling the tag to the container. Further, tags can be provided in colors in conformance to industry standards. 
   The features and objectives of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following Detailed Description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with a general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the invention. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view depicting an exemplary bottle of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the bottle of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view depicting an exemplary valve-type nozzle for the bottle of  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIGS. 4A-4B  are partial cross-sectional views of the valve-type nozzle of  FIG. 3 , illustrating various operating conditions of the valve-type nozzle. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is shown an exemplary bottle  10  of the present invention for storing, identifying and dispensing liquid materials. As shown most clearly in  FIG. 2 , the bottle comprises a container  12  having flexible sidewalls  14  defining an interior reservoir  16  for storing liquid materials. The container  12  has an open end  18  for providing access to the interior reservoir  16 . In the exemplary embodiment shown, the open end  18  of the container  12  includes a neck  20  having threads  22  provided on an exterior surface of the container  12  proximate the open end  18 , and a retaining lip or collar  24  positioned adjacent the threads  22 . The bottle  10  further includes a closure  26 , depicted in the exemplary embodiment as a screw-type cap having internal threads (not shown) configured to threadably engage the threads  22  on the open end  18  of the container  12 . 
   The bottle  10  also includes an elongate tube  28  that facilitates dispensing liquids from the interior reservoir  16 . Tube  28  is sealingly received through an aperture  30  formed in closure  26  such that an inner end  32  of the tube  28  is in communication with the interior reservoir  16  and an outer end  34  of the tube  28  is positioned exteriorly of the container  12  and closure  26 . In the exemplary embodiment shown, the tube  28  is configured such that the inner end  32  of the tube  28  extends to the bottom-most portion of the interior reservoir  16 , but it will be recognized that the tube  28  may alternatively extend to a position immediately inside the closure  26  or to any position between the bottom-most portion of the container  12  and the interior side of the closure  26 . In the exemplary embodiment shown, that portion of the tube  28  extending exteriorly of the container  12  and closure  26  is bent to facilitate directing fluid dispensed from the container  12  to a desired location. 
   Bottle  10  further includes a valve-type nozzle  40  coupled to the outer end  34  of the tube  28  to further direct the flow of liquid from the reservoir  16 , wherein the valve-type nozzle  40  communicates with reservoir  16  through the tube  28 . Advantageously, the valve-type nozzle  40  has an open condition which permits the flow of liquid from the reservoir  16 , through tube  28 , and a closed condition wherein the flow of liquid through the tube  28  and valve  40  is prevented. In addition, the valve is adjustable to a continuous range of positions between fully opened and fully closed to permit adjustment in the flow of liquid during dispensing. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the valve-type nozzle  40  comprises first and second members  42 ,  44  which are coupled together to facilitate operation of the valve-type nozzle  40 . 
   With continued reference to  FIG. 2 , and further reference to  FIG. 3 , the valve-type nozzle  40  will now be described in more detail. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the first member  42  is configured to be coupled to the outer end  34  of the tube  28 . The second member  44  is configured to be coupled to the first member  42  and is manually adjustable with respect to the first member  42  to thereby place the valve-type nozzle  40  in the open condition or the closed condition, or a position in between. The first member  42  has an elongate tubular structure having an inner end  46  with an inlet port  48  sized to receive the outer end  34  of the tube  28  and an orifice  50  provided on an outer end  52  of the first member  42 . The first member  42  further includes a first fluid passage  54  extending between the inlet port  48  and the orifice  50  whereby fluid from the reservoir  16 , dispensed through the tube  28 , may flow through the first fluid passage  54  to the orifice  50 . A plug  56  proximate the outer end  52  of the first member  42  and spaced from the orifice  50  has a generally converging outer end  58 , which cooperates with the second member  44  to selectively place the valve-type nozzle  40  in the open condition and the closed condition, and to vary the flow dispensed through the valve-type nozzle  40 , as will be discussed more fully below. 
   The second member  44  of the valve-type nozzle assembly  40  has a generally elongate tubular shape with a second fluid passage  60  formed therethrough. The second fluid passage  60  has an inlet  62 , an outlet  64 , and a converging interior wall section  66  with a cross-sectional area which decreases toward the outlet  64  and corresponds, at least in part, with the converging outer end  58  of the plug  56  of the first member  42 . Preferably, the length of the outlet  64  is approximately twice the diameter of the orifice of the outlet  64  to provide a stream of liquid and prevent sputtering. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the first member  42  has external threads  70  provided on a portion of the first member  42  which is received within the inlet  62  and second fluid passage  60  of the second member  44 . External threads  70  engage corresponding internal threads  72  provided on the second member  44 , whereby the first and second members  42 ,  44  may be threadably coupled together. 
   The relative positions of the first and second members  42 ,  44  may be adjusted by rotating the second member  44  with respect to the first member  42 . Advantageously, the converging outer end  58  of the plug  56  of the first member  42  sealingly engages the converging interior wall section  66  of the second fluid passage  60  of the second member  44  when the valve-type nozzle  40  is placed in the closed condition to thereby prevent the flow of fluid through the valve-type nozzle  40 . This closed condition is depicted more clearly in FIG.  4 A. The first member  42  further includes a circumferential groove  74  proximate the outer end  52 . An o-ring  76  disposed within the groove  74  is compressed between the first and second members  42 ,  44  to thereby seal the second fluid passage  60  behind the orifice  50  of the first member  42  when the first and second members  42 ,  44  are coupled together. Likewise, the second member  44  may be rotated with respect to the first member  42  to adjust the position of the second member  44  relative to the first member  42  to place the valve-type nozzle  40  in a fully opened condition, as depicted in FIG.  4 B. In this condition, the converging outer end  58  of the plug  56  is spaced from the converging interior wall  66  of the second fluid passage  60  to provide an increased annular flow area for the fluid dispensed through the valve  40 . The path of fluid flow along the first fluid passage  54 , through outlet  50 , and along the second fluid passage  60  is illustrated with arrows in FIG.  4 B. Furthermore, the second member  44  may be rotated with respect to the first member  42  to place the second member  44  at a location relative to the first member  42  within a continuous range intermediate the fully opened and fully closed positions to provide infinitely variable annular flow area through which liquid flows through the valve-type nozzle  40 . In this manner, the adjustable valve-type nozzle  40  permits the selective adjustment of liquid flow dispensed therefrom. 
   The bottle  10  may be used to store and dispense liquid by opening the valve-type nozzle  40  to a desired position and squeezing the flexible sidewalls  14  of the container  12  to force liquid stored in the interior reservoir  16  through the tube  28 , through the first fluid passage  54  of the first member  42  of the nozzle assembly, through the orifice  50  of the first member  42 , through the second fluid passage  60  and out the outlet  64  of the second fluid passage  60 . In an exemplary embodiment, the bottle container  12  may be formed from fluoropolymer material resistant to solvents and other chemicals. The closure  26 , valve-type nozzle  40 , and tube  28  may also be formed from fluoropolymer material. This may be particularly useful when the tube  28  extends within the interior reservoir  16  of the container  12  where it will be in contact with solvents or other chemicals stored in the container  12 . 
   Advantageously, the valve-type nozzle  40  may be placed in a closed condition, whereby the bottle  10  of the present invention may be used to store volatile, aggressive and/or high-purity solvents and to prevent the unwanted leakage of the liquid due, for example, to vapor pressure generated within the bottle  10 , or tipping of the bottle  10 . In this embodiment, the bottle  10  further includes a vent  80  for relieving the vapor pressure created by the volatile liquid stored within the container  12 . Vent  80  comprises a vent port  82  in communication with the interior reservoir  16  and configured to receive a gas permeable membrane plug  84  through which the vapor pressure within the container  12  may be relieved. The membrane plug  84  is substantially impermeable to liquids to prevent unwanted leakage of the liquid material stored therein if the bottle  12  is inadvertently placed on its side. The membrane plug  84  comprises a plug formed from a fluoropolymer and which is porous to solvent vapors, yet resistant to solvents or other chemical liquids that may be stored in the container  12 . Such a plug is available from Porex Corporation, Faiburn, Ga., as a microporous PTFE membrane. While vent  80  is shown and described herein integrated with closure  26 , it will be recognized that vent  80  may alternatively be located at other positions or on other components of the bottle  10  to provide communication between reservoir  16  and the exterior of container  12 . 
   The exemplary bottle  10  of the present invention further includes a tag  90  which may be coupled to the container  12  to indicate the contents of the container  12 . The tag  90  is particularly useful when the container  12  is formed from fluoropolymer material, which is generally difficult to mark with inks or adhesive labels. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the tag  90  is of a unitary construction, including a marking member  92  and a connecting member  94 . The marking member  92  comprises a generally arcuate surface configured to mate with the contours of the container  12  and is formed from a material which is adapted to receive inks or adhesive labels thereupon. For example, the marking member  92  may be formed from polypropylene or any other material suitable for marking with ink or receiving an adhesive label. Preferably, the tag  90  is formed in different colors in conformance to industry standards. The connecting member  94  comprises a retaining ring configured to snap-fit over the retaining lip or collar  24  of the container  12 , whereby the tag  90  may be securely held on the container  12  even after the closure  28  has been removed from the container  12 . 
   The present invention thus provides a bottle  10  for storing, identifying, and dispensing liquid materials, particularly volatile, aggressive, and/or high-purity solvents and chemicals, and which has a unique valve-type nozzle and vent and a novel tag for labeling purposes. The valve-type nozzle  40  can be selectively placed in an opened or closed position, or adjusted to vary the flow of liquid material dispensed through the valve-type nozzle  40 . The valve-type nozzle  40  is used in conjunction with a vent  80  for relieving vapor pressure created by storing volatile liquids within the container  12 . The bottle  10  is durable to meet the demands of use in a wide range of environments, and may be sterilized, such as by autoclaving if desired. 
   While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of the various exemplary embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not intended to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and methods and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the scope or spirit of the general inventive concept.

Technology Category: b