Measured dosing and spray bottle for multi-use applications and associated method of using

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11052415-B2
Application number	US-201715456110-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 10, 2017
Priority date	Mar 10, 2016
Publication date	Jul 6, 2021
Grant date	Jul 6, 2021

Abstract

Embodiments include a bottle and method for cleaning a grill. An exemplary method may be applied to grills having an upper grill and a lower grill. Methods can include providing a bottle having a dosing chamber with a first outlet, a reservoir chamber configured to store a solution and including a second outlet, and a sprayer for dispensing solution via the second outlet. The sprayer includes a spray head and a trigger that, when actuated, draws solution from the reservoir chamber and dispenses it by spraying the solution from the spray head. Methods can include filing the dosing chamber with a predetermined dose of solution from the reservoir chamber and dispensing the solution onto the lower grill from the first outlet, and dispensing the solution onto the upper grill by spraying the solution onto the upper grill from the second outlet.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of cleaning a grill, the grill having an upper grill and a lower grill, the method comprising:
providing a bottle having:
a dosing chamber with a first outlet, the dosing chamber including a volume defined between an upper end of the bottle, the first outlet, and a partition that includes a partition sidewall interfacing with the dosing chamber, the partition sidewall extending a length between one partition sidewall end at a lower end of the dosing chamber and an opposite partition sidewall end closer to the upper end of the bottle and terminating prior to the upper end of the bottle, the length of the partition sidewall extending along an axis at an angle in a direction from the lower end of the dosing chamber toward the upper end of the bottle such that the volume of the dosing chamber increases in the direction from the lower end of the dosing chamber toward the upper end of the bottle along the length of the partition sidewall, the axis along which the partition sidewall extends intersecting a second outlet, wherein the opposite partition sidewall end lies in terminates at a first plane that intersects the first outlet, and wherein the opposite partition sidewall end is aligned with the second outlet via a second axis extending through the second outlet and the opposite partition sidewall end; the second axis extending perpendicular to a second plane along which the upper end of the bottle extends; the first plane extending parallel to the second plane;
a reservoir chamber with the second outlet, the reservoir chamber including a volume defined between the second outlet and the partition, the reservoir chamber configured for storing a solution;
a sprayer for dispensing solution via the second outlet, the sprayer including a spray head and a trigger that when actuated draws solution from the reservoir chamber and dispenses it by spraying;

filling the dosing chamber with a predetermined dose of solution from the reservoir chamber when the bottle is tilted at an angle from vertical so that solution flows from the reservoir chamber into the dosing chamber;
dispensing the solution onto the lower grill by pouring the solution onto the lower grill from the first outlet;
dispensing the solution onto the upper grill by spraying the solution onto the upper grill.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein filling the dosing chamber with a predetermined dose of solution from the reservoir chamber comprises tilting the bottle to an angle greater than 90 degrees from vertical so that solution flows from the reservoir chamber into the dosing chamber.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the bottle further comprises a cap configured to selectively permit fluid to flow out of the first outlet; and wherein the method further comprises:
after filling the dosing chamber with a predetermined dose of solution from the reservoir chamber, opening the cap to permit dispensing of the solution onto the lower grill from the first outlet.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the cap comprises a flip cap, and wherein opening the cap comprises flipping open the flip cap.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dosing chamber holds a predetermined maximum volume when the bottle is in an upright position, and wherein filling the dosing chamber with a predetermined dose of solution from the reservoir chamber comprises filling the dosing chamber to the predetermined maximum volume.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the partition separates the reservoir chamber and the dosing chamber such that, when dispensing the solution onto the lower grill by pouring the solution onto the lower grill from the first outlet, solution from the reservoir chamber does not flow to the dosing chamber, the first outlet, or the second outlet.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
removing the sprayer from the second outlet of the bottle; and
adding solution to the reservoir chamber via the second outlet.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the partition is positioned so that the dosing chamber holds a predetermined maximum volume when the bottle is in an upright position.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dosing chamber includes one or more measurement markings for indicating a level of solution in the dosing chamber.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein filling the dosing chamber with a predetermined dose of solution from the reservoir chamber comprises filling the dosing chamber with a predetermined dose of solution in the dosing chamber according to the one or more measurement markings at the dosing chamber.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the partition is located between the first outlet and the second outlet.

12. A method for performing a cleaning task comprising:
rotating a bottle so that a predetermined amount of solution flows from a reservoir chamber into a dosing chamber in the bottle, the dosing chamber including a volume defined between an upper end of the bottle, a first outlet, and a partition that includes a partition sidewall interfacing with the dosing chamber, the reservoir chamber including a volume defined between a second outlet and the partition, the partition sidewall extending a length between one partition sidewall end at a lower end of the dosing chamber and an opposite partition sidewall end closer to the upper end of the bottle and terminating prior to the upper end of the bottle, the length of the partition sidewall extending along an axis at an angle in a direction from the lower end of the dosing chamber toward the upper end of the bottle such that the volume of the dosing chamber increases in the direction from the lower end of the dosing chamber toward the upper end of the bottle along the length of the partition sidewall, the axis along which the partition sidewall extends intersecting the second outlet, wherein the opposite partition sidewall end terminates at a first plane that intersects the first outlet, and wherein the opposite partition sidewall end is aligned with the second outlet via a second axis extending through the second outlet and the opposite partition sidewall end, the second axis extending perpendicular to a second plane along which the upper end of the bottle extends, the first plane extending parallel to the second plane;
opening a cap covering the first outlet positioned in the dosing chamber to create an opening in the dosing chamber in the bottle;
applying the predetermined volume of solution from the dosing chamber to a first cleaning surface;
actuating a trigger positioned on a spray head of the bottle to cause fluid to flow from the reservoir chamber, through the second outlet, to the spray head, and to spray from the spray head onto a second cleaning surface.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first cleaning surface comprises a substantially horizontal cleaning surface.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first cleaning surface comprises a cloth or sponge to be used for subsequent cleaning steps.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the second cleaning surface is a substantially vertical surface.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the partition is positioned so that the dosing chamber holds a predetermined maximum volume when the bottle is in an upright position.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the dosing chamber includes one or more measurement markings for indicating a level of solution in the dosing chamber.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein filling the dosing chamber with a predetermined dose of solution from the reservoir chamber comprises filling the dosing chamber with a pred

Assignees

• Ecolab Usa Inc

Inventors

• Thomas Candice J
• Harbaugh Robin B

Classifications

• B05B11/0086 Primary

  Arrangements for allowing spraying and pouring · CPC title

• B05B11/0056

  with an additional opening for filling or refilling · CPC title

• B05B11/0037

  Containers (for several components B05B11/0078) · CPC title

• B05B11/1057

  Triggers, i.e. actuation means consisting of a single lever having one end rotating or pivoting around an axis or a hinge fixedly attached to the container, and another end directly actuated by the user · CPC title

• G01F11/262

  for liquid or semi-liquid · CPC title