Methods and apparatuses for dispensing fluids

Abstract

A fluid dispensing system can be used with a container comprising at least one camming surface. In various embodiments, the fluid dispensing system can have a housing which can accept at least a portion of the container in a fixed orientation and a track which can be engaged with the housing. In at least one embodiment, the housing can be slidably movable along the track at least between a first position and a second position. In various embodiments, the fluid dispensing system can have a tube which can be engaged with at least a portion of the container to withdraw fluid therefrom when the housing is in the second position and can also have a fluid system in fluid communication with the tube.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container for use with a fluid dispensing system, the container comprising:
 a neck;   a closure mechanism, wherein at least one of the neck and the closure mechanism forms:
 at least two camming surfaces extending from one of the neck and the container; and 
 an annular ring extending around at least a portion of a periphery of one of the neck and the closure mechanism; and 
   a container body connected to the neck, wherein the closure mechanism is configured to puncturably seal the container.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container comprises a central axis, and wherein the neck is offset from the central axis. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container further comprises a gripping member positioned substantially opposite from the offset neck. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the annular ring comprises at least a first wall and a second wall, and wherein the first and the second walls form a recess therebetween. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , comprising a fluid for treatment of fabrics within the container. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 5 , fluid comprises at least one of a detergent, a bleach, a fabric softener, a fragrance, a wrinkle control fluid, and a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         7 . A method of supplying a fluid to a fluid dispensing system, the method comprising:
 inserting a container including a fluid therein into a housing when the housing is in a first position;   sliding the housing into a second position thereby actuating a first electro-mechanical switch to withdraw a protective plate;   actuating a second electro-mechanical switch using at least one camming surface positioned on the container to cause a fluid extracting element to engage a portion of the container;   creating a pressure differential between the fluid extracting element and the container; and   withdrawing the fluid from the container using the fluid extracting element to supply the fluid to the fluid dispensing system.