Pump and nozzle liquid flow control system

Abstract

This invention disclosed herein relates to a pump apparatus for use with a liquid container for transferring liquid from a liquid container. It comprises a pump means comprising a manually-operable pump for pumping liquid and formed with a pump chamber through which liquid can be pumped by the pump. It also has an inlet opening for receiving liquid into the pump chamber and an outlet opening for dispensing liquid out of the pump chamber when liquid is pumped through the chamber using the pump. There is a coupling means for mounting the pump means to the opening of a liquid container to permit the gravitational flow of liquid into the pump chamber through the inlet opening when the mounted pump means is placed on ground level and the pump pumped.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A method of dispensing a fluid from a reservoir, the reservoir fluidly coupled to a manually-operable pump via a conduit, the method comprising:
 positioning the reservoir such that the fluid flows into the conduit via gravity; and,   pumping the manually-operable pump such that the liquid flows through the conduit and out an output tube.   
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the conduit is a tube extending from outside the reservoir to inside the reservoir and wherein positioning the reservoir comprises rotating the reservoir about a substantially horizontal axis. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the fluid flows through the output tube to a liquid flow control nozzle and comprising selectively actuating a mechanism of the liquid flow control nozzle between a first position for dispensing the fluid and a second position for stopping the flow of the fluid. 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the manually-operable pump comprises a bellows type foot pump, and wherein pumping the manually-operable pump comprises pressing a foot against a surface of the manually-operable pump. 
     
     
         14 . A pump apparatus for use with a portable liquid container for transferring liquid from the portable liquid container, said pump apparatus comprising:
 a manually operable foot pump having an inlet opening for receiving liquid from said portable liquid container into the foot pump and an outlet opening for dispensing liquid out of the foot pump, and having a seating surface for engaging a substantially horizontal supporting surface during pumping;   a coupling means for mounting the foot pump onto a liquid container adjacent an opening, such that said liquid container and the seating surface on said manually operable foot pump together form a stable base engageable on said substantially horizontal supporting surface, and wherein during pumping said liquid container and said seating surface of said manually operable foot pump are together supported by said substantially horizontal supporting surface; and,   a flexible delivery tube with an inlet end and an outlet end, the delivery tube at its inlet end being mountable to the manually operable foot pump to receive liquid from the manually operable foot pump as liquid is being transferred from a liquid container to permit transfer of the liquid through flexible delivery tube to the outlet end for dispensing.   
     
     
         15 . A pump apparatus as claimed in  claim 14 , further comprising a check valve means having a check valve to ensure that liquid cannot flow backwardly through said manually operable foot pump in the direction from the outlet opening to the inlet opening during pumping of said manually operable foot pump. 
     
     
         16 . A pump apparatus as claimed in  claim 14 , further comprising a dispensing nozzle operatively connectable to said flexible delivery tube at its outlet end. 
     
     
         17 . A pump apparatus as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said manually operable foot pump comprises a bellows pump. 
     
     
         18 . A pump apparatus as claimed in  claim 14 , further comprising a check valve means having a check valve to ensure that liquid cannot flow backwardly through the pump chamber in the direction from the outlet opening to through the inlet opening during pumping of the pump. 
     
     
         19 . A pump apparatus as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the check valve means further comprises a check valve to permit atmospheric air to be delivered into the liquid chamber of the container in exchange for liquid pumped by the pump. 
     
     
         20 . A pump apparatus as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said liquid container comprises a fuel container. 
     
     
         21 . A pump apparatus as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said outlet is in said manually operable pump means. 
     
     
         22 . A pump apparatus as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said outlet is in said coupling means. 
     
     
         23 . A pump apparatus comprising:
 a portable container for storing and transferring liquid VIa gravity to a pump, said portable container having an opening for dispensing liquid and a bottom end for engaging a substantially horizontal supporting surface during pumping;   a manually operable foot pump having an inlet opening for receiving liquid from said portable container into the foot pump and an outlet opening for dispensing liquid out of the foot pump, and having a seating surface for engaging a substantially horizontal supporting surface during pumping;   means for connecting said manually operable foot pump to the portable container, so as to be in liquid receiving relation with the opening of said portable container;   a flexible delivery tube with an inlet end and an outlet end, said delivery tube being mountable at its inlet end to the manually operable foot pump to receive liquid from the outlet opening of said manually operable foot pump; and,   a liquid flow control nozzle connectable to said outlet end of said flexible delivery tube to receive liquid pumped by said manually operable foot pump.   
     
     
         24 . A pump apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , further comprising a check valve means having a check valve to ensure that liquid cannot flow backwardly through said manually operable foot pump in the direction from the outlet opening to the inlet opening during pumping of said manually operable foot pump. 
     
     
         25 . A pump apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , further comprising a dispensing nozzle operatively connectable to said flexible delivery tube at its outlet end. 
     
     
         26 . A pump apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein said manually operable foot pump comprises a bellows pump. 
     
     
         27 . A pump apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , further comprising a check valve means having a check valve to ensure that liquid cannot flow backwardly through the pump chamber in the direction from the outlet opening to through the inlet opening during pumping of the pump. 
     
     
         28 . A pump apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the check valve means further comprises a check valve to permit atmospheric air to be delivered into the liquid chamber of the container in exchange for liquid pumped by the pump. 
     
     
         29 . A pump apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the check valve means further comprises a check valve in said liquid flow control nozzle. 
     
     
         30 . A pump apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein said liquid container comprises a fuel container. 
     
     
         31 . A pump apparatus as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein said outlet is in said manually operable pump means.