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US 2003/0150518 A1Published application
Liquids reservoirs
OwnerBrian Sladeinventor
Life of this patent
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OwnerBrian Sladeinventor
Estimating the term…
A liquid reservoir comprising a container (20) forming a chamber for holding the liquid (27). The container has a top wall (23) that closes the upper end of the chamber, a liquid outlet (35) in fluid communication with a lower en d of the chamber, and an air supply duct (47) through which air can enter the lower end of the chamber. In use, the reservoir finds an equilibrium position in which, due to a reduction in pressure in an air space (29) formed above the liquid (27) at the closed, upper end of the chamber, the column of liquid in the chamber is supported by atmospheric pressure acting at the opening of the air supply duct (47) to the lower end of the chamber. This opening is achieved by breaking a frangible seal (32) across the duct (47) by the axial insertion of the liquid outlet (35). While the seal was unbroken the container offered a self-contained capsule of liquid for replacement fitting with the liquid outlet portion.
A liquid reservoir comprising a chamber for holding liquid and being for orientation in use with an upper end and a lower end, the chamber having a closed upper end,
A liquid reservoir according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising means for accommodating liquid displaced as a result of expansion in the volume of an air pocket trapped between the closed, upper end of the chamber and the liquid therein.
A liquid reservoir according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising discharge means via which liquid can be drawn out from the chamber through the outlet port.
A liquid reservoir having a chamber with an upper and a lower end, an internal duct communicating to the outside of the chamber at the upper end of the latter and extending at its lower end to a lower end portion of the chamber, the chamber containing liquid, a frangible seal preventing egress of the liquid through the internal duct and closing the chamber, a liquid outlet portion separate from the chamber, the liquid outlet portion having a liquid output duct, the outlet portion and the chamber being couplable together such that the liquid output duct can break the frangible seal and contact the liquid at a level below that of the lower end of the internal duct.
A cartridge containing liquid and comprising a closed chamber with two ends, an internal duct in the chamber leading from one of the two ends, where it is open to the outside of the chamber, to adjacent the other of the two ends, and a frangible seal across the duct and closing the chamber against egress of liquid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.