Liquid container

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9994037-B2
Application number	US-201615088640-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 1, 2016
Priority date	Apr 16, 2015
Publication date	Jun 12, 2018
Grant date	Jun 12, 2018

Abstract

A liquid container is provided which includes a liquid containing section that contains ink, a spout from which the ink contained in the liquid containing section is poured, and a valve mechanism section that allows the ink to be poured by being deformed by action of an external force between the liquid containing section and the spout.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A liquid container, comprising:
a liquid containing section that contains liquid;
a spout from which the liquid contained in the liquid containing section is poured; and
a valve mechanism section disposed in the middle of a flow path connecting the liquid containing section and the spout, the valve mechanism section including an outer wall and the valve mechanism section being configured to allow the liquid to flow by deforming the outer wall of the valve mechanism section by action of a force applied to the outer wall from outside toward the center of the flow path;
a cap configured to cover the valve mechanism section;
a support section that attachably and detachably supports the cap, the support section being disposed on an opposite side of the valve mechanism section with respect to the spout,
the cap being further configured to cover the spout and the outer wall of the valve mechanism section in a state of being separated from the outer wall of the valve mechanism section when the cap is attached to the support section.

2. The liquid container according to claim 1 , wherein
the valve mechanism section allows the liquid to be poured when a force is applied from outside to deform the outer wall of the valve mechanism section and restores its original shape by elasticity of the valve mechanism section and prevents the liquid from being poured when no force is applied from outside.

3. The liquid container according to claim 1 , wherein
a member that forms the valve mechanism section is softer than a member that forms the liquid containing section.

4. The liquid container according to claim 1 , wherein
the support section has a support section outer wall which is larger than the outer wall of the valve mechanism section.

5. A liquid container, comprising:
a liquid containing section that contains liquid;
a spout from which the liquid contained in the liquid containing section is poured;
a valve mechanism section disposed in the middle of a flow path connecting the liquid containing section and the spout, the valve mechanism section including an outer wall and the valve mechanism section being configured to allow the liquid to flow by deforming the outer wall of the valve mechanism section by action of a force applied to the outer wall from outside toward the center of the flow path; and
a valve mechanism containing section, which contains the valve mechanism section, in a region between the valve mechanism section and the liquid containing section,
wherein the valve mechanism section is configured to move to a containing position where the valve mechanism section is contained in the valve mechanism containing section and a use position outside the valve mechanism containing section.

Assignees

• Seiko Epson Corp

Inventors

• Sakai Toshifumi

Classifications

• B41J2/17509

  Whilst mounted in the printer · CPC title

• B41J2/17513

  Inner structure · CPC title

• B41J2/17506

  Refilling of the cartridge · CPC title

• B41J2/17596 Primary

  Ink pumps, ink valves · CPC title

• B41J2002/17516

  comprising a collapsible ink holder, e.g. a flexible bag · CPC title