Device for storing and dispensing a material and method of making such a device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9981787-B2
Application number	US-201013388235-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 12, 2010
Priority date	Aug 28, 2009
Publication date	May 29, 2018
Grant date	May 29, 2018

Abstract

A device for dispensing a dental material comprises a container for containing the material and an outlet which is closed by a closure. A breakable seal is arranged between the closure and the container. The device further is operable between a storage position in which the outlet is closed and an operational position in which the outlet is open. An initial operation toward the operational position causes the seal to break, whereby the closure is captured in the device. The device may provide a relatively long shelf life for the material, and may facilitate preparation of the material for use.

First claim

We claim:

1. Device for dispensing a dental material, comprising:
a container for containing a dental material, the container having an outlet which is closed by a closure;
a breakable seal connecting the closure and the container;
a valve member;
the device allowing for a relative movement between the valve member and the outlet between a storage position in which the outlet is closed and an operational position in which the outlet is open;
wherein the valve member engages with the closure such that the relative movement between the valve member and the outlet also causes a relative movement between the closure and the outlet, whereby the seal is caused to break upon movement toward the operational position;
wherein the valve member has a receptacle, and wherein in the storage position the closure covers the outlet and extends in a direction generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the device from the container into the receptacle;
wherein the receptacle has inner side walls which correspond in shape to outer side walls of the closure;
wherein the closure is retained in the receptacle by friction; and
wherein the device is adapted to capture the closure in the device in the operational position.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device is adapted to reclose the outlet, in that the device allows for the closure and the outlet to be repositioned toward one another by moving the valve member and the outlet relative to each other from the operational toward the storage position.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the receptacle and the closure are shaped to form a positive fit with each other, such that an interlock between the closure and the valve member is provided.

4. The device of claim 1 , allowing for a relative movement between the receptacle and the outlet in a direction generally transverse to the longitudinal axis.

5. The device of claim 4 , allowing for a rotation between the valve member and the outlet about a rotation axis.

6. The device of claim 5 , in which the rotation axis is arranged substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis.

7. The device of claim 1 , having a piston which is receivable in the container for advancing the material toward the outlet.

8. The device of claim 1 , having two chambers for containing a dental material in the form of components for forming a mixture, and a dispensing nozzle that comprises a static mixer for mixing the components.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the closure and the container are formed by one piece.

Assignees

• Peuker Marc
• Boehm Andreas Johannes
• 3M Innovative Properties Co

Inventors

• Peuker Marc
• Boehm Andreas Johannes

Classifications

• B65D81/325

  Containers having parallel or coaxial compartments, provided with a piston or a movable bottom for discharging contents · CPC title

• B65D47/305 Primary

  provided with a spout, e.g. "escargot"-type valve · CPC title

• A61C5/64

  for multi-component compositions · CPC title

• A61C5/68

  Mixing dental material components for immediate application to a site to be restored, e.g. a tooth cavity · CPC title

• B65D51/222

  the piercing or cutting means being integral with, or fixedly attached to, the outer closure · CPC title