Liquid dispensers and methods for refilling liquid containing vessels

Abstract

A method includes providing a container having a liquid disposed therein; providing a cap having a first portion that defines a bore and a second portion that is connectable to the container; connecting the second portion of the cap to the container such that the liquid is in communication the cap; connecting the first portion of the cap to a liquid reservoir for an electronic cigarette such that the first portion of the cap is substantially sealed with respect to the liquid reservoir of the electronic cigarette; and causing the liquid to flow from the container and into the liquid reservoir of the electronic cigarette.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 providing a container having a liquid disposed therein;   providing a cap having a first portion that defines a bore and a second portion that is connectable to the container;   connecting the second portion of the cap to the container such that the liquid is in communication with the cap;   connecting the first portion of the cap to a liquid reservoir for an electronic cigarette such that the first portion of the cap is substantially sealed with respect to the liquid reservoir of the electronic cigarette; and   causing the liquid to flow from the container and into the liquid reservoir of the electronic cigarette.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid reservoir including a tubular housing that extends from a first end to a second end and a wicking material disposed within the tubular housing. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein causing the liquid to flow from the container and into the liquid reservoir of the electronic cigarette further causes the liquid to contact the wicking material. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cap includes a nozzle that extends through the bore of the first portion, the nozzle having an interior and a liquid dispensing tip. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein connecting the first portion of the cap to the liquid reservoir for the electronic cigarette cause the liquid dispensing tip to be disposed within the liquid reservoir. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid reservoir includes a first screw thread, the first portion of the cap includes a second screw thread, and connecting the first portion of the cap to the liquid reservoir for the electronic cigarette includes threadedly engaging the first screw thread of the liquid reservoir with the second screw thread of the first portion of the cap. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein causing the liquid to flow from the container and into the liquid reservoir of the electronic cigarette includes applying pressure to the liquid at the container. 
     
     
         8 . A method for filling a liquid reservoir for an electronic cigarette, the liquid reservoir including a tubular housing that extends from a first end to a second end, and a connecting structure located at the first end of the tubular housing, the connecting structure including an aperture that extends through the connecting structure for communication with an interior of the tubular housing, the method comprising:
 providing a container having a liquid disposed therein;   providing a cap having a second portion that is connectable to the container, a first portion that defines a bore, and a nozzle that extends through the bore of the first portion, the nozzle having an interior and a liquid dispensing tip;   connecting the second portion of the cap to the container such that the liquid is in communication with the interior of the nozzle;   connecting the first portion of the cap to the connecting structure of the liquid reservoir such that the nozzle of the cap is at least partially disposed within the aperture of the connecting structure; and   causing the liquid to flow from the container, through the nozzle, and into to the tubular housing.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the liquid reservoir includes a wicking material that is disposed within the housing, and causing the liquid to flow from the container, through the nozzle, and into the tubular housing further includes causing the liquid to contact the wicking material. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 sealing the second end of the tubular housing prior to causing the liquid to flow from the container, through the nozzle, and into to the tubular housing.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the connecting structure of the liquid reservoir includes a first screw thread, the first portion of the cap includes a second screw thread, and connecting the first portion of the cap to the connecting structure of the liquid reservoir includes threadedly engaging the first screw thread of the connecting structure of the liquid reservoir with the second screw thread of the first portion of the cap. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the second screw thread is located on an interior annular surface of the first portion of the cap. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the second screw thread is located on an exterior annular surface of the first portion of the cap. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein connecting the first portion of the cap to the connecting structure of the liquid reservoir establishes a seal between the cap and the liquid reservoir. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein causing the liquid to flow from the container, through the nozzle, and into to the tubular housing includes applying pressure to the liquid at the container. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus comprising:
 a liquid dispensing cap having a first portion that is substantially tubular, the first portion having an inner annular wall that defines a bore that extends through the first portion, and a nozzle that is disposed at least partially within the bore of the first portion, the nozzle having a liquid dispensing opening and an outer surface, wherein the outer surface of the nozzle is spaced apart from the inner annular wall of the first portion.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a container having a liquid disposed therein;   the liquid dispensing cap having a second portion that is connectable to the container such that at least a portion of the container is disposed within the second portion of the liquid dispensing cap, wherein the first portion of the liquid dispensing cap and the second portion of the liquid dispensing cap are parts of a unitary cap body that defines an internal annular shoulder between the first portion and the second portion; and   the nozzle of the liquid dispensing cap being removable with respect to the unitary cap body, the nozzle including a radially-extending flange that is seated against the shoulder of the unitary cap body and is restrained from moving with respect to the unitary cap body by engagement of the container with the radially-extending flange of the nozzle.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a liquid reservoir for an electronic cigarette, the liquid reservoir having a wicking material disposed therein, wherein the first portion of the liquid dispensing cap is connectable to the liquid reservoir for the electronic cigarette such that the first portion of the liquid dispensing cap is substantially sealed with respect to the liquid reservoir of the electronic cigarette and the nozzle is disposed in communication with an interior of the liquid reservoir, and further wherein the nozzle is configured to conduct the liquid from the container, through the nozzle, and into to the tubular housing for contact with the wicking material in response to application of pressure to the liquid.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a liquid reservoir for an electronic cigarette, the liquid reservoir including a tubular housing that extends from a first end to a second end, a connecting structure located at the first end of the tubular housing, the connecting structure including an aperture that extends through the connecting structure for communication with an interior of the tubular housing and a first screw thread formed on the connecting structure, and a wicking material that is disposed within the tubular housing, wherein the first portion of the liquid dispensing cap is connectable to the connecting structure of the liquid reservoir for the electronic cigarette such that the first portion of the liquid dispensing cap is substantially sealed with respect to the connecting structure of the liquid reservoir of the electronic cigarette and the nozzle is disposed in communication with an interior of the tubular housing of the liquid reservoir, and further wherein the nozzle is configured to conduct the liquid from the container, through the nozzle, and into to the tubular housing for contact with the wicking material in response to application of pressure to the liquid.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein a first screw thread is formed on the connecting structure of the liquid reservoir for the electronic cigarette, a second screw thread is formed on the first portion of the liquid dispensing cap, and the first portion of the liquid dispensing cap is substantially sealed with respect to the connecting structure of the liquid reservoir of the electronic cigarette by threaded engagement of the first screw thread with the second screw thread.