Precision micro-liter drop dispenser
First Claim
1. A dropper tip for the drop-wise dispensing of a liquid in drop volumes of less than 20 μ
- l volumes from a container, comprising;
a dispensing stem having a cylindrical lumen therethrough formed along an axis from a liquid entry port at one end to an exit port at the other end, the lumen defined by a surface of revolution about the axis; and
a fitment intermediate the ends of said dispensing stem for engaging a neck of a container to position one portion of said dispensing stem and said entry port in the interior of the liquid container and to position the remaining portion of the dispensing stem and said exit port exteriorly of the container;
said entry port defined by a frusto-conical surface formed about the axis, the lumen extending along the axis through said frusto-conical surface to define a circular rim at the intersection of said frusto-conical surface and said surface of revolution, the circular rim having a minimum contact surface at said entry port to minimize surface area for the adhesion of bubbles at or adjacent to said entry port.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a dropper tip suitable for dispensing small-volume droplets of fluid with a minimum drop-to-drop volumetric variation. The dropper tip includes a minimum-surface dispensing tip and a similar minimum-surface interior configuration that minimizes the surface area available at the entry port of the dispenser tip for the aggregation or adhesion of bubbles. In the preferred embodiment, the minimum-surface configuration allows for uniform drop formation at the tip whether or not the dropper is in a vertically inverted or inclined position when dispensing. The interior configuration likewise minimizes the surface area available for air bubbles to congregate or adhere and thereby minimizes the probability of an air bubble reentering the dropper tip when dispensing the second or subsequent drop. A cap effects sealing on a surface other than the tip so that repeated capping and uncapping will not degrade the minimum-surface rim.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A dropper tip for the drop-wise dispensing of a liquid in drop volumes of less than 20 μ
- l volumes from a container, comprising;
a dispensing stem having a cylindrical lumen therethrough formed along an axis from a liquid entry port at one end to an exit port at the other end, the lumen defined by a surface of revolution about the axis; and a fitment intermediate the ends of said dispensing stem for engaging a neck of a container to position one portion of said dispensing stem and said entry port in the interior of the liquid container and to position the remaining portion of the dispensing stem and said exit port exteriorly of the container; said entry port defined by a frusto-conical surface formed about the axis, the lumen extending along the axis through said frusto-conical surface to define a circular rim at the intersection of said frusto-conical surface and said surface of revolution, the circular rim having a minimum contact surface at said entry port to minimize surface area for the adhesion of bubbles at or adjacent to said entry port. - View Dependent Claims (2)
- l volumes from a container, comprising;
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3. A dropper tip for the drop-wise dispensing of a liquid in drop volumes of less than 20 μ
- l from a container, comprising;
a dispensing stem having a cylindrical bore therethrough formed along an axis from a liquid entry port at one end to an exit port at the other end, the bore defined by a surface of revolution about the axis; and a fitment intermediate the ends of said dispensing stem for engaging a neck of a container to position one portion of said dispensing stem and said entry port in the interior of the liquid container and to position the remaining portion of the dispensing stem and said exit port exteriorly of the container; said exit port defined by a frusto-conical surface formed about the axis, the bore extending along the axis through the frusto-conical surface to define a circular rim at the intersection of said frusto-conical surface and said surface of revolution, the circular rim having a minimum liquid-contact surface area at said exit port; said entry port defined by a second frusto-conical surface formed about the axis, the bore extending along the axis through said second frusto-conical surface to define a second circular rim at the intersection of said second frusto-conical surface and said surface of revolution, the second circular rim having a minimum contact surface at said entry port to minimize surface area for the adhesion of bubbles at or adjacent said entry port. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
- l from a container, comprising;
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10. A dropper tip for the drop-wise dispensing of a liquid in drop volumes of less than 20 μ
- l from a container, comprising;
a dispensing stem having a bore therethrough formed along an axis from a liquid entry port at one end to an exit port at the other end, the bore defined by a surface of revolution about the axis, said entry and exit ports defined, respectively, by an entry circular rim and an exit circular rim, said entry circular rim formed at the intersection of said surface of revolution and an entry-end frusto-conical surface at the entry end and said exit circular rim formed at the intersection of said surface of revolution and an exit-end frusto-conical surface at the exit end, the circular rims each defining a minimum liquid-contact surface area; and a fitment intermediate the ends of said dispensing stem for engaging a neck of a container to position said entry port in the interior of the liquid container and position a portion of said dispensing stem and said exit port exteriorly of the container. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
- l from a container, comprising;
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16. A drop dispensing bottle and tip for the drop-wise dispensing of a liquid in drop volumes of less than 20 μ
- l from the bottle, comprising;
a container formed from a resilient material; and a dispensing stem having a cylindrical bore therethrough formed along an axis from a liquid entry port at one end to an exit port at the other end, the bore defined by a surface of revolution about the axis, said dispensing stem engaging a neck of said container to position one portion of said dispensing stem and said entry port in the interior of the liquid container and to position the remaining portion of the dispensing stem and said exit port exteriorly of the container; said entry port defined by a frusto-conical surface formed about the axis, the bore extending along the axis through said frusto-conical surface to define a circular rim at the intersection of said frusto-conical surface and said surface of revolution, the circular rim having a minimum contact surface at said entry port to minimize surface area for the adhesion of bubbles at or adjacent said entry port. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
- l from the bottle, comprising;
Specification