Liquid dosing apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10048106-B2
Application number	US-201113274586-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 17, 2011
Priority date	Oct 21, 2010
Publication date	Aug 14, 2018
Grant date	Aug 14, 2018

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus and methods of repeatedly dispensing controlled doses of liquid. In one embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus includes a resiliently squeezable container, a cap operably connected to the container, a dosing chamber operably connected to the cap, at least one timer aperture located proximal to the discharge opening, a plunger, a valve retaining means located below the base, and a valve provided in the valve retaining means. The ratio of the total surface of the inlet openings and the timer apertures is from about 2 to about 17 and the viscosity of the liquid is from about 1 to about 600 mPa·s (measured at 10 s−1 at 20° C.).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A dosing apparatus for dispensing a dose of liquid comprising:
(i) A resiliently squeezable container;
(ii) A cap operably connected to said container, said cap comprising a nozzle, wherein said nozzle defines an orifice at its apex;
(iii) A dosing chamber operably connected to said cap, wherein said dosing chamber comprises a base having a discharge opening therein, sidewalls extending upwardly along the perimeter of said base and at least one inlet opening located proximal said sidewalls;
(iv) At least one timer aperture located proximal to said discharge opening;
(v) A plunger, provided in said dosing chamber and moveable relative to said chamber so as to advance upon squeezing of said container, up to a blocking position;
(vi) A valve retaining means located below said base;
(vii) A valve provided in said valve retaining means wherein said valve is movable from an open position, allowing liquid flow through said discharge opening, and a closed position, where the valve blocks said discharge opening;

wherein the ratio of the total surface of said inlet openings and said timer apertures is from 2 to 12, wherein the viscosity of said liquid is from 1 to 600 mPa·s (measured at 10 s −1 at 20° C.), wherein the dosing apparatus dispenses a dose of liquid at a substantially constant liquid output, wherein said base defines a first area and a second area, said first area being demarcated by said sidewalls and said second area defining the discharge opening, and wherein said second area is located below said first area, and wherein said at least one timer aperture is in the form of at least one slot extending for a predetermined length from said discharge opening towards the sidewalls through said base of said dosing chamber, and said plunger comprises a ring-like protrusion wherein said ring-like protrusion is capable of closing said at least one slot and said discharge opening when resting onto said base.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said plunger is a piston having a flat surface and comprises stabilizing wings extending upwardly along the perimeter of said piston and protrusions extending opposite and mirrored to said stabilizing wings, and wherein said protrusions are of shorter length than said stabilizing wings.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said at least one timer aperture is located in said base of said dosing chamber and wherein said at least one timer aperture is parallel to said discharge opening.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said dose is from 3 ml to 40 ml.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said container comprises a front surface and a back surface, and wherein the distance between said front to said back surfaces is between 30 mm to 100 mm.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said container is capable of displacing from 15 ml to 80 ml of said liquid without permanent deformation.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said sidewalls comprise a castellation formed by vertically extending tabs at the apex thereof, and wherein said inlet openings are defined by the open space between said tabs, and wherein said castellation comprises multiple inlet openings.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said valve retaining means is one part with said dosing chamber and is formed by at least three hook-shaped protrusions extending downwardly from said base and opposite to said sidewalls.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said valve retaining means is one part with said dosing chamber and comprises at least two overhangs, extending downwardly from said base, and a snap ring joining to the apex of said overhangs so as to define a valve insertion opening at its centre.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said valve is spherical and is capable of blocking said discharge opening by at least partly entering said dosing chamber.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the ratio of the total surface of said inlet openings and said orifice is from 4 to 1:4.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said cap further comprises a first skirt comprising shutter tabs capable of at least partly covering said inlet openings upon rotation of said cap relative to said dosing chamber.

13. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said container comprises an indicating means to indicate to the user the acceptable inclination angle of said apparatus for accurate dosing.

14. A method of dosing with an apparatus of claim 1 , comprising the steps of;
(i) orienting said apparatus top down, (ii) squeezing said container to begin dosage until liquid flow stops, and (iii) releasing the force from said container to permit said valve to open, release said liquid from said dosage chamber via said discharge opening and allow said plunger to return to its starting position.

15. A method according to claim 14 wherein following step (iii) the container is squeezed again to begin a second dose without inverting said container.

16. A method of dosing a liquid with an apparatus, said method comprising:
(a) A resiliently squeezable container;
(b) A cap operably connected to said container comprising a nozzle, wherein said nozzle defines an orifice at its apex;
(c) A dosing chamber operably connected to said cap, wherein said dosing chamber comprises a base having a discharge opening therein, sidewalls extending upwardly along the perimeter of said base and at least one inlet opening located proximal said sidewalls;
(d) At least one timer aperture located proximal to said discharge opening;
(e) A plunger, provided in said dosing chamber and moveable relative to said chamber so as to advance upon squeezing of said container, up to a blocking position;
(f) A valve retaining means located below said base;
(g) A valve provided in said retaining means wherein said valve is movable from an open position, allowing liquid flow through said discharge opening, and a closed position, where the valve blocks said discharge opening;

said method comprising the steps of; (i) orienting said apparatus top down, (ii) squeezing said container to generate a pressure of from 2 kPa to 12 kPa which pressure is applied to a liquid in said container, for no more than one second, to complete the dose, (iii) releasing the force from said container to permit said valve to open, release said liquid from said dosage chamber via said discharge opening and allow said plunger to return to its starting position, wherein the ratio of the total surface of said inlet openings and said timer apertures is from 2 to 12 and wherein the dosing apparatus dispenses a dose of liquid at a substantially constant liquid output, wherein said base defines a first area and a second area, said first area being demarcated by said sidewalls and said second area defining the discharge opening, and wherein said second area is located below said first area, and wherein said at least one timer aperture is in the form of at least one slot extending for a predetermined length from said discharge opening towards the sidewalls through said base of said dosing chamber, and said plunger comprises a ring-like protrusion wherein said ring-like protrusion is capable of closing said at least one slot and said discharge opening when resting onto said base.

17. A method of dosing according to claim 16 wherein following step (iii) said container is squeezed again to begin a second dose without inverting said container.

Assignees

• Hoefte Paulus Antonius Augustinus
• Beck Wolfram
• Lambrigts Miranda
• Procter & Gamble

Inventors

• Hoefte Paulus Antonius Augustinus
• Beck Wolfram
• Lambrigts Miranda

Classifications

• G01F11/286

  where filling of the measuring chamber is effected by squeezing a supply container that is in fluid connection with the measuring chamber and excess fluid is sucked back from the measuring chamber during relaxation of the supply container · CPC title

• G01F11/263

  with valves · CPC title

• G01F11/04

  of the free-piston type · CPC title

• G01F11/265

  of the ball type · CPC title

• G01F13/006 Primary

  measuring volume in function of time · CPC title