Portable fluid dispenser and method
AssigneeShurflo Pump Manufacturing Co.
InventorsChristopher J. Shapanus, Brian A. Babson, Joiee Lee Puckett, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In some embodiments, a portable fluid dispenser is provided having a tank, a pump coupled to the tank for pumping fluid therefrom, and a battery connected to the tank for powering the pump. The battery can be part of a removable battery pack received within an external receptacle of the tank. Some embodiments of the dispenser are adapted to be worn (such as in the form of a backpack), while others are adapted to be carried by a user. Also, in some embodiments a conduit extends through the tank in order to enable fluid to pass from the pump to another location with respect to the tank.
Claims30
A portable backpack fluid dispenser operable to dispense fluid, the dispenser comprising:
- a tank defining a cavity in which fluid is supportable;
- a pump fluidly connected to the tank and having an inlet and an outlet, wherein fluid is pumpable from the cavity into the pump through the inlet and is pumpable out of the pump through the outlet;
- a dispensing tube in fluid connection with the outlet of the pump and being operable to pass fluid therethrough;
- and
- a conduit defined in the tank and at least partially passing through the cavity, the dispensing tube being at least partially positioned in the conduit.
A method of dispensing fluid from a portable backpack fluid dispenser, the method comprising:
- providing a tank defining a cavity operable to support fluid therein, the tank having a conduit passing at least partially through the cavity;
- fluidly connecting a pump to the tank, the pump having an inlet and an outlet;
- providing a dispensing tube at least partially received within the conduit, the dispensing tube having an end fluidly connected to the outlet of the pump;
- pumping fluid from the tank into the pump through the inlet of the pump;
- and
- pumping fluid out of the pump and into the dispensing tube through the outlet of the pump.
A portable backpack fluid dispenser operable to dispense fluid, the dispenser comprising:
- a tank operable to support fluid therein;
- a bracket connected to the tank;
- a pump connected to the bracket and including an inlet and an outlet, the pump being operable to pump fluid from the cavity into the inlet and pump fluid out of the pump through the outlet;
- and
- a cover selectively connectable to the bracket and being operable to substantially cover the pump when connected to the bracket.
A portable backpack fluid dispenser operable to dispense fluid, the dispenser comprising:
- a tank operable to support fluid therein;
- a bracket connected to the tank;
- a pump connected to the bracket and including an inlet and an outlet, the pump being operable to pump fluid from the cavity into the inlet and pump fluid out of the pump through the outlet;
- and
- a cover selectively connectable to the bracket and being operable to substantially cover the pump when connected to the bracket,
- wherein the bracket includes a first portion mounted to the tank and a second portion extending at an angle with respect to the first portion
- wherein the second portion of the bracket includes a flange extending therefrom;
- and
- the pump is mounted to the flange.
A method of assembling a portable backpack fluid dispenser operable to dispense fluid, the method comprising:
- providing a tank operable to support fluid therein;
- connecting a bracket to the tank;
- connecting a pump to, the pump being supportable by the bracket and being operable to pump fluid from the tank;
- and
- connecting a cover to the bracket, the cover being operable to substantially cover the pump when connected to the bracket.
A portable backpack fluid dispenser operable to dispense fluid, the dispenser comprising:
- a tank defining a cavity in which fluid is supportable;
- a pump fluidly connected to the tank and having an inlet and an outlet, wherein fluid is pumpable from the cavity into the pump through the inlet and is pumpable out of the pump through the outlet;
- a dispensing tube in fluid connection with the outlet of the pump and being operable to pass fluid therethrough;
- and
- a conduit defined in the tank and at least partially passing through the cavity, the dispensing tube being at least partially positioned in the conduit,
- wherein the dispensing tube extends from the pump, through the conduit, and away from the tank.
A portable backpack fluid dispenser operable to dispense fluid, the dispenser comprising:
- a tank defining a cavity in which fluid is supportable;
- a pump fluidly connected to the tank and having an inlet and an outlet, wherein fluid is pumpable from the cavity into the pump through the inlet and is pumpable out of the pump through the outlet;
- a dispensing tube in fluid connection with the outlet of the pump and being operable to pass fluid therethrough;
- and
- a conduit defined in the tank and at least partially passing through the cavity, the dispensing tube being at least partially positioned in the conduit,
- wherein the tank defines a receptacle in at least one wall of the tank;
- and
- the conduit extends from the receptacle to allow the dispensing tube to pass through the tank from the receptacle.
A portable backpack fluid dispenser operable to dispense fluid, the dispenser comprising:
- a tank defining a cavity in which fluid is supportable;
- a pump fluidly connected to the tank and having an inlet and an outlet, wherein fluid is pumpable from the cavity into the pump through the inlet and is pumpable out of the pump through the outlet;
- a dispensing tube in fluid connection with the outlet of the pump and being operable to pass fluid therethrough;
- and
- a conduit defined in the tank and at least partially passing through the cavity, the dispensing tube being at least partially positioned in the conduit;
- wherein the conduit extends through a wall of the tank and
- wherein the conduit extends through walls of the tank on opposite sides of the tank.
A portable backpack fluid dispenser operable to dispense fluid, the dispenser comprising:
- a tank operable to support fluid therein;
- a bracket connected to the tank;
- a pump connected to the bracket and including an inlet and an outlet, the pump being operable to pump fluid from the cavity into the inlet and pump fluid out of the pump through the outlet;
- and
- a cover selectively connectable to the bracket and being operable to substantially cover the pump when connected to the bracket, wherein the bracket includes a first portion mounted to the tank and a second portion extending at an angle with respect to the first portion,
- wherein the bracket includes a first flange extending from the second portion of the bracket and a second flange extending from the first portion of the bracket, the cover fastened at one end to one of the first and second flanges and retained at another end to another of the first and second flanges.
A portable backpack fluid dispenser operable to dispense fluid, the dispenser comprising:
- a tank operable to support fluid therein;
- a bracket connected to the tank;
- a pump connected to the bracket and including an inlet and an outlet, the pump being operable to pump fluid from the cavity into the inlet and pump fluid out of the pump through the outlet;
- a cover selectively connectable to the bracket and being operable to substantially cover the pump when connected to the bracket;
- and
- a control circuit for controlling operation of the dispenser, the bracket having a flange onto which the control circuit is mounted.
A portable backpack fluid dispenser operable to dispense fluid, the dispenser comprising:
- a tank operable to support fluid therein;
- a bracket connected to the tank;
- a pump connected to the bracket and including an inlet and an outlet, the pump being operable to pump fluid from the cavity into the inlet and pump fluid out of the pump through the outlet;
- and
- a cover selectively connectable to the bracket and being operable to substantially cover the pump when connected to the bracket;
- the flange supporting a user manipulatable control.
A method of assembling a portable backpack fluid dispenser operable to dispense fluid, the method comprising:
- providing a tank operable to support fluid therein;
- connecting a bracket to the tank;
- connecting a pump to, the pump being supportable by the bracket and being operable to pump fluid from the tank;
- connecting a cover to the bracket, the cover being operable to at least partially cover the pump when connected to the bracket;
- mounting a first portion of the bracket to the tank;
- and
- mounting the pump to a flange extending from a second portion of the bracket oriented at an angle with respect to the first portion of the tank.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.