Patent US3768704A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3768704A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fluid dispenser
Assignee: SA D Etudes Techniques ch
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Filing: 1972-10-10
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Granted: 1973-10-30
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Expires: 1992-10-10
Abstract
Abstract A fluid dispenser comprises a pressurised fluid reservoir connected to one end of which is a flexible flattenable tube the other end of which forms a dispensing outlet. The tube is supported intermediate its ends by an upstream and a downstream support of a frame the section of the tube between these supports being of greater length than the spacing between these supports and being a floating section movable in a space provided by the frame. The floating section can occupy a position in which a major portion thereof extending from the upstream support is inflated by the pressurised fluid and is sealed at its downstream end by a fold in the tube and can be moved from this position by a roller movable in said space in such a way as first to form a fold near the upstream end of the free section sealing a body of fluid in the tube and then to displace the inflated section to open out the folds at the downstream end of the free section to allow the body of fluid to pass from the dispensing outlet of the tube. The roller in the final stages of its dispensing movement stretches the free section of the tube over a convex surface to expel the fluid from the tube. During return movement of the roller the free section of tube is sealed adjacent its downstream end before the tube is again inflated.
Inventors
- 👤 R Beguin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:02
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D35/00; B65D35/24; B65D35/40; B65D35/56
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
382 words
A fluid dispenser comprising a source of fluid under pressure, a flexible flattenable tube having an inlet end and an outlet end, a support for said tube, means connecting the inlet end of said tube with said fluid source, said support including upstream and downstream support means supporting said tube between its inlet and outlet ends, the tube being fixed by said upstream support means at a position between the inlet end thereof and the downstream support and the tube being fixed by said downstream support means at a position between the upstream support means and the outlet end of the tube, the section of said tube between the upstream and downstream support means constituting a floating section of the tube and being of a length greater than the spacing between the upstream and downstream support means, said support defining a space between said upstream and downstream support means to accommodate movement of the floating section of the tube, and operating means operable to move the floating section of the tube between a first position in which said floating section forms a major portion inflated by the fluid from said source and extending from the upstream supporting means to a seal formed adjacent the downstream supporting means by a sharp bend in the tube causing the latter to flatten, and a second position in which said floating section forms a major portion extending from said doWnstream supporting means into said space without sharp bends so that its interior is in communication with said outlet end, and terminating adjacent the upstream end in a seal formed by a sharp bend in the tube causing the latter to flatten, the operating means acting during movement of said floating section of the tube from its first to its second position to bend the latter sharply to seal the tube adjacent the upstream supporting means before the portion of the floating section adjacent the downstream supporting means is unsealed and acting during movement of said floating section from its second to its first position to bend the tube sharply to seal is adjacent the downstream supporting means before the portion of the floating section adjacent the upstream supporting means is unsealed whereby a predetermined quantity of fluid is dispensed at each operation of said operating means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
382 words
A fluid dispenser comprising a source of fluid under pressure, a flexible flattenable tube having an inlet end and an outlet end, a support for said tube, means connecting the inlet end of said tube with said fluid source, said support including upstream and downstream support means supporting said tube between its inlet and outlet ends, the tube being fixed by said upstream support means at a position between the inlet end thereof and the downstream support and the tube being fixed by said downstream support means at a position between the upstream support means and the outlet end of the tube, the section of said tube between the upstream and downstream support means constituting a floating section of the tube and being of a length greater than the spacing between the upstream and downstream support means, said support defining a space between said upstream and downstream support means to accommodate movement of the floating section of the tube, and operating means operable to move the floating section of the tube between a first position in which said floating section forms a major portion inflated by the fluid from said source and extending from the upstream supporting means to a seal formed adjacent the downstream supporting means by a sharp bend in the tube causing the latter to flatten, and a second position in which said floating section forms a major portion extending from said doWnstream supporting means into said space without sharp bends so that its interior is in communication with said outlet end, and terminating adjacent the upstream end in a seal formed by a sharp bend in the tube causing the latter to flatten, the operating means acting during movement of said floating section of the tube from its first to its second position to bend the latter sharply to seal the tube adjacent the upstream supporting means before the portion of the floating section adjacent the downstream supporting means is unsealed and acting during movement of said floating section from its second to its first position to bend the tube sharply to seal is adjacent the downstream supporting means before the portion of the floating section adjacent the upstream supporting means is unsealed whereby a predetermined quantity of fluid is dispensed at each operation of said operating means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
152 words
The dispenser of claim 1 in which said support includes a bearing surface partly defining said space, said bearing surface being adjacent said downstream supporting means and substantially perpendicular to the direction in which said tube passes through said downstream supporting means, said inflated major portion of said floating section in said first position thereof extending from said upstream supporting means towards said bearing surface in a direction inclined at an angle to the normal to the latter surface and sloping away from said downstream supporting means, so that the floating section passes through a first sharp bend of more than 90* from the end of said major portion to said bearing surface and extends along said bearing surface in a flat condition from said first sharp bend to said downstream supporting means where it passes around a second sharp bend in the reverse direction to pass through said downstream supporting means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
75 words
The dispenser of claim 2 wherein said operating means includes a member which when the operating means is operated to move said floating section from its first to its second position engages the floating section adjacent said upstream supporting means and pulls a loop thereof away from the plane of said bearing surface to a position further removed from the latter plane than said upstream supporting means thereby to eliminate said first and second bends.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
83 words
The dispenser of claim 1 in which said operating means comprises two members movable as one, and disposed on opposite sides of said floating section, one of said members being disposed adjacent said downstream supporting means and engaging the floating section to move it from its said second to its said first position and the other of said members being disposed adjacent said upstream supporting means and engaging the floating section to move it from its said first to its said second position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
127 words
The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said support provides an extended surface extending from a position nearer to a position further from said downstream supporting means and said operating means is arranged when said floating section is in its said second position, to stretch the major portion of said floating section, extending upstream of said downstream supporting means, over the last mentioned surface to expel the fluid from said major portion to the outlet end of the tube the portion of said surface nearer said downstream supporting means being substantially tangential to the axis along which the tube passes through said downstream supporting means and said surface being of such a form that said major portion is not flattened completely until the fluit has been expelled therefrom.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said tube comprises two flat flexible strips sealed along edge portions thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
66 words
The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said operating means includes a movable member which, when the operating means is operated to move said floating section from its said first to its said second portion, engages the floating section adjacent said upstream supporting means and in cooperatioN with the latter, deforms it to form two oppositely directed bends in said free section adjacent said upper supporting means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-29 | 1977-04-30 | 1977-10-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-29 | 1981-04-30 | 1981-10-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-29 | 1985-04-30 | 1985-10-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |