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AssigneeThe Procter & Gamble Company
InventorsGary E. McKibben, John S. Amneus
Estimating the term…
A portable dispensing appratus which includes a resiliently deformable dispensing reservoir adapted to mount removably on the uppermost end of a dip tube which extends into a bulk container of liquid. The dip tube includes a one-way inlet valve near its lowermost end which prevents flow of liquid out of the dip tube, but which permits flow into the dip tube. Suction created by compressing the resiliently deformable reservoir causes liquid to enter the dip tube through the one-way inlet valve and to flow into the reservoir. The dispensing reservoir can then be removed from the dip tube and taken to a location where it is desired to dispense all or a portion of the liquid. The liquid is dispensed by squeezing the resiliently deformable reservoir, thereby forcing the liquid out through the nozzle. A one-way, pressure-operated outlet valve is preferably located in the dip tube inside the bulk container to permit compression of the resiliently deformable reservoir after placement of the reservoir on the dip tube. The one-way, pressure-operated outlet valve permits return of the bottle of any air and/or unused liquid in the reservoir, thereby ensuring that a full measure of liquid will be drawn into the reservoir for the next dispensing cycle.
A liquid dispensing apparatus having means for dispensing a predetermined quantity of liquid from a bulk container of said liquid at a location remote from said container, said dispensing apparatus comprising a dip tube having uppermost and lowermost ends, said dip tube having attachment means adjacent its uppermost end for securing said dip tube in said container, said dip tube including an air vent for venting said container to atmosphere, said dip tube including a one-way inlet valve adjacent its lowermost end to prevent liquid flow out of said dip tube, said dip tube also including a one-way pressure-operated outlet valve which permits air and liquid to be discharged from said dip tube into said container when pressure is applied inside said dip tube, said means for dispensing a predetermined quantity of liquid from said bulk container comprising a portable deformable reservoir having a suction chamber and a nozzle extending outwardly of said chamber, said nozzle being shaped for airtight, releasable engagement with said uppermost end of said dip tube, whereby said dip tube and said suction chamber are maintained in exclusive fluid communication with one another when said nozzle is engaged in airtight relation to said dip tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.