Liquid dispensing container

Abstract

A fluid dispensing assembly for use with mop-like devices. The assembly adapts to mop-like devices and utilizes a collapsible fluid reservoir pouch preferably contained within a substantially rigid housing. The collapsible fluid reservoir pouch permits fluid dispensing without need for venting. The assembly preferably utilizes one or the other of a fluid conducting needle and a venting needle found in a fluid disbursement fitment of commercially available mop-like devices, but the needles are not used to puncture membranes in a fluid reservoir. Rather, they provide mechanical force to actuate a valve that is used to permit flow of fluid from the fluid reservoir to the fluid disbursement fitment.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 483,208, filed May 6, 2011, the disclosure of which is incorporated in its entirety by reference thereto.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates generally to the field of cleaning devices. More particularly, the invention is directed toward a liquid dispensing assembly for use with mop-like devices.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Many mop-like consumer / home cleaning devices utilize a liquid containing reservoir which is in fluid communication a disbursement means by way of a fitment that relies on puncturing means to pierce through a membrane of the reservoir to establish the fluid communication. The puncturing means are typically one or more sharp hollow needles. The sharp needles can cause mild to severe injury if a consumer is inadvertently pricked or stabbed thereby.[0004]Additionally, consumer / home cleaning devices typically utilize a substan...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]It is a further object of the invention to provide means for dispensing fluid from a reservoir by using mechanical force to actuate a check valve to facilitate fluid communication from the reservoir to a fluid disbursing means without requiring the use of needles to puncture a membrane.

[0010]It is a further object of the invention to provide a reservoir made of a flexible, collapsible, and preferably replaceable reservoir pouch held within a preferably cage-like, optionally open-topped, housing. As a further general object of the invention, fluid is dispensed from the pouch, thereby causing the pouch to collapse and equilibrate pressure caused by the loss of liquid volume and, therefore, eliminating the need for venting. It is a further general object of the invention for the housing to connect the pouch to the fluid disbursing means.

Problems solved by technology

The sharp needles can cause mild to severe injury if a consumer is inadvertently pricked or stabbed thereby.

Venting requires additional manufacturing steps which can increase the cost of the system.

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