System and method for dispensing fluid

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12391440-B2
Application number	US-202318215092-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 27, 2023
Priority date	Jun 27, 2023
Publication date	Aug 19, 2025
Grant date	Aug 19, 2025

Abstract

A dispensing cap may include a cap body and a sealing assembly. The cap body may include a first opening, a second opening distinct from the first opening, and one or more guiding surfaces. The first opening may be configured to dispense a fluid (e.g., a liquid), and the second opening may be configured to pass a gas. The sealing assembly may be slidably attached to the one or more guiding surfaces of the cap body and may be translatable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the sealing assembly seals the first opening and stops a flow of the gas through the second opening. In the second position, the sealing assembly does not seal the first opening and does not stop the flow of the gas through the second opening.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A dispensing cap, comprising:
a cap body with a first opening, a second opening distinct from the first opening, and one or more guiding surfaces, the first opening for dispensing a fluid, and the second opening for passing a gas;
a sealing assembly slidably attached to the one or more guiding surfaces of the cap body and translatable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position, the sealing assembly seals the first opening and stops a flow of the gas through the second opening, and wherein in the second position, the sealing assembly does not seal the first opening and does not stop the flow of the gas through the second opening;
wherein the sealing assembly comprises:
a plunger;
a first stopper affixed to the plunger, wherein in the first position of the sealing assembly, the first stopper is configured to seal the first opening of the cap body; and,
wherein the one or more guiding surfaces are formed by a first guide rod disposed parallel to an extent of the plunger; and,
wherein the sealing assembly comprises a ring member, and wherein the first guide rod is inserted through the ring member of the sealing assembly.

2. The dispensing cap of claim 1 , wherein the first guide rod comprises an orifice that is fluidly connected to a cavity of the first guide rod, and wherein the cavity of the first guide rod is fluidly connected to the second opening of the cap body.

3. The dispensing cap of claim 2 , wherein the sealing assembly further comprises a second stopper affixed to the plunger, and wherein in the first position of the sealing assembly, the second stopper is configured to seal the orifice of the first guide rod.

4. The dispensing cap of claim 1 , further comprising a first spring coiled about the first guide rod, the first spring configured to bias the plunger towards the first opening of the cap body.

5. The dispensing cap of claim 1 , wherein a movement of a first spring is constrained between a ridge on a surface of the first guide rod and the ring member of the plunger.

6. The dispensing cap of claim 1 , wherein the one or more guiding surfaces are formed by a second guide rod disposed parallel to the extent of the plunger.

7. The dispensing cap of claim 6 , wherein a movement of the second spring is constrained between a ridge on a surface of the second guide rod and the ring member of the plunger.

8. The dispensing cap of claim 1 , wherein the first opening of the cap body is disposed on a first surface of the cap body and the second opening of the cap body is disposed on a second surface of the cap body that is offset from the first surface.

9. A fluid dispensing system, comprising:
a fluid container formed by (i) a bottle and (ii) the dispensing cap of claim 1 secured to an opening of the bottle; and
a container receptacle comprising a projecting member that protrudes from a base portion of the container receptacle, the projecting member for displacing the sealing assembly of the dispensing cap from the first position to the second position,
wherein the fluid container is secured to the container receptacle.

10. The fluid dispensing system of claim 9 , wherein the container receptacle further comprises a plurality of tabs disposed about a circumference of the dispensing cap for securing the fluid container to the container receptacle.

11. A dispensing cap, comprising:
a cap body with a first opening, a second opening distinct from the first opening, and one or more guiding surfaces, the first opening for dispensing a fluid, and the second opening for passing a gas;
a sealing assembly slidably attached to the one or more guiding surfaces of the cap body and translatable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position, the sealing assembly seals the first opening and stops a flow of the gas through the second opening, and wherein in the second position, the sealing assembly does not seal the first opening and does not stop the flow of the gas through the second opening;
wherein the sealing assembly comprises:
a plunger;
a first stopper affixed to the plunger, wherein in the first position of the sealing assembly, the first stopper is configured to seal the first opening of the cap body; and,
wherein the one or more guiding surfaces are formed by a first guide rod disposed parallel to an extent of the plunger;
wherein the one or more guiding surfaces are formed by a second guide rod disposed parallel to the extent of the plunger; and,
a second spring coiled about the second guide rod, the second spring configured to bias the plunger towards the first opening of the cap body.

12. A dispensing cap, comprising:
a cap body with a first opening, a second opening distinct from the first opening, and one or more guiding surfaces, the first opening for dispensing a fluid, and the second opening for passing a gas;
a sealing assembly slidably attached to the one or more guiding surfaces of the cap body and translatable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position, the sealing assembly seals the first opening and stops a flow of the gas through the second opening, and wherein in the second position, the sealing assembly does not seal the first opening and does not stop the flow of the gas through the second opening;
wherein the sealing assembly comprises:
a plunger;
a first stopper affixed to the plunger, wherein in the first position of the sealing assembly, the first stopper is configured to seal the first opening of the cap body; and,
wherein the one or more guiding surfaces are formed by a first guide rod disposed parallel to an extent of the plunger;
wherein the one or more guiding surfaces are formed by a second guide rod disposed parallel to the extent of the plunger; and,
wherein the sealing assembly comprises a ring member, and wherein the second guide rod is inserted through the ring member of the sealing assembly.

Assignees

• Nexa3D Inc
• Stratasys Inc

Inventors

• Engstrom Connor Paul
• Whetsell Francis Kenyon

Classifications

• B65D2205/02

  Venting holes · CPC title

• B65D2547/06

  with pouring spouts ot tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages · CPC title

• B65D47/248 Primary

  the valve being opened or closed by imparting a motion to the valve stem (B65D47/244, B65D47/245 take precedence) · CPC title