Dispensing – Resilient wall – Internally extending outlet pipe
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-29
2001-09-25
Kaufman, Joseph A. (Department: 3754)
Dispensing
Resilient wall
Internally extending outlet pipe
C222S464500, C222S529000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06293436
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the field of liquid dispensers of the type commonly known as squeeze bottles. More particularly, the present invention relates to liquid containers that can be squeezed to dispense viscous liquids, such as lubricating oil into otherwise inaccessible areas.
Squeeze bottles have long been used for dispensing viscous liquids such as ketchup, honey, body lotion, glue, industrial oil, and so forth. Typically they comprise a cylindrical hollow body that forms a liquid reservoir and a spout assembly with a nozzle or other outlet that is sealed with a cap after use to prevent spillage and/or evaporation. One type of squeeze bottle that has become popular for dispensing lubricating oil has an elongated hollow spout assembly that accommodates a flexible tube that is normally contained within a deformable, cylindrical bottle and which is slidably extensible from the distal tip of the spout assembly for dispensing oil into hard-to-reach locations. See for example U.S. Design Patent No. Des. 200,364 of Brody and U.S. Pat. No. 4,925,128 of Brody. Such squeeze bottles frequently suffer from leakage at the interface between the tube and the surrounding extension of the spout assembly. They also use sealing caps that are tedious to remove and replace, and often become lost. In addition, this type of squeeze bottle can dispense excessive amounts of oil when squeezed and easily tips over when placed upright on a support surface, especially when the extensible tube is fully extended. If the sealing cap is not securely fit over the distal end of the tube, a messy oil spill results. U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,712 of Brody discloses a squeeze bottle having an extensible tube with a fluted plug molded on the base of the cap assembly. The tube can be bent over so that the plug can be inserted into the orifice in the end of the tube. However, this can lead to crimping and/or permanent bending of the tube of the tube. Also, considerable lateral forces are exerted on the plug by the tube when they are mated such that the plug bends over.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore the primary object of the present invention to provide an improved liquid container of the squeeze bottle variety that employs an extensible dispensing tube which overcomes the drawbacks of prior art liquid containers of this type.
In accordance with a first aspect of our invention, a liquid dispensing container includes a deformable bottle for holding a quantity of a liquid to be dispensed and a spout assembly coupled to an end of the bottle for selectively dispensing from the bottle a small portion of the quantity of liquid previously supplied to the interior of the bottle. The spout assembly includes a bottle cap having a through bore and a flexible tube slidably extensible within the through bore out of the bottle and slidably retractable within the through bore back into the bottle. The tube has a proximal end for receiving the quantity of liquid within the bottle and a distal end for delivering the liquid out of the bottle. The spout assembly further includes a wiper element that extends radially inwardly adjacent the through bore. The wiper element provides a substantially liquid impervious seal between the bottle cap and the tube. The wiper element scrapes off liquid from the tube when the tube is slidably extended from the bottle.
According to another aspect of our invention a liquid dispensing container includes a deformable bottle for holding a quantity of a liquid to be dispensed and a spout assembly coupled to an end of the bottle for selectively dispensing a small portion of the quantity of liquid previously supplied to the interior of the bottle. The spout assembly includes a bottle cap having an annular through bore and a flexible tube slidably extensible within the through bore out of the bottle and slidably retractable within the through bore back into the bottle. The tube has a proximal end for receiving the quantity of liquid within the bottle and a distal end for delivering the liquid out of the bottle. The spout assembly further includes a nozzle that is coupled to the distal end of the tube and has at least one dispensing orifice and a pop-up cap coupled to the nozzle and selectively movable between retracted and extended positions for sealing and unsealing the dispensing orifice.
According to yet another aspect of our invention a liquid dispensing container includes a deformable bottle for holding a quantity of a liquid to be dispensed and a spout assembly coupled to an upper neck portion of the bottle for selectively dispensing a small portion of the quantity of liquid in the bottle. The bottle has a generally hemispherical lower base portion that is connected to the upper neck portion. The spout assembly includes a bottle cap having a through bore. The spout assembly further includes a flexible tube slidably extensible within the through bore out of the bottle and slidably retractable within the through bore back into the bottle. The tube has a proximal end for receiving the quantity of liquid within the bottle and a distal end for delivering the liquid out of the bottle.
According to still a further aspect of our invention a liquid dispensing container includes a unitary molded bottle for holding a quantity of a liquid to be dispensed. The bottle has a generally hemispherical lower base portion and an elongated upper neck portion for providing a low center of gravity to reduce the likelihood of inadvertent tipping over of the bottle. The base portion of the bottle includes a deformable bottom wall portion that can be manually depressed to force liquid from the bottle through the neck portion. The container further includes a spout assembly coupled to an upper end of the neck portion of the bottle for dispensing a small portion of the quantity of liquid in the bottle when the flexible bottom wall portion of the bottle is manually depressed.
According to yet another aspect of our invention a liquid dispensing container includes a unitary, injection molded plastic bottle for holding a quantity of a liquid to be dispensed. The bottle has a generally hemispherical lower base portion and an elongated generally frusto-conical upper neck portion. This bottle configuration provides a low center of gravity to reduce the likelihood of inadvertent tipping over of the bottle. The base portion of the bottle includes a deformable bottom wall portion that can be manually depressed to force liquid from the bottle through the neck portion. A spout assembly is coupled to an upper end of the upper neck portion for dispensing a small portion of the quantity of liquid in the bottle when the flexible bottom wall portion of the bottle is manually depressed. The spout assembly includes a bottle cap having a shoulder portion defining an annular through bore. The spout assembly further includes a flexible tube slidably extensible within the through bore out of the bottle and slidably retractable within the through bore back into the bottle. The tube has a proximal end for receiving the quantity of liquid within the bottle and a distal end for delivering the liquid out of the bottle. The spout assembly further includes an annular wiper element extending radially inwardly and downwardly adjacent the shoulder portion of the bottle cap for providing a substantially liquid impervious seal between the shoulder portion of the bottle cap and the tube. The wiper element also scrapes off liquid from the tube when the tube is slidably extended from the bottle. A nozzle component of the spout assembly is coupled to the distal end of the tube and has at least one dispensing orifice. A pop-up cap component of the spout assembly is coupled to the nozzle and is selectively movable between retracted and extended positions for sealing and unsealing the dispensing orifice. The nozzle is formed with a sealing plug at its distal end which is received in a hole in the pop-up cap when the pop-up cap is in its retracted position. The sealing plug is withdrawn from the hole when the pop-up c
Faughnder David J.
Gorton Lanny A.
Jester Michael H.
Kaufman Joseph A.
WD-40 Company
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