Super absorbent driven dispenser

• US 20050187530A1
• Filed: 05/31/2001
• Published: 08/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sonoco Absorbent Technologies LLC (Sonoco Products Company)
• Original Assignee: Sonoco Absorbent Technologies LLC (Sonoco Products Company)
• Inventors: Privett, Rupert Kenneth, Boyd-Moss, Graeme Stuart Durban, Davidson, Roderick Iain
• Application Number:
  US10/478,338
• Publication Number:
  US 20050187530A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/327
• CPC Class Codes: A41G 1/006 Diffusing perfume or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 33/06 Artificial Christmas trees
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/12 Apparatus, e.g. holders, therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1452 pressurised by means of pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/148 flexible, e.g. independent bagsA61M5/155 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 9/032 Devices connected to or dispensing into the bowl

Abstract

A device (1) for causing the displacement of a piston (36) or diaphragm (4) comprising an enclosure containing unsaturated super-absorbent material (38) and including a piston or diaphragm; and a fluid inlet into the enclosure adapted to allow fluid into the enclosure and restrain the super-absorbent material form escaping from the enclosure; such that as fluid is allowed into the enclosure, it is absorbed by the super-absorbent material which swells against the piston (36) or diaphragm (4), causing displacement thereof. The piston (36) or diaphragm (4) may form at least one wall of the enclosure. Alternatively diaphragm may be a membrane of elastomeric material within the enclosure. The invention may be used in a drug delivery system, a air freshener, or a lavatory cleaner.

Claims

1. A device for causing the displacement of a piston or diaphragm comprising:

an enclosure containing unsaturated super-absorbent material and including a piston or diaphragm; and

a fluid inlet into the enclosure adapted to allow fluid into the enclosure and restrain the super-absorbent material form escaping from the enclosure;

the arrangement being such that as fluid is allowed into the enclosure, it is absorbed by the super-absorbent material which swells against the piston or diaphragm, causing displacement thereof.

2. A device for causing the displacement of a piston or diaphragm as claimed in claim 1, wherein the piston or diaphragm forms at least one wall of the enclosure.

3. A device for causing the displacement of a piston or diaphragm as claimed in claim 1, wherein the piston or diaphragm is a membrane of elastomeric material within the enclosure, dividing the enclosure into two sections, one for holding the unsaturated super-absorbent material, and the other for holding liquid or the like to be displaced.

4. A device for causing the displacement of a diaphragm as claimed in claim 1, wherein the diaphragm is a bag within the enclosure, sealed at or near an outlet of the enclosure, the bag being fillable with a liquid to be displaced.

5. A device for causing the displacement of a piston or diaphragm as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the volume of water is controlled to determine the expansion of the super-absorbent material.

7. A device for causing the displacement of a piston or diaphragm as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the super-absorbent material is in granular form.

8. A device for causing the displacement of a piston or diaphragm as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the super-absorbent material is in fibrous form.

9. A device for causing the displacement of a piston or diaphragm as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the enclosure is an extension of a cap into a body, the body being adapted to hold fluid, and the fluid inlet being between the extension and a base of the body on lifting of the extension.

6. A device for causing the displacement of a piston or diaphragm as claimed in preceding claim, wherein the rate of expansion of the super-absorbent material is controlled by controlling the purity of the water.

10. A device for causing the displacement of a piston or diaphragm substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, FIGS. 4 and 5, FIGS. 6 and 7 and FIG. 8 of the accompanying drawings.