# US 2007/0119980 A1 · Dispensing system and method for shower arm > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2007/0119980 A1 - Document ID: US20070119980A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/359,992 - Filed: 2006-02-21 - Published: 2007-05-31 - Earliest claimed: 2005-10-18 - Assignees: Interbath, Inc. - Inventors: Alan David Somerfield; Thomas Sandusky - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20070119980A1 ## CPC - E03C 1/046: Adding soap, disinfectant, or the like in the supply line {or at the water outlet}(preventing contamination of drinking-water pipes E03C1/10) - A62C 13/00: Portable extinguishers which are permanently pressurised or pressurised immediately before use (A62C11/00 takes precedence) - Y10T 137/2526: Main line flow displaces or entrains material from reservoir - E03C: DOMESTIC PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS FOR FRESH WATER OR WASTE WATER (not connected to either water-supply main or to waste pipe A47K; devices of the kind used in the ground E03B, E03F); SINKS - A62C: FIRE-FIGHTING (fire-extinguishing compositions, use of chemical substances in extinguishing fires A62D1/00; spraying, applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces in general B05; alarm arrangements G08B, e.g. fire alarms actuated by smoke or gases G08B17/10) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract Dispensing systems for dispensing one or more materials into a fluid flow conduit, during the conveyance of fluid through the conduit are configured to connect to a fluid conduit, such as a standard pipe of a shower arm and dispense a material into the water flow in the shower arm. The system includes a first tube member having a restrictor flow passage to provide a pressure differential, as fluid flows through the tube member. The pressure differential created within the restrictor passage by the fluid flow is communicated to a flask, to provide a pressure differential between the interior and the exterior of a flexible container within the flask. The pressure differential causes material within the flexible container to be drawn out and conveyed to the fluid flowing through the tube member. The flask may be connected to the first tube member, through an extension portion that is rotatable around the first tube member for convenient positioning. A quick-release connection structure may allow the flask to be connected and selectively releasable from the system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A dispenser system for connection to a fluid flow pipe through which a fluid may flow, the dispenser system comprising: a first tube member having at least one fluid flow passage therethrough, the first tube member having an inlet configured for connecting to and receiving a fluid flow from a fluid flow pipe and conveying fluid through the at least one fluid flow passage in a fluid-flow direction, the at least one fluid flow passage including a restrictor passage having a first portion and a second portion downstream of the first portion in the fluid-flow direction, the first portion having a first fluid pressure and the second portion having a second fluid pressure that is less than the first fluid pressure, upon fluid being conveyed through the restrictor passage; a flask having an enclosed interior volume; a pressure-deformable container held within the interior volume of the flask, the pressure-deformable container having an interior first volume for holding a flowable material, the flask and the deformable container defining a second volume within the flask but external to the deformable container; a connection structure for connecting the first volume in fluid-pressure communication with the second portion of the restrictor passage and for connecting the second volume in fluid-pressure communication with the first portion of the restrictor passage, the connection structure being rotatably coupled to the first tube member, for rotation about at least a portion of the restrictor flow passage after the first tube member is connected to the fluid flow pipe. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A dispenser system as recited in claim 1, wherein the connection structure comprises a second tube member disposed around the first tube member and rotatable relative to the first tube member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A dispenser system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first tube member has first and second annular grooves arranged in fluid-pressure communication with the first and second portions, respectively, of the restrictor passage, and wherein the connection structure comprises: a second member disposed for rotation in a rotary path of motion around the first tube member, the second member having first and second fluid-pressure communication passages arranged in fluid-pressure communication with the first and second annular grooves of the first tube member throughout the rotary path of motion of the second member relative to the first tube member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A dispenser system as recited in claim 3, wherein the second member comprises a second tube member disposed around the first tube member and an extension member extending from the second tube member, the extension member having a flask connection end for connecting to the flask. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A dispenser system as recited in claim 1, wherein the connection structure and the flask include a releasable connector for selectively coupling and de-coupling the flask to the connector structure. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A dispenser system as recited in claim 5, wherein the releasable connector comprises at least one clamp. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) A dispenser system as recited in claim 5, wherein the releasable connector comprises a threaded connector. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) A dispenser system as recited in claim 5, further comprising at least one additional flask for allowing a user to interchange one flask for another in the system. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A dispenser system as recited in claim 1, wherein: the flask comprises a flask body and a flask cover removeably connectable to the flask body, the flask cover having a shaped connection portion; the pressure-deformable container has a shaped connection portion for mating with the shaped connection portion of the flask cover; and the shaped connection portion of the flask cover and the shaped connection portion of the pressure-deformable container have at least one of a mating groove and protrusion, mating non-circular cross-sectional shapes, or a combination of a mating groove and protrusion and mating non-circular cross-sectional shapes. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A dispenser system as recited in claim 1, wherein the connection structure comprises: an extension member having a flask connection end for selectively coupling and de-coupling the flask thereto; a first fluid-pressure passage in the extension member, the first fluid-pressure passage connected in fluid-pressure communication with the first portion of the restrictor passage of the first tube member; and a valve disposed within the first fluid-pressure passage, for blocking fluid-flow from the first fluid-pressure passage in the event that the flask is decoupled from the extension member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A dispenser system as recited in claim 10, wherein the connection structure further comprises: a second fluid-pressure passage in the extension member, the second fluid-pressure passage connected in fluid-pressure communication with the second portion of the restrictor passage of the first tube member; and a volume control valve for manually adjustable volume control disposed within the second fluid-pressure passage, the volume control valve having a manual actuator, the volume control valve having an off position in which fluid-pressure through the second fluid-pressure passage is blocked. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) A dispenser system as recited in claim 10, wherein the connection structure further comprises: a second fluid-pressure passage in the extension member, the second fluid-pressure passage connected in fluid-pressure communication with the second portion of the restrictor passage of the first tube member; and a control valve having a first state to open fluid-pressure communication through the second fluid-pressure passage to the interior of the deformable container, and a second state to open a bypass communication passage in fluid-pressure communication from the first fluid-pressure passage to the second fluid-pressure passage and block fluid-pressure communication through the second fluid-pressure passage to the interior of the deformable container. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A dispenser system as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one fluid flow passage through the first tube member comprises at least one bypass passage, for allowing fluid to flow through the first tube member and bypass the restrictor passage in the first tube member. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A dispenser system as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one bypass passage comprises a plurality of bypass passages arranged around the restrictor passage. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A dispenser system as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one bypass passage comprises three bypass passages substantially parallel to the restrictor passage and arranged around the restrictor passage at about 120 degree intervals. ### Claim 16 A dispenser system for connection to a fluid flow pipe through which a fluid may flow, the dispenser system comprising: a first tube member having at least one fluid flow passage therethrough, the first tube member having an inlet configured for connecting to and receiving a fluid flow from a fluid flow pipe and conveying fluid through the at least one fluid flow passage in a fluid-flow direction, the at least one fluid flow passage including a restrictor passage having a first portion and a second portion downstream of the first portion in the fluid-flow direction, the first portion having a first fluid pressure and the second portion having a second fluid pressure that is less than the first fluid pressure, upon fluid being conveyed through the restrictor passage; a flask having a flask body with an interior volume and a flask cover removeably connectable to the flask body, the flask cover having a shaped connection portion; a pressure-deformable container held within the interior volume of the flask body, the pressure-deformable container having an interior first volume for holding a flowable material, the flask and the deformable container defining a second volume within the flask but external to the deformable container, the pressure-deformable container further having a shaped connection portion for mating with the shaped connection portion of the flask cover; a connection structure for connecting the first volume in fluid-pressure communication with the second portion of the restrictor passage and for connecting the second volume in fluid-pressure communication with the first portion of the restrictor passage; wherein the shaped connection portion of the flask cover and the shaped connection portion of the pressure-deformable container have at least one of a mating groove and protrusion, mating non-circular cross-sectional shapes, or a combination of a mating groove and protrusion and mating non-circular cross-sectional shapes. ### Claim 17 A dispenser system for connection to a fluid flow pipe through which a fluid may flow, the dispenser system comprising: a first tube member having at least one fluid flow passage therethrough, the first tube member having an inlet configured for connecting to and receiving a fluid flow from a fluid flow pipe and conveying fluid through the at least one fluid flow passage in a fluid-flow direction, the at least one fluid flow passage including a restrictor passage having a first portion and a second portion downstream of the first portion in the fluid-flow direction, the first portion having a first fluid pressure and the second portion having a second fluid pressure that is less than the first fluid pressure, upon fluid being conveyed through the restrictor passage; a flask having an enclosed interior volume; a pressure-deformable container held within the interior volume of the flask, the pressure-deformable container having an interior first volume for holding a flowable material, the flask and the deformable container defining a second volume within the flask but external to the deformable container; a connection structure for connecting the first volume in fluid-pressure communication with the second portion of the restrictor passage and for connecting the second volume in fluid-pressure communication with the first portion of the restrictor passage, wherein the connection structure comprises: an extension member having a flask connection end for selectively coupling and de-coupling the flask thereto; a first fluid-pressure passage in the extension member, the first fluid-pressure passage connected in fluid-pressure communication with the first portion of the restrictor passage of the first tube member; and a valve disposed within the first fluid-pressure passage, for blocking fluid-flow from the first fluid-pressure passage in the event that the flask is decoupled from the extension member. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A dispenser system as recited in claim 17, wherein the connection structure further comprises: a second fluid-pressure passage in the extension member, the second fluid-pressure passage connected in fluid-pressure communication with the second portion of the restrictor passage of the first tube member; and a volume control valve for manually adjustable volume control disposed within the second fluid-pressure passage. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A dispenser system as recited in claim 18, wherein the volume control valve has an off position in which fluid-pressure through the second fluid-pressure passage is blocked. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) A dispenser system as recited in claim 17, wherein the connection structure further comprises: a second fluid-pressure passage in the extension member, the second fluid-pressure passage connected in fluid-pressure communication with the second portion of the restrictor passage of the first tube member; and a control valve having a first state to open fluid-pressure communication through the second fluid-pressure passage to the interior of the deformable container, and a second state to open a bypass communication passage in fluid-pressure communication from the first fluid-pressure passage to the second fluid-pressure passage and block fluid-pressure communication through the second fluid-pressure passage to the interior of the deformable container.