Liquid dispenser

Abstract

A liquid dispenser apparatus includes a container for housing a liquid, and a spout assembly for dispensing spouts of the liquid from the container. The spout assembly includes a stopping member for stopping dripping of the liquid after each dispensing, thereby allowing the spout assembly to face substantially toward a ground level to avoid splashing a user with liquids.

1 . A liquid dispenser apparatus, comprising:
 a container for housing a liquid; and   a spout assembly for dispensing liquid from the container,   wherein the spout assembly comprises a stopping member for stopping dripping of the liquid after each dispensing.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the stopping member comprises a resilient membrane, and wherein the resilient membrane is configured to bend outward under pressure from the liquid being dispensed and to retract when the liquid is not being dispensed.   
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the resilient membrane comprises a plurality of flap portions.   
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the spout assembly further comprises:
 an outlet portion; and 
 a coupler for coupling the stopping member to the outlet portion. 
   
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the stopping member has a central opening, and wherein the coupler comprises:
 a projection for extending through the central opening of the stopping member; and   one or more openings for dispensing the liquid.   
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the spout assembly further comprises a connector portion, and wherein the outlet portion is configured to removably couple to the connector portion. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the stopping member comprises a rotatable member having one or more openings, and wherein the rotatable member is configured to rotate to expose at least one of the openings to an outlet of the spout assembly for dispensing the liquid from the container, and to rotate to a closed position when not dispensing the liquid.   
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the spout assembly is configured to face substantially toward a ground level.   
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein:
 an axis of the spout assembly, along which the liquid is dispensed, forms an angle of about 90 degrees to the ground level.   
   
   
       10 . A spout assembly for a liquid dispenser, comprising:
 a stopping member for stopping dripping of the liquid after each dispensing.   
   
   
       11 . The spout assembly of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the stopping member comprises a resilient membrane, and wherein the resilient membrane is configured to bend outward under a pressure from the liquid dispenser, and to retract when the pressure is released.   
   
   
       12 . The spout assembly of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the resilient membrane comprises a plurality of flap portions.   
   
   
       13 . The spout assembly of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the stopping member comprises a rotatable member having one or more openings, and wherein the rotatable member is configured to rotate to expose at least one of the openings to an outlet of the spout assembly for dispensing the liquid and to rotate to a closed position when not dispensing liquid.   
   
   
       14 . The spout assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the stopping member has a central opening, and wherein the coupler comprises:
 a projection for extending through the central opening of the stopping member; and   one or more openings for dispensing the liquid.   
   
   
       15 . The spout assembly of  claim 13 , further comprising a connector portion, wherein the outlet portion is configured to removably couple to the connector portion. 
   
   
       16 . A method of dispensing liquid, comprising:
 providing a container for housing a liquid; and   providing a spout assembly for dispensing spouts of the liquid from the container,   wherein providing the spout assembly comprises providing a stopping member for stopping dripping of the liquid after each dispensing.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein:
 providing the stopping member comprises providing a resilient membrane, and wherein the resilient membrane is configured to bend outward under pressure from the liquid from the container when the container is under a pressure, and to retract when the pressure is released.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the resilient membrane comprises a plurality of flap portions.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein:
 providing the stopping member comprises providing a rotatable member having one or more openings, the method further comprising:   rotating the stopping member to expose at least one of the openings to an outlet of the spout assembly for dispensing the liquid from the container, and to rotate to a closed position when not dispensing the liquid.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the spout assembly further comprises a connector portion, and wherein providing the outlet portion comprises removably coupling the outlet portion to the connector portion. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein:
 providing the spout assembly comprises facing the spout assembly substantially toward a ground level.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising replacing one of the container, the spout assembly, and the stopping member.