System and apparatus for refilling a reservoir with liquid dispensed from a dispenser
AssigneeFontem Holdings 1 B.V.
InventorsKenneth Scott, Christopher Lord, David Jones, Stephen J. McDonald
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention solves some of the problems of the prior art by providing a method, system and apparatus for readily refilling the reservoir of a smoking-substitute device with liquid from a dispenser. The method, system and apparatus of the present invention prevents liquid from being dispensed until the dispenser is securely and sealably engaged to the smoking-substitute device, provides independent liquid and gas pathways between the dispenser and reservoir, and substantially alleviates the problems of spillage and/or leakage when dispensing liquid from the dispenser into the reservoir of the smoking-substitute device.
Claims16
A system for transferring liquid between a dispenser and a reservoir comprising:
- a coupling assembly for securably and sealably engaging said dispenser to said reservoir, the coupling assembly moveable between an unsecured and closed position in which liquid and gas communication is restricted between a dispenser outlet and a reservoir inlet and a reservoir outlet and a dispenser inlet, and a secured and open position in which the coupling assembly opens a liquid communication pathway between said dispenser and said reservoir through the dispenser outlet and reservoir inlet;
- and
- wherein the coupling assembly opens a gas communication pathway between said reservoir and atmosphere through the reservoir outlet and a vent in the coupling assembly;
- wherein the coupling assembly includes a male component and a female component configured and arranged to be fully engaged with one another, the male component including a plunger guide with an inwardly extending portion at a distal end thereof, and the female component including a cylinder with an inner side wall having a groove extending longitudinally therein, and a collar circumferentially extending within the cylinder;
- the plunger guide configured and arranged to extend into the cylinder, engage the inwardly extending wall portion with the collar, and thereby force the collar back against a spring;
- the gas communication pathway is formed between the inwardly extending portion of the plunger guide and the collar of the female component and extends through the groove in the cylinder of the female component to an external atmosphere.
A coupling assembly comprising:
- a dispenser including a dispenser inlet and dispenser outlet;
- a reservoir including a reservoir inlet and a reservoir outlet;
- and
- a coupler positioned between and engaging with the dispenser and the reservoir, the coupler configured to transfer liquid between the dispenser and the reservoir by moving between
- an unsecured and closed position in which liquid and gas communication is restricted between the dispenser outlet and the reservoir inlet and the reservoir outlet and the dispenser inlet, and
- a secured and open position in which the coupler opens a liquid communication pathway between the dispenser and the reservoir through the dispenser outlet and the reservoir inlet and opens a first gas communication pathway between the reservoir and an atmosphere through the reservoir outlet and a vent in the coupler;
- wherein the coupling assembly further includes a male component and a female component configured and arranged to be fully engaged with one another, the male component including a plunger guide with an inwardly extending portion at a distal end thereof, and the female component including a cylinder with an inner side wall having a groove extending longitudinally therein, and a collar circumferentially extending within the cylinder;
- the plunger guide configured and arranged to extend into the cylinder, engage the inwardly extending wall portion with the collar, and thereby force the collar back against a spring;
- wherein the first gas communication pathway is formed between the inwardly extending portion of the plunger guide and the collar of the female component and extends through the groove in the cylinder of the female component to an external atmosphere.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.