Liquid dispensing device comprising a bellows reservoir

Abstract

 A liquid dispensing device includes a receptacle (30) for receiving a fluid (34) and attached to a cover (20) and having an accordion structure for providing a resilience and for forcing the fluid (34) out of the receptacle (30), and a control device (40) for controlling the fluid (34) to flow out of the cover (20), the receptacle (30) includes two or more folds (33) each having a downwardly and outwardly inclined upper wall (36), and a downwardly and inwardly inclined lower wall (37) which is more inclined relative to the upper wall (36) for allowing the walls (36, 37) of the folds (33) to be folded toward each other to a compact folding structure.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a liquid dispensing device.

[0002] A typical liquid dispensing device comprise a casing disposed in a housing for receiving liquid or viscous fluid and a control device for controlling the liquid to flow out of the casing.

[0003] However, usually the casing cannot be replaced by other casings that are filled with liquid or viscous fluid.

[0004] The invention is to provide a liquid dispensing device including a disposable receptacle changeable with new ones.

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a liquid dispensing device;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial cross sectional view of the device;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are cross sectional views of the device;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the liquid dispensing device;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the device of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is another exploded view of the dispensing device.

[0005] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a liquid dispensing device 1 comprises a container 10 and a cover 20. The container 10 includes a chamber 11, an air perforation 12 formed in the bottom, and an upper peripheral fence 13 having an outer thread 14. The cover 20 includes a peripheral skirt 21 extended from a plate 22, and an inner thread 23 formed in the skirt 21 for engaging with the outer thread 14 and for mounting the cover 20 to the container 10. The container 10 and the cover 20 may be formed in different shapes (FIGS. 5-7).

[0006] The cover 20 includes a casing 24 formed in the plate 22, a peripheral space 25 formed between the plate 22 and the casing 24, and a compartment 26 formed in the casing 24. The casing 24 includes a bottom board 27 having an orifice 28 for air or liquid to flow from the container 10 into the casing 24.

[0007] The cover 20 further includes an inner thread 29 formed in the plate 22 for detachably attaching a foldable bladder or receptacle 30 which is received in the container 10 and which is made of polyethylene, polypropylene, or other synthetic materials.

[0008] The receptacle 30 includes an upper flange 31 having an outer thread 32 for engaging with the inner thread 29 and for mounting the receptacle 30 to the cover 20. It includes an accordion or bellows structure having one or more folds 33 for forming a foldable structure. The receptacle 30 may be vacuumed for allowing the fluid 34 (FIG. 3) to be forced to flow through the orifice 28 of the board 27 and to flow into the casing 24 (FIGS. 3, 4) without pumping devices. The casing 24 is engaged into the flange 31. A check valve 35 is disposed in the casing 24 or attached to the board 27 for blocking the orifice 28 of the board 27 and for limiting the fluid 34 to flow only from the receptacle 30 into the casing 24 (FIGS. 3, 4).

[0009] A control means or device 40 is attached to the casing 24 or the cover 20 for controlling the fluid 34 to flow out of the casing 24 or the cover 20.

[0010] The control device 40 includes a plug 41 disposed in the casing 24 and having a bore 42 communicating with the casing 24, and a tube 43 engaged through the plug 41 and having a blind hole 44 and a valve member 45 for blocking or opening the bore 42 of the plug 41 (FIG. 3).

[0011] The tube 43 includes one or more openings 46 for the fluid 34 to flow into the plug 41. A knob 47 includes a conduit 48 having an outlet mouth 49. The tube 43 is engaged into the conduit 48 and secured to the knob 47 for allowing the fluid 34 to flow from the tube 43 and out of the mouth 49 (FIG. 3). A spring 50 is disposed between the knob 47 and the cover 20 for forcing the valve member 45 to block the bore 42 of the plug 41. A cap 60 is attached to the knob 47 for disengaging the valve member 45 from the plug 41 and for opening the bore 42 of the plug 41. The receptacle 30 and the knob 47 and the cap 60 may also be formed in different shapes as shown in FIGS. 5-7.

[0012] In operation, the spring 50 urges the valve member 45 to block the bore 42 of the plug 41 (FIG. 3). When the knob 47 is depressed, the valve member 45 disengages from the plug 41 to open the bore 42 and to allow the fluid 34 to flow from the casing 24 through the openings 46 of the tube 43 and into the plug 41 and the tube 43 and to flow out through the mouth 49. When the knob 47 is depressed toward the cover 20, the check valve 35 may block the orifice 28 of the board 27.

[0013] When the knob 47 is released, the spring 50 forces the valve member 45 to block the bore 42 of the plug 41. At this moment, the receptacle 30 may squeeze the fluid 34 to open the check valve 35 and to flow through the orifice 28 of the board 27 and then to flow into the casing 24. Other receptacles 30 with fluid may be changeably attached to the casing 24 or the cover 20 after the receptacle 30 has been emptied, for allowing the casing 24 and the cover 20 to be used again and again.

[0014] As shown in FIGS. 1-3, each fold 33 includes an upper peripheral wall 36 inclined relative to a horizontal plane 38 for an angle of about 39 degrees, or between 34 and 44 degrees, and a lower peripheral wall 37 inclined relative to the horizontal plane 38 for an angle of about 45 degrees, or between 40 and 50 degrees, or the lower walls 37 are more inclined relative to the upper walls 36, and/or the folds 33 each include an included angle of about 84 degrees between the walls 36, 37, and arranged for allowing the upper wall 36 of one or the first of the folds 33 to be folded up to contact with the lower wall 37 of the upper fold 33 when the fluid 34 is gradually consumed (FIG. 3). The lower walls 37 of the first fold 33 may then be moved to contact with the upper wall 36 of the first fold 33 when the fluid 34 is further consumed (FIGS. 3, 4), such that the folds 33 may be gradually folded until the walls 36, 37 are parallel to each other (FIG. 4) for allowing the receptacle 30 to be folded to a compact folding structure.

Claims

1. A liquid dispensing device comprising a cover (20), characterized in that an accordion receptacle (30) for receiving a fluid is attached to the cover (20), and by a control device (40) for controlling the fluid to flow out of the cover (20).

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receptacle (30) includes a first fold (33) having an upper wall (36) and a lower wall (37) inclined relative to a horizontal plane (38), and at least one second fold (33) located above the first fold (33) and having a lower wall (37) inclined relative to the horizontal plane (38), and the upper wall (36) of the first fold (33) is foldable upwardly toward the lower wall (37) of the second fold (33), and the lower wall (37) of the first fold (33) is moveable upwardly toward the upper wall (36) of the first fold (33).

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first fold (33) of the receptacle (30) includes an angle of 84 degrees between the walls (36, 37).

4. A device as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the lower wall (37) includes an angle of 45 degrees relative to the horizontal plane (38).

5. A device as claimed in claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein the upper wall (36) includes an angle of 39 degrees relative to the horizontal plane (38).

6. A device as claimed in one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the cover (20) includes a casing (24) having a compartment (26) for receiving the fluid (34), and the receptacle (30) includes a flange (31) for attaching to the cover (20).

7. A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the casing (24) includes a board (27) having an orifice (28), a check valve (35) attached to the casing (24) for blocking the orifice (28) of the board (27).

8. A device as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein the control device (40) includes a plug (41) disposed in the casing (24) and having an bore (42) communicating with the casing (24), and a tube (43) engaged through the plug (41) and having a valve member (45) for blocking the bore (42) of the plug (41).

9. A device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the tube (43) includes a blind hole (44), and at least one opening (46).

10. A device as claimed in claim 8 or 9, wherein a knob (47) includes a conduit (48) having a mouth (49), the tube (43) is engaged into the conduit (48) of the knob (47), and a spring (50) is disposed between the knob (47) and the cover (20).

Drawing