Inline dispensing device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12031306-B2
Application number	US-202117519949-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 5, 2021
Priority date	May 14, 2019
Publication date	Jul 9, 2024
Grant date	Jul 9, 2024

Abstract

A capsule includes an upper body portion and a lower body portion that is coupled to the upper body portion. The lower body portion includes a lower wall that defines a lower opening. The lower body portion and the upper body portion together define an internal cavity. At least one of the upper body portion or the lower body portion includes a plurality of grooves spaced at intervals along a circumferential direction with respect to a central axis of the capsule. The plurality of grooves extends at an angle in a partially axial direction and a partially circumferential direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A capsule, comprising:
an upper body portion; and
a lower body portion coupled to the upper body portion, the lower body portion including lower wall that defines a lower opening, the lower body portion and the upper body portion together defining an internal cavity, at least one of the upper body portion or the lower body portion having a plurality of grooves spaced at intervals along a circumferential direction with respect to a central axis of the capsule, the plurality of grooves extending at an angle in a partially axial direction and a partially circumferential direction.

2. The capsule of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of grooves are helically-shaped grooves that are spaced at approximately equal intervals along a circumference of at least one of the upper body portion or the lower body portion.

3. The capsule of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of grooves extends upwardly from a lower end of at least one of the lower body portion or the upper body portion.

4. The capsule of claim 3 , wherein a lower end of each groove of the plurality of grooves defines an opening facing axially away from at least one of the lower body portion or the upper body portion.

5. The capsule of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of grooves comprises a first portion at a lower end of at least one of the lower body portion or the upper body portion and extending substantially parallel to the central axis, and a second portion extending from the first portion that extends at least partially along the circumferential direction.

6. The capsule of claim 1 , wherein each groove of the plurality of grooves defines a ramp at an innermost end, the ramp extending in at least partially axial direction toward a lower end of at least one of the lower body portion or the upper body portion.

7. The capsule of claim 1 , wherein the upper body portion defines an upper opening in substantially coaxial alignment with the lower opening, wherein the capsule further comprises a plunger extending through the upper opening and the lower opening.

8. The capsule of claim 7 , wherein the plunger comprises a flange extending radially away from an outer surface of the plunger, the flange engageable with the capsule at one of the upper or lower openings to prevent movement of the plunger in at least one direction.

9. The capsule of claim 7 , wherein the plunger comprises a vent opening proximate an upper end of the plunger, the vent opening facing an inner radial surface of the upper body portion at the upper opening.

10. The capsule of claim 7 , wherein the plunger further comprises:
a first protrusion at an upper end of the plunger that extends radially away from an outer surface of the plunger; and
a second protrusion spaced axially apart from the first protrusion, the plunger moveable between a first axial position in which the first protrusion engages the upper body portion and a second axial position in which the second protrusion engages the upper body portion and the first protrusion is spaced apart from the upper body portion.

11. An inline shower device, comprising:
a housing comprising a first engaging portion; and
a capsule comprising a second engaging portion, the second engaging portion configured to interact with the first engaging portion to detachably couple the capsule to the housing, wherein one of the first engaging portion or the second engaging portion comprises a plurality of grooves spaced at intervals along a circumferential direction with respect to a central axis of the housing or the capsule, the plurality of grooves extending at an angle in a partially axial direction and a partially circumferential direction.

12. The inline shower device of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of grooves are helically-shaped grooves that are spaced at approximately equal intervals along a circumference of one of the housing or the capsule.

13. The inline shower device of claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of grooves extends upwardly from either a lower end of the capsule or downwardly from an upper end of the housing.

14. The inline shower device of claim 11 , wherein an end of each groove of the plurality of grooves defines an opening facing axially away from one of the housing or the capsule.

15. The inline shower device of claim 11 , wherein a first portion of each groove of the plurality of grooves extends at least partially in a first axial direction, and a second portion of each groove at an innermost end of each groove defines a ramp extending at least partially in a second axial direction that is opposite the first axial direction.

16. The inline shower device of claim 11 , wherein the other of the first engaging portion or the second engaging portion comprises a plurality of tabs that are engageable with the grooves, and wherein the plurality of tabs comprises a plurality of studs extending radially toward or away from the central axis.

17. The inline shower device of claim 11 , wherein the capsule comprises a body and a plunger extending through an upper and lower wall of the body.

18. A method, comprising:
engaging a plurality of tabs on one of a capsule or a housing with openings at a lower end of a plurality of grooves in the other one of the capsule or the housing; and
coupling the capsule to the housing by rotating the capsule with respect to the housing, the rotation causing movement of the capsule in an axial direction toward the housing, wherein coupling the capsule to the housing comprises:
rotating the capsule by a first angle to engage a pin of the housing with a plunger of the capsule, the rotation causing movement of the plunger with respect to a body of the capsule; and
rotating the capsule by a second angle to disengage the pin with the plunger.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein coupling the capsule to the housing comprises:
rotating the capsule by the first angle to engage the tabs with a first portion of the grooves, the first portion extending at an angle in a partially axial direction and a partially circumferential direction; and
rotating the capsule by the second angle to engage the tabs with a second portion of the grooves, the second portion including an inverted ramp.

20. The method of claim 18 , further comprising resealing the capsule by pressing the plunger in the axial direction toward the capsule.

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Guthrie Robert J
• Wick Brian C
• Yee Evan
• Klinger Andrew

Classifications

• B01F2101/4505

  Mixing ingredients comprising detergents, soaps, for washing, e.g. washing machines · CPC title

• B01F35/8822

  using measuring chambers of the piston or plunger type (B01F35/8823 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B01F25/3143

  characterised by the specific design of the injector · CPC title

• B01F35/7131

  Breaking or perforating packages, containers or vials · CPC title

• E03C1/046 Primary

  Adding soap, disinfectant, or the like in the supply line {or at the water outlet}(preventing contamination of drinking-water pipes E03C1/10) · CPC title