GB2518854A

GB2518854A - A nozzle head

Info

Publication number: GB2518854A
Application number: GB1317444.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Melissa Grant
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-10-02
Filing date: 2013-10-02
Publication date: 2015-04-08
Anticipated expiration: 2033-10-02
Also published as: GB201317444D0; GB2518854B

Abstract

There is a nozzle head (100 figure 1) for a multi- compartment 1 fluid dispenser. The nozzle head comprises a displaceable nozzle arranged with a through-passage 7, for connection with plural independent fluid paths from plural independent fluid compartments. The displacement of the nozzle is in relation to at least two orthogonal directions. The nozzle may be displaced in both an axial and a rotary fashion with respect to the through passage 7. Also claimed is a dispenser using such a nozzle head.

Description

A NOZZLE HEAD

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a nozzle head, more particularly but not exclusively a nozzle head for a multi-compartment fluid dispenser; and associated multi-compartment fluid dispenser.

Backciround Commonly multiple cleaning liquids are used around the home or workplace, for example to clean surfaces such as those found in a kitchen or bathroom, or when cleaning a vehicle.

Usually different liquids may be used on different surfaces to remove, disinfect or polish these surfaces. Therefore each liquid is often provided in a different a separate container. However this can mean multiple containers which can take up a lot of space. Smaller containers may be used to reduce the amount of space taken up however these may not last as long and may generate additional waste due to an increased number of containers being purchased and disposed of when empty.

Amongst other problems the containers are not reusable and therefore are commonly disposed of when empty. Furthermore a user must therefore carry and use multiple containers during cleaning which may be awkward to carry and increase cleaning time.

Prior Art

Accordingly a number of patent applications have been filed in an attempt to resolve the problem or similar, including the following: Granted European patent EP 1 723 046 (KUENZ et al) discloses a safety rotating closure for a multi-compartment bottle which has a separate pour neck with a pour opening for each chamber, and a rotating closure which can be screwed onto a common neck part of the multi-compartment bottle and provide a mechanically acting child safeguard against tampering with the rotating closure, the safety rotating closure comprising: essentially conical seal parts which in the screwed-on state engage the pour openings of the pour necks and interact with the inside walls to form a seal, and child safety means having interlocking elements located on the safety rotating closure.

United States patent application US 2004 206 775 (HOLMES) discloses a dispensing container for a plurality of viscous liquids, the container comprising:a compressible housing that defines a plurality of chambers that contain the plurality of viscous materials, wherein the compressible housing has an opening at a first end, and wherein the plurality of different chambers are in fluid communication with the opening such that compression of the compressible housing results in a mix of the viscous materials being urged out of the opening; and a cap assembly that is positioned over the opening, wherein the cap is movable between a closed and an àpen orientation, wherein the cap has a flat surface having an area sufficient to support the dispensing container in an upright orientation when the cap is positioned in the closed orientation.

Granted European patent EP 1 352 690 (PRUETER) discloses a swivel pump dispenser for dispensing liquid from a selected one of a plurality of liquid compartments arranged side-by side, comprising a housing including a pump cylinder defining a pump chamber together with a manually reciprocable pump piston, an inlet tube on the housing extending into the pump chamber, a vent port in said chamber in communication selectively with the liquid compartments, the pump housing having means for blocking communication between the vent port and atmosphere in a non-pumping position of the pump and for opening communication between the vent port and atmosphere during pumping, the cap having liquid openings and vent openings each communicating with a separate compartment, dip tubes supported by the cap and each extending into a compartment from the liquid openings, a swivel rotatably coupled to the cap and having liquid and vent passages respectively connected with the inlet tube and the vent port, seal means on the swivel having through openings for selectively connecting one of the liquid openings and one of the vent openings respectively with the inlet tube and the vent port upon rotation of the pump dispenser about the axis of the swivel to selectively dispense liquid from a selected compartment upon operation of the dispenser.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a nozzle head for a multi-compartment fluid dispenser, the nozzle head comprising a displaceable nozzle arranged with a through-passage, for connection with plural independent fluid paths from plural independent fluid compartments; wherein displacement of the nozzle is in relation to at least two orthogonal directions.

In preferred embodiments at least part of the nozzle is displaceable in order to disconnect the through-passage from the paths; and is preferably displaceable to change from one path to another.

The displacement may be in two stages. The first stage may be to disconnect the through-passage and displace in a first longitudinal direction along an axis defined substantially by the paths. The second stage may be rotation in a second radial direction about that axis.

The nozzle may further include any conventional or standard arrangement known in the art for displacement of a part therein, so as to permit throughput of fluid.

In preferred embodiments the through-passage is enabled to move from placement over or on one of said paths to another and connection therethrough. The placement may be analogous with connection and wherein displacement of the part of the nozzle (1) permits throughput of fluid from the compartment; and wherein displacement of the nozzle (2) allows disconnection of the through-passage from the path(s).

In preferred embodiments the nozzle head is in use on a device with more than one sealed compartment, wherein said compartment is capable of maintaining one than one liquid or fluid separate, and ideally sealed and airtight to maintain pressure.

Maintaining said seal may beachieved by a single collar over the compartments, wherein the paths are connected to openings in the cap, prior to connection with the through-passage.

Accordingly the present invention therefore provides a liquid dispenser comprising: a body which includes more than one separate compartment, wherein each compartment includes an opening, the openings being aligned to fit within a collar.

In this way different liquids may be held in each compartment of the liquid dispenser, or dispenser. Dispensing of the liquids from the compartments can be selectively controlled by placement of the nozzle and a pump mechanism. Advantageously the user is therefore only required to carry the one dispenser instead for example multiple containers of cleaning fluids.

It may be envisaged that the body may comprise separate compartments which in use are arranged next to each other and secured together by means of the collar. In this way one compartment can readily be displaced, refilled and replaced, although in use all compartments are held together by the collar so as to form the body.

In some embodiments the compartments may snap fit together or include mating or interconnecting parts. In other embodiments all the compartments may be mounted on a base so as to secure them together. For example the compartments may be removably fitted to the base by a clip fitting or detent mechanism.

The body may comprise one compartment with integrated dividers which serve to define separate compartments.

In preferred embodiments the body may have three compartments. In another preferred embodiment the body may comprise six separate compartments. For example the device may be for kitchen cleaning and include; washing up liquid, degreaser, bleach, disinfectant, floor cleaner and window cleaner. Ideally each compartment may be an equally sized segment. Preferably each compartment may be capable of holding at least 500m1 of liquid.

In preferred embodiments the body is formed from a lightweight, durable material such as synthetic plastic. Preferably the body is hardwearing so as to be suitable for re-use. Ideally part of or all of each compartment may be transparent or translucent so as to allow the user to be able to see the amount of liquid remaining.

In some embodiments each compartment may be coloured differently or include some form of visual decoration such as a coloured shape so that the user can easily distinguish one compartment from another.

Furthermore the compartment may include incremental marks so as to enable the user to see how much liquid they have used/how much is remaining. The increments may also be used for mixing of liquids for example if diluting a concentrate.

Preferably the path comprises a suction tube through the opening and into the compartment and by which liquid contents are drawn through and channelled to the pump mechanism for dispensing through the nozzle. Ideally said tube is filled in the opening by a cap wherein said cap is held in place by the collar to ensure the paths are arranged in fixed locations.

In some embodiments all paths may be positioned on a lid so that they are added and removed as one part. It may be envisaged that the lid may be fitted to the body for example by means of a snap fitting or detent mechanism.

Preferably each path may include a valve at a proximal end where the path joins the cap so as to prevent escape of liquid when the path is not in use. It may be envisaged that the valve is displaced when the path is connected to the through-passage, for example whereby the through-passage is pushed through the valve.

In preferred embodiments the collar serves to hold all compartments together and the cap down, if they are separate and/or to provide a means of attachment for the nozzle, wherein the nozzle is held onto the cap and/or collar by a cuff, and wherein the cuff is screwed onto the collar to prevent displacement in both first and second directions.

Typically the collar and cuff may be threaded so as to allow the cuff to be screwed onto the collar and thereby the nozzle attached to the collar and thereby the body.

In preferred embodiments the nozzle is displaceable in the first direction after displacement in the second direction; wherein the nozzle is displaceable without moving the cuff once the cuff is sufficiently unscrewed from the collar.

In preferred embodiments the nozzle includes; the pump mechanism comprising a lever arranged to act on the displaceable part namely a plunger, and the through-passage. In preferred embodiments the plunger and through-passage are synonymous at least in part, wherein the plunger includes the through-passage.

Preferably the pump mechanism is operated by displacement of the lever against a spring and consequent displacement of the plunger within the nozzle, so as to open the through-passage to the path and pull liquid up the path.

To enable fitting of the through-passage to the path the plunger may be moveable up and down so as to be placed onto or into and displaced from the path. In order to ensure effectiveness of dispensing said movement advantageously is limited by the cuff, wherein the lever may displace the plunger using the lever to dispense but for the displacement of the plunger in the first direction sufficient to displace the plunger and through-passage from the path sufficient to allow movement in the second direction, the cuff must be unscrewed from the collar.

In preferred embodiments the plunger is sprung biased towards the compartments, and ideally biased by curvature or shaping to seat into the path, wherein the through-passage and path will be urged to align upon tightening of the cuff onto the collar.

In preferred embodiments the nozzle includes a lip over which the cuff is fined in order that the cuff allows free rotation of the nozzle about the second direction after unscrewing has moved the cuff in the first direction.

Preferably the nozzle may include an indicator that is aligned with markers provided on the compartment to guide the users as to when the nozzle is correctly aligned with the path. For example the lever may be aligned with the markers or the nozzle may include an arrow or coloured tabs to be aligned with the marker(s) It may be envisaged that the dispenser, collar, or cuff may have locating grooves into which the nozzle may be fitted in order to align the parts. In this way correct orientation of the plunger with the paths can easily be identified.

In some other embodiments the nozzle may provide positive feedback when correctly aligned, such as an audible click. In this way the user can quickly and easily adjust the nozzle to select a different compartment to be used.

In preferred embodiments the nozzle or nozzle head includes an integrated handle so as to allow the dispenser to be readily carried by the user and wherein the handle is integrated with the nozzle so as to drive displacement.

The handle may comprise an arcuate C-shaped portion around which the user can easily grip and carry the dispenser.

In other embodiments the handle may comprise a loop or a bar.

In some embodiments the handle may include or be formed from a resiliently deformable material such as rubber or silicone so as to aid grip.

In preferred embodiments the nozzle head has a plurality of settings so as to change how the liquid is dispensed and so prevent liquid being dispensed when not in use.

For example the nozzle may provide a jet and spray method of dispensing liquid.

Typically the nozzle may include a valve so as to control release.

In some preferred embodiments each compartment may include a panel upon which the details of the contents can be provided, including for example any relevant warnings such as if the contents are corrosive. The panel may have the name of the liquid written on or may accept a sticky label. Alternatively a sticker from an original compartment may be stuck onto the panel to reveal to the user what it is.

In other embodiments the compartment wall may have receiving means for a label that can be slotted in and readily removed and replaced when required.

In a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a multi-compartment fluid dispenser with plural compartments arranged about an axis with a dispensing nozzle displaceable in a first radial direction from one compartment to another, and comprising a displacement mechanism active along a second axial direction to permit displacement in said first direction.

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of a multi-compartment fluid dispenser according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows a front view of the dispenser embodiment shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a side view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a second isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 shows a top view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1; Figure 6 shows an exploded isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1; And Figure 7 shows a second isometric view of the exploded embodiment shown in Figure 1.

Detailed Description of Figures

With reference to the figures the dispenser comprises three compartments 1, and a nozzle head 100.

Said nozzle head includes a handle 2, lever 4, collar 6 and cuff 3, and nozzle 5.

The nozzle 5 is at the end of a through-passage 7, which connects via connection holes 11 with paths 10 into the compartments 1, when correctly aligned. The collar 6 and cuff 3 can be screwed together to push the plunger B into the holes 11. The nozzle 7 moves up and down on the stud 12 of the cap 9, and said plunger 8 moves up and down in use upon pivoting of the lever 4.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that Variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

Claims 1. A nozzle head for a multi-compartment fluid dispenser, the nozzle head comprising a displaceable nozzle arranged with a through-passage, for connection with plural independent fluid paths from plural independent fluid compartments; wherein displacement of the nozzle is in relation to at least two prthogonal directions.
2. A nozzle head according to claim 1 wherein the nozzle is displaceable in order to disconnect the through-passage from the paths.
3. A nozzle head according to either of claims I and 2 wherein the nozzle is displaceable to change from one path to another
4. A nozzle head according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the path comprises a suction tube through a cap and into a compartment, and wherein the nozzle head is arranged in use on a dispenser with multiple compartments and the cap seals the compartments.
5. A nozzle head according to any of claims 1 to 4 wherein the paths include at least one valve.
6. A nozzle head according to any of the preceding claims wherein the nozzle is attached to a cuff and the compartments attached to a collar in use, wherein said collar and said cuff allow screwthread engagement.
7. A nozzle head according to any of the preceding claims wherein the nozzle is displaceable in a first stage to disconnect the through-passage and displace in a first longitudinal direction along an axis defined substantially by the paths, and is displaceable in a second stage to rotate in a second radial direction about the axis.B. A nozzle head accordingto any of the preceding claims wherein is enabled to move from placement over or on one of said paths to another and connection therethrough, wherein placement is analogous with connection and wherein displacement of the part of the nozzle (1) permits throughput of fluid from the compartment; and wherein displacement of the nozzle (2) allows disconnection of the through-passage from the path(s).9. A nozzle head according to any of the preceding claims wherein the nozzle includes a pump mechanism comprising a lever arranged to act on a displaceable part of the nozzle, namely a plunger.10. A nozzle head according to claim 9 wherein the plunger and through-passage are synonymous at least in part, wherein the plunger includes the through-passage.11.A nozzle head according to any of preceding claims 9 or 10 wherein the plunger is sprung biased towards the compartments.12. A nozzle head according to any of the preceding claims wherein the nozzle includes a lip over which a cuff is fitted in order that the cuff allows free rotation of the nozzle.13. A nozzle head according to any of the preceding claims wherein the nozzle comprises an integrated handle.14. A multi-compartment fluid dispenser with plural compartments arranged about an axis with a dispensing nozzle displaceable in a first radial direction from one compartment to another, and comprising a displacement mechanism active along an axial second direction to permit displacement in said first direction.15. A nozzle head or dispenser with reference to the figures and substantially as described herein.