Multi-chemistry dispenser

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10588722-B2
Application number	US-201515753243-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 19, 2015
Priority date	Aug 19, 2015
Publication date	Mar 17, 2020
Grant date	Mar 17, 2020

Abstract

A dispenser for dispensing a liquid such as a tooth whitening gel can include a plunger and a housing having a first chamber that receives a first arm of the plunger and a second chamber that receives a second arm of the plunger. The housing can further include a first channel in fluid communication with the first chamber, a second channel in fluid communication with the second chamber, and a third channel formed at an intersection of the first and second channels. The housing can further include a static mixer than mixes a first liquid from the first chamber with a second liquid from the second chamber. The plunger may be disposed along a first axis and the third channel may be disposed along a second axis that intersects the first axis at an angle of between 10° and 170°.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A dispenser, comprising:
a plunger comprising a first arm, a second arm, and a channel that spaces the first arm from the second arm, wherein the plunger oriented to extend along a first axis;
a housing that defines a first chamber, a second chamber, a wall that separates the first chamber from the second chamber, a first channel in fluid communication with the first chamber, a second channel in fluid communication with the second chamber, and a third channel, wherein:

the first channel and the second channel intersect to connect with the third channel; and
the third channel is disposed along a second axis that intersects the first axis at an angle of from 10° to 170°;
a nozzle at an end of the third channel; and
a locking mechanism that prevents the plunger from being depressed prior to unlocking of the locking mechanism, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a slot within the plunger and a removable tab inserted into the slot, wherein the locking mechanism prevents the plunger from being depressed prior to removal of the removable tab from the slot.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 , further comprising a first liquid in the first chamber and a second liquid in the second chamber.

3. The dispenser of claim 1 , further comprising at least one frangible seal within at least one of the first channel, the second channel, and the third channel, wherein the at least one frangible seal prevents fluid communication between the first chamber and the third channel and between the second chamber and the third channel when the at least one frangible seal is intact.

4. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the third channel comprises a static mixer.

5. The dispenser of claim 1 , further comprising a first plunger seal around the first arm and a second plunger seal around the second arm, wherein the first plunger seal and the second plunger seal comprise a material selected from the group consisting of rubber, silicone, and a polymer.

6. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the first chamber comprises a first volume and the second chamber comprises a second volume, wherein the first volume is less than the second volume.

7. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises:
a first housing section comprising a ring having an opening therethrough; and
a second housing section attached to the first housing section, wherein the second housing section comprises the wall and the wall extends through the opening in the ring.

8. The dispenser of claim 7 , further comprising an indicator on the first housing section, wherein the indicator is configured to indicate when approximately half of a volume of the first chamber has been occupied by the first arm after a movement of the first arm and approximately half of a volume of the second chamber has been occupied by the second arm after a movement of the second arm.

9. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises an elongated applicator that defines the third channel.

10. The dispenser of claim 9 , further comprising a removable end cap positioned over an end of the elongated applicator and over the nozzle.

11. The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the second axis intersects the first axis at an angle of about 90°.

12. A dispenser for a tooth whitening solution, comprising:
a housing defining a first chamber, a second chamber, and an applicator;
a first liquid disposed within the first chamber and a second liquid disposed within the second chamber;
a plunger comprising a first arm positioned to move within the first chamber and a second arm positioned to move within the second chamber, wherein the plunger is disposed along a first axis;
a first channel defined by the applicator and positioned to receive the first liquid from the first chamber;
a second channel defined by the applicator and positioned to receive the second liquid from the second chamber, wherein the first channel and the second channel are connected at an intersection;
a third channel defined by the applicator, wherein the third channel is in fluid communication with the first channel and the second channel at the intersection and the third channel is disposed along a second axis that intersects the first axis at an angle of between 10° and 170°;
a nozzle at an end of the applicator and at an end of the third channel; and
a locking mechanism comprising a slot within the plunger and a removable tab that is inserted into the slot, wherein the locking mechanism prevents the plunger from being depressed prior to removal of the removable tab from the slot.

13. The dispenser of claim 12 , further comprising at least one seal within at least one of the first channel, the second channel, and the third channel that prevents fluid communication between the first chamber and the third channel and between the second chamber and the third channel when the at least one seal is intact.

14. The dispenser of claim 13 , wherein the seal is positioned to rupture during movement of the first arm within the first chamber and during movement of the second arm within the second chamber.

15. The dispenser of claim 13 , wherein the seal is positioned to rupture to establish fluid communication between the first chamber and the first channel and to further establish fluid communication between the second chamber and the second channel.

16. The dispenser of claim 12 , further comprising an indicator on the plunger, wherein the indicator is positioned to indicate when approximately half of a volume of the first chamber has been occupied by the first arm after a movement of the first arm, and is further positioned to indicate when approximately half of a volume of the second chamber has been occupied by the second arm after a movement of the second arm.

17. The dispenser of claim 12 , wherein the applicator further comprises a mixer positioned to mix the first liquid with the second liquid.

18. The dispenser of claim 12 , further comprising:
a wall defined by the housing and positioned between the first chamber and the second chamber;
a channel defined by the first arm and the second arm, wherein the channel spaces the first arm from the second arm, wherein the wall is positioned within the channel defined by the first arm and the second arm;
a first plunger seal that encircles the first arm;
a second plunger seal that encircles the second arm; and
a locking mechanism comprising a slot within the plunger and a removable tab that is inserted into the slot, wherein the locking mechanism prevents the plunger from being depressed prior to removal of the removable tab from the slot.

Assignees

• Colgate Palmolive Co

Inventors

• Demarest Scott
• Fleming Jo
• Neese David
• Gordon Michael
• Berardelli David

Classifications

• A61C9/0026 Primary

  Syringes or guns for injecting impression material; Mixing impression material for immediate use · CPC title

• A61C5/64

  for multi-component compositions · CPC title

• A61C19/066

  Bleaching devices; Whitening agent applicators for teeth, e.g. trays or strips · CPC title

• A61C5/62

  Applicators, e.g. syringes or guns · CPC title

• B05C17/00553

  with means allowing the stock of material to consist of at least two different components · CPC title