US3841524A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic liquid dispenser for an inverted bottle
Assignee: NORTHWEST SANITATION PROD Inc
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Filing: 1973-03-05
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Granted: 1974-10-15
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Expires: 1993-03-05
Abstract
Abstract A liquid dispenser for use with an inverted bottle to dispense a concentrated liquid into a tank containing water or other liquid. It may be used, for example, as a dispenser for a liquid that cleans toilet bowls, the inverted bottle hanging in the tank and the dispensing taking place during flushing. A stationary member has a portion fitting snugly inside the neck of the bottle and connected by an annular diaphragm to a hollow central portion into which the liquid can enter. A movable member fits at least partially within the hollow portion and has a stem with a sealing plug at its upper end and a sealing skirt at its lower end. The buoying force of water in the tank normally holds the dispenser in a position where the skirt seals against the lower end of the hollow portion while liquid enters the upper end and places a charge within it. On the flushing of the tank as the water level drops, the skirt drops, bringing the plug into its sealing position to prevent the exit of further liquid from the bottle, while the charge of liquid within the hollow member is dispensed. The bottle preferably has a recess near its bottom end in a side wall, where a plastic hanger is provided by a portion affixed to the bottle and a free portion hinged thereto. The free portion can be placed in the recess in one position and flexed out at 90* therefrom in another position, for hanging the inverted bottle on a tank wall.
Inventors
- 👤 A Easter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 02:55
CPC Classifications
E; E03; E03D; E03D9/00; E03D9/02; E03D9/03; E03D9/033; E03D9/037; E03D2009/028
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
399 words
A liquid dispenser for use to dispense liquid from an inverted bottle having a neck into a tank at times when buoying water in the tank drops in level, including in combination: a hollow annular stationary member having a neck-engaging portion joined by an annular diaphragm to a central hollow portion having a first cylindrical tube and a second cylindrical tube of greater diameter than said first cylindrical tube connected thereto, said second cylindrical tube having a cylindrical inner surface and terminating in a sealing edge, said first cylindrical tube having an entrance end with an inlet passage provided by a cylindrical inner surface followed by a frustoconical passage leading in toward the axis to an inner surface that is cylindrical and is smaller in diameter than said inlet passage, and a movable member comprising, successively, an axial stem portion that is cylindrical and lies in and extends beyond both ends of said first cylindrical tube, a first frustoconical portion lying within said second cylindrical tube, a cylindrical portion having an outer periphery substantially identical to the inner periphery of said second cylindrical tube and engaging it in sealing relationship in a first position of said movable member, and a second frustoconical portion flaring outwardly from said cylindrical portion and engaged in said first portion by said sealing edge of said second tube in sealing position, said axial stem having at its distal end a cylindrical plug which lies beyond said stationary member in said first position and engages said inlet passage and said frustoconical passage in sealing relation in a second position of said movable member, said cylindrical position and said second frustoconical portion then being moved away from said second cylindrical tube, whereby in said first position of said movAble member liquid from said bottle enters said inlet passage and fills the space between said movable member and said stationary member above the seal made by said second cylindrical tube on said cylindrical portion and said second frustoconical portion, and liquid is dispensed when said movable member drops to its second position, at which time said cylindrical plug seals against said stationary member to prevent further dispensing, said movable member normally being held in said first position by the buoying force of water in a said tank and moving to said second position when the water level in said tank drops and the buoying force is withdrawn.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
399 words
A liquid dispenser for use to dispense liquid from an inverted bottle having a neck into a tank at times when buoying water in the tank drops in level, including in combination: a hollow annular stationary member having a neck-engaging portion joined by an annular diaphragm to a central hollow portion having a first cylindrical tube and a second cylindrical tube of greater diameter than said first cylindrical tube connected thereto, said second cylindrical tube having a cylindrical inner surface and terminating in a sealing edge, said first cylindrical tube having an entrance end with an inlet passage provided by a cylindrical inner surface followed by a frustoconical passage leading in toward the axis to an inner surface that is cylindrical and is smaller in diameter than said inlet passage, and a movable member comprising, successively, an axial stem portion that is cylindrical and lies in and extends beyond both ends of said first cylindrical tube, a first frustoconical portion lying within said second cylindrical tube, a cylindrical portion having an outer periphery substantially identical to the inner periphery of said second cylindrical tube and engaging it in sealing relationship in a first position of said movable member, and a second frustoconical portion flaring outwardly from said cylindrical portion and engaged in said first portion by said sealing edge of said second tube in sealing position, said axial stem having at its distal end a cylindrical plug which lies beyond said stationary member in said first position and engages said inlet passage and said frustoconical passage in sealing relation in a second position of said movable member, said cylindrical position and said second frustoconical portion then being moved away from said second cylindrical tube, whereby in said first position of said movAble member liquid from said bottle enters said inlet passage and fills the space between said movable member and said stationary member above the seal made by said second cylindrical tube on said cylindrical portion and said second frustoconical portion, and liquid is dispensed when said movable member drops to its second position, at which time said cylindrical plug seals against said stationary member to prevent further dispensing, said movable member normally being held in said first position by the buoying force of water in a said tank and moving to said second position when the water level in said tank drops and the buoying force is withdrawn.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said first frustoconical portion has a plurality of radially-extending fins engaging said cylindrical portion for guiding action.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The dispenser of claim 2 wherein said plug is separable from said stem but is locked thereto in assembly.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
FR1278126A
Cited
US3698021A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-14 | 1978-04-15 | 1978-10-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-14 | 1982-04-15 | 1982-10-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-14 | 1986-04-15 | 1986-10-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |