Paint dispensing method and apparatus involving a vibrating membrane

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11779950-B2
Application number	US-202016822959-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 18, 2020
Priority date	Mar 18, 2019
Publication date	Oct 10, 2023
Grant date	Oct 10, 2023

Abstract

A fluid dispensing apparatus and liquid container with a fluid dispensing apparatus are provided. The fluid dispensing apparatus includes a valve body defining a bore that extends at least partially through a valve body, and an adaptor including a piercing member positioned to pierce a pierceable membrane enclosing the liquid container. The adaptor also includes a releasable fastener that cooperates with a portion of the liquid container to releasably couple the valve body to the liquid container. A liquid droplet production apparatus of the fluid dispensing apparatus controls a discharge of the liquid from the liquid container. The liquid droplet production apparatus includes a perforate membrane, and an actuator that is selectively operable to vibrate the perforate membrane and cause liquid droplets to be emitted from the perforate membrane and projected generally away from the liquid container.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fluid dispensing apparatus that dispenses a paint fluid from an associated paint container, the associated paint container comprising an internal space storing paint, wherein the internal space is devoid of a propellant suitable to expel a portion of the paint from the internal space, the internal space being enclosed by a container cap with a pierceable membrane, the fluid dispensing apparatus comprising:
a valve body defining a bore that extends at least partially through the valve body; an adaptor comprising a piercing member positioned to pierce the pierceable membrane and establish fluid communication between the internal space and the bore extending at least partially through the valve body, the adaptor comprising a releasable fastener that releasably cooperates with the container cap to releasably couple the valve body to the paint container; and
a liquid droplet production apparatus in fluid communication with the bore to control a discharge of the paint from the paint container, the liquid droplet production apparatus comprising a perforate membrane that defines a plurality of apertures, and an actuator that is selectively operable to vibrate the perforate membrane and cause liquid droplets of the paint to be emitted through the plurality of apertures as a result of vibration of the perforate membrane from the perforate membrane and projected generally away from the paint container.

2. The fluid dispensing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises an active component that, when energized, vibrates along an axis extending in a first direction, and causes the perforate membrane to vibrate in a second direction that is parallel with the first direction.

3. The fluid dispensing apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the active component comprises at least one of a piezoelectric, an electrostrictive and a magnetostrictive material.

4. The fluid dispensing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises an active component that, when energized, vibrates along an axis extending in a first direction, and causes the perforate membrane to vibrate in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction.

5. The fluid dispensing apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the active component comprises at least one of a piezoelectric, an electrostrictive and a magnetostrictive material.

6. The fluid dispensing apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an input device that is selectable to energize the actuator and commence emission of the paint from the perforate membrane.

7. The fluid dispensing apparatus of claim 6 , wherein deselection of the input device de-energizes the actuator, and terminates emission of the paint from the perforate membrane.

8. The fluid dispensing apparatus of claim 1 , the container cap further comprises a coupling surface having a threaded region, and the adapter further comprises a coupling element that engages the coupling surface, the coupling element comprises internal threading that is compatible with the threaded region of the coupling surface.

Assignees

• Swimc Llc

Inventors

• Hudson Richard
• Sibbald Morgan S

Classifications

• B05B17/0646 Primary

  Vibrating plates, i.e. plates being directly subjected to the vibrations, e.g. having a piezoelectric transducer attached thereto · CPC title

• B05B17/0661

  Transducer materials · CPC title

• B65D83/382 Primary

  the container body or a closure attached to the container body must be punctured before first use · CPC title

• B65D83/46

  Tilt valves (non-reclosable valves B65D83/50) · CPC title

• B65D83/20

  Actuator caps · CPC title