Apparatus and process for dispensing a measured quantity of liquid product

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10698368-B2
Application number	US-201816122947-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 6, 2018
Priority date	Sep 6, 2017
Publication date	Jun 30, 2020
Grant date	Jun 30, 2020

Abstract

An apparatus and process for dispensing a measured quantity of liquid product from a container. The apparatus includes a pour chamber and a density timer. The density timer is engaged with the pour chamber. The density timer includes a reservoir containing a timing liquid and a timing element. The timing element is visible from outside the reservoir. One or more dosing indicia are on or adjacent the reservoir.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus ( 10 ) comprising:
a pour chamber ( 20 ) comprising an inlet end ( 30 ) and an outlet end ( 40 ) and a pour chamber wall ( 50 ) extending from said inlet end to said outlet end, wherein said pour chamber has an open cross sectional area ( 60 ) through which flow can occur from said inlet end to said outlet end,
wherein said open cross sectional area is a function of position between said inlet end and said outlet end, said outlet end being downstream of said inlet end, wherein said outlet end has an outlet perimeter, and wherein a portion of said pour chamber upstream of said outlet end is a spout ( 45 ) having a spout entrance upstream of said outlet end;
a dam ( 80 ) engaged with said pour chamber wall and positioned between said inlet end and said spout, wherein said open cross sectional area is reduced where said dam is positioned as compared to a position immediately upstream of said dam, and wherein said dam partially obstructs said spout entrance;
a vent ( 100 ) comprising an entrance ( 105 ) spaced apart from said outlet end and a vent wall extending from said entrance to an exit ( 130 ), wherein said exit is in fluid communication with said pour chamber, wherein said exit is more distant from said dam than said outlet end is from said dam, wherein said exit is more than about 0.5 times said outlet perimeter away from said dam, and wherein said exit has an exit perimeter ( 140 ) and said outlet perimeter ( 90 ) is more than about 2 times greater than said exit perimeter; and
a density timer ( 150 ) engaged with said pour chamber, said density timer comprising:
a reservoir ( 410 ) containing a timing liquid ( 405 ) having a first density and a timing element ( 400 ) having a second density, wherein said second density differs from said first density, said timing element ( 400 ) is movable through said timing liquid, and said timing element is visible from outside said reservoir; and
one or more dosing indicia ( 240 ) on or adjacent to said reservoir.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said reservoir comprises a first end ( 415 ), a second end ( 420 ) opposing said first end, and a reservoir wall ( 425 ) connecting said first end to said second end, said reservoir wall defining an interior chamber ( 430 ) containing said timing liquid, wherein said reservoir from said first end to said second end is aligned with said pour chamber from said inlet end to said outlet end.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said second density is greater than said first density.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said second density is less than said first density.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said timing element is a solid.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said timing element is a liquid.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said apparatus has a first position in which said outlet end is above said inlet end and a second position in which said inlet end is above said outlet end, wherein when said apparatus is in said second position said timing element is visible from outside said reservoir.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a container ( 70 ) having an open end ( 250 ), wherein said pour chamber, said dam, said vent, and said density timer are engaged with said open end.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein an outlet closure ( 260 ) is engaged with said outlet end 40 .

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said apparatus further comprises a floor ( 270 ) extending at least partially around said spout and outwardly away from said spout and a channel wall ( 280 ) extending from said floor in a direction away from said inlet end ( 30 ) to define a channel ( 290 ) between said spout and said channel wall, wherein said floor is sloped to said entrance or to a hole in fluid communication with said pour chamber.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a container ( 70 ) having an open end ( 250 ), wherein said pour chamber, said dam, said vent, said density timer, and said outlet closure together form at least part of a container closure ( 262 ).

12. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said exit is more than about 1.5 times more distant from said dam than said outlet end is from said dam.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said apparatus further comprises a floor extending at least partially around said spout and outwardly away from said spout and a channel wall extending from said floor in a direction away from said inlet end to define a channel between said spout and said channel wall, wherein said floor is sloped to a hole in fluid communication with said pour chamber and said vent is separate from said hole.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said density timer is mounted on a container ( 70 ).

15. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said apparatus has a first position in which said outlet end is above said inlet end and a second position in which said inlet end is above said outlet end, wherein said reservoir comprises a first end ( 415 ), a second end ( 420 ) opposing said first end, and a reservoir wall ( 425 ) connecting said first end to said second end, said reservoir wall ( 425 ) defining an interior chamber ( 430 ) containing said timing liquid, wherein when said apparatus is transitioned from said first position to said second position said timing element moves through said timing liquid from said first end towards said second end or moves through said timing liquid from said second end towards said first end.

16. A process for dispensing a liquid product ( 435 ) with the apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein as said liquid product is dispensed through said outlet end said timing element moves through said timing liquid towards or past said dosing indicia.

17. An apparatus ( 10 ) comprising:
a pour chamber ( 20 ) comprising an inlet end ( 30 ) and an outlet end ( 40 ) and a pour chamber wall ( 50 ) extending from said inlet end to said outlet end, wherein said pour chamber has an open cross sectional area ( 60 ) through which flow can occur from said inlet end to said outlet end; and
a density timer ( 150 ) engaged with said pour chamber, said density timer comprising:
a reservoir ( 410 ) containing a timing liquid ( 405 ) having a first density and a timing element ( 400 ) having a second density, wherein said second density differs from said first density, said timing element ( 400 ) is movable through said timing liquid, and said timing element is visible from outside said reservoir; and
one or more dosing indicia ( 240 ) on or adjacent to said reservoir;

wherein said open cross sectional area is a function of position between said inlet end and said outlet end, said outlet end being downstream of said inlet end, wherein said outlet end has an outlet perimeter, and wherein a portion of said pour chamber upstream of said outlet end is a spout having a spout entrance upstream of said outlet end; and
wherein said apparatus further comprises a vent ( 100 ) comprising an entrance ( 105 ) spaced apart from said outlet end and a vent wall extending from said entrance to an exit ( 130 ), wherein said exit is in fluid communication with said pour chamber, wherein said exit has an exit perimeter ( 140 ) and said outlet perimeter ( 90 ) is more than about 2 times greater than said exit perimeter.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein said apparatus has a first position in which said outlet end is above said inlet end and a se

Assignees

• Procter & Gamble

Inventors

• Briggs Nicole Lynn
• Mizer Scott Eugene

Classifications

• G01F11/006 Primary

  Details or accessories (general details G01F15/00) · CPC title

• G01F11/262

  for liquid or semi-liquid · CPC title

• G04F1/08 Primary

  by a body falling a prefixed distance in air or in a viscous material · CPC title

• G01F13/006

  measuring volume in function of time · CPC title