Portable Liquid Dispenser

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to portable liquid dispensers and more particularly to a thermally-insulated dispenser having manually operated means for effecting and controlling the flow of liquid therefrom.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art

Portable liquid dispensers are known in the art. Many prior art portable liquid dispensers are large metal containers which are prepressurized and strapped onto the back of a person for vending liquid refreshments at ball games and other events. The present invention is designed for recreational use by backpackers, bicyclists, hunters, campers, or by telephone linemen, electricians, carpenters, or other persons who may desire cool or warm fluids when it may not be otherwise convenient to stop the activity which they are engaged in.

Bottles and bottle mounts for bicycles are commercially available. Most of which consist of a wire cage or basket which is affixed to the frame of the bicycle and receive a bottle. The use of these devices is often cumbersome or distracting and dangerous to the cyclist. There are several patents which disclose various liquid

Wooten, U.S. Pat. No. 3,348,741 disclose a dispenser apparatus adapted to be carried by a user. The apparatus comprises a storage tank having an arcuate front side for fitting snugly against the users back, and a pair of straps for supporting the tank. A resilient dispenser tube is secured at one end to the bottom of the tank and its other end is provided with a dispenser valve having a handle which when depressed enables the liquid to escape from the tank. The valve is mounted on a tray which extends partially around the body of the user. The tank is continuously pressurized by a container of pressurized gas connected to the tank.

Kassel, U.S. Pat. No. 2,558,181 discloses a portable dispensing device comprising an outer casing provided with straps and a belt and a complemental inner tank. A flexible tube communicates with the inner tank and has a dispensing faucet on its free end. Both the inner tank and the outer casing are individually insulated, and provision is made for using carbon dioxide gas that is released by dry ice in the inner tank to carbonate the beverage therein and provide a dispensing pressure head.

Osborne, U.S. Pat. No. 2,013,358 discloses a knapsack water bag comprising a knapsack having attaching straps for securing the same upon the back of a user and a foldable and collapsible rubber water bag conforming to the internal contour of the knapsack. A discharge fitting is connected to the bottom of the bag and projects through an opening in the knapsack. Liquids are dispensed by gravity flow.

Charpiat, U.S. Pat. No. 2,684,787 discloses an improvement for a transportable dispensing container for carbonated beverages of the type including a container enclosing an externally iced beverage containing tank. The improvement comprises a spacing plate on the back wall of the container to provide an air space between the container and the vendor's back, and a valve controlled dispensing tube in communication with the tank through a side wall of the container.

Motsenbocker, U.S. Pat. No. 4,420,097 discloses a portable liquid dispenser with a carrying case. The container is a thin generally pillow shaped member formed of plastic sheet material and the carrying case is a similarly shaped insulated fabric member. A dispensing tube is connected to the interior of the container and has a valve and nozzle at its other end. Gravity flow and the progressive collapse of the container allows liquids to be dispensed at an acceptable rate.

Le Claire, U.S. Pat. No. 984,768 discloses a branding apparatus wherein air is forced through a gasoline container carried in a pouch by means of a rubber squeeze bulb and the gasoline is carried to a branding iron.

Boughton, U.S. Pat. No. 4,345,704 discloses a bottle mount and bottle combination for bicycles. The concave surface of the mount and the complementary surface of the bottle have hoop and loop fastener elements affixed to them. A beverage in the bottle is discharged through a valved dispenser that is designed to be opened using the teeth.

The prior art in general, and none of these patents in particular, disclose the present invention of a portable liquid dispenser having a manual pressurizing means and which is carried in a thermally insulating sleeve adapted to be releasably attached to various articles.

It is therefore one object of this invention to provide a portable liquid dispenser having means for releasably attaching it to the user or on various articles convenient to the user for allowing its use during the performance of an activity.

Another object of this invention is to provide a portable liquid dispenser whereby the liquids contained therein are thermally insulated.

Another object of this invention is to provide a portable liquid dispenser which allows the liquids contained therein may be manually pressurized quickly and easily by the user.

Another object of this invention is to provide a portable liquid dispenser which allows the liquids contained therein to be easily and quickly discharged at a satisfactory rate superior to gravity or suction induced flow rates.

Another object of this invention is to provide a portable liquid dispenser which is constructed of light weight durable materials, inexpensive to manufacture, and attractive in appearance.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from time to time throughout the specification and claims as hereinafter related.

The above noted objects and other objects of the invention are accomplished by a portable liquid dispenser suitable for use by persons while performing an activity which comprises a thermally-insulated container for liquids having means for releasably attaching the same for access by the user. A single flexible dispensing tube having a pair of parallel longitudinal passages is connected at one end connected to the filling cap of the container and at the other end to a dispensing valve for discharging liquids from the container. The container is pressurized by a compressible bulb sealed end around the distal end of the dispensing tube in communication with the interior of the container through one longitudinal passage in the tube. A check valve is disposed in the air inlet of the fitting and another check valve is disposed in the air inlet of the dispensing valve which cooperate with the bulb to force air into the container. A number of compressions of the bulb forces air into the container to pressurize the liquid therein which flows through the other longitudinal passage on demand of the user by pressing a plunger on the dispensing valve.

FIG. 1 is a side view, in partial cross section, of a portable liquid dispenser illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a view in longitudinal cross section of the portable liquid dispenser shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view with the end shown in cross section of a segment of the dispenser tube of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a view in longitudinal cross section of the squeeze bulb pump mechanism shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a view in longitudinal central section of the dispensing valve mechanism shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a holder for the squeeze bulb member shown in FIGS. 1 and 4.

Referring now to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown a portable liquid dispenser 10 illustrating a preferred embodiment of this invention. The dispenser 10 comprises a liquid container 11 and an outer, closed-end, insulated sleeve 12. The container 11 is a bottle shaped member formed of suitable material such as polyethylene or polypropylene, preferably of a size to hold a liquid volume of approximately 32 fluid ounces.

A cap 13 is threadedly secured on the threaded open top of the container 11. A fitting 14 on the cap 13 communicates on one side with the interior of the container 10 and on the other side is connected to one end of a dispensing tube 15. Dispensing tube 15 has one end attached to the fitting 14 and its other end passes through a compressible squeeze bulb 16 and has a dispensing valve 17 secured on the end thereof.

The insulated sleeve 12 is a closed-end, cylindrical, cup-shaped or bag-shaped member having an outer layer of durable fabric material 18 sewn together with an inner lining of thermally insulating material 19 which snugly fits the external contour of the container 11. A preferred fabric material is 70-200 weight Nylon cloth (Dow Chemical Co.), and a suitable thermal inner lining material has proven to be 1/2" or 3/8" polyurethane foam having a density of 1-2 lbs./cu. ft. A hem 20 at the open top of the sleeve 11 contains a draw string 21. The draw string 21 is provided with a suitable cord locking device 22 which allows the sleeve to tightly enclose the container 11 leaving only the cap 13 exposed.

At least one slotted fastener 23 is affixed to the outer surface of the sleeve 12 to receive fastening means such as cords, webbing, or straps, which allow the dispenser 10 to be releasably secured to a bicycle frame, backpack, or the belt of a user.

One element of a hook and loop fabric, e.g. VELCRO, fastener 24 is affixed to the outer surface of the sleeve 12 in a circumferentially spaced relation to the slotted fastener 23 to provide an additional means of releasably securing the dispenser 10. It should be understood that the mating element of the hook and loop fastener would be provided on the appropriate article convenient to the user. Some bicycles may be equipped with commercially available water bottle cages having a hook and loop fastener element.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the dispensing tube 15 is composed of a length of flexible rubber or plastic tubing having two separate, substantially parallel, passages extending longitudinally therethrough, viz., a small passage 25 for air and a larger passage 26 for liquid. One end of the tube 15 is attached to the fitting 14 on the cap 13 as noted above.

The top of fitting 14 comprises a pair of short upwardly extending tubes 27 and 28 which are sized and spaced to receive the passages 25 and 26, respectively, in fluid-tight relation. The tube 27 has a hollow enclosed chamber which depends from the underside of the cap 13 and contains a small ball to form a check valve mechanism 29. A small opening 30 in the sidewall of the chamber communicates with the interior of the container 11 above the liquid level.

The tube 28 has a short, hollow, open portion 31 which depends from the underside of the cap 13 to receive one end of a length of tubing 32 which extends downwardly therefrom to terminate near the bottom of the container 11. The dispensing tube 15 has a cylindrical exterior surface which extends through and tightly fits a flexible rubber squeeze bulb 16. Openings 33 through the dispensing tube 15 communicate the air passage 25 only to the interior of the bulb 16. The terminal or distal end of the tube 15 receives a dispensing valve 17.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the dispensing valve 17 has a pair of short, outwardly-extending tubes 34 and 35 which are sized and spaced to fit tightly into the passages 25 and 26 respectively of the terminal end of the tube 15 to secure the valve 17 thereon at one end of the bulb 15. The tube 34 has an air passage 36 which extends inwardly and terminates in an upwardly extending hollow chamber 37 containing a small ball to form a second check valve mechanism 38. The top of the chamber 37 is closed by a cap 39 having a small aperture 38 therein to communicate the chamber 37 to atmosphere when the ball is spaced from the air passage 34.

The tube 35 has a liquid passage 41 which extends inwardly and terminates in an upwardly extending hollow chamber 42. The top of the chamber 42 receives an inverted L-shaped nozzle 43 having a central passage 44. The tubular shaft portion 45 of a plunger 46 extends through the vertical leg of the nozzle 43 into the chamber 42. Shaft portion 45 has a reduced diameter portion 47 with an O-ring seal 48 retained in place thereon by a disk shaped retainer 49. A compression spring 50 is biased between the bottom of the chamber 42 and the underside of the retainer 49 to urge the seal 48 upwardly against the bottom surface of the vertical leg of the nozzle 43 and seal the central passage 44. The top of the plunger 46 is provided with a disk shaped finger pad 51.

FIG. 6 shows a belt clip holder 52 which may be used to conveniently carry the bulb 16 on the belt of the user. The holder 52 comprises a downwardly tapered sidewall 53 which defines a concave surface of greater than 180.degree. in circumferential extent and a laterally disposed belt clip portion 54. The rubber bulb 16 may be pressed into the sidewall 53 and its resiliency will retain it in place until removed by the user. It should be understood that bulb holders of various shapes having various fastening means may be provided to depending on the particular use of the dispenser.

The dispenser 10 is conveniently attached to the body of the user or the bicycle. The container 11 is pressurized by squeezing the rubber bulb 16. When the bulb 16 is squeezed, air inside the bulb 16 is forced through the openings 33 and into the air passage 25 closing the check valve 38 in the dispensing valve 17 and opening the check valve 29 in the fitting 14 allowing pressurized air to enter the container 11. When the bulb 16 is released, the check valve 29 in the fitting 14 closes trapping air inside the container 11 and the check valve 38 in the dispensing valve 17 opens allowing air from atmosphere to enter the bulb 16 for the next compression. It has been found that a bulb having a 1.8 oz. capacity after ten compressions will deliver a satisfactory liquid flow rate of 1 oz. per second.

After the container 11 has been sufficiently pressurized the bulb is placed in the holder 52. When the user desires a drink, he or she removes the bulk 16 from the holder and places the outward end of the nozzle portion of the dispensing valve into his or her mouth and presses down on the finger pad 51 of the plunger 46. This action opens the normally sealed central passage 44 of the nozzle 43 and the air pressure inside the container 11 forces liquid into the tubing 32 inside the bottle and through the liquid passage 26 and the central passage 44 in the nozzle 43 into the mouth of the user.

While this invention has been described fully and completely with special emphasis upon a preferred embodiment, it should be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.