US007490743B2
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Herzog
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,490,743 B2
`Feb. 17, 2009
`
`(54) DISPENSER ASSEMBLY
`
`Shinnecock
`Inventor: Kenneth J Herzogs
`Hampton Bays’ NY (Us) 11946
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`_
`(21) Appl' NO" 10/971’516
`.
`_
`(22) Filed.
`
`Oct. 22, 2004
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`US 2006/0086759 A1
`Apr. 27, 2006
`
`(51) Int, Cl,
`(2006.01)
`B65D 88/54
`(2006.01)
`B67D 5/40
`(52) US. Cl. ................ .. 222/321.7; 222/382; 222/464.1
`(58) Field of Classi?cation Search
`222621143219,
`ZZZ/4641464], 378*3831, 211, 136, 207,
`222/137; 23 9 B05’ 308
`See application ?le for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Clted
`
`US. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`2,690,278
`3,561,648
`5,152,431
`5,246,146
`5,303,851
`5,433,350
`5,464,129
`5,494,199
`
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`A
`
`A ****
`
`9/1954
`2/1971
`10/1992
`9/1993
`4/1994
`7/1995
`11/1995
`2/1996
`
`Flavius ..................... .. 222/207
`
`Humphrey . . . . . .
`
`. . . .. 222/207
`
`Gardner et a1. ..
`Bartimes et a1.
`
`222/136
`222/382
`
`Libit et a1. . . . . . .
`
`. . . .. 222/207
`
`Graubart ................... .. 222/ 136
`
`H0 ........................... .. 222/377
`
`Anderson et a1. ...... .. ZZZ/464.1
`
`3/1997 Favre ....................... .. 222/137
`5,611,463 A *
`6/1997 Libit et a1.
`ZZZ/207
`5,638,994 A *
`1/2001 Battegazzore ............. .. 222/207
`6,168,050 B1
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`3/2000
`
`W0 00/ 12403 Al
`W0
`_
`* _
`“ted by examlner
`Primary ExamineriKevin P Shaver
`Assistant ExamineriStephanie E Tyler
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or FirmiOstrolenk, Faber, Gerb &
`soffens LLP
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A dispenser assembly is provided. The dispenser assembly
`includes a container having a bottom, an open top and a side
`Wall extending between the bottom and the open top, and a
`mating arrangement, the side Wall having an inner surface; at
`least One Container passageway mounted on the inner surface
`Of the Side Wall and extending from the Open t01h Of the
`container to a position proximate to the bottom of the con
`tainer; and a pump cap having a cap body, a pump mechanism
`arranged Within the Cap body’ a Pump Cap passageway
`coupled to the pump mechanism, and a coupling arrangement
`arranged on the pump cap body and con?gured to detachably
`couple to the mating arrangement of the container such that
`the container passageway aligns With and sealingly engages
`the pump cap passageWay in a ?uid connection When the
`pump cap is mounted to the container. In this manner, the
`dispenser permits a ?uid arranged Within the container to How
`through the container passageWay and the pump cap passage
`Way When the pump mechanism of the pump cap is activated.
`
`19 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets
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`105 \
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`100 /
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`I60
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`135b
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`PETITIONER - THE CLOROX COMPANY - EXHIBIT 1001 - Page 1
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`US. Patent
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`Feb. 17, 2009
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`Sheet 1 of6
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`US 7,490,743 B2
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`147
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`//j/
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`I 1 7 7
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`115
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`PETITIONER - THE CLOROX COMPANY - EXHIBIT 1001 - Page 2
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`US. Patent
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`Feb. 17, 2009
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`Sheet 2 of6
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`US 7,490,743 B2
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`147
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`, , V, 1/
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`145
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`,140 j/ / 200
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`205e
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`i
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`/
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`\ 205C
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`205d M A ‘
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`‘ ‘
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`‘ LA
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`115
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`PETITIONER - THE CLOROX COMPANY - EXHIBIT 1001 - Page 3
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`US. Patent
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`Feb. 17, 2009
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`Sheet 3 of6
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`US 7,490,743 B2
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`145
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`147
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`FIG. 3A
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`747
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`r471
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`7171
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`105 \ _,
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`'
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`~
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`/1 40 C/ /
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`100
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`’
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`1
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`‘I j
`160 {A
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`" :VISS
`1'13
`170
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`FIG.3B
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`PETITIONER - THE CLOROX COMPANY - EXHIBIT 1001 - Page 4
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`US. Patent
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`Feb. 17, 2009
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`Sheet 4 of6
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`US 7,490,743 B2
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`o o FL“
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`JK-e
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`HO
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`125
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`PETITIONER - THE CLOROX COMPANY - EXHIBIT 1001 - Page 5
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`

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`US. Patent
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`Feb. 17, 2009
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`Sheet 5 of6
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`US 7,490,743 B2
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`FIG.5
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`PETITIONER - THE CLOROX COMPANY - EXHIBIT 1001 - Page 6
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`US. Patent
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`Feb. 17, 2009
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`Sheet 6 0f 6
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`US 7,490,743 B2
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`147
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`FIG.6A
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`PETITIONER - THE CLOROX COMPANY - EXHIBIT 1001 - Page 7
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`

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`US 7,490,743 B2
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`1
`DISPENSER ASSEMBLY
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to a liquid and a semi-liquid
`product dispensing assembly With a pump cap and a bottle on
`Which the cap is mounted.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`Container and pump assemblies for products such as liquid
`soaps Which are pumped, as Well as products Which are
`sprayed, such as household cleaners, hair spray and perfumes,
`etc. are knoWn. Such conventional assemblies include a con
`tainer having a neck and a pump connected to the neck. The
`pump has an elongated pick-up tube that extends doWn into
`the container for pulling up the liquid product stored Within
`the container When the pump is operated. A problem With the
`prior art assemblies is that the pick-up tube is carried by the
`pump and the tube is of a length that it reaches the bottom of
`the container. As a result, When the pump is mounted on the
`container it must ?rst be placed in an elevated position With
`the loWer end of the pick-up tube above the entrance to the
`container mouth, after Which the pump assembly must then be
`loWered and mounted to the container. This makes assem
`bling the pump With the container a relatively sloW process.
`In another type of assembly, as taught by US. Pat. No.
`5,246,146, the pick-up tube is molded as an integral part of the
`container. The problem With this type of construction is that it
`alloWs the pump cap to only be mounted in a single orienta
`tion relative to the container.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to
`provide a pump cap and container Which avoid the problems
`mentioned above in connection With the prior art.
`Pursuant to this object, and others Which Will become
`apparent hereafter, one aspect of the present invention resides
`in a pump cap and container assembly having a container With
`a bottom, an open top end and a side Wall that extends
`betWeen the bottom and the top. At least one passage member,
`such as a tube, is mounted on the side Wall so as to extend from
`the top of the container substantially to the bottom of the
`container. The pump cap includes a pump and is mounted to
`the top of the container so that the pump is in ?uid commu
`nication With the passage member.
`In another embodiment of the invention, the pump cap has
`a tube With a ?rst end connected to the pump and a second,
`free end that is dimensioned to sealingly engage With the
`upper end of the passage member that protrudes from the top
`of the container.
`In yet another embodiment of the invention, the container
`has a peripherally extending groove in its outer surface in the
`region of the open top. The pump cap has a body With an open
`bottom and a side Wall extending from the open bottom to a
`top of the cap body. The inner surface of the cap side Wall has
`a peripherally extending notch in a region of the open bottom.
`The notch is con?gured to engage in the groove of the con
`tainer so as to hold the cap on the container.
`Rather than having tubes, in still a further embodiment of
`the invention, the passage member is a cylindrical member
`coaxial to the container and having an outer circumferential
`Wall mounted to an inner surface of the container side Wall
`and an inner Wall mounted to the outer Wall by intermittently
`spaced bracing members.
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`Instead of the groove and notch arrangement, another
`embodiment of the invention provides an external thread at
`the top end of the container and an internal thread at the
`bottom end of the cap so that the cap can be mounted to the
`container by engagement of the threads.
`In still another embodiment of the invention, the passage
`member includes an annular trough mounted at the top of the
`container. A tube has a ?rst end connected to the base of the
`trough and a second end that extends to substantially the
`bottom of the container. The pump cap has an annular inverted
`trough arranged Within the cap in the region of the open
`bottom thereof. The inverted trough is dimensioned so as to ?t
`over the trough of the container When the pump cap is
`mounted on the container. A conduit connects the pump and
`the inverted trough When the pump is in ?uid communication
`With the inverted trough.
`The container and the cap can have any desired cross sec
`tion Which are complimentary to one another to alloW the cap
`to be mounted to the top of the container.
`The construction according to the invention in Which the
`passage member or tube is not initially connected to the pump
`cap alloWs for easier assembly of the pump cap to the con
`tainer due to the reduced Working space required.
`Other features and advantages of the present invention Will
`become apparent from the folloWing description of the inven
`tion Which refers to the accompanying draWings.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S)
`
`FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional exploded vieW of a ?rst exem
`plary dispenser assembly according to the present invention.
`FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional exploded vieW of a second
`exemplary dispenser assembly according to the present
`invention.
`FIGS. 3A and 3B shoW top and sectional vieWs, respec
`tively, of a ?rst exemplary pump cap according to the present
`invention.
`FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional vieW of a third exemplary dis
`penser assembly according to the present invention.
`FIG. 5 is a perspective vieW of a trough member according
`to the present invention.
`FIGS. 6A and 6B shoW bottom and sectional vieWs, respec
`tively, of a second exemplary pump cap according to the
`present invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`Referring to FIG. 1, there is seen a cross-sectional vieW of
`a ?rst exemplary dispenser assembly 100 according to the
`present invention. Dispenser assembly 100 includes a pump
`cap 105 and a container 110 con?gured to sealingly engage
`With the pump cap according to the present invention to
`dispense a liquid enclosed Within container 110.
`Container 110 includes a bottom 115, an open top 120, and
`a side Wall 125 disposed betWeen and formed integrally With
`open top 120 and bottom 115. It should be appreciated that
`side Wall 110 need not be formed integrally With open top 120
`and bottom 115, but rather may be formed of a separate piece
`that is coupled, attached, or otherWise bonded to open top 120
`and bottom 115. It should also be appreciated that container
`110 may have any desired shape, such as square, oval, round,
`triangular, etc.
`At least one passageWay 130 is mounted to the inner sur
`face of side Wall 125 and extends from open top 120 to a
`position proximate bottom 115 of container 110. In the exem
`plary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, container 110
`includes tWo passageWays 130a, 1301) extending from open
`
`PETITIONER - THE CLOROX COMPANY - EXHIBIT 1001 - Page 8
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`

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`US 7,490,743 B2
`
`3
`top 120 to a position proximate bottom 115 on opposite sides
`of side wall 125, with upper ends 135a, 1351) ofthe passage
`ways 130a, 1301) extending slightly above the upper edge of
`open top 120 so that upper ends 135a, 1351) may sealingly
`mate with corresponding passageways of pump cap 105, as
`more fully described below. It should be appreciated, how
`ever, that passageways 130a, 1301) need not be arranged on
`opposite sides of side wall 125, but rather may be arranged on
`the same side, adjacent sides, or at any position around the
`inner perimeter of side wall 125. It should also be appreciated
`that any number of passageways 130 may be mounted to the
`inner surface of side wall 125 (e.g., one passageway, three
`passageways, four passageways, etc.).
`It is also possible for passageway 130 to be a single pas
`sageway that is coaxial with container 110. In this regard,
`FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of another exemplary
`dispenser assembly 200 according to the present invention, in
`which container 110 includes a single concentric and coaxial
`passageway 130. In this con?guration, the outer wall of the
`passageway 130 is fastened to or formed by the interior sur
`face of side wall 125 of container 110. The inner wall of
`passageway 130 is at a distance from the outer wall of pas
`sageway 130 so that container 110 essentially has a double
`wall con?guration. The bottom of passageway 130 is open
`with respect to bottom 115 of container 110 so that the liquid
`contained within container 110 can be pumped between pas
`sageway 130 and the inner surface of side wall 125 into pump
`cap 105, in a manner more fully described below. The inner
`wall may be formed integral with side wall 125 or, for
`example, may be attached by a number of intermittently
`arranged braces 205a, 205b, 2050, .
`.
`.
`, 20511 that hold the
`inner wall in place but do not block the liquid passage
`between passageway 130 and the inner surface of side wall
`125.
`As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3A, and 3B pump cap 105 includes
`a cap body 145, a conventional pump mechanism 140
`arranged within cap body 145, and a pump noZZle 147 extend
`ing through the top of cap body 145 and operatively coupled
`to pump mechanism 140 for dispensing a liquid enclosed
`within container 110. At least one passageway 150 extends
`from the bottom of pump mechanism 140 toward the open
`end of the cap body 145 facing container 110. The open end
`155 of the passageway 150 is dimensioned so as to sealingly
`engage with an upper end 135 of a corresponding passageway
`130 of container 110 when pump cap 105 is secured to open
`top 120 of container 110, in a manner more fully described
`below. For this purpose, open end 155 of passageway 150
`may ?ange outwardly to have a larger diameter than that of
`upper end 135 of passageway 130, as shown in FIG. 1. To
`improve the sealing engagement between open end 155 of
`passageway 150 and upper end 135 ofpassageway 130, open
`end 155 of passageway 150 may be constructed from an
`elastic and/ or ?exible material (e. g., rubber, silicon, soft plas
`tic, and/or any combination of these materials). Alternatively,
`open end 155 of passageway 150 may be ?tted with an elastic
`and/or ?exible insert (not shown), such as a rubber O-ring,
`operable to sealingly engage with upper end 135 of passage
`way 130 of container 110 when pump cap 105 is secured to
`open top 120 of container 110.
`It should be appreciated that pump cap 105 may include
`any number of passageways 150 for sealing engaging respec
`tive passageways 130 of container 110. For example, pump
`cap 105 may include two passageways (not shown) con?g
`ured to sealing engage with two corresponding passageways
`130a, 1301) of container 110. Alternatively, as shown in FIG.
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`1, pump cap 105 may include a single passageway 150 con
`?gured to sealing engage with a corresponding passageway
`130 of container 110.
`Cap body 145 includes a coupling arrangement 160 con
`?gured to detachable couple with a corresponding mating
`arrangement 165 arranged on container 110. In the exemplary
`embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, coupling arrangement 160
`of cap body 145 includes an annular tab 170 that extends
`around the entire inner periphery of cap body 145. Mating
`arrangement 165 of container 110 includes an annular groove
`175 extending around the entire outer circumference of con
`tainer 110 in an area adjacent to open top 120. When pump
`cap 108 is mounted to open top 120 of container 110, annular
`tab 170 of coupling arrangement 160 of cap body 145 engages
`with annular grove 175 of mating arrangement 165 of con
`tainer 110, thereby detachably coupling pump cap 105 to
`container 110. When properly mounted to container 110,
`open end 155 of passageway 150 sealingly engages with
`upper end 135 of passageway 130. In this manner, a continu
`ous conduit is formed to permit the liquid contained within
`container 110 to ?ow upwards through passageway 130,
`through passageway 150, and out through pump noZZle 147
`when pump mechanism 140 is activated by a user. Since
`coupling arrangement 160 and mating arrangement 165 of the
`exemplary dispenser 100 of FIG. 1 are oval shaped, pump cap
`105 is con?gured to detachably couple to container 110 in
`only one of two positions, so that open end 155 of passageway
`150 sealingly engages with one of passageways 130a, 1301).
`As can be seen in FIG. 1, pump cap is orientated such that
`open end 155 of passageway 150 will sealingly engage with
`upper end 13511 of passageway 13011 when pump cap 105 is
`mounted to container 110. However, it should be appreciated
`that pump cap 105 may be oriented to align open end 155 of
`passageway 150 with upper end 1351) of passageway 13019
`when pump cap 105 is mounted to container 110 by rotating
`pump cap 105 with respect to container 110 180 degrees
`before mounting pump cap 105 to container 110.
`As described above, in the exemplary embodiment illus
`trated in FIG. 1, the oval shape of the coupling and mating
`arrangements 160, 165 permits pump cap 105 to be detach
`ably coupled to container 110 in only one of two positions, so
`that open end 155 of passageway 150 sealingly engages with
`one of passageways 130a, 1301). However, it should be appre
`ciated that, although FIG. 1 shows oval-shaped coupling and
`mating arrangements 160, 165, coupling and mating arrange
`ments 160, 165 may be of any shape that permits a “keying”
`of coupling arrangement 160 with mating arrangement 165,
`such that open end 155 of passageway 150 sealingly engages
`with at least one of passageways 130a, 1301). For example,
`coupling and mating arrangements 160, 165 may be rectan
`gularly-shaped, triangularly-shaped, irregularly-shaped, etc.
`It should also be appreciated that additional structures may be
`incorporated into either or both of the coupling and mating
`arrangements 160, 165 to permit pump cap 105 to be detach
`ably coupled to container 1 10 in only one position, rather than
`two positions. For example, coupling arrangement 160 may
`include a projection (not shown) structured to communicate
`with a corresponding groove (not shown) of mating arrange
`ment 165 to ensure that oval-shaped coupling arrangement
`160 is coupleable to mating arrangement 165 in only one
`position. For example, with respect to the exemplary embodi
`ment illustrated in FIG. 1, if cap body 145 were rotated by 180
`degrees, the groove of mating arrangement 165 would not
`align with the projection of coupling arrangement 160,
`thereby preventing coupling arrangement 160 from coupling
`to mating arrangement 165.
`
`PETITIONER - THE CLOROX COMPANY - EXHIBIT 1001 - Page 9
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`US 7,490,743 B2
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`5
`It should also be appreciated that the components of the
`coupling and mating arrangements 160, 165 may be switched
`and/ or interchanged. For example, mating arrangement 165
`may include the annular tab 170 and coupling arrangement
`160 may include the annular groove 175. In lieu of or in
`addition to the notch/groove and threaded arrangements dis
`cussed above, it should also be appreciated that coupling and
`mating arrangements 160, 165 may include any mechanism,
`device, construction, and/ or shape that permits pump cap 105
`to be detachably coupled to container 110. For example,
`coupling arrangement may include external or internal
`threads con?gured to engage With corresponding screW
`threads on container 110 When pump cap 105 is placed on top
`of container 110 and rotated. Alternatively, coupling and mat
`ing arrangements may include, for example, velcro, snaps,
`hooks, any combination of these elements, etc.
`Referring noW to FIG. 4, there is seen yet another exem
`plary dispenser assembly 400 according to the present inven
`tion. Dispenser assembly 400 is similar to dispenser assem
`blies 100, 200, except that dispenser assembly 400 includes a
`container 110 having a single passageWay 130 and a trough
`member 405 formed integrally With or coupled to open top
`120 of container 110. A perspective vieW of trough member
`405 can be seen in FIG. 5. Trough member 405 has an annular
`channel 505 that is formed therein and an exit channel 510
`formed integrally With or coupled to annular channel 505 in a
`manner that permits ?uid to pass through exit channel 510
`into annular channel 505. Exit channel 510 is, in turn, in ?uid
`connection With passageWay 130 to permit the liquid con
`tained Within container 110 to pass up through passageWay
`130, through exit channel 510, and into the annular channel
`505 of trough member 405. It should be appreciated that exit
`channel 510 may be formed as an integral piece With passage
`Way 130.
`In the exemplary embodiment shoWn in FIGS. 4 and 5,
`trough member 405 is formed as a separate piece, Which is
`con?gured to couple to container 110, as shoWn in FIG. 4.
`HoWever, it should be appreciated that trough member 405
`may be formed integrally With container 110 by any conven
`tional method, such as by injection molding.
`Pump cap 105 of dispenser assembly 400 is similar to
`pump cap 105 of dispenser assemblies 100, 200, except that
`pump cap 105 of dispenser assembly 400 includes a pump
`passage member 605 in ?uid connection With pump mecha
`nism 140 via a conduit 610, in lieu of passageWay 150, as
`shoWn in FIGS. 4, 6A, and 6B. Passage member 605 may be
`formed, for example, as an inverted annular channel or trough
`arranged Within cap body 145 so that the open side of pump
`passage member 605 faces doWnWard. The open side of pump
`passage member 605 is dimensioned to sealingly couple With
`annular channel 505 of trough member 405 When pump cap
`105 is secured to container 110.
`When pump cap 105 is mounted to container 110, pump
`passage member 605 sealingly engages With annular channel
`505 of trough member 405 so that When pump noZZle 147 is
`pushed, pump mechanism 140 is activated and causes suction
`through conduit 610. This causes the liquid Within container
`110 to ?oW up passageWay 130, into exit channel 510, into
`annular channel 505, through pump passage member 605,
`through conduit 610, and into pump noZZle 147. Trough
`member 405 of dispenser assembly 400 permits pump cap
`105 to be aligned With respect to container 110 in any rota
`tional orientation, as both the annular channel 505 of trough
`member and pump passage member 605 are annularly sym
`metrical. In this manner, pump cap 105 may be mounted to
`container 110 in any orientation permitted by the shape of the
`pump cap and the container.
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`Although the preferred embodiment of the invention has
`been speci?cally illustrated and described herein, it is to be
`understood that minor variations may be made in the associ
`ated elements of the container and the pump unit Without
`departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
`What is claimed is:
`1. A dispenser assembly, comprising:
`a container having a bottom, an open top and a side Wall
`extending betWeen the bottom and the open top, and a
`mating arrangement, the side Wall having an inner sur
`face;
`at least one container passageWay mounted on the inner
`surface of the side Wall and extending from the open top
`of the container to a position proximate to the bottom of
`the container; and
`a pump cap having a cap body, a pump mechanism
`arranged Within the cap body, a pump cap passageWay
`coupled to the pump mechanism, Wherein the pump
`passageWay is non-axial relative to the pump mecha
`nism, and a coupling arrangement arranged on the pump
`cap body and con?gured to detachably couple to the
`mating arrangement of the container, Wherein the cou
`pling arrangement and the mating arrangement are non
`circular in shape such that the coupling arrangement and
`the mating arrangement are coupled only if the container
`passageWay is aligned With the pump cap passageWay,
`such that the container passageWay sealingly engages
`the pump cap passageWay in a ?uid connection When the
`pump cap is mounted to the container;
`Wherein a ?uid arranged Within the container ?oWs through
`the container passageWay and the pump cap passageWay
`When the pump mechanism of the pump cap is activated.
`2. The dispenser assembly of claim 1, Wherein the pump
`cap passageWay has an open end With a diameter greater than
`a diameter of the container passageWay, the open end of the
`pump cap passageWay receiving the container passageWay
`When the pump cap is mounted to the container.
`3. The dispenser assembly of claim 2, Wherein the open end
`of the pump cap passageWay is made of at least one of an
`elastic and a ?exible material to improve the sealing engage
`ment betWeen the pump cap passageWay and the container
`passageway.
`4. The dispenser assembly of claim 2, Wherein the pump
`cap passageWay further includes an insert constructed from at
`least one of an elastic and a ?exible material to improve the
`sealing engagement betWeen the pump cap passageWay and
`the container passageWay.
`5. The dispenser assembly of claim 4, Wherein the insert
`includes an O-ring.
`6. The dispenser assembly of claim 1, Wherein the con
`tainer passageWay protrudes from the open top of the con
`tainer to facilitate the sealing engagement With the pump cap
`passageWay When the pump cap is mounted to the container.
`7. The dispenser assembly of claim 1, Wherein the coupling
`arrangement includes an annular tab and the mating arrange
`ment includes an annular groove, the annular tab of the pump
`cap engaging the annular grove of the container When the
`pump cap is mounted to the container.
`8. The dispenser assembly of claim 7, Wherein the coupling
`arrangement includes a ?rst screW thread and the mating
`arrangement includes a second screW thread, the ?rst screW
`thread of the pump cap engaging the second screW thread of
`the container When the pump cap is rotated on top of the
`container to mount the pump cap to the container.
`9. The dispenser assembly of claim 1, Wherein the con
`tainer passageWay forms a cylindrical member that is coaxial
`With the container, the container passageWay having an outer
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`PETITIONER - THE CLOROX COMPANY - EXHIBIT 1001 - Page 10
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`US 7,490,743 B2
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`circumferential wall mounted to the inner surface of the side
`wall of the container so that the container passageway is
`coaxial with the container.
`10. The dispenser of claim 9, further comprising a plurality
`of brace members to mount the container passageway to the
`inner surface of the side wall of the container.
`11. A dispenser assembly, comprising:
`a container having a bottom, an open top and a side wall
`extending between the bottom and the open top, and a
`mating arrangement, the side wall having an inner sur
`face;
`at least one container passageway mounted on the inner
`surface of the side wall and extending from the open top
`of the container to a position proximate to the bottom of
`the container; and
`a pump cap having a cap body, a pump mechanism
`arranged within the cap body, a pump cap passageway
`coupled to the pump mechanism, and a coupling
`arrangement arranged on the pump cap body and con
`?gured to detachably couple to the mating arrangement
`of the container only if the container passageway is
`aligned with the pump cap passageway, such that the
`container passageway sealingly engages the pump cap
`passageway in a ?uid connection when the pump cap is
`mounted to the container;
`wherein a ?uid arranged within the container ?ows through
`the container passageway and the pump cap passageway
`when the pump mechanism of the pump cap is activated;
`and
`wherein the at least one container passageway includes a
`plurality of container passageways, the pump cap pas
`sageway sealingly engaging one of the container pas
`sageways in a ?uid connection when the pump cap is
`mounted to the container.
`12. The dispenser assembly of claim 11, wherein the pump
`cap passageway has an open end with a diameter greater than
`a diameter of the container passageway sealingly engaged
`with the pump cap passageway, the open end of the pump cap
`passageway receiving the container passageway when the
`pump cap is mounted to the container.
`13. The dispenser assembly of claim 12, wherein the open
`end of the pump cap passageway is made of at least one of an
`elastic and a ?exible material to improve the sealing engage
`ment between the pump cap passageway and the container
`passageway.
`14. The dispenser assembly of claim 12, wherein the pump
`cap passageway further includes an insert constructed from at
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`10
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`20
`
`25
`
`30
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`35
`
`40
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`45
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`least one of an elastic and a ?exible material to improve the
`sealing engagement between the pump cap passageway and
`the container passageway.
`15. The dispenser assembly of claim 14, wherein the insert
`includes an O-ring.
`16. A dispenser assembly, comprising:
`a container having a bottom, an open top and a side wall
`extending between the bottom and the open top, and a
`mating arrangement, the side wall having an inner sur
`face;
`at least one container passageway mounted on the inner
`surface of the side wall and extending from the open top
`of the container to a position proximate to the bottom of
`the container; and
`a pump cap having a cap body, a pump mechanism
`arranged within the cap body, a pump cap passageway
`coupled to the pump mechanism, and a coupling
`arrangement arranged on the pump cap body and con
`?gured to detachably couple to the mating arrangement
`of the container only if the container passageway is
`aligned with the pump cap passageway, such that the
`container passageway sealingly engages the pump cap
`passageway in a ?uid connection when the pump cap is
`mounted to the container;
`wherein a ?uid arranged within the container ?ows though
`the container passageway and the pump cap passageway
`when the pump mechanism of the pump cap is activated;
`and
`wherein the coupling and mating arrangements are oval
`shaped.
`17. The dispenser assembly of claim 16, wherein the cou
`pling arrangement includes an annular tab and the mating
`arrangement includes an annular groove, the annular tab of
`the pump cap engaging the annular grove of the container
`when the pump cap is mounted to the container.
`18. The dispenser assembly of claim 17, wherein the con
`tainer passageway forms a cylindrical member that is coaxial
`with the container, the container passageway having an outer
`circumferential wall mounted to the inner surface of the side
`wall of the container so that the container passageway is
`coaxial with the container.
`19. The dispenser of claim 18, further comprising a plural
`ity of brace members to mount the container passageway to
`the inner surface of the side wall of the container.
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`PETITIONER - THE CLOROX COMPANY - EXHIBIT 1001 - Page 11