Dispensing apparatus and method thereof

#CLAIMS PRIORITY FROM CN APPLN. NO. 02230788.5

#NOT APPLICABLE

#NOT APPLICABLE

#FIG. 1A is a side view of a prior art dispensing container for dispensing fluid.

#FIG. 1B is a side view of another prior art dispensing container for dispensing fluid.

#FIG. 1C is a side view of yet another prior art dispensing container for dispensing fluid.

#Referring first to FIGS. 2 and 3, one embodiment of an apparatus 20 for dispensing fluid includes an upper compartment 22, a storage chamber 30, a handle 32 on the side of the storage chamber 30 and a bottom compartment 42. The upper compartment 22 is provided with a dust cover 21 and an upper chamber 23 therebetween. In the upper chamber 23, there is located an electrical circuit board 27 and a funnel 24 with an opening so that the fluid can be poured into the storage chamber 30. A pump 26, a motor 28 and battery 25 are also provided therein. The inlet and outlet of the pump 26 are connected to one end of the drawing tube 34 and dispensing tube 36 located in the storage chamber 30, respectively. The other end of the drawing tube 34 and dispensing tube 36 are connected to outlet 48 in the bottom chamber 46 through a connector located therebetween. The spout of the outlet 48 extends out from the bottom cover 45 such that fluid can be poured out therefrom. The entire device sits on tray 43 which acts as a dust ‘cover’ for the dispensing spout of outlet 48. The detailed connections between the drawing tube 34 and dispensing tube 36 and the outlet 48 through the connector 38 are illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 which will be discussed later. On top of the handle 32 there is provided a switch 31 which is connected through the electrical wires 29 located on the side of the dust cover 21 to the power source 25 and the electrical circuit board 27 in the upper chamber 23.

#Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the dispensing tube 36 is connected to the outlet 48 via a connector 38, an o-ring 39 and an “L” shaped tube 44. The outlet 48 assumes a “˜” shape in which the spout of the outlet 48 is slanted upwards and then curved downwards to the storage space 47.

#During operation, when a user switches on the device by pressing switch 31, the pump 26 will cause fluid stored in the storage chamber 30 to be drawn from the drawing tube 34 to the outlet 48 via the dispensing tube 36. The pump 26 can move in both directions to provide a forward drawing mechanism and a reverse drawing mechanism. When the pump is moving in the forward direction, the fluid may be dispensed from the storage chamber 30. After dispensing the desired volume of fluid, residual fluid remaining around the outlet 48 would be sucked back into the storage space 47 or the storage chamber 30 through the dispensing tube 36 when the reverse drawing mechanism is in operation.