Device for dispensing metered quantities of fluid from a container

• US 4,440,323 A
• Filed: 11/09/1981
• Issued: 04/03/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1980
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Henning Knutz
• Original Assignee: Patra AG
• Inventors: Benson, Gustav E. V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rolla, Joseph J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fitzgerald, Thomas C.
• Application Number:
  US06/319,729
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: 222/445, 222/447, 222/449, 222/450, 222/451, 222/424.5, 222/425, 222/209, 222/207, 222/212, 222/213, 222/205, 251/12, 137/614.14, 137/614.18
• US Class Current: 222/209
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 5/1208 by means of a flexible dispensing chamber
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/082 of the squeeze container type using squeeze bottles or the like for soap A47K5/122

Abstract

A device for dispensing metered quantities of fluid from a container. The device comprises a through-flow passageway in which is arranged a valve chamber. A lower valve seat and an upper valve seat delimit said valve chamber. The valve seats are parts of two valve portions and may be closed by a lower and an upper valve body. A pressurizing bulb is arranged to generate a vacuum or excess pressure in the valve chamber. The device operates in the following manner. When the pressurizing bulb is compressed, soap solution is forced through the lower valve seat while the upper valve seat remains closed. When the pressure on the bulb is released, the bulb resumes its original shape and the vacuum thus created draws in fluid through the upper valve seat while the lower seat remains closed.

Claims

1. In a device for dispensing metered quantities of fluids from a container said device comprising a through-flow passageway having a fluid outlet opening, a valve chamber in said passageway, and a pressurizing bulb in communication with said valve chamber, an upper valve seat and a lower valve seat, said upper and lower valve seats delimiting said valve chamber, an upper valve body arranged to be pressed against said upper valve seat into sealing position in response to an excess pressure in said valve chamber but to be pulled away from said upper valve seat to expose the latter in response to a vacuum pressure in said valve chamber, a lower valve body arranged to be pulled against said lower valve seat into sealing position against the latter in response to a vacuum pressure in said valve chamber but to be pressed clear away from said lower valve seat so as to open the latter in response to an excess pressure in said valve chamber, the improvement comprising a plate positioned in said valve chamber between said valve bodies, said plate being arranged to allow passage of fluid, and resilient arm members interconnecting said valve bodies and said plate.

2. An improved device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fluid outlet opening of said through-flow passageway is spaced from said lower valve seat.

3. An improved device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pressurizing bulb is spherical, stays being provided to support said pressurizing bulb, a channel communicating said pressurizing bulb with said valve chamber.

4. An improved device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lower valve body is arranged to be pressed against said lower valve seat with a bias force in excess of the bias force with which said upper valve body is pressed against said upper valve seat.

5. An improved device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each one of said resilient arm members is in the form of a single branch.

6. An improved device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each one of said resilient arm members consists of several branches.

7. An improved device as claimed in claim 1, for use in the outlet channel of a fluid container, the improvement comprising a lower tubular valve portion arranged to fit into a lower end of said outlet channel, said lower valve seat being formed in said lower valve portion, a groove formed in said lower valve portion, said plate being shaped to fit into said groove, an upper valve portion shaped to fit into said fluid container outlet channel and onto said lower valve portion, said upper valve portion being arranged, in mounted position, to determine the position of said plate, said upper valve seat being formed in said upper valve portion, said channel communicating said valve chamber with said pressurizing bulb.

8. An improved device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said lower valve body is made from a material which is sufficiently elastic to allow said body to be pressed through said lower valve seat when said device is assembled.