Fluid dispensing method and apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12384615-B2
Application number	US-202117918133-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 30, 2021
Priority date	Apr 30, 2020
Publication date	Aug 12, 2025
Grant date	Aug 12, 2025

Abstract

A fluid storage system includes a container defining an interior space that lacks an internal valve. A product and a propellant are stored under pressure within the interior space. A container cap includes a membrane that encloses a space defined by a coupling element, which includes a releasable fastener that releasably couples a fluid dispensing apparatus to the container. The container cap also includes a dip tube comprising a proximate end that extends at least partially into the space defined by the coupling element, and a distal end that protrudes from the space in a direction generally away from the container cap, into the interior space defined by the container. The dip tube defines an interior passage extending between the proximate end and the distal end through which the product is to be expelled from the container by the propellant.

First claim

We claim:

1. A fluid storage system comprising:
a container defining an interior space that lacks an internal valve;
a product and a propellant stored under pressure within the interior space; and
a container cap coupled to the container to enclose the container and maintain the product and the propellant within the interior space of the container, the container cap comprising:
a coupling element that defines a fluid passage bore, the coupling element comprises an externally threaded section,
a collar,
a well disposed between the coupling element and the collar, defining a downward-opening, annual channel,
a membrane enclosing a first end of the fluid passage bore defined by the coupling element that seals the product and the propellant within the interior space of the container,
the externally threaded section engages a compatible fastener provided to a reusable dispensing apparatus to releasably couple the reusable dispensing apparatus to the container cap wherein the membrane is pierced by a portion of the reusable dispensing apparatus when the reusable dispensing apparatus is installed on the container cap to establish fluid communication between the interior space and the reusable dispensing apparatus and establish a seal that interferes with an escape of the propellant between the container cap and the reusable dispensing apparatus after the membrane has been pierced, and
a dip tube comprising a proximate end arranged adjacent to the fluid passage bore defined by the coupling element, and a distal end that protrudes in a direction away from the container cap, into the interior space defined by the container, wherein the dip tube defines an interior passage extending between the proximate end and the distal end through which the product is to travel to be expelled from the container through the container cap and the reusable dispensing apparatus by the propellant.

2. The fluid storage system of claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the dip tube is supported at a vertical elevation within the interior space of the container that is closer to a floor of the container than a vertical elevation of the proximate end of the dip tube adjacent to the fluid passage bore.

3. The fluid storage system of claim 1 further comprising an extension tube comprising a first end defining an aperture that cooperates with a portion of the distal end of the dip tube to couple the extension tube to the dip tube, establishing fluid communication between a second end of the extension tube and the distal end of the dip tube.

4. The fluid storage system of claim 3 , wherein the dip tube further comprises a barb adjacent to the distal end of the dip tube.

5. The fluid storage system of claim 4 , wherein the barb comprises a tapered region and a flange, wherein the first end of the extension tube extends over the tapered region to the flange.

6. The fluid storage system of claim 3 , wherein the extension tube extends an entire distance between the dip tube and a floor of the container, and supports the second end of the extension tube adjacent to the floor of the container.

7. The fluid storage system of claim 1 further comprising an extension tube formed as a portion of a monolithic structure with the dip tube, wherein the extension tube extends an entire distance between the dip tube and a floor of the container, and supports an end of the extension tube adjacent to the floor of the container.

8. The fluid storage system of claim 1 , wherein the proximate end of the dip tube extends at least partially into the fluid passage bore defined by the coupling element.

9. A process of dispensing a product from a container, the process comprising:
introducing a fluid dispensing apparatus comprising a valve to a coupling element provided to a container cap, wherein the container cap: (i) encloses the product and a propellant in an interior space of the container that is devoid of an internal valve, and (ii) supports a dip tube that protrudes in a direction from the container cap into the interior space of the container, wherein an extension tube extends from a distal end of the dip tube toward a floor of the container, introducing the fluid dispensing apparatus comprises releasably coupling the fluid dispensing apparatus onto an externally threaded section of a coupling element that defines a fluid passage bore of the container cap, and establishing a seal that interferes with an escape of the propellant between the container cap and the fluid dispensing apparatus, the container cap comprises a collar, and a well disposed between the coupling element and the collar, defining a downward-opening, annual channel;
puncturing a membrane provided to the container cap to establish fluid communication between the fluid dispensing apparatus and the interior space of the container, forming an interior passage through which the product is to travel from the interior space of the container to the fluid dispensing apparatus; and
dispensing the product from the container through the fluid dispensing apparatus while the container is in an upright orientation, by actuating the valve provided to the fluid dispensing apparatus, causing a portion of the product pooled at the floor of the container in the upright orientation to be expelled by the propellant through the fluid dispensing apparatus.

10. The process of dispensing the product of claim 9 , wherein introducing the fluid dispensing apparatus to the container comprises pivotally adjusting the fluid dispensing apparatus relative to the container, causing engagement between the threaded section of the container cap, and a compatible threaded portion of the fluid dispensing apparatus.

11. The process of dispensing the product of claim 9 , wherein introducing the fluid dispensing apparatus comprises compressing a gasket between a portion of the container cap and a portion of the fluid dispensing apparatus to interfere with an escape of the product between the container cap and the fluid dispensing apparatus.

12. The process of dispensing the product of claim 9 , wherein dispensing the product from the container comprises causing the product to enter an end of the extension tube adjacent to the floor, and travel through the dip tube and the fluid dispensing apparatus.

13. The fluid storage system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an elevated region that protrudes upward from the coupling element; and
wherein the membrane is disposed at an end of the protruding region.

14. The fluid storage system of claim 13 , the elevated region further comprises a sealing surface.

Assignees

• Swimc Llc

Inventors

• Hudson Richard D
• Johnson James J
• Williams Thomas W

Classifications

• B65D83/164 Primary

  Actuators comprising a manually operated valve and being attachable to the aerosol container, e.g. downstream a valve fitted to the container; Actuators associated to container valves with valve seats located outside the aerosol container · CPC title

• B65D83/70

  Pressure relief devices · CPC title

• B65D83/382

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

• B65D83/32

  Dip-tubes · CPC title

• B65D83/20 Primary

  Actuator caps · CPC title