Title: Multiple function dispenser
Abstract: A dispenser for mixing and dispensing a liquid chemical concentrate from a container with a dilutent. The dispenser includes a two piece slideable eductor assembly, one of which is also rotatable. Both a high and low flow rate can be obtained with simultaneous adjustment of concentration of the chemical concentrate. The dispenser has a high degree of accuracy of the amount of dilution of the chemical concentrate as well as positive positioning of the high and low flow rate. The dispenser also provides for proper selection of concentrate during operation and has a lock-in feature during operation.
Patent Number: 6,988,675 Issued on 01/24/2006 to Hubmann, et al.
| Inventors:
|
Hubmann; Curtis H. (Racine, WI);
MacLean-Blevins; Mark T. (Westminster, MD);
Young; Matthew (Cambs, GB)
|
| Assignee:
|
Johnson Diversey, Inc. (Sturtevant, WI)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
658496 |
| Filed:
|
September 9, 2003 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
239/310; 239/581.2; 239/354; 239/398; 239/302 |
| Current Intern'l Class: |
A62C 5/02 (20060101); B05B 1/30 (20060101); B05B 7/30 (20060101) |
| Field of Search: |
239/310,353,354,361,367,344,302,303,304,407,569,581.2,318
|
References Cited [Referenced By]
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| 3862640 | Jan., 1975 | Hechler, IV.
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| 3863843 | Feb., 1975 | Hechler, IV.
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| 3938550 | Feb., 1976 | Hechler, IV.
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| 3964689 | Jun., 1976 | Horvath.
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| 4010768 | Mar., 1977 | Hechler, IV.
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| 5372310 | Dec., 1994 | Ketcham.
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| 5544810 | Aug., 1996 | Horvath, Jr. et al.
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| 5765605 | Jun., 1998 | Waymire et al.
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| 5927338 | Jul., 1999 | Boticki et al.
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| 6079595 | Jun., 2000 | Meyer et al.
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| |
| 2002/0008161 | Jan., 2002 | Ketcham et al.
| |
| 2002/0092925 | Jul., 2002 | Hubmann et al.
| |
Other References
One Page from a Johnson Wax Professional Brochure dated 2000 showing the J-Fill
Portable Spray Unit.
U.S. Patent Application entitled Spraying Apparatus with Insert. It is believed
that this application was filed in the PTO some time after Aug. 11, 2000.
U.S. Patent Application entitled Spraying Apparatus Having a Sealing Member with
Apertures. This application was filed in the USPTO Feb. 4, 1999, designated as
U.S. Appl. No. 09/244,392, naming Ketcham as the inventor.
|
Primary Examiner: Hwu; Davis
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Hamilton; Neil E., Sales; James J., Rymarz; Renee J.
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Priority is based on Provisional Application No. 60/261,613, filed Jan.
12, 2001 and application Ser. No. 09/956,294 filed Sep. 19, 2001 of which this
Application is a continuation-in-part now U.S. Pat. No. 6,708,901.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A dispenser for dispensing different concentrations of chemical concentrate
into a stream of water from a concentrate container at different flow rates comprising;
a body member having a through bore with an inlet end adapted to be connected
to a source of pressurized water at one end and an outlet at the opposite end;
a product passage and a vent passage communicating with the through bore;
an eductor slideably and rotatably received in the through bore;
a guide member positioned in the through bore;
a stop member located on the eductor;
at least one passage in the stop member for passing over the guide member; and
at least one stop surface for engaging the guide member, the guide member, the
stop member and the stop surface constructed and arranged to stop axial movement
of the eductor, yet allow axial movement when the passage is aligned with the guide
member.
2. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the eductor is composed of first and second
parts, only one of which is rotatable.
3. The dispenser of claim 2 wherein the first part of the eductor is rotatable
and extends from the body member.
4. The dispenser of claim 3 wherein the second part of the eductor is nonrotatable
and the first and second parts of the eductor provide a fluid passage with the
product passage.
5. The dispenser of claim 4 further including a dilution adjustment member connected
to the rotatable eductor for fluid communication with the fluid passage.
6. The dispenser of claim 5 further including a product passage and a vent passage
in the body member and a seal constructed and arranged to seal both the product
passage and the vent passage.
7. The dispenser of claim 5 wherein the dilution adjustment member includes a
multiplicity of different sized passages.
8. The dispenser of claim 1 further including an elongated spout connected to
the body member, the spout adapted to be hung on a bucket.
9. The dispenser of claim 8 further including a flexible tube member connected
to the eductor and the spout.
10. The dispenser of claim 1 further including a spray nozzle connected to the eductor.
11. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein a trigger member is connected to the body
member and eductor to cause slideable movement of the eductor and further includes
a latching mechanism.
12. The dispenser of claim 11 wherein the latching mechanism further includes
a living hinge.
13. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the stop member is provided by a selector ring.
14. The dispenser of claim 13 further including an indexing member, the indexing
member providing a stop surface.
15. The dispenser of claim 13 wherein an intermediate stop is connected to the
selector ring.
16. A dispenser for dispensing different concentrations of chemical concentrate
into a stream of water from a concentrate container at different flow rates comprising;
a body member having a through bore with an inlet end adapted to be connected
to a source of pressurized water at one end and an outlet at the opposite end;
a product passage and a vent passage communicating with the through bore;
an eductor slideably and rotatably received in the through bore;
a guide member positioned in the through bore;
a stop member located on the eductor;
at least two passages in the stop member for passing over the guide member, one
of the passages including a stop surface;
at least one stop surface for engaging the guide member, the guide member, the
stop member and the stop surface constructed and arranged to stop axial movement
of the eductor in one phase, allow a first axial movement when one of the passages
is aligned with the guide member in a second phase, and allow a second axial movement
when another of the passages with the stop member is aligned with the guide member
in a third phase.
17. The dispenser of claim 13 further including a valve member, the valve member
positioned in the through bore of the body member and including first and second
valve members operatively associated with the eductor, the valve members constructed
and arranged so that when the eductor is in the third phase, the first valve member
is moved in a linear slideable manner with respect to the second valve member,
a first flow rate is effected and when the eductor is in a second phase, the second
valve member is moved in a linear slideable manner with respect to the body portion
with the first valve member moved linearly with respect to the second valve member,
an increased flow rate is established.
Description
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH
Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The field of the invention is dispensers for chemical concentrates, and particularly
the dispensing of chemical concentrates at multiple flow rates and different concentrations.
Dispensers of the type concerned with in this invention are disclosed
in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,320,288 and 5,372,310. While the spraying apparatus disclosed
in these patents can control the flow of carrier fluid and chemical product, it
cannot do so in a precise and controlled manner.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,719,704 discloses a valve element 31 with eductor passages 41
and 43. These interconnect with inlet openings 58 and 61.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,991,939 and 4,901,923 disclose eductor type dispensers having
rotatable discs with various sized apertures for controlling the amount of concentrate
being drawn into the water flowing through a nozzle.
A dispenser which dispenses chemical concentrate should have the capability of
dispensing the concentration at a low rate such as in the instance where a bottle
is to be filled and at a high rate where a bucket is to be filled. In the instance
of a bucket fill, it is desirable if both a low and high concentration of chemical
concentrate can be provided.
The prior art provides either a rotatable eductor with concentrate flow passages,
eductor type dispensers having rotatable discs with various sized apertures, or
a sliding open-venturi. It does not provide a dispensing apparatus with both sliding
and rotating eductors as well as valving so as to afford different concentrations
of chemical concentrate at different flow rates.
In application Ser. No. 09/956,294 filed Sep. 19, 2001, a dispenser for dispensing
different concentrations of chemical concentrate into a stream of water from a
concentrate container at different flow rates is disclosed. The teachings of this
application are incorporated by reference. The disclosed dispenser includes a body
member having a through bore with an inlet end adapted to be connected to a source
of pressurized water at one end and an outlet at the opposite end connected to
the inlet housing. A valve member is slideably positioned in the through bore of
the body member. An eductor is slideably and rotatably received in the body member.
The eductor is in contact with the valve member and in fluid communication with
a source of chemical concentrate. A trigger member is connected to the body member
and eductor to cause slideable movement of the eductor. The eductor and valve member
are constructed and arranged to provide control of both different concentrations
of chemical concentrate and different flow rates of water and chemical concentrate.
The present invention provides an improvement of the dispenser disclosed in Ser.
No. 09/956,294 by providing an improved functionality of the previously disclosed
dispenser by preventing rotation of the concentration selection members during
operation of the device. This is important to the quality of the delivered diluted
product, namely to the precise ratio of the concentrate to the carrier stream and
the resultant mixture concentration. The previously disclosed design allowed the
concentrate selection device to be rotated during the "ON" condition. During this
rotation of the concentrate selection members, the flow of concentrated product
to the mixing chamber is blocked and then reopened at a new position corresponding
with a different product flow rate. If this is allowed to occur during the "ON"
condition, the carrier stream/water flowing the diluted concentration of the product
in the container to which dispensing is occurring will be incorrect and, as is
the case with many such concentrated products, will not function as intended.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To provide the previously referred to anti-rotation when "ON" feature, an interlocking
guide feature is provided to the dispenser body component and a corresponding recess
to accept the guide feature in the eductor component, such that when the eductor
translates, as powered by depressing the dispenser trigger, the guide engages the
recess and remains engaged during the travel to either the low flow or the high
flow condition. When engaged, the guide feature prevents rotation of the eductor
assembly but allows linear translation of the eductor assembly as powered by the
user through use of the trigger component and as powered by the internal compression
spring for returning the eductor assembly to the "OFF" condition. The guide feature
and recess are disengaged in the "OFF" condition and the eductor assembly is free
to rotate for selection of dilution concentration by the user.
The present invention provides in one embodiment a dispenser for dispensing different
concentrations of chemical concentrate into a stream of water from a concentrate
container at different flow rates. The dispenser includes a body member having
a through bore with an inlet end adapted to be connected to a source of pressurized
water at one end and an outlet at the opposite end. A product and a vent passage
communicate with the through bore. An eductor is slideably and rotatably received
in the through bore. A guide member is positioned in the through bore and a stop
member is located on the eductor. There is at least one passage in the stop member
for passing over the guide member. There is also at least one stop surface for
engaging the guide member. The guide member, the stop member and the stop surface
are constructed and arranged to stop axial movement of the eductor, yet allow axial
movement of the eductor, yet allow axial movement when the passage is aligned with
the guide member.
In one aspect, the dispenser includes first and second parts, only one of which
is rotatable with the first part of the eductor being rotatable and extends from
the body member.
In yet another aspect, there is a trigger member connected to the body member
and eductor to cause slideable movement of the eductor and further includes a latching
mechanism with a living hinge.
In another embodiment, the present invention provides a dispenser for dispensing
different concentrations of chemical concentrate into a stream of water from a
concentrate container at different flow rates comprising;
a body member having a through bore with an inlet end adapted to be connected
to
a source of pressurized water at one end and an outlet at the opposite end;
a product passage and a vent passage communicating with the through bore;
an eductor slideably and rotatably received in the through bore;
a guide member positioned in the through bore;
a stop member located on the eductor;
at least two passages in the stop member for passing over the guide member, one
of the passages including a stop surface;
at least one stop surface for engaging the guide member, the guide member, the
stop member and the stop surface constructed and arranged to stop axial movement
of the eductor in one phase, allow a first axial movement when one of the passages
is aligned with the guide member in a second phase, and allow a second axial movement
when another of the passages with the stop member is aligned with the guide member
in a third phase.
In another aspect, the dispenser includes a valve member, the valve member positioned
in the through bore of the body member and including first and second valve members
operatively associated with the eductor, the valve members constructed and arranged
so that when the eductor is in the third phase, the first valve member is moved
in a linear slideable manner with respect to the second valve member, a first flow
rate is effected and when the eductor is in a second phase, the second valve member
is moved in a linear slideable manner with respect to the body portion with the
first valve member moved linearly with respect to the second valve member, a second
increased flow rate is established.
A general object of the invention is to provide a dispensing apparatus which
can
effect a mixing of chemical concentrate into a stream of water at different concentrations
and dispense the mixed concentrate at controlled flow rates.
Another object is a closed dispenser which produces low foam, low air entrapment
and a low energy liquid fill independent of the pressure of the attached water supply.
Other general objectives are a dispensing apparatus which can both spray and/or
fill, gives control over both flow and dilution and lends itself to be integrated
with a bottle so they cannot be separated.
Still another object is a dispenser which is composed of plastic parts, thus
economical to produce and is disposable or recyclable.
Yet another object is a dispenser of the foregoing type which provides proper
selection of concentrate during operation.
Still yet another object is a dispenser of the foregoing type which can accurately
dispense chemical concentrate.
Yet another object is a dispenser of the foregoing type which has a lock-in feature
during operation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the dispenser of this invention in conjunction
with a container.
FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation of the dispenser shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the component parts of the dispenser.
FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the dispenser in a closed position.
FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the dispenser in a low flow condition.
FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the dispenser in a high flow condition.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the eductor for the dispenser.
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view of the dispenser housing illustrating eductor contact
and guide surfaces.
FIGS. 9-12 are elevational views of a portion of the eductor utilized in the dispenser.
FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view illustrating an indexing of the eductor in
the dispenser.
FIG. 14 is an end view of the body member shown in FIG. 8 with an eductor part
in place in a keyway.
FIG. 15 is a diagrammatic legend illustrating the various functions of the dispenser.
FIG. 16 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating the dispenser with
a spray head.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the dispenser generally
10 has a body
member
12 with a container connector
14 for connection to a container
or bottle
16. A preferred connector system is more fully described in commonly
owned patent application Ser. No. 10/037,569 filed Nov. 9, 2001 which teachings
are incorporated herein. At one end of the body member
12 is a hose attachment
18 for supplying pressurized water to the dispenser. A handle
17
is provided below attachment
18. At the other end there is the spout
22
and a nozzle
20 for dispensing a mixed chemical solution. A flexible tube
15 extends between nozzle
20 and spout
22.
Referring to FIGS. 1,
3 and
4, the dispenser
10 includes
an eductor generally
11 composed of the first or outer eductor part
24
with a diverging passage
24a and an inner second eductor part
26
with a converging passage
26a. They are slideably connected in body
member
12 with O-ring seals
52 and
56 providing a fluid tight
contact. A valve assembly
28 for controlling the flow of water through the
dispenser
10 is also slideably housed in body member
12 and is in
contact with eductor part
26 when the dispenser is in an operating condition.
When it is not in an operating condition, the valve assembly
28 is spaced
from eductor part
26 to allow for seals
64 and
66 to seal
under a range of pressures. The hose attachment
18 is rotatably connected
to body member
12 by the snap fitment
34. A back flow preventer
30
is positioned in hose attachment
18 and has an O-ring seal
32 for
contact with body member
12. At the opposite end of body member
12,
the nozzle
20 is attached to eductor part
24.
An annular groove
36 is provided in the eductor part
24 and accommodates
a head portion
38 of the trigger
40 with flange portions such as
shown at
42 on the trigger
40 having shafts (not shown) for extending
into bores such as
44. A latch member
46 extends upwardly from the
member
12 for fitment through the passage
48 of the trigger
40.
As shown in FIG. 7, eductor part
24 has L-shaped passages
90-
94
for introducing chemical concentrate into the gap
27 between eductor parts
24 and
26. These passages
90-
94 have different diameters
or widths for metering different concentrations of chemical concentrate. Accordingly,
eductor part
24 with passages
90-
94 serves as a dilution adjustment
member. In some instances there are no passages, thereby blocking and precluding
the flow of concentrate, and used to provide a rinse only function. This is indicated
at
89 which is a blank passage. A dip tube
19 is connected to body
member
12 and extends into container
16 for siphoning chemical concentrate
into the bore
13 of body member
12 by way of passage
21. A
seal member
23 is placed between eductor part
26 and body member
12. A vent passage
25 connects container
16 and bore
13.
Eductor part
24 is positioned with passages
90-
94 inside eductor
part
26. A spring
54 biases eductor part
26 as well as eductor
part
24 toward the head portion
38 of trigger
40.
Referring also to FIG. 7, there is shown the eductor
24 with an
indexing ring
85 and notches
77. These accommodate the projections
75 on arms
72 and
73 extending from body member
12
as shown in FIG.
13. This provides an indexing function in conjunction with
the orientation of dilution adjustment feature of eductor
24 and passage
21.
As seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, a quad O-ring
60 is attached in groove
57
of valve head portion
58. It serves as a flow control element as later explained.
A valve member
28 with passages
33 has a head portion
58 with
groove
59. An O-ring seal
66 is seated in groove
59 of head
portion
58 and another O-ring seal
64 is placed on collar
62.
A gasket
67 is provided for cap
68 and a hose seal is provided at
69.
Referring to FIG. 14, it is seen that body member
12 has a keyway
70 disposed in body member
12 for accommodating a key members
76
in eductor part
26 for allowing sliding but nonrotatable connection in body
member
12.
As seen in FIGS. 7,
8 and
9-
12, there is a selector ring
86 extending from eductor part
24. It has notches
95-
98
which pass over guide member
74 to orientate the passages
90-
94
with the passage
21 in the body member
12. There are also the core
portions
88 which are sealed portions that assist in the molding process.
Referring back to FIG. 3, there is shown a dilution adjustment device
112.
This device is fully described in commonly assigned application Ser. No. 09/956,294
filed Sep. 19, 2001. This dilution adjustment device
112 or adapter fits
into the end portion
87 of eductor
24 with the tubular members fitting
into passages
90-
94.
Operation
A better understanding of the dispenser will be had by a description of its operation.
Referring to FIG. 4, the dispenser is shown in a closed position. A source of pressurized
water such as a hose will have been connected to hose attachment 18. In
this instance, seal 66 on valve head 58 is seated against collar
62 and seal 64 against valve seat portion 65. Accordingly,
no water can pass between these two components and into bore 13. This sealing
effect is assisted by the flow of water in through the attachment 18, against
the valve components 58 and 62. The spring 54 and force of
water also positions the head 31 of eductor part 24 away from body
contact surface 79 when in an operating condition.
Referring now to FIG. 5, trigger 40 has been moved toward body member
12 with the result that valve portion 58 has moved toward the base
attachment 18 and seal 66 no longer engages collar 62. In
this position, water can flow between the two component parts as there are grooves
(not shown) placed in the collar 62 to allow such flow into bore 13.
This is a low flow condition. In this position, the quad O-ring 60 serves
as a flow control element, in that, with increased pressure and flow of water,
the ring will expand and partially fill the grooves in collar 62. This maintains
a consistent flow rate despite variations in the pressure of the inlet water supply.
Water can then pass through passages 33 and into passage 26
a of
eductor part 26.
This low flow condition is utilized to fill a bottle which is shown by the icon
129 in FIG. 12. In order to locate eductor parts 24 and 26
in this position, there is a notch 95 in selector ring 86 which is
orientated with guide member 74 to allow the eductor parts 24 and
26 to move inwardly into body member 12 until the guide member 74
engages intermediate stop 99 located between selector ring 86 and
indexing ring 85. Simultaneously, passage 92 is orientated with passage
21 and dip tube 19 to allow concentrate from container 16
to flow into the water stream in passage 24
a. It should be pointed
out that the orientation between notch 96 when engaged by guide member 74
and icon 129 in body member 12 is 90° whereas the orientation
between icon 129 and passage 21 is 180°. It should be further
stated that trigger 40 and latch 46 cannot engage at this low flow
condition. This is consistent with the high flow condition referred to in the following paragraph.
In order to initiate a high flow condition, the trigger 40 is moved further
toward body member 12. This is shown in FIG. 6. In this position,
not only has seal 66 moved away from collar 62 but collar 62
also has moved away from valve seat portion 65. In this position, water
cannot only flow from between head portion 58 and the grooves 63
in the collar 62, but also between the collar 62 and the valve seat
portion 65. It should be pointed out that in this high flow position, trigger
40 can now become engaged with latch 46 which provides a living hinge
if desired so that it can be held in the high flow condition.
This high flow condition is utilized to fill a bucket which is shown by the
icon 131 in FIG. 10. In order to locate eductor parts 24 and
26 in this position, there is a notch 97 in the selector ring 86
which is orientated with guide member 74 to allow the eductor parts 24
and 26 to move inwardly into body member 12 until the guide 74
engages indexing ring 85. Simultaneously, passage 94 is orientated
with passage 21 and dip tube 19 to allow concentrate from container
16 to flow into the water stream in passage 24
a.
During the previously described flow conditions through the dispenser 10
such as when in the high or low flow condition, and as previously stated, the concentrate
will be drawn upwardly from the container 16 such as through the dip tube
19 and passage 21. However, as noted previously in FIG. 4, there
is a seal member 23 positioned over the passage 21 so that no product
can be drawn up from the container 16. At the same time, seal 23
also closes vent passage 25. As seen in both FIGS. 5 and 6, the seal member
23 has moved away from both the product and vent passages 21 and
25, respectively. In this position, drawn product is allowed to enter into
one of the five passages 90, 91, 92, 93 and 94
as seen in FIGS. 9-11. Concentrate is thereby siphoned into gap 27 and mixed
with water flowing through passage 26
a and 24
a. A reduced
pressure is caused by the water converging in passage 26
a and diverging
in passage 24
a.
The orientation of the various passages 90-94 with the opening
23
a in seal 23 is facilitated by the indexing shown in FIG. 13.
The mixed solution will then exit through nozzle 20 down through the tube
15 positioned in the spout 22. Tube 15 in this instance is
flexible so as to allow the eductor 24 to move inwardly and outwardly from
the body member 12. With product passing through tube 15 and spout
22, this is the position which is utilized when filling a bucket or a bottle.
As previously described a low flow condition would be utilized for filling a bottle
while the high flow condition would be utilized to fill a large vessel such as
a bucket. The spout 22 provides for the dispenser to be hung on a bucket.
If desired, a hose (not shown) can be connected to spout 22 for filling
purposes such as a "scrubber washer" or when the dispenser is mounted to a wall.
Dispenser 10 can easily be converted to a spray unit by the replacement
of the nozzle 20 and the attachment of a conventional spray head. This is
shown in FIG. 16. Also stated previously, the concentration of the solution
can be easily adjusted by the rotation of the eductor 24 in conjunction
with the dilution adjustment passages 90-94. The low and high flow
condition in combination with the dilution adjustment member obviates the use of
multiple dispenser heads.
In FIG. 9 there is shown an icon 130 which indicates a rinse function.
This is affected by water passing through the passage 24
a without
the siphoning of any chemical concentrate. In this position notch 96 is
orientated with guide member 74 to allow the eductor parts 24 and
26 to move inwardly into body member 12 until guide 74 engages
indexing ring 85 to afford a high flow condition. There will not be any
passage orientated with dip tube 19 so that no concentrate is siphoned with
the water into passage 24
a.
In FIG. 11, the icon 132 indicates a no flow condition. This is effected
by not providing a notch in selector ring 86 so that ring 86 contacts
guide member 74 and consequently eductor parts 24 and 26 cannot
be moved inwardly into body member 12, consequently neither vent passage
25 nor concentrate passage 21 can be opened. This acts to assure
that the contents of the container cannot be dispensed while the eductor 24
is turned to this position, regardless of the presence of pressurized water.
As seen in FIGS. 7, and 9-10, there are 5 passages 90-94
which can convey concentrate through eductor part 24. In the instance where
only a single dilution rate for high and low flow is desired, only two passages
are required as indicated for the previously described bucket and bottle fill.
In the instance where more functions are desired such as illustrated in FIG. 15
at the Standard Configuration Fill line 1, there would be utilized 5 passages:
one for high flow, high concentrate; one for high flow, medium concentrate; one
for high flow, low concentrate; one for low flow, low concentrate and one for low
flow, high concentrate. The high, medium and low concentrate is regulated by the
size of the passages 90-94.
As illustrated in the Standard Configuration Spray line 2, and as stated
previously, the dispenser can be equipped with a spray head as shown at 135
in FIG. 16. It could then perform all of the functions as previously described
for the Standard Configuration Fill in line 1. Registered Product Fill and
Spray lines 3 and 4 illustrate the use of the dispenser 10
wherein the previously described high and low functions would be employed yet all
of the passages 90-94 would be designed to perform a high concentrate function.
While a six position function for the dispenser 10 is indicated in the
illustration of FIG. 15, one of these positions could be a stop no flow condition
as previously stated in conjunction with FIG. 11.
It will thus be seen that there is now provided a very versatile dispenser which
can be utilized in not only a high and a low flow condition but also can be adjusted
to vary the concentration of mixed solution. The dispenser 10 is produced
economically so that once it is captively connected to a container, it is disposable
and/or recyclable. As indicated in the drawings, most of the components are composed
of a molded plastic with polypropylene being preferred. This affords a living hinge
feature for latch member 46 in trigger passage 48.
It will also be seen that a good hand feel is provided by dispenser 10.
This is accomplished by placement of the handle 17 beneath body member 12
and outwardly from trigger 40 to allow placement of a thumb on trigger 40.
An important feature of dispenser 10 is the orientation of the guide member
74 in the notches 95-98. This prevents rotation of eductor
part 24 during a flow condition and affords delivery of accurate concentrations
of chemical product. It should be further stated that selector ring 86 affords
a stop surface for contact with guide member 74 when guide member is not
orientated with notches 95-98. This prevents eductor 11 from
moving inwardly into body member. Indexing ring 85 provides a second stop
surface when notches 95-98 move over guide member and guide member
contacts indexing ring 85 when the eductor is moved into body member 12.
The dispenser 10 has been preferably described in conjunction with a latching
feature for the trigger 40. It is obvious that this is not an essential
feature that can be eliminated. Neither is it essential that a back flow preventer
be employed in the unit itself. This could be accomplished upstream in a supply
line. Further, while the spout 22 offers the advantage of a hose attachment
such as with the barbs 100, this could be eliminated although it does further
offer the advantage of a bucket attachment. Neither is it essential that the container
connector 14 provides a captive use of the dispenser with the container.
The dispenser 10 could be utilized with a refillable container. In some
instances, it may be desirable to limit the dispenser for flow through a single
passageway. This could be accomplished by placement of a pin through body member
12 and a groove in eductor part 24 or may be accomplished by an additional
part called the lock out clip. This clip, when installed, makes it difficult to
turn the selector portion of the lower eductor. All such and other modifications
within the spirit of the invention are meant to be within a scope as defined by
the appended claims.
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