Back to results
US 10,639,136 B2Granted
Oral care implement
AssigneeColgate-Palmolive Company
InventorsBrian Worthington, Sharon Kennedy, Eduardo Jimenez
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A liquid supply apparatus having an internal reservoir. In one embodiment, the invention can be a liquid supply apparatus including a housing having an internal reservoir containing a fluid. A partition member may be positioned within the internal reservoir to divide the internal reservoir into a first chamber and a second chamber. The partition member may include a passageway extending therethrough and terminating as a first opening in a first surface of the partition member and as a second opening in a second surface of the partition member. A capillary member is located within the second chamber and extends from a first end to a second end. The partition member prohibits axial movement of the capillary member into the first chamber.
Claims15
A liquid supply apparatus comprising:
- a housing having an internal reservoir containing a fluid;
- a partition member positioned within the internal reservoir that divides the internal reservoir into a first chamber and a second chamber, the partition member comprising a first surface facing the first chamber and a second surface facing the second chamber;
- a passageway extending through the partition member from the first chamber to the second chamber, the passageway terminating as a first opening in the first surface of the partition member and as a second opening in the second surface of the partition member;
- and
- a capillary member located within the second chamber and extending from a first end to a second end, the partition member prohibiting axial movement of the capillary member into the first chamber;
- wherein the first opening of the passageway has a first diameter, the second opening of the passageway has a second diameter, and the second end of the capillary member terminates in an end surface having a third diameter, the third diameter being less than the first diameter;
- and
- wherein the second end of the capillary member is in surface contact with the second opening of the passageway, the third diameter being greater than the second diameter thereby preventing the second end of the capillary member from passing through the second opening and into the passageway of the partition member.
5 more elements
A liquid supply apparatus comprising:
- a housing having an internal reservoir containing a fluid;
- a partition member positioned within the internal reservoir that divides the internal reservoir into a first chamber and a second chamber, the partition member comprising a first surface facing the first chamber and a second surface facing the second chamber;
- a passageway extending through the partition member from the first chamber to the second chamber, the passageway terminating as a first opening in the first surface of the partition member and as a second opening in the second surface of the partition member;
- and
- a capillary member located within the second chamber and extending from a first end to a second end, the partition member prohibiting axial movement of the capillary member into the first chamber;
- wherein the second surface of the partition member is a transverse surface;
- and
- wherein the second surface of the partition member comprises an upper surface and a recessed surface;
- and wherein the second end of the capillary member extends past the upper surface of the second surface of the partition member and is in abutting contact with the recessed surface of the second surface of the partition member, the recessed surface located within the passageway.
6 more elements
A liquid supply apparatus comprising:
- a housing having an internal reservoir containing a fluid;
- a partition member positioned within the internal reservoir that divides the internal reservoir into a first chamber and a second chamber, the partition member comprising a first surface facing the first chamber and a second surface facing the second chamber;
- a passageway extending through the partition member from the first chamber to the second chamber, the passageway terminating as a first opening in the first surface of the partition member and as a second opening in the second surface of the partition member;
- and
- a capillary member located within the second chamber and extending from a first end to a second end, the partition member prohibiting axial movement of the capillary member into the first chamber;
- wherein the second end of the capillary member is tapered, the second end of the capillary member within the second opening and in contact with the second surface;
- wherein the second end of the capillary member is conical such that a portion of the second end of the capillary member passes through the second opening in the second surface of the partition member without passing through the first opening in the first surface of the partition member.
4 more elements
A liquid supply apparatus comprising:
- a housing having an internal reservoir containing a fluid;
- a partition member positioned within the internal reservoir, the partition member separating the internal reservoir into a first chamber and a second chamber, a passageway formed through the partition member and comprising an inlet section adjacent the first chamber and a delivery section adjacent the second chamber, and wherein the inlet section has a maximum transverse cross-sectional area that is greater than a maximum transverse cross-sectional area of the delivery section;
- a capillary member extending from a first end to a second end, the second end terminating in an end surface in fluid communication with the delivery section of the passageway;
- wherein the inlet section of the passageway terminates in a first opening in a first surface of the partition member that faces the first chamber, and wherein the delivery section of the passageway terminates in a second opening in a second surface of the partition member that faces the second chamber;
- wherein the end surface of the second end of the capillary member contacts the second surface of the partition member to prohibit axial movement of the capillary member in a first axial direction;
- and
- wherein the second surface of the partition member comprises an upper surface and a recessed surface, and wherein the end surface of the second end of the capillary member is in contact with the recessed surface of the second surface of the partition member.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.