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US 10,698,368 B2Granted
Apparatus and process for dispensing a measured quantity of liquid product
AssigneeThe Procter & Gamble Company
InventorsNicole Lynn Briggs, Scott Eugene Mizer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and process for dispensing a measured quantity of liquid product from a container. The apparatus includes a pour chamber and a density timer. The density timer is engaged with the pour chamber. The density timer includes a reservoir containing a timing liquid and a timing element. The timing element is visible from outside the reservoir. One or more dosing indicia are on or adjacent the reservoir.
Claims19
An apparatus (10) comprising:
- a pour chamber (20) comprising an inlet end (30) and an outlet end (40) and a pour chamber wall (50) extending from said inlet end to said outlet end, wherein said pour chamber has an open cross sectional area (60) through which flow can occur from said inlet end to said outlet end,
- wherein said open cross sectional area is a function of position between said inlet end and said outlet end, said outlet end being downstream of said inlet end, wherein said outlet end has an outlet perimeter, and wherein a portion of said pour chamber upstream of said outlet end is a spout (45) having a spout entrance upstream of said outlet end;
- a dam (80) engaged with said pour chamber wall and positioned between said inlet end and said spout, wherein said open cross sectional area is reduced where said dam is positioned as compared to a position immediately upstream of said dam, and wherein said dam partially obstructs said spout entrance;
- a vent (100) comprising an entrance (105) spaced apart from said outlet end and a vent wall extending from said entrance to an exit (130), wherein said exit is in fluid communication with said pour chamber, wherein said exit is more distant from said dam than said outlet end is from said dam, wherein said exit is more than about 0.5 times said outlet perimeter away from said dam, and wherein said exit has an exit perimeter (140) and said outlet perimeter (90) is more than about 2 times greater than said exit perimeter;
- and
- a density timer (150) engaged with said pour chamber, said density timer comprising:
- a reservoir (410) containing a timing liquid (405) having a first density and a timing element (400) having a second density, wherein said second density differs from said first density, said timing element (400) is movable through said timing liquid, and said timing element is visible from outside said reservoir;
- and
- one or more dosing indicia (240) on or adjacent to said reservoir.
6 more elements
An apparatus (10) comprising:
- a pour chamber (20) comprising an inlet end (30) and an outlet end (40) and a pour chamber wall (50) extending from said inlet end to said outlet end, wherein said pour chamber has an open cross sectional area (60) through which flow can occur from said inlet end to said outlet end;
- and
- a density timer (150) engaged with said pour chamber, said density timer comprising:
- a reservoir (410) containing a timing liquid (405) having a first density and a timing element (400) having a second density, wherein said second density differs from said first density, said timing element (400) is movable through said timing liquid, and said timing element is visible from outside said reservoir;
- and
- one or more dosing indicia (240) on or adjacent to said reservoir;
- wherein said open cross sectional area is a function of position between said inlet end and said outlet end, said outlet end being downstream of said inlet end, wherein said outlet end has an outlet perimeter, and wherein a portion of said pour chamber upstream of said outlet end is a spout having a spout entrance upstream of said outlet end;
- and
- wherein said apparatus further comprises a vent (100) comprising an entrance (105) spaced apart from said outlet end and a vent wall extending from said entrance to an exit (130), wherein said exit is in fluid communication with said pour chamber, wherein said exit has an exit perimeter (140) and said outlet perimeter (90) is more than about 2 times greater than said exit perimeter.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.