TW201446615A - Metered dose squeeze dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

Exemplary metered dose dispensers are disclosed herein. One exemplary embodiment includes a container and a one-dose dispenser secured to the container. The one-dose dispenser includes a dosing chamber; a shuttle member movable within the dosing chamber; an outlet valve located at an end of the dosing chamber and an outlet located downstream of the outlet valve. A liquid inlet is also included for allowing liquid to flow into the dosing chamber to an area between the shuttle member and the outlet valve. Pressurizing liquid in the container moves the shuttle member from a first position to a second position and dispenses the liquid in the dosing chamber; and when the shuttle member is in the second position, the shuttle member seals off the outlet valve.

Description

Fixed dose squeeze dispenser

The present invention relates generally to squeezing dispensers, and more particularly to squeezable containers for dispensing a metered dose of fluid or liquid.

Sometimes it is necessary to obtain a fixed dose of liquid from a liquid container. In order to obtain a metered dose of liquid from prior art containers, prior art containers require the aid of a liquid pump that is secured to the container.

A variety of exemplary dosing dispensers are disclosed herein. An exemplary embodiment includes a container and a single dose dispenser that is secured to the container. The single dose dispenser includes a dosing chamber, a reciprocating member movable within the dosing chamber, an outlet valve at one end of the dosing chamber, and an outlet downstream of the outlet valve. Also included is a liquid inlet for allowing liquid to flow into the dosage chamber to a region between the reciprocating member and the outlet valve. Pressurized liquid in the container moves the reciprocating member from a first position to a second position and dispenses liquid into the dosage chamber. The reciprocating member closes the outlet valve when the reciprocating member is in the second position to prevent additional liquid from flowing out of the container.

Another exemplary dosing dispenser includes a compressible container and a dosing chamber in fluid communication with the compressible container. The dosing chamber is formed at least in part by a reciprocating member and an outlet valve located adjacent the outlet. The reciprocating member is moveable between a first position adjacent the compressible container and a second position adjacent the outlet valve. There is also a fluid passage from the compressible container to the dosing chamber. The liquid passage allows liquid to enter the region of the dosing chamber between the reciprocating member and the outlet. Compress the said The compression vessel causes the reciprocating member to move toward the outlet valve, dispensing liquid from the dosing chamber as the reciprocating member moves toward the outlet valve. When the reciprocating member reaches the stroke end of the reciprocating member in the direction of the outlet valve, the liquid stops flowing out of the dosing chamber.

Another embodiment of a dose dispenser includes a compressible container and a dosing chamber in fluid communication with the compressible container. The dosing chamber is formed at least in part by a reciprocating member and an outlet valve. The outlet is located downstream of the outlet valve. The reciprocating member is moveable between a first position adjacent the compressible container and a second position proximate the outlet valve. A fluid passage from the compressible container to the dosing chamber is provided. The cross-sectional area of the liquid passage from the compressible container is less than the cross-sectional area of the outlet path to the outlet. The liquid passage allows liquid to enter a region of the dosing chamber between the reciprocating member and the outlet when the reciprocating member is positioned away from the second position. Compressing the compressible container causes the reciprocating member to move toward the second position and dispense liquid from the dosing chamber. When the reciprocating member reaches the second position, the liquid stops flowing out of the dosing chamber.

Another exemplary dosing dispenser includes a squeezable container and a single dose dispenser secured to the squeezable container. The single dose dispenser has a dosing chamber and a reciprocating member movable within the dosing chamber. Further, an outlet valve is disposed adjacent one end of the dosing chamber. There is also a liquid inlet for allowing liquid to flow into the dosing chamber to a region between the reciprocating member and the outlet valve. Squeezing the squeezable container pressurizes the liquid in the squeezable container, the pressurized liquid moves the reciprocating member from the first position to the second position, and dispenses the liquid to the dose In the room. The reciprocating member closes the outlet valve when in the second position.

An exemplary dispensing device is disclosed. The exemplary dispensing device includes a squeezable container and a lid secured to the squeezable container. The squeezable container has at least two side walls that are moved toward each other to dispense a dose of fluid. A stroke limiting device for limiting the movement of the at least two side walls to a set distance is also provided. The limited stroke of the sidewall provides a quantitative output.

100‧‧‧Distributor

102‧‧‧Dose dose components

110‧‧‧Squeezable containers

115‧‧‧ neck

120‧‧‧Closed

122‧‧‧ base

123‧‧‧Ring seal

124‧‧‧ annular protrusion

126‧‧‧ lugs

127‧‧‧ openings

129‧‧‧ hole

130‧‧‧Dose room

131‧‧‧Support

134‧‧‧Reciprocating components

136‧‧‧ biasing members

138‧‧‧ valve seat

139‧‧‧ hole

140‧‧‧ valve

160‧‧‧Export

201‧‧‧Reciprocating Ontology

202‧‧‧ hole

220‧‧‧ pathway

240‧‧‧Bevel seat

500‧‧‧Dose Dispenser

502‧‧‧Shell

503‧‧‧ side

504‧‧‧ Cover

506‧‧‧Export nozzle

508‧‧‧Flip

510‧‧‧Dose device

511‧‧‧Long tube

512‧‧‧ hole

520‧‧‧ board

600‧‧‧Dose Dispenser

602‧‧‧Shell

604‧‧‧ recessed side

606‧‧‧Small area

The above described features and advantages and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the <RTIgt; In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an exemplary liquid dispenser for outputting a dosed product having a squeezable container and a dose assembly; FIG. 2 is a view showing the liquid dispenser of FIG. An enlarged cross-sectional view of an exemplary reciprocating portion and valve seat; FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary liquid dispenser having a squeezable container and a dose assembly in a stowed position; and FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary liquid dispenser having The squeeze container and the dose assembly (the dose assembly is in a position to cut off the discharge of liquid from the container).

Figure 5 illustrates another exemplary liquid dispenser having a squeezable container and a dose assembly; and Figures 6A and 6B illustrate a squeezable container having a body configured to output a dose.

FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a dispenser 100 having a fixed dose output. The exemplary dispenser 100 has a squeezable container 110 and a dosed assembly 102 secured to the container. The squeezable container can be any type of container that can be squeezed to apply pressure to the interior of the container 110. The squeezable container 110 can be a bottle, bag, bag, tube, or the like. Exemplary materials for the squeezable container can include, but are not limited to, thin walled plastic, polymer, PET, HDPE, or other suitable plastic, foil, and the like.

The dosing assembly 102 includes a closure 120. The closure portion 120 can be secured to the neck 115 of the container 110, such as by a snap fit connection, a friction fit connection, a welded connection, a glued connection, a threaded connection, and the like.

The base 122 of the closure portion 120 includes an aperture 129 in the base and an annular support portion 131 that surrounds the aperture 129. The annular seal portion 123 projects upward from the base portion 122 of the closure portion 120 and seals the interior of the neck portion 115 of the container 110 to assist in closing Portion 120 is sealed to container 110. An additional annular projection 124 projects upwardly from the seal portion 123, which forms a portion of the dosing chamber 130 located therein. The annular projection 124 includes an opening 127 at the top and an inwardly projecting lug 126 that projects into the opening 127. The inwardly projecting lug 126 can be one or more lugs or can be a continuous lug. In certain embodiments, the opening 127 and the lug 126 are sized to allow the internal components of the fixed dose assembly 102 to be inserted through the opening 127. The lug 126 is deflected outwardly to allow the inner component to be inserted into the dosing chamber 130, and the lug (after insertion of the inner component) returns to the undeflected position to retain the inner component in the support of the lug 126 and the aperture 129 in the base 122. Between the sections 131.

In certain embodiments, the internal components of the dose assembly 102 include a reciprocating member 134, a biasing member 136 (eg, a spring), a valve seat 138, and a valve 140. Valve seat 138 includes an aperture 139; aperture 139 is centrally located to allow fluid to reach valve 140. The valve 140 is a slit valve, and the valve seat 138 is provided with a backing that prevents the valve 140 from opening and allowing air to flow from the outside of the dispensing device 102 into the dosing chamber 130 when a negative pressure (vacuum pressure) occurs in the dosing chamber 130. Inside. In certain embodiments, valve 140 and valve seat 138 may be replaced by different types of valves, such as ball and seat, mushroom valves, or the like. When other types of outlet valves are used, modifications may be necessary to ensure that the reciprocating member 134 closes the valve when the reciprocating member reaches the end of its stroke position.

As best seen with reference to Figure 2, the reciprocating member 134 includes a body 201 that includes one or more apertures 202. In certain embodiments, the reciprocating member 134 is loosely fitted in the dosing chamber 130 and there is a passage 220 around the reciprocating body 201 such that a small amount of fluid can flow through the bore 202 and surround the reciprocating body 201. In some embodiments, the reciprocating member 134 is provided with small passages in the body 201 that are used to allow fluid to flow more easily. The cross-sectional area of the fluid inlet passage 220 is smaller than the outlet 160 (when opened), so the reciprocating portion 134 is more easily moved downward than the fluid flows through the passage 220. In certain embodiments, the passages in the reciprocating member 134 direct liquid into the dosing chamber 130 such that liquid from the container 110 must flow in the same direction (at least a portion of the time) as the direction of travel of the reciprocating portion. Thus, the pressure applied to the container 110 forces the pressurized liquid to impact the reciprocating member 134, and the reciprocating member 134 deflects the liquid outwardly, causing movement of the reciprocating member 134.

The reciprocating body 201 includes a sealing portion 204. Valve seat 138 includes a beveled seat 240. When the valve seat 138 comes into contact with the sealing portion 204, liquid is prevented from flowing out of the dispenser 100. In addition, the valve seat 138 is provided with a backing for the valve 140 that prevents the valve 140 from opening and allows air to flow into the dosing chamber 130 when the container 110 is under negative pressure conditions.

For the sake of clarity, the biasing member 136 has been omitted from Figures 2 to 4; however, the biasing member is included in these exemplary embodiments to cause the reciprocating member 134 to move away from the outlet 160.

Figures 2 - 4 illustrate the operation of the dosing dispenser 100. Figure 3 shows a dosing chamber 130 containing a full dose of liquid. The liquid may be, for example, a soap, a disinfectant, a lotion, or the like. When the container 110 of the metering dispenser 100 is squeezed, the pressure pushes the reciprocating member 134 downward, thereby forcing liquid between the reciprocating member 134 and the valve 140 to exit the dosing chamber 130 through the outlet 160. In certain embodiments, the reciprocating member moves because of the larger surface area of the reciprocating member relative to the area of the liquid passage 220 between the container 110 and the dosing chamber 130. In certain embodiments, the passage 220 is sufficiently narrow in size that only a minimum amount of liquid flows through the passage 220 when the container 110 is squeezed. In certain embodiments, the apertures 202 are sufficiently small and/or require liquid to flow at an angle substantially perpendicular to the entrance of the apertures 202 to increase the pressure on the reciprocating member 134 and to limit the flow of liquid through the passages 220. In any event, the pressure exerted by the liquid pushes the reciprocating member 134 down until the sealing member 204 contacts the bevel seat 240 to close the outlet valve 140 and prevent additional fluid from flowing out of the dispenser 100. Thus, dispenser 100 outputs a metered dose of liquid.

In some embodiments a cover (not shown) is provided that fits or attaches to the closure 120 to seal the dispenser 100 when the dispenser is not in use, thereby preventing accidental dispensing. The user removes the cover before dispensing the liquid.

When the pressure is removed from the container 100, the biasing member 136 pushes up and down The member 134 thus expands the volume of the dosing chamber 130. Valve 140 closes liquid outlet 160 and prevents air from flowing into dose chamber 130. The negative pressure created in the dosing chamber 130 by the upward movement of the reciprocating member 134 draws liquid through the aperture 202 and through the passage 220 to fill the dosing chamber 130. Once the dosing chamber 130 is refilled, the dosing dispenser 100 is in a standby state and is ready to dispense another dosing of liquid.

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary embodiment of a fixed dose dispenser 500. The dose dispensing dispenser 500 includes a housing 502, a cover 504, an outlet nozzle 506, a flip cover 508, and a dose device 510. The dose device 510 is formed by an elongate tube 511 having one or more holes 512 that open into the center of the elongate tube 511. The top of the elongate tube is open and fluidly circulates with the outlet nozzle 506. A plate 520 or plug may be provided in the elongate tube 511 to prevent fluid from filling the elongate tube 511. During operation, when the user wants a dose of liquid, the user opens the flip 508, causing the container 502 to be inverted and squeeze the side 503 of the container. The movement of the side 503 is limited by the diameter of the tube 511. Thus, tube 511 limits the volume change inside container 502 and provides a fixed dose output.

A dose dispenser 600 is shown in Figures 6A and 6B. The dose dispenser 600 includes a housing 602. Housing 602 includes one or more recessed sides 604. The recessed side 604 can have a smooth profile (as shown) or can have one or more smaller recesses. As shown in Figure 6B, the recessed side 604 has a small area 606 between the recesses. Therefore, when the recessed sides are pressed together, the recessed side 604 has a limited stroke, so when the container (and the cover assembly not shown) are inverted, and the recessed sides are squeezed together At this time, a fixed dose of liquid is output. In certain embodiments, the container 602 has raised portions in the interior of the bottle that are not visible from the exterior of the bottle but are in contact with each other and/or in contact with opposing walls to limit the travel of the sidewalls and Provide quantitative output.

The invention has been described above by way of a description of the embodiments of the invention, and the invention is not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. The scope of the patent application is limited to such details. Additional advantages for those skilled in the art And the modifications will be obvious. Moreover, elements illustrated in one embodiment can be readily adapted to other embodiments. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details Therefore, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

100‧‧‧Distributor

102‧‧‧Dose dose components

110‧‧‧Squeezable containers

115‧‧‧ neck

120‧‧‧Closed

122‧‧‧ base

123‧‧‧Ring seal

124‧‧‧ annular protrusion

126‧‧‧ lugs

127‧‧‧ openings

129, 139‧ ‧ holes

130‧‧‧Dose room

131‧‧‧Support

134‧‧‧Reciprocating components

136‧‧‧ biasing members

138‧‧‧ valve seat

140‧‧‧ valve

160‧‧‧Export

Claims (20)

A dispensing device comprising: a container; a single dose dispenser secured to the container; the single dose dispenser comprising: a dose chamber; a reciprocating member movable within the dose chamber; at one end of the dose chamber An outlet valve; an outlet downstream of the outlet valve; and a liquid inlet for allowing liquid to flow into the dosing chamber between the reciprocating member and the outlet valve, wherein the size of the liquid inlet Is set to be small enough that the reciprocating member moves when pressure is applied to the container without a large amount of liquid flowing through the liquid inlet; wherein the pressurized liquid in the container will be the reciprocating member Moving from the first position to the second position and dispensing liquid into the dosage chamber; and wherein the reciprocating member closes the outlet valve when the reciprocating member is in the second position. The dispensing device of claim 1 wherein the liquid inlet surrounds a wall of the dosing chamber. The dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the liquid inlet is in the reciprocating member. A dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid flowing through the inlet contacts the reciprocating member and is guided in a direction that is not parallel to the movement of the reciprocating member. The dispensing device of claim 1, further comprising a biasing member for moving the reciprocating member from the second position to the first position. A dispensing device comprising: a compressible container; a dosing chamber in fluid communication with the compressible container; the dosing chamber being formed at least in part by a reciprocating member and an outlet valve located adjacent the outlet; the reciprocating member being capable of being in a first position adjacent to the compressible container and Moving between a second position adjacent the outlet valve; and a liquid passage from the compressible container to the dosing chamber; the liquid passage allowing liquid to enter between the reciprocating member and the outlet An area of the dosing chamber; wherein compressing the compressible container causes the reciprocating member to move toward the outlet valve; and wherein liquid in the dosing chamber moves as the reciprocating member moves toward the outlet valve Dispatched, and when the reciprocating member reaches the stroke end of the reciprocating member in the direction of the outlet valve, liquid stops flowing out of the dosing chamber. The dispenser of claim 6 wherein the reciprocating member closes the outlet valve when positioned adjacent the outlet valve. The dispenser of claim 6, wherein the reciprocating member stops moving when the reciprocating member contacts a seat adjacent to the outlet valve. The dispenser of claim 6 wherein liquid flows between the reciprocating member and the wall of the dosing chamber to reach a region between the reciprocating member and the outlet valve. The dispenser of claim 6 wherein the liquid flows through a passage in the wall of the dosing chamber to reach a region between the reciprocating member and the outlet valve. The dispenser of claim 6, wherein the liquid flows through a passage in the wall of the reciprocating member to reach a region between the reciprocating member and the outlet valve, and the liquid is along at least one It does not travel parallel to the direction of movement of the reciprocating portion. The dispenser of claim 6 wherein the liquid is adjacent to the dose The walls of the chamber flow to reach a region between the reciprocating member and the outlet valve. The dispensing device of claim 6, further comprising a biasing member that moves the reciprocating member toward the compressible container. The dispensing device of claim 6, further comprising a cover secured to the dispensing device, the cover for closing the outlet. A dispensing device comprising: a squeezable container; a lid secured to the squeezable container; the squeezable container having at least two side walls that move toward each other to dispense a dose of fluid; and Movement of at least two side walls is limited to a set distance travel limiting device, wherein the limited travel of the side walls provides a quantitative output. The dispenser of claim 15 wherein the stroke limiting device comprises a tube. A dispenser according to claim 16, wherein the tube comprises a hollow portion and one or more holes from the exterior of the tube to the center of the tube. The dispenser of claim 16, wherein one end of the tube is opened by a nozzle and closed at a point near the hole. The dispenser of claim 15 wherein the travel limiting means for restricting movement of the at least two side walls comprises a recess on at least one of the side walls. The dispenser of claim 15 wherein the travel limiting means for restricting movement of the at least two side walls comprises a projection on an interior of at least one of the side walls.