US20180132671A1 - Liquid product pump devices, systems, and methods of using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

Liquid product pump devices, systems, and methods of using the same. An exemplary system of the present disclosure comprises a device, comprising a pump mechanism coupled to a receiving tube whereby a distal end of the receiving tube extends into a skirt, wherein when the skirt is attached to a neck of an bottle having liquid contents therein and wherein when the device rests within or upon a pump base, pressing the inverted bottle and the pump base toward one another causes a portion of the liquid contents to transfer from the inverted bottle and out of the pump base, and further comprises the bottle and the pump base.

Description

PRIORITY
• The present application is related to, and claims the priority benefit of, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/165,867, filed May 22, 2015, the contents of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety into this disclosure.
BACKGROUND
• Existing soap, lotion, hand sanitizer, and other liquid product pump and bottle configurations cannot efficiently extract all of the product from the bottle due to, for example, the ratio of the dip tube versus the surface area of the bottle base. It is estimated that traditional pumps with dip tubes leave 5%, 10%, or even more of the contents trapped within the bottle.
• In view of the same, devices and systems for removing liquid contents from a bottle so that most, if not all, of the liquid contents can be removed using a pump, would solve the traditional problems and be well received in the marketplace.
BRIEF SUMMARY
• In an exemplary embodiment of a device for removing liquid contents from an inverted bottle of the present disclosure, the device comprises a pump mechanism coupled to a receiving tube whereby a distal end of the receiving tube extends into a skirt, extends to a distal end of the skirt, or extends distal to the distal end of the skirt, wherein when the skirt is attached to a neck of an inverted bottle having liquid contents therein and wherein when the device rests within a pump base, pressing the inverted bottle downward causes a portion of the liquid contents to transfer from the inverted bottle and out of the pump base. In at least one embodiment, the distal end of the receiving tube extends into the skirt but not to the distal end of the skirt. In various embodiments, the distal end of the receiving tube extends to the distal end of the skirt. In at least one embodiment, the device further comprises a first gasket coupled to the receiving tube, the first gasket sized and shaped to occlude a distal opening of the skirt when the neck of the inverted bottle is attached to the skirt. In various embodiments, the first gasket prevents the liquid contents from migrating from the inverted bottle beyond the first gasket.
• In an exemplary embodiment of a device for removing liquid contents from an inverted bottle of the present disclosure, the distal end of the receiving tube extends distal to the distal end of the skirt, and wherein the device further comprises a first gasket coupled to the receiving tube, the first gasket sized and shaped to occlude an opening of the neck of the bottle when the neck of the inverted bottle is attached to the skirt. In various embodiments, the first gasket prevents the liquid contents from migrating from the inverted bottle beyond the first gasket. In at least one embodiment, the distal end of the receiving tube extends into the neck of the inverted bottle, to an internal end of the neck of the inverted bottle, but not beyond the internal end of the neck of the inverted bottle.
• In an exemplary embodiment of a system for removing liquid contents from an inverted bottle of the present disclosure, the system comprises exemplary device of the present disclosure and one or both of a bottle and/or a pump base.
• The present disclosure includes disclosure of a device for facilitating the removal of a liquid product from within an inverted bottle, comprising a pump mechanism having a receiving tube extending into and surrounded by a skirt, but not beyond the distal end of the skirt, and having a gasket extending to at least a perimeter of the neck of the inverted bottle when the skirt is attached to the neck of the inverted bottle, the skirt positioned around the receiving tube, such that the pump is operable to transfer the liquid product from the inverted bottle out of the receiving tube by pressing a bottom of the inverted bottle toward the pump mechanism.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• The disclosed embodiments and other features, advantages, and disclosures contained herein, and the matter of attaining them, will become apparent and the present disclosure will be better understood by reference to the following description of various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
• FIG. 1 shows a prior art pump;
• FIG. 2 shows a cut-away view of portions of a device and system for extracting liquid contents from a bottle, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and
• FIG. 3 shows a side view of parts of a device, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
• FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a pump base, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
• FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of parts of a device, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
• FIG. 6 shows a cut-away view of portions of a device and system for extracting liquid contents from a bottle, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
• FIG. 7 shows a device connected to a bottle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
• FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of portions of a device and system, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
• FIGS. 9 and 10 show cut-away views of portions of devices and systems for extracting liquid contents from a bottle, according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure;
• FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C show side views of portions of devices, according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure;
• FIG. 12A shows a top-down view of a pump base, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
• FIG. 12B shows a side view of a pump base, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
• FIG. 12C shows a cross-sectional view of a pump base, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
• FIG. 12D shows a perspective view of a pump base, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
• FIG. 12E shows a perspective view of an extension tube, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
• FIG. 12F shows a perspective view of a pump base, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
• FIGS. 13A and 13B show perspective views of adapters, according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure;
• FIG. 13C shows an end view of an adapter, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
• FIG. 13D shows a perspective view of an adapter, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
• FIG. 14A shows a side view of an adapter, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
• FIG. 14B shows an end view of an adapter, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;
• FIGS. 14C and 14D show perspective views of adapters, according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure;
• FIG. 15A shows an exploded perspective view of a system, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and
• FIG. 15B shows a perspective view of a system, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
• An overview of the features, functions and/or configurations of the components depicted in the various figures will now be presented. It should be appreciated that not all of the features of the components of the figures are necessarily described. Some of these non-discussed features, such as various couplers, etc., as well as discussed features are inherent from the figures themselves. Other non-discussed features may be inherent in component geometry and/or configuration.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
• For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the present disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of this disclosure is thereby intended.
• The present disclosure includes disclosure of a pump mechanism useful to provide controlled release of product from within an inverted bottle.
• FIG. 1 shows a lotion or soap pump known in the art, labeled as “PRIOR ART.” As shown therein, such a lotion or soap pump comprises a pump mechanism having a receiving tube at its distal end, and an elongated dip tube extending from the receiving tube so that when the pump is operated (by way of depressing the nozzle portion), liquid contents from within a bottle (not shown) enter into the dip tube (pulled in via the pump mechanism), into the receiving tube, into the pump mechanism, and out of the nozzle portion to deliver the contents to the user. Such a lotion or soap pump has been used for years and is generally suitable to deliver lotion, soap, hand sanitizer, or other liquid products from bottles to the users. However, such pumps are not able to deliver all or significantly all of the contents within the bottle to the user, resulting in a significant portion of wasted, inaccessible content within each bottle of product consumed around the world. Furthermore, should the bottle and pump be inverted, the vast majority of the contents of the bottle could not be extracted from the bottle due to the distal end of the dip tube being above the settled liquid contents of the bottle.
• The present disclosure includes disclosure of devices for extracting all or significantly all of the liquid contents of a bottle when the bottle and device are inverted, namely upside-down (bottle on top).
• FIG. 2 shows an exemplary device for facilitating the removal of a liquid product from within an inverted bottle of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG. 2,device100 comprises apump mechanism102 having a receivingtube104 extending into and at least partially surrounded by askirt106. In at least onedevice100 embodiment of the present disclosure,distal end108 of receivingtube104, as shown in the embodiment shown inFIG. 2, can extend proximal to, even with, but not distal to, adistal end110 of theskirt106. Receivingtube104 may be coupled to or formed as part ofpump mechanism102. As shown inFIG. 2, receivingtube104 extends withinskirt106 but terminates proximal to thedistal end110 ofskirt106. In other embodiments, such as shown inFIG. 6 and referenced in further detail herein,distal end108 of receivingtube104 can extend distal to adistal end110 ofskirt106, but in such an embodiment, a) a gasket500 (as referenced in further detail herein) would be utilized, and b) thedistal end108 of receivingtube104 would extend into aneck154 of abottle150, but not beyondneck154 ofbottle150.
• Such anexemplary device100 embodiment is significantly different from prior art pumps, such as shown inFIG. 1. First, and as can be seen by way of comparingFIG. 1 toFIG. 2, receivingtube104 does not extend distal to adistal end110 ofskirt106. Perhaps more importantly,devices100 of the present disclosure do not include a dip tube, such as shown inFIG. 1, which is intended to extend to or substantially to a relative bottom of abottle150 so to provide access to contents175 (also referred to as a quantity of liquid product) of abottle150 over time.Devices100 of the present disclosure do not preclude the use of, for example, a cylindrical tube or other element coupled to or formed as part of a receivingtube104, but indevice100 embodiments as referenced herein that may utilize such a tube, the distal end of such a tube or other element would not extend distal todistal end110 ofskirt106.
• Skirts106, in various embodiments, are threaded (as indicated bythreads112 inFIG. 2) so to correspond tothreads152 of aneck154 of abottle150.FIG. 2 shows a portion of abottle150 having a quantity ofliquid product175 therein, wherebythreads152 alongneck154 ofbottle150 correspond tothreads112 withinskirt106 so thatbottle150 could rotatably couple to skirt106. Atleast neck154 andskirt106 are drawn to scale withinFIG. 2, with other components related thereto drawn to scale or substantially drawn to scale.
• FIG. 3 shows portions of anexemplary device100 of the present disclosure. As shown therein,skirt106 is relatively longer than traditional skirts known in the art, configured so that portions of thepump mechanism102 that may be positioned withinskirt106 do not extend distal to thedistal end110 ofskirt106.FIG. 3 also shows apump tube300 positioned proximal to pump mechanism102 (not shown in the figure) and generally proximal toskirt106, wherebypump tube300 can couple to apump base400, such as shown inFIGS. 2 and 4.
• FIGS. 2 and 4 show anexemplary pump base400 of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG. 2,pump base400 is configured to rest upon asubstrate450, such as a countertop, table, desk, or the like, and to retain aninverted bottle150 havingliquid contents175 therein.Pump base400, as shown inFIGS. 2 and 4, defines a first recessedportion402 defining anaperture404 therein.Aperture404 is in communication with abase opening406 defined withinspout410 ofbase400 so that an effective lumen408 (as shown inFIG. 2) extends fromaperture404 tobase opening406. Base opening406 ofspout410, as shown inFIG. 2, is relatively higher thanaperture404 withinbase400, so to prevent unintended leakage ofcontents175 from withinbottle150 and also to provide a space for a user to place his or her hand or a receptacle to receive some of thecontents175 by depressingbottle150 downward. In view of the same, at least part ofspout410 is positioned relatively higher thanaperture404 ofpump base400.
• FIG. 5 shows portions of anexemplary device100 of the present disclosure, whereby anoptional gasket500 is used to obstruct adistal opening502 of askirt106 of the present disclosure.Gasket500, as shown inFIG. 5, snugly fits around receivingtube104 so to prevent contents from withinbottle150 from enteringdistal opening502 and therefore into the space defined byskirt106. The purpose of such agasket500 is therefore to further facilitate the ultimate removal of all or substantially all of the contents from withinbottle150 and not undesirably “trapping” product within parts ofbottle150 and/ordevice100. As shown inFIG. 5,gasket500 is dimensioned so that the portion ofdistal opening502 that is not blocked/occluded bygasket500 allows aneck154 ofbottle150 to be inserted intoskirt106 so thatgasket500 fits within a relative internal diameter ofneck154 to preventcontents175 ofbottle150 from entering intoskirt106 whenbottle150 is connected todevice100 and is inverted so thatbottle150 is relatively abovedevice100. When in use,contents175 frombottle150 can enterdistal opening510 of receivingtube104 and ultimately contact pump mechanism102 (as shown in other figures) and expelled fromdevice100 to the user.
• FIG. 6 shows anexemplary system600 of the present disclosure. InFIG. 6, and similar toFIG. 2, atleast neck154 andskirt106 are drawn to scale, with other components related thereto drawn to scale or substantially drawn to scale. As shown inFIG. 6,distal end108 of receivingtube104 does extend beyond adistal end110 ofskirt106. However, and as referenced above regarding such an embodiment, agasket500 is coupled to receivingtube104 and configured so that whenbottle150 is rotatably or otherwise attached to skirt106,gasket500 is still positioned within, but not distal to,neck154 ofbottle150.Internal end610 ofneck154 is shown inFIG. 6, and as generally referenced herein,device100 embodiments whereby adistal end108 of receivingtube104 extends distal to adistal end110 ofskirt106 are configured for use withbottles150 wherebynecks154 are of a sufficient length relative toskirts106 so that whenbottle150 is coupled toskirt106, thedistal end108 of receiving tube extends withinneck154 proximal tointernal end610 ofneck154 or tointernal end610 ofneck154, but not beyond (distal to)internal end610 ofneck154 of saidbottles150, as if they did,contents175 would be able to enterskirt106 and not be able to be pumped out by a user as desired. In such an embodiment, for example,gasket500 is sized and shaped to occlude anopening160 ofneck154 ofbottle150 whenneck154 ofbottle150 is attached to skirt106.
• FIG. 7 shows anexemplary system600 of the present disclosure. In such an embodiment,system600 comprises anexemplary device100 of the present disclosure coupled to abottle150.Systems600 can include/comprise other elements (such as pump base400), but in various embodiments,systems600 comprise adevice100 and abottle150.
• FIG. 8 shows an exploded view of exemplary portions of adevice100 of the present disclosure along with abottle150 and anexemplary pump base400 of the present disclosure. Anexemplary system600 of the present disclosure, as shown inFIG. 8, can comprise anexemplary device100, anexemplary pump base400, and abottle150.Device100 andpump base400 may also be referred to as anexemplary system600.Pump base400 can also be considered as part of adevice100 or separately be considered as part of asystem600 along with adevice100.FIG. 8 also shows the use of asecond gasket800, in addition to the use of afirst gasket500, wherebysecond gasket800 is positioned relatively belowfirst gasket500, and wherebysecond gasket800 is positioned around part of pump mechanism102 (as shown in the figure) or otherwise positioned withinskirt106, so to prevent undesired migration ofcontents175 intoskirt106 that cannot therefore be pumped out by a user. Other elements as referenced herein are also shown inFIG. 8.
• FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of anexemplary system600 of the present disclosure. As shown therein, portions ofsystem600 are relatively similar to those shown inFIG. 6, except that a)neck154 ofbottle150 is relatively shorter, such asnecks154 having a relative length “L” (as shown in the figure) of ¾″, 1″, or shorter or longer depending onbottle150 embodiment, and b)skirt106 is relatively longer than shown inFIG. 6, so thatskirt106 circumferentially surroundsgasket500.Pump mechanism104 is also shown as being longer than shown inFIG. 6, and in various embodiments,pump mechanisms104 are approximately 1″, 1¼″, 1½″, or 2″ in length, or longer or shorter. Receivingtube104, also as shown inFIG. 9, is relatively shorter than shown inFIG. 6, as depending on embodiment, receiving tube can be ¼″ long, ½″ long, 1″ long, or longer or shorter.FIG. 10 shows yet another embodiment of anexemplary system600 of the present disclosure. As shown therein, portions ofsystem600 are relatively similar to those shown in
• FIG. 10, except that portions of device100 (including pump mechanism) are configured as shown inFIG. 11A. In various embodiments, and as shown inFIG. 10,skirt106 may be at or about 50 mm in length, 2″ in length, or longer or shorter as may be desired. Asnap ring1000, as shown inFIGS. 10-11C, may be used to securepump mechanism104 to skirt106 by advancingsnap ring1000 overpump tube300 towardskirt106.Pump base400, as shown inFIG. 10, may also comprise a relatively taller first recessedportion402, as compared to first recessed portion shown inFIGS. 2, 6, and 9.
• FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C show portions ofexemplary devices100 of the present disclosure.FIGS. 11A and 11B, for example, each show portions ofdevices100 havinggaskets500, withgasket500 coupled to receivingtube104 inFIG. 11A, andgasket500 coupled to pumpmechanism102 inFIG. 11B.Pump mechanisms102, in various embodiments, may comprise a flaredportion1100 that flares from a relative distal end ofpump mechanism102 toward a relative bottom ofpump mechanism1100. InFIG. 11A, for example, receivingtube104 is relatively short, such as at or about ⅜″ or ½″ long, as compared to longer receiving tubes shown inFIGS. 2 and 6.Pump mechanism104 may be configured so to directly couple to agasket500, such as shown inFIG. 11C withoutgasket500, so to have a portion ofdevice100 be shorter as compared to the embodiment shown inFIG. 11A, which may be desirable for certain applications.Pump tube300, as shown inFIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C, can be at or about 1″ in length, 1½″ in length, or longer or shorter, as may be desired.Gaskets500, in various embodiments, may be at our about 2 mm thick or thicker or thinner as desired. Snap rings1000, as shown inFIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C, are not advanced fully towardpump mechanism104, but would be advanced towardpump mechanism104 atskirt106 as shown inFIG. 10.
• Additional exemplary embodiments ofpump bases400 of the present disclosure are shown inFIGS. 12A-12D.FIG. 12A shows a top-down view,FIG. 12B shows a side view,FIG. 12C shows a side cross-sectional view along line A-A fromFIG. 12A, andFIG. 12D shows a perspective view of anexemplary base400 of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG. 12C, for example, anexemplary base400 defines a first recessedportion402 and anaperture404, wherebyaperture404 is in communication with alumen408 terminating at abase opening406. Additional components may be coupled tobase400 as may be desired to effectively extendlumen408, such as, for example, anextension tube425, such as shown inFIG. 12E, defining aproximal aperture432 and adistal aperture434 and having alumen430 extending therebetween, such that whenextension tube425 is positioned relative tobase opening406,contents175 frombottle150 can enteraperture404, pass throughlumen408 and out ofbase opening406 intoproximal aperture432, throughlumen430, and exit fromdistal aperture434, for example. In at least one embodiment, part ofextension tube425 is configured to fit withinbase opening406.
• Various pump bases400 of the present disclosure can have various shapes and/or sizes. For example, and as shown inFIG. 12F, anexemplary pump base400 can be configured as a fish, or as any number of animals, cartoon characters, vehicles, geometric shapes, etc.
• Anexemplary adapter1300 of the present disclosure is shown inFIGS. 13A-13D in various views (perspective views inFIGS. 13A, 13B, and 13D, and an end view inFIG. 13C).Adapters1300 of the present disclosure are configured to effectively coupleexemplary bottles150 toexemplary pump bases400 orskirts106 in cases where, for example, the sizes of the necks ofbottles154 andskirts106 and/or pumpbases400 do not align. For example, aneck154 of anexemplary bottle150 may havethreads152 wherebyneck154 has a 24 mm diameter, andskirt106 may havethreads112 wherebyskirt106 has an effective 28 mm diameter, or where one or more features ofpump base400, such as first recessed portion, has an effective 28 mm diameter. In such instances, anexemplary adapter1300 of the present disclosure could be used, whereby afirst end1302 has a first size and whereby asecond end1304 has a second size different from the first size.Adapters1300 can also have first end threads1312 and/orsecond end threads1314, as may be desired, to correspond tothreads112,152, for example. One ormore grip portions1320 may be present uponadapters1300 to facilitate threaded connection to other parts ofdevices100 of the present disclosure.
• Additional adapter1300 embodiments of the present disclosure are shown inFIGS. 14A-14D.FIG. 14A shows a side view with internal elements in dashed line format,FIG. 14B shows a top view, andFIGS. 14C and 14D show perspective views ofexemplary adapters1300. As shown inFIGS. 14A and 14D, for example,second end1304 can havesecond end threads1304 configured to couple tocorresponding threads112,152, as may be desired. If a portion ofdevice100 has no threads, such as abottle150, askirt106, and/or apump base400, aflange1350, such as shown inFIG. 14C, could be present onadapter1300 so that, for example,first end1302 of adapter can snugly fit/couple to bottle150,skirt106, and/orpump base400, as may be desired. Exemplary adapters may taper fromsecond end1304 tofirst end1302, such as shown inFIG. 14A, or may taper fromfirst end1302 tosecond end1304 in other embodiments.
• FIGS. 15A and 15B show components ofexemplary systems600 of the present disclosure. As shown in the exploded perspective view ofFIG. 15A, anexemplary system600 can comprise anexemplary device100, which itself comprises apump mechanism102 and askirt106, for example, as well as abottle150 having aneck154, an adapter1300 (which can be considered as part ofdevice100 or as part of system600), and apump base400, which can be connected as shown in the figure.FIG. 15B shows anexemplary system600 of the present disclosure, wherebybottle150,skirt106, andbase400 are readily shown, noting thatsystem600 may further compriseother system600 elements orother device100 elements, such as apump mechanism102, shown inFIG. 15A but not shown inFIG. 15B.Adapter1300, as shown inFIG. 15A, may be used as a spacer sleeve, a cap, etc. and in various embodiments, may have afirst end1302 and asecond end1304 of equal size (diameter, for example).
• Exemplary devices100 andsystems600 of the present disclosure, as described herein, are configured to remove 98%, 99%, or more of theliquid contents175 of abottle150, including soap, lotion, hand sanitizer, or other liquid products.Devices100 andsystems600 of the present disclosure operate without traditional dip tubes (as shown inFIG. 1), and when in use (inverted bottle150), gravity facilitates the general downward movement of theliquid contents175 over time, allowing most, if not all or substantially all, of theliquid contents175 to be extracted frombottle150 by the user.
• Devices100 features of the present disclosure include, but are not limited to, a)pump mechanism102 andpump base400 being located below bottle150 (when coupled to bottle150), b) adistal opening510 of the receivingtube104 being positioned above thepump mechanism102, c) thedistal opening510 of the receivingtube104 being positioned above base opening406 (in at least somedevice100 and/orsystem600 embodiments), and d) desired operation without a dip tube.Pump mechanism102, in various embodiments, drawscontent175 frombottle150 and pumps it downward so thatcontent175 exits a point lower than it enters thedistal opening510 of receivingtube104. When agasket500 is used,gasket500 surrounds the pump inlet (distal opening510 of receiving tube104),gasket500 preventscontents175 frombottle150 from entering into theneck154 ofbottle150 and/or intoskirt106, depending on configuration, so that somecontents175 are not inadvertently trapped withindevice100 and not able to be pumped out. Furthermore, predetermined doses of content175 (such as 1 cc, 2 cc, 3 cc, or different amounts) can be extracted per pump based upondevice100 size and/or configuration.Various devices100 of the present disclosure are configured to be used in connection withbottles150 havingvarious neck154 outer diameters, including, but not limited to, 22 mm, 24 mm, and 28 mm outer diameters.Devices100 of the present disclosure can be scaled, for example, for use with bottles as small as 1 oz (or smaller) and up to 50 oz (or larger), depending on desired use.
• While various embodiments of liquid product pump devices and systems and methods for using the same have been described in considerable detail herein, the embodiments are merely offered as non-limiting examples of the disclosure described herein. It will therefore be understood that various changes and modifications may be made, and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The present disclosure is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting with respect to the content thereof.
• Further, in describing representative embodiments, the present disclosure may have presented a method and/or a process as a particular sequence of steps. However, to the extent that the method or process does not rely on the particular order of steps set forth therein, the method or process should not be limited to the particular sequence of steps described, as other sequences of steps may be possible. Therefore, the particular order of the steps disclosed herein should not be construed as limitations of the present disclosure. In addition, disclosure directed to a method and/or process should not be limited to the performance of their steps in the order written. Such sequences may be varied and still remain within the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims (28)

1. A device, comprising a pump mechanism coupled to a receiving tube whereby a distal end of the receiving tube extends into a skirt, wherein when the skirt is attached to a neck of an inverted bottle having liquid contents therein and wherein when the device rests within or upon a pump base, pressing the inverted bottle downward toward the pump base causes a portion of the liquid contents to transfer from the inverted bottle and out of the pump base.

2. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the distal end of the receiving tube extends into the skirt but not to a distal end of the skirt.

3. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the distal end of the receiving tube extends to a distal end of the skirt.

4. The device ofclaim 3, further comprising a first gasket coupled to the receiving tube, the first gasket sized and shaped to occlude a distal opening of the skirt when the neck of the inverted bottle is attached to the skirt.

5. The device ofclaim 4, wherein the first gasket prevents the liquid contents from migrating from the inverted bottle beyond the first gasket.

6. (canceled)

7. (canceled)

8. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the distal end of the receiving tube extends distal to the distal end of the skirt, and wherein the device further comprises a first gasket coupled to the receiving tube, the first gasket sized and shaped to occlude an opening of the neck of the bottle when the neck of the inverted bottle is attached to the skirt, and wherein the distal end of the receiving tube extends into the neck of the inverted bottle, to an internal end of the neck of the inverted bottle, but not beyond the internal end of the neck of the inverted bottle.

9. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the distal end of the receiving tube extends distal to a distal end of the skirt.

10. The device ofclaim 1, forming part of a system, the system further comprising the pump base.

11. The device ofclaim 10, wherein the pump base defines a first recessed portion and an aperture in communication with a lumen and terminating at a base opening, and wherein when the device rests within or upon the pump base, pressing the inverted bottle downward toward the pump base causes a portion of the liquid contents to transfer from the inverted bottle, into the aperture of the pump base, through the lumen of the pump base, and out of the base opening.

12. (canceled)

13. The device ofclaim 11, wherein the system further comprises an extension tube coupled to the pump base, and wherein when the device rests within or upon the pump base, pressing the inverted bottle downward toward the pump base causes a portion of the liquid contents to transfer from the inverted bottle, into the aperture of the pump base, through the lumen of the pump base, out of the base opening, into a lumen of the extension tube, and out of a distal aperture of the extension tube.

14. (canceled)

15. The device ofclaim 10, wherein the system further comprises an adapter positioned between the bottle and the pump mechanism, the adapter configured to couple to the neck of the bottle and to the pump mechanism.

16. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

18. The device ofclaim 1, forming part of a system, the system further comprising the pump base and the bottle.

19.-36. (canceled)

37. A device for facilitating the removal of a liquid product from within an inverted bottle, comprising a pump mechanism having a receiving tube extending into and surrounded by a skirt, but not beyond the distal end of the skirt, and having a gasket extending to at least a perimeter of the neck of the inverted bottle when the skirt is attached to the neck of the inverted bottle, the skirt positioned around the receiving tube, such that the pump is operable to transfer the liquid product from the inverted bottle out of the receiving tube by pressing a bottom of the inverted bottle toward the pump mechanism.

38.-44. (canceled)

45. A device comprising;

a pump mechanism coupled to a receiving tube,

a skirt which attaches to a neck of a bottle, wherein the receiving tube terminates within the neck of the bottle, and

a gasket coupled to the receiving tube, proportioned such that the gasket fits within an internal diameter of the neck when the skirt is attached to the neck of the bottle.

46. The device ofclaim 45, wherein the distal end of the receiving tube extends one of proximal to a distal end of the skirt, even with a distal end of the skirt, and wherein the distal end of the receiving tube extends further than the distal end of the skirt.

47. The device ofclaim 45, wherein the pump mechanism comprises a pump tube which can couple to a pump base, the pump base further comprising an aperture and a base opening.

48. The device ofclaim 47, wherein an effective lumen extends from the aperture to the base opening, wherein the device further comprises an extension tube comprising a proximal aperture and a distal aperture, and wherein the extension tube is positioned one of connected to the base opening and fit within the base opening.

49. The device ofclaim 45, further comprising a snap ring coupled to a pump tube, configured to secure the pump mechanism to the skirt.

50. The device ofclaim 45, further comprising a second gasket, wherein the second gasket is positioned relatively below the first gasket, and wherein the second gasket is further positioned around the pump mechanism.

51. The device ofclaim 45, further comprising an adapter configured to effectively couple the neck of the bottle to a skirt in cases when the size of the neck of the bottle and the skirt do not align.

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