Inverted bottle fluid dispensing system

Abstract

An inverted-bottle fluid dispensing system providing efficient fluid dispensation. Various aspects of the present invention provide a stem comprising an outer surface and an inner surface defining an inner fluid flow cavity. A slot may, for example, provide a flow path between the outer surface and the inner cavity. The slot may, for example, be substantially longitudinally aligned on the stem. The stem may, for example, include a cylindrically shaped portion and a flat portion, at least a portion of which may be longitudinally coextensive with the cylindrically shaped portion. Further for example, the stem may include a plurality of faces culminating in a vertex at a tip, where at least one of the faces may comprise an aperture extending between the outer surface and the inner cavity. Also for example, the stem may comprise a base portion, where the base portion includes at least one aperture extending therethrough.

1 . A fluid dispensing system stem comprising a probe portion that comprises: 
 an outer surface;    an inner surface defining an inner cavity; and    a slot providing a flow path between the outer surface and the inner cavity and substantially aligned along the longitudinal axis of the probe portion.    
   
   
       2 . The stem of  claim 1 , wherein the probe portion further comprises a probe tip adapted to pierce a water bottle cap.  
   
   
       3 . The stem of  claim 1 , wherein the probe portion further comprises a plurality of faces culminating in a vertex at a tip of the probe portion.  
   
   
       4 . The stem of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the plurality of faces comprises an aperture extending from the outer surface to the inner cavity.  
   
   
       5 . The stem of  claim 1 , wherein the probe portion comprises a cylindrically shaped portion disposed along the longitudinal axis and a substantially flat portion disposed along the longitudinal axis, where at least a portion of the substantially flat portion is longitudinally coextensive with the cylindrically shaped portion.  
   
   
       6 . The stem of  claim 5 , wherein the cylindrically shaped portion and the substantially flat portion are of generally uniform thickness.  
   
   
       7 . The stem of  claim 1 , wherein the probe portion further comprises an aperture extending substantially radially inward from the outer surface to the inner cavity, wherein the aperture is independent of the slot.  
   
   
       8 . The stem of  claim 1 , further comprising a base portion disposed on a base end of the probe portion opposite a tip end of the probe portion, the base portion being generally planar and generally orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the probe portion.  
   
   
       9 . The stem of  claim 8 , wherein the base portion comprises: 
 a first aperture radially positioned inside the radius of the probe portion and open to the inner cavity of the probe portion; and    a second aperture radially positioned outside the radius of the probe portion and disposed to provide a fluid path through the base portion.    
   
   
       10 . The stem of  claim 8 , wherein the base portion comprises one or more interlocking features adapted to interface with corresponding interlocking features on a second dispensing system component.  
   
   
       11 . The stem of  claim 10 , wherein the interlocking features are adapted such that a twisting motion of the stem relative to the second dispensing system component interlocks the stem and the second dispensing system component.  
   
   
       12 . The stem of  claim 8 , further comprising an interference feature adapted to prohibit a seated fluid container from contacting a primary surface of the base portion.  
   
   
       13 . The stem of  claim 12 , wherein the interference feature comprises a standoff protruding from the base portion.  
   
   
       14 . The stem of  claim 1 , wherein the slot is positioned along the longitudinal axis of the probe portion such that when a fluid container is properly positioned over the probe portion, a first portion of the slot is disposed within the volume of the fluid container and a second portion of the slot is disposed outside the volume of the fluid container.  
   
   
       15 . The stem of  claim 14 , further comprising an interference feature adapted to prohibit a seated fluid container from encompassing the entire slot within the volume of the fluid container.  
   
   
       16 . The stem of  claim 15 , further comprising a base portion disposed on a base end of the probe portion opposite a tip end of the probe portion, the base portion being generally planar and generally orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the probe portion, and where the interference feature comprises a standoff protruding from the base portion.  
   
   
       17 . A fluid dispensing system stem comprising a probe portion that comprises: 
 a cylindrically shaped portion disposed along a longitudinal axis of the probe portion; and    a substantially flat portion disposed along the longitudinal axis of the probe portion, wherein at least part of the cylindrically shaped portion is longitudinally coextensive with at least part of the substantially flat portion.    
   
   
       18 . The stem of  claim 17 , wherein the substantially flat portion is generally longitudinally coextensive with the cylindrically shaped portion.  
   
   
       19 . The stem of  claim 17 , wherein the probe portion further comprises: 
 an inner surface defining an inner cavity; and    an aperture extending between the inner cavity and an outer surface of the probe portion.    
   
   
       20 . The stem of  claim 19 , wherein the aperture comprises a slot aligned substantially along the longitudinal axis of the probe portion.  
   
   
       21 . The stem of  claim 17 , wherein the cylindrically shaped portion and the substantially flat portion are of generally uniform thickness.  
   
   
       22 . A fluid dispensing system stem comprising a probe portion that comprises: 
 an outer surface;    an inner surface defining an inner cavity; and    a plurality of faces culminating in a vertex at a tip end of the probe portion, wherein at least one of the plurality of faces comprises an aperture extending from the outer surface to the inner cavity.    
   
   
       23 . The stem of  claim 22 , wherein the probe portion further comprises a slot aligned substantially along the longitudinal axis of the probe portion, where the slot extends between the outer surface and the inner cavity.  
   
   
       24 . A fluid dispensing system stem comprising: 
 a probe portion having a longitudinal axis comprising: 
 an outer surface; and  
 an inner surface defining an inner cavity; and  
   a base portion disposed on a base end of the probe portion opposite a tip end of the probe portion, the base portion being generally planar and generally orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the probe portion and comprising: 
 a first aperture radially positioned inside the radius of the probe portion and open to the inner cavity of the prove portion; and  
 a second aperture radially positioned outside the radius of the probe portion and disposed to provide a fluid path through the base portion.  
   
   
   
       25 . The stem of  claim 24 , wherein the base portion comprises one or more interlocking features adapted to interface with corresponding interlocking features on a second dispensing system component.  
   
   
       26 . The stem of  claim 25 , wherein the interlocking features are adapted such that a twisting motion of the stem relative to the second dispensing system component interlocks the stem and the second dispensing system component.  
   
   
       27 . The stem of  claim 24 , further comprising an interference feature adapted to prohibit a seated bottle from contacting a primary surface of the base portion.  
   
   
       28 . The stem of  claim 27 , wherein the interference feature comprises a standoff protruding from the base portion.  
   
   
       29 . A dispensing system for fluids contained in a rigid container having an outlet throat portion, the system comprising: 
 an upwardly open reservoir open adapted to receive and hold fluid to be dispensed;    an entry portion above the reservoir for accepting the throat of the container when the container is inverted, the entry portion including a bottom with an opening defined therein;    a stem structure disposed in said entry portion and comprising: 
 a base portion adapted to mate with the opening of the entry portion;  
   a probe portion adapted to extend longitudinally upward into an inverted container, the probe portion comprising: 
 an outer surface;  
 an inner surface defining a coaxial channel within the probe portion; and  
 a slot providing a flow path between the outer surface and the coaxial channel and substantially aligned along the longitudinal axis of the probe portion, wherein the slot is positioned along the longitudinal axis of the probe portion such that when a fluid container is properly seated over the probe portion, a first portion of the slot is disposed within the volume of the container and a second portion of the slot is disposed outside the volume of the container.  
   
   
   
       30 . The dispensing system of  claim 29 , wherein the probe portion comprises an upper tip end that converges to a point.  
   
   
       31 . The dispensing system of  claim 29 , wherein the base portion comprises at least one aperture for fluid passage into the reservoir.