TWIN BOTTLE MANIFOLD

Abstract

A part of a dispensing apparatus is described. A fluid dispensing apparatus manifold arranged to mix and combine a first fluid from a first chamber and a second fluid from a second chamber has been devised. The manifold includes a first fluid inlet for entry of fluid from the first chamber, a second fluid inlet for entry of fluid from the second chamber, a mixing chamber and a fluid outlet. A first fluid passage is arranged to provide fluid communication for the first fluid from the first chamber to the mixing chamber, and a second fluid passage is arranged to provide fluid communication for the second fluid from the second chamber to the mixing chamber, whereby the first and second fluids are combined into a mixed fluid stream at the fluid outlet.

Claims

1. A fluid dispensing apparatus manifold arranged to mix and combine a first fluid from a first chamber and a second fluid from a second chamber, the manifold comprising a first fluid inlet for entry of fluid from the first chamber, a second fluid inlet for entry of fluid from the second chamber, a mixing chamber and a fluid outlet, wherein a first fluid passage is arranged to provide fluid communication for the first fluid from the first chamber to the mixing chamber, and a second fluid passage is arranged to provide fluid communication for the second fluid from the second chamber to the mixing chamber, whereby the first and second fluids are combined into a mixed fluid stream at the fluid outlet.

2. A fluid dispensing apparatus manifold as claimed in claim 1, wherein the manifold comprises a mating portion located at the first fluid inlet arranged to mate with a bottle of standard construction.

3. A fluid dispensing apparatus manifold as claimed in claim 1, wherein the manifold comprises a mating portion located at the second fluid inlet arranged to mate with a bottle of standard construction.

4. A fluid dispensing apparatus manifold as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second fluid inlets comprise one or more diptubes.

5. A fluid dispensing apparatus manifold as claimed in claim 1, wherein the manifold further comprises a mating portion located at the fluid outlet arranged to mate with a trigger sprayer device of standard construction.

6. A fluid dispensing apparatus manifold as claimed in claim 1, wherein the manifold is comprised of two parts formed by injection moulding.

7. A fluid dispensing apparatus manifold as claimed in claim 6, wherein the two parts are secured together with a weld.

8. A fluid dispensing apparatus manifold as claimed in claim 1, having a depth in the range of 80 to 110 mm, preferably 100 mm.

9. A fluid dispensing apparatus manifold as claimed in claim 1, having a width in the range of 60 to 100 mm, preferably 75 mm.

10. A fluid dispensing apparatus manifold as claimed in claim 1, wherein one or more of the said first fluid passage and the said second fluid passage further comprises a component arranged to allow fluid to flow in one direction only.

11. A fluid dispensing apparatus manifold as claimed in claim 1, wherein one or more of the first inlet and the second inlet further comprises a component arranged to allow fluid to flow in one direction only.

12. A fluid dispensing apparatus manifold as claimed in claim 10, wherein the fluid flow direction component comprises a valve.

13. A fluid dispensing apparatus manifold as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first fluid inlet is arranged to receive a stable liquid component in an unactivated state as a said first fluid.

14. A fluid dispensing apparatus manifold as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second fluid inlet is arranged to receive a stable liquid component in an unactivated state as a said second fluid.

15. A fluid dispensing apparatus manifold as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mixing chamber is arranged to mix a first and a second fluid whereby the first and the second fluid are activated so as to form an active fluid component.

16. A fluid dispensing apparatus manifold as claimed in claim 15, wherein the first and the second fluid are activated so as to form an active biocide, sporicide, or other activated formula.

17. A fluid dispensing apparatus manifold as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first fluid passage comprises a first fluid passage tube having a first diameter and the second fluid passage comprises a second fluid passage tube having a second diameter.

18. A fluid dispensing apparatus manifold as claimed in claim 17, wherein the first and second fluid passage tubes have substantially the same diameter.

19. A fluid dispensing apparatus manifold as claimed in claim 17, wherein the first and second fluid passage tubes have different diameters.

20. A fluid dispensing apparatus manifold as claimed in claim 1, wherein the components of the manifold and attachments are sterile.

21. (canceled)

Description

[0019] Embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the twin bottle mixing manifold according to an embodiment of the invention, mounted on conventional bottles and attached to a standard trigger spray head;

[0021] FIG. 2 is a front internal view of the manifold of FIG. 1;

[0022] FIG. 3a is a perspective interior view of one half of the manifold of FIG. 1;

[0023] FIG. 3b is a perspective interior view of the corresponding other half part of the manifold of FIG. 1;

[0024] FIG. 4 is an exploded cross sectional view of an alternative embodiment showing the manifold inserted into a separate hand grip for mounting on conventional bottles and for attaching to a standard trigger spray head;

[0025] FIG. 5a is an exploded view of an alternative embodiment of the twin bottle manifold of the invention, and includes other components of the assembly such as the trigger spray and bottles; and

[0026] FIG. 5b shows an assembled view of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 5a.

[0027] The upper and lower portions referred to in this description are those that, in use, are in the upper or topmost position when the apparatus is ready for use.

[0028] FIG. 1 shows the manifold 100 of the present invention in situ in a ready to use state with a fluid dispensing apparatus and a trigger spray head S. The manifold 100 comprises a neck 10, of a substantially cylindrical shape having a column diameter. The upper portion 12 of the neck 10 broadens to have a diameter wider than the manifold column diameter, and the lower portion of the neck 10 comprises a pair of shoulders 14 arranged to branch from the neck 10 and to connect to existing bottles or chambers. FIG. 1 shows chamber C1 and chamber C2 suitable for containing fluids for mixing in the manifold 100. The interior of the manifold 100 comprises portions suitable for the passage and mixing of fluids from the chambers C1, C2 through the manifold to the trigger spray head S. The manifold 100 comprises a first fluid inlet 102 for entry of fluid from the first chamber C1, a second fluid inlet 104 for entry of fluid from the second chamber C2, a mixing chamber 106 and a fluid outlet 108. In the illustration in FIG. 2 there is a first fluid passage 110 arranged to provide fluid communication for the first fluid from the first chamber C1 to the mixing chamber 106, and a second fluid passage 112 that is arranged to provide fluid communication for the second fluid from the second chamber C2 to the mixing chamber 106. The first fluid passage 110 extends from the fluid inlet 102 to the mixing chamber 106, it is a cylindrical tube and can comprise a diptube. The second fluid passage 112 extends from the fluid inlet 104 to the mixing chamber 106, it is a cylindrical tube and can comprise a diptube. As illustrated the tubes of this embodiment forming the passages are of equal diameter. A fluid passage then extends to the fluid outlet 108. The mixing chamber 106 is provided so that first and second fluids are combined into a mixed fluid stream at the fluid outlet 108.

[0029] The fluid inlets 102, 104 and fluid outlet 108 all comprise mating portions for connection to existing kit. Screw threaded portions 120, 122 are located below shoulders 14 and depend therefrom. The portions 120, 122 surround and protect first fluid inlet 102 and second fluid inlet 104. Portions 120 and 122 are supplied in preparation for connection to chambers C1 and C2, which in this embodiment are conventional bottles containing fluid components. Connecting portion 124 also features a screw threaded mating portion for connection to a standard spray trigger head S. First 110 and second 120 fluid passages may include one or more valves (not shown) for fluid direction control.

[0030] FIG. 3 shows the cut through view of the manifold. The two pieces comprise injection moulded portions and the two pieces can be joined together with weld points and heat sealing or similar to form a one piece manifold. The preferred dimensions of the fluid outlet 108 is 25 mm and the width of the lower portion of the neck is 75 mm.

[0031] In the illustrated embodiment the side face 300 of the neck of the manifold 100 comprises an ergonomically shaped region 400 provided for ease of hold and grip by a user. The shaping in FIG. 3 can comprise one or more shapes selected from the range; scalloped, chamfered, indented. The shapings should be able to easily accommodate the fingers and hand grip of a user. In addition the face 300 may comprise company or product information signage.

[0032] In use, the manifold combined with standard bottles and a spray head can provide on the spot activated fluid solution, for example a sporicidal spray. The user takes the lower part of the shoulders 14 of manifold 100 is connected with a screw thread to two standard bottles, chambers C1 and C2. The fluid in one chamber may be a hypochlorite and the fluid in the second chamber may be an adipic acid/ethanol mix. Diptubes from the manifold provide a first fluid inlet 102 and a second fluid inlet 104. A user connects the upper portion 12 of the manifold to a conventional trigger spray head S and when the activated solution is required the user draws up fluid from chamber C1 and chamber C2 by the pump action of the trigger spray. The fluids are drawn up from their respective chambers into the manifold at inlet 102 and inlet 104, they pass along their respective passages 110 and 112 to combine at the mixing chamber 106. The mixed stream provides an activated formula of active biocide, here Hypochlorous acid, that continues to be intimately mixed as it is ejected from the outlet 108 and via the trigger spray head S.

[0033] The ratio of the fluids from chamber C1 and chamber C2 are drawn up in a predetermined ratio equal to the ratio of the cross sectional area of passage 110 and passage 112. The rate of dispersion will also depends on the relative viscosity of the fluids and an appropriate adjustment in the ratio of the cross section of the tubes will provide a tailored activated solution.

[0034] The manifold may be of an alternative embodiment as required for bulk manufacture and as may be suited to producing the manifold and bottle arrangement on a large scale. For example, in an alternative embodiment the connection from the manifold to the bottles may be with a press fit. The manifold may comprise a neck portion only with a separate trigger, hand grip and portion for connection to the bottles. In this embodiment the hand grip includes internal channels to guide the dip tubes to the bottles. The valves for fluid control of the contents of the bottles, chambers C1 and C2 may be located inside the manifold or inside the hand grip or outer molded portion. Illustrated examples of this embodiment are shown in FIG. 4, in an exploded view. FIG. 5 also illustrates an alternative embodiment in which the bottles are molded in such a way so as to create a hand grip portion. In this version the bottles C3, C4 are not standard bottles and the manifold and a trigger head assembly is inserted into the bottles in a slot or push fit arrangement. In the embodiments illustrated in exploded view in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the invention is such that the interior of the manifold 1100 comprises portions suitable for the passage and mixing of fluids from the chambers C3, C4 through the manifold to the trigger spray head S. The manifold 1100 comprises a first fluid inlet 1002 for entry of fluid from the first chamber C3, a second fluid inlet 1004 for entry of fluid from the second chamber C4, a mixing chamber 1006 and a fluid outlet 1008. In the illustration in FIGS. 4 and 5 there is a first fluid passage 1010 arranged to provide fluid communication for the first fluid from the first chamber C3 to the mixing chamber 1006, and a second fluid passage 1012 that is arranged to provide fluid communication for the second fluid from the second chamber C4 to the mixing chamber 1006. The first fluid passage 1010 extends from the fluid inlet 1002 to the mixing chamber 1006, it is a cylindrical tube and can comprise a diptube. The second fluid passage 1012 extends from the fluid inlet 1004 to the mixing chamber 1006, it is a cylindrical tube and can comprise a diptube. As illustrated the tubes of the embodiments forming the passages are of equal diameter. A fluid passage then extends to the fluid outlet 1008. The mixing chamber 1006 is provided so that first and second fluids are combined into a mixed fluid stream at the fluid outlet 1008, as previously described.

[0035] Various modifications may be made to the described embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. The body may be of an alternative shaping and may comprise any suitable material and may be of varying length and thickness. Alternative forms of construction and features may be considered. The shape of the manifold may be of any shape to conform the hand of a user or to include other functional features. The inlet and outlets may be a suitable size in order to combine and fit with existing systems. The manifold may comprise plastic, injection moulded material or other task specific or site specific material. They may include sterilised components. The activated fluid ejected from the trigger may be a disinfectant, a biocde, a sporicidal spray. The number of passageways and inlets may be altered to allow for more than two reservoirs of fluids, for example 3 or 4 may be accommodated.

[0036] The manifold product may include signage selected from the range of; colourways, company name, hazard warnings, CE Standard and supporting information, indication of product or use by date.