US4036407A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dosing valve
Assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
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Filing: 1976-03-26
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Granted: 1977-07-19
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Expires: 1996-03-26
Abstract
Abstract An improved dosing valve for use in beverage dispensers, toilet tank additive dispensers, and the like which dispensers comprise substantially rigid reservoirs. The improved valve comprises an air-lock seal and another seal which may also be an air-lock seal. Dosing valves comprising such air-lock seals are particularly effective for obviating leakage of low viscosity, low surface tension, wetting type products such as toilet tank disinfectants comprising surfactant material. The seals are so disposed that the valve will dispense a metered dose of a liquid product from its associated reservoir each time a moveable component moves from an UP position to a DOWN position, and a dose-volume of air will be vented into the dispenser reservoir each time the moveable component is moved from its DOWN position to its UP position. The moveable member can be moved upwardly either mechanically, or by virtue of being buoyant, and it can be moved downwardly by gravity alone or by gravity supplemented by biasing means. For instance, such a valve comprising a buoyant moveable member will, if incorporated in a toilet tank additive dispenser, cause a metered dose of a liquid product to be dispensed each time the toilet tank is emptying during a toilet flushing event; and vent a dose-volume of air into the dispenser's reservoir when the toilet tank is refilled.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas James Slone
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 22:05
CPC Classifications
E; E03; E03D; E03D9/00; E03D9/02; E03D9/03; E03D9/033; E03D9/037
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
An improved dosing valve having a stationary member and a moveable component for dispensing a metered dose of a liquid product from a substantially rigid reservoir containing a quantity of a liquid product, said moveable component being axially moveable manually upwardly and moveable downwardly by gravity between an UP position and a DOWN position respectively, said improvement comprising means for forming an air-lock seal between cooperating portions of said stationary member and said moveable component for independently obviating flow from said reservoir when said moveable member is disposed at said DOWN position, and means forming an other seal intermediate other cooperating portions of said stationary member and said movable component for independently obviating flow from said dosage valve when said moveable component is disposed at said UP position, and means including a dose chamber cooperatively associated with said air-lock seal and said other seal for metering and dispensing a said metered dose of said liquid product each time said moveable component gravitates downwardly from said UP position to said DOWN position, and for metering a dose-volume of air upwardly into said reservoir each time said moveable component is moved upwardly from said DOWN position to said UP position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
198 words
An improved dosing valve having a stationary member and a moveable component for dispensing a metered dose of a liquid product from a substantially rigid reservoir containing a quantity of a liquid product, said moveable component being axially moveable manually upwardly and moveable downwardly by gravity between an UP position and a DOWN position respectively, said improvement comprising means for forming an air-lock seal between cooperating portions of said stationary member and said moveable component for independently obviating flow from said reservoir when said moveable member is disposed at said DOWN position, and means forming an other seal intermediate other cooperating portions of said stationary member and said movable component for independently obviating flow from said dosage valve when said moveable component is disposed at said UP position, and means including a dose chamber cooperatively associated with said air-lock seal and said other seal for metering and dispensing a said metered dose of said liquid product each time said moveable component gravitates downwardly from said UP position to said DOWN position, and for metering a dose-volume of air upwardly into said reservoir each time said moveable component is moved upwardly from said DOWN position to said UP position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
164 words
An improved dosing valve having a stationary member and a moveable component for dispensing a metered dose of a liquid product from a substantially rigid reservoir containing a quantity of a liquid product, said moveable component being axially moveable manually upwardly and moveable downwardy by gravity between an UP position and a DOWN position respectively, said improvement comprising means for forming a first air-lock seal and a second air-lock seal intermediate said stationary member and said moveable component when said moveable component is disposed at said DOWN and said UP positions respectively, and means including a dose chamber cooperatively associated with said first air-lock seal and said second air-lock seal for metering and dispensing a said metered dose of said liquid product each time said moveable component gravitates downwardly from said UP position to said DOWN position, and for metering a dose-volume of air upwardly into said reservoir each time said moveable component is moved upwardly from said DOWN position to said UP position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
164 words
An improved dosing valve having a stationary member and a moveable component for dispensing a metered dose of a liquid product from a substantially rigid reservoir containing a quantity of a liquid product, said moveable component being axially moveable manually upwardly and moveable downwardy by gravity between an UP position and a DOWN position respectively, said improvement comprising means for forming a first air-lock seal and a second air-lock seal intermediate said stationary member and said moveable component when said moveable component is disposed at said DOWN and said UP positions respectively, and means including a dose chamber cooperatively associated with said first air-lock seal and said second air-lock seal for metering and dispensing a said metered dose of said liquid product each time said moveable component gravitates downwardly from said UP position to said DOWN position, and for metering a dose-volume of air upwardly into said reservoir each time said moveable component is moved upwardly from said DOWN position to said UP position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
130 words
The improved dosing valve of claim 2 wherein said stationary member comprises a tubular portion having a top end and a bottom end, and means for defining an annular-shape vault adjacent said bottom end, and wherein said moveable component comprises an upper end and a lower end interconnected by an axially extending stem, said upper end having a downwardly facing annular U-shape channel formed in it which channel is adapted to telescope downwardly over the top end of said tubular portion of said stationary member to define said first air-lock seal, and said lower end having a tubular section extending upwardly to define an upwardly facing annular U-shape channel, said tubular section being adapted to telescope upwardly into said vault of said stationary member to define said second air-lock seal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
64 words
The improved dosing valve of claim 3 wherein said top end, said bottom end, said vault and said channels have sufficient axial lengths that said air-lock seals have overlapping sealing ranges for providing make-before-break action which assures isolation of a said metered dose in said dose chamber from the remainder of said liquid product disposed in said reservoir before said metered dose is dispensed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
69 words
The improved dosing valve of claim 3 wherein said moveable component comprises means for being buoyed upwardly to said UP position by immersing a portion of said moveable component in a second liquid whereby said valve will dispense a metered dose of said liquid product from said reservoir each time the level of said second liquid recedes sufficiently to enable said moveable component to gravitate to said DOWN position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
64 words
The improved dosing valve of claim 5 wherein said top end, said bottom end, said vault and said channels have sufficient axial lengths that said air-lock seals have overlapping sealing ranges for providing make-before-break action which assures isolation of a said metered dose in said dose chamber from the remainder of said liquid product dispensed in said reservoir before said metered dose is dispensed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
71 words
The improved dosing valve of claim 3 wherein said stationary member and said moveble component further comprise releasably latchable contacting sealing means for sealingly latching said stationary member with said moveable component by applying an axially directed force on said moveable component greater than the weight of said moveable component to provide a shipping seal, and for unlatching said shipping seal by applying an oppositely directed force on said moveable component.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
65 words
The improved dosing valve of claim 7 wherein said top end, said bottom end, said vault and said channels have sufficient axial lengths that said air-lock seals have overlapping sealing ranges for providing make-before-break action which assures positive isolation of a said metered dose in said dose chamber from the remainder of said liquid product disposed in said reservoir before said metered dose is dispensed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
69 words
The improved dosing valve of claim 7 wherein said moveable component comprises means for being buoyed upwardly to said UP position by immersing a portion of said moveable component in a second liquid whereby said valve will dispense a metered dose of said liquid product from said reservoir each time the level of said second liquid recedes sufficiently to enable said moveable component to gravitate to said DOWN position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
65 words
The improved dosing valve of claim 9 wherein said top end, said bottom end, said vault and said channels have sufficient axial lengths that said air-lock seals have overlapping sealing ranges for providing make-before-break action which assures positive isolation of a said metered dose in said dose chamber from the remainder of said liquid product disposed in said reservoir before said metered dose is dispensed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
78 words
The improved dosing valve of claim 7 wherein said moveable component comprises a top part and a bottom part which comprise means for being telescoped relative to each other to provide a relatively short shipping-length and a relatively long dispensing-length, said parts further comprising means for lengthening said moveable member from said shipping-length to said dispensing-length by pulling outwardly on said bottom part, and for then unlatching a said shipping seal by pushing inwardly on said bottom part.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
65 words
The improved dosing valve of claim 11 wherein said top end, said bottom end, said vault and said channels have sufficient axial lengths that said air-lock seals have overlapping sealing ranges for providing make-before-break action which assures positive isolation of a said metered dose in said dose chamber from the remainder of said liquid product disposed in said reservoir before said metered dose is dispensed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
69 words
The improved dosing valve of claim 11 wherein said moveable component comprises means for being buoyed upwardly to said UP position by immersing a portion of said moveable member in a second liquid whereby said valve will dispense a metered dose of said liquid product from said reservoir each time the level of said second liquid recedes sufficiently to enable said moveable component to gravitate to said DOWN position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
65 words
The improved dosing valve of claim 13 wherein said top end, said bottom end, said vault and said channels have sufficient axial lengths that said air-lock seals have overlapping sealing ranges for providing make-before-break action which assures positive isolation of a said metered dose in said dose chamber from the remainder of said liquid product disposed in said reservoir before said metered dose is dispensed.
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) | 1980-07-18 | 1981-01-17 | 1981-07-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-07-18 | 1985-01-17 | 1985-07-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-07-18 | 1989-01-17 | 1989-07-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |