Dispensing system and method of making and using the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11034506-B2
Application number	US-201816499347-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 28, 2018
Priority date	Mar 29, 2017
Publication date	Jun 15, 2021
Grant date	Jun 15, 2021

Abstract

A dispenser ( 5 ) comprising a body ( 10 ) and a removable magazine ( 11 ) in which a product pouch ( 175 ) is held. The body ( 10 ) and magazine ( 11 ) form an asymmetric interior volume similar to the shape of the pouch ( 175 ). The dispenser ( 5 ) includes a grip ( 28 ) and actuator ( 30 ) at an actuator end and a ratcheting drive system disposed on opposite sides of the interior volume. The drive system applies a symmetric pushing force on a squeeze pusher ( 32 ) that is slidably disposed in the interior volume. The squeeze pusher ( 32 ) applies pressure to the pouch ( 175 ) to dispense the product. The magazine ( 11 ) and pouch ( 175 ) may be ejected once the squeeze pusher ( 32 ) is ratcheted to the dispensing end. Once ejected, the squeeze pusher ( 32 ) is disengaged from the drive system. A magazine ( 11 ) with a new pouch ( 175 ) may be inserted into the body ( 10 ), which automatically positions the squeeze pusher ( 32 ) at the actuating end and reengages the drive system for further dispensing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A dispenser comprising:
a body comprising an actuator end and a dispensing end and a plurality of walls defining an interior space, the body including an asymmetric shape wherein a distance between opposed first and second walls is greater than a distance between opposed third and fourth walls of the body;
a grip extending from the actuator end and being coupled to and spanning a distance between the first and second walls;
an actuator movably attached to the body and biased to a home position away from the grip and movable from the home position towards the grip;
a first row of driver teeth extending longitudinally at an interior of the first wall, the first row of driver teeth movably coupled to the actuator with a first lever such that upon moving the actuator towards the grip, the first row of driver teeth moves towards the dispensing end;
a second row of driver teeth extending longitudinally at an interior of the second wall, the second row of driver teeth movably coupled to the actuator with a second lever such that upon moving the actuator towards the grip, the second row of driver teeth moves towards the dispensing end; and
a squeeze pusher disposed within the interior space of the body, the squeeze pusher comprising a first driver pawl movably attached to the squeeze pusher and engageable with the first row of driver teeth and a second driver pawl movably attached to the squeeze pusher and engageable with the second row of driver teeth;
wherein when the actuator is moved from the home position towards the grip, the first and second rows of driver teeth respectively engage the first and second driver pawls and cause the squeeze pusher to move relative to the body from a first position to a second position in a direction from the actuator end to the dispensing end;
wherein the dispenser further comprises:
a first row of retainer teeth fixedly extending longitudinally at the interior of the first wall,
a second row of retainer teeth fixedly extending longitudinally at the interior of the second wall,
wherein the squeeze pusher further comprises a first retainer pawl movably attached to the squeeze pusher and engageable with the first row of retainer teeth and a second retainer pawl movably attached to the squeeze pusher and engageable with the second row of retainer teeth,
wherein after the actuator is moved from the home position towards the grip, the first and second retainer pawls respectively engage the first and second rows of retainer teeth to retain the squeeze pusher at the second position, and
wherein after the actuator is moved from the home position towards the grip, the actuator returns to the home position and the first and second rows of driver teeth respectively disengage the first and second driver pawls and return towards the actuating end.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the first and second rows of driver teeth are disposed at opposite sides of the interior space.

3. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the first and second rows of retainer teeth are disposed at opposite sides of the interior space.

4. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the first and second rows of driver teeth have a common first tooth profile, the first and second rows of retainer teeth have a common second tooth profile that is different than the first tooth profile.

5. The dispenser of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third row of driver teeth extending longitudinally at the interior of the first wall, the third row of driver teeth movably coupled to the actuator with the first lever such that upon moving the actuator towards the grip, the third row of driver teeth moves towards the dispensing end;
a fourth row of driver teeth extending longitudinally at the interior of the second wall, the fourth row of driver teeth movably coupled to the actuator with the second lever such that upon moving the actuator towards the grip, the fourth row of driver teeth moves towards the dispensing end;
a third row of retainer teeth fixedly extending longitudinally at the interior of the first wall; and
a fourth row of retainer teeth fixedly extending longitudinally at the interior of the second wall.

6. The dispenser of claim 5 wherein:
the first and third rows of driver teeth are coupled to each other on a first driver body that is coupled to the first lever; and
the second and fourth rows of driver teeth are coupled to each other on a second driver body that is coupled to the second lever.

7. The dispenser of claim 5 wherein:
the first row of driver teeth and the first row of retainer teeth are disposed at a first corner of the interior space;
the second row of driver teeth and the second row of retainer teeth are disposed at a second corner of the interior space;
the third row of driver teeth and the third row of retainer teeth are disposed at a third corner of the interior space; and
the fourth row of driver teeth and the fourth row of retainer teeth are disposed at a fourth corner of the interior space.

8. The dispenser of claim 1 further comprising an actuator limiter disposed between the actuator and the grip, the actuator limiter limiting the distance the squeeze pusher moves relative to the body.

9. A dispenser comprising:
a body comprising an actuator end and a dispensing end and a plurality of walls defining an interior space, the body including an asymmetric shape wherein a distance between opposed first and second walls is greater than a distance between opposed third and fourth walls of the body;
a grip extending from the actuator end and being coupled to and spanning a distance between the first and second walls;
an actuator movably attached to the body and biased to a home position away from the grip and movable from the home position towards the grip;
a first row of driver teeth extending longitudinally at an interior of the first wall, the first row of driver teeth movably coupled to the actuator with a first lever such that upon moving the actuator towards the grip, the first row of driver teeth moves towards the dispensing end;
a second row of driver teeth extending longitudinally at an interior of the second wall, the second row of driver teeth movably coupled to the actuator with a second lever such that upon moving the actuator towards the grip, the second row of driver teeth moves towards the dispensing end; and
a squeeze pusher disposed within the interior space of the body, the squeeze pusher comprising a first driver pawl movably attached to the squeeze pusher and engageable with the first row of driver teeth and a second driver pawl movably attached to the squeeze pusher and engageable with the second row of driver teeth;
wherein when the actuator is moved from the home position towards the grip, the first and second rows of driver teeth respectively engage the first and second driver pawls and cause the squeeze pusher to move relative to the body from a first position to a second position in a direction from the actuator end to the dispensing end;
wherein the dispenser further comprises a removable magazine sized and shaped to fit within the body, the magazine being insertable into the body from the dispensing end, the body and the magazine defining the interior space.

10. The dispenser of claim 9 wherein the magazine comprises a spout aperture at the dispensing end, the spout aperture including a restrictor.

Assignees

• Cryovac Llc

Inventors

• Ackerman David L
• Cook Hubert J
• Edge Robert M

Classifications

• B65D83/7713 Primary

  the contents of a flexible bag being expelled by a piston, or a movable bottom or partition provided in the container or the package · CPC title

• B67D1/0001 Primary

  by squeezing collapsible or flexible storage containers (B67D1/0462 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A47J47/01

  with dispensing devices · CPC title

• B65D2583/005

  Dispensers provided with a replaceable cartridge, recharge or pouch located within the dispenser · CPC title

• B65D83/0072 Primary

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic