METERING DISPENSING FLEXIBLE POUCH WITH SPRAY NOZZLE

• US 20080193198A1
• Filed: 02/06/2008
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 1Touch Holdings, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Poly-D, LLC
• Inventors: LaFlamme, Roger J., Nesbitt, Christopher S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,128,303 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 401/205
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2200/057 Spray nozzles; Generating atomised liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2200/1018 comprising a pad, i.e. a cushion-like mass of soft material, with or without gripping means
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2200/1045 with one or more internal reservoirs, e.g. rupturable microcapsules
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 34/04 Appliances specially adapted for applying liquid, e.g. using roller or ball
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/026 Membranes separating the content remaining in the container from the atmospheric air to compensate underpressure inside the container
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1032 actuated without substantial movement of the nozzle in the direction of the pressure stroke B05B11/103 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 17/002 with feed system for supplying material from an external source; Supply controls therefor B05C17/02 takes precedence

Abstract

An atomizing fluid dispenser for delivering, via a spray nozzle, a substantially equal metered dose of fluid material for each dispensing operation is disclosed. The fluid dispensing device includes a container with an interior fluid storage region therein. A metering housing, when depressed, generates a one-way flow from the interior fluid storage region of the container that serves to fill the predetermined volume of the chamber within the metering housing. When the metering housing is depressed a second time a substantially equal volume of fluid is dispensed from the container, while upon release, the metering housing is refilled by drawing fluid from the fluid storage region. A spray nozzle or atomizer is attached to the exit port of the dispensing device so that the liquid is delivered in metered fashion in spray form.

Claims

1. A fluid dispensing device, comprising:

a container having an interior fluid storage region therein and an opening extending from said interior fluid storage region to an exterior region outside the container;

a flexible metering housing, having a metering chamber therein with a predetermined volume, disposed in fluid communication with the fluid storage region via the opening;

a first valve disposed between the container and the flexible metering housing to permit unidirectional fluid flow from the interior fluid storage region of the container into the metering chamber thereby filling the predetermined volume of the metering chamber;

the flexible metering housing further including a metering housing output port;

a second valve, having a second valve output port, in fluid communication with the metering housing output port and permitting unidirectional fluid flow of a volume of fluid substantially equal to the predetermined volume of the metering chamber from the metering chamber to the exterior region of the container;

a spray applicator in fluid communication with the second valve output port to deliver liquid in a metered fashion in a spray form.

2. The fluid dispensing device of claim 1, further comprising:

means for dispersing fluid from the spray applicator about the exterior outer region of the container.

3. The fluid dispensing device of claim 2, wherein the means for dispersing is a layer of foam positioned about the container.

4. The fluid dispensing device of claim 2, wherein the means for dispersing is a layer of fabric positioned about the container.

5. The fluid dispensing device of claim 1, further comprising:

a fluid conduit connected at one end to the second valve output port and at the other end to the spray applicator.

6. The fluid dispensing device of claim 5, wherein the second valve output port and the spray applicator are on opposing sides of the container from one another.

7. The fluid dispensing device of claim 5, wherein the fluid conduit is routed through the interior fluid storage region of the container.

8. The fluid dispensing device of claim 1, further comprising:

a fluid conduit disposed between the metering housing output port and the second valve.

9. The fluid dispensing device of claim 1, further comprising:

an inlet port connected to the container.

10. The fluid dispensing device of claim 1, wherein the first valve and the second valve are one-way check valves.

11. The fluid dispensing device of claim 1, further comprising:

a strap connected to the container.

12. The fluid dispensing device of claim 1, further comprising:

standoff means connected to the metering housing and proximal to the first valve to prevent the first valve from being blocked.

13. The fluid dispensing device of claim 12, wherein the standoff means is at least one leg.

14. The fluid dispensing device of claim 12, wherein the standoff means is a spring.

15. The fluid dispensing device of claim 1, further comprising:

a frame attached to the container; and

applicator material attached to the frame.

16. A method of dispensing a fluid, comprising:

providing a container having an interior fluid storage region therein and an opening extending from said interior fluid storage region to an exterior region outside the container;

providing a volume of fluid within the interior fluid storage region;

providing a flexible metering housing, having a metering chamber therein with a predetermined volume, disposed in fluid communication with the fluid storage chamber via the opening;

providing a first valve disposed between the container and the flexible metering housing to permit unidirectional fluid flow from the interior fluid storage region of the container into the metering chamber;

providing an output port in fluid communication with the metering chamber with a second valve disposed between the exit port and the metering chamber;

providing a spray member in fluid communication with the output port;

depressing the flexible metering housing;

releasing the flexible metering housing;

filling the metering chamber with a volume of fluid by vacuum force in an amount substantially the same as the volume of the metering chamber;

depressing the flexible metering housing again; and

spraying the volume of fluid within the metering chamber through the exit port via the second valve and the spray member.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of:

dispersing fluid that has exited through the spray member proximal to the outer surface of the container.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of:

providing a fluid conduit connected at one end to the second valve output port and at the other end to the spray member; and

routing fluid from the second valve output port and out through the spray member.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the fluid conduit is positioned through the interior fluid storage region of the container.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of:

preventing the first valve from being blocked.