Dispensing device and system for solid chemical cleaning agents

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017052051-A1
Application number	US-201615240345-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 18, 2016
Priority date	Aug 18, 2015
Publication date	Feb 23, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

An improved system and device for dispensing a cleaning agent is provided. The system can include a dispenser and a removable chemical container having the cleaning agent. The dispenser can include a storage portion, a dispensing portion, and a metering chamber associated with the dispensing portion. The metering chamber can be configured to receive a metered amount of the cleaning agent from the storage portion and dispense the metered amount to an outlet associated with a channel. The metering chamber can be removable and/or selectively interchangeable with another metering chamber configured to dispense a different metered amount. A dispenser includes an inlet gate and an outlet gate adapted to be selectively opened and closed to permit the cleaning agent to enter and exit the metering chamber. The inlet gate can open simultaneously as the outlet gate closes. The device can be hand-held.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A hand-held dispensing system for dispensing a cleaning agent, the system comprising:
a dispenser comprising:
(a) a storage portion configured to receive at least a portion of the cleaning agent;
(b) an elongated dispensing portion having a channel in selective operable connection with the storage portion; and
(c) an outlet positioned at a terminal end of the channel.

2 . The system of claim 1 wherein the dispenser further comprises:
a metering chamber associated with the elongated dispensing portion, configured to receive a fixed metered amount of the cleaning agent from the storage portion, and configured to dispense the fixed metered amount to the channel.

3 . The system of claim 2 wherein the metering chamber is removable.

4 . The system of claim 2 further comprising:
a user-operated mechanism configured to receive a user input and selectively connect the storage portion and the elongated dispensing portion; and
wherein the selective operable connection permits the cleaning agent to transfer from the storage portion to the metering chamber.

5 . The system of claim 1 wherein the dispenser dispenses a metered amount of the cleaning agent based, at least in part, on the user input.

6 . The system of claim 5 wherein the metered amount is fixed.

7 . The system of claim 1 wherein the cleaning agent comprises at least one of powder, granules, and pre-formed tablets.

8 . The system of claim 1 wherein the storage portion is tapered form an inlet to an outlet and configured to funnel the cleaning agent proximate to the outlet.

9 . A device for dispensing a cleaning agent, the device comprising:
a storage portion having an inlet and an outlet; a dispensing portion in operable communication with the outlet of the storage portion; a measuring chamber associated with the dispensing portion, the measuring chamber having an inlet and an outlet; an inlet gate disposed between the outlet of the storage portion and the inlet of the measuring chamber; an outlet gate disposed proximate to the outlet of the measuring chamber; and wherein the inlet gate and the outlet gate are adapted to be selectively opened and closed to selectively meter an amount of cleaning agent in the measuring chamber.

10 . The device of claim 9 wherein the measuring chamber is adapted to be selectively attached and detached from the dispensing portion.

11 . The device of claim 9 further comprising an inner mechanism configured to selectively open or close the inlet gate or the outlet gate.

12 . The device of claim 11 further comprising an external mechanism in operable connection with the inner mechanism and configured to receive an input from a user.

13 . The device of claim 11 wherein the inlet gate or the outlet gate comprises at least one of a trap door, a sliding gate, and a disc with an opening.

14 . The device of claim 12 wherein the external mechanism is a trigger.

15 . The device of claim 9 wherein the inlet gate opens simultaneously as the outlet gate closes.

16 . The device of claim 11 further comprises an electronic controller in operable control of the inner mechanism.

17 . A method for dispensing a chemical agent, the method comprising the steps of:
loading the chemical agent into a storage portion of a dispensing device, wherein the storage portion funnels the chemical agent towards an inlet gate; activating a mechanism to open an outlet gate and close the inlet gate; transferring a metered amount of the chemical agent into a measurement chamber when the inlet gate is open and the outlet gate is closed; deactivating the mechanism to close the outlet gate and open the inlet gate; dispensing the chemical product from the dispensing device when the outlet gate is open and the inlet gate is closed.

18 . The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of selectively interchanging the measurement chamber for a second measurement chamber configured to meter a different metered amount of the chemical agent.

19 . The method of claim 17 wherein the step of loading the chemical agent into the storage portion further comprises attaching a removable chemical container containing the chemical agent.

20 . The method of claim 17 wherein the dispensing device is hand-held.

Assignees

• Ecolab Usa Inc

Inventors

• Emmert Justin Denton

Classifications

• G01F11/46 Primary

  for fluent solid material · CPC title

• A47K5/1201

  hand-carried · CPC title

• B05B11/0037 Primary

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

• G01F11/40

  for fluent solid material · CPC title

• B05B12/002

  Manually-actuated controlling means, e.g. push buttons, levers or triggers (for single units B05B11/00) · CPC title