Sidewall dispenser

Claim 2

A sidewall dispenser for dispensing liquid from an upright position, said dispenser comprising: (a) container means for receiving a supply of the liquid, said container means having a container base, a container top and at least one sidewall coupling said container base to said container top, defining a container interior; (b) an air pocket means located within said container means at a portion adjacent the container base for containing an auxiliary body of the liquid, said air pocket means having a top portion, a bottom portion, a back wall portion spaced from said at least one sidewall, and a front portion, said back wall portion, said top portion and said front wall portion defining an air pocket portion within said air pocket means for retaining a pocket of air above said auxiliary body of said liquid; (c) liquid passageway means connecting the air pocket portion and the interior of said container means said liquid passageway means being located at said bottom portion of said air pocket means; (d) outlet means providing an exit from said air pocket means through a lower portion of said at least one sidewall, said outlet means being coupled to said air pocket means and being at a level above said liquid passageway means, said outlet means terminating in a liquid dispensing exit, said liquid dispensing exit being at substantially the same level as said outlet means; (e) pressure increasing means operable for providing a pressure increase within said container means for causing liquid to be forced out of said dispensing exit; and (f) liquid suck-back control means for sucking back liquid residue remaining in said outlet means and being proportioned with a cross-section sufficient to permit liquid to be forced through the outlet means and to cause an inrush of air as a result of operation of the liquid suck-back control means to positively drive liquid residue into said air pocket means to eliminate dripping from said outlet means.

Claim 3

A sidewall dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein said liquid passageway means extends substantially across the width of the interior of said container means at a location in proximity to said container base.

Claim 4

A sidewall dispenser as claimed in claim 2 wherein said dispensing exit has means for receiving a closure to permit said exit to be opened and closed.

Claim 5

A sidewall dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein said dispensing exit has means for receiving a closure to permit said exit to be opened and closed.

Claim 6

A sidewall dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pressure increasing means is provided by said at least one sidewall being resilient, said resilient sidewall being responsive to a hand force to deform to provide said pressure increase within said container means for causing liquid to be forced out of said dispensing exit and upon release of said hand force applied to said sidewall, said resilient sidewall returns to an undeformed shape, actuating said liquid suck-back control means for sucking-back liquid residue remaining in said outlet means into said air pocket means.

Claim 7

A sidewall dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein said liquid pressure increasing means is provided by resilient bellows means located at the top of said container means and being integral with said at least one side wall, said resilient bellows means being depressable by a hand force to create a pressure increase within said container means for causing liquid to be forced out of said dispensing exit and after removal of said hand force said resilient bellows means returns to its original position and actuates said liquid suck-back means for sucking back liquid residue remaining in said outlet means into said air pocket means.

Claim 8

A sidewall dispenser as claimed in claim 1 including outlet closure means associated with said outlet means, said outlet closure means being moveable between a first and a second position, wherein in said first position said closure means permits communication between said air pocket portion and the exterior of said container and in said second position said outlet closure means seals said container from said external atmosphere.

Claim 9

A sidewall dispenser as claimed in claim 4 including closure means associated with said outlet means, said outlet closure means being moveable between a first and a second position, wherein in said first position said closure means permitting communication between said air pocket portion and the exterior of said container and in said second position said outlet closure sealing said container from said external atmosphere.

Claim 10

A sidewall dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein said container top has a neck through which liquid can be supplied into said container interior, and said neck having an associated cap for sealing said opening.

Claim 11

a sidewall dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein said dispensing exit is located in said at least one side wall at or less than one third of the height of said sidewall.

Claim 12

A sidewall dispenser for dispensing liquid products from a non-inverted position, said liquid dispenser comprising: (a) container means for receiving a supply of liquid, said container means having a container base, a container top and at least one sidewall coupling said container base to said container top, to define a container interior; (b) an air pocket means located within said container means at a portion adjacent the container base for containing an auxiliary body of the liquid, said air pocket means having a top portion, a bottom portion, a back wall portion spaced from said at least one sidewall, and a front wall portion, said back wall portion, said top portion and said front wall portion defining an air pocket portion within said air pocket means for retaining a pocket of air above said auxiliary body of said liquid; (c) liquid passageway means connecting the air pocket portion and the interior of said container means said liquid passageway means being located at said bottom portion of said air pocket means; (d) outlet means providing an exit from said air pocket means through a lower portion of said at least one sidewall, said outlet means being coupled to said air pocket means and being at a level above said liquid passageway means, said outlet means terminating in a liquid dispensing exit, said liquid dispensing exit being at substantially the same level as said outlet means; (e) pressure increasing means operable for providing a pressure increase within said container means for causing liquid to be forced out of said dispensing exit; and (f) liquid suck-back control means for sucking back liquid residue remaining in said outlet means and being proportioned with a cross-section sufficient to permit liquid to be forced through the outlet means and to cause an inrush of air as a result of operation of the liquid suck-back control means to positively drive liquid residue into said air pocket means to eliminate dripping from said outlet means, the dispenser having, in an operative condition, a supply of liquid in said hollow container body, said supply of liquid having a liquid supply level spaced from said container top and said supply level and said container top defining a partial vacuum above said liquid supply level, said liquid passageway means providing liquid communication between the lower portion of said liquid in said container means and the air pocket portion, and liquid being present in said air pocket structure to provide said auxiliary body of liquid, said auxiliary body of liquid having an auxiliary liquid level, above which is said air pocket portion at atmospheric pressure, the auxiliary liquid level being controlled by the existence of said partial vacuum, by the viscosity of said liquid, and by the ambient temperature, the liquid sidewall dispenser having an amount of temperature compensation defined by the height between the auxiliary liquid level and the dispensing exit, and the air pocket structure being proportioned so that said temperature compensation is effective over a predetermined temperature range when said dispenser is almost empty, the arrangement being such that in operation, actuation of the pressure increasing means forces liquid out through said air pocket structure and said dispensing exit which is proportioned to provide suck-back sufficient to prevent dripping of said liquid following release of pressure and actuation of said liquid suck-back control means, the energy of air replacing the dispensing liquid decreasing after it passes through said dispensing exit to cause said liquid in said outlet means to flow into said auxiliary body of liquid, the distance between said dispensing exit and said liquid passageway means being selected for the viscosity of liquid so as to cause air being sucked-back to force liquid from the outlet into the auxiliary body of liquid.

Claim 13

A sidewall dispenser for dispensing liquid products from a non-inverted position, said liquid dispenser comprising: (a) container means for receiving a supply of liquid, said container means having a container base, a container top and at least one sidewall coupling said container base to said container top, to define a container interior; (b) an air pocket means located within said container means at a portion adjacent the container base for containing an auxiliary body of the liquid, said air pocket means having a top portion, a bottom portion, a back wall portion spaced from said at least one sidewall, and a front wall portion, said back wall portion, said top portion and said front wall portion defining an air pocket portion within said air pocket means for retaining a pocket of air above said auxiliary body of said liquid; (c) liquid passageway means connecting the air pocket portion and the interior of said container means said liquid passageway means being located at said bottom portion of said air pocket means; (d) outlet means providing an exit from said air pocket means through a lower portion of said at least one sidewall, said outlet means being coupled to said air pocket means and being at a level above said liquid passageway means, said outlet means terminating in a liquid dispensing exit, said liquid dispensing exit being at substantially the same level as said outlet means; (e) pressure increasing means operable for providing a pressure increase within said container means for causing liquid to be forced out of said dispensing exit; and (f) liquid suck-back control means for sucking back liquid residue remaining in said outlet means and being proportioned with a cross-section sufficient to permit liquid to be forced through the outlet means and to cause an inrush of air as a result of operation of the liquid suck-back control means to positively drive liquid residue into said air pocket means to eliminate dripping from said outlet means, the dispenser having, in an operative condition, a supply of liquid in said hollow container body, said supply of liquid having a liquid supply level spaced from said container top and said supply level and said container top defining a partial vacuum above said liquid supply level, said liquid passageway means providing liquid communication between the lower portion of said liquid in said container means and the air pocket portion, and liquid being present in said air pocket structure to provide said auxiliary body of liquid, said auxiliary body of liquid having an auxiliary liquid level, above which is said air pocket portion at atmospheric pressure, the auxiliary liquid level being controlled by the existence of said partial vacuum, by the viscosity of said liquid, and by the ambient temperature, the liquid sidewall dispenser having an amount of temperature compensation defined by the height between the auxiliary liquid level and the dispensing exit, and the air pocket structure being proportioned so that said temperature compensation is effective over a predetermined temperature range when said dispenser is almost empty, the arrangement being such that in operation, actuation of the pressure increasing means forces liquid out through said air pocket structure and said dispensing exit which is proportioned to provide suck-back sufficient to prevent dripping of said liquid following release of pressure and actuation of said liquid suck-back control means, the energy of air replacing the dispensing liquid decreasing after it passes through said dispensing exit to cause said liquid in said outlet means to flow into said auxiliary body of liquid, the distance between said dispensing exit and said liquid passageway means being selected for the viscosity of liquid so as to cause air being sucked-back to force liquid from the outlet into the auxiliary body of liquid.

Claim 14

A sidewall dispenser for dispensing liquid products from a non-inverted position, said sidewall dispenser comprising: container means for receiving a supply of the liquid, said container means having a container base, a container top and at least one sidewall coupling said container base to said container top to define a container interior; an air pocket means located within said container means at a portion adjacent the container base for containing an auxiliary body of the liquid, said air pocket means having a top portion, a bottom portion, a back wall portion spaced from said at least one sidewall, and a front wall portion, said back wall portion, said top portion and said front wall portion defining an air pocket portion within said air pocket means for retaining a pocket of air above said auxiliary body of said liquid; liquid passageway means connecting the air pocket portion and the interior of said container means said liquid passageway means being located at said bottom portion of said air pocket means and said liquid passageway means extending substantially across the width of the interior of said container means; outlet means providing an exit from said air pocket means through a lower portion of said at least one sidewall, said outlet means being coupled to said air pocket means and being at a level above said liquid passageway means, said outlet means terminating in a liquid dispensing exit, said liquid dispensing exit being at substantially the same level as said outlet means and said dispensing exit having means for receiving a closure; pressure increasing means operable for providing a pressure increase within said container means for causing liquid to be forced out of said dispensing exit; and liquid suck-back control means for sucking back liquid residue remaining in said outlet means being and proportioned with a cross-section sufficient to permit liquid to be forced through the outlet means and to cause an inrush of air as a result of operation of the liquid suck-back control means to positively drive liquid residue into said air pocket means to eliminate dripping from said outlet means.

Claim 15

A sidewall dispenser for dispensing liquid products from a non-inverted position, said sidewall dispenser comprising: container means for receiving a supply of the liquid, said container means having a container base, a container top and at least one sidewall coupling said container base to said container top to define a container interior; an air pocket means located within said container means at a portion adjacent the container base for containing an auxiliary body of the liquid, said air pocket means having a top portion, a bottom portion, a back wall portion spaced from said at least one sidewall, and a front wall portion, said back wall portion, said top portion and said front wall portion defining an air pocket portion within said air pocket means for retaining a pocket of air above said auxiliary body of said liquid; liquid passageway means connecting the air pocket portion and the interior of said container means said liquid passageway means being located at said bottom portion of said air pocket means and said liquid passageway means extending substantially across the width of the interior of said container means; outlet means providing an exit from said air pocket means through a lower portion of said at least one sidewall, said outlet means being coupled to said air pocket means and being at a level above said liquid passageway means, said outlet means terminating in a liquid dispensing exit, said liquid dispensing exit being at substantially the same level as said outlet means and said dispensing exit having means for receiving a closure; pressure increasing means operable for providing a pressure increase within said container means for causing liquid to be forced out of said dispensing exit; and liquid suck-back control means for sucking back liquid residue remaining in said outlet means being and proportioned with a cross-section sufficient to permit liquid to be forced through the outlet means and to cause an inrush of air as a result of operation of the liquid suck-back control means to positively drive liquid residue into said air pocket means to eliminate dripping from said outlet means.

Claim 16

A liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 12 wherein said pressure increasing means is provided by said at least one sidewall being resilient, said resilient sidewall being responsive to a hand force to deform to provide said pressure increase within said container means for causing liquid to be forced out of said dispensing exit and upon release of said hand force applied to said sidewall, said resilient sidewall returns to an underformed shape, actuating said liquid suck-back control means for sucking-back liquid residue remaining in said outlet means into said air pocket means.

Claim 17

A liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 12 wherein said liquid pressure increasing means is provided by resilient bellows means locatd at the top of said container means and being integral with said at least one side wall, said resilient bellows means being depressable by a hand force to create a pressure increase within said container means for causing liquid to be forced out of said dispensing exit and after removal of said hand force said resilient bellows means returns to its original position and actuates said liquid suck-back means for sucking back liquid residue remaining in said outlet means into said air pocket means.

Claim 18

A sidewall dispenser as claimed in claim 12 wherein said dispensing exit is located in said at least one side wall at or less than one third of the height of said sidewall.

Claim 19

A sidewall dispenser for dispensing liquid products from a non-inverted position, said dispenser liquid comprising: container means for receiving a supply of the liquid, said container means having a container base, a container top and at least one sidewall coupling said container base to said container top, defining a container interior; an air pocket means located within said container means at a portion adjacent the container base for containing an auxiliary body of the liquid, said air pocket means having a top portion, a bottom portion, a back wall portion spaced from said at least one sidewall, and a front wall portion, said back wall portion, said top portion and said front wall portion defining an air pocket portion within said air pocket means for retaining a pocket of air above said auxiliary body of said liquid; liquid passageway means connecting the air pocket portion and the interior of said container means said liquid passageway means being located at said bottom portion of said air pocket means; outlet means providing an exit from said air pocket means through a lower portion of said at least one sidewall, said outlet means being coupled to said air pocket means and being at a level above said liquid passageway means, said outlet means terminating in a liquid dispensing exit coupled thereto, said liquid dispensing exit being at substantially the same level as said outlet means and said dispensing exit having means for receiving a closure; pressure increasing means operable for providing a pressure increase within said container means for causing liquid to be forced out of said dispensing exit; and liquid suck-back control means for sucking back liquid residue remaining in said outlet means and being proportioned with a cross-section sufficient to permit liquid to be forced through the outlet means and to cause an inrush of air as a result of operation of the liquid suck-back control means to positively drive liquid residue into said air pocket means to eliminate dripping from said outlet means, the dispenser having, in an operative condition, a supply of liquid in said hollow container body, said supply of liquid having a liquid supply level spaced from said container top and said supply level and said container top defining a partial vacuum above said liquid supply level, said liquid passageway means providing liquid communication between the lower portion of said liquid in said container means and the air pocket portion, and liquid being present in said air pocket structure to provide said auxiliary body of liquid, said auxiliary body of liquid having an auxiliary liquid level, above which is said air pocket portion at atmospheric pressure, the auxiliary liquid level being controlled by the existance of said partial vacuum by the viscosity of said liquid and by the ambient temperature, said liquid sidewall dispenser having an amount of temperature compensation defined by the height between the liquid level and the dispensing exit, and the air pocket structure being proportioned so that said temperature compensation is effective over a predetermined temperature range when said dispenser is almost empty, the arrangement being such that in operation, a pressure increase within the container body forces liquid out through said dispensing exit and said air pocket structure and said dispensing exit also being proportioned to provide suck-back sufficient to prevent dripping of said liquid following release of pressure, the energy of air replacing the dispensing liquid decreasing after it passes through said dispensing exit to cause said liquid in said outlet means to flow into said auxiliary body of liquid, the distance between said dispensing exit and said liquid passageway means being selected for the viscosity of liquid so as to cause air being sucked-back to force liquid from the outlet into the auxiliary body of liquid.

Claim 20

A sidewall dispenser for dispensing liquid products from a non-inverted position, said dispenser liquid comprising: container means for receiving a supply of the liquid, said container means having a container base, a container top and at least one sidewall coupling said container base to said container top, defining a container interior; an air pocket means located within said container means at a portion adjacent the container base for containing an auxiliary body of the liquid, said air pocket means having a top portion, a bottom portion, a back wall portion spaced from said at least one sidewall, and a front wall portion, said back wall portion, said top portion and said front wall portion defining an air pocket portion within said air pocket means for retaining a pocket of air above said auxiliary body of said liquid; liquid passageway means connecting the air pocket portion and the interior of said container means said liquid passageway means being located at said bottom portion of said air pocket means; outlet means providing an exit from said air pocket means through a lower portion of said at least one sidewall, said outlet means being coupled to said air pocket means and being at a level above said liquid passageway means, said outlet means terminating in a liquid dispensing exit coupled thereto, said liquid dispensing exit being at substantially the same level as said outlet means and said dispensing exit having means for receiving a closure; pressure increasing means operable for providing a pressure increase within said container means for causing liquid to be forced out of said dispensing exit; and liquid suck-back control means for sucking back liquid residue remaining in said outlet means and being proportioned with a cross-section sufficient to permit liquid to be forced through the outlet means and to cause an inrush of air as a result of operation of the liquid suck-back control means to positively drive liquid residue into said air pocket means to eliminate dripping from said outlet means, the dispenser having, in an operative condition, a supply of liquid in said hollow container body, said supply of liquid having a liquid supply level spaced from said container top and said supply level and said container top defining a partial vacuum above said liquid supply level, said liquid passageway means providing liquid communication between the lower portion of said liquid in said container means and the air pocket portion, and liquid being present in said air pocket structure to provide said auxiliary body of liquid, said auxiliary body of liquid having an auxiliary liquid level, above which is said air pocket portion at atmospheric pressure, the auxiliary liquid level being controlled by the existance of said partial vacuum by the viscosity of said liquid and by the ambient temperature, said liquid sidewall dispenser having an amount of temperature compensation defined by the height between the liquid level and the dispensing exit, and the air pocket structure being proportioned so that said temperature compensation is effective over a predetermined temperature range when said dispenser is almost empty, the arrangement being such that in operation, a pressure increase within the container body forces liquid out through said dispensing exit and said air pocket structure and said dispensing exit also being proportioned to provide suck-back sufficient to prevent dripping of said liquid following release of pressure, the energy of air replacing the dispensing liquid decreasing after it passes through said dispensing exit to cause said liquid in said outlet means to flow into said auxiliary body of liquid, the distance between said dispensing exit and said liquid passageway means being selected for the viscosity of liquid so as to cause air being sucked-back to force liquid from the outlet into the auxiliary body of liquid.

Claim 21

A sidewall dispenser for dispensing liquid products, said dispenser liquid comprising: container means for receiving a supply of liquid, said container means having a container base, a container top and at least one sidewall coupling said container base to said container top to define a container interior; an air pocket means located within said container means at a portion adjacent the container base for containing an auxiliary body of the liquid, said air pocket means having a top portion, a bottom portion, a back wall portion spaced from said at least one sidewall, and a front wall portion, said back wall portion, said top portion and said front wall portion defining an air pocket portion within said air pocket means for retaining a pocket of air above said auxiliary body of said liquid; liquid passageway means connecting the air pocket portion and the interior of said container means said liquid pasageway means being located at said bottom portion of said air pocket means; outlet means providing an exit from said air pocket means through a lower portion of said at least one sidewall, said outlet means being coupled to said air pocket means and being at a level above said liquid passageway means, said outlet means terminating in a liquid dispensing exit, said liquid dispensing exit being at substantially the same level as said outlet means.

Claim 22

A sidewall dispenser for dispensing liquid products, said dispenser liquid comprising: container means for receiving a supply of liquid, said container means having a container base, a container top and at least one sidewall coupling said container base to said container top to define a container interior; an air pocket means located within said container means at a portion adjacent the container base for containing an auxiliary body of the liquid, said air pocket means having a top portion, a bottom portion, a back wall portion spaced from said at least one sidewall, and a front wall portion, said back wall portion, said top portion and said front wall portion defining an air pocket portion within said air pocket means for retaining a pocket of air above said auxiliary body of said liquid; liquid passageway means connecting the air pocket portion and the interior of said container means said liquid pasageway means being located at said bottom portion of said air pocket means; outlet means providing an exit from said air pocket means through a lower portion of said at least one sidewall, said outlet means being coupled to said air pocket means and being at a level above said liquid passageway means, said outlet means terminating in a liquid dispensing exit, said liquid dispensing exit being at substantially the same level as said outlet means.

Claim 23

A dispenser for dispensing liquids from the side of the dispenser in response to hand forces applied to the dispenser in an upright position, the dispenser comprising: a container having a base and a resilient upright wall; outlet control means attached to the resilient upright wall and positioned to receive liquid from the container immediately adjacent the bottom of the container, the outlet control means including an outlet through which liquid issues from the dispenser and air pocket means extending vertically downwards from the outlet with the dispenser in its upright position; the upright resilient wall being deformable by said hand force to increase the pressure in the container to cause flow of liquid from the container, through the air pocket means and out of the dispenser via the outlet, the resilient wall providing pressure restoring means which, after deformation of the resilient wall to increase pressure to dispense liquid, the resilient wall returns to its original shape thereby causing pressure equalisation in the air pocket means by drawing air into the dispenser through the outlet; and said outlet being proportioned with a cross-section sufficient to permit liquid to be forced outwardly through the outlet and to permit an inrush of air as a result of the return of the resilient wall to its original shape to positively drive droplets of liquid back from the outlet into the air pocket means to thereby eliminate the risk of dripping from the outlet.

Claim 24

A dispenser for dispensing liquids from the side of the dispenser in response to hand forces applied to the dispenser in an upright position, the dispenser comprising: a container having a base and a resilient upright wall; outlet control means attached to the resilient upright wall and positioned to receive liquid from the container immediately adjacent the bottom of the container, the outlet control means including an outlet through which liquid issues from the dispenser and air pocket means extending vertically downwards from the outlet with the dispenser in its upright position; the upright resilient wall being deformable by said hand force to increase the pressure in the container to cause flow of liquid from the container, through the air pocket means and out of the dispenser via the outlet, the resilient wall providing pressure restoring means which, after deformation of the resilient wall to increase pressure to dispense liquid, the resilient wall returns to its original shape thereby causing pressure equalisation in the air pocket means by drawing air into the dispenser through the outlet; and said outlet being proportioned with a cross-section sufficient to permit liquid to be forced outwardly through the outlet and to permit an inrush of air as a result of the return of the resilient wall to its original shape to positively drive droplets of liquid back from the outlet into the air pocket means to thereby eliminate the risk of dripping from the outlet.

Claim 25

A dispenser for dispensing liquids from the side of the dispenser in response to hand forces applied to the dispenser in an upright position, the dispenser comprising: a container having a base and an upright wall, a bellows means being coupled to said upright wall; outlet control means attached to the upright wall and positioned to receive liquid from the container immediately adjacent the bottom of the container, the outlet control means including an outlet through which liquid issues from the dispenser and air pocket means extending vertically downwards from the outlet with the dispenser in its upright position; the bellows means being depressable by said hand force to increase the pressure in the container to cause flow of liquid from the container, through the air pocket means and out of the dispenser through the outlet, the bellows being resilient to return to the original shape after release of said hand force so that after depression of the bellows to dispense liquid, the return of the bellows to the original shape causes pressure equalisation in the air pocket means by drawing air into the dispenser through the outlet; said outlet being proportioned with a cross-section sufficient to permit liquid to be forced through the outlet and to permit an inrush of air as a result of the operation of the bellows returning to its original underformed shape to positively drive droplets of liquid back from the outlet into the air pocket means to thereby eliminate the risk of dripping from the outlet.

Claim 26

A dispenser for dispensing liquids from the side of the dispenser in response to hand forces applied to the dispenser in an upright position, the dispenser comprising: a container having a base and an upright wall, a bellows means being coupled to said upright wall; outlet control means attached to the upright wall and positioned to receive liquid from the container immediately adjacent the bottom of the container, the outlet control means including an outlet through which liquid issues from the dispenser and air pocket means extending vertically downwards from the outlet with the dispenser in its upright position; the bellows means being depressable by said hand force to increase the pressure in the container to cause flow of liquid from the container, through the air pocket means and out of the dispenser through the outlet, the bellows being resilient to return to the original shape after release of said hand force so that after depression of the bellows to dispense liquid, the return of the bellows to the original shape causes pressure equalisation in the air pocket means by drawing air into the dispenser through the outlet; said outlet being proportioned with a cross-section sufficient to permit liquid to be forced through the outlet and to permit an inrush of air as a result of the operation of the bellows returning to its original underformed shape to positively drive droplets of liquid back from the outlet into the air pocket means to thereby eliminate the risk of dripping from the outlet.