CN111031993B

CN111031993B - Liquid dispensing apparatus

Info

Publication number: CN111031993B
Application number: CN201880043751.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: C·R·巴切特; M·A·卡斯科; M·D·豪夫; J·P·布里兹
Original assignee: Cascade Designs Inc
Current assignee: Cascade Designs Inc
Priority date: 2017-05-08
Filing date: 2018-05-01
Publication date: 2022-11-11
Anticipated expiration: 2038-05-01
Also published as: CN111031993A; AU2018266554B2; EP3634355A4; EP3634355C0; KR102305108B1; WO2018208538A1; AU2018266554A1; KR20200037746A; EP3634355B1; EP3634355A1

Abstract

A liquid dispensing device includes a flexible container having first and second opposing walls and a bottom surface. The walls and bottom surface define an interior chamber configured to contain a liquid. A connecting element is connected to the first opposing wall and provides fluid communication between the chamber and the exterior of the container. A channel member is disposed within the chamber and has a length. The channel member has a proximal end in fluid communication with the connecting element and a terminal end extending toward a bottom surface of the container. The channel member is configured such that liquid can pass through the entire length.

Description

Liquid dispensing apparatus

Priority requirement

This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/502,866, filed on 8/5/2017, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth herein.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a liquid dispensing apparatus.

Background

Flexible, resealable containers and systems for hydration can include a suction tube (drink tube) coupled to the bottom of the flexible container, wherein the tube is loosely tied to manage the extra length of the tube. When contained in a wearer's bag or backpack, the suction tube can become kinked, thereby isolating the wearer's ability to extract the fluid in the container. Often, there is a detachable coupling (coupling) between the tube and the container, which is difficult to access and sometimes improperly installed, thereby causing fluid to leak due to gravity. Sometimes, the union cannot be disconnected at this location without removing the entire system from the backpack.

Disclosure of Invention

The liquid dispensing apparatus of the present invention comprises: a flexible container comprising first and second opposing walls and a bottom surface defining an interior chamber configured to contain a liquid; a connecting element connected to the first opposing wall and providing fluid communication between the chamber and an exterior of the container, and a channel member disposed within the chamber and having a length, the channel member including a proximal end in fluid communication with the connecting element and a terminal end extending toward a bottom surface of the container, the channel member configured such that liquid can pass through the entire length.

A further liquid dispensing device of the invention comprises: a flexible container comprising first and second opposing walls and a bottom surface defining an interior chamber configured to contain a liquid; a connecting element connected to the first opposing wall and providing fluid communication between the chamber and an exterior of the container, and a channel member formed within the first opposing wall and having a length, the channel member including a proximal end in fluid communication with the connecting element and a terminal end extending toward a bottom surface of the container, the channel member configured such that liquid can pass through the entire length.

Drawings

Preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of a container according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a rear view of the container shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a side perspective view of the container shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of a channel member and a connecting element according to an embodiment of the invention; and

fig. 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a channel member according to an embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description

This application is intended to describe more than one embodiment of the present invention. It is to be understood that absolute terms, such as "must," "about," and the like, as well as the use of a specific number of such terms, are to be construed to apply to more than one such embodiment, but are not necessarily to apply to all such embodiments. Thus, embodiments of the invention may omit or include modification of one or more features or functions described in the context of such absolute terms.

In an embodiment of the invention, the liquid dispensing device 1 comprises a flexible and transparent or translucent container 20, said container 20 having first and second

opposing walls

21, 22 and a bottom surface 23. The

walls

21, 22 and bottom surface 23 define an interior chamber 24 configured to contain a liquid. A detachable connection element 30 is connected to the first opposite wall 21 and provides fluid communication between the chamber 24 and the outside of the container 20 (i.e. the surrounding environment).

The channel member 10 arranged within the chamber 24 comprises a proximal end 11 in fluid communication with the connecting element 30 and a terminal end 12 extending towards the bottom surface 23 of the container 20. As best illustrated in fig. 5, the channel member 10 further comprises a protrusion 13, said protrusion 13 being configured to prevent the first wall 21 and the second wall 22 from coming into full contact with each other when the liquid is discharged from the container 20. The channel member 10 may comprise a ridge 14, said ridge 14 may be connected to the first opposite wall 21 along its entire length. The passage member 10 is configured such that liquid can pass through the entire length of the boss 13.

Suction may be applied to the connecting element 30, typically by a suction tube (not shown) fluidly connectable to the connecting element 30, such that liquid is removed from the container 20 via the channel member 10 and the connecting element 30. When suction is applied to the connecting element 30, the

opposing walls

21, 22 of the container 20 begin to collapse into each other from the top of the container 20 and continue to collapse into each other toward the bottom surface of the container 20 as liquid continues to be removed from the container 20. When all of the liquid is withdrawn from the container 20, the container 20 is substantially flat, with each

opposing wall

21, 22 contacting the other wall almost entirely.

However, the passage member 10 provides a path similar to a pipe flow to flow the liquid along the length of the collapsed portion of the container 20. As best shown in fig. 5, the particular design of the channel assembly 10, which is generally T-shaped in cross-section, prevents the flexible container 20 from blocking the flow of water to the connecting element 30 and allows the full liquid volume to be discharged through the connecting element 30.

In an embodiment, the first wall 21 comprises a storage chamber 31 and the connecting element 30 is rotatable to a storage position within the storage chamber 31 when, for example, not attached to a suction tube.

The channel member 10 can be flexible but stiff enough to prevent the sides of the container 20 from coming together completely to cause tubing flow. The channel member 10 is designed and attached in a manner that reduces or eliminates the opportunity for bacteria to become entrained and can be easily cleaned without having to remove the member from within the container 20. In addition, the connecting element 30 and the channel member 10 are designed to reduce or remove all air so that no residual air bubbles are introduced when the fluid is withdrawn from the container 20.

One or more alternative embodiments may include the following features:

the connecting element 30 can be attached to the container 20 at other locations, such as connecting the first and second

opposing walls

21, 22, any interior surface of the bottom surface 23, etc.

The channel assembly 10 can include a channel or channels (e.g., one or more bosses) oriented in various directions.

The channel member 10 is shaped or components are added to vary the flow rate to indicate to the user when the liquid level is low.

The channel part 10 can be weak and can be detached from the wall 21.

The channel member 10 can be integrated into or operate in conjunction with a baffle 40, said baffle 40 being arranged within the chamber 24 and being connected to at least one of the first and second

opposite walls

21, 22.

Instead of a separate element, the channel member 10 can be integrally formed from the first opposing wall 21 within the first opposing wall 21 such that the raised portion 13 does not require a ridge 14 for attachment to the wall 21.

The channel member 10 can have a cross-sectional shape such as, but not limited to, C-shaped, L-shaped, and/or tubular.

The configuration of the channel assembly 10 may not be linear.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiments. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow.

Claims

1. A liquid dispensing device comprising:

a flexible container comprising first and second opposing walls, a top, and a bottom surface defining an interior chamber configured to contain a liquid;

a detachable connecting element connected to the first opposing wall near the top and providing fluid communication between the chamber and an exterior of a removably attached suction tube of the container without introducing residual air bubbles to the chamber, wherein the first opposing wall includes a storage chamber and the connecting element is rotatable to a storage position within the storage chamber when the connecting element is not connected to the suction tube, and

a channel member disposed within the chamber and having a length, the channel member including a proximal end in fluid communication with the connecting element and a terminal end extending toward a bottom surface of the container, the channel member configured such that liquid can pass through the entire length.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the channel member further comprises a protrusion configured to prevent the first and second opposing walls from fully contacting each other when the liquid is drained from the container.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the channel member is connected to the first opposing wall along the entire length.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a baffle disposed within the chamber and connected to at least one of the first opposing wall and the second opposing wall.

5. A liquid dispensing device comprising:

a channel member formed within the first opposing wall and having a length, the channel member including a proximal end in fluid communication with the connecting element and a terminal end extending toward a bottom surface of the container, the channel member configured such that liquid can pass through the entire length.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a baffle connected to at least one of the first opposing wall and the second opposing wall.