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US 2018/0311994 A1Published application
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.
Claims20
A refillable fluid applicator, comprising:
- a fluid reservoir;
- a reservoir frame;
- and
- an applicator tip,
- wherein the fluid reservoir comprises one or more flexible films, the one or more flexible films consisting of at least one material that is substantially impermeable to a fluid contained in the fluid reservoir and surrounding and defining a fluid cavity having a variable volume, and
- wherein the fluid cavity occupies a selected portion of an interior space of the reservoir frame when the variable volume is maximized and flattens when the variable volume is minimized such that one of the following is true:
- (i) the fluid reservoir of the refillable fluid applicator comprises one flexible film, and two opposing sides of the one flexible film contact, or nearly contact each other;
- and
- (ii) the fluid reservoir of the refillable fluid applicator comprises at least two flexible films, and the at least two flexible films contact, or nearly contact, each other.
6 more elements
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 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 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, and
- wherein, when the valve is open, fluid contained in the primary fluid reservoir flows out of the primary fluid reservoir, through the valve and the at least one fluid communicating element, and into the fluid reservoir of the refillable fluid applicator.
4 more elements
A fluid applicator refilling unit, comprising:
- a primary fluid reservoir;
- at least one actuating member;
- a valve;
- an interface element;
- and
- at least one fluid communicating element,
- wherein a pressure of fluid in the primary fluid reservoir is higher than an ambient atmospheric pressure,
- wherein the interface element is configured to generate an interface force when placed in physical contact with, or close proximity to, a corresponding element of a fluid applicator,
- wherein the at least one actuating member is configured, when acted upon by the interface force, to open the valve and cause the at least one fluid communicating element to place a fluid reservoir of the fluid applicator and the primary fluid reservoir in fluid communication,
- wherein, when the valve is open, fluid contained in the primary fluid reservoir flows out of the primary fluid reservoir and through the valve and the at least one fluid communicating element, and
- wherein the fluid applicator refilling unit is capable of being nested with, or interconnected, attached, affixed, or otherwise placed in close proximity to, at least one other fluid applicator refilling unit.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.