IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,304,210
Granted Patent B2
US 12,304,210 · App. 17/823,163 · Granted May 20, 2025

Liquid container

Inventors: Naoya Okazaki (Hashima, JP); Satoru Oki (Nagoya, JP); Nanami Abe (Niigata, JP); Masahiro Hayashi (Nishio, JP)
Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
B41J2/17509B41J2/175B41J2/1754B41J2/17553B41J29/13
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,304,210
App. No.
17/823,163
Granted
May 20, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

There is provided a liquid container including: a main body having an internal space configured to store liquid to be supplied to a tank of a liquid consuming apparatus; and a cap configured to be attached to the main body. The main body has: an upper surface, a nozzle projecting upward from the upper surface and having an opening formed in a forward end surface of the nozzle, and a circular wall positioned in a surrounding of the nozzle with a spacing distance with respect to the nozzle, and projecting upward from the upper surface; and a key member corresponding to a receiver key member provided on surrounding of a respective supply port of the tank. The cap has a circular contacting part configured to liquid-tightly make contact with the circular wall in an attached state in which the cap is attached to the main body.

Claims (49)

1. A liquid container comprising:

a main body in which an internal space configured to store a liquid to be supplied to a tank of a liquid consuming apparatus is formed; and

a cap configured to be attached to the main body, wherein

the main body includes:

an upper surface;

a nozzle projecting upward from the upper surface and having an opening formed in a forward end surface of the nozzle;

a circular wall positioned in a surrounding of the nozzle with a spacing distance with respect to the nozzle, the circular wall projecting upward from the upper surface; and

a key member corresponding to a receiver key member provided on surrounding of a supply port of the tank, and

the cap includes a circular contacting part configured to liquid-tightly make contact with an upper end of the circular wall in an attached state in which the cap is attached to the main body.

2. The liquid container according to claim 1 , wherein

the key member projects upward from the upper surface, and

an upper end of the key member is located closer to the upper surface than the upper end of the circular wall.

3. The liquid container according to claim 1 , wherein

the cap further includes a sealing part configured to close the opening in the attached state.

4. The liquid container according to claim 1 , wherein

the main body further includes a valve which opens and closes the opening formed in the nozzle.

5. The liquid container according to claim 1 , wherein

the cap is configured to be screwed with respect to the main body at outside of the circular wall.

6. The liquid container according to claim 1 , wherein

the upper end of the circular wall is circular.

7. The liquid container according to claim 1 , wherein

the key member is positioned in a space between the nozzle and the circular wall.

8. The liquid container according to claim 7 , wherein

the key member is connected to the nozzle and to the circular wall.

9. The liquid container according to claim 7 , wherein

the key member is connected to the nozzle and is not connected to the circular wall.

10. The liquid container according to claim 7 , wherein

the key member is not connected to the nozzle and is connected to the circular wall.

11. The liquid container according to claim 7 , wherein

one of a projecting part and a recessed part is positioned in a part of an outer circumferential surface of the circular wall.

12. The liquid container according to claim 1 , wherein

the key member extends outward from the circular wall.

13. The liquid container according to claim 1 , wherein

the upper end of the circular wall is positioned above the forward end surface of the nozzle.

14. A liquid supplying apparatus, comprising:

the liquid container as defined in claim 1 ; and

a tank having a storing chamber configured to store a liquid, wherein

the tank includes:

a tank recessed part corresponding to the circular wall; and

a communicating tube positioned in the tank recessed part, the communicating tube including a first channel and a second channel communicating the storing chamber with outside; and

the receiver key member located in the tank recessed part and corresponding to the key member, and

the circular wall of the main body is inserted into the tank recessed part, the key member of the main body conforms to the receiver key member, and the communicating tube of the tank is inserted into the opening of the nozzle of the main body to thereby connect the main body to the storing chamber of the tank so as to allow the liquid to flow out from the internal space of the main body to the storing chamber of the tank.

15. The liquid supplying apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein

the tank is one of a plurality of tanks each of which corresponds to color of the liquid to be stored therein,

a position of the receiver key member is different with respect to each of the plurality of tanks, and

the key member is positioned so that the key member is engaged to the receiver key member of one of the plurality of tanks corresponding the key member.

16. The liquid supplying apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein

the tank is one of a plurality of tanks each of which corresponds to color of the liquid to be stored therein,

a shape of the receiver key member is different with respect to each of the plurality of tanks, and the key member has a shape so that the key member is in conformity to the receiver key member of one of the plurality of tanks corresponding to the key member.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 26, 2023
From: OKAZAKI, NAOYA; OKI, SATORU; ABE, NANAMI; HAYASHI, MASAHIRO
To: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 063448/0844 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2021-141925 · Aug 31, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230062535A1 · Mar 2, 2023
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