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US 10,730,338 B2Granted
Fluid applicator refill system
OwnerHayden R Murphyinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides devices, systems, and methods for refilling a refillable fluid applicator, such as but not limited to a refillable dry erase marker. The devices, systems, and methods of the present invention advantageously allow the fluid applicator to be refilled quickly, easily, and inexpensively, and provide the benefit of significantly reducing the quantity of solid plastic waste associated with conventional disposable dry erase markers and other fluid applicators.
Claims10
A fluid applicator refill system, comprising:
- a refillable fluid applicator, comprising a first interface element, a fluid reservoir, and an applicator tip, wherein fluid in the fluid reservoir has a first pressure;
- and
- a refilling unit, comprising a primary fluid reservoir, at least one actuating member, a first valve, a second interface element, and at least one fluid communicating element, wherein fluid in the primary fluid reservoir has a second pressure,
- wherein the second pressure is higher than both an ambient atmospheric pressure and the first pressure,
- wherein the first and second interface elements are configured to generate an interface force when placed in physical contact with, or close proximity to, each other,
- wherein the at least one actuating member is configured, when acted upon by the interface force, to open the first valve and cause the at least one fluid communicating element to place the fluid reservoir of the refillable fluid applicator and the primary fluid reservoir in fluid communication,
- wherein, when the first valve is open, the fluid contained in the primary fluid reservoir flows out of the primary fluid reservoir, through the first valve and the at least one fluid communicating element, and into the fluid reservoir of the refillable fluid applicator, and
- wherein the first and second interface elements are magnetically attractive and the interface force comprises a magnetic force, wherein the magnetic force aligns and securely interconnects the refillable fluid applicator with the refilling unit.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.