Container with floating vent tube for micro-fluid applications

Abstract

A consumable supply item for an imaging device holds an initial or refillable volume of fluid. An interior holds the fluid and users orient a housing to deplete the fluid in a direction of gravity. An air conduit tube fluidly connects to an air port to vent the interior to atmosphere. A float buoyantly supports the tube on a surface of the volume of fluid. It suspends a terminal opening of the tube above the fluid so that as the volume of fluid depletes in the interior over time, or an orientation of the housing is altered during handling, the terminal opening is maintained above the surface of the volume of fluid. Fluid leakage is minimized during transport and manipulation.

1 . A container to hold an initial or refillable volume of fluid, comprising:
 a housing defining a fluid exit port, an air vent port, and an interior to retain the volume of fluid, the interior being properly oriented during use to deplete the volume of fluid toward the fluid exit port;   an air conduit tube having a terminal opening in the interior of the housing that is fluidly connected to the air vent port to vent the interior with air from outside the housing; and   a float for buoyant positioning on a surface of the volume of fluid, the float connecting to the air conduit tube to suspend the terminal opening above the surface so that as the volume of fluid depletes in the interior over time or an orientation of the housing is altered, the terminal opening is maintained above the surface of the volume of fluid.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the air conduit tube inserts through an interior of the float. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the terminal opening of the air conduit tube is coterminous with a surface of the float. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , further including a hydrophobic membrane attached over the terminal opening of the air conduit tube, the membrane being permeable to said air. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein an undersurface of the hydrophobic membrane is adhered to an exterior surface of the float. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the air vent port of the housing resides beneath the surface of the volume of fluid as the housing is properly oriented during use to deplete the volume of fluid from the interior. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the air vent port is located above the fluid exit port of the housing as the housing is properly oriented during use to deplete the volume of fluid from the interior. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1 , further including a counterweight on the float to position vertically upright the terminal opening of the air conduit tube. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is of unitary construction being blow molded to define the interior. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the air conduit tube extends for a length of at least two inches in the interior. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the float includes cork. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the float includes Styrofoam. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the air conduit tube tapers at a remote end thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 13 , wherein the terminal opening has a diameter of about 0.1 mm. 
     
     
         15 . A container to hold an initial or refillable volume of fluid, comprising:
 a housing defining a fluid exit port, an air vent port, and an interior to retain the volume of fluid, the interior being properly oriented during use to deplete the volume of fluid toward the fluid exit port in a direction of gravity;   an air conduit tube having a terminal opening in the interior of the housing that is fluidly connected to the air vent port to vent the interior with air from outside the housing; and   a float for buoyant positioning on a surface of the volume of fluid, the float connecting to the air conduit tube to suspend the terminal opening above the surface so that as the volume of fluid depletes in the interior over time or an orientation of the housing is altered, the terminal opening is maintained above the surface of the volume of fluid,   wherein the air conduit tube inserts through an interior of the float so that the terminal opening resides coterminous with a surface of the float and a hydrophobic membrane attaches over the terminal opening, the membrane being permeable to said air.